Tri on 4th of July

Yesterday morning before the sun came up, our family was loaded in our minivan with 5 bikes headed to the Firecracker Triathlon. The kids started at 6am then Mark & I went off after the kids were finished. Mark and the boys did it last year. It's a fun event so we thought we'd all do it. This was Lois' first tri. She had to swim 100yd, bike 3.1 mi and run 0.5 mi. She was doing good in the water until the last 25yds. She was getting tired and her confidence was deflated as many kids past her in the pool. She was crying when she climbed out of the pool. It was so hard to see her struggle and not be able to run to her. I talked her through the transition to her bike and Mark was waiting for her to ride with her. She calmed down on the bike and was even talking Mark's ear off. For the run, our boys and our friends' kids ran with her. She was all smiles when she crossed the finishe line. In the end, it was a good experience for her and she wants to do it again. Yeah! I'm sure she grew more than we know from that one event. We are so proud of her for not givining up. She was the youngest kid competing and got a medal for her age group!! I did the mini-sprint and came in 5th overall. I got a nice little plaque for it and a gift card. More important to me than my award was my performance in the pool. I was relaxed and stayed to my game plan. I did mostly free stroke and a few breast strokes for recovery. I was so proud of my swim. It wasn't super fast, but steady and calm. A far cry from how I felt at Tri for the Cure. Hooray! Progress feels so good! My husband did well, too. He took 3rd in his age group. Go Team Brodnik!!!!!! Hope you all had a fun, healthy Fourth!!!

Race Plans

Below is a list of the events I have on my radar for the coming 6 months. The big deal is that I registered for the Women's Half Marathon this week. It's on November 7. It will be the first time it's held in AZ. It's a female only race and looks like lots of fun......plus, great t-shirt and medal. More scenic that PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon as it starts in downtown Scottsdale, runs past Papago Park then on to Tempe Beach. I've only done one other half and I was injured with stress fractures on my tibia so I walk/ran it. My goal is to run this one in 2hrs. So my main focus is training for 13.1 miles, but my secondary focus is to improve my swimming for triathlons. Swimming and biking will be great cross training activities as I ramp my miles for the marathon.

The last 5 weeks I've struggled with lower back muscle tightness and bursitis in my right hip. I went to PT and she helped me get back to normal. The one thing she really helped me realize is that a strong core & lower back will help keep me injury free and improve my performance in my activities. I have a new routine to strengthen my core, lower back and gluteus medius. The other thing I learned is ice is my friend. I need to use it more after I exercise.....especially on my troubled areas. Stretch, core work and ice......these are my new friends!

I recently took a running form clinic called Chi Running. Mark and I have both changed to this new style of running. Mark has seen an improvement in speed and efficency as measured by his heart rate monitor and I've felt a change in the impact on my body. I highly recommend it to anyone.....new to running or an old pro. Google it and see for yourself.

July 4 --Tri Family Firecracker Sprint Tri http://www.trifamilyracing.com/

July 18 --Johnnycake Jog 5 mile run in Ohio http://www.johnnycakejog.com/

Sept 26 --Nathan's Tri (TBD...might do relay; husband will do Olympic) http://www.redrockco.com/


Oct 2 --Oktoberfest 5mi/5k race http://www.4peaksracing.com/

Oct 3 --Tri Family Seville Sprint Tri http://www.trifamilyracing.com/

Oct 10 --Race for the Cure Survivor 5k run & 5k walk with family http://www.komenphoenix.org/

Oct 24 --SOMA (my husband will do half ironman....I will cheer!) http://www.redrockco.com/


Nov 7 --Women's Half Marathon http://www.womenshalfmarathon.com/

Nov 14 --Iron Girl 5k or 10mi http://www.irongirl.com/


Dec 5 --Fiesta Bowl 5k or Half Marathon http://www.raceplaceevents.com/


Jan1-4 --Hike Grand Canyon

Grateful to Team SOS

On Wednesday morning I was in my onc's chemo room getting my weekly infusion of Herceptin.......#34 of 52. I was there right at 8am so I could finish my drip before the kids finished swim team practice. I'm so grateful to wonderful friends who keep an eye on them until I can get there. Anyway, I'm usually the only one in the room that early or there might be one other person. About half way through my 30min drip, another woman came in. I could tell she was new to the office and it was her first time in the chemo room. Overhearing the conversations (hard not to) with the nurse, she was going to have her first chemo treatment that morning. She was quiet and seemed a bit nervous.....maybe I was nervous for her. What really struck me about this woman was that she was alone on her first chemo day when you face so many unknowns.....how will I feel, how will my body tolerate it, will I throw up, etc? She sat there alone eating her breakfast from a McDonalds bag. She drove herself and was planning to drive home. I recalled my first chemo day when I was greeted with a huge party of people wishing me luck and my husband was at my side the entire time. I am blessed to have so many people who care about me. I will forever be grateful to Team SOS for what they've done for me the past 16 months and for the strength they continue to give me. Thanks to each and every one of you no matter where you've joined me on my journey. I am most grateful.
With much love, srb