Happy New Year

Although I didn't expect to start 2010 injured, just like 2009 unfortunately, here I am; despite a cautious training year. My focus in 2010 is to make some permanent healthy lifestyle changes and just maybe this combination of efforts will also keep me injury free. So here are my modest racing goals for the 2010 season and a few of my resolutions for this year.

Consistently eat better and fuel my body for exercise. I tend to eat well for a few weeks then fall off the wagon.

Lose the extra poundage and keep it off.

Find my happy place with training, I am not entirely sure what my year will look like yet but I want to have a solid training year.

PR in a sprint triathlon and running race.

Four Week Minimum

No running for at least four weeks, which will I hope be enough time to treat the SI joint dysfunction and start retraining muscles. And last but not least, heal the tenderness in the groin resulting from the imbalance. I could be mad, but I am optimistic that once these issues are sorted out I will run pain free for the first time in 2 years!

So in the spirit of remaining optimistic here is my tentative 2010 race calendar. I am excited to train for a few A races and just to see how the season unfolds.

Monument 10K, Tidewater or Rocketts Int'l, Patriot Half, B2B Half. Maybe a few running races here and there too.

2010

I am feeling optimistic about the 2010 season. My run has been coming along quite nicely and so far with the addition of strength training 2-3 week I am injury free. Watching IMFL this past week-end brought back so many emotions and memories that I am inspired to try long distance racing again. IMFL will have to wait until 2011 but I am considering doing some local longer races.

I am going to do at least one HIM but maybe two and B2B iron distance is definitely on my mind... although I am not 100% sure my body is ready.

Regardless of which races I end up choosing I am finally feeling happy about training and I am really looking forward to racing and pushing myself in 2010!

I am Falling Apart

I hurt. My feet, my back, what the hell! I am really fed up. I cannot seem to break this pattern of injury. I wonder if I can ever get healthy enough to train consistently. IMFL seems like a fluke and even then I was racing injured.

Sorry to be such a Debi Downer but this is getting old.

One Month To Go...

With one month left of training I am really not where I need to be.

Can I finish the race, yes.

Will it be pretty, absolutely not.

Am I gonna do it, hell yeah!

Colonial Beach Tri

This race has been on my mind for a few weeks now. Even though I am NOT well trained or really prepared to race, I feel the need to do a race. Maybe it's because I miss the excitement of race day or just having something on my schedule. Reading my teammates reports of training adventures and races leaves me with longing to put myself out there. To see what I can do. I wonder if I can actually complete even a 3 mile run let alone a sprint race. Ironman seems like a different lifetime!

But I want to do a race, so why the hesitation? Well I promised myself, after last year's miserable and very painful performances, I would not race unless I was healthy and well trained. Well I am healthy but not well trained. So now I am stuck with indecision and fear of failure. Stupid sport!!!!!

I'm excited...

because this week-end I plan to ride 30-35 miles. This will will be my longest ride since November and I am really looking forward to it. Taking 5 months off from training certainly has depleted my fitness but on the flip side has been great for my mental health.

As I slowly build strength and distance each new milestone is a treat, taking me back to when I first began training and racing. Now the running and biking is coming along nicely, hey two out of three ain't bad, I just need to get in the water and I may be ready for Patriot in September!

Training for training's sake

With only one race on my calendar in September, I'm not really following a specific training plan although I know I should be. This is my season to rebuild my fitness and stay injury free. So far so good.

Reading race reports does make me a little nostalgic and I wonder if I should consider adding a race or two to my season. But I don't want to race unfit and I my confidence is a little low. For me racing is not essential, I like training and I don't like racing all that much. So for now maybe I'll stick with my plan and just keep a low profile this year.

Blog Blahs

I just don't have anything to say right now and my training sucks. So no news is good news!

If my life/training ever get back on track I'll be sure the world hears about it.

My Does Time Fly

I love springtime!!! Even so I can hardly believe it's almost April and I still haven't gotten into a good training rhythm.

I have to admit my motivation is a little low but I know that once the weather is consistently warm it will be much easier. So for now I am not gong to beat myself up about it and just enjoy hearing about the all the TG's successes. And, I am adamant I am going to let this season unfold at it's own pace.

One Week

Yep in one week I will be driving to Panama City Beach. It still seems a lifetime away but that's because my brain is in a bit of denial. I feel way too calm and removed from what is the single biggest athletic event in my life, but I guess that is a good thing. Plenty of time to panic later.

I have really been enjoying the taper. Never one to be an "overtrainer" I relish the lack of mega long workouts, the fresh feeling in my legs and the joy of a short, sweet run. I do have a 2.5 mile swim today, a thought which would have me quivering in fright 6 months ago and now seems so ordinary.

I view these feelings as signs that I am indeed ready to take on Ironman. I have trained to the best of my ability and there is nothing left to be done but stay healthy and get to the start line. I am also working on the mental aspects of racing IMFL. Visualizing the race and me doing it. Working through the logistics of the bike and run and planning for the unexpected.

I am nervous, but in the way that makes you smile when you think about it. Happy, tingly nerves I'll call it. There is no room for fear or self-doubt and I refuse to let those thoughts take hold. So as I move into my final week of training, thanks for your support throughout this last year. I'll be back in a couple of weeks.

It's Taper Time

I am officially in the taper mode of training. A little late as I had one last long run to complete because I am behind the regular IM training schedule. I did a 15 mile run which was slow and painful towards the end. Now all I can do is my best on race day and hope the bike fitness and rest will get me through the marathon.

This weekend I have one last long workout, a 50/10 brick. Oddly, I am quite nervous about this as I am feeling achy with random pains popping up everywhere. I guess I am actually ready for taper, my body needs some rest.

It is hard to believe the race is almost here. I am somewhat in awe of all the training I've done but at the same time worried it's not enough. I keep telling myself to trust in my training; I know this is just the "taper crazies" getting to me. Race day here I come.

Eastern Shore Ride Report

The plan for our final big training weekend was a 100 mile ride followed by a run at Kiptopeke Sate Park on the Eastern Shore. Charlotte and I headed down on Friday afternoon so we could do a short OW swim in the bay. With the car loaded to the hilt with bikes, gear, food and most importantly beer we made good time and got to the lodge around 3 PM.

Let me just say the lodges are wonderful. Much nicer than I had expected with room for everyone, towels and a well equipped kitchen. After a bit Sharon and Karen arrived. We chatted, unpacked our stuff, donned our wetsuits and headed down to the bay for our swim. The water was pleasant and mostly calm but somehow I managed to get seasick and the last stretch of the swim was rough. I hadn't eaten since morning so that probably contributed to the dizziness. We swam about 1000 yards and then headed back to the lodge to wait for the other TG's.

Saturday morning came all too soon and we were up and off on our ride. We knew to expect wind but even so the outbound ride was tough with a good bit of headwind and some gusty crosswinds thrown in for good measure. It was a beautiful fall day with great scenery, mostly good roads and very flat. We all made it to the turnaround, refueled and headed back for the last half of the ride. Thankfully the wind was mostly a tailwind and we were flying back averaging around 18-19 mph.

All that changed at mile 27 when we decided to ride in a paceline. Some of us didn't quite get the gist of this; me, Heidi and Kate O. We thought this meant we needed to speed up for our turn at the front. Well needless to say the three of us promptly trashed our legs and the last few miles were brutal. At about mile 93 I was toast. I wasn't having a very good ride and I was struggling to hold it all together. I had a terrible headache and I was nauseous.

By far this was the worst of my 100 milers. While I did not question I could do the distance, I just didn't feel great the whole day. I had expected it to feel almost easy as it was my third time at this distance. But the combination of too little sleep, poor pacing, leg fatigue and inadequate nutrition (I had forgotten half my bike nutrition in the fridge at home) left me lagging. After the ride we headed out for a short run. The run was uneventful but quite painful and I only managed about 2 miles.

With the final big workout complete it was time to celebrate. Hot showers, a good dinner prepared by Super Sherpa Karen plus a few beers made for a great night.

A few thoughts about training. Even though this ride was not ideal, I learned a lot about what my body can tolerate. I also got a first hand look at the difference between feeling good off the bike or not so good. Also for the first time I worked with the wind instead of against it and this made a huge difference mentally. Finally, I know I need to stay with my routine. I know after all this training what works for me and what doesn't; so I need to stick with my plan on race day.

So with three weeks to go we are ready, everyone looks strong and we are ready for Florida.

Sick and Hurting

My leg hurts when I run, despite a cortisone shot, anti inflammatory patch, compression sleeve and oral medicine. I am sick of it and I don't even have a diagnosis.

I am on my third course of antibiotics since May for saddle sores in unmentionable places that will not heal until I give up riding.

I am sick with an upper respiratory bug and an irritating little cough, unh, unh.

But guess what?


I am training for an Ironman! In four short weeks I will be standing on the beach at PCB. How freaking awesome is that!!!!!!!

River Ride RR

Well what a crazy weekend. The morning started with thunderstorms and lightening and I worried the event would be delayed. Still I headed to the start with swim suit and towel ready to do my OW swim. Luckily the storms passed and for a few moments I actually thought I might have dry weather to ride in. I jumped into the cove, I forgot to bring my wetsuit and was hit by a blast of cold water. After a few choice words, I put my head down and swam out for around 1/4 mile (the speck on the horizon to the right in the picture) and then back. I grabbed my bike gear from the car and headed to the restrooms to change.

Still no rain at this point as I headed out through Kilmarnock and the open roads. Not 10 minutes later it started to rain. Torrential rain. I was soaked and my shoes filled with water. I plastered a smile on my face and chanted "Don't worry, be happy" which is my IMFL theme song. The first 30 miles continued this way often riding through 2 inches of water. I skipped the first rest stop and rode back to town for the next stage.

At the 48 mile mark I stopped to pee and refill bottles. I was covered in grit from the roads and my nutrition was a soggy mess. I stuffed a bunch of disintegrating fig bars in my mouth, grabbed a banana and was back on the road. Finally, it stopped raining. I was still feeling pretty good so I kept pushing the pace, however this part of the course was rolling hills, long false flats with a couple of nasty hills (think Naylors) thrown in. At the 80 mile mark I stopped for one last time to refill bottles. The last 27 miles were tough. The wind picked up and I felt cold. About 75 % of the ride I was completely on my own it was weird. I kept on singing. As I came back into Kilmarnock I was surprised by the distance on my computer 105, by the time I got off my bike it was a little over 107 in 6:39.

I quickly racked my bike on my car, changed my socks and shorts and headed out for my run. The volunteers looked at me as though I was crazy and some roadie who I had passed a few times shouted something derogatory but I ignored him. I ran 2.5 miles feeling okay. Long enough to know my nutrition was good although I did not drink as much water as I should have. I blame that on the rain. By now the sun was out and everywhere had warmed up. I took a quick shower ready for the drive home.

This ride was really a well organized event overall. Tons of food and drink which I didn't get to enjoy, portalets at the rest stops, super friendly volunteers, lunch looked good as well. The course was not ideal for a training ride because of the many stops and lots of turns through towns. It would be great for a leisurely bike cruise though. Anyhow, I accomplished my goals and feel really good about my training.

NN River Ride

This weekend while all the IM TG's are racing Chesapeakeman I will be riding solo at the Northern Neck River Ride Century. I know they will all do really well and I will miss them.

But I won't be slacking either. My plan for the century is to simulate race conditions as much as possible although I won't have the "benefit" of the 2.4 mile swim before cycling.

Even so this won't be a leisurely ride through the countryside stopping 4-5 times with a catered lunch. My goal is to ride as though I am racing and ride through the rest stops; refueling at the halfway point with only the nutrition I can bring. Should be interesting!

I am actually looking forward to it in a bizarre way. Riding with a group is fun, distracting and simply easier than racing or riding solo. But for me, it is important to do some of the long training on my own without the group support and pacing. Experience has shown me that even a little bit of drafting makes a difference. It will be a challenge to ride this long completely dependent on myself and I expect I will realize how mentally tough I am rather quickly.

So the plan is a short swim to start, 100+ miles of cycling topped off with a short transition run. Should be a good weekend, don't ya think?????

Fast Tracking 26.2

I had a cortisone shot in my leg today to stop the mystery, phantom pain I continue to have. My doctor tells me my injuries do not manifest in the typical manner. Now why does that not surprise me?????? Despite a positive bone scan in April I have NO signs of injury but neither do I have signs of healing in my stress fracture. That is weird!

But it is also great news as it means I have the total green light to run my ass off! Finally I am on the fast track to 26.2 (without another injury thank you very much) and I am excited. Believe me, wait until someone tells you can't run, it becomes your entire focus in life, even if you hate running.

So with 5 weeks of real training left I am going to shoot for making it to 15-16 miles before IMFL. I am going to be able to run at least part of the marathon and I am going to feel somewhat prepared. I can't tell you how great this feels right now.

Training Milestones

This weekend marked a few milestones for me.

My single longest training week at 13 hours.

My longest bike ride at 97 miles.

My longest training weekend at 8 hours.

I cleaned my bike for the first time since I have owned it.

Walking 26.2

It's not that I am opposed to walking during a marathon like some running purists. In fact in the two marathons I have completed I walked a good deal. It's just that I didn't expect to have to walk the entire marathon at IMFL.

Unfortunately it is beginning to look more and more like this will be the case. I have not run in 4 weeks, this after a year where I have only been able to run 4 months out of 9. I question the sanity of what I am doing and hope I can pull it off. I am beginning to realize that running may be something I just don't do. That this is my only chance to fulfill my Ironman dream.

I watch my teammates enviously as they complete longer and longer runs and I feel so unprepared I can almost laugh at the comedy of this enterprise. Ironman or triathlon or running does not define me, but setting a goal and accomplishing that goal through hard work, dedication and commitment does. I fear failure and it pisses me off!

Weekend Recap

With the cancellation of the Patriot HIM I had the whole weekend free to do as I pleased with my workouts. Thanks to my friend Beth for the guest pass to do the 2.5 mile swim in the ACAC 50 meter pool. Swimming long in a 50 meter pool is infinitely better than in a 25 yd pool. It just seems so much easier when you don't have to make all those turns. Got that done and felt GREAT afterwards!!!!!!

Then it was off to Performance bike to pick up some new sunglasses and pedals. I love new gear, and as expensive as this crazy sport is, it's so much fun to get new stuff. Got the pedals and cleats installed just in time for the rain to start. Oh well.

Saturday morning I opted to skip the group workout, not really much point as I wasn't running anyway, and I slept in. Hopped on the trainer I had set-up in my garage around 10 AM and watched the rain fall. I must have sweat out 10 pints it was so damn humid. Then I jumped in the car heading to the gym for 2 hours of elliptical and treadmill.

Sunday morning was an absolutely gorgeous day for an easy solo ride through Goochland to cap the weekend. Overall a solid few days of training.