IM Journal: LOG #4

Ok, this daily log isn't’ so “daily”, but in my defense there isn't too much activity happening on my side yet.

Since my last log I have been running/biking/swimming/yoga-ing per usual but have been able to get in a few high altitude runs up in Mammoth (approx 8,500ft) and have recorded a few vital stats & pictures. Since I currently live at an altitude of about 50ft I definitely could feel a huge difference running at altitude! I may have to spend more time up there to work on natural blood doping.  :)  

I’m not sure that I really want to share any of my “before” pictures, measurements or weight on a public forum, but just know that I do have the info recorded! Maybe if my “after” pictures & stats are a lot better I can add in the old ones for comparison. After seeing so many models in magazines, social media, etc it makes me scrutinize my body way more than I should (even though I know that I’m seeing the result of good Photoshop jobs & know the models aren't training for any races). Yay for body image issues.

Currently I am just maintaining a base level of fitness and trying to find a balance between getting my workouts in & having an off season! I’m not sure if it’s because of the fast-approaching holiday season, but all I want to do is sit on my butt & relax!! :)

IM Journal: Day 3

Red cup = workout reward (as promised to myself). There will be many more of these to come I’m sure!

The hardest part of a morning workout is getting out of bed. After hitting the snooze button about 17 times (this is normal) I got myself up & to the pool. Once you jump in the water the hardest part is done!  My current goal for Master’s swim practice is to swim at least 1 mile (which I round up to 17 laps). Coach AB kindly reminded me this morning that I will need to be swimming 4000m (40 laps) for my Ironman training. I can’t even imagine! My highest lap count to date is 24… & it’s a slow 24.

I have been swimming for almost 2 years now & this sport is by far my weakest area of the triathlon. We have a LOT of work to do here!  However, I’ve actually started to enjoy swimming and really appreciate its cross-training value with running. Plus… I can see the sunrise while I’m in the water (yes, I took this):

Right!? Good morning, indeed.

Also, I had sent an email yesterday to IM Arizona to inquire about how many slots were available, how long it took to sell out, etc. so that I could provide some hard facts but no such luck. I was pleasantly surprised that they responded so quickly, but said that due to their policies they could not tell me any of that information. All I could get out of them was that “all slots were sold out within minutes”.  Boo.

PS- my knee has been feeling a little tendinitisy since the half marathon. I'm crossing my fingers that it's not coming back!  

IM Journal: Day 2

It still hasn’t quite sunk in. With the registration process being over & done, it felt like any other day. Like most Tuesdays I was not looking forward to going to track (sorry, I know a lot of people love it. I’m not one of them) and was hoping for bad traffic, an earthquake, something to get me out of going. But even running a bit late still got me there in time before the group took off for the warm-up. I was happy to see Coach Mike and a lot of other friendly faces, & got a few Ironman comments and congratulations for even signing up and wanting to do a race.

Our little army of reflective gear and headlamps made way to the track to get our work out of 8x800 in. The one good thing about running in the dark is that you (or at least I do) run faster because you can’t see your feet J. Per usual I thought “I can’t do the whole workout. I’ll just do 6 out of the 8 or maybe I can sneak away without anyone noticing.” I never say of this out loud… it’s always an internal bargaining system I have with myself to get through a workout. My brain tells me I can’t get through a workout, so I at least start the workout to see if this is true or not, and most times (if not all I think?) I get through the whole thing! Then when it’s over I feel super awesome and somewhat surprised that I just did something I didn’t think I could do one hour ago.

I realize that this is probably going to happen for the next 55 track workouts and all of the next 362 days of training. But who’s counting?  I already don’t feel like getting up at 5am tomorrow to go swim, but know I’m still going to do it anyways. Physically- I’m absolutely capable of any & all workouts that I will get, but it’s going to be one heck of a mental battle. Even with the “easier” workouts I sometimes have a tough time getting through them, so I can only imagine what my brain will think when it knows I have an 8 hour brick!

I’m thinking sleep is an important factor here... and also rewarding myself with post-workout coffees. J

IMAZ Journal

I’ve decided to keep a daily journal/log of this next year in preparation for Ironman Arizona on November 16, 2014. This will be my first (& maybe only Ironman race since it’s painfully expensive), so I decided that it is absolutely necessary to record as much as possible during this journey! My original plan was to race IM Kalmar, but in all ways it made more sense to have my first IM race in Arizona. I had considered signing up for an Ironman for a while & for a few months had my sights set on IMAZ.

Day 363:

About 30 minutes before online registration opened, I began to feel physically nauseous and anxious about whether I would get a slot since this race sells out quicker than a Pearl Jam concert. I used my work phone to call John who was shadowing my registration & was trying to secure a secondary slot in case I didn’t get in, and shut my office door to prevent, or at least delay, any interruptions. (Employee of the year, I know. Sorry boss!)

I credit my successful entry to online shopping all of my years typing in numbers on computer keyboards. My rapid-fire fingers apparently got me in just in time. Not only did the general entry slots sell out in less than 20 minutes, but the foundations slots (TWICE the entry fee amount) sold out as well! There are currently a lot of angry comments on the IMAZ Facebook page declaring that it would be more likely to “be struck by lightning” than to get a slot from online registration. But… I got one. I prefer to look at it as this race was meant to be for me, which gives me more assurance that I chose correctly and that I CAN and WILL do this race.

AND IT WILL BE EPIC.

 

With shaky hands I printed and emailed about 5 copies of my registration confirmation to myself (just to be really sure) & was very glad to have John on the phone to remind me that I needed to breathe. He already has 2 races under his belt so I think he could better comprehend the significance of the registration process & was able to be excited for me. I’ve since moved on from “wanting to throw up” to “what the $*#& did I just do”.  It hasn’t totally registered yet that I’ve just signed up for a life-changing year-long HUGE commitment. (My bank account doesn’t seem to have this problem however.)   I know quite a few people that have trained for & completed Ironman races, & have seen some people day in and day out of training… from signing up to crossing the finish line. I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. I’m not trying to qualify for Kona… just trying to get across the finish line in one piece.

I’ll tell you what though… I’ve set myself up for success. I have an amazing coach, support system of family and friends behind me, and former (& current) Ironman racers at my fingertips. I also have Badass Betsy who is going on the IMAZ 2014 journey too :). Now all I have to do uphold my part in this and train my little heart out (not literally. I would like to walk around with a Finisher’s medal for a bit ah thank you). Oh… and to make sure I stay away from lightning.  ;)

I’m currently in “off-season” (or so I’m told) so the crazy 7 hour bike rides won’t happen for a while, but for now I will continue to maintain my running, biking, swimming and yoga fitness. Veterans refer to this as “base training” which is their equivalent to my peak training I think. Maybe I should take before/after pictures? Change my eating habits? Or state for the record that I think 16 mile runs and 60 mile bike rides are really hard. It will give me something to laugh at in 8 months when I’m in bed by 7pm on a Friday night & completely delirious.

During my hard track workouts and races I’ve imagined myself being in an Ironman race, tracked multiple athletes, & have bawled my eyes out watching everyone cross the finish line. It’s crazy to me that I’m going to be on the other side in less than a year and will actually BE running in the race instead of just pretending. I might forget what “weekends” and “past 9pm” means, but am very much looking forward to taking on this chapter/journey/challenge because even though I don’t KNOW what it’s like on the other side… I know what’s waiting for me there.

 

YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

Post-Season Bliss

Quick Stats:

-Races: 8+ (3 half marathons, 1 full, 1 olympic triathlon, 1 half IronMan, 1 long course, 1 sprint, & multiple shorter running and swimming races)

-1^st attempts: 2 (marathon, half IronMan)

-PR’s: 6

 

2013 has been quite a year for me! It’s been a looooong busy year but has produced some really great results and a LOT of improvement. Coincidence that every distance I raced this year resulted in a PR since I’ve had Mike Swan as my coach? I think not. I can say enough about Mike & what an incredible athlete and coach he is and how much I appreciate being one of the MANY athletes’ under his tutelage.  

I also realize that I’m pretty small time in the running and triathlon world. I’m satisfied with my progress over the past year but I’m hungry for more. I need to be better, faster, stronger. After my short “off season” that is J. I am not mad that my workouts this week include skiing, yoga and drinking big girl hot chocolates. Oh… & waking up to this the next few days:

Sorry, that was rude.  It’s been almost a year since I’ve had an off-season & I’m really enjoying (& appreciating!) my time off

Anyways, this Monday, I will be attempting to sign up for Ironman Arizona 2014 (it’s not official until its official), which means that starting January I will be throwing the training hammer down for most of 2014. I know it’s a bit overly optimistic to race a full Ironman since I haven’t been in the sport for that long, but for me it’s a natural progression for what I’ve been putting in the books the last few years.  I’m not trying to go to Kona… just to cross the finish line & hear Mike Reilly call me an Ironman.

I’m extremely grateful for the coaching training I’ve received this past year, for all the support , not having any injuries and I’m very much looking forward to another year of improving, fine-tuning & hopefully a few more PR’s! I’m not looking forward to dark cold mornings at the pool… but you gotta take the good with the bad.

Once you drink the kool-aid, it’s hard to stop… but I’ll take a small break to stop & smell the almond croissants.

 

Cheers!