Ironman Augusta 70.3 Race Week

Well time flew and Race Week is here. I love race week. It’s a week full of nervous excitement. Am I nervous? Yes but it’s a good kind of nervous. I feel that I am as ready as I can be at this point so I am looking forward to getting out there and “playing”.

I have been struggling to come up with my race expectations. I have a strong competitive side but I also am trying to be realistic so I don’t set myself up for a crushing let down. So my main plan is to go out there and have fun while at the same time attempting to push hard and see where I fall in the end. I will be ecstatic just to finish but I would love to do so in the 6 ½ hour range for my first 70.3. Regardless I am going to go out there with a smile and have fun. I believe it takes experience in order to come up with the best execution plan so I am going to pay close attention to how I feel so I can note where I need more work. Therefore, my dream finish time can be more achievable when I pick out 70.3 race #2. I look at this as a Win Win situation. Now to get out there have some fun and learn!

Taper week has been going rather smooth for me this go around. My first tri, back in May, I was a nervous wreck so I did not taper as well. I have more of the calm before the storm feeling now. Probably because I sort of know what to expect now more so then I did then. I do have a new personal rule I will share:

• No heavy lifting, esp. legs 1 1/2 weeks before the race.

My old “rule” was the week of the race = no more lifting. Well going by this self made rule I lifted hard and heavy last week (non race week) and have been paying for it in my legs the last 5 days. So that being said I changed my rule and have learned my lesson. I took Tuesday off completely from all activities just to give my legs another free day to stop hurting.

I have changed up my gear since my first tri. I have already introduced you to Koa (Here) my new ride.

We are getting along rather well. I am still adjusting to the aero position but it gets better / more comfortable with each ride. I have not been professionally fitted to my bike simply due to lack of time. It would have been much easier had there been a place here I could have taken it to have done. But I have been tweaking it the best I can and know how. I did a lot of reading on proper fitting and measurements were taken and the bike was adjusted and readjusted. My poor hubby would get home from work and I would be waiting in the garage with the tools so he could do his magic. Bit of background – Matt built bikes as a job when he was working on his bachelor’s degree. So he knows all about the parts and such of the bike not really about fitting someone to it but he has LOT’s of love for patients with me and my “that does not feel right” “that’s needs to be more this way”. Fun times.

I got an interesting package in the mail last week. My dad knows a pro surfer who found out I was doing the Ironman August 70.3 and had his sponsors over at O’Neill send me a sweet wet suit. He promised it would “make me faster”. I thought that was rather awesome! 

Yes I have a tendency to wear my hat a bit sideways.

My Dad sent me some new Brooks T7 running shoes a few weeks ago and I have been enjoying them. So I will probably wear them in the race. My mom sent me a new 2XU outfit. Seriously, I know everyone says this but my PARENTS are AWESOME. They are some of the most supportive people I know and I am so grateful I have them in my corner. 

In 4 days I will hopefully have figured out my Identity crisis (here). My race number is 2817 if you care to stalk me on race day just click (Here).

Good luck to anyone who is racing this weekend! Till next time Keep Smiling!

 

seven links

The individuals at Tripbase have been running a blogging experiment with the goal of uniting bloggers from all around cyberspace to share and develop a collection of lost, but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to be brought back into the limelight. 

I have had the privilege to be nominated by two blogger buddies, KC from 140 Point 6 Miles of Awesome and  JC from The Fat Slow Triathlete.

Here are the rules:

1. Blogger is nominated to take part
2. Blogger publishes his/her 7 links on his/her blog – 1 link for each category
3. Blogger nominates up to 5 more bloggers to take part.
4. These bloggers publish their 7 links and nominate another 5 more bloggers
5. And so it goes on!

This may be a bit stretched for me since I don't blog as much as I had anticipated. But I like to play along so here we go. 

one - most beautiful post : 

 Identity Crisis 

I had a hard time picking this category but I kept going back to this post. Probably because its where I am currently in my journey. I was not expecting to fall in love with this triathlon sport in such a profound way.

two - most popular post : 
The Tri Suit test run - Winning
(Blogger ate my pictures and It is giving me some issues with trying to restore them so sorry for the big black ! box -dang you blogger)

This post was about my new Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool Tri Suit and my review of its awesomeness. So I guess people like gear reviews or reading about my dog getting attacked by another dog..

three - most controversial post :

Last training week and a question

This is the only post I have written that I have been sent some emails talking about having body issues. I found it rather funny since I don't personally have any issues with my body. I guess some just read it that way.

four - most helpful post :

Swagger

This post is about the gear I used for my first tri. I am not sure it was helpful to anyone else but it helped me remember what all I needed to take to my first tri event. 

five - a post whose success surprised me :

Official

This was a very short post in which I made it public I was going to take a break from just running and attempt my first triathlon. It was this post that I realized I was embarking into a wonderful community of supporters aka triathletes. I was surprised by all the encouragement and the willingness to help from other experienced triathletes. 

six - a post that did not get the attention it deserved :

Justice in Motion

A short post about a topic that is close to my heart. Its not something people like to think about or speak about but domestic violence affects 1.3 million people a year in which 85% of the victims are women. It just breaks my heart.

seven - the post I am most proud of :

Lake Oconee Olympic Triathlon Race Report

The post I wrote after my first triathlon. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you achieve something you never thought you could. This was the start of a new lifestyle and my second job.

Alright, well thank you for playing along now to nominate other bloggers:

1.Donna G -Fitness and Training

2. Steady Pursuit

3. Coach D - Coach Dion

4. Mallory - Sit for your Job. Run for your Life

5. Colleen - Irondiva

 

Identity Crisis

I was presented with a moment today which made me realize I am suffering from an identity crisis. Stay with me I promise this is not about the adolescence to adulthood crisis we all were faced with. 

I was at the local YMCA talking myself through my second swim for the week. Anyway, I had been there a while with the pool almost to myself which was rather nice for once. I noticed about halfway through my swim that a guy had started his laps in the lane next to mine. He got done with his laps a few moments before I was done with mine. I finished up my swim for the day and exited the pool. I saw the guy had sat down in the chair next to the one which contained all my stuff. As I am walking up he stands and says “excuse me, I hope you don’t mind me asking but are you a triathlete?” You know how time seems to slow down to a crawl and what really is 1-3 seconds seems like hours. Okay got the feeling? well that is what happened to me. I began to stutter – just an FYI I don’t normally stutter. So anyway here I am being faced with a simple non threatening question and I can’t seem to formulate an answer. 

That is when I realized I am in the middle of an identity crisis. The line between a runner transforming into a triathlete. At what point is it okay to consider yourself as a runner, swimmer, cyclist, triathlete? Is it a personal realization, do you need to successfully finish an event for the sport of choice, do you have to win an event, or do you simply have to just train in that sport or sports? When do you know? 

For me I did not have to win anything to know and define myself as a runner. Running is just part of me. I can’t imagine my life without it. It’s that simple. I run because I love to run. Now that I have discovered triathlons I have fallen in love with the mental and physical demands the sport requires. I love everything this journey has taught me along the way not only about the sport but also about myself. Honestly, I can’t ever see myself going back to “just” running.  

Yet there I was unable to say Yes to a simple question. For some reason I felt like I would be lying had I said yes. So my answer to him after what seemed like an eternity was “I’m trying to be, I have done one and am training for another which is this month.” I could see his eyes light up when he said “that is really cool, I have just started to train for my first sprint distance which I hope to do next season.” We carried on a short conversation about how he finds running the hardest part and I the swimming (which by the way he told me I looked super strong in the water –Yes this made my day!) about what type of bikes we had, and if I was part of a local tri group or self coached. His name is Jason and he wants to start swimming with me on Friday afternoons even though I kept telling him swimming was not my strong suit. I am thankful I met Jason and hopefully I will see him around again so I can watch him fall in love with the sport I have fallen in love with.  

As for considering or defining myself as a triathlete maybe my opinion will change after I cross the finish line on September 25, 2011.  

When did you know?  

Accountability and a Challenge.

As you all know by now I’m new to this triathlon thing. I have one Olympic distance tri under my sneakers and am 21 days away from attempting tri #2 the Augusta 70.3 HIM. (Just saying 21 days away makes me nervous) In the matter of 8 months I have transformed from just a runner to a swimmer, cyclist, runner. Now please don’t misunderstand my term “transformed” I’m not a strong fast swimmer or cyclist but I am attempting to be.

My weakness, by far, is the swimming. While I have the drive and desire to become better at swimming I have caught myself allowing excuses not to swim enter my world. I have an issue with excuses (I hit my wife/husband because, my child does not have clean clothing or food because, I only had 2 beers and drove because… I could go on and on but you get the point) I detest them. Excuses are just that excuses - the lack of taking responsibility for your own actions. Therefore a couple of weeks ago, when I realized I was allowing this plague into my training, I sent my blogger buddy KC over at 140 Point 6 Miles of Awesome a text telling her I was going to swim that day so that I could be held accountable. She surprised me by telling me she had also been slacking in the swim department. Now if you have been following KC you will know she is an amazing triathlete and missing some swimming for her is not going to set her back. I swear that lady is a fish in the water, a power house on the bike, and a cheetah on the run! Anyway she came up with the idea that we hold each other accountable till our perspective races (me the HIM her the IMFL). We made a promise to swim 2 times a weak till our race date. Let me tell you it has done WONDERS for my swimming. I have yet to miss a swim since. There have been days where I just did not want to go but I know she is waiting on my text saying swim # 1 – 2 is done with. My fear of letting someone down is greater than my dislike of swimming so it works for me. I have generally been good at self motivation but for whatever reason I needed to be held accountable for my swimming and I am thankful she is willing to play along.

Speaking of playing along…. Drum roll…. Would you all like to play along with KC’s challenge???

KC sent the ridiculously funny Beth over at Discom-BOB-ulated Running and I an email last week asking if we were up for one of her challenges. Of course like any A-Type personality I said HELL yes probably before I even knew what I was doing. Yes I was that kid that if you said “double dog dare you” on the playground I would die doing the challenge. (I think she knows this) I digress… This challenge is not just for Beth and I you all can play along too if you wish!

The objective is to do the one activity you dread the most 5 times within a 7 day stretch. It has to be done in the same week. The challenge must be completed before 12/31/11. There are rules and perimeters for each of 4 different activities so don’t think you can just run 1 mile 5 days in a row…

The rules based on the activity are:

Running: No less than a 5K (3.1 miles) for each run day.

Biking: No less than 12 miles for each day.

Swimming: No less than 1 mile each day

Weight training: No less than 30 minutes per day

Now if you’re asking what’s in it for you well its simple really… Self satisfaction that you not only just made yourself better at your “weakest” activity but you just conquered a full five days of something you dread. So are you in?????? Come play! 

I of course I will be doing my weakest most dreaded activity  - Running

Just Kidding me and the pool are going to be besties for five days!

Introducing

Blogger world I would like to introduce you all to the  newest member of my family. 

Insert Circle of Life song here. Yes I hate that I even thought of that reference. 

 

 

 

I was beginning to think he would never arrive. I had actually spent time looking for other bike options due to the shipping mishap. But I am glad I held out. From the moment I took him out of the box I knew he was where he was meant to be. Thus, it was time to find a name.

Interesting how things work out... Just this week as Matt and I were sitting on the beach in Coco Cay, Bahamas sipping on the island drink of the day and reading our separate books (me Lance Armstrongs newest The Making of the Worlds Greatest Champion. (very good read by the way) and Matt some business magazine full of facts and figures Blah). When I turned to him and simply said "I want to go to Hawaii one day" without even looking up from his reading he said "I know and we probably will but once will at least be for a vacation." "You know what for?" "Yup I know". That was the end of the conversation. I sat there for a while trying to figure out #1 how he knew, and #2 what I had just openly admitted I wanted to do (It may have been the island drink talking). Anyway, it was rather odd and I am still not sure where the goal came from but its out there.

As I pulled the bike from its box and sat it out to make sure everything was there I was struck by how detailed and vivid the color design was. The bike is different blues some of which contain a sparkle with white accents. There design seems to resemble waves of rip tides along the bike and the word Ironman is almost taunting you as it is written along the bike in three separate locations.

 

As I was exchanging excited (I finally got my bike) e-mails with KC I mentioned I wanted to come up with a good name. She sent an e-mail back suggesting I go with a Hawaiian name. After reading her suggestion my mind immediately went back to the previous conversation I had with Matt several days earlier. It was perfect, seemingly meant to be. The bike itself screams Hawaii. 

 

So I searched for the perfect Hawaiian term that would be fitting for the bike... I slept on it and as soon as I got up this morning and looked at the bike again I knew exactly what his name should be...

 

 

Koa [koh (w)ah] meaning Brave, Bold, Fearless.

 

All these things are things I am not when it comes to the bike. So I find it fitting his name is Koa so I can focus on his name and its meaning and gain these attributes and apply them in my ridding.

What, I'm Serious!

So I was sent a question through an anonymous source asking if I wear running gear when I go to court. I am guessing it’s due to this Q &A that is going around blogger land as to why I have gotten randomly emailed questions. I have been MIA for a moment so I did not even know about the whole Q&A thing and deleted some questions my apologies. But since you wanted to know…  

Of course I do! I think it's totally appropriate to wear my Nike Frees with the rest of my court room attire. No Really I do! 

Cancel the BOLO.

I guess I can start by saying it has been not just a minute but a Hot Minute. Sorry, for my absence in writing. I got the message the other morning as I was picking up my OJ in the gas station when I saw the milk carton with my face planted on the side. So cancel the BOLO I’m still here alive and well. No worries.

I am currently in week 8 of my 70.3 training. I decided going with a two-a-day schedule would be my best option when it came to getting my training in and I have stuck with it. I can gladly say I have only had one week, last week, which I feel was almost a complete waste. I don’t know what my problem was but I was just not on my game and each time I tried to run I would literally get sick to my stomach so I did not accomplish much but I am happy to say I have found my game face again. Let’s see my overall miles thus far are: Swim: “about” 7 miles, Bike: 405.05, Run: 119.09 and 21 strength sessions. Still plenty of time left, right…

It’s been interesting trying to juggle family, work, vacation, and training all in. I will say I have learned a ton from this increased training lifestyle. Time management being one big lesson learned. I am currently working the morning shift which is from 6:30am – 3pm so I start my day at 4am on the bike and get almost an hour in before work then as soon as I get off work I head straight to the gym and depending on what is on my schedule swim/run/lift, all three, or a combination. I am usually home right after the hubby gets home have my recovery drink, shower, cook dinner, clean up, get the uniform and gym bag ready for the next day, then go to bed. I feel like an “old old old” (none of you are that old) person since I am now asleep by 9. It’s crazy but I am worn out.

Another thing I have learned, trying to fit training sessions in on a vacation regardless of time length is difficult. My family had their annual Christmas in July vacation over the 4^th of July weekend and while I did get some good hill training in I still did not get as much done training wise as I would have had I been home under my normal routine.

How could I when I was surrounded by these adorable little kids for 3 days????  

This brings me to a question… I will be leaving in two weeks for 7 days of straight chillin with my hubby on the high seas/Bahamas thus missing my week 11 of training. This worries me. I know there is a gym on the ship that has the wonderful dreamill and bikes but I’m afraid my husband would be really upset if I spent hours plugging away in a gym while on our vacation… Sigh, so what do you all think is going on vacation supposed to only be about vacation or is it reasonable to expect to still work in some quality workouts? How do you fit training into your vacations??

I do have some interesting news… I decided to purchase a new ride. After consulting with KC on cycling specifics I settled on a Cannondale Ironman 5000 Dura Ace Triathlon bike that I had located on Ebay.

Meet the new addition.

I watched the bike for several days and decided to go after it since the price was what I thought to be a good deal. I placed my bet and won! Super excited. This was a week and 3 days ago now. I got home from work on Monday and saw a box on my front porch but when I opened it there was a set of Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 Carbon Tri tires (which are VERY nice) but not what I bought. I sent the seller an email and explained to him the mix up at which he responded to me by saying the bike store he took my bike and another persons wheelset to must have switched the orders thus giving me the tires and the other person my bike. He has yet to tell me what he is going to do to fix it. So I am still waiting on my bike. I am however, fairly sure someone who spent this much money on a wheelset already has a nice bike and will not opt to keep mine. I just wish they would send it back already and someone would tell me where to send the wheelset. I for one don’t feel right having someones item esp since they want their wheelset i'm sure as much as I want my bike. I sure hope this gets fixed this week.

 

Happy Training!