Couch Potato to Iron Man
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2005-01-20 6:56 PM |
Veteran 293 The Emerald City | Subject: Couch Potato to Iron Man http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6844768/ Flat on my back, it's all uphill from here By Denise Hazlick MSNBC Updated: 1:59 p.m. ET Jan. 20, 2005 This is not how I imagined I would open 2005 — in physical therapy. In my dreams, I was going to begin my Ironman year with a roar. Fresh on the heels of a strong finish in the Seattle half-marathon, I was going to hit the ground running — literally. Unfortunately, that dream hit the ground with a thud during said half-marathon, when my left knee buckled out from underneath me at mile 9. After initial fears that I might have suffered a tear, the diagnosis was far more promising, and frustrating — patellar tendinitis. Promising because it meant no surgery. Frustrating because it meant a long, slow recovery. But on the road to Ironman, there will be many frustrating moments. Just like there have been on the road to even thinking about taking the road to Ironman. And that’s where this journal comes in. Everyone has a reason for beginning an exercise program, regardless of the scale or the goal. Mine began with a hike three years ago. I was 37 years old and had begun to see my backside expand after too many long days in front of a computer. My good friend wanted to go on a hike for her birthday — a moderate hike. No problem, I thought, I’m in pretty good shape despite my horizontal growth spurt. But that moderate hike — 4 miles uphill — reduced me to a panting, sweating, aching shell of my former self. A couple of weeks after the hike, that same friend asked me if I wanted to try the Seattle half-marathon with her. After I stopped laughing and told her where she could put that suggestion, I gave it some thought. I had three months to get ready and having a goal at the end — a 13.1 mile race — might be the motivation I needed to really get into shape once and for all. I told her that I would give it a try. With the help of another friend, I found a training program on the Internet and started my journey into the world of long distance running. At the time, I couldn’t run a quarter mile much less a half-marathon. Technique? There's technique involved? The sense of accomplishment I felt after completing that race — and for the work I put into getting ready for it in the first place — fired my desire to continue training. And for the next year, I continued to work out on my own. I did two more half marathons and the Danskin women’s sprint triathlon. My times and results didn’t get much better, but I finished all of them. As 2004 began, I thought that it was time to get some additional help. I joined the Seattle Triathlon club and through its message board, signed up for a class — swimming for endurance. The instructor was a personal trainer who has completed several Ironman triathlons. After finishing the five-hour course, I spoke with the instructor, Jeff, about training with him on a regular basis. I’ve been working with Jeff ever since. Over the spring and summer of 2004, I attended weekly track and triathlon workouts with a group of Jeff’s other clients, in addition to individual workouts (including riding my bike to work — 34 miles round trip — once a week) and began to see my running times get faster (from a 13 minute mile to a 9 ½ minute mile) and race results improve. I entered another half marathon and three sprint triathlons during the summer. And as I continued to workout, my weight began to drop and my loose and padded physique began to tighten and shrink. It was a gradual progression, but a progression none the less. She's got a new attitude In addition to a greater feeling of confidence and self-worth, my concentration improved. My attitude about my job and my life improved and I started to believe that I was capable of accomplishing bigger, more difficult goals. And that’s where Ironman comes in. A good friend of mine, Juliet, spent most of the past year training for her first Ironman event. Initially, I marveled at her dedication and skill. “She’s in a whole different league than me,” I thought in early summer. But as I got deeper into my training season, and saw how much stronger she was getting, I began to realize that she wasn’t that different from me. Just a little further down the line. And while she is a very special person, she isn’t a super athletic person. Just someone who decided to do something, put in the work and followed through on it. 'Catching' the Iron bug In the weeks since then, I have had many, many moments of doubt, most definitely when my knee went out from under me during the half marathon in November. I questioned my ability and my judgment. And I will continue to do so in the months ahead. But I also have had many moments when I’ve imagined the joy of finishing, and been bolstered by the confidence and enthusiasm of my trainer, Jeff, and my friends and family. In the months ahead, I will record all of the ups and downs, the doubts and the exhilarating expectations. Along the way, I hope to offer some tips on picking a coach, choosing an event, sticking with a training plan and a goal. Not everyone is cut out to be an Ironman. But everybody can get off the couch and start chasing a dream. I hope you will join me on the voyage. Next installment: The rigors of physical therapy and pumping up the volume. © 2005 MSNBC Interactive <script> |
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2005-01-20 7:21 PM in reply to: #106441 |
Extreme Veteran 391 Singapore | Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man AWESOME ARTICLE! |
2005-01-20 7:35 PM in reply to: #106441 |
, Alabama | Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man |
2005-01-20 8:51 PM in reply to: #106441 |
Veteran 238 Oviedo, FL | Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man can't wait till the next installment! |
2005-01-20 9:43 PM in reply to: #106441 |
Regular 92 Mississauga, Ontario | Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man Your story so far is pretty inspiring - and I think the best is yet to come as you meet the challenges of an Ironman - good luck with your training! |
2005-01-20 11:41 PM in reply to: #106441 |
Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
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2005-01-21 12:02 AM in reply to: #106441 |
Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man GREAT ARTICLE!!!!! |
2005-01-21 5:00 PM in reply to: #106441 |
Veteran 293 The Emerald City | Subject: RE: Couch Potato to Iron Man Just to clarify..... this is not MY story. Just one that I found while surfing the web. Just thought I would share. Edited by kepola 2005-01-21 5:04 PM |