Uff! I thought that I would be super excited to jump back into training in May after Wildflower, but getting back into a focused groove post-race has challenged me more than expected. Some of the issues right now are connected to work. I thought that the end of the year would dovetail nicely with bigger training weeks, and, while things do ease up in May in some ways, as we look to the end of the year, there are also more random commitments that eat into my time. Or, I maybe just did a better job of saying "No" in April, and recently there have been certain obligations, both work and personal, that have pulled me away from a super focused training regime.
The other issue is that this is all new territory for me. For my previous 70.3 distance races, they were my 'A' races for the year, so afterwards, I did some serious kick-back-and-relaxing. I had a few days off after Wildflower, which I probably enjoyed more than I should (no, I did not yearn to be training as I drank margaritas on several occasions last week! Yes, true confessions - I drink! Bad triathlete!). It's even been difficult this week, and to say that I've felt reluctant about more than one workout would be an understatement. Some of this may be fear manifesting itself in another way - because I am starting to tackle workouts that seem impossible to me when I see them written in my schedule, yet if I can't manage these workouts, how will I deal with a full Ironman in just over 4 weeks time (yikes!)?
Fortunately, that same fear has also served as a motivating factor, and I've discovered 2 new mantras that seem to push me along, even when I don't want to head out the door for a long run or ride.
One is MTFU or "Man the Fuck Up". Sorry to be sexist here, but that little phrase seriously helped me out last weekend and again yesterday and today. Last weekend, the end of my "recovery week" had on tap: a long run + a long ride. Okay, the usual stuff. But I was expecting the long run to be a recovery long run, which was not the case. Ditto for the ride, in all respects. While I ended up cutting the run short by about 5 minutes, I was determined to get in the full 5 hours on the bike last Sunday. During that ride, I coined yet another mantra for myself: Embrace the suck.
Not that the entire ride sucked, because it did not, but it was a windy day and at one point, I headed east and dealt with a nasty head wind and then when I flipped it and headed west, there was still a headwind. How is that possible!! Also, I was at mile 76.9 of my 80 mile ride and I got a flat tire - the back tire, of course. So, while I had been repeating "embrace the suck" during most of the ride, at that moment, I switched back to the MTFU motto to change my tire. Well, I briefly contemplated the "Walk of shame" but decided that was NOT a viable option. The flat repair was not a pretty experience - somehow my right leg ended up being covered in grease and I even cut myself on my bike - but I managed to change the tire all by myself like a big girl (although I secretly hoped that someone would come along and offer to help me with it). The other MTFU experience came after the ride - I had the worst saddle sores that I've had to date. I do know the culprit, this pair of Pearl Izumi shorts that I used to like - and maybe I still do for rides between 20-30 miles, but I'm also thinking about burning them.
As for this weekend, I would like to say that I was excited to get out and run in 90 degree heat yesterday, but that would not be the case. I did, however, feel 'accomplished' when I hit 16.4 miles in 2:35 - especially because I was low on fuel and really worried about bonking! I'm not confident about running 9.8 MORE miles (on top of a swim and ride) at this point, but it is nice to see that I am hitting those longer workouts, even though I'm doing it through gritted teeth half the time, cursing at myself and interchanging these two less-than-feel-good mantras. But, hey, whatever works - I've learned that inspirational stuff doesn't work well for me, but drill sergeant tactics work every time!
Next weekend has even more fun on tap, and I'll try to post some photos too!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Re-ignite the passion: Wildflower 2014 Long Course
When I "raced" the 2011 Wildflower Oly, my first experience with triathlon, the slogan for the race was Ignite your passion. Super cheesy, but it worked! Since then, Wildflower has changed the slogan to "The One and Only", which highlights the unique experience that the race offers, but I still prefer the 2011 slogan. I've now returned 3 times since 2011 - twice to repeat the Olympic race and then this year to tackle the long course. As I stated, my goals for the Long Course really were fairly humble: to finish in decent shape and to execute the race well (in regards to food and stuff like that). I did think that accomplishing these two goals would be enough of a challenge, especially when the temperatures rose last week well into the 90s, making for less-than-ideal race day conditions.
Even though I did not have huge expectations, if you had asked me how the race would break down, this what I would have said (so, maybe I did have expectations - or predictions):
Even though I did not have huge expectations, if you had asked me how the race would break down, this what I would have said (so, maybe I did have expectations - or predictions):
- Solid swim - Even though I felt a bit sluggish recently, I thought that I'd improve on my swim time from Vineman.
- Survive the bike - I'd heard about the challenging bike course, so I just wanted to leave enough juice in the legs for the run.
- Hang on to the run - The bike course, for whatever reason, has the reputation of being tough, but when I talked to people and read race reports, the run actually stood out as the major challenge with the heat and the hills that kept coming.
The pre-race prep started well before we left on Friday afternoon, as I started to organize gear and line up my fuel/hydration options around Monday. As luck would have it, I ran out of most of the 'food' that I had been using, so I made an expensive trip to one of the expensive local bike shops. I froze 5 bottles on Thursday night - 2 bottles of 'pre-race' fluid for Friday night and Saturday morning and then 3 bottles for race day - 2 on the bike, one for the run. I also started to pop salt pills on Friday.
Once 2:30 pm hit, Michael picked me up at school and we headed north, arriving in Paso Robles with enough time to check into the lovely Motel 6 before driving on to Lake San Antonio. To be honest, I hadn't been super excited about the weekend until we started the drive north. At that point, it sunk in that I was racing the following day, and I started to look forward to the experience rather than just dread it! I had contemplated not checking into the race until Saturday morning, but that would have added more stress to my morning. So, I checked in on Friday and racked my bike in transition, hoping that I would be able to find it the next morning. I also left a pair of running shoes for the "second" run of the day and other items that I thought I would need for the bike/run portion of the race. This is only the second time that I've had a more complicated transition experience, and I must admit that I'm not a fan!
The strangest thing about Wildflower this year was the lake - or lack thereof. People had been talking about year about the fact that Lake San Antonio had disappeared, but I thought that it was more of a figurative expression. Nope. Where there used to be a nice expansive of water, there was a field:
That kind of blew my mind.
It also seemed like the crowd was much thinner. Since we don't camp (after a failed attempt), I know that I cannot compare, but it just didn't feel as crowded, with tents and campers pushed together everywhere, vying for any spot.
Saturday: Game day!
One thing about racking the bike on Friday, it made for a more relaxed Saturday morning. We scored a great day-parking spot and then I took care of business (mainly at the port-o-potties). Finally, 7:15 rolled around, so I said good-bye to Michael and got on the shuttle that would take us to the swim start. My wave (women 40-49) had a terrible spot for our swim/run out gear - at the very top of this loooooong ramp, but what could I do about it? At that point, it was a waiting game until 9:00, which rolled around pretty quickly! Soon, we ladies in pink caps (why do I always end up with a pink swim cap? Ugh!) lined up to test out the water. I jumped in and I couldn't believe that there was ZERO visibility. Total blackness. If I were prone to open water swim issues, that would have been the moment. It kind of freaked me out. And then, they called us back so that we could officially start - and we all had beards from the silt in the water! All the bearded ladies - funniest sight of the day!
I predicted a decent swim, but it was probably one of the worst swims in terms of enjoyment/experience. Once I got in the water, I mentally tossed out all of those predictions and just tried to stay focused on breathing well, on an even stroke and on sighting. My goggles had fogged up, so sighting was a challenge, and I can't say that I enjoyed much of anything about the swim. But, I kept telling myself that this was just one part in a very long day, and there was no reason to freak out. I exited the water, unsure of my time, assuming the worst, but glad that the first leg was over. And then I headed UP the ramp to find my run stuff - which proved to be a challenge because I couldn't find it initially!
Once I found my little pile for the run, I tried to quickly move on to the first run of the day, but was still super slow. Because of the course change this year (due to the swim change), we ran 2.2 miles from the swim to the bike transition. Admittedly, I was not a happy camper when I first read about the change, but I think that it worked in my favor because I could sort of "settle down" and gather my thoughts on that 2.2 mile run. At that point, I gave myself a little pep talk about the bike, and approached that leg with the attitude that it was just another long ride in a beautiful part of the world - so, enjoy it! That little talk helped because I transitioned to the bike and started to wind my way through the park feeling pretty calm and happy - actually happy! - to be there. It helped that not everyone immediately passed me. I could kind of hold my own on the bike. What, biking lots of miles actually helps a person become faster?! No way?!
Maybe I was lucky, maybe I had an amazing day, maybe my very low expectations for the bike leg allowed me to find success in a mediocre performance. I don't care WHAT it was, but I loved that bike course! There are rollers at the beginning, but then it is super fast for the middle section, and then Nasty Grade starts around mile forty-something. And the climbs just didn't seem that terrible. It's a plus for me that I like climbing, so I passed people which is always fun! I also tried to not be an asshole, and told a guy who was walking his bike up Nasty Grade "You're almost there!" to encourage him. That did not go over well, I guess, because he replied - "There is more to come!". Okay Mr. Negative, you're not going to have a fun day out there!
It wasn't the "perfect" ride with a few little hiccups, but I managed to handle those without freaking out. For instance, my baggie with salt tablets flew into the middle of the road as I was trying to open it, so I made a judgment call to stop and pick them up, thinking that it was better to lose a few minutes rather than blow up on the run. Also, for the last 10 miles I had 'hot foot' on the left side, but none of that really impacted me mentally. Even when we had hills at the very end (2 of them), I still felt good - which has never ever been my experience with the bike leg!
Once I hit the descent on Lynch Hill, I knew that I could finish the race, even if the run sucked. Fortunately, it did not suck! Yes, it was warm out there and, yes, it was a hard course with lots of hills, but, like the bike, I enjoyed it. I do think that the split run helped me out mentally - it was nice to know that I had already finished 2.2 miles. While the hills were relentless, I felt that as long as I could pass people, I wouldn't complain. Also, it was hot, but there were pockets of shade and even a breeze here and there, and I kept my thoughts on the miles ticking down. Between Miles 9 and 10, I got a big hello from my spectators - Michael and Gus who had found a nice shady spot for the day (poor Gus - such a long day for him!). Mile 12 might have been the worst because we had one more long uphill, and finally it was downhill to the finish - which was amazing!
Even though I didn't focus on times, I was happy and surprised with the numbers. Despite hating the swim, I ended up with a "speedy"-for-me swim - clocking in at 38:02, just sneaking in under 2:00 (per 100 meters) pace - finally! The bike, even with 3 stops (the baggie debacle, a dropped chain, and a fluid refill), was 3:29:28, giving me a 16 mph average (which is, by the way, better than any of my Olympic Wildflower paces!). Finally, the run, as weird as it was with the split, was just over 2 hours - 2:01:30. I credit any speed to the first 2.2 miles and the final downhill. Total race time: 6:23:17!
Even more shocking than finishing the race in one piece, I managed to schlep my body and all of my crap back up the hill once it was over. Ah, the test of true grit at Wildflower!
Post-Race thoughts:
This wasn't a PR, which I didn't expect nor did I chase it - no one expects a PR out of Wildflower. I really struggled with training in April and was full of doubts as I headed to Wildflower, which then made me question CdA and the entire Ironman decision. So, this race was a great confidence boost for me, as I can see the gains that I've made in all three disciplines. More important than my time or how well I 'executed' the race (blah blah blah), it was just a fun day out there and it reminded me of the joy that can and SHOULD be a part of this sport/experience. I never thought that I would have a race day as special as my very first triathlon, but damn if Saturday didn't match that day and maybe even surpass it on an "experience" level. I'm no longer as clueless as I was then and I assess my performance, as a mid-pack age grouper, with a more critical eye, but there's no doubt that 2014 Wildflower reignited my passion for this little hobby!
A few final thoughts - before the race, I saw this as part of the Ironman process. While I am still framing it in that light, I can also recognize the Wildflower Long Course race as a stand-alone experience that was hard but incredibly fun! It's always nice to finish with a smile!
Once 2:30 pm hit, Michael picked me up at school and we headed north, arriving in Paso Robles with enough time to check into the lovely Motel 6 before driving on to Lake San Antonio. To be honest, I hadn't been super excited about the weekend until we started the drive north. At that point, it sunk in that I was racing the following day, and I started to look forward to the experience rather than just dread it! I had contemplated not checking into the race until Saturday morning, but that would have added more stress to my morning. So, I checked in on Friday and racked my bike in transition, hoping that I would be able to find it the next morning. I also left a pair of running shoes for the "second" run of the day and other items that I thought I would need for the bike/run portion of the race. This is only the second time that I've had a more complicated transition experience, and I must admit that I'm not a fan!
The strangest thing about Wildflower this year was the lake - or lack thereof. People had been talking about year about the fact that Lake San Antonio had disappeared, but I thought that it was more of a figurative expression. Nope. Where there used to be a nice expansive of water, there was a field:
That kind of blew my mind.
It also seemed like the crowd was much thinner. Since we don't camp (after a failed attempt), I know that I cannot compare, but it just didn't feel as crowded, with tents and campers pushed together everywhere, vying for any spot.
Aaaah - Relaxing before the big day. It was Gus's first Wildflower, so he was excited!
Saturday: Game day!
One thing about racking the bike on Friday, it made for a more relaxed Saturday morning. We scored a great day-parking spot and then I took care of business (mainly at the port-o-potties). Finally, 7:15 rolled around, so I said good-bye to Michael and got on the shuttle that would take us to the swim start. My wave (women 40-49) had a terrible spot for our swim/run out gear - at the very top of this loooooong ramp, but what could I do about it? At that point, it was a waiting game until 9:00, which rolled around pretty quickly! Soon, we ladies in pink caps (why do I always end up with a pink swim cap? Ugh!) lined up to test out the water. I jumped in and I couldn't believe that there was ZERO visibility. Total blackness. If I were prone to open water swim issues, that would have been the moment. It kind of freaked me out. And then, they called us back so that we could officially start - and we all had beards from the silt in the water! All the bearded ladies - funniest sight of the day!
I predicted a decent swim, but it was probably one of the worst swims in terms of enjoyment/experience. Once I got in the water, I mentally tossed out all of those predictions and just tried to stay focused on breathing well, on an even stroke and on sighting. My goggles had fogged up, so sighting was a challenge, and I can't say that I enjoyed much of anything about the swim. But, I kept telling myself that this was just one part in a very long day, and there was no reason to freak out. I exited the water, unsure of my time, assuming the worst, but glad that the first leg was over. And then I headed UP the ramp to find my run stuff - which proved to be a challenge because I couldn't find it initially!
This was the ramp that I had to run ALL THE WAY UP to find my stuff. The only bonus was that I could spot the ramp from the water, even with my foggy goggles.
Once I found my little pile for the run, I tried to quickly move on to the first run of the day, but was still super slow. Because of the course change this year (due to the swim change), we ran 2.2 miles from the swim to the bike transition. Admittedly, I was not a happy camper when I first read about the change, but I think that it worked in my favor because I could sort of "settle down" and gather my thoughts on that 2.2 mile run. At that point, I gave myself a little pep talk about the bike, and approached that leg with the attitude that it was just another long ride in a beautiful part of the world - so, enjoy it! That little talk helped because I transitioned to the bike and started to wind my way through the park feeling pretty calm and happy - actually happy! - to be there. It helped that not everyone immediately passed me. I could kind of hold my own on the bike. What, biking lots of miles actually helps a person become faster?! No way?!
Maybe I was lucky, maybe I had an amazing day, maybe my very low expectations for the bike leg allowed me to find success in a mediocre performance. I don't care WHAT it was, but I loved that bike course! There are rollers at the beginning, but then it is super fast for the middle section, and then Nasty Grade starts around mile forty-something. And the climbs just didn't seem that terrible. It's a plus for me that I like climbing, so I passed people which is always fun! I also tried to not be an asshole, and told a guy who was walking his bike up Nasty Grade "You're almost there!" to encourage him. That did not go over well, I guess, because he replied - "There is more to come!". Okay Mr. Negative, you're not going to have a fun day out there!
It wasn't the "perfect" ride with a few little hiccups, but I managed to handle those without freaking out. For instance, my baggie with salt tablets flew into the middle of the road as I was trying to open it, so I made a judgment call to stop and pick them up, thinking that it was better to lose a few minutes rather than blow up on the run. Also, for the last 10 miles I had 'hot foot' on the left side, but none of that really impacted me mentally. Even when we had hills at the very end (2 of them), I still felt good - which has never ever been my experience with the bike leg!
Once I hit the descent on Lynch Hill, I knew that I could finish the race, even if the run sucked. Fortunately, it did not suck! Yes, it was warm out there and, yes, it was a hard course with lots of hills, but, like the bike, I enjoyed it. I do think that the split run helped me out mentally - it was nice to know that I had already finished 2.2 miles. While the hills were relentless, I felt that as long as I could pass people, I wouldn't complain. Also, it was hot, but there were pockets of shade and even a breeze here and there, and I kept my thoughts on the miles ticking down. Between Miles 9 and 10, I got a big hello from my spectators - Michael and Gus who had found a nice shady spot for the day (poor Gus - such a long day for him!). Mile 12 might have been the worst because we had one more long uphill, and finally it was downhill to the finish - which was amazing!
Coming to the finish line!
Even though I didn't focus on times, I was happy and surprised with the numbers. Despite hating the swim, I ended up with a "speedy"-for-me swim - clocking in at 38:02, just sneaking in under 2:00 (per 100 meters) pace - finally! The bike, even with 3 stops (the baggie debacle, a dropped chain, and a fluid refill), was 3:29:28, giving me a 16 mph average (which is, by the way, better than any of my Olympic Wildflower paces!). Finally, the run, as weird as it was with the split, was just over 2 hours - 2:01:30. I credit any speed to the first 2.2 miles and the final downhill. Total race time: 6:23:17!
Even more shocking than finishing the race in one piece, I managed to schlep my body and all of my crap back up the hill once it was over. Ah, the test of true grit at Wildflower!
Post-Race thoughts:
This wasn't a PR, which I didn't expect nor did I chase it - no one expects a PR out of Wildflower. I really struggled with training in April and was full of doubts as I headed to Wildflower, which then made me question CdA and the entire Ironman decision. So, this race was a great confidence boost for me, as I can see the gains that I've made in all three disciplines. More important than my time or how well I 'executed' the race (blah blah blah), it was just a fun day out there and it reminded me of the joy that can and SHOULD be a part of this sport/experience. I never thought that I would have a race day as special as my very first triathlon, but damn if Saturday didn't match that day and maybe even surpass it on an "experience" level. I'm no longer as clueless as I was then and I assess my performance, as a mid-pack age grouper, with a more critical eye, but there's no doubt that 2014 Wildflower reignited my passion for this little hobby!
A few final thoughts - before the race, I saw this as part of the Ironman process. While I am still framing it in that light, I can also recognize the Wildflower Long Course race as a stand-alone experience that was hard but incredibly fun! It's always nice to finish with a smile!
Sunday, May 4, 2014
The short of it: Wildflower 2014
When we left for Lake San Antonio (which, by the way, literally does not exist anymore) Friday afternoon, I had no predictions and very few expectations for Wildflower. I wanted to finish, obviously, and, more than any race for a while, I was not totally confident that I would meet that one expectation.
So, this was the final result of yesterday's race:
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Countdown to Wildflower!
It seems like I signed up for Wildflower a while back as a race in the very "distant" future. Yet, here it is, almost upon us! Thinking about the fact that there are officially less than 2 weeks until May 3, race day for me, does not freak me out. Seeing this is a lead-up to CdA, however, DOES make that event feel much closer which is a bit panic-inducing!
This is my fourth year going to Wildflower, and clearly I never learn that April, school-wise, is just kind of crazy, and I'm completely stressed out about a million different things. Well, here I am again, stressed about school issues and also trying to focus on solid training swims, runs and rides. At this point, I've learned that every month, every week, maybe even every day, presents a different challenge in terms of training. I was a bit of a stress case in February with the running situation which had me sidelined; March was a pretty glorious month - I had a few great experiences with organized rides, a nice 'triathlon-season opener' at the Desert Triathlon, returned to running and also felt strong in the pool as began to get in more yardage.
I have not felt that training in April has gone "as well", whatever that means. My running game is back - not quite 100% but definitely 90% - as I've started to incorporate tempo runs, hill repeats and even have a few long (for me) runs under the belt. So, that is a huge plus. But, swimming has been a mixed bag, and biking, where I saw progress in February and March, has felt like a huge step backwards. I really struggled with what should have been a pretty 'easy' longish ride last weekend, whichleft me feeling completely frustrated. Not to mention that I wanted to throw my bike into the ocean or, better yet, run over it with the car. Looking back, I think that there were some mechanical issues that may have caused a slower pace - my bike wasn't shifting well and there seemed to be other problems. Not to look for a scapegoat, but all of those small issues may have contributed to my sense of frustration.
Fortunately, I felt much more focused this week and on top of my so-called game in the pool and also in the saddle. Despite the strong urge to stay in bed to sleep a bit more both yesterday and today, I managed to motivate myself. The source of said motivation: FEAR. Seriously, I told myself that with Wildflower 2 weeks away, I *had* to get in these workouts (which is somewhat true). So, yesterday, I headed off for a solo ride and hit just over 50 miles with 4400 elevation gain (more or less). I opted for the Lower Big Tujunga loop (should have gone Upper, but that's a ride for another day), which seems to be my pre-70.3 ride. I've done this ride with variations for both Boulder 70.3 and last year for Vineman, and it's a good prep ride. I should compare my stats from this year and last year. Or maybe not - without looking at data, I felt that I was pretty strong out there yesterday and hit the ranger station on the 2 much earlier than I expected. It wasn't a fast ride, but I did feel good during my 5-mile post-ride-run.
Today was much the same - did not want to run, did not want to run... But ended up with a 14.4 mile run, my longest run in a very long time and longer, obviously, than the 13.1 miles at Wildflower (hopefully only 13.1 - who knows with the course!). I felt good for the first 6-7 miles, my legs could actually move, to my great surprise, but things were way harder the second half. Still, I finished, pushing hard for those final miles. And now, with those two bigger workouts under my belt, I think that I might, just maybe, be ready for Wildflower! They were not exactly key to my fitness prep, but they did serve to bolster my confidence, which is always good.
As for Wildflower, who knows how that will go! So much depends on the weather and race conditions at that race, as I've experienced personally, even at the Olympic distance. My main goal for the event is not based on time but on the hope that it will give me a sense of where I am for CdA in June. It IS exciting to take on a bigger challenge with the Long Course, and Wildflower will always have a nostalgic place in my heart as the first tri I ever did.
Monday, April 7, 2014
March training and other odds and ends
We're already well into April, but somehow writing and reflecting a bit on March still seems pertinent at this point in the game. When Beth sent me a Google doc at the beginning of the month with the 16-week build-up to Couer d'Alene, things suddenly felt that they were going to get more serious. With the exception of running, I had been pretty happy with February's training, and the schedule did not overwhelm me. March felt like a different beast, and I know that April and May will bring on even longer and more challenging workouts. But, it was great to return to running in March, and I ended the month with a double digit run and weekly averages over 20 miles - WOO HOO! I still played it cautiously, however, not incorporating speedwork or hills and taking it pretty slow and steady (plodding along, really). In terms of swimming, I've yet to see major gains in speed, but hitting 3,000 yard workouts seems normal at this point, so at least I'm more comfortable with longer distances in the pool. I think about my training for Boulder 70.3 and Vineman 70.3, and I was pretty happy when I swam over 2,000 yards. So, yes, there is major progress there!
The bike has turned into my bete noire in recent weeks, but I blame that entirely on the less-than-inspired rides that I've had. At the beginning of the month, I loved cycling and wanted to do more! No doubt, 3 events over 3 different weekends built up that enthusiasm - between the Desert Tri, the Solvang Metric Century, and Malibu Canyon Half-Century (plus 10), I had bolstered my cycling confidence and really enjoyed, plus I learned from, each experience. However, since those rides, my enthusiasm has waned a bit, and many rides have felt tough both mentally and physically. And I've slow - like I am just slogging through the rides - which gives way to thoughts of not being able to finish the bike course on June 29. I know that where I ride influences my attitude about cycling, and I like that there are routes right out my front door that challenge me and that are pretty great, but I've also fallen into a rut with some of those rides.
Despite some negativity on my part regarding cycling, I ended March with a pretty big training block, taking advantage of spring break and rounding out that week with over 15 hours, most of that on the bike! For many people, a 15-hour training week wouldn't be a big deal, but I was plenty tired by the time it came to a close. And never before had I looked forward to a recovery week with such anticipation! As I trained over spring break, I also realized that I had made a very, VERY good choice to not spend my entire summer training. Being a teacher, summer is a great opportunity to train, but it kind of made me crazy to think that much about training. I think that I could/would quickly obsess about it without the structure that work gives me and without having other commitments that really are/should be my priority.
But this past week (no longer March, I realize) - the much-anticipated recovery week. To my frustration, while last week was definitely a lighter week training-wise, there was plenty of life-stress from school/work... Lots of meetings, and then I spent the weekend as a chaperone which was exhausting (and, no, I don't mean part of the weekend but THE weekend, pretty much). So, I don't feel as focused as I had hoped that I would be as I start this next major training block. But, with Wildflower right around the corner (okay, still about 4 weeks out - that still seems like it's almost here!), I am looking forward to some longer rides and runs.
And, finally, Wildflower... When I was there last year, the water levels in "Lake" San Antonio were pretty low, and then California endured a dry summer and a dry fall and then the rains did not come in the winter months. I signed up not really acknowledging the fact that the CA drought could very well play a role here, and I thought about it periodically, but did not spend much time dwelling on the swim portion of this race. Until a few weeks ago when I received an email about a course change - instead of swim/bike/run it is going to be swim/run/bike/run. It should be interesting!
In the meantime, I'll keep training and will, fingers crossed, keep injury at bay!
The bike has turned into my bete noire in recent weeks, but I blame that entirely on the less-than-inspired rides that I've had. At the beginning of the month, I loved cycling and wanted to do more! No doubt, 3 events over 3 different weekends built up that enthusiasm - between the Desert Tri, the Solvang Metric Century, and Malibu Canyon Half-Century (plus 10), I had bolstered my cycling confidence and really enjoyed, plus I learned from, each experience. However, since those rides, my enthusiasm has waned a bit, and many rides have felt tough both mentally and physically. And I've slow - like I am just slogging through the rides - which gives way to thoughts of not being able to finish the bike course on June 29. I know that where I ride influences my attitude about cycling, and I like that there are routes right out my front door that challenge me and that are pretty great, but I've also fallen into a rut with some of those rides.
Despite some negativity on my part regarding cycling, I ended March with a pretty big training block, taking advantage of spring break and rounding out that week with over 15 hours, most of that on the bike! For many people, a 15-hour training week wouldn't be a big deal, but I was plenty tired by the time it came to a close. And never before had I looked forward to a recovery week with such anticipation! As I trained over spring break, I also realized that I had made a very, VERY good choice to not spend my entire summer training. Being a teacher, summer is a great opportunity to train, but it kind of made me crazy to think that much about training. I think that I could/would quickly obsess about it without the structure that work gives me and without having other commitments that really are/should be my priority.
But this past week (no longer March, I realize) - the much-anticipated recovery week. To my frustration, while last week was definitely a lighter week training-wise, there was plenty of life-stress from school/work... Lots of meetings, and then I spent the weekend as a chaperone which was exhausting (and, no, I don't mean part of the weekend but THE weekend, pretty much). So, I don't feel as focused as I had hoped that I would be as I start this next major training block. But, with Wildflower right around the corner (okay, still about 4 weeks out - that still seems like it's almost here!), I am looking forward to some longer rides and runs.
And, finally, Wildflower... When I was there last year, the water levels in "Lake" San Antonio were pretty low, and then California endured a dry summer and a dry fall and then the rains did not come in the winter months. I signed up not really acknowledging the fact that the CA drought could very well play a role here, and I thought about it periodically, but did not spend much time dwelling on the swim portion of this race. Until a few weeks ago when I received an email about a course change - instead of swim/bike/run it is going to be swim/run/bike/run. It should be interesting!
In the meantime, I'll keep training and will, fingers crossed, keep injury at bay!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Spring Break 2014
To say that returning to work today was a challenge would be an understatement, but I can't imagine that any more time off would be good for me! Not that I would complain about days filled with naps (I think that I took one every single day of my break - bliss!), but then they would be commonplace, and why should that happen?!
I spent most of my time hunkered down at home, but between training, catching up on grading, and napping, the week passed by pretty quickly. Gus and I bonded over stretching and strength training.
He also took lots of naps with me!
Michael spent part of the week in Boulder, CO, visiting family, but before he left town, I met up with some colleagues for a quick drink and then we finally made it to LACMA to see the James Turrell exhibit, catching the tail end of it. I had been skeptical and not super enthused about seeing this exhibit, which was totally idiotic of me because it was one of the coolest exhibits I've seen in the longest time. James Turrell - what a genius! And not just because he has won a McArthur genius grant. The way he looks at the world - whoa! Totally blew my mind.
On Thursday, I headed down to San Diego, where I picked up Michael, and we enjoyed a few days down south. We drank great beer, randomly stumbling on Station Tavern in San Diego which was awesome, and then we mainly hung around Carlsbad/Encinitas/Oceanside, returning to familiar haunts from our last time there, back in January - El Callejón (great margaritas but not as much fun as the first time we went), Pannikin which I just learned is an "institution" in the area and has some of the best muffins I've ever had, and Union Kitchen and Tap.
I also took our bikes down, so on Friday, after a walk on the beach with Gus and a great breakfast at the aforementioned Pannikin, Michael and I set out on what I promised would be a 3 hour ride MAX.
Rough times at the beach! The typical dog photo, I know!
I had discovered one of the "best rides of San Diego County" on line - from Carlsbad to Camp Pendleton up the coast. Well, it ended up being much longer, mainly because we got turned around a few times (mainly at Camp Pendleton) and did not make the right turn that would have taken us to the coast. Plus, we hit major traffic several times AND I had a flat! I kept thinking of Gilligan's Island - "a three-hour tour...". Despite all of those mishaps, it was a fun day, but that ride pretty much WAS the day!
Finally, I woke up early Saturday morning and headed to Oceanside, T1 - to help out at Oceanside 70.3. Despite the crazy early hour, it was a fun morning and the time passed quickly. We were checking people who were going into the transition area for the first hour or so, then, once the race started, we were helping people at the bike mount line. I've never actually seen all of the leaders get on the bike, so that was fun - or would have been had I been able to recognize anyone! Also, that mount line was crazy busy! I don't think that I've ever been at a race that had so much traffic at the mount line. Or maybe I have but I don't notice it racing? Our major job at the mount line was to check for bibs - if people did not have a bib, they could not ride on Camp Pendleton, which meant that they couldn't finish the race. So, we gave people bibs if they were leaving without one. Here I am in "action" (I think I gave Thom, in front of me, the bib who then stuck it in a racer's kit):
In addition to the bike mounting issues, there was some crazy stuff I saw that morning - first of all, a guy who had not picked up his packet the day before strolled up wanting to know where to get his packet. Ummm - did you not read any of the information that Ironman.com sent you? And spectators who were trying to sneak into transition?
We finished up around 9:00 and by the time the last person had mounted his/her bike and I walked to T2, the lead male racers were starting the run. I did not spectate all of the run, but I did get to see the first couple of guys. They were so fast (I know, stating the obvious, but seriously!).
After that, it was time to return home. The weekend ended on a more low-key note as I prepped for the week and fit in a long run and ride! It was definitely a great break, and while I ended it feeling physically tired from training, it also let me recharge. Good thing as we have the final push over these next 8 weeks!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
The "I" word
As I type this out, I'm keeping my toes crossed and praying to the running gods so that I don't totally jinx myself by mentioning this ubiquitous topic, the "I" word being injury. It seems, based on two solid weeks of running - including 2 longer-than-60-minute runs - that I am well on my way to recovery! Not that I'm back to full speed and strength, but I can chug along with a pretty low heart rate these days. To be dramatic about it all, this comes as a huge relief for me and I feel a little less desperate about the 26.2 miles following the swim/bike portions of IM CdA. Shew!
I'm certainly not the first nor will I be the last person to deal with an injury during a major training cycle, and I can't say that it came as a huge surprise that I found myself a bit side-lined. It was a major frustration, yes, but when I think about the past few years, I realize that 18 months is the longest healthy stretch I've managed and I don't know how intense my training was during those 18 months. So, no, not really a surprise.
One curious detail - the past two injury cycles, both 'came on' about a week after racing, which makes me wonder about my approach to training and/or racing. While plantar fasciitis was frustrating, it also seemed to progress along in a predictable fashion and I could easily tell how I was doing based on the pain when I first got out of bed in the morning. This time around, I had quad tendonitis which did not manifest itself during most activities (walking, swimming, biking, skipping, jumping) but within 10 minutes of a run that started out without any pain, I would find myself hobbling along. For much of February, I would begin each run with an optimistic attitude, thinking "This is the one! I know that I'm better!" and the runs did get a little longer and then a little longer, but there wasn't a moment when I was immediately better, much to my frustration.
Fortunately, I continued to see Dr. Choy, whom I discovered last year for Active Release Therapy and is my go-to guru whenever I have weird aches and pains or crazy tightness. I've continued to see him for occasional tune-ups, but I became a regular patient for about a month there. Seeing him not only helped me out physically but also mentally - he assured me that things were progressing and that I just needed to be patient. He also kept encouraging me to run (not to the point of trauma, but to see where I was/how the pain was/when it set on), even when I felt like resigning myself to the elliptical for the next 4 months.
I've also been quite cautious with my pace, not pushing too much, and also the terrain, sticking primarily to trails for almost all of my runs at this point. Saturday took me on a nice group run, and I even went a bit further than expected. Coming back, I crossed paths with a VERY healthy looking coyote! That was an unexpected encounter!
In addition to running mainly on trails, I've developed a love/hate relationship with ice baths - they hurt so much but then my legs feel so good afterwards! Finally, I have tried to keep my eye on the long-term goal rather than my short-term reality. While my pace feels slow to me, it is probably faster than the pace at which I'll run the CdA course. If I have to stop to stretch or walk a bit, it does not stress me out. And, I am just happy that I can run these days, as slow as I'm going!
I'm certainly not the first nor will I be the last person to deal with an injury during a major training cycle, and I can't say that it came as a huge surprise that I found myself a bit side-lined. It was a major frustration, yes, but when I think about the past few years, I realize that 18 months is the longest healthy stretch I've managed and I don't know how intense my training was during those 18 months. So, no, not really a surprise.
One curious detail - the past two injury cycles, both 'came on' about a week after racing, which makes me wonder about my approach to training and/or racing. While plantar fasciitis was frustrating, it also seemed to progress along in a predictable fashion and I could easily tell how I was doing based on the pain when I first got out of bed in the morning. This time around, I had quad tendonitis which did not manifest itself during most activities (walking, swimming, biking, skipping, jumping) but within 10 minutes of a run that started out without any pain, I would find myself hobbling along. For much of February, I would begin each run with an optimistic attitude, thinking "This is the one! I know that I'm better!" and the runs did get a little longer and then a little longer, but there wasn't a moment when I was immediately better, much to my frustration.
Fortunately, I continued to see Dr. Choy, whom I discovered last year for Active Release Therapy and is my go-to guru whenever I have weird aches and pains or crazy tightness. I've continued to see him for occasional tune-ups, but I became a regular patient for about a month there. Seeing him not only helped me out physically but also mentally - he assured me that things were progressing and that I just needed to be patient. He also kept encouraging me to run (not to the point of trauma, but to see where I was/how the pain was/when it set on), even when I felt like resigning myself to the elliptical for the next 4 months.
I've also been quite cautious with my pace, not pushing too much, and also the terrain, sticking primarily to trails for almost all of my runs at this point. Saturday took me on a nice group run, and I even went a bit further than expected. Coming back, I crossed paths with a VERY healthy looking coyote! That was an unexpected encounter!
In addition to running mainly on trails, I've developed a love/hate relationship with ice baths - they hurt so much but then my legs feel so good afterwards! Finally, I have tried to keep my eye on the long-term goal rather than my short-term reality. While my pace feels slow to me, it is probably faster than the pace at which I'll run the CdA course. If I have to stop to stretch or walk a bit, it does not stress me out. And, I am just happy that I can run these days, as slow as I'm going!
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