The Ironman Battle

                                                                            OR

While on our trip, I have been doing a lot of thinking about which race would be the best for me to participate in for the 2013 year.  There are many factors that I have been thinking about:

1.  Time of year:  IM CDA would require me to have the bulk of my training at the end of the school year when chaos and stress are at a maximum...IM WI would be toward the start of my school year and the bulk of my training would be complete before the school year starts.

2.  Financial aspect:  IM CDA would require more money for travel than IM WI.  If we drive to CDA, it is at least a 2 day drive each way with gas, lodging and food along the way and in CDA.  If we fly to CDA, there is the expense of flying, lodging, transporting my bike to the race site and food.  Driving to Madison is a 4 hour drive one way which would require less gas, lodging and food.  Since I am not made of money, doing two in one year is out of the question.

3.  Do I want a second chance at IM WI:  In 2011 I finished IM WI, yes, but I wasn't really happy with my performance.  I know I could have had a better performance if I had done a better job of controlling my nutrition...Do I want to Slay the Dragon at WI???

4.  Experience something new:  Do I want the opportunity to experience IM in a new location (CDA) or on familiar territory (WI)?  I love the scenery in both locations!! 

I have less than 48 hours to make my final decision since IM CDA is tomorrow and registration for IM CDA is the following morning EARLY...hmmmm...what to do...What would you do?

A Wonderful Day in Coeur d'Alene

Today was a beautiful day in CDA (Coeur d'Alene)!!  We woke up at 5 am (7 am Iowa time) ate a quick breakfast and went down to the Ironman CDA race site so we could run one loop of the IM CDA run course (13.1 miles).  What a perfect morning!!  The run course has a couple bumps in the road, but nothing overly taxing.  It starts at city park and goes through some neighborhoods before utilizing the bike path along the lake shore. 

The bike path along Lake Coeur d'Alene with the Interstate overlooking it all.

After our long run, we returned to our B&B where our hosts made wonderful homemade omelets full of fresh veggies with a side plate of fresh fruit and cheese.  It was VERY TASTY!!

We decided to spend the rest of our day back in CDA.  We started with lunch at Beverly's, where we enjoyed a spectacular view and wonderful seafood.  I had the "King Salmon" and the hubby had the "Tuna"...both were very fresh and tasty. 

View from Beverly's overlooking Lake Coeur d'Alene

King Salmon

Tuna

 

 

 

After lunch, we met Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman, in the lobby.  He is the announcer at Ironman Wisconsin (and MANY other Ironman events around the world)...the one who called out our names and said, "You are an Ironman" when we crossed the finish line.  We had a brief conversation with Mike and got our picture taken with him.  He is a great guy with a fun sense of humor ;)

We then went down to the Ironman Village, where we got sucked into the AWESOME atmosphere of Ironman!!  We met many athletes, volunteers, spectators and vendors.  Since it was a rather warm day, we decided to purchase a "Green Smoothie" made from organic kale, organic blueberries, organic lemon juice and a dollop of local honey.  Yes we were intrigued by the wonderful fresh, organic, local fruits and veggies that made up the smoothie, but I was even more intrigued by the mechanism for which they generated energy to the blender...you guessed it...a man pedaling a bicycle!!

After Ironman Village, we stopped off for a beer at Splash, drove the bike course (which makes me even more excited to ride it in the next couple of days) and had dinner with some FABULOUS friends and teammates...Martha and Christine. 

We couldn't have asked for a more WONDERFUL day!! 

"High" and "Up" mean something!!

Yesterday we decided to ride our bikes from Post Falls, ID to Coeur d'Alene, ID (what should be a 7 mile trip).  The hosts at our B&B told us to take the Continental Trail along the river into town, but we decided to try an alternate route...hmmmm...maybe we should have listened to our hosts!!

We started out on Riverview Drive, which had a few gentle climbs, but nothing overly taxing.  When we stopped along the road to take a look at our map, it was decided that we would turn off on "Highland Drive."  As we climbed up some pretty steep slopes, I quickly figured out how it got its name.  We just kept getting higher and higher with every pedal stroke!!  Eventually we turned off onto "Upriver Drive." We continued to climb some very steep slopes...up, up, up we went.  This 7 mile bike ride quickly turned into 12 miles as we climbed up over the hill.

This is the GORGEOUS view from the top (zoomed in of course, so you can see the road below...far right...that we were supposed to be on)!!  If we would have taking the straight and flat path, we wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to see such AMAZING views!!  Sometimes it pays off to take the "road less traveled," but I also learned that if roads have the word "High" or "Up" in it...you may want to avoid them :)

Since we climbed all the way to the top of the hill, we got to descend the other side.  I love the descent...the wind in your face, the challenge behind you (in this case) and speeds that easily exceed 30 mph without even pedaling :)

Once we arrived in Coeur d'Alene, we went downtown and decided to get a "cold one" at Moose Lounge.  It felt really good to sit and relax on the outdoor patio.  There were many people out and about to converse with (Ironmen, spectators and locals) and we ran into some of our team mates since we had our Zoom gear on it was easy for them to spot us :)

After going to the local farmers market, we decided to venture back to Post Falls via the Continental Trail that was previously suggested to us.  There were few terrain changes and this avenue provided us with a different view of the river and the city.  All in all...it was a very successful day!!

Mountainous Terrain

After spending 4 days at close to (or exceeding) 5000 feet elevation, I have a better understanding for why professional athletes train at higher elevations.  Not only are the views spectacular, but the physical demands placed on the body at these higher altitudes is amazing!!

Unfortunately we did not get to bike much as we wanted...it rained for 3 of the 4 days we were at the higher elevation.  We felt that the amount of rain we received did not make riding on such steep slopes safe.  There were some AMAZING ascents (or descents depending on the direction you went), where you climbed (or descended) for over 10 miles and the last 6 miles (or first 6 miles if you were descending) were at a 6% grade.  I definitely wanted to give them a try, but Mother Nature had other plans for us.

Instead, we went for a longer run (see my previous post) and then went for a hike later that same day.
Lizzy, the Lodge at Lolo Hot Spring's resident dog, went with us on our hike.  We were gone for over an hour and were on some pretty steep slopes with amazing views!!  When we got to the top of the "peak" we were staying by, we could look out over the world!!  Climbing to this point, I was very winded!!  I quickly realized why professional athletes train at these higher altitudes.

Running at 4793 feet Elevation

This morning my husband and I ran 9.25 miles at 4793 feet elevation in Bozeman, Montana.  It was a cool, cloudy morning, but the sun reflected beautifully off of the snow caps on the majestic Rocky Mountains in the distance.

Our bodies are most familiar with the 942 feet elevation back home where oxygen is much more plentiful than it is up here.  We knew we needed to start off easy due to the change in elevation and the much thinner air.  The first 3 miles were pretty easy and peaceful.  We ran through a really quiet downtown and headed out by the hospital.  As we turned onto the bike path that goes past the hospital to the south, we felt the incline...not so much in our legs, but in our chests.  WOW...Who knew that such a long gentle climb could be so taxing on the respiratory system!?!?!?!?  We decided to stop at mile 3 at the hospital...not because we needed to be hooked up to oxygen (although that thought crossed my mind), but because we figured they would have water for us to consume before we continued on.

When we left the hospital, we debated whether or not to turn around and head back the way we came (after all, we were in unfamiliar territory), but we decided to keep moving forward and see where we would go.  We were on a new adventure heading straight toward the mountains...what a beautiful view!!  We eventually reached a point where the bike path ended, so we decided to turn west since that was the general direction we came from.  Low and behold we saw the Montana State football stadium and campus ahead of us!!  Yesterday we road our bikes through campus upon our arrival to spin out the legs and get a feel for where we were, so now we knew exactly where we were and how to get back to the hotel.  :)  At about mile 6 we stopped in a park with a drinking fountain and consumed more water before heading back for the last 3 miles. 

What a GREAT run at 4793 feet of elevation!!  Bozeman provided us with such a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains and a peaceful city this morning.  I can't wait to see what the rest of our vacation provides us!!

First Triathlon of the 2012 Season

                                                      HOLY HILLS!!

Saturday, June 9, 2012 was my first triathlon of the 2012 racing season (excluding the Magnolia Triathlon back in March in Covington, Louisiana).  The Holiday Lakes Triathlon consisted of a 500 meter swim, a 25 kilometer bike and a 5 kilometer run.

Friday night I got my transition bag ready, set out my new Zoom Triathlon Kit, put the bike in the car and was in bed by 7:30 pm.  As I was getting my transition bag together, I thought back to my first triathlon...boy was I nervous!!  I didn't even have the slightest hint of nerves going into this race and slept like a baby as a result :)

 
Saturday started with a 4:00 am alarm clock and a 90 minute drive to Holiday Lake by Brooklyn, IA.  We experienced a beautiful sunrise on the way to Holiday Lake and came to the realization that we LOVE mornings!!  There are fewer people out and about, the mornings are so calm and peaceful and the sunrises...well, those are truly priceless!!

Packet pick-up was open just before 7 am.  As I was getting ready to pick up my race number and timing chip, I realized I didn't have my photo ID or my USAT card...WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!  I am a certified USAT Coach and know better than this!!  Luckily I was able to pull my USAT information up on my iPhone, but I still had no photo ID...the "ladies auxiliary" that was working packet pick-up and body marking were very nice and let me get my race number and timing chip anyway.  They also had no idea how to body mark triathletes.  As the first triathlete to get body marked, I explained to them what to do with each person they body marked, and made sure they correctly marked a few more people before heading back to the car to get everything ready for transition.

The transition area opened at 7:30 am and the triathlon didn't start until 9 am.  Perfect!!  This would give me plenty of time to get my transition area set up, test ride the bike to make sure everything is working properly and get down to the water for some pre-race swim practice. While test riding my bike, it was noted that the road just outside of transition was recently chip sealed...UGH!!!  There was still plenty of loose "chips" on the tar and places where the tar was seeping through.  Good thing it is only for the first 1/4 mile and the last 1/4 mile of the bike ride!!

After getting my bike back in transition and making sure everything was set up just right, I made my way down to the water's edge and began the arduous process of putting on my wetsuit.  If you haven't ever experienced putting on a wetsuit before, I use the analogy of trying to stuff sausage into a sausage casing...it is quite the chore!!  There were many people down at the swim start who opted out of putting on their wetsuit for the short 500 meter swim, but I decided to put mine on as it would give me practice for upcoming races this year.  After swimming out and back a few times, I was very comfortable in the water.  As more people entered the water to do a pre-race swim, the amount of slimy seaweed floating in the water increased tremendously!! YUCK!!

At 8:45 am the race director had everyone get out of the water to do our pre-race meeting giving us all last minute instructions and helpful tips about the course.  At 9:00 am the gun went off for the men's wave...and they were off.  As I looked around the beach, there weren't many women and team participants left.  This would make for a nice swim with little contact!!  At 9:03 am the gun went off and we were off!!  As I was swimming, I remember thinking, "This is GREAT!!  I have had no contact with anyone."  I found my rhythm and swam at a very comfortable pace.  As I approached the shore, I began mentally preparing myself for transition.

Upon exiting the water, I immediately began stripping off my wetsuit as I ran up the hill into transition.  After getting out of my wetsuit much faster than it took me to get into it, I was changing into my bike gear and hitting the road.  The bike course was very hilly with a strong headwind to the first turn around.  I just dropped into aero and stayed low, knowing I would be turning around and getting the wind at my back at some point.  I was very happy to make it to about mile 4 before seeing the first triathlete on his return leg of the bike.  At the first turn around on the bike, there were a couple of great "men's auxiliary" volunteers cheering participants on and encouraging us.  As I turned around the orange cone, I decided now I would really push!!  Why not?!?!?  I did have many hills to climb, but I also had the wind at my back...Let's see what I can do :)  After the second turn around point, I would have the wind in my face again for a couple of miles before turning back into transition, so I decided to make the most of the wind at my back while I could!!  With the wind at my back, there were some descents that I was able to get my speed up to 37.4 mph.  I felt like I was flyin'!!  After the second turn around, I had about 2 miles of headwinds before the turn back into transition.  With only a couple of miles to go on the bike leg, I dropped my chain completely off a my derailer while trying to shift in preparation for an ascent.  UGH!!  I got off my bike and quickly put the chain back on before getting back on my bike and trying to pass the three people that just passed me.  No one had passed me on the entire ride until now.  I was determined to catch them and pass them again!!  I caught two of the participants pretty quickly as they were struggling up the hill, but the last one was a little stronger and was right in front of me going into transition.  I decided I would catch her on the run since I didn't catch her on the bike.

When I got into transition, I quickly racked my bike, wiped off the bike grease from my hands, got out of my bike gear and into my run gear and was off on the run!!  The last 3.1 miles were in front of me and I had NO idea just how hilly this run would be!!  As I began the climb out of transition, I decided to walk and take in some much needed water and nutrition (breakfast was a long time ago...).  You know the saying, "What goes up, must come down."  Well, down we went and then up and down and up and down...you get the picture.  There was not one flat section on the entire run!!  There were multiple hill climbs that were at 19% grade, which meant there were also descents at the same grade.  I was able to walk up the steep hills faster than I could run up them and decided this was a good strategy to help conserve energy.  The whole run was also on the recently chip sealed roads, so this made for some unsteady footing on the ascents and descents as well.

As I crossed the finish line, I was very thankful that the race wasn't any longer, I was wondering what sadistic individual designed this course and I was happy to be done!!  There were other Zoom Performance athletes participating, so we decided to get a group photo at the finish line showing that we all conquered what was a VERY CHALLENGING course!!  The only flat part of the whole race was the swim :)

I got some food and checked the results board only to find out I got 3rd in my age group!!  YIPPEE!!  I really had to work hard to earn this medal!!  I finished with a time of 1:41:05.  I was pretty happy with that considering the course!!

I really enjoyed the challenge that this course brought and will definitely be doing this race again...just not next year...next year is Ironman Coeur d'Alene :)

Total Time: 1:41:05 for 18.95 miles
Swim:  10:09 for 500 meters
T1:  2:17
Bike:  57:50 for 15.5 miles (with a dropped chain)
T2:  1:43
Run:  30:15 for 3.1 miles (straight up and straight down)

Realizations

Today was a FABULOUS day!!  I woke up incredibly early (3 am) and ran Dam to Dam (12.4 miles) and had a great run!!  It was a perfect day for running...relatively cool, mostly cloudy and I had a great amount of energy, which was surprising after last week's really hot race!!  When I came home, I did a bunch of work and then went for a bicycle ride with my husband.  This wasn't just any bicycle ride.  We took our cross bikes out on grass trails and gravel roads and had a BLAST!!

I had multiple realizations on this ride:
1.  I LOVE to ride my cross bike!!  I LOVE to experience new locations and new terrain.
2.  I LOVE the focus that off road riding requires.  You have to be mentally "on" with every move you make since the terrain is constantly changing.  On the flat open road it is much easier to lose focus. 
3.  I definitely need to work on my bike handling skills.  This was proven on the multiple climbs and descents since I had to use my brakes much more than I wanted to on the descents and I experienced lots of different terrains to maneuver on the ascents.  I need to work on the bike handling skills!!
4.  I LOVE exercising outside...I already knew this, but this ride only reaffirmed my feelings for exercising outside :)