Month Two, Base One Training

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!

                                          First Ride, Shes Smooth Quiet, Fast, and Sexy!!!

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. 

Ironman 2013 Season Begins

March 3rd , 2013

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

The Second Journey…what’s different?

•  I have more experience, I've got “one” under my belt. All the training/books/journaling I did the first time gives me the knowledge and experience to adapt my training plan, learn from my mistakes as a rookie and see what I can do differently. I always have a goal of doing the same race at least twice, because I want to take that knowledge from the first one, apply it and do better on my next one. It’s common in a triathlete’s blood, as you’re running across the finish line, swearing as your body wants to fall over and say “STOP! ENOUGH! NO MORE!”  Your brain tries to convince you that you don’t like it; you've proved your point and did one. But the minute you see those times posted, your first thought is….hmmm I could do better on that…. if I did this.  And that’s when you become addicted. That’s really all it takes. That simple desire to do better, that desire to prove to yourself that you can do better than last time. And from that, a lifestyle is born.
• I’m doing this race for someone else this year, her name is Sunny. (Please see earlier post). She was a fellow triathlete who was struck down in the prime of her life with brain cancer. We bonded during therapy sessions, and I promised her, I’d do my next Ironman for her, with her name on my bike. (Also see previous post/picture for proof).
• I got myself a new Garmin Forerunner 910XT Watch for Christmas for myself, so I’m able to be even more tri geeky and analyze all swim bike and run statistics. Stroke pace, average bike speed, run pace, HR, etc.  You name it, I’m going to probably have it documented “somewhere”.
•  I’ve began to adapt a better eating plan, Paleo-ish style for improved performance. I did my second Whole30 and not only lost 13 lbs to get back to starting training weight, but my tendinitis has decreased in my shoulder, and I feel stronger this early in the season. My run times are also better, but that’s also mainly due to endurance that I’ve developed over the last two years.
•  As the year progresses, I’m going to be able to start to afford the right kind of racing gear, and hopefully get the things that will help me race better.  New tires,  bike travel case, new bike trainer, new shoes/pedals, my own personal wet suit,  a professional bike fit,  A better bike seat for those long uncomfortable rides, new cassette needed for bike, etc etc, the list goes on.  One day, a tri bike….maybe not for this next Ironman, but for sure by my third one. That is a promise to myself.  I just got the basics for my first one and I wanted to make sure I loved it enough to invest this kind of money into Ironman, what can I say, it’s an expensive hobby with lots of “fun” gadgets.  
•  I have my first sponsor.  A kind soul who has chosen to help me on my journey and offer support, gear, etc. Be warned that if you choose to sponsor me in anyway, I will be recognizing you with gratitude through this blog (anonymously if you wish, you’ll be the one to decide) but somewhere I’ll make sure you are recognized for your generosity, support and kindness for believing in me and my love for Ironman.  (UPDATE: I now have two official sponsors, thank you for believing in me, it really means a lot!)
• I signed up for the Kona Lottery for the Ford Ironman Championship Race in Hawaii Oct 12, 2013.  The lottery only accepts 100 people out of literally 1000's who apply, so it’s highly unlikely I’ll get picked, it’s really more to just start getting my name in, the more times I enter, the more chances I get each year if I do it consecutively. I’m making it a tradition now, enter every year for my birthday.  Until then, I’ll be working toward doing 12 Ironman’s, and then sign up for the Legacy program. One down, Eleven to go.

The Plan for 2013

 A 27 Week Plan to a Half Ironman

                        --Aug 11^th, 2013 Mountain Man ½ Ironman*

13 Weeks to a Sub 13 hr Ironman

                        --Nov. 17^th, 2013 AZ Ironman 13

*The plan already needs to be modified as work obligations for a Kineso Taping Course has been inconveniently scheduled on the day of my race. Wouldn't be that horrible except I have been asking for that specific class to come to the hospital for the last three years. And as a firm believer in the stuff due to my many activity related injuries, it will be helpful for my personal training.  So now I am seeking another 70.3 race for the month of August. Current choices include:

                        1.         Lake Stevens 70.3 Ironman in Washington.

                        2.         Expedition Man 70.3 in Lake Tahoe 

                        3.         MI Titanium 70.3 back home in Michigan 

Finances play the biggest issue as it requires a lot to ship a bike (upwards of $300), then include a plane ticket, rental car, hotel, etc. August race will be determined if I have the funds available. 

My 2013 Ironman Goals

“GOALS are DREAMS with DEADLINES”

1.      Sub-13 Hour Ironman

2.      Improve Bike Speed Avg. to between 17 - 17. 5 mph

3.      Establish a Stretch/Yoga/Routine

4.      Establish a consistent Strength/Lifting Routine

5.      Nutrition – Paleo Diet for Athletes.

Goal Races:

Choosing your  A, B, C Races

Begin by selecting one or two “A” races, which require a full taper, peak and recovery period—up to a full month in total. Register and commit the money, then write them in ink on your calendar. I suggest prioritizing a date that allows enough lead-up time with good weather in order to be well prepared with minimal anxiety. Also, be sure there are no major work projects or family obligations in the month or two leading up to an “A” race.

Add in two to four “B” races, which may be shorter, less expensive or closer to home. Plan on a shorter taper leading to the race (as little as a few days), but be sure to recover from the race thoroughly before resuming full intensity training.

A “C” race may be done in place of a scheduled hard workout, and therefore will not have any taper at all, aka “training through” the race. C races can often provide an even better training stimulus than a solo workout given the competitive environment, so sprinkle in as many of these as you like and can afford. Expand your C race schedule by including single-sport events like 5Ks, swim meets or bike races (hill climbs or time trials are best for triathletes). If cycling is your weakness, use your train-through races as an opportunity to test your bike fitness. Set ambitious goals for your bike portion and treat the run as an easy training day.

A= Priority Race

B= Priority Race

C= Priority Race

·        Brian Mickelson ½ Marathon                                            April ,2013

·        Whiskey Row 10 K                                                              May, 2013

·        Deuces Wild Olympic vs. Long Course                            June, 2013

·        Mountain Man Sprint                                                          July  2013

            Or Carlsbad Sprint Tri (first open water for Sunny)

·        Mountain Man ½ Ironman                                                  Aug  2013* 

            Or  Lake Stevens 70.3/Expedition Man 70.3 Lake Taho 

            OR MI Titanium 70.3

·        Soma ½ Ironman                                                                  Oct, 2013

·        ARIZONA Ironman 13                                                        Nov. 17^th, 2013

Month One of Ironman AZ 2013

It’s the first week of March; I’m at the end of my Prep Training Phase.

 Current  Stats:    
SWIM:  ~12,250 Yds    
BIKE: ~ 92 Miles     
RUN: ~ 50.25 Miles    
Strength: ~ 4: 05 hr/min

Total Training Hours: 22: 49  hours/minutes

It’s been a bit of a frustrating first month of training. I haven’t gotten in all the training that I wanted. I  should have had more hours for this first month, but the start of my year has been very challenging for me; professionally, financially and personally. I ‘m not going into detail except to say it’s been probably some of the hardest months of my life I’ve had to experience since my divorce.  I also had to move, to a more expensive place with more bills.  I can only thank God for being the reason for helping me to have some semblance of sanity so I didn’t blow my head off. Yeah…it was that bad, pretty rock bottom with all the shit that kept coming, one thing after another and never ending, I was to the point of wanting to chuck it all. (Not exactly the news people want to hear, but I need to show how far I’ll go, and when I look back, I need to remember this.).  So, after some rational thought returned, I realized that the only way to really dedicate myself to my training, I would have to have some consistency and the only way was to stay where I was. So that is the current state of my mind. My current mantra?  Focus on one day at a time, and nothing else.

So, one month down, the Prep Phase ( Prepare to train 2-4 weeks) has been completed. March, aka Base Training (Developing basic abilities, emphasizing duration- 12 weeks) now begins. Time to step it up a notch.

“There’s a different between

Interest and Commitment.

When you’re interested in doing

 something, you do it only

when it’s convenient.

When you’re committed to

something, you accept

no Excuses;

 only Results.”  Kenneth Blanchard. 

My first Sponsor!

New race tires! Thanks to my first official sponsor and helping me get back on the road. Lets hope I put them on right! Was much easier then I thought!

First ride back...

First 19 mile ride on my bike , felt great, 15mph winds and two flippin flats. Guess that's good for training right? Average
pace 16.3

AZ IM 13---- This ones for Sunny!!!

And her name, as promised, is on my bike. Ready to go through all my training with me and on this journey toward my next Ironman. With Sunny's spirit to keep me motivated, there's no telling what I can accomplish!!! So Sunny, This one's for you!!!

Deuces Wild Olympic Triathlon 2012

 Deuces Wild Olympic Triathlon - Sept 8th, 2012



Sept 8^th, 2012
Deuces Wild Olympic Distance
Show Low, AZ

This year’s race was sort of a redemption race. Last year, I mainly did it for training for Ironman, as a C Race. So could learn what I needed to “go the distance” so to speak.  It was also the race where I discovered I was no longer afraid of “sharks” in the water and more afraid of drowning as there were white caps on the water last year. The race was also in June, so it was moved due to the opening of TriSports  store opening in Tempe  I think.

Other things I learned from this race last year, was nutrition issues, wind on the bike.  And it was my first race that I did after my back injury in 2010. So, I had a lot to prove to myself, and of course just have some plan old fun!

I had the opportunity this time to say with some good friends that I met last year at the race. Walt and Pam, who I met at Starbucks in Safeway. Walt became one of my biggest supporters and even came to cheer me on for my Ironman last year.  I got up to Show Low Friday morning, got to Walt and Pams cabin and we drove over to the race site to check in. It was much more subdued this year, maybe because of the time of year, and the 70.3 Worlds going on in Vegas that weekend.  I got all my stuff for the race and we headed back to the cabin. We went out to dinner in Pinetop, and by the time we got back, Ken had arrived and was there to support me for the race. Walt and I did our usual checklist to make sure we were all packed and ready for the race. He was doing his first race back after having some medical issues, and was doing the Long Course. I stuck with my Olympic. I needed to get some redemption. And I notice that I like to do my races at least twice, due to I get my “PR” from the first race, and then I need to try and beat it.

2012 Results From Deuces Wild Olympic

Swim                              48:19 min
T1                                     5:01 min
Bike                            1:47:54 hr/min
T2                                     1:08 min
Run                             1:16:09 hr/min
Total Time                3:57:24 hr/min

My plan going into this race, was the same as Mtn Man. Just shave off a few minutes on each sport to PR. Of course I was coming off a high from PR-ing 25 min off my Mtn Man Olympic, so secretly I wanted that as well for this race. I do know that I was off my Paleo Diet, and I was making this an experiment as well to see what my body did with getting back to eating “regular” crappy processed food. I also didn’t get as much training in as I wanted, but I was getting in some good fast hour plus rides with Ken on the Carefree Highway. So I was feeling strong on the bike, but nervous cause I took a few more breaks then the training plan called for.

I woke up Saturday morning and was greeted with some words of wisdom from Walt taped to my bike seat!

Ken drove me to the race site, and I got myself all setup in transition, only to realize that they switched the areas, so I re set up in the Olympic area. I got ready and met up with Pam and cheered on Walt starting the Long course for the day.  Ken got some video of my race, and put it to music with one of my favorite songs to train to.

Dueces Wild

Deuces Wild Triathlon, Fools Hollow Lake, Sholow, AZ

September 8, 2012

I got in the water and was ready to go for the swim. The water was, like Flagstaff, pretty warm, 71 degrees. And it ended up giving me a lot of trouble. The minute the gun went off and I put my head down to swim, within about 200 yrds, the googles were so fogged up I couldn’t see where I was going. So much for a faster time and swimming straight. I succeeded in not getting any vertigo issues or swimming on my back,  or feel like I was drowning from the white caps, but I just couldn’t see, so basically I was swimming blind. That was a first. I need to get a good goggle cleaner/rinse. So thanks to the goggle malfunction I didn’t have the best time. I had to stop several times during the swim, take them off, rinse, and lick them to try and stop the fogging, and put them back on. Precious time in a race this short.  

I got into transition at 38:52 min/sec. So, even with a crappy swim, I beat my time by 10 min from last year. My T1 time was also quicker at 2:34 min/sec.

I got out on the bike course and the ride was nice. I felt pretty strong, the wind with nowhere near what it was last year.  I was rocking it on the bike, my average pace was around 16.5 miles per hour.  I made my usual pit stop on the back side for the restroom, but again hadn’t swallowed the lake like last year so I was good to go.

I cruised into transition at 1:32:25 hr/min/sec , which was 15 min off my time from last year!   T 2 was also fast at 2:39 min.

Heading out on to the run, I felt much better than last year, and I was able to keep my pace under control and pace myself better.

 It was also a bit cooler so I wasn’t overheating like last year, and I had no back spasms. I high fived my friend Dave Droste on the race course during the run.  I love this course. It’s so scenic, running next to Fools Hollow Lake and enjoying the water’s view. 

Then before I knew it I was running across the finish line!! With Ken and Pam there to cheer me on and take photos. I ran it in 1:06: 58  hr/min/sec. PR by  7 min!!!

OVERALL RACE RESULTS

Swim                              38:52 Min/ Sec

T1                                     2:34 Min

Bike                            1:32:25 Hr/Min/Sec

T2                                     2:39 Min

Run                             1:06:58 Hr/Min/Sec

Total                           3:23:30 Hr/Min/Sec

Another PR goes down by a whopping 34 Minutes from last year!!!

My Race "Bling" and Raffle win? Some sweet sunglasses!!

Next up? A Ten Mile Run at the Iron Girl Tempe Girls only Race in December. But just before that? Volunteering for AZ Ironman 2012, and signing up for 2013!!!

Arizona Ironman 2013 and Sunny

Arizona Ironman 2013

It's official!! I'm signed up again for Arizona Ironman 2013 next year on November 17^th, 2013. 

I volunteered for the 2012 event at the Wetsuit Stripper station! This basically means I got REALLY wet! And had an Awesome time!   Ripping off wetsuits (carefully J) of the athletes as they just get out of the water.

                               
Race Weekend has this amazing energy. Even when you aren’t competing and volunteering, I love this race. I love the vibe. It gets me exited to get back into training. A much needed inspiration when your 6 months into training and tired.

I got to meet some great new friends at the “stripper” station.  I arrived at the race site, remembering how nervous I was from last year, happy I was just volunteering, but excited that I was going to do it again. 

I got over to the wet suit station and as I was talking to people, a nice gal walks up with a prosthetic leg.  A 36,000$ prosthetic leg. I ask her how she is doing, and who is she helping today. She says her daughter Sarah.  We get talking and I realize it’s Sarah Reinertsen, the well known first female amputee to race at Kona in 2005.  I tell her I’m available if she needs any help with her transition. Her mom says yes. I’m excited that I get to meet Sarah.
The race gets started and I hear the cannon go off for the Pro Men, then the Pro Women, the finally the age groupers!! They had a lot of wait time, and I’m glad I’m not in the water cause that would of made me nervous. Boom the cannon goes off and they are on their way.

After about 50 minutes, the wetsuit area get exciting. The pro field is just getting to the steps and we watch as the pros literally SPRINT out of the water and on their way to the transition area. Probably the most exiting was watching Leanda Cave, Who won Kona this year, run by. So exciting that I forget to take a picture!!

Then the age groupers start coming out of the water. It’s all around HECTIC, by the second person I help strip I am aware that I’m going to get soaked…so I run over to my backpack and throw my phone into the top pocket and run back to my spot. After about an hour, Sarah’s mom comes running over to me to ask me to come help her daughter .So I finish my current athlete I’m helping and  run up to where she will be sitting. She arrives and I say hello!! Great Swim!! She had a big smile on her face!! And we talk about the swim as I help her out of her suit. I get to watch as she puts on her leg, and then get her up and on her way!  Inspiring!!! She swam it in 1:33, right around my time. 

I head back over and continue to help others with taking off their wetsuits. Then about another forty minutes later…I hear someone yelling my name. I turn around and there is Sarah’s mom with my cell phone in her hand!!!  Apparently, in all the excitement, I put it in her backpack instead of mine!  And how kind of her to track me down, and find me to return it when she could of just took it to lost and found. I’m forever grateful for her kindness.  And a few people got some phone calls!! Nicole to the rescue as she answered and let her know who I was and what I was doing.

By the time the athletes were threw, I was soaked to the bone! But that was SUPER FUN!! And I’m happy to say, everyone I stripped was clothed after the wetsuit came off, so no naked bodies.  Attached is a fun video that Ken took of me “stripping”.

Check out this video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/SA3kSxbKCbs

 
I stuck around for the race long enough to see the pros come across the finish line around 3 pm, Men’s and Women’s and then I headed home to rest up and get up early to sign up for next year.


On Monday I was up at 4 am, and driving to the race site by 5 AM. By the time I got to registration, there was an insane line of volunteers. Some we heard were in line by 2:45 am to be first in line. Knowing that every volunteer who wanted to race was gurantee a spot, I was ok with getting there two hours early. And as I was walking to get in line, I met up with a gal who looked at me and said, “hey, weren’t you a stripper?” LOL! She was a friend of Vicki who I met as a fellow wetsuit stripper. And so I spent the next two hours chatting with several wet suit strippers and the time passed pretty quickly.

It’s funny, my experience is different this year. I was more calmer. Like I was signing up for another race like it was no big deal. But it was a big deal. Its’ an IRONMAN!! My second, I think I come into it with more experience, so the fear of the unknown is not there. I’ve already done the distance, so I know I can do it. Now my focus is on doing better than I did last year. (14:55 hr/min). I can plan in my head where I think I can improve, now that I know the course, and how I should train for it. It makes the focus of this race different.  Nerves gone (for the moment anyway) and now a new goal. “Beat my time from last year” by getting stronger on the bike, swim smarter, nutrition.  Review my list of things I’d do differently:

          As I prepare for my next season for 2012. I am looking back at my race reflecting on what things I told myself I would do differently to make my experience better for next time.

1.    I won’t train alone again, that was just way to tough. But, I did do it, and I will again if I have too.

2.   Get a tri bike. Trek or Crevelo, but really I just want to get one that is a good fit for me.

3.   New Pedals, a proper bike fitting. That could be some of the cause for my tweaky knee at mile 80 in the bike.

4.   Buy a wetsuit, TYR Hurricane, by far the best wetsuit that I have used and like a lot Category One is fine. Okay…Maybe Category Three J

5.   Hire a Coach, or online training plan. Even though mine was good, nice to have additional input, even for one time.

6.   Diet, I did well, but I could do much better. Paleo for Athletes is the plan

7.   Lifting Program, Don’t STOP IT!! Core is huge! And the strength you felt at the beginning from lifting was not there like you wanted it to be at the end.

8.   Focus on Speed in disciplines for the next training year. More speed work and technique  in  the pool, more spin on bike, drills for legs etc. speedwork/hill work for runs

9.   Yoga/Massage with Strength Training- very important for recovery process

10.                 Full Length compression tights?  Even just the knee highs helped a lot!

11.                 A new seat for the bike. The girly parts could use just a bit more comfort.

So here I go, back into the line and with one quick swipe of my debit card, and I’m signed up for next year. Full sign up to be completed by Friday when I get my confirmation information.

This years race will also have special meaning to me. I’m going to be racing for one of my patients. Her name is Sunny. I met her in her most challenging moment in life around June of 2012. She arrived at our hospital with a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive cancerous brain tumor. (Disclaimer: due to HIPPA rules, I did get permission from Sunny, her husband and her daughter to tell her story, as I hope they read this, they can let me know if anything isn’t okay post J ). I walked into her room to do my OT eval and was met with this amazing spirit and smile. She had her head shaved in a Mohawk and was dyed in either purple or blue, in polka dots one day, stripes the next. We got to know each other the few weeks we were together, we connected with each other through our leisure activities. She had hiked the Grand Canyon from River to Rim, I had just done a Rim2Rim2Rim. She did her first triathlon two years prior at Carlsbad in the Pacific Ocean. I was in awe of her! I may have done an Ironman, but open water ocean swims were something that I feared. Hence, why I did AZ Ironman because it’s in a protected lake.  We bonded in the mornings as we did therapy. And one particular morning, when she was having a rough moment, we talked about triathlons and things on the bucket list. As we were talking, she got quiet, and said, “I’m never going to get to do one of those (Ironman)”.  My response was, “yes you will, because with your permission I’m going to put your name on my bike and race it for you.”  She smiled and said, “Okay, and my dtr will have to do it with you!”   And I said I would do the Carlsbad Race again for her, if it was her first tri, then it would be my first open water sprint tri.  I learned after we talked that she didn’t get a medal for doing her race. I wanted her to know that she had done an amazing accomplishment that many people are afraid to try. She knows this I’m sure, once you do a triathlon, no matter what distance; it gives you this sense of accomplishment. Like you can conquer the world. So her last week there, I gave her my first medal I ever won for a sprint triathlon. It was my third place finish at the “Tri in the Pines” from Show Low, AZ.  I wanted her to have that same feeling for the fight she had ahead of her.   I’m in the design process of how I’m going to put Sunny’s name on my bike. But as soon as I have it, I’m going to post it.  So, Sunny, This race is for you!!