...let me put on more clothes... :)
One thing I have not been able to prepare myself for is the Texas heat. Tonight at the beginning of my after work run at 8pm... is was 43 degrees outside, and 77 degrees in The Woodlands, TX, and it was 69 degrees on my treadmill. So I layered up, put my hood up and ran. I figure it is the closest thing that I can do to replicating the heat, in addition, of course, to praying that it isn't wicked hot on race day!
I am up against a lot. I know that. I know my training hasn't been perfect. I know my knee is not even close to 100%, I know that Texas is hot and CT is cold.
I also know that I am stronger than all the negative. I know that my mind and body are strong. I know that I have a desire for the finish line that conquers all negativity. I know I will be ready, and I know that there is nothing that I would rather be doing.
Big props to a high school classmate on his third Ironman finish, under 11 hours in Los Cabos. An incredible athlete, an inspiration, and an amazing resource- thank you for your teaching!
Now its my turn to ask you all for help. I am racing for St Jude. Raising money to beat down childhood cancer. Please consider donating, help me make a difference in these kids lives. They have much harder and longer battles than I, this is the least I can do. I would love it if you would partner with me!
Donate to my race here
Monday, March 31, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
I wouldn't want to be anywhere else
How often is this actually true? We spend our days wishing for
better, for different, wishing we didn't have to be at work, or
commuting, or at the doctor's office, in a meeting, waiting in line at
the grocery store. We don't want to be any of these places- ever. And
when we are suffering through a workout, or struggling with something,
well, we don't want to be there either.... oh boy, are we high
maintenance or what?!
And by we, I of course mean me. Seriously, we spend our days wishing we were someone else, something else, or plain old somewhere else. While spending multiple hours in my dining room over the past few weeks, I developed a mantra. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." It was born from a statement that I heard someone make amidst an Ironman race. Walking on the run course, this young lady grinned at the camera and said, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!" Mind over matter, and its the truth. Completing this race, checking off my training sessions, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Something has come to my realization with all this positive thinking. I am going to do another Ironman. Prior to right this second, I have always said, "I'm not sure" when people ask if I will do another after Texas. I wanted to see how this one went, and see if I hated it. I loved the half distance so much, I didn't know if I would want to do a full more than once. Now I know- I have to do another one. I have to, because my training for this one has been a joke at best. Life has gotten in the way, lack of motivation and structure, indoor training and EXCUSES have all lead me to a point when I simply aim to finish. In theory, that has been my goal all along, "I just want to finish."
This is actually true. I will be so content and happy with myself if I can drag myself across the finish line in one piece. The bigger truth is though, that I will always wonder, "what if I had trained better? what if I could have ridden outside more? what if the planets aligned perfectly?" I have learned a lot in this experience, and I haven't even raced yet. In fact, I feel like I have bobbled much of my training. Knowing that, I know that Texas will be a once in a lifetime experience that I will need to repeat at least once, because, "what if?" And really, because I owe it to myself.
So going forward, there is no where I would rather be, and I thank all of you for supporting me along the way!
And by we, I of course mean me. Seriously, we spend our days wishing we were someone else, something else, or plain old somewhere else. While spending multiple hours in my dining room over the past few weeks, I developed a mantra. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." It was born from a statement that I heard someone make amidst an Ironman race. Walking on the run course, this young lady grinned at the camera and said, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!" Mind over matter, and its the truth. Completing this race, checking off my training sessions, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Something has come to my realization with all this positive thinking. I am going to do another Ironman. Prior to right this second, I have always said, "I'm not sure" when people ask if I will do another after Texas. I wanted to see how this one went, and see if I hated it. I loved the half distance so much, I didn't know if I would want to do a full more than once. Now I know- I have to do another one. I have to, because my training for this one has been a joke at best. Life has gotten in the way, lack of motivation and structure, indoor training and EXCUSES have all lead me to a point when I simply aim to finish. In theory, that has been my goal all along, "I just want to finish."
This is actually true. I will be so content and happy with myself if I can drag myself across the finish line in one piece. The bigger truth is though, that I will always wonder, "what if I had trained better? what if I could have ridden outside more? what if the planets aligned perfectly?" I have learned a lot in this experience, and I haven't even raced yet. In fact, I feel like I have bobbled much of my training. Knowing that, I know that Texas will be a once in a lifetime experience that I will need to repeat at least once, because, "what if?" And really, because I owe it to myself.
So going forward, there is no where I would rather be, and I thank all of you for supporting me along the way!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Wake Up Call
Well, I got my wish. I had weather that cooperated enough for my first outdoor ride of the year. It acted as a bit of a reality check, and was nothing anywhere close to the confidence booster that I hoped it would be.
Bundled up and off I went. Feathering the brakes down the big hills and around corners.I felt incredible! Ahh, to be outside, and actually going somewhere. My heartrate was not where it should be, first warning sign. I figured it would be ok, that it would settle. And it did, but still not into the zone where it should have been. I was pedaling along at an 18mph clip with occasional bumps a bit higher.
Hit the shore and the winds put me in my place. I dreamed of the Kona winds that everyone talk about, and pushed through. A quick glance at my computer showed that my speed had slowed to between 11mph-15mph. Oh. Boy. The trainer had not gotten me ready for this. I had some work to do.
Worked my way through towns on Route 1, the winds were still kicking, but not as hard. I made the turn north and now.... the hills. Something else the trainer really doesn't simulate well. Oh. Boy. Now my heartrate is toast. Too little too late I start paying attention. Trying to keep it where it should be. Two hours in and the tank is rapidly emptying. Hill. Hill. Hill. Oh. Boy. Three hours in and 5 miles from home, I made it, I did it, but it wasn't pretty.
Things that kept me going:
1) I wasn't at home. Had I hit a wall like that in my dining room, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep going.
2) Outside! I had 8000000 things to think about other than, "my ass hurts." Namely the pretty shitty roads. This was an upside and a downside. Between traffic and the road conditions, I did not eat or drink as often as I should have. I only made it through a little over a bottle on a 3+ hour ride. Jeeze... feeling like a major rookie.
3) "Texas won't be like this" Seriously, hills, cold, salt on the roads... etc etc etc. I can only hope that a flat ride will go better than that ride did.
4) Aloe Blacc- "I'm the Man" Enough said.
5) I knew I could do it. It sucked, it was a huge jump into the deep end, and it was not nearly as fast as I thought I could be. But I knew I could do it.
I did it, but the whole rest of the night all I could think was, "what have I gotten myself into?" I'm not ready. I'm not prepared. It took me three hours to ride 45 miles. How am I going to make the cutoff times for Texas? I can't go down there not to finish. Etc etc etc for hours :)
This morning, I have recovered, my legs feel ok, and my confidence is not as rattled. I have two months. The race is not next week, it is two+ months away, and hopefully those next two months will bring cooperative weather and many many outdoor rides.
Oh. Boy. It can only get better, right? :)
Bundled up and off I went. Feathering the brakes down the big hills and around corners.I felt incredible! Ahh, to be outside, and actually going somewhere. My heartrate was not where it should be, first warning sign. I figured it would be ok, that it would settle. And it did, but still not into the zone where it should have been. I was pedaling along at an 18mph clip with occasional bumps a bit higher.
Hit the shore and the winds put me in my place. I dreamed of the Kona winds that everyone talk about, and pushed through. A quick glance at my computer showed that my speed had slowed to between 11mph-15mph. Oh. Boy. The trainer had not gotten me ready for this. I had some work to do.
Worked my way through towns on Route 1, the winds were still kicking, but not as hard. I made the turn north and now.... the hills. Something else the trainer really doesn't simulate well. Oh. Boy. Now my heartrate is toast. Too little too late I start paying attention. Trying to keep it where it should be. Two hours in and the tank is rapidly emptying. Hill. Hill. Hill. Oh. Boy. Three hours in and 5 miles from home, I made it, I did it, but it wasn't pretty.
Things that kept me going:
1) I wasn't at home. Had I hit a wall like that in my dining room, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep going.
2) Outside! I had 8000000 things to think about other than, "my ass hurts." Namely the pretty shitty roads. This was an upside and a downside. Between traffic and the road conditions, I did not eat or drink as often as I should have. I only made it through a little over a bottle on a 3+ hour ride. Jeeze... feeling like a major rookie.
3) "Texas won't be like this" Seriously, hills, cold, salt on the roads... etc etc etc. I can only hope that a flat ride will go better than that ride did.
4) Aloe Blacc- "I'm the Man" Enough said.
5) I knew I could do it. It sucked, it was a huge jump into the deep end, and it was not nearly as fast as I thought I could be. But I knew I could do it.
I did it, but the whole rest of the night all I could think was, "what have I gotten myself into?" I'm not ready. I'm not prepared. It took me three hours to ride 45 miles. How am I going to make the cutoff times for Texas? I can't go down there not to finish. Etc etc etc for hours :)
This morning, I have recovered, my legs feel ok, and my confidence is not as rattled. I have two months. The race is not next week, it is two+ months away, and hopefully those next two months will bring cooperative weather and many many outdoor rides.
Oh. Boy. It can only get better, right? :)
Monday, March 3, 2014
Biking my ass off
It is 19 degrees outside... do you have any idea how cold that is? Crimony.... That along negates any possibility of an outdoor bike. Not to mention the wonderful quality of the roads. I keep praying for a warm up, I am less than three weeks away from a half ironman that I need to do, and I can't imagine doing it inside. Come on Spring!!!
Tonight, however, my ass was parked on the trainer yet again. My forever patient husband waited for me to finish my workout so we could have dinner together. An hour on the bike of pretty consistent pacing and variable cadences. Upright and aero, standing and simulating a climb, and sprinting with a high cadence, it was a variable ride. The whole time I remembered... how much I love to bike. I only discovered this two years ago, and bought my first bike February 2012. Goodness knows that I have many lessons to learn, but I really do love this. As much as my ass protests the long ride, and especially the indoor monotony, tonight, I had so much fun.
Tonight as I sit watching The Voice with my hubs, I have a smile pasted on my face. I had an awesome night, I have an awesome life. That's really all I have to say :)
Tonight as I sit watching The Voice with my hubs, I have a smile pasted on my face. I had an awesome night, I have an awesome life. That's really all I have to say :)
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