"The Triathlete Syndrome"

I met with my coach recently at the gym and learned some really valuable information about myself. Often times, we are so caught up with swimming, biking and running that we don't realize the little things that can add up to big problems.


As far back as I can remember I have had lordosis, a curvature in my spine that causes me to look like I have a stick up my butt when I walk and run. This is something that is pretty common, but has presented me with some problems in sport. 


My coach is the first person to really pay attention to these small details and pinpoint some very important areas of weakness in my body. Throughout the years, the weaknesses in my posture, and core, and tightness in my hips has basically shut my glutes off. I have managed to get by through compensation, but a month ago, my knee gave up on me. It was my body's way of telling me that changes need to be made moving forward. 


My homework these days is to stretch and strengthen my hips and squeeze/activate my glutes constantly.  I am also trying to focus on tucking my core under to eliminate the lordosis in my spine at all times. Seems like pretty basic stuff, but I think that these little things will help me make huge leaps forward in the future. Glutes are the powerhouse in triathlon, so if I can get mine to work then I will be a stronger and more efficient athlete all around. Hopefully all of these things will add up and eliminate the pain from my knee that has been lingering for the past month.


The tight hips and weak glutes is often called "The Triathlete Syndrome," and is very common. Not so common, however, is people's focus on improving these imbalances and weaknesses to become better athletes. No one wants to spend time everyday stretching and fixing tiny little imbalances in your body- it hurts and it's boring. However, my coach believes that these changes will get me to a place I haven't been before- running and biking more efficiently with my glutes behind me and in turn, getting less tired from workouts from compensation. With this, all things should fall into place because I will be able to build volume/ intensity, recover and repeat for fitness gains.


Sure, I would love to be out running, but until I can make these changes, I will continue to compensate and put strain on my knee from weaknesses in other areas of my body. In the meantime, I still have plenty of options to get my endorphin fix each day and I am confident that in 2012, my body will be stronger and more efficient than ever.


Here's to a strong behind in 2012!




Jessica

Off Season Update

Tomorrow I am headed to Boston to visit my older sister Emily. After a weekend there, I will be back in CT for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. I am extremely excited to spend some time with everyone.

Recently, training has been going well. I am in a "maintenance" phase, just continuing to train without much intensity, getting ready to ramp things up come December 1. I have been in the gym a lot trying to get stronger, especially in my upper body for swimming, and I have already noticed a difference in the water. I have learned a lot about myself through doing strength training and found specific areas that are weak and need serious improvement over the next few months.

Unfortunately on Friday last week, I was riding Flagstaff (a tough climb here in Boulder), and hurt my left knee. I ran off the bike and was completely fine, but while swimming on Saturday, I began to experience some pain on the inside of my knee cap. I didn't think anything of it, iced it, ran long Saturday, rode Sunday, and then realized it was something that needed to be addressed. I got in touch with a very knowledgeable physical therapist here in Boulder (Bob Cranny) and he gave me a plan of action for healing my knee. Apparently while climbing on Friday, and standing up often while climbing, my hip was internally rotating putting pressure on my knee, which caused some inflammation in my patella tendon. Since I decided to address the issue so soon, it shouldn't be much of a problem. I have to take some time off from running, ice regularly, and just take good care of it for now.

At first, I was very frustrated by this situation, but my outlook shifted towards optimism when I realized that I am not racing anytime soon, and that, like my mom said "we are defined by how we deal with obstacles." I am going to start working with Bob when I get back from Thanksgiving break on eliminating imbalances, and taking a holistic approach on strength training. Every athlete deals with injuries at some point in their career, so I plan on kicking this one in the butt and getting ready for a great 2012.

Chris and I visited the OTC in the Springs this past weekend. We went down to visit Ryan Bice, a great friend of ours who transferred from Boulder to UCCS to be a part of the ETA (Elite Triathlon Academy). It was great to spend some time with him and the other athletes that are a part of the team- Kevin McDowell, Kelly Whitley and Johanna Gartman. We did a nice hard swim Saturday am, a longish run, and then we did sauna sessions with ice baths in between. We had so much fun and really enjoyed training with some people who are extremely talented and fun to be around.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season! Stay healthy and be happy.

Jessica

Myrtle Beach Race Recap

So, this weekend was a tough one...

After Buffalo, I wasn't feeling great and my body was beat up, but Thursday last week I started feeling good during training sessions, so I decided to race again. I was excited for Myrtle Beach, SC because I heard it was a great venue, I had never been to the state before, and my dad flew in to keep me company and be my support crew. Even better, my body was feeling great the few days leading into the race. All in all, I was anticipating another solid race since Buffalo had gone well. However, as we all know, racing doesn't always go how you hoped it would.

Unfortunately, yesterday was one of those days. At the first buoy during the swim, I got tangled in the buoy chain and literally couldn't escape. I saw the pack swimming away from me, finally muscled my way out of the hole, and continued fighting to get back. I have been swimming since I was two years old, and I actually was scared of drowning for the first time in my life. It wasn't just the aggression around the first buoy, but the fact that the physical barrier was holding me under. I wasted a lot of energy trying to get loose, and losing the group changes everything.

Coming out of the water I hustled, had a good t1, rode the first two laps solo on top of my shoes, and eventually got caught by a group of 2. We worked pretty well together but a group of 4 or 5 caught us with 3.5 laps to go. With all of us together, we actually made up some time on the front pack, but it wasn't much, so heading into t2 we still were down 2:30.

On the run, I felt okay, but nothing like Buffalo. I had some side stitches but I kept fighting, determined to get to the finish line. It is unfortunate when situations happen like being caught in the swim buoy, because it doesn't matter how much you have prepared, or how fit you are, it is out of your hands.

Similar to the situation I experienced yesterday, the crash in Buffalo could have affected me as well. Fortunately, I was able to weave around the crash and stay upright. Every race there will be factors you can't control, so it is just about dealing with them, learning from them, and continuing to fight your way to the finish line. Now, if I get tangled in a buoy again, I will be able to handle it better!

It would have been nice to end the season on a better note, but I am glad I went down to Myrtle Beach to show my commitment to racing. It is tough to travel at this time of the year with school, but every race is so valuable, not for the result you get, but for the learning experience.

I may race in Phoenix in a few weeks at the Amica finale, a sprint non draft event, just for fun! 2011 has been a big transition year, and I am happy to be healthy, both physically and mentally, and pleased with the progression I have made over the past six months. It has been a slow process, and required a lot of patience, but I know I am headed in the right direction.

All for now,

Jess

Race Report: Elite Nationals

I thought I was going to sleep like a baby after racing and then driving 6 hours home with my Mom back to CT, but I was wrong. I tossed and turned with a lot on my mind after having a race I am truly proud of.

This season has not been the smoothest journey, but through my wavering health issues, mental setbacks after bad races, and trying to just get fit again, I have been extremely patient.

I started working with a new coach, Joanna Zeiger, in May this year and she has taught me a great deal as an athlete and a person. In general, she made me put the brakes on and really get in a good place mentally before taking on the physical challenges in training and racing. I have never trusted in a coach and truly believed in a plan like I do now.

It certainly wasn't easy having to rebuild very gradually, see very small fitness gains, and ultimately, not race much because I just wasn't ready to toe the line. However, to see how far I have come since May is truly remarkable, and most importantly, I am having fun racing again and getting stronger each week.

At this point, I am not sure what the rest of 2011 holds for triathlon, but I am really looking forward to what lays ahead. I may be racing Myrtle Beach depending on my recovery from Elite Nationals and logistics with school.

In regards to my race weekend...

I flew home on Wednesday night into Hartford, CT and spent the night at home. The next day, my mom and I were planning on leaving in the morning to make the drive up to Buffalo, but my cracked derailleur hanger delayed our departure. I received my new 2011 Orca about a month ago from the Timex team (You guys rock!) and I absolutely love it. I was really upset to see a cracked part after traveling home, but the real challenge was in finding the exact derailleur hanger to replace the broken piece. Because the bike is a brand new model, the derailleur hanger is too, brand spanking new. After a couple dozen phone calls to various bike shops between Middlebury, CT and Buffalo, we found a shop that used to be an Orbea dealer a few miles from our hotel in New York. They overnighted the piece and I got everything situated on Friday late morning. The bike shop in Buffalo called "Handlebars" took such good care of me and got my bike all set for Saturday.

I really enjoyed the time in Buffalo prior to the race- my mom and I found some great restaurants, spent a lot of time catching up and chatting, and it was nice to take a break from classes and schoolwork. I was surprisingly relaxed in the days leading up to the race, and even on race morning. After having a solid race in Kelowna, and some good training in the month after the race leading into Elite Nationals, I was confident that I could have a good race. Plus, having my family on the sidelines makes the experience extra special, and pushes me to race my best.

Race morning I woke up feeling somewhat rested, but I never sleep that well the night before. I ran through my usual routine- shower, pack my race bag, get my bike ready, breakfast, re-check race bag and bike etc. We left the hotel around 9 AM, and arrived at the race site for check in. I did my bike warm up, run warm up and then took my yummy Espresso gel, a few swigs of cytomax and got into my wetsuit. Before I knew it, I was on the pontoon, about to dive off for the start of the 2011 Elite National Championships.

The swim: Fortunately, the swim wasn't that rough physically amongst the other athletes. Unfortunately, I felt pretty horrible on the swim and it took me about 3/4 of the first lap to really feel warmed up. I was in a small group coming out of the water after the first loop and ended up staying with them throughout the second lap and into transition. Frustrated with how bad I felt in the water, I shrugged it off, stayed in the moment, and focused on having a good transition and staying with the group. This seems to be something I am usually not that successful at!

The Bike: I managed to get into a group of four that worked pretty well together, and we reeled in a few other groups of three and two riders, and eventually became a pack of about fifteen girls. The only two in front of us at this point were Laura Bennett and Helen Jenkins. The dominance of these two athletes caused a lot of girls to get lapped out on the bike portion of the race. Our group was not organized at all, and pretty much just riding along. With two laps to go, there was a really bad crash causing four or five girls to go down- I just missed it by the skin of my teeth. Pretty scary stuff! Coming into T2, we were a group of eight.

The Run: I was pretty conservative at the start of the run, and felt stronger and stronger as it went on. I really enjoyed the run course because I had people supporting me each step of the way. My mom was on one corner, Stephen Wright was on another, and Emily and Charlie were in the area where we came through each time near transition. I mentally took the run one chunk at a time, looking forward to hearing a familiar voice and getting support. The run portion of the race taught me a lot about how I can approach my next race. Now, I probably am closer to having the fitness to attack the run from the start and not explode halfway through (what happened in Kelowna!) I felt like I could keep building with each lap of the race, and instead of crawling over the finish line I was charging and running strong. I gave it everything I had and finished 8th overall, 6th American.

Approaching the race, I told myself I would be really pleased with another top 10 at Elite Nationals. I got 10th place the past two years, but the start list had a lot of talent this year and I knew the competition would require a great race to be in the top 10. Even more important, I feel like each race back this season I feel stronger for longer. In Monroe, I fell apart after the swim (brutal day!), in Kelowna, I felt great until the last half of the run, and in Buffalo, I felt strongest at the end of the run. This shows me that all the hard work is paying off and my fitness is coming around!

Seeing my family was great! Usually I go from August through to Thanksgiving time without seeing them, so this trip split that chunk of time in half. Now, only another 8 weeks until I am home for break.

2011 hasn't been a season filled with incredible performances, but it has been a season filled with incredible improvements. From where I was at, to where I am now is huge for me! I went from being in a hospital bed in April, to a top 10 finish at Elite Nationals in September, with several hurdles in between. I can't be anything but satisfied.

Jessica

Fall Update

I am really excited to head home in a week for Elite Nationals. I will be flying into Hartford, CT on Wednesday, spending the night at home with my sisters and parents, then driving up to Buffalo, NY the next day with my Mom in the Timex car! My family members are my biggest supporters, so having them on the sidelines at a race always makes the experience extra special. The last time my whole family was at a race of mine was Collegiate Nationals my freshman year- my first big win of my triathlon career. I absolutely love racing in front of them so they can see how much fun I have, and see the results of all my hard work.

Since school started again, each day is a balancing act, and some days are more successful than others! I do my best, and am pleased at how training has been going the past month. I am loving my classes this semester and learning so much everyday. Overall, I am one happy girl! My next post will be a race report from Elite Nationals.

All for now,

Jessica

Kelowna and onward

Happy with a solid race, I sat on the porch of my home stay in Kelowna, overlooking the lake. I couldn't help but admire the beautiful view and feel incredibly fortunate for the opportunities this sport has provided me.

My race this past weekend was a step in the right direction. After racing in Monroe when I wasn't quite ready, I spent two months time out in California, training at sea level and enjoying the summer with Chris. Over those eight weeks, I saw continued improvement and experienced training sessions that gave me confidence in my fitness and the plan that my coach and I have established. I am happy with how far I have come, and most importantly, thrilled to be racing and having FUN. Something extremely valuable I have learned the past few months is that you really do have to listen to your body, and even though it may not always cooperate, if you listen to it, you will be rewarded. My reward has been my ability to toe the start line and really race again. Sure, there is work to be done (and a lot of it!), but I am patient and have the support of a very wise coach and my incredible family and friends.

Up next will be Elite Nationals in Buffalo, NY. I can't wait to see my family when I head back east and I also can't wait to race again! Thanks to TIMEX for all the support, and I can assure you I will be racing my heart out on my new Orca next month.

Hugs and Smiles!

Jess

"How to get started" Article

This was my second article, forgot to post it before.

With proper equipment, guidance from training partners or a coach, and a realistic goal, triathlon is a sport that is certainly rewarding. It attracts individuals with various backgrounds- collegiate athletes who want to take on a new challenge of three disciplines, children who are inspired by watching their parents compete, middle aged men or women using training as a social outlet and break from work , or those who swim, bike and run just to stay in shape. The great thing about triathlon is that it can be whatever you want it to be. For me personally, I was influenced by the experiences of watching my mother compete, and began training just for fun. Now, four years later, it is evident that the sport is a direct reflection of what you put into it as my progressive hard work and dedication has allowed me to compete at a higher level than I ever thought possible. Whether taking on a sprint triathlon, or working towards completing an Ironman, triathlon offers an active lifestyle and introduces you to a unique community.

If you are interested in trying a tri, there are three components to focus on. First, having the equipment to train with is important. The essentials to get started consist of a swimsuit, cap and goggles, a bike and helmet, and running shoes. Getting involved with a local triathlon club, or finding a bike or triathlon shop in town can be helpful in assisting you in purchasing a bicycle, getting a tune up, finding the right running shoes, or meeting people to train with. The Waterbury YMCA triathlon club is a great place to get started and meet athletes of ranging abilities and commitment levels. When I began training more seriously for triathlon, I joined the Bethel Triathlon club and was fortunate to meet some more experienced athletes who offered wisdom at every turn. A great deal of equipment selection comes from experimenting individually with different choices through training and finding what works best for you. As triathlon continues to grow, and more fancy products appear, it is important to stick to the equipment that feels most comfortable to you so you can continue training, injury free, and perform at your best on race day.

The second key ingredient to getting started is finding a form of guidance through a coach or training group. A local triathlon club or shop can be very helpful if you are a beginner. Coaches or training partners can offer insight on what a weekly schedule should look like, ways to take care of your body outside of training such as massage or stretching, nutritional guidelines, or just suggest a nice trail to run on or safe loop to bike. Ninety percent of what I have learned about the sport of triathlon has come from peer athletes, coaches and friends. Taking tips from those who are more experienced, while blending in a regime that works for you will create the perfect formula for success.

The third and final part of getting started with triathlon is to create a realistic personal goal. Triathlon can be a way to stay in shape, a place to train and meet new people or a platform to compete, whatever you choose. If your goal is to be able to swim twenty laps in the pool, bike ten miles and run two miles, then devise a plan that will progress you towards your destination in a reasonable fashion. As a beginner, it is key to stay rooted in your individual ambitions since you will find athletes of ranging abilities and experience around you. As a triathlete, I believe that goal setting has been invaluable in my development over the past four years. With necessary training equipment, guidance from coaches and training partners, and a personalized goal, you too will reach your destination in triathlon.

Article 3- Injury Prevention

Unlike the majority of sports, triathlon is unique and consists of three disciplines. With this variety in training, being a triathlete provides new challenges daily, stressing and strengthening different muscles and always providing for a refreshing experience. Being a triathlete too, demands maintenance- taking care of your body as if it were a machine needing a fine-tuning to operate properly. There are several ways to prevent nagging pains from developing into injuries that hinder your ability to train consistently and put you on the sidelines come race day.

Many triathletes believe that it’s truly the “little things,” often behind the scenes, that keep them healthy and improving. A training regime is invaluable, as it can allow you to measure your fitness gains week to week and move you towards your ultimate goals. However, elements of being a triathlete that are just as important are nutrition, massage and stretching, careful attention to equipment wear out, and the often overlooked benefits of rest.

For any individual, athlete or not, having a healthy balanced diet is a fundamental component of well-being. In taking on the multisport lifestyle, triathletes often find themselves with fierce appetites and a constant need for fuel. Since nutritional choices are very personal, influenced by allergies, specific diets or taste buds, an individualized plan will ensure success and allow you to recover properly and feel energized for tomorrow’s challenges. Certain nutritional supplements can be helpful pre and post workouts for energy or muscle recovery, but real food can provide these benefits as well. It is important to evaluate your nutritional intake as a triathlete to make sure you are getting the proper blend of protein for recovery, carbohydrates and good fats such as Omega 3 for energy, as well as fruits and vegetables for antioxidants and prevention of illness. As endurance athletes, proper nutritional focus can greatly assist in continual thriving and onward momentum in achieving your goals.

Massage, as well as stretching or yoga, can serve in preventing the onset of injury. Often, with more than one session a day, a triathlete’s body can be delayed in feeling the workload and muscular stresses from training. Even if you are able to proceed from one day to the next with no nagging pains or evident stresses, your body could use some self-care through light self-massage or stretching post workouts. This addition to your daily training regime can be the specific ingredient that keeps your muscles happy and your body flawlessly functioning. If you have the time and can afford the costs, massage from a therapist can be beneficial in severing the physical and mental stresses of training, and of life!

Just as your body can feel the wear and tear of miles of swimming, biking and running, your equipment will also provide evidence of the hard work over time. Although it is exciting to see that you have literally ran until your shoes have holes in them, your body will eventually not appreciate the lack of cushioning and support. It is valuable to evaluate the wear out of your equipment to ensure that you are providing your body with the proper foundation to train safely and efficiently. When you begin using a new pair of running shoes or biking shoes, writing the date in permanent marker on the shoe can assist in recognizing when it may be time to invest in a new pair. Running, of the three disciplines, takes the greatest toll on your body with the constant impact, so it is most critical to keep a close eye on this component of a triathlete’s wardrobe.

A word that a triathlete dreads hearing or tries to remove from their vocabulary is rest. The lifestyle of most multisport athletes includes squeezing as much as possible into a twenty-four hour day, and the constant motion becomes addicting and enjoyable. As if triathlon isn’t enough of a challenge in itself, training three disciplines is often blended with daily appointments, being a full time student, spending time with family or a full time job. A day off from training is vital for both physical and mental health. Although it may be difficult to get through a day without an endorphin rush, your body will appreciate the break and reward you in performing as you desire in training and racing. A day of rest can be the perfect time to evaluate what triathlon has brought to your life- friendship and fun, challenge and adventure, health and wellness.

Article 2- Training Indoors

Let’s face it, not everyone has the luxury of stepping outside twelve months of the year to train in seventy degree, sun filled conditions. Also true is the fact that lots of individuals don’t have the liberty to train during a lunch break from work, or even find time during daylight to fit in their workouts. This is where training indoors becomes essential. Triathlon, with its three disciplines, provides flexibility and variance in training, which can allow those with busy work schedules or tough weather conditions to fit sessions in.

Swim training for the bulk of triathletes is completed in a pool. Whether swimming on your own, or joining a Masters group, training in a pool allows you to focus a great deal on technique and pacing. Since swimming is so technique based compared to biking and running, spending time in a pool where someone can evaluate your stroke can be beneficial in your progression and improvement, especially if you are new to the sport. Through perfecting your stroke in the pool and fine tuning your movements for efficiency, you will notice that you’ll be swimming faster and conserving energy that you’ll need come race day for the bike and run. Swimming outdoors, in open water, most closely simulates what you will experience in a triathlon race. However, open water swimming can be resembled in the pool by swimming continuously for twenty to thirty minutes at a time or incorporating open water swim drills such as sighting (raising your head above the water to see in front of you). Lastly, if you race triathlon wearing a wetsuit, you can swim in your wetsuit in the pool to get your body used to the feeling. Swimming outdoors in open water will help you most closely replicate the swim in a triathlon race, but there are several alternatives in the pool that will get you ready to make the plunge.

Many triathletes argue that bicycle training indoors is tedious. However, cycling indoors is safer, can be social in the form of spin classes, and gets you strong with the lack of coasting- something that you constantly experience while riding outside. Perhaps even better is that riding indoors can be done at anytime of the day. If you have a bike trainer, is it easy to set up and you can ride your own bike while watching a movie or hanging out with the family. Also, spin classes are popular for early risers and provide a great workout on stationary spin bikes with upbeat music and a motivating instructor. Riding outside is important for development of bike handling skills and experience of varying terrains from flat roads to challenging climbs. However, in the thick of the cold winter or in battling a hectic schedule, cycling indoors can be easier logistically, safer, and will give you strength and conditioning to succeed in triathlon.

Running is perhaps the easiest of the three disciplines to train outdoors for. If you can stand drastic weather conditions, and have a window of thirty to sixty minutes in your day, it is simple to strap on a pair of running shoes and get out the door. It doesn’t take long for your heart rate to increase and for the endorphins to kick in, leaving you satisfied for the rest of the day. Training indoors for running can be beneficial for a few reasons. Running on a treadmill is great for trying to build strength endurance. For example, if you are working towards a goal of running eight minutes per mile, you can easily set the treadmill and work to stay at that pace, while pace fluctuates more regularly running outdoors. Treadmills are great for speed work as well, and you can simulate short and fast intervals while focusing on turnover and form. Often times, there are mirrors around training equipment in gyms, which provides you with a vehicle to evaluate your form while running. Lastly, the treadmill can be a successful outlet to running when dealing with some pain or an injury, as it provides a flat surface, different from the steeped roads or uneven trails.

Not only does triathlon have three disciplines, but also many variations of ways to train for each. Indoors or out, the blend of swimming, biking and running will be sure to keep you fit and challenge you in news ways each day.

Article 1- Pre Rev 3 Middlebury

This was my first published article which I wrote as a preview for the Rev 3 that was in Middlebury (my home town).

So, what’s a triathlon? A sport that combines three disciplines of swimming, biking and running has become a passion of mine since I began competing at the age of 15. Here in the greater Waterbury area, where my triathlon career commenced, I see it has become a passion of many others.

In returning back home to visit, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how many people I see out biking and running, the growth and excitement of the Waterbury YMCA triathlon club, and the several kids camps promoting health and wellness. It is evident that the sport of triathlon has changed our community and the lifestyle of many individuals. Triathlon is on the rise.

Whether an outlet to staying in shape, a platform for competitive racing, or a way of meeting new people and traveling, triathlon gives something back to everyone. Athletes from various backgrounds and avenues jump into triathlon to take on the challenge of mastering all three sports. Since I began competing, through many experiences and much guidance from coaches and peer athletes, I have been able to develop a regime and continued education of how to carefully balance the training for swimming, biking and running. Each year I have made the commitment to stay focused on my personal goals and enjoyed the many varied challenges. Like many, the sport of triathlon has airlifted me to a state of fulfillment and continues to be the air under my wings.

We will be welcoming some of the world’s most seasoned triathletes to the Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, CT as the venue for the Rev 3 triathlon festival this weekend. Saturday will provide an Olympic distance race- a .9 mile swim, 24.9 mile bike and 6.2 mile run for the athletes competing. Sunday will be what some believe is the ultimate test of endurance, even for the professional athletes such as Olympian Matt Reed and 2010 Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae. The half-ironman distance race will encompass a 1.2 mile swim in Lake Quassapaug, a challenging 56 mile roller coaster bike course and a 13.1 mile run to the finish.

Both events on Saturday and Sunday will allow hundreds of athletes to participate and experience a variety of accomplishments, ranging from finishing their first triathlon, winning their age group, or grabbing the tape for the prize purse. Whatever their goals are for this weekend, all athletes will have their own unique experiences, have some fun competing and for sure feel compete gratification in seeing their commitment to hard work come through in their performance. Then, the celebration of wellness that triathlon embodies can continue!

Back in Colorado

I have had the MOST incredible summer. Driving across the country was quite the adventure, and I absolutely loved visiting my family back in CT, as well as spending the past two months in Santa Barbara with Chris and his family. I have been surrounded by wonderful people and this summer has been filled with sunshine and smiles. It is great to be back here in Colorado, and I can't believe school starts in less than two weeks. WOW! Time flies when you are having fun.

My training has been going really well. I am enjoying each training week and the challenges they present, and feel like I am getting stronger and more confident in where my fitness is at. Sure, I would have loved to have been racing a bit more this summer, but I am glad that my coach and I decided that there was no rush, and it would be smarter to invest my time in training and getting race ready before toeing the start line again. I have decided to go back to Kelowna to race this year, and am excited to see the incredible home stay family that took me in last year. It is a beautiful venue, and a well run race, so it should be great to go back to a familiar course.

Besides training the past few months, I have been writing articles for a newspaper in my hometown- the Waterbury Republican American. I am going to post a few of my articles here on my blog for you to enjoy! These articles are directed towards individuals who are new to the sport of triathlon, with advice on how to get started and ways to prevent injury, train for specific race distances etc. I hope you enjoy reading these, although they may be a bit boring for those of you more experienced triathletes. Anyways, I am excited to have been given the opportunity to write for this newspaper, as the area where I grew up is booming with triathlon fever, and the sport is surely on a rise. It is so exciting to see more and more people getting involved and adopting the triathlon lifestyle.

I hope you are all healthy and happy! Put a smile on.

Jessica

Patience is a virtue

In the past three months, my health has come full swing and I am very fortunate for this. After visiting with many doctors while home in CT, the common thread seems to be that my body needs to just sort itself out and it will take some time to feel completely like myself again. With this being said, training has been getting better each week and I am thoroughly enjoying each session and genuinely having fun. This is a big step for me considering where I was at early March and even into April this year. Since training has been going well, my coach and I decided that I should give racing a go, so I traveled to Monroe, Washington this past weekend for a draft legal event.

It was the first year there was a triathlon at this location and I think USAT did a fantastic job in choosing a venue. The swim was in a small lake, the bike was on some smooth flat roads, and the run was on a path around the lake. Overall, very spectator friendly, a component of draft legal racing that is important in drawing in crowds for support. I was happy about where I was at mentally going into the weekend, and my body felt great too. I can't say that I felt 100% confident in where my fitness was at, but I have to accept where I am right now, and realize that I am moving in the right direction. We all have setbacks, and it is just about overcoming them and being patient in getting back to where you want to be.

Overall, the race wasn't at all what I was hoping for. I had a great swim and came out with the front group, which is something I had struggled with in the past. Besides my swim, it was a very tough race and I just kept moving backwards. I ended up alone on the bike (never a good thing in draft legal races), kept losing time, and had to serve two penalties (not sure what for!) on the run. Between feeling mentally and physically defeated, I was very disappointed in my performance because I know I am capable of much more.

I spoke with my coach after the race and she told me that racing in Monroe was just an indicator that I am not ready to be racing yet, and there is no rush to be toeing the start line. After a setback earlier this year, it may take some time for me to perform at a high level again. My coach and I decided that I won't be racing for awhile, and instead, just trying to make leaps in my training and gain strength. I will be doing some local running races and open water swim races here in California.

The good news from all of this is, I am more patient than ever, so fortunate for my health, and I am having fun and smiling a lot. For now, it is important for me to listen to my body so I can get back to my base and keep building to reach my highest potential. I know that being patient now and properly gaining strength will bring me to the destination I hope for down the road. So for now, I am just enjoying the journey and grateful for all triathlon has given me.

Thanks for reading!

Jessica

Home is where the heart is

The past month in CT was wonderful in every way. I was overdue for some quality time with my sisters and parents, and after having a rough start to the season with my health, it was great to be with the people that love me most. Chris and I drove to CT from Boulder, and stopped in Knoxville for him to race. He did great in his first pro race against a stacked field of athletes and I am really proud of him! I don't think I have seen any athlete push themselves as hard as he does, and I really enjoy watching him race because he has so much fun out there and has improved so much over the past year. Once we arrived in CT, I knew it would be a fun couple of weeks.

The time in CT included yummy home cooked meals (thanks Mom!), hanging out with my sisters, attending the twins soccer games and swim meets, baking, a trip to NYC, zip lining, bike rides with my Mom, a fun race at Lake Quassapaug and some great training. I also had a few doctors appointments while I was home with other neurologists, and all news is good news. I have been able to monitor my energy levels each day, and be very careful in listening to my body. I am feeling better each week and training is going really well under the guidance of my new coach Joanna Zeiger. The doctors were unable to really conclude what affected my health early March, but are optimistic in stating that I am okay and my body just needs time to sort itself out. This whole situation has made me realize that we certainly aren't invincible and taking care of ourselves is the most important thing as athletes.

I have been in California for a few days now and am loving it here! I miss my family and had an emotional departure from CT, but am happy to have had a great few weeks with them. You don't realize how much you miss your family until you are fortunate enough to spend an extended period of time with them. Sure, I miss my sisters and parents all the time when I am out in CO, but being in CT made me realize just how special family is and how much love there is at home. There is absolutely nothing that compares. Home is truly where the heart is.

Smile big!

Jessica

Summer Plans!

Hello from Colorado-

Although I love it here in Boulder (besides the wind right now!), I will be off to CT in a week to spend some time at home with my family. Chris and I will be stopping at Tennessee first so he can tear it up at Rev 3 Knoxville, and then we will be back in Connecticut for three weeks. I can't wait to be at home with my sisters, go blueberry picking, have home cooked meals, take another trip to NYC and train at sea level. Chris and I will both be racing the Rev 3 Olympic in Middlebury, which will be great! It should be fun to race in my home town with my family and friends cheering on the sidelines. After CT, I will be off to California for most of the summer to spend time with Chris and his family. Santa Barbara is beautiful and I am excited for some amazing strawberries and ocean swimming. It should be a great few months of driving across states, training in the sun and spending time with some very special people. :)

Jessica

A quick update!

Hey everyone

Collegiate Nationals.was a tough race individually, but the team did fantastic and we took the title again :) I have decided not to race Wildflower because it is in the middle of finals, and I thought that based on how I felt racing at Nats, a good solid block of training would be more worthwhile then trying to race again.

Hope everyone is doing well and your season has gotten off to a great start!

Jessica

A new outlook..

Hello!

I recently got back from Tucson, AZ where the CU Tri team had a training camp during Spring Break. The Buffs dominated in Lake Havasu at our Regional meet winning both the men's and women's divisions. We went down to Tucson after for a few hard days of training at sea level (YAY!) and we all had a great time. The sun was shining, it was warm, and we enjoyed pushing each other with a little extra oxygen. My favorite part of the trip was climbing Mt. Lemmon, which was about 25 miles up from the base, and a little over a 5 hour ride total to and from our hotel. It was an epic day for sure.

Being in Tucson was great for me, and I had my first few hard sessions back after being in the hospital. The first week in Boulder I eased back into training and just did some very easy swimming, biking and running. I was very happy to be feeling good training in AZ and I know that having my teammates by my side definitely helped me get back into things and deal with the pain from working hard. I was nervous for my first few hard workouts back, because I wasn't sure how my fitness would be after sitting in a hospital bed for awhile. However, I was very pleased with my training in AZ and will give everything I have on race day in a two weeks.

I spoke with my Mom about Collegiate Nationals yesterday for awhile. After discussing the race with her, I realized that this setback I have had has really changed my outlook quite a bit. Usually, I experience incredible nerves and tension going into a race, especially Collegiate Nationals because I feel like I am racing for individuals outside of myself- my team! Sure, I am still nervous for April 9th, but I am SO happy to be healthy and SO happy to be racing. Besides, I won't be alone out there on race day in Alabama- I've got the incredible Buffs!

Go CU! 11 days!

Jessica

Health Comes First

Hello to my followers-

Wow! What a couple of weeks it has been.

Two weeks ago, I felt fantastic and training was going better than ever. I was extremely excited about how I was feeling during training sessions, was eating well, recovering well and overall, anticipating a fun trip to Lake Havasu for the first race of 2011. The start to my racing season has now been pushed back a bit. About a week ago I went into the ER with incredible fatigue and memory loss, and a couple of hospital visits later they found abnormalities on an MRI in the parietal lobe of my brain. The doctors believe that I caught a virus that caused post infectious inflammation on my nerves, muscles and a spot in my brain.

This was a lot to take in and I experienced an array of emotions. Initially, what crossed my mind was when I could get back to training again, or if I would be able to race this upcoming weekend. How incredibly naive of me to be thinking of that, I know! But over the course of a few days in the hospital, I was able to evaluate just how important my health is above everything. Triathlon will always be here, so for now I am taking care of myself and easing back into things. Like I have always said, I want to be doing this sport forever, so however long it takes to get healthy is how long it will have to be.

Stay healthy and be happy!

Jessica

Never lose sight of your Beginner Spirit!

Hello everyone!

Today, someone very special in my life shared something very valuable. After picking up my boyfriend from the airport, we were discussing Lance Armstrong and his career on the car ride home. Chris told me about Lance's bike and the quote that is printed on the top tube reading "Never forget your Beginner Spirit." I pondered the meaning of this, and how applicable it is to my personal career as an athlete so far. I think back to the year I started triathlon, the outlook I had on the sport now, and how different things are now. With more experience, and more pressure in competition, I believe that it is easy to occasionally lose sight of the reasons why I started the sport in the first place. I enjoyed the conversation this morning with Chris, and I appreciated him sharing this little piece of wisdom with me. It has been on my mind all day, and it has allowed me to evaluate where I am at now with the sport, and what my outlook is moving forward. With Lance's advice, and Chris's revelation of this quote, I can see how important it is to stay connected with your roots, and never lose sight of them. Sure, Triathlon still brings me a great amount of joy and happiness, and I know that acknowledging the experiences I had as a newbie, will only strengthen my connection with the sport. It forces me to fuse the present with the past, and find an athlete who continues to challenge herself, while smiling and never losing sight of the spirit that launched her triathlon career four years ago.

Smiles!

Jessica

January Jumps!

Hello!

January has flown by. With 2011 in full swing, the racing season is truly just around the corner. My first race this year will be the CU Tri Team's Regional Championships in Lake Havasu City, AZ. This will be my first year racing Regionals with the team, so I am very excited for the trip.

It has been a great month- adjusting to a new school schedule, and conquering every day with a positive attitude and an appreciation for this wonderful life. Training has been going well, and the weather has been quite cooperative. I can't complain!

This semester has been really exciting for me because I am attempting to add another major (or switch majors) after realizing that I've always had a real interest in writing. This stems from my enjoyment in blogging here, as well as from my history of savoring various writing classes. So, I am taking some Journalism classes at the moment, which are both challenging and rewarding. We will see what life brings next. Until then, I wish you all happiness and enjoyment in everything you do!

Jessica