Armed and Dangerous: This is WAR!

This week was about fighting back.  I have some problems to solve and after my hill repeat session with my bike coach on Monday when he posed the question about my performance being limited by "fitness vs. focus" and I replied "both" and he argued that he felt it was focus and that I needed to commit to the task at hand and see it through.  I was feeling progressively worse and disheartened during the workout as I was not sure how to overcome the physiological signs I was experiencing during this particular workout and for the past few months including nausea, weakness, and cramping.  Upon effort, I was feeling nauseous and I ended my session by vomiting in the parking lot after my coach left my side.This opened up more dialogue about what possible internal issues could cause these symptoms and when do we ignore the messages your body is sending you versus pushing past them.  I knew from past training that cycling did not have to feel this way and that working hard should "hurt so good" and this is not what I have been feeling.  In particular, I have been struggling with long workouts and there are so many factors to consider including Arizona heat, nutrition, hydration, and other possible medical considerations.  I have been playing around with everything from what I wear, what and when I eat and drink, how I replace the massive amount of electrolytes and fluids lost, and why I am cramping on mile 50 of my bike ride under a variety of circumstances.

This week I had to get my long run and ride down mid-week due to traveling plans for the weekend.  After my lows on Monday, I went to Sprouts and stocked up on a variety of vitamins, supplements and aides including Dr. Hyland's anti-cramping formula, anti-pain/inflammation creams, raw vitamins for women over 40, fish oil for inflammation, and a variety of Vega pre, during and post workout formulas in liquid, powder and bar forms.  I need to find some magic formula to get to the next level of training.

MY PLAN

Step 1:  Minimize exposure to temperatures higher then core temperature so begin workouts early.
Step 2:  Wear minimal clothes.  I tried out cooling arm sleeves and I still feel better with less on.  My body does not seem to be able to cool itself despite large amounts of sweat being produced.
Step 3:  I am a very heavy sweater and salt residue is caked on my body, clothes, and equipment.  I usually take salt tablets, but after doing some reading I began to question if the salt is helping or contributing to the nausea, so I have tried with and without salt tabs or taking less and replacing electrolytes in my fluids and foods.
Step 4:  Start taking vitamins and fish oil to compensate for any deficiencies I may have and to help reduce inflammation
Step 5:  Try out Dr. Hyland formula for cramping.  I don't usually turn to natural formulas but I felt I had nothing to lose and my ride this week was the first ride I made it over 50 miles without cramping (I made it to 68).
Step 6:  Continue experimenting with nutrition and I was finding holding off on my food intake on my long workouts for 90-120 minutes was detrimental.  The metabolic efficiency trend out there does not seem to be working for me though I continue to try and incorporate some of the principles into my diet and for training.  I would like to eat less to minimize stomach issues, however, my body seems to respond best to eating smaller amounts more frequently.  This is still a work in progress because I have been having multiple issues.
Step 7:  Work on recovery between work outs using protein and recovery shakes and stretching.

So when I went out on my long bike ride on Thursday, I went out ARMED AND DANGEROUS:  This was war and I was not going to let the cramping and muscle weakness win.   I set off with a 70 ounce Camelback filled with straight water and 2 large bottles with Nuun mix.  I did not wake up early enough to eat before my ride, but I did take a Vega Pre-workout drink and I took 2 anti-cramping tablets.  I left at 4:40 am with lights turned on.  I had a variety of food options.  I started with a bonk bite at mile 20.  At mile 30, I took my second dose of anti-cramping tabs.  At mile 40, I took my second bonk bite.  I was alternating between the Nuun mix and water throughout the ride.  My ride had 3000 feet of elevation gain so the big question was, what was going to happen at mile 50 today.  I stayed in zone 2 and worked on keeping my cadence between 90 and 100.  I was getting closer to 50 miles and fatigue was setting in, but I was able to keep pedaling.  I took a Huma Gel at mile 55 and continued to hydrate.  My body was getting more tired and beginning to heat up, but NO CRAMPING.   Maybe I finally pushed the wall back just a little.  I made it to 68 miles.

My bike was very noisy making a clicking noise for most of the ride so that was a bit of a distraction from what I was feeling.  On top of not cramping, I had developed foot pain on the lateral border of my right foot.  It just seems that pain shifts around the body and if it is not one thing it is another.

Next I get to take my training to cooler climates for my summer training camps.  So this week's battle was a victory, but I have not yet won the war.  I will keep fighting because that is what triathlete's do.

MID LIFE CRISIS OR CELEBRATION

It is coming.  The marker for midlife.  The big 5-0 and it is rolling in like a giant wave with a vengeance in 8 weeks.  A year ago, I set intentions to not let this number get me down, that I would show this body who's the boss.  I was out to prove that 50 can be strong, healthy and fit for I became an Ironman at 48 and I could hold onto that title at 50.  Sometimes intentions remain as unfinished thoughts lying around in the clouds.

 

During my run in the heat this morning, I started doing calculations about how long I was going to live and recalling a sculpture in the medical school at the University of Pittsburgh that showed the cycle of life from conception to death and how in the middle the body begins the downward curve back into the fetal position until we are dependent, helpless and gone.  As the heat was breaking down my body today, my calculations determined that I might have already reached my peak at age 48 and my downward curve may have already begun and I would live to be 96 instead of 100.  That sat ok with me since there are many years left to do triathlons and maybe the others in my age group would slowly drop out so I can finally get on the podium or make it to Kona.  On the other hand, I started questioning whether my body was up for this sport and maybe I was living in a fantasy world and I should stop holding my breath and get my head out of the water and find a more age appropriate sport.  I had a lot of time to think as my run turned into a walk.  Of course the sun may have overcooked my brain making my thoughts more hallucinogenic then rational.

 

I mostly write my blog or sign up for a race when I am feeling the "high" of the sport.  I avoid sharing when I hit my lows.  One can look at midlife as the beginning of the end or enjoy the ride back to the finish line.  I hate how my skin hangs and there is less defined muscles in my arms and legs.  I hate the extra folds of skin on my eye lids and face.  I hate how my body is moving so slowly on land (feels like I am moving through chocolate pudding most of the time).  I hate that the battle of the bulges is winning.  I seem to be STUCK at my weight and at my times on the bike and run.

I feel like I have been on the never ending treadmill like George and his dog Astro from the Jetsons, YIKES.  Yes, I am questioning, contemplating, wondering how to turn the frown upside down, how to make it to the start with good health, and even more how to get to the finish of 140.6.  Will 50 become a crisis or a celebration.

But what I am not is a quitter.  As much as I want to quit, I will find a way to get through the next 14 weeks and come out stronger, smarter, and better at the other end.  I know I can train my mind to be YOUNG and STRONG.  I know it is a choice and I will have to make it!

But just for this moment...let me have my pity party.  Ok, a moment has passed and it is time to move on.

KEEP TRI-ING!

Boulder 70.3 Kicks Scottsdale Triathlete's Ass!

Triathletes tend to be very hard on themselves.  After my first half of the season on the road to Chattanooga, it is time to analyze where I am and where I need to go.  Moving up to the 50 to 54 year old age group did not get any easier.  First there is dealing with moving into the next century and then there is accepting the changes that are occurring to my body.

Going into this race, I felt that I was 4 weeks premature for a 70.3 and if I only had 4 more weeks of training under my belt, I would be ready to complete a half distance with more confidence and ease.  My training has not been progressing as well as I had hoped although I knew I could complete each distance alone and Boulder would be a baseline and test of what needs to be done to get ready for my next full Ironman.

This was more then a race or a training weekend, it was a girl's trip to a beautiful destination.  I got to share this experience this race with 2 other triathlon buddies.  We had been looking forward to our destination race for a long time and it had finally arrived.   Three girls, three bikes and a van rolling from Phoenix to Boulder in 2 days.  There was a lot of tri talk and race strategy planning that happened during the road trip.  We stopped in Albuquerque and got an altitude run in before our second day of travel.  The second day of driving got more scenic as we crossed the border into Colorado.  It was a reminder of 2 summers I spent in Colorado Springs and Denver and why I fell in love with it.  When we arrived in Boulder, we got settled into our room and then decided to drive the bike course.  We were in awe of how beautiful it was going to be and how clean the road was and how well marked it was 3 days before the event.  We had our elevation graph and turn by turn maps out as we surveyed the level of difficulty and strategies for managing the elevation changes and altitude.   After the drive, we hit Pearl Street in downtown Boulder to find some dinner and then turned in.

We woke up on Friday morning anxious to feel the beginning of the course on our bikes since the ride starts with 11 miles of climbing and we could not agree on what hill it was similar to in Arizona.  We rode from our hotel to the race venue and back.  Then we returned by car to get an open water swim in.  The water was perfect.  We could only swim in a roped off area.  I felt so good in the water, but had to control my enthusiasm and cut it short.  We met a very enthusiastic group from Texas who helped us take some photos since we would not be able to get photos on race day as we did not have a sherpa with us.  Everyone was so excited and friendly and we were a little slap happy from driving and the altitude.  We went back to the room for a rest and then got some lunch and returned to shop at the Ironman Village, pick up our race packets and attend the Athlete's Meeting.  We returned to walk around downtown Boulder again to stretch our legs and we had dinner at the Walnut Brewery.

On Saturday, we had to go check our bikes in and the race became very real as the parking lot was filled with triathletes.  We thought it was just going to be a quick drop off but we ended up staying for the Pro Panel.  It was fun to learn how they train and some of their secrets.  Most of them live or train in Boulder, so they were on their home turf.

We got a late lunch and went back to room to eat and rest.  I had been struggling a little bit with eating out and having an upset stomach on and off and did not feel like eating a meal later that night, so I just ate a peanut butter sandwich and an In Kind bar and called it a night.  We set our alarms and put ourselves on auto pilot.

Alarms go off and we do our best to get to the reservoir early to park and we ended up having to park at the farthest spot away from transition (it maybe does not always pay to be early).  Apparently they had a plan to alleviate traffic making the 2 lane road all northbound into reservoir which worked very well and added a nice half mile warm up to transition.

We went through all the morning rituals and most of you know how the story goes....swim, bike and run for the next 7 hours!  The swim was the easiest course I have ever done.  It was a triangle course with numbered buoys on your right, kayaks and floating barges.  Besides the feeling of breathlessness, all you had to do was swim 3 straight lines in very very calm smooth waters.  I started all the way to the left and swam toward bouy number one and then along the lines.  I don't recall being passed at all and caught up to many of the men who started in the wave ahead of us (it was great they had the older age groups start first).  I did feel the altitude on the swim and I was a little concerned that I felt more spent on the first line then usual and that I would have a lot of work to do to swim twice the distance in a full Ironman.   I ended up finishing 3rd in my age group with one of my fastest swim times and had an uneventful transition onto the bike even though I had to take my own wetsuit off. 

My bike coach gave me a strategy for the bike course and I tried to follow it using my new power meter and focusing on cadence and not going out too fast.  The 11 miles of uphill seemed to go by quickly and I only remember bits and pieces after that.  I was going fairly steady on the downhill portion, but I was not certain where the hills would begin until it was quite obvious on 2 segments of triple uphill rollers.  Every time you turned toward the mountains the wind was apparent.  I have to say I was distracted at times by the amazing panoramic views with snow covered peaks.  I did slow on the climbs and struggle into the winds, but I thought I was holding my own until mile 50 when I started cramping.  This was so frustrating and mentally difficult to overcome as I have been having this issue at mile 50 for the past month regardless of what and when I eat and drink.  I was able to keep my legs spinning but the last 5 miles were uphill even though it looked like a downhill and my pace slowed trying to manage the cramps.  I was thankful I did not have to stop, but frustrated that I could not pick up the pace on the last portion of the ride except for the last mile.  I still ended up with my second fastest time for a half IM bike ride although I got passed by over 30 people in my age group along with all those men I passed in the swim and the young folks who started behind me.

The transition went quickly, but I was cramping badly as I limped out onto the run course.  I ran through it hoping they would just subside, but after 2 miles of it, I had enough.  I took a dive mentally and felt like I could not bare the pain of running and that I needed to manage the muscle fatigue and cramps.  I ended up walking for 30 seconds and running for 30 seconds for the remainder of the 13.1 miles.  This added about 30 minutes or so onto my run and mentally had me concerned for how I am going to deal with this on Ironman day on September 29th. 

I had already bought my Boulder 70.3 gear and I wanted my medal and that got me through the run along with a few other folks who were doing the same.  In 2012, I was so excited that I was able to run my marathon during my Ironman and my motto since had been "Run the Run" and I just did not accomplish that in Boulder.  The course was not easy as it was on dirt roads and trails with some hills, uneven surfaces and no shade and the wind had picked up.  I enjoyed the breeze and did not think it was too hot, but being at 5000 feet without any cover did a lot of people in.

I was just very happy to cross the finish line and my girls had passed me during the bike and were waiting for me at the end.  We swapped stories and chowed down on some post race grub.  The good news is that I was not suffering from nausea at the end of the race and was able to eat despite not having much appetite during the race.

I was disappointed but not surprised about how the day went.  So this is where I am a little over 14 weeks out from the big day.  Of course after the race, I had questioned WTF I am doing out on the course and how I got myself into this mess and retirement from triathlon, but after a good night's rest I woke up planning how I could improve and what I needed to do to get to the start and the finish.I have a TO DO list for the next 100 days.

1.  Increase distance on swim, bike and run
2.  More brick workouts
3.  Continue Interval Training in all 3 sports
4.  Add some sport specific weight training
5.  Figure out the cause of the cramping which is major limiter
6.  Continue working on nutrition
7.  Work toward lowering body weight and body fat which is major limiter
8.  2 more races to practice:  June Lake Olympic, Mountain Man Half
9.  Stretching and treat Achilles pain on right
10.  Become mentally stronger to deal with obstacles and pain on race day!

It also helped to spend a day in the Rocky Mountains enjoying nature and dreaming of greatness.  We could not leave without a recovery ride the next day and a recovery run back in Albuquerque on our way home.

In the end, the week was a amazing trip filled with fun, friendship, laughter, relaxation, training and recreation in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  A triathlete could not ask for a whole lot more.  It really did not matter how fast or what place I finished in.  I would like to find a higher level of fitness and performance for race day so next time around so I will be the one kicking Ass!

TTTTTTAPER TIME, REST FOR THE BODY AND MIND

 

Round 2 has been different every step of the way.  With 16 weeks to go or 113 days before Ironman Number 2, the journey has taken on a life of its own.  The body feels different and the mind is challenging me in more then one way.  Perhaps the changes that occur when you are approaching 50 are true and cannot be denied.

When you think you have been tested to your limits, a new challenge hits you right in the face.  When you think you have felt all the pain, fatigue, or exhilaration, a new sensation takes over your body.  It is the same, but it is different.  When you thought your body finally accepted your introduction to new and improved techniques for better efficiency, out comes a newer or better way to pedal on the bike, stroke in the water or strike your foot on the ground.  When you thought you had your nutrition under control, a new style of eating to enhance your performance emerges.


Every day I train is another lesson on what my body is capable of or not!  I am continually changing my schedule around to maximize the quality of my workouts.  There seem to be more "bad" workouts then "good" these days, but sometimes those are what take you to the next level.  Poor recovery, fatigue and muscle cramping are mysteries that I am trying to solve.  I guess it does add some suspense to the story.  I am always able to find some lesson or positive in the struggles if I reflect long or hard enough.
    
I am ready to leave a hard week behind and rest my body and mind for a strong week ahead.  My first big race is coming up, Boulder 70.3 and it is the time Triathletes tri to embrace for the race, it's TTTTTAPER TIME, rest for the body and mind.  I will slow down (not hard for a turtle to do) and focus on keeping my joints mobile and muscles relaxed.  This week is not the time to introduce anything new or worry about Chattanooga.  This is an opportunity to get more fit, get tougher mentally and physically, and first run through or dress rehearsal for 140.6 and strengthen the base for the big race.  I have had some disappointing long workouts this month.  But, I have come to the conclusion that we have to accept where we are on the route and not beat ourselves up for coming up short on our goals.  If the road does not go straight through, you can usually find a detour to your destination.  So take a deep breath and enjoy the scenic back way!

This morning I really was happy that I am trying out this self coaching method as nobody knows better what is going on in your body and mind then yourself and I am able to modify the workout to fit the "state of my engine".  I do appreciate the input I get from the experts that I train with and carry their words with me on every workout.  Listening to my body is a key element in success.  I know pros may ignore the messages or override them, but I feel that I push my body as hard as it can go and it may not be very fast.  I am the only one that knows.

Boulder is not an A race, but more of a training run, I will still practice tapering this week to learn how to get my body race ready.  I am looking forward to quieting my mind and body and a trip filled with fun and laughter with my tri friends.  Life is too short to tri without having fun.