“You just have to believe you belong. The rest will take care of itself. Of this, I have no doubt.” Selene Yeager.
My first triathlon of the season, Patriot Half Ironman is just under two week away. I feel more ready for it then I ever have for a 70.3. I am excited to race and test myself! It is a flat course with PR potential. Though I love me some hills, it will be nice not to have to climb a mountain this year! I am tapered and feeling rested. It is killing me a little *not* to go out and ride for 4-5 hours. I am being a smart triathlete and following my plan. I want to be well rested for Patriot and, well hopefully crush it! My 140.6 plan goes back into full swing two day following. The last thing I need is to over train in the last two months.
I have two open water swim under my belt for the 2011 season. Every year that I do my first open water swim I am terrified for the first two or three times out. Part of it is confidence, anxiety about drowning, anxiety that the Loc Ness Monster will get me! Don't laugh...he could be hiding out in Walden Pond...it would be unsuspecting. This year, albeit slow (I had just done a brick and was tired from my week) I jumped in the pond and swam over. No freaking out, no panic attack, no breathing problems. I just sighted and swam across. The next time I improved my time by 5 minutes each way. Things are looking up!
There is a small part of me that does not think I "belong" in endurance racing. In my mind that overweight scared girl still exists. I don't belong in full body lycra on a $3,000 bike with who knows how much in gear. I don't belong at 70.3 and 140.6 races. I certainly should not expect to finish or contend for an age group finish. Not Kristi Paradis who can barely run to the tennis courts. BUT WAIT. I do belong. I worked my way up from a 10 min run to completing 2 Boston Marathons, 3 half Iron(wo)mans, multiple road races, and nearly 10 smaller course triathlons. All done on a heavy improperly fit road bike. So yes. I do belong. I have bigger and faster toys, am stronger, faster, and more confident. No, I won't win Vineman or Patriot. If I am lucky I may place well in Patriot. But I will finish both barring an unfortunate circumstances. And I will add one more thing to my long list of accomplishments. Because this is how I play. And because I can.
IMLP
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Kristi the swimmer.???wHAT?
Something mighty happened tonight. I hopped in the pool at 7:00 pm after being up since 5:23, working 8 INSANE hours, a heavy lifting w/o and 30 min run, refueling no nap. My body immediately responded. I was streamlined and powerful. I am not sure that I was super fast, but not slow and efficient! We swam 2700 yards and much of it was IM. I even swam butterfly fairly well! huh. I felt like I could have swam more...maybe the full 2.4 miles. Our last two sets consisted of 12-50's with first 25 sprint second 25 recover. I was able to push myself to the point of muscle fatigue for most of the 12. Last set included hard-strong kick. I had enough humph to really push.
Dare I say it I am becoming a swimmer. I even smiled while in the pool.
Dare I say it I am becoming a swimmer. I even smiled while in the pool.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Less than 3 months
Vineman is less than 3 months away. 11 weeks to be exact. WEEKS! Spring has finally sprung here in the Boston and we've even had warm days. Its been fantastic for riding and running.
I have feeling more and more comfortable on my bike as the days and weeks progress. I am so unbelievably in control on this bike. I spend about 75-80% of my time in my aero's and that time increases in good riding conditions! Today I averaged 18 mph in my 90 min interval ride and this was after 300 squats. My longest ride of the season is 220 minutes. The last time I did this we averaged 16.5 and I felt good on my run. I am feeling more and more confident that I will be able to average 17-19 mph on Vineman. Running continues to improve too! Dare I say it swimming as well.
The past week my rest day changed from Monday to Thursday. This meant that I had 9 days of tough training in a row. By my Tue evening swim my body was shot! The last thing I wanted to do was swim hard for 45 minutes. But I dragged my ass to the pool with my Masters swim team. The coach, who usually gives us lots of stroke surprised me with a Kristi Ironman workout (her title)! Of course I had to stay for the full 60 minutes and attempt to swim hard. I swam slower than I have been, but I finished the workout, all 2400 yards of it. My mantra for the night was "I am tough, I am hardcore, I WILL be an IRONMAN". The next morning I had a 75-15 brick planned. I slept like a baby the night before and woke up feeling ok. I rode like a machine and ran like the wind. The past two weeks I have gained valuable mental and physical strength. My mind and body are responding the way they are suppose to!
My fear continues to be how I will respond on race day. When it counts. Will I really be able to run 26.2 miles after a 2.4 swim and 112 ride? My mental game plan is to split the race into 6 parts: swim, T1, 56 ride loop 1, 56 ride loop 2, T2, 8 mile run loop 1, 8 mile run loop 2, and the final 8 mile run. I can do this. The visualization has started, especially on those longer rides on tired legs. I am getting more and more excited!
I will be an iron(wo)man.
I have feeling more and more comfortable on my bike as the days and weeks progress. I am so unbelievably in control on this bike. I spend about 75-80% of my time in my aero's and that time increases in good riding conditions! Today I averaged 18 mph in my 90 min interval ride and this was after 300 squats. My longest ride of the season is 220 minutes. The last time I did this we averaged 16.5 and I felt good on my run. I am feeling more and more confident that I will be able to average 17-19 mph on Vineman. Running continues to improve too! Dare I say it swimming as well.
The past week my rest day changed from Monday to Thursday. This meant that I had 9 days of tough training in a row. By my Tue evening swim my body was shot! The last thing I wanted to do was swim hard for 45 minutes. But I dragged my ass to the pool with my Masters swim team. The coach, who usually gives us lots of stroke surprised me with a Kristi Ironman workout (her title)! Of course I had to stay for the full 60 minutes and attempt to swim hard. I swam slower than I have been, but I finished the workout, all 2400 yards of it. My mantra for the night was "I am tough, I am hardcore, I WILL be an IRONMAN". The next morning I had a 75-15 brick planned. I slept like a baby the night before and woke up feeling ok. I rode like a machine and ran like the wind. The past two weeks I have gained valuable mental and physical strength. My mind and body are responding the way they are suppose to!
My fear continues to be how I will respond on race day. When it counts. Will I really be able to run 26.2 miles after a 2.4 swim and 112 ride? My mental game plan is to split the race into 6 parts: swim, T1, 56 ride loop 1, 56 ride loop 2, T2, 8 mile run loop 1, 8 mile run loop 2, and the final 8 mile run. I can do this. The visualization has started, especially on those longer rides on tired legs. I am getting more and more excited!
I will be an iron(wo)man.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Trek!
Last week I became the proud owner of a Trek Speed Concept 7.0. I spent a little under $3,000 total including pedals and a fitting. The scrimping and saving over the last year is already worth every penny.
I have put about 100 miles on Speedy Gonzales (yup I named my bike) and I love her. I already love this bike more than I should love an object! I accelerate quickly and stop on a dime. She is light and fast, shifts like butter on a knife, and corners beautifully. Most importantly I now own and ride a bike that fits me perfectly. I will be spending 80-90% (maybe more) of my time riding and racing down in the aero bars. The shifters are on the aeros, as is standard for a time trial/triathlon bike. It presents a challenge to ride and shift in a new position. One that I greet with glee.
Friday New England had a taste of 60-70 degree weather and I was lucky enough to have the day off. I jumped on the opportunity to do my brick that day! I was scheduled for a 2 hour ride, but could have ridden for 6 hours! The day was windy, sunny, and warm. I headed out to one of my favorite routes in Needham and Dover. Thirty minutes into the ride my legs came alive, happy to be riding in warm weather. I went down in the aero's despite passing cars. I found a fun new road to ride on with little traffic and false flats. I started taking risks and being more ballsy. I spent much of the ride in the aero's and rode fast for an early season ride and a new bike. By the end of the ride I felt 80% comfortable on Speedy. I estimate that in two weeks Speedy and I will be one. And I will be fast. Faster that I have ever been. I spent 10 years riding on a bike that was too large for and fared well. I am excited to see how I will improve on a great bike.
Today's long run was awesome. I ran nearly 9 miles in 72 minutes. My lofty goal of complete the marathon portion in 4 hours may actually happen. Over the last few weeks I've been reminded why I train for and complete triathlons. I've entered a new level of training and racing. And I enter it with zeal. Bring it!!!
I have put about 100 miles on Speedy Gonzales (yup I named my bike) and I love her. I already love this bike more than I should love an object! I accelerate quickly and stop on a dime. She is light and fast, shifts like butter on a knife, and corners beautifully. Most importantly I now own and ride a bike that fits me perfectly. I will be spending 80-90% (maybe more) of my time riding and racing down in the aero bars. The shifters are on the aeros, as is standard for a time trial/triathlon bike. It presents a challenge to ride and shift in a new position. One that I greet with glee.
Friday New England had a taste of 60-70 degree weather and I was lucky enough to have the day off. I jumped on the opportunity to do my brick that day! I was scheduled for a 2 hour ride, but could have ridden for 6 hours! The day was windy, sunny, and warm. I headed out to one of my favorite routes in Needham and Dover. Thirty minutes into the ride my legs came alive, happy to be riding in warm weather. I went down in the aero's despite passing cars. I found a fun new road to ride on with little traffic and false flats. I started taking risks and being more ballsy. I spent much of the ride in the aero's and rode fast for an early season ride and a new bike. By the end of the ride I felt 80% comfortable on Speedy. I estimate that in two weeks Speedy and I will be one. And I will be fast. Faster that I have ever been. I spent 10 years riding on a bike that was too large for and fared well. I am excited to see how I will improve on a great bike.
Today's long run was awesome. I ran nearly 9 miles in 72 minutes. My lofty goal of complete the marathon portion in 4 hours may actually happen. Over the last few weeks I've been reminded why I train for and complete triathlons. I've entered a new level of training and racing. And I enter it with zeal. Bring it!!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
How triathlon saved my life...really
Lately I've been thinking a lot about how lucky I am. Lucky in a lot of ways, but lucky to be alive. And lucky that I have found an outlet and have turned my life around.
In the early 2000's I was still a closeted lesbian and incredibly depressed. Occasionally I used running to ward off evil thoughts, but followed a hard run with a glass or bottle of wine and a lot of crying. In the summer of 2001 my life hit rock bottom. Around the same time a close friend told me to see a therapist and I found the 2001 Tanqueray AIDS Ride from NY to Boston. I bought a rode bike and started therapy. I rode my heart out that summer and cried my heart out in therapy. By the end of the ride I was a new person. Ok so therapy helped a lot, BUT I found a way to deal with my emotions and frustrations. I had yet to unveil the true strong unstoppable Kristi.
I've had periods of fitness and destructive behavior, sometimes simultaneously, in these last ten years. The times when I regularly ran coincided with happier times. I knew this, but could not quite get meld training into my life.
In 2007 I made the decision to get back in shape and run the 2008 Boston Marathon. That following summer I did two sprint tri's and my first Olympic. It was this summer where I feel back in love with triathlon. It was also that summer that my heart was broken. This time, however, I swam, rode, and ran harder every time I felt the least bit sad. I started choosing tea over beer and a banana over a pie. Towards the end of that year there were hints of uber Kristi.
In 2009 I trained for a completed my first half Ironman, 70.3 miles, I unveiled my true self. I swam, rode, and ran out every last negative thought and emotion. I replaced negative with positive, despair with joy. When I needed to solve a problem or deal with an unruly patient, coworker, family member, friend, or roommate I would hop in the pool, my bike, or grab my shoes and just go. 9 times out of 10 I return a happy Kristi. I found self confidence that carries over into my work, friendships, romantic relationships, and family.
Sure I still drink every now and then and don't always eat impeccably. But I am healthy, happy, and prosperous. I am more patient and calm. I look to my days and future with glee. Even though my life is not perfect. I find perfection and imperfection with my training and racing. When I look back at the last decade I see crucial crossroads that could have sent me down a very dark scary road.
Above all triathlon and running unraveled a strong condfident person that had gotten lost. I was reminded that I can do anything I set my mind to. This year that will be a full ironman. Even if that means giving up beer, sleep, and cookies every now and then.
In the early 2000's I was still a closeted lesbian and incredibly depressed. Occasionally I used running to ward off evil thoughts, but followed a hard run with a glass or bottle of wine and a lot of crying. In the summer of 2001 my life hit rock bottom. Around the same time a close friend told me to see a therapist and I found the 2001 Tanqueray AIDS Ride from NY to Boston. I bought a rode bike and started therapy. I rode my heart out that summer and cried my heart out in therapy. By the end of the ride I was a new person. Ok so therapy helped a lot, BUT I found a way to deal with my emotions and frustrations. I had yet to unveil the true strong unstoppable Kristi.
I've had periods of fitness and destructive behavior, sometimes simultaneously, in these last ten years. The times when I regularly ran coincided with happier times. I knew this, but could not quite get meld training into my life.
In 2007 I made the decision to get back in shape and run the 2008 Boston Marathon. That following summer I did two sprint tri's and my first Olympic. It was this summer where I feel back in love with triathlon. It was also that summer that my heart was broken. This time, however, I swam, rode, and ran harder every time I felt the least bit sad. I started choosing tea over beer and a banana over a pie. Towards the end of that year there were hints of uber Kristi.
In 2009 I trained for a completed my first half Ironman, 70.3 miles, I unveiled my true self. I swam, rode, and ran out every last negative thought and emotion. I replaced negative with positive, despair with joy. When I needed to solve a problem or deal with an unruly patient, coworker, family member, friend, or roommate I would hop in the pool, my bike, or grab my shoes and just go. 9 times out of 10 I return a happy Kristi. I found self confidence that carries over into my work, friendships, romantic relationships, and family.
Sure I still drink every now and then and don't always eat impeccably. But I am healthy, happy, and prosperous. I am more patient and calm. I look to my days and future with glee. Even though my life is not perfect. I find perfection and imperfection with my training and racing. When I look back at the last decade I see crucial crossroads that could have sent me down a very dark scary road.
Above all triathlon and running unraveled a strong condfident person that had gotten lost. I was reminded that I can do anything I set my mind to. This year that will be a full ironman. Even if that means giving up beer, sleep, and cookies every now and then.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Challenges of training in Boston
I have reached the 6 months out of the big day! I can easily ride inside for two hours and can run for 80 minutes no problem.
The big news of the month is that I swam 2925 yards in 60 minutes, stopping only twice, and doing a 100 yard cool down. 3125 yards (thats 1.8 miles for those of you who don't know). My swimming has reached new levels. I feel stronger and am faster. More importantly I am more confident. I am certain that I can swim 2. 4 miles in 6 months. My lofty goal of completing it in 70 minutes may actually be a reality! I actually like (maybe even love) swimming.
Boston is covered-buried in snow. We have 5-6 feet snow banks and treacherous sidewalks at times. In one week I ran outside only once. I am biking on a trainer. Swimming in a pool. And largely running on a treadmill. When I run outside it is inconsistent and involves a lot of stopping. There are days when I don't want train because of the weather. I am grumpy because I am not spending enough time outside, breathing fresh air.
I love triathlon and love training. I love that way I feel after a hard workout. I love the accomplishments in training, that feeling I get when I reach a new milestone. I love what my training has done to my body. My muscles are toned and strong. I am fit and healthy. My resting heart rate is crazy low. I can sprint up stairs without thinking. I can sprint to get a bus with ease. I want these things back.
Winter is adding a challenge to my training, one I did not anticipate or plan for. I'd hope to ride and definitely run outside all winter. It never occurred to me that I would have to do treadmill runs, not in Boston. Extreme temperatures-bring it on. Dark early morning or late evening runs, rides, or swim-bring it sucker. Hill repeats and speed work-love it. Risking my life to run 45 minutes---undue stress. I know that the weather will soon change, the snow will melt, and the sun will shine once more. And soon I will obtain euphoria on my workouts.
For now I relish the good moments of training and those precious moments I can spend outside, training; the way I love.
The big news of the month is that I swam 2925 yards in 60 minutes, stopping only twice, and doing a 100 yard cool down. 3125 yards (thats 1.8 miles for those of you who don't know). My swimming has reached new levels. I feel stronger and am faster. More importantly I am more confident. I am certain that I can swim 2. 4 miles in 6 months. My lofty goal of completing it in 70 minutes may actually be a reality! I actually like (maybe even love) swimming.
Boston is covered-buried in snow. We have 5-6 feet snow banks and treacherous sidewalks at times. In one week I ran outside only once. I am biking on a trainer. Swimming in a pool. And largely running on a treadmill. When I run outside it is inconsistent and involves a lot of stopping. There are days when I don't want train because of the weather. I am grumpy because I am not spending enough time outside, breathing fresh air.
I love triathlon and love training. I love that way I feel after a hard workout. I love the accomplishments in training, that feeling I get when I reach a new milestone. I love what my training has done to my body. My muscles are toned and strong. I am fit and healthy. My resting heart rate is crazy low. I can sprint up stairs without thinking. I can sprint to get a bus with ease. I want these things back.
Winter is adding a challenge to my training, one I did not anticipate or plan for. I'd hope to ride and definitely run outside all winter. It never occurred to me that I would have to do treadmill runs, not in Boston. Extreme temperatures-bring it on. Dark early morning or late evening runs, rides, or swim-bring it sucker. Hill repeats and speed work-love it. Risking my life to run 45 minutes---undue stress. I know that the weather will soon change, the snow will melt, and the sun will shine once more. And soon I will obtain euphoria on my workouts.
For now I relish the good moments of training and those precious moments I can spend outside, training; the way I love.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Mojo back
It's late December, the days are short, cold, and dreary. But I have a lofty goal a little more than 7 months from now. It's getting me outside and pushing me past any seasonal affect that my creep up. I roll out of bed by 5:30 even on my early days to jump in the pool, gym, or run before work.
This past week I got my mojo back. I feel like my tri legs and arms are coming back slowly. My endurance is returning and I am feeling stronger already. I swam 2400 yards last week, a new distance for me. The best part is that I was not insanely tired after. I've been holding myself back on bike and run, waiting until that time to bump up intensity and miles.
I look forward to the open road on my bike and sneakers, nothing between me and freedom but what my body will allow. M body seems to respond well to everything that I ask it to do. I love that with each season (thus far) I seem to bounce back faster and end up stronger. I hope this will continue into 2011 and help me drive to Vineman. Until warmer days...I hit the trainer and spin bike.
This past week I got my mojo back. I feel like my tri legs and arms are coming back slowly. My endurance is returning and I am feeling stronger already. I swam 2400 yards last week, a new distance for me. The best part is that I was not insanely tired after. I've been holding myself back on bike and run, waiting until that time to bump up intensity and miles.
I look forward to the open road on my bike and sneakers, nothing between me and freedom but what my body will allow. M body seems to respond well to everything that I ask it to do. I love that with each season (thus far) I seem to bounce back faster and end up stronger. I hope this will continue into 2011 and help me drive to Vineman. Until warmer days...I hit the trainer and spin bike.
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