On The Road Again

Eleven weeks into recovery and I'm finally back on the bike!  Never thought I'd miss it as much as I did.  It was very difficult obeying doctor's orders, but I did it not wanting ANY setbacks!  So far, I've taken two rides.  Five miles the first ride and ten miles on ride number two.  The Bianchi hybrid bike is my bike of choice.  A great bike for leisure riding and riding on trails of a variety of surfaces.  She's not a fast bike, but I did ride her for the first two years of triathlons.  I'll ride this Italian beauty for a few rides before trying out my road bike.  After adjusting to the road bike, Fabio (the tri bike) will be right behind it.  He's easier to cruise on than the road bike, actually.  It's just being more in the aero position that may cause discomfort on some sensitive parts.  So far....very little soreness.  Only a slight reminder that there was an accident a few weeks ago.

Barring any little nuances, the rides have been spectacular.  Such beautiful weather we've been having! I don't remember any other September being so nice.  Perfect temperatures, balmy breezes, no humidity, very sunny...makes me wonder what state I live in!

Great scenery from my rides:

 Looking ahead...I'm anxious to begin running but am happy to be riding for now.  October 15 is my next ortho appointment.  The doc will have an X ray done and see if the fracture has sealed over.  It had not sealed one month ago and I was told to drink a lot of milk and take a little extra Vitamin D.  Being VERY obedient on this!!!  No running until he gives me the green light.

What a summer!  Although the accident was unfortunate, I still had a GREAT one!  Perhaps one of the best in my life.  While on crutches and illicit drugs for the pain, I received a lot of cards, meals, phone calls and visits from friends.  People helped me out in many ways and some of them were not even close friends and yet still wanted to help.  A big thanks to all of you!!!  Even if I only know you via facebook, your words of encouragement always lifted my spirits.

  Most of all, the summer introduced a HUGE blessing, our granddaughter, Charlotte Fe (a.k.a. "Charlie").  She is so sweet and adorable!  I love her tons!  Her Mama and Pappa are pretty awesome too!

  In addition to her entering the world and our lives, both of my sons finally are employed!  The job situation of our time has hit hard on young people more than any other age group (unlike previous high unemployment events).  Charlie's dad, Ben, got a job with a local NBC/FOX TV local affiliate in Quincy, IL just two weeks before the baby was born.  Whew!  And Adam is now working with a private ambulance company as an EMT.  He's applying for paramedic school and can have flexible hours at work to accommodate his school schedule.  We are SO blessed!  God has been good beyond what we deserve and I am so thankful!  Perhaps the positive in the accident was that it made me see what awesome friends and family I have and to slow down and take it all in!

Happy Trails once again...

Accidents Happen!

Much has happened since my last post!  In the height of my training for my next race, I had a serious bike crash with the road.  A very strange and unique kind of accident.  Not with a car....Not with another cyclist or tree....  Just me and the road!  I was with 7 other cyclists, mostly men.  We were in the Tour de Farms area in Oswego/Plainfield/Yorkville area where traffic is next to none.  We were all enjoying a beautiful morning in farmsville, but had noticed the night before that this area suffered worse than the burbs from some nasty storms.  Trees fallen, corn smashed and some minor flooded areas.  A week before, some of the roads received some oil and gravel resurfacing.  We had noticed this on a ride the prior weekend and knew to be careful on such roads with the extra gravel.  On June 30's ride, we were coming down a hill clocking speed into the low 20s.  Our turn was ahead, so slowing down to maybe mid teens mph, I made my turn left.  I was the 3rd rider in the group.  Two men in front of me with a gap between us shouted out, "GRAVEL".  Too late!  I was already on it and wiped out immediately with full force!  Apparently, the heavy rains from the night before washed up a lot of the gravel from the newly paved road.  Race bikes with skinny, non-tread tires do not do well on gravel let alone a deep gravel patch.  The gal behind me, probably trying to avoid riding over me, also wiped out.  She had some surface injuries that included a deep cut in her hand.  She ended up with stitches.    I couldn't get up no matter how hard I tried.  A car and a local power company truck pulled over.  The latter called 911 after seeing I could not get up.  I had pain but it wasn't terrible until I tried to get up.  The ambulance took me to the hospital where X rays showed two slight fractures on my pelvis (left side)....the lower part that has the two bones forming an oval circle.  Thankfully, the fractures are minor and no surgery was needed.  The ER doc said recovery would be six weeks.  But once I went to the Ortho, turns out it will be longer than that, "minor" as it is.  In six weeks, I probably will be off crutches.  The full recovery will be about three months.  No running for three months.  So....2012 tri season is done and perhaps any running races as well.

Today I had my two week follow-up.  New X rays didn't seem much different than what was almost done three weeks ago, but he didn't seem the least concerned.  He said it takes 6-8 weeks for the bone to heal over.  The good news is, he told me to start swimming!  I might not be able to kick much, but can use a buoy and swim with my arms and get some aerobic activity in.  So happy about that!!!  In two weeks, he wants me to get on a stationary bike, one with a big fat seat so as not to cause pain in the groin area, and slowly work on a nice spin to get the hamstrings back in motion.  After my next visit, in a month, I will hopefully be able to start walking, independently, for some short distances and work my way up.

So....it's a time of rebuilding and seeing just how tough I am!  I have lots of support.  And when things seem gloomy, I remember how thankful I am that I didn't need surgery or damage my spine.  I am very blessed to have escaped permanent damage and to have the support in my life that I do.  I give God thanks for such gifts!

Also...I must say.  Helmets really do save lives!  Here are some pictures of what my helmet looked like after the accident.  I had slammed my head pretty hard and it was a little sore, but not bad.  Also, probably had a little whip lash as the right side of my neck was sore for a couple of days:  Note the imbedded gravel, dents and cracks:

So if you are a bike rider and do not wear a helmet, I hope these pictures change your mind.  I took the helmet to my local bike shop where I purchased it only two months ago, on sale.  I just wanted to show them how good it held up (had to make a couple of other purchases as well, including a new helmet for when I return to cycling).  They were so nice!  Not only did they say they'd still give me the sale price (It was $80 on sale but wasn't currently on sale), they gave me an extra 15% off just for bringing it in and showing it to them!  The bike shop was, "Performance Bike" on Hwy 59 in Naperville.  I like to promote good business!  I bought my Fuji Road Bike there a couple of years ago.  My race bike was purchased at "Endure It!" in Naperville last October.  The race bike survived the crash quite well.  But I was still on the bike when I hit the ground.  One of my co-cyclist's removed it from me and set it aside.  "Fabio", as "he's" called, only suffered a little bit of scratching on the side of the left hand gear.  The frame is totally unscathed!  Amazing!  And I'm so thankful for that as well!  Bodywork on a bike is not cheap, I'm sure!

"Fabs" will be resting a bit longer than me, I'm afraid.  Once I'm off a stationary bike, I plan to ride for pleasure on my hybrid bike (yes...I own three bikes!  How American am I???) and hope to graduate back to the race bike in the fall....and not fast either!  Just to regain my confidence.  By October, I'm hoping to work walking into running again.  If all goes well, maybe I can even do the Reindeer 5K run in early Dec.  I don't want to even think about time!  Just do the race to do the distance and event and celebrate recovery.  I plan to follow doctor's orders and he seems to be all for me to get back to what I love!

Lord willing, I will be back, better than ever, rebuilding what God has already given me.  Great health, good bones!  As for why such a thing happened, who knows.  I'm not one to say, "It's God's plan."  I don't believe God pushes us into roads and breaks bones.  But I believe he works all things that happen to complete His purpose.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  Romans 8:28 Also.... As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.  “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”  “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him."  John 9:1-3

Happy Trails forthcoming...  Lynn

SheRox Triathlon Report

The Naperville Women's Triathlon was adopted by the SheRox organization last year.  I missed their inaugurating event last year due to injuries.  After racing in this event three weeks ago, I have to say it is one of the most organized events I've ever done.  The heat was on and extra water, ice, and hose sprays became available.  Your race results were almost immediately available.  And there was room for just about everybody.  That is...except for the swim start!

I could not have been in a worse position for a swim start wave than I was on this day! I know better than to be smack in the middle of the pack.  Apparently, the news Russ gave me shortly before the race, that Melissa was in labor and we'd be grandparents that day (turned out to be the next day after a long labor!) had me preoccupied.  I enjoyed that news throughout the race, but it did make it a bit harder to focus.  Other times, it gave me a reason to focus.  Here are some photos with brief details:

Here I am just before the race with new knowledge....that I was about to officially become a Grandma! Would I race like one?  Only time would tell!

Worst swim start ever.  What was I doing in the middle of the pack?  Daydreaming about babies! Live and learn.  Further up front or off to the side next time.  

I'm in the middle with the woman in the black suit behind me. Nearly chest deep in water, I spent at least a minute waiting for a spot to dive in.  Eventually, I just dove in the can of sardines and bullied my way through.  We triathletes are typically nice people...but nice gets you nowhere inside the race.  Dive in and GO....and everyone else....MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!

At last!  Swim is over and on to the bike.  It turned out to be my worst swim time.  16:34!  Ouch!  The good news is, one can make up a few minutes on the bike and run.  If you're going to be slow...this is the place to be slow.

Out on the bike (center)!  Whereas the swim was my worst, the bike was my best!  And I didn't even feel like I was giving it my all!  My bike split was 43:45 for the 14.2 mile course.  That's 19.47 mph average!  I think I could have done 20+.  

I believe this was Jenny who won the overall award.  She is amazing!  Thirteen weeks earlier, she had a baby!  She won in 1:07.  WTG!

My run was not good.  The issues I had running for the past weeks had come to haunt me in this race.  I look like I'm struggling here!  In the end, my run was 33:11.  Not the worst, but far from the best.  I was pooped!  Definitely need to work on this run thing!

My total Triathlon time was the 2nd best for this race since racing here in 2008.  1:40:04.  So I will not complain and take it victoriously!  Here are my results since 2008 for comparison:

2008 ~ Swim: 15.36/T1: 3:49/Bike: 49:56/T2: 2:15/Run: 33:52/Total Time: 1:45:26

2009 ~ Swim: 14:19/T1: 4:46/Bike: 51:31/T2: 2:43/Run: 31:28/Total Time: 1:44:45

2010 ~ Swim: 15:15/T1: 2:27/Bike: 44:54/T2: 1:55/Run: 25:45/Total Time: 1:30:15

2011 ~ Did not race

2012 ~ Swim:  16:34/T1: 3:19/Bike: 43:45/T2: 3:17/Run: 33:11/Total Time: 1:40:04

It's interesting to compare years and see how I could improve on transition time and make a difference.  That's an easy enough task.  I took the time to spray sun block on, snap my ice towel, etc.  Have to work on this.  

So...add another finisher's medal to the collection.  It was fun to be back in my usual racing routine after last year's absence through most of them.  

But the greatest prize of all?  

My new little granddaughter, Charlie!  

Next up:  The Lake Zurich Olympic  (.9 mile swim/24 mile bike/10K run).....

Happy Trails!

FABIO'S FIRST RACE

The signs are up.  The Expo is over.  The transition area is almost ready.  After missing last year due to injuries, I am excited to be back!  It's going to be a hot day tomorrow, but hopefully, I'll be done before 9 AM.  Thanks to an early wave start.  This is about the only race I do where the oldest goes first and the youngest last.  Sometimes....it pays to be old!  :)

My black stallion bike is NOT old, however, and I am anxious to test him out in his first race.  "Fabio" as he is fondly named by co-worker, Brian B., is all gussied up and ready to go.  Bathed and a chain that is cleaned with some new, fresh oil.

Today was Expo day where you pick up your packet, get your body marked and check out the sponsor displays (freebies and shopping to boot).  I ran into Janet, a newer friend who is a friend's mother in law who flies out here every summer from the Netherlands.  She is also newer to triathlon not getting started until later in life.  She flies and beats us all and we couldn't be prouder of her!  Janet and I secured our race kits and hit the body marking area.  Good thing we did when we did because by the time I left, there was a long line!

As always, the Expo was nice and an air of excitement filled the grounds.

                        (Toyota is this year's big sponsor)

                       (Packet pick-up gittin' crowded!)

                                (Sponsor, "Urban Tri Gear" had a nice set up)

(Nice to catch Esther, Janet, Thomas and Rebecca, with pup, at the Expo)

                      (The Expo was at the beautiful grounds of Naper Settlement)

So....Everything is set and ready to go.  Just one more meal and one more sleep~

Best wishes to all racing tomorrow!  Stay cool out there tomorrow!  As the race organizer says:
SHE SWIMS, SHE BIKES, SHE RUNS.....SHE ROX!

Happy Trails!

The Chicagoland Spring Marathon/Half Marathon brought about 1300 runners to the Schaumburg area, a suburb of Chicago.  Sunny, hot, breezy...the race would be a challenge!  I had trouble almost immediately.  Mile two and I already had a side cramp.  This lasted through mile four where I took a bathroom break and poured some water on myself.  Felt better until nearly at the 10K mark.  Ankles, feet and legs were tired and sore.  Possibly, this was due to my shoe frenzy last week.  Add the heat and it just spelled trouble.  Official time was 3:02!  Nearly a 14 pace!  Spent much time walking and just couldn't get a rhythm going on the run.

Well, it is what it is and I crossed the finish line standing up.  There were times I wondered!  The temp was around 90 by10:30 AM, so upper 80s at the finish line by the time I crossed it.  A breeze in the woods gave occasional respite.  It was wonderful running with friends, however.  And that in itself made the race totally worth it!

Two Day Active Rest

So here we are...two days to lift off.  The race event is being yellow flagged with a high of 87 in the forecast.  My one and only other half marathon was also yellow flagged.  August 1, 2010 for the Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  It also was well into the 80s and VERY humid.  Much of the course was along Lake Michigan.  I had figured it would be cooler by the lake but what little breeze there was came from the west INTO the lake providing ZERO relief.  It was so humid, steam was rising off the lake.  Ozone levels were up.  There was about 20,000 people running that race.  There was rarely a time you weren't surrounded by people.  Here's a video of what it was like running that race.  Fun in the downtown area.  Not as fun once on Lake Shore Drive going south.  The crowds were gone and it was just us runners sharing the misery.  :D

The Chicagoland Spring Marathon & Half Marathon in Schaumburg, IL will only have about 1,300 racers.  MUCH, MUCH smaller.  And for a slower runner like me, there will be lots of people left on the course when I cross the finish line.

Tomorrow AM...POSSIBLY a short bike and easy at that.  Dinner out at an Italian restaurant (two nights in a row, in fact) so a bit of pasta and I'm good to go!  My worries will only be how my BRAND new shoes work (had trouble with the new stability shoes and had to take them back after getting some severe tightness in the shins....Went back to my previous pair only NEW b/c old ones were worn out...BAD TIMING!), and the hot weather.

Hoping to finish under 2:36 which was my last time on the half.  I hit a major wall on mile 8 from going to fast too soon.  Hope I learned from that and can better pace myself.  May follow the 2:30 pacer and if there is enough steam left in my tank and all goes well, maybe I can even beat that.  But given the heat....as the race director said, "The hot day is not the time to PR!"  So....playing it safe here!

Happy Trails and good luck to my friends running the race.  Best wishes Paul on your 40th birthday gift to yourself by doing the FULL marathon!  You rock!

12 Miles to the Half Marathon

It's one week before I do my 2nd ever half marathon.  The Chicago Rock and Roll half marathon was the first one I ever did on a hot, steamy, July day of 2010.  Two hours and thirty six minutes from start to finish, six minutes over my goal.  So what will half marathon of 2012 bring?  I will be happy to finish since it's been nearly two years from the first one.  But I sure would like that 2:30 or less.

To help with such a goal, I ran more often, with a bit more mileage and ended each week with a long, slow distance run.  For the past several weeks, I added a mile to a mile and a half to the long run.  Today was the last long run before the race at 12 miles.  I looked at these runs as an adventure, packing water and bare necessities for the journey.  Here's a photo journal of today's 12 miler:

From my house to Springbrook Prairie Preserve...1.25 miles to the entrance and 5.75 miles on the path that will end right at the halfway mark.  I love running in the prairie.  So much to see!  Deer, birds, frogs, other runners and bikers....   It looks very secluded, but most of the path has much civilization on the outer perimeter.

Near mile 3, a crane wades in the ponds.  This is a bed full of cranes and herons.

It looks like a giant hill up a ways from here, but it's a bit of an illusion.  Looked extra golden against the dark, stormy sky.

There was a deer under that leafy tree, but it ran off into the prairie by the time I took this.  Maybe if you looked hard enough, you could see his ears and face in the grasses.  He didn't go to far...just far enough to think I couldn't see him...or her.  It was a young deer.

Even on this cool day, I was quite sweaty.  Hydrating is super important.  Drank at mile 3.75 (these markers were not an accurate count of my run since I did not START on this path), 6.25, 8.50 and 10.25.  At 6.25, I also popped in 3 shot blocks for refueling.  :)

You can't see the red wing tip on this black bird, but they are abundant in this prairie.  One would think they own the place with their numbers and the way they proudly display themselves on tall, skinny blades of prairie grass.

Forget about all your troubles......Put on a happy face....  Certain parts of this prairie make you forget you live in a town of 150,000.

Last weekend, when I ran with my friend, Rebecca, I had to pull over three times to empty stones from my shoes.  Only had to do this once today.

Love how this path winds around.

Cyclists enjoying the cloud formation laden path...

Considering that someone once dumped an alligator in one of these Springbrook ponds, I don't think swimming here is too tempting.

Leaving the nature area at exactly the halfway point.  Six miles and still going strong.

Running past a retention pond in an unincorporated area.

Liked how these trees led the way into the neighborhood...From unincorporated...to incorporated.

Long stretch of sidewalk.  To infinity and beyond!

This is a sad, sad picture.  So many times in the past two years, I would ride my bike to that driveway where good friend, Richard and sometimes his wife, Pauline, would gather other cyclists for our weekend long cycling adventure.  Many GREAT memories of stories, jokes, prayers, chit chats that started and ended our road trips to Tour de Farms at this lovely home of Richard and Pauline.  Miss them like mad!  They live in Des Moines.  Might see Pauline in a few weeks when she visits!

YIKES....Mile 8.  Mile 8 is always a "HIT THE WALL" mile for me.  It wasn't tooooo bad this time, but as usual, it started the decline of my energy and form.  Had to keep reminding myself to maintain good form to keep light on my feet.  Muscles were getting tired.  Slouching becomes the preferred form and I have to straighten up and suck in my gut.  This really does help and yet, seems to take more effort.  An odd feeling.  It'll be a bit miserable from now to the end.

To the left....my house just two short blocks down the road.  To the right, another 3 miles of running.  Am I insane?  I turned right and went for the whole thing.  "See you later, house....I've got three more miserable miles to go!"

Didn't mind these underground sprinkler systems today.  Hit me, baby!

Mile ten was at the entrance to Knock Knolls park.  A trail I use for cycling often.  Sure do miss my bike right about now!  Seems much easier than this run!  But two more miles to go!  I can do this!

The last mile as I pass Kingsley School (on my left).  Over this hill and turning left for the final mile.  That couch is calling my name!

Home, Sweet, Home!  I did it !!!!  Next weekend....13.1 miles.  So now...the recovery begins and the taper week also begins.  No more 5 milers or intervals.  Just nice, short runs to keep things going but not building up lactic acid.

Looking forward to recovering these tired muscles!

A cup of plain non-fat Greek yogurt mixed with all natural peach preserves with no cane sugar added. Yum!  Get that protein in within 30 minutes of such a workout.  Relax...and HEAL!

Half Marathon....Here I come!

Happy Trails!