Pre-race - gearing up for a practice swim in Sand Hollow Reservoir
Post-race refreshment!
Sunday, May 3, 2015
St. George 70.3 - The short of it
Despite all of my anxiety, doubts, race-day snafus and suffering during the race, St. George 70.3 was an incredible experience. It is equally gorgeous and tough, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants a great race-day experience.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Racing dreams
So, St. George is a mere 2 days away - less, actually, if you count the hours - and I'm pretty calm. Sort of! I did freak out yesterday afternoon, realizing that there was NO WAY that we could leave this afternoon (our scheduled departure day). Fortunately, we are driving to St. George, so we had some flexibility, and it won't screw things up too much to leave early tomorrow morning. The other change in the weekend schedule/coordination is that Gus will be traveling with us! We had planned on boarding him with this great woman (from www.dogvacay.com - I'm a huge fan of this site), but his sleep issues continue, so he's coming with us.
As for the race? We'll see how things go on Saturday. I don't have huge expectations, but I might be a little crushed if it's a terrible day for me. And, I'm worried that it might be terrible. Signing up for St. George, I was well aware of the fact that conditions would probably be less-than-ideal, and when I started to stalk the weather.com app, the temperatures steadily rose . Last week, I think that the high was supposed to be 81 degrees on Saturday, and now, it's supposed to be 90 degrees. As I checked the weather daily (obsessive?), I told myself that the heat would be okay, I'd raced in hot weather before, and I could cope, as long as it wasn't windy. And it now looks as though it'll be a windy day. Dammnit!
But the dreaming bit? I don't have frequent dreams about races, but I've had a few - and they always make me laugh. A few years ago, I dreamt that I had forgotten my bike and went straight from the swim to the run. That was probably wish fulfillment. Last year, then, I dreamt that I had the wrong Ironman date, a dream that freaked me out so much I was nervous to confirm the date. And this year? Apparently I missed my wave start and didn't have my ID at St. George!
Keeping that dream in mind, I guess it will be a successful race if I start with my wave, so no complaining about a slower-than-desirable day!
As for the race? We'll see how things go on Saturday. I don't have huge expectations, but I might be a little crushed if it's a terrible day for me. And, I'm worried that it might be terrible. Signing up for St. George, I was well aware of the fact that conditions would probably be less-than-ideal, and when I started to stalk the weather.com app, the temperatures steadily rose . Last week, I think that the high was supposed to be 81 degrees on Saturday, and now, it's supposed to be 90 degrees. As I checked the weather daily (obsessive?), I told myself that the heat would be okay, I'd raced in hot weather before, and I could cope, as long as it wasn't windy. And it now looks as though it'll be a windy day. Dammnit!
But the dreaming bit? I don't have frequent dreams about races, but I've had a few - and they always make me laugh. A few years ago, I dreamt that I had forgotten my bike and went straight from the swim to the run. That was probably wish fulfillment. Last year, then, I dreamt that I had the wrong Ironman date, a dream that freaked me out so much I was nervous to confirm the date. And this year? Apparently I missed my wave start and didn't have my ID at St. George!
Keeping that dream in mind, I guess it will be a successful race if I start with my wave, so no complaining about a slower-than-desirable day!
Monday, April 20, 2015
A first and a last - LA TriEvents 2
TriEvents marked one of the 'firsts' of the year - a race! In other ways, it also began what will probably be a long litany of lasts as we prepare to move to Colorado and say our good-byes to people, places and experiences. So, TriEvents was my last "hometown", Southern CA race, which made the experience rather bittersweet.
As for this race... I usually don't go on and on about my pre-race days for a smaller local event, but I think that I followed a good list of what NOT to do. First of all, I've felt somewhat unmotivated training-wise. Also, we have kept up an unusually busy social calendar as we're trying to get together with friends as much as possible (which may impact the first point). So, not only did I eat some really rich Mexican food Friday night at Rocio's Mole de los Dioses (yes, that is the "Mole of the Gods" restaurant - if you like mole, which not everyone does, this place is for you!), but we spent part of Saturday at a toddler's birthday party, at which I ate several cookies and 2 pieces of cake, and then we had Middle Eastern Saturday night. To top it all off, Gus, our dog, has been getting up in the middle of the night - at least once, but sometimes twice - to go outside. On Saturday night, he got up, and subsequently woke us up, at 12:00 and then again at 3:00. So, not very auspicious circumstances for the race.
However, I reminded myself when I woke up at 5:00 am (after not sleeping much between 3-5) that this was NOT my "A" race but more of the 'ripping-the-bandaid-off' type of a race. With St. George very much on the horizon (next Saturday!), it was nice to locate all of my shit, some of which I hadn't seen since last summer. I was about 100% sure that I would forget an essential item, but I somehow managed to make it to Bonelli with all the necessities. That was the first surprise and relief, but it still didn't exactly calm my nerves which were a bit on edge.
Arriving at the park early Sunday am, I was initially excited to see all of the athletes and take in the energy. Yay, a triathlon! But once I checked in and started to REALLY prepare for the race, I just wanted to leave. Part of this was nerves, plain and simple, but it also stemmed from the fact that Michael had opted to stay in bed after a rough night's sleep. As much as I wanted him to be at the race as my sherpa and photographer, I also understood his choice. Plus, he'll be there at St. George and Boulder, which are far more important to me. But I still missed him, as weird/dependent as that sounds. The other aspect of the race that made me nervous, strangely, was the fact that I knew so many people racing, spectating and volunteering. Signing up, this was one of the bonuses, but as I started to get ready to race, I just wanted to be alone, to zone out and be with my thoughts. Also, I felt a weird pressure because I knew so many people and, thanks to my awesome self-confidence, I was sure that they would give me the side-eye as a "triathlete".
Despite my nerves, it was fun to see so many people I knew. With that in mind, I tried to breath (just breath!), focus on my race and enjoy the experience, no matter the outcome and repeated to myself, time and again, that this was NOT my A-race. Lining up for the swim, I felt okay - the water temperature was a great and it was a nice morning, despite haze from a nearby fire. It was so exciting to see the first waves start, and then it was the pinked-capped ladies' turn! My first thought starting out was "Holy crap, this is so much harder than I expected!". There was a lot of contact initially, but then we spread out and I felt more comfortable. The swim ended up being slower than I had hoped/expected - I exited at 20:56 for 1000 meters, for a 2:05 pace. Coming out of the water, I grimaced at someone who was cheering for me. Such good sportsmanship!
As for this race... I usually don't go on and on about my pre-race days for a smaller local event, but I think that I followed a good list of what NOT to do. First of all, I've felt somewhat unmotivated training-wise. Also, we have kept up an unusually busy social calendar as we're trying to get together with friends as much as possible (which may impact the first point). So, not only did I eat some really rich Mexican food Friday night at Rocio's Mole de los Dioses (yes, that is the "Mole of the Gods" restaurant - if you like mole, which not everyone does, this place is for you!), but we spent part of Saturday at a toddler's birthday party, at which I ate several cookies and 2 pieces of cake, and then we had Middle Eastern Saturday night. To top it all off, Gus, our dog, has been getting up in the middle of the night - at least once, but sometimes twice - to go outside. On Saturday night, he got up, and subsequently woke us up, at 12:00 and then again at 3:00. So, not very auspicious circumstances for the race.
However, I reminded myself when I woke up at 5:00 am (after not sleeping much between 3-5) that this was NOT my "A" race but more of the 'ripping-the-bandaid-off' type of a race. With St. George very much on the horizon (next Saturday!), it was nice to locate all of my shit, some of which I hadn't seen since last summer. I was about 100% sure that I would forget an essential item, but I somehow managed to make it to Bonelli with all the necessities. That was the first surprise and relief, but it still didn't exactly calm my nerves which were a bit on edge.
Arriving at the park early Sunday am, I was initially excited to see all of the athletes and take in the energy. Yay, a triathlon! But once I checked in and started to REALLY prepare for the race, I just wanted to leave. Part of this was nerves, plain and simple, but it also stemmed from the fact that Michael had opted to stay in bed after a rough night's sleep. As much as I wanted him to be at the race as my sherpa and photographer, I also understood his choice. Plus, he'll be there at St. George and Boulder, which are far more important to me. But I still missed him, as weird/dependent as that sounds. The other aspect of the race that made me nervous, strangely, was the fact that I knew so many people racing, spectating and volunteering. Signing up, this was one of the bonuses, but as I started to get ready to race, I just wanted to be alone, to zone out and be with my thoughts. Also, I felt a weird pressure because I knew so many people and, thanks to my awesome self-confidence, I was sure that they would give me the side-eye as a "triathlete".
Thanks to Harrison Shao of CalTri who took this photo - I somehow wiped my race number on my face, that is not a beard!
Despite my nerves, it was fun to see so many people I knew. With that in mind, I tried to breath (just breath!), focus on my race and enjoy the experience, no matter the outcome and repeated to myself, time and again, that this was NOT my A-race. Lining up for the swim, I felt okay - the water temperature was a great and it was a nice morning, despite haze from a nearby fire. It was so exciting to see the first waves start, and then it was the pinked-capped ladies' turn! My first thought starting out was "Holy crap, this is so much harder than I expected!". There was a lot of contact initially, but then we spread out and I felt more comfortable. The swim ended up being slower than I had hoped/expected - I exited at 20:56 for 1000 meters, for a 2:05 pace. Coming out of the water, I grimaced at someone who was cheering for me. Such good sportsmanship!
The ladies, lining up for the swim. Photo courtesy of TriEvents.
Beth's only advice to me for the day was "Go as HARD as you can on the bike :)" - she included a smiley face on that 'suggestion'! Not really what I wanted to hear, but after a quick-for-me transition (sub 4:00!!!), I was on the bike course, trying to pass slower people and also leave room for the faster people to pass me and attempting to push myself on the bike. I've raced this course once - 3 years ago, although that was a full Olympic distance (today's race was just a bit short), and while it isn't Wildflower hard, it isn't easy. Lots of hills, some tricky turns and some portions of crappy road. Plus, it's a 3-loop course, and I get bored by that third lap. Anyway, I tried to push hard and was happy with the split on the first lap, less excited about the 2nd lap split, and a bit disheartened by the third, but what could I do? I finished the 33km course in 1:12:33 for 17.4 mph ride. While it wasn't the ride I wanted, I looked back at my 2012 race, and my time definitely improved! So, progress is progress.
After a quick transition (would have been faster than 1:24 except that I stopped to talk to a student from work in transition - he actually won the sprint division!), it was time for the run. Recently, I've felt great running off the bike, so I was hoping for a strong run, but you never know. I did try something different this time. I usually switch from the Garmin Edge on the bike to the Garmin 110 to track my run. Yesterday, I opted to stick with the Edge which gives me overall pace rather than specific mile splits, so I ended up running very much by feel.
My one complaint - my race bib kept riding high which made me feel like I was wearing high-waist pants or something.
The run-by-feel strategy is one that I might implement in future races because, holy crap, I ran a fast 8km (for me!), holding a 7:30 pace. I wonder if I would have backed off had I seen the pace, and, at the same time, I wonder if I had something left in the tank at the end?
At any rate, I crossed the finish line a very happy camper - relieved that the race had gone better than expected, despite a rough swim and slightly disappointing bike, and I remembered why I keep pushing along. These experiences challenge me time and again, and while I often question myself and my enthusiasm wanes at times, there are those moments when things click. My strong run probably helped my attitude, but even with my less-than-great performance on the swim and the bike, I remembered to cheer on other people and felt energized by the support that was out there on the course and it was just fun to be out there!
Finally, the second "first" (a true first for me!) - a podium! Before my training/attitude/eating went to total shit, I had harbored a secret hope to place at this race as a nice way to end my triathlon experience here in Southern CA. As I headed into the race, I lowered any and all expectations, so it was a very pleasant surprise when I ended up 3rd in my AG! I understand that it's a small local race, so it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I was excited enough to wait around for the awards ceremony. Triathlon has been a challenging road for me - the swim and bike do not come easily, and I know that I didn't execute a perfect pre-race or race plan, but the accumulation of years of somewhat hard work is beginning to reap benefits. While I have zero photos (at this point) of my podium, it was fun to get a cheer from the crazy CalTri folks as pictured below:
It's definitely a motley crew and I'm not the most dedicated member, but triathlon has become a somewhat significant part of my life, and, in one way or another, I've shared that with many of these people.
So, the final take-aways from the race? Transitions matter (for the first time ever, I tried to hurry and it might have made the difference between a podium spot or 4th place); I'm still a better runner than swimmer/biker, but I can improve, slowly! And, the most important note - the camaraderie and energy on the course make the race experience. Keeping that last point in mind, I finally feel excitement about St. George, rather than dread, and I can't believe that it's next week! As I said in my last post, racing season is upon us!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
It's April! And racing season! And other odds and ends...
Happy tax day (tomorrow - and how is 'happy' a part of it, even if you do get a tax return?!).
Starting soon, I think that I need to have some sort of a 'regular' blog session, just so that I can post about my oh-so-exciting life. I realize that many people in the digital age have moved on to Instagram and/or Twitter, but I'm not there yet. In my defense, I still remember when I didn't even use email 20 years ago.
But, to at least give a monthly update... Last year, I remember that February was such a challenging month, and this year, March certainly filled February's shoes, and more. Now that April is upon us, and we have some certainty/clarity about life as we move forward, I feel lighter and much less stressed. As I look back at March, I can't believe how much we weathered - figuring out job stuff for the short-term, dealing with a slight physical malaise (my back), and coming to terms with a death in the family. It always amazes me, when I'm in the midst of a stressful situation, I tend to put blinders on and just push through, but once I have some distance, I can see how hard it was. So, yes, March was a difficult month.
April, training-wise, has felt more focused, and I am looking forward to my first 2015 race this weekend! TriEvents #2 is a local event in which I've participated without great success and, recently, I've come to know the race better as a volunteer. This Sunday, however, I'll be donning my wetsuit for the first time since last summer and will force myself to remember how to transition. I don't have high expectations - this race falls two weeks before St. George 70.3, which IS a 'big deal'. Instead of racing, a part of me would rather have a big training weekend as a last-ditch effort to boost my strength/speed/endurance, but maybe this will boost my race confidence? After all, I'm not sure how much "hay in the barn" I'd actually harvest at this point. I do find it ironic that the more I train, the less I seem to race these days...
I don't have high hopes for TriEvents, but I'd love to put down a solid performance for me, swimming, biking (ha!) and running. This is a tougher course than people give it credit, especially the bike, but I'd love to push HARD on the bike and see what that leaves me for the run. I'm still not fast on the bike, even with the Bat, but I've felt so good transitioning bike-to-run, that I'm interested in seeing what my run will be.
And, despite my typical lackluster bike performance, I've had some good rides recently. Well, some that left me scratching my head, like when I flatted BOTH tires at once. It was the very end of a hilly ride and I just wasn't paying attention. Fortunately, I was about 2 houses down from our house, so I just walked the bike home. On the positive side, this past weekend, I rode what I remember from last year as a killer ride - GMR (Glendora Mountain Road loop), and while it was difficult, I enjoyed the ride SO MUCH! I've been nervous about the St. George bike course, especially on the tri bike, but this gave me a sense that "SÃ se puede".
(If I were a better blogger, I would actually have some photos, but I don't. It was a gorgeous day to be out biking though and it's a great road to ride!)
Now, to end on a 'down' note. While my back woes are definitely on the mend, to my immense relief, I feel that injury is something of a hydra for me. Once I deal with a specific issue, another one (or two) raises its head. I'm currently dealing with a bit of plantar fasciitis in my left foot/calf. Ah, my old foe from 2012/13! What is even more frustrating is that in other ways I feel that my running game is pretty strong right now, so I'd love to ignore this little niggle, but I know that I can't/shouldn't. Last week, I pushed hard on the bike and then transitioned to a really fast run (this was probably the workout that tipped the scale to a full-blown flare-up of PF). I'd love to see what I can do this weekend on the run, but I also don't want to sabotage St. George or, especially, Boulder.
There are a lot of 'lasts' that we are facing over the next two months. Moving still feels a bit abstract, but I also know that this is the last local CA race that I'll do. So, I want to have fun, enjoy the camaraderie on the course, and appreciate the overall experience. It's also great to have a season 'launch' - to feel that I've built a solid base, worked towards this moment, and now I can take it in and see how I do. Hopefully I'll have a bit of luck working in my favor too!
Starting soon, I think that I need to have some sort of a 'regular' blog session, just so that I can post about my oh-so-exciting life. I realize that many people in the digital age have moved on to Instagram and/or Twitter, but I'm not there yet. In my defense, I still remember when I didn't even use email 20 years ago.
But, to at least give a monthly update... Last year, I remember that February was such a challenging month, and this year, March certainly filled February's shoes, and more. Now that April is upon us, and we have some certainty/clarity about life as we move forward, I feel lighter and much less stressed. As I look back at March, I can't believe how much we weathered - figuring out job stuff for the short-term, dealing with a slight physical malaise (my back), and coming to terms with a death in the family. It always amazes me, when I'm in the midst of a stressful situation, I tend to put blinders on and just push through, but once I have some distance, I can see how hard it was. So, yes, March was a difficult month.
April, training-wise, has felt more focused, and I am looking forward to my first 2015 race this weekend! TriEvents #2 is a local event in which I've participated without great success and, recently, I've come to know the race better as a volunteer. This Sunday, however, I'll be donning my wetsuit for the first time since last summer and will force myself to remember how to transition. I don't have high expectations - this race falls two weeks before St. George 70.3, which IS a 'big deal'. Instead of racing, a part of me would rather have a big training weekend as a last-ditch effort to boost my strength/speed/endurance, but maybe this will boost my race confidence? After all, I'm not sure how much "hay in the barn" I'd actually harvest at this point. I do find it ironic that the more I train, the less I seem to race these days...
I don't have high hopes for TriEvents, but I'd love to put down a solid performance for me, swimming, biking (ha!) and running. This is a tougher course than people give it credit, especially the bike, but I'd love to push HARD on the bike and see what that leaves me for the run. I'm still not fast on the bike, even with the Bat, but I've felt so good transitioning bike-to-run, that I'm interested in seeing what my run will be.
And, despite my typical lackluster bike performance, I've had some good rides recently. Well, some that left me scratching my head, like when I flatted BOTH tires at once. It was the very end of a hilly ride and I just wasn't paying attention. Fortunately, I was about 2 houses down from our house, so I just walked the bike home. On the positive side, this past weekend, I rode what I remember from last year as a killer ride - GMR (Glendora Mountain Road loop), and while it was difficult, I enjoyed the ride SO MUCH! I've been nervous about the St. George bike course, especially on the tri bike, but this gave me a sense that "SÃ se puede".
(If I were a better blogger, I would actually have some photos, but I don't. It was a gorgeous day to be out biking though and it's a great road to ride!)
Now, to end on a 'down' note. While my back woes are definitely on the mend, to my immense relief, I feel that injury is something of a hydra for me. Once I deal with a specific issue, another one (or two) raises its head. I'm currently dealing with a bit of plantar fasciitis in my left foot/calf. Ah, my old foe from 2012/13! What is even more frustrating is that in other ways I feel that my running game is pretty strong right now, so I'd love to ignore this little niggle, but I know that I can't/shouldn't. Last week, I pushed hard on the bike and then transitioned to a really fast run (this was probably the workout that tipped the scale to a full-blown flare-up of PF). I'd love to see what I can do this weekend on the run, but I also don't want to sabotage St. George or, especially, Boulder.
There are a lot of 'lasts' that we are facing over the next two months. Moving still feels a bit abstract, but I also know that this is the last local CA race that I'll do. So, I want to have fun, enjoy the camaraderie on the course, and appreciate the overall experience. It's also great to have a season 'launch' - to feel that I've built a solid base, worked towards this moment, and now I can take it in and see how I do. Hopefully I'll have a bit of luck working in my favor too!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Spring Break 2015 - A move/train-cation!
I'm not complaining about my spring break, but I think that I need a vacation now that it's over! Productive? Check! Fun? Check! Relaxing? NO!
But, we made major progress on the imminent move to Boulder - by taking a truckload of stuff to Boulder at the beginning of the week and then flying back home.
Just getting started!
Taking a break - somewhere in the Mojave
Unloading!
The drive to Boulder was fairly uneventful - we didn't have weather issues, which was fortunate in the lovely U-Haul. And, we spent the night in Winslow, AZ, which I wouldn't recommend to anyone, despite the Eagles' song that made it famous (or somewhat famous?).
Boulder was a lot of unpacking and thinking about our next steps, but I mixed in some training while I was there, on the bike and running. It was a bit of a challenge to motivate a few days thanks to the weather:
We arrived on Monday (a beautiful day, but after 12 hours or so in the car, I was more than ready for a stiff drink), and then Tuesday, I set out for a windy bike ride. During said ride, I think my HR was at about 90% for 90% of the ride - I was white-knuckling it, just hoping that I didn't get blown over OR blown into traffic. Wednesday, I was supposed to fit in a brick, but as you can see, it was going to be 46 degrees as a high, plus rain. So, I set out for an early morning run, during which it rained, snowed and hailed on me. Good times! Finally, I squeezed in the brick Thursday before we flew back to CA. Also, please note the weather on Friday and then Saturday! It was strange to leave my Trek road bike, Sunshine, in Boulder - it's now just me and the Bat!
For the end of the break, I drove down to Oceanside, CA on Saturday to spectate Oceanside 70.3. It's always tempting to sign up for this race, but when it rolls around, I'm usually SO relieved that I didn't. But... Maybe one day?! It was a gorgeous day to be out spectating - a little bit warm, but not too crazy. I missed the men's finish but saw Heather Jackson cross the finish line. Wow, she is so amazing! She raced and won Wildflower last year, and I saw her exit the water but didn't see the finish (obviously - I was somewhere on the bike course). It was also great to see and cheer for a lot of people that I know.
Saturday afternoon, I spent working on my swim technique - Beth Gerdes, my coach (I always feel like a fraud when I use that term, but what else should I call her?), was very kind enough to offer a session in their endless pool. I was SUPER nervous about swimming in front of people and it was kind of weird to be on a 'swim treadmill', but I did get some great feedback and I know what I need to work on. Then, Sunday morning, Beth and another one of her athletes (who lives in Pasadena and with whom I should train!) and I set out on a ride. I have major bike riding route envy now - it was SUCH a nice ride. Lots of rolling hills, rather than crazy steep ascents and descents, and very biker friendly. Also, it was a wonderful day to ride, a bit foggy early on but then it burned off. Finally, I was super nervous about riding with other people, especially a pro(!), but this other woman and I were really well matched. I obviously need to just get over my anxiety about how terrible I am on the bike and develop some confidence once and for all! Anyway, it was so generous of Beth to spend time Saturday and Sunday with us. Not only is she an amazing athlete (recently 5th at IM Asia-Pacific!) but a really great coach too.
Anyway, I was really excited about getting in 4 bike rides last week - some of them weren't very fun and none was very fast, but I do feel better about St. George and about heading into the next few weeks (although thank goodness this is a recovery week! and thank goodness I have Friday off!).
Also, we have made progress on the move to Colorado (I keep saying Boulder, but, really, we could be anywhere). We will be putting our house up for sale within the next few weeks which seems totally crazy to me.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Marching along
I had to check through my old archives to see if I had used that title before - apparently I hadn't? At any rate, it's cliché but apt, so who cares?!
After my previous, rather sturm und drang, post, things have improved. Well, they've been a bit wonky in our household, and the past few weeks have been something of an emotional ride, but I'm feeling better about moving to Boulder, about job stuff and, amazing, that has me feeling better about St. George 70.3 which is looming. Yikes!
It also probably helps that my back is on the mend. I'm not at 100% by a long shot, but I tried a new pain specialist (seriously, that's what her card said) on Monday afternoon, and she rocked. I definitely feel as though I was cheating on Dr. Choy, who has helped me through plenty of aches, pains and woes, but the back situation was different enough for me that I wanted to go with another option. The good news, to my thinking, is that the issue has nothing to do with my back. Her diagnosis, as she was poking around at me? I have a tight ass. Strangely enough, cycling and running don't aggravate the pain, but swimming does - however, I'm sure that cycling and running are actually part of the problem (or they contribute to the problem). But, I'm on a stretching regimen that has helped tremendously - who knew that stretching would make such a difference? Ha ha! And feeling much better as a consequence.
There have been a few recent hiccups - we missed the Solvang Century last weekend, which was a major bummer, but there wasn't anything that we could do about it. Again, this was definitely a 'life' decision/issue - Michael was out of town unexpectedly and returned late Thursday, so the idea of leaving on Friday for a fun-filled weekend was more than a little bit silly. We were, however, disappointed to not get up to the Central Coast one last time. And, maybe we can get up that way again before we leave, but hopefully we'll return to CA for the Solvang ride one of these days.
Despite missing that ride, I feel that I'm a bit more focused on riding, and both last Sunday and today I hit the Lower Big Tujunga loop which makes me feel better about St. George 70.3. I've had moments of SERIOUS doubt and don't feel super confident at this point, BUT (sorry for all of the all caps), I think that I can get in some solid training and be ready for a May race. Lower Big Tujunga is a great little sufferfest, and I usually complete it once a season to see where I am. Riding it last weekend and then again this weekend (and less than a week apart), kind of sucked, especially today - when I did not want to get up and ride. But, it was definitely worth it - and I had some visitors before starting my descent down Angeles Crest Highway:
The other positive - I still feel a bit slow climbing with the Bat, but I feel stronger too, so I'll get there. Also, the saddle is getting more and more comfortable - I think I'm just getting used to the bike, overall.
Finally, did I mention that it's officially Spring Break 2015?
And March Madness? This is the first time I've actually filled out a bracket, and it's looking pretty rough at this point!
After my previous, rather sturm und drang, post, things have improved. Well, they've been a bit wonky in our household, and the past few weeks have been something of an emotional ride, but I'm feeling better about moving to Boulder, about job stuff and, amazing, that has me feeling better about St. George 70.3 which is looming. Yikes!
It also probably helps that my back is on the mend. I'm not at 100% by a long shot, but I tried a new pain specialist (seriously, that's what her card said) on Monday afternoon, and she rocked. I definitely feel as though I was cheating on Dr. Choy, who has helped me through plenty of aches, pains and woes, but the back situation was different enough for me that I wanted to go with another option. The good news, to my thinking, is that the issue has nothing to do with my back. Her diagnosis, as she was poking around at me? I have a tight ass. Strangely enough, cycling and running don't aggravate the pain, but swimming does - however, I'm sure that cycling and running are actually part of the problem (or they contribute to the problem). But, I'm on a stretching regimen that has helped tremendously - who knew that stretching would make such a difference? Ha ha! And feeling much better as a consequence.
There have been a few recent hiccups - we missed the Solvang Century last weekend, which was a major bummer, but there wasn't anything that we could do about it. Again, this was definitely a 'life' decision/issue - Michael was out of town unexpectedly and returned late Thursday, so the idea of leaving on Friday for a fun-filled weekend was more than a little bit silly. We were, however, disappointed to not get up to the Central Coast one last time. And, maybe we can get up that way again before we leave, but hopefully we'll return to CA for the Solvang ride one of these days.
Despite missing that ride, I feel that I'm a bit more focused on riding, and both last Sunday and today I hit the Lower Big Tujunga loop which makes me feel better about St. George 70.3. I've had moments of SERIOUS doubt and don't feel super confident at this point, BUT (sorry for all of the all caps), I think that I can get in some solid training and be ready for a May race. Lower Big Tujunga is a great little sufferfest, and I usually complete it once a season to see where I am. Riding it last weekend and then again this weekend (and less than a week apart), kind of sucked, especially today - when I did not want to get up and ride. But, it was definitely worth it - and I had some visitors before starting my descent down Angeles Crest Highway:
Well, that's me - but there is Gus! He obviously didn't ride with me, but it was nice to see him before starting the long descent. Also, I'm wearing my new Vanderkitten kit - mostly covered up with my vest, but the shorts are so cute!
Finally, did I mention that it's officially Spring Break 2015?
And March Madness? This is the first time I've actually filled out a bracket, and it's looking pretty rough at this point!
Monday, March 9, 2015
Ironman Take 2 - Just a few bumps along the training road
Had I written this update a week ago, I think that it would have been vastly different from the "report" that I'll make tonight. It's not that SO much in my life has changed in the course of a week, rather a few things have shifted, but the shift has made quite a difference.
I'll back up, however, and say that up until last week, I had a solid 'base' training cycle. Despite feeling a bit ambivalent about training (yes, I want this, no, I just want to stay in bed), the vast majority of my Training Peaks boxes were green for January and February - success! I was completing my workouts with more consistency than last year, and, even better, I felt that the workouts were high quality, especially in the pool and running.
I will admit that the bike has been something of an issue this year, despite the Bat (who HAS been getting plenty of love, but a lot of it on the trainer). Last year, I really prioritized getting in solid, long rides, and woke up early every Saturday, committing myself to some good saddle time. This year, I'll be honest and recognize that I have not dedicated enough time to biking as I really need. While I love the Cervelo - it is a wonderful ride, I still don't feel as confident on it as I do on the Trek, probably because I still think that it's TOO nice a bike for me and I get nervous on it. Or something idiotic like that. The other issue, before I blame it on a complicated love/hate relationship with my bike, is that, as we make these major life changes, triathlon/training is not first priority. I want to spend time and connect with friends, something that I could sacrifice a bit last year but am very reluctant to do so this at this point. While running and swimming seem more forgiving in terms of a time-commitment, biking is less so, and that has been an issue this year. Because of that, I made my peace with a few long "rides" on the trainer which were good and painful! Last weekend, I finally got in a great ride along PCH and felt pretty strong, especially in my new Vanderkitten kit (of which I have zero photos - sad face; I'm the worst so-called "ambassador" ever). The extra bonus on the ride - we saw whales swimming south! It was so fun to look for their spouts - and to spy them.
As I said, cycling aside, running and swimming had felt good. While I had plenty of swims and runs that felt slow, overall, I saw gains from last year (in the pool) and enjoyed being healthy for my runs. The only issue was niggling back pain while swimming, which probably started in January or at the beginning of February, but didn't really slow me down elsewhere. Well, last weekend, after a long swim and a long trainer ride on Saturday and a long run on Sunday, the pain wasn't severe but I had to admit that it was more than just a minor issue that I could ignore. So, at this point, I am trying to figure out what is going on with my back, not just scouring the Google, but also seeing a pain specialist and going from there. What's interesting about the back pain is that running and cycling don't seem to be an issue, and I suspect that it is related to tight hips/glutes and other imbalances rather than something more major (or that's my hope!). However, I'd rather err on the side of caution rather than try to push through the pain. What is a challenge is that I've never had back pain before (unlike the array of leg/foot maladies that have plagued me), so I don't know how serious it is. The optimist in me is confident that it's a strain that just needs time to fully heal, but I have concerns that it is more serious. Either way, it's frustrating to not know, and I hope to have answers soon!
Obviously, I hope that this won't sideline me for the next few months, especially, my plans for Boulder IM. I have questioned the decision to commit to another Ironman with everything else going on in our lives, but I also know that it wasn't a flighty decision. It's a goal that I'll continue to work towards, despite some challenges that life and my body have decided to present along the way. But, training for this second IM has been harder. Again, I recognize that there are a lot of life things going on that I have to prioritize, and maybe some of the excitement that comes from the new and unknown has worn off. I do have hopes, goals, expectations for this second race, but I'm also more stressed about moving, finding a job, saying good-bye, and figuring out my life. Small details, I know!
So, a bit of a rough go at this point, but I'm trying to trust the fact that I *do* have a good base to work from. Also, I've (knock on wood) stayed healthy in other ways and am grateful for that. I really hope to have answers to the back issue soon, and get back to some solid training!
I'll back up, however, and say that up until last week, I had a solid 'base' training cycle. Despite feeling a bit ambivalent about training (yes, I want this, no, I just want to stay in bed), the vast majority of my Training Peaks boxes were green for January and February - success! I was completing my workouts with more consistency than last year, and, even better, I felt that the workouts were high quality, especially in the pool and running.
I will admit that the bike has been something of an issue this year, despite the Bat (who HAS been getting plenty of love, but a lot of it on the trainer). Last year, I really prioritized getting in solid, long rides, and woke up early every Saturday, committing myself to some good saddle time. This year, I'll be honest and recognize that I have not dedicated enough time to biking as I really need. While I love the Cervelo - it is a wonderful ride, I still don't feel as confident on it as I do on the Trek, probably because I still think that it's TOO nice a bike for me and I get nervous on it. Or something idiotic like that. The other issue, before I blame it on a complicated love/hate relationship with my bike, is that, as we make these major life changes, triathlon/training is not first priority. I want to spend time and connect with friends, something that I could sacrifice a bit last year but am very reluctant to do so this at this point. While running and swimming seem more forgiving in terms of a time-commitment, biking is less so, and that has been an issue this year. Because of that, I made my peace with a few long "rides" on the trainer which were good and painful! Last weekend, I finally got in a great ride along PCH and felt pretty strong, especially in my new Vanderkitten kit (of which I have zero photos - sad face; I'm the worst so-called "ambassador" ever). The extra bonus on the ride - we saw whales swimming south! It was so fun to look for their spouts - and to spy them.
As I said, cycling aside, running and swimming had felt good. While I had plenty of swims and runs that felt slow, overall, I saw gains from last year (in the pool) and enjoyed being healthy for my runs. The only issue was niggling back pain while swimming, which probably started in January or at the beginning of February, but didn't really slow me down elsewhere. Well, last weekend, after a long swim and a long trainer ride on Saturday and a long run on Sunday, the pain wasn't severe but I had to admit that it was more than just a minor issue that I could ignore. So, at this point, I am trying to figure out what is going on with my back, not just scouring the Google, but also seeing a pain specialist and going from there. What's interesting about the back pain is that running and cycling don't seem to be an issue, and I suspect that it is related to tight hips/glutes and other imbalances rather than something more major (or that's my hope!). However, I'd rather err on the side of caution rather than try to push through the pain. What is a challenge is that I've never had back pain before (unlike the array of leg/foot maladies that have plagued me), so I don't know how serious it is. The optimist in me is confident that it's a strain that just needs time to fully heal, but I have concerns that it is more serious. Either way, it's frustrating to not know, and I hope to have answers soon!
Obviously, I hope that this won't sideline me for the next few months, especially, my plans for Boulder IM. I have questioned the decision to commit to another Ironman with everything else going on in our lives, but I also know that it wasn't a flighty decision. It's a goal that I'll continue to work towards, despite some challenges that life and my body have decided to present along the way. But, training for this second IM has been harder. Again, I recognize that there are a lot of life things going on that I have to prioritize, and maybe some of the excitement that comes from the new and unknown has worn off. I do have hopes, goals, expectations for this second race, but I'm also more stressed about moving, finding a job, saying good-bye, and figuring out my life. Small details, I know!
So, a bit of a rough go at this point, but I'm trying to trust the fact that I *do* have a good base to work from. Also, I've (knock on wood) stayed healthy in other ways and am grateful for that. I really hope to have answers to the back issue soon, and get back to some solid training!
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