I HIT IT.  I HIT the training Wall this weekend.  I hit that point where it took everything I had in me to get my workout done…and it was not a pretty sight. 

The past 6 weeks have been a mad push of building both my run and bike with a few races thrown in the mix.  I have had back to back big weekends followed by plenty of training during the week.  And as a result I HIT IT! 

I hit that point where I knew without a doubt that I had nothing left in the tank for any more workouts!  I hit that point where I needed a week of doing whatever and recovery.  I physically hit that point where I had nothing left in my legs!  After 2.5 years of training for triathlons I finally hit the spot where my body needed the rest! 

I had a mental wall I hit last February and took one week off….but this time my mind is in the game, but I body is screaming differently.  I didn’t even know I was cooked until I attempted to ride the Copper Triangle on Saturday with some friends. 

There were six of us who headed out for a SAG supported ride.  The day was perfect; the weather perfect; the company perfect! 

Ready to Ride Copper Triangle

We set off to ride up Vail Pass.  I started off like I would normally on a long ride,  riding a nice easy speed, letting everything warm up.  Nothing felt different…just the typical thick feeling in my legs.  I didn’t think much of it…just the slow steady warm up…..

As we began to ride through Minturn I started to get a clue that something was not right.  I was still feeling like I had lead for legs and by now I would have usually been warmed up.  I mean…there is barely an incline through Minturn and I was feeling as if I was climbing Mt Evans or something!  Needless to say my ability to ride got worse from there! 

Top of Tennesse Pass....

Tennesse Pass felt like Mt Everst!  I’m not kidding!  It was an all out struggle to get up the Pass.  I had nothing in my legs.  I wanted to stop so many times and then would not.  I would keep going…some how.  I am not sure how I acutally pulled this ride off.  Even on the flats I could barely ride!  I was telling my riding mates that I was “toast”!  Well finally I became “burnt toast” and took my turn SAGging for the last 2 miles of Freemont Pass on back to the parking lot.  I barely had anything left in my legs for walking! 

This was a really interesting experience for me.  I have never been to the point of being “done”.  Like having nothing left and knowing it’s time to take a recovery week.  I’ve had difficult workouts, but my body always comes around.  That didn’t happen this time.  There was no point in the ride when I “warmed up”.  I was done and there was nothing left!  I know this ride will make me stronger, both physically and mentally.  I made it through the day, I kept going and didn’t give up…and now with a week of recovery fun/workouts my body will have a chance to replenish and get doubly strong! 

I’m grateful I got to join the ride and I’m grateful I made it as far as I did!  And now I’m grateful for a week of sleeping in and eating dinner at a reasonable hour!  Ahhhh….

Ahhhhhhhh.......

This weekend my training got kicked up a notch.  Yeap- the serious part of Ironman Training is ON!  I mean ON!!!  E-Rock (Elephant Rock Century Ride) was the kickoff to back to back to back fun! 

Saturday I warmed up for E-Rock with a 15 mile run on the Highline Canal.  Another wonderful shaded run in scorching heat.

Sunday morning found me waiting in a long line of cars to get to the fairgrounds in Castle Rock to start the ride.  I was riding with my bud Sharon again.  We weren’t so green and took two cars.  Sharon was doing her first century and my instruction was to “race” this ride. 

Ready to Ride!

 We got our selves and our bikes ready and started rolling at 7:00 am.  Now Elephant Rock is an event.  It’s not a race, it’s an event.  There are people riding who are doing a 65 or 100 mile bike ride for the first time, and some who are have done E-Rock a few times. 

What beauty!!

The reason I bring this up is that many people complain about how crowded it is; how people don’t know how to ride correctly…Heck, there are even  bad-a$$ cyclist (or so they think) who come by screaming at people for doing something they don’t like.  IT’S AN EVENT PEOPLE!    CHILL OUT!  Everyone is doing the best they can on that day and for each person it’s their own personal challenge, even hell at times.  I am sooooo much more impressed and inspired by an overweight person on a mountain bike riding the 65 mile course than I am of some 6% bodyfat athlete in their cycling kit!!!!  Who gives a crud if you don’t like how people are riding.  This day is NOT about YOU! 

This day IS about camaraderie and friendly people though.  This day IS about wonderful volunteers and hard working regular folks.  It’s about making a new friend as you pedal hard up a hill or fly on the downhills.  It’s about saying “Thank you” to every volunteer you meet.  It’s also about giving encouraging words to those you pass.  It’s about doing something that challenges and pushes you.  It’s about 6000 feet of climbing and 100 miles of pavement.  It’s about giving your all AND having fun!

One of the Aide Stations

 E-Rock was like that this year for me.  I had a wonderful time and once again met some great people.  Riding E-Rock hard this year was tough at times.  I remember thinking to myself as I was climbing some hill, “Am I going to be able to make this?”  “Am I going to be able to finish?”  I was able to make it, and I was able to finish. And I had a fabulous, hard time! 

The nice thing about E-Rock is eventually the crowds thin out and you end up riding alone often.  It really is just you, your bike, and your mind for most of the ride.  I didn’t have a lot of time to enjoy the views or chat much with people (another one of my instructions was “NO Lollygagging!”).  And me being the “good” athlete :) I tried to keep that to a minimun. 

A perfect day

Elephant Rock was wonderful and I highly recommend it.  Yeah it’s crowded, just bring your patience for the first 20 miles….Remember it’s an event and there are people who are doing something this hard for the first time.  Be Kind, Say Thank You, and most of all Enjoy Yourself!

It’s the official, unofficial start to SUMMER!  Can you say…it’s about time???  And this weekend did prove to be a summer weekend.  No rain, snow or howling winds!  It was spectacular…and long!  Four days of pure -heavenly training and recovering bliss!

Friday started out with a 30 mile run with the temps forecasted in the 90’s.  I hit Highline Canal at the Goodson Rec Center and was on the trail by 6:30am.  The sky was slightly overcast and the temp was already 60 degrees. 

Early Morning on the Highline Canal

At first I thought that I would run 3 x 10 miles.  Out 5 back 5- 3 times….About 4 miles into the run I decided I would rather get 15 miles out of the way my first time out, then run 10 miles and then finish off the 30 with the last 5. 

Sounded like a great idea and it actually was!  Mostly because of the mind game I was playing with myself.  Do you ever do that?  Play games with your perception?  It seems like a pre-requist to racing and training long distances….ya know…a 15 mile run, no problem; a 10 mile run, no problem; a 5 mile run, piece of cake….they just happen to all be in a row!!!

15 Miles and smiling

I knocked out the 15; reloaded at the car; knocked out the 10; got back to the car and had a Humongous blister on the bottom of my foot from a iny-tiny grain of dirt.  The blister started to change my gait around mile 23 and when I got to the car, I took a look at my foot and decided to go for my post-run swim…..didn’t finish the 30 but had a successful 25 miles of running.  Plus the temps were officially in the mid 90’s.  Did I mention how refreshing my 20 minute swim was?????  Ahhhhhhhhh

Saturday was a rest day!  I went to Boulder, got my weekly body work, enjoyed the festival and relaxed!

Sunday was back at-it!  4+ hour ride with a bunch of women! Oh yeah- remember that sore throat I had last weekend…well Sunday morning it decided to become a sinus infection……When I met up with everyone at Boulder Res I felt like crap.  I decided to start off easy and ride what I could. 

Lucky for me even though the sinus infection didn’t go away, I was eventually able to feel good enough to have a stellar ride out to Carter Lake and back.  I had a blast.  I was back on Black Betty (my Ordea Ordu) and we were flying! My training buddy, Sharon, and I rode the whole way together and just enjoyed the heck out of the day! 

Who's having FUN??? Not us :)

Back at the Res after 56 miles of pavement under our tires, I threw on my Newtons and hit a  hard 10 minute run.  I have NEVER run Hard off the bike- I was blown away by how I actually felt fine!  I was surprised!  I always thought I couldn’t run that fast off the bike…..but then- that’s why I have coach Andrea!  To help me learn new things about myself!

And then there was Monday.  Monday was all about the Honey-Do-List.  Can a  Honey Do List be a HDL when you’re writing it for yourself????  Anyway- I got through pruning trees and bushes in the front and back yards, and did all those piles of chores that I didn’t get to in the last year.  It felt fabulous to look around and see the piles gone and the trees trimmed.  I settled into my chair in the back yard and enjoyed the waterfall and the cool shade of the trees.  Another one of those AHHHHH moments.

I have the best backyard ever! Kai agrees!

For me, this was the best start to summer I can ever remember.  Two hard training days and two awesome rest days.  There is something to be said for having your “house in order” so that your training can just take off.  And with that….it’s time to take out the big guns and hit some pretty tough training in the next few  months…..but I’ma ready!!!

What a wild and fantastic weekend it was. Wild as in the weather. Fantastic because I was in Buena Vista with the best group of triathlon women friends!

After driving through the snow on Friday afternoon to get to BV, we arrived at packet pick up where we were told that the Century Bike Route would be changed due to 8 inches of snow around Turquoise Lake. Cool, we can handle that!

Middle of May and snowing

Next the seven of us made our way to the cabin we rented on the Arkansas River. We unloaded our bikes and gear and settled in for a carbo loading feast of spaghetti and salad.

The bikes inside and staying dry

Carbo Loading Feast

As we sat around the table each of us kept checking our Blackberries for weather updates. No matter how many times we looked the forecast was always the same…Snow all night long and into the morning. Dagnabit!
We all decided we would get up and put all our waterproof gear on and ride as far as we could the next day.
We were up at 5:00am to be ready to roll by 7:00. We kept checking to see what each other was wearing and what we should wear. Nerves were running high. As daylight approached we could see the rain turn to snow.
We were all packed, bundled up and ready to leave when we got a text at 6:30am letting us know the event had been cancelled! Dang…all dressed up with no where to go!!!   What’s a bunch of women to do???

All Dressed Up and No Where To Go

Well, head to the event site to see what’s up and grab a cup of coffee of course! The whole town was full of disappointed cyclist. And there were even a few brave ones out riding in the snow.

Plan B kicked into action. Kendra and I opted to postpone any cycling until the following day when the forecast was clear and in the 60’s. We went for a 30 minute run, the first since our marathon the week before. Then we had the chore of figuring out what to do with the rest of our day. This was brutal! I felt like a caged animal. Here I had been planning on riding 100 miles and had to chill. Tough but I (we) made it!  All the rest of the gals went for a 20 mile ride when the weather started to clear up then headed back to Denver. It was just Kendra and I left to ride.

Sunday morning found us waking to clear blue skies and warmish temps. We ate, packed the car and drove to town to start our ride.  We met up with a some others who opted to stay and rode south to Salida for the first 50 miles of the day.

Sunday Morning Bunch

The views were spectacular- the mountains freshly covered in snow, the sky a clear blue backdrop.  The wind….not so fun.  But heh- it’s Colorado- and here we are use to riding in the wind. 

The Beauty of the Collegiate Peaks

The out and back made for 55 miles with a fuel and water reload at the cars.  Next we were headed north towards Leadville.  More fun and WIND!  Did I mention the wind was from the north..so it was against us as we climbed???  FUN!

Me- headed up hill and into the head wind!

We finished the ride, ate some great burgers, fries and chocolate shake at K’s in BV, then headed home for the two hour drive.  It was a great weekend, that once again taught me about flexibility and making lemonade out of lemons.  I wish the rest of the gang had been able to stay, as the weather was great and the riding even better.  Not as good as the actual Bike Fest itself….but much better than nothing!!!

Burgers, Shakes, And Fries...That's what I'm talkin about baby!

I can’t believe it. Spring is here and so is my first race of the season!
How did this happen?  How did the race that I signed up for in winter come so quickly? It seems like just yesterday I wrote out my race schedule for the 2010 season. Back in November this seemed like a good idea! HaH!

I do have to admit that I am enjoying the taper. It ’s kinda nice to feel like I have more energy and I’m not so tired. Plus it was nice to do only an hour and half bike ride Saturday.  Some of the perks of approaching a race.

So, I’ll see how it goes.  Sometimes my mind is in the game for this race and sometimes it’s not…..All I know is I’m ready to have some fun!

See ya next week with a race report!

This weekend was all about multi sportin.  There was some Splishin, some Splotin, and some heavy duty windy Woshin to be had. 

And speaking of WOoooSSSHHIN…how about that wind this weekend.  How many of you got caught out there on your long Saturday bike ride?  Pretty fun heh?  (ok maybe NO fun).  For all of us brave soles (or is it silly soles) who didn’t change our workouts around, for those of us who rode parallel to the road….this one’s for you!

There was a group of us brave soles who drove down to Castle Rock to ride the 62 mile E Rock  course. As we all gathered our gear and headed out on the rode the wind was just starting to blow.  The further we got out on the ride- of course- the windier it got! 

By mile 15 we decided to call it quits and head back… I have to be honest- I was kinda disappointed, if someone else had said “yes” to continuing I would have been all over it.  Luckily for me, no one was dumb enough to want to continue!  Once we turned around we quickly realized we would have 15 grueling miles into the wind.  I’m talkin full on head wind- and cross winds that left you riding parallel to the road if not splot on the road.

Delinda, Doreen, Liesl, Sharon...check out the sideways hair!

We made it back to the parking lot, after a few minor wind epics.  Next up for me was to finish off my mileage with a basement trainer ride and NCIS!  Oh yeah, followed by my second 20 minute run of the day.

Sunday was all about the run and swim.  And of course, being spring and all , here in Colorado…there had to be some wind again.  I headed up Waterton Canyon for a quick 5 and back down, meet some friends along the way…and was grateful it was’t as windy at the day before!

I finished the run off, jumped in my car, downed some Mix1 (love the Mango) and headed to the pool.  That’s were I spent the next 30 minutes Splishin.  And did it feel good!  After Saturdays windfest and Sundays run, I was ready for my favorite- swimming!

It was a perfect weekend….great friends, great workouts, and some splish, splot and wosh….who could ask for anything more…..except maybe a bit less wind next weekend  

This weekend was a perfect example of Denver weather.  It’s almost spring!….No wait a minute…It’s still winter! 

Spring hasn't quiet Sprung....

We have sprung forward and the hint of races and spring are in the air.  What a glorious time of year!  Nerves start to set in as race season approaches and we inch our ways towards that “A” race! 

Saturday was my first outdoor bike ride since Ironman Cozumel.  We started off with a warm up around Chatfield Res via Waterton Canyon, then climbed our way to the top of Deer Creek followed by an all-out-effort down Wadsworth and then an  easy spin back to the car.

 As I rode past the Gravel Pond (where we do our open water swims all summer long)…I was amazed that the pond was still frozen solid!  Yes, it felt like spring today as I sweated my way up Deer Creek, taking off my wind jacket and rolling down my arm warmers.  But then I saw the Gravel Pond, and realized it’s not quiet spring yet! 

The ride was fabulous and the feeling afterwards was even better.  This ride helped me feel like a real athlete again.  I mean- because it was outdoors instead of on a computrainer.  I got to feel the breeze and have the sun on my face.  I needed to balance as I raced down Deer Creek.  I had to remember what it was like to use all my gears.  It was simply glorious!  Summer was-a-comin!

And then there was Sunday…..how quickly the weather in Denver can go from 62 to 34 degress.  Like in 10 hours!  So I met Kendra at 10:00 am for a 10 mile run with speed work.  We decided to run in Waterton Canyon. 

Our run started off with overcast skies, the river to our left, and the occasional Big Horn Sheep.  We chatted as we warmed up and had a jolly good time.  When we hit mile 5, we turned around and started our first 1/2 mile of speed work.  Right about then is when the skies opened up and the weather moved in!  We ran our butts off- downhill, both ways, in the blowing snow and howling wind.  No really!  The wind was blowing so hard that snow was landing in our eyes and we couldn’t see.  It was hilarious! 

Here we were the day before sweating our way up Deer Creek, and then a mere 20 hours later we were covered in snow and soaked to the bone!  Winter was back in all it’s 30 degree glory!  But we finished our run, maxed out our heart rates and shivered back to our cars! 

All in all, this was one of the most confusing weekends I’ve had in a long time….I mean…it was warm, sunny, almost down right hot…it was SPRING…but psych!  Fooled ya….winter still has it’s grip on Denver.  Versatility is a virtue if you live and train at 5280.

sore legs! 

Here I sit on Monday with the sorest legs I’ve had in ages!  Yeah sitting…not such a good idea today, as every time I get up it takes a few minutes for my quads to work.  And the thing is, my legs are sore in places they aren’t usually sore! 

So what’s the culprit you may ask.  How’d I get my legs so sore anyways….I mean, they are more sore than after my 28 mile run!

One word- STAIRS!  Red Rocks Stairs to be exact.  That’s after running over Dinosaur Ridge and up into Red Rocks!  This was the strength workout my coach had mapped out for me on Saturday.

We started at 8:30 at Conoco (I actually roped Liesl into joining!)  The skies were slightly overcast with the promise of sun later, temps in the high 30’s!!!   I threw on my Newton shoes and we made our way up Roney Road, over Dinosaur Ridge and up to the amphitheater in Red Rocks. 

The Red Rock Crew

That was just the warm up….Then the fun began.  Next we had 10 sets on the infamous stairs!!!!!  What a blast!  Really, it was!  It’s one of those “hurts so good” kinda feelings.  Yah know, where your pushing yourself, and your lungs are exploding, and your legs are crying….Yeah, it was that kinda blast.

That’s how we spent the next 50 minutes…up and down the stairs!  I love going to Red Rocks.  The view is so spectacular and there are all these other people who are purposefully inflicting excruciating pain on themselves also!  I mean, where else could you find so many different people working so hard to get fit????? 

All done and taking in the view

We celebrated at the top with a picture and then refilled our water bottles and headed back down into the town of Morrison and to our cars.  It was truly a splendid way to spend the morning.  And it was a phenomenal workout!  I feel as if my legs are 10 times stronger already!  I highly recommend this workout for anyone who wants to build strength (and character).

Sunday rounded out the weekend with a 3 hour Computrainer course.  We rode the Ironman Australia course.  That course has a kick butt climb right off the start….

All in all, another great training weekend, with some time outside in the sun and sore legs in the end.  What more could an Ironman want??????

SAD….I’m SAD…..I’m Surrly, Anxious and Depressed because I’ve had to do every long run and long ride indoors for the last 3 weekends!

SAD…this stuff is real!  I’m Seasonally Affected with this Disorder.  I am craving a weekend day that is sunny and not snowing.  I don’t even care if it’s not warm….just give me the darn sun!!! 

Why is it that durning the week, when I’m working indoors the sun is out and the temps hover in the 40’s?  But come Saturday morning it snowing?  Who’s idea is this anyway.  It’s tough when the weather in Denver gets in these patterns.  I always begin to find myself getting a bit surrly and chompin at the bit!

SAD

As a mental health therapist, I know the role that exercise in the sun can play on mood and brain chemistry.  But darn if the sun isn’t cooperating these days. 

So since the sun doesn’t find me…I try to find the sun in my own way.   I’ve begun a game with myself.  I tell myself I am training my mind.  Yeap.  I take these endless weekend indoor training sessions as an opportunity to toughen my mind.  I grit through the pain of the endless hours of boredom and tell myself I am mentally getting tougher to handle things that might come up in a race.  I figure if I can endure another 2-3 hour treadmill run I can endure anything.  I mean anything! 

Sometimes the hardest part of racing is getting through the training.  If I can keep with my training, no matter what, no matter the season….then when it’s time to be standing in the water on that chilly morning- I’ll be ready!  I’ll have gotten through the hard part…..And the SADness will be gone!  Plus it helps knowing better weather is just weeks away!!!!

Supa- Star

Do you ever have those training days or day when you get done and you just feel solid?  Like you could kick some serious a$$ and you are going to rock your next race?  You know….That you ARE a  SUPER STAR!  ?????

Well that’s the way I felt today when I walked out of the Rec Center, wet hair and all, in 20 degree weather after another kick butt Masters swim workout.  And here’s why…

After the past month, of getting my workouts in, grieving the loss of my father, and getting back to Denver and my life here….I have entered back into the realm of some serious training.

In 24 hours I swam Masters; did a grueling power Computrainer Class that seriously had me close to puking; slept 6.5 hours and then back at Masters this morning getting my arms blown up again!

At the beginning of each workout I felt  a bit flat for 10 minutes or so, but once I warmed up I was hammering hard.  It felt GREAT (even though I would wonder sometimes if I could keep going).  I imagined myself holding the pace for an entire race and finding that edge to dance on without blowing myself up.  You see, this race season is about racing “gutsy“, not just “safe” anymore.  I’ve been afraid (OMG I said it out loud!),  yeap afraid to HURT.So I’m going there- you know “there”- the “there” of pain and not knowing if you can hang on…..I want to dance that line and see what it might hold.

So after three hard workouts in 24 hours that had me working HARD and dancing with that line…I walked out of Masters this morning feeling like a SUPER STAR!  Like a real athlete who could do some damage this racing season.