Lessons Learned and No More Gu!

This week was quite a learning experience. Tuesday I learned what happens when Allergy Girl meets Tri Virgin. Let me tell you, it's not pretty. Tuesday we ran just under 5 miles in the park. T ran beside me for part of it and gave me some great advice to help alleviate the pain in my neck and shoulders. She told me to keep my thumb pressed down on my fists as I pump my arms back and forth. Running with someone is great because I don't wonder where I am or how much further I have to go- it takes my mind off that nonsense and keeps me motivated. All pluses. Then during the last mile or so, I started to have a hard time breathing. Could I be so out of shape? I couldn't figure out why I was huffing and puffing so much. For the last few minutes to the finish, J was running beside me- again giving more great coaching. Then when we stopped I couldn't catch my breath. Panic took over. I held my arms above my head and walked in circles, hoping I'd be ok. Of course the times I've stopped breathing and gone into shock from my terrible food allergies flashed before me. Then I tried to think back to anything I could have eaten that would have made me sick. J looked at me, knowing something was wrong. I motioned to my throat and he quickly walked me to the drinking fountain. He asked about allergies, I told him I have more than anyone could imagine. J said the pollen count was incredibly high and probably the reason I couldn't breathe. I skipped the stretch and went to the bag check and quickly took a zyrtec, my life saver that I keep in my bag. I drank a lot of water and calmed down. I was fine but scared. Not being a runner, I have never dealt with the combination of allergies and exercise. I guess this is something new I need to think about now. Joy. J was great and it makes me even more happy that I'm doing my training with TNT.

Wednesday I left work on time to get to the early swim. When I got to Penn Station I had a change of heart. My body hurt. I felt tired. I was grumpy. I didn't want to swim. So i switched platforms and headed downtown instead of up. I needed a night off. I missed the .5 timed swim. I'll have to make up for later this week- but I'm glad I trusted my gut and didn't push myself.

Yesterday was a 15 mile or so ride in the park and a 4 mile ride home. It was good. I've learned that Gu, no matter how good it tastes or how much energy it gives me, is not my friend. Gu is gross. My bike got gued. I couldn't get all of the gu in the pack down so I put it in my hand and by the time I looked down, gu was everywhere. I couldn't litter in the park so I had to ride up a hill and another and another before I found a trash can. The rest of the ride was quite sticky. I think i'll stick to my energy jelly beans from now on. The ride was fine. I'm frustrated with my slowness. Pointers, anyone?

Today I woke up and ran to the gym for an intense ab class. The instructor was intense and her body was steel. Amazing really. I want those arms. Ok, maybe not as thick and formed and minus the intense veins but something of that nature would rock. I know I'll be feeling it tomorrow morning. I stayed and worked out a bit after class then came back home, got my bike and headed back to NYC Velo. The guys at Velo are so good to me. I love talking to them because they don't treat me like I'm an amateur idiot- even though I am. My bike was properly fit to me now that I have my new pedals. My seat needed to be raised a bit and a few other adjustments were made. Then I sped off to Cadence, my new favorite place. Riding down in tribeca is a little tricky with the cobblestone roads and slow-walking brunch goers but I made it all around town and I'm still in one piece.

My legs are sore but a good sore. My abs are starting to feel the burn. It was an interesting week, but I'm still here and still training.