Friday, December 2, 2011

chain reaction

A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results ~Wade Boggs
As many of you know, I log my training on Dailymile now. I have ever since the other log that I had used for over 4 years completely crashed and burned, never to be recovered. I can't say enough about some of the people that I have met thru Dailymile (DM from here on out). What's great about DM is that you meet others that have the same goals such as training for an Ironman or marathon. Sometimes, they are training for the exact same one you are so that's an instant bond right there. Some even live right here in Tampa and I see them on a regular basis. Many of these people are simply awesome and sometimes they may not even realize the impact their comments carry.
Here is an example. Last week, even with all the holiday craziness and work, I somehow managed to bike 251 miles and run 26 miles. Earlier this week, I got a text message from Patrick at 3 Sport Journey, whom I met via DM. Here is his exact text message: Just a friendly reminder that 0 (zero) of your 277 miles this week were in the pool. My reply: Aaaaaaah! Cold busted! I will make it up this week, girl scout promise (insert smiley "i just got busted" smiley here). So mind you, all week, his text message has haunted me. This morning, I got up, of course I really wanted to run, but I grabbed my swimsuit, gym bag, and headed to the pool without kicking and screaming. I admit, it felt great to swim again. I have been in the pool twice since Ironman Florida, which is 2 more times than last year at this same time. I did none (ZERO) swimming for about 3 months straight after my first 140.6 and felt guilty almost every day about it but obviously it wasn't enough to make me head to the pool like a friendly text message from a friend. Here is where I tie in the chain reaction part of this story. After my swim this AM, I text messaged Patrick to say swim done and thanks for the kick in the ass! On my way to work, I got a text message from my GA buddy, Summer from Blue Line Runner wishing me a happy Friday. Of course I had to throw in that I had already swam 3000 meters. She and I have been each others swim police since this summer as we both tend to slack off sometimes when it comes to the pool. I'll tell you what, having someone to be accountable to is wonderful. At least for me since I hate to disappoint others when they are counting on me. It worked very well for us but now that all of our races for the year are over, it makes it easy to have pool amnesia. A few hours after our text message conversation, I got an email from Summer letting me know that she too had gone to the pool and swam.
How's that for a chain reaction of pure motivation and keeping each other on task and motivated? This is just one example of how we all come together and I'll tell you, it brings out the best in me and for that, I am thankful and lucky to have met many of these DM'ers. My fellow bloggers fall into this category too.
Lately life has been super busy. Work, holiday stuff, family obligations, training just to keep my sanity, yada, yada, yada. Yeah, I hear ya too and many of you are in the same boat. It isn't necessarily a bad thing either because it's what helps us keep our lives in balance. Last week and most of this week, I found myself feeling inundated by social media ...such as, facebook, twitter, text messages, dailymile, blog stuff, emails, etc... so i had a lot of conversations with myself, on my morning runs, about how to handle it. Should I just take a vacation from all of it? I totally blame myself for allowing it to make me feel overwhelmed. I came to the conclusion that I can have it all but just need to manage my time better and not feel like I have to be instantaneous about answering an email or text. Problem solved!
I'm a night rider, not to be confused with Knight Rider. Ever since daylight saving time kicked in, the day after Ironman Florida, J-Man and I decided we weren't going to let that hinder us from still being able to get our after work rides in. We both equipped the roadbikes with a front and rear light and have been flying thru the hood during the week like bad-asses ever since. The cars can see us very well and besides the occasional jackwagon who thinks yelling at us to get on the sidewalk is a good idea or just honking their horn at us, it has been awesome. There really is something exhilarating about riding at night. J-Man and I also agreed that we feel like we are cheating time. Good times!

Big shout out to all who are racing this weekend, especialmente SeƱor Bahamundi at Cook|Train|Eat|Race who is running the Las Vegas Marathon this Sunday. Looks like the winds have calmed down and the weather is going to be great for a 26.2 mile run.
Much love and peace out!

***side note: why does this post look like crap? I hate you Blogger!

26 comments:

  1. It's great to have friends to give you a kick in the butt sometimes, and sometimes it's not if you want to be lazy! :) Way to be a night rider. I'm a pansy and don't like the cold up here in Michigan, so lights on my bike won't help!

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  2. You two are like bike ninjas in the dark! I love it!

    I've been a wuss this year and already have the bike on the trainer. However, I upgraded my trainer this year. Along with a kick ass trainer, Sufferfest videos, and Trainer Road, I am feel like I am actually getting in some rockstar workouts on the trainer.

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  3. Ditto what you said :) I have gained so much from Daily Mile. I am kind of glad the other unnamed site crashed or I would have never started really using DM. I feel overwhelmed by social media too sometimes and I think I will just back off. Maybe just not put so much pressure on yourself to check, respond, post or whatever immediately.

    Love that you ride at night. Your badazzness never ceases to impress!

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  4. I love daily mile! I slack on my workout postings, but i still stalk everyone else’s workouts. The amount of miles that you log weekly is amazing. I have seriously considered copying your workouts logs for my training. Well, besides your swim workouts. hahaha. YOU ROCK, GIRL!

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  5. dammit KC -- you just guilty me into going to the pool tomorrow -- the chain reaction continues (-:

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  6. Now that's a great chain reaction! Maybe I'll hook on and go swimming next week!!!! :)

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  7. Good thing I read this after I put on my running clothes or I'd be in the pool via the guilt highway. That is a lonely road but it sure does lead to a good destination!

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  8. Love the chain reaction!!

    I really like DM a lot.

    I also found myself completely overwhelmed by social media for a while there...until I thought about it and realized that - like you said - I don't have to respond instantly! haha

    LOVE the night riding!! Awesome

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  9. Love it chain reactions like that are the best! DM has helped me b/c on my fb most people are like don't bore me with your training or who cares and on DM I'm understood and get the pep talks I need!! I've been saying I need an accountability partner for months now! Good job on the swim!

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  10. This is also the exact reason I love daily mile. Nothing like other people keeping you honest.

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  11. you should have signed up for the Frogman Swim! That would have kept you accountable! Gotta swim! At least 2 times per week! (says this non-swimmer)

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  12. I need to find your swimming motivation. I am embarrased to say I have done maybe one organized swim since IMTX nearly 6 months ago. I sure hope the Hudson currents are what they say they are......

    I expect a blog

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  13. post on your Ironman store 90% off shopping spree!!! (progressive post)

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  14. I love the night rider stuff!! You are both awe-inspiring, even if Patrick called you out!!

    I so get the difficulty in trying to balance the life/work stuff with training/personal passions. It's difficult, but you manage to always fit it in. If only you could get paid to swim/ride/run... how much sweeter would life be?

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  15. Great post, KC! And oh so true..I draw so much inspiration from all the bloggers out there I read (like you!). We can all benefit from this connection and subsequent chain reaction.

    Go Jason!

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  16. Ok... Im going to try this one more time to post. I think your page hates me =/

    Love this post. Its so true. We all need that push sometimes esp. when its a push to do something we may not be super excited about but needs to be done.

    Thank you for always keeping me in Swim check! I may grumble but come Nov 2012 I am SURE I will Thank you again =)

    I felt SO much better after I got in the pool the other day. Guilt be gone.

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  17. This is absolutely right. I tell you what, 90% of the (athletic) joy in my life can be traced back to connections I made on Daily Mile. I started using it strictly to log miles, with no real idea of the social aspect of it, but my very first friend on there (also named Patrick, funny) has become both a real-life friend, the gateway to an amazing community of training partners, and my introduction to the wonderful world of adventure racing.

    And yeah, the blogs, facebook, and the rest can be so hard to keep up with. I've just set myself to staying guilt-free. I want my social media to be a joy, not an obligation. We're all busy, and the nice thing is that the blogs I don't read today are still going to be there in a few days if I have time then. And if I don't...well, I'll catch up with the next ones.

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  18. amen. the support on DM is just wonderful,i love it!

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  19. It's nice having that much support out there. I only blog and facebook, but it's so wonderful to be able to connect and I've made some of my closest friends online. Good job getting back into the pool too. I put 2800y in last thursday for my second swim after IMFL, and thought I took it way too fast. Totally beaten down.

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  20. Love! Love! Love this post! The support I have found on DM has been amazing! I have made some wonderful friends and I know I can always go there for encouragement and advice.

    I love that quote too, by the way. Thank you for including it!

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  21. Hey, thanks for the shout out. I have to be honest, the only reason that I sent that text was because I pretty much idolize you as an athlete and I knew I had swam more than you that week. I just wanted to rub it in your face a little and make myself look good!
    Mission accomplished! Ha!

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  22. oh my gawd! i swear i didn't even see this night rider thing until just now. great minds think alike! (or maybe just kids from the 80's!)

    nice job on getting the mojo from others via text/email. that's what is so great about this tri/running community.

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  23. And positive still brings positive as your shout-out proves. I just read this today and I cannot thank you enough for being who you are. That is just awesome.

    It is so true about being held accountable to each other. I am so bad with my DM account and maybe I need to pick that up a bit. I'm a 1x per month poster to DM and that is usually after a reminder like this one.

    So happy to hear that you got into the water already.....that is great news for 2012 IMFL.

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  24. I love the DM/blogging/twitter motivation. It definitely keeps me motivated sometimes when I just want to sit and eat ice cream :)

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  25. I know you emailed me about being my pool accountability partner and I so need to take you up on this. I haven't been in the pool since mid-October (that was nice therapy though... me admitting that to you!).

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