I Can't Wait to Be An Ironman in 2014

I have just come back from spending 4 days over the Christmas holidays with my husband's family.  I love them dearly, but chocolate is not a daily food staple and someone has to let them know this (as I write this my husband had just opened another box of chocolate - OMG). 

No worries about my chocolate consumption I was "good" but seriously I have put my foot down from this point forward.  

I have 6 months from today till I do my Ironman - 6 months and I can't wait.  I am not scared, I am not nervous, I am just excited to see what I can do and I am already planning for 2015 IM.  I have been practicing my run in for the finish and am now visualizing a finish of 15 hours (down from 16:45).

So far I am loving the training, I have been advised it will be ramping up starting January 1st and I'll be way more tired than usual (is that possible).  I am training 6 days a week right now - here is what my typical schedule looks like:

Monday - Ride
Tuesday - Swim/Run
Wednesday - Ride
Thursday - Off
Friday - Swim
Saturday - Long Run/Ride
Sunday - Swim/Ride

2014 is just around the corner and is proving to be an exciting year for me - I hope the same for you.

Training Totals as of July 8th to-date

Total Running Distance: 287.01K

Total Swimming Distance: 74.21K

Total Biking Distance: 1,794.40K

 

Total Hours: 158

Total Distance: 2,157.58K

Frustation

Frustration
"the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something."

This is defines exactly how I feet about tonight's bike workout, I am just not getting it, will I ever?

Is it that I don't understand or just that I am not giving my full 100%.

Well from now on whatever I think I should be doing I'll up it!

Wish my luck cause right now I am angry with myself!

If Your Doing Ironman, You Have To Be Organized

I thought I'd take the time this evening to add to my blog.  I have taken the night off from training as I am feeling run down - coming down with a cold.  I went to the drug store right after work and got myself some Cold-FX (the strong stuff 300 mg) and hope that it will help me get over whatever it is I am coming down with. 

It's only 8 months till my Ironman and training is going pretty well right now.  It is getting a bit more intense but I have it in my head that training is just part of my life (like brushing my teeth) so doing it does not really bother me.  However, it is really important that I have good food to eat after my training and not junk.   Four nights a week I get home late from training so wanted to make sure I had good, healthy, homemade meals to eat for after my workouts. 

 

I don't want to make dinner once I get home from working out cause then I won't eat till about 10 p.m. so every other Sunday I make a ton of meals and freeze then.  This weekend I bought another crock pot (now have two) and made chili, a peanut chicken dish (mmmmm), Jamaican hot pot dish, meat for tacos and cooked some chicken ready to defrost and eat whenever.  

 

While everything was cooking I got on my treadmill (I know have a treadmill as my coach does not want me to run outside during winter months) and ran race pace for 1 hour.

 

At the beginning of each week I cook up some new potatoes (lower on the GI index than large potatoes) and a brown rice dish ready to each with whatever meat dish I am taking for lunch.  I then cut up a bunch of vegis and pack then ready for work.   I then jot down on a sheet what I am going to eat for dinner each night after a workout for that week so I am not grabbing for junk.  For instance this week I am eating:

 

Monday - Peanut Chicken Dish

Tuesday - Omelette

Wednesday - Chili

Thursday - Tacos

Friday - Stew

 

Right now my life is pretty repetitious and quite boring, just trying to stay healthy and strong.

 

Training Totals as of July 8th to-date

Total Running Distance: 233.11K

Total Swimming Distance: 33.80K

Total Biking Distance: 1,274K

Total Hours: 112.09

Total Distance: 1,544.07K

 

Ironman...Anything is possible...

 

Indoor Cycling Begins

Today Jeff and I got our bikes ready for indoor cycling. 

Trainer tires were put on, chains lubed, cadence meters in working order and some meals made and frozen so we don't have to worry about what to eat when we are tired and home late from training.

My coach, Trevor Williams, has a new studio "The Engine Room" at Speed Theory and I know everyone is looking forward to trying the new computrainers.  I am sad that outdoor riding is "almost" over (but I'll be riding to and from work until the weather says I can't) but I am looking forward to the great workout the class provides (it is tough).  This year I am hoping I will be able to complete the 20 minutes standing we will be expected to do during one of our training sessions.

Ironman is only 272 days away so I'll want to get in all the indoor cycling I can till spring arrives and allows me to ride outside again. 

 

So for now...goodbye vehicle fumes, goodbye motorhomes who don't see me on the shoulder, goodbye tacks in the road that caught me off guard but taught me how to change my tri bike tires, goodbye Saturdays with good friends and long rides, goodbye riding to Bragg Creek for coffee, goodbye tans lines...I will see you all in April.

Training Totals as of July 8th to-date

Total Running Distance: 185.88K

Total Swimming Distance: 23.91K

Total Biking Distance: 1,080.61K

Total Hours: 87:04:41

Total Distance: 1,292.56K

 



If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, then triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise. 

Stuff An Ironman Dosen't Say

Check out the video below think you'll laugh as much as me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do53TQ6OVJ4

I am 3 months into my IM CDA training, there are good days and there are hard days (more good hard days than bad hard days).  I am actually really enjoying the training, I have gotten to the point where my training is just part of my everyday routine, just part of what I do.

Saturday I did a 1 1/2 run (uphill - my legs were killing me), then today some interval training on my bike (2 hours), which lead to a 2 hour nap this afternoon and then tomorrow I have the day off and I am doing a 3 hour ride, hopefully followed by another 2 hour nap.

My Ironman is only 286 days away/approx. 9 1/2 months and I can't wait.  But right now my hubbie is on the way home with some ice-cream (not on my nutrition plan but what the hell) so I am a little more excited about that than Ironman CDA right now.

Training Totals as of July 8th to-date

Total Running Distance: 154K

Total Swimming Distance: 22.54K

Total Biking Distance: 983K

Total Hours: 78:06

Total Distance: 1,162K

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. – Mark Twain

Swim At Ironman Mont-Tremblant

Today thousands of athletes gathered together in Mont-Tremblant to do one thing and one thing only...become an Ironman.  (Ironman consists of a 3.8 KM swim, 180 KM bike ride and 42.2 KM run in that order). 

The goal of Ironman is to cross the finish line before midnight (you have 17 hours from the start) and hear your name called out by the announcer with the following words after it "John Doe YOU ARE AN IRONMAN". 

I am proud to say that one of those thousands today who completed Ironman Mount-Tremblant and earned the right to call herself an Ironman is my friend (and inspiration to me) Krista Murray (bib 450).

 

Krista YOU ARE AN IRONMAN and we are all very proud of you.

So You Wanna Be A Triathlete?

This was on a facebook page I saw recently:

Fact: you will not become efficient at swimming, biking or running over night. Sorry to burst your bubble. This is NOT an easy sport. 
 
Check your ego at the door because chances are someone fifty pounds heavier than you will lap you in the pool. Not to mention she will be ten or fifteen years older than you. 

You will be passed on the bike many times and you will never be the fastest runner in your town.
 
You will have early morning workouts. Really early.You will plan your weekends around your swim, bike and run.You are up while others are sleeping.You are training while others are sitting.You will discover others who also follow this blood, sweat and tears cult.You will eventually get a flat tire... and have to change it all by yourself.No matter what you hear, triathlon is NOT an inexpensive sport.
 
Warning, it is extremely addictive, hence the impulse spending on wetsuits, bikes, running shoes, aero bars, aero helmets, speed suits, power meters, GPS heart-rate monitors and many other ‘gotta have items.’
 
You will hate swimming more times than you like it for the first year.You will suffer through road trips with whiny fellow triathletes.You will suffer set backs.You may experience an injury.You will develop a love/hate relationship with a foam roller and ice baths.You will at some point realize you need a coach.You will hate swimming for the first year.
You will wear tight clothing.   You will not like how this tight clothing fits or looks.Your age will take on a whole new meaning.You will discover a whole new meaning for tan lines.
 
Food will become an extremely important part of your life.You will learn new words such as GU, cadence and brick.You will hate swimming for the first year.You will spend more time on your bike than on your couch.
You may lose a friend or two because you spend too much time swimming, biking and running, and they could careless about your heart rate training, foam rolling pain or 20 mile bike ride.
 
You will learn patience.
You will be humbled.You will start to realize you are paying money to put yourself through pain and suffering, but for some odd reason, you LOVE it.

This sport called Triathlon, becomes a part of you. You start to plan your entire year around sprint, international, half-iron or full-iron distance races. Your vacations become racing, and you start to realize that this sport called triathlon could become a life-long adventure.
 
Many people settle for things in life. They settle for a crappy job, marriage, friends, food, place to live and overall fitness and health.

Those who desire more or those who want more out of life than a drive-thru window and boring sitcom, will choose triathlon or an activity that makes them happy. An activity that will change their life. 

Triathlon will change your outlook on life, your career, your marriage, your goals, your friends and many other things you thought you had figured out. It’s not just crossing a finish line or a boring finisher medal. It’s the countless hours that got you to that point.

A moment in time that you will NEVER forget. A moment that you will discuss with your family and friends for hours if not days after the event. These discussions will most likely be about how you could have done better. At what point could you have swam faster, biked harder or ran more efficient? This is what will go through your head everyday until you get the opportunity to suffer again.

So you wanna be a Triathlete? Enjoy the ride and train hard!

Update and Well Wishes

Update....Do you remember a while back I wrote about seeing a man get hit by a van (The Worst Day).  Well thru the grapevine I heard that he is alive.  That is all I know and I am happy for it.

Well Wishes...one of my very good friends, Krista, will be doing her first Ironman this coming weekend Mont-Tremblant - please send your good vibes to her for August 18th. 

 

Krista I know you will rock this Ironman!

Training Totals as of July 8th to-date

Total Running Distance: 76.64K

Total Swimming Distance: 9.5K

Total Biking Distance: 444K

Total Hours: 38.53

Total Distance: 589.50

Race Results for Sylvan Lake Half Iron

It is amazing what a little training will do for an athlete, can you imagine what a lot of training will do...guess we will find out next year at Ironman won't we.

Anyway, here are my Sylvan Lake Half Iron results, my improvements were in the bike (35 minutes) and run (18 minutes) and I increased my transition time by 4 minutes from last year:
 

Swim	0:56:21
T1	0:05:20
Bike	3:37:00
T2	0:03:11
Run	2:29:00
	7:11:00

 

Ironman Training Totals (Monday, July 8th to-date)

Total Running Distance: 44.68K
Total Swimming Distance: 3.44K
Total Biking Distance: 230.78K

Total Hours: 18:32:01
Total Distance: 279.30K

 

"Anything is Possible" - Ironman Motto

Waves to the left of me, waves to the right of me

As I write this blog both Jeff and I are sitting on the sofa, legs up, belly full of food, in our PJs and ready for bed....is 6:00 p.m. too early to go to bed?

 

As far as I am concerned after what I did today at Sylvan Lake in the Half Iron I can go to bed whenever I like..  What a day it was, full of surprises.

 

Surprise #1 - Barb and Cindy, two running buddies were there doing their first Olympic Tri. 

 

Ladies I am so proud of you both I hope you enjoyed your first tri experience.  Barb made me laugh thou, I ask her how it went and her answer was "That was the grossest thing I have every done". 

 

Surprise #2 - my stepson Jake and his girlfriend, Beth, came to watch Jeff and I do our tris and Shelley and Ralph (who also did the Olympic tri) stayed to watch me finish (thanks everyone).

 

I did this race last year, it was my first half iron, and seemed to take me forever my overall time last year was 8:01 and this year, I was bound and determined to kick some ass and beat my time.  AND I DID!

 

The Swim

 

Swim started at 8:00 a.m. and the water was really choppy.  I had never swum in water like this before, it was really tough.  When I swam forward 6 strokes the waves put me back 2 strokes and the first 500 meters of the swim I took in most of the lake and burped my way thru the 2nd 500 meters of the swim.  Thankfully I had a kayaker near me the whole time cause I was panicking as I could not swim like I regularly do.  Finally I got the first 1K done.  Then realized I had do it all over again.

 

I have to tell you, the swim was so tiring and so discouraging I was almost ready to get into one of the boats that some of the others swimmers had gotten into and quit the race obtaining my first DNF.

 

But, if I could do the first kilometer then surely I could another...the 2nd kilometer wasn't so bad (LOL), I was assigned a kayaker to take care of me (Rick) he was wonderful.  He never left my side for 1K and keep telling me over and over again how great I was and that I had this.  So with his words of encouragement I put my head down and just got it done.

 

2K swim took be about 56 minutes, I did not care it was over.  But looking back on it now it was great training to swim in choppy water like today cause you won't always get calm water in Ironman.

 

T1

 

I took my time in T1, ensuring I ate, got everything I needed for the bike and just slowed down.  I know I was there for at least 5 minutes but after the swim I needed to just chill and get my head space into the bike portion of the race.

 

The Bike

 

All I can say about the bike is I KICKED ASS.  It was fantastic, same route as last year, very hilly and this time a headwind.  I ensured I ate and drank on a regular basis, powered up the hills and went speedy on the flats.  This year I passed everyone I could... oh what a feeling!

 

Time on my bike was approximately 3 hours 39 minutes.

 

T2

 

Not sure what my time was for this Transition but like T1 I took my time.  Then I was off running.

 

The Run

 

Today was my dads birthday and I promised him a 2:30 half time.  I had to work hard to get this for him - as I don't know my actual time for each portion of this event I believe I accomplished this!  Happy Birthday Dad

 

It was funny, on the run I just kept going.  Sure once in a while I stopped as my legs were tired but I didn't stop for long as I had seen the clock at the finish line and on my 3rd loop on the run it read 6:33.  I only had 5K more to run and as tired as I was there was no way on God's Green Earth I was going to stop running, I knew if I kept going I could finish in 7 hours 15 minutes.   So I said to my cheering section as passed them on my last run lap "I am going to see you in 45 minutes cause then I'll finish in 7 hours and 15 minutes."

 

Off  I went and the next thing you know I was crossing the finish line and I crossed it in.......

 

 7:11

 

Actual swim/T1/Bike/T2 and Run times to follow cause I am off to bed...at 7:14 p.m.



Tomorrow Is Race Day

Yup, tomorrow is race day.  I will be participating in my 3rd 1/2 Iron(man) at Sylvan Lake.   I did this race last year and if I recall correctly did it in 8 hours 15 minutes.  It was my first 1/2 Iron.

This time round I am hoping to greatly improve on my time in this race. I am not worried about the swim, I could have done more training but I will just be happy to do under 55 minutes, I'd like to do my 90K bike in 3 1/2 hours (why not I did 96K in Chinook in 3:49 and that was a harder route than the one I will be doing tomorrow) and the run I want to do 21K in 2 1/2 hours.  This would get me a finish of 7 hours.

I have a great nutrition plan for tomorrow and I am going to give it my all, however, (yup) there is a however, I have been sick these last couple weeks with a head cold.  Last night (Friday) I was in bed at 8:30 p.m. as I had NO energy.  This morning I feel a bit better but I am going to rest and take some cold medication.  I plan on getting a good nights sleep and visualizing my 7 hour finish tomorrow.

Wish me luck...will let you know how it goes.

Uninteresting Events Leading Up to IM June 29, 2014 - Event #2

This past weekend I went on a ride by myself, I don't normally ride by myself unless it's in a race so this was something new for me.  All was fine till I realized I had a flat - a tack had punctured my tube - so in the middle of nowhere (I was on Range Road 262 going to Cochrane) I calmly got off my bike and proceeded to change my first tire.  Another biker passed me and offered to help (whoever you were THANKS) but I said "no thanks I need the practice". 

I am happy to report that all went well, tire was changed and I continued on my way.  However, I will carry two tubes now with on all bike rides.

This weekend I will be racing my 3rd 1/2 Iron in Sylvan Lake.  You will recall I did this race last year, it was my first 1/2 Iron and I had a great time.  But...this year I am hoping to really take some time off my overall finish time.  In fact, my Dad's birthday is Sunday (day of race) and I told him for his birthday I would run the 1/2 marathon portion of the race in 2:30 - this would be a PB for me in a 1/2 Iron.  Wish me luck.

For those of you who are interested here are my training totals to-date:

Training Totals (Monday, July 8th to-date)

Total Running Distance: 19.65K
Total Swimming Distance: 1.5K
Total Biking Distance: 115.48

Total Hours: 8:46
Total Distance: 136.63K

IM Training Officially Begins

The day I have been waiting for finally happened (for some this may seem silly) but today I meet with my coach who will train me for IM, Trevor Williams.

I personally think Trevor is wonderful and am looking forward to having him as my coach. 

Trev has given me a spreadsheet, that we share, to log my workouts for the next two weeks.  After that he will assess what is needed for me on a weekly basis.  I am really looking for to my training.

Oh...those of you doing GWN

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN

The Worst Day

Today started like no other training day, got up, prepared myself for an 80-100K ride with my friend Krista, Christine and Geoff.  

I met the gang at Bragg Creek and from there we road east on 22X towards 37th (we were going to tackle Road to Nepal). The first 35K was wonderful, no issues with my back and was down on my aero bars for most of the 34K and I was rocking my nutrition (today it was working for me).

We stopped on the corner of 37th Street for a little rest, and then it happened - I did not see who was at fault but I saw this...

I had just stopped at the corner when we heard a loud bang.  

We looked up to see the biker thrown into the air, the van swerved and the biker hit the ground. 

 

Strangers rushed to help.

The biker was crumpled and not responsive. I was surprised at how calm everyone around the biker was, including myself. We just all did what we had to do.

Three of us called 911.

My friend (Christine) was at the bikers side along with another man who were stabilizing the bikers head.  

Someone yelled, "ambulance is on their way, they said don't move him".

Christine yelled for blankets in case the biker went into shock. I ran across the road to the guy selling cherries, he gave me two coats. I ran back to Christine who covered the biker.

A nurse/paramedic came to the bikers aid (I think she was a biker).

Some people were at the side of the road, a young woman on the phone to 911 who was shaking (I hugged her to calm her down). Another young woman, the passenger of the van who hit the biker, was crying and said "we did not see the biker, he just came out of nowhere". I asked her to go back to her van and clam down and ensure the driver stayed calm as well (as calm and they could get).

Christine asked if someone could go to the corner of 22X and 37th and flag the ambulance down...it's hard to run in bike shoes but off I went. The fire truck was first to arrive and I waved them down. the ambulance was right behind them.

At this point I walked over to the van where the driver and passenger were sitting, the driver was shaking... and I mean shaking. I felt so bad for her, she kept saying that she did not see him, he just came out of nowhere. We talked, I hugged her, she calmed down.

A police man came to the van - "do you need a paramedic" he asked. I left her.

It seemed like forever....then the biker was on a stretcher.

They put him in an ambulance.

STARS was called they were there very quickly.

Again, it seemed like forever, they were getting the biker ready for the trip...

FINALLY they were off to the Foothills Hospital!
We waited till everything cleared up, we were all upset. We choose to ride home. 

 

I don't know how the biker is but I pray he is fine.

Please be safe when riding 22X or any other busy road and ensure you pay attention.

Maria Wilson, You Are An Ironman

This past weekend while Calgary was under water Jeff and I drove to Coeur d'Alene (CDA), Idaho and volunteered for the Ironman.

We drove to Creston, BC and visited with my mum and dad Friday (arriving in Creston around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night due to the flooding), the Saturday morning drove to CDA to pick up our volunteer t-shirt for our shift Sunday at 5 p.m. as catchers at the finish line.

Ironman Morning

Jeff and I woke at 5 p.m. and drove from Spokane (where our hotel was) to CDA to watch the start of the Ironman - the swim (my favorite party of IM).  It was a very organized swim start by age group and not the mass start you see in most Ironman events http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lity-YTZaRE

 

Once the swim was over it was off on the bikes (sorry forgot camera at the hotel).

 
After the bikes we went back to our hotel to rest for 2 hours till our catching shift started. 

Catcher at the Finish Line of Ironman

Well, when the athlete crosses the finish line at Ironman he/she is exhausted.  Some need help stopping as they have been moving so fast during the race they have a hard time coming to a full stop at the finish line and some need help after they stop just keeping upright.  It is a very rewarding volunteering job and the athlete is very appreciative thanking you over and over again and in some cases giving you a hug. 

Jeff and I started our shift at 5 p.m. and must have caught about 40 athletes between the two of us, that does not sound like a lot but there were about 30 catchers at the finish line at any given time and it takes you about 10-15 minutes to take care of each athlete.  In fact, Jeff volunteered till 11:30 a.m. catching and I worked till 8 p.m. - at 8 p.m. I was asked to help the announcer in the tower calling out the names of the athletes as they crossed the finish line, you know the guy who says "you are an ironman".  Well as the athletes crossed a certain section in the race, about a 200 meters before the finish line, their bib number came over a screen and I had to punch the number onto a computer so the announcer could read out their name and whatever info he had on this athlete.  It was really great cause I had the best seat in the house, I could see all the athletes as they came in and crossed the finish line.

The Best Part of the Ironman

Now the best part of the volunteering was during my catching shift.  A friend of mine Jennifer was in the race and I was hoping to catch her but, what are the chances?  Well pretty great actually, she came in under 12 hours and I heard her name as I was finishing up with another athlete, when I heard "Jennifer you are an Ironman" I booked it to the finish line to catch her.  We both broke down and cried, I was so happy that I had caught her it truly was a special moment for me.

11:30 PM

At 11:30 p.m. Jeff and I stopped our volunteering duties to join the party at the finish line to cheer in the last athletes in the last 1/2 hour of the race. Being at the finish line of an Ironman event is like not other finish line you have ever been too.  The spectators stay to cheer on everyone till the bitter end in Ironman, it truly is an inspirational moment in time as you can see from this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfm-lwhnjz8 

Ironman 2014

Well you guessed it, the day that I have been writing about finally came.  I signed up for Ironman 2014 on Monday morning @ 9:30 a.m.

I can honestly say that I am excited about this next adventure in my life!  I can't wait to cross that finish line on June 29, 2014 when the announcer says:

Maria Wilson from Calgary, Alberta

YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

 

"Until you face your fears, you don't move to the other side, where you find the power."

I believe the quote above was from Mark Allen - IM champion.

 

Yesterday I did the first 1/2 Ironman of the year (next one is in July).  The race I did was the Chinook 119.1 (1/2 Ironman). 

 

I would be lying big time if I said the race was easy, but I did PB (personal best) in this race.

 

Swim was 2k and I loved it.  I warmed up 10 minutes before the race, stayed at the back of the pack and finished in 51:56 minutes (last race was 56:34).

 

Bike was 96K (most 1/2 IM bike distances are 90K).  The bike route was very hilly and I had a head wind out to the turnaround point - the first 48K took 2:12.  On the way home I talked with my legs, rather screamed at them out loud and advised them they needed to work harder.  So, the ride home 48K took 1:38 with another head wind.  The ride home was slightly more downhill so that did make it easier.  Total time on the bike 3:49 (last race was 90K and took 4:12).

Run was 21.1 and I hated it.  I started out the run doing a 6:38 pace for about 3K then realized I could not keep this pace up. It was on the run that I fought back and forth with myself about signing up for Ironman next year.  I was so tired on the run, I keep running and stopped once in a while to stretch (my back hurt from the ride) and really just wanted to stop for good.  I was ready to give it all up and get a DNF but I just keep going. 

 

The run was two loops of the same route, through Midapore and then down through Fish Creek with a hill at the end of each 10K up into Midapore to the finish line.  It was really mentally tough to do my first 10K then have to run past the finish line to do another 10K. 

 

Finally after 2:53 I finished the run and crossed the finish line.  (last race was 2:47 so it took my longer this time). 

 

Transitions - T1 & T2 total = 7:16 (in my last race T1 & T2 total = 5:21).

 

 

When I look back on it I don't think I ate enough on the bike and should have eaten more in my transition before the run so I would have more energy on the run.  I might try gels next month in my transitions and will def. eat more on the bike.  As for transitions I am going to try to get my T1 time down to 3 minutes - I took way to long in T1 this go round.

 

My overall time for this race was 7:42 (last race was 8:00) that is a difference of 17 minutes. 

 

How do I feel?

I was tired last night and am tired today, but feel better than I felt after any marathon I ran.  Today I mowed my lawn, weeded my garden and did laundry, but I also had a nap and had trouble getting up and down the stairs.

 

This weekend I'll be going to coeur d' alene to sign up for Ironman 2014 - yup you heard me correctly I AM SIGNING UP FOR IRONMAN 2014. 

 

 

 

 

 

It Is Finally Here....

Yes my bike is finally here, I can't believe it!

TCR called me this afternoon and my crank came in!  I rushed down this afternoon after work to see it and take a photo  - I don't pick it up till Friday @ 4:30 p.m. - but it is beautiful, I mean it is really beautiful and will kick butt on the road.

This is the bike I will ride in Ironman, this is the bike that will help make me an Ironman, this is the bike that will help me realize my dream and this is the bike that will let me tick something off my bucket list.

Getting Crankie

My new bike (which I am sure no one believes I am getting) is still at the shop waiting for a new crank.

My patience is wearing thin.  Soon I will start getting angry.

Uninteresting Events Leading Up To IM - Event #1

What Happens If I Get A Flat?

 

 I guess during Ironman if I get a flat I could hope that some kind individual will pull over and help me change my tire...but I am not counting on it (what do you think)?

 

This evening I had my first lesson in changing not only my tube but my actual tire on my bike wheel.  It looked difficult but I muddled thru it just fine with the help of my better half. 

 

The old saying "patience is a virtue" comes in very handy when changing a tire and of course you must not be afraid to get dirty and break a nail.

 

While I am feeling pretty good about the fact that I managed to change my first tire I am not 100% convinced of my tire changing abilities while in a race.

 

So, to quote another saying -  "practice makes perfect" - guess what I'll be doing every weekend.

 

 

 

 

Last Spin Class

Since September of 2012 our Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings have been reserved for spin class at Speed Theory with Trev Williams of The Doctrine, Mike and the new friends we made at the class.

These spin classes are really fantastic and Trev makes you work hard!  When I first started the class I could not stand for more than 30 seconds at a time - tonight I stood for 8 minutes on the bike!  A PB! 

Tonight was the last of the spin classes (till September) and I now have to remove my trainer tire (got to figure out how to do this) and get ready for biking outside starting this Saturday when "apparently" we are suppose to have nice weather.

For those of you out there wanting to keep in shape during the fall/winter/spring check out Trev's website and sign up for his spin class this September - you won't regret it.

"....because I can".

I have been told, by a very good friend of mine, that I don't "blog" often enough - apparently some people actually read what I post on my blog.  So, I'll try to be better at updating my blog starting with this one.

April 21st and my friend and I ran the Spring Trio.  I did the 10K and my friend did the 15K.  I was trying for under 1 hour but ran it in 1:04:56 - came third in my age group (there were 7 in my age group) and 48th out of 66 people who ran the 10K.  I think my average pace was about a 6:38 which is much faster than I am use to, not sure if I'd be able to keep that pace up in my first 1/2 IM but I am going to try (this would then reduce my 1/2 marathon time in a 1/2 IM from 2:50 too about 2:15-2:20 which would be great!).

In the next month I am hoping to get my new tri bike - it has been at TCR for the past 3 weeks waiting for its components, needless to say I am getting very anxious.  I know I can't ride it outside and it's hard to explain but once I get it and its actually in my possession I know that my training for IM has begun and there will be no turning back.

As for my current training it is going well, I am training and there is not much else to say about it right now.  Just waiting for the warm weather to appear so that we can start riding out bikes outside (I am so tired of riding my bike indoors - as I am sure many others are).  

Anything above the shoulders is ok...

Should you workout when your sick...."A neck check is a way to determine your level of activity during a respiratory illness," adds Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "If your symptoms are above the neck, including a sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, and tearing eyes, then its OK to exercise," he says. "If your symptoms are below the neck, such as coughing, body aches, fever, and fatigue, then it's time to hang up the running shoes until these symptoms subside."

For the last week (since Tuesday of last week) I had what I thought was food poisoning, but from what I have read food poisoning does not last for a week, conclusion stomach flu.

Working out has been an issue cause if I jiggle I might up-chuck whatever is left inside of me and as my stomach is upset I don't eat much (toast and portein shakes) so I have no energy. So for the past week I have taken it easy only working out when I really felt good which was Sunday when I did my bike class of 75 hard minutes (that was fun) and a 1 hour run (a brick).

Its Monday night and I am back on my sofa with that nauseating feeling I have gotten use to this week (although today it isn't so bad) and have decided not to go swimming (which was only suppose to be 45 minutes easy).  I hope the rest of the week is better cause I can't afford any more time off!

The only great thing about being sick this week is I am trying lose 14 pounds and I am quite sure that just this past week I managed to get rid of 5 of them.

What is a Guru

Yesterday I went to TCR and put a deposit down on my first Tri Bike made by Guru.  Cory from TCR spent 2 hours fitting me for my new bike taking my measurements, checking flexibility, adjusting seat position/height, aero bar position and padding all to ensure that the bike I am purchasing will fit me to a T and make me super fast.



Maria's Super Fast Guru

The frame of this bike will be custom made just for me and then I"ll choose everything else, aero bars, cranks, drive train, seat, tires etc. how exciting is this?   This will be my bike, the one I'll be riding this year in both my 1/2 Ironman's and next year when I do my first Ironman in coeur-dalene.

This is a big step for me, buy purchasing this bike I am committed...or maybe I should be committed (not sure). 

Anyway, when I get my new Guru in April I"ll make sure to take a photo and post it on my blog.

Chow for now everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



I Want to be an Ironman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03dFMG8nR4

Right now this sums up my life...but I dont' get up at 4:00 a.m.