Yesterday I signed up for my first 140.6 distance triathlon, Ironman Arizona. I'm so excited to train for this race and cross the finish line I can barely contain myself!!! One of my biggest support groups is my running and triathlon friends on Twitter but they have really only known me as a runner. As a self pep talk I thought I'd summarize why I will be able to be an IRONMAN!! :)
* My first triathlon was KidSport Triathlon when I was in I think, 5th or 6th grade. I loved swimming and only kinda hated biking but I strongly, fiercely hating running. My dad's final training for me involved swimming in our pool, doing a short bike and finishing with a 1/2 mile run around the neighborhood. I don't remember the yelling part, but apparently I hated my dad in that moment. Haha! He was the meanest dad ever for making me do it. I don't remember much of that tri but I do have a few memories from the run. The next year I did it as a relay and I was the just swim leg. That was much better. :)
* Didn't do another one until 2006. It was the Baylor Tom Landry Triathlon. My dad did it too and the day went great! I was hooked and wanted to do more. I had been running for 5 years at that point and loved that in a triathlon when you get tired with one sport, you get to switch!
* Not including the KidSport Tri I've done 16 triathlons. Two 70.3 distance, two Olympic distance, and 12 Sprint distances. Two years ago when I started trying to become a faster runner is when I become more competitive in tri's.
* Both my 70.3's were horrible. The swim and bike on the first one went great but the run was horrible. The swim was great on the second one but both the bike and run made me not do another tri for a long time. I was so discouraged.
* Since those bad 70.3's I've concentrated on my true love, running. I've become a much stronger, more confident athlete through running. My bike has improved dramatically because of the mental toughness running has brought me.
* My love of the bike is renewed. I took a lot of time off and I'm having more fun on it than ever before. I have such a bigger community of friends to bike with me and train with me than I've ever had before. I can't put in all those bike miles alone. I won't make it until November.
* Running 50 miles was the best thing I have ever accomplished as an athlete. It has given me a new outlook on myself as a person and an athlete. I know some 100 milers that think anyone can run 50 miles, it's 100 miles that really separates people. While I do believe some of that is true, I don't agree that anyone can run 50 miles. At least not actually run them. Maybe run 30-40 and walk the last 10 in. To me, I ran 97.5% of those 50 miles and it was without question the hardest thing I have ever done. To keep my body running when all it wanted to do was walk, to know that without question my mind is stronger than my body, these are the reasons I know I'm ready to be an Ironman.
* When I was in HS I remember thinking I would do an Ironman before I was 30. I'll be 33 next November 18. Not too bad. :)
* I have the most amazing husband, family, and friends who support me daily in my training and racing.
* I love and always have loved training. It's why I race. I love the daily accomplishment training brings. I can't wait for the full training spectrum that is required for Ironman training.
* I am determined to beat Troy out of the water. :)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Fall Quick Hits
It's amazing how healing writing that last blog post turned out to be. I almost instantly started to feel better just getting all those feelings off my chest and into the world. I got lots of great feedback from friends who had been there before and gradually my legs started to come back as well. It's amazing how fast time has gone since I wrote that post! A quick list of things I've been up to:
October 15 Palo Duro 12.5 mile race
I love Palo Duro!!! Last year it was my first ultra and this year I did the short race. It was COLD race morning which my body just loves. I felt great from the beginning and just kept picking up the pace each mile. It was my longest run since Lean Horse so I was nervous about my IT Bands and stuff but everything went great. I had bad neuroma pain in my foot for the last 3 miles but I'm used to that. The after party is what makes PD so fun. Hanging out in the Canyon, cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners, and enjoying new and old frunners.
October 22 Double Trouble 5k
My running club puts on this race and I decided last minute to do the 5k. I had to forgo two 5k's in Sept because I hadn't recovered from Lean Horse yet so I figured it was time to see just where my speed was at. Training for ultras all late spring/summer really slowed me down but it was worth it. My "out of speed shape" 5k pace tends to be around 7:30 - 7:35. My 5k PR from last December was a 6:57 pace so I'm considerable slower but it was good to have a "fitness check" to base my training paces off of. Always love doing club races, the support and volunteers are so amazing and although it's a hilly course, it's a course I've run a million times.
October 30 Monster Sprint Triathlon
Having not done a tri since August 1, 2010 I was feeling really excited and kinda nervous about this. I had one goal...to get first in my age group. When I made my goals for 2011 last December one of them was "1st AG in a triathlon." I only gave myself one shot at it. Haha! Monster Triathlon was my 16th tri since I started in 2006 and the first time I got 1st AG!!! I had been 2nd a few times but never 1st.
To say that I was excited about winning my AG is an understatement. I didn't train long, only about 5 weeks, but I trained hard. Short bike rides but always focusing on strength and speed. Same with my swims and runs. I didn't need endurance, I needed some speed. It was freezing race morning which really helps me, I knew my legs would still be able to run fast even though I had only done 2 bricks.
The swim was uneventful, I felt just ok the first half and felt great the second half. This was the only thing I was worried about. All summer I had trained my body to run 50 miles, it takes me A LONG TIME to feel warmed up. This race was going to be over before I normally start to feel good. Pushed as hard as I could on the bike, staring at my mph the whole time. I was always about 19-20 except on the hills so I was excited about that. Didn't wear a watch on the run and couldn't feel my feet they were so numb but just pushed hard. I had no idea of my pace but the last mile kept trying to pick it up and couldn't so I figured I had to be going close to 7:30's. I had the fastest bike and run (my 5k run was faster than the previous weekend's 5k race) split in my AG and 3rd fastest swim. It was a great day made even better sharing it with incredible girl friends Marci, Erin, Corina, and Stacy. I felt like such a rockstar having them there, it was really special for me!
November 19 Wild Hare Trail Race
Heading down to Wild Hare was a last minute decision. I didn't have any November races on the calendar and with the weather getting better, a weekend camping strip seemed great. My brother said he'd camp with me so it was a done deal. I signed up for the 25k realizing it was going to be my longest run in 10 weeks. My plan was to take it easy for the first loop and pick it up for the second loop. Well, my nightmare weather situation played out instead. My body yells a big fat eff you when it's super humid. I just couldn't do anything. My upper body felt like it weighed a million pounds and I was just soaked from head to toe with sweat. I overheated so bad with chills, goosebumps, swelling, and dizziness. This has happened to me a number of times now (even in just the last year) and so I knew I needed to slow down and just treat it as a training run and not a race. Ran decent until 11 and then had to walk it out and concentrate on getting my core temp dropped. It sucked and I was frustrated but still loved the trail and the race and getting to run with my brother.
This was two bad weekends of long runs in a row for me. My weekday intervals are going great, I'm hitting my paces even when I'm tired but I could use a strong weekend run any day now. I could also use a few consistent weekends of cool weather.
Best part of WH was our camping zone. Mitchell had found what turned out to be the perfect zone. We were right on the trail and in the shade. We stayed there all day and night cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners as they did their loops. We played Bocce ball, grilled fajitas, and drank beer. Knowing how horrible the humidity conditions on the trail were it was just amazing to watch these runners knock out loop after loop. (It also made me frustrated because how come their body seems to handle it better than mine?? It's not the heat...it's the humidity that I can't do anything with.)
Next up is volunteering at the White Rock Marathon on December 4 and running Isle du Bois 10 mile trail race on December 10th!
October 15 Palo Duro 12.5 mile race
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| Erin, Corina, and me on Sunday in the canyon |
My running club puts on this race and I decided last minute to do the 5k. I had to forgo two 5k's in Sept because I hadn't recovered from Lean Horse yet so I figured it was time to see just where my speed was at. Training for ultras all late spring/summer really slowed me down but it was worth it. My "out of speed shape" 5k pace tends to be around 7:30 - 7:35. My 5k PR from last December was a 6:57 pace so I'm considerable slower but it was good to have a "fitness check" to base my training paces off of. Always love doing club races, the support and volunteers are so amazing and although it's a hilly course, it's a course I've run a million times.
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| DT 5k coming up the last hill to the finish. |
Having not done a tri since August 1, 2010 I was feeling really excited and kinda nervous about this. I had one goal...to get first in my age group. When I made my goals for 2011 last December one of them was "1st AG in a triathlon." I only gave myself one shot at it. Haha! Monster Triathlon was my 16th tri since I started in 2006 and the first time I got 1st AG!!! I had been 2nd a few times but never 1st.
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| Hanging out before the race start |
The swim was uneventful, I felt just ok the first half and felt great the second half. This was the only thing I was worried about. All summer I had trained my body to run 50 miles, it takes me A LONG TIME to feel warmed up. This race was going to be over before I normally start to feel good. Pushed as hard as I could on the bike, staring at my mph the whole time. I was always about 19-20 except on the hills so I was excited about that. Didn't wear a watch on the run and couldn't feel my feet they were so numb but just pushed hard. I had no idea of my pace but the last mile kept trying to pick it up and couldn't so I figured I had to be going close to 7:30's. I had the fastest bike and run (my 5k run was faster than the previous weekend's 5k race) split in my AG and 3rd fastest swim. It was a great day made even better sharing it with incredible girl friends Marci, Erin, Corina, and Stacy. I felt like such a rockstar having them there, it was really special for me!
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| Erin, Corina, Me, Marci, Stacy |
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| Coco, Rick, Me, Byron, George |
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| Mama C, B, and me |
Best part of WH was our camping zone. Mitchell had found what turned out to be the perfect zone. We were right on the trail and in the shade. We stayed there all day and night cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners as they did their loops. We played Bocce ball, grilled fajitas, and drank beer. Knowing how horrible the humidity conditions on the trail were it was just amazing to watch these runners knock out loop after loop. (It also made me frustrated because how come their body seems to handle it better than mine?? It's not the heat...it's the humidity that I can't do anything with.)
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| Camping zone in the back! |
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