tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79259092898588671012024-02-18T20:07:31.004-07:00Jenna-Caer's TriathlonA soon to be first time triathletes adventures in training, random thoughts, and insanity.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-74885679220700979182014-07-11T12:33:00.002-06:002014-07-11T12:33:41.833-06:00Pregnant is not a synonym for InvalidOk I promise this wont turn into a total pregnancy blog, I have some fun ones coming up recapping my adventures using a borrowed bike at TriRock Philly and the MaccaX Training camp before Challenge Atlantic City! I'll still be training away and exploring Colorado over the next few months :)<br />
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Obviously some things have had to change. Gone are the 20+ hour training weeks, pushing my body to the limits mixing intensity and volume and seeing what this body is capable of. That doesn't mean I'm going to spend the next 5 months sitting on the couch and eating bon bon's :p Its been great having access to the blogs of some professional female athletes that have recently had babies to see what they went through and that I am not totally insane training (well I call it training but its more like exercising) through my pregnancy as long as the doc and my body give me the ok. One thats been great has been <a href="http://californiatraining.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beth Gerdes blog</a>. She is a professional triathlete that just had her little one and is navigating getting back into training and a newborn with an Ironman on the books in the next few months.<br />
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As for me it's been a variable schedule just being sure to listen to my body, some weeks were just above 10 hours in the 1st trimester with the fatigue and nausea making even that tough! Now I'm back into a routine and the 2nd trimester is honestly a breeze, symptoms are gone, I'm not really showing yet and energy is back so there should be some consistency around 15+ hours a week, but its mostly aerobic so its not too stressful on the body! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 months along, not much to show yet!</td></tr>
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This weeks schedule:<br />
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Monday: 45 minute swim, 60 min bike at MAF, 45 min Strength train<br />
Tuesday: 2 hour run scheduled...but ended up being a rest day! Blood drawn and a house of contractors by the time I got a chance to run I was exhausted so I cut the run.<br />
Wednesday: 60 min swim with drills, 3 hour bike ride w/ 4*20 minutes zone 3 (yay a little bit of work outside of MAF feels soo good!)<br />
Thursday: 70 min run with strides in the morning, 50 minute run at MAF in the afternoon, 60 minutes Yoga<br />
Friday: 30 minute swim w/sprints, 60 minute bike ride MAF.<br />
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Saturday and Sunday are still to be determined but likely a 2-3 hour ride on saturday and a 2 hour run Sunday. Love it, Lucho adjusts my training and gives it to me 24-48 hours in advance so he can keep an eye on how I'm responding and adjust accordingly, before it was to keep me on the razor edge getting to peak fitness, but now its so I don't overdo it.<br />
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So, not quite sitting around on my ass these days. To help with that I got the BEST baby gift from the hubby! I must have lost my mind to want this, but I think its more this triathlon obsession that rattled my brains than baby, I got a treadmill! I never thought I would be so excited about drawing on my inner hamster and run while not going anywhere. I love my toys and this thing is pretty bad ass, it has incline, decline, fans, wireless, I can map any route on google, wirelessly upload it and it will show me the street view and adjust the elevation as I run through! It will be awesome when baby comes along and I cant get out of the house to run, I can just cruise on this, not to mention I can program any race run portion and get a feel for the course beforehand. Right now its being used to get out of the heat, its been over 90 degrees here the last few days so I've been on the treadmill so I don't cook the baby!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street view of the beginning of the Kona Run!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yesterdays run, did some video work for analysis.</td></tr>
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Now heres the fun part, as soon as you get pregnant EVERYONE becomes an expert on your body and pregnancy...seriously. There has definitely been some unsolicited advice along the lines of the baby will fall out if I keep running, or I cant swim because my water will break and I wont know it did and that I'm in labour. Its not completely new, most endurance athletes have had the friends and family tell them how they are killing their knees, hearts, and call them crazy and overambitious to do this insane sport (ok cant really blame them for that part it is crazy). <br />
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I know a lot of it is said out of concern for my wellbeing, but at the end of the day I'm going to do what my doctor advises and what feels right. If you have experience as a pregnant athlete, I'm always looking to learn more, if you've never been pregnant and heard from a friend who knew someone who's 2nd cousin got pregnant and ran a disastrous mile I'm not interested.<br />
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So I apologise in advance if I stick my tongue out at you and keep running by as you tell me baby is about to fall out :p Thats all for now, I'm going to go torture my pregnant ass with the foam roller and I promise I'll get back to the training and travelling fun with the MaccaX crew, stay tuned.<br />
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Carpe Diem<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-87252023720694968702014-07-08T11:54:00.001-06:002014-07-08T12:14:12.145-06:00BIG NEWS & Ironman 70.3 St. George Race RecapThis is long overdue, but I didn't have much to say between when I found out and now without letting the cat out of the bag!<br />
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So I am writing this a few days after Ironman 70.3 St. George so everything is fresh in my mind, but by the time you are reading it, it will be June or July! <br />
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This race was very unique, and a challenge in a whole new way for one very big reason...I had some company for the race...<br />
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Yes, I'm PREGNANT :D</div>
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Before I recap the race a little update. The 1st trimester is over, that was an adventure trying to train around the insane fatigue and nausea. I've slowed down a lot, my MAF pace is about 2 minutes/mile slower than it was a few months ago, my heart is busy pumping away the extra blood volume and making sure baby is taken care of. I tell ya 25 hour training weeks have nothing on pregnancy fatigue, that was out of this world! I'm back into a training schedule these days, but its all aerobic work but some very short bits of intensity or ME work, I'm still able to do a fair bit especially now that most of the symptoms are gone and I'm not really showing yet. My doc has been monitoring my blood work and cleared me to do as much as feels good, and right now I'm feeling great, but I have my trusty coach Lucho to keep me in check, and I will be working with him throughout the pregnancy. Some interesting results from my blood work, I was really curious to see what it would look like as I was consistently doing more volume and intensity than I had ever done before (even in the peak weeks for Ironman) at elevation for a few months. I felt like my body was absorbing the work, but it was cool to see the 1st results from the blood work right when I found out I was pregnant, everything was right where it needed to be, thyroid, iron levels, and it turns out this elevation works my hematocrit was sitting at 46. Cool to see that my body was absorbing the work, and I was in perfect health to be home to a growing baby even though I had been piling on the Ironman training load.</div>
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Ok Back to the race:</div>
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So needless to say my racing strategy had to change a bit for this one. We had started trying to start a family after Ironman Kalmar last year, and thats why my race season has been so last minute and I haven't been able to confirm much, I didn't know if I would be racing much this season. Even though I wanted another shot at that Kona spot being 14 minutes off qualifying last year I didn't sign up for an Ironman. I did plan on doing Challenge Atlantic City and had been training hard for that, but that was something I knew I could sign up for later in the season instead of Ironman where you usually have to commit a year in advance. </div>
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Well funny enough about a month ago it still hadn't happened so I decided to throw a big race on the calendar, I couldn't keep waiting around and doing everything last minute so March 23rd I signed up for Ironman Canada...April 6th I got pregnant :) </div>
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Ok back to Ironman St. George, I found out I was pregnant two weeks before St. George. I'll admit it was a shock after trying for a while, and my head was instantly filled with happiness, worry, excitement and questions. So I did what I always do and started trying to learn everything I can, especially about exercise and pregnancy, and started trying to decipher the American Health Care system to find a doctor. Next call...coach Lucho. First I told my husband, then my mom, then Lucho :p. I wanted to hold off telling people until the 1st trimester when things are more likely to proceed all of the way through to a healthy birth, but I couldn't follow a 20+ hour training schedule, things were going to have to change! "Soooo I have some big news" (after skipping 2 or 3 days of training which is unusual for me) "Are you pregnant??" "YES!!!" is pretty much how the conversation went, I swear he was almost as excited as I was :D. </div>
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This is where it pays off to have an experienced coach, he has worked with pregnant athletes before, is a dad so has an idea of what his wife went through and had suggestions of resources and people to talk to. So we talked a lot about the race and his opinion was to talk to my doctor, but with the last few big training weeks hitting well above 20 hours a 70.3 wouldn't be a huge stress to my body with the caveat that I don't race it like I usually would, with strict HR guidelines to hold me back. So I talked with my doctor, and after dissecting my history and training the last few months, along with very positive blood test results, she gave me the go ahead with a number of guidelines around listening to my body, HR and feel. The last question she asked before giving me the go ahead was can I hold back my competitive nature and put the baby first. Priorities changed the instant I found out I was pregnant, I knew I could put my urge to win aside for the health of this little blueberry on board.</div>
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The race went pretty good, I was nervous with forecasts of 95 degrees race day, I knew I would have to keep it pretty comfortable effort to keep from cooking the baby! </div>
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The Swim: </div>
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Panic Attack! Crap, I stopped having these in the back end of last year once I got more comfortable in open water but turns out after 6 months of no open water swimming or wetsuit it returned, I'm sure it will go away with a few more open water swims...hopefully. The buoys were easy to see and follow, still I managed to do some extra distance, I definitely need to work on sighting and going where I sight! I probably went easier than I needed to but the freak out in the beginning had me cautious.</div>
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The Bike:</div>
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Here is where I realised how hard this was going to be. It wasn't the heat, the bike course was tough but mild compared to some of the riding I had been doing in Colorado, the canyon was solid but nothing that had me too worried. The hard part was letting my competition go by!!! I was sitting at lower watts than I raced Ironman last year, my legs felt great like we were just cruising along, but I had to hold back and keep my HR from getting too high and it was busy pumping all of the extra blood my body was making for baby. In racing I have this seek and destroy attitude, I come out of the swim down and the fun starts I get to chase down the competition getting a little boost from everyone I pass. I was in phenomenal shape so I still did some passing but had to let people go when they passed me.</div>
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The Run:</div>
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Well legs were fresh! The run starts with a 3 mile uphill, which sucks in the beginning but that means the finish line is downhill, and I LOVE running downhill. Lots of practise in Scotland running hard downhill at the end of long runs my legs can handle it without destroying my quads. This was a beast of a run course, hilly and hot. Hills on the bike I can do, hills on the run are my weakness. There was no flat, no chance to get into a rhythm and again had to keep HR and effort in check. Again I spent most of the time fighting the urge to go after people who passed me! </div>
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The Finish - 5:31</div>
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Ok this was bizarre, usually at the finish line of a 70.3 I am dying, I look like I could collapse at any second totally wasted. Well this time I cruised across, got my medal and water, and well felt fine. It sucked :p </div>
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I am so in love with this course though, it was tough but stunning. I definitely want to come back and give it another crack!</div>
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While so drastically different racing experience, it will be very cool to tell this little blueberry about his or her racing resume with mommy. It was hard not pushing to my potential, but at the same time I kept smiling to myself thinking about this shared experience and the new adventures that are ahead. I have lots to catch up on, 2 weeks ago I went to Philadelphia to race TriRock Philly my first Olympic Distance and then to Atlantic City for the Team MaccaX camp and to cheer on my team mates doing the race :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBBQuDY4-8zYsXBZFoo427fz-e9efSqgE4VHQOticDXOCudm-IxKviBCubbb1GNlnYs0ppGJvlPWoMHp3IRuDKXH9tpX68ay_m-BLgzwlvCA1z17X6tUO8idpxFjMNbcfCwjCICUXtqQ/s1600/stg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBBQuDY4-8zYsXBZFoo427fz-e9efSqgE4VHQOticDXOCudm-IxKviBCubbb1GNlnYs0ppGJvlPWoMHp3IRuDKXH9tpX68ay_m-BLgzwlvCA1z17X6tUO8idpxFjMNbcfCwjCICUXtqQ/s1600/stg2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terenzo Bozzone</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Potts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scoping out the finish line pre-race</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-65053115628300807422014-03-17T16:50:00.000-06:002014-03-17T16:59:21.892-06:0024 hours & Heart Rate Variability24 hours...of training...in a week...madness. (well 24:44 if we want to be exact..and us triathletes are nothing if not exact with training data & numbers :p)<br />
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Stats for the week:</div>
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Swim: 13,730yds</div>
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Bike: 254 miles (408 km...damn I should post everything in km looks more impressive)</div>
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Run: 28 miles (45km)</div>
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(Strength training and foam rolling in there but not included in time)</div>
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Last year was insanity fitting in training with starting a freelance Personal Training business trying to get that up and running spending hours at a gym trying to convince people who didn't know they wanted a Personal trainer that they needed one, and more specifically me. It was a challenge to say the least, if I didn't sell my services I didn't get paid and I had zero experience. Somehow my background in Project Management didn't seem to apply to this new vocation :p It ended up working better than I could have thought but that made training a little more challenging trying to balance work, being on my feet all day, and training. Last year I spent between 13-17 hours a week training with the exception of 2 peak weeks that were closer to 20. <br />
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Well this year is a little different. One I have a full triathlon season under my belt, and found out that I'm pretty durable, two I have a whole lot more time to train. I'm not working at the moment, and would go insane if I had nothing to do so I'm training (well nothing to do and the fact that I absolutely love the training and am pretty obsessed with triathlon may play a small part) :p Luckily I have my coach Lucho to keep me in line or else left alone with all of this time on my hands I'm pretty sure I would end up an overtrained mess pretty quickly. Its funny he has a way of pushing me beyond intensities I would think I could hold, and holding me back from over doing it at the same time.<br />
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Now not every week is going to be 24 hours of training (and this wasn't a planned 24 hours), but I am hoping to do more than I have in the past. Goal number one though is to be able to do it while staying healthy and not hitting that overtraining minefield. I'm doing a couple things to make sure I stay healthy during this, one of which is Heart Rate Variability. I first heard about this from <a href="http://www.tritawn.com/" target="_blank">Tawnee Prazak </a>on Endurance Planet (Pretty much got most of what I know about triathlon/nutrition from that podcast). I use the SweatBeat app, which is pretty cool, its an app on your phone and it connects to a bluetooth Heart Rate monitor. Luckily I already had the monitor from using the MaccaX app training sessions, I have the Viiva 4iiii. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtx1aAFDCvAjNW1N-lkMLN6peDnKbUstyycyD0WrIAKKMWO60SqMIEjevRyL-oNAFm67FCZDXSCrjYDJibaqMfnxg0hYjKID-154X-yZWPPTMPiSHkl5wGqzvhijb65KtHD55vYd0bCA/s1600/EP+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtx1aAFDCvAjNW1N-lkMLN6peDnKbUstyycyD0WrIAKKMWO60SqMIEjevRyL-oNAFm67FCZDXSCrjYDJibaqMfnxg0hYjKID-154X-yZWPPTMPiSHkl5wGqzvhijb65KtHD55vYd0bCA/s1600/EP+hat.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side note Endurance Planet has kick ass gear now!</td></tr>
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To get started they recommend you calibrate it after a few rest days to get a baseline, it worked out well I decided to start playing with it near the end of my off season when I hadn't run in a month, so I was able to set a baseline really rested. What the test entails is putting on the HR strap when you wake up, lying still and just relaxed breathing. Pretty easy, and painless...in stark contrast to everything else we do in this sport (like foam rolling..ouch).<br />
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From SweetBeats HRV guide, why HRV is important to performance sports:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">"In competitive sports, improved performance is often achieved by alternating periods of intensive </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">training with periods of relative rest. This is because after the body has been exposed to a stressful </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">situation, providing that adequate recovery has taken place, it will adapt and become stronger. The </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">alternating periods of intensive training and rest help an athlete avoid physical fatigue caused by over </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">training. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">To better understand this, consider the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS has </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">two branches, the sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic branch increases heart rate, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">blood pressure, cardiac output and a diversion of blood flow to the muscles. The parasympathetic </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">branch decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and generally creates an environment for the body </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">to repair itself. Not surprising the parasympathetic branch is very active during restful sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Heart Rate Variability, or HRV, is in essence a view into the ANS. By measuring your HRV, you can detect </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">when the sympathetic branch is in overdrive and inhibiting the recovery and repair capabilities of the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">parasympathetic branch. Overtraining can create a sustained imbalance between the two branches of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">the ANS and can lead to a multitude of unwanted side effects."</span><br />
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Basically when your HRV is high, you are ready to train and kick ass, when its low it may be time for a recovery day. <br />
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I was tracking my HRV pretty sporadically, I think there is definitely something to it, but am still hesitant to trust an app to tell me how I'm feeling. I did start using it more as training has started to pick up and see how it relates to how I feel and am pretty impressed with how accurate it is. If nothing else it's a great way to prove to my coach I'm feeling as awesome as I say I am...even after tough training sessions :p <br />
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Some of the numbers I've seen: There was a week before my last duathlon that was the only time I've felt tired so far this year and it showed HRV in the high 70's that week. After last weeks 100 mile ride and brick run it went down to 84. After the 24 hour week it went into the high 80's but 2 days later came back up to mid 90's. I know recovery is my strength and I bounce back quickly, so its been interesting to see that reflected in the data.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg32JMrjFJuOA6_tj03-LGzME9hl4V_WVWF_TxHxZOGvS5lTm4fVS07aTlaH4YMUFz6Jpny52YhflYdTfVdpJA_efqgvD4pV-4TqfGCReW9D4-yqfKsjGmxDcW1kjQR-waU9hoZGZLTks/s1600/HRV.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg32JMrjFJuOA6_tj03-LGzME9hl4V_WVWF_TxHxZOGvS5lTm4fVS07aTlaH4YMUFz6Jpny52YhflYdTfVdpJA_efqgvD4pV-4TqfGCReW9D4-yqfKsjGmxDcW1kjQR-waU9hoZGZLTks/s1600/HRV.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest, and the trend.</td></tr>
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The other thing I've discovered...shots of tequila in Austin, TX are bad for my HRV. Shocking I know. Now I only seem to drink around triathletes, and most of these posts are about triathletes so you may get the idea I drink a lot...but I really don't, and a real night out really hits me hard! We were in Austin for a wedding, and it was the day before my birthday. So after wedding festivities we let loose on 6th street and there were a few shots consumed...The next morning Lucho had a long run on my schedule, lets just say that was not happening, out of curiosity I checked my HRV...55!! It took 4 days to get it back into the 90's and I could feel the lingering effects to say the least. So tequila is bad for training, lesson learned. (I still maintain that beer is the ultimate recovery drink post race for no scientific reason).<br />
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I'm still going to use listening to my body as the first indicator though, technology is very cool but after the last year of learning to listen to my body I know its going to tell me what I need. Now that I'm not a stubborn mileage obsessed athlete I used to be :p</div>
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<br /></div>
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The 24 hour week. It actually wasn't going to be that long, but I ended up doing a coffee type cruise on the Sunday that was so much fun just to enjoy being on the bike, chatting with like minded people and stop at a popular coffee spot to ogle the different bikes. The schedule had a hard brick on it, and I was feeling good that afternoon so I decided to do a shortened version of the hard brick to get some of the intensity in. It was definitely a bike volume focussed week, getting very familiar with Stiletto (my Shvi) and the new bike position.</div>
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Anyways thats my rambling for the day, loving training right now. Its been alternating snow days, and sunburn days here in Colorado so I'm already starting to get some nice <strike>burn</strike> tan lines from getting outside anytime I can and soaking up the sunshine. Just doing what I love.</div>
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Carpe Diem</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-90284629098595121012014-03-10T09:38:00.001-06:002014-03-10T19:54:11.685-06:00Bike Fit Fun & What to expectSomethings just not quite right...well as right as it can be sitting your ass on an itty bitty saddle for 100's of miles propelled by your own legs, trying to scrunch yourself into an aerodynamic position, typically ending in the same spot you started...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumMnXV5Ih-1t33J2MAHgVqRB-BBLmI1egmVbGW29Fk38shTXmTdpowuRDMAZsWVkSAbsln7EWibGublkChZcRJHz2x9IDJlFH8xX0M7qo4C7TgbHLs5rIrPLcmYhENO4akQ5duhiQadc/s1600/1017133_1432471153664753_284100841_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumMnXV5Ih-1t33J2MAHgVqRB-BBLmI1egmVbGW29Fk38shTXmTdpowuRDMAZsWVkSAbsln7EWibGublkChZcRJHz2x9IDJlFH8xX0M7qo4C7TgbHLs5rIrPLcmYhENO4akQ5duhiQadc/s1600/1017133_1432471153664753_284100841_n+(1).jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st bike fit at the top, 2nd bike fit position below - lean mean and aggressive!</td></tr>
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And yet I love it. No wonder people think we are insane.<br />
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I messed with it. I had a bike fit done when I first bought Stiletto, and the plan was to get the initial fit done and then there is the option to come back afterwards to make adjustments after riding for a while to dial it in. At least there should be with a good <strike>fitter</strike> <strike>fitterist</strike> fitologist (that just makes me think mixologist, and then I want a margarita). The first fit was great on the front end, but the seat was a lot farther back than I was used to, since last year I was riding a bike that was too big and had to slam the seat forward. That resulted on my calves having to take up a lot of the work, and by the time I got to running off the bike they had nothing left. <br />
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Unfortunately my truck died, I know shocking that an '87 Toyota pick up, with a bench bolted in the bed, that I got for like $800 died, I mean it should have been the picture of reliability :p So with the shop being 50 miles away in Boulder and winter outside couldn't get back up there.<br />
<br />
So I fiddled. I tweaked. Move this thingymagiggy (technical term), and my knee aches, move this whatchamacalit and my quads feel like bricks, don't even get me started on what happened when I adjusted the angle of the doodad. <br />
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I got it to a place where it felt ok on the trainer, but when I finally got to venture outside it just didn't feel right and running off the bike felt blah. So I finally decided it was time to go back to the fitologist and get dialed in. I had great experience with a Retul fit in Scotland and found a shop in Boulder - Colorado Multisport being fit by Ryan Ignatz - that used the same system so I went back to them. (not sponsored by them or anything just a great experience)<br />
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Here is the bizarre part about living here, you can't spit without hitting a professional athlete. I found out on a ride the next day my bike fitter is a pretty bad ass Pro Xterra Triathlete. No wonder he seemed to know a little about this sport. <br />
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<b>So what to expect from a bike fit:</b><br />
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First is the questionnaire. Why are you here, what's wrong, your goals and the latest triathlon gossip.<br />
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After the gossip they make you do some calisthenics, see if you can touch your toes (I can't), hip flexibility tests, and some strength tests like single leg squats (yay didn't fall over). <br />
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Following your calisthenics session, they will have you hop on the bike and start pedalling. If pedalling has ever felt natural or comfortable, wait until you have someone watching each stroke. Suddenly you wonder what you are doing, thinking should I be pedalling in a circle? Or more like a box? Have I always wobbled my knees? <br />
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The fitologist will then stand looking very intensely at your bike, with a furrowed brow like they are figuring out the ultimate question to the answer of 42 (and if you got that you are a geek :p).<br />
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Once they have solved the questions of the universe they will proceed to move many whosits and whatsits by millimetres. Occasionally asking you to jump back on and get into a comfortable position and pedal, hum and haw and then continue their adjustments. If you find a fitologist that is great at multitasking the triathlon gossip and tips will continue through this process keeping you entertained. <br />
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And then THE question comes up. How aggressive can we go. I let him know what my goals were and since I'm looking to use my bike to get me on podiums we decided to play around and see how low can I go (no not doing the limbo...although that would be fun if the shop busted out with coconut bras, steel drums and a limbo bar) and still run well off the bike. Last fit I had some homework to do on hip flexibility and strengthen my gluteus med so that this position could be achieved. Ended up moving the front end down an inch (or 2.5cm) and moving my bars/pads/seat forward.<br />
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Bike fitters have a tough job of making you aggressive but comfortable enough that you will be able to put in the miles, and as A type people most of us triathletes just say go lower, go lower. They have to evaluate what we will actually be able to ride based on body type, flexibility, experience, history. I've had some push back in the past because, yea, I've owned a bike less than 2 years and don't have much experience, but the bike has ended up being my strength and I'm pretty sure the years riding a super sport motorcycle should count for experience :p Luckily Ryan took it all in and evaluated strength/flexibility and said, yea we can go aggressive. <br />
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Ok adjustments made, got a good workout in jumping on and off the bike and spent some quality time drooling over equipment in the shop I want. Time to hop on to do the last test to see how the position feels. <br />
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Now I don't want to be dramatic or anything but when I started pedalling and settled into the new position it felt like magic, like I could go out and give Rinny a run for her money ;) (Its possible...if I didn't have to swim or run...and had a big head start on the bike). <br />
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Next up the pedalling analysis. "You're doing it wrong" Ok he didn't really say that in so many words but he had some ways to improve my running off the bike and suggested some of the issues I was having wasn't the bike. Now you think how many ways can you adjust moving your foot around in a circle when its fixed to the pedal?? A lot apparently, I have a tendency to point my toe down and give up the power house that is my gluteus (never thought of my ass as a power house), putting more stress on smaller muscles that fatigue quicker. So homework after this visit, use my gluteus. I also got a laundry list of things to think about on the bike and pay attention to, and what requires another visit if it feels off. <br />
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New position I've never ridden in and it feels more comfortable than the position I've been riding for months, I think this visit was a success. BUT the real test comes when I get outside and put some power to the pedals and then see how the legs feel off the bike. <br />
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What better way to test than a long ride and hard brick, stay tuned for the results! <br />
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Carpe Diem<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-73687139955121047692014-02-27T07:18:00.006-07:002014-02-27T08:31:02.187-07:00Your top end is shit & Race ReportThis weekend went out to smash myself at a local race the Chilly Cheeks Duathlon.<br />
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My race was summed up perfectly by my coach's response afterwards, "Your top end is shit"<br />
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Luv it! I'm not the type of athlete that likes to be coddled. I don't want a coach to tell me I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread, or hold my hand. I want an honest assessment, tell me how to improve and egg me on a little bit. I want something, he will tell me bust your ass and get it done. Thats why I've been so successful working with Lucho.<br />
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So race plan for this race is something that I keep saying I want to do but haven't been successful with. Just go hard on the bike and see if I can hold it together in the run. I got called out on the<a href="http://www.enduranceplanet.com/atc-luchos-guide-to-heart-rate-training-improve-vo2max-in-7-sessions-causes-and-remedies-for-groin-pain-common-first-timer-ironman-mistakes-mighty-mitochondria-and-more/" target="_blank"> Endurance Planet </a>podcast, talking about mistakes in first Ironman races and it was for going too easy on the bike. I had an issue with my seat post slammed to the bottom the last 30 miles, but the first 80 odd miles I did take it easy, 5 beats below the top of my MAF range (zone 2ish), that unknown of the run looming. I 100% agree I could have pushed that more, and most likely would have run the same time, everything from training says so. I finished well in 10:56 but really with my fitness could have been around the 10 hour mark.<br />
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Where it really stands out is in my half Ironman racing...I pretty much did Ironman watts for every race, which is silly because its half the distance! WAY too conservative if I want to be top of the podium in more than just my AG. I always thought of myself as a runner so would back off when it started to burn, and even though my bike is faster in relation to the field now I never bet on it. <br />
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Anyways back to the race! Ok bike, go hard, thats all that was going through my head. I had a pretty solid warm up going into this, about 10 miles with some intervals above lactic threshold watts to get the legs warmed up and start the buffering process. The previous 3 weeks I had put in some solid work, more time than I did in the lead up to Ironman last year so the legs weren't feeling fresh, but thats the fun part of these races just go hard, suffer and try to hold on :D It was also my first time racing in my Hammer Nutrition kit, you cant miss me in this neon pink get up! I used Hammer HEED to keep things topped off while doing my warm up, I also had some on the bike just for a sugar boost along the way. <br />
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I was so excited to see Brandon and Theresa, they popped up to say hi when I was waiting for my wave to head off. Seriously cool that they came out on a windy chilly day to cheer, met them through the MaccaX tri team and it is the most supportive group of people. Check out their <a href="http://teambabydinosaur.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog!</a><br />
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The race format was a 10.8 mile bike, 4 mile run. It was bizarre starting with the bike, I've always had to swim or run before the bike. We started off in waves of 5-8 on 1 minute intervals, the buzzer when off and I went out hard. I was in wave "P" going in alphabetical order, so there was a lot of passing people in the waves ahead. <br />
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I was going to try to build to my previous FTP. I started solidly, HR was climbing, breathing was picking up, ok breathing harder now, omg I cant breathe! At this point I was 3 minutes into the race...Yea legs are working hard, but not hard enough for such a short race, breath was coming in gasps even though HR wasn't really that high. So Stiletto and I battled the wind, crazy bumpy roads to T2.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FBZgBHvF5FYTpVbOlakVzf8pjw20jMJ1jsM16TFEFIW-kVU4OivwOMyVZ4q2Q4w6EqIBAXSg94YB38bXRvjF6_p3AxjzV3DuG7GFXkyV8St3njLI-QIDz1v1O7hmb6B6Tg5aevq4RH8/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FBZgBHvF5FYTpVbOlakVzf8pjw20jMJ1jsM16TFEFIW-kVU4OivwOMyVZ4q2Q4w6EqIBAXSg94YB38bXRvjF6_p3AxjzV3DuG7GFXkyV8St3njLI-QIDz1v1O7hmb6B6Tg5aevq4RH8/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stiletto and I battling the wind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yup top end is shit. What a minute, you mean if I don't train it, it wont magically be there on race day? Huh, who'd have thunk it. Use it or lose it people...I lost it. <br />
<br />
Hopped off the bike in T2 wondering what the run legs would feel like, and unsurprisingly they were fine. I know the goal was to go hard on the bike to see that my legs would still be fine on the run, but really I wasn't putting out that much power event though effort was at redline so I was pretty sure run legs would feel ok. I got some side stitches during the first 2 miles of the run, couldn't get air. The last two miles a woman came by me and I decided I was going with her, I knew she was in a wave ahead so if I could keep less than a minute between us I would finish ahead of her. That urged me on a bit more, but I didn't go to max on this run. I had thought so much about bike and not about the run at all, so my head wasn't in the same place to push to the redline like I did on the bike, that was a mistake. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7pjXI18seFFA1ktX4AHAKePrYWynyfWFGDvOtf3HXL4F-nwGGfg0MIqDRzPKfgkMC0P1QkXFCcK6GHFCUsZ76UUMaSqb9Q2avkQrdYerMuyTLRk2Iauej_aBe7paxP3pAFSsztXAY6E/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7pjXI18seFFA1ktX4AHAKePrYWynyfWFGDvOtf3HXL4F-nwGGfg0MIqDRzPKfgkMC0P1QkXFCcK6GHFCUsZ76UUMaSqb9Q2avkQrdYerMuyTLRk2Iauej_aBe7paxP3pAFSsztXAY6E/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously you cant miss me in this kit :p</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was coming up to the finishing shoot, and was so happy to see Brandon and Theresa there, felt like a super star as Brandon ran along side me in the finish cheering me through the last few meters and Theresa waiting for my photo op across the line :p Thanks guys!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxTgMkknrEYwh3o1sSS9i_2Qr1cfGedfC9wFLgDhxjaD58nOW6pcR6_Zy_bvF9-0HDHXW_fBvwK4GbiKYRZDxalK3v6jjTNb_LuWREWmBKGllceglCNWwOp44rynaUvIuPW-pYLLkwCI/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxTgMkknrEYwh3o1sSS9i_2Qr1cfGedfC9wFLgDhxjaD58nOW6pcR6_Zy_bvF9-0HDHXW_fBvwK4GbiKYRZDxalK3v6jjTNb_LuWREWmBKGllceglCNWwOp44rynaUvIuPW-pYLLkwCI/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Love these small casual local races, just go out there and bust it up. Especially this duathlon series, its the most random formats and it was fun to start with the bike this time, especially after last times run/bik/run/bike/run (with helmet and bike shoes) transition practice format. I had a blast, I ended up finishing 2nd in AG, 4th overall, I didn't do the first race so I had no standings in the series. Have to say I was really impressed with how well it was run and marked, and the banana bread at the end was reason enough to come back!<br />
<br />
Well this got me fired up for training, exactly what I needed, so time to get out there and put in a solid bike/run brick. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQb0kNIJm7RBJIjKmh3Yru4MuIxWbbEUKXZWR4qLQmBB38mLforU703EpXSF7suFs438q95hAkLQeXnqRBKFP43AVc9MBCeak2YwHSaV_LV2r_X2aA3LOHJrHMdrZ3L0nT6avlIV4zUE/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQb0kNIJm7RBJIjKmh3Yru4MuIxWbbEUKXZWR4qLQmBB38mLforU703EpXSF7suFs438q95hAkLQeXnqRBKFP43AVc9MBCeak2YwHSaV_LV2r_X2aA3LOHJrHMdrZ3L0nT6avlIV4zUE/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm good guys, just going to try to breathe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Carpe Diem!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-57362243982293906352014-02-14T10:55:00.000-07:002014-02-14T10:55:05.939-07:00Endurance Planet, Booze & Trail Running<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">So
this is how I ended my last post:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #272727; font-family: Georgia;"> I can't believe
some of the opportunities triathlon has opened up for me, you never know what
is around the corner."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #272727; font-family: Georgia;">How true it is, I had an unexpectedly awesome weekend!
It started with a Podcast. Endurance Planet is the first podcast I
ever listened to, and I started listening shortly after Tawnee & Lucho
hooked up for "Ask the Ultrarunner/Coaches" back in the end of 2011,
before I even knew what order swim/bike/run was in a triathlon and was hoping to survive a marathon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #272727;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #272727;">Well this weekend Endurance
Planets wicked host Tawnee Prezak came to visit chilly Colorado. She put
out the call on the podcast that she was coming up and looking to meet any
Endurance Planet fans so I got in touch. I was excited to meet her, love
the podcast, awesome passionate triathlete and we're both coached by Lucho. I figured we
could commiserate over some of the crazy stuff he comes up with
:p</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #272727;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #272727;">Now like every time I seem to get
together with triathletes, the events revolved around Beer :p I swear I
only drink around triathletes. Tawnee's man John came along for the trip
and he's a Beer enthusiast (not sure thats a strong enough word, he really
knows his stuff!) so hitting up some local breweries was on the agenda.
Its been such a whorl wind getting set up in Denver, I haven't taken the
time to explore some of the local attractions, and I have to say there are some
pretty cool local breweries around here. Check out <a href="http://www.tritawn.com/2014/02/colorado-trip-full-story.html"><span style="color: blue;">Tawnee's blog</span></a> for more details about the
breweries! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7lreq6R1miiypB5Ql0oKCCnYVACP5BDp5eqLOTeYNKQV0BWs8z9EPeff3Rd4xBMQMzLXpBFGik_ckzW4er01je1WOza4daEWoY3eoSgg9jqXI1bBeuHu9fd2TUsAzwTe3AbPC8hyphenhyphendz4/s1600/1002213_10153848096165691_962479329_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7lreq6R1miiypB5Ql0oKCCnYVACP5BDp5eqLOTeYNKQV0BWs8z9EPeff3Rd4xBMQMzLXpBFGik_ckzW4er01je1WOza4daEWoY3eoSgg9jqXI1bBeuHu9fd2TUsAzwTe3AbPC8hyphenhyphendz4/s1600/1002213_10153848096165691_962479329_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawnee & I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #272727; font-family: Georgia;">When you think Breweries, what’s the first thing you
think of? Obviously it's Kombucha...wait...what? Randomness, I met
up with Lucho, Tawnee and John at Crooked Stave and had my first taste of this
stuff. Now I've heard great things about how it can help with gut
bacteria, but when you Google Kombucha this is the description, "</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">a food supplement
prepared from a symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria that is added to tea for
its alleged health benefits" Sounds yummy eh? I
figured because its good for me it must taste horrible (5 year
old mentality coming out :p). Luckily Tawnee insisted I try some
and....it tasted great! Sweet, but bubbly nothing like the mould flavour
I had imagined. So I hightailed it over to Whole Paycheque to grab a few
bottles, thanks for the new expensive habit Tawnee :p</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">The next day was definitely an adventure. It had
been the coldest week since I've arrived in Colorado, to the point I gave in
and did a few treadmill runs last week. What better way to spend an
Saturday than enjoying it outside with freezing fog, temperatures below 20
degrees F on an icy trail? Actually I couldn't think of a better way to
spend it, it was an absolute blast and of course racked up a few bad ass points
that day (you can trade those in race day for speed). </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">So a group of ultrarunners and triathletes assembled
in the freezing fog at Flatirons Vista to set off on an icy adventure.
Check out the video John shot of our adventure <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdSVFtKSEXo"><span style="color: blue;">click
here</span></a>.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY7wSX7-jiBOKAJtwYCoa4midBVbCZrDDV8Cbqj6WQoEXsS_sgqaU3_6dXsHNFtpauXYPFhBGNf9SZ13EP-5lSgXfu9FwF1Kj54IB-4gNTm5EyUXJqZMPhjYPsvFB2O2Hqoh4ZqMF8yo/s1600/boulderrun3-2-09-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY7wSX7-jiBOKAJtwYCoa4midBVbCZrDDV8Cbqj6WQoEXsS_sgqaU3_6dXsHNFtpauXYPFhBGNf9SZ13EP-5lSgXfu9FwF1Kj54IB-4gNTm5EyUXJqZMPhjYPsvFB2O2Hqoh4ZqMF8yo/s1600/boulderrun3-2-09-14.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neeraj, GZ, Lucho, Tawnee, John, Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIbMwNG275pIYeVawrY7y1VIN32ibGMPS-kHC8PfEv1ak5LB94KABsHu108R4xgmIgwxFj9eDyEhUwujI5CV6jIQVdAu-iZ-rZ_59KvNs9YOIMP9Z8uHKUHcss1iCa8idl0v8u7NwA0U/s1600/boulderrun1-2-09-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIbMwNG275pIYeVawrY7y1VIN32ibGMPS-kHC8PfEv1ak5LB94KABsHu108R4xgmIgwxFj9eDyEhUwujI5CV6jIQVdAu-iZ-rZ_59KvNs9YOIMP9Z8uHKUHcss1iCa8idl0v8u7NwA0U/s1600/boulderrun1-2-09-14.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucho with his favourite athletes...ok he didn't say that but come on.... :p</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPFjUyMAsA6hWFdLZTObQ_JTL3r-7Sw9jJUYUEn3eqsnX45jdzKouQatjmQEH-Sq3D-HnAzGbFrJKJyxPDohYfxQC-m-XcomTAFzWC2AeA9faLFoIOEvXS7dV5nXa4BMPk3W6d2mBh4/s1600/IMG_30103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkPFjUyMAsA6hWFdLZTObQ_JTL3r-7Sw9jJUYUEn3eqsnX45jdzKouQatjmQEH-Sq3D-HnAzGbFrJKJyxPDohYfxQC-m-XcomTAFzWC2AeA9faLFoIOEvXS7dV5nXa4BMPk3W6d2mBh4/s1600/IMG_30103.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No visibility!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrfbHTPdplzWyAbfxLPxaJuKvMjTNGRXnY48ImNZCkVkmSr4B0iQzUUjmHERznqYR8VQawBnzyfcv-DlQ4ImizwfsPL895osJm7k63VD1qbwGY1OF1JtLe1PxA93Kg4yoD9JycMAPoME/s1600/IMG_30513+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrfbHTPdplzWyAbfxLPxaJuKvMjTNGRXnY48ImNZCkVkmSr4B0iQzUUjmHERznqYR8VQawBnzyfcv-DlQ4ImizwfsPL895osJm7k63VD1qbwGY1OF1JtLe1PxA93Kg4yoD9JycMAPoME/s1600/IMG_30513+(1).jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">The biggest shock of this run...Lucho ran :p
He had packed up his running clothes, started giving away running shoes,
retired. It was great to have him out there, he coaches Tawnee and I so
it was cool to run with both of them. Hoping to drag him out on some bike
rides this season, so he can kick my ass on the road :) We had another
super star triathlete spotting on the run (Lucho being the 1st of course), Mary
Beth Ellis was out there cruising in the snow with her dog making it look easy!
Only in Boulder...</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipBYQ5E7i1GGVKOxNl23BC3nljsS0L7MhDjD_WGd0iGp-Tk9Rj8nI1q2g6kgRFEozNep9Vm-0YVJ26PbW3fsnlhY9GHZ7JTz8XFSuXzdTiKBkbkVuYEO5qPCdiAAH1WLkAZ_jAHxgmZw/s1600/IMG_30634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipBYQ5E7i1GGVKOxNl23BC3nljsS0L7MhDjD_WGd0iGp-Tk9Rj8nI1q2g6kgRFEozNep9Vm-0YVJ26PbW3fsnlhY9GHZ7JTz8XFSuXzdTiKBkbkVuYEO5qPCdiAAH1WLkAZ_jAHxgmZw/s1600/IMG_30634.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He runs again!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">Now the ultrarunners definitely knew how to get over
this terrain, they made it look easy! I know I was sliding all over the
place, I think my core got more of a workout than anything else just recovering
from near faceplants! I haven't had so much fun training in a
long time, it wasn't the crazy terrain but the company. I think I need to
make more of an effort to find some training partners. I had an
awesome group to train with in Midland, TX, that made even the most stomach
turning brutal sessions a lot more enjoyable, but pretty much spent last year
training by myself in Scotland.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">We ended up cruising through just over 9 miles at
10:15 pace. This kind of running its definitely more about the time on your
feet than mileage. I'm absolutely going to be doing more trail running,
just take speed out of the equation enjoy the scenery, go off effort and worry
less about numbers. I was super impressed with Tawnee and John coming up
here to run at elevation, I was knocked on my ass for months after moving up here
and they just cruised through it!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia;">What do you do after a frosty run? Head to a
brewery in Boulder of course! We hit up Southern Sun for some
refreshments and food. Chill ski lodge like place that was made even
better by good conversation and food. John ordered some beer samplers, I'm
definitely digging the beer sampling, and we tasted some of their specialties.
The stand out one for me was a Mint Stout, it was bizarre, tasted like a
thin mint!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">I
love it, the randomness, new experiences, epic conditions and good beer, what
more could you ask for? I'll say it again, never know what is around the
corner with this triathlon adventure, the people, experiences, places its taken
me have been an unexpected bonus to this crazy sport. Maybe next time
I'll be blogging from Taiwan, I have no plans to travel there but insane stuff
like last minute races in exotic locations just seems to happen lol. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">Carpe Diem!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p>Thankfully It warmed up a bit in Denver this week!</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogbOO_btmWyQ4sLWcRU8Dp-QKk3oCe3-zTyspmgKepF78KPrV5ai9ZeQ49nNhlWH8GeLJmN9HyhJNI9K0fNT2_bvgZKAZucMel6LhkTDNCP-iHJlONZuGqrnhdll2BlPmRtkE_O_hlyM/s1600/1617415_1424171297828072_1945349342_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogbOO_btmWyQ4sLWcRU8Dp-QKk3oCe3-zTyspmgKepF78KPrV5ai9ZeQ49nNhlWH8GeLJmN9HyhJNI9K0fNT2_bvgZKAZucMel6LhkTDNCP-iHJlONZuGqrnhdll2BlPmRtkE_O_hlyM/s1600/1617415_1424171297828072_1945349342_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left is Sundays snow run, by Thursday warm and sunny!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-27824214334896314922014-02-06T12:39:00.001-07:002014-02-06T12:39:08.617-07:00Swimming with the World Champion!I'll tell ya who at the bottom, its not Macca this time :p<br />
<br />
Ok sports fans, its time to get serious! <br />
<br />
I was told I'm too slow, to join a swim squad I was hoping to join to get faster. Huh. I don't like being told I'm not good enough, it wasn't a shock I know my swim is mediocre on a good day but doesn't mean I like hearing it.<br />
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<br />
So what am I going to do about it? I'm going to grow gills, start sporting eau de chlorine, do what it takes to get faster in the water. No more of this flailing up and down the pool lane just to get through the swim workouts so I can get on the bike or run.<br />
<br />
Last year when I was doing 6 hour 70.3's I didn't think my swim really mattered much. I had so much to gain on the bike and run it just seemed better to spend the time and effort taking an hour off the bike/run instead of 10 minutes off my swim. Now it matters. If I want to be a top Age Group athlete I can't come out of the water a half hour down on my competition, as much fun as it is endlessly passing people on the bike I need to be in the game a lot earlier.<br />
<br />
So game plan.<br />
<br />
FOCUS! We've all been guilty of this, you have a workout on the schedule you know you need to get it done but your head isn't really there. You finish the workout, but just surviving it, not giving it 100%, knowing you could have done more. That was pretty much every swim for me, I would get in the pool and survive, instead of thrive. I've been getting better at staying mentally engaged, and really focussing on what I'm doing in the water. Which lead me to the next step, I didn't know what I was doing wrong so I needed to find out what to focus on.<br />
<br />
Swim Analysis. I should have done this forever ago! I've never had swimming lessons so my teacher was YouTube videos. When I would have people take a look at my stroke they would say they didn't see anything crazy wrong, even Siri told me the same so I assumed I just needed to get more fit. <br />
<br />
Well I finally went to Swim Labs in Denver and got an analysis done. It was so cool/bizarre. They have a pretty slick set up with a room full of endless pools. Then there is a mirror in front of you and one on the bottom of the pool, along with a camera in front of you and another one along side you. So you get to see every angle. Then they have you swim and take a short video, review the angles with you and then show you what it is supposed to look like side by side showing your video and olympic swimmers from the same angle. Then have you do drills or try to imitate the stroke you just saw. The crazy part is you feel you're doing something drastically different but you see it on the video and your arm has maybe moved an inch from what it was doing before! I'm not sponsored by them or anything I just thought it was so cool the set up they have.<br />
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Which was good because my issue is below the water. I'm giving up a ton of pulling power half way through my stroke to the end. So now that I know what to work on, I can focus on it. I tried swimming in a speed workout (I cringe when I see Speed swim on my schedule) using the recommended form and holy crap are my triceps sore! It feels totally awkward, but I was able to go faster, although fatigued more quickly because I'm not used to using those muscles. I'll be going back next week to Swim Labs to see if what I'm doing now more closely resembles swimming than my unique flailing stroke :)<br />
<br />
I've been told I should embrace my swimming, see it as my friend, learn to love it. I'm going a different direction. I perform best when I'm fuelled by competition or have something to prove, so I'm going to own my swim, attack my weakness.<br />
<br />
So who was the World Champion I got to swim with? Mirinda Carfrae! I swam with Siri and her crew of unbelievably talented Ironman women. It was unreal to get to see these women in action in the pool, they are fast, but have a pretty cool team environment. I would think that would be challenging come race day but Siri knows what she's doing, can't argue the results they get! It was very cool I chatted afterwards with Mirinda and Amanda Stevens and they were great. Definitely one of those surreal moments. I can't believe some of the opportunities triathlon has opened up for me, you never know what is around the corner.<br />
<br />
Carpe DiemUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-90606715241141836282014-01-13T07:01:00.000-07:002017-01-13T09:36:18.646-07:002013 Racing around the world & meeting Legends2013 everything changed.<br />
<br />
I started the year with dreams of going under 6 hours in a 70.3, and hoping to finish my first Ironman secretly wanting to get under 13 hours. I was excited to travel to Sweden, getting the chance to visit a new country, that would make it 4 countries I had ever been to. <br />
<br />
I had no idea what an adventure triathlon had in store for me. I started the year solidly in the middle of the pack, now I have dreams of much more. I'm a year and a half into this sport and I love the competition, the suffering, and the amazing people I've met along the way.<br />
<br />
The Highlights:<br />
<br />
Moved from "sunny" Scotland, to Denver, Colorado.<br />
PR by 1:10:00 in a 70.3<br />
Completed my first Ironman in 10:56<br />
Raced in 6 countries (Spain, UK, Canada, USA, Nevis St. Kitts, Sweden)<br />
Meeting my coach the one and only Lucho in person!<br />
Coffee with Mark Allen<br />
Spreecast with Dr. Maffetone<br />
Shots with Lothar Leder (first person to go under 8 hours in 140.6)<br />
Training, advice and racing with Chris "Macca" McCormack <br />
Podiums at 6 of the 8 races I completed<br />
<br />
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I was so fortunate to get the opportunity to travel, meet some of my idols, and learn from legends of this sport. I made some amazing virtual friends that I got the chance to meet in person and I discovered that I didn't suck at triathlon.<br />
<br />
Craziest week<br />
<br />
Definitely in August. It went like this - Travel to Sweden (car/plane/train/van), do my first Ironman - Kalmar, travel back to Scotland, get a tattoo in the 24 hours I am home, get back on a plane this time to Canada, do the marathon as part of the MaccaX relay team 7 days after Ironman.<br />
<br />
Most unforgettable race<br />
<br />
Half Challenge Barcelona ETU championships. Met Macca for the first time, 5700m of climbing on the most stunning/terrifying bike course I've done, had my back seize up so I fell on my face in front of the crowds 1.5km into the run (blood makes your race pics look hard core :p), meeting team mates and a wicked after party with hot sauce and arm wresting! The last time my finishing time started with a 6.<br />
<br />
Best sounding accomplishment with major *asterisks*<br />
<br />
I ran the same marathon time as Lothar Leder at Challenge Penticton ***although I was in the relay and didn't have to do the swim/bike, and he was injured**** ...sounds much more impressive when I don't mention those parts<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lothar Leder</td></tr>
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Worst Hang Over<br />
<br />
Miami Man, partying with the crew, then up at 6 am for a bike ride & open water mass start practice, yuck. I only seem to drink around triathletes, certain people are a terrible influence. Threw it in the Big Chain Ring a few times this year, train hard/play hard.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIfnJCfCBj4O0Axv5NX6n5b9DSykO7WXUZvlW5LaDakskwM9nXtGOQt6lk5eRR77dykc8QECvr81q4JwHggo_eI1qPhfLTJRYaTqtXyi8khWK4aSI1Y0FcRHrP2Ftmo-AcWLmMiGaN_Q/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIfnJCfCBj4O0Axv5NX6n5b9DSykO7WXUZvlW5LaDakskwM9nXtGOQt6lk5eRR77dykc8QECvr81q4JwHggo_eI1qPhfLTJRYaTqtXyi8khWK4aSI1Y0FcRHrP2Ftmo-AcWLmMiGaN_Q/s200/photo-3.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Random Motivation moment<br />
<br />
2000 athletes on the course at Ironman Kalmar, none of whom I have met, and someone goes by on the bike in the crosswinds yelling out my name and saying lets go! Turns out he was part the MaccaX team and the motivation could not have come at a better time, got my ass in gear.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the motivation Andil</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
Toughest Mental Challenge<br />
<br />
The finishing shoot of Ironman Kalmar, I had spent 7 miles with my QL seized and leaning to the side, I kept falling over into the crowd because I couldnt stand upright. That was the longest mile, but it was worth it to cross the line.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Most fun Race:<br />
<br />
Challenge Penticton - a week after Ironman no expectations running the marathon, joined a band of drummers on the course, danced with a group of people in blue leotards, clapped and cheered for aid station workers and volunteers, high five'd everyone, danced/ran through aid stations with some good tunes. Drinking with Lothar Leder and Macca afterwards hearing stories of sleeping on river banks with bike boxes putting everything on the line to become the best topped it off.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Worst Sunburn<br />
<br />
MaccaX Triathlon in Nevis St. Kitts down in the Caribbean...I was so good not getting sunburned with about 10 gallons of sunscreen, second last day burned my ass, literally, flight home wasn't so much fun!<br />
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<br />
<br />
Best Triathlon Investment<br />
<br />
My coach, Lucho. There are so many toys and gadgets in the sport that talk about free speed but having the engine to take advantage of that speed is imperative. He pushed me to a level I couldn't have imagined, brought me from middle of the pack to front of the field. I just have to look back on the workouts he gave me where I though there is no way I can do that, to know I would not have pushed myself to the same level on my own. He kept me injury free, but pushed me beyond my comfort zone, I think at times surprising both of us.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucho!</td></tr>
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<br />
I could not have done this on my own, my husband has supported/sponsored/motivated me in this journey. I have a phenomenal online team that has given me so much support, a few laughs and WTF moments, and have been given advice from the best in the world. <br />
<br />
So 2014, its an open book. I cant wait to see where it brings me. <br />
<br />
Stats<br />
<br />
Swim - 386696 yds<br />
Bike - 4889 miles<br />
Run - 1437 miles<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-24975718446800783402013-12-26T11:31:00.000-07:002013-12-26T11:48:29.221-07:00Off Seasons Fun!Off Season!! So this is a bit late, my off season officially came to an end a week ago :p<br />
<br />
A time to let the body relax, gain a few pounds and let the mind turn to jelly after a year of <strike>obsessing</strike> thinking about training and racing. This year I met some of my hero's, figured out I don't suck at triathlon, raced in 6 countries and became an Ironman. <br />
<br />
This would be my first planned off season...planned being the key word. Since I got into running about 2 years ago the only time off I have had was when I fractured my pelvis...5 never ending months off from a misdiagnosed injury. Since then it has been a whorl wind of running races which turned into triathlon that lead to Ironman. <br />
<br />
Ok time off. Its been an intense year and I was definitely ready for some down time. I think more mentally than anything. I hadn't been able to train to the level I was before moving to Denver so the body didn't feel too bad but the head needed a rest. I'm also taking some time off being coached at the moment, just playing things by feel. I will absolutely be knocking down Lucho's door when I have my next "A" race on the schedule, he got me to a level of fitness I did not think possible!<br />
<br />
I've heard all this talk about off season, how important it is, how you should work on the hard stuff, but should just do the things you like, gain weight, but not gain weight, don't train at all, but train your weakness, eat whatever junk you want, but try to get into healthy eating habits for the coming season. The usual confusion that comes from so many differing styles and opinions. So here I was on the plane ride home from Nevis thinking, "What now?" <br />
<br />
Usually I don't have to think too much, there is always a plan laid out for each day, but now coachless and raceless I had no idea what to do with myself. I got into a little bit of a post race season funk. After such an intense race season it was like coming down from an adrenaline high.<br />
<br />
So I did the only logical thing I head on over to coach Google to try to figure out what this off season is all about, and figured out what I want to do.<br />
<br />
Off Season Plan:<br />
<br />
1) Indulge - mm that box of chocolates looks good...<br />
<br />
2) Work on my glaringly obvious weakness the swim<br />
<br />
3) No Running<br />
<br />
4) Try some new stuff unrelated to triathlon<br />
<br />
5) Bike when I feel like it<br />
<br />
Off Season Plan Results<br />
<br />
1) Indulge - you cant go wrong with this one, lots off yumminess<br />
<br />
2) Tried something new with the swim, if I'm honest with myself I merely survived the workouts all year, there was no attention to detail or the level of focus needed to improve my swim. So cutting the workouts down to 2000-2500yds and swimming 5-6 times a week. Plan was the shorter workouts would help me stay focussed instead of losing interest and just flailing like I've done all year. It definitely worked, in the last month I've taken almost 10 seconds off per 100yds in the last month. Thats the same amount I took off all year last year. So I'm not a hopeless swimmer as I previously believed there is hope if I can just stay focussed and learn to suffer in the swim like I enjoy doing on the bike and run.<br />
<br />
3) No running, while more extreme then I would want I cut the run completely. I started getting pain just above the arch of my foot about 3 weeks before Miami (same time I got the new bike). So I wanted to nip it in the bud and get rid of it. After 3 weeks of not running I was still feeling the pain when I tried a short run back and my calves were still rock solid tight. Turns out it was the bike fit causing the problem, I had my seat slammed forward on my last bike because the frame was too big, so I got used to riding like that and it puts very little demand on my calves, well the new bike was set up "properly" and put a hell of a lot of demand on my calves. Usually I would go back to the bike shop for a 2nd fit to get it sorted out but my little truck died so I haven't been able to get up to Boulder. I started fiddling with the fit, I eventually got it to a more similar position to what I had before. What a difference, a week later I went for a 5 mile run zero pain or discomfort and its all been good since then. Well good except I am so horribly unfit on the run! I have to keep reminding myself I used to like running :p<br />
<br />
4) I had so much fun mixing it up. Right now I live right across the street from my gym so I went crazy trying out different classes. Zumba, Hot Yoga and Muay Thai, replaced swim/bike/run. What I learned is I have zero rhythm, the flexibility of a cyclist (I dont think the yoga teacher meant that as a compliment) and a lot of aggression :p It was a blast. As a result I will be continuing the Yoga classes, I actually found one I liked that is challenging, with a little of the yoga mentality but not so much that there is a zen overload. I also got back into strength training, my favorite! It's Strength training that helped me lose all the weight and where I feel most comfortable, lifting heavy stuff and putting it right back down where I found it (sounds productive eh?).<br />
<br />
5) Turns out I like biking a couple times a week, I didn't have any planned workouts, if I felt like biking I would go for it. I did a complete 180 from my training all year. Instead of an Ironman focus on volume nothing but short and intense workouts. I forgot what zone 4 & 5 felt like! I definitely struggle with the top end, having trouble getting my HR that high to start. Once in a while would randomly log into the MaccaX app, choose a bike workout and go hard as Macca coached me through my headphones. I'm going to keep using these the next 2 months, mix it up before I go back to volume and work a little more on the top end. <br />
<br />
I figured out when to end my off season when I started really itching for some solid training. I found the number of workouts creeping up, the bike rides were getting more frequent, and I just wanted to start going hard again. That was about a week ago and I'm loving it. Its bizarre trying to write my own plan, I have to hold myself back as I come back to fitness (not my strong point). I'm having trouble realising that I'm not as fit as I was before Ironman and I need to adjust accordingly. I made the mistake of looking at a week of workouts about 6 months ago, pretty sure I would die if I attempted that right now!<br />
<br />
Time to get my head back in the game, and figure out what I am doing next season. <br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching it up, not looking like a sweaty triathlete :p</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqKrok3d5R6kHsP6HYAVGUdsqU0RwyL7nRu1nPpDhWcB5Fhb0989B6eAKhEvM9Oq2FnIPrOsRhd-SUzA6EUk7dveDwl8uvBxtleBg3DWIfAwY9pnOX9f1WErRNiiLQogKlj1ccDHK0c/s1600/1520742_10153607046770403_539211216_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqKrok3d5R6kHsP6HYAVGUdsqU0RwyL7nRu1nPpDhWcB5Fhb0989B6eAKhEvM9Oq2FnIPrOsRhd-SUzA6EUk7dveDwl8uvBxtleBg3DWIfAwY9pnOX9f1WErRNiiLQogKlj1ccDHK0c/s320/1520742_10153607046770403_539211216_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinks with friends and Ironman recaps are an off season must!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-50552658792812446842013-12-15T12:53:00.002-07:002013-12-15T13:00:15.360-07:00MaccaX Triathlon Race Report<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ok sports fans we last left off with me
being lulled to sleep with the soothing sounds of a DJ battle vibrating my
room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Race Day! MaccaX Triathlon in Nevis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">1500m ocean swim – no wetsuit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">60k Bike ride with the 5k “Anaconda” hill,
steep enough to be standing most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">10k Run….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Alarm goes off race morning, luckily heard
it over the racket going on outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s right the party was still going strong at 6am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lack of sleep be damned, last race of the
year it was time to go hard and close out my first full season with a
bang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Walked over to transition and bikes were racked
by first come first serve so I picked a prime spot for Stiletto to wait for me
until I was ready to unleash her on Anaconda hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Macca walks up to transition and first
thing he says says, “You look tired.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Geez thanks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With everything
ready to go, I wandered off, put in my headphones and took a quick nap by the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling revived I head down to
the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZC7b5MlXuX9qacTWlGgRaEHQfSkc89tL9CNpZon3qxCq_ao5GfooHaAeY-ai1us0lDoqSBg7vaL71IavvuNSuWACA5GDWlCc37oYdiUE-AOZXSz9hpfEEvb2fSGLNm4ZX3WefrWul8E/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZC7b5MlXuX9qacTWlGgRaEHQfSkc89tL9CNpZon3qxCq_ao5GfooHaAeY-ai1us0lDoqSBg7vaL71IavvuNSuWACA5GDWlCc37oYdiUE-AOZXSz9hpfEEvb2fSGLNm4ZX3WefrWul8E/s320/photo+2-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok maybe I do look a little tired...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US">It was weird not having to put on a
wetsuit, I’ve never raced without one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The good news is usually when I put it on my HR shoots up into the
stratosphere so I was a lot more calm standing on the start line. Some chit chat and a good luck from Macca it was time to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">First two cans (buoys) were massive and
white, so I managed to find those ones ok, the 3<sup>rd</sup> was an itty bitty
black one, not so easy to see!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> U</span>nfortunately some foggy goggles had me stopping
a few times and going a lot of extra distance….well foggy goggles and my
terrible sighting ability, definitely going to be doing more open water work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ok out of the water, run up the beach and I
was so excited to get on my bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hard
bike ride was just what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its
always a question of how your legs will feel race day, last week it was a
disappointing flat feeling..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Legs just wanted to go, so I reigned them
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan was first loop high end of 70.3
watts, 2<sup>nd</sup> loop go hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
felt like I was soft pedaling out of transition my legs felt so good but I was
right on target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time to do some
climbing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hill is a pretty constant
incline with some little flat sections but averaging 7% according to my Garmin
file.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to sit right in my watt
range going up so I knew it wouldn’t kill my legs for the run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely didn’t spin up it, it was too
steep most of the time, but was able to keep at a comfortably hard effort and
keep HR under control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t
believe how good I felt 30 watts higher than the week before but it felt
comfortable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a little boost along
the way at one of the steeper parts had a local kid run along side me cheering
as I went :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then came the descents!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made the climb more than worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolling with screaming down hills with some
curves to keep it interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
grinning like an idiot most of this ride, I loved the tough beautiful course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t even feeling the heat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And then it started not going so well…the
sound of rims on road is never fun but this was my first time experiencing it
in a race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crap!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race team was so accommodating and got me
an extra tube the night before since I had blown through my other ones so I
pulled off my tire and set about swapping for the spare tube.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly calm I managed to get it back on
check that everything was ready to go and get back to racing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had lost some time, wasn’t sure how much
since my Garmin auto paused but it couldn’t have been much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ok back on the road and back up to
speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until…that now too familiar
sound…rims on pavement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would come to
learn that there was a leak around the valve on the tube….so it didn’t hold air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I was over 3 miles away from
the transition area and all out of tire tubes, so I started walking back,
clicking along in my bike shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
may have been a few words that my mom would scold me for <s>yelling</s>
expressing as I trudged back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That was the end of my race day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first DNF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I ran into Greg (CEO of Nevis Tourism) on my hike back to transition and
he was kind enough to take my wounded bike off my hands and walk back with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to talking about the course
and I mentioned how I would love to have my motorcycle on those roads and he
said they were trying to get motorcycle racing to the island!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be so much fun to take on that
island on a motorcycle :D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately I didn’t get to take on the
run course, soo I don’t have much information about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what I heard it was a variety of terrain
and it got hot by the end of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I did get to see the race unfold from the
sidelines cheering people in and seeing Macca taking the win comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully the race was well prepared with
cold beer at the finish line that helped ease the pain a bit :p<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO3GSKufYG7ifznggVcmhY0-mCCbzEvS99XEDf5jyac53-_5bASzXE53xL5IjSCYC82o0l1b14Nl1Ax194Pt_Gr8Fko-f8thZbj-e1QKbvK2qw1wwLbYcpO04rVTgo4gGQPgIF8rVhf8/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO3GSKufYG7ifznggVcmhY0-mCCbzEvS99XEDf5jyac53-_5bASzXE53xL5IjSCYC82o0l1b14Nl1Ax194Pt_Gr8Fko-f8thZbj-e1QKbvK2qw1wwLbYcpO04rVTgo4gGQPgIF8rVhf8/s320/photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macca takes the win easily! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One reason to do this race…the prizes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under Armour sponsored the race and had plenty
of great swag at the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prizes
included backpacks, shirts AND a pair of the same UA Speedform<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shoes that Macca races in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Macca had to head off the island right
after the race so there wasn’t the usual post race big chain ring party, but next year with the
triathlon taking over the island I’m sure there will be one hell of an after
party!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My last night on the island was a lot more
comfortable, I was comp’d a night at the Four Seasons and it was luxury!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also given a pair of the UA Speedform
shoes to put to the pavement and loved how comfortable they were!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m getting decked out in UA swag lately, luv
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURaNWM0YgfUT1GYjYSNUOpZ6THg_IBo4YgIcOjZDvLNCbtl2RFksXjZeSRxeY4Zx8z6_SfHYWn7lnCcnONfvzs0t-s93Z82HDTcz49Rzig057R8nVY8mVvk9BmIbzA2YXwpSW0-jCPG0/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURaNWM0YgfUT1GYjYSNUOpZ6THg_IBo4YgIcOjZDvLNCbtl2RFksXjZeSRxeY4Zx8z6_SfHYWn7lnCcnONfvzs0t-s93Z82HDTcz49Rzig057R8nVY8mVvk9BmIbzA2YXwpSW0-jCPG0/s320/photo2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UA Swag- Finally tried the shoes, luv them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pW4-LZeSD2xiLQqztMaYKcIpJeHxz6fNisYFppYiaKz23J9DuNToM9gAHuxJzo7uXGZufcaRxWeQ-N8SiJysZB5oQawKjpjRFf3UW9KZN13f3X1aY0lFBkA0BLADVWa3CQLOZFRdbUU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pW4-LZeSD2xiLQqztMaYKcIpJeHxz6fNisYFppYiaKz23J9DuNToM9gAHuxJzo7uXGZufcaRxWeQ-N8SiJysZB5oQawKjpjRFf3UW9KZN13f3X1aY0lFBkA0BLADVWa3CQLOZFRdbUU/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Bye Nevis...I will be back!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US">I will be back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need redemption on this island, and that is
one of the most fun bike courses I’ve done, and those flats pissed me off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First full race season is officially over, I’m going to take some down
time and freshen up before I go back at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No plans nothing on the calendar…feels weird not having every day
planned around training!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-60543017151206262452013-12-08T19:35:00.000-07:002014-01-09T08:35:23.870-07:00MaccaX Nevis Triathlon Race week!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Macca X Triathlon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Back to back race weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was an opportunity for me to adapt to the heat more and smash it
after a disappointing race in Miami.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>I was fired up. It was only Monday and this race could not
come soon enough. I guess I should start
with the week in Nevis leading up to the inaugural MaccaX triathlon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
It was great to be a part of the inaugural race and get to see what potential this race has. Especially with the island of Nevis. I can just picture next year with a MaccaX camp like Miami, except we would take over the island of Nevis. With just 400 rooms the island could be a triathlon haven, imagine a whole island over run with triathletes! The locals were unbelievable nice, to the point where you questioned if they were told to be so nice, but it was just the island way. Incredibly supportive of the race and so helpful you really felt welcome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sunday was the Miami Man race, and Mondays
event was the travel to Nevis St Kitts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily from Miami its an easy trip, a 3 hour flight and 40 min boat
ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met Macca and Scott at the
airport along with a couple other interesting people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along for the ride was Kendall Macca’s Under
Armor rep (who also reps George St Pierre!) and the CEO of tourism for Nevis
St. Kitts - Greg (who made the trip so much easier).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kendall was here because Under Armor was
generously sponsoring the race with a lot of sweet prizes and they were doing a
photo shoot on the island with Macca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The flight over was uneventful, compression
geared to my eyeballs, I had a row to myself so proceeded to stretch out over 3
seats and sleep the flight over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wasn’t the only one, it was a late post race night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We arrived on the island of St. Kitts, the
bigger of the two islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily Greg
was along on that flight because Kendall and I had no idea how to get us and
our luggage over to Nevis (as you know travelling with a bike box is always so
easy and hassle free…right…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and
Macca were staying at the Four Season Nevis, and they take care of you,
carrying you and luggage from the airport to the boat, docking right at the
hotel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greg convinced the Four seasons
to take Kendall and I along for the ride and then drove us to our hotels, 1<sup>st</sup>
class service! (figuring out things are a bit easier when you’re with the big
names). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well we hop on the boat over from St. Kitts
to Nevis, and first things first are handed some rum punch. I like this place
already!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing you notice is
the breathtaking view of the two islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its incredibly lush and green, and you look towards Nevis to see a volcanic
peak disappearing in the clouds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
assured the volcano had been inactive for some time… Macca regaled us with a story of a swim race between the two island, approximately Ironman swim distance between. I didn't realize how far 3800m was until seeing the distance point to point between the islands.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1P8jHyqaNoNjj2Y9vjmJktWpfJ9W1mwSTj7F8sY0bpfkotsyygE_E1Sk_nJp75GovpmOIRHdwwX2dSe7VS8R_kZuqfQ5Kl-9Am3Z9NOPrHB_3kEydbE2WnJadEFtSNEt2UK2whT5Dp4/s1600/1014027_10153452722005403_690877901_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1P8jHyqaNoNjj2Y9vjmJktWpfJ9W1mwSTj7F8sY0bpfkotsyygE_E1Sk_nJp75GovpmOIRHdwwX2dSe7VS8R_kZuqfQ5Kl-9Am3Z9NOPrHB_3kEydbE2WnJadEFtSNEt2UK2whT5Dp4/s320/1014027_10153452722005403_690877901_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right Greg, Kendall, Me, Macca, Scott</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdiEpioSOXDQ_oL2g98X2ksScQlYyy8WPr2IWqUAax54sR53OJNeF6gom0GGcnpipfG39ualPJp-G4k4Jfn6hmCxd4YAO8Fa1k1_M9gqWhwvEcV0EAusSZyjyYdh73daIH_hdsOvOVJ0/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdiEpioSOXDQ_oL2g98X2ksScQlYyy8WPr2IWqUAax54sR53OJNeF6gom0GGcnpipfG39ualPJp-G4k4Jfn6hmCxd4YAO8Fa1k1_M9gqWhwvEcV0EAusSZyjyYdh73daIH_hdsOvOVJ0/s320/photo+3.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Didn't look real it was so beautiful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3edRt9G_Xf_sW2fi3XKQNZ6XTTL2eyoQltvfNimxH1h4U0yqIXDDqcIbRGUtGjatWtP4RMCL7Fhfkyw2LZLhZNb6wHpxdadN3_3kZZEtNBqQTyxfBaPIhEIZ9GKjTVEwRjnF4_JFIpY/s1600/photo+1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3edRt9G_Xf_sW2fi3XKQNZ6XTTL2eyoQltvfNimxH1h4U0yqIXDDqcIbRGUtGjatWtP4RMCL7Fhfkyw2LZLhZNb6wHpxdadN3_3kZZEtNBqQTyxfBaPIhEIZ9GKjTVEwRjnF4_JFIpY/s320/photo+1-1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had the beach to myself most days!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">On the ride over was chatting with Greg and he asked where I was staying…now the last thing you want to hear when you say the name of your hotel is a near disgusted “Oh…Um is there any way you would to stay somewhere else?” Oh crap. Now I’m pretty cheap with travel and have stayed in some sketchy places I figure I’m just sleeping there the rest of the time I’ll be training or on the beach, how bad could it be? It was pretty bad. Beautiful view but pretty sketchy all around. I got one towel and 1 roll of toiled paper for the week, and the shower dripped without letting up the whole week. Little did I know how my hotel choice would affect race day.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdLf28UcNdOoWgUKWshwucsA7leDRGFsauj5ugSo7PQMyzOeJxKD-jcpqnLIcoEFx5whRL67LYYnwEVxI-HhRqVY9ZrnaPzaCE05Fj2GGGY6Gx_Puc1uKQcyjVK_qPBx0PCUTTsHC9Mo/s1600/photo+2-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdLf28UcNdOoWgUKWshwucsA7leDRGFsauj5ugSo7PQMyzOeJxKD-jcpqnLIcoEFx5whRL67LYYnwEVxI-HhRqVY9ZrnaPzaCE05Fj2GGGY6Gx_Puc1uKQcyjVK_qPBx0PCUTTsHC9Mo/s200/photo+2-3.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view made up for a lot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9iWunpJS85KD8KAVoHufAXPVCbKsSiFpmGVgfFGfEyRjpBf3NNR2M40Hwn93iIXxMUeuCp0zp2qdstfgMTgg4_JfE87MmleseuPkcKjbDlNbiK9oWw86hTfyJDSjMxeBHspL8lRrpa0/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9iWunpJS85KD8KAVoHufAXPVCbKsSiFpmGVgfFGfEyRjpBf3NNR2M40Hwn93iIXxMUeuCp0zp2qdstfgMTgg4_JfE87MmleseuPkcKjbDlNbiK9oWw86hTfyJDSjMxeBHspL8lRrpa0/s200/photo+2.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W3ELNidXepAx95XTHfd03A-HYLl-AJsGS31Mqtrguito18oblPVC5rx9F4MaUFKM1cEk3EjQGf-p1E_MSUTiYKwVmYTd6BIc4DVqAzMiV764g9M_0eD5ZBCrVEdNLtMTSOyPHiFHjSQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W3ELNidXepAx95XTHfd03A-HYLl-AJsGS31Mqtrguito18oblPVC5rx9F4MaUFKM1cEk3EjQGf-p1E_MSUTiYKwVmYTd6BIc4DVqAzMiV764g9M_0eD5ZBCrVEdNLtMTSOyPHiFHjSQ/s200/photo+1.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">It may not have been so bad if I hadn't seen the luxury of the Four Seasons first. 3 pools, beach front cabanas and umbrella's with service right to your lounging chair. It backed on to a stunning golf course filled with Monkeys (cant believe I didn't see a single monkey!). </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">This is definitely a race to come to end of season, bring the family and enjoy a beach vacation. Golfing, boat rides, Sea-doos, hiking, scuba diving and miles of empty beach front make it the perfect place to relax after a long season. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">I had a week to acclimate to the heat and take in the stunning island. I was hoping the time would help my body adjust after it was obviously not ready for the heat in Miami. The good news was because I put out such low power on the bike, and ran slower than I do in my long easy runs I wasn't sore or fatigued at all from Miami. So I didn't have to worry about recovering in time just needed to keep the legs moving and spend tons of time by the pool adjusting to the heat ;)</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrNPnUJWdplc692jOvmwVa1v6WS7hqH3Lv3OAc1HyGi9G4sICKQ8Cj35_CjlBhrhj5cAiTrZVzhNw23DXJEI11WQ1MUbQd3WdtBgZfBfcUdZDkcamCet9aM3Nw_PNXCRw-kta6rmGrYw/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrNPnUJWdplc692jOvmwVa1v6WS7hqH3Lv3OAc1HyGi9G4sICKQ8Cj35_CjlBhrhj5cAiTrZVzhNw23DXJEI11WQ1MUbQd3WdtBgZfBfcUdZDkcamCet9aM3Nw_PNXCRw-kta6rmGrYw/s320/photo+3-3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gallon of sunscreen and a good book in my favourite chair by the pool - key to heat acclimation success</td></tr>
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On of the must do's on the island is Scuba Diving! I've never been before and really wanted to give it a try. Slightly terrified and very excited I got my lesson in Scuba Diving on the boat and before I knew it was weighed down with a tank and vest. I was all ready to go...until it came to jumping off the boat...I think I stood there for about an eternity (in reality about a minute) with them urging me to jump. I've always had a bit of a fear of water that I've been forced to overcome with this triathlon madness, and don't think I would have been able to jump in if it hadn't been for learning how to swim the last year. Crazy that I was this scared to jump in, when in a few days I would be doing my first ocean swim without the protection of a wetsuit. Once I got in though, it was magic. Scott was a pro at this and snapping pictures with his GoPro as we went, Macca hadn't been in about a decade but you'd never know. I followed along, making sure not to get lost but it was unreal being down there. We saw so much, a sea turtle, little sharks, lobsters tons of sea life. I soon forgot how far under water I was, just enamoured with the experience. Next year I expect to fill a boat with MaccaX members and share this experience with the team!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nervous/excited!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGpYUluGfdNp2Q8Gc0Axcy8QEqaqkTlMf7OplT25YLg9KfLGwBlQWZf-5a9aoc1RMbWPBx3R9WFtsEd6CY8LNFi27tSkPU8Xc64-JiIExIEyOOCMFMn6nOk1L8-8G33tbnk33iPDWEIA/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGpYUluGfdNp2Q8Gc0Axcy8QEqaqkTlMf7OplT25YLg9KfLGwBlQWZf-5a9aoc1RMbWPBx3R9WFtsEd6CY8LNFi27tSkPU8Xc64-JiIExIEyOOCMFMn6nOk1L8-8G33tbnk33iPDWEIA/s320/photo+1-2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macca & Scott</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wIGlXfuXRXk7TtXYmlYUIjimuolgwuy888zTuq9R9fO_ES6NpuUO0lXCA_nWe1pAPRHMppbop1wsBcpCoF5adc0zgP7qYdDz-iyw9KYSSn9I4V4LaBpEAGump1M7501zWaYu9sY3J2U/s1600/maccaswim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wIGlXfuXRXk7TtXYmlYUIjimuolgwuy888zTuq9R9fO_ES6NpuUO0lXCA_nWe1pAPRHMppbop1wsBcpCoF5adc0zgP7qYdDz-iyw9KYSSn9I4V4LaBpEAGump1M7501zWaYu9sY3J2U/s1600/maccaswim.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macca</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going down trying not to freak out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhv5Otx07PSpjyMg93LPBK-mXmrOrvB2Up5bxZWX60wKTWAnoeoYn0XUhpoqMykAYwmUMAt60gF3l1A6SVvIDAehIl6O6muRor1NSlJE6CZPQZazbw1-DDW-KpWV80Rbx5bO8mhY7S7Q/s1600/photo+4-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhv5Otx07PSpjyMg93LPBK-mXmrOrvB2Up5bxZWX60wKTWAnoeoYn0XUhpoqMykAYwmUMAt60gF3l1A6SVvIDAehIl6O6muRor1NSlJE6CZPQZazbw1-DDW-KpWV80Rbx5bO8mhY7S7Q/s320/photo+4-1.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forgot to be scared, just lost in an underwater world<br />
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The next couple days were heaven after a long season. Fantastic swims in the Sea, its really a lot easier to convince myself to do open water swims when they involve swim/beach lounging bricks :) The golf course was great to run along, and I could feel that I was slowly adjusting to the heat. I needed about 10 gallons of sunscreen (give or take) as much as I love the sun it doesn't love my redhead skin. The roads were a little rough but everyone gave you plenty of space as they passed, you never felt like an inconvenience, and there were no crazy drivers trying to run you off the road. I wandered into town and found the Nevis bakery a great place for a leisurely breakfast and some tasty sweets. I was not hating the Caribbean laid back environment.<br />
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Next up on the agenda was an unexpected radio interview, definitely a first for me. Live on Von Radio in Nevis chatting about what the MaccaX triathlon brought to the island and plans for the future. I think the DJ forgot my name, I became Ms. Canada half way through the interview :p Team MaccaX got a lot of attention as Macca talked about how he wants to take over the island with our team next year. You think the camps have been fun this year, I'm telling you having an island of our own would be ridiculous!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY72vKcCqGrolJCnxjnWhNvYS0VLvLl33FaSZueOz6zu3maPmvduHK_9YT1ouYIx7jAdljAgEv_UdijyRGSJN3lKg-cmdcgo4M4a9RtOAwgcqoTmqPUxd7Jq9gBsTepQ63XuDtrvMXEXo/s1600/photo+2-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY72vKcCqGrolJCnxjnWhNvYS0VLvLl33FaSZueOz6zu3maPmvduHK_9YT1ouYIx7jAdljAgEv_UdijyRGSJN3lKg-cmdcgo4M4a9RtOAwgcqoTmqPUxd7Jq9gBsTepQ63XuDtrvMXEXo/s320/photo+2-1.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yea this didn't suck</td></tr>
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Ok a little bit about the island course. Specifically the bike ride, it was going to be epic. The bike course is two laps around the island, 60km approximately, with a wicked 5km climb called anaconda hill you get to tackle twice - beauty :). The rest of the race is Olympic distance with a 1500m swim and 10k run. I haven't done an Olympic distance race yet because the swim is too long in relation to the other two and I don't have enough distance to make up for it with the bike and run. With a longer hard bike ride this race would play to my strengths, I couldn't wait to tackle it. <br />
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Plan was to head out on the bike course with Macca and Jane to check out this Anaconda hill everyone was talking about. Unfortunately it was a ride plagued with flat tires. First up was Jane she flatted half way up the hill. Luckily some of the locals were nice enough to pick up her and her bike and bring her back to the hotel. We head back opting for lunch instead of a bike ride, turns out on the way back Macca got a flat, and I would later find out my tire developed a slow leak that had it flat by the time I got back to my hotel. 3 riders went out, 3 flat tires came back. Uh oh.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuZ6JCon9SltbLl7zYktorxdCEOyqQ1aIEuhRV5OnF-NkFAuqOXPCJuqzJ3NIF_xR0Q41S5RiHz4W3iwMeEGqlYF92Dhg7TZlEtEv1MoSM5SgM5zrfg8SUyr9MP_Cbn_QF5YrrCZcyo4/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuZ6JCon9SltbLl7zYktorxdCEOyqQ1aIEuhRV5OnF-NkFAuqOXPCJuqzJ3NIF_xR0Q41S5RiHz4W3iwMeEGqlYF92Dhg7TZlEtEv1MoSM5SgM5zrfg8SUyr9MP_Cbn_QF5YrrCZcyo4/s320/photo+3-2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aborted race course recon</td></tr>
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Managed to change out the tire, I'm getting good at this and do a bit more cruising around, but it was close enough to the race I didn't want to tackle a whole loop and tire out my legs so just got a sense for the constantly undulating bike course and got more excited because it was feeling so good.<br />
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The race was on Saturday November 16th and before I knew it, it was the day before race day. I was pumped for this race, I was feeling on top of my game and then some in the training I was doing. Barely noticing the heat anymore, and legs felt fired up. The pre race fun continued with the requisite pasta party! Race bags were handed out, followed by short speeches by Macca and Greg then we got down to the fun of the race briefing. Nothing too crazy here, just don't screw up the order and you should be ok.<br />
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Then came race night...this is where things got rough.<br />
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Where I was staying there was a restaurant on the other side of the wall of my room. I figured it wouldn't be a problem, as the cook was out of town so the restaurant had been closed the whole time I was there. Well the night before the race there was an event going down, a freaking DJ contest!! So I get back from the pasta party, planning on an early evening and my whole room is vibrating to the pounding bass of the speakers on the other side of the wall about a foot from my head. To the point the roof sounded like it was going to collapse and the room shook. I laid out my race gear on the kitchen table before I left, half of it was on the floor from vibrating off. This was insane. <br />
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Needless to say I didn't get much sleep the night before the race. But I was determined to not let it get to my head. I had some racing to do the next day, and my body hadn't felt this fired up since Ironman I wasn't about to waste it.<br />
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Well race day will have to come in part two, I've blabbed on enough!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEq-O9MR3i6eWUI-kO9MbZsUMMwg67GoxRBYg8db1DMHQCQcurKgEuzgWPsGeuvlaVdkzvl4pTGM414kGhTJF_6IgSgANooqWuvd7G5M3aVacW4QZ1gcdQDO5XlTfK-bv2pfEPNpZ6Qs/s1600/photo+4-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEq-O9MR3i6eWUI-kO9MbZsUMMwg67GoxRBYg8db1DMHQCQcurKgEuzgWPsGeuvlaVdkzvl4pTGM414kGhTJF_6IgSgANooqWuvd7G5M3aVacW4QZ1gcdQDO5XlTfK-bv2pfEPNpZ6Qs/s320/photo+4-2.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking from the boat to the Four Seasons</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjG2Qh01tPvKnIzuSeeWw54e4wFQ5gcbV81boP916xNV4USCJcNHFs2uxldjUNeuk6pTBpA6uI-2NTdkseU1YZRHp5cdZu7QiWyWOWJbN91AW_b-Ab7DKy7_0HEVVrOmCywHwOyNBuns/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjG2Qh01tPvKnIzuSeeWw54e4wFQ5gcbV81boP916xNV4USCJcNHFs2uxldjUNeuk6pTBpA6uI-2NTdkseU1YZRHp5cdZu7QiWyWOWJbN91AW_b-Ab7DKy7_0HEVVrOmCywHwOyNBuns/s320/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Night Nevis</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-54731069085527604092013-11-25T11:26:00.002-07:002013-11-25T11:28:19.191-07:00Miami Man Triathlon and Camp with Macca<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Miami Man Race Report</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Hello Miami!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited to race, I haven’t had a
race since Ironman Kalmar in August and couldn’t wait to hit a start line…well
technically I did the marathon as part of Challenge Penticton a week later but
that race started in T2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Training had
been a challenge with the move from Scotland to Denver and dealing with
elevation but I was confident I could have a descent result, for no other
reason than I wanted it ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The race set up - You swim in a lake, just
barely wet suit legal (I’ll take all the help I can get!), then a fairly
uninteresting bike ride going out and doing 2 loops, before heading back
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Followed by the fun part – the
run!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get to run around the Miami Zoo
through animal exhibits and baffled tourists visiting the zoo (debatable which
were more interesting to observe!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Now racing with Team MaccaX and Chris
McCormack had some benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of
having to head down to the race transition the day before to rack my bike we
had a truck pick them up and rack them for us, feeling VIP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was next to Macca’s S-Works, hoping that
some speed would rub off on mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENbEsIxwas-AVhBVLOjZkCqw7iT0jfXXc4x3qJc5CzuD7VWvqE5QOh5GOZqFKPreMj6j9B0J6ruvklB0f1_lHwvHpr2_69I8bLgyfAGHZ7nu-x3yVsfO2H2UFuQLcKB3-DNZEqMzPovo/s1600/1450873_10153443646525403_1347511264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENbEsIxwas-AVhBVLOjZkCqw7iT0jfXXc4x3qJc5CzuD7VWvqE5QOh5GOZqFKPreMj6j9B0J6ruvklB0f1_lHwvHpr2_69I8bLgyfAGHZ7nu-x3yVsfO2H2UFuQLcKB3-DNZEqMzPovo/s320/1450873_10153443646525403_1347511264_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stiletto dressed in black next to Macca's S works</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Race Morning</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ok this is pretty hot and humid already,
this should be interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scotland
never got above 65 degrees all summer so racing in humid high 80’s was going to
be a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals looked at me
funny complaining about the hot weather, nothing compared to what they get
during the summer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Usual fun getting set up, checking, double
checking, rechecking, checking my list again, to make sure I had everything in
transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would swear this was my
first race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was almost giddy with
anticipation, I just wanted to go out and smash myself! (no wonder people thing
triathletes are insane) Its been too long since I’ve hit that point where everything
is screaming at you to stop but you win that battle against your head and push
through what you thought possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Swim – 41:20</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">That final few seconds as they count down,
I just repeat to myself stay calm, no more panic attacks in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My usual warm up of putting in my head in the
water to blow bubbles and try to lower my HR from the bazillion miles an hour
it shoots up to when I put on a wet suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>GO GO GO!!! We’re off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to
use some of the techniques that I learned in the MaccaX camp and and board
short (swim off the hip) of people near me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This worked pretty well, but unfortunately the people I swam off of were
about as good at sighting as I am…so I ended up swimming a fair bit extra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the bright side it was my fastest pace per
100m I’ve swam, so if I can stay on track I have the ability to PR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Bike – 2:33:25</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is where I knew it wasn’t going to be
my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan for the bike was to
start at the low end of my ½ Iron distance watts and build to the top of what I
should be able to hold in the first half hour, then hold it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually I ride the whole race at the low end,
this time I wanted to push a bit more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well that didn’t really happen… I started
off and felt pretty flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was working
a lot harder than I should be to hold the low end of Half Iron Watts, and HR
was about 20 beats high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fought to
hold the low end, I tried to increase and there was just nothing there, legs
didn’t respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I figured ok, I’ll
hold it here and then at least I’ll have lots left for the run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First half I avg’d 23 mph, then it started
going downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was working my ass off
and the watts were going lower…and lower…soon I was in my recovery zone of
watts, but HR was still zone 3…I was hydrating like crazy until mile 28 and
then the last aid station around mile 43 they didn’t have any water, just
sports drink, I should have taken the sports drink for hydration but I had
already taken in more calories than I had before in a half! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My power went so low I averaged lower watts
overall than I held in Ironman in August when I was out there for over 5.5
hours, I could barely hold that for the 2:33 I was out on the bike!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Brush it off, time for the run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have tons left because I was at
Ironman intensity on the bike!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Run – My slowest run in a Half yet 1:53:45</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Get off the bike, determined to go out
there and at least have a good run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’ve had this bike
about 3 weeks, and one bike fit well this race made it clear the fit wasn’t
quite right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hip flexors were locked
up and I couldn’t seem to extend my legs back, so a fast turn over shuffle it
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First aid station I stopped and
chugged down 3 cups of water, I was feeling the lack of water the last half of
the bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have to say though it was pretty
entertaining watching the expressions and comments of the Zoo tourists as all
of these crazy triathletes run around them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Every aid station I poured water over my
head, ice down my pants and top (I sounded like a cocktail with the ice
jingling around in my bra…could have used a few cocktails).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t feeling so good, but I did get a
lift every few miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was such a
big group of Team MaccaX out there I got excited every time I saw someone, and
cheered them on or a thumbs up as we went by each other or saw people on the
out and backs it was very uplifting on a tough day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was so happy to be nearing the end of the
run, the last 4 miles I had started shivering and getting goosebumps, the
beginning of heat exhaustion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something
I’ve had some bad run ins with as a kid and should have recognised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45u6b_gvx4VMCdoJhdM34W4mqWyKunBc3TiTnGsXemq_N1DgOUgUfZdgloDIPEMpuyelE18qPvUIBlMsex2ZCPk2i7rndObUn6q-0pMNBisMc-_b2IdGfTa_l9eq1L7lxHnACKjq-z3g/s1600/1451573_10153454880340403_1749135348_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45u6b_gvx4VMCdoJhdM34W4mqWyKunBc3TiTnGsXemq_N1DgOUgUfZdgloDIPEMpuyelE18qPvUIBlMsex2ZCPk2i7rndObUn6q-0pMNBisMc-_b2IdGfTa_l9eq1L7lxHnACKjq-z3g/s320/1451573_10153454880340403_1749135348_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy to be a few 100m from the finish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Race Finish – 5:12 – about 20 minutes
slower than I was planning on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">BUT I made it across the line upright,
feeling like a super star with team MaccaX cheering me on through the finishing
shoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Result 1<sup>st</sup> in AG, 4<sup>th</sup>
Female...missed 3rd by 6 seconds...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXxhV5plO4bI8Rre2T1rX8LznFdWXXD1O4yNAw1VHdi5Pa9nGy8CRMD7U9pKSkAUjrD0f_TgU4Fp4yjdICEKhd_Ejsxy8zJKKDji76nXfpnUQ9qpvKoDt0RS241GEx5RDiTcDC3F5RPs/s1600/1473022_10153481071800403_819534264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXxhV5plO4bI8Rre2T1rX8LznFdWXXD1O4yNAw1VHdi5Pa9nGy8CRMD7U9pKSkAUjrD0f_TgU4Fp4yjdICEKhd_Ejsxy8zJKKDji76nXfpnUQ9qpvKoDt0RS241GEx5RDiTcDC3F5RPs/s320/1473022_10153481071800403_819534264_n.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished! Serious bling for finisher medals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiayjbo8LimcsfR1PBn8SU6Wi3iyd5r84esN0iw5qHzecEG-I0kfN-AiI7Wrhjq8NUB-ItD6BjYhaw9cfb2ZhiZbbcusdf_z53TYm2bZ-Ljhit-cnolHI06gz9O1tYSG2AvywVP_mQlmA/s1600/1454739_473870709397467_1965065265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiayjbo8LimcsfR1PBn8SU6Wi3iyd5r84esN0iw5qHzecEG-I0kfN-AiI7Wrhjq8NUB-ItD6BjYhaw9cfb2ZhiZbbcusdf_z53TYm2bZ-Ljhit-cnolHI06gz9O1tYSG2AvywVP_mQlmA/s320/1454739_473870709397467_1965065265_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuffed Zoo animals and Power Bars for the win!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a tough day out there, I was pretty
confident that I could win the race going into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s funny how expectations can cause you to
miss out on the positives in something. I didn’t realize until a week later
it’s the first time I’ve won my AG in a Half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because I wanted the win, I overlooked that, definitely taught me to
slow down and appreciate what I have accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m not sure if it was the heat, the timing
of going up and coming down from elevation, or dehydration but it just wasn’t
my race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However the support of the team
during and after the race made it a memorable one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus there was the after party to look
forward to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The night ended with a few beers and war
stories of the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US">The fun didn’t end there, the next day it was time to pack up and head to the Caribbean to the islands of Nevis St Kitts for the inaugural MaccaX triathlon!</span> Some pictures of our fun in Miami below :)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6ch8sksmizmH6JswY9Izy2P7-7WhQf6htIMFHDvQWjyT2zBTQMZyUAmym6nkgRNSkahUzB3Wx8HdHbMNzkgEWx7fDcCeedIarsrRg9PiB8X4fCRg76jw0QUIWauh6Hr-_F3B9zFsaM0/s1600/1393548_10153440448570403_33254192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6ch8sksmizmH6JswY9Izy2P7-7WhQf6htIMFHDvQWjyT2zBTQMZyUAmym6nkgRNSkahUzB3Wx8HdHbMNzkgEWx7fDcCeedIarsrRg9PiB8X4fCRg76jw0QUIWauh6Hr-_F3B9zFsaM0/s320/1393548_10153440448570403_33254192_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Group ride with the team and Macca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgg6f_Lm8UmZk0hIUeWCwojI_t5clkuA8TAPKGBBm76ejBUPJ_4hWI5WjHWKJDKNIHd1QXsEsS0XcFpTYTWvIutw2mWkRPm1F_RtwRVOPP8D1E8AyOsBHvDeYd8_S5MRUxeAhdcqJEA0/s1600/996942_10153440835905403_473052682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgg6f_Lm8UmZk0hIUeWCwojI_t5clkuA8TAPKGBBm76ejBUPJ_4hWI5WjHWKJDKNIHd1QXsEsS0XcFpTYTWvIutw2mWkRPm1F_RtwRVOPP8D1E8AyOsBHvDeYd8_S5MRUxeAhdcqJEA0/s320/996942_10153440835905403_473052682_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great background for some transition practise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHIgskt71TyAL5MGKC6YBo8HYi_TbgQ2xqJiVw-u9am7H1sG1jnup4d6n-1V-y0zn8TvMhWusnSYsazKZUYFVefzKTvUH9aTcSJnj7CR08VPrJKh5aPFbQo_VPf2tGhiR6lkrD5VfVXk/s1600/1004999_10153444507385403_1017309005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHIgskt71TyAL5MGKC6YBo8HYi_TbgQ2xqJiVw-u9am7H1sG1jnup4d6n-1V-y0zn8TvMhWusnSYsazKZUYFVefzKTvUH9aTcSJnj7CR08VPrJKh5aPFbQo_VPf2tGhiR6lkrD5VfVXk/s320/1004999_10153444507385403_1017309005_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promo work for Team MaccaX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMLcdYC8dLa083BY0XsHfGRcgTqMuvXdeU6QLIfAl3BIv-WyCS026WTEXwi0jT6m45yS147aDDpKiVDEQREfuup_Oo35r18OPFHUeg6dGHxYrqjE-o1yTObHhlw7nej_Zy4gDZXoCNC8/s1600/1393995_10153454880595403_1385759880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMLcdYC8dLa083BY0XsHfGRcgTqMuvXdeU6QLIfAl3BIv-WyCS026WTEXwi0jT6m45yS147aDDpKiVDEQREfuup_Oo35r18OPFHUeg6dGHxYrqjE-o1yTObHhlw7nej_Zy4gDZXoCNC8/s320/1393995_10153454880595403_1385759880_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A ridiculous amount of podium finishes for the Team!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_lWfw5XDz1QqWwsPqknJDI3FE4P5SWK5mW54i43BV1ySuiuyaYE29NLyMqixMZirSGwvdgXV5ahrz17Zfj8QdSHM7nJb-gyIKSe25SaurUb9xzkqcPWsAJX8z5rIzajT3Vnm-SXj0Ks/s1600/1451343_10153454879760403_1997101081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_lWfw5XDz1QqWwsPqknJDI3FE4P5SWK5mW54i43BV1ySuiuyaYE29NLyMqixMZirSGwvdgXV5ahrz17Zfj8QdSHM7nJb-gyIKSe25SaurUb9xzkqcPWsAJX8z5rIzajT3Vnm-SXj0Ks/s320/1451343_10153454879760403_1997101081_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCPMneKDsRqM4omcuNQ8dQHlUoVVTfg3Ug6CLifDr0b9LRKaR4wjw3JXUcBMyI023BhugRyJp2INHVfR-dzaEWNI0J9nXnwpVGxIXKw7H-a5Vi1Uk1Mcvi2B_21t2g4x5gup-y7mGFVQ/s1600/1465408_10153454881390403_613813636_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCPMneKDsRqM4omcuNQ8dQHlUoVVTfg3Ug6CLifDr0b9LRKaR4wjw3JXUcBMyI023BhugRyJp2INHVfR-dzaEWNI0J9nXnwpVGxIXKw7H-a5Vi1Uk1Mcvi2B_21t2g4x5gup-y7mGFVQ/s320/1465408_10153454881390403_613813636_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wicked room mate and new manager Heather!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Vv4olrLYcQFanFltMppoCg7_09Rok66YDITq-Z3nLlcIIY0mi84BdLdOUW5bc6xJiAQkb36mjsvT-lrGN7W0sbCG-SNky4utQ7k705tmIYGH75Ce_67qvRWq08T7U-OkKFbYGAC_3Y/s1600/1459158_10153454879610403_1784259389_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-Vv4olrLYcQFanFltMppoCg7_09Rok66YDITq-Z3nLlcIIY0mi84BdLdOUW5bc6xJiAQkb36mjsvT-lrGN7W0sbCG-SNky4utQ7k705tmIYGH75Ce_67qvRWq08T7U-OkKFbYGAC_3Y/s320/1459158_10153454879610403_1784259389_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this team, beers at the finish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-6296219526966404652013-11-08T20:28:00.001-07:002013-11-08T20:28:35.971-07:00Race Plan & Training with Macca<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Miami Baby!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As I’m writing this I’m flying across the
country to Miami, Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I
could sleep on flights it was an early morning with a 5am wake up call, but
since I cant (too excited) may as well be productive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This will be a rambling post (shocking and
unexpected I know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much to catch up
on but a lot of cool things happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next 10 days I am going to live and
breath triathlon, race, train, and see a bit more of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way it could be better is if my
hubby could have come with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 races -
4 days in Miami and 6 days in the Caribbean in Nevis St. Kitts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Schedule:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Today! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Macca is holding a training camp in Miami
leading up to the Miami Man Olympic and 70.3 race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I missed out on the welcome
dinner Tuesday and day of training today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I cant wait to get down there, almost 100 triathletes are attending the
camp many of whom I have spent hours talking to online about all things triathlon
and some very <strike>slightly disturbing</strike> random conversations to keep things interesting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of BIG personalities to say the least. So
today I</span> arrive at the hotel and get settled in, probably spend some hard
time by the pool while everyone is out riding and doing technique work. What?
Its training…I need to acclimate to the heat ;)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Tomorrow:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The schedule has a packed day of
swim/bike/run and transition work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
take it pretty easy through this, rest up for race day Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that there will be so many other people
to train with. Now that I think about it its been about a year since I’ve
actually trained with other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
get caught up in your own training and sessions and with triathletes its tricky
to match up schedules so this will be great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then a talk by Macca at the local bike shop
that evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Rest & eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">RACE DAY!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I haven’t hit a starting line since Ironman Kalmar and I cant wait to
race!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Challenge Penticton doesn’t count
I started in T2 :p)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">AFTER PARTY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throw it in the Big Chain Ring and party it
up with the crew & Macca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
forward to this part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So 2 races coming up the Miami Man 70.3 this Sunday
and an odd distance 1.5k/60k/10k in Nevis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was very cool to meet up with my coach
Lucho before these races to talk about triathlon and what it takes to be
successful in this sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually there
is a Skype call before races to hammer out targets and race plan but being able
to chat over coffee in person really added to the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its great to hear about his experiences being
a professional triathlete being among the ranks of the elite, especially
finishing 12<sup>th</sup> in Kona. It’s very cool to have such a talented and
knowledgeable athlete to guide me and let me pick his brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as an honest assessment of what it
takes to make it to the professional category.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He even brought an entourage, his adorable son dressed up as Spiderman </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">RACE PLAN<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Nothing too fancy but a little crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Essentially survive the swim, take risks on
the bike and see what I have left for the run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Not my typical plan, I’ve always hedged my
bets on the run essentially survive the swim, ride moderate, run my ass
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had a mental block about the
bike, still think of myself as a runner even though I’ve only been running 2
years I’m more comfortable with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After the last year my biking has transformed and is usually faster than
the other two in relation to the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just haven’t trusted it in racing yet, my legs start to feel fatigued
I always back it off thinking about the run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now this doesn’t mean go out there pushing
threshold the first hour and being completely stupid, it just means going to
the upper limits of what I should be able to hold for 56 miles, instead of
riding comfortably like I usually do, let the legs hurt a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironman was my A race of the year these two
are just bonus’s so I’m going to take the opportunity to experiment and I’ll
either PR, or spectacularly explode and have some data to use for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You rarely learn anything in your comfort
zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to let go of ego and not
be afraid of blowing up and sacrificing a podium finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Training leading into this has been blah, I
haven’t fully made the adaptation, paces and efforts that felt comfortable in
Scotland are still a fair bit harder here and it hasn’t been as consistent as I
would like with the move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I
usually pull a lot of confidence from my training this time it’s all going to
have to come from a belief that I have not lost fitness from Ironman training,
and just know that I have the mental strength to go out there and suffer more
to get the result I want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Let the fun begin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No pictures right now but there will be
tons of the training camp, racing and partying with Macca to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-71919364818331274782013-11-01T13:04:00.000-06:002013-11-01T13:04:00.059-06:00What I have in common with Superman! - Training at elevation.Seriously, I'm hoping I'll be like superman. If you think about it Superman is just some guy, average, nothing special when he's at his home planet. Ok, well he is pretty buff so maybe he would be like a decent cross fit guy or something on Krypton, one of those enthusiastic types that competes.<br />
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Point is (as if it wasn't clear) while he's pretty average at home when he pops on over to earth and gets a hit off that yellow sun he's a freaking superhero!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKgLmUollK7H88r4doACpPN8BqL8L8B6J1Z3WJa7rATunORxB6rU-70442fgqj-vL_J55B4Pd3e3WcL9EUpwsbWu6SmvXszhNLkIfF0rj7Ta_ZJjFl0poWLKKcsXCKEIas7JtzrVepjs/s1600/6a00e5520f4553883301538f4706a8970b-320wi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKgLmUollK7H88r4doACpPN8BqL8L8B6J1Z3WJa7rATunORxB6rU-70442fgqj-vL_J55B4Pd3e3WcL9EUpwsbWu6SmvXszhNLkIfF0rj7Ta_ZJjFl0poWLKKcsXCKEIas7JtzrVepjs/s200/6a00e5520f4553883301538f4706a8970b-320wi.gif" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously buff</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNdjQ08PRecSDEmGMgRR3infgqbQBe8iAPQEkrxHOsE-CcWx6x6qgfzlNbYgkwvue74y3o3L5z_RwNbPG0bhcNQHRXHEOZ67EiSyXCsrKQ3Ay27wSKdLUQPBVY_X-9jEXpi_Y8CxVOtE/s1600/Mens-Reebok-Nano-3-SuperHero-Superman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNdjQ08PRecSDEmGMgRR3infgqbQBe8iAPQEkrxHOsE-CcWx6x6qgfzlNbYgkwvue74y3o3L5z_RwNbPG0bhcNQHRXHEOZ67EiSyXCsrKQ3Ay27wSKdLUQPBVY_X-9jEXpi_Y8CxVOtE/s200/Mens-Reebok-Nano-3-SuperHero-Superman.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean he already has his own crossfit shoes!</td></tr>
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I need some of that superhero power because I'm feeling pretty average up here... Its been 3 weeks since I moved from sea level in Scotland to a mile high at Denver Colorado. While some would argue its not THAT high, it crushed me the first while here and I was pretty sure 70.3 miles would kill me. </div>
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I'm hoping my version of the yellow sun will be getting back down to Sea Level. I'm choosing to believe I will be high on oxygen and fly through the field! Placebo or not, I know I will get a boost down there.</div>
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Its been over a month since I've been able to hit goal paces without feeling like I'm going to explode or pass out after a few minutes. So going into these races coming up just holding onto the belief I can still bike/run near those speeds and I haven't lost all of my fitness even though it feels like it! Hell I know I haven't lost all of the fitness from Ironman training, it just means I may have to suffer a little bit more to get the results I want ;) Suffering I can do.</div>
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Recovery has been interesting too. I've always had superhuman recovery powers, during Ironman training with solid volume there were maybe a handful of times where I woke up with heavy legs really feeling the day before. I miss that... I can definitely tell that the work up here affects me more, I don't feel as fresh going into sessions, don't have my usual <strike>annoying to some</strike> bouncing off the walls level of energy, but building fatigue is the name of the game. You can't improve if you don't stress your body. As long as you are smart about it and don't dig yourself into a hole - if not make sure you have a coach like Lucho to keep you leashed! </div>
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Appetite!!!! This was a shocker. I was eating like a horse! Its tough to eat well while travelling and living out of hotels eating at restaurants for every meal. So being all educated on nutrition and making sure to research how to eat well on the go, I proceeded to ignore all of it and eat what looked good. A lot of what looked good, I was hungry constantly, not limiting my beer and cheesecake intake (its not my fault our place is right across the street from the Cheesecake Factory!). While I wouldn't recommend it, I actually ended up leaning out a bit! Now I'm the type of person that looks at cheesecake and gains 10lbs. I dont know if it was that my metabolism needed a reset and break from the stress I was putting on my body, or if the change in elevation had my body running hot, but I was shocked to see I didn't gain 20lbs especially since I was doing half the training.</div>
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A little bit on my first few <strike>death marches</strike> experiences in swim/bike/run a mile high.</div>
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First Run</div>
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Ok lace up, head out the door. I'm right in downtown Denver so I knew it would be a bit stop and go to get to the pathway dealing with street lights and traffic, always annoying when you are trying to go for a decent run. Little did I know how happy I would be to see a red hand at the light telling me not to cross.</div>
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Start running...ok this isn't so baa....gah where is the air?? Make it to the first light at the end of the block gasping for air. Now maybe I went out too hard, need to back it off, I wish I could say it was uphill. Unfortunately I was running 2 minute per mile slower than usual at a very aerobic HR, and breathing like I was hitting lactic threshold. The workout was a 6-7 minute run, but I cut it short when my pace went down to 10 min/mile and I felt like I was hyperventilating. Little bit of a hit to the ego, 5.5 miles nearly killed me when a few months earlier a 22 mile run was a moderate workout.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpN_p-CsFcBCpqdQBv_zSGG1VnHdx2xwnXV5PGRoCVsIZpYRjFn1bwB5dXXkJnFMb4rq7YZtsfbhytj18Oy85l55FnWBBSBhdN-Rcga3cpTTgSBJ5fN94e-ArP6sM70MGPYI3O4zCb_I/s1600/do+not+walk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpN_p-CsFcBCpqdQBv_zSGG1VnHdx2xwnXV5PGRoCVsIZpYRjFn1bwB5dXXkJnFMb4rq7YZtsfbhytj18Oy85l55FnWBBSBhdN-Rcga3cpTTgSBJ5fN94e-ArP6sM70MGPYI3O4zCb_I/s1600/do+not+walk.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was praying to see these on every street corner so I could catch my breath</td></tr>
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At that point it was 4 weeks to Miami Man 70.3...this could be interesting.</div>
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Riding the bike </div>
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Now this had a bit of a novelty factor to keep my mind off of my embarrassing lack of power. I was in freaking Boulder! Legends ride these roads (although they were all in Kona gearing up for the epic race that unfolded). Like the run HR was 20 beats higher than normal, and I could not get enough oxygen. I stopped looking at the power meter because it wasn't telling me anything I wanted to hear and my legs couldn't do anything to change that.</div>
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The Swim</div>
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We're just not even going to go there. Even better my pool is on a rooftop 33 floors up...as if I need the extra elevation!</div>
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Things have improved marginally since then. Everything is still harder, but I'm not hyperventilating at 10 min miles anymore so thats a bonus :p </div>
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More details to come on meeting my coach Lucho in person for the first time and plans for my next couple races adding a few more countries to my racing resume and how the adaptation is going up here.<br />
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Carpe Diem<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnl7WEkfbeSVO69AtqEFtRjw9UlwXfIiiuBQc8He-xX4i2cIeE2IwyfJ3BmqGGxRfawlGXQPkELhmyinFV3m2of8K5QNVgA8eemLUOyrSM1Lff4LkO0XiNRctGLM4K62c1HUvEP4bI90/s1600/1380091_10153353573440403_421558648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnl7WEkfbeSVO69AtqEFtRjw9UlwXfIiiuBQc8He-xX4i2cIeE2IwyfJ3BmqGGxRfawlGXQPkELhmyinFV3m2of8K5QNVgA8eemLUOyrSM1Lff4LkO0XiNRctGLM4K62c1HUvEP4bI90/s320/1380091_10153353573440403_421558648_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed to Boulder!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xpc2SbbZCxkNLLaGa3IPAAvNr9dIQplTr-texECt7Xmi4k4zeYP10rDJNhvfDbTfjCPQyRZgZMB86pNF2OQg759vEo5JqIqLPSZYzYsEJya2sY7D-TSzMvVvFsZ3WoR0QetV7tDE5WY/s1600/1395799_10153320159590403_1881250382_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xpc2SbbZCxkNLLaGa3IPAAvNr9dIQplTr-texECt7Xmi4k4zeYP10rDJNhvfDbTfjCPQyRZgZMB86pNF2OQg759vEo5JqIqLPSZYzYsEJya2sY7D-TSzMvVvFsZ3WoR0QetV7tDE5WY/s320/1395799_10153320159590403_1881250382_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trainer set up by the rooftop pool, not a bad set up.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-31251326877135411442013-10-25T14:59:00.000-06:002013-10-25T14:59:08.563-06:00Specialized SHIV ExperienceI cant believe it, its sitting here in my living room and I still cant believe it.<br />
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THE SHIV<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2SwXFDXU-nceEqb-GpiTIhBXc683yUIgzmjx8rb52Ms_owY4ikIE-VvBxWk370OMfYsZpXDuYCpja93iy6hKi2pktlx4yo0glFZYhlOeS-MShJiRbnjJZCE6EC6hSZwa1pa4jH18w8k/s1600/1378567_10153339960180403_981372522_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2SwXFDXU-nceEqb-GpiTIhBXc683yUIgzmjx8rb52Ms_owY4ikIE-VvBxWk370OMfYsZpXDuYCpja93iy6hKi2pktlx4yo0glFZYhlOeS-MShJiRbnjJZCE6EC6hSZwa1pa4jH18w8k/s320/1378567_10153339960180403_981372522_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ok I'm not going to lie, this may be <strike>completely & blately</strike> a teensy bit biased because I have wanted this bike for a very long time and I'm still in awe that I have it :p<br />
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So training 7 weeks out from a race with a month of being homeless moving from Scotland to Denver, while jumping through USA's homeland security hoops in Canada, 5 cities, 3 countries, never ending flights, <strike>failing</strike> trying to adapt to altitude and get set up in a new country as a resident alien, lets add a new bicycle to the mix under 3 weeks out from race day! <br />
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It really sounds dumb when I write it down. I don't need the added drama and have more than enough stress and change going on, but its a freaking SHIV! I figure the bad ass points alone will give me an extra mph or two on race day ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGfCDJkNUBHO8U07Yk4k7iOuisZTbmgWAv4YnQUDCdoDm1gL3pbvBa283ZFYRHe0WRwYQEz7nq99cm7Nf1vYhAB8A-BWV5kmDM01gxLUGwPbqVV1C0HvuyXzSzGMnG7zndApBoEPgOJY/s1600/1394289_10153341090910403_1978179346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGfCDJkNUBHO8U07Yk4k7iOuisZTbmgWAv4YnQUDCdoDm1gL3pbvBa283ZFYRHe0WRwYQEz7nq99cm7Nf1vYhAB8A-BWV5kmDM01gxLUGwPbqVV1C0HvuyXzSzGMnG7zndApBoEPgOJY/s320/1394289_10153341090910403_1978179346_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giddy!</td></tr>
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Man thats a sexy bike. I was like a kid at Christmas jumping all over the place trying to stay calm when it arrived. Now its kind of like a toy that comes without batteries, as much as I wanted to I couldn't play with it right away. I had to get it fit before I could put in some miles. So online I went and found a Retul fitter in Boulder, I had such a great experience with them in Scotland I was hoping for the same level of quality here and I really wasn't disappointed. I lucked out finding <a href="http://coloradomultisport.com/" target="_blank">Colorado Multisport</a> (seriously check them out if you're around Boulder) and they took care of me. <br />
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It was fantastic to see just how adjustable the SHIV was, every plane of motion could be manipulated to mould it to my riding position and make a decently aggressive aero position feel incredibly comfortable. With a knowledgeable bike <strike>fittologist</strike> <strike>fittist</strike> fitter I couldn't have been more happy with the position.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJALRR7vYj1dyypCRFic9COlREP77Js6XBlgGwp0qHPcsjunhkHd4EVHSczjODKTnT9ZDcqjT0mU5pvpFhrfAyf2t-a710wqahsBmZUN0QGdifZ9ITT9UeyAV3xjcDyLuLq-x3663kkE/s1600/67958_10153342305260403_721601664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJALRR7vYj1dyypCRFic9COlREP77Js6XBlgGwp0qHPcsjunhkHd4EVHSczjODKTnT9ZDcqjT0mU5pvpFhrfAyf2t-a710wqahsBmZUN0QGdifZ9ITT9UeyAV3xjcDyLuLq-x3663kkE/s320/67958_10153342305260403_721601664_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ok so bike is built, fit and ready to ride. So I load it up in my crappy little truck (that I love) and head to Boulder to give her a try. Its funny to see the SHIV on my little truck, it costs about 10X as much but has two less tires, no engine, half the seating....wth? Triathlete prioritites :p<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde2K1KusmLlCz8t8vZFxwfaIYCVz-UPAx4_x2ljIiUzSjJ3fWhkSjBbOPV0STWn_IM-MOWa1r5vCDoFeLxqHnK4rWN9I8KbVsbM7wxFLavI9N2O33LnvbAUCnJrNN4Cu3SKZb2ElDPYs/s1600/994357_10153357277635403_1802437309_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde2K1KusmLlCz8t8vZFxwfaIYCVz-UPAx4_x2ljIiUzSjJ3fWhkSjBbOPV0STWn_IM-MOWa1r5vCDoFeLxqHnK4rWN9I8KbVsbM7wxFLavI9N2O33LnvbAUCnJrNN4Cu3SKZb2ElDPYs/s320/994357_10153357277635403_1802437309_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes I seat-belted in the Zipp wheel in the front passenger seat</td></tr>
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Weather forecast was <strike>freaking freezing</strike> a bit chilly, with a high of 40, but I was so excited I didn't care. I looked ridiculous wearing knee high socks and shorts but I was hoping people would be too distracted by the SHIV to care...it may be time I actually invest in some cycling pants.<br />
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The ride - Smooth & Fast<br />
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WOWZA! I can't compare my entry level bike to this Carbon Fibre beast. The first thing I notice is how insanely smooth it is. I didnt realize how much energy I was expending absorbing the vibrations of the road until I didnt have that stress anymore. I felt like I was riding newly paved roads, but could see that wasnt the case, the bike just smoothed the ride out for me. <br />
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It is also incredibly tight, just a flick and it sails through the gears without hesitation. Now I had upgraded all of the components on my old bike to Dura-ace but it never felt like this. It reacted instantaneously and with no effort. <br />
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Comfort, like I said before it was easy to adjust it to fit me perfectly. I had been riding medium frame that was too bike for me, so just going down to the small frame made a big difference. However beyond that just being able to adjust everything to dial it to the perfect fit was phenomenal. First ride was about 3 hours and between the fit and less vibration from the road I was less tight than if I had done an hour leisurely cruise on my last bike.<br />
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Bad Ass points - Seriously, this thing just looks fast. Its almost like because you expect it to go faster, it does. I'm sure the leaps and bounds in aerodynamic technology, and ditching the UCI rules have a lot to do with that too ;) Not going to lie I enjoyed the attention this thing gets riding it around. <br />
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I even had a non biker comment on how fast the bike looked when I was taking it up the elevator to my apartment. Then they asked, "So are you a famous athlete or something?". Of course I answered with the truth, "Not yet" ;)<br />
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So as much fun as riding the SHIV was I had to cut my ride short, it started raining...then the rain turned into snow as the temp dropped... Discovered those fluffy snow flakes you catch on your tongue don't feel so fluffy when you are hitting them at 25mph... I was still an hour from my truck. So not the most pleasant first ride weather wise, but I have never been so happy freezing my ass off.<br />
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So to sum it up - I had high expectations for this bike, and in reality it was more than I could have hoped for. <br />
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To the important question - does she have a name? I've never named any of my motorcycles or my last bicycle but this one is different. <br />
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Stiletto - sleek, sexy and my weapon.<br />
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Two weeks until I head to Miami for a training camp with Macca followed by the Miami Man Half Ironman and then I head to Nevis for the MaccaX long distance Triathlon in the Caribbean. I cant wait to see what I can do on this bike, even though this elevation change has been killing my training. I haven't been able to hit Half Ironman Watts up here for more than a couple minutes (little less time than the 2.5 hours the race will take) but just keeping positive that between the bike and adaptations from training here I will be able to unleash this bike racing.<br />
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Carpe Diem<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-91173963344429240302013-10-21T19:37:00.001-06:002013-10-21T19:37:22.413-06:00Crazy Hectic Chaotic Life, I love it.Ok, its been far too long since I've updated, life has been chaos. Turns out moving across the atlantic to a country you're not a citizen of takes some time and acrobatics jumping through a few hoops. Add in training for a 70.3 and life is a special kind of chaos. I thrive on it.<br />
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So I said my good-bye's to Scotland, spent a week in Calgary, Alberta. I forget how much I miss my home town just eating and drinking my fill with good friends and family. It was heaven. <br />
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I also got my first taste of elevation and the mountains. Calgary is about 3500 ft up and I didn't think it would affect me much but I was in for a surprise! Although Denver was a whole other experience. I had so much fun, there was a ride that I used to go on every weekend on my motorcycle up to Bragg Creek. Before I got into this triathlon obsession I used to see those cyclists go by on the same route and think they were absolutely insane. I would flick my wrist, the R6 engine would growl and propel me up the hills...and those cyclists were a blur in my rear view mirrors soon forgotten.<br />
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Well I became one of those crazy cyclists and decided to see what it felt like to be my own engine. I loved it. Scotland was rolling hills, this was fast straight descents that you just held on and steep uphills that made the legs just burn. I hit a new top speed on those hills of 41mph, speed wobble is a little scarier on the bicycle than a motorcycle without the safety of full leathers to keep my skin intact! It was so gratifying to ride my old favourite route on the bicycle, although I'm sure there were a few motorcyclists thinking "why?" as they flew past me as I used to.<br />
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With travel its always tricky trying to get in the training. I came up with a new game seeing how fast I could pack and unpack my bike in each new city and happy to say I PR'd :p Always fun to get to the a new city and hotel unpack the bike, hard trainer ride the next morning, pack it back up in the afternoon and head to the airport once again. I do love exploring new cities with just a pair of running shoes, running aimlessly getting lost and finding my way back. I get to know a city intimately and it doesnt get dull. <br />
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Eating was another thing. I know its possible to eat well on the road, there are so many options. What I am a little lacking in is will power. When there are so many yummy options on the menu its hard to say no when its at your finger tips. I've had ambivalent feelings towards food since Ironman, there was so much build up and I thought of that as my last race of the year then I could relax. Well I did for 2 weeks I ate and drank whatever I wanted and didn't work out. After that I was craving the workouts and have all the drive in the world to go hard, buuut the diet didn't come back so easily. I finally got back in the groove about a month later, and then we were on the road again. It's not so hard at home, but when on the road with so many exciting options I have a hard time saying no. Well we are finally settled in Denver and have a kitchen and food in the fridge after a month of restaurants on the road so trying to get back at eating things like vegetables and not having dessert every night :p<br />
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I'm so happy to be here in Denver Colorado, life is starting to calm down and return to normal. We're set up in an apartment in downtown Denver until we get things sorted and start house shopping. I'm a creature of habit and like being able to settle into some sort of routine for now. Its been a wild ride this year and there are still a few more trips to come but a couple of weeks of calm are more than welcome.<br />
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Some exciting things have happened in Denver...specifically a new machine that I can't call a bicycle because it so far outclasses the bicycle I was on before. So stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-10379672404609622482013-09-26T04:26:00.000-06:002013-09-26T04:29:49.840-06:00Training & Racing with Macca - You can too!Training for a 70.3 in the midst of a trans-atlantic move while trying to adapt to altitude...<br />
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Seem like a great idea eh? Almost as brilliant as my marathon the week after Ironman, but once again, what the hell it will be an adventure.</div>
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First off the Race! So I'm going to be racing Miami Man Triathlon, after a training camp with Chris "Macca" McCormack. Always a blast meeting up with Macca at these races and downing a few beers afterwards. Miami Man looks like a very cool course, with the run going through the Miami Zoo! Now if only they let a few wild animals loose I would definitely PR.</div>
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Its weird being back into intense training again. The last year has been a very much an aerobic focus with very little work around threshold and above. Training specifically for a 70.3 means a 180 in training focus. Hello pain cave! Instead of the distance being the hard part, its now the intensity. I forgot what it felt like to get my HR into the 190's and actually have my legs burning and screaming to stop!</div>
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You know what though? It will be worth it...when I win Miami Man ;) I'm going to race balls to the wall hard. I haven't raced like that all year, everything has been held back a bit, in the sprints early in the year I didn't know what it meant to suffer on the bike so I didn't push as hard as I could, previous 70.3's I forgot how much I can hurt during a run and still make it to the end. </div>
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I'm running some paces I never thought possible right now, but more important, I'm remember what it really means to suffer with intensity. The training has been even better mentally than physically for building up that strength. Its the last race of the season, I want to find my limits, flirt with that red line. </div>
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I absolutely cracked mentally on one of those runs yesterday, I used to run every run at that intensity when I was rolling with a group of runners much faster than me in Texas. So need to keep working on that mental toughness, remember that I can run like that and not explode, and not be afraid of paces. </div>
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I'll need all the mental strength I can get because the physical stuff is going to be less than ideal.</div>
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Heres the breakdown of what makes this tricky: </div>
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I'm moving from Scotland to Denver Colorado, USA.</div>
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Scotland is at Sea level, Denver is a mile high (about 5300ft) and goes up from there. High enough that training has to be significantly backed of in intensity and volume for 2-3 weeks to let my body adapt to the elevation or else I risk serious overtraining/adrenal fatigue all that fun stuff. Which is not an ideal situation a month out from a race.</div>
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I have about a week and a half starting this weekend where I have to travel from Scotland, to Vancouver to visit the embassy, then on to Calgary to visit family and then to temporary living (still to be determined where) in Denver. So I pretty much can't do anything but run during that time because bike will be boxed up for plane travel every 2nd day and pools will be hard to come by with no means of transportation.</div>
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Essentially I have the rest of the week to train hard, in the middle of packing and moving, then its a crap shoot up to race day. I'm curious to see how elevation will affect my body, both going up there and then back down to sea level for the race. You hear horror stories of coming down from elevation at the wrong time, and being completely powerless when you go up, it will be an experience for sure. I hear carbs help at elevation...and they have some great IPA's over there...what...beer is carbs ;)</div>
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Ah well guess I'll be Embracing the Suck, should be fun ;) I cant wait.</div>
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Another very cool part of this race I get the opportunity to meet a number of members from the MaccaX triathlon team. Now this is a wild group, from all over the world, and already there is an agreement that what happens in Miami, stays in Miami! </div>
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Read more about the team and how to get involved here if you want to meet up with "The Boss" Chris Macca McCormack - <a href="http://www.road2ironman.com/journal/2013/9/24/what-would-you-do-if-you-have-the-chance-to-train-with-a-wor.html" target="_blank">Train with Macca</a>! </div>
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Thats my rambling for now, time to escape the chaos of this house and try to get a swim in. Wish me luck!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuesa-ZMv-dJ_g5tqKkcHuknNuEdYE7PwMQTQm4QVUCS2ZfJKZ5coKpk0kjZf2DQR4LtjD9MCHxeMF7DppdhkG3ap7iRrAm2IhcPbN7MAxZlMmN-Sj0SQxFJMPn86yPWj55jGqCBvpyk/s1600/734386_10153268532080403_677502044_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuesa-ZMv-dJ_g5tqKkcHuknNuEdYE7PwMQTQm4QVUCS2ZfJKZ5coKpk0kjZf2DQR4LtjD9MCHxeMF7DppdhkG3ap7iRrAm2IhcPbN7MAxZlMmN-Sj0SQxFJMPn86yPWj55jGqCBvpyk/s320/734386_10153268532080403_677502044_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the ducks that hang out in our front yard for the last time :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lng4lim5TYWe41LazOlM3byBhLeh4XeRrLpSQSmV5etOyAfiHnmZSXqUJ4UlRPf1_aBDFCJE5_nbvZXQcG3PbIpcj6KV75ON79O-dSy6OJv_O9KOmTkaoJdVh2FRHYP_DASPIiZaI_o/s1600/1234221_10153268531860403_1523871167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lng4lim5TYWe41LazOlM3byBhLeh4XeRrLpSQSmV5etOyAfiHnmZSXqUJ4UlRPf1_aBDFCJE5_nbvZXQcG3PbIpcj6KV75ON79O-dSy6OJv_O9KOmTkaoJdVh2FRHYP_DASPIiZaI_o/s320/1234221_10153268531860403_1523871167_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good-bye house, Good-bye Scotland.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-80835208023899174262013-09-25T02:45:00.000-06:002013-09-25T02:49:10.189-06:00New Directions - Moving to a new Country!Life as always is going at a million miles per hour, at this point just trying to hang on for the ride!<br />
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As I'm typing this my house is being taken over by boxes, we are officially leaving Scotland! It was such a short stay here, we have been here a year and 10 days. It was very cool living overseas, exploring such a beautiful country with such a colourful history. As well as having the opportunity to race around Europe, and sample European beers :)<br />
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I've been fortunate to travel a ton here, and have raced in Scotland, England, Spain, Sweden & Canada this year.<br />
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I am moving to..... *DRUMROLL* Denver, Colorado, USA!!<br />
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I cant express how excited I am for this move, it came along at the perfect time and is the right location.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJy-MxgoXWJfxuIFs4qdws4wr9BhWWv5f9gq_orM_k-GNZVM18OdVm364rqnWktHnUZr_3EpaQkeAeTxp5JPopz29WkBCeJq_fCM-sOTeN-fjEVPZ5hFGuziM1Llj5mmnqIpqKhPLRAQ/s1600/photo8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJy-MxgoXWJfxuIFs4qdws4wr9BhWWv5f9gq_orM_k-GNZVM18OdVm364rqnWktHnUZr_3EpaQkeAeTxp5JPopz29WkBCeJq_fCM-sOTeN-fjEVPZ5hFGuziM1Llj5mmnqIpqKhPLRAQ/s320/photo8.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea of Boxes!</td></tr>
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Couple of major benefits:<br />
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1) Direct flight home to Calgary. Visiting family once a year, having to travel almost a full day to get there makes it very tough. Technology is an fantastic tool to stay in touch but not as good as quality time in person.<br />
2) Close to Boulder ;) With my recent triathlon obsession what better place to be living and training than at elevation with world champions training just a few miles away?<br />
3) Mountains & Sunshine. I love you Scotland, but seasons of Rain, colder rain, warmer rain, greyish fog I wont miss so much. I've missed playing in the Rocky mountains (although the Canadian side before) and cant wait to explore them in a new way with running and biking.<br />
4) Staying in one place!!! The plan is to stay in Denver for a number of years, instead of moving every 1-2 years like we have been doing. 4 moves in 4 years from Calgary, AB -> Grande Prairie, AB -> Texas -> Scotland I'm ready to buy a house and settle down for a while.<br />
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So I'm thrilled, and sad at the same time. Its going to be a few months of chaos from heading to Canada to get work permits, to heading down to Denver living in temporary housing until we find a house to buy down there and start to normalise again.<br />
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Since triathlon is such a logistically easy sport to manage and train for (not!)....I decided to sign up for one last race a 70.3. I was a little disappointed with the mechanical at Ironman and want to have one last hit out for the season. More details to come in the next blog, but I'll be training and racing with Chris "Macca" McCormack<br />
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Tomorrow I'll update on my next race and attempt to train at altitude! Until then some pictures of Scotland.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_NOq0jz74xknEnlIqe8p1yePq23cqVTJptCOng2EcjuP8E6L0UfdTih8B49w0XG9rywAhwt4UkjREu7VjMw3CwqvlGcaeejjEIIMfEdDwE0b1-DvIYNrXimiWVXet23ih2NrOh7Kzn0/s1600/photo7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_NOq0jz74xknEnlIqe8p1yePq23cqVTJptCOng2EcjuP8E6L0UfdTih8B49w0XG9rywAhwt4UkjREu7VjMw3CwqvlGcaeejjEIIMfEdDwE0b1-DvIYNrXimiWVXet23ih2NrOh7Kzn0/s1600/photo7.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my doorstep, I'm going to miss waking up to this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokr3J3dWO4lcv2cNWPT1XqILXrGeMjCUqwdbWYMFpnXKIlGoM7y2IEMYvd8GYkbnd4iC88uOWd49jOmIYZP2QJ8tmnA3TNH3LLMe-gEmiD40jbAiojPNJvOWOjQynrCD7frrGuAumqEI/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokr3J3dWO4lcv2cNWPT1XqILXrGeMjCUqwdbWYMFpnXKIlGoM7y2IEMYvd8GYkbnd4iC88uOWd49jOmIYZP2QJ8tmnA3TNH3LLMe-gEmiD40jbAiojPNJvOWOjQynrCD7frrGuAumqEI/s1600/photo+1-2.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sea side, I loved living near the water, even if it was so cold I couldn't feel my fingers and toes after a few minutes</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2cxB_J2JFMbglaPjkOzEkJddf701QGWdY2O4FvAyrubb_uhaXQYND7HGrSa_pvxXhtF3cjGStFxdG_I9ABIocPVKmNbXg2gPmC7x1cM_byL7xHgYfHn9YN4igaGuMrwiqCjR_PS0t-A/s1600/photo+3-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2cxB_J2JFMbglaPjkOzEkJddf701QGWdY2O4FvAyrubb_uhaXQYND7HGrSa_pvxXhtF3cjGStFxdG_I9ABIocPVKmNbXg2gPmC7x1cM_byL7xHgYfHn9YN4igaGuMrwiqCjR_PS0t-A/s1600/photo+3-1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Aberdeen</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL_zcllzT6jZRfHcfk_e13x27QxhI-179OeoS2diK_SXm7Y5NEpePaYavYgKjThQz0RZI4WdaJdxylksAD070uPJe_XbYJwjlUUjgxICHUkAQB4Ax2QZur6ALxUdTi4h_tyz2KCONZLk/s1600/photo+4-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL_zcllzT6jZRfHcfk_e13x27QxhI-179OeoS2diK_SXm7Y5NEpePaYavYgKjThQz0RZI4WdaJdxylksAD070uPJe_XbYJwjlUUjgxICHUkAQB4Ax2QZur6ALxUdTi4h_tyz2KCONZLk/s1600/photo+4-1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castles, real live castles everywhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignz6aly05g2s0bMJogA_VsuNyc_oR5x17fhRQ2tzs7rEY1-ZEG6pbDX7hSl3U0WcvcQdvrokogjadbKx18JSW5aXmCdPKQix8Va1mZjIcuWdEpVeZFMtqLz78LvOt7qsQWz2-t5tNpWk/s1600/photo+5-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignz6aly05g2s0bMJogA_VsuNyc_oR5x17fhRQ2tzs7rEY1-ZEG6pbDX7hSl3U0WcvcQdvrokogjadbKx18JSW5aXmCdPKQix8Va1mZjIcuWdEpVeZFMtqLz78LvOt7qsQWz2-t5tNpWk/s1600/photo+5-1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail from my doorstep</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-87398786538728348532013-09-04T12:17:00.000-06:002013-09-04T12:19:36.581-06:00Challenge Penticton Part 2 - Race & Party with Legends!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Part 2! Check out the past 2 weeks with <a href="http://jennacaerstri.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ironman-kalmar-race-report.html" target="_blank">Ironman Kalmar,</a> and <a href="http://jennacaerstri.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-penticton-part-1-coffee-with.html" target="_blank">Challenge Penticton Part 1</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">On to Race Day</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So goal for this marathon was to cruise
through it, without destroying myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My last race of the season will be a marathon in about 6 weeks (if I
ha</span>ppen to be in the right country at the time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I can’t annihilate myself here and have to take a ton of recovery time
after this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">So up at 4:30am just like a typical race
day…unlike a typical race day I have no idea when I will be starting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So head down to Penticton, meet up with my
team, and we watch the pro race start then its 2 hours until the relay team
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom and grandma drove me down
so I relaxed over coffee with them for a few hours, its very cool having family
at a race, I’ve never raced in Canada before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The day consisted of watching the pro’s
come in and out of transition, Macca up front out of the water onto the bike, sun
tanning and cheering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fantastic
to see the local guy Jeff Symonds come across the line to take the win covered
in blood after crashing on his bike!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An
inspirational performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2X9g_3u3hJvYwOmY-nO401aCB2xJrqguZHHxq0kNHiHZvN90Nl0q4QX8en3v9aCUGsqZT6ukmPDwwP-fPoBHe71Ouz4s5JSdqm-E1-Ml3z3v-OHGsKOOr83qSHKPIxER5zYvWiKX3Hk/s1600/1170732_10153153695215403_1423437956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2X9g_3u3hJvYwOmY-nO401aCB2xJrqguZHHxq0kNHiHZvN90Nl0q4QX8en3v9aCUGsqZT6ukmPDwwP-fPoBHe71Ouz4s5JSdqm-E1-Ml3z3v-OHGsKOOr83qSHKPIxER5zYvWiKX3Hk/s320/1170732_10153153695215403_1423437956_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(This racing stuff is hard :p Suntanning in the middle of a race)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Felt like a super star, walking into
transition with Graeme I hear over the loud speaker “There goes team “Embrace
the Suck” racing for Macca, their runner Jenna-Caer is here all the way from
Scotland“ </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Then was the wait</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Sitting in the relay hand off zone waiting for our
biker to come in (who crushed it!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
of the sudden he’s running into transition and my heart rate jumps, time to
find out what these legs have left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Now I ran for 15 minutes total the last
week, I have zero idea what my legs will do, just have to stay steady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My HR
monitor wouldn’t connect so had to run it off feel, I’ve spent so much time
running at MAF that was no problem, I knew it wouldn’t be MAF pace though
because of the damage from Ironman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I get out there and my legs feel ok…for
about a mile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it couldn’t be that
easy, so dialed it into low end of MAF effort and cruised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never had so much fun at a race!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have high five’d hundreds of people,
danced when they had music pumping, gave a couple bangs of the drums when they
had drummers set up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cheered for people
running around me, and yelled out thanks to aid stations and supporters on
course, and gave about a million thumbs up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had it easy I was just doing the marathon, I remember that feeling
during the marathon in Ironman and tried to pump up some people doing the full,
at least make them smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was by no means easy its still 42.2 km
my feet hurt, legs felt like I was running through mud at times, I could feel
how Ironman broke me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course
was WAY hillier than I thought, you were rarely going flat it was up or
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Garmin said 2500ft of climbing,
weather was just under 30 degrees & 1<sup>st</sup> half was straight out
into a draining headwind. When I was training in Texas that would be no issue,
but I don’t think its gotten over 18 here in Scotland! So my body doesn't love the heat like it used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> However none of that mattered, I had a blast, took in the energy of the crowd and gave back everything I could.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5B3ycwsFItdEwfaHnl3er3eGNlAsddGTXptltXB7cCly3cxOX22tpi2ra85kJL5zsWKgLPRzypWywWvp3AjWWXoPyZxzau0yNtM1sGXPBYH9GuLNbLZTbEPjLn8qTKJbZb1AvtsQAsA/s1600/1229837_10153162058390403_718191197_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5B3ycwsFItdEwfaHnl3er3eGNlAsddGTXptltXB7cCly3cxOX22tpi2ra85kJL5zsWKgLPRzypWywWvp3AjWWXoPyZxzau0yNtM1sGXPBYH9GuLNbLZTbEPjLn8qTKJbZb1AvtsQAsA/s320/1229837_10153162058390403_718191197_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(I don't think I've ever smiled so much at a race)</div>
<span lang="EN-US">The Finish Line:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This was by far the coolest part, and I
would definitely recommend Challenge Races for this aspect alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt fantastic to finish a race not
feeling completely broken and could run strong across the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Challenge lets people cross the line with you
so I met my teammates in the finishing shoot and we head across together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Challenge makes you feel like a pro, for every finisher they draw the tape across the finishing arch so you
get to break through it like the winners!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One of these days I will break that tape
because I won the race, but that wasn’t today so it was a cool feeling. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
Felix was right in the finishing shoot and congratulates you as you cross the line, then they have volunteers guide you through to get finishing pic/medals/shirts/food. Full service finish line!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yLju10l36SqcHyQhbNQP8ijdYe0K2pVJAJIhwx8gAW5Ovjbn6nZD_hzhcPV8mCcXwS8o97vse2x6WmtVu0EbbNVOHg3zCKEimmeh-giL8P15H40UQ5YOn-8JPPguaOKQhamxxW75AVQ/s1600/1256502_10153162059165403_626467696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yLju10l36SqcHyQhbNQP8ijdYe0K2pVJAJIhwx8gAW5Ovjbn6nZD_hzhcPV8mCcXwS8o97vse2x6WmtVu0EbbNVOHg3zCKEimmeh-giL8P15H40UQ5YOn-8JPPguaOKQhamxxW75AVQ/s320/1256502_10153162059165403_626467696_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(So happy to still be standing & smiling at the finish line!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Team Embrace the Suck Results:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Overall – 10:46:12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Graeme – 1:27:02 – on a day most pro’s were
over an hour!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Kevin – 5:40:55 – crushed the heat and
hills<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Me – 3:35:35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Transition – 1:35, 1:06 - I need to get my
transition times to these!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdKUJYIf_Sr2M2SlI_WC7aRqF49uGVxXK7PkZP8EZ6xeufztm2Xez77hiUhNiqhN1pwL1V3NN370FLtNl-ZKWMoR-Z0lgHx47HhEXNDJMZU1MEaK9LciAdy0aJuZumCNvyblbXNg02bo/s1600/20x30-CPAJ1387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdKUJYIf_Sr2M2SlI_WC7aRqF49uGVxXK7PkZP8EZ6xeufztm2Xez77hiUhNiqhN1pwL1V3NN370FLtNl-ZKWMoR-Z0lgHx47HhEXNDJMZU1MEaK9LciAdy0aJuZumCNvyblbXNg02bo/s320/20x30-CPAJ1387.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Team Embrace the Suck)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was happy with that time my marathon PR
is 3:34 and I destroyed myself to hit that time 10 months ago, 8<sup>th</sup>
fastest run not too shabby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The After Party!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJHluuqfi4iShafyJZSnAsOCvg6XyLA1-oAprWyDsc9oI6M3iAJ7lDZ9LqbOBfMF-KhX2x7bO4udoqyIAWq5cWv9oCuL2iX0fAOyKRvYvNYuTT8XyjMw4cwpxUf9ZYtgLiWgfGGZF4AQ/s1600/1236083_10153155145505403_1203647091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJHluuqfi4iShafyJZSnAsOCvg6XyLA1-oAprWyDsc9oI6M3iAJ7lDZ9LqbOBfMF-KhX2x7bO4udoqyIAWq5cWv9oCuL2iX0fAOyKRvYvNYuTT8XyjMw4cwpxUf9ZYtgLiWgfGGZF4AQ/s1600/1236083_10153155145505403_1203647091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJHluuqfi4iShafyJZSnAsOCvg6XyLA1-oAprWyDsc9oI6M3iAJ7lDZ9LqbOBfMF-KhX2x7bO4udoqyIAWq5cWv9oCuL2iX0fAOyKRvYvNYuTT8XyjMw4cwpxUf9ZYtgLiWgfGGZF4AQ/s1600/1236083_10153155145505403_1203647091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span lang="EN-US">Have to prioritise recovery!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Met up with Macca, Scott (his awesome manager) and
another legend Lothar Leder (first ever triathlete to go sub 8 hours!) and text
the team to come down to the Casino bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was great hearing about more of the European side of racing and early
days when they did some crazy things. Couch surfing and living out of cars,
travelling to countries they didn’t speak the language in just to hit another
string of back to back races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its
inspirational to see that attitude of either they will be the best and succeed
or crash and burn, putting everything on the line to reach their dream. Thats how greatness is achieved, that unwavering belief in yourself and willingness to fail completely for the chance of success.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJHluuqfi4iShafyJZSnAsOCvg6XyLA1-oAprWyDsc9oI6M3iAJ7lDZ9LqbOBfMF-KhX2x7bO4udoqyIAWq5cWv9oCuL2iX0fAOyKRvYvNYuTT8XyjMw4cwpxUf9ZYtgLiWgfGGZF4AQ/s1600/1236083_10153155145505403_1203647091_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJHluuqfi4iShafyJZSnAsOCvg6XyLA1-oAprWyDsc9oI6M3iAJ7lDZ9LqbOBfMF-KhX2x7bO4udoqyIAWq5cWv9oCuL2iX0fAOyKRvYvNYuTT8XyjMw4cwpxUf9ZYtgLiWgfGGZF4AQ/s320/1236083_10153155145505403_1203647091_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(From Left to right Scott, Macca, Kevin, Graeme, Lothar, Me)</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We then hit up the finish chute for a while
so they could hand out medals and cheered on people coming across around 16
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mental strength to be out
there that long is astonishing, and still there was a crowd cheering the
finishers, the support from the town of Penticton was fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another shot of recovery
fluids, and an unforgettable day came to a close.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">I couldn't eat much after the race, so ended up waking up at 5am starving! Luckily I had inadvertently prepared for this....my hotel was attached to a Denny's!! 24 hour diner with the best breakfast food, so enjoyed a Grand Slam with everything drowned in maple syrup (noticing a trend here?).</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next week was a blast of spending time
with my family, and heading down to my hometown of Calgary to see some
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zero working out, a few drinks
and eating whatever I wanted, for a mental and physical break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting to run again this week, things are
feeling a little stiff and tight but I’m sure they will smooth out after a few
runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily I recover quickly and
should be feeling good soon, I’m just happy to be running again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been craving some solid workouts ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Getting to spend some time with my sisters)</div>
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<br /></div>
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(Sometimes its fun to go fast with the help of an engine - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Until next time…Carpe Diem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-6619991662663389402013-09-03T05:55:00.002-06:002013-09-03T05:55:32.669-06:00Challenge Penticton Part 1 - coffee with Mark Allen & Macca<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then adventure continues…read the first part of my week racing Ironman Kalmar <a href="http://jennacaerstri.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ironman-kalmar-race-report.html" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Onto the next week which involved 24 hours at home, 50 hours of travel, 1 tattoo, 26.2 miles, 1 awesome relay team, meeting 3 legends - Chris “Macca” McCormack, Mark Allen & Lothar Leder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So I finish Ironman and straight into recovery mode because what sounds like a better idea than resting? A marathon at Challenge Penticton the weekend after! First up recovery protocol, pay close attention because this is very scientific. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Step 1: Chocolate…that’s all I wanted in the food tent, everything else the thought of made my stomach turn. Luckily they had stocked it with a variety of quality chocolate for me to gorge myself on. Mmm especially the hazelnut cream truffles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Step 2: Beer. A conveniently placed pub right by the finish line provided the recovery fluids I required, if I’ve learned anything from Macca its that plenty of post race hydration is important and beer is a great delivery system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Step 3: Big juicy hamburger with fries. I just crave this after races, and again one of the few things that don’t turn my stomach after a day of sports drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Hydration)</div>
<span lang="EN-US">Recovery – Check.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As for the next 7 days before the Challenge Penticton Marathon, recovery and preparation involved one 15 minute run, 8 hours of travel back to Scotland, 1 tattoo, 23 hours of flights and lay overs to Canada, compression up to my eye balls, and wine. I was taking this very seriously :p<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So the question I get most often - why the hell would you do a marathon the week after your first Ironman?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Well Macca had set up a relay team for the first Challenge Penticton race to represent MaccaX. Originally Macca was going to do the swim leg, until Ironman took over Copenhagen causing him to drop out and decide to do the full race at Penticton. Things got shuffled around and then unfortunately their runner had to drop out which left them a leg short a couple weeks out from the race. Knowing that my family is around there he asked if I would be able to jump in last minute to take over the run leg, how could I say no? I was wondering how that conversation would go with my husband and my coach, so I know I’m doing my first Ironman in a few days…what do you think about a marathon the week after? A few incredulous conversations and I had buy in from both...well maybe not buy in…more like a “You’re insane, but have fun” kind of response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So I was in. At the very least it will be a fun time, a great story, and this time I was determined to cross the finish line standing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Unpack, repack, and hit the airport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLFkVxMiDYIygrnSpdY8x4DyWGd5We9N2fDRf8pMeuxEZCxPuJP03THHWPthSsZOwe20vDox_yp_vmT4iu9ES0JH7YvIANRT8RCTqON_Z7p9KTcY35LWog3_3E7sthw-OREB5PNt-jCM/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLFkVxMiDYIygrnSpdY8x4DyWGd5We9N2fDRf8pMeuxEZCxPuJP03THHWPthSsZOwe20vDox_yp_vmT4iu9ES0JH7YvIANRT8RCTqON_Z7p9KTcY35LWog3_3E7sthw-OREB5PNt-jCM/s1600/photo-7.JPG" /></a></div>
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(Given up packing nicely at this point)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The best part of this race was that there was zero stress, zero expectations so I could enjoy the pre race atmosphere. Such a stark difference from the week before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">First up on Thursday hit the expo and get to meet my relay team! It has been so cool going to races around the world and already knowing people at these races, but great to meet them in person. So we head to the registration tent and….the team doesn’t exist. What? We are definitely not signed up for the race, ok send off a message to Macca hopefully they can get us signed up before race day! After that we cruise around looking at all the goodies, barely containing whipping out the credit card at every tent. Ohh and they had my Shiv there…by my Shiv I mean the one I’ve been drooling over and dreaming about replacing my entry level bike with, a bike that wont break on me!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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(Kick ass team!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2SJq78oQ-IZU1vnkeeJMRY_UKOBYzU_4SAcuk591O8vTX8qAppzHnUYIM1SL8Pnkr0wiQ19ObJg7u2S8pADV-x-kAP9jvzOCmMwnIKstP2ezhwpotNqn7svoatbF5a2V0XIfrGpGNEI/s1600/shiv+pro.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2SJq78oQ-IZU1vnkeeJMRY_UKOBYzU_4SAcuk591O8vTX8qAppzHnUYIM1SL8Pnkr0wiQ19ObJg7u2S8pADV-x-kAP9jvzOCmMwnIKstP2ezhwpotNqn7svoatbF5a2V0XIfrGpGNEI/s200/shiv+pro.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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(*drool*)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Gotta love small towns, end up running into Macca at the end of his bike ride checking out the run course (which he neglected to tell me how hilly it was!) so let him know about the team and he said he would get it sorted out. Next day we met him at registration and team “Embrace the Suck” was born.</span><br />
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(Macca & Team Embrace the Suck)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Then I got to meet one of the biggest legends of triathlon, Mark Allen. He was around promoting Mark Allen online, and I was invited along when him and Macca went for coffee. I’m fascinated with this sport and want to learn as much as possible so this was entertaining just to hear about the old days and the politics of triathlon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Coffee with legend Mark Allen)</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">On to Race Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">…Tomorrow. This has become so long I will have to break it up, so stay tuned tomorrow for part 2! The race, and after party with Macca and Lothar Leder.</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-36959021436812528532013-09-01T07:57:00.001-06:002013-09-01T10:03:35.782-06:00Ironman Kalmar Race ReportThis last two weeks has been an adventure that I'm struggling to put into words, from Ironman Kalmar in Sweden to Challenge Penticton in Canada a week later. I'll break it out into 2 or 3 posts, so stay tuned for stories of a few pints with legends of Triathlon Mark Allen, Chris "Macca" McCormack and Lothar Leder.<br />
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Once upon a time, in a land far, far away.....I Embraced the Suck<br />
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Jenna-Caer Seefried You ARE an Ironman 10:56<br />
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I craved hearing those words, I imagined them as those long rides and long runs piled up. At the end of the day it wasn't those words that satisfied me it was a day of overcoming challenges to accomplish what I had worked so hard for that was the most fulfilling. It was also crazy to be in a country that my mom's side is from, I remember as a girl my Grandma trying to teach me some Swedish...I wish I had paid more attention!<br />
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First off, the day didn't quite go to plan, but I've heard that planning Ironman is like trying to land a man on the moon - by remote control - blindfolded. It took me a little bit to get over not racing to my physical capacity, to know that I should have been able to win my AG fairly comfortably. But then I looked back on my expectations before the race, when I started this I thought it was crazy to believe I could come in under 13 hours.<br />
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2 Days before the race:<br />
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Ok I hadn't planned travel too well, getting to Kalmar involved driving 2 hours to Edinburgh, then a 2 hour flight to Copenhagen, followed by a 3.5 hour train ride to Kalmar. Next time I wont cheap out on the travel. The train was the stressful part. Apparently only part of the train was going to Kalmar, trying to figure out if we were on the right train, finding a spot for the bike that didn't piss people off and which carriage we had to be in made it hectic and we arrived at 11:30pm.<br />
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Day before the race:<br />
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Still no nerves just waiting for race day.<br />
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It was 1.5 miles to the expo from the hotel, so kept my legs moving checking out the expo and registering. Totally off topic...walking is tough! I walked 3 miles and my feet were aching! I can do a 22 mile long run and my feet feel fine, no soreness, but walking is a whole other story...speaks to specificity.<br />
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Back on track - I had missed the pre race athlete meeting the day before...hopefully I didn't miss anything important figure as long as I don't screw up the order and try to bike run swim I should be ok. Kalmar was adorable, pastel painted houses, families riding around on bicycles and cobblestone roads, it was just what I pictured. <br />
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">There were barely any cars around, everyone cruised around on bicycles! You never see this in North America)</span></div>
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The special pre race dinner at the hotel was some cold pasta and spaghetti sauce. Luckily I brought along some provisions, some oatmeal with peanut butter cinnamon and maple syrup...yummy my favourite. I slept like a baby that night, still wasn't feeling nervous, I felt ready and knew the day would come faster if I slept. So bed at 9pm and out like a light.<br />
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Race Day<br />
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3:30am Alarm goes off. Breakfast at 4 am - I cant say I'm too strict on what I eat race morning, I have a general guideline but eat what looks appetising. Luckily I seem to manage my stomach pretty well during races. This mornings breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon, peanut butter and real Canadian maple syrup (all of which I brought from home), some cherry juice that looked good, pineapple, an egg, and the secret weapon a few cookies! And coffee, oh the coffee...I didn't have any coffee race week so that I would be more sensitive to the caffeine and that hit of caffeine felt sooo good. Especially since the Swede's make it high octane!<br />
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(I'm tellin ya its all about the cookies)</div>
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The Swim<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(A bizarre two loops of a triangle like shape, followed by a half circle...I get lost in out and back swims!)</span></div>
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Ah there are those familiar butterflies, just in time the nerves have showed up, but luckily the butterflies waited until after I had digested my breakfast so stomach was feeling solid. <br />
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Wedging myself into wetsuit is always nerve wracking, whether in a race or practise I feel claustrophobic and know that an open water swim is to follow. I struggle a little more than usual to put it on, hands shaking a little bit thinking about the day ahead, but take my time to make sure that I have extra room in the shoulders and everything is where it should be. <br />
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Getting into the water was surreal, I had seen so many videos about Ironman starts, trying to imagine what it will be like to have 2000 other athletes in the water with me, what the washing machine will feel like as that cannon goes off and we all start on our individual fight to conquer Ironman. I warmed up again like I imagine the pro's do, head in the water blowing bubbles, trying not to hyperventilate. Thats about as far as my swimming lessons went so anything after that is anybodies guess. I just wanted to get on my bike. The water was so dark that I had to ask myself if I was closing my eyes when I put my head in the water.<br />
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I don't know that I even heard the cannon, all of the sudden the water was churning around me, so I followed suit. I started in a moderately aggressive position hoping to catch feet as they went by. My biggest goal was to get out of the swim without expending too much energy and not getting too off course. The first I did, the latter I'm not too sure. The swim course we were advised was 3.96km not that I needed the extra distance, but I'm sure I tacked some onto that. It was craziness the whole time was just in a crush of people it was hard to move forwards or backwards, and I seemed to keep getting caught behind people doing the breastroke! My plan to draft didn't go so well but amazingly stayed calm and no panic attack in the water, 2nd time in a race! The wind had picked up and there was a lot of chop on the water, once again like Barcelona was swimming either up or down, made my limited sighting ability more obvious, as I took on water trying to sight at the bottom of a wave. <br />
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1:28:33 - I survived and was so damned happy to be out of the water.<br />
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The Bike 5:36:29<br />
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I took my time in transition trying to make sure I had everything on the bike. Once my feet were clipped in and we were on the road I was ecstatic. My stomach however...not so much. I had swallowed a fair bit of water and the first hour of the bike couldn't take much in as it was threatening to come back up, stayed calm, sipped when I could and eventually it evened itself out. I felt phenomenal on the bike, watts were coming easily, and without the brutal scottish roads, and not having to wear a rain jacket my speed was faster than in training and HR was right where it should be, low end of MAF. I was just cruising, then we hit the Island, and the crosswinds began! It was tiring fighting to keep the bike going in a straight line, the loop was a rectangle with crosswinds on the long edge, with wide open planes so nothing to shield you from it. All I could do is continue to battle it and stay within myself, I did get a little boost in this section though! I had a team mate recognise me and give a little motivation as he went by, that gave a mental boost.<br />
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I spent most of the bike ride just spot checking, how's my HR, can I take in more calories, am I pedalling efficiently, where is my power output. At 110km I got this hit of energy and just felt on top of the world, I smiled at all the crowds on the bike course, gave thumbs up to eveyrone who cheered. I learned that any energy you gave the the crowd you got back 10 fold. It was feeling too easy everything was right on target...little did I know what was to come...<br />
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At this point I was averaging over 21mph, heart rate was low end of zone 2 so well within where I could sustain all day and run fresh.<br />
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Then my seat dropped, I hit a wicked bump and my seat dropped nearly to the bottom. It wouldn't stay up. This happened 30 miles from the finish, longest 30 miles of my life. It went from feeling like a comfortable ride to hips burning when I tried to push the pedals. I was using completely different muscles to push the pedals, ones I needed to run well, an they burned because they had never been asked to do this before. <br />
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It actually hurt riding my bike, I tried to alternate standing and sitting but it just burned, so backed the power and speed way off and just tried to limp into transition hoping to still run well.<br />
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The Run - 3:39<br />
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Pain. In training I always feel fantastic off the bike, even on rides where I'm holding higher watts than what I race at, its easier to run than to stop running, I can hold 7:40 pace all day with HR at Zone 2. So I had some high expectations for this run. <br />
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Unfortunately I stressed out some vital muscles in my new bike position specifically the hip flexors, I got off my bike and I was limping they hurt so much. But pain I can run through. So I took time in transition tried to stretch so I could run upright and got out there. I was finishing this no matter what.<br />
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I stopped to stretch a few times, walked the aid stations and just tried to keep the pain in check. It hurt but I could grit my teeth and keep going. Around mile 13 the pain started to go away and I started to loosen up...little did I know I would wish the pain would come back, at least I could run with it.<br />
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On the bright side, energy and stomach were solid the whole race. I took in more than planned on the bike because stomach felt good, and way more on the run, but both of those could be because of the lower intensity on the bike and run that I do in training. 2000 cal on the bike and about 700 on the run.<br />
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Enter the Leaning tower of Kalmar (as it was dubbed by a friend). My right side seized up, it didn't hurt, the muscles just contracted and it took everything I had to try to stay upright, I was crunching my left abs and obliques trying to straighten up, but they started to fatigue and give in they couldn't fight the opposing muscles. So I just ran.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Cant straighten up because it hurts, but still upright)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(About 6 miles from the finish, the leaning has started, I'm fighting to stay upright)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Abs and obliques on the left side have completely given in I can fight the lean so just trying to run without falling)</span></div>
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That last 7 miles were the longest of my life, I have run that distance so many times. It was so hard my head was screaming at me to straighten up and run, but my muscles just wouldn't respond. So frustrated because I still had energy, stomach was strong, head was in the right place but I couldn't fight the lean. I lost that race in the last 7 miles. The last mile took me over 11 minutes, I could see the finish line, but I kept falling over into the barriers, I was completely off balance, and could barely stay on my feet. Apparently it looked like I bonked hard, but I still had plenty of fuel and energy. I was caught a few times by the crowd and had to fight off assistance. I could see that finish line. I watched 1st & 2nd place run by me in those last 7 miles. I should have been miles ahead. <br />
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I stumbled across that finish line and was told to stop and was put on a stretcher. I couldn't even straighten up for my finish line photo.<br />
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Honestly I was upset at the finish line. I had had harder training days physically and had a lot left in the tank energy wise, I knew what I was capable of and a mechanical made it a tough pill to swallow crossing the finish line much slower than I thought. However it did feel so good to cross that finish line, and to have the confirmation that mentally I have what it takes for this race. When my body was failing there wasn't any thought of stopping, just my head screaming at me to push harder. I did blow away my original expectations of 13 hours, and it was an amazing experience to run with the crowds of Kalmar cheering along, I swear the whole country came out to cheer the crowds were so deep. </div>
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But it was my First Ironman. I will be back, if I wasn't hooked before this fired me up even more. </div>
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I did get cheered up by the awards ceremony! I've never won a trophy before, I wasn't into sports as a kid - I was the chubby kid that got picked last and had zero interest in moving unless I had to, and no hand eye coordination to speak of. So this was a first, the crowd at the ceremony was unbelievable they cranked the music everyone on their feet clapping to the music and chanting it was such a rush to be called up to the stage!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Rocking my MaccaX Embrace the Suck Shirt)</span></div>
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One hell of a day, and its been a journey I will never forget to reach that finish line. I had so much support going into this race, I couldn't have done it myself. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-82004138812053413202013-08-11T04:13:00.001-06:002013-08-11T04:13:24.969-06:00Ironman Journey in NumbersIts been an adventure this last year. Its crazy to see the training that has lead me here, and a confidence boost to know that I have put in the hard work to propel me to that finish line.<br />
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Ok numbers from the last year:<br />
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Bike - 4882 miles - 322 hours<br />
Run - 1697 miles - 239 hours<br />
Swim - 357 km - 147 hours<br />
Strength Train - 48 hours<br />
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Foam rolling/stretching/massage - didn't record but about 3-5 hours a week.<br />
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Other numbers:<br />
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2 - Countries I've lived in during the last year<br />
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5 - Pairs of shoes<br />
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1200 miles - How many miles run on my favourite pair of shoes<br />
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6 - missed training sessions<br />
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5 - Races this year<br />
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1 - Bicycle has kicked my ass all year<br />
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20m - length of pool<br />
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3 - blisters<br />
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6 - Days until Ironman.<br />
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1 - Excited triathlete :)<br />
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140.6 - Biggest physical challenge of my life.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-9201229683735082992013-08-11T01:03:00.002-06:002013-08-11T01:05:01.617-06:00Afraid of my BicycleThis is inspired by an awesome someone in my online tri club.<br />
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Just like riding a bicycle...you hear that a lot. Supposed to mean its easy, you never forget how to do it. I disagree. Riding a bicycle can be terrifying, and getting on one for the first time in over 10 years does not feel familiar and easy! Especially when you mix an uncoordinated wanna be triathlete with clip in pedals and tri bars.<br />
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In triathlon, especially non-drafting the bike is where you are going to be spending most of your time - well for most people...unless you have an injury or completely blow up on the run.<br />
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So you better be pretty comfy on that saddle (which can be a whole other blog post on saddle comfort). Easier said than done, the last year my bike has become a strength of mine, I posted the fastest female bike split in my last 70.3, but its pretty crazy to think about where I started 15 months ago.<br />
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*Queue cheezy back in time music*<br />
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Ok I want to be a triathlete, and as much fun as the recumbant bike is at the gym I cant quite race on it. So time to bike shop, bikes are like 200-300 bucks right? (Insert incredulous look from husband who used to race mountain bikes) "Umm they are a bit more than that".<br />
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Start looking at used ones on ebay YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!?! These things with no horse power cost nearly as much as the motorcycle I was racing!! For what? Some metal and cables, little bit of rubber? <br />
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Luckily Blair knew a lot more about bikes than I did (paint up rubber down was about the extent of my knowledge). One thing that worked out well was Blair always wanted a Specialized bike when he was racing, so he started looking at them for triathlon bikes for me, I'm so happy he did because now that I know more about bikes and fit Specialized was the right brand and bike for me. <br />
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First question, road bike or tri bike? There is a lot of debate over this. Go with the road bike you can ride in groups, stability, and if you dont like triathlon you can still use it in social settings, if you do you can add tri bars. Tri bike - more unstable, better aero dynamics, better hip angle for running off the bike, pretty sport specific and you will rarely find bike groups that will let a tri bike tag along. <br />
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At the end of the day, I wanted to race triathlon, not bikes. In my usual fashion leaped all in and went with a tri bike.<br />
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So after an exhaustive ebay search (too cheap to buy new) found a deal on a Specialized Transition Elite, an aluminum job done up in my favorite colour. Entry level tri bike, that was a bit too big but hell I wont be fast enough for the bike to matter that much I'm just getting started. <br />
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A big box shows up on the doorstep, a flury of screws and allan wrenches and a box of bits turns into a sharp looking triathlon bike...without pedals...what do you mean it doesn't come with pedals?!? From my limited bike experience pedals are kind of essential! Then I learn about clip in pedals (that are called clipless...I swear this is just to mess with newbies). <br />
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Ok we have pedals now we are in business, bike is ready to ride.<br />
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A week later...yup bike is all ready...just sitting there...its too windy to ride...those clipless pedals are scary...(insert more excuses)...<br />
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Another week passes...it sure looks good in the living room...I cant get the hang of unclipping standing still how am I going to do it on the road? I'm totally going to fall on my ass.<br />
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It took just over 2 weeks for me to take my bike outside, I had terrifying images of me trying desperately to get my feet out of those pedals while doing a slow motion fall (which happened eventually anyways), being blown off the road with the wind, and generally looking like an idiot. Not a great start to my triathlon ambitions I was too much of a scaredy cat to get on the road.<br />
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(First ride notice lack of bike shorts...jersey...or bike shoes)</div>
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I did get some progress in the triathlon ambitions during that time though, I went to the pool once and felt like I was going to drown doing one length of 25 meters. I've never had swim lessons and had no idea what I was doing. I spent 10 minutes getting the nerve to swim the 25 meters back, was nearly hyperventilating and got out of the pool. Yea this is going well.<br />
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Ok, I need to get outside on this damned bike. First ride was terrifying, I was wobbling all over the parking lot, I don't remember riding a bike being this hard?! Panicking as I tried to unclip my clipless (WTF) pedals. Don't even get me started on turning around. But I was determined. <br />
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It took another ride just in the parking lot trying to stay upright before I ventured on the road. Now if it had been here in Scotland with itty bitty roads it may never have happened, but I was in Texas with huge roads and big shoulders so I finally got out there.<br />
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I was wobbly, but starting to get the hang of it after a few rides...then I tried the aero bars...as soon as I dropped down my bike took on a life of its own swerving side to side. Adrenaline and heart pumping went back up, ok that didn't go well. Thinking how the hell will I be able to race this thing when I feel like its going to throw me off when I go down into aero position. <br />
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I can handle a motorcycle with a 600cc engine on a race track knee dragging on the ground in the corners like its the most natural thing in the world...and a bicycle is getting the better of me.<br />
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Well it just took practise. Lots of time just doing 10-20 minute rides trying to stay calm and in control of the bike, and even more time in parking lots working on bike handling. I started to get more comfortable, relaxed, started to focus on what my legs were doing instead of a panicked death grip on the handle bars. Dealing with the insane cross and head winds in Texas forced me to get used to tough conditions and stay relaxed.<br />
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Once I felt good on the road, my bike became my favourite toy and a strength. That fear didn't completely go away, for the first 5 or so months I was in Scotland I didn't get off my trainer because I was scared again of the little roads here with no shoulder. Once again just had to get out there, now I feel good on them (but still cautious). <br />
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I forgot how difficult the bike felt in the beginning, how scared I was, 15 months seems like a lifetime ago. Now the bike feels like the most natural thing in the world. I love the way my legs feel applying power to the pedals, slipping through the wind in aero position.<br />
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I've been looking back on old workouts and races to motivate me for Ironman, and I looked at the power output on the sprint Duathlons I did earlier in the year. Well the power I put out in those short races feeling like I was going hard is the same power I plan on putting out for Ironman over 8x further than the sprint. Its been a year of getting to know my bicycle very intimately, and I cant wait to see what I can do at Ironman - 6 days.<br />
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Carpe DiemUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-12370759481796554722013-08-09T08:15:00.003-06:002013-08-11T00:25:43.002-06:00Taper Madness Roller CoasterTaper Sucks<br />
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Ok Wednesday was a soul crushing kind of workout that had me freaking out and wondering if I was going to be suffering through this Ironman with legs that didn't feel like they had put in all those miles this past 10 months.<br />
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It consisted of 3 min at IM to 70.3 watts, then 2 min above that to threshold and repeat 3 times, easy for 5 min and repeat 2 more times for a 1.5 hour ride. This was effort that last week I was holding for 4 sets of 45 minutes no problem, not breathing heavy feeling strong.<br />
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It nearly annihilated me. Ironman Watts, HR was 20 beats over what it normally was, legs felt powerless, and I was working so hard I felt like I was going to puke. WTF. 10 days out and I couldn't hold IM watts for 3 minutes...never mind the 5.5-6 hours I will need to hold it race day.<br />
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The last week I hadn't been feeling so hot either, the drop in training had everything aching, tightening and generally feeling exhausted and like shit. <br />
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I quit the workout early, something I've only done 3 or 4 times since this started last year. It was a hard mental hit. But I was killing myself to hit something that shouldn't be that hard, and decided to listen to my body. So I took off the bike shoes swapped them for my Newtons and head out for the run.<br />
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Ugh. I felt like I was slogging through mud, stomach wasn't happy, well crap. I draw a lot of confidence from how I feel off the bike, and if I feel like this race day its going to be a hell of a long day. I could hit the paces I was aiming for but HR was high and it felt like a lot of work from step 1. Ironman is too damned long to be working that hard from the first step, I don't think I would be able to hold it. When last week I held it no problem after a 4 hour bike ride.<br />
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Ok I know this is the taper, don't freak out. My body is rebelling from not getting its hit of endorphins and all the good stuff it likes from the high volume and intensity. After that workout I felt like I had the flu, head was hot, body was cold stomach did not want to take anything in. Not feeling like the invincible athlete on a high of performance that I was feeling before. <br />
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So I e-mailed my <a href="http://www.joghard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lucho</a> a rambling note, not even sure it made much sense, complaining of pain and tightness and fears of crashing and burning in this race.<br />
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His words back to me were simple, and what I knew in my head essentially the unload of fatigue is cause me to feel out of sorts, brush it off and rest up. <br />
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So I had a glass of wine a hot bath and went to bed early hoping the next day would feel better.<br />
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That was rock bottom. I woke up the next morning feeling like myself for the first time in a week or two. That sparked something up in me, I had a swim on the schedule and I actually felt energised and wanted to attack it. Even more shocking in the water I felt wicked strong and smooth, not dragging my ass through it.<br />
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Now the 2nd session on the schedule was a nap, and the 3rd said "Nothing else today". Wellll.....I was feeling good and I just got a delivery, a new pair of Newton MV3 racing flats that I was excited to try out. So I went out for an teeny little run, just 3 miles. Oh man did I need that. I felt fluid and like running was the most natural thing in the world, no slogging through mud today. Not on the schedule but mentally was great for me, just feeling back to normal. <br />
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That has continued today on a bike ride today holding IM watts not even getting my HR into zone 2, breathing easily. Thank-goodness. I knew in my head I hadn't lost the fitness, but I'm so glad I'm on my way up from the rock bottom of taper madness. I forgot how much it sucked, but don't despair and don't freak out and over train if you find yourself in this position, it will pass!<br />
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8 days to Ironman<br />
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Carpe DiemUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925909289858867101.post-42507787502253612752013-08-02T03:16:00.002-06:002013-08-02T03:22:10.011-06:00One workout can turn it all around!No one workout is going to make or break this race, but oh man can it get me excited!<br />
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It was one workout that got me hyped up, funny how a few hours on the road can turn around how I feel and how thinking about the race effects me. That topped off with a chat with my coach and I'm counting down the days (15) until race day.<br />
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I haven't been feeling the most motivated my last 2 big workouts, a 20 mile progression run Sunday, and a 4 hour ride with intensity followed by a 9 mile brick. I think my mindset is starting to shift towards taper, and I have never been good at tapering. I have a bad habit of shutting down and skipping workouts telling myself its good to get rest, when really I need to stay loose, not doing anything crazy, but at least do something instead of sitting on the couch for a week before the race.<br />
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Sunday 16-20 miles was on the schedule depending on how I felt and it was one of the few times I've ever thought I'm just going to do the minimum before I even got out on the road and saw how my legs felt. Some possible big changes are coming down the line as to where I live, and some family tragedy had me very distracted, and I just wanted to get home. <br />
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Then I got on the road, I don't remember most of the run, it was a progression run so starting first half easy and then build effort to zone 3, I took a more rolling route than usual, and ran entirely off effort. I had my watch on, no HR monitor, but I don't think I looked at pace once, just lost in my own head. My legs were feeling surprisingly good, warmed up right away, but I just wasn't in the head space to push, so took it easy the first 13 miles, realised how far I had gone and that I should be picking it up, so stopped holding back but still wasn't working hard, I knew this would be one of my slower long runs, but just put in the miles. Last 3 miles kind of woke up and realised how close I was to 20 miles, legs were feeling good and I hadn't been pushing at all so I figured ok I'll put in a little work the last 3, finish it strong around zone 3. <br />
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Avg pace 7:32 - WTF??? I was seriously expecting around an 8min pace and would have been happy with that for the effort I put in.<br />
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But still that didn't get me excited. I was distracted. Thats just a run on its own, I need to ride further than I ever have before. My longest ride so far has been 95 miles and an extra 17 miles is still an unknown. <br />
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Heres what got me excited.<br />
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Brick Workout Wednesday<br />
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77 miles on the bike, with a 9 mile run. Getting close to race day I'm not riding as far as usual, but this had higher intensity than race day, to get a similar stress on my body, with some rest intervals much lower than race intensity. Average watts were right at race wattage. <br />
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Going into this race was like Sunday, little motivation, knew I had to get out there and get it done, but procrastinated for a few hours. <br />
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I got on the bike and thankfully my legs felt good, it would have been a rough day if they didn't. First interval felt rough, but after that legs started getting fired up. Started to feel good and want to push. My power meter crapped out half way through the ride so had to go off of effort for the last intervals and I think I had a pretty good idea of what the watts should feel like. <br />
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I've trained all year on power, and my power meter has been very sketchy the last few months so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will work on race day, if not all of the miles I have put in the past year give me on ok idea of what it needs to feel like - never ride completely dependant on external feedback, know your body!<br />
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It started getting tough the last 45 min, the above race watts had my legs feeling heavy and struggling to get my HR as high as it was on the previous intervals. I was starting to wonder how this brick run was going to feel because this was getting hard. HR and breathing were easy, just the muscles in my legs were starting to feel like they didn't want to push.<br />
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Pack up the bike in the car and head out on my run. Theres always those first few moments of the run where you wonder how the legs are going to feel, will it be a good run?<br />
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Magic...thats how my legs felt. I started the run thinking I cant wait to get this over with, to feeling like I could keep running forever.<br />
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The goal of the run was to go 20 seconds faster than race pace and see how my stomach felt. Well stomach felt solid, legs felt like they were pulling me forward and I had to keep holding back so I didn't run too fast. I used to feel like this for the first 3 miles on brick runs then my legs would turn into bricks themselves. Not this time, the consistent miles and nutrition have my legs still going strong. 9 miles later I felt like I was just 9 miles into a long run, like the bike ride hadn't happened at all. <br />
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If I feel this good on the run at Ironman Kalmar its going to be a spectacular day. I know it wont keep feeling effortless, its going to get hard, and I need to keep that it my mind and be prepared for it, but that felt pretty damned good. It started getting me thinking just maybe I could beat my marathon PR in an Ironman (3:34) but thats getting ahead of myself. I'll survive the swim and stay calm, ride steady on the bike and see what my legs are capable of on the day. <br />
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Paces for the day<br />
Bike - 20.3mph<br />
Run - 7:40<br />
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I still get giddy looking at those paces, its a shock to see what my body is doing lately. Going into this I was hoping to hit 17mph on the bike, and 8:30 pace on the run, I thought that was going to be a stretch to expect that kind of speed. <br />
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Now I'm starting to re-evaluate, training isn't race day though so the day will dictate. I had a good talk with my coach. Sometimes you have race day magic where everything feels good and your body is at 100%, sometimes you only have 80%, it happens, I've experienced that a few times. So, if I have 100% on race day its going to be spectacular, and he said if I have 80% on race day then use all of that 80% don't let it get in my head and keep fighting.<br />
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Now time to get my ass on the road for my last long run. 14-16 miles with 10 * 1 min hill repeats, its been a long time since I've done those!<br />
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15 days, I will be an Ironman.<br />
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Carpe Diem.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0