Yanti & Salty Mad Manatees PART 3: FULL POD (Page 41)

OK, so I did something that some might consider kind of lame...I changed my registration in my August triathlon from Oly to sprint.  Even though I think I probably could have struggled through, I don't think I'll be able to put in the training time required between now and six weeks that I should.  The swim Saturday left me very concerned for the near-mile distance, even though I was pleased with my swim, because I was really tiring towards the end.  Also, the 5k was pretty tough (yes, it was hot, but it will likely be hot in August too) and I couldn't imagine if it was twice as long... I just haven't had the time for training that I anticipated and I don't want to do that distance and have it be miserable.  Sigh.  I figure, it's my first season, let's try to get a better sprint time and then I can work on my swim for next season and really nail the Oly distance.

what does the pod think? Lame? Smart? Understandable?

It's supposed to be fun, not something to struggle through.  Olympic distance can be your goal for next spring.

Yeah, I did. I can't imagine not doing so! I smell SO BAD after the race. My race stuff was in a plastic bag ready to go downstairs to be washed and J smelled it and nearly died.

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

Uh ... that's what happens at races. Nobody steps off the finish line of a long endurance race smelling like roses. I mean, I pee myself during races, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put antiperspirant ... uh ... never mind.

And what was she doing sticking her nose into toxic waste???

Antiperspirant makes chafing more likely. Not sure how a deodorant/lube combo would work but it might be worth a try. Not too much alcohol content on the deodorant, though.

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

I was thinking of you, too, as I wrote that, because I was one of the people egging you on to sign up! I went to the website and saw that the Oly was full with a waitlist and the sprint was still open, so I just emailed the race director to see if I could switch.  So glad that i could, but I would have just muddled through it if I couldn't.  If you really don't think you're ready, I don't see why there's any need to do it.  Pride was my obstacle, but I'm letting it roll right off now.  It's actually kind of a relief! (Another issue - I have a 9 day eating/drinking binge, aka vacation, one week before the race and I know that will hurt my abilities!)

At least I didn't pee my pants this time!

Well, I did have the bag sitting on the dining table in a take-out Vietnamese food bag 

Exactly what I was thinking! Like I said, I want to finish with a smile, and I don't think the Oly would be smile-inducing at this stage.  I'm only 30, and I aim to do this for at least the next 40 years  - plenty of time for long distance races!

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

Random Yanti self-absorbed thought time ... (okay, okay, I realize that's EVERY time ... )

I've spent a lot of time reflecting upon why it is that I am such a complete idiot when it comes to gauging my own health and appropriately adjusting activity level.

I pretty much grew up in hospitals, undergoing a lot of painful medical tests and procedures and taking a bunch of seriously yucky medicines. So I think my baseline for "I feel fine, this is normal" is really fundamentally skewed. I don't know that it's ever going to readjust, but at least I'm intellectually aware of it now.

And that, among other rather odd and somewhat traumatic aspects of my upbringing (including having two very traumatized parents who never had the opportunity to deal with it, frankly, never even realized it), means that I feel that every day is my last. I know in my head that's not true, but that's the way the emotions go.

Every race is the very last time I'll be able to do a race. That's why I do them regardless of how stupid it is. Every meal is my last meal, so I want to make sure I have everything I want (never mind if the combination is really strange, unhealthy, or just way too much. I've gotten much better at this, though, so there's hope for the other areas). Every piglet is definitely the last piglet I'll have a chance with!

On the plus side, I make the most of every moment and live in great joy and celebration most of the time. You've all seen the downsides. So I just wanted to put that out there ... step 1 is awareness and admitting ...

WOOOOOHOOOOOO hot damn lady!!! Does your awesomeness have no limit?

Looks like you selected a prophetic bib number anyway ... Allen was 1/3 correct about the 6th OA ... and you were spot-on in selecting your bib number! So much for not picking a goal time ... kinda happened anyway.

I still really want to write that article about you ... even more so now ...

Well, I can't argue with making the most of every moment. That isn't something a lot of people can do. But in everything in life, I think there is a balance that needs to be made and THAT is something we are all working on, all of the time. 

x2.  There is so much to admire about just jumping into everything like there's no tomorrow, and really taking tough circumstances like illness(es!) and refusing to let them stop you. BUT, like you said, Yanti - I'm using your words here  - you can be a complete idiot about taking good, cautious care of yourself!! There something to be said for stopping and smelling the roses - not while you're riding a bike (or a piglet ) but from an absolute stand still. Just to stop and take a breath.

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

Random Yanti self-absorbed thought time ... (okay, okay, I realize that's EVERY time ... )

I've spent a lot of time reflecting upon why it is that I am such a complete idiot when it comes to gauging my own health and appropriately adjusting activity level.

I pretty much grew up in hospitals, undergoing a lot of painful medical tests and procedures and taking a bunch of seriously yucky medicines. So I think my baseline for "I feel fine, this is normal" is really fundamentally skewed. I don't know that it's ever going to readjust, but at least I'm intellectually aware of it now.

And that, among other rather odd and somewhat traumatic aspects of my upbringing (including having two very traumatized parents who never had the opportunity to deal with it, frankly, never even realized it), means that I feel that every day is my last. I know in my head that's not true, but that's the way the emotions go.

Every race is the very last time I'll be able to do a race. That's why I do them regardless of how stupid it is. Every meal is my last meal, so I want to make sure I have everything I want (never mind if the combination is really strange, unhealthy, or just way too much. I've gotten much better at this, though, so there's hope for the other areas). Every piglet is definitely the last piglet I'll have a chance with!

On the plus side, I make the most of every moment and live in great joy and celebration most of the time. You've all seen the downsides. So I just wanted to put that out there ... step 1 is awareness and admitting ...

That's awesome. 

I will happily take your 76.  It's supposed to be in the 90s for my race tonight.

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

Like someone took a hammer to my feet and like I did a wall sit for about two hours straight. Other than that, pretty good 

OOOH! They are posted!

 and then it looks like 6 overall women and 39th overall, total. Randomly my bib number was 39 too. 

Wasn't this the race where you could have picked your bib number?  Too bad you didn't pick #1

Brilliant results - congrats!