This past Sunday was my last race before Ironman Florida. I came into the race without a taper as this was the end of a big training block.

I woke up at about my normal time (4am), got down some oatmeal and headed out the door to Aurora Resevor.  As I’ve said before I’m one of those “A” type athletes so I ended up being like the 5th car in line waiting for the gates to open.  The good news about that is I got a stellar spot for Black Betty and I!

I wasn’t particularly nervous for this race. I haven’t been feeling like I’m in that great of shape, so I kinda don’t expect much from myself.

As 7:30 rolled around I headed to the swim start. I lucked out and started in the first wave. As we got closer to the start time the wind seemed to decide to pick up its intensity. One of the bouys actualy floated away!

After a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 and the National Anthem (I always tear up), the count down began and the mosh pit began! 

The beginning of this swim was the first time I’ve ever experienced that cluster and flailing arms that so many people have talked about. I don’t know how many gallons of water I sucked down!!  I can really say that I never got into my grove as the whole 1.2 miles felt like a struggle. Once I made it to shore I attempted to run up the hill to transition and the most I could get was a messley shuffle. I still did well enough to come out of the water 3rd in my age group.

Once in T1 I geared up and jumped on Black Betty for the HILLY 56 miles of riding. I began the ride shoving some food into my mouth and drinking libations. By the time I hit Quincy Road I was ready to tackle the hills…or so I thought.

I spent the first 45 mins on the bike wondering how the “f” I would ever get through 56 miles! Seriously!  I struggled until around mile 25 and then I was in my groove! That is until I hit the run………

Yeap- I hit T2, grabbed my run gear and headed out the other end to start my run.  And that’s when it hit me. The how the “f” am I ever going to run 13.1 miles? I once again struggled.  To be honest…the thought did cross my mind “if I end up throwing up I would have an excuse for DNFing” I’ve never thought about that in a race.

I passed the aide station at mile 3 and had the thought..”I can do anything for 10 miles” and with that I commenced to stay positive and run run run! By mile 6 I was finally warmed up and hit my stride.  I swear that course felt uphill on the way out an downhill on the way back. My Garmin says differently though.

I ran my way to a 7th place AG finish with a slip and slide ending!

This was one of the toughest times I’ve ever had racing. I’m glad I’ve finally had the experience of stuggling to stay in the game. I’m glad I had the opportunity to go within and change the tape rolling in my head. The good thing is my time was only 2 minutes longer than 3 years ago (much to my surprise)!

Now I’m headed into the final stretch to IMFL. I’ve got a recovery week followed by 3 weeks of some kick butt training…and then it’ll be the final taper.

IMFL here I come!!!

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Have I got some exciting news!

I would like to introduce my new team that I am a member of…… TRIBELLA MULTISPORT TEAM. 

The TriBella Multisport Team

TriBella Multisport team is part of the brand new, first of it’s kind in the world- Women’s Only Multisport Store!     To say I’m excited would be an understatement! 

I’m excited because I get to be a part of a brand new team, with the most wonderful women, for a great store!  I can’t even begin to describe how honored I feel to be representing TriBella Multisport Store. 

Tribella Multisport team consists of 19 team members who all have the same goal, to bring multisport to women and empower women through the sport of triathlon.  When we have out team meetings  the support and encouragement from team members is incredible.  The environment is inviting and collaborative.

This past Saturday we had our first team ride.  About half of us where able to make it.  We had a blast!!!!  We headed out around Cherry Creek Res and wound our way along bike paths for a few hours.

Spinning along the Res

We all kept commenting about how cool it was to be part of TriBella and to be riding together.  We all acknowledged how much we enjoyed each other and the feeling of camaraderie and support.  And we decided we would post weekly Saturday rides so we could continue to train once a week together.  Again, I’m beyond excited to be a part of this team with so many great women!

So come on down to TriBella Multisport Store at 1090 Bannock St, Denver!

We’d love to see you and remember to tell your friends about us too!!!!

(PS-stay tuned for some give aways from TriBella!)

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Yesterday I got out of my biking and running shoes and put on my hikin boots!  I dug out my water filter, camel backpack, headlamp and all the fixins one needs for a 10 hour day and hiking a 13er (a 13er is a 13,000+ foot  peak).  I had made the decision to “bag” the Boulder Peak Tri and instead “bag” a peak! 

Rosalie Peak won and my friend Christyand I were off at 6am to head to the trailhead.  We set off around 8 am for the summit of Rosalie Peak which stands at 13,575 ft. 

Christy and Me at the trailhead

We put on our packs and began the 4000 ft climb to the summit.  This hike takes you through the forest and follows a stream for at least 2000 ft.  At least half of the trip we were in shade, which was great considering it was a HOT day! 

Which way???

We meandered our way up the trail, stopping to refill our water at the last place we crossed the stream before we headed above tree line. 

Filtering water through the water pump

One of the beautiful things about being outdoors is you lose touch with “reality” for awhile.  There is no cell phone, email, texting.  No cars, no noise, no distractions.  There’s just you, your breathing and nature.  There is something so wonderful about being in the back country with no one around.  We saw birds, and rabbits, squirrels and marmots.  I felt at one with myself and I felt at peace.  It’s a sense of peace that I can’t get any where else but out here. 

As we climbed in elevation I could tell we were getting close to tree line.  This was Christy’s first 13er and I enjoyed teaching her how to read a map, a trail, the way the trees change the higher you get in elevation.  I love the forest but I love even more getting above tree line.  I love how when you get above tree line it’s like time has frozen still.  Everything is so delicate and nothing moves.  The plants and trees are small and ancient twisted looking.  It sometimes can seem like you’re on the moon.

Well, we hiked our way above tree line and to the saddle where we would hang a left and cross country it to the summit of Rosalie Peak…only 1600 feet left to climb!

One of the false summits of Rosalie Peak!

We spent the next 1.5 hours hiking up to the summit.  We meandered back and forth in the steeper parts.  We hit false summit after false summit (darn it…dontcha just hate those!)  We finally made it to the REAL summit 4.5 hours after we left the car!  We had arrived!  And as in every true summit fashion, we got to enjoy the beauty for about all of 10 minutes before we had to head down.  Literally minutes after we summited, these big dark clouds moved in from the west and weather was moving in fast. 

Storm moving in...

 With our packs on our backs we headed down the peak toward the main trail.  We picked our way down as thunder started rolling over Mt Evans and the wind started to blow rain on us from far away.  We scurried our way down and made it to tree line and breathed a sigh of relief to be in the coverage of the trees.

The rest of the day was spent heading down down down.  I didn’t realize how much elevation we gained until I had to go back.  It’s so true that downhill is harder.  Yeah, uphill taxes your lungs more, but downhill works all sorts of muscles you don’t even know you have.  We made it back to the car in a respectable 10 hrs round trip.  We had a blast!  I got to do something besides swim, bike and run…and I was able to be in nature for a whole day.

I did come to realize that hiking a peak is great cross training for an Ironman.  You are at it constatly for hours, and your lungs and legs get one heck of a workout.  My legs are sore today.  Sore like afer I run a marathon sore,  and I’m lovin it!  I can’t wait to get out there again and bag myself another peak…..(or two)…..

On Roslaie Peak Summit

Why Tri? Why Triathlon? Why Try?

I have had this question asked of me before….and never spent too much time thinking about the WHY? Not really that is. I’d give some response that satisfied the person asking…

This weekend as I was riding my third and toughest century of the season…I came up with my answer to Why Tri….

Why do I tri?

1. I tri first off because I can! I am able bodied and healthy and I am able physically to train and race triathlons.

2. I tri because I love nature. My connection with God happens when I am outdoors in nature, it has always been that way. Beingout in nature allows me to connect, ask questions, and get those questions answered. Maybe there are other ways to hear God, but for me, it’s when I am exercising outdoors. It’s the only time in my life when all the clamors of society and life fall away and I can hear God….

3. I tribecause when I am outdoors exercisingI can think things through. I can let the flow of my thoughts just go and not have to stop and think about anythingelse…this is especially true when I am running.

4. I tribecause of the beauty all around me as I am outdoors. The beauty of the lake during an early morning swim and the water is as soft as silk; the beauty of wildflowers along the side of the road that are vibrant and so intricate; the beauty of the sweeping expanse of the mountains and sky; the beauty of the stream that I run by; the beauty of the deer and bunny rabbits that look up as I pass by…..

5. I tri because of the people. Triathletes are the most welcoming and friendly people….There is this understanding that we are all doing this really cool thing that not everyone else does. The understanding of the early morning masters sessions; the grueling runs; the anticipation before the first wave starts….We get each other- and we are there for each other.

6. I tri because it keeps me healthy, both physically and mentally. Trainingand racing triathlons allows me to have enough in my “tank” so I can give to others. If I were to just sit around and not tri- I would have nothing to give others…I’d be drained all the time. Tri-ing is how I recharge.

There are those who will say that training for triathlons (especially an Ironman) is a self-centered thing to do. I agree. It is self centered. You have to complete pretty much all your workouts if you are going to cross the finish line in one piece. That means many times your workouts will take precedence before other obligations….it’s a tough thing to balance sometimes.

I also know though that when I am training  it is my time to be….nothing else matters and I don’t have to think…just let life come. That might be the main reason I Tri. Because it is my time to relax and to let go. It’s a way to stay fit and to be in nature. But the real reason I think I Tri….is because I LOVE IT!

Waiting….It can be a challenge sometimes.  I try to wait- get impatient and work on PATIENCE again.  That saying, “patience is a virtue” is accurate and rings true for me today. 

I have been waiting for my new blog site to get done…and as a result get to practice patience for over one month now….I also find I don’t write in my blog as much…just waiting for it to get done, and then I’ll start writing again.

Well, I think I better just start blogging.  I miss it.  It’s helpful to share my experiences that I go through physically as well as emotionally and mentally.  Getting in down on “paper” helps me reflect and learn. 

There are struggles sometimes.  Mainly lately it seems I am cutting my workouts short.  I don’t necessarily start the workout w/the intention of making it short.  I just want it to get over. 

I’ve also been struggling with some left leg pain.  It was bad about two weeks ago.  Bad enough I wasn’t sleeping.  Then I remembered my friend Janet used a bodyworker when she was training for Kona that she raved about.  I called Janet- got the number- and promptly had 5 visits with Alison in 7 days!  The miracle of it all is it WORKED!  I am feeling much, much better.  Alison does a technique call Muscle Activation Therapy (MAT).  I have found in the two weeks I’ve been working with her my running form has changed and I can sleep through the night!  Yeah!

COMMITMENT.  My commitment for June is to finish every workout as written!  Ok- it’s out there now for you all to read.  I am accountable now to someone other than myself.      I must complete all my workouts as written.  No shorting or blowing something off!!!!!

A second commitment I have for June is for 6 days a week eat unprocessed food.  I say 6 days a week because I want my tortilla chips at least once a week….I have to give myself some reward for all this training.  It just doesn’t work to reward myself 7 days a week……

So-                                                                                                                                                        1.  Complete all workouts as written

2. Eat only unprocessed food 6 days per week

I’m in and committed…and it’s written here….My words for today- patience and commitment.  They’re both good things for me to keep working on 

Here’s to Going The Distance

What a fun weekend training it’s been- and actually relaxing too. 

Saturday found me at the Gravel Pond at 8am ready for a 1.5 mile swim.  I love the Gravel Pond.  There is such a great commraderie w/all the other fellow triathletes out there, struggling into wetsuit, making us look like seals.   The weather was cool and over cast and luckily there was no wind.  That’s one of the things I like about early Saturday mornings…no wind!

The water was a balmy 63 degrees (now you know why we all wear wet suits!).  It almost took my breath away as I slipped into the water to start my swim.  Once I got moving I forgot about the cold and just enjoyed the water.  I love swimming in open water…It’s so calming.  I wear ear plugs and it feels like I’m in my own world.  Just me and my breathing trying to become one with the water…..there’s nothing more relaxing!

After I got out of the water I was off to an 8 mile run with Elizabeth.  She met me after my swim and we ran this beautiful loop that goes through trees and brush and follows the river.  Absolutely magnificant.  One of my favorite runs as the time just flies by. 

I then headed home, w/my chocolate milk in hand and spent the rest of the day either relaxing by watching one of the millions of shows I have Tivoed or doing chores.  My dog Kai and I ended up spending some quality couch time when the thunderstorm came rumbling through.  Poor thing-he just shakes uncontrolably! 

Then there was Sundays training w/ my new friend Bine.  She and I met during a run and found out we are both doing our first Ironman races in November.  This is fantastic as most people will be done training long before us and we will have  a training partner in each other. 

So Sunday was our first outing together.  We were going to do a 5 Hr ride in the mountains but opted for a ride w/ easier bailout points.  Instead we rode from my home to Lookout Mountain and did this killler loop!  It was so fun and we had a great time together!  Not as long of a ride as we had orginially planned….but we made it back before the HUGE thuderstorms rolled in.

The rest of Sunday was a repeat of Saturday.   Couchin it, eating, watching Grey’s Anatomy and holding Kai when the strom got bad……I haven’t spent this much time relaxing for EVER!

Which brings me to Monday!  Today- I was up at 4:30 and off to Boulder by 5:30ish.  I was heading to race in the famous Bolder Boulder 10K.  I don’t really know if it’s famous.  I figure it must be because 54,000 people sign up to race in it.  I was a bit nervous about that big of a crowd-but the race is run so well that you don’t really notice there are 10s of thousands of people! 

My instructions from my coach was to park at the finish and run to the start.   I didnt’ time it so well so ended up standing around for  about 40 minutes before my wave started…..

It was a fun experience and I actually ran my fast 10K yet.  I PRed on this course.  That was pretty cool considering I was dodging around people the whole way.  There were bands and belly dancers and people in costumes.  It was fun.  And the best part….I was home and done with my workout by 10amm! 

Another restfull day is ahead for me.  Did some couching and now going to pull weeds before the next storm moves in today….Cook up my food for the week, get a few more chores done and hang w/Kai….I love these 3 day weekends especially when I’m not using my vacation time!  Wish there were more of them 

Anyway- it was a great weekend full of  fun/friends and relaxation….What more could one want from life 

Alright- so last night I went to our weekly Phidippedies Track workout and attempted to run…yeap key word- attempted. I knew my quads were sore as going down stairs has been quite challenging- but I was litterally unable to run last night! I tried- I’d take a few jogs and everytime my foot hit the ground I would groan….Must have sounded pretty funny- sure didn’t feel funny.

So-while everyone was running a 2 Mile Time Trail- I was walking around the outside of the track. My coach gave me a walking drill of lifting my knees with each step. Said this would help to train my legs to do this when I run- as I tend to shuffle Today my quads are less sore- FINALLY!

I’m gearing up to do a 100 mile Bike ride on Saturday. I will be joining 500 others for the BUENA VISTA BIKE FEST. It should be a hoot! Just fun and food the whole way. This will be my first 100 mile bike ride ever! What a week for firsts eh???

This week has been an easy training week. It’s funny how “just an hour and a half run” seems like a slacker workout.

I was sharing this with a friend as we caught up with how our workouts have been going (he’s training for a marathon) and he gave me this look of “you are warped…ONLY a hour and a half run!” He commented on how my sense of “easy training” is not so easy in most peoples book.

It’s interesting how my perception has shifted as I train for the Ironman. I use to be content with an hour workout a day- now if it’s under 2-3 hours it feels like a “slacker” workout…

I’ve been tapering this week to get ready for the Greenland 50K Trail Run tomorrow. I am still having some problems with my IT band/bum and knee. I am approaching tomorrows run as a training run and if things start to act up- I’ll walk! I really prefer not to- I have been looking forward to this race!! I’ve never run 32 miles before- and hopefully I will be able to tommorrow!
The course is a loop that you do 4 times. This will make it easy to exit if things start to act up….But I am very hopeful nothing will!

I’ll be heading down there with a friend and running with another friend from work! Should be fun….And quess what=of course RAIN is scheduled for Saturday AM! That’s how it goes…….

I’m on my way today to Northern Ca to visit my folks! I am so excited to see them….Weather forecast is for rain the whole time I’m there! Be some wet training runs. Luckily I’m doing more swimming than running while I’m there…
Speaking of running. My knee has been acting up since my 15 miler…seems to be from my quad/IT band. Had major bodywork done to it and it’s feeling better. I haven’t run since Tues and decided to miss my run workout yesterday to give my leg a chance to chill…. Sunday will be my first run and I am hoping to be pain free!
All in all- mellow training week- nothing really exciting-except I get to see my family today! And here’s to hoping I don’t sit next to someone with the flu~~~

Isn’t it suppose to be sunny and spring like by the last weekend in April?  Aren’t we suppose to be outside, training in the spring sun, enjoying the trees as they begin to bud???  Oh yeah-I live in Denver!!!  So all that goes straight out the window….

I still did get to train outside…sort of.  Saturday found me running 15 miles with my fellow PCerLaura.  We ran on High Line Canal- the weather was misty and reminded me of living in the Bay Area.  It was that damp kinda-cold misty day.  The nice part about the weather is we didn’t over heat!  We had a great time talking and running-at least in the beginning.

Met some other women out on the trail.  All three worked in the same school district as Laura and one of them is doing Ironman Arizona.  Luckily Laura carries her phone with her so I was able to get Bine’s number…..I am sure we will be looking for training partners come Sept when everyone elses season is done!  I’m looking forward to a new friend.

And then there was Sunday’s workout……..A 7K swim- that’s like 4.5 miles or something crazy like that.  Here’s how it went- Sandy and I met at Denver University at 6am to swim in their Olympic size pool.  Swimming in the larger pools means less turns and it’s easier on the mind. 

Well-we got to DU and found out the pool was closed due to a swim meet….Darn-ok plan B.  My suggestion- “there’s a 24 Hour Fitness down the street-Let’s go there”.  So we get to that 24, go inside and wala- NO POOL……OK then- plan C-  “There’s a 24 @ Colorado Blvd and Alameda-I know that one has a pool!.”  

So needless to say-after some driving around we settled into the pool…..we came up with a plan to divide the 7K into 1K’s and move an object (wtr bottle, flip flop, gu) we had set near the edge to signify that we had finished a 1K…..Then we decided we’d count to 10 and then back down to make 20 laps…..So, 20 laps by 7 times makes 7K!  Sandy was lucky though-She only had to do 5K.  I am so grateful she was there for that much of the swim.  It would have been completely mind-numbing had I been stuck doing this distance completely alone!!!  But I finish- water logged after 2.5 hours….I still smell of chlorine today!  That’s after two showers even….my oh my.

And there you have it.  Another exciting weekend in the life of Doreen….By the way- does anyone know when the snow will stop??????