Disclaimer: This blog is a documentation of my now second Ironman Journey for AZ Ironman 2013. Format will be random, i.e. quick journal format, random thoughts, motivational quotes, pictures of random moments and memories along my journey. For the most part, it’s documentation for me and may not be to exciting for anyone else to read, but for those of you brave enough to ever wonder…could I do an Ironman or even just a triathlon? I then offer you a firsthand account of what goes on in the mind of an Ironman age group triathlete including all the highs, lows, emotions, fears, rants, etc, etc. I have dreams of one day making this into a book, so that when I’m old and gray…I’ll have wonderful memories and also fulfill one of my bucket list items, to write a book. Please forgive any spelling mistakes as I’m sure I am just happy to get everything written down, just chalk it up to fatigue from lots of training! J
Month
Two of Ironman AZ 2013
It’s the last week of March; I’m at the end of my
Base One Training Phase.
Current Stats
Overall:
SWIM: ~35,300
Yds BIKE: ~ 209.28 Miles RUN: ~ 100.5 Miles Strength: ~ 11:35 hr/min
Total Training Hours: 56:19 hours/minutes
Not bad for staring out my second month of training.
Again, I’m still a bit light on my
training hours. I should still have more hours under my belt, but I’m realizing
my body is getting older. No pun intended as I had my birthday this month. I spent more time on my foam roller this month, and
as painful as it was… I noticed it really has helped and I've had to rely less
on my pain killers to get me through some tough workouts and that makes me
happy. I don’t want to feel like I have to rely on them. I know in the
beginning, as I’m getting back into training, I’ll need them to adjust and for
some of the really hard workouts, but really less would be great.
My first week was good with training, I was really strong
in my swim, but noticed that my healthy eating started to slack, which means,
my tendinitis was creeping back in. I
also lifted heavy this month, and tweaked my right bicep/shoulder. I pushed
when I shouldn't have, and paid for it the third week.
Week Two I felt really strong. I had the best swims so far, finishing out
the week with 7850 yards. My bike was
really strong too. My Sunday ride, I pushed really hard averaging a 16.3 mph
pace in rather windy conditions. I still
had too much left in the tank though, because I was restless the rest of the
day/night, and I couldn't relax. So
needless to say, my 2 AM cleaning sessions have been really helpful with
keeping my house spotless.
Sleep still seems to elude me. I can seem to get in any normal amount of average sleep. Most nights are with less the 5 hours, and then I’m just
plain exhausted in the morning. This is not by choice mind you, but just cause I can’t
seem to shut my brain off. I think I’m still continually waiting for the “ball to drop”
so to speak. Waiting for the next bad
thing to happen. Not my usual attitude and spirit for those that know me well,
It’s far from it really. But this feeling of doom just keeps looming. I’m trying to
come out if it, but it’s frustrating that I can’t get it gone, I just want to
shut off these feelings I’m having and be done with it. Sometimes I think caring too much just hurts you more. If I could have an off switch, I’d be quiet
happy to turn it off right now. I think
this month was harder to, because I had some hopes of finally having that “special”
birthday. I have this image of the perfect birthday where I get to celebrate it with someone I love, have a quiet lazy day, just spending time together, nothing extravagant. But that dream seems to still elude me after 39 years. Instead, I got the complete opposite. I think no acknowledgement made it even worse. So, I've decided to stop wishing and hoping and take that dream off the table from here on out. Again, where is that damn off switch when I need it?
Week Three, here is where I had a crappy week with
my training. Because I lifted too hard
and tweaked my shoulder/bicep. I had to severely decrease my swimming. So I
only got in two workouts this week, both, very sub-par I had to stop 20 min
early on both, as I was almost in tears. Runs were average, nothing special. I
had to rely on my pain meds more this week L and I had to
skip a bike workout as I couldn't even get in aero position on the bike.
Luckily I am bendy as I was able to manipulate my K-Tape around my right
shoulder and get some pain relief.
Friday, I took the day off, ended up skipping my swim and bike, and went for a run instead,
6 miles on Iron King. Was a beautiful day, my shoulder tolerated that a bit
better, but still hurt.
By this time, I had come to the conclusion that this
week’s training was pretty much a bust. So, instead of giving into too much
wallowing, I loaded up on ice and Vicodin jumped in the car with some of my
girlfriends and headed to Vegas for the Devil Dash Mud Run. I was happy to just get away and forget
everything. We got into Vegas around 7ish. Got to the hotel, and headed down to get
some food, and beer, which I must say....To go cups are pretty cool. But do admit, I felt a little weird driving by the cop at the hotel with my to go cup by my side.
I have never been a believer of having alcohol before
races. Even though this was just for fun. But I've had a change of heart these
past few months, And I must say sometimes you just need to let go and not give
a flying F$%@, which is exactly what I did.
Race morning, we got dressed in our “costumes’.
Ironically, we got more looks at the hotel breakfast bar for our crazy tights. You
would think In Vegas, it wouldn't faze people, but alas . It was COLD, FREEZING on race morning, 47 degrees
and 17 mph winds. Knowing we were about to go jumping into freezing mud pits, climbing obstacles, running through fire,I was not feeling the love too much, but I also realized it was nowhere
near what jumping into 60 degree water was for over an hour for an Ironman. I had a great time with the girls, a smile
was put back on my face for the first time in weeks, that was nice. We even got free beer when we were done, but
really we just wanted coffee by that time. We also gave some guys a bit of a peep show, as waiting in line to change was causing hypothermia, so we skirted around the back and held towels for each other. I'm not quite sure what the guy got going by with his video cam,, but at that point we really didn't care, we were finally warm again. We got food, saw some scary Wizard of Oz Dolls, and then headed
home. Successful weekend to get away and have a bit of fun. Thanks girls!
What? I can't give you a hug?
Hill from Hell
First "DIP" in the mud!
Waiting inline to check in.
Freezing and movement kept me warm! Yeah!
It pays to be an OT, or do crazy cold events,
where no one has fine motor coordination to pin on race numbers.
At the start in our Costumes with the "little Devil!"
Photo finish with Jessica and Andy. The wind was blowing so hard, it blew out our Rings of Fire!
Final Finish photo!!! Just a bit cold!!
Freaky Wizard of Oz dolls, they just wanted to come to life and come after you, The Tinman was kinda "Chucky" looking
Warming up in the Vehicle...we were FREEZING!!
Week Four- Recovery Week. There are benefits and
down sides to recovery week. You’re supposed to do your workout, then rest.
Like REST. Like lay down don’t do anything. This is good for the body to repair
and heal and get stronger, it is really where you GET STRONGER. Not from all
the training you do, but from the recovery from the training. But, this also makes it bad for a brain that
can’t shut off, and has even more time to think, That level of fatigue to “shut off” that I didn't normally
had, made this week hard mentally on me. Plus, with the damn house already clean I had
nothing to do.
Time Trials:
I swam on Wed with a shoulder that was feeling somewhat
good again. My time trial was for 3 x
300 yds with 30 sec rest, then average time to get your T-Pace for 100
yds. I swam them in 5:43, 5:49 and
5:49. T-Pace average was 1:56 min/sec.
What makes that exciting? Faster than my Ironman Pace in 2011J
, I’ll take that.
Run time Trial. Three Miles at a 10:10 pace. Again,
faster than where I was this time for my first Ironman training, I think my
pace was around 12 or 13? With HR zones?
Which means I hope to be on track for another fast Whiskey Row 10 K this
year in May for my C Race.
Bike Time Trial. 5 miles all out on trainer. I got
five miles in 18:58 minutes, so 15.8 mph pace. Now again, I have training rides
a bit faster than this. But this was much better then where I was my first time
trial on first Ironman. That again is
above my average for my 112 miles I did during Ironman also. Also as a disclaimer…I was riding through a
hangover. Yeah…rough night again..Happy Easter!
But it was also one of the bright shiny moments of my month. I FINALLY after three
months, and one very expensive move later, could afford my bike trainer that I
was planning on getting in January. My sexy little green machine by Kurt Kinetic
bike trainers.
My last ride on the old trainer, thanks to Stacy for letting me use it for so long. It was a lifesaver!!
Little Green all safe and sound in the back of my Escape. Ready for her ride to her new home.
All setup and ready to go for her first ride!
Took a road trip to Phx for the first time since
January, headed to REI with my dividend
and 20% off member coupon and scored this sweet little machine for 100$ off its
regular price. Can’t go wrong with that. (PS. THANK YOU anonymous sponsor #2, as your
contribution went towards this purchase)
Now I began Base Training Phase 2, kicking
everything up another notch, more hill work on the treadmill, which will be
good training for Whiskey Row, and Grand Canyon. More strength/plyo work, and
longer rides begin. To a better month of
training.
I’m not telling
You it’s going to
Be easy, I’m
Telling you it’s
Going to be
Worth it.
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