In the final days before you race an Ironman it is essential that you keep a few things in mind.
Ironman essence – Gratitude
The Ironman hype in the final week before race day often makes you forget the reason you are racing in the first place. Excitement is running high. Triathletes are everywhere, discussing race goals.
This is a good time to remind yourself why you started in this sport. It is very likely you were attracted to triathlon, Ironman, because of the lifestyle it provides you; its health benefits; the opportunity to visit the great places around the world where triathlons are held; and for the unique friendships that develop between athletes.
Ironman is a way to celebrate life: it is a gift to the have time, the health and the finances to take part in such a unique event.
Remind yourself of the above in race week and try to focus less on your splits in each discipline, age-group placing or Kona slots: those are only consequences of a great race execution, based on your fitness and mindset.
Setting goals
Crossing the finish line is always at the top of the list.
Then you have secondary goals that are usually linked to finish times and/or improving splits in each discipline.
Be careful how you set them and what benchmark you use. Always keep in mind that race day conditions are unique and hard, if not impossible, to predict. If you want to improve your finish time of the previous year, or from another other race, you have to take into account that the conditions such as wind, temperature and currents will most likely be different.
Another problem with predicting finish times, especially for first-timers, is using times done in training: unless you have done an Ironman simulation it is impossible to know how you will react during the final half of the Ironman run. The result window is massive: you might have a solid day and run those 21km in 100 minutes or less, or if you may get cramps and take 3 hours, or more.
Confidence
Maintaining confidence in your training and race strategy in the final days before Ironman can be a challenge. As soon as you arrive at the race venue you bump into all those sponsored athletes walking around in and with the latest equipment, showing off their lean and vascular legs. Such sights can be quite intimidating to the first timer or beginner athlete.
Remember: before a race everyone looks like a champion – don’t let this hurt your confidence.
Another common thought on race week is: “I should have trained harder!”
You have already done the best you could. Perhaps you had to take a week off training due to work, family or health issues but those are situations we all face. Every single triathlete on the startline of an Ironman had to overcome some sort of challenge during their preparation so don’t worry, you are not alone.
Be realistic
One of the biggest differences between the short races and Ironman is that the latter provides a better opportunity for the athlete to perform according to ability. Never forget this on race day. If you are not feeling great in the swim or the early stages of the bike, stay calm: there is a long day ahead and you will have the opportunity to get into your rhythm as the race progresses.
Other examples are a slow transition or a flat tire: unlike the short course events where your race would be over due to those setbacks, in Ironman you can still catch up on the lost time.
There is no such a thing as having a great race based on experience or “luck”. At best you minimize potential problems by going under-trained into an Ironman but no miracle will happen. Your best choice is to adjust your goals and expectations to avoid frustration.
Rational vs Emotional
Keep your emotions in check on race day: don’t let them take over your race strategy. Adrenalin released in the first few hours of the race, with the type-A and competitive personality of each triathlete, plus the fact that everyone is well-rested and tapered is a perfect recipe for disaster.
The main mistakes happen in the cycling leg, especially during the first hours, when athletes are excited and forget a very long day is only just beginning. As a result, people start to race each other or just ignore their nutrition plan.
Another common mistake that results in an emotional, rather than a rational, approach is after a setback such as a flat tire or a penalty is that athletes tend to “make up for it”. Don’t. Stay calm and be patient in those situations instead. Ironman is a long race and you can slowly, over the next hours, catch up on the missed minutes. Please do not try to do it within the next 60 minutes.
Positive attitude
It takes between 8 and 17 hours to finish an Ironman. That is a lot of time for everything to go as planned, especially considering the myriad of factors the athlete can’t control. It is very likely that something will go “wrong” at some stage during the race.
After I wrote an article about the mental attitude towards the race day challenge last year, several athletes came to talk to me after finishing their Ironman and mentioned that already in the swim leg their race wasn’t going as planned: they couldn’t see the buoys and went off course.
Ironman is all about overcoming obstacles. The challenges start with your training routine, how you manage your work and family commitments with those long sessions that take a lot of your time and energy. The training is 90% of the Ironman experience and is the biggest challenge. Race day is only the celebration of getting to the start line. You will still be tested during the event, be it physically or logistically, but with your Ironman determination you will find a solution and make it to the finish line.
OK, first of all, let’s just get this out of the way – look at this:
OK, I know that you can’t really read this. But you can “kinda sorta see” the hills. Suffice it to say that the highest percentage was FOURTEEN percent. Yes, a 14% grade.
Yo. Mama.
Here is actually a URL that shows the route – though the elevation map somehow spreads out and “averages” the elevations, so nothing looks as high. Hardie-har-har.
But I get ahead of myself. I haven’t blogged in a while. Before this, on Saturday (a week before this ride), Mentor Margaret and Swim Coach Sedonia and I did a 16 mile rolling hill run in Napa, which was great. I wound up running a lot harder than my set V-DOT (we ran at average 11 minutes/mile), but I felt OK about it because we did a 5 minute run/1 minute walk routine. I’m definitely going to use that during the Ironman. I used the Infinit I had gotten (more on that below) and it worked out well, as did running in a cycling jersey instead of a running shirt with a belt to hold a bottle. The next day (Sunday) was “Honey Do” day for me – Herbert had a LOT of things for me to do around the house, and so we got those done; Monday he and I did the 75 mile ride that was on the schedule. We went from home out Lincoln to the Marin Metric Century course, but we didn’t turn immediately right at Nicasio Lake – we turned left first (so heading out towards Pt Reyes), to Sir Francis Drake Blvd., then turned around and rode back and then up and over to the Cheese Factory. Instead of doing the big hill at Walker Creek, we turned left (away from the hill) and had a really lovely ride on the rolling hills out that direction, up to and a bit past Walker Creek Ranch. Then we turned around and came back out Hicks Valley Road and rode on back. Big Rock and the hill “up and over” to the Cheese Factory were not pleasant, but they were do-able. I did the whole ride on Infinit and was pretty confident I had FINALLY found the energy/salt/hydration solution for me. Tuesday I went running with my brother Jeff out in Ross around Lake Lagunitas (70 minute run) – it was great to catch up. There were some seriously steep spots and Jeff is an a-c-e runner, but he was patient with me when I had to walk or just jog. It was so great and a gorgeous day. Wednesday I did the spin workout on Angeline – Thursday I was out with Les, Jen and Melissa to Crown Road in Ross – which looks “over towards” Lake Lagunitas (Jeff had even actually pointed Crown Road out to me on our run, across the valley). We did a 60 minute run, and Melissa looked 1000% better since she had been able to kick her sinus infection. I had so much to do Friday I didn’t get a workout in – bad me – but I also knew that Saturday was going to be a killer! So that’s a week without swimming which is NOT good, since I am in Dallas this week and there is no pool to be “had.”
I spent Friday night at Maria M-Dot’s over in the East Bay so that I wouldn’t have to get up at an INSANE hour to get on the road by 6:30 a.m. as scheduled. We got up at 4:30 a.m., mixed nutrition, puttered around a bit, and pasted on our snazzy Safeway tattoos. (I had gotten a sheet of these for the Clear Lake 3/4 Iron, and found them when packing. I picked a little Tahitian design, Maria picked this “tat” which means “DREAM.”)
Then we headed on over to meet the “usual suspects” – Carol, Patti, Susie, Janice, Mel, Tiffany, Dana, Marina, Kathryn, Paula, Mary (I think that’s it) in Heather Farms Park.
We were a bit later than we expected (I was dragging, I admit it), and so what with all the to-ing and fro-ing (and pottying!) that generally needs to take place before a ride, Maria and I wound up being about 10 minutes behind the main “pack” of the Earlybirds.
We got on the road after a few false turns, and headed out through Mt. Diablo State Park. I have never actually been to Mt. Diablo, and certainly don’t know the East Bay. I had admitted to Maria driving over that I was scared of this. Even more scared than I’d been for any of the other workouts. This was going to be a bear – Three Bears, actually! – and that’s not the least of it…8,732 vertical feet of climbing including Grizzly Peak, The 3 Bears, Pig Farm, Reliez Valley Road, Tice Valley Road – “oh and” Mount Diablo and Skyline Blvd in Berkeley/Oakland.
I had decided to do the ride solely using Infinit, the new beverage that I had had made up on my training mate Missy’s suggestion. I believe I’ve mentioned it before – it contains all the calories, salts, etc. that you need – and they pride themselves that the “osmolality” of the drink is such that it won’t pull water OUT OF your system to “dilute” it. Apparently that’s a real problem with some energy drinks – if the “osmolality” is over 300 (parts of drink mix per x ml of water), your body can’t digest it without sucking water OUT of your system. It’s just simple Osmosis like High School Biology. Many of us mix “power bottles” of mix with Carbopro, energy beverage, etc. in them, then suck down water “as well,” but if you don’t drink enough water to “dilute” the osmolality of the “power bottle” this can happen, leading to gastric upset. I was hoping that this would work (I had my Bento Box full of Thermolytes, GU, etc. “just in case” it did NOT).
the "lei" around my neck is a sweat headband I forgot to put up and under my helmet. Duh!
We got to the gate at Mt. Diablo and though Maria and I had talked about how nice it would be to ride together, she was a bit slower that morning than it’s comfortable for me to go and so with waves and Atta Girls we parted. She had said Mt. Diablo wasn’t that bad (Coach Mike calls it “relentless”) – but I have to disagree – I think it was brutal. And right at the beginning! I am sorry at times like this I do not ride in the East Bay, as the East Bay contingent of our team goes out midweek and “tackles” this hill. I wish that our North Bay cadre lived closer, and had that sort of thing set up. I think that would really help me. I don’t like to ride alone, and so I wind up spinning most of the time instead of getting out and doing hills, etc.
I wound up catching up with Dana after a bit, and she said she wasn’t feeling that great. After a couple turns I ran into Tiffany and Carol, then at a little ranger station before the Junction I ran into Janice. I pulled over to have a stretch, and she had me fill her Aerobottle – no way to get water in there when it’s all strapped down on the aerobars, and her “other” water bottle was filled with energy drink! I nearly poured MY energy drink into her bottle, but was smart enough to take a swig first (Infinit is clear). I put my water into hers, then filled up my bottle at the drinking fountain. We rolled up Janice’s jacket as small as we could, and I stuffed it into her back pocket; with the obligatory “potty break” we set off again.
I got to the Junction and headed down South Gate road, which was a blessed relief after all the climbing. At the end of the road though – WOAH! – the road is SO BAD! I managed to lose my GU bullet, which flew off (Maria lost her Garmin, but luckily was able to find it and it was OK). I am not sure I have EVER seen a road that bad, including the bad bit in Clear Lake.
Melissa and me
I rode solo for quite some time, and in fact missed the first TNT water stop at Shannon Park. I’m not sure how I missed it – but when I took out the typed directions and looked at where I was, I was a couple turns past it. Somewhere along the way I passed Marina and Mel – Melissa had gotten her FIRST flat (in like 6 YEARS of cycling!) and was changing it. I asked if they were OK and they said they were – she had the tire off – but come to find out that after she got the new tube seated, etc. she didn’t have the right CO2 cartridges! I guess that’s how we all learn these things! (I have now had PLENTY of flats – especially as if H gets one he has me change it, too, for “practice.” On the 75 mile ride, he got a back-wheel flat RIGHT at a spot I had had TWO flats about 4 months previously. Something is up there.)
I did finally see a TNT stop where Dana’s wife Ro was womanning a station. That was good because it was 3 hours in and time for me to juggle getting the Infinit mix/more water/etc. into my Camelbak. I had made a 3 hour “concentrated” bottle and one of just plain water, and those were on my bike. Ro helped me top off the Camelbak with more water (and ice), and then I had another 3 hours’ worth of powder that I made another concentrated bottle with, plus the other bottle of water. After a potty break (which made me feel I was doing well with my hydration), I was off to climb up the hill from Ro’s car. I had seen someone taking off as I was coming into the stop. I had thought it was Paula, but after a bit of a ride I caught up, and it turned out to be Susie (Paula and Kathryn SMOKED the ride – I never even saw them). She stopped on the side of Dublin Grade and we shouted Atta Girls at each other, then off I went.
My hands/wrists were getting tired as was my right shoulder. Not sure “what up” with that – I had had Rand re-fit me with new handlebars after I had had SO much pain in the Wine Country Century (WCC), and everything had been going well until that day. I wasn’t sure what was up, but I decided that I would have to do what I had learned in the WCC – when I felt that I had to, I just pulled over and stretched my shoulder, my back, my neck. It felt like a little luxury, even though I generally wasn’t stopped for more than a minute. During one of these stops the “big guns” from the group that started at hour after us passed by – first Carolyn and Nate, then a bit later, Chris, BK, Jim, then Rocky, Sara, Josh, Tony, Nick, etc. As usual with our wonderful team, everyone wanted to be sure I was ok – “Just Stretchin’!” – and off they went.
There were some amazing and breathtaking views on Grizzly Peak Road and also Skyline Blvd. I have never been up that way, and it was magnificent. I was in a bit of a grumbly phase though along the way – the roads were a little bumpy, and my shoulder was hurting. There was also really no place to pull over and stop. I turned a corner and there was a big TNT stop and I saw all our “peeps” including Honoree Laura, the “fast folk” and Coach Dave. I had had a noise emanating from my bike that had actually made me pull over a couple times (I could never find it) but as I started to head out of the stop after topping up with water, I saw that my bike bottle looked odd. Turned out that my cage was almost rattled off! Coach Dave had the right tool, and so we tightened them right up. Oy! That would have been REALLY bad – losing the GU bottle wasn’t that much of a loss (as the Infinit was working), but dumping my water bottles (WITH the cages attached!) would NOT have been okay.
I rode with Les and Jen and Tony for a bit, as we were tackling the “bears.” We were on the middle “bear” (Mama?) – I think – the one with the false summit – when Jen Jay was there in her car around a corner. I was SO glad to see her. I was nearly out of water, and though I knew Meenu and Claudia were up ahead, I felt much better to be able to square my hydration away. Les and Jen caught up at that point and Les mentioned this was a “false” summit. That did not make me feel so great (laugh!)
I remember on “Papa” Bear, Simon pulled up alongside, and I was definitely feeling it. I could tell there was a car next to me, but I couldn’t even look up. It was all I could do to keep pedaling. Then I heard someone clapping and I looked slightly left, and realized it was Simon. He shouted “You’re more than 1/2 way up Papa Bear! You’re doing great!” and then off he went. (I wasn’t so sure I wanted to know there was still about 1/2 “to go” but I really appreciated the Atta Girl.)
Once I reached Meenu and Claudia’s “best TNT stop ever” (complete with butt’r, sunscreen, Meenu Bars, red vines, salt, chocolate, cold washcloths, what-have-you) I was on my way. I checked with them to see what was coming up, and they said “Yes, more hills, and of course Pig Farm.” I wasn’t exactly sure where that was. Somewhere along the way Bike Coach Nick and I had chatted (might have even been right there at the stop), and he asked me what my strategy was. I said that Pig Farm had “bitten” me twice – once on a training ride, and once on the Louie Tri. I had had to walk the bike up the hill. I knew that the highest I had gotten was to a “sign” that’s on the first of the “steeps” on the hill (it is steep, levels out for a second, then steep and steeper). My goal was to get past that sign – then I knew that I had done better than I had either of the other two times. I said that if I walked up it from there, I would still be satisfied, because I would have done better than ever before, AND would be 60 or so miles less “fresh” than those other 2 times, to boot!
Meenu and Claudia's rest stop "cafe"
I headed away from Meenu and Claudia’s stop (Nick had gone up off ahead), and was riding alone along the hills and dales of the countryside for a while. After a while, I saw a WALL of road ahead of me. I was really bummed – this looked nasty, and I wasn’t sure I could take it and Pig Farm too. I just geared down and started pedaling, but I got about 1/2 way up and I was exhausted. I realized that I could start up again after I had rested a bit (I had been practicing this “feat” of starting up again on an uphill), and so I rested, stretched, and then got back at it.
The top of the hill was REALLY steep, and as I was coming up to it at my snail’s pace I realized that there was someone with a TNT Jersey up there to the side. I got up to the top, and I saw it was Nick. The first words out of my mouth were: “Is Pig Farm harder than that?” Nick looked puzzled. “Harder than what?” “Harder than that climb. I don’t think I can do it.” “That was it.” “That was what?” “That was Pig Farm hill. You just did it.” “I WHAT?” Nick started laughing…”Yes that
Pig Farm hill
was it, you did it. I knew you’d said that you were going to be OK if you walked it and I saw you stop your bike, but you surprised me and got back on and finished it. You did it!” I slapped him a High 5 and could feel the adrenaline COURSING through me. I DID IT!
Interestingly, I wonder if I had KNOWN that it was Pig Farm, if (once past the sign that I wanted to pass) I would have “given up.” It’s a curious question – but one I don’t need to know the answer to!
I was PUMPED riding down from Pig Farm. I put the pedal to the metal and RACED down. Nick was right behind me and at one point he said “You have REALLY gotten to be such a good cyclist!” That made me feel AWESOME! Nick peeled off to join Jen and Les at another of Jen Jay’s impromptu water stops, but I just waved on by, and headed up the dreaded Reliez Valley Road. I had not anticipated that Muthah – and it was HARD. I asked Coach Mike after if we had done that in the Louie Tri (because we had done Pig Farm, of course) and he said no – we had peeled off on another route before hitting it. The funny thing is as I was on it, I thought that we MUST have done it on the Louie, so I was “determined” since (in my mind) I had done this months and months before (on my old bike) and hadn’t walked…ah, the Mind is so interesting. (On the Louie, I had only walked the Pig Farm part.) But of course we hadn’t done that at all. And boy, It SUCKED. But I persevered – and every now and again, stopped, and stretched. I can’t explain what a difference this made. And thinking I had “done this before” (on the Louie) and I “must just be more tired” because I was hitting it 70 or so miles into a ride. As I said, ah, the Mind…
Angeline, Ze Camelbak, and Moi
I rode along again, and ultimately wound up turning on Olympic (there was another TNT Stop there in the shade, but I didn’t need it), and then hit Tice Valley Road. For me, this was the final insult. (laugh!) It was REALLY HARD! I was an unhappy camper and really just SO DONE with hills already! I wound up missing the turn back onto the bike path trail when I was sooooo close to being back, but some passers-by helped me find it. At the first part of the bike trail the pavement was like moguls – honestly – they were big waves up/down/up/down/up/down. It was odd because you couldn’t really ‘see’ them because of the afternoon light, and so I wound up just going “Woah! Woah! Woah!” Luckily Nick met me about then and I followed him in – I say “luckily” because at one point the trail we were supposed to follow went “up and over” a bridge that went over the highway, and NO way would I have gone the right direction as there was another seemingly “better” trail to the side. Thanks Nick! You rock!
I got back to the Park, and I had 9:26 of full elapsed time, 8:38 of moving/riding time. I had only prepared “Nutrition” for 9 hours, but had been able to top up about 1/2 way through my final (third) Camelbak with water so I was fine. The Infinit worked like a champ, and I was able to sit down and lounge with the team (and stretch my aching right shoulder) and munch lumpia, Pringles, Meenu Bars, Coke, and the like!
After the last of us was in, we were off to Sports Basement for a 20% off spree (THANK YOU Sports Basement) and a team pizza-and-beer meeting. Then it was time to gather Maria up and drop her off, then get back home. I was nearly there and my tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks. I really dragged myself those last 3 miles of driving – and got home, showered, and hit the sack!!
The next day (Sunday) was supposed to be an Open Water Swim and a Run – I was set to go with Mel to meet a gang up to the Vineman course, but H was feeling a bit left behind so I texted her that I wasn’t going to be able to make it, and got back in bed. I woke up at NOON – no Herbert, sun streaming in! He “hadn’t wanted to wake me” and had taken off on Angeline for a ride around Paradise to Sausalito for brunch!
I cleaned the house a bit, and then prepared to be interviewed for SOC Lifestyles. We had such fun. They did the main “sit down” portion of the interview on Sunday, and then Monday (yesterday) we “simulated” an Ironman. I surprised Michelle (the presenter) with a few things – I had strung together a bunch of my scarves and held them across the path so that she could “break the tape” and presented her with an Ironman (coffee) visor…I had also gotten a TINY little girl pink bike with streamers, etc. and a huge white beach cruiser with a basket for her for the bike (after being very serious on camera about how “technical” and “important” the equipment was on the cycling portion) – then we all went out to swim at Aquatic Park. I had such a blast, and we just laughed and laughed. I hope that it comes out on the video.
We got out of the water at Aquatic Park with the usual post-open water/salt/bay swim “Oh So Sexy” look (yeah…and FILMED, too), and then I took them to Sports Basement (Michelle wanted some Injinji socks for her husband) and then they were off to the South Bay. I hightailed it home and Sue Bird was already there for the Goal/Manifestation Workshop that we were holding that evening. I jumped in the shower, warmed up, washed out the wetsuits, and then it was time to get the Workshop going. 4 of my teammates came, and I think we all really had a fantastic and profound experience. YAY! This morning, up at 6 a.m. to go sub at BNI at McInnes Park, catch up on emails from being off the computer for 4 days, write this blog (and you wondered why my blog posts are few and far between?), approve the draft of my new Fempowerment Playbook for “blue line” (draft) publication (we get one that we look at before it goes to full print), and today I think I will run. Tomorrow I have a MUCH needed massage in the morning, have some more time to “catch up” with things falling off my desk, then I have to pack for Dallas. I am leaving Thursday from Oakland airport at SIX so I have to get up around 3:00 – the plane takes OFF at 6:00 a.m.! I guess it’s long term parking for me – not a chance I can get a ride at that hour! Then in Dallas through Sunday at 10 p.m. I plan to run outside there (humidity, come and get me) and use the spin bikes in the Hyatt gym. They don’t have a big enough pool to make a difference, but I will take a suit anyway and maybe I can find a time to do some drills.
So – that’s my story and I’m stickin’ with it!
More You Know You’re Iron When’s from the weekend…
…when you take 20 lbs of ice to the tub with you and don’t even flinch. (M-Dot)
…when your cat drinks from your ice bath. (Kathryn)
…when you catch yourself talking about energy/nutrition and you sound like you’re part of an underground drug ring. As per an email from Maria: “I caught myself saying to Phil yesterday… ‘So you’re off the Cytomax now? How long has it been?’ ”
…when you can unlock your water bottle with your teeth while climbing up to Mt. Diablo Junction. (Melissa)
…when you go to the bar for a drink and realize all your money is in your bento box. (Nate)
…when you didn’t even REALIZE that THAT was Pig Farm! (me!)
This week we say goodbye to the June calendar page and move onto the July page. That’s right folks, some of you are ON YOUR LAST PAGE. And we have finally added our Canada and Louisville athletes to the “single digit weeks to race day” club. To quote the Grateful Dead, What a long strange trip it’s been!
This weekend was another one for the record books. And we are not just talking about the weather almanac here folks! We completed our first ever double/triple brick from the Yountville City Park and by all accounts it was a very successful day. Thanks to captain Les for coordinating the training day and working behind the scenes to ensure we had all the support we needed out there during the long and very hot experience. Huge props to Coach Sedonia for coordinating the delivery and execution of the Sandwiches. We heard more than a few “this is the best sandwich ever” comments. Also thanks to Mom & Pop “Yosh” for being the best darn transition area helpers EVER and Meenu, Mike, Simon, Laura, Jen Jay, Merla and Mike K. for the added support and smiles all day long, it was sometimes just what the doctor ordered.
On a special note, a few of you got a firsthand opportunity to meet our newest “Honoree”, a passerby who stopped to thank you for what you are doing since he was diagnosed with blood cancer only a week ago. In that moment when you guys were contemplating turning back a little early, he arrived to remind you that the journey is far from over and that you needed to keep pushing for a cure to the disease that until only a week ago was “someone else’s burden”. It’s moments like that which truly ring home our task at hand and how incredible you all are doing at fighting the good fight.
The 2X/3X brick workouts are not without their challenges. Many of you had “ah-ha” moments of self discovery about your nutrition/hydration plan and generally how your body responds in adverse conditions this weekend. A couple of you worked out the kinks in your bike set-up, had a crash course in blister management or learned a thing or two about the impact that heat has on your ability to absorb nutrients. All of these lessons will add to your ever deepening understanding of yourself and your abilities come race day. Make no mistake, we have said it over and over again. If this were easy, it would be called Plasticman, not Ironman. This is Ironman and it is hard, perhaps harder than you ever imagined. Some of you have overcome some pretty incredible physical and mental roadblocks to get where you are today and you should be very proud of yourselves. Nobody will think less of you because you didn’t complete every inch of this weekend’s brick workout due to injury or special circumstances. Nobody will think less of your if you do not make a cut-off or reach a particular time goal at your chosen event. Your success in reshaping your life, reaching for new milestones and becoming a more focused and centered human being is reward enough. We are Ironteam and there’s nothing and nobody that is going to take that from us. Only you can decide how you manage your circumstances on race day, but we know what kind of people you are, and that regardless of the outcome on race day, we know you will always be a member of an elite group of dedicated and truly exceptional people called Ironteam.
"speed dating" on November 7th, last year when we first met.
Let us step back from this moment in our time together and reflect a little bit about how far we have come. While we are not yet awaiting the starting gun for our event, we are very close. Everyone is now into single digits when counting the weeks until event day. Think back 34 weeks ago to that classroom in Berkeley when Simon had run-lovers and run-haters huddled in opposite corners of the room or when you were telling a complete stranger about the virtues of your favorite food or childhood memory during the modified speed dating session. There is not a single person among you that is even a shadow of your former self from that room at kick-off. The coaches looked over the room that day and saw a lot of scared faces, peppered with self doubt, fear and a whole lot of “what the Hell have I done”. Sure, there are lingering thoughts of doubt that creep in from time to time, but a vast majority of the time the thing you are doubting today is your limits. Some of you were a bit freaked out when we started mentioning the number of weeks until race day. Now we are hearing you plotting your course for that day, not how to make it go away. It just doesn’t get any more Iron than that.
The week ahead:
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: Swim (See calendar)
Bike – 90′ (TR-7 Pyramid) or hill repeats. Keeping with the hill climbing theme from June, we will continue the training opportunities in the far East Bay with a little twist this week. Endurance athlete and sports nutritionist, Matt Fitzgerald, will be speaking at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek starting at 7:00PM on Tuesday. If you would like to see Matt speak, there will be a group meeting at 5:15 to ride hill repeats together and be back in time for the start of Matt’s talk. If you would rather not attend Matt’s discussion, the regular meeting time of 6:30 is also good, consider it an athlete’s choice workout. Captain Tony will let you guys know his plans to a near east bay ride as well.
Wednesday: Brick (50’bike + 30’run @ IM Marathon pace) – If doing an outdoor bike ride, choose a mildly hilly course without a lot of climbing. Short, repeatable loops will work well too.
Stretch afterwards for 20′
Thursday: Run & Stretch (See calendar for workouts and past coaches emails for prior guidelines for stretching)
Our first ironteam photo on November 7th. Lots fewer now!
IronMel’s blog about the Brick starts with the old Commodores song, ‘She’s a BRICK….HOUSE…She’s Mighty Mighty….Jus’ Lettin’ It ALL Hang Out…’ – I can’t get that out of my mind now, so I have just downloaded it from iTunes and added it to my “Soundtrack” tape for the Ironman.
A “brick” is a combination of two sports right in a row (usually, Bike and Run, hence the joke that B-R-Ick = B(ike) R(un) Ick!) Today it was a double brick for us IMC and IML’ers (so bike/run/bike run) – for Vineman, which is a month sooner, it was a Triple.
But back to songs. Iron Maria found the greatest blog. She shared it with me – it’s a gal who did IM Brazil. One of the things this gal mentioned was having 5 “go to” songs for when things got tough during the race. Maria and I have been bandying about what songs we are going to include – we both have Journey’s “Any Way You Like It” and ZZ Top’s “La Grange” – I have a very quirky list in fact which I will winnow down as the event approaches – but this Commodores song is on it as of now. I also ordered the Eagles Greatest Hits Vol. 1 from half.com for 50 cents which just arrived today – nothing like songs from high school (Take It To The Limit;Desperado) to get me howling away tunelessly as I bike along…
I picked up Mel at her house at 6:30 a.m. and off we went to Yountville – though I had had to return home not once but TWICE for things I had forgotten for the workout. The next day I received my checklist from my trusty elance.com Virtual Assistant Fiona from Connemara, Ireland – so I will not be stuck again! I sent Fiona all the checklists I had found, had, been given, etc. with respect to equipment/strategies/etc. for doing an Ironman, and she prioritized everything and put it into one “uberlist” for a shockingly low cost. Fiona Is A Goddess. It’s fantastic. If you want it, email me – I’m not putting this out for every Tom, Dick and Harriet. Besides, then I know that you’re reading my blog…
team bike to run transition in Yountville Park
Mel had been sick, which sucked. I had the unenviable task of telling her that it was going to be in the 90s to possibly 100 degrees in Yountville – she hadn’t watched the news all week, and so that was a shockeroo. I was trying out my new Personal Iron Mix from Infinit Nutrition. (DO NOT ORDER YET if you are thinking about it – I’m trying to get an Affiliate deal so that I can get anyone who orders it a discount.) There are “sliders” on the Infinit Nutrition website where you can customize your own energy “brew” – and a “real person” will go over it with you as well. Since it’s supposed to replace ALL your needs (salt tabs, carbs, etc.), it is WAY cheaper than the alternatives. Also, if the mix is “wrong” they will re-make it for you after you report what didn’t work for you. I have tried the new Ironman drink that they are now using on Ironman-sanctioned courses – it’s from PowerBar – and it DOES NOT work for me. Probably because of the Fructose. I was super bummed they moved from the new Gatorade formulation, which has neither fructose nor HFCS. Ah well.
We got to Yountville, set up our transition areas, and with a “GO” from Coach Dave (who was on crutches and Vicodin from knee surgery that week – big smile on his face…good drugs!) we were off. We went through the Town of Yountville, and I started feeling very “wary” – these are fairly narrow streets and I KNEW that the cars were probably 90% tourists…who would “door” you without even thinking about it. I wound up riding just about in the middle of the road, as did many of my Teammates.
We went under the Highway and then down a few streets, ultimately winding up on Dry Creek Road. Just past the highway underpass, I realized I had “mis-dressed” myself – something was whacky between Camelbak/jersey/sports bra. I pulled over (I was midpack), and the thing I SO LOVE about IronTeam is that I spent the next few minutes just saying “I’m Good! I’m Good! I’m Good!” because everyone slowed down and wanted to be sure I was OK. LOVE my teammates!
very first bike workout with the team in November '09
Once I had gotten myself “sorted” I was way-hay-hay at the back of the pack. I started out in this position at the beginning of our Adventure in Iron, back in November. As Marvelous Mentor Margaret always reminds me with a smile, I was the gal with a 25 year old steel frame bike with downtube shifters and pedal baskets, plastic Bell helmet of the same vintage, and my cotton sweats tucked into my white tube socks (and sneakers, not bike shoes) when we started. I’ve come a long way, bay-bee…
I slowly caught up to the pack, then just kept my speed and picked off folks. My goal was really just to keep to an 80-90 cadence and keep my heart rate in the middle of my Zone (155). I was sipping the Infinit, and a little scared as to “when” I would bonk just using it and no Thermalytes, GU, what-have-you. The day definitely started heating up as we headed out hilly Dry Creek Road.
I wound up riding with Marina a good part of this time. We made a pretty good cadence team. I did my “Look Patricia”s on her – including a wonderful patch of pink flowers in the sunbeams between some oak trees, and two huge metal dinosaur sculptures that were up a driveway on the route! We made it to 13 miles in an hour, and turned around. (The deal was 15 miles, or 2 hours, whichever came first.) We headed back, and caught up to Coach Les and tailed him on the way home. He turned left MILES before we thought we were to turn off Dry Creek – good thing we found him, Marina and I might have blithely ridden back to Marin!
running with Marina (I'm the purple one)
We changed from our jerseys, bike shoes, etc., loaded up with energy drink for the run, and headed out together. Coach Sedonia pointed out that I had my shirt on backwards – as I wear a fuel belt, that meant taking everything off and re-dressing myself. What WAS it with me and clothing…? This bit was to run for an hour or 5 miles, whichever came first.
Man, the day was really heating up by this point. Marina ran at my “slow run/trot” pace (I think it’s about 12 minutes/mile), and I kept saying “don’t forget I am only doing TWO of these, you have to do THREE.” I really liked having the company, but I didn’t want her to exhaust herself when I was running and biking with the knowledge that I only had to do TWO sets (Vineman folks had to do a Triple, Louisville a Double, because their race is a month before ours).
too hot to moo
We ran out for 1/2 hour – after commenting on the lovely herd of cows with One Big Bull on the side of the road (with crazy horns) – and met up with Maria, then turned around. We were shy of the 2.5 mile mark; Rocky pointed it out to us, but it was way farther along, so we turned. We also realized that we were both a little spastic in the “run and drink” department, so started to walk when we would reach bits of shade, to be sure that we drank our whole bottles down. I had mixed up an hour bottle for the run, and when we got back, remixed another Camelbak full for the 2nd bike. Mrs. Yoshida was honestly an Angel, fluttering around with ice cold washcloths, filling up our bottles with ice water, and the like. We are all so in love with the Yoshs!
Marina and I headed back out through Yountville, both of us being even more careful this time around, as there were lots and LOTS of tourists out and about. We did have one odd “you first, no YOU first” with a truck – but that was it. No dooring, no cars pulling out without looking, etc.
We got through the streets that ultimately got us to Dry Creek Road,and caught up with Kathryn, Maria and a few others. Marina said that Kathryn was one of her biking buddies, and so she hung back to chat. I knew this was my last round, so I wanted to see how well I could do. The Infinit was working like a charm – I had had a “potty break” when coming in from the run, but nothing bad, and I felt very hydrated and happy. I caught up to Les and Jen then, and wound up going past them as well. I had a good cadence going, and I had one of my “Soundtrack Songs” going in my head (I Can Transform Ya). I felt great.
OK, I felt great until I hit the Pothole From Hell, which was right in the middle of some dappled shade. If you’re a cyclist, you know that dappled shade is NOT your friend. The road was either very well paved or it was awful (as in, the sort of awful just before they grade a road), so this pothole came as a complete surprise. Angeline hit it so hard that it knocked my teeth together (I bit my tongue so hard it bled), and my shoulders were rocked back into their sockets. I honestly thought I had just thrashed my bike (and shoulders) and that there was NO WAY she was going to come out of it fine. That bike takes GOOD care of me – because when I pulled over and stretched my shoulders, looked over the wheels, etc. – everything was fine. OK except my tongue. Yowch.
Team Photo in the Park
This time, I made it to mile 14 just a bit before the hour turn-around time. There was a downhill that came next going towards mile 15, so I decided to turn a bit before the hour mark because otherwise I would be turning around in the middle of that hill. I had passed Rocky with a flat (being helped by Sedonia and Mary), and he wound up passing me right at the point I was stopping. With the usual wonderful IronTeam way, he slowed down (he was booking, obviously trying to reach 15 and make up for lost time) and I just shouted “I’m Good!” and he laughed and sped on by.
Marina caught up with me somewhere along Dry Creek (I think she said she turned around at mile 13), and so we rode together again for a while. Coach Sedonia rode with us as well, and that was a lot of fun. She had a great cadence and I was kind of laughing to myself, as we were keeping the same cadence, but the bar of her bike was like a foot closer to the ground than me! (Well, that’s an exaggeration, but suffice it to say that I am about a foot taller than Coach Yosh.) Last time we were together we were singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (Weem-O-Way) at the top of our lungs at Clear Lake while I was getting loopy at the end of the 16 mile run.
Marina and I changed again into run clothes, and I made the mistake of picking up my recovery drink bottle instead of my Infinit bottle. And it was warm. UGH!!!! We headed out, and it was really scorching on the pavement by this time. We ran from tree to tree, shade to shade – and Marina put up with me gagging down the not-energy drink and complaining with every swallow. She looked tired and I kept saying she should slow down because I knew she had the triple (though I really didn’t want her to leave me!) We got to 15 minutes out and I thought we should be more systematic with our walk breaks, so we started doing a 4:1 (4 minute “trot” then 1 minute walk). We did that for the rest of the first 30 minutes, and made it farther along the road that we had gotten before. Then we turned around, and came on back.
After getting more water (and Red Vines!) at Coach Simon’s SAG table, we caught up to Maria. We all ran together for a while, though she was running on a timer on her Garmin and her pace was faster than ours. Then Coach Sedonia came out – first running with Maria and picking up her pace, then running with me for a bit, then running with Marina. When she left me, I kept to the 4:1 until we were close to the turn to head back to the Park. I saw that Maria was on the walk break of her 4:1, and so I summoned up the energy to get up to her, which rallied her. 🙂 It was actually fun, because she had said she was having some issues (can’t remember what – nausea? headache?) and she didn’t look so great when she stopped for that walk break (hands on hips, head down). I wanted to be sure we both came in strong, since we are both doing Louisville so we were both coming in on our final “bit” for the day (“only” 2x brick not 3x like the Vineman folks). She rocked that run in!
Marina was a ways behind and she looked beat. She ultimately did get out and do the final bike – not sure how far she went – but she Ironed up and gutted it out. Mel had been having troubles as well, and Mentor Margaret rode out with her on her final bike ride. She was having the issues I have been having – super HOT feet on the bike. Margaret mentioned I should try wearing H’s shoes (which are a size larger) – so I am going to see if I can remember to try that on the next bike ride. IronPhil, Rocky, BK, some others had issues – it was a “humbling” experience, if that’s the right word – all these super duper athletes puking and the like. It was a hard and HOT workout, that’s for sure. I mentioned Infinit to BK who was having serious cramping issues. I am not saying it’s for everyone, but it sure worked for ME.
Unfortunately I had to cut out because we were having our Neighborhood Picnic that night – and where they set up the tables is right in the court under our driveway! So I was sad that we weren’t able to stay for the Spirit Cape presentation. As usual, something happened in the car that made me start laughing so hard I nearly had a wreck – Mel calls it our “Homeward Bound Ab Workout” – it made me laugh and laugh and laugh the rest of the day and into the next. I remember what it was about, but I will just keep that a secret.
Today is Tuesday – Monday was a rest day, and today was a 3500-ish swim and then a 90 minute Spin. I did them back to back at the JCC after subbing at the McInnes Park BNI at 7:00 a.m. I got home at like ONE! I have to admit, it will be NICE to have my life back after the race…at least until I decide to do some other darn’ fool thing. 🙂
Songs on my current Soundtrack (not in order, and subject to revision and addition):
Any Way You Want It
I Can Transform Ya
Summer Nights
We Belong to the Music
Mercury Blues (David Lindley)
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing
Express Yourself (Glee cast)
Ice Ice Baby (Glee cast)
Relax
The Lion Sleeps Tonight/Wimoweh
Solsbury Hill (live)
I Gotta Feeling
Beautiful Day
Down
It’s Raining Men (live)
Love The Ride
The Stroke
Lady Marmalade (Moulin Rouge version)
Spirit In The Sky
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Little Willy
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Baby I’m A Star
Bad Romance (Glee cast)
Just Dance
Hollywood Nights
Fever (L.E.X. Bette Midler’s On Fire Radio Mix)
Heads Carolina, Tails California
Brick House!
I haven’t blogged in a while – lots going on, including finalizing my second book (a Companion Playbook to my first book). Also getting some speaking gigs, taking care of “Honey Do” projects and – surprise! – the ubiquitous Iron Training!
I’ve had an Open Water swim and LOVELY bike ride with Iron Mel, a “dropping my drawers” incident in a flip-turn at the JCC (watched by a bunch of kibbutzing old men in long swim shorts and kippot – just too funny), some “You Know Your Iron When” stuff…but right now what’s on my mind is my BONK yesterday.
BONK! (OK I find it COMPLETELY hilarious that on this link to the word “Bonk” on dictionary.com, there is a paid link for Power Bars. Yeah that should have warned me…)
Yesterday was actually a rest day – I did Sunday’s workout yesterday, because Sunday (Father’s Day) was a serious Honey Do day for me at home, then we went over to Mom and Dad’s for a BBQ . . . no time for a 14 mile/2 hour run (14 miles or 2 hours, whichever is less). So yesterday, I did this run – from my house to Buckeye Point in China Camp, and back.
I had a lot of stuff to do yesterday, too, and so I actually didn’t get running until about 4:00 p.m. I had a few things on my agenda – to see whether I could actually run on just water and GU/salt tabs as a lot of my teammates do (quick answer: NO), to practice good form, to try to run at “around” my Easy/Long pace (about 12 minutes/mile). It’s tough, because I don’t have a Garmin, so unless I go out and map each mile and look for a milepost, I have to sort of “feel” how I’m doing.
I started from home, actually using my GU Brew mix, with a GU Bullet and Thermalytes. It wasn’t all that warm, a pretty nice temperature actually. I felt pretty good. HOWEVER, somehow I had it in my mind I was supposed to do EIGHTEEN miles, which, at my pace, would be just under FOUR hours. Don’t ask how I got this in my head. I have no idea.
I got from home to the JCC (about 4.5 miles) and was trying to pay attention to keeping my shoulders back and chest more open (I have a tendency to ‘cave in’ that H keeps trying to fix when we run together). I stopped in, filled my bottle with water (to try my “running on just water/GU/Thermalytes” tactic), had a pit stop, and back out I went. The best part was the (70 year old) guard asked me what I was up to, and when I told him I was running out to China Camp and back, he said “Are you on a college track team?” When I told him I was a few decades past that, he made me take my sunglasses off and he said “You look GREAT! I hope you don’t mind my saying so.” HECK no, bring it on! Of course I was wearing my running skirt and my tall injinji Compression socks (so, knee-high white socks) – I probably looked like some schoolgirl fantasy. I mean, if you took your contacts out. And had a glass of wine or two. And were about 200 feet away.
My plan was to turn around at Buckeye Point, which has water and a restroom. I ran along, and was feeling OK – though I was using up the water a lot faster than I thought I should, so I tried to “conserve” some. I’m always a bit wary that there will be a “problem” wherever I have planned to get water (however, I didn’t have a backup). I also started feeling a little sick in my stomach. At this point I “remembered” from when I used to work out (that was 20 years ago, mind you) that the REASON that I always added something to my water was that my stomach doesn’t handle straight water all that well. Even out gardening, etc. – water makes me feel a little sick. Did I have a “backup pack” of GU Brew to dump into it, just in case? Um, no…
I get to Buckeye Point in the time that I had set to get there – 2 hours. Remember, I had somehow gotten it in my head that I was to run FOUR hours or 18 miles. I think that I was thrown off because some of the Facebook postings of Team members had said they had run 16 or 17 miles – whatever – anyway that’s what was in my head.
NO WATER.
There was a couple camping at Buckeye Point – and she said that the Restroom AND the Water were locked “for some reason.” The big bruiser husband was snoring away on top of a picnic table, the wife was standing and rocking/cradling their sleeping child (she was tiny – it was sort of funny, the kid was nearly as big as she was, and it was just a small boy). I whispered to her did she have any water, and she pointed down to her feet to a Coleman, and said I could check in there. She didn’t speak much English (she was Thai). I opened the cooler, and there were 3 beers and a big fish. I shook my head, and she made a face like she was sorry.
Not as sorry as I was…
So, back I went. I had been “nursing” the water on the way out to Buckeye Point, “just in case” there wasn’t water there – but I really hadn’t EXPECTED not to get water. So now I had 1/4 bottle of water to get back out of the Park. I stopped on the way at a few guys putting up their mountain bikes, etc. – no one had water.
By the time I reached the climb on the road out of the Park, I realized I was Not Doing Well. I started feeling a little dizzy, and just “odd.” I had my phone, and knew that I could call H to pick me up, but I also in a way wanted to feel how this was going to go, so I would have the “experience” and work through it. Though I had had an awful time in Sedona at the 1/2 Iron, that was due to too much protein and getting dehydrated by diarrhea in the run – a different ballgame to this.
I walked up the uphill out of the park, and then actually “ran” (trudge-jogged) on the downhill. I was still using the GU and the Thermalytes with small sips, trying to get “something” to make me feel better. But obviously, what I needed was fluid.
I remembered suddenly that not only had I put a $10 bill in my pocket upon leaving (my Run Angel was DEFINITELY looking over me), but that there was a 7-11 about 1/2 way between the end of the Park and the JCC. I just kept focusing on the fact that I was going to get there, and get something, anything, that would rehydrate me.
At a really low point, when I really thought I was kinda “done for,” I saw a penny on the road – Teammate Liz says that when she sees pennies, she knows that her brother is with her – so I asked him to help me. I have to find out his name – I just kept saying thank you to “Liz’s Brother” for the help. I kept talking to him (he is not someone I know, but he is one of our Honorees in LLS – he sadly passed away from cancer, far too young). It helped me out. I was so glad to have him with me.
I thought the 7-11 was around a bend, and then…it wasn’t. I felt really defeated. I actually was whimpering. Then I saw another penny. This one was really shiny, face up. It was almost saying “LOOK AT ME.” I had this feeling that Liz’s brother was telling me that the 7-11 WAS coming, it would be okay. I wasn’t so sure, but I put my trust in him.
I finally got to the 7-11 two turns later, and was feeling pretty surreal by this point. I was trying not to whimper as there were people around. I was all set to get something like Snapple (which uses sugar, not fructose or HFCS) and add some salt to it – but wonder of wonders, they had the new Gatorade “Perform” which doesn’t have fructose or HFCS – and it was 1/2 off! So I bought 2, count’em 2, 32 oz. bottles (for $2.00 total), and as there was a long line, I cracked one open right there in the store waiting for my turn behind all the lottery-pickers and chaw-buyers and giggling middle-school-girl-Slushie-flirters, and sipped away. By the time I got outside, I was about 1/2 way through the first bottle.
I added the 2nd bottle to my empty water bottle (it’s a 32 oz. bottle), and then walked away, still sipping the 1st. Knowing me, I was more than a little perturbed that I didn’t have to use the Restroom at the 7-11, THAT is when I REALLY knew I was dehydrated!
Well, all I can say is, Gatorade = Miracle Cure. I was about 1/2 way between the 7-11 and the JCC (where I was going to stop if I didn’t feel any better, and call H to pick me up), and I felt WAY better. So I ran from there to the highway underpass without stopping, then as I turned onto Lincoln from there, walked up the uphill (which is rather long), but then ran down the downhill. I told myself that I would run to Mission, then see how I was doing.
I got to Mission, and more than anything else, my feet were hurting. I could also feel that I had a blister going on the side of my big toe (though I was wearing my Injinji socks). I decided to walk up a block or two, and turn onto Fifth.
I was feeling a LOT better (and not sloshy – I was about 40 oz. into the Gatorade by this time but no slosh). That’s when I remembered Uncle Chris my Run Angel. I asked Uncle Chris to get me home. I explained to him that I would run until I got to a stoplight, and it was up to him to turn the lights red so that I could rest.
OK, so when the FOURTH light in a row turned green JUST as I was approaching it, I started talking to Uncle Chris out loud. “NOT FUNNY, CHRIS, NOT FUNNY!” I’m lucky no one was on the sidewalk with me – that’s why Team Workouts are so much better, it’s no fun getting Athletic Tourettes alone.
On the SIXTH light I finally got a red, and then walked into Sun Valley. I told myself I would run from J Street to “the stopsign” (going up Racquet Club) or 4 hours – whichever came first. I saw Sun Valley Market, and was going to stop there – but I didn’t. At that point, I had been out 3:58. I only had 2 more minutes to go – but when I rounded the curve, there was the Stopsign. I was whimpering a wee bit (there were folks walking dogs ahead – didn’t want to scare them), but I knew I needed to go all the way to the Stopsign. So I did.
The slow, slow, SLOW walk up Racquet Club to River Oaks to Moody to home took about 15 minutes (usually, about 8). I got home, and turns out H hadn’t gone to the gym after all – so he was there. I walked in and I’m sure I looked like a train wreck. He got me up to the shower, and then made me dinner and sat me on the couch and massaged my feet and legs. My hero.
Yes, so, I know, lots of “I should NOT haves…” in this story (for example, I SHOULD NOT HAVE run out into a desolate wilderness area without being 100% sure the water was on that I would need to make it back out). Lots of “I SHOULD haves” too (for example, I SHOULD have had a little baggie of drink; I SHOULD have looked at the schedule to check the distance/time). But the one thing I know is that I survived, and that I can “come back” if I feel truly awful. This is a good learning for me – because, besides the Sedona “runs” issue, I have never even come CLOSE to this feeling.
Now, I will NEVER EVER do it AGAIN! That’s ENOUGH!
I never really understood the phrase “Money In The Bank” until this weekend.
The week was a toughie for me. I had gotten an eye ulcer (likely from a gnat flying in my eye – though I am VERY careful to ALWAYS wear some sort of eye protection on the bike). It hurt to blink and looked super nasty – blood-red eye white, plus this yellow “bump” right off my iris. The doctor originally said no swimming in Clear Lake at all – because the LAST thing you want is lake water/bacteria/etc. into an “eye sore.” I have to say that I freaked out. I have been dealing with the various aches and pains – the hip thing, shin thing – but an eye issue taking me out of the game was unanticipated.
I did a little running the week between Del Valle and the 3/4 Iron, but mainly I was sick with the stress of it all. The doctor checked it again later in the week and said that he thought I could swim – but not with contacts. So into the City I went, to Sports Basement to get some of their prescription goggles (who knew? $16). Then after a trip to Costco (I love that “Rice Krispie Treats” are now marketing themselves as “Energy Bars” – !!), I swung by the pool and tried the suckers out. They worked FINE – my prescription is not the same for both of my eyes, but they worked well enough and I could sight fine. I looked a little odd walking through the gym to the pool in the goggles – and walking up the stairs to the pool was not a picnic for sure – but I was relieved I had something that “could work.” I kept hearing the words to Pink’s song “18 Wheeler” in my head, which made me feel stronger:
You can push me out the window
I’ll just get back up
You can run over me with your 18 wheeler truck
And I won’t give a f*ck
You can hang me like a slave
I’ll go underground
You can run over me with your 18 wheeler but
You can’t keep me down, down, down, down
After trying out the goggles, I went by Long’s to get some of those “old lady over-the-glasses” sunglasses for my prescription glasses – since I would need them for the bike/run if I wasn’t wearing contacts. Kathryn from the team offered me via Facebook her prescription sunglasses if our prescriptions were the same – I love our Team!
Friday (the day that I was leaving for Clear Lake) I was pretty much a mess. I was having an appointment with the ophthamologist at 11:30 (so much for leaving early to check out the event route) and I was going to get a “thumbs up” (or down) on whether I could do the weekend. I was REALLY excited when he said, as I put my head in that “look into the eye vice holder thing” that my eye was “miraculously” better – so much so that I could actually not only do the event, but wear my contacts. Who-hoo! He said that it might really itch, and if that happened, to be “ready” to change into the glasses. (Then we talked about how he had biked/run with a gal who did Alcatraz – the best part is this is a doctor who UNDERSTANDS what I was facing. Loved that.) So I added the over-the-eye sunglasses, glasses, glasses wipes, contact lens holder, saline, eye drops, and mirror all to my transition bag – and off I went to prepare for Clear Lake.
I had to laugh, of course, as I was getting everything ready – for an Ironman, you wind up with like 50 pounds of gear/”nutrition” and the like, and then a sundress tucked into a back zip pocket of your huge bag for afterwards. (I even wear my swim-to-bike shoes with the sundress.) So funny. I remember this from Sedona – at least this time I was DRIVING to the event, not FLYING.
arriving at Clear Lake
Had a funny You Know You’re Iron When moment preparing to go. I was putting together my nutrition, and as I tweeted/posted on Facebook, “You know they know you’re Iron when your husband comes in the kitchen to suspicious white powder on the counter and says, ‘CarboPro Accident?’.”
Got up to Clear Lake without incident – wearing my glasses until the last second, of course, to save my eyes as much as possible. Although we had had rain just a few days before, it was going to be a hot one – evidenced by the piles and piles of water jugs for the team! I drove through some rainy patches though on the road and left my bike with a little trepidation. (Sure enough, when I got there the next day, all the bikes were soaked. Stupid me for not finding a garbage bag and “bagging” Angeline. Poor thing.)
I hadn’t seen some of the team in forever. Because Maria and I didn’t do the 80 miler, and then a number of people hadn’t made Del Valle the week before (Memorial Day Weekend), it was like “old home week” seeing everyone. I was really sad that Will had quit the team, because I always just love seeing him and chatting. As I counted “through” people, I heard of more and more folks who were no longer on the team, many of whom really surprised me. A number of people were also planning to not do the whole bike course or the run because of injuries, but were there to do what they could.
We took a team picture, and then Maria and I headed back to the hotel, to get our game together.
view of swim start
That was actually pretty funny. Maria had never done a Spring Break during college, and that’s what the whole scene reminded me of. Super old (though clean) two-story hotel where you could yell across and toss things to one another off the railings, turquoise fridge and push-button electric ring stove, the works. I had as much fun watching Maria as folks walked in and out of our room, etc. as I was having being part of it all! Neither of us is particularly good with “Nutrition Math” and it got to be a running joke that we would be “just about” to do our 4 hour bottles with GU Brew/Gatorade and CarboPro and count it all out and someone else would come in the door throwing off the count. It was kinda like an old black-and-white TV comedy routine. (Reading Teammate Rocky’s blog about it is hilarious – I highly suggest it. Especially the part about the arrow and harpoon-wielding carp fishermen that we shared the hotel with, who were having a big “do” in the lake the same day. Yeah. Really. I was VERY GLAD to hear that we were swimming on the OTHER side of the lake!)
One thing I did discover is that my CamelBak is NOT “four hours” for me – it’s three. (And almost perfectly – both at 3 hours into the bike, and at 6.) For some reason, I thought it was 4, and so mixed up the Nutrition with that in mind. I had to do a little “recalculating on the fly” when I went “dry” an hour before I thought I would on the bike course – but that’s why we do these things. I wound up with the wrong “count” in my Special Needs bottle, etc. but I made it work. Good to know.
close up of beach for swim start
If you look at Maria’s blog (linked above) her Special Needs bag was just fabulous. Included were the usual tube, CO2 cartridge, 4-hour bottle, etc. but also as much junk food as she could think of (me too!) She took a picture of hers though and posted it, which is just priceless. Pringles should sponsor Ironman – I swear! It’s definitely the “Special Needs Bag Treat Of Choice.”
We went out for some AWESOME handmade pasta to a restaurant Coach Mike suggested, and just chilled and chatted with our teammates about the next day. I had a glass of wine at the restaurant and when Maria questioned it, I mentioned that the day before the Wine Country Century I had had martinis and wine (and RIBS and dessert and dessert drinks!) with H and a friend, and that the day before Del Valle had been macadamia nut martinis – so I was actually “backing off from” what had been my “routine” thus far with just one glass of wine! (funny)
We woke up at 0-dark-00 on Saturday, and got our Game on. I liked that Maria brought an Ironman-related book of Quotes, and she read some of them as we were getting ready. I had picked up some tattoos (at Safeway, no less) and she chose to put “Soul” on her arm, I chose a Dragon, and “Courage.” (I chose “Spirit” for the next day’s Run – her tattoo was still on the next day, mine had rubbed off). We formed a caravan with other IronPeeps, and off we headed to the other side of the lake, for the Swim start.
As I mentioned above, the bikes were soaked. I had brought 3 yoga mats (1 for me, 2 to share) just in case the ground was wet –
the transition area
sure enough, we were to lay things down on grass, and it was sopping. I was really glad to have the mat. I had been able to get my contacts in without incident, but still had an extra “transition area” for All Things Eye. The photo shows the transition area, before everyone lay their bikes down next to their stuff. (This is the opposite side from where I was – it was a big round lawn of grass.)
We handed in our Special Needs bags to be delivered to us on the course. We were actually going to get them twice (you only get them once during the real race). The reason for this is that they wanted to “check us off” at the Special Needs stop as arriving (or not!). There were 3 waves in the Swim start – guys last, and then if you were a girl and your Special Needs bag had a “1” on it you were in wave 1, if it had a “2” you were in wave 2. I was in wave 2 – Maria was in wave 1. We gathered for a pre-race talk, during which Mike told us that the bike course instructions that we had been mailed out were incorrect. I was glad at that point that I had NOT arrived early (as I had planned) to ‘scout the course’ – that would have been 100 miles’ worth of useless driving! Then it was time for the Body Glide-ing and wetsuit boost-ing and Atta Girl-ing and Go Team-ing…and the first wave headed for the beach.
first wave into the water
Patricia was in the first wave and I knew she had an issue with “touching things/things touching her” in the water. Mike had said there were reeds and seaweed in there, and I frankly was a little concerned as to how it would go. (I saw her on the Bike later, so I knew at least that she had not had a heart attack due to all the “stuff” in there.) The sun was coming up as the first wave took off – and there was a lot of low fog in the ring of mountains surrounding the lake. As I stood waiting the 20 minutes to get into the water, I was able to take in how GORGEOUS the area was. I was sad that H hadn’t come, as I knew that he would really like the geography of the area. I had heard a lot about Lake County (not much of it very kind) and so I admit I was a bit surprised at the beauty.
We got into the water to “fill up our wetsuits” a few minutes before the start, and WOW there definitely was a lot of seaweed/reeds/etc. in there. My last triathlon experience was the Go Girl tri years and years ago – I had even trained a few girls to be in it (and also the Avon) – and one thing that made me ultimately quit the sport was that kind of crap in the water. Not so much “things touching me,” but “flying over” the reeds and seaweed coming up from the bottom gave me serious vertigo. I realized that today was going to be the day to conquer that old fear.
We were to swim left to a buoy that was tethered at the far left side of the lake, then swim across the open water to the dock of the winery that was next door to where we started, then back. After I got out of the reeds and started to find my stroke, I saw a little bear in the water! OK, I thought I had thought of everything – sharks, snakes, leeches, fish…but a BEAR?? I pulled up short, and felt the person who was drafting off of me switch directions quickly so as not to run over me. When I looked closer, it turned out to be a river otter, watching me! It wasn’t until Monday (when I was telling the story to 2 friends) that I realized that the Otter was the totem I had felt when swimming in Aquatic Park – which my hypnotherapist had sent to me “energetically” to deal with my open water swimming trepidation. And there was a “real” one, watching me! It was pretty cool, though I had a good laugh at myself for thinking the tiny furry face watching me was a “bear.”
I was swimming with Mel, Margaret and Paula for a while, though Paula and Margaret were long gone by the first buoy, and Mel pulled away after the turn-around and was swimming with someone who was faster (Coach Dave’s wife Norma, I think). I just settled in and paid attention to hip rotation, keeping my neck loose, “alligator arms” and the like. Sedonia was bobbing in the water at about the 1 mile mark in a bright blue swim cap, and I was able to confirm my bearings on the “Winery dock” that we were supposed to use as the second turnaround.
As Coach Mike had described about the bridges at Louisville, I faced the mental feeling that the doggone dock was actually pulling AWAY from me! I would sight on it, stroke about 10 strokes, look up – and it looked just as far away.
graph of (old) bike course - "new" one is on the link
Sedonia had moved from her previous “position” to a new one that was closer to the dock, and I could see her blue cap which was comforting. At one point, however, I stroked right through what was obviously a huge floating “pile” of the reed/seaweed/grass stuff. It was like a fishing net. I pulled my arm through it and up and over before I realized I was tangled. “Suddenly” there I am, my arm is held back by “something” and I can’t see because “something” is over my face! Once again, I pulled up short and luckily didn’t completely spazz out – I realized what had happened and reached over my back and around to untangle my arm (and face) from the mess. I did see Sedonia turn her back from about 10 yards away – I think she was laughing at the “Swamp Thing” that had suddenly emerged from the water, but was too nice to let me see her do it!
FINALLY I reached the dock, and started to head back to the Start. Once again, it seemed as if I was never going to reach the beach! About 1/2 way there, the water was very clear and I could see the “trees coming up from the bottom” and started to get that vertigo feeling. I calmed my breathing, and decided that the way to deal with it was just to shut my eyes. So I would stroke 3 times with my eyes shut, then sight (being sure no one was close, and I was still on track), then shut my eyes, stroke, sight, etc. It was incredibly peaceful, and I could feel myself relax. As I was close to finished, I sensed that someone was right with me – turned out that it was Maria! We got out on the beach together, gave each other a “low 5,” and off we went to the transition area. I finished the 2 mile swim in 1:13.
My transition was slow, because a lot of folks were standing around talking, and I checked and checked again that I had everything I needed for the ride, and then did a “towel around the waist surfer shimmy” out of my swim suit and into my bike shorts (I wore my jogbra under the swimsuit). The funniest part of the whole thing was Liz telling Rocky to “turn around and talk to Sandy” (we were all side-by-side) as she applied Chamois Butt’r – and just as he turned around, of course, I was slappin’ it on in there! THANKS Liz! (She looked up and burst out laughing – Oooooops.)
Here is the map of the bike course we rode. (And here is the map of Tennessee Teammate Missy’s course – which she was doing simultaneously that day.) You will definitely want to click to see the “Elevations.” I read in another teammate’s blog that a portion that I will talk about later was a 9+% grade – I believe it. Clear Lake is the largest lake in California and we were riding around it (and then some). On the link (which is MapMyRide.com) there is also a “beta” you can download to “fly over” the course through Google Earth.
I had asked a number of the coaches what the route was like, and no one really gave me a straight answer. They said that there were parts “a bit like Chalk Hill on the Vineman,” but the thing that everyone kept saying to me is “The Louisville Course is NOTHING compared to this.” That didn’t give me much confidence as to what was coming up!
The first 13 miles or so were around the lake. Nick had told me this was flat, and Sedonia said that there were a few gas stations, so that I could have a “pit stop” if I needed. I was in the back-middle of the pack, especially after trying to get a pit stop in (first gas station didn’t “let me” use the restroom – second did). I slowly started to catch up to and pass Teammates as I continued along. Melissa and I wound up doing our “carrot and stick” thing there for a while. I was surprised that I had been able to catch up to her, because she was long gone from transition when I showed up.
The day was definitely warming up as we continued along. I practiced keeping my heart rate at about 150 (low aerobic) and kept telling myself I had PLENTY of fat to use as “fuel” at that range!
At about Mile 15, we started to climb, and I could see it was a l-o-n-g one. I unclipped my right foot as I had planned, and just worked my way up the hill. About midway, I passed Mel, and she didn’t seem to be doing that well. I was breathing so hard that I couldn’t even ask how she was doing. She was on her new bike, and the evening before, Margaret had come over to borrow a bike bottle from me, because she was having issues getting to her water (not sure what’s up with that – maybe Aerobottle?) The hill spiked at around Mile 17, and I WHOOPED that I had made it. There was a long, steep descent, and then a few more “rollers.” I kept unclipping and then clipping back in my right foot, and it was working well. I was feeling more confident that if I DID have to stop, I wouldn’t fall down.
Melissa caught me up on the top of the hill at Mile 22, and confided that she hadn’t remembered any of her “Nutrition” on the bike! I immediately went through my Bento Box and Camelbak, and gave her 1/2 of everything that I had. That is the point where I realized that I should have put more of the same in my Special Needs bag – it contained a tube, CO2 cartridge, Pringles, coconut water, another “4 hour bottle,” etc. but no GU because I felt I had “plenty on me.” Oops! (I also managed to drop my Chapstick, so that’s another thing I need to add to my Special Needs.)
A little while later we ran into Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida’s SAG stop, and she was able to “load up” on GU and the like. This is where I took a fistful of Red Vines and shoved them in my mouth – Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! (Laugh) Again, something that I would never imagine eating otherwise – IronNutrition is a strange thing.
After this section was another crazy-huge climb, that went on for a couple miles. (If you haven’t already, click on the link above, and then click on “Elevation” – you can see it for yourself.) I got to the top of that one, and once again WHOOOPED (I actually lost my voice by the next day). I looked back and I didn’t see Melissa, and was afraid that she might have blown a tire, but I knew that there was SAG out there for us. I crested the hill, and started down the other side.
OK, if you haven’t done it already, you REALLY have to pull up the map now (smile). Because Mile 31 was the Big Black Wall of Death. Just go look at the Elevation Chart (I’ll wait).
As I crested the hill I was looking down into my Bento Box, and I looked up and – seriously – all I saw was a WALL of black tarmac. The hill that was on the “other side” of my downhill was so steep, and so much higher than what I was coming down, that it looked like a wall. I gasped, geared all the way into my hardest gear, and tucked into as aerodynamic a shape as I could figure out how to make. My chin was nearly on my handlebars. I SCREAMED down that hill (hit 40 MPH at the highest). As I hit the bottom of the “V” I kept pedalling like a demon, but the hill was so steep I couldn’t even gear down through my gears one at a time – I had to use the “3 gears at a time” sweep that Angeline has to keep pedaling. I also, thankfully, was going fast enough and had the presence of mind to get my right foot unclipped while I kept pedaling for all I was worth. By the time I was about 100 yards from the top, I was going so slowly, the road almost looked as if it wasn’t moving. I just kept staring at the tarmac, coaching myself under my breath with “JUST….KEEP….GOING!” My heart rate was over 190. It was crazy. Seriously crazy. And then – suddenly – I was at the top.
I actually just stopped, stood there, stretched my back, and looked back DOWN that monster as I had some GU and popped some salt tabs. I wish someone had taken a photograph of that hill. It was like nothing else. And I DID it!
Now to talk about my Earth Angel. There were a few more rollers, and then a climb that ended in a 4-way road “connection” at the top. Josh (speed demon) had passed me on the climb up to that spot, and as he was wearing a red jersey, it was pretty easy to follow him. As I said, there were 4 roads – one straight ahead, two off to the left and right, and one slightly ahead and to the right – which was a STEEP downhill. As I got to the top of the hill, there was a big semi parked a little ways along the “straight ahead” road, with a guy talking on his cell phone. I smiled at him, and followed Josh down the steep road.
About 100 feet along, I hear this voice SCREAMING from the top of the road: “GIRL! GIRL!” I put on the brakes HARD (it was very steep) and of course faced that “teetering moment” where I wasn’t sure if I would get my foot unclipped or if I was going to hit the dirt. Luckily I got unclipped, and I looked up and to my left. The trucker had LEAPT out of his cab, and was looking down at me from the upper road. He has the phone in one hand (as I’m unclipping/stopping I hear him say “Just a sec!” in an agitated voice) and he says, “Girl! All the other bikes, they went THIS way…” (Pointing down the road he was parked on.) I let out a HUGE sigh of relief, and actually had to get off my bike to turn it around and push it back up the hill (it was that steep). As I’m getting to the top, he looks perplexed and says in an agitated voice, “What are we going to do about the DUDE?” (Josh was nowhere to be seen – he had flown down that hill.) I smiled and said “He’s a really good cycling dude, he will figure it out and come back up, I’m sure.” I asked what he was doing up there (in a huge semi with a flatbed) and he said he had been “combing the hills” for a “roller” that had apparently broken down. When he explained what it looked like, I said that I definitely had not passed it on the way up, and showed him the road directions I had followed. He thanked me for saving him the time of going that way. I thanked him for saving my LIFE!
our Special Needs bags, waiting for us
The Special Needs stop was around Mile 55 – and we were going to come back around to it around Mile 85 or so, too. I pulled in and WOW, what an amazing experience! “The Franks” (Frankie, one of our honorees who is an Ironman triathlete himself, his mom Francine and his dad Frank Sr.) – as well as Frank’s girlfriend Meghan, Teammate Janice’s handsome son and friend – all manned this stop and it was unbelievable. Frank Senior had cold wet towels for our neck. The boys offered watermelon. Someone was there with almost your every need. All I could think of is how a NASCAR pit crew acts. I just stood there, took off my CamelBak, and said things like “oh, I need water” and “does anyone have a plastic baggie?” and people leapt to action. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!
(My favorite part was that Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida were sitting under a tree, Mr. Yoshida was eating a sandwich out of a ziplock. When I asked if anyone had a ziplock, Mrs. Yoshida whipped it off the bottom of his sandwich and handed it to me before he realized what was happening. I laughed out loud!)
Just as I was about to leave, Mel came into the stop. She stopped her bike, took a breath, and just started sobbing. I got back off my bike and Frankie was right there to hold it. I think that it would have fell to the ground if he hadn’t “caught” it, I was so concerned. I went over, and just gave her a big hug, and told her how great she was doing, that she was there, it was going to be OK, etc. I actually wanted to stay, but the Franks said that they would take care of her. I gave her a last big hug, and also told them to give her anything that I had in MY Special Needs bag, if there was something that I had that she wanted. I was really concerned. That’s my ‘Lil’ Lady” there! When I got back on the bike and shoved off, she was off her bike and having some water in a lawn chair and looked ok. (I am not sure what happened from there, I didn’t see her until the very end, and was so exhausted I forgot to ask.)
photo at Special Needs - heading back out
We turned back onto Main Street, and SOMEHOW I had heard that the “out and back” loop that we were heading to was “mostly flat” though the first part was a “bad road.” OK, no. As Paula said later, this bad road was so bad it was like having “two flat tires, and dragging a sofa.” I actually felt like it was going to shake my shoulders out of my sockets (and I think I left some fillings on the road!)
And, the out-and-back was anything but flat. Well – it was rollers – but from about Mile 77 to Mile 82 it was BRU-TAL. I was riding with Susie at this point, on a tiny thin rutted road, single track, with a big drop-off to the right. (We actually had to let a car pass at one point – that was a real trick.) The coaches had put signs going up the hill – they said “GO (name)” on them, one for everyone. That was great. I hadn’t seen that at the 1/2 Iron/Wildflower, because of course I wasn’t there – and I loved it. The only problem was that only about 8 names had gone by (I was looking for myself, Susie, Maria, Mel, Patricia, Paula) and none of the names I was looking for had “happened” – and the road flattened out a TINY bit and the signs stopped. I realized that meant that we were going to have MORE uphills – with more signs – and I audibly groaned! Sure enough – that’s what happened – it just went up, up, up and at each of the “worst” bits, there were the signs. Once I had seen everyone’s, I started counting back in my head to other teammates – I was SO DONE with that road, that I was hoping that there were no more names/signs (e.g., no more brutal uphill cranks)!
I got to the top of this hill, and had a nice (though controlled – bad road) downhill to the bottom. At this point, I realized that my computer was somewhat off – about a mile or so. The route rolled along a straight highway area, and I actually had to stop at a woman selling baskets of flowers at the side of the road to ask if I had missed the right turn I was looking for. (Her dog was VERY excited to lick my legs – mmmmmmm salty.) I was definitely feeling the ride in my Nether Parts, and was really glad I had included a Butt’r in my Special Needs, which I surreptitiously applied on the side of the road every score of miles or so.
Rocky and I were trading places on the road for a while. At 6 hours (when my CamelBak ran dry for the 2nd time) I pulled over in the shade to pour my two bottles into the CamelBak, using a house’s big garbage can as a ‘convenient table.’ It had taken me some time to convince myself to stop – I definitely was “talking to myself” and had to “convince” myself that, yes, I DID need to get that liquid easily accessible! Rocky rolled by slowly to be sure I was OK, and smiled at my “banquet table.” I actually contemplated throwing my empty GU gels (that were tucked up the leg of my bike shorts) into the garbage, but I could see the curtains moving in the little house and was afraid that I might get shot if I did that. Yeah, this is Lake County…
Somewhere along this stretch Teammate Kathryn (who was SAG’ing) caught up to me in her truck, and asked if I “wanted a present.” Hell yeah, whatever it was, I wanted it. I pulled over at the next shoulder, and she put an ice cold water balloon down the back of my shirt and popped it. You Know You’re Iron When the greatest thing that has ever happened in your entire life is a water balloon down your jersey! (Thank you Kathryn!)
The road ultimately wound up back at Special Needs, where I finished my coconut water and Pringles, and mis-heard that the remaining 15 or so miles were “dead flat, along the lake.” By this time I also realized that whereas I had applied a ton of sunblock everywhere on my BODY, I had forgotten my FACE – so I had a big white raccoon mask from my glasses and the rest was sunburn! (Note to self: SUN CREAM ON FACE!)
The final 15 miles were just brutal. I actually started talking to myself, talking to my bike, complaining, b*tching, moaning, and definitely with a full case of Athlete’s Tourettes. Every roller I would hit would be preceded by me screaming “OH COME ON NOW!” At one point where the road ran right next to the Highway, I thought I was completely offtrack (I mean, we were supposed to be “on the lake” on the way home)! But just as I would start to despair, I would see another Ironteam road arrow, and that would hold me until I would get to feeling anxiously lost again.
Susie soaking in the lake
I finally rolled into the Finish at 8 hours 13 minutes (7 hours 45 total rolling time). I felt good about my time, until I realized I was one of the almost last ones back! That’s when I found out that a number of folks hadn’t ridden the whole course. I went straight from the bike down to the lake, for a “ice bath soak” with Susie.
Maria was the last one in – she’d gone from a personal max bike miles of 60 to ONE HUNDRED! (She hadn’t been able to make the 80 miler that we did as a team.) So awesome! We all got out on the road to cheer her in. That’s the best part about being on the Team – even if you’re later than others (that’s me, always, in our Marin/Napa group – they are all amazing athletes and so I’m forever the tail on group bike rides or runs), everyone is there to cheer you in and give you an “Atta Girl.”
Maria and me
I got Maria down to the lake to do a soak – though Belinda snapped this picture of us before we headed down. Yes, we are the “long and the short of it” and that’s a fact!
After everyone was in and folks were squared away, it was barbecue time. Chris and Meenu got the Spirit Cape, and Jen Jay read my email nominating him. I was SO glad that they got it. Chris has been so fantastic in supporting everyone (I’m sure it’s not just me!) – he always always ALWAYS has an “Atta Girl” for me, whether it’s in the Swim, or smoking by me on the bike, or on the run. I realized it at Del Valle the week before, when we were doing the “out and backs.” He passed me not one but NINE times, and each and every one he had a heartfelt “Go Girl!” for me and looked me in the eyes and slapped me a “low 5.” That is the kind of Spirit that deserves the Spirit Cape. And though Meenu Facebook’d later that she thought it was funny that she “got the Spirit Cape when she’s not on the team,” I posted back that her amazing Meenu Bars are all IN the Team from yummy SAG stops she has womanned, so that meant she was definitely “a part” of the Team, too!
After the Barbecue we were back off to the hotel, and though we were exhausted, we washed out our wetsuits, swim suits, etc. and got packed up, so that we would be ready the next morning to throw our stuff in the car and go without having to come back to the hotel. We also had a glass of Vinho Verde, and Maria caged some silverware off Jim to eat her doggie bag of pasta from the night before (shades of Spring Break!) We talked about our experience, and read more of her Inspirational book!
Though we were up a little late with the packing, etc., we CRASHED asleep. In fact, I didn’t even hear my alarm – Maria woke me up from a dead sleep (thank goodness) and got me up and out!
I put my old pair of shoes into my Run Special Needs bag, because my masseuse had surmised that “perhaps” the fact that I had switched to New Balance from Asics (which I had always run in) had caused the hip issue. I had purchased the New Balance because they were 1/2 price on sale – but when I was at Sports Basement to pick up the prescription swim goggles, I bought the Asics that I always run in, and decided to use them for the Run. I hadn’t run in them at ALL, so having the New Balance in the Special Needs bag was a “just in case” move (I wound up being fine). I also had the ubiquitous Pringles in there and coconut water. Need to add Red Vines, as that wound up being something I picked up at the water stop!
The run was to be 16 miles or 3 hours – whichever came first. From the 2nd water stop Frankie’s girlfriend Meghan ran with me because not only am I tortoise slow, but also I had my “Tunes” with me! She wound up having a lifetime personal best mileage (I think about 7 miles).
The one thing I discovered, however, is that I just can NOT run with someone. I get engaged in talking – and I get off my nutrition plan. I started to feel bad, and looked at my watch and realized I was FORTY-FIVE MINUTES off my plan. I kind of spazzed out. I reached the Yoshida’s SAG stop at 3 hours – which was 1/8 mile from the end (so 1/4 mile total out and back). Though we were supposed to turn around at 3 hours, I wanted to get to the end (and Meghan concurred). So with a fistful of Red Vines in my hand, I got to the turn around and headed back for home.
Sedonia caught up with us when we got back to the Yoshida’s water stop, and started running with us and turning folks around who hadn’t quite reached it yet. Apparently a number of people actually turned around at the 2nd stop (the Franks’). I did my best to catch myself back up to my Nutrition, and was immensely grateful for the coconut water in my Special Needs, which IMMEDIATELY made me feel better.
By about 4 miles out, I started to whine. Sedonia was running with me and Coach Simon sometimes (Meghan had peeled off). I was like a little kid. Since I don’t have a Garmin, I was all “How many more miles do we have? How much more?” In the back of my head I was proud of myself because I was still running (I ran the whole way – I didn’t do run/walk because Coach Simon asked me to see how that went), and it was over 2-1/4 hours of running, which was the longest I had run for well over a dozen years (which had been Del Valle, the week before). I was a big pathetic baby whiner. Sedonia kept telling me to keep my feet moving, and to “Be The Tortoise.” (smile)
Then my little handheld boombox came on with the “Weem-O-Way” song (from Lion King). Sedonia and I started singing it and it was just so silly, it lightened up my spirits. We caught up to Chris, who was also not feeling great. He said to us, “Were you guys just singing ‘Weem-O-Way’?” It made him laugh, too – he had heard it around the bend of the lake road!
I had REALLY decided to “give up” when we reached the Winery that is about 1/2 mile from the end – but Sedonia said “Don’t. This is where you learn that what you think is rock bottom is just a ledge – and you have more. Dig deep.” So I did – and ran in. Oh my lord though, I felt like crap (I was 2nd to last). A lot of folks were congratulating me, etc. but I just felt angry and evil. Patricia was funny, she started walking over, saw my face, and sort of “shuffled folks” away as I opened my van to get out of my shoes and socks and get some stuff to go soak in the lake in. She could see that it was NOT the time to approach!
Go Team, IronTeam!
My 16 mile run time was 3:21. Not the fastest, but Strong and Steady, as Sedonia was saying. We had another lake soak, then a “Go Team” together . . . and I actually hung around for a while because I couldn’t face driving home. I was sad because BFF Leslie was in San Francisco from Colorado with her family, and I had been SURE I could catch up with her after the event and get together (and see her girls, who I haven’t seen since they were TINY) before they flew off to Hawaii. HA HA HA. I completely underestimated the depth of exhaustion that I was going to feel. Wow.
So – that’s my story. Monday was a rest day – today (Tuesday) I have now spent like 3 HOURS writing this – and I have to get some work done and am doing a speaking engagement in Menlo Park. I’m supposed to do an hour and a half Swim and an hour Bike, but I think I will go down and get on the Bike and save the Swim until tomorrow. Had to get the story down – before it was just too daunting to write it all out!
I go through periods of being great at blogging, then suddenly BLAM and it’s a fortnight later and I haven’t done a thing. Those who know I really was a podcaster (and haven’t podcast since December!) must REALLY be wondering what happened…(Actually, my computer blew up in December and I haven’t re-installed all the audio software. Yet. Soon. Swear.)
Lake Del Valle
The week involved dealing with the tight hip issue, plus a couple of cocktail-laden evenings (Heaven’s Dog with Mr. Martini and H on Wednesday, then mac nut martinis with H on Friday night – even though I knew I had to get up Saturday to go train. Bad.) And MORE RAIN. Teammate Sara and I posted “Rain Rain Go Away!” simultaneously on Facebook – this is getting some kind of ridiculous!
Saturday the 29th, the Team convened at Del Valle for an Open Water Swim and a Run. We were to swim as “many times as we could” in an hour, and then run “as far as we could” for 2 hours 15 minutes. (Though there was a bit of an issue there – Coach Mike told us it was only 80 minutes, but when we got to the head of the trail, Coach Simon said that yes, it was 2:15. Ah, communication!)
Maria and me - the long and the short of it
After the usual milling around at the cars, we trooped down to the water. I was already in, when Coach Dave shouted out that “All Louisville participants” (that would be me and Maria) were instead to jump in off the dock. So out of the water I came, and splash off the dock!
The swim was pretty uneventful. Coach Sedonia had talked about drafting, and so during my second “circuit” of the swim, I tucked in off Iron Phil. I was definitely surprised at how much less energy it takes if you draft! I had never quite been able to get the “hang” of it, and this time I did. It was very cool. Little did I know that Melissa was tucked in behind me – we were like a little freight train! (Or a mama whale with calves.) I did two and a half times around the circuit (1.5 miles) in the hour that we were in the water.
mama whale Sandy and calf Melissa getting out of the water
We hopped out and dried off (and some folks were helped out of their wetsuits – don’t you love the photograph below, of my teammates?) and then there was a bit of a mix-up, as I mentioned, about how far we were to run. The calendar had said 2 hours and 15 minutes, so I had mixed up 2 bottles plus some extra “powder” assuming that was the case. Then Coach Mike told us that No, it was just 80 minutes. I (silly me) left the extra bottle at the car, just bringing my full bottle and the powder. Well of course once we got back to the dock, it WAS 2:15!
We ran a hilly cross-country course out and back and out and back and out and back and out and…(laugh) for 2:15. I had my “tunes” on the little hand-held boombox which made it more bearable. Iron Mel was still having some issues with her hamstring and I realized she had the keys to the car – on one of the “passes” I asked her if she could give the key to Simon to get my other bottle out of the van. It didn’t quite work out as planned, because both Simon and Mel went to the van to get it. (I had wanted to keep Mel from having to stop.) When I finished that circuit, they weren’t quite back yet, so I ran out to meet them, traded the bottle to Simon, and got back to it. Simon said that it was the first time he had seen “Marine Sandy” in action – I guess I had my game face on! I felt very good. I did 12ish miles in the 2:15 over the cross-country hills and dales.
Team Soak
After the run, we came back and had a “Team Soak” in the lake. We each were asked to discuss what we were dealing with – everything from balance, no time, fear of failure, you name it. It was a good, and bonding, experience. We all hit In-and-Out Burger on the way back (and I wonder why I have gained poundage back!), and then Mel and I had our usual “Abs Exercise” of laughter at all sorts of things on the way home!
The next day was a 30 mile bike ride, which H and I did together. Right out the gate, I had a back wheel flat (at the valve, so no chance of patching it), so with H “hovering” and itching to help, I changed it myself. I was so excited! My only issue was my “spatial relations problem” of trying to figure out which side of the chain is “up” when the bike is upside down, to get the wheel back in. I did OK though that is when H was “itching to help” the hardest!
We did the Paradise loop, coming through Ross to Redwood High, up and over the highway and around Paradise, then down to Tiburon. We stopped at the yacht club, and they were having a big barbecue for Memorial Day, which we “indulged” in – including a couple of big fat hot fudge and butterscotch sundaes! Getting back on the bike and doing the “return” 15 miles was not the prettiest. We went back through Mill Valley and up and over past Horse Hill. We both commented that while the climb was nasty, it seemed a teeny tiny bit easier than it had been before (both of us have walked that hill in times past). Coming down off the hill and past Marin Joe’s, we cranked it up to 40 miles an hour – the road was newly paved and dead straight, with no traffic.
Go Team, IronTeam!
Exhilarating while also being scary!
I practiced my new “trick” – suggested by my friend Sharyn – for the uphills. I have been having a heck of a time unclipping on uphills. I only have one hill speed (slow) and when I “poop out” I’m going so slowly I can’t get my foot unclipped before I fall over. (I fell 2x at the Wine Country Century.) Sharyn suggested that, when faced with a hill that looked like it had “unclip potential” (e.g., that I might have to walk to the crest of it), that I unclip that foot at the BOTTOM of the hill. I did this on the Horse Hill hill, and it worked like a charm. I think that folks who have only ridden with clipless pedals in their biking “careers” would find this insane – but as most of my training has been with baskets (where you can’t really “pull up” anyway), this was a fantastic way to start to conquer my “falling fear” going uphill. I am still able to pedal “around” with my left foot, and to pedal “down” with my right – which is also ready to be PUT down should I actually need to stop and walk. I was super glad she had suggested it, and hoped that it would work just as well during the upcoming 3/4 Iron the next weekend!
This weekend, my “Tennessee Teammate” Missy went and rode the Ironman Louisville course. She stated that it was rollers – basically NO flats, but not a lot of “horrible hills” either. One of the things that she mentioned was that she was constantly gear-shifting, and that she’s going to change out the gearing on her bike and have it set up for rollers, not really flats at all.
I have been thanking my lucky stars about Angeline having handlebar-shifters. (Yes, her name has morphed into “Angeline” and I have 3 songs by the same name on my iPod now, just for riding (smile).) It’s fascinating to me how much of a difference it makes in my riding. I didn’t particularly think it would, and really resisted it (like the clipless pedals, which I’m still trying to decide about in re Friend or Foe). Vlad, my previous bike, of course, had downtube shifters. I realize now that I would basically be too “lazy” to “fine tune” my gearing as I was riding – since taking my hand off the handlebars, “finding” the gear (don’t forget – no “click” to change) and all that was just a lot more effort than I would perceive it was worth. So I wouldn’t do it. This was especially true if I was fighting with the wind, which made taking a hand off the handlebars seem a bit dangerous. Now, I find that I’m constantly “tinkering” with what gear I’m in, to keep my cadence up. It’s a whole different ballgame.
Tennessee Teammate Missy after her ride at the IM Luh'vul course - Go Team, IronTeam!
I found the other day when I went for a pretty short ride with H that I do the same thing when I have my water in bottles! When I have the Camelbak, I happily sip along. With bottles, I only drink when I really think about it and want to go through the “effort” of reaching down to get the bottle (and put it back!). I wound up FAR more dehydrated than when I use the Camelbak.
I’m sort of bummed to find out that IM Louisville is a bunch of rollers. As I have progressed, I have found that I’m VERY strong on flats, but I suck at uphills. I’m fine on downhills, not super speedy, but not super scaredy-cat either. Paula, my teammate with whom I rode the Marin Metric Century, is doing IML and is going to ROCK it, because she is a hill maven. It’s the oddest thing – when she gets on the flats, she SUCKS. We laugh that, together, we make one perfect cyclist and one awful one.
So what happened for me during this “Recovery” week?
Thursday I did the Run Marker. I was running around doing “Sonoma County Errands” all day, and so did the 10K/25 laps at the Petaluma High track. Brought back training for the sprint triathlon in the late 90s when I lived on my farm. I did the Marker in 1:07:42. I couldn’t have taken another step – which is what I understood we were supposed to do. It was pretty mind-numbing going around and around, so I broke it into 5 sets of 5 laps – funny how we can trick our brain!
I had “sexy phase” photos done on Friday. Karen Schneider took them, and it was a blast. She’s going to offer a special for “sexy phase” to my TNT Teammates – I can’t wait to see how the photos came out. I certainly had fun!
Saturday, I actually did the 2 hour run that was on the schedule this week. (I have been moving things around – and didn’t get to the pool at all). H and I had a sleep deprivation catch-up morning and didn’t get up until something crazy like 11:00. I ran to my gym and back to see how long it would take (I think it’s about 10 miles) and it took around 2:30, with me having a “pit stop” at the gym and running into a friend for a quick chat. It was a lovely day – came home and did some gardening with H, and generally lolled around.
Sunday H and I did the Bike Marker. It was odd, because it was supposed to be a Team/Mentor marker, but it just didn’t come together. Melissa wound up doing it herself earlier, then H and I did it a bit later in the day (again, we slept until like 10:00!).
I did the marker set (5 miles) in 17:44 – it was super windy for the “out” part of the ride and the first ½ of the marker, but WHAT a pretty day. My average heartrate was 171 – yeah, I know, “If yours was that fast, you would be having a heart attack” (Laugh) Our marker sets are definitely on a rolling “terrain” (from Nicasio around Lake Laganitas to Sir Francis Drake Blvd, and back) – I have to get it down into my lowest gear a couple times. The idea is that you ride out to Sir Francis Drake, then from Drake back along the reservoir 5 miles is the Marker. The total is just about 20 miles.
At the end of the 5 miles on the Marker is a fast straightaway by the lake and when we hit that, the wind had died down and I had a pounding song on my “Camelbak radio” (laugh) and so I FLEW (for me). I had it up at 23 mph on the flat. I was panting but had a grand old time. The fun part (evil me) is that H couldn’t keep up. He would pass me on the hills (I really REALLY suck on uphills) but I am a flats demon. We averaged 17 MPH on the whole ride – though I know that on some of the uphills, I was down in single digits. Not bad, considering the wind and all. We went home “the long way” from Nicasio because it was such a pretty day (out and down Drake), ate brunch at the Two Bird Cafe in San Geronimo, and then nosed around an Open House and a few nurseries to get some new plants for the garden. A nice, relaxing weekend.
I have been sandbagging on the Swim Marker, so going to do that this afternoon (the 5 x 500s).
You Know You’re Iron When you say the phrase “it was only 10 miles” related to running and “it was only 20 miles” related to biking, and you mean it.
P.S.: I did the Swim Marker set – yay! So it was 5×500 without a break (after a warmup). My times were:
Yeah ok so I was pissed to see when I tapped lap-3 over on my watch to lap-4 I was getting up towards 11:00 and I was determined not to do a split over 10:59!! I didn’t quite mean to negative split so hard btwn the 2 🙂
It’s an odd week for me – I have a ton of things that I have to do (none of them $-making, sadly!) and a lot of running around. This makes it hard to Swim, or even really to do things like the 10K Run marker. I have been able to get a couple of Runs in – what I would call “recovery runs” e.g. about 45 minutes or so – and a few Spins (again, about 45 minutes) – but unfortunately so far, no can do on Swimming. If only I had a pool in the back yard!
Yesterday I met with a client who has been my client for about 5 years – and we have never met in person! We met over in Point Richmond and afterwards, I went for a run through the “ferry point tunnel” out and back. It was a great run, though it was drizzling. I didn’t even know that part of Point Richmond existed. When I got home, H was down in the “studio” (a/k/a garage) and so I spun for a few miles.
I think I will be able to do the Swim Marker tomorrow late afternoon – I have a business acquaintance who is a professional photographer, and she wants to do photos of me in my tri stuff. I’m really excited. That means, however, that today I’m going to go get my shaggy mess of hair cut, which means going up to Sonoma . . . so I’m fitting in “Sonoma things” (like seeing friends that live up there, visit to the acupuncturist, dog in for a checkup, etc.) Once again, I will have my running shoes – so a little “active recovery run” might be in order. We’ll see – I don’t want to affect my “do” too much (laugh!)
At least last week on Sunday I did the 4 mile/4 mile Run, and the 2000 yard Swim, and I did keep the times. So that gives me SOME idea of “where I am.” I don’t think I have improved my times that much, but I’m pretty “steady on” with them. That doesn’t surprise me. When I was doing Olympic Distance triathlons long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away (my 20s – ha!) I was never particularly faster than I am right now in the Run/Swim. I am now a LOT stronger on the Bike, however, because I didn’t have a clue how to really train for that “back then.” I never get particularly faster in the Run/Swim – I just get happier. (smile.)
Well, off to get my “do” done – and get a little recovery Jog in somewhere along the way.
On Saturday, Maria (M-Dot) Afan and I worked Oysterfest for LLS. Basically, that means working from morning to night pouring Guinness-branded beers, with tips going to the Leukemia Society. It was a SUPER cold morning, so I visited my Favorite Shopping Palace (Sports Basement) to pick up some arm warmers before hitting Fort Mason. Maria put this photo on Facebook, and one of her friends asked if the “black and tans” were the drinks, or Maria in the arm warmers! Loved it.
My bartending skills were definitely put to the test as the day wore on. WOW there were a lot of people, for a cold and foggy day! It could be because there were headliner bands (such as Cake) playing. At one point I wound up “womanning” the taps myself – meaning I had about 5 pints going at once. SO iron! The frustrating bit is that the tips that are received all go into a big “pot” and are then “divvied out” – and MANY of the people pretty much either stood around or didn’t even work (e.g., didn’t put on the staff shirts, and just took off). Although the gal running the whole thing for LLS “cautioned” that if you “were caught” doing this that you would not get your portion, OF COURSE no one was really watching. This does not take away from the HUGE Thank Yous that are due to everyone who threw dinero into our Tip Boxes – you are making a difference and maybe your $$ will be what tramples blood cancers once and for all!
me taking my one 10 minute break, under the truck.
OK, I should get off my disgruntled soapbox…Well, one more thing. I think Maria said that last year, after working the same amount of time (over 8 hours) that she got $100 as her “cut.” I am not sure what I was expecting, but I guess that I thought that there would be about 1/2 the volunteers (which would probably have been about the number of volunteers that actually worked, if our booth was any example of the other beer booths), and that we would get 5x $100. “Bitter, party of one…” OK I will shut up. Maria took some cute photos though so here they are (smile).
Our team did their 80-mile Vineman course ride on Saturday. I woke up on Sunday sore from all the standing on Saturday, and sore “mentally” for not having done the ride. Maria and I had received an email at the end of OysterFest (and, of course, the end of that 80-mile ride for our fellow “otter swimmers”) that Coach Mike’s excursion to Pacific Grove for an open water swim in Monterey and long run was cancelled due to Vineman Ride Exhaustion. I had a seriously Lazy Mental State going, and felt “weird” about being so sore from basically “pulling taps” all day (and not “really” exercising). However, I got myself together after Maria and I had a little “pep talk” with one another, and did an 8 mile Run, and then a 2000 yard Swim. The Run had been switched from an 8-miler to “do an hour and a 1/2, of which 45 minutes is at your Tempo pace,” but it is a lot easier for me (since I don’t have a Garmin) to pace out a set of miles in the car, and then go for that. (I can’t figure out my “Tempo pace” otherwise, because I have no way of knowing how far I have gone in a set amount of minutes.) I ran out China Camp from the JCC (my pool) – the first 4 miles I did in 45:14, which IS about my Tempo pace from the V-DOT chart (my Tempo pace is 11:57). I took a “pit stop” and then came back the 4 miles, and did that in 47:44. My legs were definitely heavier on the way back. I was having fun though – listening to my “toonz” and actually singing which is always a BAD thing. Some guys going past me with their windows down and their muddy bikes up on racks from a ride (mountain biking was basically “born” at China Camp) passed me while I was singing and laughed and gave me a “thumbs up.” As in “You go girl, don’t worry about what ANYONE thinks.” (smile)
The run was one of those glorious ones that don’t happen often for me – when I feel like my legs are sort of on “autopilot” and just carrying me forward. I had that a few times when I was training for the Big Sur Marathon – I feel strong, balanced, and like my legs are almost “robotically” moving the “top half” of me towards the destination. It’s hard to put it to words, but I just love it. I don’t even have to think about leaning forward, pacing, or the like – it just “happens” and I get to “go along for the ride.” I was super happy. Yippee!
"carbo loading" (beer and gel!) during my 10 minute break - I thought I'd have time to get food, but no go. Thank goodness I brought a Hammer Gel!
I got back to the JCC and transitioned into the pool, and did the 2000 yards. I decided to pretty much take it easy – just plug it out. My arms were really sore, and I realized it was actually probably from (wo)manning the taps the day before! I did the 2000 yards in 48:32 – so each of the three “sets” – the two 4-mile run “sets” and the 2000-yard swim “set” – was pretty much the same time (right around 45ish minutes).
Monday was supposed to be the 80-mile ride, with Maria and Coach Mike, but as rain was forecasted, Mike was kind enough to instead set us up with a Triple Brick. (For a definition of a “brick” follow Maria’s link, above – she talks about it.)
Maria got to my house somewhere around 9:30 a.m., and we got our nutrition together, and our “timing.” I wanted to be sure that we didn’t have to go back up to the house (as we were doing the Spin down in the “workout studio” – a/k/a garage) except for me to take Jake (my dog) inside when we would go for the Run (he’s gotten too old to come along at speed, poor darlin’), and to have “potty breaks.” We were both a bit “math challenged” on the nutrition front, which was sort of funny. I thought I was the only one who couldn’t “multiply by 2” in my head. (smile) Once we got it all sorted,
we plugged my iPod into the stereo system that H had rigged up down there, and started our “journey.”
Here is the workout:
Pedal Mechanics Sustainable Power.
Clock Time:
0:00 Begin Easy Warmup
9:00 One Leg Drills begin RIGHT leg (easy gear)
We don't need no stinkin' Garmin: With a heart rate monitor watch AND a chrono watch AND a cadence meter...and a bottle of Thermalytes & a sweat rag...anything is possible, right?
10:00 Both Legs (1’RI @ 90+ RPM)
11:00 Left Leg
12:00 Both
13:00 Right
14:00 Both
15:00 Left
16:00 Both
17:00 Right
18:00 Both
19:00 Left
20:00 5′ Recovery @80-85+ RPM
SUSTAINABLE POWER INTERVALS
(Lvl 6-8 Effort 90+ rpm)
3×10′ efforts w/5′ Recovery between each effort
25:00 First 10′ SP Interval @ Lvl 6-7
(zone 3- Tempo LT chart)
35:00 5′ Recovery, easy gear 85-90+ rpm
40:00 second 10′ SP interval @ Lvl 6-7
(zone 3 – Tempo)
50:00 5′ Recovery, easy gear 85-90+ rpm
55:00 Third 10′ SP Interval @ lvl 6-7
(zone 3- tempo)
1:05:00 10′ Run @ Level 3 effort
1:15:00 Repeat Spin from time 0:00 (3x total)
view of the rain, from the "workout studio"in the "workout studio" - yeah, sexy sweaty hair I got there. I know. Totally Vogue.
It was tough, but it was also fun. We got “Workout Tourettes” by the 3rd go-around on the Spin, but in general, we pretty much kept it together. (My bike computer registered that I covered 46.6 miles in the Spin for the session – well, Dist-1 is 46.6 and Dist-2 is 63, I have to believe I didn’t zero it out. I worked HARD though, one way or another.)
When we went for the Run, it was raining, but not particularly cold or windy (except the 3rd time around, when I was videotaping Maria – you can hear the wind blowing in the microphone). Maria did manage to find out that her “waterproof” jacket was actually just a “windbreaker” – when she came back from the 2nd round totally soaked!
The road from my house is pretty hilly – as in, I can’t actually make it up the hills myself on the bike. So though the runs were only “5 minutes out and 5 minutes back,” it was definitely not a cakewalk. On the last run, when we were definitely in “loopy stage,” we filmed ourselves – here you go:
finishing the bike part of the 3rd brick. Oh yeah. Sex-say.
In all, quite the weekend! Today (Tuesday), writing this, I feel VERY fatigued but, masochistically, in a ‘good way.’ I feel (as Maria said in her blog) as if I really “earned the burn” during this workout. I think we kept each other going – and whether it was me shouting “ONE MORE MINUTE” or Maria shouting “KEEP IT AT 155,” we ground it out (in a good way). Every now and again I would look at Maria and think of the lyrics to John Lennon’s song Imagine, “You may think I’m crazy…But I’m not the only one…”
One of our many You Know You’re Iron When learnings from Monday – You Know You’re Iron When you are “steaming” – from the INSIDE and from the OUTSIDE! Also – as Maria noted on her blog – we staged all these photos (except the 2 videos of course) AFTER our workout – no sandbagging by these grrls!
Postscript: Just got the notification that Oysterfest raised $10,662.06 (or $400 more than last year) for LLS. Which is GREAT. That works out to $90 each. Oy. I gotta not be bitter about folks who did not work. I gotta. I gotta. I…maybe it’s time for a beer (laugh).
Me, steaming (the "defocussed part" above my neck/shoulders is steam coming off my back)
