Let the Sun Shine in

Those who know me well, understand that I rarely "despise anything". Honestly, I don't really despise much at all and always find the fantastic in everything. However, the cold is another story. I do truly appreciate the cold weather. I enjoy the beauty it can bring to the environment (the ice patterns, snow flakes, the look of ones breath against the sky when the temperature is low). But, over time, I do not enjoy what it does to me physically.

Therefore, it is of no surprise to me that the month of February (in the year 2010) has taken its toll on me. But as "snow-horrific" as this month has been, it was as if God had March just holding up in his back pocket and ready to drop upon me, saving me during my darkest (most frozen) hour.

March 3rd, I thought I was "done". My tank was empty and I really believe my body was burnt out from attempting to keep itself warm during those frigid months. Then, out of the blue and without warning I awoke on Thursday, March 4th to a clear blue sky and a warmth in the air that I had needed so badly in order to keep going.

It is almost difficult to explain the mental change I experienced from one day to the next. One day I was sulking through my workouts and the next I was ready to run a marathon (almost - I just wanted to be outside). I felt completely renewed and wanted to raise my arms to the sky and praise God for his understanding. I felt as if God had heard me, had felt my soul crying out and had given this rejuvenation to me; a gift for all of my hard work through one of the most difficult training months I may ever experience.

March 1 - March 7

• 3-1-10 - Swim 4,000 yards - my swim workouts are becoming "typical". Despite adding in sprint work and hoping for improvement (I'm still going to give it a few month to calculate this - maybe even three). I'm not seeing anything negative (pain etc.); always good.
• 3-2-10 - Bike Trainer 1:30 - Today I am cold to the core of my being; where nothing can make me warm except a scalding hot bath and a cup of hot tea! I honestly cannot fathom running outside today.
• 3-3-10 - Run 1 Hr (inside track)/Swim 4,000 yards - The workout felt CrApPy!!!! I felt tired. I was so tired. However, I still ran and swam (because I am going to be an Ironman and that is what "Ironwomen" do)!!!
• 3-4-10 - Run 1.5 Hours - Just when I didn't think I could workout outside anymore, I awoke this a.m. to find the most fantastic clear blue sky. The sky has not looked like this since the day after the crazy snow storm. So, instead of peddling inside on the trainer, I decided to run for 1.5 hours - OuTsIde! I didn't feel too bad. It felt great just getting outside and have the sun on my face - FiNaLlY!
• 3-5-10 - Extreme Friday - Run 1:05 - I did it again - there isn't much more I can say about extreme Friday at this point. I think once I start feeling great during this run, I may have something to document (HA!).
• 3-6-10 - - H.O.P. 2 hour trainer ride/ Run 1 hour - And the sun remains! And what a fantastic workout I had today. I biked for 2 hours on the trainer with the group. Then, completely scared out of my mind, went for a run. I hadn't done a "brick" in months! Ironically enough, however, it felt amazing! It was a pleasant surprise to find that I still run better "off the bike" than I do just "going for a run -cold". 3-hour workout and a gallon of ice cream - oh yeah!
• 3-7-10 - Swim 4,000 yards - And again with the sun - oh my! I am loving this! Swam 4,000 yards and my arms felt like limp noodles the entire time (ha!) Not so fun today, but my run, once again, felt amazing. What a difference having the sunshine on the face makes.

I welcome March with open arms and a renewed energy I never thought existed. I truly do believe the weather is God's way of reminding us that He is still in control and that we need to have faith in Him that He will take care of us. Just when I couldn't take any more (I felt like crawling my entire run), God brought back the sun and made an enormous impact in the world. Ohio weather is funny. One week you can be busting your butt trying to run through snow drifts and dusting the ice crystals off of your face and the next you are out in shorts and a t-shirt thinking just how lucky you are to be alive. I have a new appreciation for Ironman Training through the winter and probably not something I will easily forget.

Counting Z's

There is no warning really. I woke up with big plans for the events of the day. I am still snuggled up under the blankets, dogs miscellaneously sprawled out on the covers and after the alarm has screamed that it is time to get up. I have visions of my training plan for the day and for the week. It honestly doesn't occur to me that these plans might not happen until my feet hit the floor and my routine of the morning begins. Then, I began to fear the worst.

Moments into my daily morning routine, my body feels weighed down, my legs are weak, head is pounding and my arms are hanging loosely at my sides. My mind, however, is still spinning; thinking of the 4,000 yard swim and how fantastic the hour run is going to be today (maybe even a run in my Z3 heart zone). But, my body is telling me that it cannot do any of that today. Thus, the battle begins between my mind and my body.

Ironman training (as I have mentioned briefly before) is a head game. Mental preparation is just as crucial (I am quickly learning) as physical preparation. So, what was I supposed to do with this new information my body was sending to my brain? Clearly, it was a mistake. Some information must have gotten crossed and my brain was simply misunderstanding what my body was telling it.

THE CONVERSATION:
The Brain: Today I am going to swim 4,000 yards (we will pick out a practice when we get to the pool, but let's make it a good one, some sprint work and arm work) and then run 1 hour (we will see how the run starts out and figure out the heart rate from there).
The Body: Nope.
The Brain: But you have to. You have to be ready for Ironman. Do you want to fall on your face?
The Body: Nope. Yep. Nope.
The Brain: Well then, let's go. Get off the couch and get your swimming bag ready.
The Body: Nope.

That's it. That's how it happens. That's how it happened to me this week. I was prepped and ready. Let me rephrase, I was prepped and mentally ready, but my body was not as convinced and was yelling at me that I needed a break. I gave up one day to the information my body was sending to my brain. Then I gave up two days and finally three. I am still in awe at how clear my body was making the message to my brain and yet I was still fighting that information.
Since I started riding my bike in June of 2009, nothing of this magnitude (physically) had occurred before. I had never experienced a physical "shut down" of this nature.

Sleep, rest of things, O pleasing Deity,
Peace of the soul, which cares dost crucify,
Weary bodies refresh and mollify.
-Ovid, attributed

February 22 - February 28

• February 22 - Swim 3,000 yards
• February 23 - OFF - "so sleepy"
• February 24 - OFF - "nap training"
• February 25 - OFF - "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
• February 23 - 25 [Journal Entry] - It's official. I now understand how combining the social life + work + training + life + school + winter can lasso your body and take to the ground without warning. WOW - exhausted isn't even the word. Three days off and I'm starting to feel a bit better. I truly feel the winter weather combined with training in the "elements" adds that extra stress to your body and wipes you out. So, flat on my face I did fall, only to head out later and run in this "snowy, blowing chaos" that I am witness to through my windows. Enough of winter! Enough of snow already! I am ready to head out and feel the warm sun on my face during a long ride through the Ohio countryside.
• February 26 - Run :45 in a "snowphoon" - The snow this month is insane, so going running in it is pretty much the only option. It is certainly rough going, but come August I am sure I will be glad that I pushed through.
• February 27 - H.O.P. Trainer Ride 2 hours -Wow! My legs feel almost "silly". This was my first official trainer day with a computer so it was nice to see my cadence. It was a struggle keeping my cadence past 112 (Big on front - 23 on back).Perhaps that will get easier the stronger my legs get. Perhaps a new seat will help and experience will help (and all will come packaged neatly with a big beautiful bow - ha!). All I can do right now is keep plugging along, watch in anticipation the progress I am making, monitor how much sleep I get and eat "well".
• February 28 - Swim 4,000 yards - My swim workout today was AWESOME! I clocked :44 minutes for a 3,000 yard swim which was putting me on my pace to finally do a 4,000 in under 1:00:00! I am looking forward to clocking my yardage in a month or so in anticipation of more progress being made.

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book"

- Irish Proverb

Outside or Inside and Track or Treadmill

Running is going to the biggest challenge for me during training and quite possibly during the Ironman race. Last August (when I decided to do the Ironman), my swim was up at 4,000 yards and my bike felt extremely stable (distance not speed . . . yet). However, I did start running again in August. My first attempt at running again was a short jaunt across Alum Creek Dam at Alum Creek State Park. My heart was pounding and I was almost shaking I had so much adrenaline rushing through my body. However, I finished it and felt really great (I am still not sure it was much of a run. It may have been more of a very fast walk). My next attempt (a few days later) I tried to run 7 miles. Oh, I finished it (I had to finish it), but I could not walk for days. I had to hang onto the railing of the staircase so I wouldn't fall on my face on the way down since my legs were so stiff.
*NOTE* This is one of those moments where you think "I am never going to be able to run 26.2 miles at this point. What in the world am I going to do now?
I have, however, come a long way from those days (it has been 7 months after all). I feel great and yet am still a bit skeptical about the run. I think my skepticism has arisen because of winter and may "come up to speed" when the snow melts and it is warm air hitting my face, not air containing little ice pellets that smack and sting the skin. During the winter months, those of us who live in "snow states" have to decide if we are going to run Outside or Inside and then if we are going to run inside, if we are going to run on a treadmill or the track.

THE TREADMILL: This nightmare of a machine jacked up my leg muscles. I spent a few months running an hour + on this devil machine, and aside from truly watching my heart rate and form, I spend most of my time trying to entertain myself for an hour by watching one of 6 televisions or simply trying to stay on the machine. At this point, the treadmill is ONLY for emergency use and is my LAST RESORT choice for any type of training - YUCK you STUPID INVENTION!
THE INDOOR TRACK: The indoor track is, well, not too bad if you have the ability to zone out and make light of the fact that you will be playing "dodge the elderly" during the entire run. I believe I calculated 60+ laps around this thing for an hour run. It could be more, but I tried not to count or look at the clock for that matter. I only looked at my watch when I felt I had been running forever. The track is "ok" and I did enjoy the view as a spectator, as I almost ran into my elders who were attempting to make it around the same track once. I guess running in circles is not my idea of fun.
OUTSIDE: Certainly outside is the best option for me. I much prefer outside to inside any day anyway. However, it does require preparation (by preparation I mean proper attire so that you are not weighed down and yet are still able to keep warm where warmth is necessary). There is something magnificent about knowing you fought the elements and still completed the workout. Even as a kid I loved the feeling of coming inside from the below zero temperatures. It made me feel alive as my cheeks burned hot and I put my damp clothes into the dryer. Winter can be brutal when training, but I am learning how beneficial it can be to "weather the elements". It allows for a sense of empowerment only given when you face your fears and trudge through the snow to come out victorious (and a little sore) on the other side.


February 15 - February 21

• February 15 - Swim 1:20/include sprints - I swam 1:20 today because I felt extremely strong in the water. I combined 10x25 sprints @ 10 seconds with 500 pull drills. I think adding sprints is really going to make the swim more interesting. Seriously, I love staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool for over and hour and everything, but really, how exciting is it? Eight more inches of snow fell fell today - not sure when I'll be able to run outside again. Ironically, I do prefer running outside in the cold to the track inside or the treadmill.
• February 16 - Nap 3 Hours - I had my first "exhausted day" where instead of completing my scheduled run, I fell asleep for a very solid power nap. Exhausted the rest of the day, I just took it off to heal my body.
• February 17 - Run 1 Hour/Swim 4,000 yards-drills - Nothing really to report. It was a decent workout. I think the nap helped a bit.
• February 18 - Bike 1 Hour/Swim 4,000 yards - drills - Having just completed two days of "arms and legs" I feel pretty good. There is no real pain and my swim feels very strong. The sprints I was terrified of (former swimming injury concern) may enable me to swim faster in 6 months. Having been stuck at 1:03 for the 4,000 yard swim (pull only to save my shoulders) started to bother me and I have to make that number drop somehow.
• February 19 -Extreme Friday Run at 8:30/mile - Yep, I did it again and LIVED!
• February 20 - Debi's House of Pain/Bike 2 Hours (trainer) - Yep, I did it again and LIVED! Again, can I just reiterate how much I love the feeling of kicking the crap out of myself and then stuffing my face with breakfast food.
• February 21 - OFF

The week overall was a success. I had my first "exhausted day" where I saw my body crash. I welcome the rest now and realize it is a vital part of this training process. I learned that I despise running machines and prefer frigid temperatures outside to the chaos of the indoor track. I fought through any doubt I felt to complete my workouts. It's hard to believe I have already completed week 3 of 30. This race will be here before I know it. It is my job now to make sure that I am ready.

Let it Snow - or Not!

One thing has become perfectly clear since training for an Ironman, there is a great deal of running involved in this whole training process - duh! And the involvement of running still holds true when the sky decides to drop a record 21 inches of snow onto all of the perfectly clear running paths. This second week of February proved to be quite a challenge. The snow was starting to use its powers against me and not in a good way.

February 8 - February 14

• February 8 - Swim 4,000 yards/Run 1 Hour - I had another good workout. I can tell my legs are getting stronger and yet my swim seems to have leveled out. I may try implementing some sprint work into my swim workouts. If I see improvement over the next few months, I will keep it in the training. If I don't see improvement, forget about sprints (ha ha ha) (work smarter, not harder - does this quote apply to Ironman training?).

• February 9 - DAY OFF
  
• February 10 - Swim 4,000 yards/Bike 2 Hours (trainer) - Aside from the BORING trainer workout, the day was a success. Nothing significant to report.


• February 11 - Swim 4,000 yards/Bike 1.5 Hours (trainer) - today I chose to put sprints into my swim workout and I felt like a real swimmer for the first time in over a decade (aging myself here). The only difference, coach Shoenfelt wasn't screaming at me at the end of each lap to stop putting my feet on the bottom of the pool (not that I ever did that in high school to make my swims easier). It wasn't a bad day overall, but I know tomorrow I will be running and will be running quite hard. So, I don't want to use all my leg power and not have any for the "Extreme Friday" training day.


• February 12 - This is the day I have dubbed "Extreme Friday" - Extreme Friday is the day I train with an Ironman. Nervous doesn't begin to describe what I feel now that I know what I am getting into. All of the areas I would deem "runner accessible" are now covered in a ton of snow. Regardless of my fear, that is why I go. I want to conquer those fears and succeed while making myself stronger - although quite sore the following day.


• February 13 - Debi's "House of Pain" - Due to the cold and the amount of snow, Ironman Debi has opened her house to a multitude of bike trainers and "Ironmen" and "Ironman hopefuls"). Saturdays are always an interesting day as we all torture ourselves for 2 hours of pure training torture via DVD. However, after the session is complete, the best part of Debi's House of Pain is stuffing my face with breakfast. I have grown to love that "I just kicked the crap out of myself and now my belly is full" feeling. It has become an odd and yet wonderful addition to my day.


• February 14 - Run 1:20 (in the snow) - Today was a prime example of "no pain no gain". I woke up this morning feeling the effects of the run on the 12th. My thigh muscles were tight and extremely sore! I stretched for an hour before embarking out for the moderate/difficult run and was surprised to find that while running I felt fine (excluding any decline in elevation or incline). After the run, however, I went back to being wobbly and my legs felt stiff.
  Those who have discussed Ironman as a head game are correct. I now know what my body is capable of. I could barely walk before the run today and yet I ran. What does that truly say about the human condition and what we are capable of doing when we use our minds toward increasing physical power instead of tearing ourselves down with that same power.
  
  I learned a great deal about myself this week. Despite my fear of training in unfamiliar conditions and better yet, training with someone whose capabilities far exceed mine, I faced those fears and feel as though I came out ahead mentally. I hope that it doesn't snow in Louisville in August, but one can never be too certain about anything and must prepare for everything.

30 Weeks

It was recommended to me by those who had completed an Ironman race (or many) that I begin "training" 30 weeks from the date of the actual race. This, for the purposes of this blog, requires me to backtrack to February 1, 2010. However, once I am caught up on the insanity and specifics of certain workouts, I should be able to keep up pretty well.

February 1 - February 7

• February1 - Run 1 Hour/Swim 4,000 yards - as I sat down to journal about how there would be pain and that pain was a part of the process, I accidentally stabbed my finger with my pen while putting the cap back on - blood and all. That wasn't the type of pain I meant, but pain is pain I suppose.
• February 2 - Run :30/Bike Trainer :45 - My heel has been bugging me. I wake up in the morning and cannot even put pressure on it. However, as the day progresses, I feel the tension lessening. It must be a "muscle thing" and I simply have to learn how to stretch and what to stretch because this tight muscle stuff just isn't going to cut it.
• February 3 - Swim 4,000 yards/Bike Trainer 1 Hour - I decided not to run today because on the tiny little 30 minutes I did yesterday, I thought my legs were going to fall off. Workouts have not been going so well and I actually feel winded. I think this is a lesson I am going to have to learn quickly (figuring out my body and what I can and cannot do). This situation is case and point that I truly do need to take one day at a time and one workout at a time.
• February 4 - DAY OFF - I was crazy tired today and needed to take a day off. I'm not exactly certain what I did to myself, but I'm feeling sort of terrible - so sleepy -
• February 5 - Swim 4,000 yards/Run 1 Hour Inside Track - Today my swim felt brilliant! My time, however is stuck at 1:03 for 4,000 consecutive yards. I am going to have to fix this. The run, however, did not feel so great. I ran after the swim this time and YIKES!!!! NOTES FOR RUN AFTER SWIM IN THE WINTER: Dry, itchy skin during run, chafing under arms and seriously thirsty. NOTE TO SELF: Not a comfortable workout, will probably never run after a chlorine pool swim again.
• February 6 - SNOWED IN. Saturdays I spend the morning "riding the trainers" with a fantastic group of Ironmen and women. However, since ten tons of snow dropped from the sky overnight, the ride did not happen. I supplemented the bike with a run through snow that was up to my hips. Admittedly, I did get quite the workout and it was beautiful outside once the snow stopped.
• February 7 - 2 Hour Bike Trainer - Today was the bike trainer ride that was supposed to happen yesterday. Afterward, went tromping through the snow for hours getting amazing pictures - my legs are so sleepy....they need a break!

Issues and Resolutions of the week: the issues of the week were (1) exhaustion (2) tight muscles in left leg (3) nutritional issues on the run. I learned stretches this week to help the leg muscles enough so that my foot actually feels a little normal.I also learned that this is happening because of the treadmill. I have not been on one since. The nutritional thing is just going to have be trial and error. During my "run after chlorine pool swim" (that I will never do again) I was so hungry I bought a nutri-grain bar from the vending machine at the gym. These are tiny!!! But, they gave me ridiculous cramps during the run. Now I am going to focus on what I can and cannot eat before the run because this will be just a little important before I start my 26.2 mile run after the 112 bike and 2.4 mile swim. I may need to eat something....

What I Learned: Despite having had 6 weeks of "no issue" workouts before the February 1st (30 week) starting point, I learned that anything can happen and I just need to be smart and train safe. If my body is exhausted, despite what workout is in my plan, I have to adjust accordingly. The race is far enough away that I have the luxury of doing this. This is my time to learn what my body can and cannot handle.

Ready. . .Set. . . Go!

When I first thought about attempting to complete an Ironman race, I thought about how impossible it would be to get my body in "that" condition to do "that". However, when I looked back at swimming and how I started out with baby steps (a little kick board here with a little freestyle, some backstroke and breaststroke added in) training was all about one day and one workout at a time. I couldn't and wouldn't allow my mind to pass the goal of the day. So why should training for an Ironman be any different?

I learned early on that training is about distance, not speed necessarily. So, the first time I laced up my running shoes (back in August of 2009) I started off extremely slow and let everyone in the world pass me by. It didn't matter that I was running slower than I could walk, the point was, I was running. I knew I would get faster - eventually. However, the day after this lovely 7-mile, first day back to running adventure, I couldn't walk and literally had to scoot down the stairs on my butt by the end of the day in order to go forward - anywhere.

Through this process, I have learned another lesson: CHECK THE EGO AT THE DOOR. This race is not about anyone else. It is about me. There will be people who are faster and those who are slower. I will be passed in the water, on the bike and in the run. How many people pass me on my first go-around with Ironman won't matter and shouldn't matter. This race is about the finish. All I need to do is finish (nothing like a little blog pep talk to get myself going today). Well, let me rephrase this; with my competitive nature, it will certainly be about finishing, but I want to finish before someone (or a lot of some ones - I can't help it - it's in my nature to want to be competitive).

Even though I know that this race is about me and my level of preparedness, I cannot help but think, when someone runs past me during a training run, "but you didn't just finish swimming 4,000 yards and you probably aren't running for an hour and a half". UH! I just need to give it up and do the best I can with the ability I have. I need to keep it fun and be smart with my body. Not only is this race about physical and emotional stamina, it's about using the intelligence I claim to have and not push myself too hard, too fast (that is difficult as well because I would love hop on my bike in a few months and be able to ride 100 miles without issue, but I must realize this may not happen).

Training is about getting back to the basics that I implemented when I first got back into the pool; one workout at a time, one day at a time. It is about training smart, having fun and focusing upon the goal(s) that stand before me.

In the Beginning

I signed up for my first Ironman race on September 6, 2009: 3 months after I purchased my first road bike, 11 months after I saw my first Ironman race and 1 year and 2 months after I was convinced I needed to "get back in the pool" and start swimming again.

The process of signing up for an Ironman race is different for everyone. However, it all starts with a small speck of thought that eventually is allowed to grow and actually becomes processed thought that turns into action.

My speck of thought came after seeing my first Ironman race. I had been back in the swimming pool for 5 months after a 13 year absence at this point. What exactly was my first thought when I saw this race? My first thought was, "these people are insane".

Let's break down this thing for a second. First, athletes must complete a 2.4 mile open water swim; swimming in open water isn't as easy as following a little black line on the bottom of a pool. There are factors involved like other swimmers kicking you in the face and "sighting" so that you don't run off course and make your swim 3.4 miles because you weren't paying attention. Next, after athletes just spent 2.4 miles in the open water and getting kicked in the face half a dozen times, they must run to their bikes, slap on a helmet and peddle their legs off for 112 miles. After biking the 112 miles (sweat now crusted on the skin, legs feeling as though they are on fire) they must now dash off their bikes and throw on their favorite pair of running shoes (the shoes that will only give them 5 blisters instead of 10) and run a complete marathon of 26.2 miles. Yes, admittedly, the first time I saw an ironman race I thought, "these people are insane".

After seeing this race, full of insane people, I went back to my life and working out my usual 9 hours a week and didn't really give it a second thought. However, in December of 2008 I started getting "the itch". The itch is something former athletes get after they have just had an encounter with this past "athletic existence". My itch started when I was swimming 5,000 yards in my community pool after work. I was ready for competition again and bored just swimming laps every week. I needed something more in my life but I wasn't quite sure what or how to go about it.

After feeling this itch and through a series of random meetings with "Ironmen" and "soon to be Ironmen" at the gym, I bought my first road bike in preparation for the possiblity of doing a triathlon someday (I was thinking a short triathlon of course). Long story short, because my mental process was long and just plain weird, after 3 months of feeling the fresh air on my face and the sun on my back (I still have the half moon tan line to prove all the sun I did actually have on my back), I signed up for Ironman Louisville that is scheduled to take place on August 29, 2010.

I don't have the exact days counted yet, but I do know that I am down to a little under 6 months to train for this thing and it has been on my mind every day since I printed off the race confirmation that is now hanging beside my desk as a daily reminder of what I need to do and the fantastic journey that is ahead of me.

I decided to call my blog "Ironmess" because that is what I feel like and have felt since the moment I got on my road bike. The process isn't perfect, there are good days and bad days and just plain "meh" days. There will be days ahead where bugs fly into my jersey and bite me, where I will trip over ruts on my run, almost crash my bike while standing still and where my eyes burn because I have been in the pool too long and the chlorine has taken control of my senses. Crazy things have happened and will continue to happen throughout my training over the next few months. It's important to laugh at oneself through the process. I think it will make the journey even more fun that way.

So, off I go on my Ironman journey the little Ironmess that I am.