#chicagotri

[breaking230]

Just Start Again

My last post was almost half a year ago (and in another decade!) With the start of the new year, it's also time to restart my training. The goals have been set, the plan is in motion - now it's just time to put in the work!

My goal for this year is simple: NO INJURIES 

I went on to race my final event of 2019, the Chicago Triathlon Olympic distance, which turned out to be a duathlon due to ridiculous waves on the lake. I managed to tear two tendons at that very race chasing down my friend and arch-nemesis Ryan S, missing him and a year’s worth of bragging rights between us by 2 minutes!

Since then it has been a loooong journey of getting properly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, and a few weeks of physical therapy. I didn't even really feel like training until a week ago, I was so burned out! I learned a lot of lessons in 2019, but a number of them came with the largely avoidable injuries. So my goal is to make it through this year stronger and fitter than ever.

This year we are going to go slow to [eventually] go fast! 

[cari-rincker]

A fellow #food & #aglawyer sent me a link to a @ted about the discipline of finishing. 🎥 This #tedtalk spoke on the traits that inspire people like Warren Buffett to "bet on you" -- 1️⃣ intelligence, 2️⃣ energy, and (most importantly) 3️⃣integrity. The b-school grad broke down the 3 traits but this is what really resonated with me: Be the type of person you would "bet on" in life. Be true to yourself and honest to others. Don't take on more than you can handle. Success is a series of good decisions and failure is never just one mistake. Be present in the moment. Focus on the challenge right before you. Break down big goals with smaller goals. Keep a diary. Strive for excellent in the small things. Finish what you start. 🏊🏻🛶😎🏃🏻#ChicagoTri #isurvivedlakemichigan #beckygotback #bettereveryday (at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago)

[attraper-un-poisson-chat]

@notbatmanyet: RT @ChrisHushNBC: And here comes our Tim Bannon!! @ChicagoTri @nbcchicago https://t.co/UJjIDKjffB

from http://twitter.com/notbatmanyet via IFTTT

[kidneygram]

Kidney Transplant is not a cure but don't stop living the life you dreamed of@ChicagoTri @AlportSyndFndn pic.twitter.com/sWwLEpXM8c

— Todd Goldrick (@toddgoldrick) August 28, 2017

[villagecycle]

Mary Kate is ready for the @ChicagoTri ! #YouGoGirl #KidsTriathlon #ChiTri #StartemYoung #NewBikeDay #RoadBikes #KidsBikes #ChicagoTriathlon . . . #VillageCycle #BikeShop #Chicago #BikeCHI #ChicagosBikeShop #ChicagosBikeExperts #Bikes #BikeLife #BikeLove #Bike #Cycling #BikeShops #BikesRule #ChicagoBikeLife #BikeChicago #ChicagoBikes #NewBikeDayIsTheBestDay #NewBike #HappyNewBikeDay #ILoveMyBike (at Village Cycle Center)

[daileychi]

Completed my first Sprint Triathlon this morning! It was challenging and invigorating at the same time. Thanks for your support as I trained and accomplished this 2015 goal of mine, especially my training buddy @lauren_ganz. Godis good. I don't take my health for granted. #sprinttri #chicagotri #itutriathlon 📷: @michaelajr (at Chicago Lakefront)

[breaking230]

Do It Afraid

Last week I had a panic attack.

I had spent the earlier part of that evening revising my training schedule, since I won’t be able to run for possibly another month. Realizing how far behind I have been falling in my training and how little time I had to get to where I want to be by my first triathlon on 6.9.19 in Grand Rapids, MI, I straight up started to freak out! I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before, really had to concentrate on my breathing to get my heart rate down. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to the gym that evening, or even continue pursuing this crazy goal.

An hour later I was starting my strength session at the gym. 

A couple of things happened in that hour. The first was that I had a community of friends I could reach out to that helped calm me down and remind me to breathe. I didn’t shy away from the fact that I was freaking out - instead I was open and honest about it. The second is that I remembered that fear had nothing to do with it. In the sense that this goal in and of itself scares me. Even if I had a full bill of health and had been training consistently for the last 4 months like I’d wanted to, it still feels like a stretch goal, and one worth pursuing BECAUSE it scares me!

A third is remembering people like this guy:

That’s my brother Kofi (@kofi_q on Instagram). Last night I got to watch him perform his own song, in Chicago for the first time, in front of a crowd of mostly strangers, and some unbelievable talent. He’s always set the bar for me growing up of what excellent looks like. And I’ve seen him come through on the other side of some stuff I know would have crippled me. And yet here he is, singing his heart out, doing something he loves even if and when it terrifies me.

So I’m not counting myself out yet. The stacked odds actually makes it exciting! And I’ve already started visualizing a fatigued collapse at the finish line from giving it my all. Because THAT’S what I’m going for, even more than the PR. I’m shooting for something so audacious that it’s going to take all I’ve got.

Because then I’ll know what I’ve got.

[cari-rincker]

One boat at a time. 🛶 I'm not gonna lie, I had a rough race. The water was super choppy this morning and about 10 minutes into the swim I got mauled by the wave of guys behind me. At that point, I started panic, which is the worst thing you can do during an open water swim. I kept trying to breathe and find my rhythm again but I couldn't with swimmers running into me. 🏊🏻That's the thing with open water swims- it's a whole new ballgame. For a moment, I considered quitting.. I decided to swim to the life boat. "You're 4 boats away," said the lifeguard. And then I realized that I was just going to swim to the next boat.. and the next boat... It was no longer about time at that point for me- it was about mental toughness and getting out of the water. I finally made it out and PRed on the bike averaging over 15mph. 🚴I survived the run. 🏊🏻‍♀️ My third #triathlon is under my belt -each have taught me different lessons. Today's lesson was a reminder to race smart and be safe... but to not give up on yourself. It's just one boat and one mile at a time. "You'll never know how strong you are until you're brave enough to try." - I said that. #ChicagoTri 🏊🏻‍♀️🛶🚴🏃🏻✋🏼 (at Hilton Chicago Hotel)

[cari-rincker]

Operation Finishline: One boat at a time🚣‍♂️ I was admittedly worried about posting on SM about the #chicagotri because I’m nowhere close to feeling as strong as I wish I was.. and I wasn’t sure I was going to actually go forward with it until about Thursday... I’m not gonna lie, I had a traumatic experience last year with the choppy water— I spoke about it on the #ordinarymarathoner podcast on how (after a brief panic), I finished the race “one boat at a time.” 🚣‍♂️ And this year was no different except this time it was my strategy. 😎 I have blogged about this before but I taught myself how to swim 4 years ago as an adult so for me, getting out of the water is half the goal.🏊🏻‍♀️ On top of that, my #lawpractice has doubled (nearly tripled) in the last year and it’s been hard to get my workouts in. But as I said on the podcast, all we can really do in life is the best we can. ◾️ I sometimes get down on myself for not eating like I should, drinking too much 🍷after a long day at work, and not getting my long runs, bikes and swims in but all we can ever do is pick up where we are and try to #bebettereveryday. 🔹 I looked around today and I definitely wasn’t the only out of shape #triathlete but every one of us had things in common — the #triathlon attracts enthusiastic, hard-working, ambitious people, who truly love this sport. 🏊🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️💃🏼 It is magnetic and inspiring to be around. The same grit that it takes me to complete a race like this is the same as I give my #lawpractice when I get tired. ▪️ I truly believe that who you are in one part of your life, you are in others. 🔻I leave today reinspired to try to #bebetter in everything I do and when the going gets tough not to forget to breathe.... “You will never know how strong you are until you’re brave enough to try” -I said that. #chicagotriathlon #idothisforfun (at Chicago Lake Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm9L4pwh_oJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=coepf3fw42l8

[daileychi]

Insanely gorgeous night for my first lake swim with Mom & Mer! #sprinttri #chicagotri #swimbikerun #swimteam #dreamteam (at Ohio St Beach, Chicago)