the Taper begins!

So...this week was the start to our tapering to get us rested and ready for the big race day. This week our taper just meant a little less volume, but still keeping the same intensity going... Next week will be more cutting back on volume and more 'slow and easy' type workouts.. and then the next week will be mostly resting and travel up to event weekend! So this past week...nothing too exciting to report, really. I did get back to my usual monday 'strength and endurance' class this week.. Which I'll do again next week, but definitely will skip it the week of the race. This week we had another gal teaching... Our usual gal is tough and ALWAYS gives a good workout, but this gal was rough, too! I was sore for a few days, but I always love that! Monday, tues and fri I got my swims in. Wednesday I had an early 6mi run (soaked again from the humid mornings) and then we had a long 45mi ride scheduled, so a few from TNT came down to ride the south side that evening for that one. It's been really HOT still, so it was warm..but I felt good for that ride. Thursday was just a shorter spin with my friend, Melissa, whom I met through TNT, but she also goes to the Y with me and trains with that group...her 1/2 IM is this sunday...so good luck to her! Saturday we met up with the group (our crew for group trainings is dwindling, for sure! It's been a long season, but I still really enjoy getting together with the team and coaches for a good workout) for a 40mi ride and a 3mi run. I don't think I took it as 'seriously' as I maybe should have... It's tough to really gear up for a relatively shorter workout after something as tough as the practice last weekend. I felt great on the ride, but I don't think I ate or drank enough because I REALLY felt the heat on the run. BUT, we managed an 8min/mi pace, despite the heat...so, as always, another good day! Tomorrow I'm planning on getting in my 8mi run (not sure of location yet..hilly or flat? with people or alone? decisions, decisions..) and then meeting up with some folks for a swim in the lake! Again...we're still getting some good miles in, but taking it a bit easier.
On the 'honored heros' front... Lauryn got her chemo port taken out last week! Her mom, who's also our asst. coach, Dea, brought it (sterilized, of coarse) to swim practice for us to see...it was quite heavy, actually, and crazy to think it was in that little 6yr old's chest for so long. Luke, our other tri team hero who's also 6 yrs old, has also finished his last round of chemo and should be getting his port out soon, too! So things are looking good there. Their families are very relieved to be done with treatments, but also nervous about possibilities....but they can only be positive! And they are... They really are. It's amazing to see the strength of these moms and kids and families... I can't even imagine what they've been through and for them to come through it all with smiles and determination is really something to see. I'd also like to thank all of my supporters, family and friends again for helping me to surpass my fundraising goals and for staying tuned to all of my trainings and racing. I really appreciate you ALL and could not have done this without you. It's not quite over yet, but I'm feeling a little like this 1st chapter with Team in Training is coming to a close and it has been truly amazing. If anyone out there is contemplating joining TNT for a race...please let me know if you have any questions or anything I can help you with. I HIGHLY recommend joining in the fun for yourself because it is SO rewarding. There are all kinds of events they are involved in, so there's something for everyone! And they really can take all levels of athletes through the steps and get them to where they need to be for their event... So please...if you have any desire at all, you should check it out and give it a try! (or 'tri'...ha ha) I promise you won't regret it. SO. I'll continue to update as we near event day... Thanks, again, for your support and for checking in!

week in review...and finally some pics!

Hello! Well...it's been another great week of training. I guess a quick re-cap of the 'highlights'...After our journey to St. Louis, I went on a leisurely bike ride with a few friends from the Y group on sat evening. Then sunday I did a 'run focused' brick, so did a quick 20-ish miles on the bike followed by a HOT, humid (only way I know how to do it these days, I guess..), hilly 9mi run... overall, I felt OK for that...and very thankful for that sprinkler re-fill for my water bottle about 1/2 way through the run! Then...on monday, which was a holiday for most (4th of July observed?? I'll take it..), I met up w/ some TNT buds, Shawn, Ashley and Joe, (who have kinda been my partners in training this season and have been great support through these past months) for a looooong 80 mile bike ride (route and support courtesy of CIBA...Central Indiana Bike Association... a great crew that hosts longer rides every weekend and training rides around the city during the week)! Definitely the farthest I'd ridden in 1 stretch, but overall...I think it went well. My shoulders were sore (new aero bars...still getting used to it) and my legs felt it the next day...but it was good! Tuesday was just a swim, wednesday a long, early 9mi run and then an evening 25mi ride with my Y buddy, Todd, thursday just a long, early swim...friday OFF to prepare for....our Practice Tri saturday bright at early! This was our chance to really prepare and practice our nutrition, hydration, set up, what we'll wear, etc for the big day... We met out at a teammates parents lake house (which, incidentally, was in the city?!) early, and set out for about a 1mi swim, 50mi ride, and 9mi run. All in all, it took me about 4hrs and 50min, which my goal was to be 'around or under' 5hrs...so met that. I did cross the big finish 1st, but it wasn't set up to be a 'race', really...the ride we had to stop at usual stop lights and signs, etc...not to mention that several of us took wrong turns at some places or got off route a bit (everyone was present and accounted for at the end...and most of our mis-steps were quickly corrected and we were escorted back on track by our 'sag wagon'...it's tough to follow neon green road markings that have been rubbed off by rain!). I ran most of the way with my usual partner, Ashley.. I just happened to have a stonger desire to finish once we pulled toward the end, and ended up coming in a touch in front of her... But, again, all in all...a good day! I feel really good, after that practice, about how race day will go and what I need to do to keep myself feeling good and trucking along for what I'm estimating will take me about 6hrs to finish. A long day, for sure, and I'll be tired at the end, but really...after yesterday, I'm understanding that if you pace it right and keep hydration and nutrition under control, it's not so bad! (no...really!) I think it's all in just training the 'machine'..putting in the hours and the work to get stronger and, most importantly, to build that endurance...and you're set! Anyway...the past few posts I've made mention to pictures and then didn't deliver (due to our apparant determination to lose our camera? finally got it back from where we left it in KC only to leave it in St. Louis!...so quick before we lose it again)...so here goes some pics:

Here's my special boy sporting his major award after his 1st 'fun run'! They had a kids run during the Terre Haute tri that I did in May and they let Mason run it! It was hilarious...last one to finish after a few distractions, but he did it!

Don't I look fast?? Me at the 'big finish' at Terre Haute...3rd place!

Ah...doesn't he look refreshed?? Mason got to run through the fountains at Crown Center in KC while I ran the Hospital Hill 1/2 Marathon...which one of us do you think was having more fun??

Well, it might be a close one, but I think Mason wins this one for having more fun in his run... I enjoy my runs, but the freedom of running like a 2yr old?? I don't think anything beats that