Pacing...

Yesterday Pedro and I decided to go run at Barr lake. Barr lake is about 8.8 miles around. It was 90 degrees by the time we headed out to run. This time it wasn't my fault, he wasn't "ready" to go. I had been up since 7am for swim club and a lesson.

We go to Barr lake and pay the entry fee to park and get ready to run. We decided on a direction around the lake and took off. Well, more exactly, Pedro took off. He was running way faster than I run. The first sign we passed said 7.5miles. So I assumed we were running the lake backwards and had 7.5 miles to go. There was very little shade and I was carrying my water bottle filled with my amazing nuun drink (which has prevented headaches and tastes pretty dang good).

30 minutes into the run my stupid knee started to hurt. Too bad, I thought, I am going to run the whole lake. The run was on dirt paths and for a little while thru a small track within the grass. I ran behind Pedro trying to keep up with him!

I knew he would get tired. The question was when?? At about the sign that said 4miles he started to slow a little bit. This was about when we passed a field of sunflowers where a deer was watching us run. Anyway, we got to the sign that said 3.5 and Pedro started walking. I continued on running. I stopped about a mile ahead and couldn't see him anywhere. I waited for a song on my ipod and then ran back to see if he was ok. About a quarter mile back I found him still walking. He was complaining it was HOT! Yes, I knew this. But he always tells me how much he LOVES the heat, when I am telling him how much I HATE the heat! He decides he will run with me again.

We pass mile marker sign that says 2 miles. I tell him great news only 2 miles! Though it looked really much further. Mile marker 1!!!! Keep going I say, only one mile to go! He starts walking again, with the comment that it is HOT and "one mile my ass." True, it wasn't looking like one more mile but who knows what one mile looks like??

I keep running. Mile marker 0!!! Yep, not anywhere near where we needed to be. Crap. I keep running and arrive at our car. I drink some coke and wait. Still no Pedro. I decided to go check on him and bring him a coke (he drank part of my water so he did have something to drink earlier). I find him slowly jogging. We walk back to the car. He informs me again, it wasn't him it was just HOT! Yes, yes I know this. He tells me he had a headache before he left home. I explain I am so excited because I don't have a headache (which almost ALWAYS happens in the heat) and I say the drink stuff is awesome!! He responds with "I SAID, I had a headache before I left home, it isn't the heat!" I had to inform him that I wasn't refering to his headache just excited I didn't have one!

Anyway, the 8 mile run turned out to be 9.1 miles for me, running back to find him. Probably about 8.8 miles if I didn't go back. Not sure why they have the signs out that they have, really doesn't help mentally when you are running and think you are done and realize you are not even close!

I told Pedro he needs to learn pacing. Longer runs (which this was his longest) are not done at the same pace as a 2 mile run. He proceeded to do the same thing today on the bike. He followed me out 7 miles on my wheel. I told him to slow down a bit and not try to ride so fast. We turned around and came back (mostly uphill) and he was forever behind me, again I think it is pacing.

If he gets his endurance and pacing down...he will be great to run/bike with because he is really faster than I am and makes me go A LOT faster!

Unable to walk correctly today because of knee pain. Got a massage and she also discovered the giganitic knot in my outside quad that seems to be putting pressure on my IT band...ugh.

Summer has arrived!

The good and the bad about Colorado weather. You can have wonderful days in the winter, fall and spring (note summer is not wonderful). You can also have horrible days in the winter, fall and spring. This weekend summer officially began and it started with a bang. A week ago I was out riding wondering if I should put on my toe warmers. Now I am wondering if anyone would notice if I had no clothes on..? Probably, so I have opted to wear as little as possible, besides I know my new bike seat is comfortable, but probably not that comfortable.

Anyway, I am still not in full run yet. I am building on my bike and swims but not yet really running. When I say really running, meaning more than about 4-5 miles on NON-consecutive days. Monday I biked for 65 miles in 90 degree heat with a surprising 2,200 feet of total elevation gain. Which was a nice surprise! I followed it with a run with run club and when you go from running in cold weather and you take two weeks off of running and run in 90 degree weather, it seemed like a long slow run. But it was only 4.5 miles!

90 degree days have taken over and I am hoping to try to run about 8 miles tomorrow and see how my knee does.

Hoping for a few more "cooler" days before the devils breath (as I mentioned last year, the hot hot wind on the hot days) starts up as well.

Weekend Update...

This weekend has been a busy weekend, for not having basketball. Friday night we went out to eat for my Dad's and Dena's birthday. After dinner we went downtown with one of Pedro's police friends for some snacks and music. Saturday I got up early for run club, for one of my first runs in awhile since my knee has been hurting. After run club we went to a fundraiser for our team where we had all you can eat pancakes. Then we went to the gym for a short workout before heading to M and B's graduation party. Where we ate as much mixed fruit as possible and some other snacks. After that we went to the rockies game with Pedro's police friends and we had a great surprise. While waiting to buy tickets for the game, some guy approached us and said he had two extra tickets for the game that we could have. They were awesome seats. Front row first baseline!

After that long day, Sunday I had a swim and then we went to my parents for a bbq. Here are some pictures from the day.

Life in the slow lane...

Right now basketball season is starting to pick up. We have had tournaments on the weekends that go from 8am games until 9:00pm games. Which makes for a ridiculous long day, especially for someone that likes to sleep as much as I do! After the games I don't have much time for training and so that makes the day even worse. On top of no time, I have had a few days that included no time for food because I am rushing from one game to another. So, think of me, a tired, hungry and lack of training person and imagine me.

Those are the weekends right now and the last two weeks haven't been much better. The first Monday after the long weekend I was sick to my stomach. I couldn't eat much, I was dizzy and just didn't feel good. I started to feel a bit better and wanted to get my long run in...well that was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. The first six miles went pretty well. Then I met up with another runner for run club and decided to run another 8 miles or so. After about two miles I realized I was not feeling great. My energy was low (hmm I wonder why, since I had only eaten one small meal and it was 6pm) and I wasn't sure I could keep running. I tried to keep moving but when we hit the corner (about .5miles to my house) I was done. It was the longest nearly, 13 miles of my life. I had to walk from the corner to my house, which I have never done. Then of course, it started to rain as soon as I started walking. I tried to jog but I thought I might be sick. I finally arrived home and I was cold and wet from the rain and exhausted. I sat in the shower until all the hot water was gone. Of course it was a day that Pedro worked and so I had to try and summon some strength to make food. I thought maybe a smoothie. After I put all the ingredients into the blender I had to go and sit down because I thought I might be sick. I wanted some food, but didn't want to make it.

The next few days were better but the weather wasn't great and then another tournament. I then started having IT band problems. Only when I run. So, this week I have only gotten in one real run and my long run consisted of 30min on tred, 30min on elliptical until I had reached 2hrs. My long bike was done outside in the 55 degree weather and I was so cold after I was done that I lost my mind. I had to go to the gym to do run club (the one run I did this week) and I turned on the heat in my car because I was so cold and I got to the gym and realized I had been driving the whole way with my window down! On top of that, on Monday I had another stomachache. This one was apparently from the food that we had from the night before because a few players and parents also had stomachaches. UGH. This week I have gotten in my long ride, long swim (indoors, since it is rainy and tornadoes) and a "pseudo" long run. Mixed in with two other indoor rides and one other swim.

I leave for Wichita tomorrow for another long weekend of tournaments. I have four teams in the tournament so I imagine it will be a ridiculously long weekend.

On a separate note, Pedro has bought a bike to start riding with me. He is currently capable of riding about 15 miles on his bike. I love when he rides with me and I can draft off of him, it's nice not to ride through the wind since he is blocking it all!


We need to get him a bike jersey!

So, right now I am doing very little running with hopes my IT band gets better, since my main focus is for my full ironman in November.

Starting Again...

Training has begun again for the second time this year. This is for the Boulder half ironman in August. Which will be followed by my full ironman in Panama City Beach, Nov 7th.

Recovery went well. My quads were really sore for a few days and it was probably from pedaling so much on the flats for the bike. Today I completed my long run of 12 miles. Pedro ran 7 miles with me, so we will see how he feels tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will go and pick up Shamu. It is weird being without him for so long! I know you may think I am a weirdo, but when you workout nearly everyday with someone and then you don't have them for a whole week...well, it is annoying having to go to the gym to ride a spin bike.

Currently, Pedro has decided he is going to start training with me to hopefully do a tri. I am leaning towards him doing a half with me, maybe even Orlando again next year. We will see how much time and energy he has for this type of training. Also, how he will handle the loss of some strength because your body is working so hard aerobically. Besides, not having enough time on work days to lift and do aerobic activities, or at least not at the level either need to be to build significantly...which will lead him to make a choice. Hopefully, he will enjoy it and want to continue some training with me!

I think the big difference of training with him vs. other people is that we don't feel the need to "chit chat". Most people you bike or run with want to talk. It's not that I mind talking some of the time..but on a long run and bike I don't want to talk the whole time!

Travel and tournaments start soon for me, which begins the busy basketball time of the year. Along with busy training time. This year having 3 or 4 teams in local tournaments and 2 summer traveling teams, it is a lot more crazy.

Race Day!

I had a hard time falling asleep again before the race. Not because I was nervous, I know I had trained and at that point there is nothing I could do to become more prepared. The time change was just not helpful. I figured it didn't really matter because once you start racing it's not like you are tired.

I woke up at 5am and headed downstairs to the cafe to fill up my water bottle with powerade (which was kind of free, since I had paid $12 for a refillable mug at the beginning of my stay). And to get some hot water for my oatmeal that I packed from home. I had oatmeal with honey and a banana for breakfast. I woke Pedro up and we headed down to the race start.

We were pushing the time since transition closed at 6:15am, though I didn't start until 7:00am. I like not having to sit around so it worked well for me.


We went down to watch some of the other waves start. It was a beach start which is different than anything I have ever done.




I headed down to the water and waited for the start. The water was very warm and I tried to find someone to draft off. It was funny though because it seemed the person I was following kept moving a bit so I couldn't draft. Then I got punched in the face and then overtook some slower swimmers in waves in front of me. I understand how frustrating it can be for a real fast swimmer because slow people get in the way!


Swim finish, you can see me in the back with the purple cap on. I swam in 39min. It was my first non-wetsuit swim, so I didn't have any real expectations. But I wanted to swim a bit faster.


Then a long run to my bike. It was really a long run to transition, through grass and wood chips. Not optimal for putting on socks and shoes. As I came into transition a volunteer handed me a bottle of gatorade, which I needed for the bike so I wouldn't have to stop at an aid station. However, this bottle still had the plastic on the top and the plastic under the cap. Which took me a few minutes to get off when you are trying to hurry..I eventually asked a volunteer to take it off for me while I was changing into my bike gear. I had to wash off my feet with a bottle of water I had and balance to put my socks and shoes on so not to get any more dirt on my feet. I also couldn't find my bike for a second because I am not use to so many bikes being on the rack when I return from the swim, since I am slower than most, most people are already gone!
Here I am leaving transition 4 min later.

The bike was a relatively flat bike with just a few hills. I have decided I like the hills better because I can actually pass people on the hills. With the flat race everyone rode about the same speed. The wind was not as bad as Colorado wind, but it was windy. I thought it would be great for the run to have the wind so I didn't mind it on the bike.
Each bike course is different and you can't compare times from one to the other. But this presented it's own challenges being flat. You had to pedal, pedal, pedal. It was easy to get lulled into a slower speed, you had to focus on keeping up your speed.
I biked in 2hrs and 40min. I was hoping for somewhere between 2hrs and 30min and 2hrs and 45min. So, all in all it was what I expected.

I left for the three loop run. Not knowing if I would like this many loops or not. Pedro found a great place, which was at the start of each loop. Here I am heading out on lap 1.


My legs were feeling great and I was feeling good. Until I quickly realized the breeze I thought would be there, was not. It was hot and humid. People were already walking and it was, what I assumed their first lap. The run had 4 aid stations on each lap. This was good and bad. The first was placed at the beginning of the first lap, another before a run on the grass/dirt, another close to the second and the third seemed to be placed a lot further away and another right before a run in the shade. The problem was about a 3 mile stretch on the dirt/grass. It was hot and humid. On the first lap about the midway point on this stretch I got dizzy. Real dizzy. I had drank a lot on the bike and was carrying my bottle with me so I was a bit concerned. I was picturing passing out because of the heat. I was wondering how long it might take someone to run to the next aid station and let them know. It was funny because there were cones and I swear they were moving!
At the beginning of the second loop I passed Pedro and he told me to "run faster" I could only respond with, it's hot!



I then had a great idea of putting a whole cup of ice down my shirt! This actually seemed to help significantly. I wasn't as dizzy and now I at least knew I needed to take cold sponges and ice at each aid station, especially before the long break between stations. Lap two was going well, near the end I was a bit tired, but not bad.

Loop three, I am excited to be almost done (I am holding up 3 fingers for lap 3)!



Loop three, people were walking so much. I don't think I have ever seen so many walkers. The problem was we were running on this dirt and so there was two worn sides on the dirt. Walkers were walking on both sides. You would have to weave in and out of the people. Besides, when so many people are walking, it makes you kind of want to walk yourself! I kept saying, you walk once, it's twice as easy to walk again and so on and so forth. I wasn't tired at all, leg wise...just HOT. I figured walking wouldn't make the heat any better so the quicker I got done the better! I took a flat ice cube out of my shirt and placed it under my hat and I swear it lasted for 3 miles or more, I was thinking of the candles that lasted the Jewish people 8 days...I have no idea how the ice lasted that long pressed against my forehead under my visor! It would drip down my face and it was great.

I ran in 2 hrs, which was a 9:15 pace. I was obviously hoping for a faster pace, but it was still 16th in my age group for the run. I was definitely not acclimated to the heat and humidity! Having a 3 loop run was actually not so bad at all, it made each lap quite manageable.


I finished in 5hrs and 29min. I placed 16th in my age (out of 94) and 567 out of 2,667 people overall. It was better, but of course I always want to do better!

After the race, we took the boat back to our hotel and I took a quick shower, since we were already suppose to be out of the hotel! Then we headed to the airport for our flight home. We ate at Chili's(which seems to be my post race choice) at the airport and then went to the gate for our flight.

It was a long day! But overall a good one. My quads are sore today, but everything else is pretty good!
Then we got on our flight and headed back to Colorado.

More Hotel Picts..

The view of the courtyard. We had a side view of this and the lake in the picture is where we swam.



Here I am sitting by the little creek that ran through the center of the hotel:


Pedro and I sitting by the waterfall at our hotel.