T2: 8:09; 12th of 27 in AG
RUN: 26.2 miles in 4:37; 5th of 27 in AG
Splits: 9:46 m/m in first 7 miles
9:56 through first 14 miles
10:23 through first 20.5 miles
10:34 overall pace
FINISH TIME: 12:50:02, 12th of 27 in AG
T2 was indoors in the convention center. It was a long run in and out, but there were mats on the floor to help. I sat on the floor (knowing that leaning over in a chair would make me dizzy) and took my time. No rush, get it right! I used the indoor bathroom (first for any race I've done!) and headed out.
RUN: 2 out-n-back course on the River Walk, city streets, and on park paths around a lake. Aid stations about every mile, great volunteer support. Mostly shaded in the park, great running surface, and enough winding park paths to keep it interesting. Flat aside from 2 minor block-long hills right before mile 3.
Only 26.2 miles to go! The run started off with a kiss to DH who was just outside the convention center, then off to a short out-n-back. Back to the River Walk (should be called the River Jog or Run, LOL!) which was quite fun. The boards of the walk were soft, the turns broke up the routine, and being able to see the river and USS North Carolina battleship made the first few miles pass fast. Then a few blocks of brick and cobble stone before hitting a relatively ugly half mile with railroad tracks and street. But this section was made all the better by a wireless speaker playing my 2014 theme song. I sang out loud with Katy: "Now I'm floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee, I've earned my stripes". Then the first of 2 hills on the course, neither much of a hill but I walked them anyway. About 3 miles in we entered the park, a wide paved path with some bridges, tree rooted cracks, and little winding turns. Beautiful! And park signs telling park visitor's to not feed the alligators. ALLIGATORS?!
I fueled with EFS every 30 mins and drank as desired from my Camelbak handheld bottle. I stuck to plan of walking every mile and briefly in each aid station to refill the handheld. Without the garmin, I had to guess on the mile intervals so I went with every 10 minutes. In the end I only walked 15-20 seconds at a time for the first 13 miles. If I didn't feel the need to walk I didn't, but I was holding back my pace so as to conserve for later. I knew that mile 4 could feel great, but my mile 24 that could all change. Heck, by mile 14 it could all change! So slow it down and bee good!
The turn-around wasn't until 7.25 miles and I started getting some "where the hell is the turn-around?" anxiety. From race report recon, I knew the second loop was shorter than the first, but I couldn't get my head around the math for this turn-around. Calm down, slow down, just run it.
I'd written "Please wish me a Happy Birthday" on my bib number and tied some ribbon to it. I got a few wishes, but not many. The bib was hanging on my back, and apparently most runners weren't looking at my ass. Ha!! But I did get a few, and each one of them buoyed my spirits. The spectators and volunteers were great too, so much energy! Near the finish line a guy wearing a race medal and Finisher pajama pants cheered me by, that's what I'm running for!
The first lap sped by, I felt fantastic aside from wanting to throw up the Clif Shot Vanilla I'd just eaten. It didn't come up, nor did a follow-up shot of EFS, but they were burning the back of my throat. I burped a few times, that seemed to help. I kept drinking and rescheduled nutrition to every 40 mins until I felt better. As I headed towards Special Needs I passed the finish line party and saw Doritos in the food tent -- I was going to get me a bag of those when I'm done. Not to eat, of course!
At Special Needs I put on the bee tutu and headband. Volunteers laughed and helped me. I decided against wearing the shrug for warmth, even though it was getting dark I was comfortable and even sweating a little bit.
"I've got the eye of the tiger, a lion, dancing through the fire and I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar"
Back out for lap 2 and I spent the first mile or so trying to peel the damned label off the new EFS flask. Ugh! I needed it peeled so I could monitor the volume but I couldn't get it off. Fingernails too short to tear it. Teeth couldn't get ahold of it. Arg! Hint: next time, peel it before the race. I looked for DH to see if he could help, but didn't see him. Thought about asking a volunteer but didn't to stop. Besides, it was a distraction. Those would come in handy now. I got it off about 2 miles later.
Across the tracks, up the hills, into the park. By now it was dark. Fewer people were able to see the bee costume, but knowing I had it on was enough for me. There was another runner wearing devil horns and a red tutu, we enjoyed seeing each other. But enough people saw the bee to give me some cheering and extra energy. Proof that having fun in these races can be a win-win for everyone.
My race math got bad as usual and I kept confusing the distances, thinking that the race was 25 miles instead of 26. This was a pervasive thought, and along with the unmatched first and second loop mileages I kept getting confused. But the miles came by fast, sometimes surprising me as I caught view of a sign. I was happier to walk 30-40 seconds per mile by now, not because of fatigue but because I was getting stutter-steppy and wobbly. Some areas of the path were very dark I didn't want to trip over a root in the path. Focusing on the path, looking for trip hazards, and staying on path distracted me but at the same time drained my mental energy.
I caught sight of the first quarter moon, bright and clear and silvery in the western sky. I took a few moments to Appreciate it, then kept going.
I passed lots of walkers in the last miles, and saw at least 3-4 people talking or chatting on cell phones. One guy was stopped with cramps. Another runner was being treated by EMT's. And many many more heading out for another loop. As usual in these races, I felt like the only runner still running. Most people didn't reply when I said "good job" so I quit saying it to everyone.
Two other notes -- in the bike I started a game of collecting the Clif Shots from the aid stations to see how many I ended up with by the end. Some I ate but most I didn't. LOL, I had Clif Shots stuffed everywhere it seemed, and even had to unload some into my Special Needs Run bag! Second, I needed something solid to eat and the craving was getting a bit much. My options included bananas and oranges. I tried an orange at mile 8 but it didn't work for me and I tossed it after a few licks. I moved on to Clif Blocks. I didn't train with them and when I tried a few earlier on the bike it didn't feel too good going down. So what I did was grab a half package from the aid station, squeeze one out, chewed on it a bit, then spit it out. Gross, I know. And they tasted awful. I made sure to not spit around other runners. I didn't spit all of them, but most. To my surprise it helped and satisfied that odd must-chew craving I had.
20 miles, 21 miles, 22 miles... they ticked by fast. It felt better to jog than it did to walk due to tired muscles but I still forced at least a brief walk. I had concerns about stutter-stepping on the cobblestones ahead - I'd be easy to remember as the Bee that fell before the finish line. Mile 23 had the "We've Got Salt" tent that I'd passed by before. This time I stopped to see what they had. Why not? Turns out they had a thumb-licking salt delivery tube -- cool! But not for this race. Sure only 3 miles to go but 'nothing new on race day' is the rule. Besides, licking my thumb after all it had been exposed to today...ew...
Down the hills, over the tracks, past the last aid station, to the cobblestones, everyone is cheering! OMG here it was, the day is almost over and the finish line is within site! I weaved to the side to collect as many high-fives as I could and found DH. I stopped for a kiss, OMG it was so great to see him there!! Stopping to see him was worth the few seconds over 12:50 :)
FINISH TIME 12:50:02
Run Review: Nailed it. I managed my pace, adjusted nutrition as needed, and had FUN. That was my goal!
The post race festival was upbeat but not obnoxiously loud which I appreciated. Volunteers took my chip, handed me a mylar, offered water, gave me a medal and pajama pants. I finally got to eat some oranges. Got my bag of Doritos. Tupelo Honey was being played by the band -- one of my songs!
I was feeling great, no soreness or pains aside from some worry about the neck chafing. DH had already collected Frea and the gear bags, so all that was left was Special Needs Run (and all the Clif Shots I'd put in there from the first lap, LOL). The volunteers there remembered the bee costume and kept cheering me. What a great group of volunteers, where do they get the energy?!
I did great the rest of the night, to my surprise I was able to eat. We stopped at a CVS to get some ointment for my neck, then at a Jason's Deli for some solid food, can't believe I was able to eat solid food from a salad bar. Of course I wore my bee costume and mylar inside both stores :)
I was tired but not sleepy, and I was still chattering away about everything that happened. Around midnight-thirty I lamented that my birthday was over, it went by so fast! DH pointed out that I'd been up since 4:30am, that I'd milked the day for all I could. True :) What a great birthday!!
Saturday, October 25, 2014
B2B T1 and Bike: I'm feeling good
T1: 22 minutes; 27th of 27 in AG!
BIKE 112 miles in 6:38; 13th of 27 in AG
T1 was known for the long run to the TA. I skipped the wetsuit strippers so I could conserve body heat until I started running. But on the way I came to the showers -- they had hot water! I started pulling off the suit but I started shivering-- arms, core, legs. A man in an official looking uniform with a badge took me to the warming tent. NUTS! But I needed it, the towels and blankets helped. I think I spent 7-9 mins in the tent.
I left the tent on my own accord to finish the run to T1. The long run wasn't bad as I thought it could be, I took my time to avoid rough road. Saw DH on the way, he snapped some pictures and I was not smiling in any of them. Haha! I was handed my T1 bag, then off to the changing tents where I took my time to get ready. I stuck to plan: jersey with shorts, no capris, long gloves on and short gloves stowed, arm warms, head band for ears, windbreak vest. I wasn't goofing around, but I wasn't in a hurry either. Bathroom stop, then to Frea who was mostly alone at the racks as most other full distance racers were already biking. Ah well. She's probably used to it by now.
On my way out of T1 DH offered the Garmin, he had it working! I wanted it, but it might have violated the Outside Support rules. It would be nice to have the nutrition alarms reminding me to eat, but I declined it. (And found out later that the hard reset wiped the alarms out anyway).
BIKE: 112 miles in a counter-clockwise 1-loop course, point to point. Flat, great road surface as we had either an entire highway lane or shoulder bike lane to ride in, great traffic control, lots of support. The half distance racers were with us the first 30-ish miles before they turned off. No hills to speak of except for two bridges, at 1 mile and at 111 miles, each having a dangerous metal grating. I think 6 aid stations, one of them also Special Needs.
My first concern was to get focused to cross the bridge gating without crashing. The athletes ahead of me seemed to be dripping water, there was what looked like a wet streak along the right side of the lane? This was worrisome, did that mean the grating was wet too? Couldn't tell, but oh damn that grating was slick!! Huge adrenaline surge as Frea's front tire felt squirrely under me. Stay steady, don't swerve, keep it turning...soon enough it's done.
My next concern was to get warmed up. I knew the temps would only improve over time, but I still had 1-2 hours of cool temps to go. This wasn't as bad as I expected, but the first 10 miles passed by very fast with this distraction.
Next concern was all the half distance male athletes who were powering by me. And drafting. Lots of drafting, so much so that when one of the packs came by me I could feel the pull! They also passed awful close to me, more concerned with their race than with the space between us. I stayed out of the fray and their way. I wasn't racing, they were. Let 'em have the road.
Somewhere around 20 miles was a landfill. Ew the stink! Around mile 25 I passed a cotton field, the first I'd ever ridden by and I wanted to badly to stop and pluck some. Signs indicating that the next aid station was one mile ahead would appear, and I would get fixated on that. This worked against me, I started getting "endvy" and looking forward to the stop too much. There were course signs marking every 10 miles but without the Garmin I was unable to track in mileage in between. To be looking forward to a stop so early around 35-40 miles wasn't a good sign.
The aid station reminded me of a Trailnet ride -- 30+ bikes on the grass or leaned somewhere, riders milling about and chatting, only a few sped though in minimal time. There was a long port-a-potty line and I hopped into it. This was the most relaxed race aid station I've seen,. Other riders commented on Frea's decorations (yellow, black, and silver ribbons) and I said "It's for my birthday!" This spread quickly through the station and happily met lots of racers with that ribbon. About 10 mins at this stop, then onward to the Special Needs, only 14 or so miles away.
Somewhere in this stretch a terrier-chihuahua-ish small dog got loose from a nearby house. The leash was flapping behind it, it was barking and actually keeping up with us. And this dog held on to us for at least 0.25 to 0.5 miles. Damn that dog had some speed and endurance!
I was purposefully avoiding race math to calculate my speed, not that my race math is accurate, but I felt like I was passing large numbers of riders. Many I was seeing multiple times, which meant they were passing me at aid stations, but it still felt like I was speeding by other riders (and by seeing many of the same riders over and over I got multiple Happy Birthdays!). I hit 50 miles at exactly 3hrs, so with a 10 min stop that worked out to just over 17 mph. Of course I didn't know this number in the race, but I knew from training rides that 3 hrs for 50 miles was a easily maintainable pace for me.
But the other reason the pace was nagging at me was that by mile 50 my mental status started to slump. It might have been the "endvy" and looking forward to aid stations, or it could have been fighting what I thought was to be the worst of the headwind (all 4-6 mph of it), or it could have been sugar levels, even though I was right on target with my eat every 30 mins plan. Through the Special Needs stop and through mile 70 I was in a bit of a slump. So much so that when I passed the mile 60 sign I was disappointed because I thought I'd already passed by 60! I started averting my eyes when a sign was coming up so I couldn't fixate on the numbers.
To get myself out of the slump, I ate some more and made a point to quit staring at the road and instead look around. The roads were tree-lined, much of this part of the course was shaded and it was a beautiful course! I started singing songs, no one was really around to hear me so why not. A perfect song for the moment was Nina Simone's Feeling Good: "Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel...". Slump or not, I'm feeling good. Can't believe how good, actually.
Miles 70, 80, 90...they seemed to crawl by but I was feeling better now. We expected a tailwind in this direction, I don't know that I felt one but just thinking I had one helped. Somewhere around mile 80 someone painted BELIEVE on the road. Later on, at least twice more, it was SIMPLY BELIEVE. How did they know that those are just the words I needed to hear? Later on, someone painted "Highest Point" with a number...did they mean that was the highest elevation point for the race? LOL it was on a flat road!
Mile 100 came at exactly 6 hours, I was nailing the pace. I was passing fewer riders but the ones I did pass weren't looking too good. One guy in a Boulder kit was riding down the middle of the road. I'd either have to pass on the right or cross the center line. I called on On Your Left with no response. Called again, nothing. Yelled it, and seemed so scare him! Hope he made it back OK, he wasn't looking terribly strong.
Next concern was the second bridge crossing at 111. Earlier I'd decided that I wasn't going to think about it until mile 110, and well that's coming right up. Should I dismount and walk? That was the plan after the first crossing, no need to fall and ruin what was shaping up to be a great race. But once at the bridge I didn't stop. A rider ahead of me started to veer into my path, I calmly called up to him. He complained about the grating, expressed concern, and I calmly reminded him that we're almost there, stay steady, nothing to jumpy. Just what I needed to hear :)
Before I knew it, the bike is done. Rolled to the Dismount line, handed Frea over to a volunteer after thanking her for a great ride, and headed for T2.
Review of bike: Perfect! No pains, discomforts, sore feet. I did a lot of trainer rides for this race due to the dark mornings and in the end this was wonderful prep for a flat race like this. I probably stayed in the same two gears for 90% of this ride, and only tried the big ring on some of the 'downhill' sections. Stayed hydrated and fueled, I had even EFS left over that I took into the run. I managed my mental slump, kept a casual pace with longer than usual stops. I estimate I was stopped for 20-some minutes. But the stops were what allowed me to keep the pace going so I don't regret them. I felt amazing for the upcoming run, whoop!
BIKE 112 miles in 6:38; 13th of 27 in AG
T1 was known for the long run to the TA. I skipped the wetsuit strippers so I could conserve body heat until I started running. But on the way I came to the showers -- they had hot water! I started pulling off the suit but I started shivering-- arms, core, legs. A man in an official looking uniform with a badge took me to the warming tent. NUTS! But I needed it, the towels and blankets helped. I think I spent 7-9 mins in the tent.
I left the tent on my own accord to finish the run to T1. The long run wasn't bad as I thought it could be, I took my time to avoid rough road. Saw DH on the way, he snapped some pictures and I was not smiling in any of them. Haha! I was handed my T1 bag, then off to the changing tents where I took my time to get ready. I stuck to plan: jersey with shorts, no capris, long gloves on and short gloves stowed, arm warms, head band for ears, windbreak vest. I wasn't goofing around, but I wasn't in a hurry either. Bathroom stop, then to Frea who was mostly alone at the racks as most other full distance racers were already biking. Ah well. She's probably used to it by now.
On my way out of T1 DH offered the Garmin, he had it working! I wanted it, but it might have violated the Outside Support rules. It would be nice to have the nutrition alarms reminding me to eat, but I declined it. (And found out later that the hard reset wiped the alarms out anyway).
BIKE: 112 miles in a counter-clockwise 1-loop course, point to point. Flat, great road surface as we had either an entire highway lane or shoulder bike lane to ride in, great traffic control, lots of support. The half distance racers were with us the first 30-ish miles before they turned off. No hills to speak of except for two bridges, at 1 mile and at 111 miles, each having a dangerous metal grating. I think 6 aid stations, one of them also Special Needs.
My first concern was to get focused to cross the bridge gating without crashing. The athletes ahead of me seemed to be dripping water, there was what looked like a wet streak along the right side of the lane? This was worrisome, did that mean the grating was wet too? Couldn't tell, but oh damn that grating was slick!! Huge adrenaline surge as Frea's front tire felt squirrely under me. Stay steady, don't swerve, keep it turning...soon enough it's done.
My next concern was to get warmed up. I knew the temps would only improve over time, but I still had 1-2 hours of cool temps to go. This wasn't as bad as I expected, but the first 10 miles passed by very fast with this distraction.
Next concern was all the half distance male athletes who were powering by me. And drafting. Lots of drafting, so much so that when one of the packs came by me I could feel the pull! They also passed awful close to me, more concerned with their race than with the space between us. I stayed out of the fray and their way. I wasn't racing, they were. Let 'em have the road.
Somewhere around 20 miles was a landfill. Ew the stink! Around mile 25 I passed a cotton field, the first I'd ever ridden by and I wanted to badly to stop and pluck some. Signs indicating that the next aid station was one mile ahead would appear, and I would get fixated on that. This worked against me, I started getting "endvy" and looking forward to the stop too much. There were course signs marking every 10 miles but without the Garmin I was unable to track in mileage in between. To be looking forward to a stop so early around 35-40 miles wasn't a good sign.
The aid station reminded me of a Trailnet ride -- 30+ bikes on the grass or leaned somewhere, riders milling about and chatting, only a few sped though in minimal time. There was a long port-a-potty line and I hopped into it. This was the most relaxed race aid station I've seen,. Other riders commented on Frea's decorations (yellow, black, and silver ribbons) and I said "It's for my birthday!" This spread quickly through the station and happily met lots of racers with that ribbon. About 10 mins at this stop, then onward to the Special Needs, only 14 or so miles away.
Somewhere in this stretch a terrier-chihuahua-ish small dog got loose from a nearby house. The leash was flapping behind it, it was barking and actually keeping up with us. And this dog held on to us for at least 0.25 to 0.5 miles. Damn that dog had some speed and endurance!
I was purposefully avoiding race math to calculate my speed, not that my race math is accurate, but I felt like I was passing large numbers of riders. Many I was seeing multiple times, which meant they were passing me at aid stations, but it still felt like I was speeding by other riders (and by seeing many of the same riders over and over I got multiple Happy Birthdays!). I hit 50 miles at exactly 3hrs, so with a 10 min stop that worked out to just over 17 mph. Of course I didn't know this number in the race, but I knew from training rides that 3 hrs for 50 miles was a easily maintainable pace for me.
But the other reason the pace was nagging at me was that by mile 50 my mental status started to slump. It might have been the "endvy" and looking forward to aid stations, or it could have been fighting what I thought was to be the worst of the headwind (all 4-6 mph of it), or it could have been sugar levels, even though I was right on target with my eat every 30 mins plan. Through the Special Needs stop and through mile 70 I was in a bit of a slump. So much so that when I passed the mile 60 sign I was disappointed because I thought I'd already passed by 60! I started averting my eyes when a sign was coming up so I couldn't fixate on the numbers.
To get myself out of the slump, I ate some more and made a point to quit staring at the road and instead look around. The roads were tree-lined, much of this part of the course was shaded and it was a beautiful course! I started singing songs, no one was really around to hear me so why not. A perfect song for the moment was Nina Simone's Feeling Good: "Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel...". Slump or not, I'm feeling good. Can't believe how good, actually.
Miles 70, 80, 90...they seemed to crawl by but I was feeling better now. We expected a tailwind in this direction, I don't know that I felt one but just thinking I had one helped. Somewhere around mile 80 someone painted BELIEVE on the road. Later on, at least twice more, it was SIMPLY BELIEVE. How did they know that those are just the words I needed to hear? Later on, someone painted "Highest Point" with a number...did they mean that was the highest elevation point for the race? LOL it was on a flat road!
Mile 100 came at exactly 6 hours, I was nailing the pace. I was passing fewer riders but the ones I did pass weren't looking too good. One guy in a Boulder kit was riding down the middle of the road. I'd either have to pass on the right or cross the center line. I called on On Your Left with no response. Called again, nothing. Yelled it, and seemed so scare him! Hope he made it back OK, he wasn't looking terribly strong.
Next concern was the second bridge crossing at 111. Earlier I'd decided that I wasn't going to think about it until mile 110, and well that's coming right up. Should I dismount and walk? That was the plan after the first crossing, no need to fall and ruin what was shaping up to be a great race. But once at the bridge I didn't stop. A rider ahead of me started to veer into my path, I calmly called up to him. He complained about the grating, expressed concern, and I calmly reminded him that we're almost there, stay steady, nothing to jumpy. Just what I needed to hear :)
Before I knew it, the bike is done. Rolled to the Dismount line, handed Frea over to a volunteer after thanking her for a great ride, and headed for T2.
Review of bike: Perfect! No pains, discomforts, sore feet. I did a lot of trainer rides for this race due to the dark mornings and in the end this was wonderful prep for a flat race like this. I probably stayed in the same two gears for 90% of this ride, and only tried the big ring on some of the 'downhill' sections. Stayed hydrated and fueled, I had even EFS left over that I took into the run. I managed my mental slump, kept a casual pace with longer than usual stops. I estimate I was stopped for 20-some minutes. But the stops were what allowed me to keep the pace going so I don't regret them. I felt amazing for the upcoming run, whoop!
B2B Pre Race and Swim: This world is mine for the taking
SWIM 2.4 miles in 64 minutes; 23rd out of 27 in AG, 13th of 27 in AG
Yeah, you read that right. 64 minutes! It's quite the story, but let's go back to the beginning first.
PRE RACE: Woke up at 4:30am for my usual one hour of prep: put on my timing chip, drink water, get coffee, then start brekkie. I feel great, awake, clear, and have no nerves whatsoever. I'm surprised I'm so calm.
The air temps were low 50's so chilly but tolerable. Still no nerves until I make a few realizations. First off, I don't have a disposable pair of shoes to wear to the trolleys for the swim start. No biggie, I can wear my favorite slides and buy more, but I'd rather not have cold feet. Second, my Garmin is LOCKED in the start screen. On. Off. Reset.Multiple button pushes. Try this. Try that. NUTS! I'd thought about doing this race without the Garmin, here' my chance. I leave it in the truck. Minor stomach tumbles over this, but DH reassures me that I'm fine. Then I decide I should wear my headlamp to avoid stepping in a hole, but where did I put it!? DH reminds me, I find it, I'm happy :)
Only the full distance folks need to be at the site early, so it's a quiet and calm scene at TA/body marking. My next anxiety was Frea's front tire, still full, yay! With the set up and gear drop yesterday, all I had to do this morning was drop water bottles and EFS flasks on the bike. It felt really strange to have so little to do. But I wasn't done -- the announcer was repeatedly stressing the need to get on the trolleys now-now-now. I had to put on my wetsuit and get marked yet, and I had less than 30 mins to the last trolley. It seemed a lot of time, but the announcer was persistent.
I find some grass to pull on the suit, and while doing so a woman sherpa'ing a guy near us offers me a pair of flip-flops to wear to the trolley! How did she know?! "OMG Thank you, how did you know it was my birthday?!" I ask. She didn't, of course. Wow!
At body marking a young woman asked my number and age. Usually I have to stop and think...but not today! Today is the first day my current age = my age on Dec 31st! "OMG It's my birthday! I'm 39 this morning!" She smiles, and I keep chattering, and she keeps smiling. I was getting giddy.
The announcer was getting even more persistent about getting on the trolley's, so a huge hug to DH and I board an open air trolley. I start talking to two women, both doing their first iron distance today. This would be a common theme for this race, so many first timers. The trolley took us past the beach houses with balconies and palm trees, it's still dark, cold, and windy in the trolley, an exotic ride to start the day. In a short turn a tree branch came into the trolley, some laughs about that, then we unload for a short walk to the beach. I stop near a lighted driveway to finish pulling on the wetsuit. A mistake once I realize that I still have one hour until the race start and will need to use a bathroom. But it keeps me warm in the meantime.
The scene during the wait was also quiet. Small groups of athletes sitting on the curbs and lined up at the port-a-potties. I nibbled my Powerbar, sipped water, used the bathroom, then sat with a small group. I pulled my hoodie close, huddling to keep warm but not wanting to stiffen up. After 20 mins or so, another woman near me asks if I'm from St Louis. I'm wearing nothing to indicate that...how..."Yes I am". She asks if I'm the bee from Michigan. Holy cow it's the couple we met at the Coldstone after Michigan Titanium! I've been sitting here chatting with them for 20 mins, what a small and wonderful world this is!
Soon enough, it's time to walk to the beach and I'm very thankful for the gifted shoes - the sand is cold. It's a short but pretty walk past dunes, with the sun slowly rising, and the promise of a great day. I was eager to test the water temps, so my first goal at the beach was to get my toes wet (and let's be honest...I needed to pee again). Oh, it was warm as promised. I wander in knee deep, an athlete near me talks about getting sick after swallowing too much salt water, I get nervous about that. Another athlete reminds me to take off my hoodie before going further, I laugh, but I hang onto the hoodie as long as possible for warmth.
THE SWIM. 2.4 mile point-to-point in a salt water channel, beach start, mostly a straight swim up the channel with an S-curve pattern of turns near the end. Incoming time, low-to-mid 70's temp. Suggestions from other racers were to sight a white water tower in the long straightaway, then a white apartment complex for the turns, then a red balloon wavey-thingy you often see at mattress sales (those tube shaped things that weave and move as air is pumped through them?). Climb out via ladders at a boat dock.
I knew the swim was about to start when Eminem's Lose Yourself came over the speakers. I seeded myself towards the middle-back of the herd so I could have a minimal-contact and calm start. I didn't do any warm up at all, I would have liked to but I knew that getting wet then standing on the beach a few minutes would chill me. "The soul's escaping, through this hole that is gaping; This world is mine for the taking" The crowd starts working through the Start arch, the gun goes off, I start my watch...I start singing along with the song..."So the soap opera is told and unfolds; I suppose it's old partner but the beat goes on; Da da dum da dum da da".
Yeah, you read that right. 64 minutes! It's quite the story, but let's go back to the beginning first.
PRE RACE: Woke up at 4:30am for my usual one hour of prep: put on my timing chip, drink water, get coffee, then start brekkie. I feel great, awake, clear, and have no nerves whatsoever. I'm surprised I'm so calm.
The air temps were low 50's so chilly but tolerable. Still no nerves until I make a few realizations. First off, I don't have a disposable pair of shoes to wear to the trolleys for the swim start. No biggie, I can wear my favorite slides and buy more, but I'd rather not have cold feet. Second, my Garmin is LOCKED in the start screen. On. Off. Reset.Multiple button pushes. Try this. Try that. NUTS! I'd thought about doing this race without the Garmin, here' my chance. I leave it in the truck. Minor stomach tumbles over this, but DH reassures me that I'm fine. Then I decide I should wear my headlamp to avoid stepping in a hole, but where did I put it!? DH reminds me, I find it, I'm happy :)
Only the full distance folks need to be at the site early, so it's a quiet and calm scene at TA/body marking. My next anxiety was Frea's front tire, still full, yay! With the set up and gear drop yesterday, all I had to do this morning was drop water bottles and EFS flasks on the bike. It felt really strange to have so little to do. But I wasn't done -- the announcer was repeatedly stressing the need to get on the trolleys now-now-now. I had to put on my wetsuit and get marked yet, and I had less than 30 mins to the last trolley. It seemed a lot of time, but the announcer was persistent.
I find some grass to pull on the suit, and while doing so a woman sherpa'ing a guy near us offers me a pair of flip-flops to wear to the trolley! How did she know?! "OMG Thank you, how did you know it was my birthday?!" I ask. She didn't, of course. Wow!
At body marking a young woman asked my number and age. Usually I have to stop and think...but not today! Today is the first day my current age = my age on Dec 31st! "OMG It's my birthday! I'm 39 this morning!" She smiles, and I keep chattering, and she keeps smiling. I was getting giddy.
The announcer was getting even more persistent about getting on the trolley's, so a huge hug to DH and I board an open air trolley. I start talking to two women, both doing their first iron distance today. This would be a common theme for this race, so many first timers. The trolley took us past the beach houses with balconies and palm trees, it's still dark, cold, and windy in the trolley, an exotic ride to start the day. In a short turn a tree branch came into the trolley, some laughs about that, then we unload for a short walk to the beach. I stop near a lighted driveway to finish pulling on the wetsuit. A mistake once I realize that I still have one hour until the race start and will need to use a bathroom. But it keeps me warm in the meantime.
The scene during the wait was also quiet. Small groups of athletes sitting on the curbs and lined up at the port-a-potties. I nibbled my Powerbar, sipped water, used the bathroom, then sat with a small group. I pulled my hoodie close, huddling to keep warm but not wanting to stiffen up. After 20 mins or so, another woman near me asks if I'm from St Louis. I'm wearing nothing to indicate that...how..."Yes I am". She asks if I'm the bee from Michigan. Holy cow it's the couple we met at the Coldstone after Michigan Titanium! I've been sitting here chatting with them for 20 mins, what a small and wonderful world this is!
Soon enough, it's time to walk to the beach and I'm very thankful for the gifted shoes - the sand is cold. It's a short but pretty walk past dunes, with the sun slowly rising, and the promise of a great day. I was eager to test the water temps, so my first goal at the beach was to get my toes wet (and let's be honest...I needed to pee again). Oh, it was warm as promised. I wander in knee deep, an athlete near me talks about getting sick after swallowing too much salt water, I get nervous about that. Another athlete reminds me to take off my hoodie before going further, I laugh, but I hang onto the hoodie as long as possible for warmth.
THE SWIM. 2.4 mile point-to-point in a salt water channel, beach start, mostly a straight swim up the channel with an S-curve pattern of turns near the end. Incoming time, low-to-mid 70's temp. Suggestions from other racers were to sight a white water tower in the long straightaway, then a white apartment complex for the turns, then a red balloon wavey-thingy you often see at mattress sales (those tube shaped things that weave and move as air is pumped through them?). Climb out via ladders at a boat dock.
I knew the swim was about to start when Eminem's Lose Yourself came over the speakers. I seeded myself towards the middle-back of the herd so I could have a minimal-contact and calm start. I didn't do any warm up at all, I would have liked to but I knew that getting wet then standing on the beach a few minutes would chill me. "The soul's escaping, through this hole that is gaping; This world is mine for the taking" The crowd starts working through the Start arch, the gun goes off, I start my watch...I start singing along with the song..."So the soap opera is told and unfolds; I suppose it's old partner but the beat goes on; Da da dum da dum da da".
As feared, I'm surprised by salinity of the water and concerned about swallowing too much. I know I'm not supposed to drink it, but it's a habit I have. I keep my lips loose so I get water in my mouth. Not a good idea for today. After a few breaths I realize it's not just in my mouth, it's in the back of my throat, meaning it was about to be ingested. I devise a plan to close my mouth tight and spit the water back out instead of keeping a neutral and loose mouth. But this throws off my breathing. So I time it to spit when I sight. Still throws off my breathing. I'm calm, but distracted by this.
Another distraction was sighting. That feeling of being alone and off course is a huge mental problem in my swims, and it takes energy to suppress the fear. The guide buoys are hard to see in the dark. The field of swimmers was thin around me. I stop a few times to look for the water tower and see it, but when I do waves hit my face. Cough, spit, cough, swim The sun is starting to rise to my right, the side I breath on. Another distraction. But I stay calm, take my time, and manage the rise of panic. I settle on keeping between the line of race support boats on my left and the shore on my right. It's a wide path to swim, and I have no really good idea of where I am until we hit the first turn.
At one point the water gets choppy. Then we start hitting pockets of icy water. Distraction. But I'm encouraged by the fact that when I do find a buoy and doggie paddle a few seconds to sight the next one, the buoy speeds by me. I can feel the current pushing me, this was going to be fast! A good thing too, because I was getting COLD. Every time I hit an icy pocket, the cold water flooded the suit cooling my core. I worried about leg cramps. Distraction. Salt water is in my nose. Blow it out, lose the rhythm of breathing. Distraction. FOCUS and FINISH THIS!
Soon enough I see the red balloon-thingy waving in the distance -- the finish! The current is really pushing now the finish arch comes up fast. Volunteers call me to the ladders and as expected I struggle a few moments to climb up. But once up, I check my watch. It said 1:02. HOLY SH!T.
Review of swim: I don't think I could have tolerated much more time in this swim, I was getting cold fast and felt my core and leg muscles getting twitchy. To my surprise, I barely kicked. This might have been a combination of the suit and salinity that kept me so buoyant I didn't feel the need? I did great here for me: managed the fear of the OWS, the difficulties sighting in the dark, and the feeling of being too alone or too close to other swimmers. To be honest, my goal is usually to survive the swim so I get to ride my bike! And happily I was not passed by a Doritos bag :)
Review of swim: I don't think I could have tolerated much more time in this swim, I was getting cold fast and felt my core and leg muscles getting twitchy. To my surprise, I barely kicked. This might have been a combination of the suit and salinity that kept me so buoyant I didn't feel the need? I did great here for me: managed the fear of the OWS, the difficulties sighting in the dark, and the feeling of being too alone or too close to other swimmers. To be honest, my goal is usually to survive the swim so I get to ride my bike! And happily I was not passed by a Doritos bag :)
B2B Pre Race Logistics and Strategy
This was a somewhat challenging race to plan from out of town, but the website and athlete guides were helpful and accurate. Each segment was a point-to-point so we had two transition area. Like most all full distance races I know of we had 5 gear bags to pack and distribute. Here's an overview of the to-do's, planning, and preparation.
FRIDAY: First stop was the convention center to check in at the expo for swag, athlete wristband, gear bags, timing chip, and of course visit the expo. Swag was a trucker hat and long sleeve T-shirt, both very cool. Picked out a sweet Finisher's jacket. Back to the hotel to pack the gear bags, then back to the convention center to drop the T2 and Special Needs Bags. One bag goes on a truck to be taken out to the bike course, the other hangs on racks in the convention center. Then off to the T1 area to drop Frea and the T1 bag. That's it!
SATURDAY: People staying at the host hotel near the convention center could take a shuttle to T1, but we didn't stay there. DH drove me to T1, and once I added fuel and water to the bike I hopped a trolley to ride out to the swim start about an hour before the race start. If needed, I could have accessed my T1 bag.
POINT-TO-POINT-TO-POINT: The swim starts at a beach at the end of a waterway and ends at city of Wilmington Beach, we run a few blocks to T1, then ride the course. The bike ends at the convention center, and the two-lap run ends a few blocks south of the visitor's center.
LODGING: We picked a suite hotel for the space and mini kitchen, the hotel was located between the convention center (to the west) and the race start (to the east). I had some concern that we'd be driving back and forth and back and forth, but it wasn't bad at all.
WEATHER: We had perfect weather, but I heard that 2011 and 2013 were cold. 2011 had sleet on the bike, and 2013 had 36F air temps at the race start. So while the water trends warm according to websites detailing average temps, it seems the weather can go either way. Something to consider before signing up to do this.
I packed lots of extra clothes because of the weather. Long and short sleeves, long and short finger bike gloves, toe covers, bike jacket with zip off sleeves, swimsuit so I can have dry clothes on the bike, a sleeves-only 'shrug' I bought purposefully for the last half of the run.
ACCESS and PARKING: Because the 500-600 full athletes take off an hour before the 2000-some half athletes, parking on race morning was easy. And since the Finish Line is downtown near a convention center, there's plenty of parking and easy access there with the parking ramps.
GEAR MANAGEMENT: T1 bags with the swim gear are brought back to the convention center, where the bikes and T2 bags are. We're told by the race that while our Special Needs bags will be available for retrieval, it would be easier to not have to do it. The bike and run SN bags were in the pack of Penske rental trucks, took only a few minutes to get them. DH had my ticket to get the gear bags and bike, while I was running he took them to the car. After the race I got my SN run bag (my SN bike bag was empty).
RACE GOALS: Have fun!! Really! This wasn't an "A" race for me (it was a "Bee" race, LOL).
SWIM: In the pre-race athletes video, the Race Director promised that even a Doritos bag could finish the swim under the time cut-off, so my goal was to not get passed by a Doritos bag. I was concerned about the salt water, this would be my first salt water race swim. I was also wondering about the tide, in some race reports the tide was 'slack', but what if it turned against us?
BIKE: Known for having headwinds, but described as pancake flat. Some race reports say it has false-flats. Flats are boring, but I trained for them. So the goal was to stay steady and interested without being bored. My last training ride was a gear test for cold, windy conditions and this was very helpful, I knew exactly what to layer and wear.
RUN: The race maps showed a park and a lake, but it was hard to discern much else about the city streets. My goal was to keep a steady pace and stay strong, and bring the bee at Special Needs.
OVERALL RACE: A Must Do race. Highly recommended for great race support, professional set up and execution, very pretty course, loads of energetic volunteers, great swag, a huge heavy medal, and Finisher pajama pants!!
FRIDAY: First stop was the convention center to check in at the expo for swag, athlete wristband, gear bags, timing chip, and of course visit the expo. Swag was a trucker hat and long sleeve T-shirt, both very cool. Picked out a sweet Finisher's jacket. Back to the hotel to pack the gear bags, then back to the convention center to drop the T2 and Special Needs Bags. One bag goes on a truck to be taken out to the bike course, the other hangs on racks in the convention center. Then off to the T1 area to drop Frea and the T1 bag. That's it!
SATURDAY: People staying at the host hotel near the convention center could take a shuttle to T1, but we didn't stay there. DH drove me to T1, and once I added fuel and water to the bike I hopped a trolley to ride out to the swim start about an hour before the race start. If needed, I could have accessed my T1 bag.
POINT-TO-POINT-TO-POINT: The swim starts at a beach at the end of a waterway and ends at city of Wilmington Beach, we run a few blocks to T1, then ride the course. The bike ends at the convention center, and the two-lap run ends a few blocks south of the visitor's center.
LODGING: We picked a suite hotel for the space and mini kitchen, the hotel was located between the convention center (to the west) and the race start (to the east). I had some concern that we'd be driving back and forth and back and forth, but it wasn't bad at all.
WEATHER: We had perfect weather, but I heard that 2011 and 2013 were cold. 2011 had sleet on the bike, and 2013 had 36F air temps at the race start. So while the water trends warm according to websites detailing average temps, it seems the weather can go either way. Something to consider before signing up to do this.
I packed lots of extra clothes because of the weather. Long and short sleeves, long and short finger bike gloves, toe covers, bike jacket with zip off sleeves, swimsuit so I can have dry clothes on the bike, a sleeves-only 'shrug' I bought purposefully for the last half of the run.
ACCESS and PARKING: Because the 500-600 full athletes take off an hour before the 2000-some half athletes, parking on race morning was easy. And since the Finish Line is downtown near a convention center, there's plenty of parking and easy access there with the parking ramps.
GEAR MANAGEMENT: T1 bags with the swim gear are brought back to the convention center, where the bikes and T2 bags are. We're told by the race that while our Special Needs bags will be available for retrieval, it would be easier to not have to do it. The bike and run SN bags were in the pack of Penske rental trucks, took only a few minutes to get them. DH had my ticket to get the gear bags and bike, while I was running he took them to the car. After the race I got my SN run bag (my SN bike bag was empty).
RACE GOALS: Have fun!! Really! This wasn't an "A" race for me (it was a "Bee" race, LOL).
SWIM: In the pre-race athletes video, the Race Director promised that even a Doritos bag could finish the swim under the time cut-off, so my goal was to not get passed by a Doritos bag. I was concerned about the salt water, this would be my first salt water race swim. I was also wondering about the tide, in some race reports the tide was 'slack', but what if it turned against us?
BIKE: Known for having headwinds, but described as pancake flat. Some race reports say it has false-flats. Flats are boring, but I trained for them. So the goal was to stay steady and interested without being bored. My last training ride was a gear test for cold, windy conditions and this was very helpful, I knew exactly what to layer and wear.
RUN: The race maps showed a park and a lake, but it was hard to discern much else about the city streets. My goal was to keep a steady pace and stay strong, and bring the bee at Special Needs.
OVERALL RACE: A Must Do race. Highly recommended for great race support, professional set up and execution, very pretty course, loads of energetic volunteers, great swag, a huge heavy medal, and Finisher pajama pants!!
Friday, October 24, 2014
B2B Day Before The Race
Weds nothing! All driving, some monster issues though
Thurs RUN 4 miles about 38 mins
Fri BIKE about 2-4 miles? Lol, not sure a shake down counts
So here I sit on the eve of the race, I'm antsy, hungry and not hungry, thirsty and not thirsty, unable to sit still but wanting to nap. My legs feel swollen. I don't feel particularly energetic. But my head is clear, the taper worked, and I'm ready to rock!
The past few days have been good, if a little unregulated and unplanned. That always throws me off but I'm doing good with it. I miss my normal foods! Of all the silly things! But I'm being good with foods, happy that I've reintroduced dairy.
Ok I'm wandering here.
The weather looks to be perfect. The water warm and smooth. The sun high all day and winds low. I've got the best forecast for a birthday race!
I've been targeting this day as a day marking a change for me. No more monsters. No more letting the Blerch in. No more regrets, wish-I-woulda, or letting life go by the way I am now. I hate to admit the problems I see in me. Can't even type them here in a safe zone.
I tend to notice patterns and omens. I can't even guess how many "break bad habits" articles I've seen in the past week. On Wednesdays run I passed a church with a sign: John 3:3 You Must Be Reborn. (Upon further reading it was really John 3:7 but who am I to argu with a church?!". This is the multipleth "reborn" mentions ive seen recently. What does it all mean? (Aside from the fact im hyper vigilant because I'm thinking along those lines...).
One of my new obsessions since MiTi has been watching that transformation show on the trainer. Participants are given one year to make changes with a personal coach. I was jealous! To have an opportunity to have a coach lead and push you through changes, but this was a health and weight loss show, I certainly don't need to be jealous of that, lol! But still, I yearned for what they had a chance to do.
Well I do have that chance! I can designate at year of focus and growth. I could set 90 day goals, chase after what I'm looking for, and work towards what I'm yearning for.
The race start is 7:30am, and I'm told I was born around 7am. Since this is the east coast, it's safe to guess that I'll be swimming 39 years after that event..I'll be climbing out of the water like from a baptism. The rest of the day will be a trial of personal strength and fortitude, ending at a finish line I've thought about for the past year now.
Keeping it focused, my first 90 days are focused on slaying the monster, and getting my train on the right track. I'll start another Whole30, live more of the Whole9, work on habit breaking and reaching the goals I have in mind. This isn't the forum for detailing that, but it will appear here over time maybe.
It's a birthday gift to me, ahead of my 40th birthday. One year to finally take head on problems that have plagued me since .... Since way too long.
Thurs RUN 4 miles about 38 mins
Fri BIKE about 2-4 miles? Lol, not sure a shake down counts
So here I sit on the eve of the race, I'm antsy, hungry and not hungry, thirsty and not thirsty, unable to sit still but wanting to nap. My legs feel swollen. I don't feel particularly energetic. But my head is clear, the taper worked, and I'm ready to rock!
The past few days have been good, if a little unregulated and unplanned. That always throws me off but I'm doing good with it. I miss my normal foods! Of all the silly things! But I'm being good with foods, happy that I've reintroduced dairy.
Ok I'm wandering here.
The weather looks to be perfect. The water warm and smooth. The sun high all day and winds low. I've got the best forecast for a birthday race!
I've been targeting this day as a day marking a change for me. No more monsters. No more letting the Blerch in. No more regrets, wish-I-woulda, or letting life go by the way I am now. I hate to admit the problems I see in me. Can't even type them here in a safe zone.
I tend to notice patterns and omens. I can't even guess how many "break bad habits" articles I've seen in the past week. On Wednesdays run I passed a church with a sign: John 3:3 You Must Be Reborn. (Upon further reading it was really John 3:7 but who am I to argu with a church?!". This is the multipleth "reborn" mentions ive seen recently. What does it all mean? (Aside from the fact im hyper vigilant because I'm thinking along those lines...).
One of my new obsessions since MiTi has been watching that transformation show on the trainer. Participants are given one year to make changes with a personal coach. I was jealous! To have an opportunity to have a coach lead and push you through changes, but this was a health and weight loss show, I certainly don't need to be jealous of that, lol! But still, I yearned for what they had a chance to do.
Well I do have that chance! I can designate at year of focus and growth. I could set 90 day goals, chase after what I'm looking for, and work towards what I'm yearning for.
The race start is 7:30am, and I'm told I was born around 7am. Since this is the east coast, it's safe to guess that I'll be swimming 39 years after that event..I'll be climbing out of the water like from a baptism. The rest of the day will be a trial of personal strength and fortitude, ending at a finish line I've thought about for the past year now.
Keeping it focused, my first 90 days are focused on slaying the monster, and getting my train on the right track. I'll start another Whole30, live more of the Whole9, work on habit breaking and reaching the goals I have in mind. This isn't the forum for detailing that, but it will appear here over time maybe.
It's a birthday gift to me, ahead of my 40th birthday. One year to finally take head on problems that have plagued me since .... Since way too long.
B2B Pre Race Preparation
Wednesday did nothing but sit in car.
Thursday about the same but I did get in a morning RUN of 4 miles in just under 40 mins
Saw a church sign at the Holy Ghost Tabernacle quoting John 3:3 "you must be reborn". I found out later it was really John 3:7, but who am I correct the Holy Ghost Tabernacle. What is a tabernacle, anyway?
Friday was expo and gear drop day. First a trip to to the check-in to get the gear backs and order my Finisher's coat (it's OK to order early if it won't arrive for weeks after the race?). Then back to the hotel to pack the bags and make final gear decisions. Not much stress here, just followed my checklist and took my time.
Really the biggest decisions I had to make regarded nutrition (which EFS flask where) and what layers for clothing.
Back to the expo to drop the T2 and SN bags (and buy Finisher stickers that I soon lost, guess you can't buy those ahead of actually finishing the race!). Then to T1 to drop the T1 bag and Frea.
Everything was pretty slick, no problems, easy to do, organized, and calm. I wasn't nervous, no major mistakes or upsets, only a lot of mental thinking on "what-if's" and the like. All normal :)
Thursday about the same but I did get in a morning RUN of 4 miles in just under 40 mins
Saw a church sign at the Holy Ghost Tabernacle quoting John 3:3 "you must be reborn". I found out later it was really John 3:7, but who am I correct the Holy Ghost Tabernacle. What is a tabernacle, anyway?
Friday was expo and gear drop day. First a trip to to the check-in to get the gear backs and order my Finisher's coat (it's OK to order early if it won't arrive for weeks after the race?). Then back to the hotel to pack the bags and make final gear decisions. Not much stress here, just followed my checklist and took my time.
Really the biggest decisions I had to make regarded nutrition (which EFS flask where) and what layers for clothing.
Back to the expo to drop the T2 and SN bags (and buy Finisher stickers that I soon lost, guess you can't buy those ahead of actually finishing the race!). Then to T1 to drop the T1 bag and Frea.
Everything was pretty slick, no problems, easy to do, organized, and calm. I wasn't nervous, no major mistakes or upsets, only a lot of mental thinking on "what-if's" and the like. All normal :)
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Feeling better today
BIKE 1hr and 16.6 miles, indoors
RUN 28 mins and 3 miles, outdoors
Decided to get the bike done early so I could get to work at a decent time, but that's just never how it goes in the end. When I got done with the ride it was still dark, so I couldn't run right away. I worked on my poached eggs, cooked some carrots, and waited for the sun. Once up, I took note of the temp -- high 40's -- and cross-checked that to Wilmington: low 55's. This will give me an idea of what to expect race morning. Except when I'm running I'm warmer than I am standing at a beach or riding a bike!
The run felt great to my surprise. Not terribly high on motivation but it didn't suck either like Saturday's brick. I'm so mental!
My momentum was great until I left the house and realize I didn't have the parking pass, didn't have the alarm fob, and got locked out of the alarm app somehow. DH had the pass at the vet office, so boogied on down to get that. And as I drove in my motivation started to slide. Once at work, I ended up reading for about 20 mins and motivations slipped MORE! I forced myself to get going and do the neuron harvest (coworker out of lab for morning), forced myself to stay busy. And it worked!! I do feel better, clearer, and happy.
Do I need to point out AGAIN to myself that these things aren't that hard -- 3 mile run, getting off my ass to get stuff done, etc -- it's just that I think about it too much. More thinking = More opportunity for the Blerch!
As a side note, today's Riddle answer was HABIT! Funny that I'm reading a book right now on how we form and can change habits!
RUN 28 mins and 3 miles, outdoors
Decided to get the bike done early so I could get to work at a decent time, but that's just never how it goes in the end. When I got done with the ride it was still dark, so I couldn't run right away. I worked on my poached eggs, cooked some carrots, and waited for the sun. Once up, I took note of the temp -- high 40's -- and cross-checked that to Wilmington: low 55's. This will give me an idea of what to expect race morning. Except when I'm running I'm warmer than I am standing at a beach or riding a bike!
The run felt great to my surprise. Not terribly high on motivation but it didn't suck either like Saturday's brick. I'm so mental!
My momentum was great until I left the house and realize I didn't have the parking pass, didn't have the alarm fob, and got locked out of the alarm app somehow. DH had the pass at the vet office, so boogied on down to get that. And as I drove in my motivation started to slide. Once at work, I ended up reading for about 20 mins and motivations slipped MORE! I forced myself to get going and do the neuron harvest (coworker out of lab for morning), forced myself to stay busy. And it worked!! I do feel better, clearer, and happy.
Do I need to point out AGAIN to myself that these things aren't that hard -- 3 mile run, getting off my ass to get stuff done, etc -- it's just that I think about it too much. More thinking = More opportunity for the Blerch!
As a side note, today's Riddle answer was HABIT! Funny that I'm reading a book right now on how we form and can change habits!
Monday, October 20, 2014
Evole swim: Mentally DONE with this
SWIM 35 mins and 1500 yards
COMMUTE 7 miles
SM said to do 500 swim, 500 pull, alternating. I did 500 swim and 1000 pull. Then I was done. Cold and done.
Very low energy today, eat more carbs this week to see if it helps!
On the bike in to work I saw a car nearly hit a pedestrian, I think the driver was going to blow off the stop sign?! Bit of adrenaline rush there, and that's about as awake as I got all day long.
Stopped by the nearby library to get some books, was going to go to BS to get my nutrition special order but I didn't have the motivation. I just want to rest! I'll do it tomorrow.
Was making stupid mistakes, not really enjoying the ride. I mentally pushed it, forced a smile, enjoyed the little moments, and it got better.
Tried making my 'food buckets' for the race. Got pre- and post- done but screwed up a 3rd and threw it out. I ate some of it as I went, the carbs did help me wake up but ...eh... my stomach wasn't as happy.
Only a few more days of this...I'm excited, but it's hard to show it.
COMMUTE 7 miles
SM said to do 500 swim, 500 pull, alternating. I did 500 swim and 1000 pull. Then I was done. Cold and done.
Very low energy today, eat more carbs this week to see if it helps!
On the bike in to work I saw a car nearly hit a pedestrian, I think the driver was going to blow off the stop sign?! Bit of adrenaline rush there, and that's about as awake as I got all day long.
Stopped by the nearby library to get some books, was going to go to BS to get my nutrition special order but I didn't have the motivation. I just want to rest! I'll do it tomorrow.
Was making stupid mistakes, not really enjoying the ride. I mentally pushed it, forced a smile, enjoyed the little moments, and it got better.
Tried making my 'food buckets' for the race. Got pre- and post- done but screwed up a 3rd and threw it out. I ate some of it as I went, the carbs did help me wake up but ...eh... my stomach wasn't as happy.
Only a few more days of this...I'm excited, but it's hard to show it.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Last Sunday run!
RUN 6 miles in 56 mins
BIKE 19 miles in 65 mins, afternoon indoors
Met up with NK and new friend LR for a pre-RockNRoll cheering run. NK is only just starting to run again after a summer off and injury so we dialed back the planned 60 mins and did 45 mins and 5 miles together. After seeing the first RNR runners go by, I finished my last mile before getting some food, a bee costume, and a BumbleBasset.
We didn't spend too long at the race before BumbleBasset wanted to go home. Her foot and antibiotic-upset tummy probably not helping the situation. After dropping her off, I rejoined the group to see the last runners go by. It's more fun to cheer the last runners than the early ones!
I did the ride in the afternoon, the goal was 1hr but the Downton episode was longer than expected! Not a big oops, but a funny one to wonder how long I would have kept spinning.
NUMERICS for the last training week: 13:24 hours (11 were planned)
SWIM 3:14 and 8200 yards
BIKE 6:49 and 114.2 miles
RUN 3:21 and 22.1 miles
COMMUTE 0 miles
LOL The first round of numbers I typed in were wrong, I kept thinking "is this the right week?!"
BIKE 19 miles in 65 mins, afternoon indoors
Met up with NK and new friend LR for a pre-RockNRoll cheering run. NK is only just starting to run again after a summer off and injury so we dialed back the planned 60 mins and did 45 mins and 5 miles together. After seeing the first RNR runners go by, I finished my last mile before getting some food, a bee costume, and a BumbleBasset.
We didn't spend too long at the race before BumbleBasset wanted to go home. Her foot and antibiotic-upset tummy probably not helping the situation. After dropping her off, I rejoined the group to see the last runners go by. It's more fun to cheer the last runners than the early ones!
I did the ride in the afternoon, the goal was 1hr but the Downton episode was longer than expected! Not a big oops, but a funny one to wonder how long I would have kept spinning.
NUMERICS for the last training week: 13:24 hours (11 were planned)
SWIM 3:14 and 8200 yards
BIKE 6:49 and 114.2 miles
RUN 3:21 and 22.1 miles
COMMUTE 0 miles
LOL The first round of numbers I typed in were wrong, I kept thinking "is this the right week?!"
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Try Try Try
BIKE 56 miles in 3:20
RUN 3 miles in 27-28 mins
Did NOT want to do these sessions, why not? Not sure, am I getting burned out? Either way, they are done done done donedonedonedone!
It was a cool but sunny morning, so a great test of what race morning might be like with expected air temps in the low 50's. I needed at least one more ride on Frea after her pre-race check, and I needed to test the clothing I was bringing for the race. Many reasons to do this, motivation not really one of them.
I chalk most of the problems up to mental issues, first and foremost today was nutrition. I ate a big brekkie then didn't do more than a gel and sweet potato during the ride. And the gel was an add-on to the plan when my head started to fail and clamor for more glucose.
Frea and I rode out on the MCTs, parking for the first time at the Collinsville lot. Today's Culver flavor was caramel cashew...ick.
Out-n-back first to the Madison lot, saw some Partridge Family-like turkeys crossing the trail on both the out and the back. Going the same way (northwards) too, so was it the same group of turkeys? Dunno! But thinking on things like this kept me moving: The NNW wind should have been a tailwind so some degree on the way back but wasn't. Happily I wasn't as cold as I thought I'd be. The leaves covered sections of the trail, but not so bad I worried about slipping or hitting something under them. 18 miles in, some motivation but not much.
Off to Drost, where I pit-stopped and refilled the bottles. I'd just come up behind a woman walking a dog on a long leash that blocked the trail. She tried to coo the dog out of the way, that wasn't working, and I really wanted to suggest picking up the dumb 5# dog to move it, but I stayed nice and just smiled. One bike in a group of riders blocked the whole bike race by leaning the bike against the rack, I'm annoyed but make a point of talking to them to stay positive. Amazing how mental this ride was!
At mile 30.5 I'm passing under a tunnel, happy that it blunted the headwind but I started swerving into the left lane, almost to the point that I nearly scraped the wall!! WTF? Why can't I focus?! I'm preparing to pass two slower riders (blocking the left lane, of course) but I can't climb the small hill out of the tunnel. Again, WTF?!
Flat tire. Dear Gawd, another one? I stopped, and very methodically fixed it with cold hands and drippy nose. Part of me wanted to give up and just finish this ride on the trainer. WTF?! No way! Only a marathon distance to go, why do I have to talk myself into this? Fixed the flat, back on the road.
P!nk's "Try Try Try" song stuck in my head... Turn around, eat some more, and try to get excited about the last 19 miles.... Try...Try...Try...
Finally I'm done, it felt like the longest 56 miles. And the whole ride I'm debating the run. The training plan says to rest the legs and do this later in the day. But DH and I have a baby shower to attend. Normally I don't attend these, but like the song says I need to Try Try Try so I'm going. Which means I should run right away and not put it off. I told myself, that's the Blerch telling you to wait. Telling you to go home to your trainer. Telling you to switch trails for something different (meaning shorter). Fuck off, Blerch. Not today. I'm doing this run!
I most certainly did not want to run. Well, actually, to clarify, the part of me that likes to get stuff done and checked off wanted the run. The part of me that is drug around by that OCD aspect did not want to run. In the end the run wasn't so bad! Boring, but it's done. One more training day...
Why is this getting so hard?! LOL, late season races, two big back-to-back races, I knew this could happen.
RUN 3 miles in 27-28 mins
Did NOT want to do these sessions, why not? Not sure, am I getting burned out? Either way, they are done done done donedonedonedone!
It was a cool but sunny morning, so a great test of what race morning might be like with expected air temps in the low 50's. I needed at least one more ride on Frea after her pre-race check, and I needed to test the clothing I was bringing for the race. Many reasons to do this, motivation not really one of them.
I chalk most of the problems up to mental issues, first and foremost today was nutrition. I ate a big brekkie then didn't do more than a gel and sweet potato during the ride. And the gel was an add-on to the plan when my head started to fail and clamor for more glucose.
Frea and I rode out on the MCTs, parking for the first time at the Collinsville lot. Today's Culver flavor was caramel cashew...ick.
Out-n-back first to the Madison lot, saw some Partridge Family-like turkeys crossing the trail on both the out and the back. Going the same way (northwards) too, so was it the same group of turkeys? Dunno! But thinking on things like this kept me moving: The NNW wind should have been a tailwind so some degree on the way back but wasn't. Happily I wasn't as cold as I thought I'd be. The leaves covered sections of the trail, but not so bad I worried about slipping or hitting something under them. 18 miles in, some motivation but not much.
Off to Drost, where I pit-stopped and refilled the bottles. I'd just come up behind a woman walking a dog on a long leash that blocked the trail. She tried to coo the dog out of the way, that wasn't working, and I really wanted to suggest picking up the dumb 5# dog to move it, but I stayed nice and just smiled. One bike in a group of riders blocked the whole bike race by leaning the bike against the rack, I'm annoyed but make a point of talking to them to stay positive. Amazing how mental this ride was!
At mile 30.5 I'm passing under a tunnel, happy that it blunted the headwind but I started swerving into the left lane, almost to the point that I nearly scraped the wall!! WTF? Why can't I focus?! I'm preparing to pass two slower riders (blocking the left lane, of course) but I can't climb the small hill out of the tunnel. Again, WTF?!
Flat tire. Dear Gawd, another one? I stopped, and very methodically fixed it with cold hands and drippy nose. Part of me wanted to give up and just finish this ride on the trainer. WTF?! No way! Only a marathon distance to go, why do I have to talk myself into this? Fixed the flat, back on the road.
P!nk's "Try Try Try" song stuck in my head... Turn around, eat some more, and try to get excited about the last 19 miles.... Try...Try...Try...
Finally I'm done, it felt like the longest 56 miles. And the whole ride I'm debating the run. The training plan says to rest the legs and do this later in the day. But DH and I have a baby shower to attend. Normally I don't attend these, but like the song says I need to Try Try Try so I'm going. Which means I should run right away and not put it off. I told myself, that's the Blerch telling you to wait. Telling you to go home to your trainer. Telling you to switch trails for something different (meaning shorter). Fuck off, Blerch. Not today. I'm doing this run!
I most certainly did not want to run. Well, actually, to clarify, the part of me that likes to get stuff done and checked off wanted the run. The part of me that is drug around by that OCD aspect did not want to run. In the end the run wasn't so bad! Boring, but it's done. One more training day...
Why is this getting so hard?! LOL, late season races, two big back-to-back races, I knew this could happen.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Third morning swim in a row!
SWIM 35 mins and 1500 yards
I had hoped for a more structured session, but arrived later than planned and had somewhere to be afterwards (Brekkie with DH!). So while this cut short my swim, it also kept me on track and moving. No stalling or Blerching.
SM, RM, LC, and DP were there too, a full pool and most of them friends :) Hope this enthusiasm and "see ya there" accountability continues after B2B.
Another no-commute day. It's sunny and pretty, but time constraints and errands need to get done. My EFS is in at Big Shark so that's high on the list. That, and the rest is good for me.
I'm having severe salt cravings these days, what the heck? It's so bad I'm using mustard to get that salty tongue-tang satisfaction. In addition, I'm having a lot of stomach displeasure (not upset, bloated, pained, or the like) in the way of blurpy feeling. I'm blaming the recent introduction of cornmeal, which I threw away the other night to stop myself from continuing with it. Hate to waste food, but the $2 wasn't worth it. I'm pretty sure that was the cause of some of the problems.
And I'm hard to satiate this week. What's the deal? I'm eating very random, bad thrown-together meals with too many veggies and too little fat and protein? Gotta get on track, can't have this heavy, blurpy feeling next week!
7 days!
I had hoped for a more structured session, but arrived later than planned and had somewhere to be afterwards (Brekkie with DH!). So while this cut short my swim, it also kept me on track and moving. No stalling or Blerching.
SM, RM, LC, and DP were there too, a full pool and most of them friends :) Hope this enthusiasm and "see ya there" accountability continues after B2B.
Another no-commute day. It's sunny and pretty, but time constraints and errands need to get done. My EFS is in at Big Shark so that's high on the list. That, and the rest is good for me.
I'm having severe salt cravings these days, what the heck? It's so bad I'm using mustard to get that salty tongue-tang satisfaction. In addition, I'm having a lot of stomach displeasure (not upset, bloated, pained, or the like) in the way of blurpy feeling. I'm blaming the recent introduction of cornmeal, which I threw away the other night to stop myself from continuing with it. Hate to waste food, but the $2 wasn't worth it. I'm pretty sure that was the cause of some of the problems.
And I'm hard to satiate this week. What's the deal? I'm eating very random, bad thrown-together meals with too many veggies and too little fat and protein? Gotta get on track, can't have this heavy, blurpy feeling next week!
7 days!
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Another morning swim!
RUN 7 miles in 60 mins, 8:34 m/m
SWIM 2000 yards in 49 mins
I'm feeling the good taper energy! My mind is so much clearer, I'm more relaxed, and I'm looking for more to do. (Can't discount some relief from personal stress either, it's not gone but it is alleviated a bit).
Great run this morning, lots of little things: finally saw that LC's guy is real; I managed to remember my knuckle light but it was dead; the yellow leaves glowed in the sunrise; we actually had a visible sunrise for the first time in 5? days; there was a pretty misty fog of the soccer fields; a misty cloud that looked like it was coming from a picnic table around mile 6.3 (it was really coming from a vent in the ground); gave my USMS punch card to LC; what else...
And for the 2nd morning in a row, I got to the pool! Today's workout seemed so easy, in fact it seemed easier than the WU and CD. WU was 4x200's and CD was 600 pull. The MS was 4x (25 easy, 25 hard, 25 kick, 25 choice). I ended up doing 5x the MS set and a 500 pull. I was cold, bored, and wanted out of the pool.
I was debating a swim tomorrow, but after sending an email to SM about finding an "accountability group" she stepped up and announced she's swimming tomorrow morning. So now it's looking good for 3 mornings in a row.
Why am I suddenly getting to the pool as schedule with only days left before the race! LOL!
SWIM 2000 yards in 49 mins
I'm feeling the good taper energy! My mind is so much clearer, I'm more relaxed, and I'm looking for more to do. (Can't discount some relief from personal stress either, it's not gone but it is alleviated a bit).
Great run this morning, lots of little things: finally saw that LC's guy is real; I managed to remember my knuckle light but it was dead; the yellow leaves glowed in the sunrise; we actually had a visible sunrise for the first time in 5? days; there was a pretty misty fog of the soccer fields; a misty cloud that looked like it was coming from a picnic table around mile 6.3 (it was really coming from a vent in the ground); gave my USMS punch card to LC; what else...
And for the 2nd morning in a row, I got to the pool! Today's workout seemed so easy, in fact it seemed easier than the WU and CD. WU was 4x200's and CD was 600 pull. The MS was 4x (25 easy, 25 hard, 25 kick, 25 choice). I ended up doing 5x the MS set and a 500 pull. I was cold, bored, and wanted out of the pool.
I was debating a swim tomorrow, but after sending an email to SM about finding an "accountability group" she stepped up and announced she's swimming tomorrow morning. So now it's looking good for 3 mornings in a row.
Why am I suddenly getting to the pool as schedule with only days left before the race! LOL!
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
More rain! But I managed to swim!!
BIKE 74 mins and 21.1 mph, 3x [11' hard; 5' easy]
SWIM 60 mins and 2600, 4x [125 yards hard;200 easy], broken 500 in 9:32 or 1:54 min/100y
More rain! Less so rain, and more of a fine mist that keeps the roads wet. Sure, I could ride, but is it really worth an accident? Not just 9 days out from the race! So another day with no commuting. Maybe Friday, since I normally drive Thursdays. We'll see.
And another trainer ride, the last (hopefully!) before B2B? This was 3x 11 mins hard, managed 19.1, 18.5, and 18.5 mph in the intervals, so 3.4-3.5 miles each. It's hard to get your speed focus up while watching Downton Abbey...
Last night LC texted to ask if I was swimming this morning. I said I usually end up skipping my Weds swim, so I'd be happy to have some accountability with a "see you there". Sweet! So after the ride, feeling the pull of "skip-the-swim" habit I went to the pool.
Today was a broken 500 yard as a 4x125, add up the 125 times for the broken time. Between each 125 is a easy/mod 200. This went fast! It took a total of 9:32, so while the time went by fast I didn't! Boo! I wasn't sprinting but in all honest I was pushing it. LC was swimming in my lane and she was lapping me repeatedly. Dammit! Gotta get fast!
Thanks to LC for the text :) In looking over my Training Peaks log, I haven't done my Weds swim since Sept 24 when I did some "lazy 100s" over lunch!
SWIM 60 mins and 2600, 4x [125 yards hard;200 easy], broken 500 in 9:32 or 1:54 min/100y
More rain! Less so rain, and more of a fine mist that keeps the roads wet. Sure, I could ride, but is it really worth an accident? Not just 9 days out from the race! So another day with no commuting. Maybe Friday, since I normally drive Thursdays. We'll see.
And another trainer ride, the last (hopefully!) before B2B? This was 3x 11 mins hard, managed 19.1, 18.5, and 18.5 mph in the intervals, so 3.4-3.5 miles each. It's hard to get your speed focus up while watching Downton Abbey...
Last night LC texted to ask if I was swimming this morning. I said I usually end up skipping my Weds swim, so I'd be happy to have some accountability with a "see you there". Sweet! So after the ride, feeling the pull of "skip-the-swim" habit I went to the pool.
Today was a broken 500 yard as a 4x125, add up the 125 times for the broken time. Between each 125 is a easy/mod 200. This went fast! It took a total of 9:32, so while the time went by fast I didn't! Boo! I wasn't sprinting but in all honest I was pushing it. LC was swimming in my lane and she was lapping me repeatedly. Dammit! Gotta get fast!
Thanks to LC for the text :) In looking over my Training Peaks log, I haven't done my Weds swim since Sept 24 when I did some "lazy 100s" over lunch!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Wet westerly wind
BIKE 1hr and 18 miles, 1x40 mins 75%, 19.3 mph
RUN 58-ish mins and 6.1 miles, 9:30m/m
Another trainer ride in the dark, I miss being outside!
Yet another rainy day, and a busy one too. I didn't get my track workout done due to lack of time, so I ran home over lunch in the afternoon to let the doggie out. 28 mins too get home, about 28 mins to get back, give or take. There was a wet, misty wind out of the west but otherwise a great run! I'm feeling the taper! I noted right at the beginning that one of the things I love about energy like this is that I feel good in the first few mins of the run. No warm up, no slog, sometimes I can just GO!
RUN 58-ish mins and 6.1 miles, 9:30m/m
Another trainer ride in the dark, I miss being outside!
Yet another rainy day, and a busy one too. I didn't get my track workout done due to lack of time, so I ran home over lunch in the afternoon to let the doggie out. 28 mins too get home, about 28 mins to get back, give or take. There was a wet, misty wind out of the west but otherwise a great run! I'm feeling the taper! I noted right at the beginning that one of the things I love about energy like this is that I feel good in the first few mins of the run. No warm up, no slog, sometimes I can just GO!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Evolve swim: 5x200 with sprints
SWIM 50 mins and 2100 yards
WU then 5x200 as #1 sprint 1st 50, mod 150; #2 as sprint 2nd 50, mod the rest; #3 sprint the 3rd 50; etc; with the last 200 all moderate. I liked this, keeps it moving.
Again only 4 swimmers so TB and I split a lane. I felt good, more focused and not so cold once I got going. Another benefit of an engaging workout.
Hope I can keep this momentum after B2B, I'm signed up until early December for this swim.
More rain all day, so no commute. A pretty and misty rain, with waves of heavier rain. Sitting here I can see clouds on the horizon, are we done with rain?
Feeling a bit fuzzy today, really noticing the lack of balance and focus I normally have. The taper is feeling great, much like the clouds my fatigue is clearing. But I'm still tired. Also had some gut pain that I cut short by lying down as soon as I could. Whew! Probably inhaled air during the swim? The dairy yogurt I had with brekkie? Methinks I inhaled air.
WU then 5x200 as #1 sprint 1st 50, mod 150; #2 as sprint 2nd 50, mod the rest; #3 sprint the 3rd 50; etc; with the last 200 all moderate. I liked this, keeps it moving.
Again only 4 swimmers so TB and I split a lane. I felt good, more focused and not so cold once I got going. Another benefit of an engaging workout.
Hope I can keep this momentum after B2B, I'm signed up until early December for this swim.
More rain all day, so no commute. A pretty and misty rain, with waves of heavier rain. Sitting here I can see clouds on the horizon, are we done with rain?
Feeling a bit fuzzy today, really noticing the lack of balance and focus I normally have. The taper is feeling great, much like the clouds my fatigue is clearing. But I'm still tired. Also had some gut pain that I cut short by lying down as soon as I could. Whew! Probably inhaled air during the swim? The dairy yogurt I had with brekkie? Methinks I inhaled air.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Last long run, and more thanks to friends
RUN 90 mins and 10 miles
SWIM about 55 mins and 2200 yards, 3x400
I joined TH and the Evolve group for a Sunday stroll in the park. There was a light misty rain before the run, leaving behind a humid, foggy day. It was cool out, but perfect for running once warmed up. And as always I was overdressed!
I started off feeling slow and weak, more motivated than I was earlier in the week but still sluggish. But as the run progressed I started feeling more and more awake. It might be timed with the gel I took at 45 mins. I think my usual pre-run brekkie isn't sugary enough and is too heavy. Something to think about.
Once I was done, TH still had another 45 mins. I would have loved to join her, but I need to keep the taper under control! And she wouldn't let me do it :)
Off to the pool to meet RM for a swim. This meeting-up-with-friends is the best thing for me right now, when I'm stressed and burning out. Maybe we could set up a regular swim from all this?
The 4x300 went slick. I timed the last one at just over 8 mins yet I felt fast and smooth. I'll take it.
The BHB was there! Some rambling about news before I suggested she watch less news. RM was surprised at this, and he has me thinking about how I responded to her. I need to be a nice person!
NUMERICS for the 2nd taper week. 15:20 (goal was 15:30!)
SWIM 2:45 and 6500 yards
BIKE 7:46 and 136.1 miles
RUN 4:49 and 32.1 miles
COMMUTE 18 miles
I didn't feel good in the taper until Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty bad, mentally and physically. But Thursday's run was the turn-around point. Lots of rain and a full moon maybe helped :)
SWIM about 55 mins and 2200 yards, 3x400
I joined TH and the Evolve group for a Sunday stroll in the park. There was a light misty rain before the run, leaving behind a humid, foggy day. It was cool out, but perfect for running once warmed up. And as always I was overdressed!
I started off feeling slow and weak, more motivated than I was earlier in the week but still sluggish. But as the run progressed I started feeling more and more awake. It might be timed with the gel I took at 45 mins. I think my usual pre-run brekkie isn't sugary enough and is too heavy. Something to think about.
Once I was done, TH still had another 45 mins. I would have loved to join her, but I need to keep the taper under control! And she wouldn't let me do it :)
Off to the pool to meet RM for a swim. This meeting-up-with-friends is the best thing for me right now, when I'm stressed and burning out. Maybe we could set up a regular swim from all this?
The 4x300 went slick. I timed the last one at just over 8 mins yet I felt fast and smooth. I'll take it.
The BHB was there! Some rambling about news before I suggested she watch less news. RM was surprised at this, and he has me thinking about how I responded to her. I need to be a nice person!
NUMERICS for the 2nd taper week. 15:20 (goal was 15:30!)
SWIM 2:45 and 6500 yards
BIKE 7:46 and 136.1 miles
RUN 4:49 and 32.1 miles
COMMUTE 18 miles
I didn't feel good in the taper until Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty bad, mentally and physically. But Thursday's run was the turn-around point. Lots of rain and a full moon maybe helped :)
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Last long ride, and thanks to weather...indoors!
BIKE 4:20 and 75 miles
RUN 56 mins and 6 miles
I picked up Frea yesterday from BS and she was marked as "Ready To Race!". So I was ready to ride!
But the weather didn't cooperate. Well, OK, honestly, I could have ridden outside. It was cold (55F), wet, leaf-covered, light winds. I can do all that but wet and slick. My plans were MCT or Columbia flats. The MCTs are shaded and won't be dry, the flats would be short but perfect. But I stayed indoors, in part to save time and in part to stay safe. I kept hearing about people who do long rides to stay warm and/or safe, and about people who do most all rides indoors to stay safe! So I'm not too out of normal here. But still...
I watched two movies, Kill Bill 1 and Fast Sick and Nearly Dead. I took a break every 18-20 miles. I didn't eat much but did push some nutrition. To my surprise I did great, kept steady, changed gears with scenes, and was focused into the last 20 mins.
And to my surprise, my feet were a bit sore and numb and my legs were tired! Yay! Sometimes a trainer ride just isn't real enough. I admit my HR seemed low at times, but I did push more upon realizing that.
The brick run was about an hour later, my stomach was an empty hole screaming for food! I had planned for only 5 miles, but couldn't resist skipping my two favorite parts of TGP. Since I was running backwards on my usual course (clockwise in park), once I'd reached the 2.5 mile turn point I could see the top of the Kingshwy hill, couldn't resist. Then I got to run up the bird trail. Then I took the MOBot trail and came home on Shaw.
That last bit was a bit of a mistake. After the shooting, I should have known better than to run in that area, but it's such a great hill! I had some protester video me and make comments about how "That's why they do that, so people like they can stay safe". Ugh.
Felt great afterwards, but I was cranky with the dog. What a long day, even though I was hoping to save time.
RUN 56 mins and 6 miles
I picked up Frea yesterday from BS and she was marked as "Ready To Race!". So I was ready to ride!
But the weather didn't cooperate. Well, OK, honestly, I could have ridden outside. It was cold (55F), wet, leaf-covered, light winds. I can do all that but wet and slick. My plans were MCT or Columbia flats. The MCTs are shaded and won't be dry, the flats would be short but perfect. But I stayed indoors, in part to save time and in part to stay safe. I kept hearing about people who do long rides to stay warm and/or safe, and about people who do most all rides indoors to stay safe! So I'm not too out of normal here. But still...
I watched two movies, Kill Bill 1 and Fast Sick and Nearly Dead. I took a break every 18-20 miles. I didn't eat much but did push some nutrition. To my surprise I did great, kept steady, changed gears with scenes, and was focused into the last 20 mins.
And to my surprise, my feet were a bit sore and numb and my legs were tired! Yay! Sometimes a trainer ride just isn't real enough. I admit my HR seemed low at times, but I did push more upon realizing that.
The brick run was about an hour later, my stomach was an empty hole screaming for food! I had planned for only 5 miles, but couldn't resist skipping my two favorite parts of TGP. Since I was running backwards on my usual course (clockwise in park), once I'd reached the 2.5 mile turn point I could see the top of the Kingshwy hill, couldn't resist. Then I got to run up the bird trail. Then I took the MOBot trail and came home on Shaw.
That last bit was a bit of a mistake. After the shooting, I should have known better than to run in that area, but it's such a great hill! I had some protester video me and make comments about how "That's why they do that, so people like they can stay safe". Ugh.
Felt great afterwards, but I was cranky with the dog. What a long day, even though I was hoping to save time.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Thank you LC and RM!
SWIM almost 1hr, 2300y as 2x 300-200-100
Knowing that my motivation was tanking this week, I emailed LC and RM to see if they were swimming Friday. They both have memberships at the pool, and I sometimes see LC when there when I have a Friday swim lesson. RM said yes, LC said maybe.
I woke up with good energy, unlike the past few mornings when I was Blerching. It's raining again! A nice light mist. LC is already swimming, RM texted that he needed more sleep. Need, or Want, I asked? Wow, I'm really here and I'm really going to swim!? Yeah, that's how my mornings have been going this week.
LC finished about 30 into my session, and during the 2nd 300 someone signals me with the kickboard. It's RM!! He came out for a brief swim. I'm happy to see him. I wonder if my friends realize just how much I've missed them this summer?
Ironically, received an email from the swimming site I signed up to, and it discussed the hesitation we sometimes get facing a tough workout or yet another swim. Had this gem in it:
Talking to LC yesterday in the run, she said that if I didn't do the 100 miler we could focus on getting faster on the bike instead, riding with the guys and having an awesome year. Sounds sooooo tempting!
I'm on the fence with my 2015 plans. If USAT does in the end put 2015 Nats and 2016 Worlds on the Redman course, what will I do? Redman 2 years in a row?! Hmmmm....
Knowing that my motivation was tanking this week, I emailed LC and RM to see if they were swimming Friday. They both have memberships at the pool, and I sometimes see LC when there when I have a Friday swim lesson. RM said yes, LC said maybe.
I woke up with good energy, unlike the past few mornings when I was Blerching. It's raining again! A nice light mist. LC is already swimming, RM texted that he needed more sleep. Need, or Want, I asked? Wow, I'm really here and I'm really going to swim!? Yeah, that's how my mornings have been going this week.
LC finished about 30 into my session, and during the 2nd 300 someone signals me with the kickboard. It's RM!! He came out for a brief swim. I'm happy to see him. I wonder if my friends realize just how much I've missed them this summer?
Ironically, received an email from the swimming site I signed up to, and it discussed the hesitation we sometimes get facing a tough workout or yet another swim. Had this gem in it:
The good news is that sustaining a strong pace isn't about pain tolerance or mental toughness, it's really just a mental skill you need to develop. It's about learning to detach your thoughts from the feelings of hard work and just letting the effort happen. When you get good at this and are really on your game, tough sets don't really hurt much at all, in fact they become kind of fun.
Talking to LC yesterday in the run, she said that if I didn't do the 100 miler we could focus on getting faster on the bike instead, riding with the guys and having an awesome year. Sounds sooooo tempting!
I'm on the fence with my 2015 plans. If USAT does in the end put 2015 Nats and 2016 Worlds on the Redman course, what will I do? Redman 2 years in a row?! Hmmmm....
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Alis volat propriis
She flies with her own wings
RUN 90 mins and 10.1 miles with LC
SWIM Nope
BIKE 12 miles in 42 mins
What a messed up morning. I love the rain and all, but thunder and lightning really screws with things. Sustained t&l all morning kept both the run and swim on hold. Then I didn't know what to eat! What a stupid problem to have. I ate my pre-run, that's not satisfying in the long term so then I kept munching. By 730 or so I just ate brekkie. Walked dog. Went to work. Worked out a run with LC for the afternoon. Had nothing to do at work but read, so I got my BS errand with Frea taken care of along with two grocery errands. Now I'm back at work, bored, nothing to do. Not hungry, but afraid to eat ahead of the run...don't need to eat because I've eaten too much already...
My grocery errands were for food. Found two protein powders to test for B2B and this fall. Then I bought berries, bananas, PB2, and some real PB. Calories in. Training out. :)
The afternoon promises more rain. I'm happy to run in the rain. Whether or not t&l will keep the pool closed, guess I'll find out. I'm already recruiting motivations for a swim tomorrow morning. And for a run on Sunday. Now to plan out Saturday's ride. Based on race reports I'm reading, B2B is a boring course with false flats. With that in mind, maybe some MCT flatness, Columbia to Valmeyer out-n-backs...something boring and flat with winds.
--- --- ---
So I did get my run, and finally I have a good one. I got my flu shot, then headed out on my own for a 5 miler alone in FoPa. Then came back to meet LC for the 5 she wanted to do. She talked about her recent DNF, what she learned and how it affected her. It's so hard to do, but now that's 4 people (me and JM and RyMu) that I know have DNFd this year. It's not so uncommon, but still rare, but still so hard to do. When people like this DNF, tough people who are experienced racers, it really says something about the mental or physically hell they are in. After my DNF in June, I learned so much about me and other people.
Anyway. I had great energy, felt like an athlete! I was really looking forward to running with her it changed the day for me. Tuesday's run seemed awful and more mental than physical. This I really needed to feel.
I got home later than planned, BS didn't call to say Frea was ready for pick-up, so I ended up burning off some energy on the trainer. Afterwards it was like ahhhhhhhh...... :)
RUN 90 mins and 10.1 miles with LC
SWIM Nope
BIKE 12 miles in 42 mins
What a messed up morning. I love the rain and all, but thunder and lightning really screws with things. Sustained t&l all morning kept both the run and swim on hold. Then I didn't know what to eat! What a stupid problem to have. I ate my pre-run, that's not satisfying in the long term so then I kept munching. By 730 or so I just ate brekkie. Walked dog. Went to work. Worked out a run with LC for the afternoon. Had nothing to do at work but read, so I got my BS errand with Frea taken care of along with two grocery errands. Now I'm back at work, bored, nothing to do. Not hungry, but afraid to eat ahead of the run...don't need to eat because I've eaten too much already...
My grocery errands were for food. Found two protein powders to test for B2B and this fall. Then I bought berries, bananas, PB2, and some real PB. Calories in. Training out. :)
The afternoon promises more rain. I'm happy to run in the rain. Whether or not t&l will keep the pool closed, guess I'll find out. I'm already recruiting motivations for a swim tomorrow morning. And for a run on Sunday. Now to plan out Saturday's ride. Based on race reports I'm reading, B2B is a boring course with false flats. With that in mind, maybe some MCT flatness, Columbia to Valmeyer out-n-backs...something boring and flat with winds.
--- --- ---
So I did get my run, and finally I have a good one. I got my flu shot, then headed out on my own for a 5 miler alone in FoPa. Then came back to meet LC for the 5 she wanted to do. She talked about her recent DNF, what she learned and how it affected her. It's so hard to do, but now that's 4 people (me and JM and RyMu) that I know have DNFd this year. It's not so uncommon, but still rare, but still so hard to do. When people like this DNF, tough people who are experienced racers, it really says something about the mental or physically hell they are in. After my DNF in June, I learned so much about me and other people.
Anyway. I had great energy, felt like an athlete! I was really looking forward to running with her it changed the day for me. Tuesday's run seemed awful and more mental than physical. This I really needed to feel.
I got home later than planned, BS didn't call to say Frea was ready for pick-up, so I ended up burning off some energy on the trainer. Afterwards it was like ahhhhhhhh...... :)
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Selenelion Morning!
BIKE 62 mins and 19 miles, 6x (4' hard;1' rest)
SWIM ??
COMMUTE 6 miles saw "Redline" from BigS again :)
This morning I woke up to the lunar eclipse, which I learned was a "rare selenelion" event in which the rising sun and setting moon are visible due to atmospheric refraction. When I awoke at 430, the eclipse had already started.
When I started on the bike, I could see the partially eclipsed moon through the patio doors. As time passed, the sun started rising and the moon set below some trees and I lost sight. But cool that I could enjoy both sun and moon for a few moments today :)
Not sure I'll get to my swim, I forgot to pack my swim gear in my commute bag. Which means I'll have to get myself swimming after I get home from work. How likely is that? Not likely. It'll be 630pm+ by the time I walk the doggie, then I'll be hungry and tired and waiting for DH to come home. So we'll see.
Feeling better today, more rested and clearer headed. Craving salt like crazy though! And finally my calves are feeling better, the pain is just barely registering. Finally.
Had an aura around noon, not sure why.
SWIM ??
COMMUTE 6 miles saw "Redline" from BigS again :)
This morning I woke up to the lunar eclipse, which I learned was a "rare selenelion" event in which the rising sun and setting moon are visible due to atmospheric refraction. When I awoke at 430, the eclipse had already started.
When I started on the bike, I could see the partially eclipsed moon through the patio doors. As time passed, the sun started rising and the moon set below some trees and I lost sight. But cool that I could enjoy both sun and moon for a few moments today :)
Not sure I'll get to my swim, I forgot to pack my swim gear in my commute bag. Which means I'll have to get myself swimming after I get home from work. How likely is that? Not likely. It'll be 630pm+ by the time I walk the doggie, then I'll be hungry and tired and waiting for DH to come home. So we'll see.
Feeling better today, more rested and clearer headed. Craving salt like crazy though! And finally my calves are feeling better, the pain is just barely registering. Finally.
Had an aura around noon, not sure why.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Woke up to rain...
BIKE 30 miles in 1:42, 2x30 mins 75%
RUN 6 miles in :54 (ave 9m/m) in the afternoon
COMMUTE 6 miles
Woke up to thunderstorms and heavy rain :)
While getting water for the coffee, I saw the moon appear from behind the clouds. It's nearly full, and had a beautiful silver glow :)
It was a warm fall day by the afternoon run, didn't need a t-shirt :)
So many things to appreciate, and I'm focusing on them.
The bike was indoors, I set the goal of 18 mph for each interval and hit 9.25 and 9.1-ish in the two intervals. I was going to run right afterwards, but the arrival of landscapers, a lack of energy, and some Blerchy feelings about running in the 'cold' 55-60F weather got me to reschedule the run for the afternoon.
I'm low on energy, sorta unfocused, worried that my weight is getting too low, wondering if the lack of recovery in this taper period is going to be a problem, wondering why I'm not recovering, wondering about dialing back the hours, eating enough, etc etc etc
So I'm focusing on that too.
Moving the run to the afternoon worked out good, but a few issues. I didn't eat lunch until afterwards (3:30!). I didn't drink too much beforehand so I didn't have slosh-gut, but since I didn't have a solid time to run this just drug out to me not drinking much at all during the morning. And I was anxious about getting the run done, so I never really settled into anything at work. On bonus though was that I was a little more forceful about getting things done so I could just get running!
But once running my mind started up too. I fought the urge to look at the garmin (seeing 1.19 miles when I thought it should say 2 was crushing...), I kept winding my adrenaline and stomach up thinking about things, and I just wanted to be done.
At the same time, I was running a good pace (much better than it felt!), I reminded myself that I could do this all day long if needed, and that outbound headwind-turned inbound tailwind felt awesome.
I focused on riding the wind in.
Felt sooooo much better afterwards! But I know it can be fleeting.
RUN 6 miles in :54 (ave 9m/m) in the afternoon
COMMUTE 6 miles
Woke up to thunderstorms and heavy rain :)
While getting water for the coffee, I saw the moon appear from behind the clouds. It's nearly full, and had a beautiful silver glow :)
It was a warm fall day by the afternoon run, didn't need a t-shirt :)
So many things to appreciate, and I'm focusing on them.
The bike was indoors, I set the goal of 18 mph for each interval and hit 9.25 and 9.1-ish in the two intervals. I was going to run right afterwards, but the arrival of landscapers, a lack of energy, and some Blerchy feelings about running in the 'cold' 55-60F weather got me to reschedule the run for the afternoon.
I'm low on energy, sorta unfocused, worried that my weight is getting too low, wondering if the lack of recovery in this taper period is going to be a problem, wondering why I'm not recovering, wondering about dialing back the hours, eating enough, etc etc etc
So I'm focusing on that too.
Moving the run to the afternoon worked out good, but a few issues. I didn't eat lunch until afterwards (3:30!). I didn't drink too much beforehand so I didn't have slosh-gut, but since I didn't have a solid time to run this just drug out to me not drinking much at all during the morning. And I was anxious about getting the run done, so I never really settled into anything at work. On bonus though was that I was a little more forceful about getting things done so I could just get running!
But once running my mind started up too. I fought the urge to look at the garmin (seeing 1.19 miles when I thought it should say 2 was crushing...), I kept winding my adrenaline and stomach up thinking about things, and I just wanted to be done.
At the same time, I was running a good pace (much better than it felt!), I reminded myself that I could do this all day long if needed, and that outbound headwind-turned inbound tailwind felt awesome.
I focused on riding the wind in.
Felt sooooo much better afterwards! But I know it can be fleeting.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Taper week #2 begins
SWIM Evolve 50 mins and 2000 yards. 500's four ways.
COMMUTE 6 miles
Only 4 swimmers today, and only 4 500's to swim. I'm unmotivated but I'm functioning. I think that's a good thing to focus on, that even if my mind isn't into the moment my body knows what to do and can get it done. I just need to think like that for another 18 days...
CB was my lane partner today, I was happy to be able to keep up with her on at least a few sets. I managed my 100's on about 1:55 to 1:57 without sprinting.
And my calves STILL hurt!? I can feel them just touching the muscles, wow!!
I'm tired. Feeling weak. Not sure what's going on, but I'm upping my nutrition even more to see if that helps. I'm sleeping OK, but I'm mentally drained.
COMMUTE 6 miles
Only 4 swimmers today, and only 4 500's to swim. I'm unmotivated but I'm functioning. I think that's a good thing to focus on, that even if my mind isn't into the moment my body knows what to do and can get it done. I just need to think like that for another 18 days...
CB was my lane partner today, I was happy to be able to keep up with her on at least a few sets. I managed my 100's on about 1:55 to 1:57 without sprinting.
And my calves STILL hurt!? I can feel them just touching the muscles, wow!!
I'm tired. Feeling weak. Not sure what's going on, but I'm upping my nutrition even more to see if that helps. I'm sleeping OK, but I'm mentally drained.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
No Triple Brick for me. Today anyway.
BIKE 3hrs and 56 miles. Indoors.
RUN 38 mins and 4 miles, late afternoon.
Yesterday was cold and windy, so I'd schedule the Triple Brick for the warmer of the weekend days. That was supposed to be today! But it was still cool outside, and another test of pumpkin at last night's dinner gave me more EXCUSES to not to the workout today. And to my surprise, my calves still hurt from cramping in the swim?! What kind of damage was done?
Given all my excuses and Blerchy-ness, I didn't want to drive anywhere for a workout I might not do. So I planned to stage from home, knowing this could set me up for failure. I also knew there'd be a possibility of starting the ride indoors before it warmed up enough to get outside.
That's how it started, the plan was a 35+25+15 bike and a 4+4+4 run (or maybe a 6+5+4). But my calves were getting worse in the ride, my motivation was suffering, and my stomach was still threatening problems. I could do this, I could do that, I kept throwing out ideas to find something to keep me going. In the end, I worried that I could run at all, between the calves and tummy. So I stopped with 3hrs and 56 miles, not feeling good or energetic.
Cleaned the house, walked the dog, tried not to Blerch more. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I wasn't feeling particularly better but I wasn't feeling bad either. I think I wanted the run more than I didn't want it. Just do 4 miles, I thought. That sounded good, out the door for what might be the last shorts and t-shirt run this year!
In the end the run didn't run my calves, my stomach didn't suffer, and I felt better afterwards. Still unfocused, no energy, and mentally flat. Starting to suck, here.
NUMERICS 12:11 for the week
SWIM 8350y in 3:17
BIKE 108 miles in 6:00
RUN 20.1 miles in 2:54
Some COMMUTE days, maybe 3.
So I suffered a bit on the running end. I'm a good runner, I'm not worried about that. Just worried about everything else.
RUN 38 mins and 4 miles, late afternoon.
Yesterday was cold and windy, so I'd schedule the Triple Brick for the warmer of the weekend days. That was supposed to be today! But it was still cool outside, and another test of pumpkin at last night's dinner gave me more EXCUSES to not to the workout today. And to my surprise, my calves still hurt from cramping in the swim?! What kind of damage was done?
Given all my excuses and Blerchy-ness, I didn't want to drive anywhere for a workout I might not do. So I planned to stage from home, knowing this could set me up for failure. I also knew there'd be a possibility of starting the ride indoors before it warmed up enough to get outside.
That's how it started, the plan was a 35+25+15 bike and a 4+4+4 run (or maybe a 6+5+4). But my calves were getting worse in the ride, my motivation was suffering, and my stomach was still threatening problems. I could do this, I could do that, I kept throwing out ideas to find something to keep me going. In the end, I worried that I could run at all, between the calves and tummy. So I stopped with 3hrs and 56 miles, not feeling good or energetic.
Cleaned the house, walked the dog, tried not to Blerch more. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I wasn't feeling particularly better but I wasn't feeling bad either. I think I wanted the run more than I didn't want it. Just do 4 miles, I thought. That sounded good, out the door for what might be the last shorts and t-shirt run this year!
In the end the run didn't run my calves, my stomach didn't suffer, and I felt better afterwards. Still unfocused, no energy, and mentally flat. Starting to suck, here.
NUMERICS 12:11 for the week
SWIM 8350y in 3:17
BIKE 108 miles in 6:00
RUN 20.1 miles in 2:54
Some COMMUTE days, maybe 3.
So I suffered a bit on the running end. I'm a good runner, I'm not worried about that. Just worried about everything else.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The truly crazy LOCO swim
SWIM 2:00 and 5150 yards, broken into am and pm!
Blame it all on the pumpkin. I tried re-introducing pumpkin last night, only half a cup, but it didn't go well. I can also blame the fact that DH is out of town and I got a lonely Blerch mentality. Then blame the dog, then ... haha, so many EXCUSES!
I got to the pool around 9am with the plan of doing a 5K swim. All was going great, the pool was crazy busy with kids and bobbers everywhere. Only one lap lane, but only at the most 3 of us sharing it. When I started I was sharing with a woman who would swim the deep end then run the shallow. Not sure about that, but whatever.
All great until the 2nd 500 coming back down the loco. I pushed off the wall for lap 59.5 and CRAMP! OUCH! A left calf cramp even though I was pulling. I reached the wall to end the 500 and the cramps continued, now including the right calf, the right foot, OUCH!! More stretching just meant more cramps.
I've cramped before in long swims, and in races, so I knew I had to keep going. The next set was a 100 choice. I made it through that with more cramps, every push, stretch, or stand induced it. The next set was a 300, I can do this even if I have to PULL the entire damned thing!
The first 300 was a H-M-S set and partway in (I think in the last half of the H 100) the lifeguard signaled to get out. Someone had puked in the pool! NOW WHAT?! I decided to run my errand to work then return to finish the set. The lap counter said 65 laps. Since I came out of the pool at the shallow end, I was really at 65.5.
Went to work, to the first grocery stop, had a lunch of an orange, some olives, and some feta and ricotta cheeses. Not the best, but it would work. Back to the Y. I almost missed the sign on the door about the pool being CLOSED because no lifeguard. Ugh. I figure I'll run a few more errands, then call the Y to check the status, as the sign didn't indicate if this was for the day or for the next few hours.
Two more grocery errands, then I call. The pool is closed for the day. By now it's almost 2pm, plenty of time to run to the SoCo YMCA and what luck I'm already on Grand Ave. I boogie on down there, fuzzbrained and tired now planning to finish a 103 lap 5150 session. Heck, why not a 6K with that mid-break recovery time. Yeah, right.
I'd debated starting at the shallow end of the pool to keep the count even, but didn't do it. I was swimming crooked, sloppy, and unfocused. At one point I heard a woman yelling at someone, turns out it's not a problem but rather her way of teaching some kids how to swim. What?! I keep going, eager to finish as I'd promised myself some time in the hot tub once done. Funny thing is, once done my counter said 40 laps?! Not 3.4.5+3? So did I swim 105 laps? Or did I screw up the lap counter earlier? Doesn't matter, I'm counting it as 103 laps, as 5-1-5-0 really sums up the day.
The hot tub was HOT, almost burning, and I sat there maybe 20 mins with a black 1000-yard stare on my face. Not thinking, not moving, not anything. Which was almost a problem when one of my fellow hot tubbers started to climb out and I realized he was wearing white, unlined shorts. Thankfully, he didn't turn around!
I enjoyed the whirlpool vortex a bit, let the jets hit my back and arms, wondered if I ever wanted to get out or not...
Blerch started the day, Blerch kinda ended it, but he didn't ruin it. The swim is done.
Blame it all on the pumpkin. I tried re-introducing pumpkin last night, only half a cup, but it didn't go well. I can also blame the fact that DH is out of town and I got a lonely Blerch mentality. Then blame the dog, then ... haha, so many EXCUSES!
I got to the pool around 9am with the plan of doing a 5K swim. All was going great, the pool was crazy busy with kids and bobbers everywhere. Only one lap lane, but only at the most 3 of us sharing it. When I started I was sharing with a woman who would swim the deep end then run the shallow. Not sure about that, but whatever.
All great until the 2nd 500 coming back down the loco. I pushed off the wall for lap 59.5 and CRAMP! OUCH! A left calf cramp even though I was pulling. I reached the wall to end the 500 and the cramps continued, now including the right calf, the right foot, OUCH!! More stretching just meant more cramps.
I've cramped before in long swims, and in races, so I knew I had to keep going. The next set was a 100 choice. I made it through that with more cramps, every push, stretch, or stand induced it. The next set was a 300, I can do this even if I have to PULL the entire damned thing!
The first 300 was a H-M-S set and partway in (I think in the last half of the H 100) the lifeguard signaled to get out. Someone had puked in the pool! NOW WHAT?! I decided to run my errand to work then return to finish the set. The lap counter said 65 laps. Since I came out of the pool at the shallow end, I was really at 65.5.
Went to work, to the first grocery stop, had a lunch of an orange, some olives, and some feta and ricotta cheeses. Not the best, but it would work. Back to the Y. I almost missed the sign on the door about the pool being CLOSED because no lifeguard. Ugh. I figure I'll run a few more errands, then call the Y to check the status, as the sign didn't indicate if this was for the day or for the next few hours.
Two more grocery errands, then I call. The pool is closed for the day. By now it's almost 2pm, plenty of time to run to the SoCo YMCA and what luck I'm already on Grand Ave. I boogie on down there, fuzzbrained and tired now planning to finish a 103 lap 5150 session. Heck, why not a 6K with that mid-break recovery time. Yeah, right.
I'd debated starting at the shallow end of the pool to keep the count even, but didn't do it. I was swimming crooked, sloppy, and unfocused. At one point I heard a woman yelling at someone, turns out it's not a problem but rather her way of teaching some kids how to swim. What?! I keep going, eager to finish as I'd promised myself some time in the hot tub once done. Funny thing is, once done my counter said 40 laps?! Not 3.4.5+3? So did I swim 105 laps? Or did I screw up the lap counter earlier? Doesn't matter, I'm counting it as 103 laps, as 5-1-5-0 really sums up the day.
The hot tub was HOT, almost burning, and I sat there maybe 20 mins with a black 1000-yard stare on my face. Not thinking, not moving, not anything. Which was almost a problem when one of my fellow hot tubbers started to climb out and I realized he was wearing white, unlined shorts. Thankfully, he didn't turn around!
I enjoyed the whirlpool vortex a bit, let the jets hit my back and arms, wondered if I ever wanted to get out or not...
Blerch started the day, Blerch kinda ended it, but he didn't ruin it. The swim is done.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Too tired Thursday
RUN 6.6 miles in about 56 mins, 8:29 m/m
SWIM 1000 yards in about 27 mins
Total lack of motivation today, just not excited about it or anything. Fatigue? Burn out? The dropped bomb? Hard to say, but the only thing I can do is ease back a bit and see how and if things improve.
The swim was later in the morning after I started a few things at work. I was cold, unmotivated, unfocused, and kept watching the clock. Ugh.
SWIM 1000 yards in about 27 mins
Total lack of motivation today, just not excited about it or anything. Fatigue? Burn out? The dropped bomb? Hard to say, but the only thing I can do is ease back a bit and see how and if things improve.
The swim was later in the morning after I started a few things at work. I was cold, unmotivated, unfocused, and kept watching the clock. Ugh.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Ticking through the first taper week
BIKE 26 miles in 90 mins, 3x12 hard
COMMUTE 6 miles
Finally got Puppy fixed after Monday's flat tire. I wonder if keeping the tires aired up more would help with this, it's crossed my mind before some rides that I keep them too soft. I like the soft for the bumps! But maybe it's not working for me?
Indoors ride, and I focused on keeping it at 19mph. Is that "hard"? I dunno.
Since I biked in and spent part of the morning fixing Puppy, it's unlikely that I'll swim today.
COMMUTE 6 miles
Finally got Puppy fixed after Monday's flat tire. I wonder if keeping the tires aired up more would help with this, it's crossed my mind before some rides that I keep them too soft. I like the soft for the bumps! But maybe it's not working for me?
Indoors ride, and I focused on keeping it at 19mph. Is that "hard"? I dunno.
Since I biked in and spent part of the morning fixing Puppy, it's unlikely that I'll swim today.
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