The Main Event!

The night before the race I woke up at 11:45 pm and couldn’t go back to sleep.  The combination of husband’s snoring, raw nerves and raging upset stomach kept me tossing around until 4:00 am when it was time to get up anyway. The whole time I kept telling myself that this was stupid, I was stupid for thinking I could do something like this, I would never make it past the swim segment, and I would fail miserably in front of thousands of strangers. As much as I wanted to back out at this point, I started to feel like I would let down too many people if I bailed, so at 4:00 am I started getting ready.  My tri buddy knocked on the door to make sure I was up, and told me she was on her way out with her husband.  I would be lucky to get mine out of bed by the 5:00 deadline to roll out.  I was too nervous to eat (felt like throwing up) and spent the time pacing and loading up the car.  We drove out to the middle of nowhere (about 40 minutes into the Napa mountains to Lake Berryessa), me clutching the wheel the entire time trying to contain my guts and keep them from going one way or the other.  I was a shaking terrified mess.

We parked in our assigned spot, and I made it to the transition area. I stood there looking really stupid and perplexed until Tri Buddy came running up.  She’s not a hugger, she’s more Type A - and that is exactly what I needed at that time. She pointed to where I should set up. Each participant gets a numbered box (for the front tire of the bike) and a little space for your bag. She had me put my gloves & sunglasses in my helmet, and hook it over my handlebars.  Next she had me get my running shoes out and put them under my bike, with the socks inside.  A towel went on top of that, and then my fuel.  Having her march me through each step was a life saver.  My stomach started to calm down.


Then came time to suit up.  I tugged the wetsuit halfway into place when a photographer comes up.  I flat out told her “If you take my picture I will kill you.” She promised to just take one from the waist up... Getting to the water was not much fun - you have to walk

on bare feet in the cold across gravel that trucks are usually driving boats across. I ran into Vanessa’s husband there, and my old coach Neil (there for the Olympic distance). That helped my nerves a bit. Then it was time for the men to get in the water - under 40’s first, then the rest.  Then it was our turn - all the women.  It was cold, but not more than I anticipated.  I felt okay and my numb hands warmed up after a few minutes.  What I didn’t anticipate was how much the lake’s wake/waves would push me around.  I couldn’t see under water at all, and coming up for air was tricky because the waves would break near my face and I’d end up with a mouth/nose full of water.  I eventually settled for an elegant combination of dog paddle and back stroke. It was slow, but steady and I only took 32 minutes to complete the swim portion (longer than just about everyone else but hey).

I was slow in this transition (which does count against you, but I wasn’t caring much at this point). I carefully dried my feet before the socks and shoes (because the smallest piece of gravel can feel like a boulder in your shoe when you run).  Hopped on the bike and set out for the 12 mile ride.  This part was really great. I was so far behind most everyone that I didn’t have to worry about drafting. I sang little songs to myself as I went up and down (but mostly up) the side of the mountain.  I kept my spirits up by remembering that if there was this much “up” on this side, the second half would be easy peasy.

After the ride segment I was faster in getting ready to go run, although I got turned around and didn’t head out the right gate, so I had to go back and go through the “Run Start” gate for the time chip to activate. Oh well. The run was an out and back in the opposite direction, mostly up for the “out” and then blissfully down for the back to the finish.  I passed a ton of people on this segment, as by this time it was down to the slower group of age-groupers.  The plus side was that I got to watch the leading Olympic triathletes head out on their 10k run segment.  Wow, talk about athletes!



The run ended up a tiny hill into a grassy area where they called out my name. No one I knew was around, but that was okay.  A volunteer took off my timing chip and gave me a medal, so now I have that going for me. I found my husband and we packed up all the gear and headed back to Calistoga for a well earned beer & Reuben sandwich. Victory was mine.

Let this blog be a cautionary tale - if your friends try dragging you into something that sounds crazy and is way outside of your comfort zone, go along with it. You might just find that you can complete something you never thought possible.

Freak Out!

The emotional roller coaster of the past week has been like the worst bout of PMS but without the bloat. One minute I’m completely stoked and confident, the next I’m in a pool of tears ready to give up. I think the degree of “unknown” is getting to me.  One of my tri tribe was kind enough to loan me a bike that weighs about one fifth what the Warthog weighs, but I’m terrified to go ride it, for fear of breaking it or whatever, so there it sits in my garage.

I can see light at the end of the tunnel, but is that light a door opening on a new way of life that involves riding and running and swimming? Or is it that cliched oncoming train?  Maybe I’d feel differently if I had more time from the start of tri training to the actual triathlon date (Pro tip: 9 weeks might not be enough).

And oh god the money.  From what I’ve spent so far, I could have gone to Hawaii on a painting excursion. Did I make the right choice when I signed up for this? What was I thinking? But then, just as soon as those thoughts hit, I’ll run into another triathlete and get a dose of encouragement. Or I'll see someone go by on their bike and think "I wish I was riding." Or someone in the office will say “oh my gosh, we’re so impressed!” and I’m back on the roller coaster of wanting to do this again.

My boss (and her boss) recommended I take Friday before the race off.  I think they are trying to tell me something.

So this is it, kiddies. The next time all y'all see me, I'll be a USAT Certified triathlete. Not even Lance Armstrong can say that (right now anyway).

This is My Jam

When I first started running back in 2005, one of my biggest motivators, and most crucial pieces of equipment was my iPod.  I’m old enough to remember Sony Walkman, and Discman, and so when the iPod launched it was pretty awesome. On a long run you could listen to two or three albums by someone.  My favorite running partner is the band Radiohead. Named after a Talking Heads song, these avant garde rockers provide the perfect soundtrack to running.  There is something incredibly consistent about the beats, even when the tempo changes, that helps propel my feet along.

I also love to run to the Supersuckers, Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, Neko Case, and LCD Soundsystem. I’ve been known to stop and do a little dance out on the trail when no one is watching. My Running playlist is pretty sweet, and like most runners I have my “power songs” (“Mountain Song” by Jane’s Addiction is my favorite) which help me find additional willpower or speed.

Imagine my heartache when I found out that you don’t take music with you on triathlons. Something about all that water, and safety issues with headphones and bicycles... So I’ve been attempting to run and ride without music.  Even when I bring my iPhone (so that I can track my distances on Strava) I don’t bring headphones. It’s a challenge, but I’m getting used to it, and I find I actually like the sound of my own thoughts.

Now all I need is a cape...

Of all the things I dreaded about preparing for the triathlon, the wet-suit was the one I dreaded the most. I was looking forward to getting fitted about as much as I look forward to a pap smear. My fears did not exceed the reality. My strategy was pretty foolproof.  We (my super supportive hubby) and I got to Sports Basement in the Presidio right when they opened.  We headed for the back, where the tri gear is, and Chris took a seat on the comfy sofa.  I wandered around a bit looking at tri outfits (found one at an amazing discount) and after a few minutes an incredibly nice gentleman came to help me.

I gave him my weight and height details (I suppose the bright side is they don’t ask your age), and he came out with something that looked like a skinned seal.  “It’s new, so unfortunately there isn't a lot of ‘give’ in it yet.” He tells me to put it on “like putting on panty hose,” using the pads of my fingers so that I don’t tear it, and making sure the crotch is snug where it should be.  I take it into the dressing room, and start to wrestle with the rubbery jumble of skinny tubes that no way will fit.  After about 10 minutes of tugging and wriggling, I get it most of the way up my legs.  Nice Gentleman calls out “are you decent?” Me: “I’ve never been so indecent in all my life.”

Eventually I get it up over the caboose, and feel comfortable enough in my sports bra to venture out into the main area for help.  NG tugs the thing over my arms, and teaches me a trick of bending over to get the suit to puff out in front - which I’m supposed to grab and tug upward toward my chest.  Grab & tug, grab & tug. He zips it up, and warns me to make sure it is snug in the armpits and in the crotch, because those areas will fill with water.  He also warns me of chafing, providing grody pictures of customers who did not buy Body Glide. It looks like the worst rug burn ever, in the most sensitive places ever.  I buy some straight away.

Turns out after you get this much neoprene on, there’s no such thing as cellulite. It is by far the dorkiest thing I’ve ever worn, yet I’m smooth like a seal & look like a superhero. NG tells me that these suits are filled with tiny bubbles of air, to help you float. And he tells me (as does just about everyone else) that I have to do an open water swim prior to the event. Have to. Like something horrible will happen if I don’t. I only have two more weekends until the Big Day, so hearing this, the panic set in...

And then I turned it off.  I remembered why I’m doing this (for FUN). If I get in an open water swim before, then cool.  What is the worst that could happen? It takes me 5 minutes to adjust to the shock? It takes me so long that I’m the last out of the water? No matter what, it can’t possibly be the end of the world. I’ll be fine, because my goal is to have fun, and I’m already doing that.

"I love you Everything Burrito!"

My biggest challenge in training for this triathlon (or perhaps for my whole life) is my love of food.  Food has been love, comfort, and a constant companion.  Pretty much the whole reason I started running in the first place was in order to burn enough calories to eat the food I want to eat.  For example, my net calorie burn for running is a little over a hundred calories per mile.  A half marathon is 13.1 miles, so I should, in theory, be able to scarf down 1400 extra calories that day and not gain any weight. That’s like half a 14” pepperoni pizza washed down with a beer.  Whoo hoo! Unfortunately use of that strategy hasn’t helped me lose these last 15 lbs.

It is also tricky to fuel adequately while training hard.  Yesterday I was in the pool for 60 minutes of drills (note - side kicks are the worst for getting water up your nose, but I have to admit they really helped my form for regular swimming).  This was followed by a 14 mile bike ride (oh, and there was 20 minutes of core workout in the middle).  I'd had a small homemade lowfat banana muffin & a glass of milk for breakfast, and a Clif bar before the bike ride.  When I got home, errands got in the way of eating right away so by the time we stopped for lunch I was STARVING and ate a cheeseburger and fries. Two steps forward, one step back.

So, with the Napa Tri less than 30 days away, I'm committing to eating healthier, and not trying to kid myself when I burn a bunch of calories on my bike, or on a run, or in the pool. Pinky swear to all of you.

Speaking of eating healthier, I'm not a big fan of the workout food industry. I don't know what chemicals are in there, and I don't like the idea of all the packaging landfill. I did a little digging on the internet, and found this version of an energy bar that I really like on Organic Authority:

BANANA ALMOND BUTTER GRANOLA BARS (Vegan-Friendly)
On your stovetop, heat the following ingredients until well combined, reserving for later use:

• FRUIT -- 2 ripe mashed bananas
• NUTS -- ½ cup of almond butter
• Next, pour the following four ingredients in a food processor, chopping until coarse and well-blended:
• FRUIT -- ¼ cup raisins, ¼ cup cherries, ¼ cup apricots
• NUTS -- 1/2 cup almonds
• Then, pour food processor contents into a large bowl, incorporating previously heated banana-almond butter mixture along with the following:
• GRAIN -- 1 cup rolled oats
• SEEDS --1/4 cup mixed seeds
• Finally, press the whole kit and caboodle into a prepared 9-inch square metal pan, baking it in a 350 degree oven for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Cool thoroughly before cutting into individual bars.

The website Loving the Bike has some good recipes for making your own sports drinks:

Water + Carbs + Electrolytes (sodium):
48 oz. water + 16 oz. 100% juice + ¼ cup sugar + ¼-½ tsp. salt

Per 8 oz. serving: 60 calories, 15 gram carbs, 75-150 mg sodium; Per hour @ 20 oz.: 150 calories, 38 grams carb, 187-375 mg sodium

Potassium is another important electrolyte in training, and it can be easily added from Morton’s Lite, which can be found at your grocery store next to the salt.  If you do decide to add it, try ¼ tsp. per 64 oz. fluid (44 mg Potassium per 8 oz., or 109 mg per hour with 20 oz.).  You can also use watermelon juice, as it is full of potassium, along with “B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, lycopene and phosphorus.

Words of advice:

A Tribe Called...

It’s hard to find your tribe sometimes.  I keep looking, but usually end up feeling like the odd one out. For starters, I’m at the tail end of the baby boomers, but don’t really relate to them. I’m not entirely comfortable with Generation X either, lazy slackers. Not many people my age (or my gender for that matter) play videogames or love anime & martial arts films the way I do. But I digress...

[Tom Waits - I don’t wanna grow up]

With triathlon training, it’s been a similar experience.  There’s no way I’ll be a HARD CORE PROFESSIONAL, and I’m not even as fast as a lot of people in my age group. By the way, in triathlons you’re either “professional” or an “age-grouper.” And if you’re larger, you’re a “Clydesdale” if male, or “ Athena” if you’re a female.  What’s an overweight older Athena to do? While I was researching books for my project, I’d stumble over titles like “How to Train for a Tri in Less than 7 Hours a Day!” There would be chapters on becoming an Ultra-Uber-Fitness Champ (“After a short 10 mile warm up run at a 8 minute pace...”) and nutrition (“eat and drink nothing but ProBars - sponsored by ProBars”), and stories of muscular young athletes who look like otters in the water and the challenges they face.  I’m pretty sure their challenges are nothing like mine.

Enter Jayne Williams, author of Slow Fat Triathlete. She is about my age, and started her career as a triathlete when she was 40 years old and weighed 220 lbs. This book is a really funny resource, and reading it helped keep me grounded in the fun part of exercise and training. Talk about “tribes,” she helped me realize that there are lots of people out there participating in triathlons who are not incredibly fit – people who are just like me. Her book isn’t just funny, it’s motivating and full of good advice for a layperson (how to avoid chafing, which she notes “the bigger you are, the more opportunities you have to learn about chafing.” Even my half-Ultra friends give it kudos. So, if you're thinking about trying a triathlon but aren't sure it's for you, give her book a read. You might find yourself proud to be part of the tribe that doesn't let something like age, size or speed hold you back.

"Fat-bottomed girls will be riding today, so look out for those beauties oh yeah..."

“I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like!” - Freddie Mercury

This week is the bike clinic.  I’m feeling super terrific awesome about this for a couple of reasons, here they are:

1.  I’ve been out on my bike a few times since it became my bike, and I love it.  It’s got a comfy seat, and I can ride 8 miles without getting sore. My bike is also a tank.  It weighs a ton, and I know I’m going to get looks this weekend when the Tri Club is all together looking spiffy and ready to roll.  I nicknamed it “The Warthog, after one of my favorite vehicles from "Twisted Metal"


2. I bought a bunch of gear for it last weekend.  Have I mentioned before how this sport is all about shopping? I have a wrench, some little metal thingies, an extra tube, a bag, a cage for my water bottle, a water bottle and gel gloves so my hands are as cushy as my tushie.

3.  I’ve been hustling my BUNS off (literally and figuratively) in spin class.  I always thought these classes looked stupid when I’d go past them at the gym - but they are FUN and you work up a wicked sweat in 30 speedy minutes. 10+ miles in under 30 minutes with changing intensity to mimic hills is hard but not too hard.

UPDATE: The clinic went well. The Warthog got some strange looks, and that was okay. The only foreseeable problem is that my bike doesn't have quick-release wheels, so it makes changing tires a BFD. I'm going to take it by Mike's Bikes to see about swapping those puppies out.

Oh Look, a Whale!

I put off the swimming part of my training for as long as possible because, well, reasons.  Reasons like although I used to frequent beaches and pools in my younger days, these days I feel too fat to get into a bathing suit.  My policy for the past two decades has been to only put on a swimsuit and go out in public when I am not in the Continental U.S. Another reason is that I’m also nervous about not doing it right.  My logic is this: if I start to practice, and I’m doing it horribly wrong, I’ve wasted time and learned bad habits.  

Unfortunately, you can’t really participate in a triathlon unless you swim. They integrate that into tri training as well, and my Day of Reckoning was a Saturday in February, at 6:00 am. But that’s getting ahead of myself.  Back in December, when I first signed up for this ridiculous triathlon, I knew I would need a suit for training swims.  I jumped onto Amazon.com with a Christmas gift card and bought goggles, a Speedo (not this kind) 

and a swim snorkel.  I thought this last thing might help me focus on strokes instead of struggling to breathe. Then I find out that I will look like an idiot if I use it, so I’m probably going to just ignore the thing for a while. I tried on the suit, and it did fit, although it is not the least bit flattering.

Did I mention that a leading brand of triathlon gear is called “Orca?” Why would anyone encourage comparisons to a whale?

So on a cold pitch-black Saturday morning I head down to the Y.  I’d cased the joint the day before to get the layout down and decrease my nervousness a bit.  That did help, and as we got started, I slid confidently into the pool.  And... that was the last time I’d feel confident that day. Guess whose swim style is horribly wrong?

I have spent most of my adult life trying to keep my butt low and off the radar.  Turns out in swimming that’s a bad thing.  Low butts create drag. Also, I crane my neck up when I want to breath (because it’s the only way I don’t end up with a mouthful of water instead of lungs full of air) which causes my butt to drop even lower. There were a few moments of “kinda graceful,” like my kickoffs, but mostly I was gasping and s l o w.  The coach tried to be encouraging, but he’s young and handsome and has this whole swimming thing figured out.  We used kick-boards for a while, and while my teammates churned down the lanes I did not move at all. Seriously. I’d compare myself to a turtle, but the kind that swim are actually pretty fast.

Anyway, I toughed it out and before I left I grabbed a flyer for private lessons.  I think that’s my best option at this point.  To be honest, I did have fun, even while I was failing.  I love the water, and I want swimming to be something I  don’t suck at. Speaking of, this is my motivational poster of the week:

Crisis!

I attended an orientation session at the YMCA for their Triathlon Club.  Cost aside (over $300!), it is a huge time commitment.  There is a training session every Saturday for 17 weeks, along with twice per week workouts on cycling/core strength and swimming. This is on top of the workouts I’m supposed to do on my own. Halfway through this orientation I’m almost hyperventilating, trying to calculate in my mind how I’m going to explain all of this to my husband (who just got me back after 12 weeks of Half Marathon training). A co-worker was there with me, nodding encouragement the whole time.  He’s done this training before, is familiar with the coaches, and insists I’ll love this group.  They look like nice enough people...

After the session is over, I grab an application and bolt out to my car. A bunch of people were going to go on a short run after the session, but instead of running with them, I ran a bunch of excuses through my head at an aerobic pace: “OMG the cost! The TIME! This is crazy. Is it even worth it? I can probably do a tri all by myself, right? Shit, I  have no idea how to swim efficiently. I could probably do it without training, worst case I drown, best case I’m not doing it right. Isn’t this process about facing challenges? But OMG the COST! The Time! [Repeat ad infinitum]

After a good night’s sleep I talked it through with my husband, and it wasn’t such a crisis after all. As usual, he was very supportive, even if it means I’ll be away every Saturday morning for the next 17 weeks.  I’m now a member of the Y, and I officially start training this weekend.

If life begins outside your comfort zone, I’m definitely living it up right now!

Half-Crazy Update

Well, I didn't beat my PB - my time was 2:49:00.  Not sure what caused the 8 minute drop; I actually felt stronger, and according to Strava I spent a lot of the 13 miles at an 11-minute mile pace.  Oh well, at least I got a medal.

Me after the race

Around Mile 10 I had a realization: I don't like running long distances, not this long anyway. 10K is my favorite distance, I think. Also, all the focus for the past month on training for the Half has made me miss being on my bike. I took most of this week off to recover (it looks like I'll lose a toenail), with just one day of cross training/walking. Today I'm back on my bike, and with the weather getting warmer it's time to start swimming.

P.S. The night before the Half Marathon, I had a nightmare that I got to the Triathlon and forgot my bike!  How funny is that?

13.1 Miles - Because I’m Only Half Crazy!

Tomorrow is the 30th annual Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. In 2006 I ran my first 5k there, and by 2010 I decided to give the Half Marathon a try.  This will be my 4th year running 13.1 miles on Superbowl Sunday. Never in my life did I think I’d find that fun (and honestly, somewhere around mile 9 I’ll be thinking “why god WHY?”).  

I’m writing about the half marathon this week because it is where my training is focused right now.  After February 3, 2012 I can start to integrate swimming into the mix.  Right now, though, it’s all about putting one foot in front of the other, and avoiding blisters, sprains or strains. My co-workers have been coughing for the past week, and for the most part I've avoided picking up their germs. But yesterday I ended up staying home and hammering Theraflu and orange juice in an attempt to stop a cold before it started.
 
A wise person once said “if you can do half the distance before the event, you’ll be fine.” I’ve found that to be pretty much true. There is a magical thing that happens at the starting line: adrenaline will kick in. The energy of the crowd helps provide momentum and as long as you’ve prepped at least part way you’ll be fine.  At least that’s what I keep telling myself. I’m focusing on beating my personal best time of 2:41:47; which is a 12:23 min/mile pace.  I may not be fast, but I’m constant. I'll let you know how I do tomorrow.

Competing Against Yourself

“THE PRINCIPLE IS COMPETING AGAINST YOURSELF. IT’S ABOUT SELF-IMPROVEMENT, ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN YOU WERE THE DAY BEFORE.” -STEVE YOUNG

Steve Young has been on my mind a lot lately, with the 49er’s doing so well this season.  He’s my favorite quarterback, with amazing statistics that are often overlooked by a fan base that reveres Joe Montana. This quote is meaningful to me because of the concept of self-improvement over competing against others.  It also mirrors something my dear hubby says to me a lot - to not diminish my accomplishments by comparing them to what others can do.

With that in mind, a few weeks ago I went to Mike’s Bikes in Petaluma, and bought a helmet and a single-bike rack for my hatchback. I was so nervous; I’m sure I sounded like an idiot to the sales clerk. Brought my purchases home and decided that was enough for one day. I was exhausted! The next day I got the helmet figured out, and went to get the bike out of the garage.  

Quick back story on the bike:  a few years ago we bought two bikes for the teenagers.  Boy quickly destroyed his, and because the girl didn't like to ride, he took over her bike.  Both kids have since moved out of the house, so I figured I’d appropriate the girl’s bike.  What I failed to predict was that the girl’s bike was half-destroyed as well.  So, instead of a bike ride that day it was another trip back to Mike’s Bikes. To their credit they didn't laugh at me when I brought it in. Estimated repair costs for two bad brakes & several broken spokes: $65. Lesson learned: don’t give teenagers nice things.

<- This is what my bike looks like now!
I hooked up with a training app for my smartphone called “Strava.”  It’s free, and works for walking, running, or cycling.  You can track progress against yourself (“personal best” times) or against others (fastest time on a route).  I took the bike out for a spin around town, and clocked in 7.8 miles in 45 minutes.  It was exhilarating! I had a blast riding around the neighborhood, and felt like I could have gone another 7 miles.  

Last week was my first “BRICK” which is basically a bike/run combo. For many beginning triathletes, the bike-to-run transition is the most difficult part of the race.  I rode for 4.2 miles, then ran for another 1.4.  Not impressive distances compared to others, but the point was to get used to coming off a bike and then getting my “runner’s legs” working. And I’ll try to remember the words of Steve Young & my husband: it doesn’t matter how I compare to others, I’m just working on making myself better than I was the day before.

“I can't promise to try, but I promise to try to try.” - Bart Simpson

Welcome to Try to Tri, my blog about the trials of taking on a triathlon with almost no experience in two of the three required events. Wish me luck!

My Target:  HITS Triathlon, Napa Valley April 14 2013

Sprint Tri distances: 750 m swim | 12.4 mi bike | 3.1 mi run
This is my “before” picture; all 177 lbs of me.  At least I’m out here trying, right?  I just wish the person taking this picture had pointed out to me that my belly was hanging out.  Nice.  This workout was part of a free training program called “Personal Best,” offered by my employer in preparation for the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon & 5K. This will be my seventh year participating, and my third Half Marathon.  

So why a Tri: Before I started running, I was pretty much a couch potato. Currently I run about four days a week in order to keep fit (meaning "balance out the caloric impact of pizza and beer"). Some days, however, running doesn't seem like enough. I want to try something different, and to take on a bigger challenge. I’m also looking to make changes because “just” running isn't doing much to make me lose weight.  I need to switch it up. (It can't possibly be due to all that pizza and beer, right?) A friend at work participated in a triathlon last year and is hooked. She has been a big motivator/ mentor/ coach, and she convinced me to "try a tri."

Confidence Levels:

The Run: 10/10 The run is the least of my worries.  3.1 is my minimum/usual distance during the week, so I should be able to handle this even after a swim/ride.  Also, with a half marathon scheduled for February 6 2012, I’ll be in sufficient shape for most anything by April 2013.
The Bike: 6/10 I used to ride a bike back in high school (30 years ago), but didn't like it. My posterior has always been disproportionately large, and felt even bigger on a bike seat. The only bike I have belonged to our teenager. I don't know how to "properly" ride a bike, so this is another part of the challenge.
The Swim: 2/10 This is the part that terrifies me. I'm not afraid of the water, I can dog paddle just fine. It's getting through 750 meters of open water in a timely fashion that's the problem. I will definitely need a coach to help with my swim technique. The other part of this problem that worries me is that most community pools are closed until spring.  

Strategy: The YMCA offers a triathlon training program that I will take advantage of (information session is 2/9/13). Additionally, I have access to coaches at Trimore Fitness in Marin, and the help of all my friends. For proper diet/nutrition, I've signed up with an on-line program that I hope will help me lose some weight while staying fueled. I will keep you posted!