Messy Monday

I was at the park before 6:30am this morning for a ride-n-run.  When I hit the parking lot it was drizzling, but since I haven’t had any rain-training in the past six months, I figured I’d better suck it up and get on my bike.  I whirled around the park @ 19mph and returned to the parking lot a hot mess.

Steve was just arriving at the park when I got in.  We chatted for a minute, then he headed out via velo and I on foot.  Despite being hungry, I was feeling quite spunky (after a lazy Sunday) and ran 9 minute miles to the first water stop two miles down the trail.  I slowed a little at the 4-mile turn-around, but pretty much kept trucking.  Steve caught up to me on his second loop and slowed down to keep me company for a couple of miles.

Then he took off and I caught up to him and Nick chatting in the middle of the path. I stopped momentarily to say hi then hit the road again.  I made it back to the car in exactly 80-minutes, which included three pit stops and one social stop.  That’ll do for a messy Monday.

The Sixty-Mile Taper

Not many people would call a 60-mile bike ride a “taper.”  For most people, biking 60-miles is their long ride, if not a non-ride.  But I was able to gather my team for one last long hu-rah in the hills of San Ann early this morning.  As I was driving before 6:00am, I was thinking how nice it will be to sleep in in the near future.  Truth be told, I haven’t been up as early training for IM as I was for ultras.  Those crazy kids are up and running before 5:00am!  So I am thankful that I’ve been able to sleep a little longer over the past few months…but I AM tired.

Anyway, Ilene, Nick and Steve left a half-full parking lot at 6:30am and headed for the hills.  We took the usual route and added some Ice Cream.  I wasn’t necessarily energetic, but I also was looking forward to finishing as quickly as possible before we were completely toasted by the heat and humidity.  And that wasn’t easy because we weren’t overly cohesive as a group today.  There were times when we were completely spread out and times when we rode in two’s.  The times we rode together I just couldn’t get my groove on with everyone else

We reconvened and stopped at the gas station before Trilby, which was half-way through the ride.  We all ate a bit and one fueled with virtual gas (some people call it Coca-cola) to make it through the rollers.  Then Ilene led us back another way, through Blanton and Happy Hill, where the wind smacked us in the face with the approaching storm (yes, of course we were ALL happy  at that point!).  OK, so Ilene missed one turn that took us through the barrio of Dade City.  If I’m the 01-Queen, maybe she is the 1-Mile Queen. No biggie.  What’s another mile at this point?

We were all pretty shot and moving slowly, but apparently Nick didn’t want to get chicked, so he took off with a couple miles to go.  We met up at Hwy 52 and skidded back into the parking lot as a group.  I would report my speed, but my speed-o-meter went out on every downhill…what the!?!  That doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’ll have FBS check it out next week when they pack up my bike.

I was the lone runner today, but 20-minutes was tolerable.  I was a sweaty mess, but at least it was overcast.  After the four-hour session was all said and done, I chilled under the tree again and enjoyed the breeze that I was cursing just an hour before.  I thought about the training I’ve put myself through over the last half-year, and the fun that’s waiting just two weeks from tomorrow.  Maybe I’ll dream about it when I go for my afternoon nap…

There’s one concert we won’t be seeing…

I guess Armando and I can mark one concert off our list of artists to see…since the King of Pop died.  The fellow Hoosier was found dead at age 50 in his California home yesterday.  Yes, I would have liked to see him in concert (preferably in the earlier days), but I wouldn’t have cried (…maybe).

I can remember when my best friend Jill got the Thriller album in vinyl in the ’80′s.  I was so jealous!  We listened to it over and over while we practiced the moon walk on her mom’s carpeted floor.  I also think we both bought parachute pants in his honor.  This is the MJ I’ll remember:

A prodigy in his prime.  He had the world in his hands…but stardom killed his spirit.  My favorite songs: Dirty Diana, You are not Alone, and Scream.

Rock on Michael…

Wacky Wednesday

Talking about undoing things, when I met Ilene early this morning for our tour de San Antonio, I suggested we ride the 35-mile route backward, just for giggles.  After driving with Andy down Come-On-Ilene Hill and Ice Cream Hill Monday morning, it gave me an idea to turn things around.

It was fog soup this morning so we couldn’t wear sunglasses, which I hate.  I’m always afraid a car is going to throw some junk into my face as it passes, or that a bug will fly into my eye!

Anyway, it was interesting going the other direction.  It gave us a different perspective of the hills we usually climb as opposed to the ones we typically coast down.  It wasn’t necessarily a fast ride, but it was a nice change of pace (heehee).

And because of the fog cover, I was able to run 20-minutes without burning to a crisp after the ride.  I could have run farther (or is it further Professor?), but at this point, I didn’t think that will help me any.

Although I didn’t feel as if I worked overly hard today, I’m beat.  I enjoyed a PB&J, soy milk and broccoli for breakfast (yes, I’ve hung in there with the greenery), because my rolling buffet is coming to a stop very soon.  After Saturday’s 60-mile ride, I won’t be burning nearly as many calories as I have been over the past few weeks, and that means I won’t be able to eat as much either ..at least until we hit The Old Country in two weeks!

Ironman Switzerland Training Plan Totals

I started my blog in early ’07 so that my family and friends could track my progress as I trained for IM Austria.  I was diligent about reporting about my training log, but haven’t been so much this time.  (I guess I’ve enjoyed writing about other things…).  I’ve looked back at my training miles from last time around, and here’s a little comparison between the two years:

IMA Totals:

Swim: 62,800 meters (39 miles)

Bike:  2117 miles

Run: 416 miles

IMS Totals:

Swim: 64,000 meters (40 miles)

Bike: 1718 miles

Run: 304 miles

Hmm, there seems to be a slight discrepancy between the number of miles I logged in ’07  and the number of miles I’ve gone over the last few months.  After a little research, what I found was that I started training for IMA on January 21st, and I officially started training for IMS in mid-February after Rocky Raccoon.

But that also means that I was doing a lot of runnin’ up until that point (around 392 miles between mid-November and mid-February, including Rocky’s 50-miles).

I also realized that I miscalculated my training plan for IMS, and got behind a week…

But the biggest difference is that even though the mileage is less, I feel stronger, faster and more efficient…because I feel like I’ve trained more appropriately this time.  The majority of our rides have been in the hills of San Ann, Clermont or Central Florida.

OK, those aren’t the Swiss Alps I know, but compared to nearly all of our long rides for IMA being at flat Suncoast or Withlachoochie Trail, something has to be better than nothing!

I’ve been happier and more positive about and during training.  I’ve had lots more fun training with groups of people, instead of logging hours upon hours alone.  And I haven’t felt completely dog tired until these last two weeks or so.

Maybe there is a difference between Quality and Quantity.  Only time will tell…

Undoing Saturday

Andy texted me Sunday to see if I was up for a 10-mile run this morning.  Apparently he’d had a terrible run in the hot hot heat Saturday, and wanted to “undo” what had happened.  After confronting him about TAPERING FOR GOSH SAKE!!!, he said that 10-miles would be a taper, so I agreed….Agreed to meet him at 5:15AM.

After two whole hours of sleep last night, it was MY turn to ask, “What was I thinking?” agreeing to meet him so dang early.  It’s not even right, people.  And quite frankly, it didn’t matter how early we were on the trails at Croom, because it was just as flippin’ muggy as it was the other day in San Ann.  Plus the horse flies were on the attack.  UGH.  It’s relentless I’m telling you.  Yet we continue to train for summer races???  Talk about slow learners…

Anyway, we were too busy chatting and we missed the turn, turning our 10-mile run into a 12-mile run.  Whatever.  At this point it’s all the same.  We took our time and walked quite a bit, I’ll admit.  But that’s what Andy needed (and probably the best for me too at this point).  If he won’t taper on his own, I’ll do what I can to help him taper

He leaves for Western States this week and his training is officially over.  I am jealous of his little trip out to Squaw Valley, and I can say with confidence that he’s going to make the mountains crumble.  I also know that it’s not going to be this hot there.  Just like it’s not going to be this hot in Zurich.  We train for rain forest races, and race in cooler climates.  That has to count for something.  (I know I keep saying that…I’m just trying to convince myself to keep getting out there).

So when I got home, more to cool my body temp than to recover I think, I dipped into another ice bath.  I was cold during my nap (yes, I admit to a Monday morning nap ) and now I’m toasty again.  Maybe it was more like a “redo” than an “undo.”  Either way, thank goodness for air conditioning!

Working ‘em on the double-shift

Originally my plan was to host a Fat @$$ half-iron triathlon this week.  The name Fat @$$ not referring not to my badunkadunk, but a self-supported race.

When Ilene told me that she was interested in doing the St. Leo sprint triathlon, I figured I’d have to be creative in finding a crew to make 80-miles.  But she said she would meet me at 10AM to ride a 40-mile loop after her race (Why I don’t know for sure…but I never turn down an offer!).  I was able to persuade Steve and Matt to join me for a 40-mile loop at 7AM, and I was all set.

The morning came around too soon, and Steve and Matt were ready to roll out of the parking lot by 7AM.  The temps were already in the 80′s, with no relief in sight.  The three of us sailed along at a nice pace and tried to breathe in the thick, heavy air.  “I guess I won’t need to go swimming today,” I said after seeing the three of us glistening in the sun.  That got a brief chuckle, but we all were oxygen-deprived, so we didn’t laugh long.

We made our way up The Big Dude and then Ice Cream Hill.  In what seemed like no time, we hit the parking lot.  We rode 40-miles @ 18.4mph (2-hours, 10 minutes).

After refilling my bottles from my Bubba Keg (that thing always gets a comment!), I headed out again for an out-and-back while I waited for Ilene to show. I couldn’t talk the guys into riding a second loop, so I talked to myself on the 5-mile ride   I took it easy and met Ilene at 10AM.

Ilene was a little beat, not as much from the race distance as the suffocating heat.  But she hung in there with me.  I decided to cut out Ice Cream Hill because it was just so dang hot and it wasn’t fair to make Ilene kill herself on my behalf.  (Truth be told, I was sick of the sun, and I wanted to ride in more shady place!).  I decided I’d do that out-and-back once we returned. The wind picked up and the temps rose, so we chatted and coasted a lot more than the guys and I did on the first loop.  Our average speed over 35-miles ended up averaging just under 17mph (2 hours, 5 minutes).  And I was fine with that.  I was already feeling nauseous and didn’t see the sense in pushing it.  But I had “85-miles” stuck in my head…

I was supposed to do a 40-minute run after the ride, but because it was 95-degrees with a heat index (“feels-like”) temperature well over 100, I didn’t think that would be wise.  I did however talk myself into riding another 5-miles AFTER the additional 5-miles.  I guess I was a little loopy after all.  But that “90-mile ride” just sounded like Money in the Bank Baby, Money in the Bank.

I was all alone out there and sang out loud (…out VERY loud…) to keep myself company over those last few miles.  I decided that I would cut my run down to 10-minutes because of the blistering heat.  Once I got off my bike, I reluctantly put on my runners for a 10-minute jog-walk…and I emphasize the WALK.

I made it back to the car without stroking out, and literally fell under a tree, where I lay for some time trying to cool down my body temperature.  So, after 90-miles, a total of 6-hours in the hot hot heat, and a total of 3100 calories burned, I am ready for the TAPER!!!

It was a tough day (and Fat @$$-ish in some ways…), but I can hear the Cha-Ching! ringing in my head…

Why Cats are Crazy Cool

Opportunistic:

Isis decides to jump into the laundry basket for a snooze, but won’t be able to get out…who thinks that far ahead?

 

Curious:

“What’s going on in there?” Ezra says

 

Dominant:

“Wanna go for a spin?“

 

Confident:

“We could take ‘em!“

 

Fun-Loving:

“Let’s get high!“

 

Dramatic:

“You’re interrupting my beauty sleep!“

 

Silly:

“I vant to bite yovr neck!“

 

Adorable:

Who couldn’t love faces like these???

Gunshots & Good Deeds

We opted for an easy ride at Flatwoods this morning because Ilene has a Sprint Tri on Saturday morning (followed by a 40-mile ride ), and I’m just plain whipped.  Steve met us at the park and we took off in the already steamy morning.  Five miles into our ride, I nearly fell off my saddle when I heard what sounded like a gunshot!  We saw that none of us were bleeding, but Ilene was coming to a halt.  That shot was her tire exploding.  Steve is a master tube-changer (after a nasty 6-flat ride some time ago), and had her tire inflated in no time.  But within seconds, it fired again and flatted…again.  Unfortunately Ilene’s brand new tire was faulty and she would not be able to ride back to the parking lot.

She started her 5-mile trek back to the BBD lot when Steve decided that it would be easier for her to walk to the next water stop one mile away, and he could meet her there with his SUV (again, another reason NOT to have a BAT with a double bike rack on the back!).  So we sent Ilene a walkin’ while Steve and I rode back to the BBD lot.  He headed for his car and I went around the loop to wait with Ilene and the no-see-um’s.

After FORTY minutes Steve was not there, so I biked up to the other entrance, and saw him coming.  Apparently he’d already been there once but didn’t see us, so he turned around to leave…then thought better of it and he turned back to find us.  Steve graciously packed up Ilene and her bike and they headed back to the BBD lot.  I skidded around the second half of the loop, and decided that would be enough for today.  (Well, after they left I went for a fast 10-minute run).

Just as I hit the parking lot, Steve and Ilene were pulling in.  Either Ilene was frazzled, or she was truly afraid to drive with Steve, because she was still wearing her bike helmet.  LOL!  That made the whole debacle worthwhile

Fourty Pounds of Ice

Andy met me this morning at Trout Creek for a 15-miler in the rooty trails.  Man, that guy is running well and he is going to ROCK Western States in two weeks, mark my words!  But because of my directional-challenge, he had to lead most of the way.  (It really had nothing to do with knocking down spider webs, of course ).  I enjoyed chatting with him as we trotted through the woods, swatting at horse flies and sweating our arses off.  This heat-n-humidity training has to be good for something, though I’m not sure what exactly.

Andy had run 30-miles over the weekend, and I’d biked 105-miles.  I’m sure he was more physically (and mentally) tired from so much running, but my legs were getting sluggish half-way through.  And you can’t shuffle your feet in rooty trails.  I rolled over my left foot several times but didn’t fall, and kept moving forward.  After solving the problems of the world in 2 hours, 38 minutes, Andy and I hit the parking lot.  That’ll be my last 2+ hour run before IMS, and after an 80-mile ride this coming weekend, it’ll be pretty much downhill with the taper.

After doing a few errands, I hit Target for four 10-pound bags of ice…because I’ve figured out that is what it takes to make a waist-high ice bath with Florida’s ‘cold’ water.