Teammates

I received some really poignant words this week from a dear friend in AZ. She said" Ironman is about partnership, friendship, and will. It's not about competing with each other, only with yourselves. You need your team support to get through and vice versa. "

Our team has come a long way together. We've had our moments and our cheers! And now we are only a short way away from the BIG DANCE! These last six weeks or so make the time we have left together a little bittersweet. Everyone goes into the last six weeks before Ironman a little mad. I mean there is always second guessing, the BIG hard workouts left, the need for sleep, and the balance of life. It is time as my coach says "to put on the big girl pants". We are almost there.. and we have to keep each other to make it in one piece. And when we finish Ironman, there is always the question of "What's next?!"

Side note... I found this on another Ironman blog.. wanted to share it. Kristina wrote "You can either spend your time at Ironman digging yourself INTO a hole or digging yourself OUT of one...it's that simple and you have that choice to make." She is doing IMMOO as well!

Today's Nut

This week's nut... We were to ride 100 miles.. no matter how long it took. AND then run off the bike. This is the kind of workout that every Ironman athlete has to do. It is preparing you for the long day ahead.

I rode today with Legs and M. It was the Melon Ride out near Plano, IL. The century ride turned into a little bit longer ride and started with a lot of headwind. I'm glad to say after about three hours of riding, we felt some benefit of that wind. The day was just perfect!! It was beautiful out...not too hot, not to cold.. windy but you can't have everything! When I finished, I felt GREAT! I'm still sitting here in awe tonight. I never thought I'd ride 104 miles and get off my bike gleaming from ear to ear. My legs felt worked but not hurt. IT was time for the run! There was a track near the start. It was HOT, but it was a great place to run. The success from today is something I will tap into again soon.

One more thing.. While I was out on the ride today, I did some thinking. Last year at this time, my Tri season was over. I had gotten injured to the point of PT twice a week. AND was on restricted time for pretty much everything. It's a great feeling to see one year later, the picture is much different. Two more weeks of "nut finding"! As Coach K says, "Bring IT!"

Doubt

Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt.

- William Shakespeare

I'm slowly learning a new lesson. It is about my run. I did the aquabike last weekend and felt so strong on the swim and the bike. BUT, it made me start thinking about the run. I have been following my coach's plan, but there isn't a lot of long runs in it. When you hear Ironman talk about their training, you hear them talk about their long runs. Our training doesn't have these extremely long runs in it. It is a "new way" of thinking that benefits someone like me. I have had running injuries before that have lead to the end of my season early. I have to believe the quote above and the advice of my best friend. It's not time to doubt what we've done this far. It's time to keep on trekking. BIG miles are coming.... they are going to be here soon.

Quick Update... Success Story!

I am excited to report that my best friend not only had a BIRTHDAY yesterday but also her first race since knee surgery. I'm very very excited for her! She did a race that I love...Mountain Man up in Flagstaff, AZ. Lorie was sweet enough to do a training trip with me last year when I wanted to do the Half Ironman. As you can see, it is quite lovely. Lorie doesn't take NO for an answer. Not only did she finish the race, she took 2nd in her age group! Bringing home hardware AGAIN! It's like she never left the sport at all. My inspiration and many times my strength comes from the things she's done. I can't wait for her to be my Sherpa on Ironman day. Congrats Lorie! You're one tough cookie!!

Racine Aquabike

What do you get when you combine a hammer, a cloudy day, and a well trained gurl? A winning combination!! I crushed my "FAR OUT GOAL" yesterday!! It was an amazing feeling! We only race against ourselves in this sport. It is nice to have training buddies and "carrots" but at the end of the day.. it is YOU vs everything you've done before.

I had a feeling it was going to be a fast course when I checked in my bike the day before and did a short workout. After driving the bike course, I knew... if the wind was right.. there would be FAST times to come. I think it's important to mention that my legs were working but hurting for the first hour on the bike. I tend to forget the lil "uh-ohs" when things go so well. AND that I managed to drop nutrition on the ground...not once but twice. I did just eat something new. Breaking the rule, but preventing the Bonk. IF it happens at Ironman, I will do the same. Turns out Hammer Gel Chocolate gu tastes like cake frosting.

Another thing happened yesterday that has NEVER happened EVER before...I raced with the Ludster and he DID NOT catch me on the bike. Ludster and I have raced about ten times together. He always catches me on the bike. BUT... I've been feeling really strong on My Precious and I thought I'd make him a bet. It turned out to be great motivation for me. Something I might use in Ironman as well. Luddy still rode strong! His time over 56 miles.. 2 1/2 hours! This tidbit will not soon be forgotten in our circle of friends. Tom Tom was grinning from ear to ear when I told him.

Will I be back to Racine again? NOPE. The sand we had to walk through for one mile to the start of the race and then when exiting the water has irritated my plantar fascia just a tad. I'm working through some exercises today. AND..truth be told..it's not a well run race. I don't even have my splits! The head timer exchanged my chip on race morning. BUT no results for me yet!

One last thought.. I love Aquabike. My two strongest sports combined!! Don't be surprised if I race another Aquabike next year!

Racing this weekend.. Half Ironman Distance

The team is going to Racine this weekend to race the Half Ironman Distance. I was dragging my feet. I didn't really want to go. I don't have a good explination... just wasn't feeling it. SO.. I emailed coach and asked for a "free pass". BUT... no such luck. There was no FREE PASS GIVEN. I'm starting to get really excited now. I am only doing the Aquabike (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike). I have already done a Half Ironman distance this year, so the idea is not to OVER DUE the legs/feet. Things have been well...no need to chance it now. I will race the swim and bike.. go through the finish. And then go for a light jog.. maybe three miles. This will be a great day to see how I'm putting everything together. The idea is to feel..STRONG LIKE BULL!

Time to go pack, get gear ready, and bring out the best! I think this race will bring out some spirit in me... I read a quote this week that I really liked....

"Success isn't the result of spontaneous combustion. You must learn to set yourself on fire." Arnold H. Glasgow

Keeping It Fresh

It's Rest week.. ahh! Abbreviated workouts are upon us and switching things up is always nice. Instead of Tuesday Ironman class.. we had a nice lil run! I decided to go join the old running group in Arlington Heights. I never see them anymore due to Ironman Class and they are always a good time! Tonight to my surprise, a Criterium was going on! It was FANTASTIC! Ludster, Tom and I were like old times out there. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard!! I took some pics to remember it all. These guys are amazing athletes and handle their bike like butter.. smooth and efficient! Enjoy!!

Back to Wisconsin we went....

It was a great weekend to end the BUILD weeks! Wow!! I drove up to Madison on Friday and trained in the area. It was a really big treat for me. My Friday ride was on the route my bus took when I was a kid. AND my swim on Saturday was in the pool that I guarded/coached at for 4 years. I ate at some nostalgic places as well. The workouts were hard, but the added "fun" was needed. It was keeping things "fresh" at a time when my body was TIRED.

My Precious got some much needed TLC this weekend as well. The gears had been slipping and I noticed the rear derailleur was a bit loose. SO.. I took her to Machinery Row in Madison. These guys are GREAT! Not only did they fix the problems with the bike, but they also installed my new bike computer. She is much happier now and purrs on the course.

My weekly totals ... 5 miles swimming, 138 miles biking and 17 miles running. It was a rough week for me. I stretched myself in many ways and feel like this training is getting me stronger but not faster. It was frustrating swimming on Saturday. I felt like I was going nowhere! I even got sunburned on my back since I was in the water so long. AND... The run yesterday after 83 miles on the bike was snail pace. I hope this is just a product of training and as race day comes, I will get my speed back up. The picture above is at the end of the ride/run yesterday. Ludster came up to train with the Ironman crew. He had a great day!! I always appreciate his insight on things. Thanks for lunch Ludster!!

Learning Lessons

"Every journey to excellence is filled with challenges, victories, setbacks, lessons, and simple joys" - Terry Orlick

The weekend that I signed up for Ironman, I had breakfast with a woman that had become an Ironman in 2007 on the course. I remember her saying to me, "the lessons I learned during Ironman are ones that I use every day." I thought that was quite poignant at the time and think about it often even now. I am coming to the end of a three week build that is the longest and hardest we have ever been tasked with and I'm TIRED. This morning I didn't want to wake up and go to swim practice. I'm a swimmer and I didn't want to suck myself off the bed to get in the pool. A telling moment to be sure!! I did go and I did the whole practice...even though I wanted to skip out part way through. These next few days are going to take mental strength and true gusto! The kind that will help me break through the wall at the end of that run. BUT.. if I can push myself now, it will make the race that much easier because my body will remember how to push when it needs to.

I did it!

Today I rode my very first century ride out in the hills of Barrington, IL. I felt better then I ever thought I would. It was great! I averaged somewhere between 16 - 17 mph...not bad for some of the hills we climbed. My nutrition went really well. I had lots of continued success with coconut water and new success with Honey Stinger gu's. I was THRILLED! This was the nut for the week. We actually rode our bikes 180 miles in 5 days! Is that unbelievable or what??! My other totals for the week.. 10 miles of running and 4 miles of swimming. One more week of building before rest week. This week's nut...... LONG RUN!

A special shout out to my "carrot".... John. He is a phenomenal athlete! I can't wait to ride with him again next weekend! And then again at Ironman.

Halfway Through the Big Weekend

Yesterday we had a great workout out in Barrington, IL. The focus was hills and there was FUN had by all. The workout called for a nice warm up, then a 30 minute time trial and then EIGHT TIMES one hill! We picked a strong hill on Braeburn road. It's one where you need your "granny gear" and then there is a false flat and an additional climb before you get to turn and fly down the hill. It was so nice to do it as a team. People encouraging each other up and down the hill!! I was the SLOWEST climber. I did make the workout, but it is something I need to keep working on. After we finished that, Ludster took us on a tour. He was a good tour guide until we rode through standing water. What an adventure!

Today we had a swim and a run. I met DT down at Ohio Street Beach for a one miler in Lake Michigan. I didn't feel myself when I woke up this morning. AND.. as I was swimming, I vomitted. I think it was something I ate last night. I was at a Fourth of July party and ate all kinds of foods that I don't usually eat. I came home and took a nap and then tried the run. It has been raining all day today in Chicago. So.. out in the rain I went to get 'er done. BUT.. my body still wasn't ready for a run. I did make it 4 miles before I headed home for a shower and back to resting and fluids.

TOMORROW.. I am suppose to ride 100 miles and run 3. It is worrying me a bit now, since I haven't felt myself today. I am hopeful that by resting, eating right, and drinking lots of fluids..I'll be all right. My plan is to still head out there tomorrow and see what I can do. Coach has asked me to be careful so as not to set back all my workouts next week. I promise to pay attention to my body and do what I can.

Doing, Doing, Doing IT

Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? There are still five - because there’s a difference between deciding and doing. -from Five Frogs On A Log by Michael F Spratt

Starting tomorrow morning I will be doing something I have NEVER done before. It is something that scares me... just a little bit. It is also something that excites me.. A LOT. I am going to ride by bike for over 10 hours in 5 days. This is the NUT for the week! It will mean I need to have good nutrition, strong recovery tactics, and smart cycling technique. I bought new shoe inserts for my cycling shoes yesterday. SO far, It looks like i have riding partners for the weekend. SO... off we go to... to DO, DO, DOING IT!