I'm here at Snow Mountain Ranch for a heritage camp for my kids and got in a wonderful 2 hr run this morning. I figure that 2 hrs at 8000' is the same as 3 hrs at sea level, right? I hope so!
Ran on the Granby to Fraser trail which was primo! The weather was cool and sky partly sunny - just perfect. Took my Ipod and had one of those runs that you just don't want to end. Whether I finish this IM or not, I'm loving (most of) the training!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Time flies...
Wow, I am really behind in this blog! I had several great workouts over the last week but no time to record them now (will do tomorrow AM). But I will write about today so I don't get too far behind.
Kurt had the day off so we had planned to get out by 6:30 AM for a 2-3 hr bike ride. But thanks to the major thunderstorm we had in the middle of the night, which woke us both up (and one kid), I slept until 6:00! I normally get up around 5:15 but not today.
It was 8:00 by the time we got out the door. Kurt had a flat to fix, which took longer than usual, and just having coffee, catching up on things, etc, we got a very late start.
It was cool and cloudy, perfect for cycling but I prefer sunny skies. Oh well. We headed north on 14th Avenue to Island Grove, then onto the bike path for a short jaunt to 35th Ave, then west on O street and finally, north on the best-cycling-road-in-Weld-County! I have no idea what this road is called or what number it is but it's great - no traffic and it goes for miles and miles.
We flew along at a fast pace for quite awhile. Then we turned around and took turns drafting off each other so we could really push the pace. Taht's a great way to get some speedwork in on the bike.
When we got back to O street, Kurt headed home and I turned west and rode to Windsor. I was feeling great and needed the miles. I had so much on my mind that I don't even remember the ride to Windsor...I was there before I knew it. I rode past Water Valley and then headed south on a road that I used to run down every day when I lived in Windsor. I felt very strong and had plenty of energy.
I zoomed up the hill and then around the round-about and then back down to 257. I was flying! I love going down that hill!
Then, back up the long, long hill to the overpass over highway 34. I took that for a mile or so and then exited on 83rd Avenue, then back home. All in all, I rode 3.5 hrs and the best part is, i felt as if I could've gone another few hours! I actually felt like I didn't get quite enough exercise! I needed that because my confidence has been slipping lately...
More on the last week tomorrow - too tired to write anymore now!
Kurt had the day off so we had planned to get out by 6:30 AM for a 2-3 hr bike ride. But thanks to the major thunderstorm we had in the middle of the night, which woke us both up (and one kid), I slept until 6:00! I normally get up around 5:15 but not today.
It was 8:00 by the time we got out the door. Kurt had a flat to fix, which took longer than usual, and just having coffee, catching up on things, etc, we got a very late start.
It was cool and cloudy, perfect for cycling but I prefer sunny skies. Oh well. We headed north on 14th Avenue to Island Grove, then onto the bike path for a short jaunt to 35th Ave, then west on O street and finally, north on the best-cycling-road-in-Weld-County! I have no idea what this road is called or what number it is but it's great - no traffic and it goes for miles and miles.
We flew along at a fast pace for quite awhile. Then we turned around and took turns drafting off each other so we could really push the pace. Taht's a great way to get some speedwork in on the bike.
When we got back to O street, Kurt headed home and I turned west and rode to Windsor. I was feeling great and needed the miles. I had so much on my mind that I don't even remember the ride to Windsor...I was there before I knew it. I rode past Water Valley and then headed south on a road that I used to run down every day when I lived in Windsor. I felt very strong and had plenty of energy.
I zoomed up the hill and then around the round-about and then back down to 257. I was flying! I love going down that hill!
Then, back up the long, long hill to the overpass over highway 34. I took that for a mile or so and then exited on 83rd Avenue, then back home. All in all, I rode 3.5 hrs and the best part is, i felt as if I could've gone another few hours! I actually felt like I didn't get quite enough exercise! I needed that because my confidence has been slipping lately...
More on the last week tomorrow - too tired to write anymore now!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What a Difference a Day Makes!
In my last post I said I was draggin' my feet. Not too unusual, I don't think; everyone has a "down day". But I'm happy to report those feelings passed and I'm back in the groove again.
So, a few workouts to mention. First, last Saturday I ran 10 miles by myself (just worked out that way and it was fine). But I left the house an hour late and it got hot very fast. I was sweating like crazy by the time I got home. And I didn't feel particularly good - it was one of those runs you do just to get it done.
Then Sunday! Oh my gosh, Sunday. I rode to Estes Park with the Twin Rivers Cycling Club and wow, what a ride! Those guys are fast! Well, there's one woman - Colleen Murphy, who is a spin instructor at WOW (I've known her for years) and she is incredible. I saw her in the beginning and that was it. She was gone.
Sarah and Michelle went with me and we tried to hang with the guys but they are just too fast. They ride all the time and have been riding for years. I was at the back of the pack but was able to inch ahead gradually, until I finally caught John Kinne (group leader). We rode together for awhile and a few other guys came up from behind.
We took the Glenhaven route which has one of the steepest hills in the state - seriously! I don't know what the % grade is but it's gotta be close to 100...no just kidding... it's very, very steep. It's the steepest climb I've ever biked and maybe one of the hardest physical challenges i've ever encountered. I literally hear my heart pounding when I ride this section of the route!
So, we headed up Glenhaven and stopped in the town first to re-fuel. By then we'd already ridden at least 15 miles up the canyon and I was pooped. Off we go...or should I say UP we go.
I'm happy to say that I made the climb. I gave it all I got and was sweating profusely - but I made it. Here's a picture of us at the top. From there, we rode into Estes and then back down to Loveland on Highway 34 (not a good idea on a Sunday in July - too much traffic!).
Even though it was downhill, we still had to pedal most of the way, due to a stiff headwind coming up the cabin. The wind was so loud that we didn't speak a word all the way down. It took us 2 hrs to go up and 1 hr to go down. The canyon was beautiful and I enjoyed the scenery immensely. But by the time we got down, I was so tired, hot, hungry, and sweaty that I wanted to just drop. It ended up being 46 miles but a very hard 46 miles.
I love doing that ride and hope to do it again soon (weird, I know!). But will not ride it on a weekend again!
Then on Monday I did my first real "white cap" swim...the water was so choppy that there were white caps. AND, more importantly, it was my first attempt at swimming the perimeter of the lake.
Fortunately, I had some cool women with me: Brenda, Sarah, and Hannah - all good swimmers. I felt much better having them swim along with me. I ended up swimming most of the perimeter but cut it short due to the turbulent waves....I actually enjoyed swimming in the waves (and told myself it will help me get ready for Florida) but I thought everyone was heading back early due to the waves but they weren't. By the time I noticed that they were continuing on, I was already half-way back to the gazebo. But it was ok, I was really happy with how far I had swum (is swum a word???).
I did notice that my arms were tired and no one else had tired arms. It tells me that I need to swim more consistently and to step up my weight-lifting. I have the fitness level to swim 2.4 miles but not the arm strength yet. But that WILL come!
On Tuesday, I did Master's swim practice but couldn't keep up (as usual) so I did most of the workout in fins and just went my own pace. If I focus on how far behind I am, I just want to stop and go home. So, I just did my own thing and it was ok.
Tuesday I ran 7 miles - felt good. Lifted weights
Wednesday, I rode a fast 2 hr ride to Windsor and back by myself. I had a short window of opportunity so I pushed the pace as hard as I could. It felt wonderful. I think with proper training, I would be a better cyclist than runner. At the very least, I'd like to keep up with Marshall!
Today, which is Thursday, July 16th, I ran a tempo run. Hope to swim at the lake tomorrow AM - yikes - 6:00 AM!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Draggin' my feet
I've hit a snag in my training plan. No, I'm not injured and no, I haven't had some major family crisis that I can blame for not training the last two days. What's the snag? I think it's called "apathy".
Yep. No interest in training. No interest in doing an Ironman triathlon (that I've paid bu-ku bucks for already), no interest in moving my body even one inch past this here comfy chair.
This is how I have felt for the last few days. I finally mustered enough energy this morning to get my lazy butt out the door and run 10 miles. But it was a slow, painful 10 miles. And tomorrow I'm riding up to Estes Park via the Glenhaven route (which is so steep at the top that you have to put a manual car into first gear when driving this route!).
But the run today wasn't too bad. I felt kinda good but the last 4 miles were torture. I was hot and very tired. My legs hurt terribly. However, I was fine mentally. Usually when I have runs like that, I'm a mental mess but today i just shrugged it off and told myself that "running through the pain" again is probably a good thing.
Yep. No interest in training. No interest in doing an Ironman triathlon (that I've paid bu-ku bucks for already), no interest in moving my body even one inch past this here comfy chair.
This is how I have felt for the last few days. I finally mustered enough energy this morning to get my lazy butt out the door and run 10 miles. But it was a slow, painful 10 miles. And tomorrow I'm riding up to Estes Park via the Glenhaven route (which is so steep at the top that you have to put a manual car into first gear when driving this route!).
But the run today wasn't too bad. I felt kinda good but the last 4 miles were torture. I was hot and very tired. My legs hurt terribly. However, I was fine mentally. Usually when I have runs like that, I'm a mental mess but today i just shrugged it off and told myself that "running through the pain" again is probably a good thing.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Never a dull moment when you train for an IM
I am finding that training for an IM leads to new experiences. Some of them are not so fun. Like riding your bike down a busy highway that was recently tarred and getting "splashed" with the remnants of the tar all over your body (esp your face and neck). It's even more fun when you do that ride in 9o degree weather so you're not only sweating like crazy but now you're covered in sticky, gooey highway tar. Lovely.
And another new "experience" when you spend a lot of time riding country roads is you get to see - up close and personal - more roadkill than you ever dreamed possible. This is the reason for the quick weight loss that most IM newbies experience - it's not the increased exercise - noooooo, it's the dozens of birds, animals, turtles, and snakes you pass on your bike that are smashed to smithereens and oozing with who-knows-what. Lovely.
And then there's the open water swims in water that smells like rotting algea and so murky that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Lovely.
But hey, it will all be worth it when I hear those infamous words "Cindy Dallow, you are an Ironman!" and visions of all the roadkill, dead fish, and dirty, scorching-hot highway bike rides will disappear into thin air...
So here's my week re-cap so far:
Sunday (see previous post)
Monday - mile swim in Windsor lake, waited 45 mins for storm to pass
Tuesday - 26 mile fast bike ride and Master's swim (very hard - more on that later)
Wednesday - 4 mile slow run with Daisy and lovely discussion with Greeley Animal Control officer who was kind enough to "only" give me a warning not to take my dog near a Greeley park ever again because I would be slapped with a $50 fine. How awful of me - I let my dog get a drink in the lake - shame on me!
As they say, never a dull moment!
And another new "experience" when you spend a lot of time riding country roads is you get to see - up close and personal - more roadkill than you ever dreamed possible. This is the reason for the quick weight loss that most IM newbies experience - it's not the increased exercise - noooooo, it's the dozens of birds, animals, turtles, and snakes you pass on your bike that are smashed to smithereens and oozing with who-knows-what. Lovely.
And then there's the open water swims in water that smells like rotting algea and so murky that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Lovely.
But hey, it will all be worth it when I hear those infamous words "Cindy Dallow, you are an Ironman!" and visions of all the roadkill, dead fish, and dirty, scorching-hot highway bike rides will disappear into thin air...
So here's my week re-cap so far:
Sunday (see previous post)
Monday - mile swim in Windsor lake, waited 45 mins for storm to pass
Tuesday - 26 mile fast bike ride and Master's swim (very hard - more on that later)
Wednesday - 4 mile slow run with Daisy and lovely discussion with Greeley Animal Control officer who was kind enough to "only" give me a warning not to take my dog near a Greeley park ever again because I would be slapped with a $50 fine. How awful of me - I let my dog get a drink in the lake - shame on me!
As they say, never a dull moment!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Holey moley!
What a run today! It was supposed to be a typical Sunday "long, slow, run" (or as we use to call them: LSD, long slow distance). I met up with Lynne, Marshall, Kevin, Jenny, and Dan and our original plan was to run 90 minutes. No problem, I've been doing that for awhile now.
Then last night, Lynne called and said we were running 2 hrs. No problem, I thought. I need to up my distance anyway. It will hurt but hey, I've run 12 marathons, I can do it (this is called denial, which seeps into my brain once in awhile).
So, we start off and I feel great. An hour passes and I still feel great. We're laughing and talking and having a good ol' time. Then 90 mins passes (or slightly less) and Lynne and Dan head back. Kevin, Jenny, Marshall, and i decide to go longer. We do a short loop around Bittersweet Park.
Then, Kevin and Jenny peel off to head back to the Parks house. At this point it's about 1 hr and 40 mins and I'm still feeling pretty good but starting to tire. The sun is finally coming out of the clouds and it's getting HOT.
I think to myself "I can eek out another 20 minutes" but as we approach the 2 hr time limit, I'm feeling tired, sore, and ready to end this run. After all, that's all I had mentally prepared myself for. Marshall and I have had a wonderful conversation about the IM we are training for, which is a perfect way to end the run.
But nooooooo....Marshall has another plan. He says we're going another FIFTEEN MINUTES!My legs are saying OH NO, WE'RE NOT! The sun is now glaring down on us - it's after 10:00 AM and hot, hot, hot. I stammer and studder and ask "what??????" He said something about "running through the pain" but all I could think about was jumping into the lake and snoozing on the soft green grass for about oh, 5 hrs.
15 more minutes....ok, I can do it....but why am I hobbling like an old lady??? Why am I sweating so much now I can hardly see through my sunglasses? Why can't I stop when my legs are hurting so bad??? Why do I have to "run through the pain"????
Because I want to do an Ironman, that's why.
So, thanks, Marshall for pushing me through to the end. I may not walk for a week but hey, I did it and I know the mental toughness will help me on race day. You are going after this thing with great gusto and I admire you for it.
What else did I do sinced Weds, when I blogged last....on Thursday I ran 5 miles and swam 1000 yds......rode 40 HARD miles with Lynne, Marshall, and Paul on Friday (the Parks are kicking my butt!).....and walked a 5k with my kids on Saturday....and then today, ran 2 hrs and FIFTEEN MINUTES! All in all, a very good training week.
So, now I'm mentally gearing up for the big stuff ahead of me. July, August, and September are going to be the high-mileage months and I need to be very focused. I'm actually feeling pretty good about the biking and running...I think I'm ahead of Gale Bernhardt's plan but still lagging a bit in the swim. I stayed up late Sat night watching YouTube videos on freestyle technique but somehow I don't think that counts as training....
Oh well, as long as I hang out with Marshall, I won't have to worry about slackin' too much!
Then last night, Lynne called and said we were running 2 hrs. No problem, I thought. I need to up my distance anyway. It will hurt but hey, I've run 12 marathons, I can do it (this is called denial, which seeps into my brain once in awhile).
So, we start off and I feel great. An hour passes and I still feel great. We're laughing and talking and having a good ol' time. Then 90 mins passes (or slightly less) and Lynne and Dan head back. Kevin, Jenny, Marshall, and i decide to go longer. We do a short loop around Bittersweet Park.
Then, Kevin and Jenny peel off to head back to the Parks house. At this point it's about 1 hr and 40 mins and I'm still feeling pretty good but starting to tire. The sun is finally coming out of the clouds and it's getting HOT.
I think to myself "I can eek out another 20 minutes" but as we approach the 2 hr time limit, I'm feeling tired, sore, and ready to end this run. After all, that's all I had mentally prepared myself for. Marshall and I have had a wonderful conversation about the IM we are training for, which is a perfect way to end the run.
But nooooooo....Marshall has another plan. He says we're going another FIFTEEN MINUTES!My legs are saying OH NO, WE'RE NOT! The sun is now glaring down on us - it's after 10:00 AM and hot, hot, hot. I stammer and studder and ask "what??????" He said something about "running through the pain" but all I could think about was jumping into the lake and snoozing on the soft green grass for about oh, 5 hrs.
15 more minutes....ok, I can do it....but why am I hobbling like an old lady??? Why am I sweating so much now I can hardly see through my sunglasses? Why can't I stop when my legs are hurting so bad??? Why do I have to "run through the pain"????
Because I want to do an Ironman, that's why.
So, thanks, Marshall for pushing me through to the end. I may not walk for a week but hey, I did it and I know the mental toughness will help me on race day. You are going after this thing with great gusto and I admire you for it.
What else did I do sinced Weds, when I blogged last....on Thursday I ran 5 miles and swam 1000 yds......rode 40 HARD miles with Lynne, Marshall, and Paul on Friday (the Parks are kicking my butt!).....and walked a 5k with my kids on Saturday....and then today, ran 2 hrs and FIFTEEN MINUTES! All in all, a very good training week.
So, now I'm mentally gearing up for the big stuff ahead of me. July, August, and September are going to be the high-mileage months and I need to be very focused. I'm actually feeling pretty good about the biking and running...I think I'm ahead of Gale Bernhardt's plan but still lagging a bit in the swim. I stayed up late Sat night watching YouTube videos on freestyle technique but somehow I don't think that counts as training....
Oh well, as long as I hang out with Marshall, I won't have to worry about slackin' too much!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Up and down
Yesterday I had an interesting run. I ran with Kurt and when I started off, my legs were dead tired (the previous 3 days had caught up to me). I had no energy and could hardly move my legs. I told Kurt I'd just run to Sanborn Park with him and then go back (in fact, I almost turned around long before that point).
By the time we got there, I was feeling ok. Not great, but ok. I was running very slowly but I wanted to keep going. So we ran out around Lowe's and back, which is about 5 miles.
When we got back, my legs felt like I just run a marathon. They were so tired. I think the 60 mile ride on Sat, then 70 min run on Sunday, the 12 mile bike ride on Monday were taking it's toll. No surprise there.
But i was so glad I did the run! I thought that this might what it feels like to run the marathon in the IM. I'm probably wrong - it will probably feel way worse!
Today I swam at noon and I might go to track tonight, mainly to see everyone. But I have so much to do at home I'm not sure I'll make it there. We'll see. Today my legs feel fine - go figure!
By the time we got there, I was feeling ok. Not great, but ok. I was running very slowly but I wanted to keep going. So we ran out around Lowe's and back, which is about 5 miles.
When we got back, my legs felt like I just run a marathon. They were so tired. I think the 60 mile ride on Sat, then 70 min run on Sunday, the 12 mile bike ride on Monday were taking it's toll. No surprise there.
But i was so glad I did the run! I thought that this might what it feels like to run the marathon in the IM. I'm probably wrong - it will probably feel way worse!
Today I swam at noon and I might go to track tonight, mainly to see everyone. But I have so much to do at home I'm not sure I'll make it there. We'll see. Today my legs feel fine - go figure!
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