Thursday, August 28, 2008

Bib # 818!

My bike is on it's way to Louisville, Kentucky and my bags are packed as I get ready to leave and take on Ironman Louisville! I've trained 10 months for this- 67 hours and 3 minutes in swim training covering at least hundreds of thousands of yards, 156 hours and 31 minutes on my bike covering thousands of miles, 89 hours and 32 minutes in my run shoes covering at least 400 miles and 20 hours of core strength totaling 332 hours and 31 minutes in training time!

Am I ready? Am I nervous? Do I have a time goal? These are the questions that I've been asked most the past few days and the answers to those questions are...ready or not..I better darn well be on the morning of August 31, 2008! Yes I am nervous! Anyone that tells you they're not are lying! It's Ironman! Above all, I am more excited than anything for both myself and my teammates who have put on a lot of hard work to get our minds and bodies trained! Training for Ironman is almost like taking on a second full time job but the rewards and personal satisfaction one gets out of it is priceless! I've lived a very structured life these past 10 months haha, you almost have to! I've hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and just when I thought it couldn't get any lower, it did! Fortunately, I've been surrounded by an amazing team and friends who have been nothing but encouraging and supportive!
In terms of time goal, really, all in all, I just want to have fun out there! My only time goal is to make all the time cut offs comfortably! Training for an Ironman has been a very humbling experience and anything can happen on race day! So, if I can finish before the time cut offs and have a fun day out there, I will be more than happy and satisfied! It's really why I do such a thing called triathlon and took on Ironman because it's fun to live the active lifestyle, go our on bike rides to really appreciate the scenery, run along postcard views week after week, red line our heart rates from time to time and feeling that accomplishment of being able to push through a hard workout..even with tears welling up in your eyes because of mental and physical fatigue..knowing it's money in the bank if you can get through this and check it off the list! All this, I will carry with me as I am on the Ironman course!

Above the experience and more importantly, I've been able to raise just about $10,000 to support the fight against blood cancers! I couldn't have done this on my own so thank you for the support and donations! It's not too late so if you still want to donate, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will take your money on my behalf! Just visit the link-
Thank you for your words of encouragement and kind acts! I've been going through way too many variations of emotions for my 5'3'' self these past few days and everytime I receive an email or a text of support, I am humbled and encouraged so thank you!

For race day, my plan is to survive the 2.4 mile swim, keep my heart rate in check, fueled and hydrated during the 112 mile bike ride and just keep moving forward on the run! Following my good friend's advice who she got from another friend, I am going to "eat, drink and have fun!" You can track me on race day on the link below! I am BIB# 818!

http://ironman.com/events/ironman/louisville/?show=tracker&rid=164&year=2008

Wish me luck!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Week 46- 08.18.08- 08.24.08

Are you nervous? Are you ready?

These were the two questions I've been asked the most this past week. I know it comes from a good place but I really wish people would stop asking me and my teammates that question because A. Of course we're nervous! Wouldn't you be? And the more we get asked..the more we're forced to think about being nervous or at least more so than we already are! B. Whether we are ready or not, we have no choice but to be ready. Words of encouragement.. that's all you need to say to me..really! Positive words and wishes! Ok..got that out of the way!

I put in the best taper workouts I could..tried to put in a couple of good runs in my legs since I am not planning to run much next week and tried to spin my legs and put in a good swim. I have so many thoughts running through my head right now that the best thing for me during the weekend was just to be alone. I even went and saw a movie by myself just to get away from people and get my mind off of the fact that a week from today..I will be conquering Ironman! Tuning into the Olympics has been very inspiring! Aside from Michael Phelps and USA Swimming, I am very proud of our USA Basketball Redeem Team! I heart sports!!

Lebron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade!
Well..that's it for now..I will blog again before I leave for Kentucky Thur AM and will leave a link where you can track me on the Ironman Course on 8.31.08 so stay tuned!

Pic below- Where I've spend many Tuesday mornings! On a CycleOps bike with a power meter guided by Michael McCormack a.k.a. M2.

Doug, Brian, myself and Robyn @ our Ironman sendoff info session!
Leslie, Deb and me-
The younger guys of our team- Doug, Greg, Brian and Caesar!
Ironman Louisville's Athelete Guide!
Ironman Louisville's Athelete Guide!
Swim Course- In the Ohio River..1/3 upstream and 2/3 downstream!
Bike Course- First mile section flat and then 77 miles or so of rolling hills followed by a sweeping downhill to the finish or something like that!
Run Course- pancake flat with some treeline shade!
Workout Summary-
Swim- 0 hours and 45 minutes
Bike- 2 hours and 16 minutes
Run- 3 hour and 15 minutes
Total workout- 6 hours and minutes

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Week 45- 08.11.08- 08.17.08

It's been a sleep deprived week with the Olympics! What a great Opening Ceremonies?! I couldn't stop talking about the Opening Ceremonies and I'm not even a Ceremonies type of girl!! And how about USA Swimming and Michael Phelps himself?! All this Olympic action meant little sleep for me..I mean really NBC..would it have hurt you to broadcast our "live" Olympics action an hour earlier???

So..because I was sleep deprived..I walked into M2 spin class on Tuesday morning half an hour late thinking I was actually half an hour early..talk about early morning confusion!! What???

On Saturday, Robin, Robyn, Ted, Caesar, Pete and Josh met up at Mike's Bikes for a leisure training ride around Paradise Loop! Robyn, Robin and I got a head start only to stop at the end of the first stop sign because Robin needed to get mud out of her cleats and I needed to raise my saddle. What does a girl do when she needs help loosening a screw on her bike? Just stop and a group of men will appear happy to help :). As Robyn said, "We really are fierce..just not this morning!" Thanks guys..whoever and wherever you are! Just as we were ready to get back on the saddle and get on with the ride..the guys appeared! They went ahead of us and regrouped at downtown Tiburon and all rode back together! It was a fun ride! Good times!

I will spend the next week packing as bike and one bag goes on Thursday enroute to Louisville, Kentucky!

I said on my Facebook that I needed to be in London for the 2012 Olympic games but Robyn had a better much wiser idea..I need to and should be IN the Olympics!! I am sure that I can dry off start blocks for the USA Swimming Men be a water girl for the USA Basketball team!!

Picture below- I mean really.. need I explain??


Goodluck Ironman Canada Teammates!!

Ironman Louisville crew is going to be ready to rock!Workout Summary-
Swim- 1 hour and 28 minutes
Bike- 3 hours and 3 minutes
Run- 1 hour and 35 minutes
Total Workout- 5 hours and 1 minute

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Week 44- 08.4.08- 08.10.08

I think I am finally climbing out of the hole! The mean black hole that I was in when it came to my training!

Monday- rest day..adopted the 8:30pm bedtime and let me tell ya..it's awesome!!

Tuesday- I felt so good from my 8:30pm bedtime the night prior that I went to M2 spin and then managed to squeeze in a 25 minute run on the treadmill at the Bay Club!

Wednesday- Swum for the first time in...oh 10 days because of my rotator cuff issue. Felt rusty but at least it's not sore! Had an appointment with Dr. Rabbetz later that morning and it couldn't have been more painful! Well..it probably could have but I choose to block it out! Sharvanti worked on my left achilles, and the muscles along my left calve and my right glutes. The two things that made the pain bearable was me grabbing tightly onto the head bars of the therapy table and banging on right leg on the table as she is working on my left one! She worked on my shoulder but that wasn't nearly as bad as it felt last week! Dr. Rabbetz came in for adjustments and more checking..he scolded me for running on the treadmill. Apparently, the surface if a no no for me! And by scolding, I mean saying no in an exxagerated tone with a smile. He told me he was very proud of me and my quad muscles as they've become very toned. Don't try to butter me up Dr. Rabbetz! Your office is still the torture chamber in my eyes!!

Picked up my tuned and cleaned bike with new tubes and a new tire from Roaring Mouse Cycles...drivetrain never looked so good :)! Took ice bath that evening!

Thursday- Did a steady 5 mile run to break in my new running shoes.. run felt a lot better than it has been!!


Friday- Did my second 45 minute swim (am only allowed two- 45 min. sessions a week for now due to shoulder) at the pool. ..felt good!


Saturday- Took day off but went to Sports Basement for some team bonding and to sing Happy 50th Birthday to Ironteamer Janice!


Sunday- Woke up early, drove our to the monkey bars of Crissy Field and started my 15 mile run. My last long run before Ironman. I ran over the Bridge which was full of women training for the Avon Breast Cancer walk, to downtown Sausalito, past Cafe Trieste to the Bay Model and back. If you had asked me to do this run two weeks ago, I would have cried because I was feeling so exhausted and sh*tty but now a bit recovered and climbing out of the dark hole, I had a good run and am happy to put that under my belt three weeks before race day!


Below are pictures from last week's Vineman Full!

Are Josh, Brian, Bobbie and Larry making fun of me (in orange sleeping bag) sleeping?
It's 1am...I've been up since 4:15am! That's Kristie behind me with her pony.Awaiting Helen's finish!
Helen- you did it!! 2am..19 hours! What an inspiration..she never gave up! Not a dry eye in the crowd!Workout Summary-
Swim- 1 hour and 30 minutes

Bike- 0 hours and 50 minutes

Run- 4 hours and 23 minutes

Total workout- 6 hours and 43 minutes

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Week 43- 07.28.08- 08.3.08

Lots happened this week..but not much in terms of my own personal training time thanks to an over stressed rotator cuff on my right shoulder!

First off..yours truly is a proud owner of a 2008 Cervelo P2C! Pictures posted shortly of MY version of the P2C! I made my new purchase after weeks of thinking about it, three bike shops visits and a handful of test riding. I heart the guys at Bike Nut! Alex was especially helpful in giving me the download of my potential purchase and why I should welcome the 650c wheel size and owner Hussein who is very thorough with his bike fitting and service!

My favorite email of the week came from Ironteamer 2005 Eric O'Jard. In the subject title, "I just bought a P2C to match yours!" It's a bike buying month as I know of 4 others who have bought Cervelo P2C's in the past month!

Second..Marin Century. Windy conditions..sucked! Bumpy descends..sucked big time for my shoulder. Buffet every 20-30 miles..love it! SAG at 50 miles..awesome company in sag car! Favorite moment of Century was while I was rolling out with the sag vehicle, I see Robin, Heidi and Emma-Louise entering the 2nd rest stop and Robin saying, "This is not my day..I am so over it! Where is the SAG?" It was just classic and I completely understood! Recognition to Caesar who rode with me most of the first 50 miles..I am pretty sure that he nearly fell over a few times riding my speed..thanks for the company! While waiting for my friends at the parking lot, I spotted a familar face, my spin class coach spamming cars with his spin class fliers so I yelled out, "Michael McCormack..what are you doing?!" Chatted for a bit before we road off to do his ride.

Third..watching our teammates Vinay and Helen race the Vineman Full Distance. Deb and I arrived at Windsor High shortly after 5:30pm..drove out to the bike course to look for Helen..found her and Mike Kyle and a few other teammates..sent Deb out to stop traffic at an intersection so our cyclsts can cross since Highway Patrol had left already.

2am..head lights of cars and turned on and flashed towards the finish line..we crowd together to cheer our last Team finishers on..Helen rounds the corner and is running towards us after 19 hours of moving..crosses the finish line..not a dry eye in the crowd.

It was a long night but I wouldn't have missed it for anything as Helen's finish was more impressive than watching any winner cross the line..IMHO! Long night filled with fun times and fun quotes-

"Is that a picture of you in your phone?"
"Where is my pony?"
"I'm a warm astronaut."
"That's a lot of foil."

Deb and I slept over at the Boxers in Tiburon..how I managed to make that 2am drive back to Tiburon was beyond me! Once I got there..laid out my sleeping bag..changed into PJs..sleep! Washing up can wait until "tomorrow"!

Workout Summary-
Swim- 0 hours and 0 minutes
Bike- 4 hours and 48 minutes
Run- 0 hours and 0 minutes
Total workout- 4 hours and 48 minutes