Mum's the word

By the way, if you know my Dad, don't tell him I'm considering a lake swim. When i told him I was training for triathlon, he said, "I don't want you to drown." He is comforted by the fact that my triathlons are in pools. So shhhhhhh!!!! ;)

To do or not to do? That is the question

I am considering signing up for an all-women sprint distance triathlon in the Kansas City area in August. The only thing I'm worried about is that the swim is in a LAKE! Yes, I know I said I really love swimming...and i do...in a 3' pool!!! Other than that, it's a pretty short distance and I could visit my Kansas City area friends at the same time. But the Lake thing really freaks me out. It's a 500 yd swim...piece of cake in a pool. Please give me your opinion about lake swimming!
Here's the link to the triathlon. Rose Brooks Triathlon for Women

5 weeks til the Race

Training has been going well. This has been a light week. The training builds in a four week cycle, starting easy (low intensity) and ending hard (high intensity) . This should put a taper the week before the race, which is perfect. My rec center pool has been closed all week for it's 6 month cleaning, etc., and I'm in withdrawal. I love the swimming! I will do the MaxTrax duathlon on April 22nd, so I am going to do a race simulation this weekend.

Warm up Running Program by Amby Burfoot

Week 1: Run 2 min, walk 4 min. Complete 5 cycles
Week 2: Run 3 min, walk 3 min. Complete 5 cycles
Week 3: Run 5 min, walk 2.5 min. Complete 4 cycles
Week 4: Run 7 min, walk 3 min. Complete 3 cycles
Week 5: Run 8 min, walk 2 min. Complete 3 cycles
Week 6: Run 9 min, walk 2 min. Complete 2 cycles, then run 8 mins
Week 7: Run 9 min, walk 1 min. Complete 3 cycles
Week 8: Run 13 min, walk 2 min. Complete 2 cycles
Week 9: Run 14 min, walk 1 min. complete 2 cycles
Note: After completing week9, if you feel tired, repeat this week of training before moving on to week 10.
Week 10: Run 30 min!!!

Getting Started

Everyone asks me how I got started in doing all this crazy stuff. As I mention in my profile, it started when I got two new very energetic dogs. They needed walking...and so did i, apparantly. I noticed how my whole body tingled from a brisk walk. I really felt alive! My chow-mix really wanted to run. So we ran, then stopped to sniff a tuft of grass, then we ran, then stopped to sniff a mailbox...and on it went. Til I decided I didn't want to stop. It was at this time that my good buddy Tyson (a life long athlete) gave me a book called The Complete Book of Running by Amby Burfoot. I couldn't put it down! It had an ease-into-running plan in it. It started with running for a minute and walking for several and doing that cycle for 30 mins. Eventually, in 10 weeks, one runs non-stop for 30 mins! Pretty cool and EASY! Eight weeks after starting that plan Tyson said, "You need to sign up for a race!" I freaked out. A race! Meeee??? No Way!!! I'll come in last or I won't be able to finish!!! He was confident I could do it (though he hadn't seen me run or anything!), so I faced my fear and ran/walked the Holly Hills Jack-o-Lantern Jog. I DIDN'T come in last! I was probably 20th from last. But it was eye opening for me! I could actually cross the finish line! What an awesome feeling that was! I was also shocked that really great athletes were red-faced and sweaty at the end! I thought it would be sooo easy for them. That was cool! I've done tons of foot races since then, and they have all been great fun! One of the most fun was the Spirit of St. Louis Half Marathon which I did 8 months after starting to run. I've done two half marathons, so far. If I can do this, so can anyone!

7 weeks til the Race

There are 7 weeks til the Race for Sight, my first triathlon. I have been training for this particular triathlon, using a training plan from Training Peaks. It was written by Joe Friel, who is, in my book, the God of triathlon. I had the pleasure of attending his clinic in January, hosted by Ultramax.

This week I will be (this is a typical week):
Monday: Swim (A.M.) and Strength (P.M.) I learned to do flip-turns today!
Tuesday: Brick workout
Wednesday: Swim (A.M.) and Bike (P.M.)
Thursday: Run Strides
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: Run a rolling course
Sunday: Bike

Note: a brick workout is a combo bike then run

Crazee for Sports!!!

The reason I call this site Crazee4sports is because soooo many people have told me I'm nuts for doing all the training and sports that I do. It's actually the most sane thing I have ever done. I feel the most at peace during and especially after a good workout...or even a lousy one!
I have so much fun doing race events and this year is my first season to do triathlon. I am signed up for three:
4/22 MaxTrax Duathlon (Run 1.5mile, Bike 7.5mile, Run 1.5mile) in Columbia, MO
5/7 MLERF Race for Sight (Swim 400yds, Bike 14miles, Run 2.75miles)
6/18 St. Peters Rec Plex Tri-Spring (Swim 500yds, Bike 21miles, Run 5miles)
There are two more that I will sign up for when registration opens:
7/16 Ballwin Tri (Swim 300yds, Bike 9miles, Run 3.2miles
10/1 St. Peters Rec Plex Tri-fall (Swim 500yds, Bike 21miles, Run 5miles)
Check back later to see my training schedule, and race stories. Also, training pics, etc.