Ride, Row, Run : A New Racing Adventure in Maupin Oregon!

By Tanya

As you learned from my last year of posting, I have developed a passion for exercise in the water. Whether it is swimming in the pool for fitness, or in the open water for my first triathlon, riding the waves on a surf board, or rowing the rapids in my kayak, I love the water!

This has also become a family affair as all of my family has taken to the water this past year. In fact for the Fourth of July (which also happens to be my little brother's birthday) we brought a bunch of kayaks, rafts and inner tubes out to Lacamas Lake for a BBQ and a day on the water. It has become a great bonding activity we all enjoy. In fact my mom, who struggles with chronic pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, found that kayaking was a form of exercise she could really enjoy.

Family 4th of July on the water

A couple of years ago I went on a river rafting trip on the Deschutes river in Maupin Oregon, with some women from my church and it was AMAZING! Not only did we ride some sweet rapids but I also got to go body surfing through them, as well as jump from a twenty foot cliff into the river!

We Tri'd It, And We Liked It: MidSummer Olympic Triathlon Review

By Tanya and Carissa

You know those races where all the stars align and everything just falls perfectly into place? Those few and far between races where everything goes as planned and you are reminded again why you dream big, train hard, and persevere through obstacles and injury, and push your body and mind to its limits? Yeah, the MidSummer Triathlon was one of those races.

Training:

Tanya: I can't believe how blessed I have been to even get to the start of this race. I never dreamed I would be attempting a triathlon! Heck, I had never even ridden a road bike until six month ago! But it was destined to be. I fell in love with swimming because of reoccurring injuries. I fell in love with biking because I was gifted a bike. My passion for running was reignited through core strengthening and Graston Therapy (shout out to the fantastic crew at West Portland Physical Therapy). I was inspired to Tri it by my Sole Sisters and challenged by my awesome triathlon training partner, the incredible Carissa von Koch. I was offered a entry into the Mid-Summer Olympic Triathlon for volunteering through the wonderful host company AA Sports... and on to the race I went!

Carissa: I kept my training simple for this triathlon.  My goal was to be prepared to cover the distance.  Every week I aimed to be in the pool once for 1500 meters.  I spent two days a week cycling.  One of the days I took a one hour spin class the other day I cycled outside 25-28 miles, often with Tanya. Three days a week I ran, not because I needed to train that much for the triathlon but because I was considering a fall marathon.  Two of my runs were mid distance (5-8 miles).  One run was longer (10-12 miles).  I really enjoyed training like this.  The mix kept me injury free and mentally fresh.  On race day I felt competent and comfortable.

My First But Not My Last-Series 33 Olympic Triathlon Vancouver

By Carissa

Nineteen weeks of training, six months in the pool, and three months learning the art of riding on the road was all summed up this weekend with my first triathlon.  The Series 33 Vancouver Olympic Triathlon is a .92 mile swim in Klineline Pond, 24.8 mile hilly bike ride through a rural and upscale part of Vancouver, and 6.2 mile run through scenic Salmon Creek Park.

Jodi and I in the transition area before the race began.

I went into triathlon training a runner.  I wasn’t confident I could pick up new sports because running is the only sport I’ve ever excelled at.  Once I learned to swim I spent my time in the pool thanking God I could do it.  My first bike ride was intimidating but I instantly loved it.  Being on this journey of new experiences led me to approaching race day with a thankful heart.  I was genuinely excited to take these new skills and give it a go.

Body marking.  I thought this was really cool.  Why don't they do this at running events?

When it came to the swim I was definitely underprepared.  Though I’ve made a lot of improvement in the pool I only managed one twenty minute swim in open water.  My take away was I really didn’t have the whole sighting thing down.  I thought I could just Google some tips and wing it on race day.  Wing it I did and it wasn’t pretty.

Triathlon Dress Rehearsal: Two Training Approaches. Two Outcomes. One Big Adventure

By Jodi

Swim.  Bike. Run.  This weekend Carissa and I exercised our way through a dress rehearsal of the Olympic distance triathlon we plan to race in two weeks.  Above all else it was eye-opening for me.  There was a clear distinction between Carissa's well prepared, thoughtful training program vs. my winging it, it's-summer-so-I-don't-want-to-train-for-anything "schedule."  Carissa was much faster than I was on all three disciplines.  But I expected her to be.

This was our finished picture.  Notice how refreshed Carissa looks?  And how exhausted I look?

Carissa toyed around with the idea of a triathlon last fall, took her first swim lesson in December, and  got serious about triathlon training after she finished the Boston marathon.  She has trained with the determined consistency that defines who she is, following a rigorous schedule and mastering two skills that were foreign to her a matter of months ago.  Carissa has worked hard and her training has clearly paid off.  She was fast, strong, and capable on all three events today.  On race day she will reap the reward of her hours of effort.

I, on the other hand, didn't decide to do this triathlon until the middle of July.  While I learned to swim and cycle three years ago these are not sports I have not done with any consistency.  Saying yes to triathlon training was like starting over from scratch, especially with swimming.

Loving the Ride

By Carissa

I may have moved to one of the biking capitals of the nation, but until recently cycling never captured my heart.  When I bought a road bike last year it was because my husband and I thought more family bike rides were in our future and neither of us owned a bike.  He chose a Schwinn Cruiser for comfort (think padded seat and wide handle bars.)  I chose a Fuji Roubaix road bike for versatility.  I could use it for a family ride or head out on the road with a girlfriend.  

Purchasing my bike last summer

I knew I liked biking to an extent because I had been spending a lot of time at spin class. Biking on the road however, is completely different.  The difference scared me enough to avoid it.  Everyone I talked to about clips said a fall or two was part of the learning process.  My bike sat in the garage for an entire year while my husband lamented the money we spent to purchase it.

This spring when I got the bug to train for a triathlon, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to face clip-in pedals and cycling outside of spin class.  In June, with my stomach in my throat, I set out on my first real ride.  My spin buddy Kim and I were going to tackle a 35 mile ride.  Neither one of us knew how long it would take or how it would feel.  I had padded shorts. Kim did not. I had a road bike. Kim had a mountain bike with road tires.  We were both nervous as we rode off.  

The previous weekend I rode 30 miles on the trainer.  Thirty-five miles would be new territory for me but I felt confident I could cover the distance.  Kim hadn't been doing any riding outside of spin class nor did she have experience with a longer ride like this. I offered to turn around whenever Kim wanted, but she resolved to stick by my side the entire distance. Our route took us on the Cascade Lakes Highway outside of Sunriver, Oregon.  It was a beautiful warm day and the sights and smells of the high desert were a delight to our senses.  We returned sweaty, sore and ecstatic.  We conquered our fears and had a fantastic time doing so.

Kim and I returning from our ride

The following weekend I had the opportunity to join my biking friends, Christian and Danielle, on a 35 mile ride through Oregon's wine country.  Once again I was extremely nervous.  Could I even keep up with these experienced riders?  It turned out to be a beautiful and educational ride.  Christian and Danielle taught me about fueling, riding with a group (hand gestures and lingo), using the gears on my bike, and riding in a pace line.  One of my favorite moments on the ride was when a raccoon scampered across the road ahead of us, oblivious of our presence. 

Danielle and I after our ride

Last weekend Danielle and I did a 32 mile route that her husband mapped out for us.  This was the first time I took a route from home into the more rural landscape west of where I live.  The thrill of the ride left me with an endorphin high that lasted the whole day.  Danielle and I coordinated the ride at the last minute and I’m so glad I didn’t need to stick to my original game plan of riding solo.

I find comfort in riding with Danielle.  If I fall into position behind her I can copy her riding.  In this way I am continuing to learn.  Now if only I can figure out how to take the downhill like she does!

I never thought I'd be falling in love with cycling.   I love the challenge of a steady climb and approach the downhills with caution.  My clips no longer make me nervous and the thought of a weekend ride doesn’t send my stomach into a tailspin.  When I see another biker I watch them with interest and envy, wishing I too was biking.  I'm really doing it - cycling and loving the ride.

How about you Sole Sisters?  Do you have a bike sitting forgotten in the garage?  Maybe you should  pull it out and find a Kim or a Danielle to enjoy the adventure of biking...through life together.

Trying a Tri

By Carissa

When it comes to athletic pursuits, I like to push my limits.  For a while that has been in the form of distance and pace.  This summer I’m dipping my toes into the unknown world of the triathlon.  I’ve been asked in the past if I would train for a triathlon.  My typical response was that I can’t bike and I can’t swim so no, triathlons weren’t a logical sport for me. 

Then last summer I bought I road bike.  Did I start riding it?  No.  To my husband’s chagrin it sat in the garage with promises from me that once I wan’t busy training for foot races I would indeed get on it.  Next, I had the opportunity to work with a trainer at my gym on lap swimming.  It isn’t pretty, but I now know how to lap swim.  Prior to diving into training for the Boston Marathon I took spin class and managed to get into the pool a little.  Once the running picked up I dropped everything else and focused exclusively on getting in my miles for the week.

Side note: Check out Jodi's blog for her experience learning to swim.  She promises humor.

The one time I actually rode my bike on the road and look, no clips...

After Boston I knew I wanted to get back to spin class, I wanted to get back in the pool and I wanted a goal race that would give my workouts focus and purpose.  A triathlon seemed to fit the bill.  There was only a few rather small hiccups in my ambitions.  I had yet to ride my bike on the open road.  The thought of getting used to my clips was anxiety producing.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to build up the necessary endurance to swim the race distance and I had zero experience in open water.  Have I built a good case for thinking I push my limits?