Kate's Ironman - next sunday

Dear Friends - Thanks for all of your support and encouragment as I train for Ironman Arizona. The Ironman is next Sunday in beautiful Tempe. It is a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. An Ironman race is one of the items on my life list/bucket list. I hope to knock it off the list this weekend but if not, I will try again next year. Who would have ever thought I'd make it this far? Plus, I've dropped 20 pounds and feel great!

Here is the deal. The race has several cut off times along the way. (See list of cut off times below) If I don't meet one of the cut offs the race officials make you stop. The race starts at 7:00a.m. with the swim portion. The first cut off time is 9:20. My swim times have been very close to that cut off time. I have no wiggle room on this time. No room for error. If I am NOT out of the water in 2:20 minutes I cannot continue. If I DO get out of the water by 2:20 then I have a shot at making it to the end. I will have 17 hours to complete the race and must cross the finish line by midnight. The swim is my weakest sport of the three.

If you want to track my progress you can go to www.ironman.com . You can look me up by my bib number (2436) or name. For those of you in Phoenix, please do not come down to the race. Traffic will be nuts. The website is the best way to see how I'm doing. If you do come down, I'll be wearing an ASU bike jersey and ASU running gear.

No matter what happens I'm glad I took this challenge. I will probably sign up for next years race. Wish me luck!! I'll need it!! Kate

Swim Cut Off (9:20 am - 2.4 miles/4224 yards/3862.425meters)
2 hours 20 mins = 2.4 miles = 3:37 mins per 100 meters

Bike Cut Off (3:00pm - 76 miles/ 4:15pm - 93 miles/ 5:30pm - 112 miles)
8 hours 10 mins = 112 miles = 13.71 miles per hour

Run Cut Off (10:15pm - 17.4 miles/ 12:00 am - 26.2 miles)
6 hours 30 mins = 26.2 miles = 14.53 mins per mile

One Week OUT!

Well, I have my race outfit ready to go. I decided to wear ASU gear for IMAZ. I had my tribe's bike jersey but it got ruined during my bike accident. Oh well. My 7 year old said she likes the ASU gear better anyway. Who can argue with a 7 year old?

I am also starting to organize my gear a bit into the correct piles. It is interesting to think of all the things I will need along the way. I'm excited and terrified at the same time.

I told my husband tonight that I would have to sign up again if I do not make the cut off. He said "I know." Then he said, "I also know you will have to sign up again if you DO make the cut off to prove you can do it better!" Ha! He knows me so well. Earlier today I had already looked up when athletes can register before the race. I have to do it! I know I can train better. Don't get me wrong. I know I have come a LONG way this year. BUT I know I can do so much better.

This will be a heck of a week. I think I'm going to sign up for Irongirl tomorrow and get another long run in. It is easier to run if I have a race!

4 weeks to go - 3 weeks of training

Well, it is crunch time!  I can't believe it is here already.  Wild.  I have a lot of work to do before the big race.  Today I road 78 miles followed by about a 30 minute run.  I need to get a schedule together for the last few weeks.  This is what it looks like so far.    I think I need to consult some of the other races for suggestions. 

10/30 - 112m bike
10/31 - ?

11/6 - 4000m swim & bike
11/7 - half marathon

11/13 - ?
11/14 - ?

52 days . . . What am I thinking?

I can't believe this race is coming right up.  I haven't blogged for a while b/c I have been in panic mode.  My training has been lacking, my weight is not coming off, and my life is interferring with Triathlon. 

I am going for it though.  I might be slow.  I might not make the cut off times.  I might not finish.  BUT . . . I will try. 

My latest issue is that I hurt my back on Friday so I missed a weekend of training.  How did I hurt my back?  Running?  No.  Swimming?  No.  Biking?  No.  Moving a table at work.  LAME!! 

Wish me LUCK!! 

Old photo from our flagstaff ride. 

BeeLine/Usery Loop - 50 mile Ride

Bush Highway/Beeline Loop =  50 miles

Today me and the boys (Joe, Geoff, and Ron) road a 50 mile loop.  It started out rough because it was so early.  Waking up at 4:30 a.m. to excercise is rough.  The ride was nice.  The first 20 miles was pretty but there was more climbing then I thought there would be.  I don't think I drank or ate enough b/c by the end of the ride I totally BONKED.  I was exhausted.  I don't think it helped that it was 97 degrees outside.  I've got a long way to go before this darn Ironman. 

100 days until the Ironman!

Here we go!  100 days until the Ironman Arizona.  What have I gotten myself into?  I'm so crazy. 

I've been trying to follow my training plan on  beginnertriathlete.com but I keep falling short on mileage.  I'm going to keep working on it but it is tough to stay up on everything when you have a job, children and responsibilities.  UGH! 

We will see how it goes.  It will be a wild ride! 

62 Miles!

Today we had a great ride out in Fountain Hills.  It was climbing and rollers all the way.  Jake, Geoff, Kate, Ron and Joe took off hard!  We met Joe on a ride last week and he joined us this week.  Luckily he was doing heart rate monitoring today.  He had to be in low zones for his work out.  Joe's low heart rate is my high!  Good match.  Joe is training for Half Ironman Singapore in March 2011.  We will be seeing a lot of Joe over the next several months!

I was really excited to have Jake take this ride.  He loves rollers and this ride was full of them. Unfortunately, Jake's knee was still having problems. About 8 miles into the ride I see Jake in the distance.  It isn't like him to be slow.  It REALLY isn't like him to get passed by me!  His knee was acting up again from his bike fit.  Poor guy.  I know he was really looking forward to this ride. 

At the turnaround for the first 20 miles we regrouped and started back.  I was really looking forward to it.  It was down hill 10 miles back to Fountain Hills.  We make the turn and I start following Geoff.  I was going about 28 miles per hour when I feel my tire going flat!  UGH!  Ron comes to my rescue and fixes it up.  Within 5 miles, Jake's tire blows.  UGH! 

When we get back into town Jake takes off to rest his knee and the rest of us take off for the next 40. 

I felt so much better this ride of Fountain Hills than last time.  I really worked on my hydration this time.  Last time I didn't dirink much water.  This time I drained a whole water bottle within the first 20 miles.  Much better.  Nutrition is key for these long rides! 

Today was the first day we went up the famous 9 mile hill!  They just put in bike lines!  We went up 5 of the 9 miles so we could hit 60.  10 mph up and about 23 mph going down.  I managed to get some shots going down b/c the bike lane was so smoothe.  Loved it! 

I am really enjoying this break in training but my Ironman plan will start in a couple of weeks.  I have been totally neglecting my swimming and running.  I've been trying to lose weight too but no luck.  I've got to get on the ball!

Great day overall!  I feel very fortunate to be out in a beautiful place with my loving husband beside me! Awesome!