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.......

Well.  Here I am, the day before I head to Cozumel, Mx to compete in my first Ironman. 

I have been struggling with self doubt in the last week, mainly due to a slight calf pull that sidelined my last two brick workouts (100 mile bike/15 mile run; 100 mile bike/18 mile run). 

I have been tapering for 4 weeks now, not what was scheduled but how things played out.  the self doubt comes from wondering if I was ready and had done enough training.  I decided to get out my training logs for the past year and look back on what I’ve done to be ready for this DAY. 

To date I have completed 1x Ultra Adventure Race; 2x 30 mile Runs; 3x 25 mile Runs; 2x Marathons; 9x Century Bike rides; and a 5K, 6K, 2x 7K Swims…..Here is a timeline of the main workouts and fun I’ve had since November 2008.

November of 2008 I started with a group run on the Colorado Trail for 16 miles.  Two weeks later I was in Moab at the ULTIMATE XC Adventure Run for my first adventure race (23 miles).

Last mile at Moab

December found me running 26 milesfrom Highlands Ranch to Golden with temps ranging from 19 degress at the start to a balmy 29 degress by the time we arrived in Golden.  The following weekend was a 5K Swim at Denver University at 5:30 am!

Janurary started off the year with a 20 mile run  and two weeks later I was in California for the  REDDING MARATHON (26.2 miles).  I learned a lot from this marathon as I started way too fast and ended up walking more than running the last 5 miles. Pacing is EVERYTHING!

Finish of Redding Marathon with Kelly

The cold month of Feburary brought….More Running!  Two 25 milersover two Sundays in a row!  The HighlineCanal became my friend as I ran these two 25 milers. Luckily for me I have wonderful friends who joined me on parts of my run.  Thanks to Elizabethwho joined me  on my last 5 miles on both runs and kept me entertained! 

The Second 25 Miler Video

March opened with a 6K Swim (video) at Carmody Rec Center.  One thing I discovered on the 5:00 am Sunday Morning Swims was that I loved them!  It was such a wonderful way to start a Sunday. Swimming withgood friends!  Not much more happened this month.  I started computrainer classes at Peak to Peak Performance Center to begin to build my cycling.

Aprilbrought the beggining of the racing season.  First up- Rage Long Course Triathlon.  This is a HARD course!  Pretty much the same course I raced in October at Nationals where I qualified for a spot on the US Team for World Championships.  But I digress…that was 2008.  I had a good race and placed first in my age group.  Not a bad way to start the season  :)  Returned home for a 7K Swimat Carmody again.

Rage Finish- 1st Place Age Group!

May started the big mileage!  May 5th I did my first Ultra Run- Greenland 50K (30 miles).  I ran this with my coach Andrea where she taught me a lot about the finer points of running a race!  The next weekend I was off to Buena Vista Bike Fest  for my first Century ride ever!  I had a blast and HIGHLY reccomend this ride!  They have great support and the BEST food!

Lunch in Leadville at Buena Vista Bike Fest

June started off with a 4K Swim followed by Elephant Rock Century.  The very next weekend I was headed out of state for the Kansas Ironman 70.3 Triathlon!  Kansas IM 70.3 was amazing!  I had a great race and PRed by 20 minutes!!!  I was absolutlely suprised!  Then the very next weekend I competed in Loveland Lake 2 Lake Olympic Triathlon. 

The Girls at Elephant Rock Century

The Gang Kansas Ironman 70.3 Recon

Getting Ready for Loveland Lake 2 Lake

July was the beginning of traveling back and forth to California for 4 months to help care for my father as he went through cancer treatment.  Durning July I did a 20 mile Run and the next weekend rode in the Sunrise Century (7000 ft of climbing) on Saturday followed by a 24 mile Run on Sunday.  I was amazed that the run felt effortless and I was strong! 

Two days later I jumped in my car and drove for 3 days to California.   I arrived on Friday night and Saturday I did my own 70.3.   The next morning (August 1st) I was up at 4:00am to start the Mt. Shasta Summit Century. 11,000 ft of climbing in 100 miles!

August started with the  century ride followed by some bricks- 80 mile  Bike Rides/ 6 mile Run.  I also drove back to Colorado for two weeks to work.  While back home I raced in the Wild On Windsor Triathlon where I place 4th in Age Group.  The next day I was back in the car and headed to California.

September I spent in California where it was HOT.  I started with a 100 mile Bike Ride.  Next week was a 15 Mile Run with a 100 mile Bike the next day.  The following week- 25 mile Run with a 100 mile Bike the next day.  A few days later I did a 7K Open Water Swimin Lake Siskiyous!  It was amazing.  And then….a few days agter that I ran 30 miles!!!

October brought BIG mileage on the bike.  I did 2 more 100 Mile Bike Rides and followed by a brick of 50 Mile Bike with a 12 Mile Run.  Two days after the brick I had run out of Family Leave, my Dad had completed his treatment and I headed back to California on October 20th. 

Shortly after I returned home I went to run an easy 3 mile run and low and behold…I slightly tore my calf!  I immediately thought I was done…no Ironman for me.  Someone mentioned that I should stop catastrophizing  because it would probably be fine…..Well she was right, sort of. 

I ended up backing off my training and as a result missed my 2 big brick workouts.  I missed a 100 mile ride/15 mile run and a 100 mile run/18 mile run.  Plus a few other longer runs.  After talking to my coach she stated….”I am not worried about you.  You’ve been doing extended distance training for a year now!  You are more than ready regardless of missing these workouts!!!”  Sweet music to my ears!

I’ve had a longer taper than we had planned…but again due to all the training I have done up to this point…these last few workouts will not make or break my Ironman.  I’ve put the mileage in- way before most AgeGroupers would have, which leaves me in a good position even without the big bricks.  

I’m rested and after looking back at all I have done over the past year…..I realize  I AM READY!!! 

I’m ready for what ever may happen on November 29th, 2009 in Cozumel, Mx. 

One thing I know is that EACH and EVERY ONE of you who have run/biked/swam with me: who have given me a word of encouragement; who has cooked a meal; helped with a mechanical issue; drivin me to a race, airport, or workout; has called me, Facedbooked me; and supported me in more ways than I can write about—-YOU WILL ALL BE WITH ME AS I RACE ON SUNDAY IN COZUMEL!  

Each one of you will come to my mind as I embrace this opportunity that I am about to embark on!

I thank you all and am truely humbled by your most generous giving of yourselves!

And to my dear Jr High School best friend Janet V- who I did my first triathlon with in May 2008- I thank you for traveling to Cozumel with me and helping to keep me sane in the days before the race.

Love and peace to you all!