Normally I would not let so much time pass without posting to my blog, but if you've been reading than you'll know that I recently moved back to North Carolina after living in Central Pennsylvania for the last five years. My husband's job has taken us back to what we call, "home," even though we weren't born here.
Anyway it is great to be back here and last week I had the opportunity to attend a ladies night out at Trek Bike Shop in Raleigh. There was a clinic last Thursday July 14th from 6pm- 9pm geared for women. They had a local nutritionist, a pro-triathlete named Stacey Richardson who recently won the Triangle Triathlon for the women. I was really excited about the prospect of meeting a pro-triathlete as well as a nutritionist.
I love learning anything new but especially something new about my passion triathlon. I figured this night was going to be a win-win plus the clinic was women-specific which I thought was very cool as well.
The bike portion of the clinic was a slam dunk in my opinion. They had several people from the bike shop give some information of why a women's specific bike is advantageous. A few reasons given are that women's torso's are generally shorter than men's, that our arm reach is also generally shorter and even our seats( not bike) are different from a man's so why would it make sense to ride a men's bike? They have specific bikes made to make it more comfortable for a woman. I never really gave it too much thought but the points were valid and I remember my first road bike was designed by a man and the reach to the handle bars for me was always a little more of a stretch than I wanted. Gender specific gear makes sense.
They also spent time showing us the proper way to change a tire. While this was not new information for me it was still really great information. The review was great for me and I learned some new tips in which to make this usually gruelling process less intimidating. I even got to try doing it myself on the bike they had to demo. This exercise really helped boost my confidence even though I've changed a tire or two before.
There was also some good information given on the difference between a triathlon bike shoe and mountain or road bike shoe; the mountain bike shoe being heavier and more stable, the tri-bike shoe being easier to get in and out of for a quick transition during a triathlon. Again, I obviously know the difference but it was good information especially for someone new to the sport of triathlon. The triathlete was honest with the audience when she explained that for children doing triathlons she would not recommend a tri-bike shoe because of the expense. I agree, some of those shoes are over $200.00 so unless your child is very competitive I would agree with Stacy and stick with sneakers and toe clips on their bike.
Where I got very disappointed was the nutrition part of the program. They had a certified nutritionist and a pro-athlete there together so I had high expectations for this portion. I am not "certified," in nutrition but I am very educated in that I have been a successful triathlete for nine plus years and I have done a ton of reading on the subject for myself, but also for my son who has ADHD to try to control his symptoms through a healthy diet.
One of the areas the nutritionist covered was the importance of refuelling after a heavy workout or a race. I couldn't agree more here but where I disagree is with what she said to refuel with. When I offered what I refuel with she was very negative and said I needed to change my drink. I use a watered down Gatorade and a cliff or protein bar after a work out or hard race. The reason I water down the Gatorade is digestive issues. She said I need to find something else to drink and that watering down the Gatorade defeats the purpose of the drink. Okay fine but she offered no other suggestions on what sports drink to try. She said,"just try something else," or," try a product containing whey." I was looking for what she uses or even a list of others. When I mentioned Heed she also returned with a negative comment that she didn't like the food coloring in it. Okay, so again give me an alternative sports drink.I figured the pro-triathlete would offer up what sports recovery drink she uses but nothing was mentioned.
The nutritionist continued her recovery-drink portion by offering chocolate milk as a,"cheap," alternative to some of the sports drinks out there. I was cringing the whole time she was talking about chocolate milk as a recovery drink because I know it has become a new fad but that doesn't make it good.
There has been a lot of talk of chocolate milk as a recovery drink, but upon doing some more research on the topic I found that it really isn't a great recovery drink. Here is why; first of all you want three things in a recovery drink-electrolytes, sugars, and water. Electrolytes enable our cell membranes to carry electric impulses between cells. During intense exercise we lose potassium and sodium so we need to replace. We need simple(easily digestible) sugars to be replaced because during intense exercise we tap into our glycogen stores and when we don't replace those within two hours we start tapping into our blood sugar and this will cause muscle fatigue. Water is important for hydration.
Chocolate milk would be okay to restore some hydration as it is liquid; okay so the water or hydration area is covered. Here is where the problem starts: milk has a slower absorption rate than water, meaning that for milk to get through your,"gut," it takes much longer than water and the goal is to get a fast absorption rate so the liquid reaches your circulatory system quickly. So milk can't compete with water or a sports drink. Another problem with milk is that it's main carbohydrate is lactose which has a low glycemic index which means it digests slowly. Also commercial chocolate milk contains high fructose corn syrup which also has a low glycemic index. Research also shows that while high fructose corn syrup will give you a "sugar," boost it is a manufactured product which means you can never completely get it out of your system.
Chocolate milk's glycemic index has a value of 24. Most sport drinks contain maltodextrin or dextrose which has a glycemic value of 100. Again the chocolate milk just doesn't add up. I haven't even touched on the fact that according to the NDDIC a large portion of the population in The United States has some sort of lactose intolerance. So how does milk fit in as a recovery for those of us who can't digest milk? Milk is not practical to store either as it needs refrigeration and who has time to remember a cooler on those long runs or rides?
Okay so the nutritionist struck out on the chocolate milk recovery drink with me but what was more disturbing was the fact that when asked what the nutritional value of chocolate milk was she only answered two of the three things needed in a recovery drink. She mentioned re hydration and the sugar aspect, nothing on muscle recovery.
I was also disappointed further when someone from the audience asked the pro-triathlete what she ate while she was training. I was drooling at this question and waited for some epiphany in her answer only to be disappointed again by her response of ,"Oh everything. And peanut butter." Really? Come on this was such a missed opportunity in my opinion to talk about the importance of a balanced diet. She basically said do what works for you. There are so many ,"super," foods out there and supplements et cetera that I felt like this seminar had so many missed opportunities to help us become better athletes through what we eat. After all information is power.
There were some really good raffles and sales going on during the ladies night. I even won an entry into a triathlon for next year which I am really excited about. I had a fun night out with the girls and a decent glass of wine at the restaurant across the street. The bike information was great so all was not lost.
Tri-On Friends,
Kelly
check out these websites for some more info on chocolate milk as recovery drink and what to use to make your own healthy recovery drink using fruit and veggies.
http://mikesmixrecoverydrink.com/chocolate-milk-recovery-drink/
http://www.raw-food-health.net/Homemade-Sports-Drink.html
Showing posts with label Triangle Triathlon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Triangle Triathlon. Show all posts
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tri- Scheduling
Okay it's January 7th have you kept your resolutions so far? One week into the new year and I have even slipped on some of my new goals, but have no fear, just like slipping off of a new diet or exercise program, it is easy to get back on the wagon. Don't sabotage yourself if you haven't quite kept up, goals are not an all or nothing experiment. I have learned through triathlon that slow and steady is the way to success to get myself to the finish line and the same applies to things that we want in life; slow and steady and you'll get there.
This post is about making a plan for race season. I am often asked about the different types of triathlon and how I decide what races to do. Each January, along with my resolutions, I sit down and make a list of the different races and distances that I want to accomplish for the upcoming season. I am a planner and I tend to stick with things more if I have them in writing. My husband says,"Don't put things in writing unless you really mean it." There is some real truth in that statement because I find that writing things down puts ownership on it. Especially when I am writing a blog for an audience, I better do what I say or I am going to lose credibility. Highly successful people write things down and follow through. So no matter if you are planning to lose weight, quit smoking, or starting a business, a written plan will help you.
There are four different levels of triathlon. The original triathlon was the full distance or Iron distance triathlon. In 1977 a bet was made between five men after a running event. The argument was, who is the better athlete: a runner, a swimmer, or a cyclist? Each person thought their area of expertise made them the better athlete and so they came up with a contest to take place in Hawaii. The gruelling winds, the heat and the distance would make it an incredible challenge.They would swim 1.2 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles to see who faired the best and so Kona Triathlon or the Ironman World Triathlon was created.
The triathlon bug caught on in the 1990's and race directors around the country realized they could attract more athletes by adding some different distances. There is a Half Iron distance which is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a half marathon(13.1). The challenging Olympic Distance(which was just added in 2000 to the Olympics), which consists of 1 mile swim, a 25-30 mile bike and a 10 K run. Finally, for the newbie or really fast athlete there is the Sprint Triathlon which usually consists of a half mile swim, a 15-20 mile bike, and a 5k run. Don't scoff at any of the shorter versions of triathlon because each distance offers a unique challenge. Terrain and weather conditions can turn a sprint into a tough event.
When planning your race schedule it is important to keep the distances in mind. Obviously if you have never done a triathlon before it would be a good idea to try a sprint distance in my opinion. That is the shortest distance, but by no means the easiest because you have to go fast to get placement in these types of events. A pool swim is also important if you are newbie to the sport. Many athletes that are not well versed in swimming panic and a pool swim is a great way to ease any swim anxiety. Many YMCA's offer triathlons with pool swims. This is an excellent way to start if you are interested because it won't take over your life in order to train for the event. A few hours a week diligently training in each venue will get you to the finish line. When you get into the Olympic distance and on up to Ironman the training gets more involved and becomes a second job to most, but it can be done.
Once you decide on the distance then it is time to find an event. This can be done by searching the Internet and looking for local events. If it is your first triathlon I would recommend you find one local. Triathlon entry fees can be pricey. It costs the race director a lot more money to put on one of these events because you need area to swim, bike and run along with timing programs and public officials to help manage large amount of people doing it; hence it is more expensive to put on than a running event. I like Active.com to find events but I also love talking to other athletes to see which events they liked and why. Other triathletes will talk to you all day long about this stuff. I think staying local will also cut down on your lodging expenses. Once you've tried it and had some success, than you could move to another distance and even another town or state. I guarantee if you train properly and plan accordingly you'll be hooked and you will want to do another and then another.
I usually plan on around four triathlons per season. I could probably do more but that seems to fit into my life and not overtake other important areas like work and family. I like to do smaller distances to start my season and then end my season with the longer distances. This type of staging makes perfect sense because just like my training, the racing is a gradual build to the longer distance at the end of my season. I love to do local events because I feel I am supporting my community that way. The Tricat Sports series is a group of triathlons that I like to do each year and the races are near my hometown of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
The series benefits cystic fibrosis. The series offers a few sprint distance tri's along with an Olympic distance and this year they may be offering a half iron distance. Don't let the sprints fool you; these are challenging sprints- one takes place in the hilly area of Pinchot State park and the other is a course on City Island in Harrisburg, PA. The swim on City Island takes place in the Susquehanna River and it is not for the person who is fearful of the water; at any given time you may dodge logs, rocks or people.
Another series that is close to home for me is called the Rivertown Race Series. This series offers triathlons, running and cycling events. But sometimes you can't find races that are local to meet your needs so you have to figure out how much you want to spend and what distances you want. I used to live in North Carolina and there is a wonderful series there where you could do a race every weekend if you wanted, but I wouldn't recommend it. Florida is another state that offers a nice variety of triathlon events.
There are some great books out there to help with training once you've decided on what event or events. A favorite of mine is called Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals by Steven Jonas. It is the first book I read on triathlon and it gives wonderful advice as well as realistic training programs. I would recommend it for the new triathlete or the well versed.
Look for me this year at the Philadelphia Olympic Distance Triathlon. I've always wanted to do this one but I usually get closed out. Yet another reason to plan early. The more popular venues fill up quickly and ofter there is a cap on the event.
There is a lot to consider when signing up for a triathlon but that is another reason why I love it. My type"A" personality thrives on the fact that I must plan accordingly for my season. Triathlon is so involved because of the equipment, time, training, and planning, but that is one more bragging right that you can enjoy when you cross the finish line, and say,"Yeah, I did that one!"
Happy Tri-ing!
Kelly
P.S. My last entry I mentioned that I wanted to start a charity called Empower-Tees. Please collect your old race shirts(gently used or new) and inspiring sports tee-shirts to send to the women's and men's shelters in Harrisburg, PA. I believe that we may be able to inspire some struggling folks to get fit, but also to change their lives for the better. I'll soon have a PO Box where you can send your new or gently used tees, so look for more info soon.
This post is about making a plan for race season. I am often asked about the different types of triathlon and how I decide what races to do. Each January, along with my resolutions, I sit down and make a list of the different races and distances that I want to accomplish for the upcoming season. I am a planner and I tend to stick with things more if I have them in writing. My husband says,"Don't put things in writing unless you really mean it." There is some real truth in that statement because I find that writing things down puts ownership on it. Especially when I am writing a blog for an audience, I better do what I say or I am going to lose credibility. Highly successful people write things down and follow through. So no matter if you are planning to lose weight, quit smoking, or starting a business, a written plan will help you.
There are four different levels of triathlon. The original triathlon was the full distance or Iron distance triathlon. In 1977 a bet was made between five men after a running event. The argument was, who is the better athlete: a runner, a swimmer, or a cyclist? Each person thought their area of expertise made them the better athlete and so they came up with a contest to take place in Hawaii. The gruelling winds, the heat and the distance would make it an incredible challenge.They would swim 1.2 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a full marathon of 26.2 miles to see who faired the best and so Kona Triathlon or the Ironman World Triathlon was created.
The triathlon bug caught on in the 1990's and race directors around the country realized they could attract more athletes by adding some different distances. There is a Half Iron distance which is a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a half marathon(13.1). The challenging Olympic Distance(which was just added in 2000 to the Olympics), which consists of 1 mile swim, a 25-30 mile bike and a 10 K run. Finally, for the newbie or really fast athlete there is the Sprint Triathlon which usually consists of a half mile swim, a 15-20 mile bike, and a 5k run. Don't scoff at any of the shorter versions of triathlon because each distance offers a unique challenge. Terrain and weather conditions can turn a sprint into a tough event.
When planning your race schedule it is important to keep the distances in mind. Obviously if you have never done a triathlon before it would be a good idea to try a sprint distance in my opinion. That is the shortest distance, but by no means the easiest because you have to go fast to get placement in these types of events. A pool swim is also important if you are newbie to the sport. Many athletes that are not well versed in swimming panic and a pool swim is a great way to ease any swim anxiety. Many YMCA's offer triathlons with pool swims. This is an excellent way to start if you are interested because it won't take over your life in order to train for the event. A few hours a week diligently training in each venue will get you to the finish line. When you get into the Olympic distance and on up to Ironman the training gets more involved and becomes a second job to most, but it can be done.
Once you decide on the distance then it is time to find an event. This can be done by searching the Internet and looking for local events. If it is your first triathlon I would recommend you find one local. Triathlon entry fees can be pricey. It costs the race director a lot more money to put on one of these events because you need area to swim, bike and run along with timing programs and public officials to help manage large amount of people doing it; hence it is more expensive to put on than a running event. I like Active.com to find events but I also love talking to other athletes to see which events they liked and why. Other triathletes will talk to you all day long about this stuff. I think staying local will also cut down on your lodging expenses. Once you've tried it and had some success, than you could move to another distance and even another town or state. I guarantee if you train properly and plan accordingly you'll be hooked and you will want to do another and then another.
I usually plan on around four triathlons per season. I could probably do more but that seems to fit into my life and not overtake other important areas like work and family. I like to do smaller distances to start my season and then end my season with the longer distances. This type of staging makes perfect sense because just like my training, the racing is a gradual build to the longer distance at the end of my season. I love to do local events because I feel I am supporting my community that way. The Tricat Sports series is a group of triathlons that I like to do each year and the races are near my hometown of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
The series benefits cystic fibrosis. The series offers a few sprint distance tri's along with an Olympic distance and this year they may be offering a half iron distance. Don't let the sprints fool you; these are challenging sprints- one takes place in the hilly area of Pinchot State park and the other is a course on City Island in Harrisburg, PA. The swim on City Island takes place in the Susquehanna River and it is not for the person who is fearful of the water; at any given time you may dodge logs, rocks or people.
Another series that is close to home for me is called the Rivertown Race Series. This series offers triathlons, running and cycling events. But sometimes you can't find races that are local to meet your needs so you have to figure out how much you want to spend and what distances you want. I used to live in North Carolina and there is a wonderful series there where you could do a race every weekend if you wanted, but I wouldn't recommend it. Florida is another state that offers a nice variety of triathlon events.
There are some great books out there to help with training once you've decided on what event or events. A favorite of mine is called Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals by Steven Jonas. It is the first book I read on triathlon and it gives wonderful advice as well as realistic training programs. I would recommend it for the new triathlete or the well versed.
Look for me this year at the Philadelphia Olympic Distance Triathlon. I've always wanted to do this one but I usually get closed out. Yet another reason to plan early. The more popular venues fill up quickly and ofter there is a cap on the event.
There is a lot to consider when signing up for a triathlon but that is another reason why I love it. My type"A" personality thrives on the fact that I must plan accordingly for my season. Triathlon is so involved because of the equipment, time, training, and planning, but that is one more bragging right that you can enjoy when you cross the finish line, and say,"Yeah, I did that one!"
Happy Tri-ing!
Kelly
P.S. My last entry I mentioned that I wanted to start a charity called Empower-Tees. Please collect your old race shirts(gently used or new) and inspiring sports tee-shirts to send to the women's and men's shelters in Harrisburg, PA. I believe that we may be able to inspire some struggling folks to get fit, but also to change their lives for the better. I'll soon have a PO Box where you can send your new or gently used tees, so look for more info soon.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Hydro-Benefits
As a forty something age group triathlete my priorities regarding racing have changed. I used to obsess over times and statistics of other racers as compared to my own stats, but now I’m more concerned with staying injury free and healthy so I can continue to participate for many more years in my sport.
I’m always looking for new and innovative ways to stay low impact with my running portion of triathlon. I’ve found some nice mulch trails near my home and soccer fields that keep me off the pavement. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to use the HydroWorx therapy pool as part of my low impact workout.
The HydroWorx pool is unique because it has an underwater treadmill. I can get a run workout in 80% impact free. I was skeptical at first but within one use of the pool I was hooked.
I’ve tried regular pool running before with a weight belt in the deep end of the pool. I found this way of running very awkward, but the HydroWorx pool wasn’t because it is set up like a regular treadmill where your feet hit the ground; the difference is that you are in water and it doesn’t hurt.
The workout in the HydroWorx pool is also challenging, which as an endurance athlete I welcome. There are swim jets that create resistance while you are running; it is a one two punch as I’m getting my run done and I’m off the pavement. The jets can also be used to simulate an open water swim which I will touch on in a later blog; but that is another reason why the pool is so versatile.
I get bored easily with my training and workouts, which is one of the reasons why I love triathlon so much; I get to mix up three sports. Use of the therapy pool helps me keep my workouts fresh; I look forward to going and using the pool and I know I’m getting great results. The pool is fun too because I can watch myself while I’m running. There are underwater cameras that show what my feet look like when they hit the treadmill so I have instant feedback on my gait and I can instantly correct if I’m over or under pronating.
One of the things I’ve noticed is after my training session in the HydroWorx pool I’m energized. I feel like I could go back for more and I rarely feel that way after pounding the pavement for an hour or more. After my last session in the pool I noticed a significant change in my running the very next day. I was refreshed and not sore and was able to run longer as a result of using the underwater treadmill. I was only scheduled to run five miles that day but ran seven because I felt so good. The realization; I need to incorporate the pool into my weekly routine to maximize my running.
I can’t imagine life without triathlon; to me it is like eating or sleeping or taking a shower; it is necessity. I have wondered lately how I will keep my body going and now I have an answer; the HydroWorx pool.
Tri- on Friends,
Kelly
Friday, October 8, 2010
Tri-Dentity
Identity n.- characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized or defined.
There are many things that define us as people. Some people are defined by their careers. Family defines many of us and even possessions can play a large role in who we think we are. I had always been associated with what I did for employment. I don't want to say that it completely defined me as a person, but in some way I was identified by where I was working. My first job, at age sixteen, was at Bob's Big Boy in Fairlawn, Ohio. I wore a brown polyester uniform with fluorescent stripes on my apron. I was thrilled at being a server. My friends nick-named me,"Big Boy-girl." I didn't care, in fact I thought it was funny.
I worked at Payless Shoes for a while in high school and was known as,"Payless Queen." I didn't mind. After college I moved to North Carolina and got my first "real" job as a manager for a bagel bakery. I had just graduated and really wanted something in my field of communications, but I needed to pay the bills so I took the job at Bruegger's. Six years later, I was The Director of Training, where I helped train and develop managers. The program was the first in the country and I helped design it. I took an ordinary job and made my mark. I was known to my friends as the,"bagel-lady." After I left Bruegger's, I took a sales job for a computer hardware and software company. The funny part is when I started there I had no idea what I was selling, but I was successful because I loved talking to my customers. My nick-name there,"computer chick."
Then I had my first child and my husband and I decided that it would be in our son's best interest for me to stay home. We lived far from our families and didn't want to pay outrageous prices for day-care. I thought it would be so great to just be a "mom," for a while and take care of my son. Having my two sons was the best thing that ever happened to me, but I won't lie, in the beginning, it was hard for me to be a stay at home parent. I felt a part of "me" was gone.
Most of my friends were still working when I had Bryce. I found that I was lonely and tired most of the time raising a new born. I joined a play group when he was a toddler, and while that helped get me out of the house, I was still craving something more in my life. I know it sounds selfish, but I missed being out in the working world, I missed talking to people that had more to offer than decorating and cooking tips.
When my husband came home from work I talked incessantly. He was my only contact sometimes to the outside world. He was tired too, as he was building his career, and for the first time he was tackling all of the finances. Needless to say, he wasn't always interested in my day of diaper changing, laundry, chores, and the first milestones or lack of them with our new child.
Later, we learned that my son was speech delayed and that he had a mild heart problem. When he first entered school there were more problems, as he couldn't focus or write his letters. His brain wasn't connecting to the muscles in his hand, he had something called dyspraxia. Thankfully, he had a wonderful kindergarten teacher that recognized the problems and immediately brought them to my attention. We were proactive in getting him the help he needed to succeed in school. I am proud to say that today, at the age of thirteen, Bryce is an honor roll student at Northern Middle School, but more importantly an awesome young man.
Bryce's elementary school years were tough; it was a long road to get him to middle school. I felt isolated most of the time talking to other parents about his Attention Deficit Disorder. None of my friends with kids had anything like that. My husband was very supportive of whatever I wanted to do to render these issues, but was preoccupied. The reality was that I felt more alone than ever.
I joined the YMCA when Bryce was two and it was a place to exercise at first; later it became my outlet. I met other mothers and it helped to have a place to work out where I could leave my kids and feel comfortable. I used the pool, ran on the treadmill and every once in a while I'd do a spin class; I loved cross training as I never grew tired of one thing.
Then in 2002, I saw an ad for a sprint triathlon in a local magazine. I had always wanted to try one and with my swimming background I thought it sounded like fun. I read a book called Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals to train and learn about triathlon racing.I completed my first triathlon called Triangle Triathlon in Raleigh, NC that July.
Needless to say I was hooked. I used my old mountain bike and wore a camel back for water, two mistakes, but I loved every minute of it. I made plans for my next triathlon after I finished.
Training time for my first event, and then later others, was therapeutic. I could think and plan and suddenly the challenges my son was facing did not seem to overwhelm me as much as in the past. I was able to throw my body into a rhythm and while I was working out my mind seemed to get into a meditative state. I began to feel whole again.
After my first event I felt as though I had part of my identity back. I had given up a career and all that goes with that and I had become someone's mom. I was now known as "Bryce's mom," and later as," Nick's mom." My husbands colleagues knew me as,"Mark's wife." Even at the YMCA I was known as ,"that mom who works out a lot." All of those titles are wonderful, don't get me wrong, but someone else was attached to those identities. Triathlon gave me back a piece of myself that wasn't attached to anyone except Kelly.
This entry is an important one. I wanted to share with other women,( and men too), honestly, about how mothers (and fathers), can give so much of themselves that we lose who we are. We are defined by many roles, but triathlon gave me back an important part of my identity.
Tri-on Friends!
Kelly
There are many things that define us as people. Some people are defined by their careers. Family defines many of us and even possessions can play a large role in who we think we are. I had always been associated with what I did for employment. I don't want to say that it completely defined me as a person, but in some way I was identified by where I was working. My first job, at age sixteen, was at Bob's Big Boy in Fairlawn, Ohio. I wore a brown polyester uniform with fluorescent stripes on my apron. I was thrilled at being a server. My friends nick-named me,"Big Boy-girl." I didn't care, in fact I thought it was funny.
I worked at Payless Shoes for a while in high school and was known as,"Payless Queen." I didn't mind. After college I moved to North Carolina and got my first "real" job as a manager for a bagel bakery. I had just graduated and really wanted something in my field of communications, but I needed to pay the bills so I took the job at Bruegger's. Six years later, I was The Director of Training, where I helped train and develop managers. The program was the first in the country and I helped design it. I took an ordinary job and made my mark. I was known to my friends as the,"bagel-lady." After I left Bruegger's, I took a sales job for a computer hardware and software company. The funny part is when I started there I had no idea what I was selling, but I was successful because I loved talking to my customers. My nick-name there,"computer chick."
Then I had my first child and my husband and I decided that it would be in our son's best interest for me to stay home. We lived far from our families and didn't want to pay outrageous prices for day-care. I thought it would be so great to just be a "mom," for a while and take care of my son. Having my two sons was the best thing that ever happened to me, but I won't lie, in the beginning, it was hard for me to be a stay at home parent. I felt a part of "me" was gone.
Most of my friends were still working when I had Bryce. I found that I was lonely and tired most of the time raising a new born. I joined a play group when he was a toddler, and while that helped get me out of the house, I was still craving something more in my life. I know it sounds selfish, but I missed being out in the working world, I missed talking to people that had more to offer than decorating and cooking tips.
When my husband came home from work I talked incessantly. He was my only contact sometimes to the outside world. He was tired too, as he was building his career, and for the first time he was tackling all of the finances. Needless to say, he wasn't always interested in my day of diaper changing, laundry, chores, and the first milestones or lack of them with our new child.
Later, we learned that my son was speech delayed and that he had a mild heart problem. When he first entered school there were more problems, as he couldn't focus or write his letters. His brain wasn't connecting to the muscles in his hand, he had something called dyspraxia. Thankfully, he had a wonderful kindergarten teacher that recognized the problems and immediately brought them to my attention. We were proactive in getting him the help he needed to succeed in school. I am proud to say that today, at the age of thirteen, Bryce is an honor roll student at Northern Middle School, but more importantly an awesome young man.
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| The two most important parts of my identity:) |
I joined the YMCA when Bryce was two and it was a place to exercise at first; later it became my outlet. I met other mothers and it helped to have a place to work out where I could leave my kids and feel comfortable. I used the pool, ran on the treadmill and every once in a while I'd do a spin class; I loved cross training as I never grew tired of one thing.
Then in 2002, I saw an ad for a sprint triathlon in a local magazine. I had always wanted to try one and with my swimming background I thought it sounded like fun. I read a book called Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals to train and learn about triathlon racing.I completed my first triathlon called Triangle Triathlon in Raleigh, NC that July.
Needless to say I was hooked. I used my old mountain bike and wore a camel back for water, two mistakes, but I loved every minute of it. I made plans for my next triathlon after I finished.
Training time for my first event, and then later others, was therapeutic. I could think and plan and suddenly the challenges my son was facing did not seem to overwhelm me as much as in the past. I was able to throw my body into a rhythm and while I was working out my mind seemed to get into a meditative state. I began to feel whole again.
After my first event I felt as though I had part of my identity back. I had given up a career and all that goes with that and I had become someone's mom. I was now known as "Bryce's mom," and later as," Nick's mom." My husbands colleagues knew me as,"Mark's wife." Even at the YMCA I was known as ,"that mom who works out a lot." All of those titles are wonderful, don't get me wrong, but someone else was attached to those identities. Triathlon gave me back a piece of myself that wasn't attached to anyone except Kelly.
This entry is an important one. I wanted to share with other women,( and men too), honestly, about how mothers (and fathers), can give so much of themselves that we lose who we are. We are defined by many roles, but triathlon gave me back an important part of my identity.
Tri-on Friends!
Kelly
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