Double-Time

Last week I started my two a day workouts and it seemed to go well. Each morning I pulled my body out of bed before knowing what was going on and actually enjoy being out to watch the sunrise. I can't believe I'm saying that but it's true. It is not as if I don't like to watch the sunrise usually, it is just that I like the feeling of being in bed as well and being in bed in a whole lot easier. Come Saturday I could tell my legs were getting tired but I had a bike ride and run ahead of me. The gorgeous weather helped to get me out and on my bike as well as meeting up with ex-DCer, new Austinite and ironman extraordinaire Veronica. We set out Saturday morning for the Fitzhugh ride and fighting wind and rolling hills had a great three hour ride through the hill country even with the white knuckles from Hamilton pool road. We made it back downtown and it was off on a four mile run for me. I ran easy making sure my legs felt okay which they did other than a twinge half way through the run, I stopped and walked it off and felt okay the rest of the way. I think it was just a result of tired muscles and overcompensation from other areas of my body. Saturday's workout felt really good especially on the bike.

Sunday was another beautiful day and I rode down easy to Robby's before we headed down to the trail for a run. My legs felt okay, just tired and really pushing myself harder was not an option. My goal was to just get out there and do it. The run was extremely enjoyable, although I was running a slower than usual clip and it was a bit frustrating that I couldn't get my legs to move a bit faster. My knee reminded me that it was strained part way through the run but I took it easy and it passed.

Today provides some much needed rest for my legs to repair and then it is back at it.

Hill Country, Hamstrings, and Heels

Last week I had a good week after the race. On the Monday morning after the run, my legs were too tight to run so I went for a walk along the seawall and then took a dip in the pool. Tuesday I went for a swim at Big Stacy and then Wednesday ran 7 miles on the town lake trail and my legs felt just fine, which is great. Thursday and Friday were swim intensive days before my ride in Johnson City on Saturday. The weather was supposed to be perfect although a bit chilly in the morning. The zipper to my cycling jacket is broken and I’m pretty wimpy in cold weather so, KB and I came up with the idea to use a pair of old socks for arm warmers. I found some woolies I hadn’t worn in awhile and cut then straight across the toe. They worked like a dream.
I felt great at the start of the Johnson City Pedal Power ride. Part of it is just being outside on such a beautiful day, but I felt strong heading out and the terrain was gorgeous. The ride was through rolling hills and we crossed countless cattle guards and saw plenty of animals (cows, sheep, goats, birds, spiders, your typical) along with much less wildflowers than I expected but breath-taking views. My giddiness left me ahead of my group at the start of the ride and as I was riding one of those stretches where I was just going. It is this fabulous feeling of whee and my head is saying faster, faster just because it is so much fun. Well the party in my head distracted me from the turnoff arrow I was supposed to see to turn left for the route I was doing and two miles down the road I saw a turnoff that made no note of the 60 mile route, hmmm. I talked to the volunteers there and they said there was a turn off back from where I came and that maybe the sign blew over (I was not the only one to miss the turn off) there was only on thing to do hop back on my bike and back track. I headed back keeping my eyes peeled for signs and the rest of my group. This time I saw the sign and got back on track. I didn’t see the rest of my group so I figured they must have seen the turn off. I knew they probably thought I was still ahead of them, when I was in fact a few miles behind them now, hmm. They are a good bunch of riders and catching them was not going to be easy. They do know how to enjoy rest stops though so that was all I could think of as my saving grace, and again “press on” came into play. Fifty miles into the ride I finally caught them, when I had just about given up on the thought of catching them. At this point I was saddle-sore and wanted to finish so I charged on to the end. Saturday was a great day of riding with perfect weather, views, friends, and yes food at the end. (67 miles including miles added on)

Sunday was a ten mile run around town lake. I felt pretty good on the run other than a side stitch that would not go away and the heat. I can tell my legs are tired but not to the breaking point, so later in the day Johan and I went to Deep Eddy for some R and R poolside while I watched other people workout and I read my magazine. Sunday night I decided to give my legs a different sort of exercise and I hit the dance floor in three possibly four inch heels (I'm impressed I pulled this off without hurting myself) to dance the night away. Another great week of training down and just a little over three months to go until IM Switzerland, which we just got an email on saying the route changed a bit and it sounds like we have to run over an island in the middle of our swim and the bike route has changed some. I'll need to look this over a bit more to fully grasp what the course change means exactly.

Lonestar Triathlon

MKT 5.33.21 6th place - make that 5th place due to some wonky timing of the girl in front of me.

The night before the Lonestar Half my jitters were still there, but significantly less than past races. My training had built up my confidence as well as the pep talks of my fabulous friends and family. So, I set out my kit for the race and “tried” to fall asleep as best I could. Race morning came before I knew it and I robotically slipped on my tri gear and double-checked that I had everything I needed, pumped up my tires, and then headed out the hotel and to the race (it’s a definite plus to stay right by the start, one less worry). Everything from here on out seemed to go as planned. I laid out my gear in transition and chatted with some of the girls around me, which helps to alleviate some nervousness. I played the mantra “this is just a training day no biggie” on my internal tape player, pulled my wetsuit half way up and sauntered over to the swim start. The swim was in Galveston Bay and was shaped like trapezoid. I watched Robby’s wave go and subsequent waves hit the water as I waited for my start. Two girls around me started talking about how nervous they were and calming them down seemed to help me as well. I looked around to see if my parents had made it to the swim start and before I knew it my group was heading down the dock and into the water for the start of the 2008 Lonestar Half Ironman. I swam to the outer edge (a trick Lovato told me about years ago). The signal went off and this was it. It felt good to just get started and then the swirl of thoughts that wash over me along with the water at the beginning of a race came over me. This was going to be a long haul, but just take it in baby steps. I tried to keep my stroke long and efficient while at the same time keeping the buoys in sight. The shape of the swim made it easier to navigate and the bay had minimal chop so after bouncing around a few people, the swim exit manifested itself before me in no time. It was hard to tell where I came out compared to the rest of my wave. I saw my Mom as I came out which was uplifting gave her a high five and then ran over to the suit strippers. This is the first time I’ve ever had suit strippers at a race and they are the best thing ever! I had pulled off the top of my wetsuit as I exited the water, so I just plopped down and two girls grabbed either side of the suit and within a second they were handing it to me and I was off and running over to my bike. When your heart rate is going a mile a minute I slowed down a second to make sure I have everything. “helmet, shoes, glasses, is that all I need?” I shoved some banana in my mouth and headed out on the bike. As I was riding, I started to feel the stinging on my neck as salt water hit the wetsuit burn I got from my suit, it went away as I rode on, but the ride was a bit uncomfortable the first loop I think due to the salt water mostly. I tried to remember what everyone has been telling me and started drinking as I rode. My second lap I went for the water handoff. I had some trepidation when it came to grabbing a bottle while on the bike because it didn’t work so well for me at Eagleman where I missed the handoff. This time, the volunteers were great. I shouted that I wanted water, they shouted my order to one of the other volunteers and they ran along next to me handing it up. My first successful handoff, I was so relieved! I pulled into the transition feeling okay, racked my bike, pulled on my running shoes, made sure my helmet was off, clicked on my race number and was off. I ran toward the bike exit and then quickly realized my error turned around and headed for the run exit. My legs were exhausted at this point and I felt like I was dragging a sack of potatoes. I knew at this point that if I could run a 2 hr half marathon I would be around 5 hr 30 min, well below my PB. This kept me moving, while at the same time I was frustrated my legs felt like jello. I kept pushing and after a couple of miles and convincing myself this would be easy, my legs began to loosen up and I found more of a rhythm. The run took us throughout Moody Gardens with people cheering the whole way. I ran by a guy rocking out on guitar, a clown making silly comments to everyone, a whole section of people dressed like pirates, a steel drum player and tons of cowbell ringers. That is what makes these events so great. Once I got over my initial brick legs, I just tried to keep it steady, running by my parents cheering me on as well as seeing Robby out on the course kept the fire strong. The last couple of miles I used Paula Radcliffe’s technique of counting to one hundred to step up the pace and bring it home. It worked. I felt great as I ran through the finish hearing my name called and feeling outstanding after the whole experience and with a new half ironman personal best. What did I learn I need to work on?

1. Practice bricks more
   
2. Get on the bike more
3. Keep working on nutrition during long training
4. Figure out a way to prevent wetsuit chafing
   

give me some more of that

The New York Times has an article today about runner's highs and whether there is any truth based in the old-wise tale. There is no question in my mind that exercise makes you feel good. I don't think anyone will dispute that. My family can tell you, they know whether I've worked out that day just by talking to me on the phone. Far fewer people would compete if you didn't feel good training. Now if it is a "high", I have to say I'm definitely hooked. The strange thing is, it really isn't something you think about on the whole. I don't choose to train to "get high" but rather more the peaceful feeling I get from it. It is a time to be in yourself and do something solely for you. It is the feeling of being outside and working my body physically. Without a doubt, it feels good. So really is there any reason to prove it scientifically? Not in my book.

Last night: Swam 2000

You Can Do It Because You Have To

My prerace jitters have officially begun. My stomach is in a knot continually, I can't sleep, I have excess energy, and my moods are large and wide. I keep going through lists in my head of what I need to do before the race, while at the same time feeling like I know nothing. I calm myself thinking, what do I need really? A swimsuit, a bike, some running shoes, those are the basics. I love to play in the ocean, ride my bike, and run and that is what it is about. So why the pressure? My nervousness is based on not knowing how my body will react to the starting gun, the race, and wanting to be top of the heap. A lot of fears are based on the unknown and all my training has been taking my hand and saying "look this is how you feel and you can do it, trust in yourself". I know I can, but will I? It is all up to me, but no pressure. So these last few days before the race are a mental battle of reassuring myself that I'm ready, willing and able.

Last night: 1 hour bike followed by 1/2 hour run.