Multisport Mastery is kicking off a new year with a new featured athlete. For January 2010, we selected Anne Normand of Duluth, Minnesota. Congratulations, Anne!
What got you started in multisport?
When we moved to Duluth in 2006, I became part of a great group of active friends. The next year, I bought my first “real” road bike to join the weekly group rides. About a week after it arrived, several of my friends were racing in a local triathlon. I figured “why not?” and registered. I’d seen Ironman Hawaii on TV as a child and figured I’d do something like that someday – it was time to start! The experience was more than I expected! I survived the swim. The bike was a lot of fun, and I felt like I could go-go-go. Then I hit the run – my thing at last! – and felt like I was flying! I finished and knew I had to get into this sport.
In 2008 you were in a terrible accident involving a car that hit you going about 50 mph; tell us how you bounced back from that experience, finding the strength and confidence to build yourself up again emotionally and physically to participate in sport again.
Several of us were on a training ride, preparing for the Short Course World Duathlon, when a car swerved onto the shoulder of the road, right into us. Three of the four of us were hit and never saw it coming. I had a number of injuries and was out of work for a while. It took a while for me to realize the severity of what happened and its full impact on me. I really am lucky to be alive and as uninjured as I am. It was frustrating to see the crash site, because it’s clear that this accident never should have occurred. We were doing everything right – and this still happened. I think it’s hard to accept that you can’t control everything.
My husband was wonderful and helped me recover in so many ways. He returned home from the hospital that first night and later confessed that he couldn’t sleep. His distraction was spending time looking for a new bike for me online! In my mind, I knew I’d be back but I didn’t know how hard it would be. Getting back on the bike and sharing space with cars was terrifying at first. I trained well all winter. Duathlon Nationals was my first race and my first time back on the road. We went to an office park to ride the access road the day before the race. I survived 15 minutes, tense and panicking the whole time. That should have been a sign! I had trouble riding during the race and even got off the bike when a car roared up the center of a “closed” road during the race. But getting through that was a huge help to me, and I realized I just had to get out on the roads and regain my confidence. That said, it took me all summer. And I still think a lot more about “what ifs”.
I also didn’t realize the full impact of the accident, my injuries, and my recovery on my physical conditioning and strength. Despite a year, I still have a strength deficit on one side and am very aware of my back and neck. It’s an ongoing process, and I struggled to accept that I couldn’t just snap my fingers and pick up where I had been. Now that I’m more aware of the ongoing progress, I’m more patient and I allow the smaller victories along the way to boost my confidence. I know I’ll get where I want to be!
That said, it took a while to come to terms with everything. I was frustrated that my races weren’t faster, that I hadn’t surpassed my goals. I had to step back and remember how much I enjoy all of this – I’m excited to build. And I have started to appreciate those smaller goals along the way. Liz really helped me to learn those lessons and to focus on what I enjoy about the sport.
I also need to mention how grateful I am to my friends. I had their support and encouragement – and they never told the crazy person who screamed “CAR BACK!” for a vehicle a mile away to go home. They’ve kept me laughing…we do this for fun! Remembering the laughs we’ve had and anticipating new ones often helped to keep me going.
How has a coach helped you in the recovery process?
I was hurt badly enough that I knew I had to be careful. And I knew that I wanted to make up for “lost time” as much as possible. I have a history of being great in training and then underperforming on race day. I decided I needed help guiding me as I tried to rebuild my fitness. That was one of my better decisions! It’s become clear how much of a neophyte triathlete I was. Liz helped me develop more patience for and appreciation of the process of training last year. I love to train but never had let it unfold in a stepwise fashion, building toward specific goals. Each workout has a point to it. I don’t have a lot of spare time, so it’s good to know that I’m maximizing what I do have. I know I’ll be ready.
Liz also has a knack for knowing when to push me and for how to pace me. I often will look at a schedule and think “oh, I could do more” – and then I realize that I need that rest week RIGHT NOW! Having a coach has also helped me tone down my tendency to overanalyze.
What was the highlight of your 2009 season?
Finishing Boise 70.3 was a great moment. That race was my main goal as I worked to return after the accident. It was my first half ironman, and it provided an “epic” experience (coach’s word): wind, rain, hail, whitecaps in the lake. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, both mentally and physically – and I LOVED IT! When I crossed that line, I knew I was back. I had to work and improve, but I was back.
Racing Muskoka 70.3 as an “add-on” race 3 weeks after another half ironman was also a high point. I was supposed to do that race as my first half in 2008, but that didn’t happen because of the accident. So completing this race was “unfinished business.” The whole day was a tremendous amount of fun (albeit very hilly fun!).
What are you looking forward to in your 2010 season?
I love training. I’m looking forward to building on what I learned last year and to having fun with training and racing. I’d love to go faster, too! The challenges of training and racing keep me coming back.
What Anne didn't mention was that she balances training with a busy career as an orthopedic surgeon. Together, we work to find the most efficient way for her to make use of the little time she has for training. She has an indefatigable work ethic and even when her job throws her crazy loops (how about working for several days straight!), she finds peace in setting a new personal best in a swim workout or squeezing in 30 minutes on the bike.
I look forward to watching Anne's abilities and confidence grow throughout the next season!
