It feels like there's been an explosion of local races this year - both trail and road. Check out Steve's blog for the Fab 5 Fifties races and also the UMTR website for the full details on the local trail series'. And then there's the new road marathons in Stillwater and Minneapolis. Although... I have decided to opt for Grandma's! The timing works much better for me given that I will need some recovery from Chippewa and then a decent stretch of speed and tempo work as well as the long runs. Hopefully I'll find a few other willing souls to split the ridiculous cost of 2 nights hotel...
I've been getting back into the swing of more regular workouts this week. The early mornings have not been as bad as I expected though I am making a better effort to get to bed early so that helps. Still not running much which suits me just fine right now. I might venture outdoors later today if the temps creep up to 20. Swimming has been going well, which continues to surprise me. Some days the strength training gets easier and other days lifting the same weight as the previous day seems impossible... but I'm finally able do more than a few girly push-ups so something must be working! As for spin... I nearly died last night. Thursday's 2hr class includes stair running and walking lunges and whatever else Johnny J decides to throw in the mix. We did a 30 minute time trial also to get a baseline for the year. Even though I most likely won't do any triathlon this year it's a killer workout and since he's great with teaching form I feel like I'm building good overall strength with very low injury risk. Having said that my shoulder hurt like hell going to bed last night. I think the aero position for the time trial did me in. But an adjustment this morning seemed to release it. Often I find no difference when I get an adjustment but something definitely moved the right way today.
It's snowing a little now - some nice fresh power for the weekend... Snow shoeing is on the cards again. I think I'll strap on the backpack this time and get some training in for the big mountain hike.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Top 100 100s
Congrats to all the locals who made the Top 100 finishes of the year - Wynn, John S, John M & Julie! Nice work folks.
http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/reference/finishers/index.shtml
http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/reference/finishers/index.shtml
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Let it Snow...
As pretty as the white carpet looked when I got back to Minneapolis earlier this week (after a not-at-all white Christmas in Ireland) I was soon complaining when I had to clear my icy steps (my very kind neighbours took care of the footpath while I was out of town). But this weekend I had a blast snow shoeing 3 times in Hyland Park so I'm all about more snow...
After sweating more than I thought possible at Johnny J's 2hr spin yesterday morning, I headed out with Val and Ginger, her golden lab, who along with us had loadsa fun. Then this morning, after a swim and despite the -15 windchill Pam, Kami and I had fun catching up after the holidays as we meandered around the trails including a few trips up the old ski jump trail to warm up - it worked. I got back and got myself organized for the return to work tomorrow (ugghhh) and then Val called to say she was heading out again - the feeling had returned to my fingertips so of course I said I'd join! As well as Ginger we had neighbour dog Jack along also - who is about twice the size of Ginger who is not a small dog... so you know it when Jack steps on the back of your snowshoe :)
Started off the weekend with 'Candelight Yoga' Friday night so I figured it was a good way to finish it when I realised there was an early evening class at the Edina studio. Great way to stretch out while at the same time seriously relaxing!
So, a fun active start to the year. Too bad work has to get in the way tomorrow though I guess it will be nice to get back into a routine. At least for 2 weeks. Work trip back to Galway in mid-January which I think is a sign of the year ahead. Last year I did a good job of prioritizing my running over my job (hope the boss isn't reading this!) but I don't think I'll have the same luxury this year. BUT of course I need to remember I am lucky to have a good job - not to mention one I really enjoy!
After sweating more than I thought possible at Johnny J's 2hr spin yesterday morning, I headed out with Val and Ginger, her golden lab, who along with us had loadsa fun. Then this morning, after a swim and despite the -15 windchill Pam, Kami and I had fun catching up after the holidays as we meandered around the trails including a few trips up the old ski jump trail to warm up - it worked. I got back and got myself organized for the return to work tomorrow (ugghhh) and then Val called to say she was heading out again - the feeling had returned to my fingertips so of course I said I'd join! As well as Ginger we had neighbour dog Jack along also - who is about twice the size of Ginger who is not a small dog... so you know it when Jack steps on the back of your snowshoe :)
Started off the weekend with 'Candelight Yoga' Friday night so I figured it was a good way to finish it when I realised there was an early evening class at the Edina studio. Great way to stretch out while at the same time seriously relaxing!
So, a fun active start to the year. Too bad work has to get in the way tomorrow though I guess it will be nice to get back into a routine. At least for 2 weeks. Work trip back to Galway in mid-January which I think is a sign of the year ahead. Last year I did a good job of prioritizing my running over my job (hope the boss isn't reading this!) but I don't think I'll have the same luxury this year. BUT of course I need to remember I am lucky to have a good job - not to mention one I really enjoy!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
2009. Already. It's come way too fast but at the same time you can't beat that feeling of a fresh start... out with the old, in with the new... For me the 'old' are a few bad habits including sugar, chocolate and over-training! I have to say for the first time in my life I think I actually over-dosed on chocolate while back in Ireland for Christmas. It was pretty bad. So that's my first resolution (along with 90% of the population) - Healthy Eating!! As for over-training - I think (hope) I have learned my lesson from the past few months. Everything went great up to Sawtooth but Oct/Nov/Dec were a bit of a mess. Sure, I had a good time at TCM and IM AZ but I was bordering on hurting myself and ended up doing just that over Thanksgiving. Which resulted in 3 weeks off running. Which of course turned out to be a great thing - got me back swimming - and finally got my ass to the gym for strength training. Susan put it best when she said that she didn't know me anymore - I was enjoying swimming, actually using my gym membership - and was bemoaning the fact that I couldn't use my new treadmill!! I'd been thinking about investing in one for a while and because I seem to have lost all interest in running outside this winter and mostly because I want to train for an early summer marathon I decided to take a look in 2nd Wind on 'Black Friday'. And sure enough I found a good deal on a 2nd hand True, trading in my completely under utilized stairmaster while I was at it. And then proceeded to look at it lovingly for a few weeks without being able to use it! The first week of no running was the hardest. But then it was the Holidays and things were busy back in Ireland. And I still getting my anerobic threshold buzz in the pool. I wanted to wait until I had zero pain in my shin walking/stretching/jumping etc and by last weekend that was the case. So Monday I ran the mile down to my neighbours house (my family live in the countryside!) and back again. Then I got back here and christened the treadmill with a 5 mile run on New Year's Day. I like it! And the squirrels outside the window were equally fascinated with my new toy...
The next few weeks will be all about building up a base and easing into the New Year. I don't think I'll run further than 10-12 miles. Then at the end of the month I leave for a trip of a lifetime to climb Aconcagua in Argentina. It's something I've wanted to do ever since a trip to Kilimanjaro just before moving here in 2005. Even though I feel out of running shape right now I should be fine for the climb. The altitude of course might be a problem but altitude doesn't care about fitness. I didn't have any problems on Kili until the summit climb once we got over 18,500 so I'm hoping it will be the same here. And then I'll just have to take it easy the last few days to the top (unlike Kili where we were trying to keep up with the cute French dudes who were making a documentary). Hopefully the weather will cooperate. It's 18 days on the mountain which includes a few days at camp for inclement weather. Once I get back I'll have 9 weeks until Chippewa. Thrown in there for my long 'training' run is a trip to Virginia (had to use the Hellgate flights for something...). Still undecided on which marathon I'll do - the timing (and past experience) of Grandma's are compelling but not the cost. Stillwater doesn't look as bad a course as I was expecting. And then there's the Minneapolis one. Madison, Rochester... funny to have so many choices all of a sudden!
So with resolutions of better diet, more focused training and less racing I guess a few goals for the year are a marathon PR (3:12 would be nice!), beat current CR at Voyaguer (and yeah a win would be nice too!), and run AC-100 in under 24 hrs (ambitious but it's January 2nd so I'm allowed to be!).
Hope 2009 is a good one for you all.
The next few weeks will be all about building up a base and easing into the New Year. I don't think I'll run further than 10-12 miles. Then at the end of the month I leave for a trip of a lifetime to climb Aconcagua in Argentina. It's something I've wanted to do ever since a trip to Kilimanjaro just before moving here in 2005. Even though I feel out of running shape right now I should be fine for the climb. The altitude of course might be a problem but altitude doesn't care about fitness. I didn't have any problems on Kili until the summit climb once we got over 18,500 so I'm hoping it will be the same here. And then I'll just have to take it easy the last few days to the top (unlike Kili where we were trying to keep up with the cute French dudes who were making a documentary). Hopefully the weather will cooperate. It's 18 days on the mountain which includes a few days at camp for inclement weather. Once I get back I'll have 9 weeks until Chippewa. Thrown in there for my long 'training' run is a trip to Virginia (had to use the Hellgate flights for something...). Still undecided on which marathon I'll do - the timing (and past experience) of Grandma's are compelling but not the cost. Stillwater doesn't look as bad a course as I was expecting. And then there's the Minneapolis one. Madison, Rochester... funny to have so many choices all of a sudden!
So with resolutions of better diet, more focused training and less racing I guess a few goals for the year are a marathon PR (3:12 would be nice!), beat current CR at Voyaguer (and yeah a win would be nice too!), and run AC-100 in under 24 hrs (ambitious but it's January 2nd so I'm allowed to be!).
Hope 2009 is a good one for you all.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A year of racing...
It was quite a year of running for me. I'm not sure I'll ever do as many races in a year again but I definitely want to have as much fun running as I did in '08!
Amazingly just about every race was a good one. I suppose the only exception might be Trail Mix but I had pretty much made up my mind in the first few miles that I wasn't up for running 50K (having run Chippewa the previous week and with Promise Land planned for the following one) - so no real disappointment there.
But of all the races a few stick out in my mind...
Voyaguer - everything about this race was fun. Well, ok not the stomach problems that dogged me pretty much all day. But even that seems to have faded among the good memories. Like Afton it is a race I hope to run for many years.
Chippewa - as much fun as it was I won't be sorry to (hopefully) enjoy better conditions in '09.
Jemez Mountain - there are not many races where you get to alternate running through snow and sand, rain and sunshine, over summits and across valleys. This was one to remember.
Sawtooth - where do I start? It was simply amazing. All of it. Even the rough parts. Especially the rough parts.
Amazingly just about every race was a good one. I suppose the only exception might be Trail Mix but I had pretty much made up my mind in the first few miles that I wasn't up for running 50K (having run Chippewa the previous week and with Promise Land planned for the following one) - so no real disappointment there.
But of all the races a few stick out in my mind...
Voyaguer - everything about this race was fun. Well, ok not the stomach problems that dogged me pretty much all day. But even that seems to have faded among the good memories. Like Afton it is a race I hope to run for many years.
Chippewa - as much fun as it was I won't be sorry to (hopefully) enjoy better conditions in '09.
Jemez Mountain - there are not many races where you get to alternate running through snow and sand, rain and sunshine, over summits and across valleys. This was one to remember.
Sawtooth - where do I start? It was simply amazing. All of it. Even the rough parts. Especially the rough parts.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Wishing everyone a happy, peaceful and relaxing time with family and friends. I am back in Ireland for a week and so far have slept more hours per night than I generally do in several nights, drank more tea than I normally do coffee (i.e. a lot), and cursed the rain about as often as I curse the sub-zero Minnesota winter. Ah yes, it's good to be back...
I think my shin is almost healed. I felt a little pain on Thurs racing around at the airport (me, late?) but nothing since then. So I'm going to walk a few miles with my sis this afternoon and if that feels good I'll run a few miles easy tomorrow night. Fingers crossed!
I think my shin is almost healed. I felt a little pain on Thurs racing around at the airport (me, late?) but nothing since then. So I'm going to walk a few miles with my sis this afternoon and if that feels good I'll run a few miles easy tomorrow night. Fingers crossed!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Weekend Ramblings
Nothing terribly important to report on the training end... did 3 sessions of weights this week. I am looking forward to keeping this up through the spring and adjusting the program depending on what phase of running training I'm in. I feel like it is keeping my legs in shape and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing some upper body strength improvements in the pool.
Spent a few hours at Midwest Mountaineering yesterday - what a neat shop. But waay too much stuff I want! I am going to Argentina for 3 weeks in February to climb Aconcagua (I may have to be out of town every February from now on as an excuse never to attempt Arrowhead...). I am really looking forward to the trip. It's been 4 years since Kilimanjaro and in that time I've known my next mountain trip would be to South America but it wasn't until Igor told me during the summer that he was planning a trip that it started to become a reality. I was on the fence for quite a while given the cost/vacation deficit but it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I have a lot of gear already but needed new boots (my feet appear to have grown a half inch in the last 4 years...) and a backpack. So I showed up early at Midwest yesterday. Got the boots sorted pretty quickly and then walked around in them for about 2 hours while I tried a few different backpacks with multiple adjustments to get the right fit. The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Enjoyed watching the Hawaii IM coverage on NBC yesterday. Chrissy Wellington is something else. A flat on the bike - including minutes lost waiting for a CO2 cartridge - and she still started the run first. All with a smile!
I was busy baking cookies (hold the laughter) while watching it. Thought I would treat my neighbours. I delivered them this afternoon and haven't heard any emergency vehicles yet so that's a good sign. Needless to say I kept it simple with the recipie but was still not prepared... but a beer bottle makes for a good rolling pin.
What miserable weather today. A day for laying low. Which suited me just fine. After a pool run with Kami this morning I picked up some books in Barnes & Noble and chilled out for the afternoon. And started a new jigsaw. It's been too long!
I am being spoiled this weekend for evenings out. A fun holiday dinner with The Family last night. Good times. Great company and a desert platter straight from heaven. And tonight Mark and Brenda are cooking Shepard's Pie. Yum yum. I guess I should go shovel some snow first to work up an appetite...
Be careful on the roads tomorrow.
Spent a few hours at Midwest Mountaineering yesterday - what a neat shop. But waay too much stuff I want! I am going to Argentina for 3 weeks in February to climb Aconcagua (I may have to be out of town every February from now on as an excuse never to attempt Arrowhead...). I am really looking forward to the trip. It's been 4 years since Kilimanjaro and in that time I've known my next mountain trip would be to South America but it wasn't until Igor told me during the summer that he was planning a trip that it started to become a reality. I was on the fence for quite a while given the cost/vacation deficit but it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I have a lot of gear already but needed new boots (my feet appear to have grown a half inch in the last 4 years...) and a backpack. So I showed up early at Midwest yesterday. Got the boots sorted pretty quickly and then walked around in them for about 2 hours while I tried a few different backpacks with multiple adjustments to get the right fit. The staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Enjoyed watching the Hawaii IM coverage on NBC yesterday. Chrissy Wellington is something else. A flat on the bike - including minutes lost waiting for a CO2 cartridge - and she still started the run first. All with a smile!
I was busy baking cookies (hold the laughter) while watching it. Thought I would treat my neighbours. I delivered them this afternoon and haven't heard any emergency vehicles yet so that's a good sign. Needless to say I kept it simple with the recipie but was still not prepared... but a beer bottle makes for a good rolling pin.
What miserable weather today. A day for laying low. Which suited me just fine. After a pool run with Kami this morning I picked up some books in Barnes & Noble and chilled out for the afternoon. And started a new jigsaw. It's been too long!
I am being spoiled this weekend for evenings out. A fun holiday dinner with The Family last night. Good times. Great company and a desert platter straight from heaven. And tonight Mark and Brenda are cooking Shepard's Pie. Yum yum. I guess I should go shovel some snow first to work up an appetite...
Be careful on the roads tomorrow.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Over it
Like my temper, my bad moods are generally very short lived. I can't run for a few weeks BUT I can do most everything else. And all of a sudden swimming has actually become fun! How'd that happen? In the lead up to IM I used to dread my visits to the pool. Now I can't get enough of it. One reason for sure is training with Tanya. We trained togther a lot for IM Wisconsin in 2007 but this year with me devoting more time to trail running and Tanya kicking ass on the bike our schedules diverged a lot more. But the past few weeks we've been swimming and pool running a lot. We are about the same pace in the pool and it definitely helps to have someone alongside pushing you through the workout. I know I would not swim nearly as good a pace by myself.
I think the leg is healing slowly. It is difficult to know. Some days it feels better than others. My rule is no running until I cannot feel any pain no matter what way I twist/turn/stand/jump. It might be a week, it might be two. Hopefully no more than 3! But whatever it is I will wait. I want 2009 to be an even better year on the trails so it will be worth it. Meanwhile it will be a mix of rest, kicking back and enjoying the holidays... and trying to stay somewhat in shape by swimming and building strength in the gym. My eating habits are pretty dismal right now but I am not going to fight it until the new year...
I think the leg is healing slowly. It is difficult to know. Some days it feels better than others. My rule is no running until I cannot feel any pain no matter what way I twist/turn/stand/jump. It might be a week, it might be two. Hopefully no more than 3! But whatever it is I will wait. I want 2009 to be an even better year on the trails so it will be worth it. Meanwhile it will be a mix of rest, kicking back and enjoying the holidays... and trying to stay somewhat in shape by swimming and building strength in the gym. My eating habits are pretty dismal right now but I am not going to fight it until the new year...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Reality Bites
No more drama! I sent the email. No Hellgate for me. At least not this year... WTF was I thinking? I feel my shin almost every step I take. Not searing pain. But nagging pain all the same. Yes, my ego was getting in the way! Even after a 5 mile run today during which it never felt good I was still comtemplating it. And then I got a text from my straight talking friend... "Think about Paula Radcliffe. The first 10 hours might feel ok but the wheels are bound to start falling off the wagon during the next 6." And I'm no Paula Radcliffe... Thanks Dee!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Ooups...
So I guess I forgot to hit the send button. I knew I hadn't sent the 'not doing Hellgate' email to David Horton before I posted last night but I had drafted the email and had every intention of sending it. But then I got busy with something. I woke up this morning and it was literally the first thing I thought of. Well, no it was the second thing. The first thing will be mentioned at a later date. Maybe. But I had to go to PT so I told myself I'd send the email when I got back. I worked from home today as I have a rotten cold. Another good reason not to race next weekend. But then at PT I was very pleased that my shin didn't feel near as bad as last Friday... You know where this is leading...
THEN, I get home and I have an email from Dr. Horton... full of random instructions for the race and the seedings... he always does this - I think just for the fun of it as they often seem very random to me though of course there are a lot of names on there I don't know. For the 3 races in the series that I ran in 2007/2008 I was in the lower third so my goal was always to place higher than my seeding. Which I did by quite a few spots in each race. There are 22 women entered in Hellgate. And I am seeded first. When I look at the other names this does not make sense to me even with the results I had in recent months. If I was healthy my goal was to place in the top 5 and run sub-16hrs. Dream goal was sub-15 but there are a lot of variables in a race like this. Although the weather looks fairly decent for that area next weekend. Temperatures anywhere from 20-40F and not much snow/ice.
So the bottom line here is I am still on the fence. Matt wants me to go to Hell though so I might just have to... I ran an easy few miles on the treadmill this evening and that felt ok. I am going out for a snowy run tomorrow morning to see how the leg feels so perhaps that will make the decision for me. I hate this. I am normally so decisive!
THEN, I get home and I have an email from Dr. Horton... full of random instructions for the race and the seedings... he always does this - I think just for the fun of it as they often seem very random to me though of course there are a lot of names on there I don't know. For the 3 races in the series that I ran in 2007/2008 I was in the lower third so my goal was always to place higher than my seeding. Which I did by quite a few spots in each race. There are 22 women entered in Hellgate. And I am seeded first. When I look at the other names this does not make sense to me even with the results I had in recent months. If I was healthy my goal was to place in the top 5 and run sub-16hrs. Dream goal was sub-15 but there are a lot of variables in a race like this. Although the weather looks fairly decent for that area next weekend. Temperatures anywhere from 20-40F and not much snow/ice.
So the bottom line here is I am still on the fence. Matt wants me to go to Hell though so I might just have to... I ran an easy few miles on the treadmill this evening and that felt ok. I am going out for a snowy run tomorrow morning to see how the leg feels so perhaps that will make the decision for me. I hate this. I am normally so decisive!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
No trip to Hell for Helen...
As stubborn as I am there is no denying my shin pain has only improved marginally since last weekend. SO, I emailed rd David Horton tonight to let him know I won't be running Hellgate next weekend. I am bummed. I have wanted to do that race all year and was thrilled to get a 'lottery' spot after registration filled immediately. But whatever's going on with the muscle/tendon at the base of my shin is taking longer to heal than I hoped. Nothing good will come from running 100K with an injury.
To add insult to injury (no pun intended) I realized I booked the flights to DC with frequent flyer miles and to cancel will cost around $75!! Having already booked my flight to LA for Angeles Crest next fall (I know, a little excessive planning there but I had another flight booked that I needed to cancel a few weeks ago...), I might just have to break my rule of not adding another race to the schedule. Or I could just go somewhere for a weekend and not race. Hmmm... I guess I'll think about it for a few days.
Meanwhile, the snow continues to fall. It is pretty but soon loses it's charm when there's shovelling to be done! But it will be fun to get the snowshoes out again. I have PT Mon/Wed/Fri this week so fingers crossed the shin improves enough to do a few miles next weekend.
To add insult to injury (no pun intended) I realized I booked the flights to DC with frequent flyer miles and to cancel will cost around $75!! Having already booked my flight to LA for Angeles Crest next fall (I know, a little excessive planning there but I had another flight booked that I needed to cancel a few weeks ago...), I might just have to break my rule of not adding another race to the schedule. Or I could just go somewhere for a weekend and not race. Hmmm... I guess I'll think about it for a few days.
Meanwhile, the snow continues to fall. It is pretty but soon loses it's charm when there's shovelling to be done! But it will be fun to get the snowshoes out again. I have PT Mon/Wed/Fri this week so fingers crossed the shin improves enough to do a few miles next weekend.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Slow Progress
Was at PT this morning for my leg. Nothing much to report other than it seems to be improving disappointly slowly. Got ultrasound AND cold laser treatment so maybe I'll wake up tomorrow like a new person. Unlikely I guess. They have a new lady at the center so I got the usual "One hundred miles?? All at once??" So by the end when I asked if she thought it would heal quickly as I sort of wanted to run next weekend I omitted to mention that I wanted to run 100K. All at once preferably.
Full disclosure? Only when necessary.
Have fun on the trails this weekend. Yes, I am jealous!!
Full disclosure? Only when necessary.
Have fun on the trails this weekend. Yes, I am jealous!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Hibernation
At least that's what it feels like this week. Winter has finally arrived and it's all too easy to stay under the covers for as long as possible in the morning. And generally stay indoors and keep myself to myself! Probably just as well this week since my shin is bothering me so I can't do much anyway. I had my chiro look at it this morning and he thinks the fascia around the muscle (tibialis anterior) is probably torn. Great. Well, what do I expect hammering down those hills at Afton on Saturday a week after IM...
I'll never learn. So, Hellgate is not looking good. I'm getting ultrasound and/or cold laser treatment on Friday and probably again Monday/Tuesday so I'll see how that goes. Icing it all the time and trying to keep off it as much as possible. Feels like it should clear up quickly but I suppose even if it does it won't appreciate 66 miles in the Virgina Mountains.
I know, I should abandon all thoughts of the race right now but I just can't get the idea of a trip south out of my head. I have loved running in the Blue Ridge Mountains, twice at the Promise Land 50K and one time at Masochist 50M. A wonderful community of runners and very scenic trails.
In other news... actually I don't have any other news. Hiber-nation is a quiet place.
I'll never learn. So, Hellgate is not looking good. I'm getting ultrasound and/or cold laser treatment on Friday and probably again Monday/Tuesday so I'll see how that goes. Icing it all the time and trying to keep off it as much as possible. Feels like it should clear up quickly but I suppose even if it does it won't appreciate 66 miles in the Virgina Mountains.
I know, I should abandon all thoughts of the race right now but I just can't get the idea of a trip south out of my head. I have loved running in the Blue Ridge Mountains, twice at the Promise Land 50K and one time at Masochist 50M. A wonderful community of runners and very scenic trails.
In other news... actually I don't have any other news. Hiber-nation is a quiet place.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Afton Photos
Starting out... wondering which parts of the riddle would hold true...
OJ, fruit and bagels in the woods... can you believe John & Pierre hauled this food out along the deer trails for us?! Thank you!
Girls... joined by some boys
And then some more girls and boys...
Yes, those are bottles of bubbly... we were truly spoiled!
Watching Maynard cross with caution. In case he got wet. Time enough for that later.
Ha ha. Seriously? No. Surely he doesn't mean we have to get in the water?
Oh yes. He did. And a few of us idiots actually thought it was worth a few race entries... resulting in frozen fingers. So, no more photos...
BUT, there are lots more from along the trail at this link. Enjoy!
More photos on Julie's blog!
Thanksgiving at Afton
I'll post photos from today a little later.
As I sat in the Central Lutheran Church Thursday morning at the annual downtown inter-faith Thanksgiving service I naturally thought about what I was thankful for. The words came easy: family, friends, good health (despite a few post-IM aches and pains!), a job I love, and one that affords me the opportunity to travel, and above all, a sense of place. I don't think I'll ever be content just being content. I'll always want something more. That's just who I am. But, sitting beside my Mum, a few hours before sharing dinner with a good friend and her welcoming and generous family, and looking forward to Saturday morning at Afton, I felt content. Happy to just be.
And this morning, running the ridiculously gnarly deer trails at Afton with as good a group of people as you could ask to share a few hours with, I knew this Thanksgiving weekend was a holiday to remember. There's a lot of crap in this world and I won't pretend to understand the half of it. But I figure you do what you can each day to make your tiny space within it a better place. Maybe it's making one person smile, maybe it's letting someone know you're thinking of them, reminding someone they are needed. Or maybe it's something as simple as recycling your trash (imagine, you don't even have to be nice to someone but still be a good person). Whatever it is, it's time well spent. You might not get an appearance on CNN Heroes of the Year (tuned to channel 3 as I write), but you'll have made a difference in someone's life.
Trail running and more specifically the people I've met on the trails, have made a difference in my life. So having the chance to celebrate that today was pretty special. To remember a great year of training, racing and simply hanging out. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful community. And I was thrilled to have the chance to share it with my Mum.
I know I sound like I'm smoking something. Perhaps it's the Bangladesh stew (just finished it off with a nice cold beer - though not quite as tasty as Matt's homebrew), or the insane swim earlier... or just too much fresh air. No matter. Life continues to be good and I continue to appreciate it and the people who make it so.
Happy Thanksgiving.
p.s. anyone know how I can edit the HTML to replace the time on the link below with 'comment'?
As I sat in the Central Lutheran Church Thursday morning at the annual downtown inter-faith Thanksgiving service I naturally thought about what I was thankful for. The words came easy: family, friends, good health (despite a few post-IM aches and pains!), a job I love, and one that affords me the opportunity to travel, and above all, a sense of place. I don't think I'll ever be content just being content. I'll always want something more. That's just who I am. But, sitting beside my Mum, a few hours before sharing dinner with a good friend and her welcoming and generous family, and looking forward to Saturday morning at Afton, I felt content. Happy to just be.
And this morning, running the ridiculously gnarly deer trails at Afton with as good a group of people as you could ask to share a few hours with, I knew this Thanksgiving weekend was a holiday to remember. There's a lot of crap in this world and I won't pretend to understand the half of it. But I figure you do what you can each day to make your tiny space within it a better place. Maybe it's making one person smile, maybe it's letting someone know you're thinking of them, reminding someone they are needed. Or maybe it's something as simple as recycling your trash (imagine, you don't even have to be nice to someone but still be a good person). Whatever it is, it's time well spent. You might not get an appearance on CNN Heroes of the Year (tuned to channel 3 as I write), but you'll have made a difference in someone's life.
Trail running and more specifically the people I've met on the trails, have made a difference in my life. So having the chance to celebrate that today was pretty special. To remember a great year of training, racing and simply hanging out. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful community. And I was thrilled to have the chance to share it with my Mum.
I know I sound like I'm smoking something. Perhaps it's the Bangladesh stew (just finished it off with a nice cold beer - though not quite as tasty as Matt's homebrew), or the insane swim earlier... or just too much fresh air. No matter. Life continues to be good and I continue to appreciate it and the people who make it so.
Happy Thanksgiving.
p.s. anyone know how I can edit the HTML to replace the time on the link below with 'comment'?
Friday, November 28, 2008
Shadowlands
"To love at all is to be vunerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable".
C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves, 1960
Hobbies: trail running. Not so little luxuries: designer purses. Avoiding all entanglements: check. Selfish: Who, me? Me? Me?
Me, the self absorbed, LV clad, trail runner.
Went to see this play at the Guthrie this evening. A visit from my Mum would not be complete without a trip to this fabulous venue. Started off with a scrumptious dinner at Cue, which involved the best grilled shrimp I've ever tasted. The accompanying veg could have been a little warmer, however. But the pomengranate mojito to start with was spot on! Not exactly carbo-loading for tomorrow's fun at Afton but it went down well.
Unfortunately, the play was a little on the boring side. The acting was good, particularly James A. Stephens who played C.S Lewis' bother Warnie. But I thought for someone who wrote the Narnia stories that awakened every facet of my childhood imagination there was surely more interesting twists to his life. Maybe not. Maybe the interesting twists were all in his work. The playwright, William Nicholson, "used parts of their [real] story, didn't use other parts, and imagined the rest." I guess I was a little disappointed with his imagination.
C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves, 1960
Hobbies: trail running. Not so little luxuries: designer purses. Avoiding all entanglements: check. Selfish: Who, me? Me? Me?
Me, the self absorbed, LV clad, trail runner.
Went to see this play at the Guthrie this evening. A visit from my Mum would not be complete without a trip to this fabulous venue. Started off with a scrumptious dinner at Cue, which involved the best grilled shrimp I've ever tasted. The accompanying veg could have been a little warmer, however. But the pomengranate mojito to start with was spot on! Not exactly carbo-loading for tomorrow's fun at Afton but it went down well.
Unfortunately, the play was a little on the boring side. The acting was good, particularly James A. Stephens who played C.S Lewis' bother Warnie. But I thought for someone who wrote the Narnia stories that awakened every facet of my childhood imagination there was surely more interesting twists to his life. Maybe not. Maybe the interesting twists were all in his work. The playwright, William Nicholson, "used parts of their [real] story, didn't use other parts, and imagined the rest." I guess I was a little disappointed with his imagination.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Ironman Arizona. The Story.
Despite my lack of enthusiasm leading up to this event, it was of course a very enjoyable race! I can say that now it's over. And having come through it relatively unscathed. Though my feet might argue with that.
The Commitment
After Madison last September (07) I knew for sure I wanted to do another Ironman. Given that all of the 'official' IM events in the US and Canada (i.e. those run by North American Sports) fill up immediately after the current year's race - sometimes you even need to be onsite to get registered - we kicked around the idea of going to Brazil in May. Fun holiday and we knew a few locals who'd been down there for the race and had good things to say about it. The only problem was May would be very early to get enough outdoor bike training in. Florida in early November was another option but none of us were very excited about the extremely flat course and sea swim. So we let that one pass. Then as luck would have it ironman.com announced a new race for 2009! IM Arizona has always been held in April but in 2009 there would be another race in November and then going forward it would be held in November every year. We just heard about it the day before registration opened and I was actually back in Ireland at the time. Through a flurry of emails and text messages one by one we all decided it was a good idea and duly went online that Monday morning... $550 later and Pam, Tanya, Susan, Kami (with a little gentle persuasion that she has not let me forget!) and myself were headed for Tempe, AZ.
The Training
Or lack thereof. I did pretty well early in the year. In fact I started swimming as soon as I got back from my NZ trip in mid-January and went 2-3 times a week for several months. Similarly with biking, I was going to Johnny J's 2hr spin classes 1-2 times a week for a couple months until it was decent enough weather to be outside. Given that the bike had been my worst part of Madison I knew I wanted to concentrate more on that this year. So without needing any further justification off I went to Grand Performance in St. Paul and purchased a very lovely Orbea Ora tri bike. All set. I'd put hundreds of miles on this baby over the summer. Oh and I would run lots too. That was a given considering my trail race schedule! Everything was going well up until and including the Liberty Half IM in mid-June. Thereafter, the swimming and biking got less and less as I focused more on running. And races. Lots of races. And so by October things weren't looking so good. Earlier in the summer I set a goal for myself of 11:22 (S:1:20, T1: 0:10, B: 6:00, T2: 0:10, R: 3:42). I was being a little generous with the transition times but I knew the run time was a bit ambitious for an IM. I think I was planning to feel soooo much better on the bike that my legs would not be as fatigued as last year so I could improve on my 3:48 at Madison. Well, I can safety say that plan went out the window as the race grew nearer, knowing I hadn't put in enough swim or bike time. Especially the biking. One century ride on the Madison course back in August and maybe four 70-90 miles rides over the course of a few months. Not exactly textbook stuff. I knew the course in Arizona should be a little easier than Madison but it could also be windy so I decided a more realistic goal would be sub-6:30. As for swimming... after a break of about 3 months I did get back into it in Oct/Nov and some days felt ok and some days not so much. I'd swam 1:20 last year which had surprised me no end. I thought 1:30 was a safe assumption this time around. Which all meant I needed to go under 3:50 on the run if I wanted to improve on last year's time of 11:59:43!
The Build
Mum and I arrived in Phoenix Friday around noon. Picked up the rental car and headed straight to registration. Got that all sorted pretty quickly, met up with the girls, and after a brief negotiation with TriBikeTransport (who I'll complain about on a later post once my bike is safely returned), we made our way over to the hotel which was only a short distance from the start/finish area. Most of the us were at the same hotel so it worked out pretty good. I decided to skip the 'mandatory' athlete's meeting that evening and went for dinner with Mum instead and then back to the hotel for an early night. Got a decent sleep which I needed after a busy few days. Next morning Tanya and I went for a quick swim in the lake. The lake which is really a river that runs through the center of Phoenix. Which, as you might guess, is really not a place you would ever want to fully submerge yourself in. Though I think I was prepared for something so awful that the reality ended up not being so bad! Dropped off the transition gear bags and that was all the logistics taken care of. Mum and I drove out of town that afternoon. No real plan in mind but we ended up on the road north toward Flagstaff. I knew it was too far to go all the way there but Mum had never been to the Southwest before so I wanted to show her a bit of 'countryside'. We drove for about an hour and next thing what do we see but a sign for an outlet shopping mall - so much for countryside! And obviously a few hours walking around shops is exactly what one should do the day before IM. Got back into town around 5pm and chilled out in a bookstore for an hour. Then grabbed a few snacks for dinner. I didn't feel like eating too much that night as I wanted to be ready for a decent breakfast at 4:30am which is oh about 5 hours before I normally eat breakfast...
The Day
No nerves. No real excitement. More like amusement that I was actually here, about to do this race that I felt so utterly untrained for. Sure, I had the endurance down. I'd run 100 miles 10 weeks prior. This had to be easier, right?? But 112 miles on the bike is a long ride no matter what way you look at it. And strong running legs do not translate into strong biking legs without adequate training. I was less worried about the swim simply because it was less time. Plus, I knew I'd be so busy getting to know a few of the 8800 limbs around me that I wouldn't have time to think about what I was actually doing. But, at 6am as we milled around in transition area, all of these thoughts had to be pushed to one side. There were things to do! Final check through gear bags, drop off our 'special needs' bags, get body-marked... and before I knew it I was pasting myself into my wetsuit. Really, that's what it felt like. With an extra 10lbs since my last triathlon in June (and none of it muscle), it was a rather snug fit! The air was still cool but we knew it would be a hot day ahead with temperatures expected to go above 80 at midday. The pros were in the water before us as they started at 6:50am. I jumped in just before they took off. The water felt pretty good.
The Swim
By the time I swam the 200 yards or so up to the start area under the bridge I had just enough time to find what seemed like an okay position - not too close to the front, kind of in the middle, with actual space around me... and BOOM. We're off. My heart rate never got as high as it sometimes does on the swim. I think this was helped by having a relatively fight-free time out there. I am not sure how but I managed to escape the crowds for most of the 2.4 mile loop. The course went straight for about 1 mile, left across the lake 0.2 mile, back and left again into the finish. I liked the course better than the 2 loops at Madison. My swim technique, such as it is, goes out the window when I get in the open water. But I seemed to keep finding people that I could swim along side for several hundred meters at a time. Either they or I would pull ahead but before long I'd find someone else. This helped me immensely. I was careful not to push the pace too soon, especially when my arms started to feel fatigued after only a few minutes! Though I knew this was just a matter of getting warmed up. I managed to stay close to the buoys almost all of the time and apart from one diagonal foray I'd say I kept on course pretty well. I was reluctant to look at my watch until half way. Took a quick peek just as I turned the first left. 33 minutes. Wow - I was expecting closer to 40. A few hundred meters, another left. And on the home stretch. Well, sort of. The bridge was still a long way off in the distance! But I kept finding people to swim with and slowly the buildings on the left side of the lake came more into view. Once I felt close enough to the bridge I looked at my watch again. 58 minutes. Not quite believing it, but knowing that the finish was a little way down from the start, and having to cross back to the south bank, I figured if I got to the bridge in ten minutes I'd make it home in another 10. To do the same time as last year was beyond what I could have hoped for starting out an hour earlier. Getting to the bridge seemed to take longer than ten minutes but I was in a groove and didn't look at my watch. And then the final turn came quicker than expected. And then I had other things to deal with. Guys - and really, it was just the guys that did this - one after another in this final stretch they would come barreling along beside me, and occasionally over me, and next thing they would STOP right in front of me and breaststroke for a bit to sight! It was maddening to say the least. But I was nearly done. And before I knew it I was done. There was the stairs out of the water to negotiate but a kind volunteer pretty much hauled me up! Quick peek at the watch. 1:15 something - my first thought - there's no way that was 2.4 miles! My next thought - screw 12 hours - I can do waaaaay better than that...
The Bike
10 miles later facing into a headwind I wasn't so sure! Not to mention that my butt was already beginning to hurt. Oddly enough, for someone who has enjoyed several long days (and nights) on the trails this year, one of my first thoughts setting out on the bike was "What am I going to think about for the next 6+ hours?!" One thing for sure - despite the dismal feeling as I hit the wind on the first loop, I knew it was too early to start complaining! And since it was a straight out and back (3 loops) I knew that as hard as it was going out, it would be that much nicer on the return journey. And so it was. After a long, but not very steep, climb to the turnaround, it was as easy 27mph for a bit and then settled into around 22mph pace for quite a few miles, finishing the first loop just over 18mph average speed. As I headed out for loop two I was delighted to hear my Mum calling my name. It was a real boost at that point where you know the hard slog is starting again, and there's still another loop after this one! Loop 2 was hard for me as my stomach started to play up. I'd made an effort not to eat anything out of the ordinary in the lead up to the race but maybe it was the heat starting to bother me. I wanted to stop for a bio break but knew there was no point in stopping until I really had to, if you know what I mean. So I pushed on until halfway and made a pit stop just after the turnaround. As it turned out it was a good mental break as well as the physical rejuvenation. It's amazing what a few words exchanged with other weary competitors in the line for a porta potty can do for the mind! Back on the bike and a speedy return to town. Though with the toilet break, and then a stop at my special needs bag at mile 62 to replace my water bottles, I averaged just under 18mph for the loop. Heading back out for number 3 was so much nicer! 19 miles to get through but then it would be turning for home for the last time... I picked up the pace and tried to keep it above 18mph for as long as I could on the way out. The final stretch of climbing was tough but knowing it was the last time was sweet - and the guy who was behind me at the turn singing "Turnaround bright eyes... every now and then I fall apart... turnaround, bright eyes..." It was hilarious. I asked him to bike behind me the whole way back and sing. Anything to break the monotony! Another thing that kept me going on parts of the bike was watching out for the girls. I spotted Pam and Susan every time. It was fun (ok, not quite fun, more like, WTF - how fast are they biking?) figuring out how far they were ahead of me each time. More and more each loop as it turned out :)
Once on the downhill I hammered hard, and tried to keep it up all the way back. I knew it wasn't helping my legs any but I wanted to off the bike and onto two feet. For a fleeting moment as I enjoyed those final few miles on the bike knowing I'd soon be done and figuring I'd make it in under 6:10 I wondered if maybe I would do another IM someday. That feeling didn't last too long once I got running and figured out just how badly biking can screw up your feet!
The Run
Of course it wasn't the biking so much as my biking. I don't have the best form and while I did okay with staying in aero position for much of the ride I have a tendency to point my feet down which leads to bad circulation and lots of numbness. Usually I get over this within a mile of running. The heaviness in my quads begins to ease, my stride starts to loose out, and my feet start to feel again. But while my legs started to feel pretty good, my feet never felt right for the whole run. At first it was the numbness which resulted in odd shooting pains along the outside sole of my left foot every fourth or fifth step. It was maddening. I knew it wasn't anything serious, no injury waiting to happen. It was just the remnants of the bike. But it was hard to shake off and damn painful to run through. Soon that gave way to my left Achilles that I've been dealing with a bit recently. The inside of my heel had been pretty tender all week and I could feel the strain. But I knew it would warm up and wasn't too worried about it. The recent tendon issue on my right foot didn't bother me until well into the run and never got too bad. But hey, enough about aches and pains. I was running, not swimming, not biking, just running. And I'd started the run with 7:30 on the clock. If I did a 4hr marathon I would beat my 12hr goal by 30 minutes!! But wait a minute, the 12hr goal was dismissed hours ago... oh yeah, I was aiming for 11:22 once again. At halfway I calculated I was at 1:52 so I needed to run 2hrs for the second half to make it. So around a 9 min pace. Surely I can do that? No sooner had I decided that than I needed a toilet break. And not a quick 30 second in and out one. Not good. I'd taken two gels so far but knew I wouldn't be having any more. So I settled for alternating gatorade and coke at the aid stations that were (thankfully) located at every mile. After a few more miles I started eating pretzels which has been my saviour at a few trail races this year. I wouldn't look at a pretzel from one end of the year to the next but for some reason during a race if I'm not feeling good it's the only solid food I can stomach. The mile pace was a bit erratic, some below nine but mostly over. And 16 or 17 with another bio break was a lot over. I continued on for a few miles trying to keep the pace as close to 9 as I could. Soon, it was getting dark and with the heat of the day dissipating and my stomach starting to feel okay again, and knowing the finish was within reach I managed to pick it up mile by mile. I missed the mile 20 mark on our final trip accross Tempe Bridge so by the time I got to mile 21 I knew I just had to try my best to keep this pace and it would all come together. It was just along here, in the section on the south side of the water where runners pass each other that I knew if I didn't see Pam it meant she had finished in an awesome time. That totally spurred me on. And also seeing how well Susan was running when I met her on the second loop. After such fast bikes both ladies were still going strong. Now with only a few miles to go, despite both feet complaining, I was feeling pretty good. Much as I'd like to, I can't honestly say I was having fun. Not like I had during the run at Madison. I felt good about being able to run strong. And yes, it felt good to pass quite a few in my age group (though it felt even better to pass the 27 year old guys who has zipped past me on the bike hours earlier). But I never felt fully relaxed on the run and I knew that much as I wanted to make my goal each step was adding recovery time to my feet. Still, that wasn't going to stop me now... speeding up a little more, the last 2 miles were pretty sweet. Apart from a searing pain on the sole of my right foot that gave me such a fright. It only lasted a few seconds so I thought it might have been a trapped nerve or something. Turns out when I finally looked at the sole of my foot today it was a huge blister right along the ball of my foot that must have popped! It wasn't exactly a scenic run course but it was quite enjoyable when it got dark and looking across the water at mile 24 seeing the finish area all lit up, knowing it was within reach... now, that felt good! Next it was the 40km mark, then I was back by the water on the south side. Huge crowds of people along here. The music getting louder as I passed close to the transition area. I didn't see the mile 25 mark but knew I had to have passed it.
The Finish
Less than a kilometer to go. Time to start smiling! The last several hundred meters were pretty cool. Full on sprint as I turned the corner with about a hundred yards to go. 11:20 something on the clock. No one in front of me in the finish chute and no one behind me. Every finish is special, but taking the tape held up just for you, and hearing Mike Reilly call your name is pretty neat. I don't know if he said the famous words "You are an Ironman." But it didn't matter. I knew I was. And it just felt so damn good to be done!
It was awesome seeing Karen at the finish line - I knew she was volunteering until 11:30 hours on the clock so I told her I'd made it in time to have her "catch me!" And next thing I saw my Mum and she was able come in and we got a photo together at the finish line. Very cool. And then it was time to eat. After 2 hours with hardly anything and my stomach feeling good again I needed something. And salty fries were just the job.
The Support
Let me just say, ALL the supporters were amazing. It is definitely a spectator-friendly course. The run course especially but even out on the bike course there were people along the way. A big thank you to Tim who I saw a few times, and Mike and Helen who cheered for me on the run but I was in the 'zone' at the time! It is always so great to have friendly faces out there cheering for you amongst the great supporters. But there's nothing quite like having your mammy there! I got to see Mum at T2 and chatted to her for a few seconds. Then a few more times along the run course which was brilliant. It was great to be able share the whole weekend with her, having her see some of what makes up my life.
The Stories
I've written about my race but the real story of day was not mine at all. For myself, Tanya and Kami it was our second IM, for Susan her fifth (I think), and for Pam her first. And who do you think had an outstanding day? With a great swim, an incredible 5:28 on the bike (20.45 mph) and an awesome 3:47 run (with the final 6 miles at 7:48 min pace), Pam finished in 10:37!! Good for 6th in our age group. Amazing. Truly amazing given that she suffered a pulled calf muscle at Voyageur 50M in late July which meant she couldn't run for all of August and couldn't bike for a few weeks. And on top of that she's had a crazy work schedule for most of the year. She really worked hard to be ready for her first one and no question she's capable of improving on that time having gone through the experience once. As I saw her each loop on the bike course she looked so strong. Totally focused. And several times on the run as we met going in both directions each loop, the gap would be a little wider each time so I knew she was continuing to have an awesome day. I had to laugh as I saw her one time and remembered how just last weekend when we were out running in Afton with John, I'd said how I thought she should do more Olympic distance triathlons next year as I thought that distance would suit her given her power in all three disciplines. She is a great 10K runner and would be able to bike that distance above 24mph. But clearly, Pam doesn't have any problems spreading out her power over several hours!! She also possess that quality of being able to reach another level on race day. When she sets her sights on something and knows she's prepared well for it, no one is going to stop her.
Another stellar performance was Susan's who totally crushed her goal of going sub-12 with an awesome 11:08! Susan is a swimmer and also loves to bike, running not so much - but she looked so strong when I saw her on the run that I knew she was doing well - 4:14 for the marathon, after a 5:38 bike. Tanya and Kami both had issues on the bike - Tanya's were physical with bad stomach issues for most of the ride and again on the run. Kami on the other hand had to deal with a tangled chain and a dog jumping out in front of her. Not good. But both did really well. I hadn't expected to see Tanya again after she passed me at the end of the first bike loop as she was flying it. But having felt pretty crappy on the swim she started to feel nauseous again on the second bike loop, I caught her just after the final turnaround and we talked for a minute. I was intent on getting off the bike as soon as possible so was hammering it home. And fair play to Tanya, despite how she was feeling she made a point of keeping me in sight and made it into the transition tent just after me! She had to make a few more stops on the run but still managed to run solidly and finished strong. Casey and Anthony both had strong races. Despite Anthony flatting on the bike he still pulled off a 10:21! And Casey came home in a super time at 11 hours even.
The Wrap
And so a year after signing up, the race has come and gone. Ironman is a great event. And for anyone who enjoys triathlons and wants to try the endurance distance I would absolutely recommend entering one of the NAS events. No question, it's an expensive gig. But the organization is first class and the wonderful volunteers and spectators make it so special. But perhaps what gives it most meaning to me, is that despite the obvious competitiveness that surrounds the whole weekend, and triathlons in general, I witnessed and heard about so many moments of encouragement and kindness amongst the athletes throughout the day. So many people I passed on the run were clearly suffering badly but took the time to say 'good pace' or 'nice run'. I am not sure I would have the energy, much less the generosity of spirit. And there was the guy on the swim who, as the risk of getting run over himself, took the time to check that Kami was okay when a girl had whacked her on the side of the head. As with any type of endurance event, there were stories and moments of pure inspiration that rightly humble us. Take the oldest competitor in the field. A 76 year old competing in his 4th IM of the year!
The Why
The moment in this race I will never forget is coming up to a lady around mile 2 on the run and seeing a six-zero marked on the back of her left leg. On a day when I was pleasantly surprised by my swim and bike time, it was pretty awesome to realize that this 60-year old lady had gone faster than me. And she wasn't hanging about on the run either. With a 4:40 marathon she finished in 12:08. It is a testament to what can be achieved if you choose to reach, and work, for it.
The Stats
1:15:58 Swim
0:06:46 T1
6:02:51 Bike
0:04:41 T2
3:50:35 Run
11:20:51
The Commitment
After Madison last September (07) I knew for sure I wanted to do another Ironman. Given that all of the 'official' IM events in the US and Canada (i.e. those run by North American Sports) fill up immediately after the current year's race - sometimes you even need to be onsite to get registered - we kicked around the idea of going to Brazil in May. Fun holiday and we knew a few locals who'd been down there for the race and had good things to say about it. The only problem was May would be very early to get enough outdoor bike training in. Florida in early November was another option but none of us were very excited about the extremely flat course and sea swim. So we let that one pass. Then as luck would have it ironman.com announced a new race for 2009! IM Arizona has always been held in April but in 2009 there would be another race in November and then going forward it would be held in November every year. We just heard about it the day before registration opened and I was actually back in Ireland at the time. Through a flurry of emails and text messages one by one we all decided it was a good idea and duly went online that Monday morning... $550 later and Pam, Tanya, Susan, Kami (with a little gentle persuasion that she has not let me forget!) and myself were headed for Tempe, AZ.
The Training
Or lack thereof. I did pretty well early in the year. In fact I started swimming as soon as I got back from my NZ trip in mid-January and went 2-3 times a week for several months. Similarly with biking, I was going to Johnny J's 2hr spin classes 1-2 times a week for a couple months until it was decent enough weather to be outside. Given that the bike had been my worst part of Madison I knew I wanted to concentrate more on that this year. So without needing any further justification off I went to Grand Performance in St. Paul and purchased a very lovely Orbea Ora tri bike. All set. I'd put hundreds of miles on this baby over the summer. Oh and I would run lots too. That was a given considering my trail race schedule! Everything was going well up until and including the Liberty Half IM in mid-June. Thereafter, the swimming and biking got less and less as I focused more on running. And races. Lots of races. And so by October things weren't looking so good. Earlier in the summer I set a goal for myself of 11:22 (S:1:20, T1: 0:10, B: 6:00, T2: 0:10, R: 3:42). I was being a little generous with the transition times but I knew the run time was a bit ambitious for an IM. I think I was planning to feel soooo much better on the bike that my legs would not be as fatigued as last year so I could improve on my 3:48 at Madison. Well, I can safety say that plan went out the window as the race grew nearer, knowing I hadn't put in enough swim or bike time. Especially the biking. One century ride on the Madison course back in August and maybe four 70-90 miles rides over the course of a few months. Not exactly textbook stuff. I knew the course in Arizona should be a little easier than Madison but it could also be windy so I decided a more realistic goal would be sub-6:30. As for swimming... after a break of about 3 months I did get back into it in Oct/Nov and some days felt ok and some days not so much. I'd swam 1:20 last year which had surprised me no end. I thought 1:30 was a safe assumption this time around. Which all meant I needed to go under 3:50 on the run if I wanted to improve on last year's time of 11:59:43!
The Build
Mum and I arrived in Phoenix Friday around noon. Picked up the rental car and headed straight to registration. Got that all sorted pretty quickly, met up with the girls, and after a brief negotiation with TriBikeTransport (who I'll complain about on a later post once my bike is safely returned), we made our way over to the hotel which was only a short distance from the start/finish area. Most of the us were at the same hotel so it worked out pretty good. I decided to skip the 'mandatory' athlete's meeting that evening and went for dinner with Mum instead and then back to the hotel for an early night. Got a decent sleep which I needed after a busy few days. Next morning Tanya and I went for a quick swim in the lake. The lake which is really a river that runs through the center of Phoenix. Which, as you might guess, is really not a place you would ever want to fully submerge yourself in. Though I think I was prepared for something so awful that the reality ended up not being so bad! Dropped off the transition gear bags and that was all the logistics taken care of. Mum and I drove out of town that afternoon. No real plan in mind but we ended up on the road north toward Flagstaff. I knew it was too far to go all the way there but Mum had never been to the Southwest before so I wanted to show her a bit of 'countryside'. We drove for about an hour and next thing what do we see but a sign for an outlet shopping mall - so much for countryside! And obviously a few hours walking around shops is exactly what one should do the day before IM. Got back into town around 5pm and chilled out in a bookstore for an hour. Then grabbed a few snacks for dinner. I didn't feel like eating too much that night as I wanted to be ready for a decent breakfast at 4:30am which is oh about 5 hours before I normally eat breakfast...
The Day
No nerves. No real excitement. More like amusement that I was actually here, about to do this race that I felt so utterly untrained for. Sure, I had the endurance down. I'd run 100 miles 10 weeks prior. This had to be easier, right?? But 112 miles on the bike is a long ride no matter what way you look at it. And strong running legs do not translate into strong biking legs without adequate training. I was less worried about the swim simply because it was less time. Plus, I knew I'd be so busy getting to know a few of the 8800 limbs around me that I wouldn't have time to think about what I was actually doing. But, at 6am as we milled around in transition area, all of these thoughts had to be pushed to one side. There were things to do! Final check through gear bags, drop off our 'special needs' bags, get body-marked... and before I knew it I was pasting myself into my wetsuit. Really, that's what it felt like. With an extra 10lbs since my last triathlon in June (and none of it muscle), it was a rather snug fit! The air was still cool but we knew it would be a hot day ahead with temperatures expected to go above 80 at midday. The pros were in the water before us as they started at 6:50am. I jumped in just before they took off. The water felt pretty good.
The Swim
By the time I swam the 200 yards or so up to the start area under the bridge I had just enough time to find what seemed like an okay position - not too close to the front, kind of in the middle, with actual space around me... and BOOM. We're off. My heart rate never got as high as it sometimes does on the swim. I think this was helped by having a relatively fight-free time out there. I am not sure how but I managed to escape the crowds for most of the 2.4 mile loop. The course went straight for about 1 mile, left across the lake 0.2 mile, back and left again into the finish. I liked the course better than the 2 loops at Madison. My swim technique, such as it is, goes out the window when I get in the open water. But I seemed to keep finding people that I could swim along side for several hundred meters at a time. Either they or I would pull ahead but before long I'd find someone else. This helped me immensely. I was careful not to push the pace too soon, especially when my arms started to feel fatigued after only a few minutes! Though I knew this was just a matter of getting warmed up. I managed to stay close to the buoys almost all of the time and apart from one diagonal foray I'd say I kept on course pretty well. I was reluctant to look at my watch until half way. Took a quick peek just as I turned the first left. 33 minutes. Wow - I was expecting closer to 40. A few hundred meters, another left. And on the home stretch. Well, sort of. The bridge was still a long way off in the distance! But I kept finding people to swim with and slowly the buildings on the left side of the lake came more into view. Once I felt close enough to the bridge I looked at my watch again. 58 minutes. Not quite believing it, but knowing that the finish was a little way down from the start, and having to cross back to the south bank, I figured if I got to the bridge in ten minutes I'd make it home in another 10. To do the same time as last year was beyond what I could have hoped for starting out an hour earlier. Getting to the bridge seemed to take longer than ten minutes but I was in a groove and didn't look at my watch. And then the final turn came quicker than expected. And then I had other things to deal with. Guys - and really, it was just the guys that did this - one after another in this final stretch they would come barreling along beside me, and occasionally over me, and next thing they would STOP right in front of me and breaststroke for a bit to sight! It was maddening to say the least. But I was nearly done. And before I knew it I was done. There was the stairs out of the water to negotiate but a kind volunteer pretty much hauled me up! Quick peek at the watch. 1:15 something - my first thought - there's no way that was 2.4 miles! My next thought - screw 12 hours - I can do waaaaay better than that...
The Bike
10 miles later facing into a headwind I wasn't so sure! Not to mention that my butt was already beginning to hurt. Oddly enough, for someone who has enjoyed several long days (and nights) on the trails this year, one of my first thoughts setting out on the bike was "What am I going to think about for the next 6+ hours?!" One thing for sure - despite the dismal feeling as I hit the wind on the first loop, I knew it was too early to start complaining! And since it was a straight out and back (3 loops) I knew that as hard as it was going out, it would be that much nicer on the return journey. And so it was. After a long, but not very steep, climb to the turnaround, it was as easy 27mph for a bit and then settled into around 22mph pace for quite a few miles, finishing the first loop just over 18mph average speed. As I headed out for loop two I was delighted to hear my Mum calling my name. It was a real boost at that point where you know the hard slog is starting again, and there's still another loop after this one! Loop 2 was hard for me as my stomach started to play up. I'd made an effort not to eat anything out of the ordinary in the lead up to the race but maybe it was the heat starting to bother me. I wanted to stop for a bio break but knew there was no point in stopping until I really had to, if you know what I mean. So I pushed on until halfway and made a pit stop just after the turnaround. As it turned out it was a good mental break as well as the physical rejuvenation. It's amazing what a few words exchanged with other weary competitors in the line for a porta potty can do for the mind! Back on the bike and a speedy return to town. Though with the toilet break, and then a stop at my special needs bag at mile 62 to replace my water bottles, I averaged just under 18mph for the loop. Heading back out for number 3 was so much nicer! 19 miles to get through but then it would be turning for home for the last time... I picked up the pace and tried to keep it above 18mph for as long as I could on the way out. The final stretch of climbing was tough but knowing it was the last time was sweet - and the guy who was behind me at the turn singing "Turnaround bright eyes... every now and then I fall apart... turnaround, bright eyes..." It was hilarious. I asked him to bike behind me the whole way back and sing. Anything to break the monotony! Another thing that kept me going on parts of the bike was watching out for the girls. I spotted Pam and Susan every time. It was fun (ok, not quite fun, more like, WTF - how fast are they biking?) figuring out how far they were ahead of me each time. More and more each loop as it turned out :)
Once on the downhill I hammered hard, and tried to keep it up all the way back. I knew it wasn't helping my legs any but I wanted to off the bike and onto two feet. For a fleeting moment as I enjoyed those final few miles on the bike knowing I'd soon be done and figuring I'd make it in under 6:10 I wondered if maybe I would do another IM someday. That feeling didn't last too long once I got running and figured out just how badly biking can screw up your feet!
The Run
Of course it wasn't the biking so much as my biking. I don't have the best form and while I did okay with staying in aero position for much of the ride I have a tendency to point my feet down which leads to bad circulation and lots of numbness. Usually I get over this within a mile of running. The heaviness in my quads begins to ease, my stride starts to loose out, and my feet start to feel again. But while my legs started to feel pretty good, my feet never felt right for the whole run. At first it was the numbness which resulted in odd shooting pains along the outside sole of my left foot every fourth or fifth step. It was maddening. I knew it wasn't anything serious, no injury waiting to happen. It was just the remnants of the bike. But it was hard to shake off and damn painful to run through. Soon that gave way to my left Achilles that I've been dealing with a bit recently. The inside of my heel had been pretty tender all week and I could feel the strain. But I knew it would warm up and wasn't too worried about it. The recent tendon issue on my right foot didn't bother me until well into the run and never got too bad. But hey, enough about aches and pains. I was running, not swimming, not biking, just running. And I'd started the run with 7:30 on the clock. If I did a 4hr marathon I would beat my 12hr goal by 30 minutes!! But wait a minute, the 12hr goal was dismissed hours ago... oh yeah, I was aiming for 11:22 once again. At halfway I calculated I was at 1:52 so I needed to run 2hrs for the second half to make it. So around a 9 min pace. Surely I can do that? No sooner had I decided that than I needed a toilet break. And not a quick 30 second in and out one. Not good. I'd taken two gels so far but knew I wouldn't be having any more. So I settled for alternating gatorade and coke at the aid stations that were (thankfully) located at every mile. After a few more miles I started eating pretzels which has been my saviour at a few trail races this year. I wouldn't look at a pretzel from one end of the year to the next but for some reason during a race if I'm not feeling good it's the only solid food I can stomach. The mile pace was a bit erratic, some below nine but mostly over. And 16 or 17 with another bio break was a lot over. I continued on for a few miles trying to keep the pace as close to 9 as I could. Soon, it was getting dark and with the heat of the day dissipating and my stomach starting to feel okay again, and knowing the finish was within reach I managed to pick it up mile by mile. I missed the mile 20 mark on our final trip accross Tempe Bridge so by the time I got to mile 21 I knew I just had to try my best to keep this pace and it would all come together. It was just along here, in the section on the south side of the water where runners pass each other that I knew if I didn't see Pam it meant she had finished in an awesome time. That totally spurred me on. And also seeing how well Susan was running when I met her on the second loop. After such fast bikes both ladies were still going strong. Now with only a few miles to go, despite both feet complaining, I was feeling pretty good. Much as I'd like to, I can't honestly say I was having fun. Not like I had during the run at Madison. I felt good about being able to run strong. And yes, it felt good to pass quite a few in my age group (though it felt even better to pass the 27 year old guys who has zipped past me on the bike hours earlier). But I never felt fully relaxed on the run and I knew that much as I wanted to make my goal each step was adding recovery time to my feet. Still, that wasn't going to stop me now... speeding up a little more, the last 2 miles were pretty sweet. Apart from a searing pain on the sole of my right foot that gave me such a fright. It only lasted a few seconds so I thought it might have been a trapped nerve or something. Turns out when I finally looked at the sole of my foot today it was a huge blister right along the ball of my foot that must have popped! It wasn't exactly a scenic run course but it was quite enjoyable when it got dark and looking across the water at mile 24 seeing the finish area all lit up, knowing it was within reach... now, that felt good! Next it was the 40km mark, then I was back by the water on the south side. Huge crowds of people along here. The music getting louder as I passed close to the transition area. I didn't see the mile 25 mark but knew I had to have passed it.
The Finish
Less than a kilometer to go. Time to start smiling! The last several hundred meters were pretty cool. Full on sprint as I turned the corner with about a hundred yards to go. 11:20 something on the clock. No one in front of me in the finish chute and no one behind me. Every finish is special, but taking the tape held up just for you, and hearing Mike Reilly call your name is pretty neat. I don't know if he said the famous words "You are an Ironman." But it didn't matter. I knew I was. And it just felt so damn good to be done!
It was awesome seeing Karen at the finish line - I knew she was volunteering until 11:30 hours on the clock so I told her I'd made it in time to have her "catch me!" And next thing I saw my Mum and she was able come in and we got a photo together at the finish line. Very cool. And then it was time to eat. After 2 hours with hardly anything and my stomach feeling good again I needed something. And salty fries were just the job.
The Support
Let me just say, ALL the supporters were amazing. It is definitely a spectator-friendly course. The run course especially but even out on the bike course there were people along the way. A big thank you to Tim who I saw a few times, and Mike and Helen who cheered for me on the run but I was in the 'zone' at the time! It is always so great to have friendly faces out there cheering for you amongst the great supporters. But there's nothing quite like having your mammy there! I got to see Mum at T2 and chatted to her for a few seconds. Then a few more times along the run course which was brilliant. It was great to be able share the whole weekend with her, having her see some of what makes up my life.
The Stories
I've written about my race but the real story of day was not mine at all. For myself, Tanya and Kami it was our second IM, for Susan her fifth (I think), and for Pam her first. And who do you think had an outstanding day? With a great swim, an incredible 5:28 on the bike (20.45 mph) and an awesome 3:47 run (with the final 6 miles at 7:48 min pace), Pam finished in 10:37!! Good for 6th in our age group. Amazing. Truly amazing given that she suffered a pulled calf muscle at Voyageur 50M in late July which meant she couldn't run for all of August and couldn't bike for a few weeks. And on top of that she's had a crazy work schedule for most of the year. She really worked hard to be ready for her first one and no question she's capable of improving on that time having gone through the experience once. As I saw her each loop on the bike course she looked so strong. Totally focused. And several times on the run as we met going in both directions each loop, the gap would be a little wider each time so I knew she was continuing to have an awesome day. I had to laugh as I saw her one time and remembered how just last weekend when we were out running in Afton with John, I'd said how I thought she should do more Olympic distance triathlons next year as I thought that distance would suit her given her power in all three disciplines. She is a great 10K runner and would be able to bike that distance above 24mph. But clearly, Pam doesn't have any problems spreading out her power over several hours!! She also possess that quality of being able to reach another level on race day. When she sets her sights on something and knows she's prepared well for it, no one is going to stop her.
Another stellar performance was Susan's who totally crushed her goal of going sub-12 with an awesome 11:08! Susan is a swimmer and also loves to bike, running not so much - but she looked so strong when I saw her on the run that I knew she was doing well - 4:14 for the marathon, after a 5:38 bike. Tanya and Kami both had issues on the bike - Tanya's were physical with bad stomach issues for most of the ride and again on the run. Kami on the other hand had to deal with a tangled chain and a dog jumping out in front of her. Not good. But both did really well. I hadn't expected to see Tanya again after she passed me at the end of the first bike loop as she was flying it. But having felt pretty crappy on the swim she started to feel nauseous again on the second bike loop, I caught her just after the final turnaround and we talked for a minute. I was intent on getting off the bike as soon as possible so was hammering it home. And fair play to Tanya, despite how she was feeling she made a point of keeping me in sight and made it into the transition tent just after me! She had to make a few more stops on the run but still managed to run solidly and finished strong. Casey and Anthony both had strong races. Despite Anthony flatting on the bike he still pulled off a 10:21! And Casey came home in a super time at 11 hours even.
The Wrap
And so a year after signing up, the race has come and gone. Ironman is a great event. And for anyone who enjoys triathlons and wants to try the endurance distance I would absolutely recommend entering one of the NAS events. No question, it's an expensive gig. But the organization is first class and the wonderful volunteers and spectators make it so special. But perhaps what gives it most meaning to me, is that despite the obvious competitiveness that surrounds the whole weekend, and triathlons in general, I witnessed and heard about so many moments of encouragement and kindness amongst the athletes throughout the day. So many people I passed on the run were clearly suffering badly but took the time to say 'good pace' or 'nice run'. I am not sure I would have the energy, much less the generosity of spirit. And there was the guy on the swim who, as the risk of getting run over himself, took the time to check that Kami was okay when a girl had whacked her on the side of the head. As with any type of endurance event, there were stories and moments of pure inspiration that rightly humble us. Take the oldest competitor in the field. A 76 year old competing in his 4th IM of the year!
The Why
The moment in this race I will never forget is coming up to a lady around mile 2 on the run and seeing a six-zero marked on the back of her left leg. On a day when I was pleasantly surprised by my swim and bike time, it was pretty awesome to realize that this 60-year old lady had gone faster than me. And she wasn't hanging about on the run either. With a 4:40 marathon she finished in 12:08. It is a testament to what can be achieved if you choose to reach, and work, for it.
The Stats
1:15:58 Swim
0:06:46 T1
6:02:51 Bike
0:04:41 T2
3:50:35 Run
11:20:51
And, the photos...
Finito!
At some point on the last loop of the bike, as I was flying along at 22mph with the wind behind me and less than 10 miles to go I thought to myself - this ain't so bad... maybe I will do another ironman someday. By mile 13 of the run that idea had completely evaporated!
I'm done!
But I finished on a high. I guess I am pretty good with predictions after all. Back in early summer I set a goal of 11:22. That was recently revised to sub-12 given my lack of swim and bike training. And no matter how well I thought I could run I knew it wouldn't be enough to make up for it. Well, what do you know... I end up having a faster swim and bike than expected, and a slower run than I'd hoped... and finished in 11:20:51!
BUT, the story of the day is Pam's. Her first IM, and having recovered from a pulled calf muscle in July at Voyageur which left her unable to run or bike for weeks... she finished in 10:37!!! Phenomenal. She got 6th in our age group and was so close to the top times but only 3 qualify for Hawaii and everyone took their spot so no roll downs. But no question she'll get there if she decides to try to go for it someday.
All the girls did really well and we had a fun time hanging out over the past few days. Helped by the glorious sunshine and 80 degree temps! And it was awesome having my Mum there to share the experience. She saw me a few times on the bike and run and I chatted to her for a minute at T2. And we got a finish line photo which was cool.
Back to the Minnesota winter this evening. And the detailed report to come later...
I'm done!
But I finished on a high. I guess I am pretty good with predictions after all. Back in early summer I set a goal of 11:22. That was recently revised to sub-12 given my lack of swim and bike training. And no matter how well I thought I could run I knew it wouldn't be enough to make up for it. Well, what do you know... I end up having a faster swim and bike than expected, and a slower run than I'd hoped... and finished in 11:20:51!
BUT, the story of the day is Pam's. Her first IM, and having recovered from a pulled calf muscle in July at Voyageur which left her unable to run or bike for weeks... she finished in 10:37!!! Phenomenal. She got 6th in our age group and was so close to the top times but only 3 qualify for Hawaii and everyone took their spot so no roll downs. But no question she'll get there if she decides to try to go for it someday.
All the girls did really well and we had a fun time hanging out over the past few days. Helped by the glorious sunshine and 80 degree temps! And it was awesome having my Mum there to share the experience. She saw me a few times on the bike and run and I chatted to her for a minute at T2. And we got a finish line photo which was cool.
Back to the Minnesota winter this evening. And the detailed report to come later...
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Drop bag mania...
Swim-to-Bike bag (T1), Special Needs Bike bag (mile 62 of bike), Bike-to-Run bag (T2), Special Needs Run bag (mile 13 of run), Dry Clothes bag (start & finish line)... food for bento box on bike... this is worse than Sawtooth!! But I think I have it all sorted. At last. I am sure I'll have put something in the wrong bag but I'll do another run through in the morning.
It's been a fun few days so far. Seems a lot longer than yesterday morning since we landed in Phoenix. Met up with the girls after registraion - they'd been for a swim earlier and it sounded pretty rough. But thankfully it was a lot nicer this morning. Well, I did emerge after 15 minutes with a layer of slime on my face but apart from that it was just fine! Water on the cool side which is nice and refreshing. Then we biked around for a few minutes to check through the gears. No issues. Very little wind today and tomorrow should be same which is great. Downside is that it will be hot. 82 degrees predicted. Oh well, can't have it every way.
I have to say, I am kind of excited about it now. About time eh?! The bike is what scares me the most. I am pretty certain I'll want off it by around mile 50. I'll have a sore ass, both from the saddle and my glute issues... but mostly 'cos I am so not trained for another 62 miles!!
Anyway, too late now. Time to get some shuteye... though it's not even 9pm and therefore hours before my normal bedtime! But I got a good 7 hours last night so I'm doing well. We're leaving the hotel at 5am, via S'bucks... get bodymarked, water bottles on the bike, check through the drop bags one last time... and into the wetsuits...
(Tracking info below)
It's been a fun few days so far. Seems a lot longer than yesterday morning since we landed in Phoenix. Met up with the girls after registraion - they'd been for a swim earlier and it sounded pretty rough. But thankfully it was a lot nicer this morning. Well, I did emerge after 15 minutes with a layer of slime on my face but apart from that it was just fine! Water on the cool side which is nice and refreshing. Then we biked around for a few minutes to check through the gears. No issues. Very little wind today and tomorrow should be same which is great. Downside is that it will be hot. 82 degrees predicted. Oh well, can't have it every way.
I have to say, I am kind of excited about it now. About time eh?! The bike is what scares me the most. I am pretty certain I'll want off it by around mile 50. I'll have a sore ass, both from the saddle and my glute issues... but mostly 'cos I am so not trained for another 62 miles!!
Anyway, too late now. Time to get some shuteye... though it's not even 9pm and therefore hours before my normal bedtime! But I got a good 7 hours last night so I'm doing well. We're leaving the hotel at 5am, via S'bucks... get bodymarked, water bottles on the bike, check through the drop bags one last time... and into the wetsuits...
(Tracking info below)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Ironman Arizona
In short, this will be my second and final IM!
There are a bunch of locals heading down to AZ for the fun. 34 in total according to the website. I don't know most of them but I've been training with a few of my buddies all year long and am looking forward to spending the weekend together. And with my mammy who arrived tonight!
I should clarify, when I said I've been 'training with' these gals all year... I've been training for trail races while most of them have actually been training for IM :)
Except Kami, who like me is a little more inclined toward the trails. OK, a lot more inclined. Pam too except she has been more dedicated on the biking front. She has done incredibly well recovering from a pulled calf muscle at Voyaguer 50M.
Susan and Tanya on the other hand are dedicated triathletes having already signed up for Madison '09! Casey & Anthony I don't know so well but they have been training hard and if I'm not mistaken Anthony has already been to Kona. He will likely get there again and from what I know of Casey she has a great chance of qualifying. That would be neat for them both to get spots. But if not they still get to do a very cool race next year - off to Oz for a few months work in the New Year so they are signed up for IM New Zealand in March. I am SO jealous. Not so much of them doing an actual IM but if I ever had to do another one that would be my first choice. While traveling there earlier this year I got to swim in Lake Taupo where the race is held - and sky-dived over it - both very enjoyable experiences!!
Anyways, this weekend... if you are interested to see how we're holding up on the day you can 'track an athlete' at the following link:
http://ironman.com/events/ironman/arizona/?show=tracker&rid=175&year=2008
Helen Lavin 2153 (hoping for sub-12)
Pam Nielsen 2172 (first IM - will do super!)
Susan Hilal 2175 (hoping for sub-12)
Kami Holtz 2263 (like me is happily retiring from IM after this one!)
Tanya Kroll 2149 (will have an awesome bike!)
Casey Hirschman 2133 (good chance of Hawaii Qualifying spot)
Anthony Hirschman 253 (likely to get Hawaii Qualifying spot)
Here's how I hope to make it under 12...
Swim 1:30
T1 0:08
Bike 6:30
T2 0:07
Run 3:44:59.99999999999
There are a bunch of locals heading down to AZ for the fun. 34 in total according to the website. I don't know most of them but I've been training with a few of my buddies all year long and am looking forward to spending the weekend together. And with my mammy who arrived tonight!
I should clarify, when I said I've been 'training with' these gals all year... I've been training for trail races while most of them have actually been training for IM :)
Except Kami, who like me is a little more inclined toward the trails. OK, a lot more inclined. Pam too except she has been more dedicated on the biking front. She has done incredibly well recovering from a pulled calf muscle at Voyaguer 50M.
Susan and Tanya on the other hand are dedicated triathletes having already signed up for Madison '09! Casey & Anthony I don't know so well but they have been training hard and if I'm not mistaken Anthony has already been to Kona. He will likely get there again and from what I know of Casey she has a great chance of qualifying. That would be neat for them both to get spots. But if not they still get to do a very cool race next year - off to Oz for a few months work in the New Year so they are signed up for IM New Zealand in March. I am SO jealous. Not so much of them doing an actual IM but if I ever had to do another one that would be my first choice. While traveling there earlier this year I got to swim in Lake Taupo where the race is held - and sky-dived over it - both very enjoyable experiences!!
Anyways, this weekend... if you are interested to see how we're holding up on the day you can 'track an athlete' at the following link:
http://ironman.com/events/ironman/arizona/?show=tracker&rid=175&year=2008
Helen Lavin 2153 (hoping for sub-12)
Pam Nielsen 2172 (first IM - will do super!)
Susan Hilal 2175 (hoping for sub-12)
Kami Holtz 2263 (like me is happily retiring from IM after this one!)
Tanya Kroll 2149 (will have an awesome bike!)
Casey Hirschman 2133 (good chance of Hawaii Qualifying spot)
Anthony Hirschman 253 (likely to get Hawaii Qualifying spot)
Here's how I hope to make it under 12...
Swim 1:30
T1 0:08
Bike 6:30
T2 0:07
Run 3:44:59.99999999999
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)