The Heat is On: UNDER PRESSURE!

Training camp has ended and I am back home in AZ in the heat.  Gone are the training mornings of 50s and now the alarm clock goes off before 4 am to be able to train in temperatures below 90 degrees if the weather gods are on my side.  My body feels the same about the heat as it did before I left, but I have not had any consistent training in these conditions.

Many questions have popped up in my mind after having several reactions to heat including dizziness, nausea, and dry heaving as to when to draw the line and how far to push your body.  I harbor the fear of going down and getting myself into trouble.  I usually try to avoid getting myself into a predicament where I have to call for help, but it has come to that on several occasions in the past.  Then I started questioning how far I would go in a race if I felt impending danger.  Are we all willing to crawl to get to the finish line if that is what it takes?

Responses I got is that I am defeating myself before I even get to the start by having these negative thoughts.  I on the other hand feel like I am preparing myself and coming up with a plan if there is danger.  What will I push through and when would I stop.  I never considered stopping during my first Ironman.  I had a plan for what I would do in different situations.  This sport is surrounded by people who live by mottos like NEVER QUIT and DO EPIC SHIT (you know who you are).  I appreciate learning ways to push through pain and discomfort, but I also have a little voice of experience that knows signs of my systems failing.   How far are you willing to go to get to the finish line?  This may separate me from those in my age group or from reaching my own personal potential as not having the courage or strength to push harder.  I don't like being sick or injured, so I tend to proceed with caution when my body is talking to me.

My body is beginning to send me little messages and I am beginning to feel the pressure when my training does not go as planned and my body is beginning to break down.

My counter tells me I have 63 days until Race Day!  It is hot here.  My mileage is not where I would like it to be.  I am having some foot and Achilles pain.  Sleep is becoming irregular.  I am unproductive after training.  I took the day off to try and calm the inflammation down in my foot and regroup.  When you give up a long workout, panic takes over your body and mind.  I need a good long workout to calm me down, or else I may need a prescription.

I guess we are all entitled to having a panic attack as long as we are not in the water!  Time to take the pressure and use it for fuel.  CHOO CHOO.  ALL ABOARD!

Summer Training Camp: Week 3/THE TOUR

This is the 3^rd summer in a row that I have been able to take my training on the road. My son attends a 3 week music camp and we drop him off in Orange County and go north for 2 weeks and then return to Southern California to follow his tour. When you are preparing for an Ironman, everything is planned around your training schedule or else you plug in workouts whenever you can during your travels.

I took a little time out to SAG for my husband's training weekend in Bishop, CA to help him get ready for his big event called THE EVEREST CHALLENGE which is the same weekend as IRONMAN CHATTANOOGA. He was humbled as he attempted and completed 4 of the 6 climbs and questioned his readiness and his ability to come back in 10 weeks and conquer the beast (30,000 feet of climbing, thus the height of Everest which the event is named after). This is outside of most Ironman triathlete's comfort zones, but it was nice to see him experience the trials and tribulations of pushing the limits. He actually made it look easy, but he would tell you it was anything but! My brother Greg was his guide as he has completed the Challenge several times.

I was able to fit a few shorter rides and run in during our time in the Sierra Nevadas on lower lands on beautiful small country rodes with a few hills sprinkled in before heading south. The last night in Bishop, I had to make a decision about registering for the Oceanside 70.3, one of the perks of being part of a big tri club in the Ironman Tri Club competition is early entries to certain races. I just decided I did not have it in me to sign up for another half Ironman distance race before I completed my 2014 race calendar. General registration opened up the next day and as we were making the drive to SoCal, my facebook page was lighting up with announcements of teammates getting into Oceanside. After a few hours on the road, I could not take the feeling of the possibility of being left out and I signed up. (my husband just shook his head as he had to listen to my rationalization of not signing up and then witness me push the button on active.com after I made a public declaration to forego the race).

After surviving the traffic, we checked into our hotel at Newport Beach and ate a delicious pasta dinner. The next morning, I decided to do my long run and would stay along the beach. First I headed south passed 2 piers and to a peninsula until I ran out of road or boardwalk. On my way back, I ran to the end of Balboa Pier and Newport Beach Pier and then I continued past our hotel and continued north toward Huntington Beach Pier. I wanted to reach that pier but they always seem closer then they really are, but I made it to the end of the pier knowing I might have to walk back to the hotel. I ended up running 18 miles which was a few miles longer then I was planning, but I felt pretty good running in cool cloudy humidity with an ocean breeze. I did slow a little bit each hour and especially during the last 3 miles. I was ready to be done, but an elderly women who was walking started running and passed me for a minute and that kind of inspired me to keep going.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out in Santa Monica until my son's concert at a cool little club in Venice called WITZEND. Walking was a good way to prevent my muscles from tightening up.

We were leary about where we would do our long ride the next morning as our options were California Highway 1 or one of the bike trails along a canal. Highway 1 is packed with traffic and some sections through different beach towns were too congested for our comfort level, so we opted for a ride recommended by a local that was on a protected bike path from Dana Point to Oceanside through Camp Pendleton. It was an interesting ride taking us on different paths, local streets with a lot of hills and stop signs and through a military base which was a nice preview for Oceanside 70.3. The way home provided better views of the Pacific Coast and made the irregular ride worth it. It took an extra long time to complete 55 miles, so I still got over 4 hours of riding time in between hills, turns, stop signs, military checkpoints, and wind. Thank goodness there was water on the route as riding in the open sun and humidity took a toll on me that particular day. The other lesson I have learned was to not attempt a long ride the day after a long run which has not worked well for me despite it being recommended by some coaches vs doing bike then run. We were determined to get the bulk of our workouts in during the week so we could spend a nice family weekend together at the end of the Tour.

We got a little beach time in before heading to my son's final concert. The performances were spectacular as usual. It is always difficult for us to say good bye to California and for my son to say good bye to the other students and mentors from camp. It is his “triathlon” and his extended family who speak the same language just as most triathletes have instant connection with one and other. We are so greatful that he has his music family.

We decided to take a quick mountain retreat and skip the beach scene although Jeremy took an interest in learning to surf during camp and got to try it out the last 2 days of camp. Our family prefers the cool pines and although we were all very tired from our tours, we headed to Big Bear Lake, California for one last hurrah! We got a few final workouts in with cooler temperatures including a beautiful bike ride around Big Bear and its sister lake, Baldwin, who was dry, a few runs in the pines, and a swim in the lake. We also tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding for 2 hours which was a blast and hopefully we will add one of those to our toy collection soon!

Now we are heading back home to AZ which I refer to as “the oven” during the summer. I will miss the cooler morning temperatures for the final 10 weeks of Ironman Training. I am sure more trips up north will happen but most days will be spent waking up early trying to beat 100 degree temps.

Summer Training Camp was sweet! We put in some good miles with beautiful scenery from rolling hills in the country to switch backed mountains, redwood forests, lakes, and along beautiful coastal scenes. I am a fortunate triathlete and so very blessed at this moment to have had this opportunity to “tri on tour”. We found more places that we can dream of returning to again.

I am also fortunate that I can go home and focus for ten more weeks on preparation to hop on the train to Chattanooga and be a part of an inauguaral Ironman event. There is still more work to be done, but I return home a little stronger, a little leaner, and more relaxed and refreshed. If there were professional turtle triathletes, I would apply for that job right away. No amount of cash could compensate for all the happiness triathlon brings to my world. Even the hardest day at this job, leaves you with a smile on your face. Keep tri-ing!

Summer Training Camp: Week 2/JUNE LAKE TRIATHLON

It is always nice to have a race on your schedule because you know the rest of your week will be a little less intense.  I continued to enjoy the training in cooler temperatures and getting my training miles in regardless of the upcoming race holiday!  I completed 3 swim, 4 bike, and 4 run workouts overall during week 2.  It was Ironman business as usual fitting in long slow distance, hills, intervals and always working on technique, but the highlight of my week included racing the JUNE LAKE TRIATHLON.

We sadly had to say good bye to our little paradise in Danville, CA and pack up our "tour bus" and move on to the next stop.  We had to drive through Yosemite National Park on Tioga Road and Pass to reach our final destination of June Lake.  It was like taking a quick stroll through memory lane since we had spent a week with our son enjoying all Yosemite had to offer a number of years ago.  We could only stop and take a few pictures as we were on a mission to get to the expo to pick up my race packet for the race, preview the venue and course, check into our hotel and make the pre-race meeting and athlete's dinner.  It was very difficult to rush through Yosemite, but we did it!  We are now officially national park tourists who's average visit through lasts only a few hours.

We did make it to June Lake around 2 pm which gave us enough time to take care of all of the business mentioned above.  There was not as much snow on the mountains as the June Lake Triathlon pictures boast, but it was a beautiful venue.  My nerves were higher then normal not being familiar with the terrain and how to manage my energy and the technical requirements of the course.

June Lake Triathlon was a race I have had my eye on for the past few years as it meets my requirements of cooler temperatures and pine trees.  It takes place the same weekend as Vineman which is another popular race destination, but this year it worked out perfectly in our summer tour.  The race woos you right from the beginning by taking you to the top of the mountain via the ski lift for the athlete meeting and dinner.  The race started years ago as a small grass roots event and was reincarnated 8 years ago by the High Sierra Tri Club.  They recently added a half distance to the sprint and olympic distance races.

We sat on top of the world as we viewed the course from above and learned all the details for the next day. Next, we sat outside and enjoyed a delicious dinner of Mahi Mahi, corn on the cob, salad and dinner roll.  We met Steve and Kelly from San Diego who had both come to AZ to volunteer and then returned for Ironman to celebrate their 50th birthdays several years ago.

We had to come down from the mountain to go prep for the next day.  Many other triathletes were staying at the same motel and people were prepping their bikes outside their rooms.  We took a walk down to the lake and enjoyed the sun set.

There were less than 500 athletes overall in this race and everyone had to meet at the Ski Resort to take shuttles to June Lake Beach.  The ski resort had huge bike trailers and busses for transporting us back and forth to the venue.  They did not close transition off early and allowed athletes to arrive prior to their own events.  I signed up for the Olympic event with the second start time of 8 am.  We still got an early start and made it there in time to watch the long course swim.

I set up my transition, went through my rituals and met my rack mates.  I was dedicating this race to a co-worker, Jule, who passed away suddenly earlier this week at one of the AZ lakes and I asked the volunteer body marking to help me put her name on my leg.  Jule was always a bright light at the school that I worked at and she was always very excited to hear about my triathlons.  That was an emotional moment because it finally hit me that she was gone.  I was going to take her spirit with me at this beautiful race!

Then, I took my wet suit, cap and goggles and watched the long course swim with my husband.  The morning view was so beautiful.  The water was crystal clear, the ski was blue, trees were green, and the rocky mountains were red and grey.  Here I am again, yet, I forget how many miles I have done a few weeks ago or even the day before.  One workout and one race begins to blend into another.

The race began out in the water because with the California drought the water level was low with warmer water temperature then usual.  Wetsuits were still mandatory although the water felt quite comfortable in sleeveless suit.  There was walking and running through sand and water at the beginning and the end of the swim.  This swim was different then the others for me.  At 8000 feet it was a even a little harder to relax and required breathing every stroke.  Smooth and steady it seemed but I was not certain where I stood.  I do know I can't be afraid to start in the front line any more because it takes more energy trying to get around people who should not start in the front then having a few people bump into you.  I was a bit more disoriented in clear water with a view of the sand on the bottom.  I found that more difficult than dark water.  I felt a little dizzy, so I avoided looking straight down at the bottom and sometimes even closed my eyes spotting enough to see the buoys.  I thought I was taking a straight line after the first turn to the next bouy but it was far away and there were a lot of swimmers closer to shore, so I am not sure if I did not find the shortest path.  I swam until I hit boulders and could not swim any further before having to run through the water and deep sand.  My swim time was slower than usual probably due to altitude, maybe not finding the shortest line, and running through water and sand.

My transition times were great, but my heart was racing, so I tried to settle down on the bike for the first mile which was a little climb before the 16 mile descent.  The bike course was so beautiful.  The steep downhills and curves were more manageable then I expected.  I did well on the short uphills and passed several people on the short quick uphills.  When the biggest portion of the descent ended, and the climb back up to the lake began, I was not able to maintain the momentum but I focused on cadence and trying to go steady.  My first 16 miles I averaged over 20 mph, but then the remainder was a 2-3% grade back with an average in the mid 12s mph bringing my overall ave down to 16.7.  I was disappointed with the average, but I felt strong and I did not have any cramping.  I worked in zone 3 for power and HR and cadence was just under 90 average, so I think I can celebrate some success.  I was able to sip on one bottle of water with electrolyte mix and I took 1 Huma Gel on the bike.  I did use Dr. Hyland's anti-cramping tabs before the race which I still don't know if it is helping physically or mentally.  A day without cramping is a sweet day!  A few of the riders I flew by on the descent overtook me on the climb.  I passed 2 people on the climb.  Passing any riders is progress in my book!  This was another race where I found myself sightseeing, enjoying the view the whole way through.  It was a scenic loop overlooking a series of lakes and mountains and I would love to stay and train on it, but this day, I was happy I only had to do it one time and that it was clockwise, because the other direction the grades were much steeper.

The bike had it's challenging moments, but it was the run that gives the race its motto, THE TOUGHEST RACE in the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE.  You see elevation charts and descriptions, but you never know how difficult one person's description is going to rate in your book.  Well, it was every bit as hard as the description.  The run was on trail, jeep road, paved road, and single track.  It went up to 8500 feet through around the lakes, through pine trees and dry ponds.  There were several very steep sections where my running was slower then surrounding athletes walking, so I caved and walked on the steepest sections where I was still hunched over with labored breathing.  Even the down hills sections were steep, sandy and rocky and did not offer much relief.  This was the section where I was passed the most.  I carried a bottle filled with electrolyte.  I forgot to pick up my nutrition from my mat in transition so I grabbed a gel from one of the aide stations and carried it with me until I needed it.  I accepted offers of being sponged by the volunteers.  Some cloud coverage would have been nice, but it was not to be on this perfect day.  I was able to run most of the run, did not cramp and was happy to finish.  I had no idea what my time was other then slow.  My heart rate was in zone 3, so not sure I could have pushed myself to go faster and continue to run.  My finish was slower then I anticipated but not far from my prediction of 3:30 with a final time of 3:37 and some change.

The finish involved running through some deep sand (what was up with that), not making a kick to the end very doable.  I hunched over again after crossing the line as they want you to stop dead to remove your timing chip.  I even sat in a chair for a minute.  I felt so happy.  I got to race in the most beautiful place.  I did not place but I got to honor a friend and carry her with me in this heavenly place.  It is funny how a shorter distance can feel just as challenging as a longer race.

The race ended with a catered meal which was amazing.  I was actually hungry and able to eat.  It included grilled chicken, fancy side salads, fruit and dessert.  We sat on the beach and watch the kids triathlon which was so inspiring to see tiny little bodies trying to swim in the shallow water.   We stayed for awards, but the competition in my age group was tough and my slow time did not cut it.  The time were all slower then average accept for the really fast people were still fast!  The run is what devoured me.

What went well:  no cramping, no stomach problems, 96 out 150 finishers, 37 in swim, steady on swim and bike, improving with cadence and maintaining zone 3 power and HR for Olympic Distance, good transitions, ran most of run accept steepest parts, but was able to resume running

Areas to improve:  overall speed all around, longer climbs on bike, continue to get lighter, prepare better for specifics of course

I was high on triathlon at 8000 feet.  I most highly recommend this race and hope to come back again.  June Lake is a cute little town with a series of small lakes, mountains and lots of boating, fishing, hiking and biking opportunities.  The High Sierra Club put on an amazing small race.  I am most impressed by a club that can keep the costs down and the perks high.  The athlete's meeting, dinner and post race meals were an added bonus to the breathtaking views.  I realize there are ways to better prepare for this particular race including adding a lot of hill training and trail running.

After June Lake, we have moved on to Bishop, CA for my husband to train for his race called the Everest Challenge.  One thing I have learned is that it is not such a good idea to be a sherpa and sit in a truck for 8 hours supporting your husband the day after TRI-ing at June Lake.  He succeeded making 2 of the climbs and will go back at it tomorrow.  I hope to get my body moving into recovery so I can continue with my Ironman training with 11 weeks to go or 77 days!

Summer Training Camp: Week 1

Summer getaways can give you renewed energy when you are far from all the chores, bills, and daily grind piled up on your home field.  Unemployed and on vacation is just what the Ironman Doctor ordered!  Getting out of the Arizona summer heat is something we started 3 summers ago when my husband started a job in Northern CA and we reached a compromise about spending more time here in the summer rather then relocating.  We have grown very fond of the East Bay of San Francisco and enjoy cooler mornings for working out and lots of hills to climb on.  I call this my summer training camp where I can train with more intensity with plenty of R&R time in between workouts.  I never denied the fact that I am a spoiled triathlete, but it is much easier to stay focused when there are no distractions.  This year we found a great little guest house to rent in Danville, CA which is like a little luxury paradise surrounded by beautiful gardens, patio and pool.
 
Our one room studio has everything we need including a giant screen TV with movie channels.  I don't even need to walk 3 miles in the heat to get my movie fix.  Triathlon and Movies, I have landed in heaven once again!

The first week of camp was very productive.  I put in over 18 hours of training including 5 bike workouts, 3 swims, and 2 runs.  My long workouts included a 84 mile scenic bike ride, a 3000 meter swim, and a 15 mile run.  I hoped to get more running in and a brick workout, but the brick keeps getting canceled!  My husband and I enjoyed getting more bike miles in this week in cooler temps on rolling hills and some steep climbing.  This week was definitely a breakthrough week.  It still feels like a lot has to happen in the next 12 weeks to put together a strong swim, bike and run on race day.

My favorite ride was the long ride which we chose to return to Saratoga outside of San Jose and ride through Redwood forests and farmlands out to the coast.  We rode 40 miles along Highway 1 to Santa Cruz and then had to climb back to Saratoga through a few cute little towns in the pines and back through the redwoods.
 

I stopped early and took the sag 6 miles from the top when my legs said "all done" and I was over my mileage goal.  My husband rode the next day while I ran and then we headed to Del Valle Regional Park so I would not go through OWS withdrawal.  Dennis agreed to kayak and protect me from the boaters.
 
I did not take a day off this week and I finished the week with a climb up Mt. Diablo with 3600 feet of climbing a popular cycling destination.  Our rental is 13.5 miles from the summit and it was on my to do list this summer.  It was a tough mental battle and practice for breaking up hard work into sections.  I had borrowed mantras from some of my local idols like "NEVER QUIT", "DO EPIC SHIT", "FOCUS" and my own questions like "DO YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN AGAIN".

 
  I was close to accepting less and going as far as I could take my body until it could not go any further, but am I truly qualified to answer that question for myself.  I easily forgive myself when I come up short.  I managed to talk myself back into continuing the climb a few times after taking a few rest stops.  I made it up to the towers and knew there was a 14% grade to get to the parking lot.  I joked that I would just stop at the long term parking lot as I stood up and tried to take a few revolutions when my body started shaking and my heart jumped out of my chest and I forcefully unclipped before I went down!  I said a few choice words and then slowly walked my bike up the steep pitch for a tenth or two of a mile to the parking lot at the very top which was no easy hike itself but at least I did not tumble down off my bike.  A few riders passed by and I said while huffing and puffing that this still counts.  I made it to the summit.  The ride down was not a time for relaxation as it was shifting weight side to side down all the twists and turns.  Everyone said, if you did Mt. Lemmon, you can do Mt. Diablo.  Grades don't get less steep just because you climbed them before and today was no walk in the park.  I did gain a greater appreciation for events that are more challenging then Ironman such as the 2 day climb my husband and brother are preparing for called the Everest Challenge (30K of climbing, oh my!).

Looking forward to a more moderate week 2 at training camp before we head to June Lake on Friday for another Triathlon in the Mono Basin.  We will get to drive through Yosemite to get there and it for certain will be EPIC!

The rest of the day is being spent on watching the Tour de France and not doing a thing!  LIFE IS GOOD!