Watch out now, cause here I come

I did it I'm headed to Amica Ironman 70.3 in Providence, Rhode Island.  I am so beyond excited, I really don't know how to contain myself, and then I have to workout and it all gets contained.  What even better about this is its my 'A' race of the year.  I am going all out for this event.  I'm inviting friends and family to come see me race, I'm making it a weekend in Providence with my family (even though its about an hour away from our new home), I even made shirts for my family.

Seeing as how I could not do this or accomplish all of this with out them, I thought this shirt is very fitting.  So far my family has loved the design and are looking forward to wearing the shirts.

Oh, I just ordered my very first Garmin. I am really excited about, I was torn between Garmin Forerunner 310XT and the Garmin Forerunner 305.  I wanted one that was able to keep up with all three of my sports and that could handle a little bit of a beating.  Now I realize that Garmins are not supposed to be dropped or banged on but it needs to be a little rugged.  Granted the 305 isn't water proof and the 310XT, but after talking with a number of people I can have different alternatives that would allow me to still use the 305 properly without ruining it.  Well I ordered my new toy and its on its way here now!  I am so incredibly excited about it.  Oh well maybe I should tell you which one I choose, huh?  Well here it is:

(its the Garmin Forerunner 305)

The most important I learned was when I am doing an open water swim, I should put the 305 in my cap. Now I would not have thought about that, so as soon as I heard that I'm even more excited to use it.  Should I get more into triathlons and find out what the 305 can and can't do, I might consider upgrading to the 310XT, but that will come much further down the road.

On a different note, I have signed up to become an ambassador for The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.  This is very exciting for me, I have had many members in my family and some friends personally affected by cancer.  I want to do my part and this is one of the best ways for me to help.  I have to raise money and race in a triathlon or 2, to help young adults connect with other young adults going through cancer as well.  Now on my page I have this icon:

By clicking on the Team Fight icon it will take you to my fundraising page where you can help me make the lives of those fighting cancer just a little bit easier.  I will racing in the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon in Columbia, Maryland on August 21st, 2011.  I have always wanted to race in an Iron Girl and what a better way to race in this event by raising money for cancer.

As you can see I have many things coming up in next year.  I will talk with you all again soon.

Long time =)

SO its been a hot minute since I've been on.  Here is the latest, greatest and then some.  Since I was last on I've been seeing the physical therapist every week.

Well lets start at the beginning, the Monday after my injury I went in to see my physical therapist.  They confirmed what my doctor said about the level of my injury.  She also confirmed my statement that my doctor is an idiot, cause what man with a medical degree does not think a person who can not walk or place any sort of weight on her foot does not deserve crutches.

Gosh my doctor is an idiot!

So after all the poking and manipulating I was able to finally get to sit and do EMS and have my foot wrapped in an ice.  My PT told me to call my doctor and get on crutches.  While I sat there, I made the ever special phone call to my doctor and told him he was an idiot and I needed to be on crutches.  45 minutes later I was getting a set of crutches.  Not what I wanted, but c'est la vie.

I'm 3 weeks out from my initial injury now I have been seeing my physical therapist every week, my swelling has gone down, I can move my ankle and walk without crutches.  HALLELUJAH!  I'm slowly progressing and I'm not trying to push myself to fast.

I was cleared to swim about 2 weeks ago, to help get the flexion use back into my foot.  But alas, I never made it to the pool.  Then last week my PT suggested I start using on the stationary bike.  SO I went ahead and changed out my pedals on my bike so I can start pedaling around base.  I can't wait to start using my clips again, but right now my ankle isn't strong enough to handle the clipping out.  But the best part of this whole thing is...I can start working out no to light impact!

IN OTHER NEWS:

I finally heard one of my new mentors and someone I hope to be like one day Marni Subal.  She is a 4 time Ironman and my kick-butt nutritionist.  She is wonderful and can only hope to be like her and go to Kona at least once.

Now, I have to read a 33-page nutrition plan and start logging my food.  This is going to be the hard part for me, but for with some practice I'm sure I'll figure it out.

I also have found a tri coach, Coaches Diane and Jeff Kline.  I won't know my training schedule will look like because we have our first meeting tomorrow morning via Skype.  So more about that will come later.

I am registering for the Mooseman 70.3 Ironman and the Rhode Island 70.3 Ironman.  It is crazy to think that I'll be competing in a Half Ironman.  I think the thing that scares me the most is that I can't/have difficulty running.  I'll be fine in the swim the cycling but UGH! I don't like to run.  This is the biggest part of my triathlon I'm going to have work on.  Just the thought of running gives me shin splints, blah.

OH! My girl Christine has me watching the ENTIRE first season of Glee.  Really, I can't believe how addicting it is.  Crappy acting, IMO, but I love the music.  And the lead male the teacher looks like Justing Timberlake.

Saturday night I spent some wonderful time with my girl Samantha, we hung out at her place drank some vino while the kids played.  I missed hanging out with her and it was such a wonderful night.  I love our girls night, they are so much fun.

The movers are coming in a couple weeks to pack us up and move us out to Rhode Island.  I'm getting to the bittersweet stage of our time here on Guam.  I am so going to miss Guam, but I'm looking forward to our new adventure that is coming.

Alright, I must come to a close now.  I promise to write more often.

ROAD BLOCK!

In May I was training for a 2.5 mile open water swim, my body was in getting into wonderful shape, I had a killer training regiment down, I had a goal.  I accomplished my goal.  Now I am seeing that even though I am doing things, competing in races, taking classes, and doing what I need to I do not have the same drive in my heart that I did back in May.


I coming to the conclusion I need to have circle on the calender to achieve towards, something to aim for.  My new goal, and yes its circled on the calender, is to do the Ironman 70.3 in Providence July 10, 2011.

Now I know I'm going to have other triathlons to do in the process but I have to have a huge goal to attain to.  And this is my huge goal a Half Ironman.  I honestly believe that I will be able to get back into the right frame of mind and condition properly with this goal on my calender.

Oh yeah and this other wonderful things that is an actual bump in my plans..So Godric came home yesterday, I was so excited to have him I couldn't wait to take him out. Samantha dropped by to lend me her Mag Trainer. I sat in my living room and practiced for about 15 min, I decided to take my new toy out for a spin around the neighborhood. I took off just fine, I clipped in great no issues. I became comfortable with how the mechanics of my legs now operated even though it still feels weird. Then things turned to yuck!

Hello Lover! This is my new baby Godric!

I was coming to a stop in front of my house, I had my left foot unclipped just fine, came up one the grass fell to my right (still clipped), I started to fall and I tried to unclip on my way down I fell on right ankle cause it was stuck in my cleat, my ankle popped and I unclipped all the same time. The neighbor was outside and saw it happen, asked if I was ok..it took about 5 minutes for me to get up...my ankle is wicked swollen and tender, I've already done a 10 minute ice massage and I'm elevating it right now. If its still crazy bad tomorrow, I'm going to get it looked at, I need to make sure there is no ligament or tendon damage. I can't believe I put myself into such bad situation 1) I came up on my drive way 2) only had one cleat out 3) I was trying to avoid the truck 4)I went into wet grass on slicks ...it was just bad all around.

Why Tri?

'Michelle, why are you doing triathlons?'  My answer is simple 'Why not?!' 

 I have fallen in love with the sport of triathlon and its wonderful.  Plus I'm using this new wonderful sport to lose weight.  I am not the type of person who can commit to video workout, spending long hours in the gym, oh commit to workout programs that bore me.  I enjoy being outside, I enjoy swimming, cycling and running, so why not do them all at the same time.

Now granted the sexy skin tight lycra is something less to be desired with someone who is on the heavier side, but whatever, I'm out there doing something that I am throughly enjoying.  I have found a sport that I love and can take with me where ever my husband may move us too.

Using the sport of triathlon to lose weight almost seem counterproductive.  What do I mean?  With the amount of food one has to intake when taking up a endurance sport would make any person who is trying to lose weight make them go hmmm.

The biggest problem right now, well really there are two.  The first problem is this nagging foot injury, plantar fasciitis to be exact.  The second problem, highly related to the first, I can't run. Funny thing is I was learning to run when I developed this injury and now I have redeveloped my love for swimming and cycling.

The thing that needs to happen next is I'm waiting for the weight to fall off.  With all of the swimming, cycling, weight training and yoga I'm doing I am expecting to see results, hopefully, in no time flat.  I have a crazy race schedule already set up here in Guam before we leave for Rhode Island.  I know as sure as I type this that when we get back to the states its going to be winter so I'm going to have to jump right into my off season training.  Its going to be weird have an actual season.  I'm blessed here in Guam to train all year along, but it is going to be a shocker to know I'm back into seasons.  But the BEST part of having 'season' is actual SEASONS!! It has been 4 years since I've seen fall, winter, and spring...SO EXCITED.  But more about that later

Setting my sights

Setting my sights on a HUGE new goal. The 2012 IM in Providence. I've been bitten by the tri-bug and it feels wonderful! If my workouts and training go without injury, I might even consider doing the 2011 IM. I made the max times out my times to beat, cause anything better than that would just be a benefit and add to the triumph of completing an IM. So my goal times are swim 1.2 miles: 1 hour and 10 minutes, bike 56 miles: 5 hours and 30 minutes, run 13.1: 8 hours and 30 minutes.

The only real problem I might have is in the run, but who knows the adrenaline might fix that and might surprise even myself. I am looking forward to my new adventure with my new team, Tri-NE when I get to Rhode Island.

I'm so excited to be taking part in this...so exciting!!