tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228341779980933952024-03-13T03:10:28.647-07:00endurance junkieWhat happens when girl meets sneakers, bike, and goggles.Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-80830112358467007172023-09-25T11:25:00.001-07:002023-09-25T11:31:46.974-07:00Ironman Maryland 2023<p>I went into Ironman Maryland with much different expectations than with previous races. I had a time goal, but it was a loose one. And one that would not define success. My goals were to have fun and feel strong. I began training for this race after I recovered from my 50K last fall. Kettlebell and suspension trainer strength workouts, short distance running, swimming, and indoor cycling. I made a race calendar that involved longer rides and runs early in the season but staying at low intensity. I worked with Mary Eggers at Valor Project for the last 10 weeks or so. I entered race week feeling strong and fairly rested. I did not feel beat up like I have in the past. I was excited and ready. </p><p>I got to Transition a little after 5 am. This was a "clean transition" which meant that all my gear was already there and organized in bags. I had a few things to add to my bike and to the bags, but I was mostly ready to go. I had planned a warm up swim so that I acclimated to the water, decrease nerves, and be ready to go! I quickly got to the point where I was ready to do my practice swim, however it was announced that the swim was delayed, by an hour, and cut to 1.2 miles due to a combo of tide and wind. We were told it would feel like swimming in an endless pool. It would put racers and the rescuers in danger. At this time I walked over to the edge of the Choptank River, where we'd be swimming and watched the sunrise and chatted with a fellow athlete, Frank. He was a veteran 140.6 athlete and had been playing with trail running. We had a lot in common and bounded over crazy races. We said our good byes and walked to transition. A bit later it was announced that the swim would be 0.57 miles, would start at 8:30, and we'd enter one by one. The day changed rapidly. My only concern at this time was the timing of my food. I had eaten my PBnJ at 5:30 am. I had one gel with me to intake a half hour before the swim. But I didn't have an extra food with me, other than what was in my gear for the bike and run. I was feeling hungry and a little dehydrated standing in line. The plan at that time was to front load my bike nutrition to make up for this delay. I stood in line for over 90 min before I entered the water. I was roughly a two hour delay. This is significant. But I stayed calm and tried to enjoy the beautiful clear morning. Standing in line with 1300 athletes. </p><p>Finally at around 9 am it was my turn. Time to play. Time to see what I had in me. Beep beep beep GO! I ran into the water and dove in. First strokes felt fine. The water was a perfect temperature. It felt calm, however it was very murky due to churning waters. First left....OK its a little choppy, but this is not bad. I felt strong. Final left turn, I lift my head to sight....what felt like a huge wave went directly into my mouth. I probably swallowed a cup of water. OK don't do that again Kristi....keep your mouth closed. I'm pretty sure I laughed at this moment. As much as you can laugh while swimming. At least one other time I swallowed a good deal of water. It was here that I realized it was the right decision to cut the swim. Ironman does not make these decisions lightly and I know it was for everyone's safety. I believe that if it had been the full 2.4 mile swim that there would have been A LOT of DNFs and quite possibly something tragic may have occurred. Even in the tumultuous water I felt strong. My stroke was solid. I wasn't over rotating and my pull was long and strong. My core was engaged. At one point I realized that the safety kayaks were herding us. I found out later that the buoys were moving around with the current and they were making sure we stayed on course! In all of my years racing this has never happened. I got to the boat dock, hopped out and onto wetsuit stripping. I saw Amy, kissed her and went off to T1. </p><p>I ran into the changing tent with my little bag of bike goodies, changed into my gear jogged to Speedy. OFF I went. I felt fantastic immediately. For the first quarter of the course I was averaging over 16 mph I think. Then we hit Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. The wind was very strong. It was hard to stay in aero safely, but I gave it a go when able. There were about 20 miles of this. It was a flat course, but I truly felt like I was climbing at some points due to the headwind and cross winds. It got to me. I was not having fun. I typically love the bike portion of the course. But the wind was making it very challenging in a way I didn't have experience with. I was working very hard on a flat course. It was beautiful but difficult to appreciate because I was concentrating so much on the wind and not falling over. I came up to the last aid station on first loop so I pulled in to refill my bottles. The three young men and one young women were so awesome and so enthusiastic. They helped me and got me back on the bike in a couple minutes. Those kids elevated me and got me excited again. A smile for the first time in a couple of hours. Now were were exiting the Refuge and the wind was a little less. On to the second loop. This time I knew what was in store. I got into a rhythm of being in aero OR alternating 8 seated and 8 standing revolutions. Thank you Mary E. This got me through the second loop. I experienced a bit of nausea at mile 80 of the ride, but it subsided. It was not my fasted Ironman bike leg, but it was faster than I have been riding. I believe without the wind I would have been much faster. I didn't have a whole lot of experience riding in wind like that. Rain yes. Heat and humidity yes. Strong head and crosswinds no. I had a little more fun on that second loop, but I was excited to be off that bike! </p><p>Into T2 to change into my running gear and off I went. At this point in triathlon I always breath a sigh of relief. There is less room for error in some ways. No chance of drowning. No chance of panic. No chance of crashes or mechanicals. Worse case scenario....walk. My legs actually felt pretty damn good immediately. "Fucking Perfect" by P!NK was playing as I came through the first aid station..it was my JAM! I felt good, I felt strong. The first couple miles is a loop into town, past the finish line, past restaurants....SO much energy and excitement. I was eating it up. I felt great! I was about to ramp up my pace; as I came to mile 3 I tried taking a gel . Immediately I gagged and almost vomited. CRAP. I slowed but kept walking. Then I was able to run a bit. The nausea faded. I tried my Nuun Endurance and water...nauseau ramped. OK Kristi time to change things up. Lets try COKE and small sips of water. Then coke, water, one chip and a tiny bit of banana. OK this is working. No lets add a little Gatorade. I had to intermittently walk. The nauseau faded but I was seriously lacking in energy. I was a little dizzy. This was at mile 13 or so. After dark I added chicken broth. Small sips at each aid station. I ran 20 steps, walked 20. The ran faster 10 steps, slow 20...repeat... then walk 20 steps and repeat. I made small goals. I talked to other athletes. I danced (sorta) at aid stations. Nauseau seemed to be a common theme. I am blaming the water. I also think that a late start and timing of "breakfast" played a role. My stomach was actually growling on the bike. That's not a good sign. In retrospect I should have grabbed a banana or cookie an aide station on the bike. </p><p>We had to hit the 19 mile point by 10:50 pm. When I had this confirmed I felt a load come off my shoulders. I was at mile 17 when I learned this and it was 8 pm . I knew at this time I would finish. The nausea was gone but I was weak. I estimate that I consumed at most 300 calories on the 26.2 run. That is NOT enough!!! There was no increasing my pace. I ran-walked but did it in a calculated manner. I saw Amy around mile 21. This boosted me. I just needed to complete 5.2 miles. I can run 5 miles in my sleep. The last loop of the course I thanked every single volunteer, cop, and Ironman staff. I thanked the spectators who were still waiting for their athletes and had been cheering me on. I thanked the Cambridge residents where were still out there cheering us on in the dark! </p><p>I entered the coral for "finishers" with another athlete; he and I gave each other an awkward hug while running. We'd been running together for most of the marathon. I accelerated a little and entered the finishers shoot. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. An Ironman finish is special. They all are. The longer you're on the course the harder it gets. I'd been up since 3:30 am. It was almost 11 pm. I was on fumes and adrenaline. SO many people had helped me get there. I had raced all day with no pain, except the normal discomforts of racing. I had established a calculated path to this finish line. And it fucking worked! I crossed the line and went back to do my one push-up at the line for all of my patients that we lost this year. Then I walked back to the volunteer smack dabb in the middle of volunteers and got a huge hug and medal from the one and only Amy Wilson. My person. This is the second time she has caught me at the finish. It's so very special. </p><p>This was my fourth 140.6, my fifth long distance triathlon (counting Sea to Summit here). They're all different. My first was a dream. Literally everything went right. The other four have had there own hiccups. Ironman Maryland had a lot of hiccups. I navigated those hiccups like a champ. Nothing rattled me. I felt strong most of the day. Even when I was nauseous my body felt strong. I know that I had a faster marathon in me. Going in I established my definition of success: have fun, be strong, and finish between 14-15 hours. I accomplished all of those things. </p><p>I can't thank enough everyone of my friends and teammates who trained with me and cheered loudly each week. Amy who supports me in this thing I call fun. Who took time off work to travel to Maryland, volunteer, and support me. Serious rock start partner status. Mary Eggers who coached me through the last 10 weeks or so and helped navigate training when I had the covid-19 to get me ready for the start line. Who got it when I said "work sucked today I need to run harder and longer tomorrow" and encouraged rest when she knew I needed it. Because, like most of us triathletes and runners, I am bad at resting. My co-workers who listened to my stories of weekend training, handed me coffee and snacks and dealt with occasional grumpiness. This season has been awesome. A few more fun things ahead before tying a bow on 2023. </p>Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-69433742646047235772023-06-26T06:19:00.001-07:002023-06-26T06:19:23.319-07:00White Mountains Tri 2023 version <p> In 2015 I came across the White Mountains Triathlon. I was coming off of an injury from 2014, this was in my old stomping ground. These were the roads, the lake, the bike path where I grew up. The White Mountains are a big part of who I am. What a great way to return to long distance racing! It was the first week in June. It was cold and rainy to start. The water was SUPER cold. It kicked my ass. I came in dead fricking last and I think I walked 80% of the run. Nothing wrong with either one of those, but mentally I was in a very bad place during 80% of that race. I felt like I failed on that race. Epically failed. In making my race plan for this year doing the 90 mile ride at training weekend and this race seemed fitting. I would work on my base fitness fall and winter, then test myself on that ride, the 7-Sisters Trail race (a 12 mile vertical trail run) and The White Mountains 70.3 triathlon. The ride and tri were my redemption ride and race. </p><p>I've approached 2023 in a very different way than any other years racing. With a September 16 Ironman I wanted to build a very big base going into the last 16 weeks of training and transitioning into "race prep". I also wanted to do a 90 mile -5 notch ride with my tri team at our annual training weekend in the Whites. So it seemed fitting that my first tri and first real test of the 2023 season be the White Mountains 70.3 tri. And it would be a redemption race. Just like the 90 mile ride was. I failed that ride in 2018. OK maybe not failed. But it also kicked my ass and I had to walk up Crawford and bail at the top. I did that ride this year with the intent of riding in at 14-15 mph and the big goal of riding up Crawford and completing the ride on two wheels. I did that. And I felt mentally and physically strong all day. When I got home from that weekend I let myself recover. Two weeks prior I'd done a vert 12 mile very tough trail run. After I recovered I shifted into more faster race pace efforts in all three disciplines. </p><p>I drove up to Littleton early Friday so I could do a shake out workout in all three disciplines, hang out, organize and spend some time with my parents. I felt weirdly calm and 1000% ready. My lofty goal was to finish in 6:30. But the big, most important goal was to have fun and finish strong. </p><p>That morning I felt calm and ready to kick ass until I got to the race site. Then I got a little nervous. But that's normal and totally expected. That dissipated after I did a very quick run and then a warm up swim. Although it didn't' so much warm me up as make me cold. I got super excited lining up for the race. It was a time trial start. All of us lined up a tiny cones with our numbers. They let us off one by one like little lemurs in wetsuits. The water was choppy from the wind of the brewing storm. It was foggy and cloudy. But its was 68ish and the water was reportedly 68 deg F. The water glorious. I was wearing a full wetsuit but probably could have worn a sleeveless wetsuit. </p><p>I ran in, dove it as gracefully as a golden retriever and took a few strokes, sited (for non triathletes this means looking out of the water to make sure you're swimming straight. It's not always as easy as it may seem) and immediately gulped water. I panicked for a second but calmly kept swimming. I didn't really find my rhythm until our first turn buoy. I was getting tossed around by the waves and having trouble sighting, especially on the vertical bit of the rectangular course. We got a bit of assist coming back in, which was lovely. I think I swam faster the second loop, but am not certain. </p><p>I got out of the water feeling pretty good. T1 involved running up a paved path and parking lot. I was cautious and walked most of that for fear of hurting my feet. A torn up foot could ruin my run. A few more minutes in T1 wasn't going to make or break my day. I wasn't going to win after all. I organized my stuff and off I went. </p><p>The bike course starts off with a short ascent and then a very long steep curvey descent. When I was a teenager and young 20's kid I didn't' like driving this road. I dislike riding even more. I wasn't in bike mode well enough to gun it down. I was feeling a little shaky at that point, so I cautious. When I got into Franconia I found my bike rhythm and saw my parents! I know Easton Road well enough from training weekend. So I knew when I could push and when I should ease back, pace, for the rest of the race. One of the highlights of the day was a group of ten or so local Easton folks in their front yard with dumbs and cowbells cheering on athletes! THANK YOU! Once I hit the next right I ramped up my efforts. There's a long stretch of flat road along a river. It is so pretty! To be honest, my head was down and I was pedaling fast at this point so I did not enjoy the view as much as on other times down this stretch. I felt amazing on this stretch! The next loop was through the towns of Haverhill and North Haverhill. My moral dropped a tad on the outer bits of that loop. There were not many riders around me and almost no spectators. But I thought of my people, my training, and got back to being in the moment. And at some point there was a women in her driveway cheering me on. THANK YOU! Soon enough I was at the top of the climb and zipped down a very fun descent back to River road. By that time I had my bike legs and confidence to fly down the hill. Then there was a fun out and back where I saw a bunch of fellow racers again. Morale boost. Now to ride back down Easton road. I knew after one big climb the rest was cake. I ramped up the effort on that climb because I was feeling good and felt I could and still have a good remaining ride and run. There would be one more climb left and I was off the bike! I saw my parents again at the bridge in Franconia town center! At this time I was around 70.3 athletes and sprint athletes as we approached the KOM-QOM segment (this is largely a cycling term. used for very steep climbs. the fastest rider is crowned king and queen of that climb) and the final climb back to transition. It did not disappoint. I felt strong on that road. It was about 3 miles of climbing with a bit of false flat between bigger efforts. But then it was a gradual climb on a bike path. That was a bit rough. For some reason I have a harder time pushing pace and effort on climbs that are on bike paths. </p><p>I was down in my aero bars as much as possible during this ride to simulate IMMD (Ironman Maryland). Its a flat course and I'll want to be in them as much as possible to maximize speed and efficiency. I often opt for hilly courses, which means change in position. This year I chose a flat course. Which means long periods of the same position. I still need to train my body and mind for that. </p><p>Then into transition and onto the run! T2 was a little long because I had to pee, lol. As I was leaving I saw my mom. </p><p>My legs felt stiff , but I was moving. The first ~ 2 miles of the run were downhill. That may seem good, but I find it hard to find my run legs running in a downhill after a ride. After ~ 3/4 mile the descent was super steep. And then you climb back up an equally step part of the bike path. The next loop of the run course was flat to moderate climbs and descents along the lake. Easier to find a rhythm. I found my legs around mile 2 and I was sticking to my plan of walking only every 2 miles to intake gel and a quick stop to pee and refill liquid fuel. I felt strong with intermittent not so strong between 2 miles and mile 9. I saw teammates Sunny, Bill, Tom, Mike, and my parents between loops 2 and 3. Sunny ran a bit with me! There was one volunteer that was so energetic and amazing. She gave me a boost each time I saw her! But on that finally ascent I slowed down considerably and got into a walk-run pattern to get over the top of a steep climb. Once I got up and rounded the final intersection where I'd see my parents I thought I'd be able to cruise in sub 11 min/mile pace to finish the race. I took in a little gel and immediately almost threw up. I tried running then walking but the nausea got the better of me and I had to stop to let it pass. It did. And I started running, slowly at first. Then a little faster. I made it to the final aid station. One mile to go. I grabbed some chips, walked for 200 yards and then started running. I picked up the pace when I got to Echo Lakes southern border. I did mini intervals. Then I was off the bike path and headed to the finish line. Past transition and down the hill into the finish line at Echo Lake! My parents and few other spectators cheered me in . </p><p>I am so grateful for my parents. They cheered on me, my WWMS teammates, and every athlete out there yesterday. I am 47 and they still come to my races when they can. They are professional triathlon spectators at this point. I think my Dad knew the course better than I did the night before. And they're the cutest spectators on course. Hands down. I am SUPER grateful for Sunny, Bill, Tom, and Mike for hanging out for a while to cheer me on after their spectacular races. And for Sunny for running me up the hill and a bit down the road. Those moments boosted me through the third loop of the run course. I am grateful for Amy for supporting me through this thing I do for fun. And for everyone of you who cares about me and my love of this sport. Your support means the world. </p><p>Sitting here on June 25 I am happy ....ecstatic where I am at in my training for IMMD. I am tired today. I never sleep well after a race. But my legs and muscles feel ok. I could maybe even do a ride or run today. I have some work to do, mostly on my swim. But I am ready. Most importantly. I have found the LOVE of this sport again. When it became so very hard it became not as fun. My body hurt in bad ways during a race. And I felt low like I was on empty. Unresponsive. Yesterday hurt, don't get me wrong. But it was muscle pain and fatigue. A little nausea. Not pain. And I had confidence. I was in the flow. I was in the moment. I was loving all my fellow athletes. The spectators. The volunteers. The gorgeous Whites. I was loving the challenge. When I asked my body to ramp up on the flats or on a climb it did. I was responsive. I am back. </p>Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-52978726864407526002023-01-08T12:39:00.000-08:002023-01-08T12:39:18.842-08:002023 race schedule<p> It's been a very long time since I've been this excited about my race plans. I have a lot of races lined up. Partly because racing brings me a great deal of joy. I feed off the crowds of big runs and tris; I LOVE the uniqueness of small local run races. The snacks and people at trail races. Seriously the snacks at trail races FAR exceed road races. I love racing with friends and teammates. Racing also really helps me increase speed. As much I like to think I push myself when training alone, I know I go harder when in a race. Whether it be running or a triathlon. </p><p>In the last few years I've gotten slow. Some of that is that I am older. And sorta adjusting to this new body. Ya youngsters out there, just wait. Soon you won't bounce back as fast and need more recovery. I'm learning and doing more lifting and recovery things. I mediate more. I now have a pair of RE-Athlete leg compression sleeves. I do more yoga. I listen to my body more. And I <i>try</i> to get better sleep. That last one doesn't always happen, but I've made progress. </p><p>Some of my WWMS teammates didn't know me when I was fast. And I was fast in my late twenties and thirties. Even a little into my early forties. There have been comments and that hurts my ego a bit. But I am still here racing. I will be 47 soon and I am still doing long distance triathlon. And I am running longer than I ever have. And that is the important thing. Today I made a decision look forward. If I get back to running consistent sub 9 min/ miles then great. But if I don't that's OK. I am going to do the best that this body will allow me to do. Today I ran a 5k in 29:49. The fast I've ran in at least a year. And I felt like I could have gone faster. </p><p><br /></p><p>My big races are in September and October this year. I am being very smart right now. The year is very young. The focus is strength with kettlebells/suspension trainers/pull-ups, increasing volume in swim, bike, and run; and working on speed just a little. The big work will start in June. I have a new coach this year that I am very excited about. I won't start working with her until June. More about that later. I am feeling stronger than I have in a very long time. Years in fact. I am excited about what is to come this year. </p><p><br /></p><p>This years race schedule</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>5k race series Jan-early March</li><li>Hale and Back 6 hour trail race -goal is 9-12 miles</li><li>7 Sisters Trail Race 12 miles</li><li>White Mountain 70.3-- B+ Race</li><li>TARC Summer Classic (this is a probably, done as a training run)</li><li>Ironman Maryland-- A RACE</li><li>Ghost Train Ultra Trail -- goal is 60 miles</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p>Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-72844890268780489892022-09-19T13:10:00.002-07:002022-09-19T13:10:53.422-07:00Year of the run<p>Each fall , like the good triathlete I am, I come up with a race plan for the following season. I almost never falter from this plan. Last fall the plan was to do several sprint and Oly tris. Work on speed. But when I was recovering from my hysterectomy a friend posted about this trail run called Wapack and back. It is a 21/ 43 / 50 trail race in early May. I thought…this would be a great goal and motivation to move after my surgery. So I signed up. It went really well and I loved the race and the training! I love to hike and had stopped doing it during tri season because I was so regimented about my training. I loved that Sea to Summit required hiking. And with trail races it’s also a fantastic way to train. Going forward I want to keep hiking as part of training, especially early season. </p><p><br /></p><p>Almost immediately after Wapack I wanted another trail race! The fates lead me to TARC Fall Classic 50k. I knew Id' have to train in the summer, but hoped the trails would keep me a little cool. I gave myself the month of May to do short runs, hike, ride, swim, and strength train. The ramped things up in June. I was feeling awesome for most of the month. I was gaining some speed on my runs and rides. I was feeling strong! </p><p>Then the first week in July happened. I ramped up mileage a lot the last week in June to hit my 100 mile goal for the month. I had two races planned the second weekend in July; Savage OCR and MA State Oly Tri. I ran a lot those first two weeks in July. My joints and muscles starting aching in ways they never had . This wasn't just muscle soreness. I believe I over trained a bit and things just exploded. After the two races I ramped down significantly. I was still able to get in my long runs, but did cut them back a bit. I went down to two additional short runs a week and added in more riding and swimming. I added more mobility work. And I got a trigger point massage. I changed shoes. I now run in HOKA speed goats. They are a game changer for trail running. I have much better traction and have been tripping and falling less. HA! </p><p>That seemed to work. I felt fluid and my runs were pain free again. I did the TARC Summer Classic 10 miler and attempted another loop. It was a 100+ heat index day so I cut out 3-4 miles. I was dizzy and felt nausea, unable to keep food down. I made the decision to skip one of the smaller loops and head back to the finish line. I still got 17+ miles in that day. I made the right decision. </p><p> I had planned to do a 26 miler prior to the Fall Classic, but because I ramped everything down my longest run was a 24 miler. That was the weekend following the Summer Classic. I did the 24 as a split run: 17 from home on mixed terrain and a run-hike on the Wapack Trail from Watatic. I felt awesome on this run. It was arguably my best long run this year. I actually felt like I could keep going when I reached my car! </p><p>Fast forward the week before the race. I went out and did a 2.5 mile trail run. I felt really good until I stepped awkwardly and felt a zing up my right leg. It resulted in calf/peroneal / hamstring discomfort with every R foot step. I worked hard the next few days to stretch out, foam roll, and decrease this pain before the race. By the time Saturday came I felt pretty good. <i> </i> </p><p>RACE DAY: The race started at 6 am so we had to be there for like 5:15 to check in and organize. I was actually feeling pretty good race morning. Able to get food and coffee into me super early in the morning. Jenn and I started together but she quickly took off. I felt GREAT for the first 11 miles. Stopped at my bag after the first loop, changed ear buds, grabbed more fuel and water and took off. Amy Rino from WWMS was there and helped me fill water. Chatted with me. It was good to see her and it gave me a little boost. The next couple miles were OK. I connected with a few women that I chatted and ran with for 2 or 3 miles. At some point I tripped. I didn't fall but I landed really hard and it shook me up a little. After that I felt kind of off. But I kept moving forward. At some point I started feeling awful and considered dropping out at mile 21. I went back and forth on this about 10 times. Y'all know I'm too damn stubborn to do this so I did not. Besides, I was there to do a 50K not 21 miles. I told TOO many people my plan, I didn't want to admit defeat just because it was HARD. At the half way point I started run walk intervals of 6:3 plus walking the hills and running some descents. By the time I got to the end of loop 2 I was feeling a tad better. And Amy was there. It was just what I needed. I changed shirts and ear buds; grabbed more nutrition; talked with her briefly then took off. I continued with my run:walk intervals and that seemed to help. I felt MUCH better on loop 3. My legs were screaming but my head was in a good place. I was looking around more. Having more fun. I saw a young deer AND an owl in like an 8 min span! I was able to run a little more in flatter spots and on safe descents. The last bit was around a field. I ran that last half mile, with the exception of a small hill. Everything hurt. I crossed this finish line. 50 k done. It was my first but it will not be my last. I came in dead last of all 50k finishers but I do not care. I am damn proud of myself. I've not run longer than 13 miles since 2018. I certainly gained overall endurance last year, but Sea 2 Summit doesn't have the high run mileage, therefore I didn't gain much last season. It was maybe a big leap this year, but I'm glad I did it. <br /></p><p>I've now done three TARC races and can't say enough good things about them. The runners, volunteers, and race directors are AWESOME! Everyone is super kind and chill. I plan to volunteer at the Winter Classic in December. </p><p>Trail running and long distance trail running is a much different animal than road racing. It's much more fun and playful. You get to play in the woods for hours and hours. And it's easy to incorporate dog runs/hikes and hikes with others who may not otherwise train with you. I now have to figure out how to do both long distance trail races AND triathlon. It can be done. But it'll be tricky. <br /></p><p>I continue to have something going on with the right side of my body. I suspect it's some muscular imbalances causing tightness in piriformis. Which, in turn, is causing radicular symptoms. I am not sure tho so I am setting up an PT evaluation with a friend of mine. It's time to get to the root of this issue. </p><p>I've build up a ton of run endurance this year. The plan is to do Ironman Maryland followed by a 50 miler roughly a month later. Now for operation get faster! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-45036819513337882642021-08-02T10:18:00.009-07:002021-08-02T10:29:13.528-07:00Sea to Summit <p>I was fortunate to have the entire week off before Sea to Summit (S2S) and I am damn glad I did. It had been since very early 2020 and since I'd had more than three days off in a row. I was feeling burnt out and exhausted. AND this race takes a lot more prep work than other triathlons. I was diligent all week with my to-do lists, recovery and "primer" workouts and getting enough rest and eating well. NAPS and SNACKS. By the time Friday came I mostly had to pack up the truck. Unfortunately because I am a worrier I was anxious about logistics all week and did not sleep well most of the week. I did manage to get a pretty good night sleep Wednesday and Thursday. </p><p>Going into Friday and after my primer/opener run and bike workouts I was feeling pretty ready for race day. AND I got a text from my good friend Carole just before I set out on my ride that she was going to join me for part of the hike! Mare had been planning to, but was injured and it was question mark. I certainly could do the hike solo, but man the idea of having one or two friends hiking with me was amazing. And I knew it would push me to stay on pace. It takes a village for most of us to get to the start line and then finish line of a race, but this race it is imperative and required to have help. I had not one, but two porters: Amy and Mare. And now I get a friend to join me for the first half of the hike. WOO HOO . </p><p>As Mare and I pulled into the race site Friday afternoon my blood pressure and heart rate rose. I was both excited and terrified. This race was going to be a huge challenge and I wasn't positive that I could hit the cut off times. But I was going to do my best. And if I had to finish unofficially; I would. My mindset had changed. It felt like an honor to be there. And so many people had helped me get there through various levels of support. The fear was quickly over ridden by excitement. The venue was lush and gorgeous. The weather was going to be cool. However, there was already talk of high winds and cold temps at the top of Mt Washington. This meant a question mark if we'd be able to summit the mountain. We went to the air bnb, ate dinner, discussed last minute logistics, finished organizing, and attempted to sleep. </p><p>I got roughly 3.5 hours of interrupted sleep, but was feeling weirdly good. I felt nauseous and had trouble eating my bar. I managed to eat half. And placed the other half in my bike jersey. We found out in the dark early cold morning hours that due to 33 mph wind gusts and 30 degree weather at the top that we'd be climbing to Hermit Lodge and turning around. The finish line would be back at Wild Cat. I was disappointed but also pleased that the race officials were being smart and keeping our safety in mind. </p><p><b>The swim</b>: We all piled into to the water at roughly 5:28 for a 5:30 start. There was a delay to the start of the race, however they did not announce this so we were all standing around in cold water. By the time the released us I was shivering. I am not sure I actually warmed up until I was on the bike. The course was gorgeous, but I had a hard time sighting. Maybe I was out of practice. Maybe it was that there were not many big buoys. I felt OK during the out portion of the course, but struggled coming back. I just felt off and could not find my rhythm. My swim time was significantly slower than any of my training swims and than I expected. I ran out of the water and up to T1. Amy was there waiting for me and encouraging me to run. I was shivering and my lips were blue. I made a decision weeks ago that I'd change shirts with each discipline. Changing socks and shirts gives me a huge mental boost. And I am glad I made that decision. Changing out of a wet tri jersey and into a bike jersey helped me warm up fast on the bike. Mare and Amy helped me get dressed, load the bike course, and hop on the bike. </p><p><b>The bike:</b> I ran over to the bike mount area and hop on Speedy. My legs felt good and course was showing, although my Garmin told me that it was having trouble loading turn-by-turn directions. It was imperative that the course load. S2S is unique in that it does have a designated bike course. Most athletes use the same route and have for years. There were no arrows on the ground, no cops or volunteers at intersections. No cones anywhere protecting you from traffic and asshole drivers. And the field is small, 100 racers, so it was unlikely I'd be in a pack of athletes. I am not that fast. I felt great for the first 15 or so miles. But I dropped my bar trying to look at my cue sheet. I had not seen Amy or Mare and was panicking that I'd messed up and given them incorrect cue sheets. I had no phone or cash and only two water bottles with Untapped electrolyte mix. That would last me twenty or so miles but not 90. Around mile 20 my course with turn by turns loaded. phew. And I started seeing a few racers. And then I saw Amy and Mare. I smiled and got a big boost. All was well. I fueled up, grabbed more water and off I went. I was diligent about getting electrolytes and Untapped waffles into me. My stomach was audibly growling around mile 15, which was not a good sign. The front end of the course was a lot hiller and harder than I expected. It was demoralizing. I tried attacking the hills but didn't have enough umph and was in a bad head space. Then something switched. Maybe it was because I knew I was over half way of the course. Maybe it was because there were finally some gentle rollers and flats. Maybe I finally had enough calories in me. But I felt great between mile 55-85 or so. By the time I saw Mare and Amy at mile 61 or so I was feeling good and ready to tackle Pinkham notch. I cruised to Conway and up Westside Road. There I saw Carole in her car, which gave me another boost. I felt fantastic in the stretch from Conway to Route 16. There was significant head wind making it tough to get down in aero but I kept trying. I saw my parents at Story Land which gave me another boost. I love that they come to my races. I stopped one more time at mile 82 or so for a bottle exchange and an Untapped Maple syrup and coffee shot. YUM. Carole gave me the heads up that the notch was three peaks with a rest in between each . OK I can do this. I toggled back in forth on my Garmin to see the elevation profile and the map. I kept my bike in a low gear and kept spinning; alternating from standing to sitting. Getting in my aero bars when could. The road just kept going up but I kept spinning. I glanced at my watch and knew I only had a few minutes to get to T2 before the cut off. I shifted down and pushed harder. I reached the top. Finally. I saw the Mt Washington trail head. I saw Carole waiting for me. I saw the "Wild Cat next right sign". I saw Amy, my parents, and Willow. Amy ran up to me and told me to hurry. Mare ran over. The two of them were helping me get dressed and change shoes. I just made the cut off. </p><p><b>The "run"</b>: I got clear to run and off I went. I chugged some coke and ate half a banana. I ran-walked up to the Tuckerman's trail. My legs were wobbly and stiff but I felt pretty good! My crew was there. Up the mountain I went with Carole and Mare. We ran-fast hiked up. Mare turned around about a mile up. Carole and I kept going. I stumbled a lot. Thank goodness for the trees that prevented me from falling! The trail is not super steep at this point in the climb but it is very rocky requiring agility and constant attention. Needless to say I was not super agile at this time and stumbled A LOT but no actual falls. We rounded a bend and could see the lodge. I upped the pace and checked in! Time to turn around and finish this thing. We ran much of the descent. At one point I got super nauseous and needed to sit down. I was very close to actually throwing up. Carole talked me through breathing and I managed to get back up and start walking again. Then jogging and sorta running! Then we saw Amy! She had hiked up with my Mom then decided to keep going. The three of us ran down to the trail head. I was very proud of Amy for running. Carole and I kept going and managed to run most of the way back. We rounded the bend and there was the finish line! I'd made it! Amy, Mare, my parents and Willow were there waiting. Along with a few race officials. I was very pleased with how I felt on the hike. </p><p>I got my medal and kissed the ground. It was not quite as awesome as kissing the top of Mt Washington, but still amazing. This race was unlike anything I've done. It was hard. It pushed my limits . It was fun. I will do it again. </p><p>I am so thankful to Amy, Mare, and Carole for getting me through this race. Amy and Mare were amazing. The got be ready and out of transition very quickly. There were ready at every planned stop with everything I needed and more. Amy with her Chewbacca mask. The both boosted me up when I needed it. Carole helped me up to the lodge and back. I could not have done this race without them. Its a tough day for us racers, but the support crew work just as hard and get up just as early. I am a lucky person to have them in my life. And to my parents who were there cheering, had my coke, and made an amazing dinner later. I could not have asked for a better crew. </p><p>This was the first long distance triathlon I have done as a low carb high fat athlete. I felt great during my training using Untapped. My stomach felt icky during parts of the hike. I need to reexamine my nutrition. I am considering UCAN and perhaps using Untapped for an extra boost. I am wondering if my body just couldn't handle that many hours with simple sugar. I felt off during the first half of this race. After a day or so to reflect I think so of that was nerves. Some of it was being unable to eat enough prior to the race. Some of it was being cold in the water. I am proud of myself for continuing to move forward. And for crossing the finish line with a lot of help from my friends. I am so happy to be back to racing and training with my friends. </p><p>I'd highly recommend this race. It's well organized. The staff and volunteers are kind, communicative, and organized. I'll do it again. Hopefully next time I'll get to summit the mountain! </p><p>Finally an extra huge thank you to Amy. It's hard being a partner to a triathlete. We're gone for hours at a time, sometimes all day. We go to bed early. And eat a lot. She is by my side and my biggest supporter. I am not sure how I got so lucky. But here I am . </p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-72031366719341263642021-02-21T07:16:00.000-08:002021-02-21T07:17:16.294-08:00Long run block, Tour of Sufflandria, and goals of 2021I had big plans for 2020. I had a great 2019 season with the Boston Marathon, Pumpkinman 70.3, Spartan Beast at Killington, and various other smaller OCRs and races. I was feeling strong and ready to kick ass in Sea to Summit; a race I'd wanted to do for years. I set myself up for a great season with a big run block and then a big bike block. And then covid-19 roared through the world. And through my life. I tried to train, I tried to find that fire but I was going through the motions. I'd cry during workouts or do them but at very low intensities. Covid-19 was still alive and well in my facility and my stress level was through the roof. I knew that I couldn't give training and S2S my full self. I made a big decision to defer. I did some virtual races, did a lot of hiking and trail running, tried to build strength, and used training to relieve stress and be the best me I could be for my patients. But more on that later.
I am entered into Sea to Summit this year. 2021. A new year. A new me. I did 100 days of running/hiking from Nov-January and ran/hiked 100 miles in January. Most of the miles were running, but I chose to count hiking as Ill be hiking (hopefully fast hiking) up Mt Washington in July. I ran through cold weather, snow, and the dark. Most runs were in the dark morning hours. I learned that my body can handle that much running. I've trained it for that after years of endurance racing. I started with most days being half mile and a couple of threes, with a longer run on the weekend. Then went upward; in January most runs were 2 miles or more. I gained speed and strength. I am still not as fast as I was last winter, but I am feeling more fluid and stronger. I hit some faster intervals and I feel that I'll get back there.
I just completed my third Tour of Sufflandria. It looks like I did all but one stage back in 2019. Last year I did it full power, known as nuclear. This year I finished the ToS with altered metrics per my coach. In the past I've tweaked the schedule a bit to accommodate my work schedule. This year I made a promise to do the stages on the day that the Minions laid out. It meant getting up at 4 am every day last week and going into work a little later than normal some days. My body felt trashed some days. I wanted to go to bed at like 8 every night, but I did it. And I actually felt stronger on days 6 and 7 then I did earlier in the week. And I am doing it all at slightly higher power numbers. And on a smart trainer. On that note I bought a Kickr Core in November. Because I was mostly running Nov-Jan it's only been in Feb that I am feeling the full difference in training with a smart trainer. For years I used cadence/speed sensors to allow me to use Sufferfest and Zwift. Power numbers were estimated. Then I bought a power meter. I immediately saw a difference in training both inside and out. I hadn't been pushing myself quite hard enough. This year I have a smart trainer. There is no way to cheat. A few months in and almost a month in doing harder workouts with it and I am feeling a difference. I can hit the cadence targets most of the time at the prescribed power targets. I am super excited to see how this affects my racing and outdoor riding! I was adamantly opposed to power for a long time. I once read that Chrissie Wellington didn't use power. And if she didn't' need it then why did I. But times have changed, I am getting older, and everyone is using it now. I needed to grow with the times and technology if I was going to be able to compete. So here I am training with power and wishing I'd done it sooner.
I have used running and triathlon to deal with my stresses and anxiety for my entire adult life. There have been times in my life where I am only happy when I am training or racing. It calms me, gives me more energy, and builds confidence. All thing that allow me to kickass in day to day life. I ran the 2018 Boston Marathon to heal from the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. When I crossed the line I wept and felt like I'd taken back the Marathon. It regained what it had meant to me for years.
The covid-19 pandemic has changed me. Perhaps for the better, that remains to be seen. I have seen more death in the last 400 days than I have in my life time. I am fortunate, I suppose that I have lived this long before seeing so much death in my circle. But there I am, watching my patients and residents die. Caring for them one day and tomorrow they are gone. Watching my patients who were pretty independent on Friday suddenly need 100% assistance to get in and out of bed, to toilet. Watching them cry because they don't understand what is going on. Trying to comfort patients who are fearful and isolated, away from family and friends. Learning of a death and having to reset and treat/care for the next patient. Never really grieving, because we didn't have time to. Because opening up those wounds is too painful. Dealing with hate and criticism from the media and outside world when we were trying to build a plane while flying over an ocean in the middle of a tsunami. Sitting in my car and the end of the day to reset enough to drive home.
Things are better. We know more. We are wiser and more careful. But I still haven't totally healed. I feel fire again when I am working out. I feel more like me. But I continue to have a cloud of sadness over me. Healthcare workers continue to be clad in full PPE for most of the day. It may seem easy. But it adds a component of discomfort to our day. the gowns we wear are essentially plastic, plus an N95 mask, plus goggles, plus gloves. I feel sweat pouring down my back and chest most of the day. Then you take the gown off and are freezing because you're clothes are wet. We spend 40 hours a week being super cautious at work for the sake of our patients, our family and friends, and for ourselves. We haven't seen friends and family in almost a year because we are protecting them. And we see people on the internets going about their lives as if we were not still in a pandemic. And we wonder why the fuck we are doing what we are doing. But we keep doing it. Because we love our patients. Because we believe that it's the right thing to do. Because we want to set an example. But it's fatiguing. I just want my life back like everyone else. I want to hug my parents, my sister, my niece, my friends. I want to casually walk into work and have a great day wearing nothing but my clothes. But this is not our reality.
I had a moment a couple of weeks ago. I recalled how running the 2018 Boston Marathon helped me heal from that horrific tragedy. Although we are not out of the woods with covid-19 there is hope. To help me heal I am dedicating my training and racing to everyone I have personally seen die from covid-19 and to every healthcare worker I know and love. It will help motivate me to do my workouts when I want to sleep in or collapse on the couch after a long day. And I hope allow me to process everything that we all went through. And the end of the day as hard as this has all been; if I had it all to do again I wouldn't change a thing.
"You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again" Andra Day Rise Up
You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-1209943890324671282019-04-16T08:42:00.000-07:002019-04-16T08:42:04.806-07:00Boston Marathon 2019After days of people stressing about the weather it turned out to be a pretty great day for running! It was the makings of a great PR day for me. Cloudy, rain, sunshine, tailwind, thousands of fans. <br />
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It's a rare day that runners are celebrated to the extent that they are in a major city marathon. We runners and triathletes do our thing day after day. In the cold, wet, dark, heat, and on the rare occasion perfect conditions. Most people don't care about our accomplishments day to day. Of course we cheer our fellow athletes on every day. Because we get it. It's frickin' hard to be so committed. But we all do it because we love it. It's our therapy. Because we like to eat and drink. Yesterday was the celebration. For a day I felt like a rock star. People cared about my race and my accomplishments. I finished the 2019 Boston Marathon smiling ear to ear. Because its our fucking city and our fucking Marathon. Cause everyday that I get to run and ESPECIALLY RACE is a very very good day. BEST DAY EVER! <br />
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The day started at 5 am being jolted awake by thunderstorms. It was a pretty mellow morning by Kristi standards. Just had my bar, coffee, and a quick pup walk. Amy drove me to Groton Town Hall where my friend Kim was playing taxi cab for a few of us Squannie Marathoners. I'm so grateful for both of them, taking away any stress of getting to the start. As we were pulling into Hopkinton the rain stopped and the skies began to clear. I am amazed at the security and efficiency of the BAA staff and volunteers at the start, and elsewhere on course. Thank you for keeping us safe yesterday. <br />
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The tricky part about the Boston Marathon, for me anyway, is a late start. I am a "get up early, coffee and fuel, then go" kinda runner/rider. After getting up at 5 am I didn't start running until 11ish. I felt like I timed everything OK but my gut and body disagreed. I felt a little wonky waiting around to start, but was hoping it was just nerves. The first 8 miles were awesome. I stayed in control but was running fast. I felt light and strong. I knew it was going to hurt if I wanted to do a sub 4 Marathon. Then my gut kicked in. I continued on running strong until the the lower abdominal cramps kicked in. Absolutely nothing stopped them. I stretched, I did controlled breathing, I walked. All of these things helped but they never went away. My legs felt great, but a fast time wasn't in the cards for me. So instead of hammering for 26.2 miles I ran -walked the last half of the race. And that's OK because I was still moving and running. And I finished. Smiling. <br />
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That did not stop me from having a phenomenal day. The Boston Marathon course is a big party. I saw tons of friends. Random strangers cheered me on. I fed off of the crowd. I relished every moment. I loved the rain around mile 22-25. I loved all the "power up" signs. I loved the Wellesley college College scream tunnel. I loved the Newton Hills. Amy, Willow, Faith, and Carissa were at mile 19. It was the boost I need in the exact right time. I ran hard for all of my donors, for the Brittany Fund, for all of those who can't run. I cried. I was Boston Strong.<br />
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I have raised just over $5,000 to date for the Brittany Fund for Trauma and Recover. This a bit over $5,000 of my goal. I am over the moon thankful for everyone that donated. For every word of encouragement. These funds will help hundreds of people recover from trauma. <br />
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One of the best parts of my day was the Squannacock River Runners post race hotel room. A hot shower, friends, food, beer, and a dog awaited me. It was a great way to end the day in Boston. <br />
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My official time was 4:47:04. I am very proud of this. For now I rest and splurge a little. Next up: Groton Road Race and becoming a triathlete again after months of run focus. <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-69585016525262257872019-04-13T16:53:00.002-07:002019-04-13T17:01:33.992-07:00It's almost go timeIt's Saturday night; 1 day 12 hours before the 2019 Boston Marathon gets underway. Running and triathlon is quite unique because we mere age groupers get to race with the best elite and FAST age groupers. I get to be on the same course as Joan Benoit Samuelson, Des Linden, Sara Hall to name just a few. I get to race on one of the most iconic and revered run courses in the world. It's a privilege and an honor to race the Boston Marathon. <br />
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This ROAD TO BOSTON has been a special one. It's been about healing and taking back our Marathon. It's been about raising money for The Brittany Fund for Trauma and Recovery. It's been about many other people other than myself. My friends, coworkers, and family have rallied around me and helped me raise, $4,632 to date. Amy has been supportive as always, helping me with training and giving me fundraising ideas. Many will benefit from these dollars and it will make a huge impact on the lives of those affected by trauma. It's been about really truly enjoying running. I found my love of running and triathlon again several years ago and I haven't looked back. <br />
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I started eating low carb a few weeks after Ironman Canada 2018. It took me weeks before I got a handle on how to juggle this new way of eating and endurance racing/training. I kept at it because I had more energy day to day and seemed to have more endurance on longer runs. Around January when my runs started going about 15 miles I was in awe how good I felt. I found that I didn't NEED my Tailwind at the scheduled intervals. I drank it, because that was the plan. As the runs got up to 18-21 miles I did need additional fuel but not like before. Prior to eating low carb high fat I found that about 75 minutes I really did need to intake some form of fuel. My pace is faster and my heart rate is lower. In fact, I now have a Garmin Vivosport so I'm getting real resting heart rate data and am pretty excited how low my heart rate is a pure rest. AND I don't get HANGRY anymore. OK maybe not anymore, but it's rare! AND I don't feel nauseous after long runs. <br />
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Nutrition plan for Boston is this: small cup of coffee and a bar at 6:30 am, 9 am bullet proof coffee and an F-bomb, start time ~11:00 am. Starting at 60 minutes I will take one sip of Tailwind. My bottle will contain one scoop or 25 grams of carbs. I'll have the ability to grab more water if I need but I don't anticipate needing any. I haven't on my training long runs. This will be the first big race doing LCHF. If this formula works I'll move forward with it tweaking for a 70.3. Likely consuming an F bomb on rides. <br />
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I've been using Endurance Nation coaching since 2016. I've been pleased with my triathlon and running results using their plans. I hit higher run volume with Boston Marathon training than I ever have and my body has responded beautifully. I've added an extra strength workout in because I think it's important especially with a lot of running. One of the keys for me has been truly doing recovery runs when they're call for. Most of those runs I've brought Willow with me. He forces me to truly run easy and smell the flowers. Plus he reminds me that running is fun! <br />
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Tomorrow I head into the city to pick up my number and enjoy the Marathon Weekend madness. I am crazy excited about this race. As for the weather: it's rained or been hot for like 90% of my races in the last two years SO I am not terribly surprised that it's going to rain. I shine in wet weather. So bring it on baby. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-86065685743264398012019-01-21T11:16:00.001-08:002019-01-21T11:16:14.283-08:00GritI've been thinking a lot about GRIT lately. For a year really. A fellow triathlon teammate commented on a photo of mine in early spring. He said to embrace the suck. He is a badass and rides in conditions of all kinds. I will run in anything. Riding on the other had; I suppose I am a bit of a wimp. But I embrace the suck a lot. I have a lot of grit simply because I am a womyn. Because I am a female athlete. I've been thinking about just that. The things that female athletes have to go through that our male counterparts do not. I've been debating sharing this story, cause....well cause it's graphic. But ya know what; it's part of being a womyn and I am tired of hiding it. Womyn menstruate every month. Get over it. It's part of being a badass womyn. And yea it does make us stronger every damn month. So here it goes. <br />
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Last spring I headed out on a long run like I do every week. It was a two hour run if I remember correctly. I had started my period, but I still ran. It's what we do. The run was to be my commute to work that day. It's a lovely way to start the day. I felt fantastic. At some point I needed to stop to pee. So I found a spot in the woods. It was at this point that I discovered that I'd bleed through my tampon and all over my orange shorts. Not just a little. A LOT. At this point I had a decision to make: walk into work with blood all over my shorts OR take off my shorts and wash them and my legs in cold stream water. I choose option number two. It was embarrassing but it build grit. It helped build the critical "ah crap something unexpected is happening during a workout and I need a solution now". It's not a big deal really. But stripping down in the woods during a commute time can put a womyn in a compromising situation. 'Cause that was also something I was thinking about. What if someone stumbles upon me. What if a school bus drives by or anyone really. On a monthly basis I my workouts are slightly less optimal because I've just finished my cycle and am slightly anemic. Not because I'm not busting my ass every day, not because I didn't eat right or sleep well. But because I bleed monthly and am always slightly anemic. Sometimes more than others. <br />
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And that is why it rubbed me the wrong way when my teammate told me to embrace the suck. Sure I can embrace the cold on the bike a little more. But I embrace the suck monthly in a way men will never understand. <br />
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It's the middle of the winter here in New England. This past weekend I had to do a three way split for my long run because of the blizzard and because of other life stuff. I build GRIT on Saturday. I'll use it when things get hard: on and off the race course. That's what we do when we're endurance athletes and we have other commitments. We find a way to make it work. By doing that it's easier to find a way to make other life stuff work when it's not so easy. <br />
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I'm on week half way thru my Boston Marathon training. A mere 13 weeks left. I can pretty easily run 13 miles and am sure I could do 15 if need be. I am feeling good. Building grit every day. Becoming more of a badass. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-80593086170802280922018-09-03T16:52:00.001-07:002018-09-03T16:53:02.144-07:00The great Keto experimentIronman season is done. Time to do some obstacle racing with my family, running races, and hiking. With each triathlon season I try to take away things that I need to work on. To get stronger, faster, and able to endure more. IMCA brought out more badassery than I knew I had. I knew I was a badass. But I rose two more levels with that race. I challenged my ability to endure and surpassed it. I can get stronger on hills. I can get faster. I will work on my bike strength in the off season and into next season. I need to get better at swim starts. I freak out and lose time. I need more swim starts to improve on that....maybe independent swim races in 2019?? My run is solid. My run performance was indicative of the heat not my abilities. My strong run is what allowed me to finish! But I can always get stronger! <br />
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One big thing that has been lacking is my nutrition. It's gotten better since using Generation UCAN and Clif Shots; and then this year Tailwind and Huma gels. But I've still felt like I haven't had enough in the tank. Not the "I'm not fit enough" but the "I don't have enough gas" feeling. What I was doing this year was OK, but it could be better. Amy and a few other friends have been doing Keto for a while now and had very good success with it. I made a promise that I would at least try it after Ironman. <br />
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One week after Ironman, after I had my chance to eat all of the things I started dabbling. Trying to eat low carb, high fat, moderate protein. I felt sluggish day to day and even sluggier on short runs. Was that the keto OR simply recovery? I dabbled for a few weeks and this week I committed. If I am going to become fat adapted now is the time to do it. I'm training, but nothing TOO intense. I am going to blog about it weekly so that I can look back and really decide after 8 weeks if this is helping me. Do I feel better day to day? Do I have more energy in the real world and in workouts? How do I feel on long runs (no long rides right now)? Does that belly fat finally go away 100%? Is all of the GI distress gone? Is the bloating gone? <br />
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Week one: 50 g Carbs, 99 grams of fat, and 67 grams of protein. No grains, no veggies from the ground (this makes me a little sad), and no sugar. <br />
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The first few days of for real trying I could only get my carbs to 77 grams. My gawd I must of been eating a ridiculous amount of carbs. The last few days I've really upped my fat and my carbs have stayed low. I've had a steady level of energy despite being active with chores and workouts. I haven't had as many super hungry moments as is normal day to day for me. <br />
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I did a 9 mile run on Sunday having a bar with 31 g of carbs and coffee before hand. I had a high fat meal the night before. I felt great on my run. No bonking and pretty steady energy level. Today (Monday) I did a 3.3 mile hike at a fast hike-run pace in high 80's temp. Good energy through-out and the rest of the day. <br />
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I'd call week one a success. I LOVE Bullet Proof coffee. Eating high fat goes against everything I was ever taught and makes the old overweight Kristi twitchy, but there is some good science behind is being a good thing. I miss potatoes. It is worth continuing. <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-17134122998147345552018-08-01T05:40:00.001-07:002018-08-01T05:40:59.419-07:00Ironman Canada Whistler This 2018 Ironman journey was one of the best yet. Not because I've been smashing PRs or winning. But because I am having fun. I've continued where 2016 and 2017 left off. I am enjoying the journey and all of the people I meet on that journey. I am also totally fine being a little slower than I have been in years past. This is where I am at this year. End of story. As a result, I have not dreaded one long run, long swim, or long ride. Sure there were a few times that I was tired, but as soon as I started moving I was excited to be training and playing triathlon. <br />
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As soon as we left Vancouver Airport we were greeted with spectacular mountains! Enormous mountains at the edge of the ocean and in the distance as far as one could see. I've not seen much of the West Coast or mid West for that matter and I am in awe of the beauty of the Whistler-Vancouver area. I am fairly certain that my mouth was gaped open for the first 8 hours that we were there. <br />
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Ironman teaches us how to adjust in life and in races. The Whistler Ironman Canada had several hiccups. Number One: No pedals. As Carole and I went to pick up our bikes from Tri Transport I discovered that I didn't have my pedals! WHAT!!! Now that I am home I've discovered that they must have been taken out of my bag somewhere along the journey. No idea why or when. They're not home and they were not in my bag. The important thing is that I could either buy a new pair OR borrow them. Carole took a chance and asked Tri Bike Transport if they had any I could rent or borrow. They DID!! Pedals put on bike. All is good. Minor freak out and crisis averted. We went for a little shake out run and I went for a little solo shake out ride. <br />
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Saturday was bike and gear bag drop off. This went very smoothly. And then I did a little shake out swim in Alta Lake. The lake was the absolute perfect temp, 69 degrees, and clear. It is surrounded by, yup you guessed it, stunning mountains with glacial ice and snow. The rest of the day I did my best to relax and do some dynamic stretching and foam rolling. And eat and hydrate. <br />
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I never got nervous for this race until the morning of. Carole and I trudged over to T2 to hop get body marked and take the shuttle bus at the wonderful hour of 4:30 am. BONUS: I've gotten up at 4 am nearly every week day (and some weekends) for months. I felt pretty good that morning. Some butterflies but super excited to play. As we drove into T1 the nerves got a tiny bit out of control, but then I remembered why I'm here. How lucky I am to do triathlon. At this moment in time I am healthy enough to put my body through a ridiculous amount of training and stress. Races are scary and shit can go wrong. But shit can go wrong walking across the street. I am not going to win. So there's no pressure. It was a fully supported long day in the hot sun with 1900 (plus the 70.3 athletes) friends. A sly smile crept over my whole body as I stood in line ready to jump in the lake. I was surrounded by beauty and a bunch of crazy driven people. <br />
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The race was self seated slow pile into the water. We were all in by 6:30. I think I entered the water about 6:15 am, about 55 degree air temp. Calm cool and collected. Until my face hit the water. Heart rate accelerated and my usual freak out moment happened. But I did a few breast stokes followed by free until I calmed down. By the time I crossed the second site buoy I was in the zone and swimming in a fairly tight line. I felt great! I tried very hard to draft, but couldn't find someone at the right speed. I need to work on swim drafting. Definitely a goal for next season. Nearly every breath revealed a gorgeous view. The swim course was two laps and then into the beach. <br />
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Amy was volunteering as a wetsuit stripper! She didn't take my wetsuit off, but I got to see and squeeze her in T1. It bumped my already good mood. One leg done. By this time it was starting to get warm, but still pleasant. I moved fairly quickly through transition and hopped on my bike. I felt absolutely fantastic on the first leg and 3/4 of the bike. I was thinking "I'm good at climbing, all that work really paid off, o hey look I'm on target for a 6 hr bike split, this is a tough course but doable!" And then the sun rose and was beating down on us and the road, and oooo my GAWD it was hot. I've ridden in some hot humid weather this year, but this was far worse. There was little to no shade on the bike course. Fortunately there were some very long fast descents to cool us down a bit. <br />
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The aid stations on the bike and the run were phenomenal. Each time I rolled into one the volunteers were right there to fill my bottle, put ice down my back, squirt me with cold water, put sunscreen on, or hold my bike while I used the port-a-potty. I was in very good spirits on the bike until the last 1/2 of the last lap. I was so hot that my arms were dripping with sweat and it felt like I had a hot pack on my back. Water was warm and even hot very quickly. I was starting to get nauseous. I stopped caring about a time goal (not that I had a huge one anyway). I stopped at every aid station and filled my bottles with ice cold water. I stuffed ice in all the places to cool my core. I stopped at the bottom of one hill because I needed to. Because it seemed too much to conquer. I stopped at a turn around because I felt like stopping. Each time I kept going. I kept going because I don't give up. Because I could still pedal and I may not be able to tomorrow. I thought about all my friends and family who helped me get to the start line on Sunday. I thought about all the kids I treat who never had the opportunity to play triathlon. I thought of Amy who supports me 2000% even tho I am a pain in the ass because she knows triathlon makes me tick. I kept going and made it to T2. <br />
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Part of me hoped they'd cancelled the run cause it was so damn hot. The other 99% of me didn't because I came all the way to Whistler to a damn Ironman, not skip a marathon. So I did what I'm supposed to. I cried a little walking into the changing tent. I slowly put on my run gear. My stomach churned. I started running out of T2, stumbling, dizzy, and nauseous. I walked. I tried running. I got to the first aid station and drank some Pepsi. Within 60 seconds I threw up. I sat on a stump and again, for what seemed like an hour, thought about giving up. Then I stood up. I had 7 hours to complete a marathon. I could walk it if I had to. It was at that moment that I decided I was going to finish. Even if I had to give the officials my chip and bib. I was walking across the line. <br />
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I met some fantastic people in that 26.2 miles. We small talked. We laughed at the heat. Strangers cheered for me like I was a rock star. I kept taking in small amounts of Pepsi, water, and chips. Slowly I felt better. I could run from one telephone pole to the other. Then two, then three. Then for a quarter of a mile. Eventually I was able to run for almost a mile before walking. My legs felt pretty damn good but by the time I reached mile 6 or so on the run I was so behind on nutrition that I was weak. But I kept going. Sometimes I ran for longer than I thought that I could. <br />
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When I came through town heading into my second loop I found a new wind. I started picking up the pace when I ran. I knew at this point that I'd finish legitimately. Only problem was I left my timing chip in T2. I realized this fairly early on and did notify officials. I'm still waiting to see if my official time will change from a DNF to a finish time. I saw Carole and Kristof each twice on the run. Both KILLING it and looking strong! <br />
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When it got dark, for me a bit past the final turn around with roughly 6 miles to go that it became magical. We all had lights and glow somethings on us. There were lanterns every bit for sighting, but you couldn't see much. Far ahead you'd see bobbling heads and tiny lights. Suddenly a fellow runner would appear and we'd cheer for each other. Suddenly there'd be cheers in the near distant and spectators were cheering for you. I kept smiling and shouting "Best Day Ever". Best Day Ever not because it was a PR, but because I pushed so far past the limits I thought I had so many times. I reassessed and found a new plan more times than I ever h<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37861648_10156610586456967_3688884373299396608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=ceb7153f301610a59db56cfc4802d54a&oe=5C0E47C3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37861648_10156610586456967_3688884373299396608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=ceb7153f301610a59db56cfc4802d54a&oe=5C0E47C3" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="800" /></a></div>ad. I climbed more feet in hotter weather than I've ever done. <br />
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When I ran through town at my final turn onto the path my arms spread out to my sides and if I'd not been so dehydrated I would have cried. A mere mile from the finish, if that. They loop-de-looped us through town. At one point myself another racer thought we were there. We reached out for each others hands and both said I'm going to cry. It was a tease, just a few more turns-damn Ironman. And there it was. Ironman finishers shoot. Still lined with spectators. Families. Friends. Maybe locals. Cheering. I flew down the shoot, taking in every last high five. I crossed the line and stumbled into someones arms. That someone was my badass, gorgeous, kind, supportive rock star of a girlfriend. She'd been there since 2 pm at the finish line. Volunteering since 6:30 at T1. This Ironman was special for so many reasons. And that was one of them. <br />
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Ironman number three is in the books. There will be more. But for now I'm still on cloud 9. <br />
Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-75166284242362443382018-02-11T11:28:00.001-08:002018-02-11T11:29:40.885-08:00First ever 40 day running streakInspired by several friends and triathlon acquaintances I decided to embark upon a running streak in January. My body was feeling good in late fall-early winter. I am feeling the way I did heading into 2011 and Vineman 140.6. My body is responding to the stresses I am putting it through, getting stronger, faster, and building endurance. So what the hell....I jumped into it. <br />
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I ran at least a mile every day from Dec 25 through February 1. I did miss one day because I strained something in my back (lats...parapspinals...both) while putting up metal roofing. This is the longest running streak ever for me. Prior to this I don't think that I ran more than 3 or 4 days in a row. By the time I ended my streak I was ready to be done! I ran in rain, snow, blizzards, several below zero days, wind chills in the -20 range, mostly dark, with my puppy, with friends, and by my lonesome. I learned that I can run 40 days in a row. I learned that even on days when I didn't think that I could run; I did and I did it well! When you run in wind chill -22 degrees; 10 degrees doesn't feel so cold and 32 degrees feels warm! I haven't ran since Feb 1 so I will be very interested to see what happens when I get out there next week! I am looking forward to lacing up my Newton's and playing on the road! <br />
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Willow and I have started running together! We're up to 1.5 miles at a pretty decent pace! I have to hold him back a bit. He's a bit too young to run fast and long distance. This week we'll start to do a long run-walk interval style. It's a whole different experience running with a dog. He's good company and will likely keep me at a decent pace. <br />
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For the past nine days I've been doing the Tour of Sufflandria with the online biking app, Sufflandria. I have LOVED it! It was tough riding several days in a row. Today I rode for 2 1/2 hours. I did cut today short, three hours felt a bit too much of a stretch (I probably could have done it!). I also skipped yesterday, too many commitments. I plan to do Day 8 at some point this week. But riding seven days in a row, taking a day off, and then doing a long ride definitely ramped up by bike fitness VERY fast. According to my speed sensor I am riding at a steady pace averaging around 16 or 17 mph. If I start outdoor riding at that pace I'd be very happy. I hope to be around 18-19 this year. Only time will tell....<br />
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Now I jump into Endurance Nation Run Durability Out Season plan for the next several weeks. If the past six weeks are any indication; this is going to be a kick ass season. I am going to need bike endurance, climbing endurance, run endurance, and a whole lot of badassness to finish Ironman Canada! I feel it rising in me. And that my friends is a good sign. <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-71937906132278364482017-09-11T16:23:00.002-07:002017-09-11T16:23:28.291-07:00Patriot 70.3 Take Two. BEST DAY EVER. EDIT: whoops its now September. Yesterday I completed by ninth 70.3 triathlon. It is by far one of my favorite distances to race and train for. The training doesn't completely suck up your entire life, but it is challenging and really tests endurance and will. This year I took my friend Carole's advice and joined Wheelworks Multisport team. I've also been training with Squanacook River Runners and Masters in Groton. I've realized that one of the reasons that I fell out of love with triathlon was that I was lacking community. When I'm racing and training with friends or simple teammates I feel a sense of belonging that I have never felt in any other group. Triathlon is a solo sport and can get very very lonely if all of your training is done alone. Long bike rides and cold winter runs are far more enjoyable when you've got a gaggle of fellow crazies with you. In addition to my local teams I have the honor of being a member of Trisports.com Ambassador team again this year and am being coached by Endurance Nation. Both of these teams add virtual support.<br />
I stayed over night this year about 20 min from the race with Mare and Petra. This was so fantastic as it allowed me to register on Friday and get up at 4:30 versus leave at 4:30. An extra 45 minutes of sleep is key the night before a race. I was feeling pretty excited and ready for the race a week prior. I was not at all nervous until the morning of the race. I knew that I could finish, it was just a matter of how fast. And, like I've been saying, I found the love again. The day was about pushing myself to my limits (and a bit beyond), but also taking it all in, being thankful that I could do this sport, and thankful for my community; triathlon and non.<br />
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The pre-race nerves hit me as soon as my feet hit the ground. But my years of racing experience with new found wisdom allowed me to stay grounded and really enjoy the moment with my new found teammates. We arrived separately at the race and began our race prep. My head was in the game and a huge smile crept over my face. I was thinking about all the cold dark mornings over the winter and into the spring. It was raining, but I was SO happy to be racing! As soon as I walked into registration I saw a familiar face. This happened over and over again that day. It occurred to me how many people I know in the NE triathlon community. It had been two years since I'd done a race in MA and it felt like a coming home. I've simplified my transition and prep so was ready to go after about 15 minutes. Now to stuff some food into my nervous belly. <br />
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Before I knew it it was time to race. We all lined up in a big mass in front of Long Pond. With a big bang we were all off two by two into the water. Some for a prize. Some to prove a point. Some for fun. Some because that's just what you do on a weekend day in the summer. Me? Because I love it. I love waking up stupid o clock in January to schelp into a cold dark pool, hop on a trainer, or throw myself into the cold dark morning. I love how amazing and proud I feel after those workouts. I love the look on my coworkers faces when I tell them that I've run 13 miles before work or 3 killer miles before a big ass snow storm. I love finding just a little more of me to give. I love finding my zen in the middle of a long run or ride. <br />
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The water was a bit choppy from the beginning, but I quickly fell into a rhythm. Unfortunately I was at the back of the pack and had to fight my way thru a lot of swimmers. I was pretty pleased with my swim, but still can't break 40 minutes in a 1.2 mile swim. I swam until my belly scapped the bottom, hopped up and ran the wetsuit strippers. BEST THING EVER. <br />
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9/11/17 THIS WAS THE LAST LINE I entered a few months ago. What can I say; it was a busy summer. I trained for Cranberry Sprint and Oly. Raced. Kicked some decent ass. Had fun and smiled.<br />
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I did not PR in 2017. What I did do was continue having fun racing and training. Which is why us mere mortals do it. I don't get paid to get up at 4 am on a work day to run 2 hours before I walk the dog and work. I do it because of what I get out of it. <br />
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I improved my run and swim. I am stronger on both. I got into zones on all my race swims and runs this season. I did have a decently fast 5k during Cranberry Sprint. I ran ran continuously during Patriot. Something I've not ever done during a half. I was steady and strong. Two weeks ago I was feeling strong and at a good place to put a tack in the season. <br />
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And then I got sick. I've been unable to work out for about 10 days. I made the hard decision to drop out of the 13.1 I signed up for. I've missed two long runs and feel very deconditioned from being sick. It's insane how quickly it happens. I maybe able to pull it off but at what expense. I'm doing a 140.6 next year and I need to enter 2018 in a good place. I've learned over the years whe to say when. A quitter I am not. A smart athlete I am. <br />
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Here's to a great 2017 season and an even better 2018. Every day that I get to train and race is the BEST DAY EVER. <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-41542718836345835822017-01-18T15:50:00.000-08:002017-01-18T15:50:41.274-08:002017 Racing Season is on ! I am three weeks into my official training season. This years racing schedule: Patriot 70.3, Cranberry Oly, and Cranberry sprint.I may also do a fun century with Charles River Wheelman. I am feeling good and am excited about this season. <br />
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I have joined Endurance Nation for the second year. I was pleased with my progress and there coaching last year for Cedar Point. This year I joined as a member instead of a flat plan. It is nice having feedback from the coaches and encouragement from other members. Locally I plan to rejoin Northeast Multisport and join Wheelworks tri club. I am also a member of Squannacook River Runners and a masters team in Groton. I am also a sponsored athlete thru Team Trisports. I have a lot of club affiliation this year! It is an honor to race and train with so many great athletes! <br />
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I am working on the outseason plan with EN right now. It focuses on run and bike endurance and a bit of speed. I am really liking the plan so far. It does not have any planned swim, though it is optional, until about week 10. Instead it has two swim focused strength and core strengthening sessions. I am having lots of fun and am already seeing results. After taking about three weeks off of running longer than 4 miles I ramped up to 17 run mile weeks without any issue. WOOT! <br />
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Goals:<br />
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Finish Patriot faster than in 2011. Hoping to podium! <br />
Podium Cranberry-I'll be happy with either one but ELATED if I podium with both. <br />
Finish the season healthy and faster than I did in 2016.<br />
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Here's to a great season! <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-84810754238142947352016-09-17T06:09:00.000-07:002016-09-17T06:09:45.838-07:00Rev3 Cedar Point 70.3It's a wrap!!! I've completed my eighth 70.3 ! It has been a long year of triathlon and health ups and downs. I had enormous hopes for my 2016 racing season. On paper things looked perfect. But stuff happened. Life happened. On the way to Ohio I sorta started writing this blog post in my head. I planned to outline the various ways that 2016 set me up to not have a good race. Excuses why I was unable to do the full and bumped down to the half. But then something clicked in me when we pulled up to the race site on Saturday morning. Something amazing, something that hasn't happened for several years. But...I'm jumping ahead. <br />
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Amy, Cort, and I piled in to my jam packed Toyota Yaris hatchback and left Ayer, MA around 11:30 on Friday morning. By the grace of all the gods and goddesses of road tripping we made it to the Comfort Inn in Sandusky, Ohio at 12:30 am on Saturday morning. And we were all still speaking to each other, laughing (mostly), and loved each other still. It was actually a beautiful road trip and fun. <br />
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There was a sprint and a kids race on Saturday morning so we arrived at Cedar Point Park around noon on that Saturday to register and drop off all my gear. Turns out that due to impending storms bikes and gear were not to be dropped off that day, but in the morning. I was a little grumpy and nervous when we drove over to the park, but as soon as we pulled up and I saw the roller coasters and Rev3 signs I got excited. Really excited! I had trained so hard all year long. Dealt with some silly illnesses and injuries, that were just big enough to put dents in my training. But I was there! I was there walking on two legs, with two arms, a good head on my strong shoulders, money in my pocket, a girl on my arms, and a good kid in tow. I am a lucky womyn and have been given the privelage of racing and training. Year after year. <br />
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My beautiful partner, Amy, and Cort always volunteer for my races. Even though I did't have to be at the race site until about 7 am, they needed to be there at 6. So a 5:20 wake up time it was for all of us. Thank you Starbucks for being open! I had more than enough time to set up my bike and transition area before the race. I was nervous, but more excited than anything else. The last three races I have been filled with more dread than excitement on race morning. I had forgotten what it felt like to love to race long distance triathlon. <br />
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The swim was switched from Lake Erie proper to the bay due to high winds. HOLY crap Lake Erie is HUGE! I've seen Lake Michigan once or twice, but not since I was a kid. I felt like I was looking at the ocean when I looked at this lake! WOWZA! This meant that there was an 800 m run from the swim to transition. The course looked pretty simple on paper and from shore. What I did not realize was that there was a right hand turn for an out and back. For the first time in my tri career I got wicked off course during a swim. And it was a bit foggy on the water due to warm water and cool air. My swim time was pretty slow, BUT I felt strong throughout and swam an extra yards. With the exception of swimming off course I sighted like a pro! I popped out of the water, got my sneakers on and jogged over. <br />
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It was a quick T1 onto the bike and off I went. It was a bit windy, but not terrible! When I first got on the bike I could feel water sloshing around in my stomach. The water was a bit choppy and I think I swallowed a ton of water. The first four or so miles was on this gorgeous road along the lake. One one side gorgeous homes and on the other side an span of beautiful water with only the sky on the horizon. Around mile fifteen I was averaging close to 19 mph!! This was not what I had been training at, at all. BUT I was feeling fantastic. I said fuck it and decided to see what I could do. The course was a mix of gorgeous farm land, cute communities, and lake coastline. It was nice flat terrain mixed with fast ups and downs. There were so many people along the course cheering us on. Due to the wind, I was unable to get down into my aeros as much as I would have liked so my back was a little achy by the end. BUT I averaged just over 18 mph! WOOT! And I was smiling most of the time. AND I chicked about 18 guys on the ride. Never under estimate a short girl with a lotta gusto! I hoped off my bike in T2, sneakers on, port o john visited and off I went. <br />
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As soon as I started to run I knew that I had pushed it a little to hard on the bike. But I was still having fun. And that is the most important thing. The run was a mostly flat course with two little blurbs at mile 2 and again at mile 11. We ran down the Cedar Point causeway, through cute neighborhoods and the center of Sandusky. One of my favorite moments was running past a cute bar on the corner right in the center. On the first loop I screamed out that I wanted a pint and the whole patio erupted with cheers. One the second loop there was a hilarious interaction between drinkers of beer and a guy wearing a Spiderman kit. It provided a distraction and smile that I needed! <br />
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It should have been a super fast course. I stayed in line with my plan: run with the exception of 20-30 steps at mile markers and drink every 10 minutes. I felt pretty good for the first 6-8 miles and then. Then the nausea took over. There were no pretzels on route and I did not have any. My muscles felt really good and I think had it not been for the swooshing in my belly I could have had a killer run. But Lake Erie was still slooshing around in my gut. Lesson: always keep something solid to eat on the bike and run, just in case I take in too much water on the swim. <br />
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I had the privilege of being on the Trisports.com Champions team this year, as well as last year. I was given the opportunity to race Cedar Point at no charge because of this. The team is comprised of folks from all over the country with varying degrees of speed and experience. Throughout the year I've seen the team virtually support each other. And seen the achievements of all. It's been a pleasure to be part of this team and I hope to be for years to come. I was also a member of Northeast Multisport this year. There was not a lot of group training sessions, but I did some great open water swims in and met some cool folks. <br />
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The REV3 staff and volunteers were amazing! Each volunteer station and road crossing were full of energy and kindness! The folks of Sandusky, Milan, and other surrounding towns sat on their porches and lawns to cheer on us crazy athletes. I could not ask for a better race experience. I'll be back at this venue and other REV3 races for sure. <br />
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Overall I am very pleased with my race. There have been points in the last year when I've "raced for others" to push myself past crappy races. I still find myself thinking that, but I am also racing for me. Not selfishly, but to make myself a better person. To be happy more. To be able to take the ups and downs of life better. To be a better partner, step mother, PTA, friend, daughter, and sister. To find myself again. I pushed myself beyond my limits and kept going. Even when I was bent over trying to vomit I was loving the day. I thought of everyone that I loved, everyone that has touched my life, all of my kids at work. I remembered why I do this sport. Why I get up at 4 o stupid in the morning to train. Why I kept going when it was fun. To eventually get to this point again. PLAY ON! Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-40259528967616058182016-07-18T17:04:00.000-07:002016-07-18T17:04:08.273-07:00bumps in the road. just tiny bumpsI've sat down to write a post about my 2016 rode to Rev 3 Cedar Point full a hundred times, but couldn't find the mojo to write. There are a lot of new pieces to my training this season. I live a mere three miles from home. Things are good, really good. I love my job. I have a loving and supportive partner. I am happy. I am using Generation UCAN for my fuel and absolutely loving it! I chose Endurance Nation as my coaching company this year. And I left Team EnVision. TE was my rock in the world of triathlon for many years. They were integral in informing my first triathlon family. TE is one of the best, cohesive, supportive, and kick ass teams that exists. When I moved northwest of the city I was too far away for most of the events and sadly had to say goodbye. I've joint Northeast Multisport, though a good team, is not quite what TE is to me, but I'll give it some time. Overall I am happy with my choices and all of the change that has encompassed my training this year. <br />
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On the first week of training I threw out my SI joint (something that happens from time to time in my body). It took me about a week to recover. From week one until about a month ago things were going pretty good. My swimming and riding were coming along. A bit slower than is years past, but getting there. My running has been clicking this year. My gait and cadence are on target and I've been getting faster! I wasn't sure if I'd ever get fast again, but.....fingers crossed ....it seems to be happening. Last week I ran a 9 min/mile off the bike and felt amazing. My longer rides have feeling easier and I am in fact getting stronger. <br />
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A month ago I was badly scratched (maybe bitten) by a friends cat. It happened so damn fast I don't know what happened. Except that it hurt. A LOT. That week following I missed some workouts (and work) or adjusted them because of the pain and inflammation in my right forearm. I recovered and actually had an amazing "BIG DAY" that following Saturday. In the last month things seem to have been clicking more. Faster. More endurance. Thinner. More muscle mass and definition. I have been gliding more during speed intervals. Been able to push harder. My heart rate zones are getting better. <br />
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And then....last Thursday my arm blew up again. It was never 100%, but I'd been able to do everything I had to do at work, home, and in training. Friday it got worse. Saturday I woke up sore and it was huge. I rode for two hours and decided that I needed to go to an urgent care center. You guessed it; the infection is back. It's worse this time. More edema and more tender to palpation in a localized spot. Activities are not as painful, however. I was warned by the MD not to be too active. No work, no swimming, no biking, no tree top adventure for three days. Or risk damage to tendons and muscle. SIGH. I've been smart over the past three days. I have mostly sat with my arm elevated, taking ibuprofen and antibiotics, and doing a warm compress. It's better, a lot better, but not nearly 100%. Tomorrow it's a run day again. I hope to bike and swim on Wednesday. <br />
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I need to be smart. I need the full function of my right arm for work AND play. As much as I want to toe the line and cross the finish line of Cedar Point full, I cannot be an idiot and risk my profession for a race. I am giving myself three weeks to get back on track. Worst case scenario I can likely bump down to the 70.3. I've never backed out of a big race, but I also need to be realistic and smart. I hope that I've built up enough and will bounce back quick enough enabling me to have a great race. <strike><strike></strike></strike><br />
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Here's to a kick ass next few weeks, rapid healing, and lots of grit. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-276505210848061552016-02-04T17:27:00.000-08:002016-02-04T17:27:42.815-08:00once upon a time there was a spaniel 14 years ago I ran my first marathon. My friend Shawn and I decided that we would run the Boston Marathon as bandits. I had just moved to Maine and just come out. I was 26. I met a girl while training. Shawn and I finished the marathon somehow. Seriously it may have been a small miracle, cause I am pretty sure we did not train properly! After finishing I call this girl and she told me that she had a surprise. My post race brain was thinking food! And a cold beer. Shawn and I drove home in post race daze fueled by diet coke and gas station food. To my surprise there was a floppy black and tan cocker spaniel puppy (and also a beer....). The girl didn't last but, I feel in love with Tootsie at once and the rest is history. <br />
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She and I went through a lot together. Girls, jobs, 9 apartments, one house, two Ironmans, various other races, hikes, walks, cries and laughs. Yes she was a dog, but she was my best dog friend. Through all of my ups and downs and turn arounds she was my one constant. The one thing that I could count on after a shitty day to make me smile. We had to make the painful decision to let her go last week. The feeling of total sadness and emptiness is gone. I have actually laughed a few times in the last few days. But I miss her so very much. It is amazing how much of my life (of my families life) was in twined in hers. Everything I do is different now. Everything. I keep thinking that she is going to come back. That somehow she has just been away for a bit and will return. Her little spaniel stub and butt wiggling out of control because she is so happy. The adorable look of guilt when she had done something wrong and had been caught. The way she knew exactly when someone needed extra love. My life will never be the same without Tootise. Someday we will get another dog, but s/he will never replace Tootsie. She was my litmus test for everyone that was a potential partner/lover/friend/roommate. She and I grew older and wiser together. I feel so fortunate to have had her in my life. In the end she and I found where we belong. <br />
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This is one of the reasons that I am thankful that I have triathlon. It is helping me to process the many emotions I have with her loss. Speaking of triathlon.......<br />
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I spent much of January being sick. Working in a pediatric facility for the first time has introduced me to A LOT of illness! I am finally feeling better and like myself. I worked out through the month, but much of it was modified due to not feeling well. I had built up a solid base from the fall and don't feel that I have lost too much going in training for Cedar Point. This week was a solid week of training! I will spend the next few weeks continuing with intervals for all three sports (in small durations) and lots of strength training. By March 1, I will likely be in good shape to start the first phase of official training. I am looking forward to the journey to the start and finish line that is before me. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-69729203675296386142015-11-12T15:33:00.001-08:002015-11-12T15:33:19.900-08:002015 Triathlon season and other stuff that happened in my life I raced a lot this year! Some were awful, some were OK, and some were awesome. The important thing is that I was racing and training again. And having fun doing it! I sat down to write race reports a number of times, but just was not feeling the writing bug this year. But I am gearing up for another full distance triathlon so there will be lots going on in my head. I found the last few times that I was on the Ironman roller coaster writing about it helped me to get excited to race and also deal with the plethora of emotions that comes from training for and racing a long distance race! <br />
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2015 Races:<br />
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Groton Road Race 10k<br />
White Mountains 70.3<br />
Westboro Off Road Sprint Triathlon<br />
Cranberry Oly <br />
Title IX Sprint<br />
Pilgrimman Oly relay with Carole and Edith <br />
Groton Trail Race 9.5<br />
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Season Recap:<br />
I was humbled by the White Mountains 70.3. The conditions were cold and windy which did not help matters. I finished but it took every bit of will, determination, and bull headedness not to drop out ! I underestimated how much endurance builds up season to season. I am accustomed to finishing in the middle to top of the pack, but I was close to last that day. Finishing it proved to myself that I could do a long distance race again. I had a bit of foot pain, if I recall, but I was out there for a very long time and did a lot of walking. It did not last and I was able to start training again soon after! <br />
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Summer came and I started playing on the trails more and swimming a lot in Walden. I enjoyed my summer doing short training sessions. I even did non triathlon outside stuff; like a ropes course and played on SUP board! I found my love for triathlon again this summer. The later part of racing was fun! Really really fun! At times they were hard, but hard in way that I love. I found a tiny bit of speed and built up my endurance! I even did a few short triathlons. It was lovely to be done a race and home by noon! They helped me build some speed over a shorter distance without worrying about bonking later in an event. But I do love long distance racing the most! I love how spent I get after I've given my all. I love how I can't walk the next day. And how I say things like "o it's only a 40 mile ride or 13 mile run". <br />
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Last year I did the Groton Trail race 3 miler. I recall having some foot pain during and after (as well as it kicking my ass!). This year I did the 9.5. It was a tough race and I was very challenged by steep trail ups n downs. The front and back part of the course were heavy with the hills, but the middle piece was nice and flat. I moved pretty slow over the first 3 miles but then found some speed and actually felt really good for most of the race. I was very pleased with the race. <br />
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It is now mid November. I have been focusing on swimming, running, and strength with some short outdoor and indoor rides thrown in there. I am having fun training and feeling really really good! If I feel like this in March next year going into 140.6 training I will be very pleased. Speaking of 2016: tentative race plan: Quassy 70.3, Westboro Off Road, and Cedar Point 140. I am turning 40 next year and I plan to take it by storm! Fitter at 40 than 20! I am changing things for 2016 but I will get into that later! A big change is going to be my nutrition! <br />
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I have found a rythm and awesomeness with living with Amy and the kids. I am still not super awesome at dealing with kid drama, but I am getting there. I'm better able to juggle family stuff with training/racing, friends, and work. I have never been more happy with that part of my life than I am now. <br />
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Work is a different story. And I thank Amy, my friends, and triathlon for my ability to get through all of the drama the last three months. I left PT&SR in August for an outpatient job in Lowell. It was more money and much closer to home. It looked good on paper but proved to be a nightmare. I won't go into details here, but I am leaving this job on December 7 for a new adventure. I will be working at Seven Hills Pediatric Center in Groton. My hours will be something like 7-3 four days a week. One day a week I hope to be at an out patient facility (this in the works). One of the best things about the new job is that it is 3 miles away! I went from an hour commute to less that 10 minutes! I will be able to run or ride there a lot. I hope to ride most of the winter; pending winter conditions. I gave my notice yesterday and felt a ginormous weight lift from my shoulders. I have been a grumpy stress ball for several months. Everything is coming together for a great upcoming year of living, training, and racing. <br />
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I feel so fortunate to have a gaggle of people in my life. You are all amazing and I could not be who and where I am without all of you. Thank you! <br />
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#Newtons #TYR #TeamEnVision #trisports.com #trek #herballife<br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-33081792887561607422015-04-05T17:41:00.002-07:002015-04-05T17:41:54.641-07:00spring has SPRUNGFor a long time I didn't want to look at my Garmin during a run, or swim for that matter. I recorded data, logged it, but rarely looked at HR or pace after. I didn't care and I knew that I was not fast. I didn't want my workouts to remind me of how out of shape I was or how I was not making gains. It would just make working out less fun that it seemed to be. <br />
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But I kept at it. Logged the laps. Logged the trainer minutes. Logged those short runs outside in the grueling single digit temps. Logged the treadmill miles. Diligently did my strength workouts twice a week and stretched at least four times a week with nightly foam rolling. I ate healthy, started to cut out alcohol and sweets. And then something happened. I started getting faster. Started to have fun on my workouts and look forward to them again! I started feeling good on them even when I felt a little icky going in. I even have started feeling good at the end of a long workout. Could I....maybe....perhaps...could it be that I...am. becoming...an ....endurance...ATHLETE again?!!? More on that in a minute. <br />
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SPRING HAS SPRUNG people! New Englanders have endured a winter of enormous proportion. We complained about it adn got a little crazy. But we got thru. That is what we do in NE. I was visiting family in Littleton, NH this weekend and was below freezing and snowing when I left. But I returned to 45 degree sunshine in MA! Things had melted when I was gone and we actually have a lawn again. Flowers are beginning to pop up! The sun is feeling warmer and days are getting longer. <br />
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Today I had to talk myself into going for a run. I was away all weekend and did not sleep well. But I knew that I needed to go for my run and that this maybe the best weather in the next couple of days. I got out there and had a really good 8.2 miles. Though it was not fast in my prior running standards it is the fastest 8 miler to date this season and one on a fatigued body. The point is that I am finally feeling good. I am definetly not were I was in two years ago, but think that if I continue to be smart this year I will make some solid gains. <br />
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More important than being fast is that I am having fun again. I am running with a group of folks in Harvard weekly. We mostly do 5 miles today. I have also started swimming with a Masters team at the Groton school 1-2 times per week. It is a much smaller group than Cambridge Masters or Boston City Swimmers, but is a group to swim with and be motivated by. Right now I am in my own lane, but think that soon I can jump up to the faster lane and get pushed a bit. TE group rides will start this weekend. I did my best and improved the most when I was training with others who are slightly faster than me. I also very much enjoy and thrive by the camaraderie of training and racing together. I need that crazy community of athletes. <br />
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I have signed up for the Whitemountains Triathlon at Echo Lake in Franconia, NH June 6. It is in my old stopping ground and super hilly!! I look forward to the challenge. <br />
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I have turned a few corners over the winter and seem to be making good gains right now. We shall see how that translates to outdoor riding and bricks. <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-29580507963367180042015-03-08T17:05:00.003-07:002015-03-08T17:06:06.931-07:00Snowmagddon 2015 and other ramblingsIt is March 8rd and New England is still largely buried in snow. Boston has gotten over 100 inches and we got closer to 112. The last few weeks there has been some melting and snow bank clearing. Finally we have a small shoulder on the roads. It is safer to drive, walk and run. In the last week we've actually had temps over 32 degrees. I recall hearing that we did not go above freezing for three weeks. It is the craziest winter in recent memory in MA. Commutes have been hell and people have a little bit lost their minds. <br />
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Many of my runs have been inside and most outdoor runs have been in frigid conditions and quite frankly have risked my life running on the roads. I have been extra careful running; avoiding dark runs, wearing super bright clothes, always running on the opposite side of the street, and trying to avoid main roads. I live in the boonies now and folks are just not as nice to runners and bikers. Bostonians thou not always nice are tolerant and mostly considerate. If you include honking as considerate. A few weeks ago someone posted on Nextdoor about her irritation with runners, bikers and walkers on the streets. The posts that followed mad me sad and a little angry. It was a lot of the "roads are made for cars. and how dare anyone be out on the roads other than cars". How dare anyone risk their lives or the lives of drivers for the sake of cardio. Someone actually said that. I understood the anti -runner/biker/walker sentiment to an extent. The roads have been terrible for a greater part of 6 weeks. They have barely been passable to cars let alone pedestrians and cyclist. BUT if done safely roads can be shared. <br />
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I resisted the urge to respond to the post as many others had responded the way in which I would. Instead I have been extra cautious and courteous to drivers while running and walking. I have waved to all drivers even if they're jerky to me. I am hoping if I wave I make myself human and perhaps less likely to be hit? I keep wondering how we can change the attitude that cars own the road. Clearly this is not just an issue in the winter, but can be more dangerous this time of the year. I wonder if a mass mailing to all drivers re the rules of the road might help. Or a segment and push in the media about the rights of pedestrians and cyclist. I believe that many drivers truly do not know that cyclist have the right to be on the road. Would education help to improve behavior? For now I am focusing on positive re-enforcement and good behavior on my part. <br />
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The good thing about treadmill runs is that it forced me to work on technique and speed. Slowly I gained speed in the last two months. I have been diligent with my strength training, stretching, swimming, biking, and running. I am now able to run a 5k avg 9-9:15/ mile, up from about 9:45. On my longer runs I avg closer to a 9:30 but sometimes faster. The best part is that I finally feel that I have a little extra to give during all my workouts. My persistence, determination, and diligence has finally paid off. I am feeling good at this point in the season. I can pretty comfortably run 7.5 miles without any foot pain!! o! I have discovered and fallen in love with Rock My Run. It is an online streaming and download site with playlists for running or working out. They have a paid and free service. Currently I use the free service which gives me one download per month. Check them out: http://www.rockmyrun.com/<br />
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I joined a Masters swim program in Groton last Monday. For now I can only swim once per week with them. But I think this will be a good way to ramp up my training and meet some swimmer people. I have been riding inside on my trainer mostly using Paincave. I think it is helping me with my cadence and equal leg power. I am itching to get out on the road. We have a warm week coming up so I am hopeful that this may happen in the next two weeks. My body is responding to my training in a way that it has not in over a year. Perhaps I really did need a full year of low key low intensity training to heal and recover from previous intense training and racing. <br />
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The trial of accused Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev started a week ago Monday. I have been trying to avoid watching any footage. Simply hearing the words (paraphrased) "that bombs disrupted a normal joyful and celebratory day two years ago" sent me into tears. I don't want to hear play by play accounts of the day. I certainly don't want to hear what Tsarnaev has to say. I understand that for some this maybe cathartic but it is too painful and still to raw for me. The Boston Marathon was the first Marathon that I did and was done Bandit style. I did not know what I was doing but still managed to cross that line in one piece. The Marathon will always hold a special place in my heart and life. When I moved to the city and went to the marathon for the first time as a spectator I really discovered what the day meant to all of the city and state. Whether you're a runner or not for that one day you become a fan. For many it is an excuse to party . But that comes with cheering on runners! Where else do we get thousands of spectators along the whole route cheering on runners?!!? As a runner you feel like a rock star for most of the course. As a spectator you're proud of the runners and of the city. It is a day that is difficult to articulate and needs to be experienced at least once. Runners, college students, business professionals, families, non-runners, Red Sox fans, and people from all over the world come together. <br />
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Someone tried to destroy that day, but they messed with the wrong city and the wrong crowd. Boston and runners are two of the most resilient groups I know. I won't let them destroy what it means to me and I will be there every year. I think this is why I can't watch the trials. I don't want the terror and sadness to move to the forefront of my brain. I want to remember those who died and lost limbs, but not the terror. I want to remember how the city and world came together after. How we took back the Marathon in 2014. How so many folks who lost limbs came back and plan to run. How so many people came together and helped strangers in a time of crisis. We cannot be broken. This week I have been taking a moment to be thankful for all that I have each time I do a workout and feel the warm sun on my face or feel the cold air in my lungs. I am lucky to have everything I do. Lucky to able to swim, bike, and run. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-46154558868528976362014-12-14T16:44:00.000-08:002014-12-14T16:44:03.695-08:00Snails pace buildFor nearly two months I have been slowly building my strength and endurance. I have been at a level of fitness for so long I've forgotten how it feels to be this out of shape. Of course, this is a relative and compared to most I am very fit. It has been nearly 7 years that I've been able to run 7-8 miles without issue any time of the year. I am not there yet, but I am making baby steps. <br />
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Run: I am up to 4.5 miles without pain. I am still slow, averaging just under a 9:30 pace for this distance. The important thing is that it is pain free. When I do get pain it is more discomfort rather than PAIN. Part of that discomfort is my feet and ankles re-adapting to the pounding of running. I've forgotten that process. This week I completed the Dover Raid which involved run-walk in snow, ice, wet trails and pavement for a total of 13 miles. Then I ran 1 mile on the treadmill, 2.8 on road, and a 5k (Marathon Sports Jingle Bell Run). A grand total of nearly 20 miles of running and walking. I've not covered this distance since late January. My foot and medial ankle are a little angry today, but it is tolerable. <br />
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Bike: I am riding inside right now. The weather has been icky and cold. I've discovered Paincave bike workouts on line. I am feeling stronger with each week on the bike. I did one spin class and did like it. I plan to go once a week starting this coming Saturday. It will be nice to have some variety to my bike workouts. I am hoping that the weather will hover around 40 with clearish roads. That I can handle. Maybe even some trail riding! I think I need to get in for another bike fitting. There is a chance that some tweaking will help to keep my foot and ankle healthy. <br />
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Swim: I am swimming three times a week. I've gradually been building to a mile or so of stroke and free. I've been focusing on form mostly. This week I will begin to add some speed work into the mix. I hope to start going to a Masters class once a week once I'm able to easily swim for 45 min three times a week. The goal is to begin in January. For some strange reason I have fallen in love with Butterfly. I am not sure that my stroke is super pretty, but I am fairly efficient! My ability to feel the water and my movement through it is right on target right now. I have started closing my eyes every now and then to work on feeling the water and swimming in a straight line. <br />
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Strength: I am doing a long strength workout twice a week and a core workout once a week. I am feeling stronger each week. I am focusing on hip and core strength, as well as single leg balance and stability. <br />
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I have finally gotten back into a rythm of working out. For months when I've been tired I've talked myself out a workout. Part of that was being tired of "having" to do a workout for whatever race it was I was training for. Part of it was being in a new environment and living with Amy. There are more distractions now! I've forced myself to do my workouts regularly in order to get back into shape and get to that point of loving it again. There have been days when I've been tired, but the result is not a crappy workout. Instead, I've felt good and surprised myself! <br />
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I am in a good place heading into the Christmas -New Year holiday rush. I've built a solid base for the upcoming season. If I continue to be smart I feel that I will be in a great spot to be bad ass next season. <br />
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Possible race schedule 2015: Challenge Family Quassy 70.3, Mass State Oly, Westborough off road with Sun Multisport, Cranberry Oly, and maybe a late season half! <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-2183352871115414472014-10-24T17:14:00.002-07:002014-10-24T17:31:40.038-07:00annnd that is a wrap ladies and gentleman2014 Racing season is done. Did it ever really begin? Compared to the last 7 years the answer is no, however; this wise now slightly aged womyn says yes. <br />
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2014 started with a goal of doing my first 30 mile running race and several shorter triathlons. Some where in January I hurt my foot. I am still not 100% sure what I did but it was some sort of stress reaction that led to posterior tib tendonitis. I kinda ran, swam, biked, and kinda strength trained. I was pretty bummed that I was unable to run the way I wanted to. Instead of being smart I tried pushing through it. I did bike more and tried swimming. I had a very hard time getting into a new rythm with the new move, new location, new commute, new humans, and new mammals. NEW EVERTYTHING. For this creature of habit it was a learning curve. I finally got into a rythm and stopped sulking about not being able to run in late July. I started strength training, biking, and swimming more. Stopped running more than one mile. Took off my running hat and put on my PT hat. I now have a pair of ALINE orthotics for work and run. I am now able to run about 4 painfree miles and can even do short (2ish) back to back! <br />
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Races this season:<br />
Groton Road Race 5k 26:45 22/102. <br />
Pilgrimman Oly Tri relay with Becky. <br />
Groton Trail Race 3.4 miles 35.48 47/83<br />
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In the last 60 days I have felt stronger than I have all season. I feel that I am finally in a routine. I am feeling confident that I will be in a good position to race next season. I have made myself a return to run program and a core strengthening program to get stronger! I think a big part of my foot issue stemmed from weak hips, abs, and back (what we in the PT world call core). Over the winter I will gain stability and work on slowly building my running base back. I hope to do some cross country skiing and snowshoeing to work on cardio in ways that are not biking and running. <br />
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I want to come back on fire next season. If I am smart and deligent I can do it. The 2014 season is done shortly after it started. <br />
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Things I accomplished:<br />
I moved out of JP into Ayer with my amazing girlfriend with our little family. Into a house with a garage (bike storage!), a basement (PAINCAVE!), and a yard. <br />
I continue to LOVE my job. <br />
I remembered why I love triathlon so so much and how much I adore racing with Team EnVision<br />
I learned to really ride a mountain bike. I am by no means amazing but I can do it and I don't totally freak out. <br />
I did my first trail race. <br />
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This season did not turn out as I had planned but that is OK. Next up Turkey Trot! <br />
Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-13485084372763720852013-08-31T15:14:00.002-07:002013-08-31T15:14:39.942-07:00Lake Placid Ironman 2013 Race ReportThings were different this time around. With Vineman I traveled to CA alone and raced alone. I had no one to calm my fears or to celebrate with until a few days later. At IMLP I traveled with a gaggle of friends. They were my secret weapon. In various ways the helped to calm my nerves and motivate me at exactly the right time. As you will soon find out I needed it. <br />
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Amy, Cort, Carole and I traveled up the Thur before the race. The drive was gorgeous and windy thru the back roads of VT and NY. Immediately upon entering Upper Jay I was awe struck by the beauty. Already I was excited to race here. The Navajo Lodge where we stayed was incredible. It was huge with all sorts of unique corners and knick knacks. And the kitchen was huge. Carole and I started the weekend off right with a short 45 min ride while Amy did her organizational thing. That night we drove into Lake Placid so that Carole could swim and I could run. I got butterflies driving through Athlete Village and a little teary eyed running through it. Never have I said hi to so many people on a 20 min run!!!<br />
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The next day Becky and Mona arrived. Friday was a rest day but filled with pre-race obligations. The anxiety set in when I registered. Thanx to Amy and the girls I felt better by the time I went to bed that night. I was scared of the swim start. Scared that I would get knocked in the head. Scared I would have a panic attack. Scared of the Keene descent. Scared I would bonk. Scared I would let down the 12 people who came to cheer me on. Travel 4-6 hours just for me. By the end of the night I was feeling better about the swim and confident in my training. No matter what happened I would enjoy the day. I put in the hours and was so fortunate to able to be there. Enjoy every minute. <br />
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Saturday was filled with the final pre-race obligations: gear and bike drop off, quick ride with my girls, and a swim in Mirror Lake. Hair cut, Henna application, nutrition prep for the race day all with the help of Amy. Everyone arrived and cooked an amazing dinner of grilled chicken, seitan, veggies, pasta, and salad. We had a big family dinner followed by a nice fire. It was the perfect way to end the night before Ironman. I slept reasonably well until 3:30 am. <br />
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And so the day began. Parking was easy and we took the shuttle for ~ 1 mile. Man did I feel like a goober doing that! I ran into my friend Vic at body marking. Always great to see a familiar face that morning. There were SOO SOOO many athletes and spectators. I added a few things to my bags, checked on Speedy and headed down to the water with Amy; eating my samich and coffee as we went. I was super nervous but also filled with confidence. Having Amy there helped calm my nerves tremendously. Around 6:10 I jumped in the water to acclimate and warm up; then found my place at the back of the 1:10-1:20 group over the far left. My plan was to stay left most of the way and perhaps work my way to the center. The Pros cannon went off then ours 10 minutes later. We all filed into the water. It was a smooth start. I was a bit anxious but was able to find my rhythm fairly quickly and did not get swam over. I felt pretty good in the water on the first loop. I proudly swam until my hand hit the bottom, hopped up and ran into the second loop and dove perfectly back into Mirror Lake. I took two perfect strokes and then BAM I get knocked in the head by some dude not paying attention. There was no excuse really. It was just he and I in that little section of water. I stopped and yelled and him as it rattled me a bit. But regained my composure. The second lap went well but I was getting cold by the end. Over all pleased, though slower than last 140.6. I blame the dude who clobbered me. I jumped out of the water got my little wetsuit stripped and headed into T1. <br />
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Let's talk about transitions in Ironman. As you enter transition there are a zillion volunteers telling you where to go. You grab your transition bag and head into the tent. One volunteer helps you change into appropriate gear and organize. I did not expect this and tried really hard not the laugh as my lady tried to help me with my socks and stuff my nutrition in my shirt. It was a pretty speedy transition considering the long distance between the water and transition. By the time we exited the water it had rained and was cool. Thank goodness for the rainbow arm warmers! I heard and saw all of my peeps as I exited out on the bike! Another boost!! <br />
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I took it easy on the first part of the bike. Partially to warm up and partially to pace myself. The course was crowded by not chaotic. I came to my first serious descent and then the infamous Keene descents. The road was a bit wet so I rode with caution. Within a mile I relaxed a bit and found my confidence, looked around at this AMAZING scenery, and killed it. I am still not sure how fast I was going 'cause I am having trouble uploading my data. Buuuut I am pretty sure I was close to 40 if not faster. I felt in complete control but was going fast! I was grinning from ear to ear at the bottom. The next 20 or so miles were false flats or flats. Up until the long hills I was averaging 19 mph. I have not done that all season. I was feeling fast and fantastic. At some point I dropped a Perform and ran out of water. This may have been the cause of future issues. Again, I paced myself on the hills until I hit the last one. Before rounding the corner you could hear the crowd. The hill was lined with spectators and riders. I downshifted and sped up the hill. I was in complete control and let the crowd and energy carry me up the hill and around the corner to the final climb before going into loop 2. I felt a little tight in the next ten miles but good by the time I hit the descends. Again, I rocked them. I got a boost when I saw my Amy in her aid station! I wanted to stop and kiss her, but there were hills to climb and a marathon to run! I slowed down a bit on this round of climbs, but rode solidly. Then, then I came to the final climb. Again, the crowd pushed me up the hill. I shifted and...and ...and I dropped by chain. I managed to unclip my right foot but keeled over to the left. I got a little bruised but was other wise ok. I got out of the way and got some encouragement from a spectating couple. The dude really wanted to help me, but didn't want me to be DQ'd. I took some deep breaths and got it back on the chainring! phew. I would have walked the final miles if I had to!!! He DID give me a little push up the hill. I think I lost about 5 minutes. I saw Carole and heard everyone else coming in on the bike. The crowd was amazing thru Athlete Village!<br />
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I hit the ground running and feeling fantastic! My legs felt weirdly good. I saw Mark coming down the hill heading out of town. He gave me a giant hug and exclaimed how cool it was to see me. I felt great running through town, then I took my first Clif Shot and immediately felt nauseous. I slowed a bit and switched over to water only, walking thru rest stops. Then it was time for Clif Shot #2. I could only get 1/2 down. CRAP. At this point I switched to water and pretzels, still walking only thru aid stations. Around mile 8 I started feeling really shitty. I was running out of energy and had 18 to miles to go. I thought of all my friends and family who were in Lake Placid just for me. I thought of Amy. Of Tootsie. Of every friend at home and around the US. Of every Marathon victim. Of all my patients who could not run. I pushed on. I walked. I jogged. I ran. I was strong up and over the hills back into Athlete Village. I saw Amy, Mona, and Carole right away. Everyone else was across the way. Immediately my spirits rose. I actually stopped and hugged them and pushed on. At this point I was feeling nauseous and low on energy. I could keep pretzles, Coke, and water down. Heading out of town I was feeling ok again...as good as I could at this point. I wanted to throw up badly. But I would finish. I knew this. Even if I walked I would finish. It was starting to get dark. I did the good ole Ironman shuffle and somehow I made it back into town. I have never been happier to make that right hand turn over the bridge and up into Lake Placid Village. It started to rain and I am pretty sure I was crying at this point. The finishers circle was loud! I turned down to run by Mirror Lake one more time. Shady, Laurie, and Amy stayed behind to cheer me on. Thank GOD cause I needed every little bit of umph. There was music everywhere. People were crazy cheering, especially when they recognized that they'd seen me before and that I was finishing. I saw the couple that cheered me on when I dropped my chain. I found a little extra umph somewhere deep in my soul and was able to increase my speed in that last few miles. When I entered the finisher shoot I really did start crying. It was SO CRAZY LOUD. I was the only person in there at that very moment and I slowed my pace and took it all in. My arms were out by my side the whole time. "Kristi Paradis You are an Ironman". The sweetest six words. <br />
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I cannot thank Amy,Cort, Becky, Marcus, Laurie, Shady, John, Mona, Carole, Amy Wong and my parents for traveling to watch me race and be my support system for the weekend. My experience was so different than in Vineman for that very reason. It was amazing to know that they were somewhere on the course. They were crucial to me finishing IMLP. And words can't describe how wonderful it was to be taken care of after I finished. They legitimately dressed me at one point, bought me food and tea. Walking back and seeing everyone gathered welled up an indescribable emotion in me. If I had any hydration left I would have cried. Later that night most of us at more food and drank Jack Dor and sparkling wine (forgive me I can't remember the type) on the floor of the kitchen. I landed there and it was decided that this is where we should stay. That was one of the best tasting glasses of beer and wine I've had. Post Ironman with a group people that I love. <br />
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My official time was 13:27:47. This was not a PR for me, but I suppose it was for the course. In a way I am disappointed as I very much wanted to finish near 12 hours. BUT with all that happened on course and that day and in the last year I am truely proud of myself. My year of racing was funky. I did not place, I did not average faster in any discipline, with the exception of my Oly. But both big races were harder than any races I'd ever done. Rev3 for weather reasons and IMLP was a tough course and I was nauseous. It's a hard thing to rationalize to most people, the reasons why I am disappointed. Deep down I am proud, but this will be the fuel that starts the first in 2015. I'll be back to IMLP and I'll be back to long distance racing. But for now I am going to stick to Oly for 2014. I need a summer to play. To do things like trail races, hike, and maybe lay on the beach. I need to reboot my love for long course. <br />
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It has taken me a long time to write this for some reason. I wanted to process everything I was feeling and then...well I just got busy. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-57655776104484428502013-07-24T18:21:00.000-07:002013-07-24T18:21:59.571-07:00What a wild and strange trip its been...Last July 29th I signed up for IMLP with gusto. I could barely afford the entry fee 'cause (as you may have recalled) I was only working part time as I'd just quit my job. I was confident that I could find something permanent and be in a good position to train. Things work out. They always do. <br />
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But before they did I experience tremendous periods of ups and downs. Nov 4th I went out for an easy ride and crashed, experiencing minor soft tissue injuries and a concussion. This was to be day 4 of my training. Not off to a good start. With some TLC from friends, family, and co-workers I managed to get through that OK with no lasting affects. It took me a long time before I could ride on my own. The hardest part was the fear of riding. I am not scared on a bike. I am strong, confident, and balanced. In fact it was not until the following April that I rode alone. And not until just this last week that I rode past the scene of the accident. Determination. Perseverance. <br />
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Then I quit a job, started a new 40 hr job that was to be awesome. I was laid off 5 weeks later, I was unemployed. Worked a bit at a SNF, then a day hab, then got hired full time at an out patient clinic. I started working full time just as my training was peaking. The 3 hardest weeks of my training. All while training for Ironman Lake Placid. It wasn't so bad working 24 hours during much of my training. Once I got a steady contract job things were OK. The hardest part about a rocky employment is the unsteady pay check. Triathlon training is expensive. Food is expensive. Gear is expensive. And you need to eat a lot when training for an Ironman. But somehow I managed. Friends fed me. I borrowed money. Unemployment finally came through. In the last 5 weeks I have had a steady paycheck. But with that came a sudden increase in hours worked and stress of a new job. Perserverance. <br />
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I met Amy in January. This is a huge up. It's, well it's amazing and wonderful...but I'll save that for another day. The point is that it was a huge change. For the first time, maybe ever, I had to work training around something other than me. It mattered if I was on a 3 hour run or needed to spend 4 non-consecutive hours training. But, she could not be more supportive about my triathlon training and addiction. (Lets all face it...it is a bit of an addiction!) I have cold bottles of water, chocolate milk, and smoothies waiting for me after long workouts. Sometimes I even get dinner made for me. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing there is someone who cares about me when I arrive home. <br />
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In March my Grandmother passed away. She was older and had dementia, so really it was for the best. But it was and still is very sad that she is no longer with us. She taught me to make pie and to always bring something when you visit a friend, amoung other things. She was kind, a good listener, a fantastic baker, and an even better eater. She always asked about my racing and told me how good and healthy I looked. I think she knew how happy triathlon makes me. She will be in my thoughts tomorrow.<br />
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The Marathon Bombings happened. No need to go on about this. But I will be racing for each every person who was affected and lost their lives. No matter how hard it gets out there on Sunday, I will remember that I am there. I am able to race. I will love every second. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to train and race. It is a gift. Every single day is a gift. <br />
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Without doubt I am a happier fuller person today July 24, 2013 than I was this time last year. A lot has happened, but it has changed me for the better. I am stronger. I know that I can get through periods of unemployment. I know that I can make any PT setting work, at least temporarily. I have swam, biked, and run longer and harder than I did two years ago. I am more confident. I have my confidence back. My self esteem was hiding last year. It is returning with vigor. I have a huge gaggle of friends that care about me. I am in love with an amazing womyn who cares about me. My life is frickin fantastic. I am ready for Ironman Lake Placid. <br />
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I bounce well. I know this. But the last year has proven that to me multiple times. Too many times, universe. I am heading to IMLP with a secret weapon this year. One that will make me unstoppable. More about that in the next few days. I am SOOOOOO excited to start this journey with Amy and Cort. Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22834177998093395.post-56713274310681846762013-06-17T09:11:00.003-07:002013-06-17T09:18:30.695-07:00Ashland Triathlon Olympic At the suggestion of my coach I added a Oly to my pre-IM race schedule. I have not done an Oly Tri since 2009. The distance seem super short now with all my longer distance tri and running races under my belt. I was given permission to really race it and see what I was made of! And I had Speedy back so I was super excited to race on Sunday. <br />
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The Thur prior I ran an 18 miler at a faster pace on the same route I used last month. It was hilly and I felt really good the whole time. For the first time on my long runs I felt that I could have kept running at that pace. By Saturday I felt pretty recovered from the run. <br />
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The day started at 5 am with my usual large coffee and PB and banana. I slept well the night before and was feeling ready to race that day. There was not a cloud in the sky and it was in the high 50s. Perfect. There had been very little communication from the race director prior to the race so I was unsure when I was starting. The race started at 8 am so I wanted to give myself a good 90 minutes just in case. Turns out there were only two waves for the Oly and two for the sprint. I got in a very short swim warm up. The water felt nice, 72 degrees with a clear sky. The threw the Clydesdales in with all the womyn. This concerned me a bit 'cause I am little, but I managed to position myself well to avoid too much chaos. Big dudes really like to swim over me. I am strong enough now that I can keep going and it does not freak me out, but its annoying. <br />
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I started off nice and strong and rapidly progressed through my wave. I felt floaty and powerful in the water. I choose to go with the wetsuit for extra bouyancy. I managed to catch up to some of the men. The course was a counterclockwise oval shape (??). It was well marked until the last 500 yards or so. It was very difficulty to site the swim exit as it was just beyond a dock. Word on the street is that folks were swimming to the dock instead of making the hard right. I was fortunate enough to be able to follow a group of swimmers. Like good little doobey I swam until it was very shallow. <br />
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From the waters edge to Transition involved running up a .5 mile trail that was laden with rocks, roots, and mud. I had Crocs at the waters edge which allowed me to very cautiously run up the transition. All of this spelled disaster waiting to happen!! I was SUPER careful 'cause my luck I would twist my ankle. And that would have SUCKED this close to Ironman. Despite all of that my T1 was pretty fast! I slipped out of my wetsuit and hopped on Speedy. oooo how sweet it was to have her back. <br />
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The bike course was 26 miles. A walk in the park for me. 26 miles is my warm up these days. So I would ride HARD. It was hilly but nothing I couldn't do. The tricky part was pacing and nutrition on such a short course. I drank all of a PowerBar drink mix and had one caffeinated Clif Shot. I felt fantastic on the first loop of the course and averaged 20 mph. I slowed down a bit on the second, but still averaged around 18. There were some longish climbs, but nothing steep. And some killer descents. I've forgotten how good it feels to be down in aero. A few more rides on Speedy and I'll be 100% back on my TT riding form. <br />
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Quick T2 and off I went. Amy was voluntering near the finish line. I saw her heading out on the run. yeah! My legs were screaming a bit after that ride, but I felt good on the first mile of the run. The first 1.5 or so of the run shared the course with the bike. It was very crowded and many athletes were seemingly not conscious of other runners or riders. I pushed the pace a bit up and over the first two hills. I felt really good, but had to pee! whoops. It was only 6 miles but I wanted to be able to hydrate. Soooo I found a place in the woods around mile 4. phew. That was around the time that my legs decided they had had enough. My pace dropped up the last few hills, but was able to push the pace on the flats and the downhills. Part of that was pacing on the bike and early on the run. And that 18 miler three days prior. I finished strong in just over 1:57. I came in 6th in my AG. Over all I am pleased. I forgot how much fun this distance is. Long enough to feel a bit challenging, but short enough to be able to push it and not feel like toast at the end. <br />
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FIRMs Ashland tri was a super fun course. Challenging and beautiful. But it was poorly run. Race staff did not warn us about the trail run at any point during the days and hours before start time. It was unclear until moments before the start what the swim waves were. There were not clear signs to the swim start (it was hidden by trees). Transition was not clearly labeled. And there were apparently a few bike accidents involving cars. Also, the food at the end was terrible. Our options were hot dogs and salad. That's it. Amy and I ate at Whole Foods! So much better!! I am not sure that I would do another FIRM race. <br />
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There are 42 days left until Ironman Lake Placid. This week is a short 4 day recovery week, ending with a 100/7 brick. My next training block will have LP on in. yikes. I am feeling more and more ready every week. I am ready to have some free time on the weekends and S:B:R because I want to (fast or slow) and not 'cause I have to. I love Ironman training. I love the how my body changes. I love how my mind changes. How 18 miles on the run and 90 on the bike seems like nothing towards the end. I love the muscle burn. I love discovering how much I can push myself, my perseverance, determination, and tenacity. But I also love sitting in the sun on a Saturday afternoon with a fruity drink after doing an easy 20 miles with my girlfriend. Or hiking all day. I am ready to have variety back in my life. But I am also ready to have a great long weekend in Lake Placid, NY with my friends, family, and girl friend. I am ready to spend 12+ hours swimming, biking, and running with a whole lotta awesome people. I am ready to be surrounded by like minded folks. I am ready to kick some serious ass. Final KICK! <br />
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Endurance Junkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094254976320628523noreply@blogger.com0