I did it!  I ran my second (third including Ironman) marathon!  And it was an amazing experience!

Here’s how it went…It all started with a 3:30 AM wake up call.  Then shoving down oatmeal at butt-crack early so we could be at the buses by 4:45 at the latest. 

3:30 AM wake up!

Next a 30 minute bus ride droped us off up the canyon where we waited for 20 minutes in the long bathroom lines.  Next we knew it was 5:55 and the start was just moments away. 

Kendra made her way to the front of the pack and I stuck myself somewhere in the middle.  My goal for this marathon was to just get the mileage on my legs, especially since I had just run 24 miles the weekend before.  Kendra’s goal…..Boston!

Countdown started and we were off…well sort of…..it was a slow walk to the timing mats…and then we were off and running!  I had my Garmin on and wanted to keep my pace no faster than 12 minute miles for the beginning. 

Running down Pouder River Canyon

Well since I was going so slow- tons of people passed me.  But then I encounter this wonderful married couple, Molly and Weston.  We totally hit it off!  They were concerned about running too fast so I had the honor of pacing them for the first 17 miles of the marathon.  Running with them was an absolute treat!  I really enjoyed being in the space where this marathon was not about me.  I was doing it for the miles, for fun, and as a result I had the opportunity to be of service.  We talked about everything, noticed the beauty, and all felt very grateful to be together. 

Then around mile 17 I started getting antsy.  I started chomping on the bit.  They were starting to slow down a bit, so I said my goodbyes and cranked up the pace.  It felt so darn good to open it up and run faster.  I was strong and didn’t even feel like I had run 17 miles already!

As I made my way along the roads and then eventually onto the bike paths I was holding my pace in the 10:00 min range.  I felt like I was running with very little effort.  My breath was relaxed and I kept things right below threshold.   And the fun thing is I must have passed at least 50 people.  I know, it’s bad, but there is some kind of sick joy in passing people towards the end of an endurance event… 

One other amazing thing that occurred is I ran into Nick from the AIR Foundation.  I have tried to contact him in the past two weeks because I was wanting to pick his brains on how to get shoes donated for something I’m starting at MHCD where I work. (That’s another blog post for the future).  Anyway.  He had some athletes on the course, so we walked together for a bit to discuss how we might be able to partner.  As a result of taking this time and not being in a hurry, Nick will be donating shoes and would like to help in my endeavour!   Now how cool is that????  I was able to be of service and made a connection I had been trying to make…..

I finally crossed the finish line….My time :5:20:10.  Kinda longer than I had hoped….but then obviously, this race was not about me.  It was not about me PRing, or focusing in myself.  This race turned out to be about others and how I could help them. 

When I did cross that finish line, my heart was so full of gratitude for the wonderful day I experienced.  It didn’t hurt either that Kendra and Dru were waiting for me, cheering me on!  I finished the race really strong and had a blast.  I got the mileage on my legs and had fun in the process.  How lucky I am??? 

Oh and Kendra- placed 2nd in Age Group and qualified for BOSTON!  Molly and Weston finished their first marathons, and I had a successful 26.2 miles training run.

This coming weekend will bring the Buena Vista Bike Fest Century, followed by a 30 mile run the weekend after that.  Can you say “IRONMAN TRAINING???”.  Yeap, it’s begun 

Kendra and Doreen with the finishers medals!

I just finished my last run before Colorado Marathon.  And what a run it was!  23.47 miles to be exact.  Yeap…In two weeks I did all my training for this marathon.  How funny is that?

My last long run previous to the last two weeks was Jan 30 when I ran 28 miles.  Since then the longest run I did was 10 miles.  Then two weeks ago I began my training for the marathon and did my first long run of 20 miles.  I felt good, hit a good time….struggled a bit  towards the end…but finished strong.

Then this past weekend I ran 24 miles.  Crazy you might think.  I know I did!  I thought- what the heck- running 24 miles the week before a marathon???  Well luckily I have the best coach in the world who knows just how to train a person!!!  She had me run the whole 24 slowly “just to get the mileage on your legs. “  This was a very very slow run…but it was fun!

I was able to run with some friends and have great conversations.  The perfect example of Long SLOW Distance.  Never once did my breathing get a hint of labored. 

I found myself enjoying the run…even though it was sooo slow.  It’s strange when your perception gets skewed.  For example- I finished 11 miles with my friends and then thought   “nice, I only have 13 more to go.  That’s 7.5 out and back.  I can do that easy”.  There’s just something wrong with that kind of thinking!  Really!  What has gotten into me????  Only 13 more miles after just finishing 11???  Weird right?  Go figure…..

Well, now it really is time for the taper.  1 hr bike rides and a 4 then 3 mile run…..I’ll let you all know how I do after Sunday.  We’ll see how this two weeks of training for a marathon suits me. No matter what…I’ll make sure to have FUN!

This weekend was all about the run…a 20 miler to be exact.  The run was scheduled for Saturday with a 3 hr bike on Sunday.  Well, being spring and all here in Colorado, Saturday started snowy with 40 mph gusts forecasted.  I opted for a 1 hr trainer ride and a trip to the movie theater instead.

Sunday I woke to clear blue skies and no morning percipitation forecasted.  I headed down to Waterton Canyon for my 20 miles.  As I headed up the canyon I got into a good pace.  I looked at my Garmin and noticed I was hitting at 10 min pace.  I thought to myself , “slow it down Sparky! You’re doing 20 today….not 10 miles like you have been for the past 2 months.”

Slow....the new hard

 I had an absolute great time on the run.  Every imaginable waterfall up the canyon was running and everything was green.  The road was dry except for the occasional mud hole.  The fellow runners out where friendly and ticking off their mileage. 

My friend Kendra caught up with my on my way back down the canyon and we ran together.  I noticed I was having a hard time feeling my own zone once I began to run with her.  It was like my body was imitating her running form.  I kept trying to get into my own grove again but that never really happened.

We hit the parking lot at mile 13; I reloaded my water bottles and headed back out solo for my last 7.  So this is where it got a bit tricky.  See, I haven’t run more than 10 miles in over two months.  As I hit the road again I was having a hard time.  I was struggling to  find my form and my groove.  I kept adjusting this and that and finally somewhere around mile 15 I found my sweet spot.

At mile 16.5 I turned around and headed for the barn (car).  And this is when I realized that somewhere in the last two months running slow got hard!  You see.  Throughout the whole 20 miles, whenever I slowed down to the pace I ran all last year….it felt HARD.  It felt like Torture!  The moment I picked up my pace and held it right below threshold….running felt MUCH EASIER! 

I don’t know how in the heck this happened…but it did!  I got faster!  Not only did I get faster but running faster got easier than running slower!  WTH?  I never would have expected that!  I had no idea that one day running right below threshold would be easier for me than running at a slower pace?  I mean, I PRed  my time on a 20 mile training run by 15 minutes!!  HUH??? WTH?? 

While I was running I would experiment with running slower and it just felt hard.  The minute I picked up my pace and ran faster, running got easier.  Now part of this I attribute to my Newton Running Shoes!  I am sure that the shoe helps propel me forward when I run faster!  (Did I mention how much I love my Newtons??)  And now that I can run faster the shoes help that much more!

I never would have imagined that running faster could be easier than running slow.  But it is.  At least it was Sunday.  In the next two weeks I have a 24 mile run then the Fort Collins Marathon on May 9th.  I’m building my run and the next two weekends will tell if this is just a fluke or if I truly am a faster runner this year. Only time/mileage will tell…..until then…..

Faster just got easier

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

 If you live in the Denver Metro Area- PROJECT ANGEL HEART needs your help!

On April 29th over 300 resturants in the Denver Metro area will be donating 25% of food sales to Project Angel Heart.

As a mental health therapist many of clients I work with recieve meals from Angel Heart.  Angel Heart is one of the best agencies I work with.  The meals they provide are amazing, nutritious and delicious.

Last year they served over 430,00 meals to 1,800 clients!   And they need your help to increase those numbers this year!  Angel Heart is the only meal program that will feed the whole family of someone with a life threatening illness.  The youngest person they deliever to is 1 year old!

So how can you help? 

Simply DINE OUT on April 29th at one of the 300 resturants.  While you’re at it…eat out for all 3 meals! 

Here is a link to find a resturant near you.   http://www.projectangelheart.org/events/dining-out-for-lifer-restaurants.html

Project Angel Hearts mission statement is:

Project Angel Heart delivers nutritious meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illness.

So get out there and eat!  If you Twitter, Blog or Facebook please add this to your site and get the word out! 

If we’re going to eat….we might as well make it count!

I will be volunteering as an Ambassador at Ghin Asian Blend & Sushion S. Union Blvd in Lakewood.  Come on by and eat some sushi!!!

Also, if you don’t live in the area and would like to make a contribution you can go to: http://www.razoo.com/story/Project-Angel-Heart

Many people will be supported through your contributions!  Thanks!

I’m back from Las Vegas and my first triathlon of the 2010 season.

Last Thursday I headed out to Vegas to compete at the Rage Triathlon. After an interesting flight I landed to warm weather and one armed bandits. A quick ride from the airport to the Hacienda Casino and I was settled in with my race mate Barb.

Next day found us headed to packet pickup and I was faced with my big dilemma for this trip…to do the Long Course or the Sprint…

I know- you’re probably thinking- What???  Not do the Long Course????  Yeap.  I was thinking long and hard about not doing the Long Course, and opting for the Sprint instead. 

You see, I’ve had a pretty challenging year so far, and in the 3 weeks leading up to Rage, I found myself in a funk without much “umph” to do anything that required effort.  I completed all my workouts, but the “umph” was missing. 

I was talking to my coach telling her I had NO desire, whatsoever to do the Long Course.  As we were talking I mentioned that it might be “fun” to do the Sprint instead.  And that’s when I decided that for me, at this point in the season, I needed to have some FUN!  I thought about how FUN it would be to not have to worry about what I ate and drank for 2 days before the race.  I thought of being done in 1.5 hours instead of 6 hours.  I thought about not having to worry about being rested enough the night before…..You get the picture. 

So the decision was made to race the Sprint.  But there I was standing at packet pick-up having to say out loud “No I won’t be doing the long course.  I’m going to do the Sprint instead.”  This about KILLED me!  I felt like such a wimp for not doing the Long Course!  I made a quick call to my coach to talk about this and she reminded me that I just needed to have some fun this trip and I had plenty season left for the longer races. OK- Sprint it was then!

Early Morning on Lake Mead

I’m sooooo glad I opted for the Sprint.  I had such a FUN time in Vegas.  I was able to meet a friend at 6pm the night before the race (never would have been out that late the night before a long course!), I didn’t have to make sure I was drinking plenty of water or eating something that might bother my stomach.  I didn’t have to worry if I got a good nights sleep.  I could just have FUN!

And fun I had!!!  The Sprint was a BLAST!  And it was such a trip.  I mean my last race was an Ironman- and here I was going balls to the wall from the moment the gun went off.  As I was racing I noticed how different a sprint is.  I never found that comfortable pace.  A sprint just plain hurts from start to finish!  You start fast and just go faster!  I really liked it!  Plus, being done in 1.5 hours was an added bonus. 

The weekend was great!  I had a blast and had tons of fun!  I raced well, placed 1st in Age Group (by 10 minutes) and 15th Over All (out of 87). 

Post Race FUN!

What I learned from this experience is; that it’s important to be aware of your self and your needs.  I knew I wasn’t feeling the long course thing, and I figured out I needed to do the sprint.  I knew I needed to hold ‘em by racing the sprint, but I also knew I shouldn’t fold ‘em and walk away!  And by holdin ‘em I had a great race and FUN weekend!

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  

 How about those days when you just start out with your workout….not particularly psyched to be out doing what you’re doing….but you’re doing it anyway..

Well, I’ve been having those kinda days lately.  I have been going through the motions of getting my training in but not feeling that passion and excitement about it.  Some might think that this could be a sign of over-training…but I think it might just be part of grieving.  Grieving the loss of my Dad just two months ago. 

That’s the thing about being a triathlete, you’re really just like everyone else and stuff happens that affects you.  Maybe as triathletes we are just more aware of how this stuff does affects us.  We have ways to measure our moods, engery, body and mental status.  We are more tuned into what is going on on the inside.  We see it in our efforts, our pace, or times, in our workouts.  We can tell when we are “a bit off”.   Maybe having this keen ability is a blessing or maybe not.

I happen to think it’s a blessing. By realizing something is off, I’m able to figure out what I need to help myself.  One thing I have noticed that helps me the most right now, it to train with other people.  So each weekend I am sending out emails, facemails etc to invite people to join me.  And the wonderful thing is…people are! 

I need to give a big thanks for everyone who joins me on a ride, run or swim at this point in my training.  You are all helping to get me through this rough patch….and helping me to “get-er-done”!

Here’s something I thought about this weekend as I was taking my dog for a walk around the neighborhood. 

Do you ever think about what life would be like to NOT be a triathlete?

I had that thought.  You see over the weekend I had two days off from training.  Yeap, two whole days!  It was incredible.  I slept in until 7:45 both mornings, had a leisurely breakfast and went about my day at a slow pace.  I parked my car in the garage Friday night and didn’t get back into it until Monday morning.  I didn’t have to go anywhere or meet anyone for two glorious days!

One of the things I’ve learned about my needs over the past two years of triathloning (is that a word?) is every once in a while I need one weekend day as a rest day.  This helps me get caught up on stuff around the house and I also end up feeling like I had a real day off. Usually my rest days are during the week when I’m working….so yes, they are rest days from training, but not a “day off”.

So as I lay around in my pj’s and watched some tv while I tended to chores I started to envy people who don’t do triathlons. 

Ahhh.....The Average Jane Athlete Life

“How Outrageous!” you might say to yourself.  But I did.  I actually started to miss the time when I was just an average “Jane”.  Where all I would do was go lift weights 2-3 times a week for an hour, and then do some type of cardio 3-4 days a week.   Life was sooo simple then.  I had plenty of free time, I had weekends to lay around, I had time to read a book……you get the picture.

When I put it in those terms, I have to ask myself - why in the world would I want to put myself through the paces and training of being a triathlete and an long distance triathlete at that?

As I sit here writing this the one phrase that keeps coming to mind is- because I get to push myself!   With pushing myself I get to expand myself.  I get to know myself better.  I get to face my insecurities.  I get to see just what I’m made of!

A friend came over and brought lunch on Saturday.  As we were talking she said that she didn’t think her body would be capable of doing  the mileage that I do in my training.  My response was, “you don’t know until you try.”  See, I had no idea I could run 30 miles or bike 100’s of miles.  But if I had not tried I would not have known.  If I had just accepted my fears and not pushed through my insecurities I would never have known that I am capable of running 30+ miles or of finishing an Ironman.

While I secretly may envy the average Joe and Jane athlete….in my heart I am an endurance junkie!  I want to continue to see “what I’m made of”.  I want to expand my idea of myself.  I want to continue to push through my insecurities.  I want to explore the land untraveled…..

And while it may sound inviting to be an average “Jane” athlete again the truth is, I really do like the millions of hours of training I do.  I love seeing what I’m made of.  I love (ok Like) facing my fears and self doubts….I continue to be committed to Going The Distance.

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.