2 weeks and Counting

In 12 Days I will culminate this year long journey. I have envisioned how it will play out in my mind a billion times. I have watched myself enter the finishers shoot with pure joy and elation, I have visioned myself running out 6.55 miles and back 6.55 miles, Twice. I have visioned myself settling in the swim and just relaxing.

Easy to say now!!! I cannot believe it is so close! I have had some teary moments, frustrated moments, pure happy moments. It all comes with the territory of your first 140.6! I know that now and I have embraced it all.

Through my last 18 mile run on saturday I kept thinking to myself. This is it. This is your last chance to get nutrition and hydration right. Get it right. I was loving every 18 miles of my run. Through the wind, rain, cold, it was all worth it. My friend was slowing down, but I was on a mission. I was on that mission to block the muscle fatigue, to smile through that, to focus on form and nutrition. It paid off!!

Yesterday I went out with my friend KD who is doing IM Florida. Thank god for her as she has spent the last 4 weekends with me training. If it wasnt for her pushing me and me pushing her, I dont know where I would be right now. Its friends like her that mean so much to me. Friends who inspire, who let you see all the sides of the Ironman experience. This is her 3rd IM and she has some goals in mind that I know she can achieve!! Anyways, we set out for the ride. Me doing 6 hours, her 4 hours. We were great 30miles in, when we made the turn to go back the 30 miles it was Torture!!! 25 mph winds, my bike almost came out from underneath me, I couldn't get into aero without being scared I would fall off my bike. I was miserable. Not to mention I started having a lot of tension to the neck. I finally got home, got on the trainer but my neck was bothering me only to finish another hour because of my neck. I had so much tension from riding outside. Not to mention I had deep dish wheels on which made it that much more difficult to control!! I should've changed the front tire out!

I am ready, I have done the workouts. This has been a long journey. Im ready to soak up the moment and smile through the pain!!!

12 DAYS!!!!!

Last Week in Review

I just got a chance to stit down and type a bit! As the days get nearer to my Full Iron Distance race, time is crunched between my work, activities, my Daughters activities and then being a good old partner to my honey!

Last week was one of the best training weeks I have had and It is another boost to my self confidence going into B2B.

Saturday was my long bike which I rode from my house, met a few friends and rode out to Green Lakes State Park for the 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness 25mile ride. This was a great event where we raised $10,000 for Breast Cancer research and had over 450 cycling! It was a beautiful day! I then Rode home and around with my friend closer to home. On the Way home I flatted 2 times. After 107 miles Ill take it! I called my honey to come to my rescue. His comment to me was "How are you going to change this at B2B if you are taking so long changing it now? Mind you I have 808's on my bike which are deep dished making it a little harder to get off. So I had to do a few changes at home and still was frustrated as I couldn't get the wheel (Back wheel) back on the bike. I had a little meltdown. I'll wait for the repair wagon I guess if it happens on race day!! I am able to change it...but it takes me about 15-20min to do so! I would rather have my regular wheels on but then I've been training with these ones all summer so I will stick with what I know.

I followed this bike up with the best transition run I've had in a long time. I felt fresh, I was holding a pretty good pace in my heart rate zone! This really made me happy with 3 weeks left until show time.

Sunday I had a split run with a spin in between. I felt great for the 1st hour and a half then I was mustering up some good old energy to finish the last half hour. I made it home and was relieved that I could focus on other things in my mind and keep running despite my legs being lead. Took a few hours to visit the family who thinks I am crazy, thinks Im too busy for them, etc. It was nice to see my family. I haven't seen my sister in a month since we got back from Florida!! Geesh!
I came home, Spun out the legs for a while, then on the treadmill for a hour. I started out with a not so good feeling. Running on brick feeling legs is not fun. But after about 15 min I found a groove I could stick with for a hour. (Not to mention the chafing, changing clothes, turning the radio up, etc), I was a bit slower this time around but managed a solid effort.

Last Night I had my first IronMan Dream. I was swimming, swimming, swimming, I looked around and I was last out of the water. I looked around and all the bikes were still there. Looked up at the clock and it said 6 hours. Everyone was already back from their bike and running already. I was all alone.......what a dream!!!!!

From Breast Cancer ride (the date reset! Stupid Camera!)

18 Days and Counting!!

Here is last week in numbers:
Swim: 4,484 yds - 1.67 hours
Bike: 131.8 miles + Trainer- 15.03 hours
Run: 51.63 miles- 8.66 hours
Strength: .50 hour

Total Time: 16:10:26

Nutrition spot ON Equals lovely weekend of training!

I have had the most enjoyable weekend, just in time for my Disney Trip! It has boosted my spirits tremendously going into my full Iron distance race!

Believe me, I have had doubts in the back of my mind. Thoughts like..what the hell did I sign up for? why am I doing this? I must be crazy! I cannot do this! Today, I set my mind at ease. I know I can do this.

I had to re-examine why I chose to do an Ironman. I was asked the question yesterday by my friend as we were out riding the Syracuse 70.3 course. I chose to do it for all the hard times I have faced in the last 5 years, to show my daughter with perserverance anything is possibe, to believe in something, to have a goal, Im doing it for me. I really thought about this long and hard this weekend and it has put me back in the game!

I had an enjoyable ride with my new Friend GP, who with the time Flew by on the 70.3 course. This is a very hilly course with some steeper parts as much as 12% grade. I finished this ride in 3:04. I was so proud of this time as it has shown how much I have improved. I couldve managed under 3 probably if one of the roads was not full of new gravel and at a high down hill pace! We were braking alot! Next, I headed back around my house for the last 2 hours. there is a beautiful stretch that I just love to ride by my house. My nutrition was spot on as we ate/drank every 15 min. I had a total of 5 bottles of Perpetuem, 11 gels, 2 powerbars, 3 salt tabs. It worked. 90.5miles in 5 hours. Then off the bike for 20+min at a 9:30 pace! Ill take it! My legs felt great! I always get concerned when they do as I know I have to run long the next day and don't want to push it!

Today I joined up with our local Fleet Feet store who has FREE training runs every week at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, NY with Water stops! I bring my own fuel of course because the water stops are less than I would like. I ended up doing more mileage today, and was pleased with the outcome! 12.5 miles on tired legs...but after a few miles in, I just focused on form and my breathing which got me to the end smiling!  It was hot, humid, then rainy. I was soaked! I took in a total of 48 oz of fluid, HEED, then 6 shot blocks. Perfect! I have been having trouble with my runs, feeling like I am to vomit, so I backed off on the Heed just a bit and it seemed to help today.

Im so happy this weekend went well. It solidified all the reasons I want to do B2B more than ever.

I am still up in the air about Syracuse 70.3. I am going to ponder over it while Im in Florida for 10 days!!!! Woo hoo!!!

2 months and counting!

I have a little over 2 months left until my Full Ironman Distance Race!! Woo hoo!!

I am scared....I am excited that its almost here....Im nervous...Im glad...You know how it goes!

My job is up and booming already. My schedule is full with patients! I cannot believe how busy this practice is! Its like a mini ER/Urgent care! While Im glad I am busy, today was one of those days I felt like I knew S*it. I had some of the weirdest complaints today. But I guess it wasn't just me today, it was everyone in the practice having a weird day. Is it a full moon??

With work in full swing again, it definately has taken my training in a different direction. Yes, I loved my 3 months of training, eating, sleeping, Only. Now I have to plan to get up at 4 am, Make sure Im eating healthy (Which hasn't been too good with Drug reps bringing you Lunch EVERY DAY! Willpower anyone?!) Make sure my daughter is safe and taken care of, plan a late night workout if needed. Phew...

Im wondering what I will do when my life isnt so chaotic for a few months after B2B??

For now, Im focusing on our amazing vacation trip for 11 days starting next Tuesday to Orlando, FL!!! I will be bringing my wetsuit, bathing suit and running shoes with me!! Of course there is no where for me to bike but coach has me doing what I can for the next 2 weeks. Im nervous Ill lose some of my fitness!!! OMG! why did I plan this RIGHT before B2B?!!

Then, when I get back, its big rides, then taper for Syracuse 70.3!!!

69 days until I step foot in North Carolina!!!! 

IT IS OFFICIAL!!!!

1. My heart is POUNDING from all the excitement, nervousness, happiness, jitteriness, oh all of these things and more! I am OFFICIALLY signed up for B2B Iron-Distance Race taking place in Wilmington, NC on October 29, 2011. Let the training begin! Oh well um yeah, Continue I mean!!

2. I just got videotaped in the pool this afternoon. Coach has it in her possession now. I can see her right now rolling her hand over her mouth wondering what she is going to do with that swim stroke. I took a mini peak at it myself. Um yeah, I have no high elbow at all and to think I had some High of an elbow at least with my right arm!!! Yeah and when I breathe I think I roll waaay to far over. We will see what the expert has to say and go from there. I am my WORST critic.

3. The temperature this morning was 61 degrees and now it is 34 and snowing...hmmm weird. I love the snow so it doesn't bother me too much. I love running in cold weather!! I even bough a head lamp yesterday for those early morning runs!! Since yesterday I went out with a friend and did hill repeats and rolled my ankle a bit. Didn't hurt myself though! Thank my lucky stars!!

4. Our Triathlon Club has started a competition with other clubs with USAT for most mileage accomplished over the off season. This month is all swimming miles 500 miles we need. We have over 700 members. I think we can handle it!

5. I went to the gym to swim this morning and was not happy the Pool was closed AGAIN!! I said some naughty words and walked out of the gym..I then called to get out of my contract and ranted how awful the place was and that I was training for an Ironman and cannot get into the pool. Yeah I let them have it..ha ha! I feel much better. I've been ranting and raving for a year about how I hate that place. You think they would call me back by now..NOPE haven't heard anything. GREAT customer service!! Oh and when I asked if they would do more programs for triathletes and I would help set one up...I was so blown off...yeah Not happy about this place...ok. I think Im done now. phew!

6. I have declined a second interview with the ICU mainly because my job now has given me more money that I cannot say no to! Hey I have a family you know! So right now I am going to stay with Family practice and see what happens.

Happy Training everyone!!