Email Letter

Below you will read a email/letter Heidi wrote to a group of AWESOME people we met back in October 2009 @ a leadership conference near Las Vegas. This class & group has forever changed my life for the better. And I wanted to share this letter with our blog.

Pictures of race day will be coming...sometime.....soon ;) We had an awesome race day full of smiles & laughing! And finished together!

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Hello LB2 friends!

I can remember back to the precise moment when I was up in front of all of you making a very serious commitment.  I felt powerful, excited and on top of the world.  I made a commitment to complete a 1/2 ironman with my sister in 2010.  I will admit to you all that when I arrived back home (you see, heather had been thinking about this since our previous quarter triathlon distance and I had been very skeptical and non committal)- into reality- I realized the overwhelming challenge I had committed myself to and was unsure that I could do it.  I had many excuses.  One of the biggest values I get from Rapport is about commitment.  So, I knew I was going to follow through.

Right before Christmas we met with our coach (and friend) to develop a plan.  On January 13th we began the plan.  Six days a week of training- for 5 months.  Totals- 70,000+ yrds swimming, 1200+ miles of biking and 220+ miles of running.   And I was still unsure that I was ready!!  It has been a fun & tough journey.

I am so blessed to have a training partner that has been 100% positive through the whole experience and has encouraged me and motivated me in ways that she will never know.  A husband that has been supportive and encouraging and taken the kids every step and long training day along the way.  And many other family members that have made our crazy training schedule possible.  Plus, a dad that has been training with us- and is doing the race with us!

Sunday is the day.  Ready or not, here I come!

Hugs,
Heidi Crouch

What's Next?

When we began this journey to 70.3 in January we had big plans to do nothing all summer. Planned to take the summer off & get our lives back to normal (whatever that means, I'm not sure). As we've gotten closer to race day we have begun talking about what's next. We're still dreaming and exploring how to push maybe even farther.

We have even committed to doing Ragnar relay race in Tennessee with friends in November. Google it! Basically a team of 12 people running from Chattanooga to Nashville over 2 days. Round the clock running. I'm certain it will be very fun!

Also talking about training for a full marathon. We're convinced it would require fewer days of workouts, which is exciting!

So, we're still planning & dreaming. Stay tuned. It will be FUN, cause thats how we do training!

Re: Kansas 70.3....We're all driving over to Lawrence Kansas tomorrow. Camping all weekend and hanging out with lots and lots of friends from our local triathlon club (Columbia MultiSport Club). We will not be lonely on Sunday. There will be lots of friends & family racing & cheering us on! I am excited and ready to soak it all in!

BY: Heather

Final Week thoughts.

Heidi.

I wouldn't even have to put my name up there.  I'm sure by now you all know that I am the nervous one.

We have entered our final week.  I just completed my final 2000 yrds before the race.  I decided I better do at least 40 laps without stopping to make sure I could do it.  I knew in my head that I could but in our training we always did a swim workout and stopped for breathers.  We have been swimming in the lake the past 3 swims but we still stop at the end for a moment.  The final swim was in a pool and went by fairly quickly.  I was happy that it was only 40 laps instead of 60!

I have been extremely busy- and thankfully this week is also busy.  As I was sitting in church on Saturday I started thinking about the race being 7 days away.  That is when the knots in my stomach began- a lot like they are doing right now as I'm thinking about it.  I tend to get nervous with all races (not sure why I call them races- they are more like events to me) I do and this one seems to be 10x more so.

There will be so many people cheering me on.  I am excited about that but it also makes me more nervous. I am focusing on this being MY RACE/EVENT instead of trying to please anyone else.  My other focus will be a verse in the Bible- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  If you have any other wise quotes/thoughts that I will help me on race day- or race week- please share them with me.

I know I can accomplish this race.  I'm just very nervous and anxious about it.  All these weeks leading up to this one event is just a little overwhelming at this stage.  Thank you all for your thoughts, kind words and support.  They have kept me motivated through this process!

Finally Getting Answers

May 27th 2010

Tuesday of this week I saw a dermatologist due to my doctors referral. Her thinking was that I had a skin issue. After about 3 seconds the derm doc told me "This is not a skin problem". He told me it was a bone, fascial, tendon issue in my foot. So I shared with him my rush for quick results & he exited the room & called Columbia Orthopedic Group. The next morning (to get an appointment that quickly was HUGE!!) I was visiting with Dr. Thornburg who believes I had/have Gout. He explained a little about Gout, which if you don't know, is basically joint arthritis.  We discussed doing a cortisone shot to help. That will probably take place next week. Most people who get Gout are older overweight men who drink too much beer & love their red meat. So I still haven't figured out where I fit in and what I can do to reduce my chance of getting this again. BUT. I am thrilled to finally found answers. It took 4 doctors. Bottom line is my foot is getting better. Slowly, more slowly than I would like, but I can see the light or rather the finish line in Kansas 70.3 :)

Today the bump on the top of my foot is a little better/smaller. Just a little. Still prefer to wear flip flops or nothing on my foot. Best news today, I GOT TO RUN!!! It was great. A little pain, but more like discomfort. Heidi & I are biking in the morning. That will be the real challenge, due to biking shoes fitting so tight. 

At this point I haven't thought much about what Gout is. I am focused on getting better and thrilled to be back training!! Amazing how you're perspective changes when your body says NO/STOP. I've never been so happy to wake up @ 4:52 am to run with Dad, Heidi & our friend Melissa. 4 miles felt easy today.

by: Heather

Phil's Great Idea

So, I haven't been doing much since last Wednesday. Until last night only a swim. Somewhere along this training journey I have become somewhat rigid about our training plan. And not being able to accomplished the workout each day has been driving me NUTS! You can ask Phil. I have been grumpy, moody & just not very fun to live with. 

So on Saturday night Phil said we could cut up my old shoes and give my foot's bump space. (today was the first day I have warn a shoe, still not tied, but at least it fit.) At first I thought this was a weird idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Last night after supper, he hooked my bike up on the trainer. Taped the shoe & gave me time to sweat & be happy.

Amazing what that 53 minute workout did for my spirits. Immediate mood improvements!

Today, Monday May 24th: The foot still has a bump. Heidi, Dad & I did the swim today in open water. Swelling is down, less pain and I can walk normal. Improvements, but still need the bump to be gone. 

by Heather

Last major workout!!

It felt really weird to go on this ride/run without my #1 training partner!  And dad was off doing an olympic triathlon so he wasn't available either.  Instead, my #1 husband and super support man went with me.  It also felt weird that we were leaving our children with my sister (and her in-laws!) who was injured!

After seeing the hills on the race course I knew this last big ride had to include a bunch of hills.  And it did not disappoint!  Fifty-nine miles of some major hills in mid-missouri.  I felt great the whole time.  Of course, your rear is going to feel sore after that long of a ride- and my legs were tired but overall I felt really great- and positive- and confident (that is the key word for me right now).  I ended it with a hilly 2 mile run.  As I ran past Heather's house (just 1/3 mile down for ours) they had all the kids down at the end of the driveway with cow bells & cheers!

I was worried about the heat (upper 80's- hit 89 before we finished).  We hadn't trained in hardly any sort of heat and with that tough of a ride I wasn't sure how I'd feel.  It was tough to eat solid food on the bike- I preferred to get my calories through my water bottle.  I will make it a point to eat more during the race.  Thankfully my parents house was 35 miles into the ride.  I finished my sandwich, chugged a bunch of OJ and filled up our water bottles.

The day was a big confidence builder for me.  I haven't felt confident about the race yet.  So, it was a big milestone for me!  And I got done feeling elated that it was our last BIG workout before the race.  Plus, it was a fun date day with my hubs!  Thanks Heather for taking the kids and supporting me through it all!

Heidi

Foot Update...

This morning I called our coach, Amy & she encouraged me to get a second opinion on the foot infection. So, off I went to the local urgent care. This dr. added another antibiotic to fight nearly every infection that could be going on. I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow morning with improvements.

There is a quarter size red bump on the top and the rest of the foot is swollen & red. I have pictures, but will spare you the details.

So, Heidi & Nathan are going to ride 60 miles tomorrow and I'm hoping to get on the trainer for a bit. Phil suggested we tape back the straps & tongue of my (right) cycling shoe and wear the left shoe like normal. I'm thankfully for that suggestion and we even tried the shoe on and I think it'll work.

Also thankfully we swam this afternoon. Felt awesome to get a workout done. I can't afford a lot of time doing nothing. And 2 days off was not fun for me.

I am grateful for my family & friends who are encouraging & praying for me.

by: Heather