So. $1000. I've been thinking about this since I heard the news of Ironman's new Ironman Access program this afternoon. I thought I'd attempt to articulate my thoughts on it from the person NOT registering for the race. I'm trying to temper my comments because I don't want to give the impression that I begrudge Mr. TheyTri what he needs to be a successful athlete. BUT. BUT. BUT. I'm annoyed. Triathlon is goddamn expensive enough without an extra $1000 to assure a spot in a race.
I'm so irritated by this and I'm not even the one racing. I realize no one is putting a gun to our heads and forcing us to participate in this "program." But it tilts the table in a terrible way. I'm especially irritated that it allows people with deep pockets to jump the line ahead of volunteers.
We, the family and friends of triathletes, already pay a lot. We pay in loads of laundry. We pay in over-priced crappy hotel rooms. We pay in portajohns. We pay in $10 bumper stickers. We pay in massages and applications of BioFreeze. We pay in the delightful pre-taper week of cranky, crabby and overtrained. We pay in the "together" time lost while our tireless, dedicated athletes go on 6-hour training rides and 2-hour runs on our weekends.
And now, this. This obnoxious money grab. It's a slap and it's very, very disappointing.
The musings of a triathlon wife about life on the outside of transition.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Progress
So, today was the six miler. I was DREADING it. Justly, I think. I barely got through the five last Sunday and woke up this a.m. with a very sore lower-back and I also, maybe, kinda, sorta burnt the crap out of my left hand last night making dinner. I did not have high hopes.
But, we must do what we must do. So I had Mr. TheyTri drive me up to the trail head near our house so that I could run more downhill than uphill and was off. First mile felt like total hell. I was tight and tired and stressing myself out and kept making bargains with myself like "when you get to mile 2 you can take a walk break."
But, i settled down a bit and got into a rhythm. A fairly (for me) speedy one. I got to mile 3 before I took a little 30 second walk break to have a little water. Set off again and was still maintaining an OK pace. Got to the end of the trail and saw Mr. TheyTri and TheyTri doggie waiting for me. Smiled at them and told them I still had 1.75 miles to go so they'd have to meet me further down the trail. I kept plodding along. I had to take a few more 15/20 second walk breaks but am overall pleased that I got through so much of the run actually...well...running!
The best news is that I didn't have any troubles with my calves or feet falling asleep. That's great.
I'm now very tired and need a nap!
But, we must do what we must do. So I had Mr. TheyTri drive me up to the trail head near our house so that I could run more downhill than uphill and was off. First mile felt like total hell. I was tight and tired and stressing myself out and kept making bargains with myself like "when you get to mile 2 you can take a walk break."
But, i settled down a bit and got into a rhythm. A fairly (for me) speedy one. I got to mile 3 before I took a little 30 second walk break to have a little water. Set off again and was still maintaining an OK pace. Got to the end of the trail and saw Mr. TheyTri and TheyTri doggie waiting for me. Smiled at them and told them I still had 1.75 miles to go so they'd have to meet me further down the trail. I kept plodding along. I had to take a few more 15/20 second walk breaks but am overall pleased that I got through so much of the run actually...well...running!
The best news is that I didn't have any troubles with my calves or feet falling asleep. That's great.
I'm now very tired and need a nap!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Ouchie
So, Mr. TheyTri had enough of my crap complaining about my 13.1 training so very helpfully downloaded me a 12-week training plan. It's a good plan. Having a plan is good. I'm terrible at sticking to them. We'll see how it goes.
Last week I did my first-ever track workout and found it surprisingly enjoyable. Well, that's probably not the exact right word. It was...fine? challenging-but-doable? I don't know. I just know I didn't hate it. Which, really, isn't the same thing as liking it. But, I did it and that's the important bit.
Then, over the weekend, I had a 3 miler on Saturday and a 5 miler on Sunday. The 3 miler went OK. The five miler...didn't. I really really really really need to do something about stretching out my calves better. They turn rock-hard when I run uphill at all and then that, consequently, pulls on my Achilles which, consequently, makes my foot/feet go numb. Hard to run on numb feet. I try to stretch before hand and then again when I'm done but I'm clearly not doing it enough/properly. It makes for a bit of frustration.
Having said that, and admitting that I had to take a few walk breaks on my 5er, I'm pretty damn proud of myself. Five is the longest I've ever gone outside of the two 10 ks I've 'run'. Progress. I'll take it.
Last week I did my first-ever track workout and found it surprisingly enjoyable. Well, that's probably not the exact right word. It was...fine? challenging-but-doable? I don't know. I just know I didn't hate it. Which, really, isn't the same thing as liking it. But, I did it and that's the important bit.
Then, over the weekend, I had a 3 miler on Saturday and a 5 miler on Sunday. The 3 miler went OK. The five miler...didn't. I really really really really need to do something about stretching out my calves better. They turn rock-hard when I run uphill at all and then that, consequently, pulls on my Achilles which, consequently, makes my foot/feet go numb. Hard to run on numb feet. I try to stretch before hand and then again when I'm done but I'm clearly not doing it enough/properly. It makes for a bit of frustration.
Having said that, and admitting that I had to take a few walk breaks on my 5er, I'm pretty damn proud of myself. Five is the longest I've ever gone outside of the two 10 ks I've 'run'. Progress. I'll take it.
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