Good week for the Biking Ninja!

This was a good work out weekend for me.  I was able to do a couple things I didn't think I could do plus I received some good news. 

1. Peter and I did a double work out on Saturday.  We did a 2000m swim followed by a 6.2 mile run.  I was so relieved that I was able to swim the full distance on my hurt shoulder.  Peter thought I was faster than I was before my injury!  YES!  I have been paying more attention to my form so that was nice 
2. Today I went on a 65 mile bike ride.  I was so excited that I was able to complete the distance in a timely manner without my "girly parts" being damaged.  It was a beautiful day for a ride.  I ended up taking my longsleeve shirt off and then realized I was dressed in all black.  Jake said I looked like a Biking Ninja.  Made me laugh!
3. Today I found out that I will have an hour and 29 minutes to finish the swim portion of my Half Ironman.  thank goodness.   I was worried about making the cut of time.  This time will give me some room to freak out and still make it!

I'm feeling much stronger and much more confident after each long work out.  40 days to go.  No time to mess around!

First 20k TT!

I raced my first time trial (TT) this morning out west of Buckeye, AZ (yes, the Wild Wild West complete with cow poop smell in the air), and not only was it my first ever actual race on a bike only that wasn't a tour event but it was also my first ever race as part of the Tribe Women's team. Whoot! I picked up my kit, pink plaid jersey and shorts + arm and knee warmers, this morning and was colorful to say the least. It was great!

14.2 miles was the actual race distance, and while that isn't very far, it hurt. As I understand it the goal is to cover that distance in the shortest amount of time possible while not blowing yourself up. Yes, that's the goal in every race, like a 5k run, but as compared to a criterium bike race: in a crit, you race the clock -- how many laps on this 1 mile course can I make in X amt. of time while in a pack of other cyclists around corners? In a TT: how fast can I cover 20k out here by myself without being in a pack of other cyclists?

It was really cool to do, and they even had us start at the top of a ramp and shoot down onto the out-and-back course up Sun Valley Pkwy. Totally felt like a champ before I even went anywhere. It was a little less flat than we thought, and a little less downhill on the way back than I'd been told, but that's alright. I know I can go faster next time for sure because now I have a little better idea of how quickly to start (not very) and when to really start picking up the pace (maybe a smidge sooner than I did).

Tomorrow am is the 41.5 mile road race which I will do with the rest of my team and I have 2 goals: (1) stay with the pack, and (2) finish. The rest of my team is a bit faster than I am so goal 1 will be a challenge. Then in the afternoon I'm running the Skirtchaser 5k. Way fun! Hopefully I can make it to the Sunday am 60 mile group ride. But for now, it's off to the pool.

No turning back now . . .

Well, it is real. Our athletes' guide for the half ironman came via email today. Wow. What a motivator.

I am now thinking about how I will spend the next month or two. There are only a few weekends left to fit everything in. This is what I have on the books so far. (See below) I need to get another half marathon in and a an open water swim or two scheduled.

February 13, 14 - Long ride on the 14th = 60 miles
February 20, 21 -
February 27, 28 - Long ride Silent Sunday South Mountain replicate CA70.3
March 6, 7 - Firebird Lake Triathlon (OWS)
March 13, 14 -
March 20, 21 -
March 27th - Race weekend

Not a great week . . .

This was a very rough work out week for me.

This week i had my first day back in the pool since my accident. The swim was much more painful than I thought it would be. I was VERY discouraged. I could feel pain doing my warm up strokes. Not good. I am going to have to work my tail off to be able to do this race.

Next, it rained on the day i was going to do a nice long ride. Instead of 50 miles I only got in 20 miles. THEN during my 20 mile ride I got a flat tire. UGH. I started to feel like this was not meant to be.

I was sitting waiting for my hubby to come change my tire feeling very sorry for myself. I was thinking about how he would take me home and I'd probably go for a run. But then Ron came, changed my tire and i was back on my way. I had a great ride! I made good time and I know i am a much stronger rider than i used to be. Maybe I can do this?!

Yes, I know I can do this, but I will have to work my butt off until the race. Literally! I have to drop some more weight. I know I can do the bike. I know I can do the run. I just have to meet that swim cut off time.

Wish me luck!!

Sneeze, cough, sneeze, cough. Ugh. That's been the music I'm dancing to the last couple weeks. Somehow school caught up with me after Christmas break and basically handed me my rear along with a nasty cold. But of course I don't take advice that includes "go to sleep, Suzanne," or "take it easy," or "why don't you stay home from the gym today? You can't breathe anyway" very well. Thought I was better after "taking it easy" by attending a two day women's cycling clinic through Tribe but I wasn't. I did learn a ton and down a bottle of Dayquil while there, though. I actually had a great time and got in a couple really good rides, learned how to change my tire (after I got a flat that morning . . .), took a cornering clinic so now I can slingshot my little self around the turns, and also learned a bit about nutrition and mindset. It was great!

Then I thought I was better again a couple days later. Alas, I thought wrong. My cold moved from my head to my chest and knocked me back on my butt again. This all happened the first full week of January through this last weekend, and this Friday was the first time I've run. I ran 4 miles! I did manage a couple spin classes but mostly it was yoga and walking on the treadmill and trying to breathe. I'm convinced I'm actually better now.

Sometime in the middle of that I did ride up South Mountain with PMBC and had a great time! What a rewarding view up there! While I couldn't have done it twice in one day I was totally ready for another go the next day. My cold was not, but whatever. And thanks to Gary for sticking with me the whole ride up. Just keep pedaling.

Today I managed a 30 minute swim: 1 x 100 warm up, 5 x 200 swim, 2 x 100 kick, 2 x 100 warm down. Not the most grueling thing but I'm working on it. Then I ran 3 miles on the treadmill and did some core work.

While I still have a long ways to go to take this tri by storm and am scared of it, I also know that I will do a great job. Every time I think about the finish I get goosebumps. I'm stoked and focused and might even cut back on my MnM's habit. Well, I will make an attempt at that. Every girl needs a little chocolate now and then!

It's Getting Hot!

Ok. Maybe not hot. But at least warm. Temp was 67 during my run. Hoo boy. It is only January 30. What is it going to be like in a month?

How are we going to keep the running up in July when it is 100 degrees first thing in the morning?

Bueller?

Matt's Big Breakfast

Note to self - Running a half marathon after stuffing myself at Matt's Big Breakfast is not advised.