Goodbye 2009, Nice to Meet You 2010

New Year's Eve. I've never been a big partier, and this year, Kevin and I are spending the evening at home with the pupster. I'm really ready for 2010 and to officially start training for Ironman.

Here is what else I'm resolving to do in 2010:

* Blog more
* Eat less
* Ride my bike to work more, or at least take the bus more
* Take better care of myself

Sounds fairly simple, right? It is always best to keep resolutions somewhat vague ... that way they are easier to attain.

Welp, Happy New Year!

New Attitude Towards Running?

Today is day two of running home. What? Yep, two days in a row of over 4.5 miles each.

I've never been a fan of running. I have always been slow, no matter how in-shape I was. It makes my lungs burn, makes my heart race, and all around puts me in a place of extreme discomfort.

Well, it's no secret that I'm training for Ironman, so I thought I should get back at it. But, I did some reading over the Christmas holiday and thought I'd try the advice of trying to keep your heart rate down while training. The theory says that you will get faster at that heart rate over time and will burn fat. Sounded pretty good.

Holy moly. I had so much fun. I did a 2,25o-yard swim practice at the Masters swim workout and then changed for the run home. I left about 8 pm from the WAC, where I work out. Shortly after I started my run, it started to rain. Didn't really bother me. I had a fleece vest a an iPod full of songs my friend Danielle gave to me. It was actually challenging to keep my heart rate in the 155-165 range. I almost felt like I was dancing home! Light heart rate means slow shuffley steps, but I was home in no time! So, I did it again today.

I'm so happy that I've made peace with running ... for now. Slower is better ... for now.

Totally Off Topic

So, I'm kind of having a rough day. No one specific reason, just am. The cure? 'Pets on Furniture' posts on Desire to Inspire.

How can this not make your day a little brighter?

Worst Blogger Ever

I know. I'm an awful blogger. Who wants to read a blog that is super-patchy and goes months without a post? No one. And I know that because I'm pretty confident no one has ever read this blog. That's okay. My resolution for this upcoming year is to get better at it. Not be perfect, but better. Who knows? Maybe someone will even read it.

Currently, I'm waiting to start my official Ironman training. That will start up in January. Lately, I've just been dinking around on my bike and in the pool while I gain a few 'holiday treat' pounds. I'm trying to get more structured without going crazy—they'll be plenty of time for that.

Actually, I should mention that I'm still recovering from my first marathon that I did the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I don't recommend doing a marathon without training. It makes for some seriously long recovery time that I just don't have.

Changing subjects—

Today, I will go to spinning for half of the class and then go to my master's swim workout. Hopefully, it doesn't kill me. I am 'trying' to lose about 12-15 pounds by April so I've only consumed 335 calories so far today (3:30 pm), and usually I put away the calories pretty fast. 

Danielle and I are also working on some ideas for my 'superfan' Ironman shirt. Details to follow!

Tomorrow is The Big Day

Today is wonderful! Why? Well, because today is the day before my birthday. Yep, I'm one of those people. It's funny - Kevin asked me if I was excited for my race. I said, "What? My track race? I guess so." And he returns with, "Um, no ...." Oh yeah! My Half-Ironman this weekend. I can't think of anything past by birthday.

I don't really know why I love my birthday so much. When I really think about it, it isn't all that exciting. I guess I just am happy to have a mini-holiday to celebrate me. Every 365 days.

Well, today I swam 2,100 yards, and later found out that distance is just 12 yards shy of the 1.2 miles I will be required to swim on Sunday. I did a 300-yard warm up followed by a 1,600-yard long set and closed with a 200-yard cool down. My main set took me exactly 30 minutes.

I'm hoping that means that I can exit the water this weekend in approx. 45 minutes. You never know what will happen when it comes to open water ... all that bumping and flailing. I'm also a bit nervous that the starting waves are so close together and some of the really fast age groups will start after me, which hasn't really happened before. I have to keep reminding myself that pacing will be key and that I'm out there to do my own race, nobody else's.

Just a few more days til the big race! And just a little over an hour until my special day!

One Week: The Half-Ironman countdown and other musings

So much for keeping an up-to-date blog.

33 bike races this season ... 32 since my last post and two triathlons on top of that. I've been busy.

So busy that somehow, I've managed to secure 3rd place for the Garmin Women's Category 4 Series. My original goal was to crack the top 15 so I feel pretty darn good about it. I was the leader at one point, until I crashed about 2 months ago. I was wearing the jersey when it happened. That was my first major crash and feel very blessed that the damage was not worse.

I've met a lot of great people along the way and have mixed feelings about the season coming to an end. BUT! I have one major race to complete before it does ... The Lake Stevens Half-Ironman on Sunday, August 16. Now, I'm not sure if I'm really ready for this race, but my goal is to finish and to learn how to handle myself during such a long race. Did I mention that I'm signed up for Ironman CDA for next June?

I will be sure to give a race report for that.

Mason Lake #2, My First Road Race!

So I think I've finally thawed out enough to post about how this weekend's race went. We had to leave the house at 6:00 am to make it out to the course in time to register and warm up. Ugh. I didn't realize how much racing would take away from my beauty sleep.

When we left the house, it was pouring down rain. As we drove the almost 2 hours to the site, it was pouring down rain. When we arrived, it was only drizzling. By the time the race started, it was pouring again and it continued to pour the entire time.

When I pulled my bike up to the starting pack, I was a little overwhelmed by all the women that came to race. There were 41 of us in the field. I had to start at the back of the pack and I was really nervous that would increase my chances of getting dropped. But, I hung in there. I had teammate Jessica on my left and after about a mile or so, she said it was time to start moving up. So I did. I wiggled my way up a few spots and then it hit me. There was so much water shooting into my eyes from the back wheel of the rider in front of me. For over an hour, there was an unrelenting rain on my back and water spray in my eyes.

I think it was probably good that this was my first race because I was so concerned with getting dropped or causing a crash that I quickly accepted the onslaught of water.

What really caught me by surprise was all the chatter in the peloton. "On your left!" "On your right!" "Slowing!" "Hold your line!" Constant chatter. I think the veterans were really trying to pysche out us rookies but I was determined to not fall for the tricks. Why on God's green earth would I let you in on my left? This is a bike race! Not a group ride on the Burke Gilman. I bet there is a lot less of that in the men's races.

At the end of the first lap, I lost a little steam on the last hill and fell quite far back in the pack after maintaining a nice mid-pack status for most the race. I then realized that the finish line was not too far after and that would not be acceptable to do on the next lap around.

I found the whole thing to be pretty exhilarating. I tried to find the open holes and close the ones that would threaten our team's position. I would have loved to be more strategic to help Jess and Lucy, but I don't know how to do that yet and honestly, I think they are talented enough to do well on their own.

Last couple of kilometers, I was feeling pretty tired. I hadn't touched my water bottle at all because I was too scared to grab it. Everyone got a little ancy to be done and out of the pouring rain, which really hadn't let up much at all. Then, it happened. A bike crash. One girl went down and then another and then another. Luckily, I was on the right hand side and was able to steer into the gravel and then back on to the road. I definitely felt a compulsion to stop to help but it was a race and I kept going instead. Does that make me a bad person?

Then, the sprint broke out and whoa, I was left in the dust. I tried my best to push it but I was so tired. I was happy that I beat one girl to the line who was really phoning in the last few yards. The final result? I took 14th out of 41. Not bad for the first ride out! I was kind of sad that Kevin missed the finish because he was helping out another rider from another team, but was happy that he was playing the role of a good samaratian.

But the story doesn't really end there because once I finished the race, I couldn't feel any body part. Remember, it had been between 36-38 degrees and pouring rain all day. I was soaked through and through. Thank heavens for the Mason Lake community center! I took my dry clothes and changed and Kevin had hot chocolate waiting for me. I couldn't even drink my hot chocolate properly because I was shaking so badly. I nice elderly lady at the center rushed around to find me a blanket and wrapped it around me. I think it was my closest encounter with hypothermia to date. Unbelievable shaking.

So once I warmed up, I was doing laundry and getting things ready for the race in Ravensdale. We drove out there Sunday morning (another 6 am departure time) and there was snow sticking to the ground in mid March. Yuk! After an hour of waiting around, the race was canceled. My second race will just have to wait another week!

Icebreaker Time Trial 2009

So, last week we headed north to Everett, this week we headed south to Auburn/Black Diamond for the Icebreaker TT. It rained overnight so the roads we damp but the weather managed to hold for the race. I was so thankful because when I finished, I wasn't cold and miserable.

My start today was at 10:03 am and the line up made me a bit nervous. Last week, I was sandwiched between a bunch of men riders, so if they passed me, it was no biggie. This week, I had men in front of me but pretty much all women behind me. Meaning, if one of them passes me, they would beat me by 30 seconds or more. And a teammate, Julie, just starting 30 seconds after me.

The nice part about this race is that I felt I had a little bit of a 'home team' advantage. Our team was the sponsoring team today so all the people at the start and and the turnaround and at the registration table were all teammates.

At the starting line, I remembered to let go of my brakes so that was an improvement! I felt strong off the starting line. It was a hard race. My legs were burning as I was twisting through the countryside with the the farm fields and cattle on both sides of the road. I just knew that I couldn't let Julie beat me!

At the end, I wasn't as fast as last weekend. I finished 18 (just out of the top half) with a time of 29:14.07. That's okay, I felt good and I know that the field was a little more fierce than last week.

Results!

So the results were finally posted and I was pleasantly surprised. I placed 10th out of 28 and was just one second away from 9th!

I feel really accomplished and validated that I did the right thing by trying bike racing.

I'm looking forward to the Icebreaker TT next week!

Frostbite Time Trial 2009 - First Bike Race Ever

So, I haven't really had anything eventful to say ... except for maybe that I picked up a really sweet new bike.

But then today I did my first legit bike race, the Frostbite Time Trial in Everett, WA.

And they, weren't kidding! It was raining and cold. I was so wet by the end of the race and muddy, I thought I'd finished a cyclocross race.

The race is 9 miles of flat out-and-back. The results haven't been posted yet so I don't have any official standings to report, but I do know that I didn't finish last! I don't know why I'm so terrified of finishing last, but I am. I passed one lady who started about 3 minutes before me. I got passed plenty by a bunch of guys myself, but I knew if I could pass just one girl, I'd be golden. Turns out the woman I passed was the slowest finisher from last year ... doesn't matter!

My other teammates were there to lend support which was great. It's nice to hear your name and some encouraging words when your legs are starting to ache and turn into jelly. The course out was harder than the ride back in. I really appreciated that and it helped my avg. mph stay above 20.

Now, I'm just anxiously awaiting the results. That is kind of the odd thing about racing the clock, there is no instant feedback on how you did against your peers. Well, maybe I'll update this post or make a new one once the results are posted.