Reflecting, I am ready to be kinder to myself in my head. I’m anticipating a powerful change in consciousness. Along my journey, no one is more critical than I am in my head in regard to my own self. I should be better and I should be doing more.

With the new habits of “Simplify” in my repertoire, I am ready for another manifestation of living with intention.

Mantra: “I am well: Happy and Peaceful”

I made a pact with a client that we would do self-affirmation at least once a day while looking in the mirror. I’ve decided to let go if I make a mistake (e.g., say horrid things to my child in a fit of frustration), let go of 98 of the 100 business-building ideas I have (e.g., give myself a break), let go of needing to be perfect (in my mind).

Onward…..
(me with my daughter and mom — two great inspirations of joyful living)

2012 was spent with the mantra “Simplify”.

In that spirit, I consolidated all of my racing to a 5-week period. I’m saying this somewhat in jest, as I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not, but that’s just how it worked out.

Recap: Family-focus January-June; tripped on a rock in June leading to minimal running pre-Kona, blah blah blah

Coach Wendy and I decide to race a `1/2 Ironman 2 weeks prior to Kona. It would be fun, simple, and a test. Perfect.

Photos from 5-week racing season:

Kerrville 1/2 Ironman:

Yeah me, I won the master’s race, but the real happiness was that I ran 13.1 miles just over 8′ pace. This bettered my previous long runs of 7 miles by almost double. Again, this training plan may not be recommended, but it ensured me that my 42 years of endurance would step up.

I swam as well as I swim, I rode solid, but not like a bike race, then ran smooth – even negative splitting the run.

Success = nailed the nutrition, ran 13.1, smiled, I’ll always take a “W”

Kona:

Dang, it was really fun this time. I’ll go with highlights and photos:

- Participated in underpants run (ignored previously)
- Participated in parade (ignored previously)
- Attended team dinner
- Subjected to Kory Stringer Institute study — I’ll share results when I have them (lots of blood and spit)
- Pre-race swim with Rachel Ross, post-underpants run
- Celebrated my dad’s 70th bday
- Spent an extra week there with my dad and my husband

Race highlights:
- Happy with my swim – tough conditions with my “usual” Kona time
- Bike – took it calm & steady since I knew I couldn’t burn all of my muscular endurance as I would need extra to finish the run
- Run – I ran well through 11-12ish. Then it was painful. I hung in there until 22, when I thought I should be at 23 and dang near had a temper tantrum. Math is very difficult in IM racing. The two items should not coincide.
- Finish – First time without nutrition meltdown. Yeah Me. I’ll write about that sometime, too.
- Post-race food: Enjoyed 1/2 a coconut margarita, which my dad had to confiscate. Loved the ono sashimi, grilled ono, salad, and huge avocado.

Austin 70.3

Since I was feeling great (cortisone shot) and I got a few bucks for my bday, I entered Austin 70.3 while lounging on the patio of our resort in Kona. The dangers of internet shopping.

Pre-race workout:
The day before a cycling or triathlon race, I always do the same workout. It’s pretty bike-racer-ish, but it works for me. I ride about 90 minutes with 4x “openers” where I go really hard for up to 90 seconds to tap zone 4 or higher, then relax. It gets me ready without getting me tired. Trouble was brewing the day before the race as my heart rate was not matching my perceived effort (e.g., my heart rate was couch potato and my legs were screaming). Hmmmm. This may be interesting.

Race highlights:
- Holy ^&*@ it was unseasonably freezing — 46 degrees at the start (80s+ the day prior)
- Sucked it up and raced anyways
- Spent lots of time in T1 getting dressed appropriately and looking for my sunglasses, which were never located
- Suffered for the very first time on the bike: my legs were dead — a new experience for me
- Entered T2 not in the lead – this actually felt like pressure off, as it didn’t feel like I was constantly running scared, although truth be told, I like being in the lead out of T2
- Enjoyed the run as somehow the cortisone must have still been kicking; the temps were also pleasant for running, so I managed to negative split the run and maintain my 3rd place position.
- Finish: 3rd in 40-44

Even though I haven’t kept writing a blog every 1-2 weeks about my Kona build, the Earth still revolves, and the time continues to pass. I was a bit in denial about that until this past weekend.

What changed?
My friend, Bob, noted that I was on the right path: my cycling is improving, my nutrition is treating me well, my coach is adapting to my unusual circumstances.
My dad, Len, made me nuts. He kept pushing me about not running in Kona so I don’t mess up my body (permanently). The reality dawned on me, and I said, “Dad. You don’t get it. I can’t push through this for hours (yet). I can run for 5-11 minutes (for now). On race day, I’ll either be able to do it, or not. It’s out of my control.”

Maybe that’s the lesson of the knee. That I can be okay when things are out of my control.

Summary of the knee challenge:
- Tripping on rocks/roots is a bad idea. I hyper-extended my knee mid-June while enjoying a fun run on the Greenbelt with the puppies.
- Attempted the usual recovery, without results.
- MRI revealed degenerative damage to the front (strange place, not overuse from running) of my meniscus cartilage. So, we tried a cortisone shot, since I can run with the (old) damage.
- Cortisone shot made me feel like a champ for 1 week.
- Sought other treatments: tried chiropractic, acupuncture, ouiji board (not really, but I might).

Given that the status of my knee pain is pretty much out of my control for October 13, I’ve let go. I’m swimming and biking. Running prep includes short intervals, using the elliptical or aqua jogging for any warm-up or extended duration. I can run fast and short. Focus on cadence and form. So, in theory, on October 13, if I have no pain, I can have great form with my almost 43 years of endurance carrying me. Stay positive with me, readers. No eye rolling.

So, what’s the plan? Focus on what I can control.
Stay on Wendy’s plan.
Continue my great nutrition journey.

Wildcards and bets:
Yes, I’m willing to try for a miracle, or at least attempt to heal this without any knives or cutting. I had Platelet Rich Plasma Injections yesterday. Reminded me that I can handle chronic pain, but I’m a sissy pants when it comes to intense short pain. I got over it. They took blood from my arm, spun it down, and injected it (about 28 injections) into specific places on my knee, using a live x-ray. Cool. It hurts today. Might take 6-18 weeks to heal, but the process promotes self-healing. I believe.

Family:
All is happiness in our new house. Almost unpacked. I went to Z Gallerie and Pottery Barn to look around and then promptly called my decorator. Outsourcing to experts keeps me sane. I call it “buying cut fruit”, which I did yesterday. Our newest family member, Simon (horse), is adapting well. He is in training at the barn. Autumn rides him once a week. He has been cleaning up in the hunter divisions at the horse shows (means he is a “good mover”). I’ll have to post about the horse show thing. You may be amused or frightened. It’s kind of like a cross between a beauty pagent and a race.

Fun (and maybe applicable) photos:
knee (post platelet rich plasma therapy — all full of fluid and holes)
Autumn and Simon
my 69-year-old mom (no, I can’t do that)
my family (Michael, Autumn, and I) with the spoils from Autumn and Bopper’s 2’6″ medal win
me
Autumn and Simon

Week 1-2 (of 16)

Focus:
Simplify 2012 continues to serve me well.
I drove 80 miles over 3 days instead of 100 miles per day; I ride my bike to the stable instead of driving back and forth. Yeah!

My life revolved around moving into our new house and being on the “am I injured?” emotional roller coaster. I kept the “Autumn and Michael” (family) and “Wise Companion Care” (work) plates spinning, but emotionally, I was putting all my visualization and thoughts to my knee.

Challenge:
Despite my best efforts at visualization and any therapy I can get my hands on, my knee still hurts. To be specific, when running joyfully on the Greenbelt with the dogs, my toe caught a rock, and I went flying forward (but not my knee). It’s been 3 weeks.

I cried at swim practice (why that happens I don’t know) at the end of week 2 – which was rock bottom. I’m going to the orthopedic at the beginning of week 3. I need more info.

Interesting side note: When doing my visualization, I focused on my left knee. I saw it burning. I imagined water coming through my body to cool it and put out the fire. Whenever my concentration waned, even a little, the fire was back immediately.
Yes, I help “Keep Austin Weird”.

Perspective:
I detest aqua jogging or any fancy name given to the term meaning running in a pool. It’s up there with the bike trainer – the opportunity for either to be pleasurable left in 2009, when I rehabbed the Bionic Ankle. However, armed with my cute new swimsuit, I have made a go of it.

Additionally, I reached out to my good friend, Ally. This, by the way, is the other emotional pull in my life. Ally is moving to New Mexico. I am very happy for her opportunity (really, not just a line), but I’m sad, because basically I want her for myself. Ally is a recovered bike-racer and hoop-jumper turned yoga-woman and healer (she is going to the Ayurvedic Institute this fall). Her words: “Juli, I thought aqua-jogging was &*#@ too. I ended up giving it a try, and I found that it worked well. Just don’t count on it like running or cycling feels – like a full-sweating aerobic workout. Focus on your cadence and run form.”

Finally, even if I can’t run on October 13, I will swim and bike and vacation-and the Earth will keep rotating.

Inspiring:
After a mediocre start to the season, Autumn and Bopper are in fine form (Bopper is a pony). Although I sound braggy, I’m telling anyways – and no, I don’t think I’m a better parent because of any of this. However, I find it inspiring that Autumn went through the first 3 horse shows on “substitute ponies” (Bopper had cramps, then had too much of his heel cut off and couldn’t show) with a positive outlook. In the next 2 shows, Bopper returned, and they were dynamite. She showed patience and resilience.

Great workout:
I figured out that if I aqua-jog in my shoes in a pool that is 4’2’ to 4’8”, I can focus on my run cadence by concentrating on the up-stroke. Coach Wendy gives me interval workouts to keep it fun and focused. For example, 60 seconds fast legs, 30 seconds rest over and over.

Coach Wendy comment:
Take care of that knee. Get the bike and swim on, even a little strength training.
(She is very straight forward and level-headed.)

Random pics that may correlate to my post:

Usually I train specifically for an event with a 16-week build. I’ll call this “getting back into it” week 0, since week 1 started June 25 (I’m behind on posting, but you can be flexible).

Focus:
At the beginning, it’s all about logistics: taking the workouts that Wendy planned, and getting them in the book. I have a notebook (if you’ve known me longer than 1 minute, you’ve seen the notebook). Each page is a day – on the left is what I eat on the right is what I do. The first thing that goes into the notebook is Autumn’s schedule. The second thing (when I’m in training mode) is workouts. I then schedule client meetings, add lists and other work priorities around those two items. Yes, I selected a flexible-schedule career this time around.

Challenge:
I ran into a rock, which made my knee hurt. My saddle hurts my parts. SO, on the ride this past weekend it went like this in my head, “Oooh, sitting down hurts my parts, so I’ll stand. Ooooh, standing up hurts my knee, so I’ll sit.” Until it made me crazy, so I rode back to Jack and Adam’s and ordered a new saddle. Since I was a soccer player, I’m used to taking a beating, so I’m confident that the knee will heal….. It’s either some strange fibula (or whatever bone is in your calf) thing that will be quick OR a grade 2 ACL sprain which will not.

In the meantime, I had to aqua jog. My personal hell = listening to someone whistle while I aqua jog in cold water — so it wasn’t all that bad. (I bought a new swim suit to maximize the tan while aqua jogging, so I can stay positive). It dawned on me that someday soon, I may be in a race, and WISH I were running in a pool. Good visualization for the future.

Perspective:
My sisters-in-law commented to Autumn how she looks like me (e.g., posture, muscled, mannerisms, extraversion – makes us similar). This revolted her. I cracked up. I, too, recall being about 12-13, and upon hearing such nonsense, thinking, “I’m not 40ish (old) and look like I’ve had a kid (fat)”. I wonder if Sky will think this about Rachel; perhaps she is the exception (and not yet 40).

Inspiring:
Michael was the fastest guy at the Combine (baseball pro tryouts) back in the day, with a 4.37ish 40. Dang. Visualization: fast-vibes rubbing off on me. He also said, “Juli, just so you know, I am not going to Kona to watch you slog the run. I expect you to RUN.”

Great workout:
I swam like a fish yesterday. (Ok, for me that means being able to swim short-course 100s on 1:30 more than 4 times in a row. I even did flip turns and wore a real training-swimming suit.) Might have helped to have legs off the day prior and a pull buoy, but I’m taking it anyways. I think of it as setting myself up for success. I seem to have a metronome in my head, so when I do pacing-type swim workouts, it helps me practice speeding up the tempo.

Coach Wendy comment:
You need to run – a lot. That’s what we are gearing up to do.
Yes, I made another change. The infamous Wendy Mader is coaching me. :)

Random but fun photos: