PMS and Danskin Despair

[KnottedYet]

So I've only been to my church Danskin team meetings once.

I've been hanging out with Team Survivor (which I found out about because of going to the church meet, so I guess in a Unitarian cosmic kind of way it's all good) but not regularly because health care workers have such weird schedules and I miss a lot of stuff.

I'm doing some training with one of my dearest and oldest friends, but only when our schedules match.

I keep forgetting stuff (like swim dates with other Team Survivor folks) and it's not even spring, which is the usual season for forgetting things and being dizzy and losing left-side co-ordination and running into walls, so what gives? (yes, I know, benign seasonal MS, gonna see an MS specialist in 1 1/2 weeks, yadda yadda)

I have PMS.

The Danskin isn't a "real" triathlon because there are "swim angels" and embarassing to others "girlie" cheeleading for all the first timers and cancer survivors.

It still takes me more than 1/2 hour to swim 1/2 mile in open water, and I get water up my nose, and any stroke other than a left-sided side stroke is utterly exhausting. And I make motorboat noises when I breathe. And snot seems to magically appear at my nose after every big wave. And my nose ring gets twisted. And lake algae ends up glued to my boobs. And I do have to stop and rest at least 3 times.

I still don't show up on the Danskin registry list. We first-time cancer-survivor-get-in-free babes are supposed to show up on the list 2 weeks before the race. I want to see my name there NOW, dammit. Not the day after tomorrow. NOW. Dang, if I don't show up on that list I will have a major fit. I registered (twice, thru Danskin and Team Survivor) back at the very beginning of March.

I wrote a "why I tri" essay for Danskin back in March, and I never got my free goodie for doing that. And it was a darn good essay. I knew that BA in English would be good for something. So I want my free Danskin socks. Or whatever. I want a free goodie!

I know I can swim 1/2 mile, ride 12 miles, and walk 3 miles. I'm just not sure I can do all three in a row.

How do y'all cope with the despair?

[Lise]

Don't dispair, KN. My friend's almost here to go running with me, but I'll write more later. I swim oh, about the same as you! You sound pretty normal to me.
...................................
OK, I'm back. I truly understand what you mean about health care workers having strange schedules. Between work and other commitments, there are *no* training groups that I can join! I do have a friend, Jamie, who runs with me on Saturday mornings. That helps a lot. Biking I love to do on my own anyway. Swimming, well, I hate swim training. It would help tremendously if I had someone with whom to do it. If you can get in any swim training with other people, do it. Swim .9 miles? I get water up my nose. I can't breathe. My shoulders are killing me. Etc.
And yet...somehow...everytime I get through the darned swim part, and then I get to ride my bike. You will, too. Maybe "Get To The Bike" would be a good swim mantra for you and me! ;p

As for doing all three in a row--it is hard, no doubt. The energy of the group always carries me along. My problem is going out too hard when I start the bike and the run. I try to remember to respect my own pace, and stick with that. You can absolutely do this!

I think PMS is kind of like working all night--I'm not thinking too clearly then. Try to ride it out. It will pass.

Can you double check your registration, for your own peace of mind?

Maybe go for a nice ride today, enjoy yourself. Sometimes training feels like so much work, and then I'm never doing well enough. I get to remember that I really do love doing this...

Take care, L.

[Brina]

not a real tri, my ***. my first (and thus far only) tri was danskin and I most definitely did a real tri. I swam, I biked, I ran, I finished. All the other stuff does not change that fact.

As for the swim angels - they may have a goofy name, and they may use pool noodles, but last I checked, all tris had lifeguards out there. You don't have to use them, but even if you do, so what. Like Dory says, just keep swimming.

The cheers are hokey, I could have done without it - I have never been the girliest of girls, but lots of people take inspiration from that kind of stuff, and at the end of the day, if it works for you, then use it As for the survivors group, they are the best part of the danskin. How can anybody look at a group of women who stared down death and then came back and got in shape and are running a tri and not be inspired?

I am a slow, fat triathlete (to steal a title). The swimming is not my demon, but the running is. In one of the pics of me during the run both of my feet are on the ground. But hey, I finished the race. You will too.

[Lise]

Yeah! Like Brina said!

[Brina]

I try to remember to respect my own pace, and stick with that.

this is my mantra when I run. "run your race, run you pace" The only thing i get out of trying to chase someone else is out of breath and shin splints.

[KnottedYet]

Thank you!

I was all pumped for the Danskin, and then someone shot me down a few months ago about how it wasn't a "real" triathlon. Especially because of the swim angels. (who I will probably use, so sue me)

I think that's been bothering me the most. Isn't it weird how one person says something negative, and THAT'S what sticks in your mind? Not all the positive stuff, just that one negative comment.

Actually, that one comment made me feel foolish for being so excited about trying to do a triathlon.

I can cope with the lake algae glued to my boobs and the dead fish floating by my face. It's the nay-sayers that get to me...

[Lise]

I was all pumped for the Danskin, and then someone shot me down a few months ago about how it wasn't a "real" triathlon.

ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME?!? And how many "NOT REAL" triathlons have they done? Listen, go 15.5 miles under your own steam three different ways, using different muscles, oh, and part of it is through water--go travel those 15.5 miles and tell me it's not a "real" race. Screw that.

Grrrrrr...this pisses me off. Shake it off, man. You will do the distance. You will have the Algae of Pride plastered to your chest. You will cross the finish line. All the other stuff doesn't matter. The cheerleaders? It's a way for people who aren't doing the tri to be a part of the excitement and incredible power of a tri. That's what I love more than anything.

I'll bet that naysayer won't be there, stumbling out of the water, wiping off, climbing on her bike, then riding like a fiend, then stumbling out of transition and moving on legs that don't even feel like her own. And she won't have the joy of finishing with hundreds of other women who thought they maybe couldn't do this, in fact, maybe wouldn't live to do it...oh, man, I want to cry just thinking about that finish line.

You get out there and do it, KN. We're proud of you. And we know what a real triathlon is. It's the one we all do.

[Bicyclette]

Knotted -

Screw the naysayers.... I'm in awe that you and everyone else I've seen post here do this. I'm inspired by you all so much that my goal is to try for a tri next summer.

As far as I see it - a tri is a tri - you train for it - you work your a** off to finish it and no matter how large or small, difficult or easy it's a true accomplishment and you have every right to be excited... and proud. Don't let them get you down - it's YOUR tri and it's every bit as real as anybody elses. Just do it

[colby]

Hey Knotted,

Many women often face the "impostor" problem, or the feeling that people will find you out for not being "real" -- in this case a "real" triathlete. I fight this feeling a lot myself, in everything from my job to my training. When someone questions me, like in this case telling you "well it's not a REAL triathlon," sometimes I just can't shake it.

But you know what, I do it anyway, and you should, too. This is for YOU not for anyone else. YOU are the one that has been training, even if it's not all the training you should have done. YOU are the one that signed up in the first place, and committed yourself to something awesome. YOU are the one that has to swim, so do it the way that works for you.

If you decide this is something YOU want, then YOU can make a new commitment for yourself to get swimming lessons (it sounds funny, but it could help), or spend more time training next year, or whatever it is that YOU want to do.

You can do it, and you will. Relax, and think through it a little bit logically, instead of letting your PMS do the talking Contact Danskin if you are worried, there's still 2 weeks to sort things out. While you're at it, let them know about your awesome essay, maybe there's a good explanation (it didn't get to who should have read it, or something).

Don't let your second thoughts get to you. You already know you can go the distance, no matter how you do it or what it requires. When you get that medal, you will know it's real, and if those other people want to argue with you, send them here

[Running Mommy]

Well I don't care what ANYONE say's!! If you swim any distance, then hop on your bike for ANY distance, and then run for ANY distance it's a TRIATHLON!!!

ARRGHH!!! I get the same thing from people who think that the Ironman is the only "real" triathlon!!!
And for the record, these are usually the people who call it a Triath- A-lon....
Ummm... There is no A in the middle! That's my meter for whether they know poop about what they are talking about!
Or they refer to a sprint as a "Mini".... ARGH!!!!
Personally I love to do sprints. Yeah I've done an Ironman, and will do another next year, but you can't go long all the time! I like being able to stay in race shape and jump into a sprint when I fancy it. I also like seeing all the beginers out there and encouraging them on. I was a newbie not all that long ago myself.
Now as for Danskin, well those races aren't my cup of tea. But if they get women moving, give them confidence, and possibly turn them on to the awesome world of tri- then GREAT!!!
It doesn't matter who put's on the race, if you go the distance in all three sports, well then you are a TRIATHLETE!!!
And NO ONE can take that away from you!!
Go get em, and don't forget to give us a race report when your back!!
Denise

[KnottedYet]

colby is doing Danskin, too!

Yay TE!

(I'm feeling better now. PMS is over and I had a good 39 mile ride with some other Team Survivor babes.)

[Lise]

Yeah, RM, and Kona is the only real Ironman, right?!

I bristle when people call a sprint a "mini", too. YOU try it and see if it feels "mini" to you!

What I always remember is that no matter the distance, you travel it under your own power. I don't know what the "swim angels" are, but I doubt they pick you up out of the water and carry you to land.

When I did my first tri, I was ignorant as a stick about the whole thing. I should've done a sprint, but I didn't know about sprints. I did an Oly with a friend, and we were last by a long shot. Driving home, I thought, I just travelled 33 miles under my own power! And that's something to be proud of.

[Tri Girl]

I second what everyone has said, KN! A Danskin is just as real as an IM. That one person was trying to get to you and they did- for the moment. When she does a tri she can say what she wants (but she won't, so she'll just have to shut up).
Just ignore the negative and focus on all the positive you are doing, have done, and will do in the future! You're a triathlete (not a triath-a-lete). Be proud of the Danskin- not only are you doing an amazing athletic event, but YOU ARE A SURVIVOR! You are MY hero!!!!
Congrats- and DO tell ALL when it's over!

[KnottedYet]

You guys are all so nice. I'm getting teary-eyed...

YOU GUYS ARE SO COOL!!!!!!!

[KSH]

Ah... PMS... it's wonderful... eh?

You start feeling like crap... and then you start getting down on yourself for every little thing. You nit-pick yourself apart and think about all the stuff people have said to you that made you feel bad.

The Danskin is a triathlon... and it's a really cool one at that! If some rude idiot told you that... well, they are probably a pretty miserable person in their day to day life. I bet it was a guy... eh?

Look, do what you can... as far as training goes... and don't beat yourself up for what you do and do not do. Just do what makes you feel good and makes you happy.

Focus on your accomplishments... and... EAT SOME PIZZA and CHOCOLATE! That always made me feel good when I was PMS'ing .

AND... if ANYONE else tells you that the Danskin is NOT a real TRI... you tell 'em what RunningMommy said in her post... you are swimming/riding/running...and it's a triathlon... no mater what the freaking distance is! (I really hate rude people!)

Take care... and I'm happy to see/hear that you seem to be feeling a little better.... you are feeling better... right?