It's been a while since I posted....been busy training! I overcame my distaste for that four letter word -camp- and Jeff got me new sleeping bag. Time to suck it up and sleep outdoors. The mint on the pillow was missing, and I'm not sure who fell down on the job with that one!! (after we survived HAIL putting up our tent!)
Thumbs up to Zach who went along on the trip to do his run, but had to stay in the campsite bored out of his gourd for the 4+ hours we were gone on our bikes. What a trouper, made me proud!
We did our little practice day yesterday, and it was good. The wetsuit went on and came off fairly easily. The lake was COLD, but not unbearable. For curiosity's sake I looked it up, and it was 65. The suit was comfortable, (and has pretty pink trim!) and I'm much less worried about that part now. We then went back up to the campsite, changed out, got our bikes, and took off. 9 in our group. I stayed with the first 3 or 4 for the first 41 miles. This is new for me, I'm usually at the back of the pack. My first hour I held 15 mph, second hour 18.5 mph. 3 hour 14 mph (nasty grade!!) We were pretty spread out, but we waited 3 times at major intersections for the group to catch up. Then we hit the Nasty Grade, and it lived up to it's name and reputation! I struggled, big time. Dropped to number 8, and Jeff had to circle back for me twice. I HATE feeling like this. Finished up at 7th, but frustrated. It was a hard ride. I stopped my garmin when we stopped, and we only did 54 miles because we went back to our campsite, not the marina, but it took 3:34 - longer than I'd hoped. Then we ran. The plan was for one of they guys (Thanks, Terry!) to do the whole 13 mile loop, with our son. Jeff would do the first half with them, (his knee, IT band, and calf are giving him problems) and I'd do the second. Well, Zach pooped out, so he only did the first half, which is apparently the much tougher one. I came in at the 6 miles point and finished in 54 minutes. Not too bad, and I would be very happy if I could hold that pace for the whole race, but that's not likely.
My official goal is the swim at 35 minutes; the bike at 3:45; and the run at 2:10. Add in the transitions, and I'd really like to finish the whole thing in 6:45. Last year there were 59 women in my division, and a time of under 7:00 would keep me in the top half.
Saturday, May 2, my 'wave' will go off at 9:25. I'll be in a lite purple cap. Start praying hard right around then, and don't stop until 4:30!!! It's going to be a long day!!!
Tyler has the first leg of my men's relay, he starts in a silver cap at 9:30. He'll hand over the chip to Jeff at 9:50 or so, and then Jeff takes off. He'll hand the chip to Zach shortly before 1:00 we think, then Zach starts to boogy! We'll be looking for him at 3:00 or shortly there after. Zach's leg is much more weather dependant, not much shade, and lots of BIG hills.
While you are thinking good thoughts......think highs of 60, lows of 55, no rain and ABSOLUTELY no WIND!! Thank you, thank you!!
Linda ;-)
2 weeks, 5 days until I swim, bike & run: 1.2 miles; 56 miles; 13.1 miles......
21 weeks, 6 days until I swim, bike & run: 2.4 miles; 112 miles; 26.2 miles.....
My new quote is - 'Have an IV bag of champagne waiting at the finish line' - Jim Vance
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Added another race
I've been talked into (not difficult, really!) entering the raffle to get a spot in the Nike Women's race in San Francisco. Not too certain about this...it's only 5 weeks post-ironman, and I'm not sure I'll be able to move yet! Connie has assured me that I will be carried if necessary. If I keep my weight down. I'm going to need to make sure that there are no cameras!!
Biked 33 miles hard today - including willow springs - and did it 12 minutes faster than ever, well under 2 hours. Woohoo!! Had to chase Jeff, after all! Ran yesterday, just 4 miles, but did it at race pace of 9:10. I would like to see that at 8:30 for Wildflower, but I think I'm dreaming. Actually, I'd just like to finish it without embarassing myself or my family!!
Tomorrow's a swim day - and a hard one, I think. 1000's for time, and lots of IM. yukky!
6 weeks, 2 days until I swim, bike & run: 1.2 miles; 56 miles; 13.1 miles......
25 weeks, 3 days until I swim, bike & run: 2.4 miles; 112 miles; 26.2 miles.....
My new quote will be - 'Have an IV bag of champagne waiting at the finish line' - Jim Vance
Biked 33 miles hard today - including willow springs - and did it 12 minutes faster than ever, well under 2 hours. Woohoo!! Had to chase Jeff, after all! Ran yesterday, just 4 miles, but did it at race pace of 9:10. I would like to see that at 8:30 for Wildflower, but I think I'm dreaming. Actually, I'd just like to finish it without embarassing myself or my family!!
Tomorrow's a swim day - and a hard one, I think. 1000's for time, and lots of IM. yukky!
6 weeks, 2 days until I swim, bike & run: 1.2 miles; 56 miles; 13.1 miles......
25 weeks, 3 days until I swim, bike & run: 2.4 miles; 112 miles; 26.2 miles.....
My new quote will be - 'Have an IV bag of champagne waiting at the finish line' - Jim Vance
Monday, March 16, 2009
Time to get ready for ....WILDFLOWER!
Since you may notice that this blog is coming out at 1 in the morning, my sleep is being affected by all of this training for/worrying about Wildflower!
For the uninitiated, Wildflower seems to be much like Woodstock. I wasn't there, wasn't able to walk yet, I don't believe, but I've seen the pictures! So my stressors are multiple....one, we're taking the boys (They are on a relay with Dad) and exposing them to this debauchery that rumor has includes topless co-eds from Cal Poly. Second, this is a long %^&* course, with lots of hills that will surely kick my @#*&.. Egads. Finally, and this part is just sinking in, I've been advised that I need to CAMP. I try very hard to avoid that four-letter word when at all possible. I'd better have a very nice aerobed, with a cozy double bag, a mint on my pillow and a certain hot (showered and clean!) triathlete to share it with. I'm just sayin'.
Rode 45 miles on Saturday, after swimming 5000+ yards Friday. Having a bit of a pity party re: the state of my legs. They hurt, and they seem to resent what I'm putting them through. I'm bumping into things everywhere, and they are starting to look like 12 year old boy legs! I really thought I'd be seeing some solid recovery by week 2. Not so much. Oh well, I'll swim tommorow, that should be easier on them.
6 weeks and 5 days. 1.2 miles in the lake; 56 miles on the bike; 13.1 miles on my feet.......
There had better be champagne in my IV bag at the finish - with all my men present! ;-)
For the uninitiated, Wildflower seems to be much like Woodstock. I wasn't there, wasn't able to walk yet, I don't believe, but I've seen the pictures! So my stressors are multiple....one, we're taking the boys (They are on a relay with Dad) and exposing them to this debauchery that rumor has includes topless co-eds from Cal Poly. Second, this is a long %^&* course, with lots of hills that will surely kick my @#*&.. Egads. Finally, and this part is just sinking in, I've been advised that I need to CAMP. I try very hard to avoid that four-letter word when at all possible. I'd better have a very nice aerobed, with a cozy double bag, a mint on my pillow and a certain hot (showered and clean!) triathlete to share it with. I'm just sayin'.
Rode 45 miles on Saturday, after swimming 5000+ yards Friday. Having a bit of a pity party re: the state of my legs. They hurt, and they seem to resent what I'm putting them through. I'm bumping into things everywhere, and they are starting to look like 12 year old boy legs! I really thought I'd be seeing some solid recovery by week 2. Not so much. Oh well, I'll swim tommorow, that should be easier on them.
6 weeks and 5 days. 1.2 miles in the lake; 56 miles on the bike; 13.1 miles on my feet.......
There had better be champagne in my IV bag at the finish - with all my men present! ;-)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Bike Time!
Well, the marathon is done...and I survived.....so it's time to look forward! I've got 7 weeks and 6 days until Wildflower, so it's probably (over)due that I start spending a lot more time in the saddle. I spent 16 hours at a women-only bike clinic this weekend, and it taught me a lot - most importantly, I think, a bit more confidence in my abilities! Second most important, stay away from newer cyclist that can't unclip before they crash into others! Several more bruises to add to the collection!
So, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians beware...I'm hitting the road! I want to finish the Wildflower bike leg (56 very hilly miles) in less than 4 hours. I've got some training to do!
So, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians beware...I'm hitting the road! I want to finish the Wildflower bike leg (56 very hilly miles) in less than 4 hours. I've got some training to do!
Monday, March 2, 2009
NAPA - Check!
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!
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!
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!)
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