Before and After

I have had a lot of request for before and after pictures on my weight loss journey. The first picture is taken the week before I started working on it and the later are after the triathlon this past weekend. Woo hoo!

The Triathlon

Well, I can definitely say: I'm hooked. I loved it, absolutely loved it. This post is going to be a long one, so sit back and get ready...

First of all, I have to give props to my buddy Carlos Rivera for the above picture. We quickly threw together a shoot an hour before I had to leave for the airport to get the image above. Carlos is a great photographer and friend. Check him out at: http://carlos-rivera.com/

I have prepared for this race since September of last year. I remember
listening to the Ironman Hawaii on the web last fall and dreaming of the day when I would finally be ready to do my own triathlon. I set what I had hoped were realistic goals for this day and here is what they are:
1. to finish gracefully (no passing out, falling down, gasping and so on- just do what I can do)
2. to have fun ( Duh!)
3. to finish in under 2 hours and 30 minutes (this is my fastest practice time + 15 minutes)
4. to finish with at least 10 people behind me (ok, this one is a little egotistical, but I was going for the feel-good here)

I flew into Sac from DFW Friday night and after dragging my bike (in a box) through the airport, getting the rental car and getting to Carlos' house it was already 10:30pm PST. I immediately began reassembling my bike and packing my transition bag as Carlos, Sunny, Joey and I chatted. I was so excited, it was like the night before Christmas when I was 7 years old. I think I finally attempted some sleep at 1:30am PST. I got a few hours and then I woke up 1/2 hour before the alarm. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't so I just got up and got started. No point in laying there wishing I was sleeping. ;o)

I got up, packed my bike, bag and maps into the car. I ate some oatmeal and grabbed my water bottles out of the freezer and I was off. The drive out to Rancho Seco was beautiful. The air was a dry welcome after the humidity here in Texas and it smelled sweet like field grass. The sky was clear and it was cool. It was going to be a beautiful day. I arrived at 7:15, a little after when I wanted, but still with enough time. I quickly parked, unloaded and headed up to registration. I got my number and then went off to find a spot in the transition area. After setting up and preparing my gear on my towel, I went back to registration to have someone show me how to attach my number to the handy race belt I had purchased. The darn thing just didn't make sense at home without the number to try it out and now I'm all nerves so I just need help. Then it was over to the goody bag/ T-Shirt booth, and that's where I was too late. They had run out and I had to sign up for it to be mailed to me. Then I was over to be body marked. My number was written on both arms and legs, and my age on my right calf. From there, I made a pit stop and then headed down to the water to watch the elites start and get myself acclimated to the water.

I was so nervous. How would I do? Could I finish? Had I trained enough? Was I really doing this? My head was spinning so I wandered around looking for familiar faces, but wasn't able to find them yet. One by one, waves left and then it was my wave. I'll never forget standing there in the starting area, watching the previous wave swim off towards the first buoy, waiting that last 5 minutes and repeating affirmations in my head: "You can do this", "You are a strong swimmer", "You've trained long and hard for this and you're going to do great". Finally, the countdown from 10 and we were off! Having had no open water swim practice due to the recent flooding of the lakes in North Texas, lake swimming was new to me. It was a flurry of feet and bubbles and people nudging, bumping and even seeminly trying to swim on or over me. I couldn't relax. So I kept flipping on my back and backstroking until I could calm down, get my breathing under control and flip back over to try freestyle again. I never stopped, I just kept moving: kick, kick, kick, arm over arm. After rounding the first bouy and about 1/4 into the swim, I found my groove. I just continued on, doing what I have been practicing for months: good form, consistent strokes and consistent breathing. Nearing the second bouy, the wave behind us began to overtake me. I swam on. As I was starting to tire, I was also closing in on the shore fast. I swam until I was grabbing sand, jumped up and started running. That's when I heard my name, "Yeah! Go Liz!". I saw Victor on the right and Conkey, Darcella and Drayven on the left of the crowd at the bank. I smiled and ran on. Ooops! I forgot to check my time: by then it was 21:20, over 2 minutes quicker than my brick practices. Holy cow!

I ran up to my transition spot, dropped the goggles and swim cap, donned my socks and shoes, grabbed 2 gels and a quick swig of water and unracked my bike. I ran it out of the transition area and hopped on. On the way out of the park, I pass James on his way in and give him a big wave. During the ride, I tried to keep a steady pace. But this course is more hilly than I expected. Not wanting to kill my legs like I did in brick practice, I would dial back and gear down. When the worry of time entered my mind, I just pushed it out and thought, "How cool is this!?! I'm out here, in California, doing my triathlon!" There's that smell of grass again, and the warm sun and the breeze on my face. I'm lovin' this! The bikers are awesome. There is an attitude of camaraderie and friendliness. Talking to each other while passing, encouraging each other on, warning of upcoming cars. This is cool... My only worry is that my heart rate is soaring pretty high. It's hovering between 165 and 170. Again, I try to dial back and get it down, but I'm working pretty hard. I should be OK, after all, this is the race, not everyday, so having it high for a short time should be fine, and it was...

Soon, I'm wheeling back into the transition area and mentally having to switch gears to the run. I dismount, rack my bike, get more water, my race belt and number, another gel and I'm off. Until this point, I actually didn't know where the run was, so I tagged along and followed another runner. This woman ended up being Julie. More on her in a bit. I run off and after a short time I'm heaving pretty heavy so I stop for a walk. Even at a brisk walk my heart rate is super high. This becomes my concern for the rest of the race- keeping my heart rate down enough. The run is actually pretty lonely. There are no spectators here, no crowds. It's hot and dusty trail run and I'm tired. I alternate between running and walking and I notice that Julie and I are pacing pretty similar. We walk together for a bit and I learn she's doing the same thing with her heart rate. Also, she's lost 112 pounds in the last year and a half. What an accomplishment! Julie and I urge each other on, past the next hill, or just a little further to the aid station and so on. Julie has pulled ahead. Uh, oh. Something weird is going on with my leg. My right quad hurts. This has never happened before, did I push it too hard? Did I strain something? I had my last gel in my back pocket and hoping this pain is just cramping, I tear it open, squeeze it out into my mouth and take a few big swigs of water. I'm walking along now, with a little bit of a limp. But, within two minutes that gel hit my system, replenished it and the pain went away. Julie has pulled ahead and I start to run again. Almost there... On the last bit of the race, Julie slows to a stop to turn around and give me a final call on the last length of the race and I pick it up and run. I cannot walk in; I have to run to the finish. There's Conkey, Victor and James, and the finish line is fast approaching. I swing my number back around front and cross the finish line with my hands held high. I've done it! I completed my first triathlon and I am so proud. My final finishing time was 2:13:18. This is more than 16 minutes faster than my goal!


I wander over and find my friends and there's big hugs all the way around. I then go back to the finish line and find Julie to congratulate and thank her. She wishes me Happy Birthday and then my legs begin to cramp again. We make our way back over to the transition area where I have a banana. I take that and more water and we walk back down to the lake so I can cool down. After talking for a bit, I decide to go in the water and cool down and Darcella goes with me. We all wander around for a bit, and I hear my name over the loudspeaker. I go up to the podium and it's Mike from EDHSC and The Village Life (remember that article about me, well he's the author). More hugs and I get to meet his wife Michelle. We join up with everyone else in the transition and I grab some pasta and water on the way. We all hang out for a while and I am just basking in my accomplishment. I'm just a regular chick among some serious triathletes with some serious triathlon gear. Mike notices that I have the only bike with a kickstand. "All the more convenient", I say. He asks about my fat mountain-bike style tires that curiously have no knobs and are pretty flat. "What kind of tires are these?", he asks. "Don't know", I tell him, "but I'm sure they slow me down." We all laugh and it's just a great time. This has been the best birthday in a long time. Don't know how I'm going to top this one next year...

I want to thank you all. I'm not going to name everyone, because invariably I'll forget someone unintentionally. So, to all my family, especially Lori, Nathan and Sienan who have been putting up with my crazy workout schedules, incessant babble about all things weight-loss and triathlon and my absence, to my friends, neighbors, coworkers, trainers, and anyone else: All those emails, calls or just quick, "How's the training going?" questions have motivated me so much and a big part of my success is the circle of people who care about me. THANK YOU!!!!

Not sure what I'm going to do with this blog from here. I think I'll keep it going as I continue to work on that last 20 pounds that I want to lose. This weight loss journey has been a hugely positive thing in my life. It has built my confidence in myself where I had little and that has rolled over into all areas of my life, not just my physical fitness. Plus, now I can shop for regular clothes at a regular store and that is such a treat! So I'm going to keep it up. As for triathlons, I will do more. I'm in the planning stages now, but it looks like the longest I'll be waiting is until September. I've found a friend and fellow triathlete at work and we may be teaming up. Woo Hoo!

I'm Hooked!

OK, I can't put much of a post here now because I have to gather: my thoughts and feelings, photos and stats, but let me just say this. It was the bomb! I'm hooked and I did awesome! Now I'm a triathlete! Woo Hoo!

Tomorrow is the Big Day

Wow! I can't believe it's finally here. All this work over the last 11 months to get to this point. I am nervous, but I feel pretty well prepared. I've worked hard, trained my body well and studied up on how to best mentally prepare yourself. My suitcase and bike are in the truck and when work is over, I'll be driving up to DFW and heading out to Sac. It should be an awesome time. I checked in on my weight this morning, since the whole reason I did the tri was to lose weight, so I figured I better have a weigh-in just prior to see how I did and guess what? 199.8! I'm finally getting below 200, and I wasn't sure if I could before the tri. This is awesome. Well, I've gotta get going, but I just know today is going to be a fabulous day!

It's Finally Here

What I have been preparing for during the last 11 months; the week of the big triathlon! This Friday after work I'll be flying out of DFW to Sacramento for the 8am race on Saturday morning. In the evening it's off to celebrate with old friends and eat some pasta! I wouldn't usually go out for pasta, but hey, after you burn 1400 calories running a triathlon, it's more of a concern of getting enough calories that day, not a problem of too many. I'll be returning to DFW on Sunday evening so I can get home and have a birthday dinner with Lori and the kids. I'm so excited.

I'm feeling pretty good about where I am physically. I did not meet my goal of trying to get below 200 pounds before the tri, but that's ok. Post-tri, I plan to change my workout and have a different, fat-burning focus that includes much more cardio and long-slow burn at that. I plan to really work my problem areas of the back of the arms, the tummy, the legs and the butt. I was referred to some good little mini workout videos on YouTube, which I found are pretty easy to do at home and are pretty comprehensive. They are: 8 Minute Buns, 8 Minute Legs, 8 Minute Abs and 8 Minute Arms. These are short and very focused and trust me, if you try them out, you'll probably be sore the next day. I did them all together yesterday and I'll do it again tomorrow and that'll be it before the tri. I'm planning on doing those 3-4 times a week for a month or so starting next week. We'll see what that does for the problem areas. As for the rest of this week, lighter cardio everyday except Friday, which will be a day off.

As for where I'm at mentally, I'm starting to get butterflies. I respond to this by getting organized, making lists, reading up on whatever it is and trying to ignore the nerves about what's coming up. I'm re-reading certain sections of Slow, Fat Triathlete and picking up Triathlon mags and reading online resources such as beginnertriathlete.com. Because of all of the recent, record-setting rain here in North Texas, I was not able to do any swimming in a local lake as part of my bricks. These once drying up lakes are now overfilled to the point of closure due to flooding. This makes me nervous not to have had this kind of practice, but there's not really anything I can do about it but forge ahead into the tri on Saturday. Otherwise, I've practiced my biking and learned about saving my legs for the run and I've improved my running capabilities, so I feel good about that. The last thing I've been mentally preparing for is the unknown, unexpected or the previously-not-considered and how would I react to such things. What would I do? Things like flat tires, murky water, getting kicked or punched on the swim or how I'm going to transition. This whole triathlon thing seemed much simpler when it was so far away on the calendar. Now that its here, my head is spinning a bit. But I hear that a triathlon is very mental. And I know I can do it. I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for the possibilities.

The other news is that I am all geared up. I've got my helmet, my supertight, superwoman triathlon shorts and shirt, which by the way, how cool is that? It was certainly a different shopping experience to try to find the tightest fitting clothing possible. I wanted to find something I could do the whole race in; swim, bike and run, and something I could get out of easily if I had to , say go to the bathroom. I opted for tri-shorts and a tri tank. And apparently, this is not the time of year to be buying such things. It was like trying to find a bathing suit for Thanksgiving. In the end, I had to go out to Richardson Bike Mart, but they had a good selection and I was able to try on about 10 different things before I found the winners. I don't think they are totally flattering (see mention of the problem areas above), but I don't look half bad, almost normal in them. And it's only going to get better. I've got all my waterbottles, Gu, race belt, goggles, bike pump, running hat and on and on.

I've been looking at some other triathlon's here locally for when I get back and I've found one 3 1/2 weeks from now that I might want to do. The boys will be out of town at the grandmas (Thank you grandmas!), it's in what is supposed to be beautiful Hill Country of Texas and its a sprint distance Xterra, which is the muddier, off road sister of the traditional triathlon. Sounds fun, so I'll keep you posted about that one.

So, wish me luck, fun and to finish. I'm almost off to my first tri ever!