Posts tagged ironman

I have an 18 miler on the schedule this morning but have not been able to push myself out the door.  I am still sore from my Wednesday strength training session.  I ran an easy 5 miles last night with the hope of shaking out my legs.  Wether it worked remains to be seen.  I am pretty sure my last run over 14 miles was the Big Sur Marathon in April.  Where did the time go?  

Good luck to @becomingiron!!!!  SO excited for Robin to cross the finish line of her first 140.6!!!! 

It is not surprising that the inagural Ironman Lake Tahoe sold out in less than 24 hours. After a long talk with my husband, I decided against 2013. I have other plans brewing for 2013 so it looks like my first full Ironman will be in 2014. I will be turning 40 (gasp!) so it seems like the perfect way to celebrate.

In the meantime, less than 4 weeks to Vineman 70.3!

I cannot be more excited right now!  Ironman is coming to Lake Tahoe, CA in September 2013!!!!  I may be an LAgirlontherun now, but first I was a Nor Cal girl who grew up skiing and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe, CA.  It is one of my favorite places.  I just told my husband that my first full Ironman will be Lake Tahoe. There is no place* I would rather lay out 140.6! Not sure it will happen in 2013 but we shall see.  Stay tuned!

*Kona does not count. 

Two years ago this morning, I woke up around 5:45 and stumbled into a 6:30 spin class taught by Reilly. Little did I know that that class would send me down a path that would change my life.  I was inspired that morning, inspired to be better and to follow my heart. I began going to class twice a week and slowly my body began to change.  I craved the work. I added more classes and built to 5+ classes a week (in addition to running).  I worked up to a double spin.  I could not get enough.  Something happened to me in those classes that I did not get anywhere else.  After a few months, Reilly announced that he was going to travel abroad for a while and I was DEVASTATED.  I thought that my life was going to fall apart without his classes (it sounds overly dramatic, but you can I ask him, I was beyond nervous that I could not keep it up without him).  I am pretty sure that my friends and family thought I was crazy.  He left to travel and I cried.  What was I going to do???  I kept going.  I went to another instructor while he was gone and although it was not the same, I kept at the work.  He came back a few months later and I picked up right where we had left off.  Even today, I do not like going to other instructors.  Rei’s classes kick me into a gear that is hard to mimic anywhere else. 

My life has completely changed in the past two years and many of those changes can be traced back to that first early morning class.  It seems appropriate that this week, exactly two years later, I will travel to Kona to cheer for Reilly as he accomplishes one of his dreams, competing in the Ironman World Championship.  I love him like a family member and am proud of what he has been able to accomplish since I have known him.

Thank you for everything Rei.  Pick a fight with the Queen K and take it down!  You can do it! 

This morning I was not only on time for our 5:15 run, I got there 6 minutes early.  I have been fighting a cold since the swim on Sunday (my husband and coworkers blame swimming at Venice Beach for my illness).  I thought that running this morning would help flush out the toxins.  I enjoyed talking to the group for the first 5 miles then it hit me.  I bonked and I bonked bad.  I had to slow my pace just to finish the run.  Maybe I am dehydrated from the Sudafed?  I am not sure.  It is definitely time for me to start running with a hand held bottle.  I plan to pick one up today or tomorrow.  

I have enjoyed reading all of the Ironman race recaps over the last couple of days.  I am inspired by your stories and feel propelled forward on my own journey.  Congrats to everyone who finished a marathon or Ironman over the weekend.

Next weekend, I will be live blogging from the Ironman Championships in Kona.  I look forward to being a spectator.  There is definitely magic in the lava fields of Kona.  

 ”The mind has seasons just like nature, you must know that the pain of the winter will pass and you will once again see summer” - via @thegodlight

I went for a short run tonight and afterward something shifted.  I think I have finally turned the corner.  I am headed back to morning spin tomorrow and I cannot wait. :)

Fun stuff on the horizon:

- Going to Kona in 2 weeks to watch the Ironman World Championships.  Looking forward to the inspiration that is sure to follow.  Also: swimming with the sea turtles, night diving with the manta rays, and drinking beer at Kona Brew Co! 

- After a week in Hawaii, I go straight to SF to run Nike Women’s Half.  This is one of my favorites!  GIRL POWER!!!!

- First week of November traveling to DC which means RUNNING ON THE MALL!  I CANNOT WAIT!!!  When I lived in DC years ago, I was not a runner and was not able to take advantage.  Look forward to running from Lincoln to the Capital Steps. Whoo hooo!

So many blog post ideas, so little time.  I finished the Macca book weeks ago yet I have not posted my book review (in a word “inspirational”).  While watching the Home Run derby last night, I was reminded of my many years of playing softball in the bobby sox league.  During one of those years, I was the home run leader.  That deserves a blog post at some point. I have started to dream about Ironman, much like I dreamt of running before I actually started running.  My triathlon career has been a long time in the making.  I first started training way back in 1992 but abandoned it for other pursuits which were very important at the time (of course I cannot remember them now).  Do I want to do a triathlon this fall or an ultra or both?  Decisions decisions.  

In the meantime, marathon training is moving right along.  Workouts so far this week: Sat 8 mi trails, Sun spin, 30 min run (forgot garmin), Mon rest, Tues 5 mi am, spin pm. Big runs planned for the rest of the week including 20 miles on Friday in Northern California.  

Photo: Challenge-Roth

Chrissie Wellington set a new women’s world record, 8:18:13, at Challenge Roth today, coming in 5th overall.  Amazing!  Andreas Raelert set a new men’s world record, 7:41:33. The World Championship in Kona is shaping up to be quite a battle.  I look forward to watching live from the sidelines.  I plan to set up shop near the corner of Kuakini Highway and Palani Drive (for those of you familiar with Kona, this is also near Kona Brew Co).  Cannot wait!