Good Ride, Good Brunch

Is there any other way to spend a Sunday morning?? I don't think so.

I met up with Brooke and Diane (formally known as D - but she said I could use her name). Nice and early at 7, but it was an amazingly beautiful morning. We get started, I look down to not hit a pot hole, but also ride over something that was dead. GROSS!! I make a squealing noise and Brooke and Diane weren't sure how to react. When I try to explain I rode over something dead, gray-ish and gross, they just kind of laugh at me, and thankful they didn't see it (but Brooke did on the way back). Anyway, it was a nice, easy casual ride. Since I am tapering, I didn't want to push to hard, or do too many hills. That's my reasoning anyway.

After we headed to brunch and I had the great french toast/egg debate. Eggs won. But it was nice to just enjoy the day (we sat on the outside patio) chat about non-tri stuff, and talk about the Ironman in 6 days. Just a really good morning.

Now I am off to pack. I am bringing a TON of stuff. Be prepared - I know how Wisconsin weather can change last minute, especially in September. Right now weather dot com says 72, partly cloudy and 20% chance of precipitation. Perfect - I really hope it stays that way!!

Typical August Day in DC

Today was a good day.

This morning started with a swim clinic. I figured some last minute pointers would do me some good before the 2.4 mile swim. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I could see where it was beneficial for others. I think I have just been swimming for so long, when I hear things I shouldn't do, but they work for me (breathing out my nose vs. mouth) - I will just stick with what I know. I will take the fact that he didn't comment directly on my stroke - that I am perfect.

I got home, changed and headed out for a run. I saw Jess on the way and met up with Kristin and Lauren at the end. I remember back in the day were we would all run together and K would look for the most uncoordinated outfits - just to get me to blog about her. Anyway, we all headed to Dean and Deluca for lunch, took it to go and headed to a park by the Potomac.

What a perfect afternoon. 3 great friends, tasty lunch, beautiful day (in the shade where the heat/humidity didn't bother us too much), and 2 workouts. After about an hour, we were just laying in the grass watching the people and super cute puppies.

1975

My new lucky number!! I knew the numbers were being assigned today, but for some reason, that makes this all seem so real. I have been counting down for so long, 1 year, 6 month, 90 days, 15 days, 8 days. But when you get a number - it changes everything. This is actually happening. I am actually going to participate in an Ironman... Wow!

Today we also got a message from NA Sports - which had a lot of similar information as the athletes guide.My favorite line is in the running section
"No form of locomotion other than running, walking or crawling is allowed."
Good to know crawling is allowed.

It Must Be the Tan Lines

75 degree and cloudy is cold when swimming in a 50M outdoor pool. Really, it is.
But, I made kick butt time getting to the pool - still loving this August in DC, and there were 4 people lap swimming. 4!! I get to a lane and about to hop in and this guy looks at me a says "triathlon?" I say yes. I mean really, who else is going to be at a pool on a cloudy, drizzly Thursday evening if they weren't training for something. But then I look down at my legs and notice the blinding white that is my thighs - above my shorts line. After I got a great tip on sunblock, things were getting better - or so I thought. Oh well.

After my swim, I hopped on Blain for a quick ride. My body still isn't reacting great to chlorine, so I had some good snot rocket practice. But, it didn't go so well.

• First one - Somehow did this funky U turn up and I think onto my helmet.
• Second - Smack on my right shoulder
• Third - My chain fell off again (boo) so I took the non-wind opportunity. Smack on my left shin.
• Fourth - Good out of the right nostril
• Fifth - tried to stay in aero, which was successful. But, it landed on my arm, so not successful
  
• Sixth - On the back of my glove.

Stopped counting after this. 1 out of 7 was good enough.

But over all, it was a good 2 workouts. I am still not feeling that gloriously restfulness I was hoping for - but maybe in the next 9 days.

Ha! 9 days!!

I Am SO Lucky!

I don't know what to say, I don't know what I did in a previous life to deserve... well everything.

Tonight was a carbo loading pasta dinner put on by some amazing friends. Everyone came to support me and my goal that will be in 10 days. They are insanely supportive and so positive about what I am attempting to do. They have put up with me and constant Ironman talk for over a year, and still threw me a dinner!!

You may be wondering what is that yellow thing I am holding. And you may look at it and say "that looks like a cow bell. But I read Amanda's blog and know she H-A-T-E-S the cow bell."
Well, if that is what you thought, you are right. It is a cow bell. And I still despise the cow bell. BUT, Jess, Kristin, Lauren and Merissa (not pictured but there in spirit) took a cow bell (from when I did the Musselman half), spray painted it yellow - to match Blain, AND took out the clapper thing!! They also wrote notes on the sides, drew a picture of a toaster, and an "Oh Geeze!" is written on the inside. So great.

But, there is one more. I have been eyeing an item for close to 2 years. But, they didn't make it in my size and I figured there was little I could do. So, I posted about it, printed a picture and taped it in my cube. Little did I know that Jess called the designer, had one made in my size, and did a special order. I can't believe my friends did something this amazing for me.

Really, how did I get so incredibly lucky... I just don't know. I took about 27 pictures of the ring on my hand but couldn't the lighting/flash right so this will have to do.

It's Dark at 6:15 am

And how do I know... Because I actually rolled out of bed and got my self down to Hains Point to go biking. Yay me!! Right as I started, there were swarms of mosquitoes! Yuck! I haven't really noticed them too much out there. Not nearly as bad as they are in my Minnesota/Wisconsin days. But, they were still munching on my leg so that got me moving a bit quicker.

So I am biking around and I notice a sign "Wet ahead - National Park Service" - or something like that. Now I thought that was strange because on the news they were just saying we have only had a half inch of rain in the past month. So pedal pedal pedal and I see something up ahead... on no... a sprinkler. But not just one, they lined the entire side of the road. I spent the next 1.5 or so miles ducking, twisting, trying to maneuver around the water.

Good times. Not really... I didn't need more practice biking in wetness.

The morning finished with a 35 minute run. Remember the days when I complained about my high HR? Well, I could not get my HR up at all this morning. Biking, or running. I guess this just means my fitness level is so much better. Or I am not working hard enough...

Stupid Job!

Man, today was not what I expected. The alarm went off at 5:45. My quads were still tingly from the weekend and the L-A-S-T thing I wanted to do was sit on Blain. Even though I knew I should, sleep won, once again. But I know I have time to make it up later this week.

I go to work, typical morning. But I am 'acting' as my boss is out. Usually it only involves making sure everyone is in the office, and the occasional 'decision'. So when an issue arose around 10, and I was still in meetings, making calls, and researching the problem by 12:30, I was so happy to take a break and go for a run.

I come back, more issues. Around 4 someone came looking for me to solve another problem. At 5:30, another person had an issue that NEEDED TO BE SOLVED RIGHT NOW. Blah! I wanted to leave at 4:45 to hit the pool - which closes at 7 :-( So at 6:15, I walked out, not prepared for tomorrows meetings, not having that satisfied feeling. AND, no swim. Boo!

But the plus side is I made dinner - out of a box but it involved veggies. Will do my dishes (that haven't been done since last week...) fold laundry (won't say how long that has been lying around), hopefully finish my book (20-ish pages left) and go to bed early.

Tomorrow a brick.

Coach and I Have Different Views on Tapering

When I saw my workouts for the week from Coach, my first thought was "Wait, I thought I was tapering". Definitely different views...
For example on the tempo run. Normally it's 45 minutes with 6*5 minutes hard
Me, no tempo - Coach, 35 minutes with 3*5 minutes hard
Long run. Normally 4.5-6 hours
Me, 90 minutes - Coach, 3 hours
So, I still have 10 workouts to get in which include a 3 hour ride, 90 minute run, and a brick. And where am I supposed to fit more sleep in...

The good news is I went to Conte's tonight and once again - they proved to be the best. I walk in (with cookies of course) and had the co-owner (who I saw at the ride yesterday and wondered why I didn't say something about the falling chain there), manager and head mechanic all chatting with me about Blain within 5 minutes. He was swept up and being worked on before I could finish explaining the issues.
He seems much better and will do my best to crawl out of bed tomorrow and have a proper ride.

Oh, and I don't know when this happened, but the 2008 IM Moo Athlete's Guide is out. I don't know how they did it, but they made cows artsy and really cool looking!!

4655

First of all, don't tell Coach what I am about to write...

Today was the Reston Century Ride, a recreational tour of Virginia. I signed up for the century (104 mile) ride and had full intentions of doing the entire event. Coach had me just doing a 5-6 hour ride, yesterday (and we all know I can't do 104 miles in 6 hours. This is why you can't tell him!!). Rule number 1 was to never do more than he said...

So I pull into the parking lot, start getting Blain ready, and this guy starts talking to me. Now it's about 6:30, I have had zero coffee, about to do 104 miles and not feeling up to chatting. But he starts to comment on the amount of liquid I am taking (3 bottles of Accelerade and my aero drink filled with water). I explain that I am training for IM Moo and this is my last long ride so am treating it like I would the bike portion of the race. He goes off about how every 10 pounds adds 30 minutes to your bike time, I should have trained with the Gatorade they provide on the course, or I should just add protein powder and it's the same as Accelerade. HELLO!?!?! Why are you telling me about what to do on my Ironman that is 2 weeks away!!! I try to be polite and tell him I have a sensitive stomach, this is working for me, and I don't want to do anything new on race day. He proceeds to say I should just bring powder, mix it with water, and only carry 1 bottle - the time difference would be better that way.
Oh, and I was bringing too many Gu's.
And my Hammer electrolyte pills were a waste.
AND if I wanted real advice, I should talk to other tri clubs, not DC Tri because they are ALL nuwbies and I should look into his club. I am not a violent person but was SOOOO close to punching this very annoying guy, kicking his shins, poking him in the eye - even, dare I say, hurt his bike.

I mean really, just because you parked 2 spots way from me does not make us friends.

So, buy the time I got to the REALLY LONG registration line, I was fuming!! Poor Brooke had to calm me down, remind me it was just a relaxing ride, but I was just so mad. Ahh, annoying!

Anyway, Brooke, M, D, T (I didn't ask if I could use their names on the blog so initials it is) and I headed out - and we were hoping to see Rose on the course. Pretty soon it was Brooke, T and I, then T and I. After the first rest stop, my chain popped off (again!! Boo, taking it to Conte's tomorrow to hopefully get it checked out) I was on my own. Brooke waited up for me and when we got to the main rest stop T was there. T decided to try the 104 with me and we headed out. Unfortunately, we (I) missed a turn. When we saw M and D, I knew we (I) missed something. So we turned around and headed back. That loop was to be 28 miles, and we did 14, so close enough.

We headed out to the other loop and half way my right knee really started to hurt. After we got back to the rest stop, I was really happy we (I) missed the turn for the loop with the big hills.

On the way back, we were on a trail with ZERO shade and the sun was sucking the life out of me. The last 12 miles killed me! I understand the sun is good and all, but not this afternoon. I did luck out with little humidity and not too much wind... but still, 90 degrees at 2 in the afternoon is just hot.

But I finished a good ride for me. No falling, no broken chain (unlike Brooke), no broken water bottle cage (unlike D and M). Just some sore knees and a fat lip because I decided to drink from my aero water bottle just as I was going over a bump - oops.

As my last long ride, I am slightly concerned with my lack of hill training. But there is nothing I can do about it now. Who is to say if I would have done all hills, my knees would be working and I could still continue. There are more than a thousand possibilities, what if's, out there and I just have to be happy with what I have done and what is meant to be will be.

Oh, and the 4655 subject line - the number of calories I burned today according to my HRM. Cheese steak for dinner!

Good Brick!

If this is my last long brick before Madison, it was a good one to go out on.

Slept in a bit, good 2 hour bike, solid hour run. Hardly any knee pain, the hills didn't kill me, and my wrists finally don't hurt when I spend a lot of time in the aero position.

That's all I have today. Carbo loading dinner tonight with Brooke, Rose and a few others for tomorrows long ride.

Just a really good Saturday!