It is interesting how the same person can do the same race or the same distance at the same location/or a different location and have a different race. It is ironic that a personal record can be achieved on the most challenging course and a personal worst can actually be a personal best.
This week was a little rough in that my body is not completely happy. IRONMANITIS is going around. Ironmanitis=inflammation of an Ironman or one of their attached body parts. The effects of Ironman training are setting in and between myself and my teammates it appears that everyone is experiencing some rebelling from their body. There is a price you pay when you are increasing your distance and so there has been increased stretching, ice, motrin, topical creams, rollers, and massage this week. My primary area of discomfort involves my arms. My shoulder girdle and upper arms are tight and achy. The pain travels around and is mostly in my right arm, but is starting on my left side as well. I am not certain if this pain is from my aero bars or from swimming or a combination. Sometimes I feel better when I am moving and other times I reach a point during a workout where the pain gets worse. My coach decided I should swim and stop when/if I am having pain. It is so hard to get an IMIT to stop until they complete a workout. It is a fine balancing act between getting your training in and not aggravating your symptoms or causing a more severe injury.
With that said, I made it to the start line for one last Olympic Triathlon at Tempe Town Lake this morning. The Heat Miser was planning on attending and so I came armed with salt sticks and electrolytes. The race was delayed and being in the last wave that meant having to run in higher temperatures. I really don't buy the reason behind putting the "old ladies" last so we don't get trampled by the men cause I spend a lot of time catching up to the back strokers and doggy paddlers! It was too hot to wear a wetsuit, so I lost a few minutes on my swim, but I felt ok in the water today. I definitely get a lot more fatigued without my superpower suit. I don't have official splits but my watch was at 33plus as I exited the water. I took a long 3plus minutes to get on my bike and my legs felt heavy. I took the first few miles easy, got some fluid and nutrition in me and started to pick up the pace. I was trying to stay hydrated and take in salt to prevent stomach upset and cramping. I started feeling better and was not really keeping track of my time, but when I looked down at my clock near the end of the bike ride, I noticed I was not in PR range unless I had a really strong run. I did the best run I could do for what my legs had left in them and with the temperatures rising. My goal turned from PR to let's run steady and beat the sun. My body is slowly adapting to the heat. I was happy not to have any stomach problems today. I took 2 small cups of water by mouth and over head each mile along with a cup of ice that went down my back, in my hands and in my mouth. It was enough to cool my body down and let me run the whole 10K. Ofcourse the questions pop up in your mind as to how you are going to start running after 112 miles on the bike and keep running. It was good practice on staying in the game. My calves were starting to cramp during the last mile or so and when I tried to pick up the pace, it was a tug o war between muscle groups. I have been able to shorten my stride and slow down to ward off the full spasm, but I need to find away to keep the cramps out of my body so I can run during IM. The last thing I want is cramping before mile 6! In the end, my time was my PW or Personal Worst, but I felt like it was a PB or Personal Best because I was able to run the course today and I was not feeling sick in the heat....so I was satisfied with the progress made under today's conditions. My PR was early this summer in Altitude and much cooler weather, so I am going to happily race more in the PINES. This race is symbolic for me in many ways saying my good-byes to AZ and Tempe Town Lake. I will conquer this lake before we move to CA!
This week was one of the easier training weeks that we have had. I looked at it like it was a gift or a vacation because the real work is about to begin with the longest training days to come with a 6000 swim, 7 hr bike and 20 mile run over the next 8 weeks and the part I look forward to will be the TAPER.
Every day is a new day in training and racing and there are too many factors to consider, but there is always some lesson to learn and improvement to make whether you are chasing after your Personal Record and maybe some days your Personal Worst was actually your Personal Best.
All I know is that I need to go out and buy some DUCT TAPE to hold myself together or maybe in this case SUPER GLUE.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
RECOVERY.....(to recover or not to recover is the question)
How do you recover from your first half Ironman? Take 2 days off and get back to training. We are now entering into the danger zone, a place where you continue to build your strength and endurance while trying to stay healthy as you break your body down to build it up. It seems like a contradiction. Fighting off fatigue, muscle aches, sniffles, sore throat, and a sore shoulder, you still muster up the strength to somehow get your workouts done because you know that cramming the night before is not going to help you pass this test. I had a meeting with my coach this week and we discussed the pain I have been having on and off in my arm and we changed my schedule around a little bit. We also discussed my nutrition and how to take in more calories and water during long distance on the bike. Basically you have to cram a large picnic inside of a tiny little bag on your top tube that will last you 6 to 7 hours. We talked about peaking both physically and mentally at the right time and although I am feeling anxious about getting to race day that there is much more preparation to do. I want race day to arrive because I am finally getting tired of counting and am feeling ready to JUST DO IT!
What can you do for the body that you are beating up several hours a day. Well, drink lots of water, take plenty of electrolytes, get a comprehensive massage, take lots of motrin, give yourself ice massages, and wear compression garments, and sleep and eat every few hours. The other things that help you through are texting and chatting with your teammates about how comfy your couch is, the holes in your running shoes, what to eat, what to wear, your fears and frustrations, and strategies on getting through each day, and funny Ironman jokes to take your mind off of pain or fatigue.
I did skip one workout this week. I hope when I am close to peaking I will go into my race feeling well rested. Right now it seems like we are doing one workout on top of another on tired muscles. I see many of my teammates getting faster and farther ahead of me in the water, on the bike and on land. This is just an observation and not a concern because slow and steady is right where I want to be and that is all I seem to be able to do with the tired muscles. Many of my teammates do not agree with my turtle title, but I am comfortable in my zone and that is where I will stay. I have more hope of finishing the Ironman with a slow steady pace and I can visualize the turtle taking slow steady strides and may look painfully slow, but in the end will get me to the finish on time.
This weekend started with team swim on Friday, 50 mile bike ride with some nice hill climbing and an Open Water Swim on Saturday, and finally a 18 mile run on Sunday. It seems like there is no distance that is too far these days while you are on the move. Once you stop, your body tells you otherwise.
I guess RECOVERY will have to wait!
What can you do for the body that you are beating up several hours a day. Well, drink lots of water, take plenty of electrolytes, get a comprehensive massage, take lots of motrin, give yourself ice massages, and wear compression garments, and sleep and eat every few hours. The other things that help you through are texting and chatting with your teammates about how comfy your couch is, the holes in your running shoes, what to eat, what to wear, your fears and frustrations, and strategies on getting through each day, and funny Ironman jokes to take your mind off of pain or fatigue.
I did skip one workout this week. I hope when I am close to peaking I will go into my race feeling well rested. Right now it seems like we are doing one workout on top of another on tired muscles. I see many of my teammates getting faster and farther ahead of me in the water, on the bike and on land. This is just an observation and not a concern because slow and steady is right where I want to be and that is all I seem to be able to do with the tired muscles. Many of my teammates do not agree with my turtle title, but I am comfortable in my zone and that is where I will stay. I have more hope of finishing the Ironman with a slow steady pace and I can visualize the turtle taking slow steady strides and may look painfully slow, but in the end will get me to the finish on time.
This weekend started with team swim on Friday, 50 mile bike ride with some nice hill climbing and an Open Water Swim on Saturday, and finally a 18 mile run on Sunday. It seems like there is no distance that is too far these days while you are on the move. Once you stop, your body tells you otherwise.
I guess RECOVERY will have to wait!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Deuces Wild Triathlon Festival
Imagine swimming 1.2 miles in a little lake surrounded by pine trees, taking a 57 mile roller coaster ride with your bike, and running 13.1 miles weaving around Fool's Hollow Lake and Campground in Show Low, AZ at 6000 feet, ....when you cross the line, you hear the words...."Beth Kozura, YOU ARE A DEUCEMAN". The fans roar and you are so happy to be done. You did it....you completed your first HALF IRONMAN DISTANCE race. You have completed half the test and half the goal that you set out to do. You might think that half is not nearly enough to test your readiness for the full ironman, but it is a dress rehearsal, the ultimate brick workout, a training race, mental practice and confidence booster. It is like the mid-term exam. You learn (daily training and drills), you do your homework (workouts....practice practice practice), you review, you study, and you take the test (training race) to see how much your body has learned (feedback) and what areas you need to go back and relearn (revise plan).
First of all, if you are looking for a challenging course in a beautiful destination and you enjoy a small town race, I highly recommend Deuceman. It is a triathlon festival that is put on by Trisports.com which is an online triathlon stores that started in AZ and now partners with USAT. They also just opened a store in Tempe right across the street from Ironman AZ....so if you forget anything, you will be sure to find it at their store on race morning! Trisports.com is owned and operated by a triathlete couple who started the concept when they were looking for triathlon gear and their business has boomed along with their mission to give back to the community. They are very generous and I know first hand because when we reached out to them when they were first getting started they sponsored a big charity run that we helped organize. The festival offers olympic distance, long course, and xTerra races and youth triathlon. They also have an amazing raffle to help with their fundraising efforts with awesome triathlete gear including bikes, racing wheels, garmins, helmets, wetsuits, and more. I was the lucky winner of some new bike gloves and a 200 dollar gift certificate for SKINS products which I am a fan of Compression Wear!
Back to the race....the forecast called for scattered thunder storms, but on race morning the conditions were just right. The temperatures started in the 50s and went up to the low 70s. There were 130 athletes in the long course (including the relay teams) which turned out to be a little longer than the actual half IM distance by a mile or two. We were standing at start and all of a sudden the men who were standing in the water were singing the National Anthem so the women in wave 2 on dry land joined in. The triathlete men's choir were pretty good and there were a few silly notes added, but it isn't easy singing in cold water. The water temperature was reported to be around 70. It did not feel hot or cold...can water not have a temperature. Many people have talked about having difficulty breathing in water in high altitude, but in the past I have never noticed this phenomenon. I did feel it a little bit initially at the start, but within a few minutes I was breathing comfortably. The hard part about this swim was that you started in this cove and had to swim out a few hundred feet and turn right, so you had no preview of where the buoys were placed and what other landmarks to spot. There were 2 orange basketball buoys and then there were 2 large red triangle bouys where you made the turns. The course was a triangle, but the bouys were not easy to see. The course did seem long, but I was comfortable and just slowly passing people the entire time. I finished 21st in the swim out of 94 individual long course athletes...right in line with my typical swim. The bad news was to get out of the water, you had to run up a short steep hill. The good news was at the top, you got a team of strippers to take your wetsuit off. T1 went smooth, but slow as usual. I am all about taking my time. Maybe when I return to shorter distances it will be worthwhile to try to move faster, but in Ironman, I think it is more important to make sure you have everything right.
When I took off for the bike, my heart rate was a bit elevated (I think from running up the hill), so I tried to settle down and take the first 10 miles slow per my coach's instruction even if it meant letting people pass. The bike was so much fun because it was like a roller coaster ride. I did not feel like wind was a factor and it seemed much easier than the last time we had rode on this course earlier in the summer. I felt steadier on the uphills and enjoyed to down hills. There were 3 long hills near the end, but they just did not seem as difficult as the last time. I also worked a lot on my nutrition and even though I had some tightness in my right adductor, I did not cramp on the hills like I did previously. I ate every 10 minutes, 1 Gu Chomp every 10 minutes for the first 50 minutes and then 1/4 bonk bar and then repeated that pattern each hour. I also took 1 salt tablet every 30 minutes and 1/4 bottle of CarbPro/EFS mix every hour plus 2 bottles of water. It is part science, part luck, I guess, but I am definitely able to digest the more sugary solids taken every 10 minutes than the drinks, gels, or snacks with too much fiber. After I reached the highest point of the climb, I felt like I was going to be able to run.
I was happy to get off my bike and again I felt relaxed during T2. I grabbed my jelly beans, salt, and my Camelback, so I could snack and drink on demand. I continued taking salt sticks every 30 min and jelly beans every 10 minutes, plus I drank water at every mile and squeezed wet sponges over my head. It was a bit humid by the time I got to the run. My clock indicated that I might even break 6:30, but my main goal was to run the entire 13.1 miles. The course went around the lake and through the campground where people were sitting in lawn chairs cheering the athletes on. I felt like I was a float in a parade smiling and waving to the crowd. I should have thrown jelly beans out to the children. There were a few funny fans including a man and his son who were in costume and playing Rocky Music and an older lady shaky purple pom poms. There were a lot of young volunteers who were enthusiastically manning the aide stations and were thrilled to hand you a wet sponge and some water. There was even a section with cows on the side of the road who were passionately mooing at the runners. The faster I tried to run, the more likely the legs would cramp. I stayed within my comfort zone and held off cramping. I thought about enjoying the run and not counting the miles, but you can't help by track the miles with the big signs on the course and all the aide stations, but they were good reminders when to eat and drink. I tried to enjoy the run and the scenery and not think too much about racing. I knew that the small field was competitive because athletes posted their predicted finish times so I was not expecting to place. My legs progressively became tighter and the only time I thought the cramps were going to win were when I had to stop to tie my shoe around mile 10 and the last mile. I really did not want to walk, so I was able to maintain a steady pace. It was at this point when I wondered how my legs were going to hold out for another 13.1 miles. I do not know the answer to that question, but I do know I have 10 more weeks to get them ready.
Results: Today I finished my first half Ironman distance in 6:33:26. I finished 21/94 in the swim, 78/94 in the bike and 65/94 in the run. I finished 7/10 in my age group, 16/27 out of women, and 67?/94 overall. I was most pleased that if you double this time we are looking at 13 plus hours which gives me 4 extra hours to make the cut off. I am now moving my appointment for my post race IV, to 10 pm instead of 12 midnight. I might even have time to go out for a celebratory drink!
10 weeks left to fine tune the engine. It feels good to be Half Way There!
First of all, if you are looking for a challenging course in a beautiful destination and you enjoy a small town race, I highly recommend Deuceman. It is a triathlon festival that is put on by Trisports.com which is an online triathlon stores that started in AZ and now partners with USAT. They also just opened a store in Tempe right across the street from Ironman AZ....so if you forget anything, you will be sure to find it at their store on race morning! Trisports.com is owned and operated by a triathlete couple who started the concept when they were looking for triathlon gear and their business has boomed along with their mission to give back to the community. They are very generous and I know first hand because when we reached out to them when they were first getting started they sponsored a big charity run that we helped organize. The festival offers olympic distance, long course, and xTerra races and youth triathlon. They also have an amazing raffle to help with their fundraising efforts with awesome triathlete gear including bikes, racing wheels, garmins, helmets, wetsuits, and more. I was the lucky winner of some new bike gloves and a 200 dollar gift certificate for SKINS products which I am a fan of Compression Wear!
Back to the race....the forecast called for scattered thunder storms, but on race morning the conditions were just right. The temperatures started in the 50s and went up to the low 70s. There were 130 athletes in the long course (including the relay teams) which turned out to be a little longer than the actual half IM distance by a mile or two. We were standing at start and all of a sudden the men who were standing in the water were singing the National Anthem so the women in wave 2 on dry land joined in. The triathlete men's choir were pretty good and there were a few silly notes added, but it isn't easy singing in cold water. The water temperature was reported to be around 70. It did not feel hot or cold...can water not have a temperature. Many people have talked about having difficulty breathing in water in high altitude, but in the past I have never noticed this phenomenon. I did feel it a little bit initially at the start, but within a few minutes I was breathing comfortably. The hard part about this swim was that you started in this cove and had to swim out a few hundred feet and turn right, so you had no preview of where the buoys were placed and what other landmarks to spot. There were 2 orange basketball buoys and then there were 2 large red triangle bouys where you made the turns. The course was a triangle, but the bouys were not easy to see. The course did seem long, but I was comfortable and just slowly passing people the entire time. I finished 21st in the swim out of 94 individual long course athletes...right in line with my typical swim. The bad news was to get out of the water, you had to run up a short steep hill. The good news was at the top, you got a team of strippers to take your wetsuit off. T1 went smooth, but slow as usual. I am all about taking my time. Maybe when I return to shorter distances it will be worthwhile to try to move faster, but in Ironman, I think it is more important to make sure you have everything right.
When I took off for the bike, my heart rate was a bit elevated (I think from running up the hill), so I tried to settle down and take the first 10 miles slow per my coach's instruction even if it meant letting people pass. The bike was so much fun because it was like a roller coaster ride. I did not feel like wind was a factor and it seemed much easier than the last time we had rode on this course earlier in the summer. I felt steadier on the uphills and enjoyed to down hills. There were 3 long hills near the end, but they just did not seem as difficult as the last time. I also worked a lot on my nutrition and even though I had some tightness in my right adductor, I did not cramp on the hills like I did previously. I ate every 10 minutes, 1 Gu Chomp every 10 minutes for the first 50 minutes and then 1/4 bonk bar and then repeated that pattern each hour. I also took 1 salt tablet every 30 minutes and 1/4 bottle of CarbPro/EFS mix every hour plus 2 bottles of water. It is part science, part luck, I guess, but I am definitely able to digest the more sugary solids taken every 10 minutes than the drinks, gels, or snacks with too much fiber. After I reached the highest point of the climb, I felt like I was going to be able to run.
I was happy to get off my bike and again I felt relaxed during T2. I grabbed my jelly beans, salt, and my Camelback, so I could snack and drink on demand. I continued taking salt sticks every 30 min and jelly beans every 10 minutes, plus I drank water at every mile and squeezed wet sponges over my head. It was a bit humid by the time I got to the run. My clock indicated that I might even break 6:30, but my main goal was to run the entire 13.1 miles. The course went around the lake and through the campground where people were sitting in lawn chairs cheering the athletes on. I felt like I was a float in a parade smiling and waving to the crowd. I should have thrown jelly beans out to the children. There were a few funny fans including a man and his son who were in costume and playing Rocky Music and an older lady shaky purple pom poms. There were a lot of young volunteers who were enthusiastically manning the aide stations and were thrilled to hand you a wet sponge and some water. There was even a section with cows on the side of the road who were passionately mooing at the runners. The faster I tried to run, the more likely the legs would cramp. I stayed within my comfort zone and held off cramping. I thought about enjoying the run and not counting the miles, but you can't help by track the miles with the big signs on the course and all the aide stations, but they were good reminders when to eat and drink. I tried to enjoy the run and the scenery and not think too much about racing. I knew that the small field was competitive because athletes posted their predicted finish times so I was not expecting to place. My legs progressively became tighter and the only time I thought the cramps were going to win were when I had to stop to tie my shoe around mile 10 and the last mile. I really did not want to walk, so I was able to maintain a steady pace. It was at this point when I wondered how my legs were going to hold out for another 13.1 miles. I do not know the answer to that question, but I do know I have 10 more weeks to get them ready.
Results: Today I finished my first half Ironman distance in 6:33:26. I finished 21/94 in the swim, 78/94 in the bike and 65/94 in the run. I finished 7/10 in my age group, 16/27 out of women, and 67?/94 overall. I was most pleased that if you double this time we are looking at 13 plus hours which gives me 4 extra hours to make the cut off. I am now moving my appointment for my post race IV, to 10 pm instead of 12 midnight. I might even have time to go out for a celebratory drink!
10 weeks left to fine tune the engine. It feels good to be Half Way There!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Ironman Pajama Party...Girls just wanna have fun!
When you finish a 5 hour bike ride and you feel like you just woke up from a dream, you wonder why you are going to swim, bike and run for 17 hours if you are just going to forget what you did right after you cross the finish line. There are some highlights from this journey that stand out more than others. When you look back on this amazing ride, you have flashbacks of the greatest moments.
This weekend was an "Ironman Pajama Party" and was just what the doctor ordered. I think it will be one of the flashbacks I will remember for a very long time. We headed back up to Flagstaff for another training weekend to escape the heat and enjoy the long weekend. The plan was to drive up early that morning, but being the "spoiled IMIT" (ironman in training) that I am, I did not want to sit on my bike after sitting in the car for a few hours before and/or after, so we made a weekend of it. Two of my bestest training buddies came up with me the night before (we call ourselves the Angels, but that is another story) our long bike ride. We decided to make a girls night of it where we could just hang out together, share meals, prepare our gear, and talk shop.
Without any alcohol involved, laughter filled the room. We discussed our concerns, emotions, aches and pains, fears, and hopes for our big day. We decided to turn in early since we had a 5 hour ride in the morning. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I said, I was tired, but I could not sleep. It is what I call "Ironman Insomnia". Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep or stay asleep due to the excessive amounts of training, your body working over time and the anxiety and excitement about the big day. I shared with the other angels that I was feeling on edge and more emotional. When we look at each other now, we don't have to say anything because we know what the other person is going through and you begin to laugh, sometimes until you cry. I can only compare it to PMS, so I renamed it PIS for pre-ironman syndrome. I am sure it is not exclusive to women. I said I have PIS and we laughed until we cried! What a release. It is amazing that your body does what it needs to in order to survive.
Other games we played this weekend include:
Racelab Trivial Pursuit: We discussed the history of our team and its accomplishments and trivia tidbits
Monopoly: IM Edition (patent pending, so don't think about stealing this game): Instead of GO TO JAIL, you had to GO TO THE COACHES CORNER. Watch out, you could not get out of the coaches corner until you did 4 steps of pushups on the wall at swim and vertical kicks or extra drills at track.
What Hurts Today? Stomach, Shoulders, Knees...pick one (or two or three)!
"If I were the Coach...." This game you fill in the blank. When you are wondering why your coach has you doing brick workouts or long workouts day after day or strength training on your day off and you dream of changing your schedule, what would you do!
Name that Acronym:
IMIT: Ironman in Training
PIS: Pre-ironman syndrome
NDFAH: Nice day for a HILL
The 5 hour ride went well. Flagstaff was in full bloom and wild sunflowers lined that roads and the meadows. We rode 80 miles under the fluffy clouds with a nice cool breeze (sometimes a little more than a cyclist hopes for) and even a little drizzle. When it started to rain, my teammate said "what are we going to do now" and I replied, "keep riding until we get to 5 hours". It never poured so we escaped big rains and everything was just right. No stomach upset in the cooler weather. A little back pain and foot pain, which leads one to question whether you can have everything feel right all in one day. This was a great ride to prepare for the Half Ironman we are doing next weekend which will be in similar conditions. All I know is that when I am surrounded by pine trees, everything in my world is right! The ride was followed by a good meal (or two) with friends and I could say family even though my husband and son were not able to make it as my Ironman Teammates have become my family.
We stayed another night in the cool pines to do our ten mile run and open water swim. We ran on the Urban Trail System in Flagstaff which actually wound through neighborhoods in the woods and then to the County Fairgrounds and a few more miles deeper in the woods. Slow and steady we did run on tired and sore legs. The swim was questionable, but we pushed on to fit it in and the water felt great. We finished just in time for THUNDER and a BIG RAIN STORM moved in right when we reached our cars.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS JOURNEY SO FAR: my angels, my long slow distance partner, my caretaker, my rookie, my young irongirls, 4 girls on the side of the road trying to change a tire, giant track workout, Friday mornings roundtable chats before swim, Friday breakfasts at Einsteins, long rides at Canyon Lake, meetings at Macayo's, meals after workouts, Flagstaff rides, dinner at Courtney's with team talent show, hugs from teammates and coaches every time you see them, texts around the clock, facebook friends, encouragement, laughter, pajama party, race day, meals, meals, and more meals, teammates, my brother who got me into this mess, both brothers who supports me through this mess, my husband and son who do just fine without my presence and have been patient, EFS, Carb Pro, sportsbeans, GU chews, bike fittings, Camille to Scottie, Triathlons, Vineman, Wine tasting, writing my blog, turtlescanfly2@blogspot.com and my bestest blog buddies and followers to share the journey with...... and I am sure the best is yet to come!
This weekend was an "Ironman Pajama Party" and was just what the doctor ordered. I think it will be one of the flashbacks I will remember for a very long time. We headed back up to Flagstaff for another training weekend to escape the heat and enjoy the long weekend. The plan was to drive up early that morning, but being the "spoiled IMIT" (ironman in training) that I am, I did not want to sit on my bike after sitting in the car for a few hours before and/or after, so we made a weekend of it. Two of my bestest training buddies came up with me the night before (we call ourselves the Angels, but that is another story) our long bike ride. We decided to make a girls night of it where we could just hang out together, share meals, prepare our gear, and talk shop.
Without any alcohol involved, laughter filled the room. We discussed our concerns, emotions, aches and pains, fears, and hopes for our big day. We decided to turn in early since we had a 5 hour ride in the morning. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I said, I was tired, but I could not sleep. It is what I call "Ironman Insomnia". Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep or stay asleep due to the excessive amounts of training, your body working over time and the anxiety and excitement about the big day. I shared with the other angels that I was feeling on edge and more emotional. When we look at each other now, we don't have to say anything because we know what the other person is going through and you begin to laugh, sometimes until you cry. I can only compare it to PMS, so I renamed it PIS for pre-ironman syndrome. I am sure it is not exclusive to women. I said I have PIS and we laughed until we cried! What a release. It is amazing that your body does what it needs to in order to survive.
Other games we played this weekend include:
Racelab Trivial Pursuit: We discussed the history of our team and its accomplishments and trivia tidbits
Monopoly: IM Edition (patent pending, so don't think about stealing this game): Instead of GO TO JAIL, you had to GO TO THE COACHES CORNER. Watch out, you could not get out of the coaches corner until you did 4 steps of pushups on the wall at swim and vertical kicks or extra drills at track.
What Hurts Today? Stomach, Shoulders, Knees...pick one (or two or three)!
"If I were the Coach...." This game you fill in the blank. When you are wondering why your coach has you doing brick workouts or long workouts day after day or strength training on your day off and you dream of changing your schedule, what would you do!
Name that Acronym:
IMIT: Ironman in Training
PIS: Pre-ironman syndrome
NDFAH: Nice day for a HILL
The 5 hour ride went well. Flagstaff was in full bloom and wild sunflowers lined that roads and the meadows. We rode 80 miles under the fluffy clouds with a nice cool breeze (sometimes a little more than a cyclist hopes for) and even a little drizzle. When it started to rain, my teammate said "what are we going to do now" and I replied, "keep riding until we get to 5 hours". It never poured so we escaped big rains and everything was just right. No stomach upset in the cooler weather. A little back pain and foot pain, which leads one to question whether you can have everything feel right all in one day. This was a great ride to prepare for the Half Ironman we are doing next weekend which will be in similar conditions. All I know is that when I am surrounded by pine trees, everything in my world is right! The ride was followed by a good meal (or two) with friends and I could say family even though my husband and son were not able to make it as my Ironman Teammates have become my family.
We stayed another night in the cool pines to do our ten mile run and open water swim. We ran on the Urban Trail System in Flagstaff which actually wound through neighborhoods in the woods and then to the County Fairgrounds and a few more miles deeper in the woods. Slow and steady we did run on tired and sore legs. The swim was questionable, but we pushed on to fit it in and the water felt great. We finished just in time for THUNDER and a BIG RAIN STORM moved in right when we reached our cars.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS JOURNEY SO FAR: my angels, my long slow distance partner, my caretaker, my rookie, my young irongirls, 4 girls on the side of the road trying to change a tire, giant track workout, Friday mornings roundtable chats before swim, Friday breakfasts at Einsteins, long rides at Canyon Lake, meetings at Macayo's, meals after workouts, Flagstaff rides, dinner at Courtney's with team talent show, hugs from teammates and coaches every time you see them, texts around the clock, facebook friends, encouragement, laughter, pajama party, race day, meals, meals, and more meals, teammates, my brother who got me into this mess, both brothers who supports me through this mess, my husband and son who do just fine without my presence and have been patient, EFS, Carb Pro, sportsbeans, GU chews, bike fittings, Camille to Scottie, Triathlons, Vineman, Wine tasting, writing my blog, turtlescanfly2@blogspot.com and my bestest blog buddies and followers to share the journey with...... and I am sure the best is yet to come!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
When in Doubt, Work it Out: Take the Long Road Home
After a rough week of just not feeling strong, I found out my blood work came out a little out of whack. I went in to the doctors for my annual thyroid check to monitor my medication I take for hypothyroidism. I told my doctor how great I was feeling and he had complimented me on my weight loss this year. I smiled and replied, "IRONMAN TRAINING". Later in the week, my muscles just felt empty. On Friday, I learned my liver enzymes were elevated along with my white blood cell count and my dose of synthroid needed to be increased. My son came home not feeling well and was feverish and by Saturday morning I seemed to share his soar throat and achy body.
He can just chillax, take some allergy and cold medicine and rest for the weekend, but not an IMIT(Ironman in Training)! There are miles to log and heart rate zones to visit. And the question of how hard to push without risking ending up sick in bed all week lingered in my mind. I met a few teammates for a 3.5 hour ride around the McDowell Mountains. The directions we chose took us up some nice steep hills to warm up and up a famous route called 9 mile hill. I knew that I was going to probably return to being a turtle, on this day, but I had no idea that once again, my legs would feel heavy and weak and the open sunshine and higher than usually humidity challenged my mind and body for the entire ride. I had no choice but to finish because I was already half way around the mountain and the only way back was to complete the other half. Turning around would be the same distance. My friends were nice enough to wait for me at the big bike rest stop. I thought about abandoning the mission on several occasions especially when I rode by a turn off to my house. I also don't like holding people back, but I just did not have it in me to keep up today. It quickly went from a "long" ride to a "survival" ride. I had to fight muscle fatigue, sore throat, burning feet, a little discomfort in my back, and another upset stomach despite following my coach's recommendations to add more water and salt to my nutrition.
I made it to the end, but I was not sure what was going to be left for my Sunday run, so I decided to just wake up without an alarm and see what the morning would bring. I checked my watch at 3:19 am as that seems to be when my biological alarm clock has been going off and then I hit the snooze button in my mind for an hour and decided I would take motrin to take the edge off the sore throat and see what my legs had in them.
I left at 5am and enjoyed running the first 30 minutes in the dark. When I passed by a street light and saw a shadow in front of me and one by my side, I realized I was back with me, myself and I and this is exactly where I was supposed to be. The only person that you can rely on in Ironman is yourself and it was good to have this reunion with my self. Even though I was alone, I was surrounded by my mind and body. Would we work together today or would we be battling it out to the finish. I got away from obsessing with what mile I was on and what my heart rate was and just listened to my body and went a comfortable pace that I knew I could sustain. I did snack when my Garmin chimed and sipped on my Camelback the entire way. Today was about running through being under the weather and pushing the wall back. I texted my husband to give him the thumbs up as I knew I could make the 16 miles today and would not need a rescue. As long as I was in the shade, my stomach seemed fine. As soon as the sun came up, my stomach starts acting up. I really think I am allergic to the sun. Maybe I should sign up for a night triathlon. On the other hand, I will likely be running in the night on race day.
My body is now telling me to rest. I think I have pushed the wall back enough for one day and do not want to end up spending the week in bed, so I will stop while I am ahead and skip the swim. Hoping to talk to my coach about making some adjustments to my schedule and looking closer at nutrition.
This week RAISED some serious DOUBT in my mind. I felt like I was being tested over and over again this week on how I could find a way to move, when I had nothing left to give. I suppose that the triathlon gods are looking over me trying to prepare me for what is to come. Training can last forever as long as we are healthy, but there are only 17 hours in an Ironman. The question is how to get to the start line well trained, well nourished, and well rested so the swim, bike and run will all be in harmony on race day. Well my friends, there are 85 days left to figure this out.
He can just chillax, take some allergy and cold medicine and rest for the weekend, but not an IMIT(Ironman in Training)! There are miles to log and heart rate zones to visit. And the question of how hard to push without risking ending up sick in bed all week lingered in my mind. I met a few teammates for a 3.5 hour ride around the McDowell Mountains. The directions we chose took us up some nice steep hills to warm up and up a famous route called 9 mile hill. I knew that I was going to probably return to being a turtle, on this day, but I had no idea that once again, my legs would feel heavy and weak and the open sunshine and higher than usually humidity challenged my mind and body for the entire ride. I had no choice but to finish because I was already half way around the mountain and the only way back was to complete the other half. Turning around would be the same distance. My friends were nice enough to wait for me at the big bike rest stop. I thought about abandoning the mission on several occasions especially when I rode by a turn off to my house. I also don't like holding people back, but I just did not have it in me to keep up today. It quickly went from a "long" ride to a "survival" ride. I had to fight muscle fatigue, sore throat, burning feet, a little discomfort in my back, and another upset stomach despite following my coach's recommendations to add more water and salt to my nutrition.
I made it to the end, but I was not sure what was going to be left for my Sunday run, so I decided to just wake up without an alarm and see what the morning would bring. I checked my watch at 3:19 am as that seems to be when my biological alarm clock has been going off and then I hit the snooze button in my mind for an hour and decided I would take motrin to take the edge off the sore throat and see what my legs had in them.
I left at 5am and enjoyed running the first 30 minutes in the dark. When I passed by a street light and saw a shadow in front of me and one by my side, I realized I was back with me, myself and I and this is exactly where I was supposed to be. The only person that you can rely on in Ironman is yourself and it was good to have this reunion with my self. Even though I was alone, I was surrounded by my mind and body. Would we work together today or would we be battling it out to the finish. I got away from obsessing with what mile I was on and what my heart rate was and just listened to my body and went a comfortable pace that I knew I could sustain. I did snack when my Garmin chimed and sipped on my Camelback the entire way. Today was about running through being under the weather and pushing the wall back. I texted my husband to give him the thumbs up as I knew I could make the 16 miles today and would not need a rescue. As long as I was in the shade, my stomach seemed fine. As soon as the sun came up, my stomach starts acting up. I really think I am allergic to the sun. Maybe I should sign up for a night triathlon. On the other hand, I will likely be running in the night on race day.
My body is now telling me to rest. I think I have pushed the wall back enough for one day and do not want to end up spending the week in bed, so I will stop while I am ahead and skip the swim. Hoping to talk to my coach about making some adjustments to my schedule and looking closer at nutrition.
This week RAISED some serious DOUBT in my mind. I felt like I was being tested over and over again this week on how I could find a way to move, when I had nothing left to give. I suppose that the triathlon gods are looking over me trying to prepare me for what is to come. Training can last forever as long as we are healthy, but there are only 17 hours in an Ironman. The question is how to get to the start line well trained, well nourished, and well rested so the swim, bike and run will all be in harmony on race day. Well my friends, there are 85 days left to figure this out.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Turn that Frown Upside Down: The Highs and Lows of Triathlon
When Sunday morning comes and I open one eye to check the time, I just want to roll over and go back to sleep. I wonder how my legs will support my weight when I try to stand up after another week of training and a 4 hour ride the day before. The week is not over until you finish your long run and final group swim. This is the hardest day of the week to rise and shine. So I manage to rise without the shine, because I know I have a teammate who is depending on me on the other side known as the parking lot. If we do not show up for each other, we would have to muster up super human will to go on. Thank goodness there are a few others like me.
I manage to get up and fill my Camelback with ice, fluid and fuel, reset my Garmin, and stuff a few snacks into my pockets. I tip toe into the garage and try to sneak out without waking the rest of the normal humans in my home who are still having sweet dreams. I head out in the dark trying to remember where I am going and what is on my training schedule. I look down at my car thermometer which reads 86 degrees. Oh, what a treat, we get to run in sub 90 temps this morning. I almost get to our meeting spot and a rabbit runs out from the middle of nowhere and I hear a loud noise. My heart aches for a moment and I roll on. The turtle does not want to beat the rabbit this way as it goes against everything this epic tale is all about. I arrive and exclaim, "I just killed a wabbit" and I was so upset, but knew that the turtle can not stop for anything (the run must go on). We did not see the rabbit as we took off to begin our short 12 mile run, so I was hopeful he miraculously might have escaped death (though later in the light, I observed that was not the case, unless someone else hit the maimed little fellow after me).
This particular Sunday was a reminder of how we come down after the "Highs" of Triathlon and experience the "Lows". The previous day was a 4 hour bike ride in our long zone on part of the Ironman Course. I managed to get 71 miles in with a moving average of 17.6 mph which makes me happy. You pedal until you get into your zone. Yes, your heart rate zone, but I am really speaking about the zone where you are just one with your bike and nothing else matters. You are at peace with yourself and the world and nobody can interfere with your special place...that is until you get a flat tire, have to stop at a traffic light, need to refuel or start to get an upset stomach....but when you are there, it is wonderful. I am sure only a drug user can relate, but this is a natural high that I can get by moving my body through space and time. The effects of this high last for hours even when you have stopped moving. It was not until the next day before the sun comes up and before the alarm chimes, do you question everything you are about and wonder how you are going to refill your tank so you can move forward for one more day.
This is where the Mental Training will come in very handy on Ironman Day. It is beyond where our motor programs can take us. It is the place that we have to store our mental and spiritual fuel to overcome fatigue, pain, mental barriers, free will, negativity, and convert them into determination and motivation to complete the task that we set out to do. It sure helps on the days where you think you cannot go on to have people waiting on the other side who can help you overcome these frown moments and find ways to turn them around. In 91 days, it is just going to be one person with all this stored information and endurance on the long path to the finish line. You will be surrounded by others racing against themselves, a clock and maybe a few others in their age group and the many loved ones, teammates and anonymous spectators cheering on the sidelines. I imagine the roars of the crowds will fall on deaf ears of the fierce and focused athletes, but I will keep my mind and heart open to using this energy to help me find my way to the finish line. One strategy that I will remember from my mental training bible is when in doubt SMILE as it releases tension and helps you get your head back in the game.
So literally turning the frown upside down when you are in the middle of your low will help you get back on top. I guess smiling is not so bad to practice. It is painless, free and contagious and you can throw a splash of laughter in while you are at it. The best moments on this journey are the hugs and laughter. So if your coach forgets to add this to your schedule, you should practice smiling while training in your long zone, when your Garmin beeps every mile, add a smile for 10 seconds to each interval during your track workouts and between swim sets, and don't forget to smile and hold it while you are flying down a hill!
See, don't you feel better already!
I manage to get up and fill my Camelback with ice, fluid and fuel, reset my Garmin, and stuff a few snacks into my pockets. I tip toe into the garage and try to sneak out without waking the rest of the normal humans in my home who are still having sweet dreams. I head out in the dark trying to remember where I am going and what is on my training schedule. I look down at my car thermometer which reads 86 degrees. Oh, what a treat, we get to run in sub 90 temps this morning. I almost get to our meeting spot and a rabbit runs out from the middle of nowhere and I hear a loud noise. My heart aches for a moment and I roll on. The turtle does not want to beat the rabbit this way as it goes against everything this epic tale is all about. I arrive and exclaim, "I just killed a wabbit" and I was so upset, but knew that the turtle can not stop for anything (the run must go on). We did not see the rabbit as we took off to begin our short 12 mile run, so I was hopeful he miraculously might have escaped death (though later in the light, I observed that was not the case, unless someone else hit the maimed little fellow after me).
This particular Sunday was a reminder of how we come down after the "Highs" of Triathlon and experience the "Lows". The previous day was a 4 hour bike ride in our long zone on part of the Ironman Course. I managed to get 71 miles in with a moving average of 17.6 mph which makes me happy. You pedal until you get into your zone. Yes, your heart rate zone, but I am really speaking about the zone where you are just one with your bike and nothing else matters. You are at peace with yourself and the world and nobody can interfere with your special place...that is until you get a flat tire, have to stop at a traffic light, need to refuel or start to get an upset stomach....but when you are there, it is wonderful. I am sure only a drug user can relate, but this is a natural high that I can get by moving my body through space and time. The effects of this high last for hours even when you have stopped moving. It was not until the next day before the sun comes up and before the alarm chimes, do you question everything you are about and wonder how you are going to refill your tank so you can move forward for one more day.
This is where the Mental Training will come in very handy on Ironman Day. It is beyond where our motor programs can take us. It is the place that we have to store our mental and spiritual fuel to overcome fatigue, pain, mental barriers, free will, negativity, and convert them into determination and motivation to complete the task that we set out to do. It sure helps on the days where you think you cannot go on to have people waiting on the other side who can help you overcome these frown moments and find ways to turn them around. In 91 days, it is just going to be one person with all this stored information and endurance on the long path to the finish line. You will be surrounded by others racing against themselves, a clock and maybe a few others in their age group and the many loved ones, teammates and anonymous spectators cheering on the sidelines. I imagine the roars of the crowds will fall on deaf ears of the fierce and focused athletes, but I will keep my mind and heart open to using this energy to help me find my way to the finish line. One strategy that I will remember from my mental training bible is when in doubt SMILE as it releases tension and helps you get your head back in the game.
So literally turning the frown upside down when you are in the middle of your low will help you get back on top. I guess smiling is not so bad to practice. It is painless, free and contagious and you can throw a splash of laughter in while you are at it. The best moments on this journey are the hugs and laughter. So if your coach forgets to add this to your schedule, you should practice smiling while training in your long zone, when your Garmin beeps every mile, add a smile for 10 seconds to each interval during your track workouts and between swim sets, and don't forget to smile and hold it while you are flying down a hill!
See, don't you feel better already!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Racing to Ironman: The Clock is Ticking
This weekend was a big milestone with the passing of 100 days left until IMAZ and the beginning of the fall race season leading up to the event. Friday was an exciting day marking the end of triple digits and a time for reflection on what we have been through since that cold and rainy morning last November when many people stood on line to sign up for this big adventure.
There have been 4 hours in the pool and 3 running and 3 bike workouts of varying speeds and intensity each week. We have layed bricks, done finales, biked up long hills, logged a lot of miles in our long zone, and eaten a lot of bagels, chews, jellybeans, gels, salt tabs, carb and electrolyte mixes...Not to mention all the miles we have driven in a car, just to get to a location to sit on our bikes and ride many more miles.
We have woven a tight knit team that is there to support each other whether it is laughing at 4 am when you are too tired to stand up let alone run, to rubbing out your teammates cramp, to lifting each other up when we are down, to encouraging someone to keep going when it hurts, to praising each other for their progress, to discussing private matters, to sharing life stories, to creating new stories, to sharing a passion between generations, to talking a friend off a cliff, to hugging someone when they cross the line, to enjoying a meal or movie together, and to just quietly being by someone's side when there are no words to be said. Together we stand, but each one of us has to travel to a very personal place to get into their own zone. You must go to a place that only you can reach which requires anchoring down, letting go, and digging deep. You find comfort in a familiar face along side of the road or another yellow jersey on the course and it makes you smile and then you return to that place inside where you contemplate, battle with yourself and find peace with yourself and the world. Sometimes it is like being stuck in a video game where you have to kill off the dragons that pop up along the way to get to the kingdom, but when you are moving fast and the demons stay off your path, riding through the wind brings you into a dream like state where you find your happy!
This weekend was the Mountain Man Olympic Triathlon in Flagstaff. It was another opportunity to escape the heat and assess how our bodies are responding to training. The race happened to be on my son's 13th birthday and my husband had to travel to Russia and could not enjoy the weekend with us. We were fortunate to have friends with a cabin at Morman Lake who hosted us and helped make my son's birthday a memorable one. I highly recommend staying in the pines as a pre-race strategy because I found myself to be extremely relaxed and calm. I picked up my race packet on Friday evening and just separated myself from all the pre-race excitement since we did not have to check our bikes in the day before the event. My son hung out with his friends and was in boy heaven playing in the woods with soft air guns and ATVs and other off road vehicles along with a boating adventure and campfires at night. He was happy and I was happy that he had a chance to really enjoy the outdoors. We just got to chill for the entire day. Well almost the entire day. I had a short brick workout to warm up for the race on Sunday and it was hard to keep it short because being in the pines makes you just want to go. I rode with the cows and ran with a deer and kept it short to save my legs for the race.
Sunday morning came and I got up before my 3 alarm system at 3:45 am and went quickly and quietly through the rituals because I did not want to wake up anyone else in the cabin. Off to the races in the dark I went. It was pitch black driving through the woods and then all of a sudden there were little spot lights and cars lining up on the side of the road and the pre-race festivities began! I parked a half mile away and stuffed all my gear into a small backpack and held a flashlight in my hand and rode my bike to the start. It was an open rack system and my team set up on 2 racks. It was fun and though the adrenaline was starting to flow, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm this particular morning. I was worried how I would do without butterflies in my stomach. After picking up our timing chips, body marking, donning our wetsuits and taking BEFORE pictures, we headed to the swim start. Ahhh, then my body started feeling a little whoozy, "oh good I am alive", I thought. Now, I am going to be ok if I don't get sick. The water is usually not a source of nerves for me so I decided to take the inside lane and we were off. My coach warned us about starting off too fast in high altitude so I made sure I went at a comfortable pace. The bouys seemed so far away today, but I just felt comfortable and made my way to the first green buoy. I did not deal with much congestion until the first turn and then I stayed on the inside to have a bit of a crash with another swimmer at the next buoy and she flipped out and screamed "WTF". I decided I was getting out of this "road rage" swimmers way and sprinted ahead. Not sure if she was upset with me or who got in who's path, but I was not taking any chances of someone that was falling apart in the water. Finally made it to the last turn and then it was a diagonal path to the finish. I could not see the bouy, so I just followed the other swimmers and hoped they were going toward the finish. The swims always start at sunrise so you always have the sun in your eyes in one direction and this time it was to the finish. I was satisfied with my swim and then fumbled as usual in the transition taking my wetsuit off and getting my bike gear off. I find this to be the most difficult transition trying to get your hands to work and balancing on your feet to get on your bike. My legs felt tired, but I had a lot of things to focus on since having another coaching session with my bicyclologist, Jeff, this month. We road this course 2 weekends ago, so I was familiar with what was to come. My legs came back and I enjoyed the rolling hills. The ups were a little harder this week after the swim and a bit more head wind and after getting passed by a few people on them, I came back stronger on the second half (plus it was a short ride for us being under 25 miles). I settled into my base heart rate zone which is not a place I easily get to. I was really happy to pass teammates in both directions and then a group of teammates screaming at the transition warms your heart. T2 went a lot smoother and I said I was taking my time, practicing a slower transition for IM, using reverse psychology with myself to try and relax. I looked at my watch on the way out and I was at 1:52. That meant I had an hour and 8 minutes to break the 3 hour mark and it was very doable if I could run the entire course so I contained my energy and started off slow. This course is known for its steep hill at mile 1.5. I had run it 2 weeks ago, so no surprises for me, but this time I had swam and bike before running it. I tried to enjoy the scenery, talk to myself to stay standing and say a prayer that my legs would not cramp. I sang happy birthday to my son and thought about some of my little angels that I carry with me on races to help me fly. The top of the hill seemed far away, but I knew at the turn around, it was going to be all down hill and the race would be mine. Only on the way down, I started feeling the pre-cramp twinges. Again, I tell myself all I have to do is stay standing up and moving forward. I shortened my stride. I felt good as though I could start running faster, but I knew I would risk a full blown cramp and I might be forced to walk. I did not want to walk. I realized that I did not take the salt tablets I had packed on my bike which might have prevented the cramping, but it was too late, so I had to just do what it took. I held off the major spasm until the last mile and even to the finish where my toes were curling and stuck together in my left shoe. This is what the Mountain Man race slogan was about "THE TOUGHEST RACE YOU WILL EVER LOVE". I looked down at my watch and I had done it, I had broken 3 hours on the hilly course in higher altitude with 3.5 minutes to spare. A gush of heat filled my face as I held back my tears and my brother ran up to me at the finish and helped me get water and walked me back to our tent so I could cheer the rest of our teammates on.
I ended up improving my time by at-least 5 or 6 minutes. I even ended up placing 3rd in my age group out of 14 which is quite an accomplishment for a HAPPY TURTLE. The first 2 places were quite a bit faster than me, but I was honored to be in the top three for a nice change. You never know what athletes are going to show up on race day. Even better, many of my teammates PRed. It is really cool to see everyone's hard work pay off. Not everyone has a perfect race, we wouldn't be here if we did. It is about overcoming each challenge as it presents itself and finding that happy place within and sharing it with others that seek it out.
We are well on our way. I still can't even imagine what is ahead in these final 14 weeks. The focus has to be on one day at a time, but us triathletes love to count and play with numbers. The clock might have stopped at the end of the race, but it is still ticking away on the count down to Ironman. Have you hugged your Ironman today?
There have been 4 hours in the pool and 3 running and 3 bike workouts of varying speeds and intensity each week. We have layed bricks, done finales, biked up long hills, logged a lot of miles in our long zone, and eaten a lot of bagels, chews, jellybeans, gels, salt tabs, carb and electrolyte mixes...Not to mention all the miles we have driven in a car, just to get to a location to sit on our bikes and ride many more miles.
We have woven a tight knit team that is there to support each other whether it is laughing at 4 am when you are too tired to stand up let alone run, to rubbing out your teammates cramp, to lifting each other up when we are down, to encouraging someone to keep going when it hurts, to praising each other for their progress, to discussing private matters, to sharing life stories, to creating new stories, to sharing a passion between generations, to talking a friend off a cliff, to hugging someone when they cross the line, to enjoying a meal or movie together, and to just quietly being by someone's side when there are no words to be said. Together we stand, but each one of us has to travel to a very personal place to get into their own zone. You must go to a place that only you can reach which requires anchoring down, letting go, and digging deep. You find comfort in a familiar face along side of the road or another yellow jersey on the course and it makes you smile and then you return to that place inside where you contemplate, battle with yourself and find peace with yourself and the world. Sometimes it is like being stuck in a video game where you have to kill off the dragons that pop up along the way to get to the kingdom, but when you are moving fast and the demons stay off your path, riding through the wind brings you into a dream like state where you find your happy!
This weekend was the Mountain Man Olympic Triathlon in Flagstaff. It was another opportunity to escape the heat and assess how our bodies are responding to training. The race happened to be on my son's 13th birthday and my husband had to travel to Russia and could not enjoy the weekend with us. We were fortunate to have friends with a cabin at Morman Lake who hosted us and helped make my son's birthday a memorable one. I highly recommend staying in the pines as a pre-race strategy because I found myself to be extremely relaxed and calm. I picked up my race packet on Friday evening and just separated myself from all the pre-race excitement since we did not have to check our bikes in the day before the event. My son hung out with his friends and was in boy heaven playing in the woods with soft air guns and ATVs and other off road vehicles along with a boating adventure and campfires at night. He was happy and I was happy that he had a chance to really enjoy the outdoors. We just got to chill for the entire day. Well almost the entire day. I had a short brick workout to warm up for the race on Sunday and it was hard to keep it short because being in the pines makes you just want to go. I rode with the cows and ran with a deer and kept it short to save my legs for the race.
Sunday morning came and I got up before my 3 alarm system at 3:45 am and went quickly and quietly through the rituals because I did not want to wake up anyone else in the cabin. Off to the races in the dark I went. It was pitch black driving through the woods and then all of a sudden there were little spot lights and cars lining up on the side of the road and the pre-race festivities began! I parked a half mile away and stuffed all my gear into a small backpack and held a flashlight in my hand and rode my bike to the start. It was an open rack system and my team set up on 2 racks. It was fun and though the adrenaline was starting to flow, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm this particular morning. I was worried how I would do without butterflies in my stomach. After picking up our timing chips, body marking, donning our wetsuits and taking BEFORE pictures, we headed to the swim start. Ahhh, then my body started feeling a little whoozy, "oh good I am alive", I thought. Now, I am going to be ok if I don't get sick. The water is usually not a source of nerves for me so I decided to take the inside lane and we were off. My coach warned us about starting off too fast in high altitude so I made sure I went at a comfortable pace. The bouys seemed so far away today, but I just felt comfortable and made my way to the first green buoy. I did not deal with much congestion until the first turn and then I stayed on the inside to have a bit of a crash with another swimmer at the next buoy and she flipped out and screamed "WTF". I decided I was getting out of this "road rage" swimmers way and sprinted ahead. Not sure if she was upset with me or who got in who's path, but I was not taking any chances of someone that was falling apart in the water. Finally made it to the last turn and then it was a diagonal path to the finish. I could not see the bouy, so I just followed the other swimmers and hoped they were going toward the finish. The swims always start at sunrise so you always have the sun in your eyes in one direction and this time it was to the finish. I was satisfied with my swim and then fumbled as usual in the transition taking my wetsuit off and getting my bike gear off. I find this to be the most difficult transition trying to get your hands to work and balancing on your feet to get on your bike. My legs felt tired, but I had a lot of things to focus on since having another coaching session with my bicyclologist, Jeff, this month. We road this course 2 weekends ago, so I was familiar with what was to come. My legs came back and I enjoyed the rolling hills. The ups were a little harder this week after the swim and a bit more head wind and after getting passed by a few people on them, I came back stronger on the second half (plus it was a short ride for us being under 25 miles). I settled into my base heart rate zone which is not a place I easily get to. I was really happy to pass teammates in both directions and then a group of teammates screaming at the transition warms your heart. T2 went a lot smoother and I said I was taking my time, practicing a slower transition for IM, using reverse psychology with myself to try and relax. I looked at my watch on the way out and I was at 1:52. That meant I had an hour and 8 minutes to break the 3 hour mark and it was very doable if I could run the entire course so I contained my energy and started off slow. This course is known for its steep hill at mile 1.5. I had run it 2 weeks ago, so no surprises for me, but this time I had swam and bike before running it. I tried to enjoy the scenery, talk to myself to stay standing and say a prayer that my legs would not cramp. I sang happy birthday to my son and thought about some of my little angels that I carry with me on races to help me fly. The top of the hill seemed far away, but I knew at the turn around, it was going to be all down hill and the race would be mine. Only on the way down, I started feeling the pre-cramp twinges. Again, I tell myself all I have to do is stay standing up and moving forward. I shortened my stride. I felt good as though I could start running faster, but I knew I would risk a full blown cramp and I might be forced to walk. I did not want to walk. I realized that I did not take the salt tablets I had packed on my bike which might have prevented the cramping, but it was too late, so I had to just do what it took. I held off the major spasm until the last mile and even to the finish where my toes were curling and stuck together in my left shoe. This is what the Mountain Man race slogan was about "THE TOUGHEST RACE YOU WILL EVER LOVE". I looked down at my watch and I had done it, I had broken 3 hours on the hilly course in higher altitude with 3.5 minutes to spare. A gush of heat filled my face as I held back my tears and my brother ran up to me at the finish and helped me get water and walked me back to our tent so I could cheer the rest of our teammates on.
I ended up improving my time by at-least 5 or 6 minutes. I even ended up placing 3rd in my age group out of 14 which is quite an accomplishment for a HAPPY TURTLE. The first 2 places were quite a bit faster than me, but I was honored to be in the top three for a nice change. You never know what athletes are going to show up on race day. Even better, many of my teammates PRed. It is really cool to see everyone's hard work pay off. Not everyone has a perfect race, we wouldn't be here if we did. It is about overcoming each challenge as it presents itself and finding that happy place within and sharing it with others that seek it out.
We are well on our way. I still can't even imagine what is ahead in these final 14 weeks. The focus has to be on one day at a time, but us triathletes love to count and play with numbers. The clock might have stopped at the end of the race, but it is still ticking away on the count down to Ironman. Have you hugged your Ironman today?
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