Training in Lake Placid

July 21st - July 26th

7-21-10 - Day off - Travel day - Feeling very lucky to - my longest fatigue today hit today - right on schedule. Thankful for the opportunity to rest and sit for the duration of the day. (PHOTO LEFT: All of our bikes getting ready for their journey to Lake Placid)

7-22-10 - Run/Swim 1.2 - After arriving in Lake Placid, we decided to go for a shrot run and swim one loop of Ironman Swim course. First, seeing the Ironman setup is amazing - Lake Placid is amazing. Seeing other athletes training for Sunday is scary - It's almost like you don't feel elite anymore - you are no longer the stand-alone in a community, but one of 3,000 other athletes who do what you do, every day. It is scary and amazing at the same time. (PHOTO UP: Me, having just arrived at the North Pole Inn (or something) in Lake Placid).

Swam the 1.2 in 30 minutes - that was my estimate, the job through the village and around mirror lake was really fun - looking forward to tomorrow.

7-23-10-Ride 56 miles/Run 12 miles/Ride 18 miles - First real day of training in placid. the ride was super hilly with hills that create 6 mile decents and on our bikes we cruised to over 45 mph. The run here was difficult. I wasn't feeling it and the 18 mile extra ride felt good too. On teh 565 mile ride, there was a 10 mile stretch that was one angle - continually up - one, constant, 10-mile incline and I felt amazing. LOVE THE INCLINE!!!! Thank you Lake Placid for such a marvelous strech of road. (PHOTO LEFT: part of the Lake Placid race course).

7-24-10 - Ride 45 miles - Went out for day #2 of real hills. my gears changed - that's the only way I knew I was a little tired from day #1. We stopped periodically to take amazing photos of this piteresque place. My legs feel strong and I honestly feel as though I am defeating hills - for the first time. Its an amazing feeling! So far, so good - glad to be training somewhere else so close to race day!

7-25-10 - Ride - mileage unknown) - RACE DAY! Lake Placid race day. Got up early - we were dropped off near the start, rode into town to watch the Ironman start - very cool - After watching everyone come through the transition, we headed back to the hotel on hte bike - BRRRR - pretty cool biking down hill on the same course as the pros - coming upon the leaders as they pushed their way up hill. (PHOTO RIGHT: Swim start in mirror lake).

After biking, we ate the biggest breakfast ever - SO HAPPY! Then, off for another ride where we pretty much headed to the top of yet another mountain - unknowingly. I am, needless to say, very confident in hills by now. (PHOTO LEFT: my breakfast - YUMMY).

Next up: 8 miles straight to the top of the whiteface mountain (Please see seperate blog for Whiteface Mountain).

LAKE PLACID TRIP RECAP: Coming out to Lake Placid, I had no expectations - I just knew I would be training and that there would be LOTS OF HILLS to train on. Of course the trip turned out better than I imagined.

First, after riding the Louisville course - even after completing 85 miles of the hills on course, I came home feeling doubtful of my ability to complete the course and then run - no reason why - I just felt scared. Note: I am not confidient of my "hill ability" and feel ready for the Louisville Bike course.

That being said, arriving in placid, we immediatly went out to ride and in placid, you start out climbing . . . and climbing. . .and what goes up, must go down. The placid course almost rewards the rider for climbing with amazing decents where we hit amazing speeds and along the way, you are enthralled by the mezmorizing scenery and the excitment of being around so many others who are just like you.
It was amazing upon arrival and course, this was Ironman weekend. My eyes were flooded with thousands of people just like me. Its a comforting feeling knowing there are so many others who have dedicated themselves to something so seemingly obscure. It was amazing to go out on a long ride and midway through to come across a natual swimming hole, take off your shoes, park your bike and coll your body temperature down and relax for a second. what a priveledge to train in such a beautifully challenging place. (PHOTO RIGHT: me, relaxing in the natural waterslide).
Overall, Placid gave me the confidence in hills that I needed (If I walk away with any one specific thing). Around every corner was some new piece of spectacular scenery. I didnt' even care how far i had to bike because I knew there would something else amazing to see if i just kept riding. I experienced the rush of fierce speeds coming off big decents, and the thrill of climbing 8 miles up to the top of whiteface mountain. Lake Placid Training - a great success.

The Journey Continues

July 18th - July 20th

7-18-10 - Bike 4:45 Alone - Today I went out for a long ride alone. I have been advised to do this because I will be alone on the Ironman course so long and I should get use to it. the beginning of the ride started out bumpy. I got to my parking place and ralized I had taken my aero bar pads off to clean them and had not put them back on yet.

After finally getting on the road, I have to admit, the first 2.5 hours was easy. Wiht the Lake Placid hills coming up, I wanted hot, but flat and save myself from injury before heading out to New York to train. This ride was all about getting used to the humidity and going at it alone.

I didn't have any glitches or issues until around 2:45 when I turned straight into the wind and starting consuming my last bottle of water. I started out with four and now I started to wonder if I wuld make it to my planned water destination in time. I was passing by a number of houses, so worst case scenerio, I would go cold-calling and begin begging for water.

About 3 hours in, I noticed storm clouds - about 3:15 in, I started getting rained upon. However unlucky I felt that day starting out, as soon as I truned onto the next road on my map, I saw a state park wildlife refuge ahead - there I found shelter, a clean bathroom and water! WHOO HOO!
It is amazing how what it all really comes down to is so simple. I waited out the storm, took some pictures, guzzled 16 oz of water and ate some combos. Life was looking really good. Finally the storm passed and I headed out hoping to find home. I had to ride dwon a 4 lane highway for 1/10 of a mile (that was terrifying), but I finally made it back - 9 fig newtons, 2 dozen pizza combos and 6, 16 oz bottle of G2 and water later.

7-19-10 - Run 1:30 - I went out for a 2 hour run and ended up completing only 1.5 due to fatigue. GRRRRRR. But, when the body won't go - the body won't go. What is a person to do?

7-20-10 - Bike 2:00 - Again, fatigue,but I am learning that drinking a chilled mocha before I go helps - I should have drank one this time. It's amazing how a 2 hour ride now seems very normal and goes very quickly - it almost doesn't feel I am doing enough.

The Brick Wall

July 14th - July 16th

7-14-10 -Bike 2:00/Run 1:45 - Good new note: I believe that on my brick run today, I took about 4 minutes off of my 12 mile run today - usually it would take 1:50, today it took 1:46. It was hot, but not as hot as it has been - 90 doesn't feel hot any longer - I LOVE IT!

The bike felt strange the first 10-20 minutes, but I went with my camera intending to capture some interesting moments. I did just that - the corn is TALL!!!!! I pulled my bike up next to it then proceeded to jump to try to touch the top - not even close but pretty funny! I felt strong and confident today. Thank you again, Genoa township fire department for putting the water cooler out by the bike path - it has been a life saver.

7-15-10 - Bike 1:45 - Bike a little - not in the mood to do anything today though. The first 30 minutes of the bike

was tough - I was out of breathe, then I realized my break pads were on - what is up with me and my flipping breaks pads???? Have to remember to check those before Ironman (LOL).


7-16-10 - Run 3:00 - LESSON LEARNED

The plan for the day - run 3 hours mid-day, run 1 hour later. I parked in the middle of my favorite housing development and ran what I call loop 1 (it takes approx 45 minutes). After 45 minutes, I swing by my car, grab a gel pack, towel off and grab a new water bottle. One thing I have learned is that one gel pack goes a long way with me. I cannot eat an entire pack at once and will have to eat just a small amount at each mile marker during the race.

Loop 2 - Section two takes me through the neighborhood, across a main road and down a bike path where I pass a park with a restroom and a fire station that puts out water (my life saver). Part 2 takes approx 1:10. At the end of part two, I eat more gel and head back - stopping to refill my water bottle (bottle #3). Section three takes Approx 1:05 - I know that once I hit the neighborhood again, the heat is going to take over.

By 2:45, I was feeling more than wonderful - in fact, I was cruising! Once I hit 2:50, I hit my first brick wall - literally - my body didn't want to run anymore, or move forward for that matter. I stopped my watch, stretched for a second, walked for 2 minutes, took a bite of a PowerBar and headed off thinking I would fall down or something, but I ran to the finish. Overall, my nutrition and hydration were spot on. I felt great. Very little lactic acid in my legs. Aside from the glitch in body function at 2:50, I felt fantastic despite the heat and humidity.

Testing the Course

July 10th & 11th

7-10-10 - Run 15 miles - Headed down to Louisville to ride and run the course. Surprisingly, the run course was flatter than expected, but I am going to anticipate a hot run without much shade. After completing 14 miles of the course, we turned a corner and I saw where the finish was. I got overly excited and forgot about how hot and tired I was, picking up my pace. I can only anticipate what race day will be like when I turn that same corner after having swam 2.4, biked 112 and run 26.2. Oh my!
It was cool to see where the start for the swim will be, as well as the transitions. It sort of sets my mind at ease and yet freaks me out a bit as well. I have battle scars to prove the adventure as we wore camel packs to hydrate properly and mine left some nice, nasty blisters on my neck and back. Somehow, these battle scars don't hurt as badly since I earned them! HA!

It was a good day! Happy to have been on the course.

7-11-10 - Bike 85 Miles - Headed out for an 85 mile ride on the back section of the Ironman course (a.k.a. the HILLY PARTS). I had some indication what I was headed into because we drove some of it in order to park the vehicle. Very quickly into the ride we soon realized Louisville was going to be more than some rollers and instead would be a 4+ hour section of riding up or rolling down with very little flat in between. My initial though was that the course would be 60% flat/40% hills. Instead, my mind soon changed to a belief that the Louisville bike course would now be 70% hills/30% flat with little space for stretching the legs.

LOOP 1 - After riding loop one of the back section, we had peddled up and peddled down. There wasn't any space to stretch the legs. Noted: stretch the legs while going down - it will be the ONLY opportunity to do so.

OUT & BACK - The out and back section looked terrifying from the car and even on the bike, it was pretty scary screaming down on a bike for what felt like a mile. Because: what goes down, must go up and that is never a cyclists first choice - "up". Knowing the out and back section is only going to be happen once makes that tolerable and not so bad overall. NOTE: turning off 42 and onto the "out and back road" hydrate and eat something first.

LOOP 2 - The second loop, the prep was a bit different - stretch the legs & soft peddle down the hills just because there are so many, and so many back to back.

MAKING SENSE: What I am taking away from the Louisville weekend is that this race is no joke. I knew this before, hence the training, but when the heat is beating down on you and your legs are burning after climbing your 125th hill, you begin to realize what a magnificent feat this race really is and what an accomplishment to actually cross that line.

When I got out of the car this morning, I was terrified and ready to cry. Now, I am salty, sweaty, a little tired and wiser to the Louisville Ironman course. I now have a better idea what I am in for and how to prepare over the next few weeks.

P.S. Combos are totally going into my special needs bag - they are packed with sodium awesomeness!

FEELING: I don't feel great about the course. I have seen it, so I feel ok. I guess I'll just have to push it the next 5 weeks that I have remaining to train and hope that it is enough. That's all I can do at this point - prepare and pray, have fun, race smart and stay hydrated and eat.

Ironman Is . . .

I signed up for Ironman, Louisville on September 6, 2009 at 6:33 P.M. It is now July 12th, 2010 and I cannot believe how fast the time has passed and how much I have learned throughout the past few months on my Ironman Journey.

Obviously I haven't been involved in my first Ironman and my first half Ironman is still a few weeks away. However, on July 12, 2010, the Ironman to me is:

Taking the first step to sign up for the impossible. It is waking up each day thinking about what will need to be done to complete the goal and going to sleep believing that what was done to train for the race was enough to get you to that goal. Ironman is about sacrificing certain aspects of life to achieve a goal. It is about dedication and perseverance and waking up to a snow-covered world and still choosing to go for a run. The Ironman is about pushing through blizzards and below-zero temperatures. It is about trudging through the rain and defying 96 degree temperatures and high humidity. Ironman is about putting the impossible out of your mind and making it possible.

Thus far, I have learned that fear is only in mind. I control what my mind thinks about and where I let my mind go. I will swim 2.4 miles, then run 112 miles, and finish it all off with running 26.2 miles - all in under 17 hours (hopefully a lot less than that, but I am not going to count my chickens).

I have learned that Ironman is not about a race. Ironman Louisville will be about me - no-one else. I control how I manage my energy. I control my training and my nutrition. Race day is about how well I can implement all the pieces ...the training, nutrition, hydration, form ...

Ironman is about whatever reason I create to push my body to such a limit. This is a process and all the positives that have come out of this process. Ironman changes people and in ways never thought possible - hence why so many continue the journey into their 2nd, 3rd and 10th Ironman competitions.

There is something magnificent about being in control and working so hard to finish something so challenging. What a day this is going to be, what a year this has been. What a concept - Swim 2.4 Miles - Bike 112 Miles - Run 26.2 Miles - all in one day!

A Lonely Yet Exciting Place

No-one understands and how could the possibly, this process called training for an Ironman. As exciting as the journey is and continues to be, the comprehension that anyone outside the Ironman realm will not ever understand, creates a lonely void somehow. Ironman training has saved me as a person. I am a better person now then I was before. Therefore, I want to share the experience and yet I am finding that in normal day-to-day life, comprehending an 88 mile bike on Saturday and a 3-hour run on Sunday followed by a week of mixing and matching swimming, biking, and running for a duration of 3+ hours per day is just not possible.
(PHOTO LEFT: on the 110 mile to Zanesville and back).

These are some of the questions I get:

"Did you work out today?"
"Have you been riding your bike this summer?"
"My friend did an Ironman last year - it was like a 2-hour race!
and so on...and so forth.

The more I exist within this elite and misunderstood world of the Ironman, the more I appreciate those within it. For a few hours every day, we alienate ourselves from the real world by running, swimming, and biking incomprehensible distances...all for training. (PHOTO RIGHT: my first fall during the the ride to Zanesville).

I see a 13.1 and 26.2 stickers on cars where I train and as I leave for my run I think "I am doing 19 miles just for practice today" . . . no recognition, no-one even knows I am out there running. I am just out there running and running and running . . . But that is what makes Ironman training so remarkable - it's all about "ME". It has to be. Although this process is all about me, I am more focused on the "not me" when I am done training - hence making me a better person overall - I hope.

This is what I signed up for and what I love - I've always enjoyed being a little bit different than everyone else, but its a little lonely sometimes when the expectations of life don't go away - life doesn't care that I just biked 90 miles - I still have to make something for that BBQ, clean, work, and exist. Regardless of the effort I give to life, Ironman is my first choice priority right now and therefore, life stuff gets left out - however unintentional it is. (PHOTO RIGHT: Me with my bologna during the 88 mile Waldo Ride).

July 1 - July 9

• 7-1-10 - Bike 40 Miles - The bike felt rough for the first 20 miles, but as it went on, I started feeling better. Cooler days despite the wind are very welcome.


• 7-2-10 - O.W.S. 1:00 - It was interesting today trying to not get shoved into the beach by the waves created by teh boats - overall, great swim


• 7-3-10 - 72 Miles Bike - I agreed to ride with a faster group than I am used to today. pint blank, I was terrified but I know that in order to get better, you have to ride with those who are better. Today, I rode wtih those who were better and survived. Although, during the duration, I was petrified of being left behind or making anyone wait on me. It was fun to be with a different group - and in awe to be with so many Kona qualifiers and winners - learning from thsoe who have actualy been to the BIG RACE.


• 7-4-10 - Run 15 miles - The plan was to run the loop (3.89 miles) 4 times. I completed all the loops in 2:18 (this time includes a pitstop to the bathroom. Feeling a little better every long run I complete.
• 7-5-10 - Bike 3:00/Swim :45 - Another smoldering hot bike ride in preparation for the Louisville heat, follwed by the choppiest open water swim eveer. Everything went well though - nothing crazy to report aside from the fact that I had to use the restroom in a cornfield and my urine actually felt "cool". You know it's hot when . . .
• 7-6-10 - Bike 2:00 - The past couple of days have been spent getting used to the heat and figuring out what exactly went wrong to make the muscle beside my kneed hurt so badly...
• 7-7-10 - Bike 2:00/Run :45 - I belive I am getting used to these 95 degree days with high humidity, I believe my "knee problem" was really just a super tight muscle in my leg. I also went to the store and bought some real food in order to get some nutrition in me.
• 7-8-10 - Run 1:50 - Another day in the 90's. I'd like to say I am getting used to the heat and I may be, but 1:30 into the run, I was ready for it to end. I went through 2.5 water bottles and still finished 2.5 lbs lighter than when I started - IRRITATING. I am slightly concerned about the gel packs - having some slight intestional issues with them. Will try them a few more days then may have to attempt something else.
• I am overall having a great week despite the heat. The bike is great. Overall average speed was slower than i wanted, but trying to recover my knee issue. Such a hot day coming in at 96.8 on the pavement - I have no complaints about hwo I felt after being out in it for four hours.
• 7-9-10 - Swim :40 - I was on my toward a fantastic swim when sky creeped in black and then the stinging down poor and chopping waves pushed the buoys all over the place and disappeared into the blanket of rain. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! I loved ever second trying to fight my way to the finish - not that I EVER want to do such a thing during a race - but during training it was hilarious. I still truly believe that the weather is God's way of reminding us that He is still in control and we are but small and dependent after all of our efforts to become mighty and dependent.

Keeping it "FUN". . .?

As I am quickly realizing, training for an Ironman can become very serious. It consumes the mind and would consume an entire day if I had the time or would allow it to. I love it, don't get me wrong. Even on the days when I don't want to do it, I still like it and feel better for doing it.

When I started training for this thing, someone experienced once told me to keep it fun (Thank you Chip). I am realizing as race day gets closer that he is right. It is imperative to keep at least some parts of it fun.

I say "some parts" because I have a tendency so swing into auto-pilot pretty easily where I am so focused I forget that it is fun. I have always felt lucky to be able to train (I think losing a friend to cancer over 12 years ago has made feeling lucky to be alive at all an automatic and daily occurrence). But, keeping in my the aspect of "fun" is not so easily done.

One way I have been able to "keep it fun" is by implementing food into my "long" training days. Burning so many calories in a day makes the idea of food consumption a no brainer. I can always eat and as of late, I always do. (PHOTO TOP LEFT: Ice Cream stop in Granville, Ohio).

I am still lugging my camera along on long rides - that ensures the ride will be fun - I find documentation of any event fun. I am still not quite sure how to make the running fun . . . enjoyable. . . ummmm. . . I will continue to work on how I can make running tolerable. (HA). I guess the point is, it is not easy to "keep it fun" every day because to be quite honest, I am too nervous and scared to keep it fun every day. I have days where I am so terrified that I won't finish, I train for an extra number of miles to make my mind feel better and strengthen my body so I know I will be able to walk through the finish (something I do not want to have to resort to, but on race day anything can happen and I am mentally preparing myself for that anything - I hope). (PHOTO RIGHT: Bologna sandwich in Waldo, Ohio).

June 26 - June 30

• 6-26-10 - Bike 88 Miles - MY ENERGY IS BACK! Went on the 1st and last annual Waldo Bologna Ride. I say last because it was difficult coming home the 58 miles that stood before us with such a large chuck of grease in our bellies. Great ride, downed lots of water. Love my B&B group (Bill and Bob) - great riding group to push me.
• 6-27-10 - ME DAY OFF
• 6-28-10 - Run 3:00/O.W.S. :40 - My run today felt good. I was careful to hydrate and take in Gel. Every :45 I would stop for a moment and eat my gel, drink some water and continue running. No aches at the 3:00 mark - progress! I feel as though my bike nutrition is good, now I must focus on staying healthy for the run.
• 6-29-10 - Bike 3:00 - We are closing in on July and I cannot believe it! I had a mini freak out moment today knowing how much time I have to prepare. I know July will be a host of training opportunity and my first half Ironman: Louisville, Lake Placid, and Steelhead - quite the training month that lay before me. The bike felt good. The temperature was finally lower and the humidity gone. My rides with B&B are only going to get better as I get stronger.
• 6-30-10 - Bike 1:30/Run 1:30 - Uneventful but good workout - wish I had more time to bike because it felt great (body and temperature) There was wind but the wind isn't bothering me so much anymore. The run was quirky the first 15 minutes then I started to loosen up.