Training is going well this week.  I have completely recovered from the vertigo that plagued me last week.  Whew!  Having that episode of vertigo reminded me how important it is to rest.  I think my body was crying out for sleep and rest and that's what it got.  I don't know about you, but I really prefer to do it with less drugs and doctor's visit and especially without MRI.  Having MS just makes me more vulnerable to exhaustion.  I am realizing I am not giving my body enough downtime.  So, I have actually started to record my sleep and rest periods along with tracking my workouts. 

I have made 8 hours of sleep each night my goal and 7 as an acceptable substitute.  I have been pushing my body, but still going to bed at 11 or 12 and waking at 5 or 6 expecting my body to go just as it always does.  There are a lot of people that that kind of schedule works fine for them, but not me.  So, my goal of getting in bed by 10 and allowing myself to sleep until at least 6 is harder to execute than I thought.  I have done it 5 out of 7 nights this past week and I am feeling a real sense of peace and I'm more concentrated on my training when I'm doing my workouts.  I'm realizing just now how important it is to sleep and rest.

It's as important as training.  I know the experts and lots of seasoned triathletes have already figured this one out, but I am neither, so I'm figuring it all out along the way.

Shannon

I knew the road to TNT was going to be challenging for me since I've never done and Olympic distance triathlon and I have been fighting MS for 12 years.  But, I had no idea how difficult!  On Tuesday morning of last week I woke at 5AM to get ready for my short bike workout.  I got out of bed and immediately felt like I drank 2 bottles of wine by myself and I didn't know if I wanted to fall down or throw up.  Ugh, vertigo.  I tried to fight but the more I moved around the more I felt it would be best to retreat to the bed.  I got into my doc that morning (with a lot of help from my wonderful husband).  After I got some good drugs I proceeded to sleep the next two days away.  An MRI and blood work showed no MS activity.  It must have been some freak virus.  Friday I started to feel better and by Monday I stopped the meds and got back to work.  Whew!  I got back to training this week, but I am really taking it easy since I've had almost a week off and am still having some dizziness.

My TNT dreams were almost squashed.  Had the MRI showed MS lesion activity, I would have had to undergo an IV steroid treatment to reduce the inflammation in my brain.  And, that would have meant the end of my triathlon season.  So, I am celebrating this week just being able to swim, bike and run again and dodging that bullet!  YIPPEE!!  -- Shannon

I've never been one to exercise on vacation.  I've always thought of it as backwards thinking.  I'm on vacation to relax and enjoy myself.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love to hike, camp, ride a bike and swim on my vacations.  But, I've never formally "trained" on vacation.  I vowed this year on our 4-Day mini vacation to Williamsburg this year that I would not let my training schedule go by the wayside.  So, I packed my gear and mentally prepared for getting up early and getting the job done before the rest of the family was even awake. 

To my surprise, training was easy and fun during my vacation.  Usually, after my workout in the morning, I quickly shower and get off to work.  But, these workouts were followed by reading the paper and heading out for a day of roller coasters or water slides.  So, I was really happy to be out there and found myself much more relaxed and more motivated than usual.

Day 1 of my vacation, I went for a 4-mile run on a trail at the resort and end it with a 15 lap (750yd) swim.  Day 2, I rode on a recumbent bike in the fitness center for an hour and did some stretching and weights.  Day 3, more of the same.  What I found is I had more energy for the day of rides and shows and dealing with the kiddos.  And, I didn't feel so guilty about the pizza or beer I splurged on at dinner.  It was true vacation for without losing any of the hard work I've done up to now.

My real test will be next month when we take the family to New Mexico to visit relatives.  We'll be there for 10 days staying with family.  It's too late in the game to risk losing all my hard work since January.  It will be just a matter of making the commitment to train during vacation no matter what.  And, from my experience on my 4-day trip away last weekend, I think I am actually looking forward to the next trip.

Shannon

Triumphant Triathlete
W*USA 9 - Washington,DC,USA
These days Shannon is training, sometimes with family members at her side, for the Nation's Triathlon September 14th. It includes nearly a mile swim, ...

This is the link to the video on Channel 9's website.  It's a story about how I've overcome Muliple Sclerosis and a stroke to participate in this year's triathlon.  It turned out pretty good.  I was happy with the way they put it together.

And, I did my FIRST 10K RACE on Sunday.  I had never run that distance outdoors or in any kind of competitive environment before.  So, last Wednesday I signed up for the Herndon 10K Race.  I did the run exactly how I planned and I finished in 68 minutes (11 minute miles)!!!  That’s about 7 minutes faster than I was expecting.  My plan was to run like the tortoise, slow and steady.  So, for the first 3 miles everyone (and I mean all but about 3 people) passed me.  I just kept my pace and tried to enjoy being out there.  But, I noticed something on the 3^rd mile, people started to slow down and some were even walking.  So, I kept up my slow, steady pace, never stopping and jogged right on by about 100 people over the next 3.2 miles.  I had never run that distance outdoors or that fast, so I was VERY happy with how it turned out.

It took a lot longer to heal my wounds from the crash I was involved in during the MS Bike Ride on May 17th.  But, many of the wounds have scabbed over and the bruises are starting to fade.  I took it really easy the first week after the crash, but now I'm back to training, sort of.  I have yet to swim since I have a bruised shoulder and open wounds.  The idea of getting in a chlorinated pool with open wounds sickens my stomach.  The pain would be unbearable and I wouldn't want anyone else getting in the water with their open wounds.  So, I am being a wimp and being a good citizen at the same time.

But, I have gotten back to running and cycling.  I am VERY new to triathlon.  Last year, I did my first two tri's and they were mini sprints (not even full length sprints!).  But, I really wanted to challenge myself this year.  I am not an athlete by nature.  So, when I talk about my training workouts, I hope you all don't think, WOW, she's never going to make it.  My goal is to finish the Nation's Triathlon and finish it strong.  I might be the last one over the line, but I will finish and that will be a huge accomplishment for me. 

I have been training since January but put a very simple plan together based on time.  I figure I just need the endurance to finish the distances.  The training is coming along good.  I did a self-sponsored duathlon on Sunday using my house as T1 and T2.  I ran for 2.5 miles, rode for 15, then ran another 2.5.  My husband and my two sons had my bike ready and the hose out when I got back from the first running leg.  When I arrived, I drank some water, hopped on my bike and they sprayed me with the hose as I rode away.  Then, they drenched me before the second run and cheered for me.  That was the best feeling in the world.  If you remember Sunday was our first day with real heat this season.  So, the water felt amazing and cheering kept me going.  I realized that I can't do this without them.  My boys, my husband and I are a team.  And, when I finish this they will feel a sense of pride, too.  I am very lucky.

My mother always told me I was very book smart, but when it came to common sense it seemed like I had some studying to do.  Somedays I think she was very, very right.  It seems like common sense when you're riding your bike on a road downhill very fast with lots of other riders around you to be very careful and don't be so chatty.  I missed that lesson.  In mile 2 of the MS Bike Ride this weekend, I decided to turn to the left to talk to someone and veered to the right off into a ditch.  I was going so fast I lost control of my bike and ended up tumbling down the road.  Good news is I didn't take anyone else with me and I'm OK.  In fact, I was able to finish the ride after my bike and I were repaired and wrapped in bandages.  Bad news is I've derailed my triathlon training for at least a week.  I've got cuts, bruises and stiffness everywhere.  I will try to get back on my bike this week, but running and swimming will have to wait until my very bruised shoulder can handle it.  UGH!

All in all, the ride went fantastic.  My team (Team Trust) had 14 members.  We raised over $12,000 for the MS Society and we all finished the miles we set out to do.  The ride was fun and the scenery and weather were absolutely gorgeous.  If you ever think about doing an organized, long distance ride for charity, this one is well organized and for a great cause.  And, Team Trust is always welcoming new members!

This is my first posting, but hopefully I will have many adventures along the way to share.  I have been training since January, but I would have to say I had my first REAL adventure yesterday.  Jennifer Devlin, the PR rep for the Nation's Tri contacted me on Monday saying that Channel 9 wanted to do a story on the Nation's Tri.  I had submiited my story to Jennifer and she passed it on to Sara who decided to do a piece on me.  What a wild experience for a girl who has NEVER been an athlete and has come a long way on her journey to the Nation's Tri.  The story should air in the next couple of weeks.  It will be very exciting for me to have my story recorded.

I am a 36-year-old software developer by profession, mother of two boys that I adore, wife of the most AWESOME husband, MS sufferer for 12 years and stroke survivor.  In 2001, after my stroke I wasn't able to make words, read or type.  The doctor's discovered a hole in my heart that they think caused a blood clot to get to my brain while I was giving birth to my second son causing a stroke to occur 3 days later.  I had heart surgery to repair the hole.  The docs said I had to wait 6 weeks before any exercise especially since I wasn't exercising before the stroke.  It was 6-9 months before I was really able to resume a normal life.  I was nervous about getting my heart rate up, but I vowed that I would never spend another day being ungrateful or unhealthy.  Six weeks after the heart surgery, I began my journey to today.

I was diagnosed with MS when I was 24 and that battle is unlike the stroke recovery.  It's an everyday thing.  MS is a chronic disease.  It effects my nervous system and my brain.  The disease causes my immune system to go into "hyperdrive" and attack the healthy protein lining of my spinal cord and brain.  It causes me to have strange sensations (like pins and needles and electical pulses) in my skin, it effects my peripheral vision and color vision when I am stressed.  I am lucky that it has not progressed to the point of stopping me from moving.  But, it could someday.  I take daily injections to slow the progression of the disease and keep my immune system in check.  The medicine I'm on now has no real side effects other than irritating injection sites.  So, I have been very happy to be able to train with ease.

I have never done anything like the Nation's Triathlon before.  I have ridden in the MS Bike Ride last year and will this year again (in fact it's this weekend, 100 miles in two days, WOOHOO!!) and I've competed in two mini sprint tris last year.  I was totally hooked on the triathlons after that and can't wait to take on my biggest physical challenge yet.  I will not be in the race to be on the podium, but I will WIN.  If I cross the finish line, it will be a personal win.