Thursday, June 7, 2012
After six months of training, and with the Iron Girl race under her belt, our Peachtree Corners writer and first time triathlete provides a final wrap up of what she's learned along the way.
I can hardly believe that six short months ago, I had never swam a lap in the pool or shifted a bike. Hell, I didn't even own a bike. I thought I was in shape, and I very quickly and clearly found that not to be the case. When I could barely swim the length of the pool on my first try, so out of breath that I needed to pause half way, it became abruptly apparent that my three times a week yoga classes, my biweekly volleyball games and occasional strength training sessions were no where near enough to put me in the cardio shape I needed to be at in order to compete in a triathlon. So, although I was certainly far from a "couch to race" participant, I had a uphill pilgrimage to tackle, a relatively formidable one at that. I've learned many…
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Nine Peachtree Corners moms trained for and completed the Iron Girl triathlon.
One unusually sunny January morning, while outside working in my garden, my neighbor Sonia walked over and casually asked, “Robin, do you have an interest in doing a triathlon with me this spring?” Sure, the thought of completing a triathlon sounded downright epic, however, the thought of training for a triathlon, well now, that just sounded downright insane. Still, Sonia’s seemingly innocent inquiry swirled in my head for days, countless legitimate questions percolating along with every thought… “Sure, I’d love to, but I don’t know how to swim.” “Sounds great Sonia, but I don’t have a bike, and well, I kinda have a fear of riding.” “Hmmm, how long is the run? Because, ya know, I can’t really run.” “When the heck am I, as a single, …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Our Peachtree Corners writer, Robin Montri, completes her first triathlon, overcoming many obstacles during her five month training process.
After picking up my Mom from the airport early Saturday, we headed north toward Lake Lanier to prepare for the Iron Girl triathlon Sunday morning. My eldest daughter (the one who taught me how to swim only several months ago) turned to me and said, with a worried look on her face, "Mommy, I don't know if you can do it." I quickly and confidently commented back to her, "Makena, I know I can do it," finding it bit odd that my daughter would question my ability to finish the race. Yet, it occurred to me that, at ages 8 and 5, they are not old enough to have experienced their Mommy looking down the barrel of nearly impossible and pulling through anyway. They were both babies when I was very unexpectedly diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and in …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
This is it. Our Peachtree Corners writer heads to Lake Lanier to put her training to the test.
I'm not getting much sleep these days. Not because my work schedule has been grueling and not because my girls' activity schedule has been overwhelming. I find myself waking with the roosters, well before my alarm goes off and well before I need to even think about getting up. Most days, the sun isn't even up yet. Yet, I'm wide awake, and I hear from experienced triathletes that a touch of insomnia is typical the weeks leading up to an event. The Iron Girl triathlon is this weekend, and I'd be flat out lying if I didn't admit I'm nervous. The event that I've been faithfully training for is less than a handful of days away, and butterflies have been dancing in my stomach for at least a week now. Many people ask if I feel prepared for the…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Our intrepid Peachtree Corners resident continues her journey in training for her first triathlon.
The whole hot mess started on St. Patrick's Day. My triathlon training partner-in-crime (Donna) and I had just finished a 10-mile bike ride. We were within spitting distance of an Irish pub, and despite the fact that we were beyond sweaty disgusting in our bike shorts and tops, we stopped in for a post-ride beer in celebration. Even though it was only 2:00 in the afternoon, the place was already packed with party goers, wall to wall green. And of course, we looked terribly out of place. We managed to score a table, and noticed three ridiculously cute 20 something Guinness Girls strolling around, wearing ultra-short green tutus, serving beers. At that exact moment, Donna and I looked at each other, and burst out in unison, "Tutus. We NEED …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
With the Iron Girl triathlon less than a month away, a Peachtree Corners resident continues training for her first triathlon despite being hit by a car last month.
One month from now, I’ll be competing in my first triathlon, the Iron Girl. I’ve been training since January, and if you’ve been following my journey, you already know that my training suffered a major set-back after I was hit by a car four weeks ago while riding my bike. I've been managing the pain with prescription medication and a positive outlook. I've been faithfully visiting my physical therapist (Chris at Neurosport Physical Therapy, 10 min. from my house- love, love, love him) to rehab my separated shoulder (from hitting the windshield of the car), wrist and muscle issues in my legs, the result of multiple contusions. Even a month after the accident, my bruises are still visible and tender. I still struggle with getting …
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Robert D. Fowler YMCA
5600 W Jones Bridge Rd, Norcross, GA
/articles/iron-girl-triathlon-a-month-away
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Our intrepid Peachtree Corners resident training for her first triathlon in May had a major setback this week. Follow her journey here on Patch.
This past Saturday morning, my triathlon training partner Donna and I were on a 15 mile bike ride. It was the first time we were to go that distance. We were heading north on the paved bike path on Peachtree Industrial, approaching South Berkely Lake Road. There was a car sitting at the red light in front of me on S. Berkley Lake. The bike path crossed in front of his car, and since he was at the red light, I clearly had the right-of-way. I thought he saw me, and I did not realize he was planning to turn right on red. I crossed in front of him on the crosswalk, and just as I was right in front of him, he accelerated hard and hit me straight on. The impact knocked me immediately off of my bike and flipped my entire body onto the hood…
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A little knowledge goes a long way, says one Peachtree Corners resident as she continues to train for her first triathlon in May.
When I was 16 and a junior in high school, I was fortunate to own my first car (1980 blue POS Ford Thunderbird). Even though it was a real clunker, that baby faithfully buzzed me around town, giving me my first real taste of freedom. That is, until the tire very unexpectedly blew early one evening, after school, on a lone, quiet country road. Now keep in mind, we’re talking the late 80s- the days before every teen, or really anyone for that matter, had their own cell phone. So, I was in the middle of nowheresville with absolutely no way to contact anyone, the sun quickly setting, and I was thinking that learning how to change a tire should be a mandatory part of driver’s education course. And, just then, someone from the boys’ cross …
33.98087
-84.229119
Robert D. Fowler YMCA
5600 W Jones Bridge Rd, Norcross, GA
/articles/flat-tire
1164355
/locations/6638728
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Even though she doesn't swim, bike or run, this Peachtree Corners resident is training for her first triathlon in May. Follow her journey here on Patch.
After six weeks of training, I can confidently say I have a pretty good handle on the swim and run/walk portion of the triathlon. However, when it comes to the cycling, I’m such a rookie. Man, do I have a lot to learn. With a month and a half under my belt, or should I say helmet, here’s a brief synopsis of what I’ve learned so far on the trails: On my first ride ever on the Silver Comet bike trail, I really thought I was in Alabama, but shockingly, we never left Georgia. I can put down ridiculous amounts of food after a long training session. Meaning I can eat like a 350 pound lumberjack after a lengthy workout. Seriously. It’s kinda embarrassing. I’ve learned that my booty goes numb at around mile nine and that although padded …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Even though she doesn't swim, bike or run, this Peachtree Corners resident is training for her first triathlon in May. Follow her journey here on Patch.
So I don’t mean to brag (yes I do), but I just have to say, I’m totally rockin’ in the pool. For a girl who learned how to swim freestyle less than a month ago (and from an 8 year old none-the-less), I’ve come quite a long way in a short time. I started the journey with a pair of goggles from the lost and found at the YMCA and a decaying relic of a one-piece bathing suit of my Mom’s. On my first swimming attempt, I could barely make it across the pool, even once. Well folks, I’m hear to tell ya- it is possible to go from couch to pool in a month. Each time I hit the water (I’ve been going consistently 2-3 times a week), I felt myself getting stronger, swimming farther. I’d push myself each time (yes, I’m very competitive) to go …
Lorri Christopher
8:49 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Congratulations to all the Peachtree Corners Iron Girls! Awesome accomplishments.... more ›