"I like you. I'll gladly sit down and have dinner with you after the race. But when the gun goes off, I pretty much hate you, and I want to stomp your guts out. That's racing." -J Rapp



"the best night of my life.....
...in the most beautiful place on earth"



"It's just one, long, tedious conversation with yourself" -Paula Newby Fraser






"Have faith- trust in the plan - the breakthrough will come. I promise. " Woo




"You can keep going and your legs might hurt for a week or you can quit and your mind will hurt for a lifetime.” -Mark Allen




“The only time you can be brave is when you’re afraid.”


Monday, August 30, 2010

6 Weeks Down, 12 Weeks To Go!

So I'm sitting here, realizing that 5 months ago was my infamous flop onto the concrete down in Rio Verde...and I'm feeling better than ever!  I started back training pretty much full speed about a month and a half ago (surgery was 16 days after the crash), and I starting to feel like I'll be able to complete versus complete at IM AZ.  It has been a long road back to regaining my fitness level I had before the crash, but heck, 1.5 months and I'm feeling like I am pretty close if feeling pretty good right now!

I just finished a hard block of training, and earned a day off tomorrow (to celebrate my mom's birthday of course...happy birthday mom!!). For the month of August, my totals were:  swim: 47,600 yards, bike 946 miles, run 111.2 miles.  I'm thinking that if I can make it through THAT month, I can take what comes next, EXCEPT, I have the coast ride coming from June9-11...400 miles in 3 days, with BRICK runs....as if the rides won't be hard enough (I can't wait for the beauty of the coast and COOL weather though!!).

As far as the shoulder goes, I have to write that is does "flare up" on me on back to back swim days (soreness/pinchy, no pain), and on longer runs (which we just started adding in).  At this point I think it will go away as I continue to build for both the swim and the run...I haven't been back to PT in over 2 weeks (maybe even 3), maybe it needs more "loosening up??"   We shall see!

Everything training wise is going as planned, and I've learned all about periodization in training:  there's no way someone can train this much year around (well, maybe pros can, but I know they typically don't)!!!  Mentally, if I can get through the training that Chris sets up for me at the exertion levels he asks of me, I think come race time, I'll feel confident in myself enough to be able to control the day versus the day controlling me (there are always aspects outside of my control!!)  Some days (like today), I struggle just to get dressed for a long ride, but then I finish the days workouts (also like I did today) and feel like I am getting myself in position to have a great day on November 21st.  So we are 6 weeks in, with just under 12 weeks to go...I'm looking at it like I am 1/3 of the way there (because I am....duh) and am excited that I still have 12 weeks to work my tail off:  compete versus complete!!!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

No news is good news!

It's been a little while since I've posted...mainly because I've been busy!  With the training schedule both full speed ahead for Ironman in 13+ weeks and no ill effects from the shoulder, it seems like every minute is planned, and I live for every minute!  Chris has really ramped up the training schedule, and I know it will get even more intense as "the day" gets closer.  The dam for the lake seems to be going in as planned, so let's hope for the best!  I am focusing on what I can control, so if it is meant to be, it will be.

My right shoulder is 100%...I had to think which shoulder it was before I wrote "right"...so if that tells you anything, we are good to go!  Swimming is unaffected except for the occasional twinge (my doc said I will develop arthritis over time in the AC joint---can't wait for that!!). I've been able to complete all of my swim workouts without any soreness...biking and running have been pretty good as well, but once in a while during longer, more intense sessions, my shoulder does tell me that it's there---which concerns me thinking about what an Ironman does to your body....and I won't know until we get there.  A cortisone shot isn't out of the question, but I'll contemplate that only if the achiness increases as we get closer.

As far as my workouts, I am learning why Chris gets the results he does from his athletes...everything is set to a "T" and coordinates with itself perfectly.  I would doubt that I could do the volume that he has given me, but I get through it and have avoided overtraining syndrome and injury, and actually feel myself getting stronger for the Ironman philosophy of "riding the bike so you can run."  I've been biking a ton (about 200 miles a week) and not running too much, but when I do run, it's typically after a ride, and my legs feel fresh and fast (even after 100 miles on the road).  Better yet, my heart rate on those runs is staying very low considering, which tells me on race day I will be able to push substantially harder into a higher heart rate zone, but right now I'm running 7:15 min/mi on the flats---it's exciting, but I will need a mental plan for the race...the most important plan come race day!

Once we reach September, I have some type of race every 2 weeks, so I'll keep a diary of those "performances" here!  First up is a Open Water Swim...this should be a good indication of my swim progress!

Again, I can't put a post on here without sending my love to Jenny and Sophia---they have been incredible.  I know the long days (some days I don't see them except for when our heads hit the pillows) are challenging for "my" team, and I sincerely appreciate their understanding of me chasing one of my "Bucket List"  goals.  My heart sinks every time I head out the door, but I made this commitment to myself to give this my all, and if I give it anything less, I would always wonder what I am capable of.  I love you both!