Have a Question for Bree?

Bree: My first triathlon was a sprint about 4 years ago and I was scared to death!  I remember my friend Jen from my island was in it with me and during the swim I would not leave her side.  Every breath I would look to make sure I was next to her (I didn't even know about drafting then).  So I swam stroke for stroke with her on fear!  Then to the bike... hysterically, I packed my bike with fuel as if it were Ironman!  Come to think of it I did have more with me that day than during Ironman!  I had bars, Sharkies, gels, 4 drink cages and an aero bottle!  I was terrified to "bonk".  I heard so much about it and I thought I should be prepared...  Then to the run, Oh man I was dead tired! I didn't know to train bricks and pace- I paid for it big time!  I kept thinking of Barb Linquist and I wanted to be like her so I kept going. But I do remember myself thinking that I would never do a triathlon again-it was sheer mental pain trying to keep going!  At that point I really thought my first tri would be my last tri.  Funny thing happens though, when you finish the pain goes away enough that you sign up for another one!

Bree:  During races I really try to focus on the "now".  How I feel, how I am pacing... and I don't think too much on how far I have come because it makes my body want to feel tired knowing it has done so much.  I also don't like to think too far ahead... it makes me tired knowing how much I left to go!    My mind is always trying to stay positive with whatever is happening, be it a good feeling or some other situation like weather or pain.  I also think about my son a lot.  I write his name on my hand when I race and I remind myself that if I made it through having a baby and being a mom I can make it through anything.

Bree:  I don't know of any triathlons that are raced backwards... but who knows!  Sometimes in training I will do the sports in reverse order just to give the muscles some challenge... and I really like the swim last after a hard workout- it's like recovery without impact

Kim: I love triathlons and I love training but I'm having a hard time with running. I feel like I'm always injured even though I'm careful about my mileage and stretching and recovery. I'm training for my first iron-distance race but I'm so depressed about running that my other training suffers for it. I can't pull myself out of this rut. I know you are a pro-athlete not a pro-psychiatrist but how do you deal with times like this? Are you ever injured?

Bree: I sure wish I had a magic answer for you with all the ways to NOT to get sick, injured, tired, worn out, burned out, or just bummed with over training/racing... but it is all a challenge and all a huge learning experience. As for me, I think I keep such a healthy balance because I have a family and my son that mean more to me than sport. So I just never allow myself to get too caught up in sport.

Thankfully I think my attitude towards sport remains so excited and passionate about it because I try my best to keep it fun, just loving my training friends, my routes, and I have learned that when I am training or racing to be in that moment. The second I take off my shoes or get out of the pool I am a mom. No more focus on the swimming, biking, running... I have learned to shift gears. That really helps keep you in the right spot at the right time and not get too caught up...

As for running injuries, I only run 3x a week. That really helped me a lot. I had to cut back, I love running the most and want to run more, but coach and I are learning that I need to build up to it and that could take a year or several years. So while most pros run 5-7x a week I am at only 3, just waiting for my body to adapt, then we will bump it up. I have found though, that new shoes, rotating shoes, ice baths, salt baths, and stretching & massage all help so so so much!

I know what you mean with feeling bummed about having injuries... that happens though. Stressing it never helps with the healing process though. Just relax, endure it, and work on the other areas that don't hurt (swim/aqua jog/bike/ect). And find cool friends or training groups, that helps so much!

Not to sure if this helps at all... I wish you ALL the best with your training and racing! I have only done 2 Ironmans, and let me tell you, they were two of the most fun adventures in my life, I HOPE you do take on that goal of yours to do one! Keep it fun!

Damie: Can you recommend any good motivation/mental training type books? The good pysch stuff to really get your mentally tough?

Bree:  As for the books... my very favorite is "Pursuit of Excellence" by Terry Orlick. I love the book and he is incredible, I got to meet with him personally and have some "sport counseling". I also like a book "mental training for triathletes" it is really good, not sure who wrote is as it is just one of those tri books.

Bree:  Laurie, I do all my races in my Splish. It started that way because I wanted to be an ITU girl and they only wear swim suits (not bike shorts), so my first triathlon I wore only a swim suits... then coach got me in the long stuff and my favorites were Lori Bowden and Fernanda Keller and they always wore only a swim suit... so I decided to wear only a swim suit. I think for me it works because my bike fit isn't the most "perfect aerodynamic fit", I fit by comfort and I like my seat... those 2 make it possible.