Good-Bye My Friend...

Today was a sad day...I had to say good-bye to one of my best-friends. We have spent a lot of time together over the past 6 months, logging many miles, sharing in a lot of smiles, some tears...today my beloved Planet X was left at Vertical Earth. She is heading to Florida on Monday.

I know, a little dramatic...but it's true. I have spent a huge amount of time on her this past 6 months. If I had time, I could go through my logs and tell you exactly how much time...but a rough guesstimate would be anywhere between 14-25 hours per week. (Depending on my long ride schedule.) That's a lot of time with a bike.

At first I thought it was nerves. This is really happening...the race numbers came to us yesterday, the bike is being shipped out Monday (bike shop is closed on Sunday, so had to be dropped off today), and the tapper. BUT, as I examine it more, I find that I am not nervous, but this over-whelming feeling in me is SEPARATION ANXIETY! Every morning I wake up and the first thing I see (even before my kids) is my road bike. She sits there in the room, smiling at me, begging me for another ride. "Let's go play with the boys..." she whispers to me. Now, she sits alone, with the other bikes she has gotten to know so well...in a shop, waiting.

I didn't have time to wash her, didn't have time to clean the chain one last time, didn't have the chance to spend a few more hours alone with her. I was able to talk to her this morning and let her know that we were done. Our training together is done, and now we head into our big event. I told her she was ready, and when we met up again in Florida, I would take her to the Condo, give her a nice cleaning, lube everything up. (OK Corey would do all this, but I would watch and sooth her.) We would be together again, in a week. I told her that her good friends would be near by (Steve's Kestrel, Paul's Orbea, Mike's Trek, Kelly's Specialized...) and to not worry. The big show was coming.

Now I am left with my goggles and running shoes. I will spend a few hours on Corey's bike, and even possibly my Mountain Bike, just to keep the blood flowing in my legs. But, now, more bonding with the Newtons.

I am ready...it needs to be my new mantra. I AM READY...I AM READY...I AM READY!

Racer #2201

Today I got a number...I am Ironman Participant #2201. Today, for some reason, it became so very real to me. I am sitting here with a horrible head-ache, with every reason to go to bed...but I can't. I go from crying out of frustration that I haven't been able to go out and train to nervousness that in a two weeks I will be racing. Competing in what many people think is insanity. Proving to myself that I am capable of doing 140.6 miles under 17 hours. Showing my husband he married a determined woman, demonstrating to my parents they raised a strong person and to my children that anything is possible.

As I sit here typing, I fight myself in self-doubt. What if I haven't put enough time in to my training? What if I don't make a cut-off time? What if I get stung by a Jellyfish??? Seriously!! I know I have put the time in. I know I am strong in the water...hell, I swam 2.5 miles on Wednesday in 1hour 35 minutes. I am a great cyclist; 100 miles and I still have energy to want to do more, but I have to hold back. I worry about the run. Have I done enough running?

Tomorrow, I am heading out for a run. A short run, but a run non the less. I have been in bed for two days now. RESTING. I literally couldn't get out of bed today...but I can't handle another day down. Tomorrow I run. Even if it's just a quick 6 miles...I need to run to have my confidence back. To know I can. Tomorrow I run for me. Not for training...but for me.

A Gift from Corey

Sounds sweet doesn't it??? Well, this amazing gift my husband could have kept! He was a dear and shared with me his cold. Right now is NOT the time for me to get sick; but from what I hear, I am right on schedule!

Had a 60-80 minute run scheduled for today. (I am already stressing about the Marathon portion of the event...so missing this run is not ok!) I know what had to be done, and what advise I would give others if they were in my position, but I had to hear it. SO, I placed a call into the world's best Coach, Huddle. And, he said exactly what I thought he would "Don't run". He told me to stay home, drink and rest. I was already at the Trail Head waiting for Kim, so that was out of the question.

Since I was already out there, his instructions were to not allow my HR to get above 110 bpm. Then he proceeded in the pep talk that I am ready and that this is not a huge issue...but if I don't rest now and I push it, it will become a big issue.

My main thought is that I am suppose to send my bike away on Sunday. I have to get in a long ride tomorrow. It will be my last on my bike before Florida. SO, the goal today is to rest, drink and get myself better. I will not be sick!!! I can't be sick.

Call into Camie...

Another day down and only a few left ahead of me now. I am sore...not sore as in oh my aching muscles...but sore as in "Oh S**T I really did hurt my shoulder!" I fell while in Moab out on Klondikes Bluff. (Yes, it is a ride that all beginner Mountain Bikers could do, but isn't that the way it goes?) I landed on my behind (on a tree, which slowed down my fall and my final resting spot was a cactus.) and caught myself with my wrist. In the process, my left shoulder hit the tree I was crushing. I was sore, but thought nothing of it. (OK I did complain...which I hate to do...to my Erin)

After today's swim, I am thinking something of it. I have put in a call to the worlds BEST Massage Therapist (Camie Roth) and she can't see me until next week. Guess I will have to deal with the pain, and try to take it easy. Which I don't do very well. Luckily I only have two more swims this week. One is a race specific workout the other is a easy 30 minute workout.

I did a long easy swim (2.5 miles) and followed with a quick short bike ride. The shoulder truly flared up during the ride. Which doesn't make me feel (mentally) good about this little situation I have put myself into.

Guess I will just have to see what happens!!! I think I can swim with one Arm...they're called "drills"!

17 days / 21 hours Left!

Sitting here at my computer finding ANYTHING to do besides heading out on my bike. Day 2 of the great tapper and the race comes closer each day.

Last night, it was finalized that Tri-Bike Transport will be able to transport our race bikes to Florida for a small fee ($250 round trip). Transporting the bike on the planes would have been over $300 each way! Little scared to put my beloved Planet X on the cargo truck next Monday, but it seems this is the best way to do it. Away from my bike for a week...more anxiety!!!

It rained last night and I need to go out for a 75 minute Ride (followed by a run)...and I have no desire to do so. My throat hurts, and I am tired...ok now I can add I am a babbling baby to the mix as well.

Well...off I go. Now or never...then it's to Precision Fitness so Sam can torture my abs.

Heading home from Moab

It's always sad when you have to say good-bye to friends that you no longer see on a daily basis. But, throw in saying good-bye to a wonderful week, a beautiful location, and experiencing so many memories and it makes it soooo much harder. Back to reality...back to REAL training.

This past week has been hard. I have had to alter my training schedule and that has really messed with my psychy (spelling???). I was able to get in three GREAT swims, and obviously some killer MTB rides, and one short road ride, but my running fell short. I ran on Tuesday and tried to run on Thursday...but nothing to "blogg" about. We did go on a nice hike in Arches and I ran part of that trail. I guess what has happened (or not happened) is behind me and now I move forward.

Corey and I are driving home from Moab at this exact moment (ok..he's driving, I am blogging). The snow has finally stopped...and now we are in FLAT nothing around I-15. It's actually worse than I-5 for those of you that know I-5.

Back to training...prepping for Florida...bring on the tapper!

PS - My boy (Michael) secured a 9th in the Kona Ironman. The man ran a 8:34 and STILL got a 9th position. The winner...8:14!!!!

Return to MOAB!

What to do when you are three weeks out of an Ironman race and heading into your most challenging week of training? GO TO MOAB!!! What else???

Yes, this was already planned, months ago...and we headed out of town (just Corey and I) to Corey's favorite place on earth. We loaded up four bikes (One massive down-hill, one single speed Mountain Bike, one full suspension and one Road Bike...OF COURSE!)

We headed out of Post Falls at 10:00 pm...and at 3:00 am we found ourselves safely snuggled up next to a 1940's fuel pump at Melrose Montana. We were DARN close to running out of gas. We get 335 miles to a tank...we were at 334. The bar with the fuel pump was not open and so we slept until someone arrived. Lucky for us a "local" arrived at the pump at 6 am and was fueling and we were able to get some gas ourselves!!! YES...

We rolled into Moab on Sunday at 5:00 pm...met up with our friends from Sacramento {The Brandts (Jon and Jenn), the Upchurches (Mike and Erin), the Conwells (Chris and Allyson), Joe Carpenter and James Donely}. AT Last...with our friends in Moab...let the fun begin!!