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

Wow, what a Wednesday!!

So a few weeks back while we were in the hospital with Mason when he got a scary case of croup, Matt's grandmother passed away... So tomorrow, we head to St. Louis for a couple days to spend time with family at her wake and funeral. SO, what this meant for my wednesday??...packing in about 2 days worth of training! We started the fun with a 5am track workout... Which I must mention was made MUCH more enjoyable by the company I had. I didn't think I'd get any takers on a tough, early speedwork run, but I thought I'd at least mention it to the Y tri team coach, Todd, and the team and see what would happen... Well, thanks to Todd and his crew and 1 of the team members, Sarah,...there were 8 of us out there before sun up going round and round (and round and round again..) the middle school track! I felt really good the whole way. It was a 12 x 800's workout, which I figured I'd execute on 5min intervals (run in 4min or under and rest 1 min between sets)... and I'm happy to report that I did each set at about 3:45's and finished my last set in about 3:30! So that was fun. Given that we're going to be gone a few days and I had the long trainings and some work to do, we decided to have Mason go to Miss Debbie's (day care providers house) for the day, which he was plenty happy about!... So I took him over there and then headed off to my next part of today's training... an hr long strength training class. I did fine and it was good. My legs were a bit sore, but all in all, so far so good... So head home for a bit of a rest and lunch, and then off for a 40+ mi bike ride! It was a gorgeous day... I was probably a little slower than my usual pace since I was a little sore and tired, but I made it! So now...rest... I do plan to do a swim workout and maybe a little bike before we head out tomorrow, but after that, rest for about a day and a half! And as much as funerals aren't ever exactly 'fun', it'll be a nice chance to get together with family and celebrate the long, happy life that Dolores Blunck lived. She will be missed, as all of the family held her in high regard as the matriarch of the family... May she rest in peace as she joins her husband that passed many years before her.

I Was Running

So this week was quite 'run heavy', as I like to call it. It seems that with training 3 sports, you inevitably end up with some weeks where you ride and ride and ride...and other weeks where you get lots of time on the ol' dogs, hitting the pavement for mile after mile...and times when I feel like I spent all week in a pool or a lake?! So this week...was a running week...and my achilles/heel is feeling it! I don't think I've talked about this injury in this blog...mostly because I hadn't really had a problem with it for quite some time now, but I have some achilles tendonitis/plantar fascitis deal going on. I did PT for it a few weeks back and it's been pretty well contained with the use of a brace that I sleep with on my foot to keep it in the 'flexed' position, which helps with the pain and scar tissue and things a LOT. This had all started way back in October when I was training for a marathon... Really the only thing that's going to make it 'better', will be when I eventually let it rest... But now is not that time. Anyway, so I ice and advil it up and hope for the best! This week included an 8mi HOT and MUGGY run on wednesday morning (even at 5am I was SOAKED!), then a fairly long brick of 30 miles ride and 5 miles run on thursday, I did a longer brick on saturday with a 50 mile ride and 6 mile run (plus I was all done with that by 8:30am! I had a birthday date with my little boy... turned the big 2!)... And finally... a 12 mile hilly, HOT run sunday morning. Luckily I had some company for that long run because it. was. tough. But here we are! Another week closer to the big race day. We're really starting to wind down here. I'm feeling good (despite my sore leg...it'll be better in a few days, I'm sure... I'll just focus more on the swim and bike this week!). Feeling strong. Feeling PSYCHED about the big day. And, of coarse, reminding myself of the REAL reason that I signed up for this race this season...for our honored heros and all those effected by blood cancers. Our tri team had a bit of a 'roller coaster' deal over the past couple weeks. Our teammate, known as 'Grampie', who is the grandfather of our team's honored hero, Lauryn, and the father of our asst. coach, Dea, successfully finished his race at Elkhart, which was the Olympic distance...but noticed a headache throughout the race and wasn't feeling well... He learned he had a torn thoracic aorta and needed emergency surgery?! But he's doing quite well now, so we're all thankful for that. But his strength and determination continues to inspire us all. So.... here we go to another week!

First loser?? I think not...

So as the saying goes (I think..), 2nd place is the 1st loser... But I happen to quite like the ol' 2nd place spot! Today I raced a sprint tri distance at Eagle Creek...which was a 500m swim, 10mi bike and 3mi run... I pushed my pace and did my best...and wound up bringing home 2nd in my age group...and a major award! (a lovely glass mug, from which I drank my post workout smoothie when I finally got home hrs later...more on that in a bit) It was a fun race, as usual. I saw a few of my TNT teammates (but it wasn't a team event, so my Steelhead buddies were off training elsewhere) and some other folks that I've met along the way through training and other things. This race was also special and fun because the group that I've been training with at the YMCA was there and most of them (actually...all but me) were racing for the 1st time! So it was fun to enjoy that experience with them and to see them all become official triathletes... I haven't looked at my times/splits yet, but I know I did the best I could... I felt kind of slow in the water.. Not really sure why. But I felt comfortable in my stroke and didn't have any freak-out moments, so I consider it a great success! Then off on the bike...AH, my bike! I made an amazing improvment to my 'machine' this week... I had my bike 'aero-barred' and fitted on thursday... WOW! What a difference! Everyone always talks about how great aero bars are and how it improves your speed, saves your legs, etc, etc... I'm a believer!! I can now coast at speeds that I used to have to push HARD to get to...so I'm very excited about that. So I felt great on the bike, but may have been a little too focused on being down in my arrows, and not focused enough on hydrating... But all in all, a good ride. Then off to the run... There were times I felt great in the run, and times I didn't feel so great.. But I think I did OK. A nice sprint down that hill and in to the finish! But the fun had only just begun... I had talked to coach about what he thought I should do for training after the race, since the sprint distance is so short...and he recommended a 30mi bike and 5mi run (brick) some time either right after, or later in the day... So since I already had all of my things and Eagle Creek (where the race was) is a nice, easy place to get those miles in, I just planned on getting that brick in after the race cleared out. It went surprisingly well. I didn't exactly push my speed on the bike, for the most part, but my legs felt pretty good. Then the run went much better than I had expected! I felt pretty darn good, physically... it was really hot, since it was after 1pm at that point, but other than the heat, I was doing fine! So...that was my day. A race AND a brick! always something fun and new with this triathlon training. Can't wait to see what's next!

Hillyman!

Hello! Thought I'd take a moment to do a little updating... I guess I'll pick up from where I left off before... Last weekend after all my hilly bike riding, I packed up the fam and headed for KC for a visit with my parents...and to get in yet another hilly 1/2 marathon! I ran Hospital Hill, which was starting and ending at Crown Center in the downtown area of KC...which was great because while I was on my trek up and down (mostly up...I'm pretty sure it was mostly up) the hills around town in the 90-ish degree heat (it really didn't feel that bad, I promise), Mason got to run (yes, run!) through the fountains! So cute.. I know this because Matt and my parents got video and pics! Where are they, you ask? well...we left our camera at my parents house in KC, so we'll have to wait until we get that back from them...but I DO promise to add the pics and any video that I can figure out how to upload as soon as I can. So anyway, I finished that run in 1:51, which was not a pr, but I was perfectly happy with it because it was a touch faster than my last 1/2 marathon that was similar hill-wise (IU Mini in Bloomington), but this one had the heat and humidity added to it, so it was a success in my eyes. Plus, I'm really focusing right now on learning to 'race smart'. This means being sure not to start too fast, so that I can have a faster 2nd 1/2 of the race, paying attention to how I need to eat and drink before, during and after for best race and recovery...all in efforts to prep for my 'main' race, Steelhead! So that was good. Then I had a week of regular ol' training...and my 1st olympic distance tri was today! (sunday) This was a tough one for several reasons... 1st, the obvious, it was farther than I had raced in a tri before. 2nd was the unforseen obstacles of sleep deprivation, courtesy of an overnight stay at the hospital on friday in the PICU with my poor baby, Mason, who came down with a severe case of croupe that left him gasping for air...so that was definitely tough...our 1st hospital stay with our little guy, seeing Mason that scared and in pain, up all night listening to beeps and making sure his o2 levels are OK... So anyway, he made a speedy recovery and we got to head home mid-day on saturday, which meant no time for me to get any training in, but as long as Mason stayed healthy through the night, it was game on for me and my race! Then...there were tornado warnings and horrible storms late saturday night, but luckily by race time on sunday, it was beautiful skies (and heat!). BUT, with Mason still being a little under the weather and not wanting to put him at risk at all, I had to head to my race all by myself for the 1st time! I know a lot of people do this all the time, but I'm very used to having Matt, and now Mason, too!, at my races, so I missed them. But the show must go on...so after a delayed start due to the race directors needing to go through the coarse to clear off debris left from the storm, I took off for what was supposed to be a 1500m swim...but given that I completed that swim in 15min and I am NOT anywhere NEAR that fast...I'm guessing we were a few meters short there... OH, WELL!! Now for the bike...WOAH!! So, no surprise here... Bloomington is hilly... I knew that. And given that I am all about the hills these days, I actually really enjoyed the tough coarse! But it was certainly tough...and a little longer than I think an Olympic calls for at 30 miles...and it took me about 1:35/1:40-ish to finish... Definitely slower than I had planned, both due to the extra few miles and the extra hills (again, somehow I'm just SURE there were more up's than down's). So now...the RUN!! This one. was. TOUGH! again...for a few reasons. As usual, they were sure to give us a wonderful steep uphill on the way out..then we had a trail run. Now, they told us it would be a 1.1mi trail run, but what they failed to tell us was that this trail was more an adventure type race trail than just running on grass...there were steep, narrow ups and downs, which were muddy and slick from the storms. At some points I was grabbing for trees on the way down to slow me down a little. I actually had to use a log for a bridge! Jumping over logs... it was interesting. But, again, as always...I see the up side of this and enjoyed the shade, the change of pace, and the opportunity to slow my pace and prevent another side-stitch. The rest of the loop (Olympic distance did 2 loops, which meant 2x through those woods!) was just hot and open w/ a few ups and downs...and then the fast downhill in to the big FINISH!! Done. I haven't checked out the 'official' time, but per my little pink, trusty time piece, I was about 2:45-ish...so with my 15min swim, my 1:35-ish bike...what does that put me at, a 50min run? Anyway, like I said, I was trying to race smart...save my legs on all those up hills on the bike and on the 1st part of the run so that I could still have some left in the tank to let me pick up speed (and pick off folks!) toward the end...and I did all of that, so another success! I haven't seen the results, but it was a very small field, so I think I got 4th overall for the females and probably got 1st or 2nd in my age group (if they had enough for make an age group!).. But as I always say, I'm out there racing against myself and pushing myself to do the race that I need to do...the placing is just a formality. So that's, that! Another week of training ahead of me heading into what might be my last race before the big one! I'm doing a personal fave race...a sprint tri at Eagle Creek! I've done this race a few times before; it's a well done race, fast and fun..so a chance to push myself fast and furious! Hopefully we'll have a good day for it... I'll keep you all posted on how it goes!

Whew!!

Time for another update! So the month of May has been an eventful one, as far as racing and training goes.. As I mentioned last time, our 'open water swim mondays' have begun and I cannot describe how greatly this has helped me improve my confidence for race day swimming. The 1st time out in my wetsuit was a stark reminder of how my last (which was also the 1st time ever in a wetsuit!) attempt at swimming in a wetsuit went... It was at Chicago tri last summer... and it didn't go well. That race went OK, but I had a bit of a 'freak out' during that swim... So anyway, the more we've gotten out in the lakes to swim and break in our wetsuits, the more I feel like I'm actually swimming and cruising comfortably along...and I've already seen the benefits of this at races. Last weekend I tested my endurance and recovery by doing 2 triathlons in 2 days... it went well! I started off with the race in Terre Haute... it was a 'spri-lympic' distance (betweeen sprint and olympic), so 800m swim, 25mi bike and 5mi run... my longest race to date! I felt pretty darn good, aside from the side-stitch I got on the run (probably a product of pushing hard on the bike, eating on the bike (1st time for this in a race), and then starting my run off too quickly...live and learn! But I did manage a 3rd place (age group) finish that day. Then the next day was our TNT practice tri for those of the team doing the Elkhart race on 6/12...so it was another 'spri-lympic' with just under a mile swim, 16 HILLY mile ride, and then about a 4.5mi hilly run. I felt great for this race and managed to pull out a big 'W'!! I came in at 1:53 (ish)...which all that really meant was that I was able to push myself in races back to back, felt great, and gained more insight on racing smart, eating/drinking right, transitions, and much more! Training has been going well, too... Our longest group training was a couple weeks ago with a 30mi ride, then a 10K w/ 8 hill repeats in the middle of that...and then another 5K! All in all...took about 3 1/2 hrs... but it was a good one! This past weekend was pretty 'ride' focused with a 50 mile ride (after a 6mi run and 1hr swim) on saturday and then a HILLY!!! (yikes) 60 mile ride on sunday. I'm pretty sure this is the most riding I've done before, so my legs are pretty tired, but again...all in all... I feel pretty good! In other news... Mason got to run his 1st race last weekend, too! They had a 'fun run' during the triathlon in Terre Haute, so Mason got to join in. We have video...and I'll try to figure out how to add that here because it is SO cute... He ran, then would stop, then run and squeal, then stop, notice the 'water'(lake), run, stop to point out a 'doggie', back to running as everyone cheered him across the finish. Pretty cool for such a little guy! So...still having fun with the races... 2 more months to go til the big day!