This week... My teammate Jenny posted this: Iron Baby
The past two weeks I have had a wide spectrum of emotions. I feel crazy, emotional, bipolar, and an addict.
Last week at track, Consuela dropped a bomb on us that we were running a mile time trial. I was so angry. SO ANGRY. I had just finished a fast/tough 86 mile bike on Saturday, a 19 hilly run on Sunday, a 5:30 AM 3500yard swim AND a hard 20 mile bike/15 minute run on Monday night. SHE WANTS ME TO WHAT? What the heck. This is cruel.
Then... I see so many people going faster than their previous time trial. I did about the same as the previous time trial. I was crushed. I felt like I sucked. Why is everyone getting faster and I am not?
Sway walked a lap around the track and tried to talk some sense to me, a therapist session have you. I then jogged another lap and when I came back I saw her talk to a few other teammates about the same thing I was talking to her about. Another teammate apologized for not being positive at track practice.
WE ARE ALL GOING CRAZY. It's NOT just me.
I then went to lift weights after work. Someone said something to me that just made me lose it. I immediately drove to talk to Marianne and Trung. I cried about some of the stupidest things I have ever shed tears for. I can laugh about what I was upset about now, but I was shaking I was so upset.
I can't keep my place clean enough. I don't spend enough time with Jason. I'm not getting faster. I am sick of eating. WAAAAAH. While it is funny for me now, I was legitimately upset. It is a struggle to balance everything else with training for an Ironman. I am sure everyone can relate to that.
It took me a few days to get over it. I kept focusing on everything I WASN'T DOING.
Then I started thinking about Augusta and Ironman. I started drooling. I thought about the river in Augusta, the rolling bike course, and the flat run. I think about crossing the Ironman finish line. I started to think about how much I have improved.
And...then just like that my JUICE WAS BACK. My POSITIVE JUICE.
I had a fast run on Thursday. I had a great ride on Saturday pulling myself the whole way, battling what Sway said was a "short attention span." A great run on Sunday. Instead of focusing on what I wasn't doing right, I focused on what I was doing right. When someone is in front of me, I focus on either catching up or keeping the distance between us small.
I look around and EVERYONE is doing better. They might not see it (we are all way too hard on ourselves), but they are. We are day after day working our asses off to balance work, kids (not me... not sure how you parents can do this), cleaning, cooking, eating, training, social life (....ha). Look at how far we have come. I am motivated by each and everyone one of you.
We have the best coach around. We have the plan, we have the team, we have the support. We are all going to be Ironmen. No way we could complete an Ironman without improving SIGNIFICANTLY. Say it until you believe it. You are better than you were 251 days ago, 2 years ago, and yesterday.
Now don't let all this positivity fool you -- I STILL FEEL CRAZY AS EVER. I can't stop thinking about the next time I get to swim, bike, or run (maybe a little less on the run).
I am drooling and almost FEIGNING for a race. I am so ready to give birth to this Iron baby. 54 days. I can HARDLY wait.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Week 9: Ironman Training
This week was very nice because we had a holiday. I spent my Labor day...Laboring. ha.
Started the day off with an across the lake (and back) swim. Total was 2.66 miles, speed for 2.4 (the ironman swim distance) was 1:16.... not too shabby after a 86 mile bike on Saturday and a 19 hilly run on Sunday. I did my post lake swim ritual: Shower, change, nasal rinse, and nasal spray and then headed out to do a 30 mile bike along Narcoossee. I stayed in the back for the the first 15 miles... we were only going about 19 and when you are in a pace line the effort is very minimal if you are the 5-6th person back. When we stopped to take a picture (yes, this is absolutely necessary... for BLOG purposes of course), I asked "can we go faster?"
NooNoo suggested that I pull -- SURE, no problem. I started pulling about 23mph, there was a tailwind and I felt great. I pulled for a few miles and then NooNoo came up in front of me and decided to go 26mph. It was actually easier for me to draft off of him than pull 23mph so I was okay with it. He wore himself out and then Sway, Napoli and I took turns pulling on the way back. We ended up doing 30 miles with an average pace of 21mph. It felt amazing. I get a "cycling high" comparable to a "runners high" when I have a short bike. I am ADDICTED.
I haven't been taking naps on the weekend like I did in the beginning of training... I find myself not needing them as much. I am trying to be productive during the day, however, the lack of nap caught up to me on Monday and I was so sleepy. I was in bed by 7:45 and sleeping by 8:30. Amen.
Tuesday we got to do Kenyans at track which was a nice change up and fun! I felt very strong and picked up the pace. Jason and I hit the weights Tuesday night and we had a great work out. I am really getting stronger -- I can tell my control and also the increase in weights.
Wednesday was a fun Master's Swim class. Jess came and we split a lane. Always good to have someone faster than you during a work out. I actually improved my 500 time by 16 seconds (compared to last week) because I didn't want Jess to lap me. 7:52 baby. Love the speed.
We didn't have VQ and our airport ride got rained out. I came home and set up my trainer. I hated it. Awful. The end. I squashed that and decided to ride Thursday.
Tempo Thursday started off great with Jess and Marianne. We gradually increased our time each mile and I ended up with an average pace of 9:45. 15 seconds per mile faster than last week! SPEED!
Jess and I met for a ride before the lake swim. We headed to the airport and kept a great pace. We kept an average of 19.7mph... which included a few miles of lights. We maintained 20-24mphs at the airport loop. On our way back, it looked dark and there was lightening. Thank the Lord for a little tailwind as we sprinted back to our cars. Lake swim was cancelled and we went and got some grub.
Friday I woke up and my neck was sore again. It was really bothering me so I got a message. It really didn't help much and Brian suggested I might need to see a chiropractor if I don't get better. I rested and got ready for Saturday.
Saturday we met at Van Fleet Trail. The plan was to ride solo. No drafting. It was a "mental exercise." I started off a little behind Sway, Brian, and NooNoo -- but Sway got a flat and I didn't see her until the ride was over. I did the first 30 miles averaging 20mph. Nicole was behind me for about 28 miles and then Dolan and Lorri caught me at the turn for the extension. The 10 mile extension was windy, but not too bad. I am feeling more and more comfortable in the wind. Went back on trail for a few miles before doing another extension. Lorri, Dolan, and I were spread out... and once back on the trail I was alone. Alone for 33 miles. Let's talk about MENTAL exercise. HOLY CRAP. It was so boring. SO BORING. I'm not going to sugar coat it. I passed a few people on a bridge as they were resting and when they got back on their bikes they flew by me -- which got me motivated and I picked up the pace a lot. This is promising as there will be A LOT of people on the bike course at IMFL. I am very motivated by other people. I also turned my bike computer off so I didn't see the distance.
I got back to the car and I was never happier. I was ready to run -- but my shoes were locked in Sways car. I did some stretching and then slowly people came back.
Sway ended up having her tire ruined, but Brian and Noonoo fixed it with a spare tire. Everyone did great.... we all decided we need less pace line and more individual pulling. After whining, I ran a little over a mile. My legs felt great. I felt great. :)
I headed back home and Marianne and I went to BW3 to watch a little football. Go BUCKS!
Sunday we only had a 13 mile run planned. Wow. That felt great. I PR'd my half marathon by almost 2 minutes. My time was: 2:10:58. This feels great because I have been struggling to improve my run speed -- and I am finally getting there. It's also promising because I kept a 19mph pace on the bike for 93 miles and my legs felt GREAT today.
54 Days!!!! :)
On deck: Triple Brick and Lake Swim next weekend! Yay!
Started the day off with an across the lake (and back) swim. Total was 2.66 miles, speed for 2.4 (the ironman swim distance) was 1:16.... not too shabby after a 86 mile bike on Saturday and a 19 hilly run on Sunday. I did my post lake swim ritual: Shower, change, nasal rinse, and nasal spray and then headed out to do a 30 mile bike along Narcoossee. I stayed in the back for the the first 15 miles... we were only going about 19 and when you are in a pace line the effort is very minimal if you are the 5-6th person back. When we stopped to take a picture (yes, this is absolutely necessary... for BLOG purposes of course), I asked "can we go faster?"
I haven't been taking naps on the weekend like I did in the beginning of training... I find myself not needing them as much. I am trying to be productive during the day, however, the lack of nap caught up to me on Monday and I was so sleepy. I was in bed by 7:45 and sleeping by 8:30. Amen.
Tuesday we got to do Kenyans at track which was a nice change up and fun! I felt very strong and picked up the pace. Jason and I hit the weights Tuesday night and we had a great work out. I am really getting stronger -- I can tell my control and also the increase in weights.
Wednesday was a fun Master's Swim class. Jess came and we split a lane. Always good to have someone faster than you during a work out. I actually improved my 500 time by 16 seconds (compared to last week) because I didn't want Jess to lap me. 7:52 baby. Love the speed.
We didn't have VQ and our airport ride got rained out. I came home and set up my trainer. I hated it. Awful. The end. I squashed that and decided to ride Thursday.
Tempo Thursday started off great with Jess and Marianne. We gradually increased our time each mile and I ended up with an average pace of 9:45. 15 seconds per mile faster than last week! SPEED!
Beautiful sky after the run!
Jess and I met for a ride before the lake swim. We headed to the airport and kept a great pace. We kept an average of 19.7mph... which included a few miles of lights. We maintained 20-24mphs at the airport loop. On our way back, it looked dark and there was lightening. Thank the Lord for a little tailwind as we sprinted back to our cars. Lake swim was cancelled and we went and got some grub.
Friday I woke up and my neck was sore again. It was really bothering me so I got a message. It really didn't help much and Brian suggested I might need to see a chiropractor if I don't get better. I rested and got ready for Saturday.
Saturday we met at Van Fleet Trail. The plan was to ride solo. No drafting. It was a "mental exercise." I started off a little behind Sway, Brian, and NooNoo -- but Sway got a flat and I didn't see her until the ride was over. I did the first 30 miles averaging 20mph. Nicole was behind me for about 28 miles and then Dolan and Lorri caught me at the turn for the extension. The 10 mile extension was windy, but not too bad. I am feeling more and more comfortable in the wind. Went back on trail for a few miles before doing another extension. Lorri, Dolan, and I were spread out... and once back on the trail I was alone. Alone for 33 miles. Let's talk about MENTAL exercise. HOLY CRAP. It was so boring. SO BORING. I'm not going to sugar coat it. I passed a few people on a bridge as they were resting and when they got back on their bikes they flew by me -- which got me motivated and I picked up the pace a lot. This is promising as there will be A LOT of people on the bike course at IMFL. I am very motivated by other people. I also turned my bike computer off so I didn't see the distance.
Sway ended up having her tire ruined, but Brian and Noonoo fixed it with a spare tire. Everyone did great.... we all decided we need less pace line and more individual pulling. After whining, I ran a little over a mile. My legs felt great. I felt great. :)
54 Days!!!! :)
On deck: Triple Brick and Lake Swim next weekend! Yay!
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