I've been branded for life...
I got my "M-Dot" tattoo on Saturday at Kustom Thrills in East Nashville. It didn't hurt too bad but I don't think I ever need to do it again. My first and last tattoo!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Marne McLyman from Nashville, TN...you are an IRONMAN!
Well...I did it...I am an IRONMAN!!
On Wednesday, July 16, I left for the airport at 4:30am to head to Lake Placid, NY to see my dream come true of becoming an Ironman. Julie and I were on the same flight so I met up with her at the airport. We arrived in Albany around noon and got the rental car and then waited for my parents to arrive on their flight from Charlotte. Once everyone was there we jumped in the car and headed north to Lake Placid. The 2 hour drive was beautiful. That area of the country is so awesome and my parents had a great time reminiscing about growing up close to there. We got to Lake Placid around 6 and found the lodge I had rented for the week. It was about 1/2 mile from downtown Lake Placid which was great and it had lots of space to spread out and relax. That night we just went to the grocery store and went to bed.
Julie and I got up on Thursday and headed down to Mirror Lake for a swim. All of the transition area was set up which was and awesome site. We were definitely at a different level of competition. We met up with Rob and Nick at their hotel room to wait for our bikes and bags from the Bike Sherpa guy. Once we got all of our stuff we swam for a few minutes, biked the run course, and then ran for about 15 minutes. It felt good to look at the course and get familiar with what we would be doing that Sunday. After our quick workout Julie and I headed back to the lodge to change and then went back to the Olympic Oval (where the transition area and expo where set up) to meet up with my parents. They had been walking around downtown doing some shopping and checking out the area. Lake Placid is a very cute town and all of the Olympic stuff is still set up. You can see the huge ski jumps in the distance, the Olympic Center where the "miracle on ice" took place is right downtown, and the speed skating oval is where all of our race stuff was happening. We walked through the expo and bought some Ironman Lake Placid logoed gear...because that's the most important stuff really. I got tri shorts, a bike jersey, and a hitch cover for my car. After that we headed up to the high school to go through registration. At that point it was real. They make you sign all of these releases...which is smart I suppose...ha. Then you get weighed in and you pick up your packet of race numbers, swim cap, 5 plastic bags, etc. It's a little daunting but luckily I left Nashville overly organized. We dropped Julie off at her hotel Thursday night and then mom, dad, and I headed to Saranac Lake to have some really great pizza for dinner...I love food in the northeast!
Friday was a low key day. I was going to go swim but when I got down to Nick and Rob's room (which was right by the swim start) Nick was going over to the Active Release Tent for a free session. I was all about that so I threw my wetsuit in the car and headed over with him. It was amazing! It was pretty painful but I left feeling so much looser in my hips and in my shoulders. I went back to the lodge after that and picked up mom and dad to show them the run course and the great view of the ski jumps from River Rd. which is the out and back portion of the run. Grandma and Grandpa arrived that afternoon which was great. After they got there I organized all of my bags for the race. There are 5 of them so there is a lot to think about but I had organized it all before I left so I didn't have to worry about it much. That night I went to the welcome dinner and mandatory meeting for the race. The dinner was very motivating and inspiring...kind of made the reality of all of this set in. The "voice of the Ironman" Mike Reilly hosted the dinner. They brought up the oldest and youngest competitors, people that had done all 9 previous IMLP races, and a woman that had lost 97 pounds leading up to this Ironman. They also acknowledged the first timers....which was pretty much our entire group and felt really awesome to stand up as future Iromen. Paula Newby-Frasier also spoke at the dinner which was very cool...she's a legend at this distance and it was pretty neat to see her in person.
On Saturday dad and I got up and went for a run down to the Olympic Oval. We stopped at the Active Release Tent to be adjusted one more time before the race and we also stopped at the Tanita body scan scales. They told me I was pretty darn healthy which is good considering all the training I've just done. We ran back to the lodge and picked everyone else up. I threw all of my race bags in the trunk and rode my bike downtown to check everything in. At this point I was getting pretty excited. I wasn't really nervous at any point...more anxious I think. I found my spot on the bike rack...row 42...and then I hung my bags in my spot. That was it...I was all checked in and ready to rock! Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and I then got in the car and drove the bike course. We stopped for lunch on the way where we ran into Julie and her sister and brother in-law. I'm so happy we drove the bike course because I could see that the hills weren't at all as daunting as some people had made them out to be. I also took note of the potholes in the roads and the big downhill where you can get up to 50 miles per hour. At the end of the driving the bike course I felt great. Those hills were not as bad as I had anticipated and I was well trained for them! Linda and Dan arrived that night and it was so great to see them. Linda cooked dinner that night...pasta!! I talked to Meghan that night and she wished me a big "good luck." We all missed her and were sad that she couldn't be in Lake Placid but I'm glad I got to talk to her before the race. After dinner I showered and mom braided my hair for race day. I went to bed around 10:30 but didn't sleep much that night.
My alarm went off at 4:30am. It was race day...Ironman day! I got up and put on my race gear...this was it...I was going to become and Iroman today. I choked down 800 calories of breakfast which included a banana and two Baker Breakfast Cookies, one with peanut butter. As soon as everyone was up and dressed (in their "Marne's Ironfans" t-shirts...love it!) we jumped in the car and headed downtown. Mom and Dad dropped me off at the transition area so I could put food on my bike and check my Dry Clothes bag in as well. I saw Bert, Rolf, and Lisa in the transition area. I got my bike set up, clothes checked in, and headed over to body marking where I met up with my family. I ran into Dana in that area. After body marking we all headed over to the lake. I had to check in my Special Needs bags so after that was done it was time to say our goodbyes and then head to the lake. I ran into Rolf and Nick at the swim start and also Coach Kathleen and Rod. Coach Kathleen gave Rolf some pointers on the swim start and then to me to "get in the middle of it" which was fine with me! I was ready to rock! At this point it started to sprinkle...
The swim was by far the most ridiculous part of the race. There were bodies everywhere...arms flying...legs flailing...it was like salmon spawning. The first loop was rough with all 2300 racers starting at the same time. Luckily I'm a strong swimmer because I can't imagine that swim if you weren't very confident. After the first loop we got out of the water and ran across the beach for about 12 feet and got back in the water. The second loop was much better since it had spread out a bit. I found the cable that runs the entire loop of the swim so I didn't have to sight much at all which was nice. On the second turn of the second loop I got kicked in the face which hurt pretty bad but I just checked for blood and carried on. I got out of the water and headed over to the wetsuit strippers which a very interesting experience. You pull your wetsuit down to your waist, sit down on your butt, hold your legs in the air, and two people yank your wetsuit off for you. We then had to run a block down the road to the transition area where you grab you "Swim to Bike" bag which has everything you need to bike. I ran into the women's changing tent which was very chaotic and dark. I just stood right by the door since it had the most light and changed into my bike gear. I packed up my swim stuff and put it in the bag and headed out to get my bike. At this point it was raining harder...
As you are running out of the changing tent they yell out your number so someone can get your bike for you. No one heard my number so I had to get my own bike but that was ok. I sludged through the mud and started my first loop. The bike course wasn't that bad in regards to the hills. The only iffy thing was the rain. It was pouring. I had to be very cautious on the first loop because I wasn't sure how slippery the roads were and exactly where the pothole were. I felt like I rode the first loop strong but with enough left in me to push the second loop. I stopped at my Special Needs bag after the first loop and my parents had put my arm warmers in my bag...thank goodness! It is chilly going down those hills at 40 miles an hour in the rain. I swapped out my food, put my arm warmers on, and headed back out for loop number 2! The second loop was definitely a little harder but I pushed it a little more on the downhills and in certain areas where I felt like I knew the terrain from the first loop. The last 15 miles of the bike were the longest. The last hill before you head into Lake Placid is called Papa Bear and it was lined with people just like the Tour De France. It wasn't that wide because of all the spectators but that was so awesome...I needed every ounce of their cheering. The spectators and volunteers were incredible on the bike course. They were very motivating and were having so much fun even though it was raining all day.
I was so happy to get off my bike and start running. I gave my bike over to a volunteer, got my "Bike to Run" bag, and headed to the changing tent again. This time it was a lot less crowded. I had someone helping me with all my stuff which was nice. She packed up all my bike stuff and rehung it on the rack for me. I threw on my run stuff and headed out for lap number 1. It was really an uneventful first lap which is a good thing. I just kept a good pace and knocked off the miles one by one. As I came into Lake Placid at the end of my first loop I started to get a little choked up but then quickly realized that I still had 13.1 miles to go and that I needed to pull myself together. The second loop was as good as the first loop. Miles 18-21 were tough but I had seen a sign that someone had made and it said "Pain is temporary, Ironman is forever." I just repeated that over and over and over for the last 10 miles and that got me through. I stopped taking Hammer gel around mile 16 and went with pretzels and chicken broth which were awesome. I held off on the Coke until mile 22 and I'm glad I did. It gave me just enough energy to get into Lake Placid where I knew the crowd would take me the rest of the way. It is amazing how adrenaline takes over. As I rounded the corner of River Rd. that lead back into Lake Placid I had four miles to go. Four miles and I would be an Ironman...and it wasn't even dark yet! Those last four miles were the best. I made it up to the last out and back part of the course (which was probably the toughest because it passes right by the finish line) and at the bottom of the hill there is are two arrows. One arrow says "2nd loop" and the other says "finish." I happily headed towards the finish. I entered the Olympic speed skating oval to lots of cheers and excitement. I don't think I've ever smiled that much in my life. I saw my family right at the finish line and gave them a high-five and at that moment I heard the words that I had been waiting my whole life to hear: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, Tennessee...you are an IRONMAN!"
After I crossed the finish line I got my medal, my finisher t-shirt and hat, and got my picture taken. Then I headed straight to the medical tent. I didn't really have that much wrong other than really tired legs and some numbness in my arms and hands. Someone told me it was very warm and dry in the tent. That was all I needed to hear! In the medical tent they weighed me, took my temperature, and my blood pressure. They also went and got my bags from outside and helped me change into my dry clothes. I think the second I got those dry clothes on I was a new person. I also got a cup of hot chicken broth and a banana which helped tremendously. They put a very large garbage bag on me, gave me my bags, and I headed outside to reunite with my family. Everyone was so excited and Mom was especially happy that it was over...haha! On our way to the car Meghan happened to call so I filled her in on all the details of the race. She was watching my progress in Richmond, VA with Aunt Judy.
It was an incredible journey. I finished in 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds...twenty minutes faster than Coach Kathleen's anticipated finish time for me. I couldn't have asked for a better day. My family was incredible as well. I saw them at every point that I crossed through town except for after the first loop of the run because I was too fast...haha. They stood out in the pouring rain all day and cheered me on. There's nothing like seeing a familiar face when you really need it. Coach Kathleen and Rod were out there all day as well and every time I saw them their jaws were on the ground because of how good I looked and how well I was doing...very cool! I ended up finishing 7th out of 20 in the Athenas 39 and under which is pretty darn good for my first attempt at this distance. I was also the youngest in the group so that makes me think big things are to come.
I found out the next day (which was blue skies and sunny) that we got over 2 inches of rain on race day. Thank goodness I love to race in the rain!! Stiff and sore would be an understatement for how we all felt on Monday but none of that mattered. We were all Ironmen! Linda and Dan had to leave early but the rest of us went down to the Olympic oval on Monday morning to buy some "finisher gear" at the Ironman store. It was pretty wiped out but I got a few things to remember this awesome experience. I also ordered my race photos which ended up being really awesome. The rest of the day we checked my bike back in with the Bike Sherpa guy and just piddled around town. That night I went to the celebratory dinner and told stories about the race with all of my friends.
Grandma and Grandpa left Tuesday morning and Mom, Dad, and I went to the top of Whiteface Mountain in a gondola. It was an incredible view! We also stopped in the Olympic Museum which I loved, of course. That night we hooked up with Julie, Rob, and Nick for one final dinner in Lake Placid.
We headed back to Albany on Wednesday morning for our flights back home. I can't believe that it is over. It's amazing how fast 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds can fly by. I couldn't have asked for a better race, a better group of spectators, or a better group of people to do this race with. My dream of becoming an Iroman has come true! I see an M-Dot tattoo in my future!
The most beautiful words: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, TN...you are an IRONMAN!"
Photos from the race: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=234473870/a=53714308_53714308/t_=53714308
On Wednesday, July 16, I left for the airport at 4:30am to head to Lake Placid, NY to see my dream come true of becoming an Ironman. Julie and I were on the same flight so I met up with her at the airport. We arrived in Albany around noon and got the rental car and then waited for my parents to arrive on their flight from Charlotte. Once everyone was there we jumped in the car and headed north to Lake Placid. The 2 hour drive was beautiful. That area of the country is so awesome and my parents had a great time reminiscing about growing up close to there. We got to Lake Placid around 6 and found the lodge I had rented for the week. It was about 1/2 mile from downtown Lake Placid which was great and it had lots of space to spread out and relax. That night we just went to the grocery store and went to bed.
Julie and I got up on Thursday and headed down to Mirror Lake for a swim. All of the transition area was set up which was and awesome site. We were definitely at a different level of competition. We met up with Rob and Nick at their hotel room to wait for our bikes and bags from the Bike Sherpa guy. Once we got all of our stuff we swam for a few minutes, biked the run course, and then ran for about 15 minutes. It felt good to look at the course and get familiar with what we would be doing that Sunday. After our quick workout Julie and I headed back to the lodge to change and then went back to the Olympic Oval (where the transition area and expo where set up) to meet up with my parents. They had been walking around downtown doing some shopping and checking out the area. Lake Placid is a very cute town and all of the Olympic stuff is still set up. You can see the huge ski jumps in the distance, the Olympic Center where the "miracle on ice" took place is right downtown, and the speed skating oval is where all of our race stuff was happening. We walked through the expo and bought some Ironman Lake Placid logoed gear...because that's the most important stuff really. I got tri shorts, a bike jersey, and a hitch cover for my car. After that we headed up to the high school to go through registration. At that point it was real. They make you sign all of these releases...which is smart I suppose...ha. Then you get weighed in and you pick up your packet of race numbers, swim cap, 5 plastic bags, etc. It's a little daunting but luckily I left Nashville overly organized. We dropped Julie off at her hotel Thursday night and then mom, dad, and I headed to Saranac Lake to have some really great pizza for dinner...I love food in the northeast!
Friday was a low key day. I was going to go swim but when I got down to Nick and Rob's room (which was right by the swim start) Nick was going over to the Active Release Tent for a free session. I was all about that so I threw my wetsuit in the car and headed over with him. It was amazing! It was pretty painful but I left feeling so much looser in my hips and in my shoulders. I went back to the lodge after that and picked up mom and dad to show them the run course and the great view of the ski jumps from River Rd. which is the out and back portion of the run. Grandma and Grandpa arrived that afternoon which was great. After they got there I organized all of my bags for the race. There are 5 of them so there is a lot to think about but I had organized it all before I left so I didn't have to worry about it much. That night I went to the welcome dinner and mandatory meeting for the race. The dinner was very motivating and inspiring...kind of made the reality of all of this set in. The "voice of the Ironman" Mike Reilly hosted the dinner. They brought up the oldest and youngest competitors, people that had done all 9 previous IMLP races, and a woman that had lost 97 pounds leading up to this Ironman. They also acknowledged the first timers....which was pretty much our entire group and felt really awesome to stand up as future Iromen. Paula Newby-Frasier also spoke at the dinner which was very cool...she's a legend at this distance and it was pretty neat to see her in person.
On Saturday dad and I got up and went for a run down to the Olympic Oval. We stopped at the Active Release Tent to be adjusted one more time before the race and we also stopped at the Tanita body scan scales. They told me I was pretty darn healthy which is good considering all the training I've just done. We ran back to the lodge and picked everyone else up. I threw all of my race bags in the trunk and rode my bike downtown to check everything in. At this point I was getting pretty excited. I wasn't really nervous at any point...more anxious I think. I found my spot on the bike rack...row 42...and then I hung my bags in my spot. That was it...I was all checked in and ready to rock! Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and I then got in the car and drove the bike course. We stopped for lunch on the way where we ran into Julie and her sister and brother in-law. I'm so happy we drove the bike course because I could see that the hills weren't at all as daunting as some people had made them out to be. I also took note of the potholes in the roads and the big downhill where you can get up to 50 miles per hour. At the end of the driving the bike course I felt great. Those hills were not as bad as I had anticipated and I was well trained for them! Linda and Dan arrived that night and it was so great to see them. Linda cooked dinner that night...pasta!! I talked to Meghan that night and she wished me a big "good luck." We all missed her and were sad that she couldn't be in Lake Placid but I'm glad I got to talk to her before the race. After dinner I showered and mom braided my hair for race day. I went to bed around 10:30 but didn't sleep much that night.
My alarm went off at 4:30am. It was race day...Ironman day! I got up and put on my race gear...this was it...I was going to become and Iroman today. I choked down 800 calories of breakfast which included a banana and two Baker Breakfast Cookies, one with peanut butter. As soon as everyone was up and dressed (in their "Marne's Ironfans" t-shirts...love it!) we jumped in the car and headed downtown. Mom and Dad dropped me off at the transition area so I could put food on my bike and check my Dry Clothes bag in as well. I saw Bert, Rolf, and Lisa in the transition area. I got my bike set up, clothes checked in, and headed over to body marking where I met up with my family. I ran into Dana in that area. After body marking we all headed over to the lake. I had to check in my Special Needs bags so after that was done it was time to say our goodbyes and then head to the lake. I ran into Rolf and Nick at the swim start and also Coach Kathleen and Rod. Coach Kathleen gave Rolf some pointers on the swim start and then to me to "get in the middle of it" which was fine with me! I was ready to rock! At this point it started to sprinkle...
The swim was by far the most ridiculous part of the race. There were bodies everywhere...arms flying...legs flailing...it was like salmon spawning. The first loop was rough with all 2300 racers starting at the same time. Luckily I'm a strong swimmer because I can't imagine that swim if you weren't very confident. After the first loop we got out of the water and ran across the beach for about 12 feet and got back in the water. The second loop was much better since it had spread out a bit. I found the cable that runs the entire loop of the swim so I didn't have to sight much at all which was nice. On the second turn of the second loop I got kicked in the face which hurt pretty bad but I just checked for blood and carried on. I got out of the water and headed over to the wetsuit strippers which a very interesting experience. You pull your wetsuit down to your waist, sit down on your butt, hold your legs in the air, and two people yank your wetsuit off for you. We then had to run a block down the road to the transition area where you grab you "Swim to Bike" bag which has everything you need to bike. I ran into the women's changing tent which was very chaotic and dark. I just stood right by the door since it had the most light and changed into my bike gear. I packed up my swim stuff and put it in the bag and headed out to get my bike. At this point it was raining harder...
As you are running out of the changing tent they yell out your number so someone can get your bike for you. No one heard my number so I had to get my own bike but that was ok. I sludged through the mud and started my first loop. The bike course wasn't that bad in regards to the hills. The only iffy thing was the rain. It was pouring. I had to be very cautious on the first loop because I wasn't sure how slippery the roads were and exactly where the pothole were. I felt like I rode the first loop strong but with enough left in me to push the second loop. I stopped at my Special Needs bag after the first loop and my parents had put my arm warmers in my bag...thank goodness! It is chilly going down those hills at 40 miles an hour in the rain. I swapped out my food, put my arm warmers on, and headed back out for loop number 2! The second loop was definitely a little harder but I pushed it a little more on the downhills and in certain areas where I felt like I knew the terrain from the first loop. The last 15 miles of the bike were the longest. The last hill before you head into Lake Placid is called Papa Bear and it was lined with people just like the Tour De France. It wasn't that wide because of all the spectators but that was so awesome...I needed every ounce of their cheering. The spectators and volunteers were incredible on the bike course. They were very motivating and were having so much fun even though it was raining all day.
I was so happy to get off my bike and start running. I gave my bike over to a volunteer, got my "Bike to Run" bag, and headed to the changing tent again. This time it was a lot less crowded. I had someone helping me with all my stuff which was nice. She packed up all my bike stuff and rehung it on the rack for me. I threw on my run stuff and headed out for lap number 1. It was really an uneventful first lap which is a good thing. I just kept a good pace and knocked off the miles one by one. As I came into Lake Placid at the end of my first loop I started to get a little choked up but then quickly realized that I still had 13.1 miles to go and that I needed to pull myself together. The second loop was as good as the first loop. Miles 18-21 were tough but I had seen a sign that someone had made and it said "Pain is temporary, Ironman is forever." I just repeated that over and over and over for the last 10 miles and that got me through. I stopped taking Hammer gel around mile 16 and went with pretzels and chicken broth which were awesome. I held off on the Coke until mile 22 and I'm glad I did. It gave me just enough energy to get into Lake Placid where I knew the crowd would take me the rest of the way. It is amazing how adrenaline takes over. As I rounded the corner of River Rd. that lead back into Lake Placid I had four miles to go. Four miles and I would be an Ironman...and it wasn't even dark yet! Those last four miles were the best. I made it up to the last out and back part of the course (which was probably the toughest because it passes right by the finish line) and at the bottom of the hill there is are two arrows. One arrow says "2nd loop" and the other says "finish." I happily headed towards the finish. I entered the Olympic speed skating oval to lots of cheers and excitement. I don't think I've ever smiled that much in my life. I saw my family right at the finish line and gave them a high-five and at that moment I heard the words that I had been waiting my whole life to hear: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, Tennessee...you are an IRONMAN!"
After I crossed the finish line I got my medal, my finisher t-shirt and hat, and got my picture taken. Then I headed straight to the medical tent. I didn't really have that much wrong other than really tired legs and some numbness in my arms and hands. Someone told me it was very warm and dry in the tent. That was all I needed to hear! In the medical tent they weighed me, took my temperature, and my blood pressure. They also went and got my bags from outside and helped me change into my dry clothes. I think the second I got those dry clothes on I was a new person. I also got a cup of hot chicken broth and a banana which helped tremendously. They put a very large garbage bag on me, gave me my bags, and I headed outside to reunite with my family. Everyone was so excited and Mom was especially happy that it was over...haha! On our way to the car Meghan happened to call so I filled her in on all the details of the race. She was watching my progress in Richmond, VA with Aunt Judy.
It was an incredible journey. I finished in 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds...twenty minutes faster than Coach Kathleen's anticipated finish time for me. I couldn't have asked for a better day. My family was incredible as well. I saw them at every point that I crossed through town except for after the first loop of the run because I was too fast...haha. They stood out in the pouring rain all day and cheered me on. There's nothing like seeing a familiar face when you really need it. Coach Kathleen and Rod were out there all day as well and every time I saw them their jaws were on the ground because of how good I looked and how well I was doing...very cool! I ended up finishing 7th out of 20 in the Athenas 39 and under which is pretty darn good for my first attempt at this distance. I was also the youngest in the group so that makes me think big things are to come.
I found out the next day (which was blue skies and sunny) that we got over 2 inches of rain on race day. Thank goodness I love to race in the rain!! Stiff and sore would be an understatement for how we all felt on Monday but none of that mattered. We were all Ironmen! Linda and Dan had to leave early but the rest of us went down to the Olympic oval on Monday morning to buy some "finisher gear" at the Ironman store. It was pretty wiped out but I got a few things to remember this awesome experience. I also ordered my race photos which ended up being really awesome. The rest of the day we checked my bike back in with the Bike Sherpa guy and just piddled around town. That night I went to the celebratory dinner and told stories about the race with all of my friends.
Grandma and Grandpa left Tuesday morning and Mom, Dad, and I went to the top of Whiteface Mountain in a gondola. It was an incredible view! We also stopped in the Olympic Museum which I loved, of course. That night we hooked up with Julie, Rob, and Nick for one final dinner in Lake Placid.
We headed back to Albany on Wednesday morning for our flights back home. I can't believe that it is over. It's amazing how fast 13 hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds can fly by. I couldn't have asked for a better race, a better group of spectators, or a better group of people to do this race with. My dream of becoming an Iroman has come true! I see an M-Dot tattoo in my future!
The most beautiful words: "Marne McLyman from Nashville, TN...you are an IRONMAN!"
Photos from the race: http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=234473870/a=53714308_53714308/t_=53714308
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bib Number!
#1997
I'm liking that number....has good vibes for me. 19 is the day of my birthday and 7 is my favorite number. I'm feeling good about it....
I'm liking that number....has good vibes for me. 19 is the day of my birthday and 7 is my favorite number. I'm feeling good about it....
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A high point in training...
Today I had the most impressive moment in training since I started this journey. I woke up to do a 3400 meter swim at 6:15am. I got dressed, drove to the Y, parked my car, looked at my workout, looked at the Y, placed my workout back on the passenger seat, started my car, and drove home. I just couldn't do it. I'm not exactly sure why I couldn't but it just wasn't happening today. I'm tired. I'm ready to do this race but I'm tired. A day off was worth the guilt I had all day. I'm sure I'll get over it...maybe...at some point...
Off to bed...8 days to go...
Off to bed...8 days to go...
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Leaving in a WEEK!
At this time next week I'll be in Albany, NY enroute to Lake Placid! I can't believe we are 10 days away from the big race. Training is winding down and extra rest/sleep is ramping up which I thoroughly enjoy. I'm starting to organize all of my food, transition bags, and everything that will head up to Lake Placid with me. I think organizing everything is one of my favorite parts. I can't tell you how excited I got about a box of 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bags and how well they organize all of my stuff. It's the little things...
We have a light training weekend coming up and then on Monday I drop off my bike and transition bag so that it can be taken up to Lake Placid by the Bike Sherpa people. This is a company that has special trucks that they rack your bike in and then they drive it up to Lake Placid. The great thing about this is that they don't disassemble your bike and you don't have to worry about an airline loosing it or some stupid baggage handler smashing it. The other great thing is that you pick your bike up from them before the race and then when the race is over on Sunday you just give it back to them and they bring it back to Nashville. Definitley worth the $250!
I tried out a pair of compression sleeves this weekend on our 12 mile run and they were fantastic! They look a little stupid but they work great. They are black and go around my calves. They kinda look like really tight leg warmers. The purpose is to direct more blood flow to your legs so that your muscles don't fatigue as fast and hurt as bad. I do think they look better than the compression socks which are usually white knee-high socks...cute.
Until next time....I'll be organizing. :)
We have a light training weekend coming up and then on Monday I drop off my bike and transition bag so that it can be taken up to Lake Placid by the Bike Sherpa people. This is a company that has special trucks that they rack your bike in and then they drive it up to Lake Placid. The great thing about this is that they don't disassemble your bike and you don't have to worry about an airline loosing it or some stupid baggage handler smashing it. The other great thing is that you pick your bike up from them before the race and then when the race is over on Sunday you just give it back to them and they bring it back to Nashville. Definitley worth the $250!
I tried out a pair of compression sleeves this weekend on our 12 mile run and they were fantastic! They look a little stupid but they work great. They are black and go around my calves. They kinda look like really tight leg warmers. The purpose is to direct more blood flow to your legs so that your muscles don't fatigue as fast and hurt as bad. I do think they look better than the compression socks which are usually white knee-high socks...cute.
Until next time....I'll be organizing. :)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Great Saturday...even better Sunday...
This past Saturday we had a long brick workout on the schedule which means we rode 65 miles and then had to run 6 miles. They call them "brick workouts" because when you go from riding a bike for four hours to running your legs feel like bricks. The ride was great and Dana and I did it without stopping until about three miles from the car when she got a flat tire. We took a quick stop to get her tire fixed and finished the ride up. The run was great until the last 2 miles when it all of sudden just got really hot. We frollicked in someone's sprinklers that were on in the front yard. They were probably watching us from inside their house but we didn't care...it was hot!
On Sunday was had a day off from training!!! YEAH!! Instead of totally taking the day off Julie, Dana, Kathleen, Lisa, Bert, Rolf, and I met at the Cook Recreation Area at Percy Warner Park to test out our new wetsuits and do a quick open water swim. The bigger goal of the day was to enjoy a picnic lunch after our swim and to just hang out and relax...it was the best day! I fell asleep at some point when we were lounging around on the grass and got burned on one side of my face...but it was well worth it. It was nice to just sit around and talk....and reflect on how far we've come and what is in store for us in the next three weeks. I am lucky to have such great friends as my training partners as well...couldn't have done this without them!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Up the Hill, Down the Hill, Around the Hill, and Back Again...
This weekend we rode the 100 mile route at the 12th Annual Harpeth River Ride. To say that it was tough is an understatment. I think the organizers found every hill in the area and made us climb them. The ride started at a church in Thompson Station and made a big loop throughout Williamson and Davidson County. The plan for the day was to do race day simulation so I was going to ride hard and only stop one time to pee and fill up my water bottles. I wanted to see if I could do the ride with only one stop because in Lake Placid I only plan to stop one time at the half way mark to pick up my food for loop number two.
The ride was crazy hilly. Some of the hills were kind of laughable...did they really expect us to ride our bikes up these hills? I made it up every single hill and stuck to my plan of only stopping once. The worst hill was at mile 75 and at the top they had a rest stop and a guy taking your picture as you got to the top. I wanted to give him the finger but I smiled and kept on going. There was a nice section of newly paved road that was awesome. I got up to 43 mph on my bike which is a record for me. After the ride I had to run 2 miles which I was dreading but it felt sooooo good to get off the bike and run. I did those two miles at a 9 minute pace I think because my legs were so happy for the change.
On Sunday Dana, Bert, Lisa, Rolf, Julie, Kathleen, Rob, and I met at Percy Warner Park to knock out a 20 mile run. I had a bad run last weekend so I was determined to make this a great run. We ran from the stone gates, to the back of Radnor Lake, back to the gates, up in the park to do the 5.8 loop, and then finished off the last mile or so on Page Road. I only stopped 3 times to fill up on water and I didn't walk at all...even on 3 mile hill in the park which I was hitting at about mile 15.5. My legs and feet were killing me by the end but I'm glad I had a good run. I averaged about a 10:28 average per mile which is pretty good considering the distance and what I had done the day before. After the run we went for breakfast at Whole Foods and then went to the Maryland Farms YMCA to float in their cold pool. It was awesome.
Sunday night (after a nap) we met at Bert's to watch our Couer D'Alene Ironman friends cross the finish line up in Idaho. It was great to watch everyone on the live feed online and see them finish such a huge race....very inspiring...very motivating! 4 weeks to go until Lake Placid....
The ride was crazy hilly. Some of the hills were kind of laughable...did they really expect us to ride our bikes up these hills? I made it up every single hill and stuck to my plan of only stopping once. The worst hill was at mile 75 and at the top they had a rest stop and a guy taking your picture as you got to the top. I wanted to give him the finger but I smiled and kept on going. There was a nice section of newly paved road that was awesome. I got up to 43 mph on my bike which is a record for me. After the ride I had to run 2 miles which I was dreading but it felt sooooo good to get off the bike and run. I did those two miles at a 9 minute pace I think because my legs were so happy for the change.
On Sunday Dana, Bert, Lisa, Rolf, Julie, Kathleen, Rob, and I met at Percy Warner Park to knock out a 20 mile run. I had a bad run last weekend so I was determined to make this a great run. We ran from the stone gates, to the back of Radnor Lake, back to the gates, up in the park to do the 5.8 loop, and then finished off the last mile or so on Page Road. I only stopped 3 times to fill up on water and I didn't walk at all...even on 3 mile hill in the park which I was hitting at about mile 15.5. My legs and feet were killing me by the end but I'm glad I had a good run. I averaged about a 10:28 average per mile which is pretty good considering the distance and what I had done the day before. After the run we went for breakfast at Whole Foods and then went to the Maryland Farms YMCA to float in their cold pool. It was awesome.
Sunday night (after a nap) we met at Bert's to watch our Couer D'Alene Ironman friends cross the finish line up in Idaho. It was great to watch everyone on the live feed online and see them finish such a huge race....very inspiring...very motivating! 4 weeks to go until Lake Placid....
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Vegas Baby!
I'm going to Vegas!
I found out today that I qualified in Georgia for the Halfmax National Championships which is the national competition for the half ironman distance. Woo hoo!! The race is just outside of Vegas on October 18th...my birthday weekend! I'm not sure how I'm getting there, where I'm staying, and how I'm going to pay for it but I'm going. I'll figure those details out after July 20th.
Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled programming...Ironman training....
Monday, June 16, 2008
Rainy Saturday...Hot Sunday...
This weekend was an "easy" weekend! We only had to ride 60 miles and run 4 on Saturday and then run 18 on Sunday. It was so nice to be done working out by 11:30 on Saturday. We didn't know what to do with ourselves! Julie, Dana, and I ventured out at 6:30am on Saturday and got caught in a couple rain storms but it was a welcomed change from last weekend and the heat. I'd ride all day in the rain before I'd have to ride an hour in 90+ degree weather.
Sunday I volunteered at the Du Run Run duathlon which was a fun morning but after standing in the heat for four hours that morning I was pretty tired and when I went to run my 18 miler I was toast at mile 3. All of my training buddies ran early and were finishing when I was starting which was hard to stay motivated to run by myself when they were all done. I had to stop several times for various reasons most of which was due to not eating properly that morning, not eating properly the night before (mexican food...eek), and overheating. I started from Athlete's House and ran down Music Row, up 21st, through Hillsboro Village and at that point I stopped and layed down in the grass for a couple minutes. I was only about 5 miles into my run...not a good sign. I felt much better after I took a few minutes to rest and made it to the water stop at Kathleen's house ok. I then got to Percy Warner Park and was toast again. I had to lay down in the shade again and at that point I had stomach cramps and a side stitch. I got up to run down Page Rd. and luckily Rolf and Lisa were in the car trying to find me on their way home. I was so happy to see them. I got in the car and called it a day. I only got 11 miles in but I just couldn't do any more than that...not yesterday. I know I can do the mileage so I didn't feel like I had anything to prove out there. I spent the rest of the night taking naps, going to the grocery store, and regretting the mexican food I ate the night before.
Sunday I volunteered at the Du Run Run duathlon which was a fun morning but after standing in the heat for four hours that morning I was pretty tired and when I went to run my 18 miler I was toast at mile 3. All of my training buddies ran early and were finishing when I was starting which was hard to stay motivated to run by myself when they were all done. I had to stop several times for various reasons most of which was due to not eating properly that morning, not eating properly the night before (mexican food...eek), and overheating. I started from Athlete's House and ran down Music Row, up 21st, through Hillsboro Village and at that point I stopped and layed down in the grass for a couple minutes. I was only about 5 miles into my run...not a good sign. I felt much better after I took a few minutes to rest and made it to the water stop at Kathleen's house ok. I then got to Percy Warner Park and was toast again. I had to lay down in the shade again and at that point I had stomach cramps and a side stitch. I got up to run down Page Rd. and luckily Rolf and Lisa were in the car trying to find me on their way home. I was so happy to see them. I got in the car and called it a day. I only got 11 miles in but I just couldn't do any more than that...not yesterday. I know I can do the mileage so I didn't feel like I had anything to prove out there. I spent the rest of the night taking naps, going to the grocery store, and regretting the mexican food I ate the night before.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Roasted, Toasted, Fried, and Sore...
This weekend was a whirlwind of triathlon activities...
On Saturday morning I woke up at 4:30am to head over to Vanderbilt for the Middle Tennessee Youth Triathlon. It was a complete success and I think everyone involved was very happy! We finished up around 10:30am and I went home for a shower, lunch, and a quick nap before I had to go run 16 miles at 4:00pm. It was about 95+ degrees outside with no clouds in the sky so it made for a pretty miserable run. We didn't need to run hills but Julie and I decided that a flat run in the sun would be worse than a shaded, yet hilly, run in Percy Warner Park. We ran the 11.2 in the park and then ran Belle Meade Blvd to get the rest of our mileage in.
On Sunday morning I woke up at 4:15am and got myself ready for my first 112 mile bike ride. Rolf, Julie, and I started at 6:45am and did a two loop course that I had mapped out earlier in the week. We spread out from each other because we were riding different paces so we all did the ride basically by ourselves which is good mental training but it makes for a tough day. You kind of start getting a little loopy after not talking to someone for a couple hours...sometime I talk to myself which helps a little. The first loop was ok...yes it was hot and hilly but it was bearable. That all went out the window when I got to the start of the second loop where I could turn left to go to the cars or turn right for another 60 miles on my own in the heat, sun, hills, ect. To the right I went and by then it was about 10am and it was getting hotter and hotter by the minute. I was roasting out there. If there ever was a day to test my mental toughness this was it. At some points I was only going about 4 mph which I'm not sure if that even qualifies as moving forward but the heat was just sucking the life out of me. I have never been so happy to see the old guys hanging out at Fly. The men in there thought we were crazy and I think at that point I fully agreed. Rolf was there as well refueling so we rode into Puckett's together. After a fuel stop there we headed back to the cars....those beatiful beautiful cars. Rolf went to pick up Julie who was at a BBQ joint about 12 miles down the road. She called it day after about 95 miles.
On the way home I was going to stop by the YMCA pool to just sit and cool off but I couldn't even muster the energy required to do that. I did stop at Sonic and got my Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Milkshake which really just rocks my world after a hard workout. I can't tell you how good that tasted after the day that I had just survived. I got home around 4pm and stood in a cold shower.
My skin is sunburned, my legs are sore, my body is just all over tired. I really feel that if I can survive a day like yesterday, I can survive a day in Lake Placid. The key is to not give in to the misery...don't let the heat win...don't let the pain win...it will all be over at some point and you'll be stronger because of it. Bring it on Lake Placid...I'm ready for you!
On Saturday morning I woke up at 4:30am to head over to Vanderbilt for the Middle Tennessee Youth Triathlon. It was a complete success and I think everyone involved was very happy! We finished up around 10:30am and I went home for a shower, lunch, and a quick nap before I had to go run 16 miles at 4:00pm. It was about 95+ degrees outside with no clouds in the sky so it made for a pretty miserable run. We didn't need to run hills but Julie and I decided that a flat run in the sun would be worse than a shaded, yet hilly, run in Percy Warner Park. We ran the 11.2 in the park and then ran Belle Meade Blvd to get the rest of our mileage in.
On Sunday morning I woke up at 4:15am and got myself ready for my first 112 mile bike ride. Rolf, Julie, and I started at 6:45am and did a two loop course that I had mapped out earlier in the week. We spread out from each other because we were riding different paces so we all did the ride basically by ourselves which is good mental training but it makes for a tough day. You kind of start getting a little loopy after not talking to someone for a couple hours...sometime I talk to myself which helps a little. The first loop was ok...yes it was hot and hilly but it was bearable. That all went out the window when I got to the start of the second loop where I could turn left to go to the cars or turn right for another 60 miles on my own in the heat, sun, hills, ect. To the right I went and by then it was about 10am and it was getting hotter and hotter by the minute. I was roasting out there. If there ever was a day to test my mental toughness this was it. At some points I was only going about 4 mph which I'm not sure if that even qualifies as moving forward but the heat was just sucking the life out of me. I have never been so happy to see the old guys hanging out at Fly. The men in there thought we were crazy and I think at that point I fully agreed. Rolf was there as well refueling so we rode into Puckett's together. After a fuel stop there we headed back to the cars....those beatiful beautiful cars. Rolf went to pick up Julie who was at a BBQ joint about 12 miles down the road. She called it day after about 95 miles.
On the way home I was going to stop by the YMCA pool to just sit and cool off but I couldn't even muster the energy required to do that. I did stop at Sonic and got my Hot Fudge Peanut Butter Milkshake which really just rocks my world after a hard workout. I can't tell you how good that tasted after the day that I had just survived. I got home around 4pm and stood in a cold shower.
My skin is sunburned, my legs are sore, my body is just all over tired. I really feel that if I can survive a day like yesterday, I can survive a day in Lake Placid. The key is to not give in to the misery...don't let the heat win...don't let the pain win...it will all be over at some point and you'll be stronger because of it. Bring it on Lake Placid...I'm ready for you!
My sunburned forhead...yes those are stripes...from the airvents in my helmet.
A good look huh?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Georgia on My Mind...
This weekend Julie, Coach Kathleen, and I traveled to Macon, GA for the Rock 'N Rollman Georgia Half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). Dana met us down there and my parents made the trek from Augusta. All I can say is that was by far the hardest race I've done....
We arrived on Friday afternoon to the race site where we picked up our packets and checked our bikes into the transition area. My Mom and Dad arrived just as we were heading down to the lake for a quick swim which ended up being the best thing we did in preparation for the event. The water turned out to be really warm but not so warm that it was gross. Very refreshing...and clean...which is a nice change from Percy Priest Lake! After our swim we headed to the hotel to check in and change for a quick dinner at a restaurant down the road. We had a good meal and then it was early to bed...I think I woke up every hour during the night afraid that I was going to oversleep. At 5:00am I finally gave up and started getting ready for race day. When we got to the race site they said the water was 77.5 degrees and the cut off for being allowed to wear wetsuits is 78. It was already hot outside so we took the advice of Coach Kathleen and decided to forgoe the wetsuits because we didn't want to bake ourselves during the swim. That turned out to be a great decision because some people didn't even make it past the swim....they were so overheated. After the swim we had to run up a big boat ramp out of the water into the transition area. I should have walked it because my heart rate was so jacked up after running up that boat ramp that I couldn't breath for the first 25 miles of the hilly and windy bike course. My bike split was super slow because of that....lesson learned! The bike course was hilly, windy, hot, and had no shade...other than that it was great...ha. I was so ready to be done with that bike.
The run was pretty bad because by the time I started running it was in the heat of the day. Georgia heat is like no other heat...you feel like you are sizzling or melting. It's not fun. We had to run 3 out and back sections so you could see all of the faster people in front of you...the people who never walk and finish hours in front of you on most days. Not that day. I've never seen so many people humbled to a walk. No one was running. I felt pretty bad for the first half of the run but finished somewhat strong at the end. I had heat exhaustion, a bad sunburn, and was pretty miserable but I got it done. It was great to see mom and dad and Coach Kathleen at each transition and the end cheering me on.
For as bad as I felt I ended up getting 2nd in the Athena Division which I think might qualify me for Nationals in October...I'm waiting on confirmation for that. My mom ended up getting my award for me because I was so tired of waiting around for them to announce the Athena division. I walked away to get my bike from transition and no longer than two minutes later they had announced my name...haha...oh well.
As I was out there doing this race and feeling pretty bad all I could think of was how in the world I was going to survive Lake Placid in July. Luckily some friends of mine that did the race this weekend who have also done Ironman races said that the race in Georgia was so much harder than any Ironman they've ever done. So that at least made me feel better....if I can survive Georgia heat I can survive Lake Placid.
(a little post race treat...cold fresh strawberries...yumm!)
Monday, May 26, 2008
The perfect day...
Today is a perfect day. It is Memorial Day and I got to sleep in. No alarm clock...no pool wanting to be swum in...no bike wanting to be ridden...no shoes to be run in. It is 1:24pm and I'm still in my pajamas, laying on the couch, and watching TV. It is pouring outside so I think the lake swim that we had planned on for 3:30 is going to be called off...or atleast I kind of hope so anyways.
On Saturday we went up to Clarksville and road the CRAM century ride. 100 miles of flat, windy, misery. We rode fast but I've decided I like hillier courses more than flats. With flat rides you are always working, always pedaling. There aren't many opportunities to coast and rest your legs. I also wore a pair of shorts that I usually don't wear on such long rides....yeah...bad idea. I won't get into details but the seams of the shorts basically wore through my skin. It's not chaffing...it's beyond that. And it hurts...enough said.
Yesterday we ran from Bongo Java on Belmont to Bongo Java in East Nashville and back. I felt awesome considering the 100 mile bike ride from the day before. I met Melissa and Carla for brunch at the Pancake Pantry afterwards and it was, as usual, fantastic. Last night Bert had a cookout at his house for everyone and it was awesome. Lots of hanging out, eating, drinking, talking about upcoming races, and shaving Bert's legs. Yes, Bert got his legs shaved. I'm not sure if he'll remember that happening as of this morning....
This week will be a light training week because I'm doing the Georgia Half Ironman on Saturday. Mom and Dad are coming down to Macon to see me race. I'm really excited about them coming because they weren't able to come to Gulf Coast last year. It will be interesting to see how I do at this race compared to last year. I feel so much stronger this year and I've trained so hard. There are 8 Athenas signed up right now so I have some competition out there for sure. This is a qualifier for Nationals so if I place high enough I could possibly compete in the National Championships the weekend of my birthday in Vegas. I'm trying not to think about that too much but it would be pretty cool.
Until then....I'm enjoying my Memorial Day at home, resting up, catching up on sleep, and enjoying the rainy weather.
On Saturday we went up to Clarksville and road the CRAM century ride. 100 miles of flat, windy, misery. We rode fast but I've decided I like hillier courses more than flats. With flat rides you are always working, always pedaling. There aren't many opportunities to coast and rest your legs. I also wore a pair of shorts that I usually don't wear on such long rides....yeah...bad idea. I won't get into details but the seams of the shorts basically wore through my skin. It's not chaffing...it's beyond that. And it hurts...enough said.
Yesterday we ran from Bongo Java on Belmont to Bongo Java in East Nashville and back. I felt awesome considering the 100 mile bike ride from the day before. I met Melissa and Carla for brunch at the Pancake Pantry afterwards and it was, as usual, fantastic. Last night Bert had a cookout at his house for everyone and it was awesome. Lots of hanging out, eating, drinking, talking about upcoming races, and shaving Bert's legs. Yes, Bert got his legs shaved. I'm not sure if he'll remember that happening as of this morning....
This week will be a light training week because I'm doing the Georgia Half Ironman on Saturday. Mom and Dad are coming down to Macon to see me race. I'm really excited about them coming because they weren't able to come to Gulf Coast last year. It will be interesting to see how I do at this race compared to last year. I feel so much stronger this year and I've trained so hard. There are 8 Athenas signed up right now so I have some competition out there for sure. This is a qualifier for Nationals so if I place high enough I could possibly compete in the National Championships the weekend of my birthday in Vegas. I'm trying not to think about that too much but it would be pretty cool.
Until then....I'm enjoying my Memorial Day at home, resting up, catching up on sleep, and enjoying the rainy weather.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Four what?
I have decided that there are certain hours of the day that should really be left unknown, unvisited, and just downright unexplored. I have found this time of day to be in the wee hours of the morning around 4:30am. I don't know if you've ever really been awakened at this time of the morning on a regular basis but holy crap does it hurt. (I wanted to insert a photo of my alarm clock going off at 4:30am this morning because I thought it would be a nice touch to this blog but I was too tired to turn the camera on...not kidding).
Most of us have had to get up at this hour at some point to maybe catch a flight or what not and others of us have stayed up that "late" after an all night lovefest with alcohol and friends...or if you're me, an all night lovefest with your friends sans alcohol but with lots of chauffering. The difference with those situations is that most people don't have to do it on a regular basis AND most of the time the latter is on the weekend so you have another day to "sleep it off."
Every Wednesday for the months of May and June I get to see what happens in the world at 4:30am and let me tell you, so far you aren't missing much. I'm doing a series of indoor cycling classes where you bring your own bike and it gets hooked up to these special indoor trainers and a computer system. The computer system changes the resistance on the trainer which makes it harder or easier on the rider. We watch an image that is projected on the wall that shows where the hills are and all kinds of data that I won't bore you with here. It is an incredible workout for an hour and a half and pretty much kicks our butts every morning.
So back to 4:30am...Did you know that "After Midnight with Blair Garner" is STILL on the radio at that time which means a program that started just two hours after I went to bed is still playing?! That's just wrong. Also at that time TV programming hasn't switched to back to "normal" TV. It is all infomercials and "paid programming" which means the other morning while I tried to wake up and eat some breakfast I learned all about how my colon is completely stopped up and basically killing me from the inside out. BUT...if I ordered this stuff it would clean out my colon (which probably means I'd be on the loo for a week) and I would look as gaunt and unhealthy as the man selling it. Let me know if you'd like for me to purchase on your behalf. I believe it is called the "Almighty Cleanse" and no I don't know if God is endorsing this product or not but it must be a religious experience based on the title. I can only imagine.
So all that to say, getting up at 4:30am hurts and makes a day very long. The good thing is that doing these classes is making me a stronger cyclist which is great. If I have to feel (and maybe act) like this crabby baby below once a week it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Only 9 weeks to go....
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Another 100 miler...
Today I completed my second 100 mile bike ride! Woo hoo! We rode with the Ironman Cour D'Alene training group and it was awesome. Dana and I wanted to do the ride hard and with as few stops as possible. We were riding really well for the first 45 miles and hung in with all of the guys in the front....that was until I decided to run over a large piece of glass while I was going up a hill at mile 45. My tire was flat...very very flat. Of course I assumed it would be just a quick easy change of the tube but I didn't realize that the tube in my bag had a short stem which was for my other bike. Yeah...not good. The next best idea would be to borrow a tube from Dana but her tires are smaller than mine...also a problem. So then we waited...and luckily Lisa came up and I borrowed a tube from her. We changed my tire and off we went. It was a great ride from there but by then our pack of lead guys were long gone in front of us. We stopped at Fly's and then hit it hard for the last 45 miles home. It was a great ride in the end and I felt really strong.
I have to run 14 miles tomorrow...eeee! I'm most excited about the pancakes that I'm going to have for breakfast. I can't wait!
I have to run 14 miles tomorrow...eeee! I'm most excited about the pancakes that I'm going to have for breakfast. I can't wait!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
A day of firsts with lessons learned...
Yesterday I woke up at 5am to a monsoon of a rainstorm which was a bit of a problem because I was to complete my first 100 mile bike ride. I shuffled around in the dark, half asleep, while I got all of my stuff ready. I packed as if I was going to ride for a week. Between all of the food and clothing options that I packed I would have been able to survive for a quite a while if I happened to get stranded on my way to Brentwood. I ate breakfast, took a quick nap on the couch and then put my bike on the back of the car in the pouring rain. With all of my provisions and clothing in hand I headed to Edwin Warner Park around 6:40am. I was meeting up with Kathleen, Bert, and Julie to knock out a long day of riding. Julie had her high school reunion to go to that afternoon so she did a long brick of 50 miles on the bike and a 6 mile run. Kathleen, Bert, and I were doing 100 miles. Luckily it wasn't raining in Brentwood so once I got to the park I got my bike all set up, the correct attire for the weather put on, and all of my food packed up in my pockets and on my bike. I started with 7 mini Baker Breakfast Cookies, two 10 ounce flasks of Hammer Gel, two full bottles of Gatorade Endurance, 1 bottle of water, and 3 bags of Gatorade Endurance powder to mix on the road.
We headed out for our big ride around 7:30. We went south to Lieper's Fork and stopped at Puckett's then to Fly (my favorite) and then we jumped on the Natchez Trace. The toughest section was the Trace. We had to do 20 miles out and back on the Trace and I didn't know that Kathleen got a flat tire behind me so I just kept going...luckily Bert was near her to help out. Since they stopped to change her flat I ended up pretty far ahead and all by myself. It was very lonely and at one point I think I went a little crazy because I was talking to myself...out loud...ha. I stopped at a rest stop and refueled and waiting for Bert and Kathleen. We finished up on the Trace and headed back to Fly, Lieper's Fork, and our lovely cars!
Our ride was pretty uneventful until a huge scary dog came charging at us and I thought we were dead meat. Luckily he stopped right at the street but it certainly got our adrenaline flowing. I also had my first spill on my new bike. We were about 6 miles from our cars on the way home and I hesitated while crossing a big intersection...lesson learned: don't hesitate. There was a car coming and I had an option to get run over or to fall over. I chose to fall...good choice...except I ended up with a bruised butt, bruised thigh, cut ankle, and I was pretty embarassed since I fell in front of quite a few people and stopped traffic in the process. My Gatorade dumped all over me as well so I was so sticky which was the most annoying thing of all. Luckily we were almost back to our cars.
When we got back to our cars we knocked out a 1.5 mile run and then colapsed. Ha...kidding. Actually considering the 101.5 miles we just covered everyone felt pretty good. Another lesson I learned was that if I start out wearing arm warmers there is a pretty good chance that I will eventually take them off...which means I should apply sunscreen on my arms. I'm a bit burned to say the least.
Today Kathleen, Bert, and I met at Percy Warner Park to run. Bert and I ran 10 and Kathleen ran 8. I had a good run but I'm officially tired from this weekend of training. Put a fork in me. I'm done.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ok so maybe I can get another PR...
I have to submit a retraction to my last post when I said that I couldn't possibly beat my Tom King Half Marathon PR. I ran the Country Music Half on Saturday and beat my time by 2 minutes! SWEET!I didn't get to bed until after 1am on Friday night and then had to get up at 4:45 to get dressed, eat, and down to LP Field to catch the shuttle to the start line. It was 5:45 when I got to the parking lot at LP Field and it was raining...no...it was pouring. To most people that would be a disaster but to me it was perfect running weather. Beautifully outfitted in my shiny black garbage bag I jumped on one of the city buses that took us to the start line...oddly enough that was my very first ride on a Nashville city bus in the almost ten years I've lived here. I hopped off the bus and made my way towards the front of Centennial Park. I took a stop at the Port A Johns...luckily before they had the chance to get too nasty. For the next 45 minutes or so I just sat on the wall near the McDonald's which was right next to my corral...#12. It was a great people watching area. It is amazing what some people wear to do marathons or half marathons. When they get up in the morning and put on jean shorts do they really think that there won't be massive amounts of chaffing?! ugh. I had one guy try to make small talk with me but I could decipher only about 30% of what he was saying to me. And you ask, "what country was he from?"....oh...he's from Tennesse...Shelbyville, TN. When he says "Shelbyville" it sounds more like "sheb-vl." You can see my confusion.
The race started at 7 but I didn't cross the start line until 7:25 becuase of the wave start which starts each corral about 2 minutes apart so the course doesn't get so congested. Hey New York City Marathon...you can learn a little something from Nashville...get a wave start! Once I started I knew I was going to have a good day. I can't say that my legs felt perfect but I felt good enough to really push myself. I have run the streets of this course hundreds of times so I knew the right places to really push myself so I wouldn't lose time and the areas to use the hills to my advantage. I figure if I have to carry 170 pounds around I might as well use my body mass as an advantage on the downhills. Once I got to mile 11 I checked my watch and it was around 1:37. With two miles to go I was right on target to match my Tom King time if I did 10 minute miles. I was doing 8:35-8:45 so I knew the PR was in my reach. At mile 12 near Municiple Auditorium I hauled it up the hills and then coasted over and down the Woodland Street bridge to the finish line. I crossed at 1:54:15 and then almost threw up! Yeah! I held it together though and it was worth every second! I actually ran the 5K in a time faster than I did in high school cross country...27:46...that's kind of amazing to me. Out of 21,398 total half marathoners I was number 3015. I was 920 out of 13,477 females and I was 239th in my age group which had 2950 people in it. Not bad odds at all...
All that to say I had a really good day. It's so awesome to see all of this training paying off. I never considered myself a good runner but I think I can proudly hold that title now. Coach Kathleen said to me last year at Tom King..."don't be afraid to run fast"...and that has stuck with me every time that I run. I was a vey timid runner in the past; afraid of what might happen if I actually push myself. The stupid thing is that if you push yourself and you can't hold it then you obviously just slow down. What's the big deal about that? I can't wait to see what happens at the Georgia Half Ironman...the Athena is coming and she's getting faster everyday!
Friday, April 25, 2008
A strange reality...
It is a strange reality when a short training weekend consists of running a half marathon and riding 60 miles. I'm running the Country Music Half Marathon tomorrow morning here in Nashville and I am so excited that I'll be done with the day's training no later than 9:30am. 2 hours of training....no problem!! I won't be able to beat my Tom King Half Marthon time (1:55) just because of the course being tougher and with there being so many people but it will be a fun morning either way. I'm excited for all of the first time marathoners that will be out there tomorrow. It is a tough course but the feeling of completing your first marathon is incredible!
I bought a tshirt at the expo yesterday that said "I know, I run like a girl (try and keep up)"...I was trying to make a decision between that one and a shirt that said "Toenails are for Sissies." I didn't think many people would understand that one and having the word "toenails" on your shirt is kinda weird.
I bought a tshirt at the expo yesterday that said "I know, I run like a girl (try and keep up)"...I was trying to make a decision between that one and a shirt that said "Toenails are for Sissies." I didn't think many people would understand that one and having the word "toenails" on your shirt is kinda weird.
On Sunday we have to do a 60 mile bike ride but after last weekend's 85 I'm happy to knock out those miles. At some point I'll need to catch up on some sleep...I'm feeling a little foggy right now.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Burnin' burnin' burnin'...
According my trusty Garmin watch that tells me everything that I've ever wanted to know about my workouts, I burned a little over 7,000 calories in the past two days just with my workouts. If I could only figure out how to teach my little Garmin how to cook my meals for me...I'd be all set.
A loonnngggg weekend...
This weekend just about ran me into the ground but luckily I'm still here ready to tackle another week full of training. On Saturday, as part of the GNAC picnic, we rode from Edwin Warner Park straight out to Puckett's, Fly, the Trace, and all the way back for a total of 85 miles. It was windy on the way out which made for a tough ride but we stopped a couple times which broke up the misery a bit. We stopped at Puckett's In Leipers Fork which is always a favorite pit stop...
Saturday was long but I had never ridden my bike that far before so that was a big milestone. I also got up to 39 MPH on the Trace which was pretty awesome...and a little frightening. Over all we had a great ride and everyone made it back safe and sound.
Then we headed to my favorite little town of Fly, TN. We didn't stop long in Fly but after riding a couple miles on the Trace we stopped again in Fly where we met some of the locals...
...we admired some of the treasures buried in the back room of the general store...
...and we took a potty break in the "bring a friend with you" bathroom...
Never a dull moment in Fly! I think the men in the back were pretty amused by us...probably not as much as we were amused by them but oh well. The ride back was fantastic. We stopped at Puckett's again and they had the BBQ fired up and people were out eating ice cream and a lunch buffet inside. After eating energy bars, Hammer Gel, and Gatorade for 5 hours I would have donated a kidney for just a bite of what those people were eating. We left pretty quick because I couldn't stand it. Luckily we had an awesome tailwind on the way back and we pushed 20+ miles per hour the entire time. When we got back for the picnic Bert, Rolf, and Nick had waited for us (thanks guys!) and we knocked out a quick 20 minute run. We then got to pick over the leftovers from the picnic that had ended hours before...congealed pizza from hours before tasted amazingly good!
Saturday was long but I had never ridden my bike that far before so that was a big milestone. I also got up to 39 MPH on the Trace which was pretty awesome...and a little frightening. Over all we had a great ride and everyone made it back safe and sound.On Sunday I woke up and felt like I had been run over by a steamroller. No time for complaining though because I had to run 8 miles and bike for an hour and a half...ugh. Rolf, Lisa, Julie, and I ran from Percy Warner Park towards Radnor Lake. We turned at 4 miles and headed back to the cars. The run was pretty tough in the beginning but I settled in at the end and averaged about a 9:30 mile which is pretty good considering what I had done the day before. I followed the run up with a very easy ride around Belle Meade Blvd and the neighborhoods. I took "easy" to whole other level and only averaged about 12 MPH.
Sunday night we met at Rolf's house for an awesome dinner and a planning session for the logistics of getting to Lake Placid. All the plans are coming together and it will be here sooner than I can imagine....I think this weekend moved me closer to feeling that I'll be ready though...bring it on!
Sunday night we met at Rolf's house for an awesome dinner and a planning session for the logistics of getting to Lake Placid. All the plans are coming together and it will be here sooner than I can imagine....I think this weekend moved me closer to feeling that I'll be ready though...bring it on!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Just a little afternoon inspiration....
Close your eyes.
The water laps your toes and envelops your skin. Close your eyes. The masses become silent and your heartbeat thunders. You have planned for today, talked about today, trained for today, imagined today, dreamed today, and yet you still don’t know what to expect.
A cannon blows and you remember, as you dread the uncertainty and the harsh duration to come, to savor every second because in your memory it will be over in the minutes it takes to recount or reread from your journal.
Move, breathe, drink, eat. Move, breathe, drink, eat. Move and move. One hundred forty and six tenths miles. Know tenderly, intimately every fiber of your being that propels you forward only because your brain says, ‘Don’t stop.’ And don’t stop. Move, breathe, drink, eat.
Manage your day. Stick to your plan. Be flexible. Just finish. Float when your mind and body detach and watch your body move without you—pushed by the crowd, the volunteers, who lust for your finish as if it were their own.
But it hurts. And you don’t’ know for sure why you’re doing this and what it will mean when you do. And then you see it. A banner, a clock, a frenzy of applause. And you know you made it happen through whatever means and power source you draw strength from.
Ironman will trivialize past hardship and prepare you to minimize those to come. It makes dreams come true. You have what it takes to bridge aspirations into accomplishments. Crossing that line embraces self: confidence, sacrifice, reliance, invention, worth. Finishing makes you your own hero. You are an Ironman.
"What keeps me going? The thought that each stroke, each spin, each stride takes me a little bit closer to my goal. The knowledge that every breath –inhale, exhale—is a part of something bigger. Being a triathlete is my way of living in the moment."
"You reach the finish line one step at a time, one day at a time, and with the understanding that it will take many steps and many days to ensure you get there first. You achieve your goal one step at a time, focused and diligent, always moving forward." (Mohammed Ali, boxer)
The water laps your toes and envelops your skin. Close your eyes. The masses become silent and your heartbeat thunders. You have planned for today, talked about today, trained for today, imagined today, dreamed today, and yet you still don’t know what to expect.
A cannon blows and you remember, as you dread the uncertainty and the harsh duration to come, to savor every second because in your memory it will be over in the minutes it takes to recount or reread from your journal.
Move, breathe, drink, eat. Move, breathe, drink, eat. Move and move. One hundred forty and six tenths miles. Know tenderly, intimately every fiber of your being that propels you forward only because your brain says, ‘Don’t stop.’ And don’t stop. Move, breathe, drink, eat.
Manage your day. Stick to your plan. Be flexible. Just finish. Float when your mind and body detach and watch your body move without you—pushed by the crowd, the volunteers, who lust for your finish as if it were their own.
But it hurts. And you don’t’ know for sure why you’re doing this and what it will mean when you do. And then you see it. A banner, a clock, a frenzy of applause. And you know you made it happen through whatever means and power source you draw strength from.
Ironman will trivialize past hardship and prepare you to minimize those to come. It makes dreams come true. You have what it takes to bridge aspirations into accomplishments. Crossing that line embraces self: confidence, sacrifice, reliance, invention, worth. Finishing makes you your own hero. You are an Ironman.
"What keeps me going? The thought that each stroke, each spin, each stride takes me a little bit closer to my goal. The knowledge that every breath –inhale, exhale—is a part of something bigger. Being a triathlete is my way of living in the moment."
"You reach the finish line one step at a time, one day at a time, and with the understanding that it will take many steps and many days to ensure you get there first. You achieve your goal one step at a time, focused and diligent, always moving forward." (Mohammed Ali, boxer)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
No food is safe...
You learn a lot about your body in training for an Ironman. There are some things that would constitute as "too much information" for this little blog but it mostly encompasses chaffing in places that have never chaffed before. The awful thing is rarely do you realize what is going on until you get into the shower and it feels like someone is taking a hot fireplace poker to your nether-region. That folks will wake your ass up! (literally) The other thing that is surprising is the amount of food that I consume now on a daily basis. Burning 5000+ calories in one weekend will make you ravenous the week after. No food is safe....and don't you touch my food...I might gnaw your hand off in the process!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
This weekend...15 weeks to go...
This weekend we went back to The Natchez Trace but this time it was for a 75 mile ride followed by a 2.5 mile run. I've never ridden my bike 75 miles! Julie, Kathleen, and I suckered a few more of our fellow IMLP teammates into coming with us so we had a big group with a bunch of people doing different distances. Julie, Kathleen, Lisa, Rolf, Stephne, Bert, Rob, Dana, Gerry, Marti, and I. It was cold and being up in higher elevation with that darn headwind made it even worse. Flashbacks of Powerman Alabama were hovering in our minds. (insert photo...cold toes!!)
The ride was pretty uneventful on the way out except for a very graceful fall by Kathleen in front of a pack of about 10 male cyclists. It couldn't have been timed better and luckily she wasn't hurt too badly...except maybe a little dent in her pride and a bruised elbow. This time we decided just to stop at the rest stops on the Trace instead of venturing into my favorite little town of Fly, TN. Kathleen and I made the dreaded mistake on the way out of saying "man this is so much easier than last weekend." And that's when the Natchez Trace Gods said "hell no!" When we turned around to come back the headwinds showed up and made the ride back pretty grueling....not to mention a few people having to deal with dropped and broken chains. We stopped at a rest area and refueled and then hauled it back to our cars. My nutrition needs some tweaking before we visit the Trace this weekend...I was completely empty at mile 60. That's not good considering at the Ironman I'll have another 52 to go, oh yeah...and a marathon.
Sunday we ran the 11.2 in Percy Warner Park. It was a gorgeous day and the run was awesome. Stephne, Bert, Julie, Lisa, Kathleen, and I knocked out a good run and Kathleen and I were quite proud when we hauled it up 9 mile hill without walking. Coach Kathleen is training us well...all of this swimming, biking, and running seems to be working!
I'll Fly away...
Last weekend Julie, Kathleen, and I rode and out and back loop on the Natchez Trace for a total of 65 miles and then we ran 2.5 miles right after that. I think that run was the epitome of a brick workout. My whole body felt like a brick. The Trace is humbling. Not only is it hilly but it is windy, lonely, and that day was cold. We did have a nice stop in Fly, TN...which, if you've never been, is a surreal kind of place. The general store in Fly is so eloquently named "Fly's" and I think they sell shot guns, cigarettes, fabric softener from 1950, and Gatorade all in the same place. And if you're in the need I think they will stuff your kill from the day as well. We had our photo taken in front of this lovely landmark by a local woman who proclaimed to us "I found me a good man in Fly that let me have six dogs." Well if that isn't a reason to move there then I don't know what is. Maybe on our next stop back at Fly I will be as lucky as her. There are numerous community postings on the bulletin board at Fly's about a "youth coon hunt" and various events that require your five year old to run around with a shot gun. I'm not sure about that but I'm sure they have a lot to say about us traipsing into the store in our spandex. The people couldn't be nicer and they are very welcoming when we stop in; even allowing us to use their bathroom in the back....which I might add has two toilets sitting right next to each other but no barrier. I don't know who is that comfortable with someone that they want communal restroom behavior but it is Fly and nothing is surprising really...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
So far so good...
Well it's been over a month since I've posted on this but luckily my training hasn't been paid the same attention. I've been training like crazy...minus the two weeks where I had the flu and bronchitis. I'm up to 3400 meters in the pool, 60 miles on the bike, and running hit a peak on Saturday at the Tom King Half Marathon so I'm backing down in mileage this week...which i'm sure won't last long and I'll be ramping up again soon. The Tom King Half Marathon was awesome! My time was 1:56 which was about an 8 minute PR...and I got 2nd in the Athena division! It was pouring, thundering, and lightning which is my favorite running weather so I knew it was going to be a good race. Besides the race, the highlight of the weekend was the celebratory dinner on Saturday night with Liz, Julie, Kathleen, Rod, Rob, and John. I'm headed to Georgia for Easter on Friday. I have to do a 60 mile bike with a 2 mile run to follow on Saturday and then a 5 mile run on Sunday with a 25 mile bike after that. Who's tired!?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
First blog...first Ironman
I'm not exactly sure how I got to this point in my life where I fully believe that swimming, biking, and running 140.6 miles in one day seems like great fun. To most people ("the mortals" as some of my fellow triathletes call them) this seems like pure insanity and some days I 100% agree that it is crazy to have voluntarily signed up for this race. But here we go...my $500 has been paid, I bought the fancy bike, I have eight more toenails left to lose...no turning back now.
So here's what I've gotten myself into...on July 20, 2008 in Lake Placid, NY I'll compete in Ironman Lake Placid. I'll do 2 loops in Mirror Lake which will total 2.4 miles then hop on my fancy bike and do a 56 mile loop twice in the Adirondack Mountains. They say it is a beautiful ride but not easy. Then I put my running stuff on and do a 13.1 mile loop two times to add up to a full marathon...26.2 miles. I have to do all of that in one day within the 17 hour cut off time. I'm not sure what to expect really. I'm sure pain and suffering will be involved at some point but that just makes you stronger...I think. What I think about most though is the finish line. I am going to enjoy every fiber and every inch of that Ironman carpet. I am going to hug everyone I see and soak up that moment but most important I can't wait to hear "the voice of the Ironman" say "Marne McLyman you are an Ironman!"
So here's what I've gotten myself into...on July 20, 2008 in Lake Placid, NY I'll compete in Ironman Lake Placid. I'll do 2 loops in Mirror Lake which will total 2.4 miles then hop on my fancy bike and do a 56 mile loop twice in the Adirondack Mountains. They say it is a beautiful ride but not easy. Then I put my running stuff on and do a 13.1 mile loop two times to add up to a full marathon...26.2 miles. I have to do all of that in one day within the 17 hour cut off time. I'm not sure what to expect really. I'm sure pain and suffering will be involved at some point but that just makes you stronger...I think. What I think about most though is the finish line. I am going to enjoy every fiber and every inch of that Ironman carpet. I am going to hug everyone I see and soak up that moment but most important I can't wait to hear "the voice of the Ironman" say "Marne McLyman you are an Ironman!"
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