Posts

Showing posts from June, 2008

Pre-Race...A picture Story

Image
It's been over a week. I don't really know what I've been waiting for. Someone else to write my report? Someone else to unpack me, and do all the laundry? Well, the later didn't happen, so I guess it's high time I started to write about the experience.... We had an early flight scheduled, so knowing the chances of getting someone to my house at 5:30 am to take us to the airport for 7am flight were about zero, I found an alternative solution. Parking in the terminal is $25 - $200+ in parking seemed just stupid, and off site parking is a little less, but takes more time as you have to take a bus to the terminal. So, I made a few calls and booked a car service for $110 round trip. Door to door service, can't really beat that. Little did I know that "limo service" (I thought a.k.a Town Car) really DID mean limo service and low and behold a white stretch limo showed up at 5:15am. Now that's the way to roll to an Ironman if you ask me... The flight ...

13:09:45

Image
I'm not ready to write my race report. And I haven't figured out how to put into words the experiences from the past week.... New friends and old. Family and strangers. I felt so loved, so supported and over and over so inspired.... I carried each and every one of these thoughts and people in my heart as I struggled through the first 4 hours of my bike ride. I knew I couldn't quit, no matter how horrible my stomach felt. I dug deep, and I pulled through, and somehow got a ~10min PR over last year.... I'm not sure I could have done it all without so many people on the sidelines all day long... Thanks to our fabulous photographers.... This right here, sums it up for me

What it is all about for me.

Image
Both my girls have done it, and since I've been lacking on the blogging front and after reading this moving post , I just feel inspired to talk about "My One Thing" If I'm truly honest with myself, I know deep down that I do all of this crazy training and racing and all consuming endurance activities for one reason and one reason only. Because I CAN . And, because so many times before I've been told that I CAN'T. And if you know me, even just a little bit, you should know that CAN'T, along with NO are not in MY vocabulary.... I did grow up a rather active kid. I wasn't the best at any sport, but very similar to my current state I was good, or sometimes above average. I was never the the best, or first place or that typical athletic looking child, slightly chubby if I must say, (some things just don't ever change), however I always put my heart into it. 100+%. As a young child in elementary school I played all after school sports. Basketball (pe...

10 more days

I have officially reached the before questioned taper. It is Thursday and I am on my second full rest day since Monday.... and I am still in my PJs thank you very much. You would think I would have accomplished all sorts of things with all my spare time... And, well if you consider constant IM'ing with her ... and her about what we are going to wear and what we are going to drink after we are crowed the winners of IM CDA, well than yah.. I've accomplished A.LOT. I mean, I have in fact FINALLY narrowed down what I'm going to be wearing on the run to only 2 options. Trust me, this is a big accomplishment. And I must share what my sweet, endearing husband said when I reiterated how important it was to have the PERFECT outfit... "and you wonder why I always race better than you." Yup... that is what he said. No joke. He might kick my ass, but people... I will be full on color coordinated and comfortable, that is for sure. What else has been going on? Well, I feel pr...

What Taper?

So everyone is starting to talk about the "Taper" And lots of other friends keep asking me how my "taper" is going... Well, I'd sure like to FIND this so called "taper" somewhere, cause if I look on my schedule it's REALLY hard to find..... Hmmm. Mark Allen doesn't believe in Taper? Well, That is what I think anyway! So Monday my taper was a 1:15 run and a 5500 yard (5000meter) swim. Yes, you read that right. And Tuesday was a 2:50 bike (I think we did almost that much, but it was all half a@@) And Wednesday was a 2hr long run and 3800 yard (I did 3500) swim. And today.. well today my schedule had a speed bike workout, but I just going out of my PJ's and into the shower, and it's 2:40, so It's safe to say that in my self inflicted "taper" it is a rest day for me. Tomorrow we are doing our long bike ride, which is supposed to be 5hrs, but really, I mean do I REALLY need another 90mile ride? I think.not. So, I've talk...

Happy Anniversary... to Me :-)

Image
We met training for our first marathon ..... He proposed before the start of our 3rd.. It's been a fantastic 4 years, and I can't wait for the next 40+... We've only just begun. So, our actual anniversary was May 8th, but we were both sorta in a funk that week, post Rocky Point vacation and the training really had us over-occupied! Well, today my present came in the mail, and it's even better than I though it would be (his idea, my picking out!). So - HE got this (he was gonna buy it with our without me, so I just caved!)... And I got this.... I totally won! :-)

Another by the numbers

Image
Made it through week 17, with some great numbers. I'm feeling fantastic to tell you the truth. I don't remember feeling this good last year? I remember, during the taper, not wanting to do ANYTHING... but sleep, and eat. While, I'm not quite to the taper... I feel totally ready. I just wish we still didn't have a 5hr ride this coming week. Our schedule this year really upped the bike mileage, and while cycling never hurts my legs or my IT's... it's just getting really really hot here so ending a ride in 95-100deg temps, then having to run is a little less than fun. I mapped out a pretty good route for yesterday. We started out with a few short/steep hills. Then did some gradual climbing of about 1500 ft over the next couple hours. And, the kicker - we finished up climbing ~10-15% grade 2mile hill at the end. It was HOT. Thankfully, we made a good decision and stopped for ice/water refills before the climb. Best.idea.ever. The heat went from under 70degs (perfec...