First 'A' race of the year.....done!
We went up Saturday and met up with the other local runners and their support staff (hubbies), had a small snack at the hotel (we NEED the extra calories!) and headed for a great italian dinner of carbo-loading-mania! Probably against all protocol (but, geez, we were in NAPA!) we shared a bottle of wine. The strange part of that sentence would be that 5 of us shared that bottle... and that we only shared ONE! The sacrifices runners must make before a race. sigh.
Back to the hotel for dessert - did I mention that we NEED the extra calories?!?
Spent the rest of the evening checking out our goodie bags, and our snazzy new run bags, and stressing about what to wear and what to pack and where to pack it. Questioning the decision to do this at all..... Okay, I did all that. Jeff watched TV. He gets the 'relax' part of this much better than I do!
5:15 AM in the lobby to meet the bus. IT'S STILL DARK! and rainy...and cold....and windy. We cut holes in our big trash bags, and make a run for the bus. Jeff and the harem, that is. The support hubbies are still asleep! We take the bus to Calistoga. Gotta say, heard many runners on that bus questioning the 45 minute drive.....how could we possibly be running back this far? Aren't we there, yet? The windshield wipers were flying, water was spraying up from the puddles on the road, wind was streaming in the window vents. hmmmm. Is there a bus marathon?
Off the bus, on with the hefty bags. We look like a moving mass of recyclables!! Drop off our run bags, hit the porta-potties, and we're off! The sky is lighter, but the rain is heavier. My garmin isn't working, drat. In the mass start, I lose the other girls....and Jeff's up in the front of the pack - as expected!
People were so friendly - everybody was chatting and comparing notes as we ran, and I met a lot of neat runners! At mile 5 I stopped to get my garmin satelites aligned, and I was finally running with a pace in mind and on my wrist! I knew at that point I was close to holding a 9 minute mile pace, and that was better than I had hoped for. I'm starting to think that I can do this! 21 more miles.....
Mile 12, I stop to swap out my food bottles and visit the porta-potty (yuk!) and was informed by the medic that I was swaying. I responded, in a very mature fashion, that I 'was not!' He amended it to 'listing a bit' and I explained, very politely I thought, that what he was observing is my running style. He let me go, and I vowed not to stop near a medic again! Listing. Hmph.
Mile 13.1 - I'm at 1:57!! I might be able to do this!!
Mile 16 - what the h#$% was I thinking? No human being could do this. And this isn't the downhill course that I was promised! Who can I blame - now?!?
Mile 18 - Okay, maybe I can finish this.....but these are still UPhills!
Mile 22 - cowbells, drums, pots/pans, lots of clapping, horns, umbrellas everywhere - cheerleaders galore! I'm feeling like a RUNNER!
Mile 25 - I can do this!! However, message to the guy who was yelling that it was all in my head now.....this was mental....my body's part was done: My feet, ankles, knees, hams, quads & hips disagree. They were still very much in play!!
It was hard....certainly painful, and there were times I felt the piano on my back (thanks, Patti!). But it was also lots of fun. I really enjoyed passing people (lots!!) and being passed spurred me on. The wet weather kept me cool, but made my feet miserable, and I think I'm going to lose toenails. Oh, well.
Big bummer......wore the jacket for the whole race, and never got to show off my new pink running top. All that indecision for nothing. dang.
Bottom line, I crossed the finish line at 3:59:45 - under four hours, and I am now a BOSTON QUALIFIER! Should I choose to buy the plane ticket, I can race in Boston in 2010. Probably not, but I can if I want to....and that's a thrill!
The funniest part is that I wasn't even up for wine tasting on the way home....made one token stop, at a winery where parking was close to the tasting room (we weren't walking ANYWHERE!) tasted a few good wines, and went home. Very much a first for us, and a loss for the Napa economy. The Nollette Stimulus package didn't come through!
I'm sitting here now trying to figure out how to minimize trips anywhere today, because thos front stteps of mine are killer. Up, not so bad. Down, well, that would be comical if it was somebody ELSE doing it!! I need one of those handicapped chairrail lifts......Mother's Day!!
I'm also wondering how long I get to take off from training......how long can I milk this?!? At least a few days, I would think. I'm participating in a bike clinic next weekend, hope I can walk!!
I think it's time for a nap.......
....and Mom, this one's yours. Love you!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tomorrow's the Day!
I'm hearing from my fan club that they (okay, just Judy, but she's persistent!!) are not getting frequent enough posts. I'm working on it! I think I need to temporarily lose a kid or 2 - they take up way to much time out of my training and blogging! BIG thanks to Naida for doing just that this weekend, so we don't have to ruin their busy teenage lives by making them watch us compete for a change!
Well, first major goal day is tomorrow....MARATHON.....what the hell was I thinking?!? 26.2 miles???
To say that I have the jitters would be an understatement.....and the weather report isn't helping. Looks like 50 degrees, rain and wind....hunky-dory. Not even sure what to wear, but at least obsessing about that is keeping my mind off the 26.2 miles ahead of me. It'll be fun. It's in Napa, about 2 hours from here, so I get an overnight with hubby and friends, and wine tasting afterwards.....yeah! See, I can keep my mind off the 26.2 miles, easy!!
Did I mention rain and wind? Did I mention that I don't own a rain jacket that's not a knee length parka?!?
I'm going to keep reminding myself that I have been training for this...including running in the rain with the whole 'drowned rat look' down. Drowned rat masquerading as a sausage...I had so many layers on it was hard to tell it was me stuffed into a non-waterproof windbreaker.....and I was drenched anyway. It was a race to see what would drench the middle layer first - rain from the outside, sweat (sorry, Mom, I know it's referred to as 'glow' from a lady, but it smells suspiciously like sweat) from the inside. EWWW. Not even going to call it.
Note to self: Buy waterproof mascara on the way out of town!!
February's total training hours and distances:
Bike: 16h 01m 39s - 242.58 Mi
Run: 11h 50m 22s - 71.05 Mi
Swim: 5h 58m - 17800 Yd
Think of the miles that I could log if I had no husband, kids or blog needing my time and attention!
Well, husband stays.....he's running this, too....and he'll be at the finish line (probably showered, fed and napped) when I cross it an hour (or so!) later. Hopefully waiting with my wine, this is NAPA!! My fan! He's also my emergency contact, I'd better remind him to carry his cell phone. Odds are good......
So, loyal fans, and persistent fans (Judy), think good thoughts.....especially around 11:00 am PST - I'll hopefully only have 3 (or less!) more miles to go, and I'll be soaking up all of the support (with the other-mentioned moisture) that I can get.
At some point on Sunday afternoon or Monday, you can go to this link and see how we both did - be kind with your comments!!
http://www.napavalleymarathon.org/results/
Final thought....it's 28 weeks and one day until I do this again....after I've swam 2.4 miles and biked 112 miles. Mom's right. Reading novels is a much easier hobby!!
If I meet my goals, Mom, this one's for you. If I don't, next one's for you, and I'll train harder. Love you!!
Well, first major goal day is tomorrow....MARATHON.....what the hell was I thinking?!? 26.2 miles???
To say that I have the jitters would be an understatement.....and the weather report isn't helping. Looks like 50 degrees, rain and wind....hunky-dory. Not even sure what to wear, but at least obsessing about that is keeping my mind off the 26.2 miles ahead of me. It'll be fun. It's in Napa, about 2 hours from here, so I get an overnight with hubby and friends, and wine tasting afterwards.....yeah! See, I can keep my mind off the 26.2 miles, easy!!
Did I mention rain and wind? Did I mention that I don't own a rain jacket that's not a knee length parka?!?
I'm going to keep reminding myself that I have been training for this...including running in the rain with the whole 'drowned rat look' down. Drowned rat masquerading as a sausage...I had so many layers on it was hard to tell it was me stuffed into a non-waterproof windbreaker.....and I was drenched anyway. It was a race to see what would drench the middle layer first - rain from the outside, sweat (sorry, Mom, I know it's referred to as 'glow' from a lady, but it smells suspiciously like sweat) from the inside. EWWW. Not even going to call it.
Note to self: Buy waterproof mascara on the way out of town!!
February's total training hours and distances:
Bike: 16h 01m 39s - 242.58 Mi
Run: 11h 50m 22s - 71.05 Mi
Swim: 5h 58m - 17800 Yd
Think of the miles that I could log if I had no husband, kids or blog needing my time and attention!
Well, husband stays.....he's running this, too....and he'll be at the finish line (probably showered, fed and napped) when I cross it an hour (or so!) later. Hopefully waiting with my wine, this is NAPA!! My fan! He's also my emergency contact, I'd better remind him to carry his cell phone. Odds are good......
So, loyal fans, and persistent fans (Judy), think good thoughts.....especially around 11:00 am PST - I'll hopefully only have 3 (or less!) more miles to go, and I'll be soaking up all of the support (with the other-mentioned moisture) that I can get.
At some point on Sunday afternoon or Monday, you can go to this link and see how we both did - be kind with your comments!!
http://www.napavalleymarathon.org/results/
Final thought....it's 28 weeks and one day until I do this again....after I've swam 2.4 miles and biked 112 miles. Mom's right. Reading novels is a much easier hobby!!
If I meet my goals, Mom, this one's for you. If I don't, next one's for you, and I'll train harder. Love you!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2 weeks to go....
Less than two weeks to go 'til Napa, and the butterflies have taken up residency in my belly. Who's idea was this, anyway, DENISE?!?
Not too worried about finishing. Barring any injuries, accidents, acts of God, I should be fine, and crossing the finish line with a time of 4:30, I hope. Need to be in line for lunch!!! However, come to think of it, it's really not safe for me to assume the barring of the above-related contingencies given my history!
I'm on a tear, haven't missed a workout day in over a month - if you count skiing, and with my friends leading the way down and over the mountain, I do!
So, the next 10 days are a taper.....what I've been waiting for/dreaming of on a daily basis since this exciting period in my life began! Question is, what is a taper. Me, I was thinking daily ice cream (dulce de leche from Haagen Daz) and leisurely walks up and down the street. Jeff's muttering something about high intensity, just a bit shorter. I'm taking a poll. Let me know who's definition you think is more accurate, and I will share a good bottle of wine that I've hidden away with all those who vote for my kinda taper!!
Keep fast, healthy thoughts in your head...for Jeff, too! His goal is his secret, but I'm sure it involves crushing me mercilessly, then meeting me at the finish line (probably showered, dressed, fed and rested!) with a bottle of champagne (hint, hint!)
Not too worried about finishing. Barring any injuries, accidents, acts of God, I should be fine, and crossing the finish line with a time of 4:30, I hope. Need to be in line for lunch!!! However, come to think of it, it's really not safe for me to assume the barring of the above-related contingencies given my history!
I'm on a tear, haven't missed a workout day in over a month - if you count skiing, and with my friends leading the way down and over the mountain, I do!
So, the next 10 days are a taper.....what I've been waiting for/dreaming of on a daily basis since this exciting period in my life began! Question is, what is a taper. Me, I was thinking daily ice cream (dulce de leche from Haagen Daz) and leisurely walks up and down the street. Jeff's muttering something about high intensity, just a bit shorter. I'm taking a poll. Let me know who's definition you think is more accurate, and I will share a good bottle of wine that I've hidden away with all those who vote for my kinda taper!!
Keep fast, healthy thoughts in your head...for Jeff, too! His goal is his secret, but I'm sure it involves crushing me mercilessly, then meeting me at the finish line (probably showered, dressed, fed and rested!) with a bottle of champagne (hint, hint!)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The saga continues....Napa minus 29 days!
Well, it's been quite a week! Sunday's run was changed around because Jeff got sick. I ran with Denise and Connie - and did we run! 21.5 miles in 3.5 hours. Small break for me to fall over onto my face, tripped over.....nothing. Typical!! nice little gash in my chin, I'm calling it my latest training scar. Swim on Monday was easy, as was a little trot on Tuesday. Wednesday's bike was COLD - 33 degrees when I went out. Did Willow Springs, with some big hills, on my own....31.5 miles.....and I don't think that the frostbite damage is permanent! Friday's run was my fastest yet, 6.5 miles at 8.5 minutes each - and very cold hands!
4 weeks and a day until the marathon. Today I'll bike 62 with Cass, Don and Jeff (after baseball tryouts for Z AND a water polo tournament for T!) Sunday we'll try to do 2.75 hours running in the hills, but we have the same WP tournament AND the all-important Super Bowl commercials to time around!
The Ironman stuff feels a bit on the back burner right now....until I get through Napa on 3/1. Then I'll need to focus much more on the bike, and the let the run take care of itself a couple of days a week. That'll be a change, I'm really enjoying the running. Who'd have thunk it?!?
Last day in January, looks like I'll hit my 'double-ironman training goal' if I don't take myself out on the bike before 25 miles. Piece of cake, right?!?
Stay tuned.......
4 weeks and a day until the marathon. Today I'll bike 62 with Cass, Don and Jeff (after baseball tryouts for Z AND a water polo tournament for T!) Sunday we'll try to do 2.75 hours running in the hills, but we have the same WP tournament AND the all-important Super Bowl commercials to time around!
The Ironman stuff feels a bit on the back burner right now....until I get through Napa on 3/1. Then I'll need to focus much more on the bike, and the let the run take care of itself a couple of days a week. That'll be a change, I'm really enjoying the running. Who'd have thunk it?!?
Last day in January, looks like I'll hit my 'double-ironman training goal' if I don't take myself out on the bike before 25 miles. Piece of cake, right?!?
Stay tuned.......
Sunday, January 25, 2009
weekend training
Okay, getting to the point where I can deal with the &*%ugle bruise on most of my right leg. Still swollen enough that the tight jeans don't do it!
Weekend plans include what I hope will be either hilly or long on the bike, we'll see. My friend Cass is guiding this one - pray for me, the woman is an energizer bunny!!! Sunday, 20 miles of running, with a starbucks break at 10 miles. Not sure how I feel about that one, but these are the ladies that I'm doing the Mary with, and Coach Kevorkian is sick. We'll give it a go! Monday, long swim and then long massage - Christmas present redeemed at hoity-toity spa! Yea!
Everyone have a great one, no matter your plans. After Sunday's run, I'll look to you all for pacing advice for my Mary....5 weeks and one day out!!
Well, update...we did hilly on the bikes.....and it was hilly! All of Hicks, into Kenenedy and Shannon back......woohoo. Almost 4000 feet of climbing! Hard, and a bit of rain, but a great sense of accomplishment! That is, until I got a flat. My friend and I were like Abbot and Costello....in the rain and mud! CO2 container didn't work, used the pump, couldn't get a great seal - after we couldn't get the tire off the rim for 10 minutes! Cass has done this multiple times, so I've no clue what happened. Had a real tough time getting all of the mud out of my shoes so I could clip in.....I'm sure it was fun to watch! Rode 3 more miles to the coffee place, sat down and warmed up. Came out to ......another flat. Same tire. Great. However, the good news is that there's a bike store next door to the coffee shop. Apparently my first flat last week had exposed a bit of the metal cabling on the tire, and that's what caused today's flat.....twice. So 2 new tubes and a new tire later.....off we went. $50 bike ride!
Today's the long run. Hoping for no equipment OR body-part failures!
My goal for January was to train a double Ironman - 8400 yards in the pool, 224 miles on the bike, ans 53 miles running. I'll keep you closer and month end draws near. Hint, the problem could be all of the %^&* flat tires!!!
Weekend plans include what I hope will be either hilly or long on the bike, we'll see. My friend Cass is guiding this one - pray for me, the woman is an energizer bunny!!! Sunday, 20 miles of running, with a starbucks break at 10 miles. Not sure how I feel about that one, but these are the ladies that I'm doing the Mary with, and Coach Kevorkian is sick. We'll give it a go! Monday, long swim and then long massage - Christmas present redeemed at hoity-toity spa! Yea!
Everyone have a great one, no matter your plans. After Sunday's run, I'll look to you all for pacing advice for my Mary....5 weeks and one day out!!
Well, update...we did hilly on the bikes.....and it was hilly! All of Hicks, into Kenenedy and Shannon back......woohoo. Almost 4000 feet of climbing! Hard, and a bit of rain, but a great sense of accomplishment! That is, until I got a flat. My friend and I were like Abbot and Costello....in the rain and mud! CO2 container didn't work, used the pump, couldn't get a great seal - after we couldn't get the tire off the rim for 10 minutes! Cass has done this multiple times, so I've no clue what happened. Had a real tough time getting all of the mud out of my shoes so I could clip in.....I'm sure it was fun to watch! Rode 3 more miles to the coffee place, sat down and warmed up. Came out to ......another flat. Same tire. Great. However, the good news is that there's a bike store next door to the coffee shop. Apparently my first flat last week had exposed a bit of the metal cabling on the tire, and that's what caused today's flat.....twice. So 2 new tubes and a new tire later.....off we went. $50 bike ride!
Today's the long run. Hoping for no equipment OR body-part failures!
My goal for January was to train a double Ironman - 8400 yards in the pool, 224 miles on the bike, ans 53 miles running. I'll keep you closer and month end draws near. Hint, the problem could be all of the %^&* flat tires!!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Speed Bump.......
Okay, I need to whine for a bit. Y'all read about my fight with the garbage truck that was won by the truck. Nasty bruise on my right knee, but definately survivable. This weekend was a huge time-suck because my kids had a championship swim meet that I needed to work at. So, my big plan was to ride my bike there, about 18 miles, on Sunday morning. Problem was, I didn't have a light, and I needed to be on the pool deck by 7am, and it's still dark. Oh, and it was 36 outside, which is very cold for us Californians.
Caution to the wind! I'll be careful, not many cars will be out, how cold can it really be - I'll just bike faster! After all, I want to be an Ironman, and this is just a speed bump, right?
Fast forward to Sunday morning. It's DARK. Dark enough that not only am I sure noone can see me, but I can't see much of the dang road anyway. Where are all of the street lights?!? I'm warming up, hands and toes are frozen, but the rest of me is okay. 9 miles into it, more than halfway I figure, clunk. FLAT TIRE. CHAIN IS OFF. I'm down on the side of the road because I didn't clip out fast enough. Right knee again. It's still dark, and I need to be on the pool deck in 30 minutes. Not only do I not have the equipment to change the tire, I don't know HOW. Egads. Call hubby, he grabs boys (who don't have to be at pool until 8) and they come get me. 35 minutes later....in shorts, numb AND shivering, I get to the pool. Chai waiting! Thanks, Mike! Get some razzing, and some admiration for my attempt, but I'm bummed....not nearly enough bike time for my training log!
Noon, I'm walking around the time trailer, and smack my leg on the hitch. I now have a bump the size of a egg just below my sore knee, and it's dripping blood. I truly can't believe this. I wrap it in a paper towel, put ice and and an ace on it, and finish the meet. REALLY wish someone had a syringe with morphine in it, or at least a margarita! What's with this no alcohol policy that USA Swimming has?!?!
My boys swam great......all best times!
Today was supposed to be my 2.5 hour run in the hills, and I'm elevating and icing. Whole stupid leg hurts. Oh, and feeling sorry for myself, let's not forget that!
Tomorrow has to be better, right?!?!
Caution to the wind! I'll be careful, not many cars will be out, how cold can it really be - I'll just bike faster! After all, I want to be an Ironman, and this is just a speed bump, right?
Fast forward to Sunday morning. It's DARK. Dark enough that not only am I sure noone can see me, but I can't see much of the dang road anyway. Where are all of the street lights?!? I'm warming up, hands and toes are frozen, but the rest of me is okay. 9 miles into it, more than halfway I figure, clunk. FLAT TIRE. CHAIN IS OFF. I'm down on the side of the road because I didn't clip out fast enough. Right knee again. It's still dark, and I need to be on the pool deck in 30 minutes. Not only do I not have the equipment to change the tire, I don't know HOW. Egads. Call hubby, he grabs boys (who don't have to be at pool until 8) and they come get me. 35 minutes later....in shorts, numb AND shivering, I get to the pool. Chai waiting! Thanks, Mike! Get some razzing, and some admiration for my attempt, but I'm bummed....not nearly enough bike time for my training log!
Noon, I'm walking around the time trailer, and smack my leg on the hitch. I now have a bump the size of a egg just below my sore knee, and it's dripping blood. I truly can't believe this. I wrap it in a paper towel, put ice and and an ace on it, and finish the meet. REALLY wish someone had a syringe with morphine in it, or at least a margarita! What's with this no alcohol policy that USA Swimming has?!?!
My boys swam great......all best times!
Today was supposed to be my 2.5 hour run in the hills, and I'm elevating and icing. Whole stupid leg hurts. Oh, and feeling sorry for myself, let's not forget that!
Tomorrow has to be better, right?!?!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Back to the blog thing. Training has been going relatively well. Napa is in 7 weeks, and that's starting to concern me! The longest run I've done so far is 15 miles, and that was several weeks ago. It's a bit of a struggle to find the time to train in all 3 sports, while I'm feeling like I should be focusing on the run right now. Next up is getting pedals for the bike, and learning how to clip in and out without falling on my butt - or face! I've been pretty consistent with riding the Bailey loop (21 miles), and getting faster each time. On New Year's Day I rode it solo, fueled by pepsi and mimosa! Probably not the best training nutrition, but I blew the doors off my best time! I did a couple of doubles this week, a run/swim on Monday and then a bike/swim on Friday. I'm going to have to do more of that as the kids' schedules heat up, Mommy has to come before Triathlete! Gotta admit, though, it was very hard to go to the official's clinic yesterday when I wanted to be riding my bike in the beautiful sunshine.
I'd really like to enter a bunch more races between now and Ironman Moo, (did I ever mention how slightly competitive I am?!? Or how much I really MISS racing of any kind?!?) but they aren't cheap - time and money-wise, so I'll just keep racing myself for now....it's only a bummer on the days I fail to beat me!
Coach Kevorkian (Jeff doesn't seem to realize how little life insurance he has on me!) has me doing a 2 hour run today. In the hills. For anyone that's into planning (slightly) ahead, I'd like white roses, pink tulips and astrolmeria at my funeral, and please sing Amazing Grace and On Eagle's Wings. Beth can do the singing. Bury me on a hill that's higher than I can bike or run....it would be good to make it!
Keep thinking good thoughts and prayers...they are helping!
I'd really like to enter a bunch more races between now and Ironman Moo, (did I ever mention how slightly competitive I am?!? Or how much I really MISS racing of any kind?!?) but they aren't cheap - time and money-wise, so I'll just keep racing myself for now....it's only a bummer on the days I fail to beat me!
Coach Kevorkian (Jeff doesn't seem to realize how little life insurance he has on me!) has me doing a 2 hour run today. In the hills. For anyone that's into planning (slightly) ahead, I'd like white roses, pink tulips and astrolmeria at my funeral, and please sing Amazing Grace and On Eagle's Wings. Beth can do the singing. Bury me on a hill that's higher than I can bike or run....it would be good to make it!
Keep thinking good thoughts and prayers...they are helping!
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