I did it! I still can't quite believe it, but I completed my first duathalon ever last evening in a torrential downpour and with gale force winds for an extra added bonus. Thinking back, I really should have considered wearing my wet suit-and I could have sprayed the PAM all over my body without worrying about a sunburn scenario-Oh well, maybe next time!
The race was much better than I psyched myself up for. I was even keeping up with the 20 something young boys out there on the course-not bad for an old lady! I am so thankful I did the race, and now feel like at least if I have bad weather conditions out in Calgary, I will have at least one dreadful day of weather experience (actually two if you count the first time out with Mr. P when the wind was gusting to a gazillion mph). Thank the good Lord for Snaggle (aka Seema) who also insisted that I complete the course even if the race got cancelled. I needed to do this, even though I was freakin scared out of my mind!
The physical component of the race was very doable. However, I did elect to take a Red Bull Shot prior to the race which spelled disaster for me when I tried to sleep (or lets say I didn't sleep) last night! Funny, the can says that consuming a Red Bull shot is "equivelent to consuming a premium cup of coffee". Crap I say-it's more like consuming 10 cups of coffee-and trust me I can drink a lot of coffee!
The one thing that I did not prepare meself for was the cold I felt after the race. I was soaking wet from head to toe and I am sure that the temperature in the Park was roughly 7 degrees (that's not taking wind chill into effect). Hence, when I was done, I was shivering uncontrollably and had a hard time holding onto the steering wheel of my vehicle for the 40 minute drive back. Once at home, I think I used up all the hot water, showered for over an hour, and put on two layers of PJ,s my wool socks and wool toque. I also needed an extra comfortor on the bed as I had such a hard time getting warm.
Since I went out and did this all by myself not knowing a soul, I must admit I felt rather intimidated. But everyone was so nice. When I told one of the race directors that this was my first duathalon, he smiled and told me that once I completed my first race I would be hooked. I am not sure if I am hooked, but I do know I am committed to doing the series (4 more races) and that I will feel a lot less anxious going forward now.
The best part you ask? It's not my time, its not the endurance. Its's the fact that I faced fear in the face (with a whole lot of encouragement) and did it!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Nervous
Well my official first race of the season is on for tonight-the short course duathalon. I am very nervous about this, and ate a whole bunch more waffles this morning! I don't normally excersise in the evening and am usually in bed by 9pm. This duathalon begins at 630pm, so I am going to be one tired girl! My biggest contemplation is whether to take an energy shot or Gu as these containe caffeine. I know if I do, I may be up half the night. On the other hand, if I don't I just might not be alert enough-and that would be bad on the bike!
I did a longish swim without my fins this morning (60 laps) and felt really good. My stroke today just felt right-but my kick still sucks! I found out from Mr. P that the first triathalon last year the water temperature was 13 degrees c. I really don't know how I am going to hack this-my wetsuit better hold up!
Sorry for the short post, but I can't seem to focus, and I've got to get a grip! Serenity now!
I did a longish swim without my fins this morning (60 laps) and felt really good. My stroke today just felt right-but my kick still sucks! I found out from Mr. P that the first triathalon last year the water temperature was 13 degrees c. I really don't know how I am going to hack this-my wetsuit better hold up!
Sorry for the short post, but I can't seem to focus, and I've got to get a grip! Serenity now!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sausage Casing
Ok there has been a big problem with my swim suit as of late. I believe it has something to do with the glue they use to ensure the thing is hemmed properly and does not rip. Well my suit has malfunctioned in a big way, and after every swim I have been noticing this black goo all over my body. It is kinda like the substance of tar and does not wash off easily at all.
Well today I had it! After my swim, and being covered in black goo, I say to meself, self, I am going to the store and blow even more money that I really had not intended. A good suit is usually anywhere from 60-80 bucks, and I can think of a lot of other things I would rather spend my money on at this moment. However, this black gue I can no longer take, and I am not entirely confident that it would be "harmless" staying on my skin with repeated exposure!
So off I go to the swim store. The ladies there know me by name, what with all the swimming caps and goggles I have been going through. As I walk through the doors they are smiling, and I know something is up. They reveal that they recieved their shipment of wetsuits in. Yeah I say to meself, after consuming 4 waffles this morning and feeling like I am 4 months pregnant! But they convince me to try some on.
Fortunately for me, I have an extremely patient little daughter, who was very interested to see how her mommy could stuff her body into a teeney weeney wetsuit. In fact I almost laughed out loud when they handed me the first one to try on.
Now the saleslady was very knowledgeable in helping me. She told me, that putting on a wetsuit should be done like how one would put on a pair of nylons-only the wetsuit does not stop at the waste. I followed her advice and tried very carefully not to tug too much as the ouside shell of the wetsuit is very suseptible to tears and nicks from fingernails.
By the time, I got the thing up to my neck, I was sweating perfusely and felt like I was choking when I zipped the thing up. Then I looked in the mirror-and was horrified to see a giant sausage staring back at me. These suits are not very forgiving and are supposed to fit like "a second skin". Repeat, 4 waffles before trying on a wetsuit is not a good combo!
When I walked out of the changing room, the 2 salesladies circled me like sharks, checking out where the suit gaps, how tight it was in certain places and pulled and tugged in all directions to ensure I had it on properly. Once my wetsuit was adjusted in the crotch area (clearly embarassing for me, but not the pro's) I felt less like choking. After spending about ten minutes walking around and getting the feel of it, I tried on another. Then I tried on the first one again, and then the second one. An hour and a half later, I not only spent 70 bucks on a swimsuit, but a whole whack of money on the wetsuit.
I have been clearly instructed not to swim with the wetsuit on in a pool, as the chlorine or bromide solutions in pools will eat away at the neoprene. The clerk was very kind in saying that I could try it out in Bird's Hill Park and likely aim in the next two weeks. (Yikes I say to meself, as I am sure the water will be very cold-but then again probabally not as cold as the glacier fed river I will be swimming in at Ghost Lake in Calgary!)
The clerk has encouraged me to wear my wetsuit around the house, as these suits will tend to mold to your body and give a bit. I expressed fear in not being able to get the thing on properly or efficiently. She smiled at me and said, that in order for the suit to get on easier, I could use a product called Body Glide (I actually use this when I wear new runners to prevent blistering until the shoe is worn in). This comes in a stick like deodorant, and I said, that to her that I would need several sticks to cover my body. She laughed again and then told me a secret that some people do: They spray themselves with PAM prior to putting the suit on. She did caution me that PAM tends to stain clothes.
Well, I am not sure I will go with PAM especially if it is a sunny day. Can you imagine the sunburn one would get if one were covered in PAM for 7 plus hours in the sun? I think, I will practice putting on and taking off my wetsuit as much as I can. If any of you come to visit me, and wonder why I have a wetsuit on-Now you know! (just please don't put me on the BBQ)
Well today I had it! After my swim, and being covered in black goo, I say to meself, self, I am going to the store and blow even more money that I really had not intended. A good suit is usually anywhere from 60-80 bucks, and I can think of a lot of other things I would rather spend my money on at this moment. However, this black gue I can no longer take, and I am not entirely confident that it would be "harmless" staying on my skin with repeated exposure!
So off I go to the swim store. The ladies there know me by name, what with all the swimming caps and goggles I have been going through. As I walk through the doors they are smiling, and I know something is up. They reveal that they recieved their shipment of wetsuits in. Yeah I say to meself, after consuming 4 waffles this morning and feeling like I am 4 months pregnant! But they convince me to try some on.
Fortunately for me, I have an extremely patient little daughter, who was very interested to see how her mommy could stuff her body into a teeney weeney wetsuit. In fact I almost laughed out loud when they handed me the first one to try on.
Now the saleslady was very knowledgeable in helping me. She told me, that putting on a wetsuit should be done like how one would put on a pair of nylons-only the wetsuit does not stop at the waste. I followed her advice and tried very carefully not to tug too much as the ouside shell of the wetsuit is very suseptible to tears and nicks from fingernails.
By the time, I got the thing up to my neck, I was sweating perfusely and felt like I was choking when I zipped the thing up. Then I looked in the mirror-and was horrified to see a giant sausage staring back at me. These suits are not very forgiving and are supposed to fit like "a second skin". Repeat, 4 waffles before trying on a wetsuit is not a good combo!
When I walked out of the changing room, the 2 salesladies circled me like sharks, checking out where the suit gaps, how tight it was in certain places and pulled and tugged in all directions to ensure I had it on properly. Once my wetsuit was adjusted in the crotch area (clearly embarassing for me, but not the pro's) I felt less like choking. After spending about ten minutes walking around and getting the feel of it, I tried on another. Then I tried on the first one again, and then the second one. An hour and a half later, I not only spent 70 bucks on a swimsuit, but a whole whack of money on the wetsuit.
I have been clearly instructed not to swim with the wetsuit on in a pool, as the chlorine or bromide solutions in pools will eat away at the neoprene. The clerk was very kind in saying that I could try it out in Bird's Hill Park and likely aim in the next two weeks. (Yikes I say to meself, as I am sure the water will be very cold-but then again probabally not as cold as the glacier fed river I will be swimming in at Ghost Lake in Calgary!)
The clerk has encouraged me to wear my wetsuit around the house, as these suits will tend to mold to your body and give a bit. I expressed fear in not being able to get the thing on properly or efficiently. She smiled at me and said, that in order for the suit to get on easier, I could use a product called Body Glide (I actually use this when I wear new runners to prevent blistering until the shoe is worn in). This comes in a stick like deodorant, and I said, that to her that I would need several sticks to cover my body. She laughed again and then told me a secret that some people do: They spray themselves with PAM prior to putting the suit on. She did caution me that PAM tends to stain clothes.
Well, I am not sure I will go with PAM especially if it is a sunny day. Can you imagine the sunburn one would get if one were covered in PAM for 7 plus hours in the sun? I think, I will practice putting on and taking off my wetsuit as much as I can. If any of you come to visit me, and wonder why I have a wetsuit on-Now you know! (just please don't put me on the BBQ)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Regeneration week is coming to an end
Sniff....sniff....easy week is over-I am awaiting my new program for May-which Mr. P told me would be kicked up a notch. Yikes!
Today my legs feel quite tired and achy. I did not anticipate this, as I have regularly been doing workouts just as long or longer than yesterday's. Strange how that happens!
Last night before bed, I was surfing the net for any information I can find about triathalons. I do this quite regularly-especially when there is crapola on the TV. Interesting tid-bit I found out was in regards to "hitting the wall" (runner's term) or "bonking" (cyclist's term). I am quite certain, that had I run a long distance at the pace I was running yesterday I most definitely would of "bonked on the wall" (Donna's term).
The article talked a lot about how this happens when your glycogen stores in your muscles get depleted. Glycogen is produced by ingestion of carbs-hence you often hear about runner's carbo loading before a race. This needs to happen well in advance, as a night of spaghetti before the big one is just not going to cut it. In endurance sports, your body will also pull energy from the glucose in your bloodstream and from any stored fat that you might have kicking around. The problem with the blood and fat energy sources, is that they peter out quite quickly, and your body can't use the fuel in fat efficiently. The key is to stay hydrated, eat consistently throughout the race (approx one power bar or it's equivilent every hour) and stay at an endurance heart rate pace-avoid anaerobic racing-unless you are doing short distances or are doing this in your training.
What perhaps was even more interesting to me is what you eat after the race. Apparently if you can get a whole whack of carbs into your system within 30 minutes of finishing a race, your muscles act like a sponge and can absorb glycogen even better than weeks of pre-race carbo-loading. In the end, this leads to faster regeneration, and a way better recovery.
Maybe I should have eaten a whole lot of pasta last evening, and my legs might have felt better this am? I guess, I will be doing more experimenting! In the meantime-bring on the KD!
Today my legs feel quite tired and achy. I did not anticipate this, as I have regularly been doing workouts just as long or longer than yesterday's. Strange how that happens!
Last night before bed, I was surfing the net for any information I can find about triathalons. I do this quite regularly-especially when there is crapola on the TV. Interesting tid-bit I found out was in regards to "hitting the wall" (runner's term) or "bonking" (cyclist's term). I am quite certain, that had I run a long distance at the pace I was running yesterday I most definitely would of "bonked on the wall" (Donna's term).
The article talked a lot about how this happens when your glycogen stores in your muscles get depleted. Glycogen is produced by ingestion of carbs-hence you often hear about runner's carbo loading before a race. This needs to happen well in advance, as a night of spaghetti before the big one is just not going to cut it. In endurance sports, your body will also pull energy from the glucose in your bloodstream and from any stored fat that you might have kicking around. The problem with the blood and fat energy sources, is that they peter out quite quickly, and your body can't use the fuel in fat efficiently. The key is to stay hydrated, eat consistently throughout the race (approx one power bar or it's equivilent every hour) and stay at an endurance heart rate pace-avoid anaerobic racing-unless you are doing short distances or are doing this in your training.
What perhaps was even more interesting to me is what you eat after the race. Apparently if you can get a whole whack of carbs into your system within 30 minutes of finishing a race, your muscles act like a sponge and can absorb glycogen even better than weeks of pre-race carbo-loading. In the end, this leads to faster regeneration, and a way better recovery.
Maybe I should have eaten a whole lot of pasta last evening, and my legs might have felt better this am? I guess, I will be doing more experimenting! In the meantime-bring on the KD!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Trial Run
Ok, so today was the Big Day- the trial run of the short distance duathalon that I will be doing in the park on Tuesday.
I picked up my fine feathered friend, Miss J and can't tell you how great it was to have her with me! She is an awesome person, and did fantastic despite having some technical issues that were completely out of her control.
Her courage and strength today I totally admire, and brought me back to the times when I tried new things. Not so long ago I remember swimming my first 25meters in the pool and thought of what an impossible task further distances would be. I also recall trying to ride a road bike for the first time last summer and because of the negative experience, I let a year slip by before I was to try again. Here I am today, actually doing this, because at the end of the day, I decided I was not going to let those horrible, humiliating feelings stop me from accomplishing this goal. I hope Miss J feels the same way I do, and will continue on to do some duathalons with me!
So today, Mr.P and his lovely wife Mrs. L were so kind and gracious in helping me. Mr. P did not waste any time in cracking the whip and got me standing on my road bike. I must admit I felt like I was hyperventilating as it is a very wobbly feeling. Much much different then standing on a stationary spin bike! It did get easier and I realize I need to be in a bigger gear to feel more stable, but I obviously need to practice a whole lot more of this.
Perhaps the biggest accomplishment for me was drinking from my water bottle while riding (albeit I was riding considerably slower while trying to manage this task). This was soooooo huge for me, and I did it a total of 3 times without falling! I amaze myself to think that when I was 12 years old, I would cycle around the Army Base without holding onto my handle bars with ease. Now the thought of doing this terrifies me! Crap I say to anyone who maintains that you never forget how to ride a bicycle!
After having completed a 7 mile practice loop, Mr. P got me to do the whole duathalon, starting with the run (2k) bike (13k) run (2k). It felt pretty good although the last leg of the run, my legs were feeling a bit like lead weights. However, now I have a better idea of pacing myself!
One thing I am a bit nervous about, is the transitions which means changing shoes and racking/un-racking your bike. Since I have a hard enough time trying to find my car in a parking lot when I go shopping, finding my bike could be a very Big problem. I am seriously considering coming up with some sort of marker-a balloon? a flag? something!
As for the weather, I got a mix of it all, some sun, some wind, lots of cloud, and yes-rain. I asked about the whole rain issue and if I would slip and slide all over the place. Both Mr. P and Mrs. L were able to reassure me, that unless I took corners uber fast, that I would likely be just fine. Mrs. L also gave me a little tip and told me not to ride on the painted lines on the road, as they tend to get more slippery then unmarked concrete-who knew?
All in all, I must say, I had a very good training session. I feel much more confident knowing that I can complete the distance. I am still quite anxious about having to ride in a situation where there are many many people-I guess one scary thing at a time!
I picked up my fine feathered friend, Miss J and can't tell you how great it was to have her with me! She is an awesome person, and did fantastic despite having some technical issues that were completely out of her control.
Her courage and strength today I totally admire, and brought me back to the times when I tried new things. Not so long ago I remember swimming my first 25meters in the pool and thought of what an impossible task further distances would be. I also recall trying to ride a road bike for the first time last summer and because of the negative experience, I let a year slip by before I was to try again. Here I am today, actually doing this, because at the end of the day, I decided I was not going to let those horrible, humiliating feelings stop me from accomplishing this goal. I hope Miss J feels the same way I do, and will continue on to do some duathalons with me!
So today, Mr.P and his lovely wife Mrs. L were so kind and gracious in helping me. Mr. P did not waste any time in cracking the whip and got me standing on my road bike. I must admit I felt like I was hyperventilating as it is a very wobbly feeling. Much much different then standing on a stationary spin bike! It did get easier and I realize I need to be in a bigger gear to feel more stable, but I obviously need to practice a whole lot more of this.
Perhaps the biggest accomplishment for me was drinking from my water bottle while riding (albeit I was riding considerably slower while trying to manage this task). This was soooooo huge for me, and I did it a total of 3 times without falling! I amaze myself to think that when I was 12 years old, I would cycle around the Army Base without holding onto my handle bars with ease. Now the thought of doing this terrifies me! Crap I say to anyone who maintains that you never forget how to ride a bicycle!
After having completed a 7 mile practice loop, Mr. P got me to do the whole duathalon, starting with the run (2k) bike (13k) run (2k). It felt pretty good although the last leg of the run, my legs were feeling a bit like lead weights. However, now I have a better idea of pacing myself!
One thing I am a bit nervous about, is the transitions which means changing shoes and racking/un-racking your bike. Since I have a hard enough time trying to find my car in a parking lot when I go shopping, finding my bike could be a very Big problem. I am seriously considering coming up with some sort of marker-a balloon? a flag? something!
As for the weather, I got a mix of it all, some sun, some wind, lots of cloud, and yes-rain. I asked about the whole rain issue and if I would slip and slide all over the place. Both Mr. P and Mrs. L were able to reassure me, that unless I took corners uber fast, that I would likely be just fine. Mrs. L also gave me a little tip and told me not to ride on the painted lines on the road, as they tend to get more slippery then unmarked concrete-who knew?
All in all, I must say, I had a very good training session. I feel much more confident knowing that I can complete the distance. I am still quite anxious about having to ride in a situation where there are many many people-I guess one scary thing at a time!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Psyching upfor the bike
Ok so, tomorrow is a big day for me. Not only do I get to do a long run, but I along with a fine feathered friend, will be meeting Mr. P for a trial run of the duathalon. As such I am only planning to spin this morning!
I am a bit nervous about tomorrow-ok who's kidding who-a lot. It didn't help, when this fellow I go the gym with (who loves to give me unsolicited words of advice that often make me feel bad) told me that I would be crazy to ride in the rain. He went onto say that with my skinny road bike tires (which he referred to as slicks) would be skidding all over the place and that a likelihood of a crash would be great.
Now I know I should put this out of my mind. I know that this is just one person's opinion. But the suggestion has been planted and despite my best efforts it's niggling in the back of my mind and unnerving me! However, I believe that at the end of the day, I must learn to ride in the rain, wind, dust, you name it unless I can find someone who can 100 percent accurately predict the weather in Calgary Aug1st?
On another note, I bought a bike jacket and chose to match the color with my Snagster. This was quite by accident, but I love it....and the color is.....Red. Red also happens to be a color that reminds me of a Seema who puts up my daily QOTD, and provides me with inspiration, knowledge and encouragement. She is behind me 100 percent, and she she is not afraid to call me on my BS (please refer to the quote about how the Internet does not lie for anyone interested). But most of all, her friendship is based on honesty, integrity and a never-ending, always and forever love. I am so lucky to have her in my life!
So well I can not take Seema on my bike, (well I could but this would spell disaster for the both of us) this red jacket will remind me of her, and the inspiration she has given me. Red BTW is a great color I have since found out. In researching the meaning I found the following on the Internet:
Red is hot. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil.
Red sounds good to me, and if it attracts attention and gets people to notice, and to stay away from me on the bike, I will be a very happy girl indeed!
I am a bit nervous about tomorrow-ok who's kidding who-a lot. It didn't help, when this fellow I go the gym with (who loves to give me unsolicited words of advice that often make me feel bad) told me that I would be crazy to ride in the rain. He went onto say that with my skinny road bike tires (which he referred to as slicks) would be skidding all over the place and that a likelihood of a crash would be great.
Now I know I should put this out of my mind. I know that this is just one person's opinion. But the suggestion has been planted and despite my best efforts it's niggling in the back of my mind and unnerving me! However, I believe that at the end of the day, I must learn to ride in the rain, wind, dust, you name it unless I can find someone who can 100 percent accurately predict the weather in Calgary Aug1st?
On another note, I bought a bike jacket and chose to match the color with my Snagster. This was quite by accident, but I love it....and the color is.....Red. Red also happens to be a color that reminds me of a Seema who puts up my daily QOTD, and provides me with inspiration, knowledge and encouragement. She is behind me 100 percent, and she she is not afraid to call me on my BS (please refer to the quote about how the Internet does not lie for anyone interested). But most of all, her friendship is based on honesty, integrity and a never-ending, always and forever love. I am so lucky to have her in my life!
So well I can not take Seema on my bike, (well I could but this would spell disaster for the both of us) this red jacket will remind me of her, and the inspiration she has given me. Red BTW is a great color I have since found out. In researching the meaning I found the following on the Internet:
Red is hot. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil.
Nature of Red:
A stimulant, red is the hottest of the warm colors. Studies show that red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure.
The expression seeing red indicates anger and may stem not only from the stimulus of the color but from the natural flush (redness) of the cheeks, a physical reaction to anger, increased blood pressure, or physical exertion.
Culture of Red:
Red is power, hence the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs (very important people).
Flashing red lights denote danger or emergency. Stop signs and stop lights are red to get the drivers' attention and alert them to the dangers of the intersection.
In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the color of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck.
Red is often the color worn by brides in the East while it is the color of mourning in South Africa. In Russia the Bolsheviks used a red flag when they overthrew the Tsar, thus red became associated with communism. Many national flags use red. The red Ruby is the traditional Fortieth Wedding Anniversary gift.
Red sounds good to me, and if it attracts attention and gets people to notice, and to stay away from me on the bike, I will be a very happy girl indeed!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Watching the clock
Lately, I have noticed that I am having to watch a clock a lot. Strange, considering that I never wear a watch-which BTW drives my mother mad for some reason!
The clock watching started with swimming. My intructor insists that I swim laps within a certain time. I hate it because, I feel enormous pressure-which adds to panicky feelings, which in turn leads me to feeling like I'm hyperventilating, which makes me think I am going to drown. God knows what my heart rate is like?
Next, it was spin bikes. In September, the bikes had computers installed to keep track of your cadence, and ironically a giant clock was positioned right in front of my spot. One can not help feeling tired when your climbing a hill for 5 minutes and see the second hand tick tick tick away in a hypnotically s-l-o-w- way.
Next was the purchase of my Garmin, which tracks just about everything for running, biking and cross country skiiing including time, distance, speed/cadence, heart rate, elevation, you name it. I think I have alluded to this in previous posts, that once you start wearing a time keeper-you become a slave to it.
Finally my RT program requires I be a time keeper. Doing a plank excercise as you stomach muscles feel like they are going to rip away from the rest of your body is real nice example of when the clock moves at an even more exceptionally slow pace.
Now don't get me wong, I believe there is good that comes from watching the clock. It challenges you to become quicker, and motivates you to do better next time round. What amazes me though is the feeling of time. There are instances when the clock feels as if it is going purposely slow, and other times, when it goes purposely fast. It just so happens that the slow clock occurs when you are sapped of energy, and the quick time happens when you have a recovery interval and are allowed to rest.
But there is total freedom when you don't watch the clock. My most enjoyable runs, cycles and swims have been when I live in the moment, and not care what time it is. I guess that is why in part I don't wear a watch. I want to live in the moment- I don't want to feel panic.
As I reflect on time, I also think about my little boy, Isaac who was born 8 years ago today. Time moved by so slowly when I was pregnant. Everyday for 9 1/2 months, I would look up what the baby was doing inside my tummy. How big the baby was getting, what was forming. Would the baby be born healthy with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Would the baby be a boy? a girl? What colour hair, what colour eyes?
Then when I was in labour and delivering him, time moved slowly again-very slowly. I so desperately wanted to meet my baby! 18 hours of labour was an eternity after the 9 1/2 months of waiting with anticipation.
Oh and any mother can tell you that the first few months of a baby's life moves in an unreal time warp of slowness as you are up half the night feeding and changing your baby, only to realize that it could be days before you actually get to have a shower!
Now Isaac is 8. Where did the time go? I think it warped back into some crazy fast paced speed. The wierdest thing is that everynight I look at my precious child's face and don't notice him getting older-I mean I get that he is, but his little face is always my baby.
I guess that is why it is difficult to wear watches or keep track of time-because in this instance I want to hold on to time with my little boy for as long as I can. I don't want it to go fast, I don't want to measure it. Knowing we are mere mortals, means having to say goodbye one day, and I am going to have a fight with time, because I want to savour every moment-yes even if it means having to put up with the hard stuff!
The clock watching started with swimming. My intructor insists that I swim laps within a certain time. I hate it because, I feel enormous pressure-which adds to panicky feelings, which in turn leads me to feeling like I'm hyperventilating, which makes me think I am going to drown. God knows what my heart rate is like?
Next, it was spin bikes. In September, the bikes had computers installed to keep track of your cadence, and ironically a giant clock was positioned right in front of my spot. One can not help feeling tired when your climbing a hill for 5 minutes and see the second hand tick tick tick away in a hypnotically s-l-o-w- way.
Next was the purchase of my Garmin, which tracks just about everything for running, biking and cross country skiiing including time, distance, speed/cadence, heart rate, elevation, you name it. I think I have alluded to this in previous posts, that once you start wearing a time keeper-you become a slave to it.
Finally my RT program requires I be a time keeper. Doing a plank excercise as you stomach muscles feel like they are going to rip away from the rest of your body is real nice example of when the clock moves at an even more exceptionally slow pace.
Now don't get me wong, I believe there is good that comes from watching the clock. It challenges you to become quicker, and motivates you to do better next time round. What amazes me though is the feeling of time. There are instances when the clock feels as if it is going purposely slow, and other times, when it goes purposely fast. It just so happens that the slow clock occurs when you are sapped of energy, and the quick time happens when you have a recovery interval and are allowed to rest.
But there is total freedom when you don't watch the clock. My most enjoyable runs, cycles and swims have been when I live in the moment, and not care what time it is. I guess that is why in part I don't wear a watch. I want to live in the moment- I don't want to feel panic.
As I reflect on time, I also think about my little boy, Isaac who was born 8 years ago today. Time moved by so slowly when I was pregnant. Everyday for 9 1/2 months, I would look up what the baby was doing inside my tummy. How big the baby was getting, what was forming. Would the baby be born healthy with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Would the baby be a boy? a girl? What colour hair, what colour eyes?
Then when I was in labour and delivering him, time moved slowly again-very slowly. I so desperately wanted to meet my baby! 18 hours of labour was an eternity after the 9 1/2 months of waiting with anticipation.
Oh and any mother can tell you that the first few months of a baby's life moves in an unreal time warp of slowness as you are up half the night feeding and changing your baby, only to realize that it could be days before you actually get to have a shower!
Now Isaac is 8. Where did the time go? I think it warped back into some crazy fast paced speed. The wierdest thing is that everynight I look at my precious child's face and don't notice him getting older-I mean I get that he is, but his little face is always my baby.
I guess that is why it is difficult to wear watches or keep track of time-because in this instance I want to hold on to time with my little boy for as long as I can. I don't want it to go fast, I don't want to measure it. Knowing we are mere mortals, means having to say goodbye one day, and I am going to have a fight with time, because I want to savour every moment-yes even if it means having to put up with the hard stuff!
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