I can't believe it but somehow my jiffy feet have managed to keep on rolling! And since the fact that writing my thoughts throughout all this training and racing I've taken on has proven to be very cathartic at times, I've decided to move it from Facebook notes to this blog. Part training log, part tale of a fat girl on a mission to get the monkey off my back and go further, faster and harder than I ever have before!
Its been a few weeks since Beach Blast, the Olympic Distance triathlon and if you had asked me beforehand or even a few months ago I would tell you undoubtedly that I would totally slack off on my training after that race. Especially if I had actually completed the damn thing, which I did despite Mother Nature throwing me one heck of a curve ball with rain during the ENTIRE race!
I thought I'd come home and loose my motivation but I haven't surprisingly. I don't know if its the fact that I actually completed the Oly distance or the fact that the Penscola Iron-team has convinced me to do the VERY competitive Santa Rosa sprint tri in Pensacola on October 3, but I've kept up the training only taking the Monday after the race off and sticking with Olympic distance training for the most part and not slacking back off to the easier sprint distance training. (I have my suspicions that the I-team may have slipped some mind-melding potion into the pasta sauce while we were carb-loading for Beach Blast and I've somehow maintained the training motivation!)
In fact, I've upped my running distance and with the help of a great running partner have been doing long weekend runs and knocked out 7.2 miles early Saturday morning! I'm pretty sure my hamstrings will never forgive me -- especially since there is no Monday massage this week!
Part of what gets me through is thinking about the fact that I've cleared some pretty amazing hurdles and I know I can do what once never seemed possible. It also helps to think about all the people pushing it much harder -- especially the few unbelievably amazing Iron athletes I know! I can whine and mental block myself the whole time I'm doing a fast, pace 3-miler or trudging alone doing 7 miles but then I remind myself some of my friends are running 22-miles in training...Phew! I'll take 7 thank you very much!
I guess a lot of it is the motivation comes from the people rooting you on too...and knowing that there's people out there who have more faith in me than I do in myself. Not to mention it felt pretty darn good to be out unwinding on a Friday night and having people ask why I wasn't drinking and then watch their faces as I said I had to be up at 7 to run 7! Several people said they wouldn't even be driving 7 miles today much less running!!!
I also had two very interesting conversations with two different guys who were trying to lose weight. One told me he was trying to lose 100 lbs and walks the causeway bridge (4 miles) in Tampa everyday -- his motivation -- "I don't want to have to go on that show (Biggest Loser)" he confessed to me. Another guy I recognized from the gym, which he doesn't go to anymore and said that he was 30 lbs heavier when he went there. While women talk about that stuff all the time it's rare that you'll have such dialogue with men. It made me think a couple things...Everyone is struggling with their own "monkeys." But it also gave me a little perspective on the pretty big challenge I've taken on in my own mission to lose weight and rid myself of the monkey on my back...It also makes me realize how little conversations like that -- telling each other our stories and struggles can be such a tremendous source of motivation!
So for the guy walking the causeway bridge...I hope you keep going, I know you helped me keep going during my longest run ever this morning. For the I-team in Pcola...from Andrew competing in the Augusta Ironman tomorrow to Jules and Hicks and Mike reaching the peak of their training as the November Panama City Ironman approaches and they crank out the miles weekly in preparation all the while keeping their senses of humor amidst stinky elbow pads, tape and hosed down blackberries...to Coach Murray who's helping a group of newbies complete their first triathlon...and for myself and monkey on my back who's continuing to cross the finish line with me, sometimes kicking and screaming...this blog's for you!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Monkey on my back
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
It's Tuesday. 5 days until the big Beach Blast Olympic Distance Triathlon and Saturday Sept. 12 is just sitting there, a day at the end of the week I usually look forward to scaring the bejesus out of me!
I know I am trained up. God knows I've put in the hours, my muscles have suffered, my massage therapist has gotten richer and my family, friends, training partners and coaches (Jules, Christopher, Hicks etc.) have tolerated enough moodiness, training complaints and questions to be as ready as I'll ever be for the race to be here.
But here's where the mental training of triathlons comes into play. You start thinking of all the things that could go wrong. What training didn't I do? What if I just put in a few more hours on the bike? Why am I not any faster at running? What if I give up? .7/25/6.2 is gonna take me a while. What if I'm last and I psych myself out and I just quit! Then the other voice -- you're not a quitter, you've done the training, now just go out there and do it or else all the training will be for naught!
Some people look forward to crossing the finish line and the beer. I look forward to crossing the finish line and telling the monkey on my back -- the fat girl I've always been -- we did it again! We moved our asses and we just finished another triathlon and this time a longer one than ever before!
Oh she fights me the whole way and I by no means have become the skinny girl I seek, but I am healthier than I've ever been and I constantly have to remind myself of that and that if I give up, if I psych myself out it's the same old story I've been repeating my whole life.
She crept up on me yesterday during a easy breezy Labor Day 5K. I thought it would be a nice way to kick of the so-called taper week as I rest my body for race day. One last brisk 3 miler with a few hundred extra training partners.
I was pacing myself and going at about a 12 minute mile clip. Well around the 1.5 mile mark this race walker caught up to me, I could see her out of the corner of my eye, arms flapping violently, long stride, just cruising along next to me and behind me a bit, but pretty much holding my pace. I was horrified! I cannot let a race walker pass me, I thought! What will that say!???
I went through all the emotions and just keep my pace with the occasional bursts of speed to try and loose her. I couldn't! Not even up the hill heading into mile 3! Needless to say she held my pace and was right behind me the whole way and as we approached the finish she strode up next to me and said she was going to sprint for it and so we did. I finished maybe 30 seconds ahead of her, she was in her 60s at least and told me after we crossed the finish line that she does marathons and thanked me for helping her hold a fast pace.
Several other runners even came up to us and remarked on both of our pace and said we kicked there butt...I still today can't get past the fact that a race walker was right there with me!
All the negative thoughts kept bubbling up, you're too fat, you're too slow, what are you thinking competing in tris if you can't even beat a race walker? But then today it hit me -- I am running 3 and sometimes 6 or more miles flat out holding a 12 minute mile, no stops (unless I trip, which has been known to happen) no walking, just cranking out miles. I have never been able to do that before, ever! Growing up in school we always had to run a mile for gym class once a year, I was a kid and could never run the whole thing and was always at 15-plus minutes for just a mile!
So maybe I should cut myself some slack. So some bad ass marathon, race walker isn't far behind me! I'm out there doing it and I can call myself a triathlete! Sometimes I wonder if the mental training this sport requires isn't tougher than the physical? So I'll be out there Saturday trying yet again to keep the fat girl monkey off my back, or at least drag her across the finish line!
It's Tuesday. 5 days until the big Beach Blast Olympic Distance Triathlon and Saturday Sept. 12 is just sitting there, a day at the end of the week I usually look forward to scaring the bejesus out of me!
I know I am trained up. God knows I've put in the hours, my muscles have suffered, my massage therapist has gotten richer and my family, friends, training partners and coaches (Jules, Christopher, Hicks etc.) have tolerated enough moodiness, training complaints and questions to be as ready as I'll ever be for the race to be here.
But here's where the mental training of triathlons comes into play. You start thinking of all the things that could go wrong. What training didn't I do? What if I just put in a few more hours on the bike? Why am I not any faster at running? What if I give up? .7/25/6.2 is gonna take me a while. What if I'm last and I psych myself out and I just quit! Then the other voice -- you're not a quitter, you've done the training, now just go out there and do it or else all the training will be for naught!
Some people look forward to crossing the finish line and the beer. I look forward to crossing the finish line and telling the monkey on my back -- the fat girl I've always been -- we did it again! We moved our asses and we just finished another triathlon and this time a longer one than ever before!
Oh she fights me the whole way and I by no means have become the skinny girl I seek, but I am healthier than I've ever been and I constantly have to remind myself of that and that if I give up, if I psych myself out it's the same old story I've been repeating my whole life.
She crept up on me yesterday during a easy breezy Labor Day 5K. I thought it would be a nice way to kick of the so-called taper week as I rest my body for race day. One last brisk 3 miler with a few hundred extra training partners.
I was pacing myself and going at about a 12 minute mile clip. Well around the 1.5 mile mark this race walker caught up to me, I could see her out of the corner of my eye, arms flapping violently, long stride, just cruising along next to me and behind me a bit, but pretty much holding my pace. I was horrified! I cannot let a race walker pass me, I thought! What will that say!???
I went through all the emotions and just keep my pace with the occasional bursts of speed to try and loose her. I couldn't! Not even up the hill heading into mile 3! Needless to say she held my pace and was right behind me the whole way and as we approached the finish she strode up next to me and said she was going to sprint for it and so we did. I finished maybe 30 seconds ahead of her, she was in her 60s at least and told me after we crossed the finish line that she does marathons and thanked me for helping her hold a fast pace.
Several other runners even came up to us and remarked on both of our pace and said we kicked there butt...I still today can't get past the fact that a race walker was right there with me!
All the negative thoughts kept bubbling up, you're too fat, you're too slow, what are you thinking competing in tris if you can't even beat a race walker? But then today it hit me -- I am running 3 and sometimes 6 or more miles flat out holding a 12 minute mile, no stops (unless I trip, which has been known to happen) no walking, just cranking out miles. I have never been able to do that before, ever! Growing up in school we always had to run a mile for gym class once a year, I was a kid and could never run the whole thing and was always at 15-plus minutes for just a mile!
So maybe I should cut myself some slack. So some bad ass marathon, race walker isn't far behind me! I'm out there doing it and I can call myself a triathlete! Sometimes I wonder if the mental training this sport requires isn't tougher than the physical? So I'll be out there Saturday trying yet again to keep the fat girl monkey off my back, or at least drag her across the finish line!
St. Louis Tri -- Family, old friends and hills
St. Louis Tri -- Race Report (aka Death by hills!)
So last Thursday night I loaded up the car with bike, tri gear, suit cases and dogs and headed to St. Louis for a tri and my brother's 30th bday celebration. I had won approval from my family to do the tri, which some of them would come out and support on the condition that I not break anything or wind up in the hospital and "ruin" my brother's bday! Piece of cake I thought...a St. Louis tri will be nothing compared to the ones I do in the Florida heat and all the training I've been doing! Well at least that's what I thought when I was expecting a flat course!!
So I arrived in St. Louis Friday afternoon after a day and half of driving. I was tired but promised some highschool girlfriends I would have dinner with them. I went but abstained from drinking so I could keep my body clean and get up early the next day and head out to check out the course and do a quick 10/10/10.
Got good rest Friday and woke up early Saturday and headed out to the race site...first there was a registration mix-up and then I found out I would be starting in the very last wave at 9 a.m. while most racers were starting at 7! Mental hurdle #1 as I got it in my head I would be the last racer and didn't like the idea of being out on the course all alone! Then I drove to the site and saw the hills -- uh-oh, mental hurdle #2. I wasn't prepared for hills! Especially not on the run and it appeared both the bike and run course were pretty intense! After staring at the maps and driving what from best I could tell were the supposed courses I was pretty panicked. The roads on the bike weren't great, gravely in parts, there were two turnarounds, lots of potholes and gulp a huuuuuge hill at the end of the bike.
I put down the maps and decided to get in my bike/run before it started to rain. As I strapped on my bike helmet a huge clap of thunder rang out overhead and I just told myself to suck it up and getting going. Mounted the bike and rode out of the transition area and out of the park -- up a hill of course and straight into the park where the run would be on Sunday...major hill...which I went down easily but as I exited the park I came back up it and was pretty sure my hamstrings were going to give and I was going to roll backwards. I got to the top really winded and thought "How on earth am I going to run this hill?" Got back to the car threw in the bike in the car and headed out for a quick run...spent the run and then next 24-hours telling myself to just suck it up, this was the course and I just had to figure out a way to get through it. Thanks to some coaching and support via text from Jules and Jamie, I got my head on right by the next morning.
Race day -- I headed out of the house by 5:45, even though my race time wasn't till 9 as I wasn't sure how they were going to do body marking and packet pickup since they didn't offer it the day before and I thought we might only have one shot before the 7 a.m. start...turns out I was wrong and could have slept in as the other 9 a.m. starters didn't roll in until about 8!
Ran into my old highschool buddy Ginger Fredrickson (Fred) as I was unloading my gear and we reverted back to highschool with the squeals, hugging and nicknames! Heading to get marked and pick up my packet...which unfortunately was missing...but they marked me without my race number and helped me continue the tradition I began at Ride for Hope of marking my shoulder with my Dad's initials (DLJ) to give me extra strength and power! Headed to transition and just randomly picked the same rack as Ginger! (It was not a USAT sanctioned race so there were no chips and timing mats now were the racks set up by number, which was kind of a nice change and gave the whole race overall a very chill feel.)
Set up and began waiting for the two hours before my start time. Continued to follow my nutrition plan and sip on the "puke punch" (Accelerade if you want to get technical) I've started using and moseyed around. Watched the 7 a.m. swim wave and realized this race started in reverse...putting the slower swimmers in the water first...which my powers of deduction and talking to some other athletes told me the 9 a.m. crew were no slouches in the water....better get focused!!!
Got some final words of wisdom from Jules and Jamie via my crackberry and then popped in my Ipod and tuned everything out. The new Black Eyed Peas song "I gotta feeling" was all I listened to...did a quick jog and lots of stretching to stay loose and warmed up! My family arrived about 15 minutes before my start time just as Ginger finished and I got to congratulate her and head to the pool!
Hit the water and got lucky and got a lane to myself...this was after the two athletes I was supposed to share a lane with and I started talking and I mentioned I do flip turns and they asked what I thought my time would be. I guess my adrenaline had taken over my brain b/c I told them I was going for 7:30 for 400 meters which would be 1 minute faster than my fastest in a 25 m pool and this was 50 m! The swim started and I was feeling strong. Didn't start too fast which often happens in open water swims and paced myself in the first lap...started building in lap 2 and was ready to sprint by the end of lap 3. I was a little disoriented because I couldn't hear anything and I was pretty sure my family was yelling (they were I found out later). Hit the wall at the end of my 4th lap and heard the timer yell 8:32...not bad but a minute slower than I claimed I would be pre-race...people were ahead of me out of the water and I wasn't happy about it as it's my strongest leg.
Ran out to T1 which was a disaster. Being soaking wet always disorients me but this was a bad one. I put my bike shoes on before shorts and it was downhill from there. A guy from one of the earlier waves watched and then walked over to assist, in USAT races you'll get time penalties for an assist to I resisted at first and then realized there was no penalty and I was really struggling so I might as well hold on to the guy or have to sit down and take off the shoes and start over.
Finally got dressed and headed out on the bike. I could hear Mom yelling "Go AJ" as I speed off. Down the first few hills getting my legs under me before I hit the big hill...which my computer said I hit 32 going down -- All I could think is I have to come back up this monster!?? I pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on my cadence. I really didn't hit a good clip until mile 5 and after the first u-turn, which I have to say I don't like! Give me a long loop any day, turnarounds on the bike suck!!! Still, I wasn't in my zone and even by mile 5 I was only averaging 15-17mph which is pretty slow for me on the flat stretches so I turned to bear down but I think the u-turns and the big hill at 10.5 was weighing on me...That and there was confusion about the actual distance. We were told 11 miles, but our bibs said 8.5 so there was much confusion about the actual distance! It was indeed 11 miles, they had just recycled the bib info from last year when the distance was shorter as a result of road washouts! But then I spotted the requisite Cardinal -- thanks Jam! And picked up the pace!
I made the final bike turn and headed for the hill...I politely asked the police officer at the last turn if he wanted to pull me up the hill but he assured me I could do it. I pulled out my power gel before the turn up the monster hill and hoped it would do me right. Made the turn and had a mini hill before the monster. I began to pray and peddle noticing that everyone on the hill in front of me was off and walking their bikes up. I told myself my legs were strong and I was staying clipped in so walking wasn't an option unless I felt like a crash and some serious road rash! I chugged it out on the monster...getting to the top and dropping my speed waaay down, I'm pretty sure the computer read 4 mph.
I passed this woman truging along with a mountain bike and by the look on her face dreading getting back on. I knew we had a brief downhill and then a few more mini-hills (everything was mini compared to the 32mph monster!) I slowed and turned back and told homegirl to hop on and start peddling on the downhill and not to stop, telling her it would feel too easy and weird but that she had to flush her legs...I slowed and kept shouting over my shoulder at her to keep peddling and keep going she did and we both headed down the final stretch of hills into transition.
T2 -- piece of cake, grabbed some water and strapped on my running shoes and headed out. Mom was standing there and I stuck my tongue out as I headed toward her. She cheered me on and then said the dreaded: How many minute miles do you think you'll run??? Ugh! Seriously lady!? I found out later they were trying to time my finish with pictures and having people on the phone like my brother who couldn't be there. I shouted that I hoped for 12 min...but it was doubtful considering the hills on the bike and the ones coming up on the run. Funny thing is my legs felt good.
I grabbed water at the first station and headed out...down the first set of hills up the second at the light and across the intersection where the volunteers and police cheered me on. Staring down the first big hill into the park I offered a bribe: "10 bucks. Anyone want to pull me up this hill" I heard one of the female cops say: "Think we could throw her in the back of the cruiser? She didn't say how." Headed up the hill....shuffling my feet low and fast to the ground like Jamie had instructed me and turned into the park....Yes! A downhill....only to make the turn to an uphill and not just and uphill but a grassy, off-road steady incline. I guess the pain in my legs wasn't bad b/c I was mostly concerned that the grass was staining my nice, white running shoes...then downhill and around the lake...saw my second Cardinal of the day, thanks DLJ! And was on a really narrow and horribly uneven trail if you can even call it that. Looped around some more went across a wooden bridge water stop #2 and headed up this really steep, grassy hill where a very nice older woman volunteer told me to keep going...then past the guy who lied that there were no more hills and I told him as much and he told me, "Well it depends on how tall you are, it's all about perspective!" Amen brother, have fun sitting there!
Made the final turn and headed past the final water stop and the big hill again...ironically there was an ambulance sitting there but as I was in the home stretch I knew I didn't need it. Long-striding and some shot blocks got me up the final hill and then I could see the intersection and cross back into the end of the course and transition area. 1/4 mile to go so I kicked it in...down the hill, past the volunteers and cops who didn't take my bribe, told them since the didn't I'd just go ahead and finish myself. Kept just putting one foot in front of another making jokes with people along the way and sprinted up the final hill (yes, uphill finish) and across the finish line! St. Louis tri done! No injuries and Mom and Bruce were there to see me do a race finally! Yeaaaah! Course time 1:40:02, a personal record and considering the sloppy transitions and hills I was really happy!
I was even good to go that night and fully carried my weight setting up for the party, hosting and even chasing 2 1/2 year-old twins around for most of the night! Jeremy's bday wasn't ruined by my tri, Mom was happy, Jeremy still doesn't believe I did it and there were cupcakes as a reward...oh were there cupcakes!
Couldn't have done it without:
Jamie -- The BEST training partner and sounding board and also the reason I always see two Cardinals! And when it got tough knowing that you were: "Waiting on ur ass!"
Jules -- I'm dubbing you Coach! My constant inspiration to try harder, get faster/better at chasing some ponytails!!!
The P'cola Ironteam -- Not sure I could have been ready without the July 4th ass beating! And the constant words of encouragement! Including Christopher's: "Push till you puke -- again!"
The fam -- For being there!
Ginger "Fred" -- Nothing like the added rush from seeing old friends!
Mom -- Pre-race foot massage, banana bread and cupcakes!!!
Next race? Flat course please God!
So last Thursday night I loaded up the car with bike, tri gear, suit cases and dogs and headed to St. Louis for a tri and my brother's 30th bday celebration. I had won approval from my family to do the tri, which some of them would come out and support on the condition that I not break anything or wind up in the hospital and "ruin" my brother's bday! Piece of cake I thought...a St. Louis tri will be nothing compared to the ones I do in the Florida heat and all the training I've been doing! Well at least that's what I thought when I was expecting a flat course!!
So I arrived in St. Louis Friday afternoon after a day and half of driving. I was tired but promised some highschool girlfriends I would have dinner with them. I went but abstained from drinking so I could keep my body clean and get up early the next day and head out to check out the course and do a quick 10/10/10.
Got good rest Friday and woke up early Saturday and headed out to the race site...first there was a registration mix-up and then I found out I would be starting in the very last wave at 9 a.m. while most racers were starting at 7! Mental hurdle #1 as I got it in my head I would be the last racer and didn't like the idea of being out on the course all alone! Then I drove to the site and saw the hills -- uh-oh, mental hurdle #2. I wasn't prepared for hills! Especially not on the run and it appeared both the bike and run course were pretty intense! After staring at the maps and driving what from best I could tell were the supposed courses I was pretty panicked. The roads on the bike weren't great, gravely in parts, there were two turnarounds, lots of potholes and gulp a huuuuuge hill at the end of the bike.
I put down the maps and decided to get in my bike/run before it started to rain. As I strapped on my bike helmet a huge clap of thunder rang out overhead and I just told myself to suck it up and getting going. Mounted the bike and rode out of the transition area and out of the park -- up a hill of course and straight into the park where the run would be on Sunday...major hill...which I went down easily but as I exited the park I came back up it and was pretty sure my hamstrings were going to give and I was going to roll backwards. I got to the top really winded and thought "How on earth am I going to run this hill?" Got back to the car threw in the bike in the car and headed out for a quick run...spent the run and then next 24-hours telling myself to just suck it up, this was the course and I just had to figure out a way to get through it. Thanks to some coaching and support via text from Jules and Jamie, I got my head on right by the next morning.
Race day -- I headed out of the house by 5:45, even though my race time wasn't till 9 as I wasn't sure how they were going to do body marking and packet pickup since they didn't offer it the day before and I thought we might only have one shot before the 7 a.m. start...turns out I was wrong and could have slept in as the other 9 a.m. starters didn't roll in until about 8!
Ran into my old highschool buddy Ginger Fredrickson (Fred) as I was unloading my gear and we reverted back to highschool with the squeals, hugging and nicknames! Heading to get marked and pick up my packet...which unfortunately was missing...but they marked me without my race number and helped me continue the tradition I began at Ride for Hope of marking my shoulder with my Dad's initials (DLJ) to give me extra strength and power! Headed to transition and just randomly picked the same rack as Ginger! (It was not a USAT sanctioned race so there were no chips and timing mats now were the racks set up by number, which was kind of a nice change and gave the whole race overall a very chill feel.)
Set up and began waiting for the two hours before my start time. Continued to follow my nutrition plan and sip on the "puke punch" (Accelerade if you want to get technical) I've started using and moseyed around. Watched the 7 a.m. swim wave and realized this race started in reverse...putting the slower swimmers in the water first...which my powers of deduction and talking to some other athletes told me the 9 a.m. crew were no slouches in the water....better get focused!!!
Got some final words of wisdom from Jules and Jamie via my crackberry and then popped in my Ipod and tuned everything out. The new Black Eyed Peas song "I gotta feeling" was all I listened to...did a quick jog and lots of stretching to stay loose and warmed up! My family arrived about 15 minutes before my start time just as Ginger finished and I got to congratulate her and head to the pool!
Hit the water and got lucky and got a lane to myself...this was after the two athletes I was supposed to share a lane with and I started talking and I mentioned I do flip turns and they asked what I thought my time would be. I guess my adrenaline had taken over my brain b/c I told them I was going for 7:30 for 400 meters which would be 1 minute faster than my fastest in a 25 m pool and this was 50 m! The swim started and I was feeling strong. Didn't start too fast which often happens in open water swims and paced myself in the first lap...started building in lap 2 and was ready to sprint by the end of lap 3. I was a little disoriented because I couldn't hear anything and I was pretty sure my family was yelling (they were I found out later). Hit the wall at the end of my 4th lap and heard the timer yell 8:32...not bad but a minute slower than I claimed I would be pre-race...people were ahead of me out of the water and I wasn't happy about it as it's my strongest leg.
Ran out to T1 which was a disaster. Being soaking wet always disorients me but this was a bad one. I put my bike shoes on before shorts and it was downhill from there. A guy from one of the earlier waves watched and then walked over to assist, in USAT races you'll get time penalties for an assist to I resisted at first and then realized there was no penalty and I was really struggling so I might as well hold on to the guy or have to sit down and take off the shoes and start over.
Finally got dressed and headed out on the bike. I could hear Mom yelling "Go AJ" as I speed off. Down the first few hills getting my legs under me before I hit the big hill...which my computer said I hit 32 going down -- All I could think is I have to come back up this monster!?? I pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on my cadence. I really didn't hit a good clip until mile 5 and after the first u-turn, which I have to say I don't like! Give me a long loop any day, turnarounds on the bike suck!!! Still, I wasn't in my zone and even by mile 5 I was only averaging 15-17mph which is pretty slow for me on the flat stretches so I turned to bear down but I think the u-turns and the big hill at 10.5 was weighing on me...That and there was confusion about the actual distance. We were told 11 miles, but our bibs said 8.5 so there was much confusion about the actual distance! It was indeed 11 miles, they had just recycled the bib info from last year when the distance was shorter as a result of road washouts! But then I spotted the requisite Cardinal -- thanks Jam! And picked up the pace!
I made the final bike turn and headed for the hill...I politely asked the police officer at the last turn if he wanted to pull me up the hill but he assured me I could do it. I pulled out my power gel before the turn up the monster hill and hoped it would do me right. Made the turn and had a mini hill before the monster. I began to pray and peddle noticing that everyone on the hill in front of me was off and walking their bikes up. I told myself my legs were strong and I was staying clipped in so walking wasn't an option unless I felt like a crash and some serious road rash! I chugged it out on the monster...getting to the top and dropping my speed waaay down, I'm pretty sure the computer read 4 mph.
I passed this woman truging along with a mountain bike and by the look on her face dreading getting back on. I knew we had a brief downhill and then a few more mini-hills (everything was mini compared to the 32mph monster!) I slowed and turned back and told homegirl to hop on and start peddling on the downhill and not to stop, telling her it would feel too easy and weird but that she had to flush her legs...I slowed and kept shouting over my shoulder at her to keep peddling and keep going she did and we both headed down the final stretch of hills into transition.
T2 -- piece of cake, grabbed some water and strapped on my running shoes and headed out. Mom was standing there and I stuck my tongue out as I headed toward her. She cheered me on and then said the dreaded: How many minute miles do you think you'll run??? Ugh! Seriously lady!? I found out later they were trying to time my finish with pictures and having people on the phone like my brother who couldn't be there. I shouted that I hoped for 12 min...but it was doubtful considering the hills on the bike and the ones coming up on the run. Funny thing is my legs felt good.
I grabbed water at the first station and headed out...down the first set of hills up the second at the light and across the intersection where the volunteers and police cheered me on. Staring down the first big hill into the park I offered a bribe: "10 bucks. Anyone want to pull me up this hill" I heard one of the female cops say: "Think we could throw her in the back of the cruiser? She didn't say how." Headed up the hill....shuffling my feet low and fast to the ground like Jamie had instructed me and turned into the park....Yes! A downhill....only to make the turn to an uphill and not just and uphill but a grassy, off-road steady incline. I guess the pain in my legs wasn't bad b/c I was mostly concerned that the grass was staining my nice, white running shoes...then downhill and around the lake...saw my second Cardinal of the day, thanks DLJ! And was on a really narrow and horribly uneven trail if you can even call it that. Looped around some more went across a wooden bridge water stop #2 and headed up this really steep, grassy hill where a very nice older woman volunteer told me to keep going...then past the guy who lied that there were no more hills and I told him as much and he told me, "Well it depends on how tall you are, it's all about perspective!" Amen brother, have fun sitting there!
Made the final turn and headed past the final water stop and the big hill again...ironically there was an ambulance sitting there but as I was in the home stretch I knew I didn't need it. Long-striding and some shot blocks got me up the final hill and then I could see the intersection and cross back into the end of the course and transition area. 1/4 mile to go so I kicked it in...down the hill, past the volunteers and cops who didn't take my bribe, told them since the didn't I'd just go ahead and finish myself. Kept just putting one foot in front of another making jokes with people along the way and sprinted up the final hill (yes, uphill finish) and across the finish line! St. Louis tri done! No injuries and Mom and Bruce were there to see me do a race finally! Yeaaaah! Course time 1:40:02, a personal record and considering the sloppy transitions and hills I was really happy!
I was even good to go that night and fully carried my weight setting up for the party, hosting and even chasing 2 1/2 year-old twins around for most of the night! Jeremy's bday wasn't ruined by my tri, Mom was happy, Jeremy still doesn't believe I did it and there were cupcakes as a reward...oh were there cupcakes!
Couldn't have done it without:
Jamie -- The BEST training partner and sounding board and also the reason I always see two Cardinals! And when it got tough knowing that you were: "Waiting on ur ass!"
Jules -- I'm dubbing you Coach! My constant inspiration to try harder, get faster/better at chasing some ponytails!!!
The P'cola Ironteam -- Not sure I could have been ready without the July 4th ass beating! And the constant words of encouragement! Including Christopher's: "Push till you puke -- again!"
The fam -- For being there!
Ginger "Fred" -- Nothing like the added rush from seeing old friends!
Mom -- Pre-race foot massage, banana bread and cupcakes!!!
Next race? Flat course please God!
Finished...no more hills!
Trudging along
Day 3 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)
Dogs, snakes and armadillos oh my!!! That is what the run consisted of today. Did about 4 miles and unfortunately I think I went a little too late in the evening which was nice b/c it meant that it was nice and cool not so good b/c evidently at dusk all the wild animals come out of hiding! Headed out for the run and felt really good. Was even having ambitions of trying to get 6 miles in -- then I realized how late it was. Oh and my Ipod crapped out so I had to do the whole ran sans tunes!
So about 1.5 miles out I nearly stepped on a lovely and pretty large red and yellow snake...it was seriously a near miss with me practically planting my left foot directly on top of old boy and he literally was within striking distance!!! By the time Reese and I got to the turnaround it was officially dusk -- which actually helped the pace b/c I didn't want to be on the trail when it got too dark! The pace really picked up after a near armadillo attack...seriously those things are scary and gross! I had to just suck it up and blow past the thing despite most of my body really wanting to freeze up!
Oh well at least it was an interesting run to say the least. 42.3 miles to go! (Oh and I'm thinking I've probably already knocked off the .3 with the walk from the parking garage into the office each day?????)
Day 4 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)
Meet Jamie at the gym to do legs and then some cardio. Leg and Jamie kicked my ass so I was not feeling the cardio but I hoped on the bike for a kick spin and clocked about 7 miles or so....at least I'm in the 30 mile range now but I sure wish lifting counted towards a little bit of the 70.3!!!
Day 5-11 (Thursday May 14-19, 2009)
Spent the last five days in California with the family but got some good runs in! It's really nice to run without humidity! Tomorrow it's back to the hardcore training! Especially as its a new week and the 70.3 clock has been restarted! ughhh!
Day 12-17 (May 20-25, 2009)
Finally recovered from my Cali trip and got my butt back in gear by about Thursday of last week! Did 8 miles running and biking my first night back at it. I don't know what was worse adjusting to Eastern time again or the brutal training I put myself through to get back on the wagon! It felt good to sweat off the vacay -- even though I got a couple good runs in while I was out in Cali -- whether it's the heat or just being back home and being able to swim/bike/run the last week has been tough and resulted in several blisters, a sore Achilles and hip. (I kinda feel like a geriatric!!!) Regardless I ended the week almost clocking 40 miles 36.2 to be exact...
3 mile Cali run Monday
8 miles run/bike Thursday
18 mile bike Friday (wet and muddy!)
3.2 mile run/1 mile swim Saturday
4 mile run Sunday (During which my feet graciously found a way to create lovely blisters on the arches of both feet despite the fact that my shoes are the ones I've been running in for at least 4 months and are more than broken in!)
Started the week today with a nice long workout thanks to Memorial Day! 4 miles on the eliptical and a 1 mile sprint on the treadmill...only got in about a 1/4 mile swim b/c of damn lightening! Great....Only about 65 miles left to go this week!
Day 18-19
Had a nice mile-long swim last night and was putting up some of my fastest sprint times to date!!! May have been a shot of speed and adrenaline provided by the still disturbing number on the scale when I stepped on it (guess that's what not weighing yourself for a year will get ya! D-E-N-I-A-L!!!) and the realization that I've got a long way to go if I want to achieve this goal and look good doing it!!! So today I stumbled across a little inspirational photo....someday....ha!!!
Day 58 (July 8, 2009)
I can't believe how time flies! Or the fact that I hit 70.3 at all! Thanks to the best training partner ever -- Jamie who has compromised her time and body on several occasions to help me reach the weekly goal! I also have to give a shout out to Jules who is a constant source of inspiration and drive.
Needless to say I couldn't keep up with her and the Iron crew in Pensacola but it did help me get some mileage in over the 4th of July holiday!!! This weekend is the sprint tri in St. Louis -- the first time my family will be there to root me on! I'm hoping I can just crank it out since the distances are all quite a bit shorter than I've been training at as well as past race distances with the exception of the run. Which is my achillis heel both literally and figuratively! I just need to pound it out and stay mentally focused!
I'm just excited to be doing one at home with family and friends! We'll see how it goes. Then it's back to the grind and preparing for Beach Blast in September and getting my endurance up to Olympic distance! That's really freaking me out as I know I got the bike and swim, but the run...ugh! All and all though I feel like I'm learning more every day and improving my endurance every week!
I've even learned the lesson the hard way about the detriments of not enough calories before a race and over hydrating! Sorry Jules & Christopher...hope the neighborhood association didn't fine you for the drive-by puking!
Dogs, snakes and armadillos oh my!!! That is what the run consisted of today. Did about 4 miles and unfortunately I think I went a little too late in the evening which was nice b/c it meant that it was nice and cool not so good b/c evidently at dusk all the wild animals come out of hiding! Headed out for the run and felt really good. Was even having ambitions of trying to get 6 miles in -- then I realized how late it was. Oh and my Ipod crapped out so I had to do the whole ran sans tunes!
So about 1.5 miles out I nearly stepped on a lovely and pretty large red and yellow snake...it was seriously a near miss with me practically planting my left foot directly on top of old boy and he literally was within striking distance!!! By the time Reese and I got to the turnaround it was officially dusk -- which actually helped the pace b/c I didn't want to be on the trail when it got too dark! The pace really picked up after a near armadillo attack...seriously those things are scary and gross! I had to just suck it up and blow past the thing despite most of my body really wanting to freeze up!
Oh well at least it was an interesting run to say the least. 42.3 miles to go! (Oh and I'm thinking I've probably already knocked off the .3 with the walk from the parking garage into the office each day?????)
Day 4 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)
Meet Jamie at the gym to do legs and then some cardio. Leg and Jamie kicked my ass so I was not feeling the cardio but I hoped on the bike for a kick spin and clocked about 7 miles or so....at least I'm in the 30 mile range now but I sure wish lifting counted towards a little bit of the 70.3!!!
Day 5-11 (Thursday May 14-19, 2009)
Spent the last five days in California with the family but got some good runs in! It's really nice to run without humidity! Tomorrow it's back to the hardcore training! Especially as its a new week and the 70.3 clock has been restarted! ughhh!
Day 12-17 (May 20-25, 2009)
Finally recovered from my Cali trip and got my butt back in gear by about Thursday of last week! Did 8 miles running and biking my first night back at it. I don't know what was worse adjusting to Eastern time again or the brutal training I put myself through to get back on the wagon! It felt good to sweat off the vacay -- even though I got a couple good runs in while I was out in Cali -- whether it's the heat or just being back home and being able to swim/bike/run the last week has been tough and resulted in several blisters, a sore Achilles and hip. (I kinda feel like a geriatric!!!) Regardless I ended the week almost clocking 40 miles 36.2 to be exact...
3 mile Cali run Monday
8 miles run/bike Thursday
18 mile bike Friday (wet and muddy!)
3.2 mile run/1 mile swim Saturday
4 mile run Sunday (During which my feet graciously found a way to create lovely blisters on the arches of both feet despite the fact that my shoes are the ones I've been running in for at least 4 months and are more than broken in!)
Started the week today with a nice long workout thanks to Memorial Day! 4 miles on the eliptical and a 1 mile sprint on the treadmill...only got in about a 1/4 mile swim b/c of damn lightening! Great....Only about 65 miles left to go this week!
Day 18-19
Had a nice mile-long swim last night and was putting up some of my fastest sprint times to date!!! May have been a shot of speed and adrenaline provided by the still disturbing number on the scale when I stepped on it (guess that's what not weighing yourself for a year will get ya! D-E-N-I-A-L!!!) and the realization that I've got a long way to go if I want to achieve this goal and look good doing it!!! So today I stumbled across a little inspirational photo....someday....ha!!!
A girl can dream!!!
Day 58 (July 8, 2009)
I can't believe how time flies! Or the fact that I hit 70.3 at all! Thanks to the best training partner ever -- Jamie who has compromised her time and body on several occasions to help me reach the weekly goal! I also have to give a shout out to Jules who is a constant source of inspiration and drive.
Needless to say I couldn't keep up with her and the Iron crew in Pensacola but it did help me get some mileage in over the 4th of July holiday!!! This weekend is the sprint tri in St. Louis -- the first time my family will be there to root me on! I'm hoping I can just crank it out since the distances are all quite a bit shorter than I've been training at as well as past race distances with the exception of the run. Which is my achillis heel both literally and figuratively! I just need to pound it out and stay mentally focused!
I'm just excited to be doing one at home with family and friends! We'll see how it goes. Then it's back to the grind and preparing for Beach Blast in September and getting my endurance up to Olympic distance! That's really freaking me out as I know I got the bike and swim, but the run...ugh! All and all though I feel like I'm learning more every day and improving my endurance every week!
I've even learned the lesson the hard way about the detriments of not enough calories before a race and over hydrating! Sorry Jules & Christopher...hope the neighborhood association didn't fine you for the drive-by puking!
How it all started...
The beginning....
It all started this past May when I headed to Panama City to support a few friends in their first 1/2 Ironman one Saturday. I have never seen such an exhibition of athleticism in my life nor have I been so inspired to set a new goal for myself! So after watching Jules aka super Mom to 3 boys, uber professional -- own her first 1/2 Ironman while making it look entirely too easy -- I've decided to set a goal for myself and see if I can tuck a few more sprint tris under my belt and work my way up to an Olympic length and perhaps see if I can wind up not just attending the Gulf Coast 1/2 as a spectator next year...We'll see.
So a 1/2 Iron means the athletes do 70.3 miles total -- I'm telling you I was watching the race and thinking the mental toughness and of course athleticism was staggering! (Not to mention it's Florida in May with global warming in full-effect and a completely open course -- not a stitch of shade!)
I was so inspired as I walked back to my car to drive home I made a decision...I wanted to BE one of those athletes next May! So the goal I've set for myself initially in addition to doing some more sprints triathlons is 70.3 miles a week. I figure if the Gulf Coast participants can do it in one day my big ole' bootie can get out there and attempt to clock those miles in a week, right???!!! So in honor of the inspiration and drive Jules and the other triathletes have provided me...So far...
Day 1 (Sunday, May 10, 2009)
Woke up despite a very long Saturday and headed out for a bike ride. My mantra was that I was going to go further than before with a goal of hitting double digits. It was slightly overcast which was good b/c I had a bit of a sunburn from being in PC and in the sun all day the day before! Unfortunately this mean I forgot my shades which wasn't good b/c I forgot that things somehow seem to fly directly into my eyes while riding and at 20 mph that huuuurts! While I realized this in mile 1 I was feeling too focused to turn back and get them!
I ended up clocking 20 miles but I have to admit about mile 15 or so my ass was really over the bike seat and I started to hit a wall. I powered through partially b/c I had no other way to get back to the car if I didn't!! I was glad to be done and wondered how sore I would be Monday...20 miles down -- 50.3 to go!
Day 2 (Monday, May 11, 2009)
I was tired by the end of the day today and wasn't sure how much I would have the energy to do but thankfully I had to meet my training partner at the gym to lift and got some additional motivation from a few Facebook friends I felt like I had to stick to the plan. Kevin -- a former training buddy from DC says I have to have the remaining 50 done by Friday...military men!!! Nonetheless I hauled my cookies to the gym and clocked 3 miles of cardio and another mile in the pool. 4 more miles down...46.3 to go. Ugh!!! 50 by Friday really???
It all started this past May when I headed to Panama City to support a few friends in their first 1/2 Ironman one Saturday. I have never seen such an exhibition of athleticism in my life nor have I been so inspired to set a new goal for myself! So after watching Jules aka super Mom to 3 boys, uber professional -- own her first 1/2 Ironman while making it look entirely too easy -- I've decided to set a goal for myself and see if I can tuck a few more sprint tris under my belt and work my way up to an Olympic length and perhaps see if I can wind up not just attending the Gulf Coast 1/2 as a spectator next year...We'll see.
So a 1/2 Iron means the athletes do 70.3 miles total -- I'm telling you I was watching the race and thinking the mental toughness and of course athleticism was staggering! (Not to mention it's Florida in May with global warming in full-effect and a completely open course -- not a stitch of shade!)
I was so inspired as I walked back to my car to drive home I made a decision...I wanted to BE one of those athletes next May! So the goal I've set for myself initially in addition to doing some more sprints triathlons is 70.3 miles a week. I figure if the Gulf Coast participants can do it in one day my big ole' bootie can get out there and attempt to clock those miles in a week, right???!!! So in honor of the inspiration and drive Jules and the other triathletes have provided me...So far...
Day 1 (Sunday, May 10, 2009)
Woke up despite a very long Saturday and headed out for a bike ride. My mantra was that I was going to go further than before with a goal of hitting double digits. It was slightly overcast which was good b/c I had a bit of a sunburn from being in PC and in the sun all day the day before! Unfortunately this mean I forgot my shades which wasn't good b/c I forgot that things somehow seem to fly directly into my eyes while riding and at 20 mph that huuuurts! While I realized this in mile 1 I was feeling too focused to turn back and get them!
I ended up clocking 20 miles but I have to admit about mile 15 or so my ass was really over the bike seat and I started to hit a wall. I powered through partially b/c I had no other way to get back to the car if I didn't!! I was glad to be done and wondered how sore I would be Monday...20 miles down -- 50.3 to go!
Day 2 (Monday, May 11, 2009)
I was tired by the end of the day today and wasn't sure how much I would have the energy to do but thankfully I had to meet my training partner at the gym to lift and got some additional motivation from a few Facebook friends I felt like I had to stick to the plan. Kevin -- a former training buddy from DC says I have to have the remaining 50 done by Friday...military men!!! Nonetheless I hauled my cookies to the gym and clocked 3 miles of cardio and another mile in the pool. 4 more miles down...46.3 to go. Ugh!!! 50 by Friday really???
My first tri! Red Hills 2007.
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