Interviews

Age Group Profile: Susanna Loewy

Known to her legion of fans on the Internet, triathlon blogger Susanna Loewy, aka, Curly Su, is a doctoral student at Rutgers University, amazing flutist and hardcore triathlete. In my ongoing quest to learn from others in the multisport world, I contacted Loewy to talk about her efforts at achieving a balance between triathlon and the rest of her busy life. You know, stuff like family, friends, work, school…you name it.

Question: What inspiration led you to start your first triathlon?

Loewy: I was in Maine at a music program, and I had a friend there who had completed a century ride with Team in Training and then moved on to sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. She told me what the sprint distance was, and my reaction was “Hey, I can do that.” So, I ordered the book “Complete a Triathlon in 6 Weeks” and started training.

Since I’m stubborn, I didn’t really pay attention to what the book said and just tried to do each of the three sports every day. I thought I knew how to swim, but considering my racing half-mile time of 28-something, I was obviously just flailing. I didn’t have a bike, and bought a hybrid the day before the triathlon, having done all of my training on a recumbent stationary bike. I was afraid to run outside for fear of looking stupid, so had done all but one run on the treadmill.

Anyway, I guess I’m not really answering your question. What inspired me? I have to admit that a lot of it had to do with wanting to be fit, wanting to feel confident with my body and in my own skin. I had never been athletic before. I was always the kid reading in the corner while others played outside. So the idea of doing something like a triathlon both scared the crap out of me and exhilarated me to no end. It was hard to turn down that kind of excitement. Just the idea of a triathlon is still the equivalent of a really amazing drug. Somehow, something that makes you feel so great isn’t illegal, and to that I’m extremely thankful.

Question: What made you come back for a second triathlon?

Loewy: I was instantly addicted. I have to admit, it definitely had something to do with knowing that I looked a lot better after six weeks of training than I ever had in my life. But it also had to do with knowing that I felt better than ever before. It had to do with the rush of crossing that finish line. It had to do with the pain that I felt and conquered out on the course. It had to do with the people I met before the race that were there cheering for me at the end, even though I finished second to last. It had to do with the fact that I had just found a whole new side of myself that I didn’t know existed, and I wasn’t going to let it go…ever.

Question: Fitness can be a powerful drug can’t it? How did you go about your training from that point forward? Did you read books and self-coach? Find a mentor? Hire a coach?

Loewy: I started with a book called “Finish a Triathlon in 6 Weeks” or something like that. It was a good book in that it inspired me to get out there, but I have to say that I did a horrible job of following the plans. I was convinced that I should do at least two of the three sports every day, and kind of just trained every spare second I had. I don’t think I was over-trained at the end of it, but I definitely wasn’t properly trained.

After my first one, I joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, and had a coach through them. He helped me through several Olympic Distance triathlons, as well as my first half (Wildflower). From there, I did IronMan France, and I didn’t really have a specific training plan for that, if you can believe it. I just kind of kept going with the half plan, but intensified everything. Once again, I completed the race, but I definitely could have trained smarter.

Now, I’m getting coached by someone here in New Jersey. He’s a great, hands-on coach who is always ready to join me for a workout, or offer books on nutrition. I just started his Ironman training plan, and it’s pretty intense so far… but he helped me break four hours in a marathon, and PR my 5K time by over a minute…so I’m trusting him with this plan too.

Question: You lead a pretty full life as a full-time student with practice, recitals, etc. How do you balance your training around your life?

Loewy: Well, it started out as training being the balance in my life. Before, everything was so centered around music that finding something else I was interested in was a huge relief. Now, I do have to be careful that athletics doesn’t start to take too much time. Afterall, I’m not looking for a career in triathlon, but I am pursuing one in music. I just try to make sure that I’m still allowing myself to strive for athletic goals without letting those goals encompass my requirements as a musician. In other words, if I have to make a decision between music and athletics (I try not to let it get to that point), I remember that music is, in fact, more important. On a daily basis, I plan my time so that I can fit everything in accordingly, and I try to keep in mind that if you can’t do everything every day, you’re still going to be just fine.

Question: Have you found that you’re a bit of an oddity with your fellow musicians? Musicians are usually not known for their athletic prowess.

Loewy: Yes, I’m definitely at an oddity! More than an oddity, people just don’t understand. Most times, they try to relate it to music and say how the swimming must help the breathing on the flute, or some other reason why I would be doing the athletic stuff. In other words, they can’t reconcile it without bringing it back to the musical realm.

To me, it’s the exact opposite. There are some similar traits between athletics and music, but I don’t let the two of them mix. When I’m running, I’m a runner. When I’m playing the flute, I’m a flutist. Other musicians don’t have to get it, just as other athletes don’t have to understand me as a musician. The two aspects of my life are simply that…two aspects of me. Neither one singularly defines me, but you don’t have to relate to every part of me to be able to relate to me as a person.

Question: It sounds like you have busy schedule. What’s a typical day like for you?

Loewy: Because of my school schedule, no two days are the same. Each day has different classes, rehearsals, lessons. I’ll give you a sample Monday…don’t worry, I sleep in on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

• 4:48 - wake up
• 5:40 - warm up on Spinning bike at gym
• 6-6:45 - teach Spinning at gym
• 6:45-7:30 - lift weights at gym
• 7:30 - shower, get dressed at gym
• 8:00 - get back home, deal with e-mail, eat breakfast
• 8:30- 10: 30 - sleep, grab some food to go– eat during the day
• 10:45-12:45 - practice the flute at school
• 1-2:00- flute lesson with my teacher
• 2-4:30 - library time- study, write papers- whatever I need to catch up on
• 4:30- 4:50 - practice a little before flute class
• 5-6:00 - flute class with my teacher and other flutists at school
• 6-6:30 - dinner at the student center
• 6:30-6:45 - practice before orchestra
• 6:45-9:45 - orchestra
• 10-11:00 - bike another hour on the trainer
• 11-11:45 - unwind…read, watch tv on the computer, catch up on blogs, etc.
• midnight - go to bed

Like I said, every day is completely different, and honestly, Monday’s are probably one of my more busy days. Basically I just fit in practicing for about three hours, two training sessions (another three hours or so), rehearsals/classes/teaching (spinning and flute lessons on alternating days), and studying whenever I can find the time.

Question: That’s a tough schedule. How do you handle recovery with this type of stress on your system?

Loewy: Well, a few things first. Every day is not like that. My Mondays through Thursdays are pretty busy and then I don’t have anything that I absolutely have to do Friday through Sunday. So, I do get to recover. I get exhausted through the first half of the week though, and it has led me to getting sick. I know it’s not an ideal schedule, but I don’t know how to get everything done otherwise. Plus, I’ve figured out that I do need the downtime on the weekends. It doesn’t work for me to spread everything out through the week. I get burnt out really quickly that way. Everyone is different though, and I’m sure other people work better when they lean more towards the moderate constant.

Question:What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a triathlete and doesn’t think they have the time to train? Especially if they look at your schedule and say “Holy crap! I could never do that!”

Loewy: Well, again, every day isn’t like that. Then, there are still a couple of things to remember. This training schedule is to prepare for an Ironman. There are plenty of more reasonable events that a triathlete could do and have an easier time fitting the training into their schedule. Also, and probably most important, you need to once again remember that it’s OK to miss a workout or a class or whatever else. The world is not going to fall apart if you can’t do everything every day. Yeah, it’s great when the day goes exactly as planned, but when it doesn’t, it’s important to be flexible enough to go with the flow– and not make yourself feel guilty because of it! If you can’t wake up with your alarm, it’s not because you’re lazy, it’s because you need the extra hour of sleep. Go with it. You’ll do the workout later, and if you don’t your race is not going to be won or lost because of one workout. It’s more about the general habits, and more than anything else, it’s about the mental strength.

One other thing I think about is the fact that I really do have it easy. Yeah, I’m a student and I work part time and I practice and I train. But, I don’t have a family to take care of. I only have to deal with myself. I’m a lot more admirable of all the moms and dads out there that manage to do everything I do, plus take of a family and hold down a healthy relationship.

© 2008 The Outdoor Journey.