PMS and Danskin 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.
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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