My Weekend

The story behind this picture: I was about the cross the finish line at Sunday's half-ironman. I must have looked like I felt. As they announced my name when I was approaching the finish line, the announcer said "How about a smile, Erin." So, here I am giving them a smile and a fist pump. At this point, I really felt like giving them the middle finger, but alas they got a smile out of me...As my ironman is quickly approaching, it's really important that I do not miss any of my big weekend workouts. My coach has me down for 60+ mile ride on Saturday and an 18 mile run + swim on Sunday. Since I have to work tomorrow from around 6:00 am - 2:00 pm, I've decided to switch my Saturday bike to Sunday, and move the run and swim to tomorrow. The bike will take me well over three hours, and I don't want to try to squeeze it in tomorrow after a long day.

So, being realistic and honest with myself, I also know I will not feel like running 18 miles after work and then swimming. Plus, at that point it will be too freaking hot to run outdoors. I've decided to do the run before work and shorten it to 15 miles. I need to be back home and in the shower by 5:30 am, so according to my calulations, I will need to get up at 3:00 am to get this run done. I think I have lost my mind, but I will be setting my alarm for 3 o'clock, downing a few cups of coffee and heading out the door by 3:30 am. I'll let you know how it goes.

and, I am announcing this on my blog to hold myself accountable. as I reach to turn off that alarm tomorrow morning at 3:00 am and go back to sleep - because I know i'll be thinking about it - I will remember that i've already announced to the world that i am going to run 15 mi and surely the guilt alone will get my butt out of bed. maybe.

Good Intentions

I had good intentions to blog today, but it's been the work day from hell, so I simply have not had time. I hate when work gets in the way of my blogging, such a shame. Since I'm about to bite someones head off, I am going to go home and relax with my sweet basset hounds and a tub of ice cream. I was supposed to ride tonight, but my friend canceled, it's super windy, and I am unmotivated. Luckily, I rode last night, and I can always shift tonight's ride to tomorrow evening (yeah! biking on a Friday night! I am super cool!).

I would be excited that tomorrow is Friday, except I have to work on Saturday from like 5:30 am - 2 pm. Boooo....

I promise to return tomorrow in a better mood!

Wordless Wednesday

My desk today = enough food to feed the entire office.

My poor left foot is beat up after Sunday's race. Sliced left toe after stepping in the oyster bed coming out of the water + painful blister on second toe = ouch.
My god, I need a pedicure...

Lonestar 70.3 Race Report

Last weeks totals:
Swim:12972.40 Yd

Bike:

86.00 Mi

Run:

46.71 Mi
whew.

Lonestar 70.3 Race Report...
Saturday
Saturday I got in a short run before we hit the road. I didn't really [okay, I didn't at all] taper for this race. I planned to view it as a training day where I'd go fast. Goal was sub 6.

My friend Karen got to my house around 9:30am and we set out for Galveston, Texas. Got there four hours later and checked into our hotel. Then to packet pickup. Packet pick-up started at noon, we got there at 1:30 and ALREADY they were out of small race shirts. Apparently the order got screwed up. So, I asked for a medium and was told no, that in order to avoid more chaos, they were only giving people the size shirt that they registered for. I am PISSED because I paid $275 (actually $300 with the on-line "convenience fee"), and I want my shirt, and I am about to get very angry. Then I was directed to talk to someone else, who tells me I need to send them an email, and they will get me the shirt. I ask if it will be a size small shirt, and they say NO, it will be whatever is left over. I am now fuming, but realize throwing a fit will do no good. I pout for the next hour. I send an email as instructed the next day promptly after the race explaining that I want my shirt. Have not heard back. I will continue to send them a daily email until I get my shirt. I am stubborn and relentless, and I am determined to get my $275 shirt. The whole debacle is incredibly annoying. Anyway...

Race Morning
I’m accustomed to getting up early for my weekend workouts but 4am is pushing the bounds of decency.

Yet, 4am is what it was. Up, coffee, bagel, yogurt, double check bag, put bottles together. Little more coffee. Hit the road.

Swim
The Olympic distance triathlon was on Saturday, and they actually canceled the swim due to high winds which made the water very choppy. It looked relatively peaceful on Sunday morning until I actually got in it and realized that wasn't the case. This was a tough swim. It was chopppy and there must have been a current because it just took forever. Every time I tried to sight, I got a mouthful of salt water. I was not going forward very fast. It's demoralizing to see someone doing the backstroke and someone else doing a modified doggie-paddle IN FRONT OF YOU. Good news is that I never freaked out, never stopped swimming, had no problem swimming the distance...I was just god awful sloooow. But, apparently there were others even slower than me. Huh. And, I cut my toe on some clam shells getting out of the water. It hurt. Swim time = 1.2 miles -52:57:00

Bike
The bike was billed as "flat and fast" although I have come to learn that people's definitions of words like "flat" "fast" "rolling" and "hilly" vary greatly. ... the course was pretty flat though. Without the wind, it would have been perfect. The course was an out and back. Going BACK over the bridge + headwind = yuck. Headwinds in general kind of suck. You feel like you are pedaling normally, same amount of effort... and then look at the bike computer which reads 13 mph. wtf? During the bike I thought about how long 112 mi was on a bike (or, um, in a car). When I saw the bike dismount I was elated. So was my butt. A little disappointed with my overall bike time...probably could have pushed a little harder. Oh well. Also, sunscreen on my back would have been great.. I am still in pain from the sun burn I got...Bike time = 56 miles - 3:27:04/16.2 mph.

Run
I am always so so happy to start the run. Running is my first love and, unlike the bike, I can pass and am not too often passed (plus, those fast guys on the bike are already way ahead of me. Or, well, finished). Starting the run is always a big of a downer though... so happy to be done with the swim and the bike but it's daunting to have 13.1 mi to run.This was my least favorite run course for a half-iron race. It was four laps around Moody Gardens (not scenic even though it sounds that way) which means you had to pass the finish line 3 times before you could actually cross it. Four laps that made you dizzy and completely disorientated!! Yeeesh... they need a better run course!!! They have so many great places they could take us but they wind us around and around. I felt like cattle being herded through a maze. No shade either! I started out waaay to fast. By the last lap, I was so ready to be done. Bonked a little on the last lap, but overall was pretty happy with my run time. Wanted to be a little faster to make up some of the time I lost on the swim, but I left it all out there. Run time = 1:39:42/7:37 pace.

Finish
I ran the last mile hard and saw my watch turn to 6:00:00 when I was still a 1/2 mile away from the finish. At that point I played the whatif game (whatif I had pushed harder on the bike, whatif I didn't have such a shitty swim) but I tried to push it out of my head and finish strong. Total finish time was 70.3 miles in 6:04:58.

Post race thoughts:
Conflicted. .. I miss my goal here by 5 min - but still have my second best half-iron time - and I feel meh. That's how I feel - meh. I had a pretty good race - a crappy swim but a pretty solid bike (for me) and run - and I feel meh. I start comparing myself to others. I start to think I need to work harder, but then I realize I am working as hard as I can. And, then I remember something Dan's grandma said in a letter we got from her a few weeks ago: "A Champion is someone who does their best." And, I did my best.

anyhow, onward and upward to IM C'ouer D'Alene.

I Survived Lonestar 70.3 (the short version)

Hi folks. I'm back from Galveston a bit sore, sunburned and chafed. I completed the half-ironman in 6:04:58. Not my best half-iron time, but not my worse. I have a lot to say about this race, but a full race report will have to wait until another day. I'm in charge of our Fishing Derby for work this Saturday, and since I've been focusing solely on everything Ironman related, I'm very much behind the ball on planning this event. Eek! Now it's crunch time, so I will not have time to blog about my triathlon adventure today. Stay tuned....and a bit of advice as my stress level is rising: procrastination is never good.

Nonstop

For a rest week, I'm definitely not getting much rest. My training volume is low this week because of the half-ironman on Sunday, but I feel like I've been going nonstop. This is partly due to Dan being out of town, so I have full-time dog duty (yes, perhaps if we did not treat our dogs like humans, this would not be such a stressful task). I'm not complaining, it's just interesting to feel so busy on a light week. I always feel like I need more hours in the day.

I think I am going to take tomorrow off of work to catch up on some must-do's before I leave for Galveston on Saturday. I'm trying to be very careful with my vacation since I'll be taking five days off for C'ouer D'Alene, but I have to work most of the day next Saturday, so it will all even out and I can use that comp time to make up for being off tomorrow. I have a hole in my wetsuit that I need to get patched before Sunday. Which means going all the way downtown to get this taken care of. I need to somewhat clean our disaster of the house before Dan's dad gets here Saturday to stay with the dogs. I need to return library books that are way overdue. I need to pack. I need to do laundry. Go to the grocery store. All the little things that I haven't seemed to get done this week.

I think I'll try to sleep in a little (until like 7 am) tomorrow (yeah right, the dogs will wake me up at 5:30 am at the latest), hop on my bike for an hour or so, hit the pool for one last swim, then start attacking my to-do list. That's the plan anyways. I love that I always end up using vacation time to a) workout and b) take care of chores/run errands. Please note the sarcasm in that last statement.

:)

The tortoise

It’s funny. Or maybe not. My workout dictates my mood. And it’s hard to shake when it’s bad. My swim last night did not go well (although I did keep all my teeth in tact and escaped without any bruises). My swim was just slow. Slower than every single time I did that race last year. And, it's frustrating. Especially since I have been working so so hard on my swimming. My run was the fastest it's ever been for that race. How is it that my running keeps getting faster and everything else slower? The thing is that I felt like I was swimming well. I have no problem covering the distance. In fact in true Ironman fashion, I swam two extra loops of the lake after the race was over.

Then I look at the results this morning and saw my swim time. This puts me in a very bad mood. The bad mood puts me into a bit of a panic. And the panic exacerbates my bad mood.

Then I remember that this was only my second open water swim of the season and that this preparation is just that, preparation. The harder it is now, the easier it will feel race day. I remind my type A self that I am not going to be good at everything.

I’m reminding myself today that there will be good workouts and bad workouts, and I can’t let the bad ones mess with my head.

Swimming With the Fishes

First, a big congrats to everyone who ran Boston yesterday! Wish I could have been there. What a magical experience that race is.

Tonight is the first Splash & Dash of the season. One of the reasons why I love the Austin area is events like these. Put on by a local bike shop, these races are held once a month from April - September and consist of a 750 m open water swim, followed by a 2 mi run. They are only $10 and are chip timed with food afterwards. Great for triathlon training.

There are some fasties at these races. Like professional triathletes. Before they start the swim, race organizers always ask that participants seed themselves in the water according to ability. Read: If you're a fast swimmer, then get to the front. If you're slow, then get to the back. At these events, I'm usually middle to back of the pack swimmer, so I always seed myself accordingly, to the back. I have no desire to get swam over and get in the way of the fasties.

I received the following email from my coach yesterday. I have highlighted the parts that nearly gave me a panic attack:

Also, if for some reason I do not see you tomorrow before the S&D... I really want you to start in the very front row on the swim. I do not want you to try and sprint the swim but I want you to swim under control the first 200-300m. I want you to try and settle yourself as people are bumping, kicking and trying to swim over you. YOU WILL NOT DROWN!!! This is a very safe enviroment for you to get put into this position and to practice staying in control of your body and mind. There will be 2-3x in Galveston & 10x the amount of people at CDA. You need to create space - Make your body wide with strong kicks if someone is on your feet and wide elbows on your strokes. Then control to know when to stay on someone's feet (Draft) and to know when you just need to swim around them as they are too slow. After the first white platform things start to spread out at S&D so you will only have a short time to practice in this enviroment. Take advantage of it.

Um....what? You want me to start in the front row? So, I can practice getting kicked, swam over and trampled on by super fast men (and women) who will probably be cursing me for being super slow and in their way? Um....okay.

Because I know he's right, and I need to practice this for the 2,000+ mass start swim at CdA, I will do it. I need to get out of my comfort zone, and that is what this process is all about. But, I will not be happy if I exit the water with a black eye and missing a few teeth...

Editor's note: I did not realize when I signed up for an Ironman that it was a mass swim start. I assumed it was a wave start, like other triathlons. Suprise!

I rode 104 miles, and am still alive to tell about it.

Happy Monday! That's right folks, it's all rainbows, sparkles and sunshine around these parts today - rare for a Monday, I know - but, I'm still on cloud 9 from surviving yesterday's ride, and an overall good training weekend.

Yesterday was my first 100 mile ride, which I was doing in San Antonio (Fiesta Wildflower ride). I was really nervous/dreading this ride because I was really scared that I was not going to be able to complete the distance without supreme discomfort, or without throwing my bike into oncoming traffic out of frustration. However, much to my delight, neither was the case, and I actually enjoyed the ride (expect for the part about it taking up my entire day). First, and what I attribute much to my experience yesterday, was that I got my bike re-fit properly - my seat was too low, and my aerobars were not on correctly. These adjustments made a world of difference, and I was able to ride in the aero position for pretty much the entire ride. A big thank you to Dorothy & Keith for pointing out that my bike needed to be readjusted. The course was windy, windy, windy BUT it did not rain, so thank you mother nature for cooperating.

Per my coach's instructions "not to dilly dally" I tried to treat the ride like a race and only stop when absolutely necessary - which was twice - once to pee, and once to refill my water bottle/grab 1/2 a pb&j sandwich. I rode with a couple different groups of people, but would lose some when they stopped at rest stops, so I kept going and would work to catch another group ahead of me. By the end, I was actually passing people (this never happens). I was so pumped that I was going to 1) finish the distance and 2) actually felt great that the last 15 miles or so I sang. Out loud. Mostly "Eye of the Tiger." I just kept going and thought - not for the first time - the faster I go, the sooner I can get off. Oddly enough, the end snuck up on me ! I saw the park and went left into the "bike finish" lane. yay !!

This ride was a huge confidence builder for me mentally. A few more 100 mile practice rides before Ironman CdA, and I'll be good to go!

Big training week for me last week. Will taper somewhat with reduced volume this week with the Lonestar 70.3 on Sunday!

Last weeks' totals:
Swim - 11,600 yds
Bike - 149.30 miles
Run - 45.10 miles

An Open Letter: Dear Mother Nature

Dear Mother Nature,

I am going to go ahead and get right to the point here because I know you are super busy with all kinds of significant natural phenomena, and I have some work to do. Clearly, we are pretty much equally pressed for time. So here goes:

Are you going to be sending us some summer weather this year, or what?

I mean, earlier in the week was NICE and all...but the weather report said it is going to be stormy and rainy for the foreseeable future. And by foreseeable future, I mean the weekend. And if I might direct your attention to the calendar hanging in my kitchen, it is almost MAY. This usually means warmth, sun, and short sleeves! What you are giving us is rain, flooding, and rain boots. And frankly, I think it is CRAP.

I really don't mean to complain. And I don't mean to be unappreciative of the pretty rainbows and whatnot. But I have an 100 mile bike ride to do Sunday, and an open water swim to do tomorrow, and I think it is time for you to stop Twittering or Facebooking or whatever it is you are so preoccupied with, and get me some SUN already. Would you want to ride 100 miles in the pouring rain? I didn't think so.

Take some pride in your work, woman!

Tired of my Damn Umbrella,
Erin

Three Things Thursday

1. Training is going well this week. I'm 73 days out from race day. And, I've decided to really enjoy every minute of it! Enjoy the 6 hour bike rides, the early morning swims, the trainer sessions, the long runs, the short runs I squeeze in before work or at lunch, the swims I finish as the lifeguard closes the pool, the runs in the rain/ heat/ cold, the endless trips to the bike shop to pick up body glide/ GU/ CO2 carts/ tubes. The Ironman journey really is unique, and as much as I complain, I know I'll miss it once it's over.
   
   
2. I am really appreciative/honored/humbled by all the support, praise, and encouragement I've received from my running group friends and Daily Mile friends (many of whom I've never even met). It has been amazing. Thanks again for all of the love and support as I find my way through this journey. Just. Thanks.
   
   
3. I've been asked this question several times lately: "What's next?" "Will you do another Ironman?" To be honest, I do not know. Since the Ironman experience is still an "unknown" to me, it's hard to say. Knowing myself, probably. But, not in 2011. After the Ironman, I will finish out my summer with shorter triathlons - sprint and Olympics - then turn my focus back over to primarily running in 2011. I will focus on the Goofy Challenge (half marathon + marathon) in January 2011, and then the Boston Marathon again in April 2011. I'm also thinking about doing an ultra marathon - maybe the JFK 50-miler since it would take me back "home" to race. We'll see...
   

Wordless Wednesday: Hungry, Hungry Hippo Edition

My desk at work today. Before you refer to me as tubby tubby 2x4, it's in preparation for my three workouts today. So there. Don't judge.

I made the paper (in small print)

Guess what? I'm famous! not really.
Come to find out, I made the Austin American Statesman yesterday. well, my name did. no picture.

My co-worker brought me a copy of the Statesman which had a section about Sunday's Capitol 10K race. They listed the top ten finishers in each age category and somehow my name managed to squeeze itself in there amidst all of the fasties.

This is a picture capturing the start line of the race. Kinda Cool.

Top 10 age group finishers

There I am under Women 30-34! great quality picture, I know.

Anyway, I am sure by now my fame is easily forgotten. not that anyone ever cared. except my mom. thank you mom.

On a good note, I am feeling much, much better today. I attribute my stomach ache to half a very big bag of cheetos that I ate after the race Sunday.

Carry on.

Hello Monday

Today is Monday-- in case some of you did not know. My stomach hurts (hopefully just from something I ate and not a stomach bug) and everything I eat comes out the other end which is a whole lotta fun. not. sorry, too much info, I know. I did not sleep well because of this, and my husband snored like a freight train. Usually I send him into another room when this happens, but his dad is currently occupying the guest room so I just elbowed in the ribs until he stopped.
Luckily, Mondays are always really light training days for me, so I can take my said grumpiness straight home at 5 pm.

I had a good weekend of training this weekend, which mentally I needed. Rode 61 (hilly and windy) miles on Saturday, followed by a 30 min run. The group I rode with what out of my league and put me out of my comfort zone, and so I had to work my butt off to keep up with them. As much as I hated it at the time, I know it was good for me.

Sunday was the Capitol 10,000 (10K), which is a huge race in downtown Austin (20,000+ runners) that Dan and I run every year. I wasn't sure how I was going to do in this race after Saturday's ride. I woke up with some soreness, lathered myself in bengay (Dan hated me for that) and we headed to the race. I found my coach friend, Shawn, and lined up with him. We ran together the entire race (he got me by 4 seconds at the end, dang it), but I knew if I could keep him in sight I would be on track for a good race. Last year, I ran the race in 45:17...this year I crossed the finish line in 42:04. I was very, very happy with my run. Although my legs never felt like they loosed up, I was fine cardiovasicully and just tried to hold a steady pace. I beat Dan by ten minutes (but love you), which he blames on the car key I made him carry.

Sunday, I have my first 100 ride, which I will be doing in San Antonio. 100 miles on the bike. Oh my god. I am starting to mentally prepare myself now...ahhhhhhhh.

Also - I am incredibly grateful for all of my friends and family. I wish that I had twice as many hours in the day so that I could talk to everyone and keep them filled in. I think about you on the trainer, in the pool and on my runs. Thank you.

Thursday Thoughts

• I came into work today feeling great. Just finished a hard workout, ate a nice breakfast, walked my dogs - feeling awesome. Decided to continue my good mood by playing some pump-you-up lets-start-the-workday rap music. Eminem, to be specific. Apparently, not everyone appreciates Slim Shady, nor do they care to wake up to his lyrics at 8 am. Oops.
  
  
• We did 50 push ups at run group. My arms hurt. Ouch.
  
  
• I swam a hard workout at lunch. Now, my arms really hurt.
  
  
• Had a good ride last night - 30 miles in Cedar Park with friends. These are friends that I met on the internet. Dan think I am weird, and it is creepy that I make friends on the internet. I told him he needs all of the friends he can get, so he should try it. Let me clarify though about my internet friends: I met them on Daily Mile, which is a site like Facebook for runners, cyclists and triathletes. Also, most of my new friends are actually "friends of friends."
  
  
• My coach/friend is making me ride with him on Saturday. 60 hilly miles. He is (way) faster than me, and I know I am going to have to work my butt off to hang with him on the ride. He says I need to get out of my comfort zone. This is true. I still don't want to do it. But, I am going to put my big girl panties on and do my best.
  
  
• Sunday Dan and I are running in the Capitol 10K in Austin. One of my favorite races!
  
  
• No more workouts today, and tonight I have a dinner date with Dan. Can't wait!
  
  
• I think my sweet Miss Lulu is taking after her momma and is going to be a runner. She has become quite a speedy runner on our walks (which turn into runs). I may start taking her out for short runs with me and see how she handles it. It must be the bloodhound in her, because Flash (pure basset) is slow as a turtle.
  
  
• I was looking at my calendar and I have ZERO free weekends until July. And even then, I only have 2 free weekends. I'm either racing/organized bike ride or swim/working. Crazy.
  
  

P.S. (On today's episode of Hoarders...)

On today's episode of Hoarders I present: my office desk.

A Matter of Perspective

I had a shorter workout on schedule this morning, so I was able to "sleep in" until 5:30 am this morning which was glorious. It's funny how things change, and how I now consider sleeping until 5:30 am to be sleeping in. It's all a matter of perspective I guess. The extra 45 minutes of sleep was great and just what I needed. I turned the lights out at 8:30 pm last night and was out for the count. Dan had gone out, and I usually wake up when he comes home because the dogs will bark when someone comes in the house, and generally, I'm just a light sleeper. I did not hear a thing or move an inch until I woke up at 4 am to use the bathroom. It was so nice to get a good night's sleep!

Tomorrow morning: back to the normal schedule. Hello, 4:45 am!!!

March is Over + 28 things

Big training week last week.

swim> 10,500 yards
bike> 87 miles
run> 60 miles

No wonder I'm tired.

and now, in honor of being 82 (!) days out from IM C'ouer D'Alene, here are 28 thoughts (pretty sure I'd lose your attention if I listed 82 things. You're welcome):

1. Run group this morning: 9 miles with a speed workout of 800 repeats. Couldn't wake up this morning and felt like cutting it short, but I am the most stubborn person on earth so I got through it.
2. Still have a swim and bike workout left to do today.
3. Still not comfortable changing flats. crap.
4. Need to buy compression socks.
5. My house needs to be cleaned. Will save this for Ironman taper madness so I have something to do.
6.Had my first Ironman dream last night. In my dream, they decided not to allow wetsuits for the swim. Let's hope this doesn't become reality (we all know how much I love swimming in cold water).
7. Getting REALLY REALLY excited.
8. Riding my first "century ride" (100 miles) next Sunday at the Fiesta Wildflower ride in San Antonio.
9. I wonder how much money I've spent on Ironman related things over the past few months. I'd prefer not to tally it up...
10. No injuries and that is always good.
11. Excited and extremely grateful that my parents, brother and his girlfriend (who hasn't even met me) will be making the trip to cheer me on in C'oeur D'Alene.
12. Rode 57 miles on Saturday and ran 11 all by myself and actually didn't mind it.
13. Have eaten more food in the last few months than I have in my life...
14. Dan's dad is going to come stay with my furbabies (dogs) while we're gone. Phew.
15. Currently should be working.
16. Need to figure out how to get my Ironman Timex watch to beep every 12 minutes.
17. Headed to Galveston at the end of April for a half-ironman. Going with Karen sans husbands. Will be a nice girls trip. It seems crazy to me that I once couldn't fathom a half-ironman, but now not worried at all about completing the distance (it will be my fourth. nuts).
18. Signed Dan & I up for the Couples triathlon in July. We're team Flash & Lulu.
19. Going to start riding on Wednesday evenings with a group out of Cedar Park. Need to be on my bike at least 3x per week at the minimum.
20. Need to buy new running shoes again.
21. Confirmed our condo, my bike transportation and air fare for C'ouer D'Alene. weehoooo!
22. Still on the fence about an mDot tat.
23. Not on the fence about the mDot gear I will be purchasing after the Ironman. I already told the hubs we need to start saving up.
24. Holy eff I'm really going to do an Ironman.
25. I wonder if I going to miss this process when it's over.
26. All of the swimming and running has really improved my running. Too bad it doesn't work both ways.
27. what will I do with all of my free time after the race?
28. EIGHTY! TWO! DAYS!

Definitely a Monday...

I know I've been MIA around the blogosphere again lately....and, I was planning to sit down this morning and blog...but unfortunately work is getting in the way of my blogging (not cool, I know!). So, a full blog update is not going to happen today. In the meantime, I am in search of 1,000 catfish, since the US Fish & Wildlife department just backed out for the our Fishing Derby this year. They were going to donate the fish. Question: do you think people would complain if we had a fishing derby without fish??