On 2pm New Year's Eve day I headed out of the Shark Mountain parking lot with Josh and Alyssa. We were off the the Bryant Hut to meet Jeff and some other friend's who had been doing some backcountry skiing. We were on backcountry skis (which I was less than thrilled about but, my dislike for skiing outweighs my love for my husband). The 2 days of skiing were my workouts for those days although those who know me know I would have much rather been swimming, biking or running (or at least cross country skiing). Anyway, I sucked it up for Jeff as sometimes we have to remember to do things other than triathlon!
The first half of the 14km in flew by as there was quite a bit of downhill. When we reached a map at 7.5km in Josh pointed out the "Half-way Hut" on the map. I looked at my watch and it was 4pm. It said 16km to Assinaboine Pass. I started to panic. Alyssa assured me it was only another 7km but the map said otherwise; I was confused. We went another 3km and stopped for a bathroom break. I was not happy and was really starting to worry. As Josh was off at the bathroom I expressed my concern to Alyssa that we could be in trouble. Then Alyssa explained that the hut Josh pointed to and the hut we were going to were 2 different huts and that she was sure we only had another 4km to go. My mood completely changed. I was so relieved! We got back on the trail and after 2km my wonderful husband and his buddy Brad met us. Jeff took my heavy pack and we finally made it to the hut around 5:45pm.
We ate, drank and chatted until midnight. Most of us watching the clock to see how much longer we had to go. We popped the champagne I had carried in at midnight and then all went to bed. Yes, the boys were fairly tame this New Years. The next morning we had an amazing breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and coffee before we hit the trail. As soon as I put my boots on though I could feel how sore my shins were from the previous day. We got to the map point again so I knew we only had about 5.5km to go. This is where my shins jumped from a 4 on the pain scale to a 5 on the pain scale. Within 1km more it jumped to a 6 and then a 7 and then an 8. We still had 1km to go. I would so much rather have IT band pain from running or chamois pain from a long bike! This really hurt and it was from a sport I don't love. I got fairly grouchy and knew I would miss my bike or run the next day because of sore shins from those darn ski boots! I winced in pain and had to stop a fair bit over the last km. Alyssa and Shawna were so kind to stay and ski with me and sympathize with my pain.
In any event I made it back to the truck (whew! It was over!). Seriously though my husband appreciates my efforts to do his sports since I am so wrapped up in triathlon all of the time. Training can take many forms so if you need to make the effort to do things with your spouse or significant other, make sure you do that. I saw today and will get a brick in tomorrow. On Sunday Jeff and I will get a cross country ski in which is great training ,and a happy medium for a joint sport for us.
I hope everyone had a great 2008 and is looking forward to a wonderful 2009!
January 2, 2009
December 30, 2008
My very own Christmas break mini training camp
What do triathletes do when they have extra time on their hands.......you guessed it, train harder! My parents didn't end up making it for Christmas so I had some extra time on my hands. I decided to take advantage of it and do some extra training. Please note though, I do not advocate up-ing your mileage too much, or bike 5 days in a row like I did. In fact I usually stress the importance of rest to my athletes. The past week I worked hard and will take today off completely to allow my body to catch up on some much needed rest. Here is a rundown of what I did last week:
Dec 23 - 1 hour run and a 1 hour bike
Dec 24 - 45 minute run on the track with an easy 1 hour spin
Dec 25 - 50 minute bike with hard intervals
Dec 26 - 3 hour brick (2 hours hard on the bike followed by a 1 hour easy run)
Dec 27 - 1:45 bike with Sara Gross and Chris Brown
Dec 28 - swim camp; 5000m
Dec 29 - swim camp; 4800m
My parents did finally make it on the 27th and we had a wonderful visit. They even put up with me after I came back from 2 hours of swimming on Sunday and Monday and was tired and cranky (gosh, my parents are patient and understanding people). When we visited my Grandma on Monday I sat on the couch and fell asleep! Mom didn't get mad she just said "let's get you home". I love that I have such supportive parents. They know my goals and are so encouraging and supportive of them. Although mom and dad would still be happy if I were to decide not to do Ironman. They came to World's in Vancouver this year and stood in the rain and nearly freezing temperatures to cheer me on but, think Ironman is a big feat for their "little girl". I have assured them that many other "little girls" have done this race and been just fine.
In other news, we finally got our new Team Trilife clothing! It looks fantastic and we will surely be seen at all the races this year. It is also really comfortable - very important!
Lastly, as of today it is just 8 months until Ironman Canada! If you are not racing it is a blast to come out and watch. Last year I watched and volunteered too for a couple of hours, and it truly was a rewarding experience.
Dec 23 - 1 hour run and a 1 hour bike
Dec 24 - 45 minute run on the track with an easy 1 hour spin
Dec 25 - 50 minute bike with hard intervals
Dec 26 - 3 hour brick (2 hours hard on the bike followed by a 1 hour easy run)
Dec 27 - 1:45 bike with Sara Gross and Chris Brown
Dec 28 - swim camp; 5000m
Dec 29 - swim camp; 4800m
My parents did finally make it on the 27th and we had a wonderful visit. They even put up with me after I came back from 2 hours of swimming on Sunday and Monday and was tired and cranky (gosh, my parents are patient and understanding people). When we visited my Grandma on Monday I sat on the couch and fell asleep! Mom didn't get mad she just said "let's get you home". I love that I have such supportive parents. They know my goals and are so encouraging and supportive of them. Although mom and dad would still be happy if I were to decide not to do Ironman. They came to World's in Vancouver this year and stood in the rain and nearly freezing temperatures to cheer me on but, think Ironman is a big feat for their "little girl". I have assured them that many other "little girls" have done this race and been just fine.
In other news, we finally got our new Team Trilife clothing! It looks fantastic and we will surely be seen at all the races this year. It is also really comfortable - very important!
Lastly, as of today it is just 8 months until Ironman Canada! If you are not racing it is a blast to come out and watch. Last year I watched and volunteered too for a couple of hours, and it truly was a rewarding experience.
December 22, 2008
You are never gonna believe what I did!
Ha! Ha! The past few days have been a joke for training! I have been so busy trying to get ready for Christmas. been a little sick, enjoying being with friends and I guess just needed a little break from training hard. Let's see.... Friday I woke up and the cold I had been ignoring all week had finally hit me. I usually do speedwork on the track Friday mornings and I love the sessions. I had promised an athlete I would go and do a gait analysis on him, so I dragged myself to the track. I managed to do a bit of work and run a few laps and had to call it a day. Which also meant I was missing my swim. Saturday was not much better. I woke up still not feeling well and decided to miss my Saturday AM swim. By Saturday night I was feeling better and headed to the annual Cochrane Ironman party. A few drinks later, and it felt like I didn't have a cold at all. We watched the yearly video which Ken did a great job of and danced the night away. When it was finally time to go Susi and I ran to her car and then it happened. Bam! I went down on the ice. It didn't hurt at the time but, I sure can feel it now! The next day we suffered through a swim. Talk about punishment! We then went to spin and I had a flat. I decided it was a sign and went home to rest. Today I had a swim and run. Ang and Ken met me at the track to run and then we headed to the pool. Ken got in and Ang and I sat on the side for a few minutes. Until......we finally decided to hit the hot tub! I know! We did! We laughed and giggled as we could not believe we were skipping a workout. We usually swim in the mornings and now I know why. Well, I will take it easy for the next few days as my parents will be in town and enjoy the down time from training and hope to come back stronger after a break.
December 17, 2008
I need to figure out how to skip sleeping.......
I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost 10 days. I would be giving all my blog friends heck if they went that long. The truth is I haven't enough hours in the day lately. Training is going great which is part of it. I am hitting all of my workouts (except when the Cochrane pool closed last Friday morning, so I missed one swim) and feeling great. My workouts are going so good. I am stronger on the bike than i have ever been, and faster in the water and on the track than ever before! I just hope this trend continues.
I have not gotten much Christmas shopping in however, and I am thankful malls are open late. I think I will have to go tonight after I teach cycling. I also have to do a bunch of grocery shopping, baking, and cleaning; as my folks are coming next Tuesday. I suppose I could miss a few workouts to get this all done but, I really don't like missing workouts. If I could just figure out how to add more hours into my day by avoiding sleeping, my problems would be solved! However, we endurance athletes need our sleep!
I also wanted to share what happened at cycling last night. I rushed from work to Bow Cycle for the TTL spin. I got there with only a few minutes to spare so I rushed as I threw my bike on the trainer, got dressed and went to get on my bike. Before I did though I realized I hadn't really eaten dinner and was hungry. There was no way I could make it through the workout without food. I usually have bars, gels, and other random food in my bag. I say usually because except for tonight, I do! I searched my bag several times for an energy bar or even a gel. Nothing! I did have M & M's but, I knew they wouldn't do the trick. But, that is all I had, so I grabbed a handful and headed to my bike. A few people asked what I was doing with a big handful of M &M's. "Dinner" (with a sigh) I said. At that moment, without hesitation, Frank quickly pulled out a bar from his Bento box. "Here you go, Richelle. I also have gels if you are still hungry after the bar". WOW! I was overwhelmed that he didn't even think about it. He just handed it over the second he heard I needed something. Thank-you Frank! I really would not have gotten through that workout on an empty stomach. It would have been my own fault but it is so nice to have great friends to bail you out when you need it. And for the record, his wife is just as nice and last night we made plans to trail run this summer!
And for the record, I do plan on putting on 2 - 3 pounds in the next week! Bring on the yummy Christmas-time food! Ha!
I have not gotten much Christmas shopping in however, and I am thankful malls are open late. I think I will have to go tonight after I teach cycling. I also have to do a bunch of grocery shopping, baking, and cleaning; as my folks are coming next Tuesday. I suppose I could miss a few workouts to get this all done but, I really don't like missing workouts. If I could just figure out how to add more hours into my day by avoiding sleeping, my problems would be solved! However, we endurance athletes need our sleep!
I also wanted to share what happened at cycling last night. I rushed from work to Bow Cycle for the TTL spin. I got there with only a few minutes to spare so I rushed as I threw my bike on the trainer, got dressed and went to get on my bike. Before I did though I realized I hadn't really eaten dinner and was hungry. There was no way I could make it through the workout without food. I usually have bars, gels, and other random food in my bag. I say usually because except for tonight, I do! I searched my bag several times for an energy bar or even a gel. Nothing! I did have M & M's but, I knew they wouldn't do the trick. But, that is all I had, so I grabbed a handful and headed to my bike. A few people asked what I was doing with a big handful of M &M's. "Dinner" (with a sigh) I said. At that moment, without hesitation, Frank quickly pulled out a bar from his Bento box. "Here you go, Richelle. I also have gels if you are still hungry after the bar". WOW! I was overwhelmed that he didn't even think about it. He just handed it over the second he heard I needed something. Thank-you Frank! I really would not have gotten through that workout on an empty stomach. It would have been my own fault but it is so nice to have great friends to bail you out when you need it. And for the record, his wife is just as nice and last night we made plans to trail run this summer!
And for the record, I do plan on putting on 2 - 3 pounds in the next week! Bring on the yummy Christmas-time food! Ha!
December 7, 2008
Training update
I thought I better put in an update on my training for the past week. I did 4 bike workouts in a row! NOTE: THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED!
Monday - Ang and I ran for 1 hour and I taught Jill's evening cycling class at Tri It
Tuesday - I did a 45 minute speed work session on the treadmill and did the Bow Cycle cycling class
Wednesday - I swam in the morning and taught my usual Wednesday night cycling class at Tri It (which is starting to fill up for January session)
Thursday - Greg's cycling class; this was the first time I took Greg's class and I really liked it despite the few profanities muttered under my breath that Leslie heard. My legs were really tired and I really had to mentally push to keep up. But, I loved it! And, I also picked up a few drills I am going to incorporate into my classes. Thank-you Greg!
Friday - off (had a long day at work)
Saturday - off. I am a SLACKER! OK, we all have missed days and I usually don't miss workouts.
Sunday - 1.5 hour run on the treadmill (I wanted to get this run done outside but the snow was just too deep).
And I am feeling great! Despite that I am upset about the missed training day.
Hey Jason.....better train hard so I don't cross that finish line before you.
Monday - Ang and I ran for 1 hour and I taught Jill's evening cycling class at Tri It
Tuesday - I did a 45 minute speed work session on the treadmill and did the Bow Cycle cycling class
Wednesday - I swam in the morning and taught my usual Wednesday night cycling class at Tri It (which is starting to fill up for January session)
Thursday - Greg's cycling class; this was the first time I took Greg's class and I really liked it despite the few profanities muttered under my breath that Leslie heard. My legs were really tired and I really had to mentally push to keep up. But, I loved it! And, I also picked up a few drills I am going to incorporate into my classes. Thank-you Greg!
Friday - off (had a long day at work)
Saturday - off. I am a SLACKER! OK, we all have missed days and I usually don't miss workouts.
Sunday - 1.5 hour run on the treadmill (I wanted to get this run done outside but the snow was just too deep).
And I am feeling great! Despite that I am upset about the missed training day.
Hey Jason.....better train hard so I don't cross that finish line before you.
Team TriLife news
So many exciting things are going on with Team TriLife these days; I will give you some of the highlights.
- we are hosting an Aquathon (500m swim followed by a 5km run) in Cochrane, AB. We are currently working on securing it as the 2009 Provincial Championships! Registration will be available soon on the ATA (Alberta Triathlon Association) website.
- May Long Weekend Tri Camp in Radium. Angie and I wanted to host a camp that will accommodate not only Ironman athletes, but Half Ironman Athletes, and Olympic Distance athletes too. It is sure to be a great camp.
- Ironman Camp for 2009 has been moved to July 24 - 27. The switch is to accommodate those athletes wishing to do Ironman 70.3 Calgary on August 2nd.
- Nicole ran a great 10km last weekend at the Jingle Bell Run. Nicole is new to TTL and has some great running goals for 2009. During the run she met some other TTL athletes (thanks to our great clothing, and a very social Leslie).
- 2 more weeks of Bow Cycle spin classes. Although Angie is away this weekend, I will be leading this week. Remember on the 17th we will be heading out for a post-session celebration. We hope everyone can join us.
- We have a number of new athletes to TTL starting in January! Look forward to seeing some new faces and training partners for the new year.
That's all for now.
Train smart!
December 1, 2008
The new currency in Speed!
Media Release – December 1, 2008
TRI IT MULTISPORT EXCLUSIVELY OFFERS THE ZOONIE – THE FIRST RACE DAY RUNNING SHOE THAT IS DISTINCTIVELY CANADIAN
33 000 000 Canadians- 600 pairs – 1 Store
Tri It Multisport in Calgary presents the Zoonie, a running shoe to honour all Canadian athletes and those who support them. The Zoonie is based on the2008 Zoot Ultra Race shoe. This ultra light, high performance, and innovative running shoe was immediately recognized in the spring of 2008 for its benefits to both runners and triathletes. Now Tri It presents its own unique version.
The Zoonie is a limited edition runner with a distinctively Canadian look. Tri It is the only store in Canada offering the Zoonie . Pre-orders for this shoe will be accepted beginning December 1 at Tri It and on its online store. The Zoonie will arrive on May 1, 2008.
Visit Tri It Multisport (2640 Parkdale Blvd. NW or www.tri-it.ca) to check out the Zoonie and many of our other fine products for the triathlete and the runner.
Tri It was recently voted the best store to shop in for triathlon apparel by the readers of Get Out There magazine.
November 27, 2008
Training
Training has been going really well! Since last week I have done:
Friday: run speedwork and some strength work at the track followed by a 1 hour swim (I was very tired during the swim)
Saturday: 1 hour swim at the pool
Sunday: brick at the U of C - 1 hour bike followed by a 1/2 hour run, and strength work
Monday: rest day; I hated this day as I usually have a swim as my rest day. I was dying to get on my bike (or even my elliptical!) for just 1/2 hour but, I resisted. Seriously, what to non-triathletes do in their spare time!?
Tuesday: 45 minute treadmill run and a 1.5 hour bike at Bow Cycle
Wednesday: 1 hour swim and I taught a 1.5 hour bike at Tri It
Thursday: a 1 hour 15 minute bike followed by a 20 minute transition run - I made the mistake of wearing capri tights in -10 degrees, and got a crazy cold rash! I guess it is time to put away the capri's for awhile.
Other than that I am boring and have no new news to tell you but, I will have some exciting things next week!
Friday: run speedwork and some strength work at the track followed by a 1 hour swim (I was very tired during the swim)
Saturday: 1 hour swim at the pool
Sunday: brick at the U of C - 1 hour bike followed by a 1/2 hour run, and strength work
Monday: rest day; I hated this day as I usually have a swim as my rest day. I was dying to get on my bike (or even my elliptical!) for just 1/2 hour but, I resisted. Seriously, what to non-triathletes do in their spare time!?
Tuesday: 45 minute treadmill run and a 1.5 hour bike at Bow Cycle
Wednesday: 1 hour swim and I taught a 1.5 hour bike at Tri It
Thursday: a 1 hour 15 minute bike followed by a 20 minute transition run - I made the mistake of wearing capri tights in -10 degrees, and got a crazy cold rash! I guess it is time to put away the capri's for awhile.
Other than that I am boring and have no new news to tell you but, I will have some exciting things next week!
November 22, 2008
Tri It now has a Blog!
Tri It now has a blog! Keep up up-to-date on all the latest happenings at your favorite triathlon store. We will have race reports from sponsored athletes and staff, local race information, training and nutrition tips, special events, product information, and more!Check us out at: www.blog.tri-it.ca
November 19, 2008
Like the Tasmanian Devil
Is it the Tasmanian Devil off of "Loony Toons" that spins around in circles everywhere he goes? That is what I feel like these days! Don't get me wrong, life is good.....just really busy! I have to write down every thing I have to do because if I don't, I am onto the next thing and I forget what happened 5 minutes ago. I apologize to all my friends whose emails I have not returned and whose calls are still parked on voicemail. Please don't hate me; I am just really busy...Tasmanian Devil busy, actually!
On a side note, training is going great! My plantar faciitis is a tad sore but the bike is phenomenal and I had a breakthrough at swimming this morning. I was doing a set of 4 x 100's at the hardest pace I could go in the pool. I usually hit around 1:40 for this. I went on my first set and hit 1:34 (29 stroke count/lap). I couldn't believe I hit in the 1:30's. I was ecstatic! My friend Chris pointed out I was not pausing during my stroke and simply taking too many strokes. I agreed but I have always had a high stroke count. He gave me some quick pointers and I went again The sets ended up looking like this:
Set 1 - 1:34 (29 stroke count/lap)
Set 2 - 1:34 (22 stroke count/lap)
Set 3 - 1:34 (23 stroke count/lap)
Set 4 - 1:37 (23 stroke count/lap) - with a pullbuoy
I am on cloud nine and I feel like something clicked in the water today. I know I can replicate this again as I get it now.
Ok, back to whirling around I go.
On a side note, training is going great! My plantar faciitis is a tad sore but the bike is phenomenal and I had a breakthrough at swimming this morning. I was doing a set of 4 x 100's at the hardest pace I could go in the pool. I usually hit around 1:40 for this. I went on my first set and hit 1:34 (29 stroke count/lap). I couldn't believe I hit in the 1:30's. I was ecstatic! My friend Chris pointed out I was not pausing during my stroke and simply taking too many strokes. I agreed but I have always had a high stroke count. He gave me some quick pointers and I went again The sets ended up looking like this:
Set 1 - 1:34 (29 stroke count/lap)
Set 2 - 1:34 (22 stroke count/lap)
Set 3 - 1:34 (23 stroke count/lap)
Set 4 - 1:37 (23 stroke count/lap) - with a pullbuoy
I am on cloud nine and I feel like something clicked in the water today. I know I can replicate this again as I get it now.
Ok, back to whirling around I go.
November 13, 2008
Changes
How things change. I have decided that I am no longer going to do Ironman Australia. I have put my pride aside (of the fact that I have told so many people I am doing it) and listened to my wonderful coach and a few other people who I respect greatly such as Greg Bradly. Ironman is a big commitment and the chance of jeopardizing the rest of my season and burning myself out just wasn't worth it. And spending 6 hours by myself in my basement on my trainer! It is the right decision but, I am hoping to still go to Australia and do an Olympic distance race on the Gold Coast (no, not Age Group World's; although I did qualify!).
Another change is that I am now coaching a drop-in spin session on Wednesday nights at Tri It. Not everyone can commit to a weekly spin session and this gives people the opportunity to try out a spin class or sneak one in when they can.
That is about it for now. Maybe more changes to come.... guess you will have to check back!
Another change is that I am now coaching a drop-in spin session on Wednesday nights at Tri It. Not everyone can commit to a weekly spin session and this gives people the opportunity to try out a spin class or sneak one in when they can.
That is about it for now. Maybe more changes to come.... guess you will have to check back!
November 11, 2008
WETSUIT FOR SALE
Women’s 2007 Helix
Used 1 triathlon season
Women’s small (WS)
** size will fit a variety of sizes, from 105lbs - 135lbs
Price: $250
Let me know if you need more details, or would like to try it out: richelle@triathlete.com
November 6, 2008
Lesson Learned
When your coach tells you not to add workouts.....you should listen! I have been feeling good and chomping at the bit to do more than my wonderful coach has scheduled lately. Part of it could be that I don't know what to do with myself when I only have 1 workout in a day. So, this week almost daily I added either a bike or a run. Nothing too long really - just short workouts but adding workouts. I woke up today feeling tired. I had a brick to get done. I suffered through the bike and could not give my pedals the power that I should have. Secondly, my darn heart rate would not get to where it was supposed to! I tried but I was just too tired. I got off my bike and headed outside to get my run in. I wanted to run just 15 minutes but had to get through 45 minutes! I suffered but tried not to let it show....until... the last 20 minutes. For one all I could think about was coffee, eggs and toast, and two, I was tired! I even walked up a "hill" (it was actually more of a bump). I made my way back home and finished. For the rest of the day I have been dragging. I do know if I hadn't tried to be a rock star and ignore my coach I would be fine. Lesson learned! I plan to sleep in tomorrow and only do the workout on my calendar.
October 31, 2008
Attack of the Mini Chocolate Bars!
HELP!
It is Halloween and a bunch of mini chocolate bars followed me home and jumped down my throat! This is an epidemic as it is happeneing to a few of my other friends too! I am trying to resist, but it is so hard! A strong little group of them called KitKats seem to be winning the battle agianst me! HELP!
It is Halloween and a bunch of mini chocolate bars followed me home and jumped down my throat! This is an epidemic as it is happeneing to a few of my other friends too! I am trying to resist, but it is so hard! A strong little group of them called KitKats seem to be winning the battle agianst me! HELP!
Klutzy Richelle
I am feeling pretty well recovered from my marathon now and was starting to get back into the regular routine, starting to run pain free and push hard on the bike when something tightened in my shoulder and neck. And when I say tight I mean can hardly turn my head without pain shooting into my neck and shoulder tight! It hurts so much to look even attempt to look left; which has made driving interesting as it hurts to shoulder check.
I finally went to see my favorite chiro, Dr. Bryan Myles! I saw another chiro the other day but, nothing seemed to release or get better. I love Dr. Bryan because he "beats me up" and always manages to fix me. Seriously! And if you ever have any issues, go see him at Balanced Health & Sports Therapy. Everytime I feel pain or have an injury I go see Bryan and he always knows how to fix it. He is one of the best chiro's around. He calls me a wimp sometimes but, we both know I am tougher than the football players he treats. Anyways, back to the story. I went to see Bryan and he could tell right away I had a rip out of place. He asked me if I had fallen......hmmm....Nope. Oh wait....the other day when I was with my run clinic I dropped back to see how the girls at the back who were happily chatting were doing. I clearly didn't notice the dip in the sidewalk for someone's driveway - need i say more!? I did manage to catch myself so I didn't completely end up sprawled out on the groud, and oddly enough the next day is when the trouble with my shoulder and next appeared. Mystery solved! NOTE: Mom stop laughing - yes, I am still your klutzy daughter! Luckily, Bryan treated me and I know I will be feeling better by tomorrow or Sunday!
So training is going OK in terms of getting back to it with this little glitch. I did do my first brick in a long time the other day and it was wonderful! I love bricks! And, the Bow Cycle class is back on with Team Tri Life ( http://www.teamtrilife.com/html/spin_classes.html ) and I might even be teaching it this upcoming Tuesday.
I finally went to see my favorite chiro, Dr. Bryan Myles! I saw another chiro the other day but, nothing seemed to release or get better. I love Dr. Bryan because he "beats me up" and always manages to fix me. Seriously! And if you ever have any issues, go see him at Balanced Health & Sports Therapy. Everytime I feel pain or have an injury I go see Bryan and he always knows how to fix it. He is one of the best chiro's around. He calls me a wimp sometimes but, we both know I am tougher than the football players he treats. Anyways, back to the story. I went to see Bryan and he could tell right away I had a rip out of place. He asked me if I had fallen......hmmm....Nope. Oh wait....the other day when I was with my run clinic I dropped back to see how the girls at the back who were happily chatting were doing. I clearly didn't notice the dip in the sidewalk for someone's driveway - need i say more!? I did manage to catch myself so I didn't completely end up sprawled out on the groud, and oddly enough the next day is when the trouble with my shoulder and next appeared. Mystery solved! NOTE: Mom stop laughing - yes, I am still your klutzy daughter! Luckily, Bryan treated me and I know I will be feeling better by tomorrow or Sunday!
So training is going OK in terms of getting back to it with this little glitch. I did do my first brick in a long time the other day and it was wonderful! I love bricks! And, the Bow Cycle class is back on with Team Tri Life ( http://www.teamtrilife.com/html/spin_classes.html ) and I might even be teaching it this upcoming Tuesday.
October 26, 2008
New job!
After a year of managing The Tech Shop I am leaving for a new position. This was a hard decision as I love my job and adore the staff and friends I work with there. I am moving onto a new opportunity that is still within this field. I will be managing Tri-It (www.tri-it.ca). I am very excited about joining the Tri-It family and managing this store. I really like the products Tri-It offers, the staff are amazingly friendly and knowledgeable, the clinics are awesome as they have great coaches who teach them, and the atmosphere of the store is fantastic (frequently a hang-out to have a cup of coffee, hear what people in the triathlon world are up to, and just talk about triathlon and running).
I will reiterate that I still fully support The Tech Shop as they too are an amazing store. It was a hard decision to make but, ultimately it is the right move for me. Thanks for all your support and those who helped me make the decision. I will be officially starting at Tri-It on November 4th! See you there!
I will reiterate that I still fully support The Tech Shop as they too are an amazing store. It was a hard decision to make but, ultimately it is the right move for me. Thanks for all your support and those who helped me make the decision. I will be officially starting at Tri-It on November 4th! See you there!
October 19, 2008
Swim, Bike and Run!
On Thursday I got back to training! I did an easy 45 minute bike on Thursday, an easy 1/2 hour run on Friday, and an easy 2000m swim on Saturday. When I say easy, I mean easy but that is OK. It was a great way to remind myself that I am a triathlete. During the run I was so excited, I smiled the whole time. It felt so good to be back running as almost 2 weeks off was torture for me. I am excited to again have run dates with my friends (so call me if you wanna run!) and run with my run clinics at work again. I have run clinic tomorrow morning and the girls have been asking when I can run again. It has been sad that I haven't been able to run with them either as I wave good-bye and say "have a good run" on those mornings. But that is behind me now and I am back running!
Then today I had an interval bike. It was a high cadence set however, I just can't seem to push the gears or cadence that I was last year. Not that at this point in the year I should be surprised. My heart rate soared and my quads felt tight when I got off the bike. I smiled; I love that feeling! I know there are at least some of you out there reading this that do agree with me.
So, with 6 months until Ironman Australia I will slowly ramp up my training and get back to it!
Then today I had an interval bike. It was a high cadence set however, I just can't seem to push the gears or cadence that I was last year. Not that at this point in the year I should be surprised. My heart rate soared and my quads felt tight when I got off the bike. I smiled; I love that feeling! I know there are at least some of you out there reading this that do agree with me.
So, with 6 months until Ironman Australia I will slowly ramp up my training and get back to it!
October 10, 2008
No swim, no bike, no run = no fun!
Yesterday I got out my wisdom teeth. I can eat liquid foods only, and am pretty much just hanging out on the couch (and I am BORED! There is only so much TV you can watch). I am completely swollen and sore. On top of all that I have a cold! So, I guess the forced recovery from the marathon is OK. I will let me body heal completely until I get back at it - which I can't wait for!
That is all that is new with me so, no training for the next 4 or 5 days.
That is all that is new with me so, no training for the next 4 or 5 days.
October 6, 2008
Portland Marathon
Me at the 26 mile mark AND me and my dad before the race.
I woke up and got ready quickly. I love race morning putting on your gear! I love the moment when you tie your shoes up - knowing you are going for a run!
Before we left I managed to eat a bit but, not what I should have. My stomach hurt and I tried hard to push it out of my mind. I am sure it was just nerves. When we got downtown I had alot of time to get ready before I had to head to the start line. I people watched for quite sometime until it was time to go. I gave a big hug and kiss to my parents and my poor dad looked like he was going to cry. I headed over to the starting chute and stood there freezing. The guy standing next to me asked if I would like his sweatshirt as we waited because it looked like I needed it more than him. I happily put it on as it took the edge off being so cold. I knew once I started running I would be OK which is why I didn't have anything with me. We stood there and talked for a bit, until the countdown started. I gave him back his sweatshirt and then the gun went off. Here we go! My first marathon!
The first part of the run was uphill and we were going fast. One part of me said to slow down and the other part said it is OK, just go with the flow. Bad choice! This was not my plan. I stuck with the 3:45 marathon group (even though 3:50 was my goal time) and was feeling great. It started to rain about 5 km in but, the temperature was perfect. As I ran along listening to my Ipod (the Portland marathon is an Ipod friendly course) I continued to feel great, loving the music I was listening to and ignoring the rain. Around the 20km mark I could feel my IT band twinge and then at the 21km mark I had to stop. Argh! I looked at my watch and it read 1:52. I was on track to my goal; slightly ahead actually. I knew the second half of the course was harder but, still confident I could reach my 3:50 marathon goal. I had to stop and stretch my IT band every kilometer but, was still running at a great pace. Then 30km came along. OK, I must have gone out too hard on the first half of the course because my legs were sore! My quads were screaming at me to stop running (along with my IT band). I managed to continue moving forward as best as I could combining running, walking and stretching. I laughed at one point as I was absolutely soaking wet. I couldn't believe how wet I was. The skies had opened up and it was like I was in the shower. There were rivers running down the sides of the streets, it became impossible to avoid the puddles, and I was absolutely soaked! Well, if I could make it through ITU World's this year in the pouring rain and cold, then I could make it through this.
With 5km to go I met another girl with major IT band issues too. We leap frogged each other the past few km's, passing each other as we stretched our IT bands. I also knew I would at least finish at this point, no matter the time! When I passed the 25 mile mark I refused to walk anymore as I wouldn't be able to get going again. I looked for my parents who promised to be at the 26 mile mark. I have never been so excited to see them! They were bursting with pride - I love my parents! I turned the corner into the final 0.2 km's and there was a huge billboard of a fat lady singing and there was opera music belting out from speakers! It was almost over! The fat lady had sung! I gave all I could into the finishing chute! As I crossed the finish line, I immediately began crying. I had done it! It was the hardest thing I had ever done and I was in pain but, I had completed my first marathon! They put the medal around my neck and I continued to cry. A nice volunteer walked me over to the medical tent where they put ice around my knee. I tried to comprehend what I had just done. I trained so hard and it always seemed so far away but, now it was over. And, I had done it!
I wondered around trying to get out of the athlete area to find my parents. When we finally found each other we immediately came home so I could eat, have an ice bath, and nap. I was doing everything I could so that I would recover as quickly as possible.
Today I am sore. My IT band hurts like heck today (along with my hamstrings and quads) and I can barely walk! But it sure was worth it! I can finally say I am a marathoner! And I plan to do more of them.
Before we left I managed to eat a bit but, not what I should have. My stomach hurt and I tried hard to push it out of my mind. I am sure it was just nerves. When we got downtown I had alot of time to get ready before I had to head to the start line. I people watched for quite sometime until it was time to go. I gave a big hug and kiss to my parents and my poor dad looked like he was going to cry. I headed over to the starting chute and stood there freezing. The guy standing next to me asked if I would like his sweatshirt as we waited because it looked like I needed it more than him. I happily put it on as it took the edge off being so cold. I knew once I started running I would be OK which is why I didn't have anything with me. We stood there and talked for a bit, until the countdown started. I gave him back his sweatshirt and then the gun went off. Here we go! My first marathon!
The first part of the run was uphill and we were going fast. One part of me said to slow down and the other part said it is OK, just go with the flow. Bad choice! This was not my plan. I stuck with the 3:45 marathon group (even though 3:50 was my goal time) and was feeling great. It started to rain about 5 km in but, the temperature was perfect. As I ran along listening to my Ipod (the Portland marathon is an Ipod friendly course) I continued to feel great, loving the music I was listening to and ignoring the rain. Around the 20km mark I could feel my IT band twinge and then at the 21km mark I had to stop. Argh! I looked at my watch and it read 1:52. I was on track to my goal; slightly ahead actually. I knew the second half of the course was harder but, still confident I could reach my 3:50 marathon goal. I had to stop and stretch my IT band every kilometer but, was still running at a great pace. Then 30km came along. OK, I must have gone out too hard on the first half of the course because my legs were sore! My quads were screaming at me to stop running (along with my IT band). I managed to continue moving forward as best as I could combining running, walking and stretching. I laughed at one point as I was absolutely soaking wet. I couldn't believe how wet I was. The skies had opened up and it was like I was in the shower. There were rivers running down the sides of the streets, it became impossible to avoid the puddles, and I was absolutely soaked! Well, if I could make it through ITU World's this year in the pouring rain and cold, then I could make it through this.
With 5km to go I met another girl with major IT band issues too. We leap frogged each other the past few km's, passing each other as we stretched our IT bands. I also knew I would at least finish at this point, no matter the time! When I passed the 25 mile mark I refused to walk anymore as I wouldn't be able to get going again. I looked for my parents who promised to be at the 26 mile mark. I have never been so excited to see them! They were bursting with pride - I love my parents! I turned the corner into the final 0.2 km's and there was a huge billboard of a fat lady singing and there was opera music belting out from speakers! It was almost over! The fat lady had sung! I gave all I could into the finishing chute! As I crossed the finish line, I immediately began crying. I had done it! It was the hardest thing I had ever done and I was in pain but, I had completed my first marathon! They put the medal around my neck and I continued to cry. A nice volunteer walked me over to the medical tent where they put ice around my knee. I tried to comprehend what I had just done. I trained so hard and it always seemed so far away but, now it was over. And, I had done it!
I wondered around trying to get out of the athlete area to find my parents. When we finally found each other we immediately came home so I could eat, have an ice bath, and nap. I was doing everything I could so that I would recover as quickly as possible.
Today I am sore. My IT band hurts like heck today (along with my hamstrings and quads) and I can barely walk! But it sure was worth it! I can finally say I am a marathoner! And I plan to do more of them.
October 2, 2008
3 days to go
OK, I admit it. I am cranky! I 've got the taper "blahs". Yesterday I took the entire day off from exercising! I was more than happy to walk Kita so I could at least get moving! Today I got to go for a short run. My legs felt heavy but, my watch and foot pod said otherwise (which I was happy and relieved about). Jeff and I ran errands and went for coffee which lifted my spirits to spend some time with him. He has been brilliant and patient with putting up with me. Then one of my athletes, whom I saw yesterday, called today to tell me she had a violent stomach flu! OMG! I really hope I do not get it!
I leave tomorrow for Portland to run the famous Portland Marathon. Thanks for all the well wishes and support! I feel like no matter what I do on that course, I have so many loving friends who will be happy for me. It makes it a little less scary!
And, as you can tell by the clock below, yes, I am doing Ironman Australia. The only reason I agreed to this madness is so Carole who is living in Brisbane, and I can spend some quality time together and finally get to race together. It is crazy! I do not deny that for a second! And, I do realize there will be many, many , many hours on the trainer but, I will call upon you all to come for a ride. I figure when I am doing 6 hours on the trainer, I can convince several people to come at different times of the day to get me covered. Ha! Well, that is the plan; we will see if it works out.
OK, off to bed early (but not before Grey's Anatomy) as I am very tired and have a 6am flight to catch!
I leave tomorrow for Portland to run the famous Portland Marathon. Thanks for all the well wishes and support! I feel like no matter what I do on that course, I have so many loving friends who will be happy for me. It makes it a little less scary!
And, as you can tell by the clock below, yes, I am doing Ironman Australia. The only reason I agreed to this madness is so Carole who is living in Brisbane, and I can spend some quality time together and finally get to race together. It is crazy! I do not deny that for a second! And, I do realize there will be many, many , many hours on the trainer but, I will call upon you all to come for a ride. I figure when I am doing 6 hours on the trainer, I can convince several people to come at different times of the day to get me covered. Ha! Well, that is the plan; we will see if it works out.
OK, off to bed early (but not before Grey's Anatomy) as I am very tired and have a 6am flight to catch!
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