LiveFit Challenge Week 16: Tim’s Update

Is it possible for someone to be disappointed when the sun is shining, birds are singing, grass is turning green, and the possibility of 80 degree weather is in the forecast? It is if you were planning on getting in a good bike workout only to have other commitments get in your way.

Tim Richards is an OR surgical technician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center.

WAIT!! Did I just say I was disappointed about missing a workout? What’s happening to me? In all seriousness though I am. We have all been cooped up for too long. I really do not mind working out inside but the true test of how all this hard work will pay off comes from getting outside. Now I am looking at rain for the next four days. I guess I am going to have to just bite the bullet and get out on the road.

You see I have a 20 mile section of the Paper Discovery Duathlon coming up and I am nervous about how I will do. I get to team up with Amanda, one of my fellow six pack members, and I am not letting her down. In case you haven’t guessed, I am doing the biking portion of this event. This is kind of like a warm up to the main event in June when we each compete in the Green Bay Triathlon.

Since I have not ever competed in any distance running or biking before, this brings a lot of excitement and nervousness. Will I start out too fast? What if I cramp up, or get a flat? And of course, knock on wood, what if I crash? I, for one, am not a big fan of road rash. It just doesn’t sound like a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. In all honesty though I know I will push myself but in a smart way. I will be fine with the distance and since the bike I am using was borrowed and I do not have that much actual time on it, I will not be taking any unnecessary chances. I have worked too hard and come too far to get hurt now and not be able to compete in June. I only have one question to ask though.

Why would you schedule this on opening weekend of fishing season? Oh well, I think the bass will have to wait another week.

Six Aurora BayCare Medical Center employees have embarked on a wellness challenge that will change their lives forever! Over the next six months, these people will be coached, trained and transformed into triathlon-level athletes through the Aurora BayCare Sports Medicine Live Fit program.  

To start your customized training program, contact us at 920-288-5400.

LiveFit Challenge Week 19: Jaci’s Update

Take time to review the race day course you are going to be on

This past Saturday a group of us went on the 15 mile bike course.  It was an awesome morning for it and I do have to say I feel great knowing what the roads and area is going to look like before race day.  It does relieve some of the anxiety.

Knowing that Packerland has many potholes before race day is really good thing to know and remember. It was good to see the Ashwaubenon lake being filled, a little more time to let it “warm” up.

We had another mini-Tri at the Y on Tuesday.   I’m so happy that practices like that have been put in our workout schedule.  Another way to ease the anxiety.  The swim was better for me.  I did the stroke that they taught us, but I also did the side stroke and back stroke.  The biking went well.  I wasn’t as fast as the others, but I got there in my own time. My first 20 steps into running after biking was a really unique feeling.  I could run, but I felt like I was running in place.  Once into the run about 5 minutes things started to get a little easier.

When our trainers told us that our workout shoes only last about 6 months, they were right.  I will be looking to buy another pair of shoes after the race day.

Six Aurora BayCare Medical Center employees have embarked on a wellness challenge that will change their lives forever! Over the next six months, these people will be coached, trained and transformed into triathlon-level athletes through the Aurora BayCare Sports Medicine Live Fit program.  

To start your customized training program, contact us at 920-288-5400.

LiveFit Challenge Week 19: Ed’s Update

Psych!

We are two weeks out from the triathlon on June 2^nd.  I have no doubt that I will complete the event.  The only nagging concern I have is getting into the cold water at the start.  I drove past the lake and noticed that it was being filled.  I first drove by on Friday night and three days later it is still filling.  It is going to be cold.  I will have to put my game face on and attack the lake…No Fear.  I will have to not let it psych me out.

Edwin Janz is a security officer at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay.

We had some interesting workouts this week.  I like the one where we were teamed up and one person biked for five minutes and the other ran for five minutes and when five minutes was up we switched places.  I have never done a run like this and enjoyed this one.  I would like to do that again.

On Saturday a group of the Triathlon classmates got together at AshwaubomayPark and did the bike route for the Triathlon.  Cory led the group followed up by Junius in the rear.  It was a very enjoyable time.  I had a great ride.  After the ride I had to hurry to Lambeau Field and run in two races with my grandsons.  This was part of the Cell-Com Marathon pre-marathon activities.  The boys did well and it gave me a chance to do some running.  Each race was 6 tenths of a mile.  We got to run in Lambeau field.  I just love the pre-race atmosphere. That definitely got me in the mood for the Triathlon.  While I was running through Lambeau field I noted the field which is 100 yards long and tried to envision just how far 400 yards is or 4 Lambeau fields.  WOW!!! That is the distance I will have to swim at the Triathlon. I think I would rather run.  Now I have to try and not psych myself out before the event.

LIveFit Challenge Week 18: Sara’s Update

I’m finishing off the last of the run.   I can hardly feel my legs.   I’m sweating and panting and my heart rate is racing.  I hurry into the parking garage as fast as my wobbly legs can take me to find my bike, but I discover that I came in on the wrong level! Everyone else is getting started biking and I can’t manage to even find mine in the rows of cars! I wander so far into the parking garage that I can’t see the other competitors any longer.  I’m going up and down in the elevator, frustrated that my transition time is now up to 15 minutes!

Ha! Then I wake up!

Dr. Sara Aicher is an urgent care physician at Aurora Urgent Care in Green Bay.

And that was what I was dreaming about before the duathlon! I could not imagine how the transitions would work, and so my subconscious came up with the idea that they were going to hide my bike in the parking garage.  Very weird.

Anyway, the duathlon was really a lot of fun! I would love to do it again.  I would even do the whole thing! Two miles running, 18 miles biking, and then two more miles of running.  It was just so incredible to be surrounded by all these people that were so enthusiastic at 6 AM!

Being around people who are energetic makes me feel more energetic.  And I can honestly see why these races are addictive.  I felt invigorated by the whole experience! It was nice to feel the cool, fresh air during the ride, see the people lining the streets cheering us on, and hear our coaches and teammates congratulate us as we were finishing! The yummy French toast at the end was a nice bonus, too!

A few things didn’t go so well, though.   I was passed by several pretty intense cyclists, one who yelled at me and someone else to “stay inside!”…oops, shouldn’t have gone around that pot hole.  I didn’t mind them passing me too much, especially if they had super fancy bikes.  I just chalked it up to their bike being faster, and if I had their bike, I would be way ahead of them.

So, then, to get a little extra pep, I decided to try to juice myself up with some Hammer Gel.  well, I almost fell off my bike reaching to my back pocket for it.  And then, I couldn’t squeeze it out all at once, so I took one hit and managed to shove it back into the pocket only to have it seep out all over the back of my shirt.  Newbie move.  Oh well.

I also couldn’t get my cadence monitor to work and my nose was running all over the place.  So my shirt was covered in that and hammer gel by the end.

All in all, it was great to experience this race before the triathlon.  I will feel much more comfortable with the transition set up, for one, and also just have a better feel for race day preparation.  Only two and a half more weeks to go!!!

Six Aurora BayCare Medical Center employees have embarked on a wellness challenge that will change their lives forever! Over the next six months, these people will be coached, trained and transformed into triathlon-level athletes through the Aurora BayCare Sports Medicine Live Fit program.  

To start your customized training program, contact us at 920-288-5400.

LiveFit Challenge Week 18: Tracey’s Update

Well we did it!  We finished our first official “race”!  The Duathlon relay in Neenah was really a lot of fun!

I have to admit though, I was extremely nervous heading into the race that morning.  The thought of biking 18+ miles is a little scary!!!  But with talking to my fellow teammates and with Junius & Corey there to coach us – it helped put things at ease.

The biggest thing was just to have fun!!  The adrenaline really started pumping once the runners started and the 3 of us who were biking – knew our time was coming up!  Then my nerves kicked back in, and I started to get a little anxious.  We waited in transition – but it wasnt too long, the runners did amazing!!

Tracey Schmidt is a registered nurse at Aurora BayCare Medical Center.

Before I knew it, I was off and on the open road.  The time on the bike actually went by pretty quick – in the end it took me 1hr 11minutes to complete the 18-19 mile course.  Not too bad for my first race!  BUT coming back into transition was another learning curve for me – my legs were like noodles when I hopped off of my bike.  I really had to focus on making sure my feet were hitting the ground with each and every step!!  I didnt want to collapse!

After I made it safely into transition, Ed was there waiting for me and then he was off to finish his last run.  That’s when I started to think….how am I suppose to run 3 miles now??  Will my legs even allow me to run after biking?  Definitely something I need to practice before race day!!

While we were waiting to cheer on the runners at the start line – we couldnt help but notice a few older gentleman who were also starting the race.  During the actual race and transition we didn’t have time to see when they were coming into transition, if they were relaying the race?  Come to find out as we were packing up and leaving – one of these men were just finishing the bike portion of the race and had to run his last 2 miles yet – AMAZING!!

After the times were posted I saw that his man was 70 years old, the other gentleman was 81, and they did the entire race all on their own!! How inspiring and encouraging!!  I can do this too!!  4 WEEKS TO GO!!!!

Six Aurora BayCare Medical Center employees have embarked on a wellness challenge that will change their lives forever! Over the next six months, these people will be coached, trained and transformed into triathlon-level athletes through the Aurora BayCare Sports Medicine Live Fit program.  

To start your customized training program, contact us at 920-288-5400.

LiveFit Challenge Week 18: Ed’s Update

It has been a week since we did the Duathlon in Neenah.  Since then, I have been getting some jitters and nervousness about the upcoming triathlon.  I believe that I will be able to do it but there is always that little doubt.  I want to be able to perform well and have a good PR at the finish line.

Participating in the duathlon helped to give me a clear mental picture of what it will be like at the triathlon. Since participating in the duathlon when I work out I always have that vision of that event in my head the entire time. This might be a good thing…I think.

The weather has gotten warmer and I moved all of my training (other than swimming) out doors.  I prefer to be outside instead of inside.  I did some running on the new path that was built last fall just outside the Ortho building.  When it comes to swimming portion of the triathlon I may be in trouble.  I just can’t breath through water, that is what it feels like to me.  I did do some extra training on my own and at times I think that I am getting better but that only last for a short time then my old habits come back.

Ed Janz is a security officer at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay.

Thursday was a very interesting work out.  When I got to the SportCenter I was greeted with, “we are going outside for a bike ride.”  I thought, “yea sure”.  Guess what.  We did.  It was cold and raining.  The entire class gathered up and everyone got ready to head it outside.

I was thinking how am I going to explain this to my family that I didn’t know enough to stay out of the rain like normal people do. But we all trekked outside in the rain and mounted our bikes and took on the elements.  Once we got under way it wasn’t all that bad.  Actually, I kind of enjoyed it and we only saw 1 other person nutty enough to be out on a bike like us in the cold rain.  I like to take on new challenges and this definitely was one.  I am hoping for nice weather on the day of the triathlon but if it isn’t we now will have some experience with inclement weather.

Nothing is guaranteed. Three weeks to go to triathlon day.

LiveFit Challenge Week 17: Jaci’s Update

The 2013 Neenah Duathlon is off my bucket list!

On Sunday May 5^th, the Aurora 6-Pack completed the Neenah Paper Discovery Duathlon!     This was an awesome experience for me.  As I driving down and was getting closer to Riverside Park the butterflies in the stomach and nerves started to kick in.  As I arrived, I found my teammates and we set up the transition area with the bikes and our gear. Junius gave us some personal goals and mine were if I have to walk make it a short walk but mostly running for the first 2 miles and the second 2 miles run it all.

Jaci Rocheleau is a patient financial services processor in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

We were all in Wave 2 and standing waiting for our wave to be called up, it really hit home for me and I was ready to put my training in force.  When I saw the 1 mile marker, I thought, oh really, that wasn’t bad! This is great, I’m still running, didn’t need or want to walk, I know that I can make it through to the end of the 2^nd mile.

As I got closer to the transition area the team was yelling my name and words of encouragement.  I giggled to myself because I’m always the one cheering someone else on and now someone is cheering me on.  The hand off of the ankle chip went smoothly and off Sara went for the 18 mile bike ride.  I made sure that I started warm and the muscles were still loose.

As I Sara coming back to the transition area, I was ready to take back the ankle chip and I was off running the 2^nd round of two miles.  I was just about to the 1 mile marker and Ed caught up with me.  I kept in pace with him for a good stretch, but I didn’t want to hold him back.  I loved seeing the finish line and kick it up a notch or two to finish strong.  Holy smokes I did it, I ran all 4 miles!  My team did it!  Bring on the Triathlon!

Six Aurora BayCare Medical Center employees have embarked on a wellness challenge that will change their lives forever! Over the next six months, these people will be coached, trained and transformed into triathlon-level athletes through the Aurora BayCare Sports Medicine Live Fit program.  

To start your customized training program, contact us at 920-288-5400.