140.6 reasons to do an ironman triathlon

i found this cool list on iamtri.com and wanted to share...some of it i can already relate to and a lot of it i'm sure i will totally "get" come October 23rd. enjoy!

»001. Makes everything else seem so SHORT and EASY.

»002. The 3 week taper before the race.

»003. The 4 week recovery after the race.

»004. You only go around once, life is not a dress rehearsel.

»005. As much Pizza as you can eat.

»006. So that when the car runs out of gas, I can still get away from the Police under my own power.

»007. Beats watching the new Survivor, Big Brother, or anything else on TV.

»008. For all the times you heard someone say "I'd do one of those ... I just can't swim."

»009. Lifetime of bragging rights.

»010. Steve King's accent at Ironman Canada

»011. Mike Reilly's hoarse voice still bringing people home at 11:30pm

»012. The Massage Tent - anywhere.

»013. Friends and family waiting for me at the finish.

»014. So is my mom...posthumously

»015. ...and my dad.

»016. Chalk on the road.

»017. Easy rides and runs the week before.

»018. Finishing your last workout and smiling because you know "I'm SO ready."

»019. For everyone who as ever asked you "Why?"

»020. For the teachers in school who told you you'd amount to nothing.

»021. To silence the one voice inside your head that still believes that bunk.

»022. You want to test the endurance limits of the music collection in your head.

»023. The "Bier Mile" at IM-Europe

»024. Spectators looking up your name and cheering as you plod past at sunset.

»025. Where else can someone ripping off your clothes in public be considered a benefit of a big race? (Wetsuit Strip)

»026. Miles in the Run

»027. Want to see the world and eat the food in each country, guilt free.

»028. So you can answer "One." When people ask "How many days does that take?"

»029. To wave at the scuba divers.

»030. To backstroke at the TV helicopter.

»031. Cards in your special needs bags.

»032. Cards in your T1 and T2 bags.

»033. CHICKEN SOUP!

»034. CHICKEN SOUP AGAIN! (Yes - it's worth 2 by itself)

»035. The Adirondacks of Lake Placid.

»036. The view from Richter Pass.

»037. Alii' Drive

»038. Main Street Penticton.

»039. Driving the bike course in a caravan of friends.

»040. Valet Parking and Catering ... all day long.

»041. You might get on TV

»042. I want to laugh at the former cool (now fat) kids at my 20th High School Reunion.

»043. The Marines at the race formerly known as Ironman California

»044. Takes as long as having a baby, nearly as satisfying, only without the morning sickness and the 21 years of bills that follow.

»045. Flying with a bike case makes business trips seem EASY.

»046. Sharing a smile with people wearing the finishers T-shirt the next day.

»047. Knowing that as you step in the water on race day - YOU MADE IT THIS FAR! Now just get home.

»048. How many people can say they did anything for 12,13, 14, 15, 16...hours?

»049. The "Hot Corner" at IM-USA

»050. The wristband that somehow becomes your favorite fashion accessory.

»051. So that when you tell your grandchildren stories about what you did when you were young...yours will be true.

»052. Main Street Lake Placid

»053. High fives from people you don't know.

»054. The Sponge as a fashion statement

»055. Coke and Chicken soup - the ultimate power cocktail

»056. Knowing that after the gun goes off, you don't have to worry anymore.

»057. First Place and Last Place get the same amount of cheers.

»058. Walking to the start with Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...

»059. Getting lapped by Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...

»060. Getting lapped again on the run by Heather, Lothar, Thomas, Jurgen...

»061. Making the turn for home.

»062. Because MolybdenumMan doesn't trip off the tongue in quite the same way

»063. If Judy Molnar can, dammit, so can you.

»064. You might get to run with Alexandra Paul!

»065. High fiving Daryl Haley, and going backwards 5 feet.

»066. Sunset over Skaha Lake on the run.

»067. If Randy Caddell can do it with just his arms, you can certainly do it with your legs.

»068. Easier than Eco-Challenge.

»069. Got rejected from the astronaut corps.

»070. Got rejected by the Marines.

»071. Crashed out of the Blue Angels.

»072. Makes US Navy SEAL training seem like a good idea.

»073. You enjoy the smell of chlorine in the morning.

»074. You've had enough with your current social life.

»075. For the love of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream!

»076. Your friends are watching on the web.

»077. You need to prove to your mom that even if you get on the bike right after you swim...you won't catch a cold.

»078. Helicopters over Kailua Bay.

»079. Roadies think you're nuts.

»080. Masters swimmers think you're nuts.

»081. Your running club KNOWS you're nuts.

»082. So that you can master the left-handed bottle grab (IMAus, IM-NZ).

»083. Morning swims

»084. 3 hour breakfasts after the morning swims

»085. The Underpants Run

»086. Laughing at people in the Underpants Run.

»087. The Hog's Breath Cafe Breakfast Special at IMC

»088. Glowsticks

»089. Cowman A-Moo-HA!

»090. Because Winston Churchill said I can't ever give up.

»091. The 12-step program to make me stop hasn't been invented yet.

»092. Any National Anthem, before the start, anywhere.

»093. Knowing that when you wake up at 4:00am, the next time you go to bed you will be VERY different person.

»094. 6 miles, 10 minutes - straight down to Keene.

»095. Yellow Lake done - 12 miles downhill to go.

»096. Because you've always wanted to see how many CD's and towels it would take to ride the whole IMC course on the CompuTrainer

»097. Makes your next marathon just a nice morning run.

»098. To make your Boss jealous because YOU have a life that doesn't involve the office.

»099. Because the longer you're out there, the less per hour it really costs!

»100. Being there is way better than watching on Pay-Per-View

»101. Finding yourself in the middle of your doubts ... finding a new meaning of being scared.

»102. Finding out that you're far stronger than those doubts a few miles later.

»103. Falling in step on the run and making a friend to the end, without having to say a word.

»104. A fried breakfast the day after.

»105. Watching people headed home while you're headed out, thinking "I'll be there soon ..." and they cheer for you.

»106. Understanding why that is as your cheering for people headed out when you're finally headed home.

»107. That feeling of ice cubes in your hat on a hot run never getting too cold.

»108. Telling folks with flat tires "It's a long day - hang in there!" and seeing them breathe and smile for a moment.

»109. Hearing people cheer you up while your changing a damn flat tire.

»110. Rolling into T2 knowing that no matter what - you can't have a flat sneaker from here on in.

»111. Having someone catch you, and hold you up when you can't do it anymore.

»112. Miles on the Bike.

»113. The IV's feel SO good the next day.

»114. To see if it really feels as good to do as it does to dream.

»115. To see if it really feels as good the second time.

»116. And a third...

»117. And a fourth...

»118. To try and finish in daylight.

»119. To try and finish before midnight.

»120. To try and NOT get stung by that (#*@! bee this time.

»121. Your friends already think you're a hero - prove them right.

»122. Your husband doesn't...but you might prove it to him too.

»123. An M-Dot Tattoo would look swanky on your ankle.

»124. 5000 Volunteers - all for you.

»125. Hearing them say "You're almost there!" all day long.

»126. Being nearly almost there - for real.

»127. CHICKEN SOUP! (It's been awhile)

»128. Quiet hugs before the start.

»129. Kissing him goodbye, and promising "I'll be back later..."

»130. The first time you think "Holy crap - I'm doing an Ironman!"

»131. Beating back the voices that say "Holy crap - you can't do an Ironman!"

»132. Mile 26.

»133. That moment when you KNOW you're going to make it for the first time all day.

»134. Entering the oval.

»135. Running down Lakeshore Drive.

»136. Running down Alli Drive.

»137. The Finish Line.

»138. The first step after you cross the line and think "Oh, My....God....!"

»139. The Medal.

»139.6 Because they said I can't.

»140.6 Because I say I can.

race bling and random race photos

just for fun, i thought i'd do a mostly picture post tonight of some of my marathon and half marathon medals from 1998 to the present. i'll throw in a few other pics as well that are related and mean a lot to me or just make me LOL.

Boston marathon 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008...my faves!

my first marathon medal...Disney marathon 1998. i was hooked from then on.

2nd marathon was the San Fran marathon in 1998. i figured i needed more of a challenge so the hills it was!

a few more Disney marathon medals. i don't see anymore in my future. Disney is too high maintenance for me. i don't need all the fluff or crowds.

Tampa marathon medals. the middle one was from the inaugural run in 2000.  all the one's i ran were HOT!

one of my favorite shaped medals. this is from the florida gulf beaches marathon (aka: Clearwater marathon).

miami marathon medals from the first and second year. the one on the right spins in the middle.

jacksonville, florida marathon. this is one of my favorite marathons to run. a great boston qualifier and no fluff! very low maintenance, easy to get there and leave without all the crowds and traffic.

an assortment of Gasparilla 15K medals. always a pirate or flamingo theme.

Amy, my running buddy and I after running our first Boston marathon in 1999. ran that one with a stress fracture. thank goodness for Aleve. good times!

2004 Boston marathon, my second one and no stress fracture. found my name on the wall of runners. that was cool.

goofing off after running the san fran marathon 1998. it was still foggy. you can faintly see the golden gate bridge in the background.

and this is one of my all time favorite pictures. this was a 50K trail run in Sarasota, Florida called the Knight's Trail run. does anyone know who that is giving me a trophy for winning overall female?

Per the Boston Marathon website:
One of the most colorful characters in the history of the

B.A.A. Boston Marathon, John A. Kelley, was a fixture of the race for nearly seven decades. A starter on race day 61 times, Kelley completed 58 Boston Marathons. Kelley was not only a two-time winner of Boston (1935 and 1945), but he also finished second a record seven times and recorded 18 finishes in the top 10. Kelley first competed in the race in 1928, but it was not until 1933, in his third attempt, that he completed the course, placing 37th in 3:03:56. He completed his last marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84. In 1993, the statue "Young at Heart" was dedicated in honor of Kelley. Located at the base of Heartbreak Hill in Newton, a landmark which had its name coined in reference to one of Kelley's seven runner-up performances, the statue depicts a young Kelley winning in 1935 at age 27 and clasping hands with an older Kelley finishing in 1991 at age 83. The sculpture stands in tribute to his longevity and spirit. Kelley served as the Boston Marathon's grand marshal from 1995-2004 (missing only 1999 due to illness), preceding the race in a pace car. On October 6, 2004, John A. Kelley passed away, leaving behind him an endless trail of contributions to the sport of running that will continue to inspire generations of athletes for years to come.

thanks for reading and hope everyone had an awesome weekend. i sure did but it was HOT and FUMID (i did spell that with an F on purpose) but still got all of my training done. much love and peace out!

anti-monkey butt winners

congrats to Maria at 2010 Brings Racine. now you can train for a full iron with no fear of monkey butt.

congrats to Patrick at The Road [a multi-sport blog]. i hope it helps you as much as it has me. those long hours in the saddle can really do a number on you.

please send me a private message via facebook with your address so i can get this out to you asap. congrats again and thanks for playing.

another giveaway coming up this week from CSN Stores. stay tuned.

no work equals all play

this was my workout today - 51.7 miles! let me break it down. 14 mile run/35.8 mile bike/1.9 mile swim. a reverse tri! it helped that i took a vacation day from work, otherwise, i'm not sure that i could have done this time wise. i started off the day early so i could get my long run done for the week. this week's long run called for 14 miles. no prob! my goal was to wake up around 4am and head out by 4:30 BUT waking up early has been a challenge for me this week and i blame the j-man for that. he has been on vacation this week and has disrupted my normal sleep schedule. my usual bedtime is between 9-9:30. if i go to sleep much later than that, i can pretty much say with almost 100% certanty that i'm not waking up with enough time to get a decent workout in before work. no big deal because it just means the training will get done later but i prefer to workout early as it sets my mood for the rest of the day. early morning workouts are the best and i swear by that! meanwhile, back at the ranch, the j-man was waiting for me to get back from the run so we could start our ride. i chugged downed a protein shake as fast as a could and then we headed out. the wind was a biotch thanks to tropical storm bonnie. we finished the ride in one piece and then came home, showered, ate, chilled, did a few errands and then j-man dropped me off at the Y so i could get my swim on. thankfully, i finished the swim right in time before the downpour started and before the lifeguards closed up shop. all in all, a good training day. now i just hope my legs aren't totally trashed for tomorrow's long ride in the hills. we shall see.

i've been a slacker jack on the blog commenting this week but have been keeping up and reading everyone's posts. i see lots of races checked off the schedules and lots of races and fun events coming up for many of you.  i will get my commenting ass in gear this weekend and stop being such a lurker. see what happens when the j-man is home all week? my blog life suffers from neglect.

have a great weekend everyone. if you are racing, race smart and finish strong. much love and peace out!

don't forget...

CLICK HERE to enter the anti-monkey butt powder giveaway. you have 2 more day!

born to win

from childhood to adulthood, i've busted my butt to do my best; nothing has ever come easy. and for that, success has never tasted sweeter!

for too many years, i watched my dearest loved one's die a slow death, right before my eyes. i can't get it out of my head. because of that, everyday is a gift!

all my life, i somehow ended up on the hardest path. the easy way was never in sight. and for that, i am stronger!

i've always said, "there is nothing i can't do." i still believe that. and, i set out each and everyday to prove this, if only to myself!

someone once told me, you'll never amount to much. that was the day my life began. and for those hurtful words, i am thankful!

so this is where my journey has dropped me off for now. i have big dreams. and life, is just getting better and better everyday!

never quit and always believe in yourself!

~KC

how do you spell R-E-L-I-E-F?

A-M-B-P

Treatment for Soreness, Itching and Redness Caused by the Friction of Clothing Against Skin

Relief = Anti Monkey Butt Powder!

i mentioned in a few posts ago, that i was having some issues with getting comfortable in my tri bike saddle. something about being in the aero position was absolutely brutal...

as if my bike short's chamois was made of the coarsest sandpaper money can buy. this had been going on for about 3 months and i was really beginning to get a LITTLE worried about the 112 miles in my future. i didn't buy a tri bike to ride in the upright position..that's what my roadbike is for. i tried every pair of biking shorts i own and they all felt terrible. i just couldn't figure it out. about a month ago, i noticed a lot of buzz going on in the blogosphere about Anti-Monkey Butt Powder and thought, I GOTTA TRY THAT STUFF! hell, it couldn't hurt, right? so i contacted the generous folks at Robin Leedy & Associates, Inc. and they were kind enough to send me 2 types of Anti-Monkey Butt Powder to try for myself, to review and to giveaway to 2 lucky readers (1 guy and 1 gal).

most people who know me, know that i spend a lot of time in the saddle and with that comes the dreaded monkey butt. i have my own definition of monkey butt and it includes all areas in the vicinity of the booty. it never fails, every year, once i start averaging 200-250 miles per week, the saddle sores and the chaffing rear their ugly heads. prior to learning about AMBP, i used this:

have you ever used this stuff before? it feels so GROSS! not to mention, if you wear shorts that are light in color, prepare to ruin your shorts. this stuff smells mediciny, it's greasy and will leave permanent stains much like petroleum jelly would. it isn't a good option for me. 

                      A sprinkle a day will keep the saddle sores away!

the first day i tried the Lady Anti Monkey Butt, i was in love with the smell and the color...it's pink! and, it doesn't have that gross greasy feeling. i'm happy to report that with a little tweaking of my aero position and using AMBP, i've been able to stay in the aero position the entire ride. no sandpaper rub going on anymore, thank goodness. even though the chaffing and soreness have been conquered, i will still continue to use this miracle pink powder as a preventative measure because no matter who you are, if you spend hours in the saddle, you will get some degree of monkey butt. so my advice is to be proactive rather than reactive, get yourself some AMBP and sprinkle away.

now it's your turn to get your hands on some AMBP. one lucky guy will win a 6 ounce bottle of the original AMBP and one lucky gal will receive a 6 ounce bottle of the lady AMBP.

Anti Monkey Butt Powder Giveaway

here's how to get in on this giveaway (please leave a separate comment for each one that you do):

1. Become a follower of 140.6 by clicking on the Google "follow" button located on my blog sidebar under the "friends" heading and let me know if you are a guy or gal. If you are already a follower, just let me know this AND if are a guy or gal. this is one entry.

2. Follow AMBP on Facebook by clicking HERE  and let me know that you did this for another entry.

3. Follow AMBP on Twitter by clicking HERE  and let me know that you did, for an additional entry.

4.  For even more chances to win, you can tweet about it, facebook it, and post the giveaway on your blog. for each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment.

contest will run through july 23rd, 12PM EST. i'll pick each winner using random.com and post the winners on friday evening.

thanks to John Whitcomb at Robin Leedy & Associates, Inc. for sending me this wonderful product to try out and giveaway.

The fine print: I was not paid to review this product.

much love and peace out!

so irritated!

yesterday evening, i spent a lot of time creating a post for the anti-monkey butt powder review and giveaway and when i hit the publish post button...I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE AND LOST THE ENTIRE FREAKIN' POST! it was so good too. blogger, you suck sometimes and yesterday you sucked big time! that's all i have to say right now. did this happen to anyone else yesterday?

i'll be back later to re-create the giveaway post from yesterday. much love and peace out!

Q & A with 2 superstars - part 2

Beautiful Bling!

6. Could you list everything that you ate and drank from the moment you woke up on race day to the time you finished?


Paula: Race morning started with a mini whole-wheat bagel with organic peanut butter, and some water.
Before the swim, I had one Hammer Gel, with a sip of water. Out of the swim, another Hammer Gel.
Once I got onto the bike, I had 2-3 1/2 hour bottles of Hammer Perpetuem and a gel. I didn't use, but also had on board the bike, baby red potatoes with sea salt, and pretzels. I think I had 2 pretzels. I drank 2-20 oz bottles of H2O, and 2- 20oz bottles of Heed. I also used Endurolytes (electrolyte replenisher), 2 every hour, Race Caps (energy production supplement) 1 per hour, and Sportlegs (Lactate energy supplement to reduce fatigue) 2 every 3 hours on the bike. On the run I had a really hard time with my nutrition, due to my stomach. I had only one gel, and sipped water, and a little Heed. I did take some cola, at mile 23, and a few pretzels at aid stations starting about mile 15.

Angie: Woke up at 3am to get coffee going...drank about 3/4 cup with my favorite, evil creamer...just a bit...always on race morning, I do this...I lived on English muffins while training...peanut butter and jelly, so I made that up too, but could not seem to get myself to eat it. I had a couple bites of my Power Bar protein bar (vanilla), that seemed to go down ok. I took the English muffin w/me in the car for our drive into town, realizing I needed to eat something about an hour before the race. I took one bite of it. It ended up in my husband's pocket. Could that have been the beginning of my race day demise...who knows. I did not eat anything on the bike for about 5 miles...wanted to settle into things. I started w/a couple Clif blocks, then at mile 10, ate 1/2 of my pb/j bagel thins that I had prepared the night before, but in half, so I would eat 1/2 every 10 miles, clif blocks in between and protein bar. NUUN in the water bottles. I had 1/2 bagel left at the end of the ride and quite a few clif blocks...perhaps THIS was the beginning of my demise...too much SOLID food...but what the heck else did people do? This is the formula I'd found to work during my long rides, so I stuck with it. I contemplated trying Perpetuem, but it got to be too close to race day to change things. I ended up eating about 3 margarita clif blocks during the run. I made sure I stayed hydrated...it was hot when I started my run...poured lots of water on my head at each aid station. The nausea set in around mile 13, so I stopped at my run special needs bag and took two Pepto-bismol tabs...demise? As I trotted along into my second loop, I began trying things I had never tried during races...pretzels, cola, orange wedges, chicken broth...demise, demise, demise!!! I'll never know why I got so sick, but I am going to guess I had too much solid food in my belly from the bike ride, so I am going to try Perpetuem in the future.
After the race...back home at the home of the awesome people we were staying with, my husband made me some toast...it was like hangover toast. I took it to bed with me (I so wanted to lie down) and fell asleep w/my medal, and hat on my chest and a bite of toast in my mouth! :D

7. Besides finishing, what was your favorite part of the race? Least favorite?

Paula: I met some of the most amazing people during training. From here in CdA to across the country to Canada. I loved seeing friendly faces on the course, and the fact that everyone was so encouraging along the way. That bond of race day is unforgettable. And the volunteers. They really pumped you up, and made the day fun. My least favorite besides my bad stomach, was knowing that some of my friends were not going to finish. Not only people I knew personally, but those out on the course late, that I knew were not going to make it in by midnight, was just heartbreaking. You know how long these people have trained, and what they have sacrificed over the past year or more, and to not cross that finish line would be excruciating.

Angie: My favorite part of the race had to be the swim start. Although I was full of nervous energy, I felt in awe of all the people around me and the fact you could "FEEL" the positive energy and excitement. Mike Riley is amazing at pumping up a crowd and when all of us age groupers began walking down to the beach after the pros started it still sort of seem like a dream. I remember looking around at all the faces. Everyone, regardless of experience, had the same look...you'll know it when you see it! There was music and chatter from the spectators behind us, but all around "us" it seems strangely quiet. I get a lump in my throat just typing about it. I loved those 15 minutes of waiting...it was torture, but I loved it. Mike Riley told everyone to have the best day of our lives...the cannon went off and I just walked toward the water and started swimming...I was doing an IRONMAN!!! I think my least favorite part of the day was when I realized my 14-15 hour time goal was long gone...walking was the best I could do for the last 6 miles....I was disappointed in myself, felt like I'd let my husband down...all the time, money and sacrifices over the past several months...what would he think? Why was I doing this if I couldn't do it well? I knew I would still make the cut off, but I didn't want to "just finish.” Of course, Thomas was nothing but smiles when I saw him at the finish...he never expects anything from me and when I saw him on the corner just before the finish, I started crying...telling him I wasn't going to make it in 15hrs...no kidding! He was just so excited, asked if I was ok, then ran back to the finish line to get pictures. It was an exciting day for him too and I know he'll be there 110% when I begin training for the next one.

8. Knowing what you know now, if you could push rewind, is there anything that you would have done different in the race? If so, what?

Paula: Taking in a little less calories on the bike due to the heat. I am sure that is what caused the stomach issues on the run. I also think I would have tried to not worry so much about being sick, and pushed harder on the run.

Angie: Well, the two things that took time away from my race were things I would not or could not change....the stop for the rider was necessary and I am glad I stopped right before he went down...no regrets! The LONG potty stop on the run was unavoidable...so, I guess I would dig even deeper during those dark miles...18-26 and RUN!!! Walking seemed to be taking every ounce of mental and physical strength I had...but could I have done better? I would have made it under 16 had I just dug deeper and overcome that evil darkness.

9. What training plan did you use to train for this IM? Would you follow it again?

Paula: I used the beIRONfit book, by Don Fink. I loved that it had different plans in it, depending on your time commitment. I used the competitive plan to start the bike and run training, and used the intermediate to start my swim training. I ended up bumping up the swim to competitive during the last 10 weeks. I would recommend it to new Ironman athletes or people with time constraints. Next time I think I will use an even more competitive plan, or possibly hire a coach.

Angie: I followed beginner triathlete online. Free training plan for first time Ironman. I would use the plan again, but change it a little here and there since I now know I can handle a heavier training load. Mentally I need more, and I know physically, I can do it. I may get some coaching as well, but I don't need/want too much "hands on". I am very self motivated, and wouldn't want to have to meet w/someone once a week or whatever. I do need to follow some sort of plan for this big of an event because I am notorious for over training.

10. Will you do 140.6 miles again? If so, which one do you want to do next?

Paula: I am planning on doing it again for sure. I am still deciding on doing CdA again in "11, or possibly Canada. I am also looking at doing 3- 70.3's instead in '11, to work a little more on my nutrition, and add in alot of speed work, and possibly do another 140.6 in '12. I would also like to do AZ.

Angie: I WILL do another 140.6. Planning Canada for 2012. Will probably go up next August to volunteer on race day and then register. I have heard Vineman is a great race, not an "IRONMAN", but 140.6...so I am considering that one. I WILL reach the 14-15hr time goal!
*****************

Anti Monkey Butt Powder review and giveaway coming up next post. Stay tuned! Much love and peace out!

Q & A with 2 superstars - Part 1

the blogosphere is truly a beautiful place. like i've said many times before and i have to say it again, i have met so many wonderful people, not even in real life, yet you feel like you've known them forever. you click with them almost instantly and you know, if and when you were to ever meet in real life, it would be like old friends. old friends that could sit and chat for hours and hours. 2 of these people happen to have just completed their first ever IM at CDA. i especially"click" with these 2 IRONWOMEN because we all happen to be the same age. i thought it would be fun to pose 10 questions to both of them about the race and they both agreed graciously to play along. i thought it would also be helpful for me and for a lot of those who read my blog who are either getting ready to do a 140.6 or are planning on it for next year. this is for you! i hope you enjoy it and find it enlightening. i sure did and i want to thank Angie and Paula (Adventure Junkie Mom) for taking the time to answer all of the questions in detail. today i will post the first 5 questions and answers and tomorrow will be the last 5.

1. What made you decide that you wanted to do 140.6 miles in one day?

Paula : I have always loved a great challenge. I remember watching Kona on TV as a young kid/teen. Watching and hearing about Julie Moss clawing her way to the finish of Ironman was so motivating, and inspiring, and just plain crazy, planted that seed for me. From then on, I knew at one point in my life, I would compete in an Ironman. I love seeing how far I can push my body.

Paula Nilges, you are an Ironman!

Angie: I think since seeing the Ironman televised since the 80's, it's always been in the back of my mind that doing it would be amazing. I did not know other Ironman races besides Kona existed until a few years back when I met some people who were always going to Coeur d'Alene to do Ironman. I had done my first multi-sport event in 1991; run/bike/run, moved on to marathons in 1997 when I also did my first sprint triathlon in April. The appropriately named Beaver Freezer. I was hooked! I soon added the Olympic distance, took a couple years off tri's, keeping w/the marathoning, then in 2006 jumped back into the tris w/my first Half Iron...Pacific Crest in Central Oregon. We had been to this weekend of endurance events twice where I did the half marathon and the next year, the marathon...and I remember thinking "half ironman"...THAT would be cool and I know I could do THAT. So, that's what I did in 2006 on my first road bike! I did all my other tris on a commuter/hybrid thingy. I knew an Ironman was in my future, but probably not until working part time would be ok for us (me and Thomas). Obviously, the "need" to do an Ironman came sooner than the working part time. My friend, Alice, asked if I'd training for IM w/her and I said...uh...YEAH!!! She'd rocked the half irons and was ready for the next step. We found out about how and when to register, but when last year's registration date rolled around, Alice was unable to do it...but I was mentally there...I was going to GO FOR IT!!!!! I talked to my husband about it, explaining this would be my priority unless there was a life and death situation over the next year. As always, he completely supported what I chose to do. The rest is history!

Angie Gerber, you are an Ironman!

2. What does it feel like to complete an IM?

Paula: It is one of the most euphoric but agonizing experiences I have ever had. The mental and physical aspect is unbelievable. Your body feels great, but then will try and play tricks on you, and that is where your mental fortitude has to kick in and be your strength. It takes everything you have physically, and then some. Nothing can compare to crossing that finish line. Hearing your name called, and knowing the training, time, pain, and everything you gave up to get there ALL paid off, is priceless. It is all worth it in the end to hear you are an Ironman!!!

Angie: Even just over two weeks after the Ironman, I think about the whole adventure every day. It feels like you are part of an "elite club" that few people will join, or even want to join. Sometimes I felt like it was all a very selfish thing to do...I didn't raise money for a charity, it wasn't a war for freedom or peace...it was all about ME. I paid money to put myself through months of training, and on race day..all the people who give their time to volunteer, all the spectators who watch and wait and tell you you're awesome. Some moments I felt like it was just so selfish, but I simply crave the endurance and energy from events and since I'll never participate in the Olympics or Tour de France, I think the Ironman will always be the biggest, most exciting thing I'll be a part of as far as this sort of thing goes.

3. Did you ever have any moments while you were racing, when you felt like you just couldn't keep going? If so, how did you push through it?

Paula: I am a runner, and going into IM, although I knew the run would not be easy, it was what I looked forward to the most. My swim and bike went great, and about 2 miles into the run, my stomach started cramping up. The pain was so intense I didn't think I could go on. Looking at the mile markers, and thinking at that point I still had 24 miles to go was crazy. At about 13 miles, I saw my husband, and I got very teary-eyed and told him I was "so done" He said, "no you are not, keep going." I knew right then that could not give up. I have taken an entire year to train for this race. The time away from my family and friends was hard, and I knew I could not give up on them. My family and a lot of friends were there for me from the start, and were there at the finish. To give up was not an option when I thought about that. Everyone sacrificed so much. AND I could not give up on myself. This was a dream of mine that I was not going to let go of. I just kept thinking, "Keep moving forward" It was so hard, but would have been so much harder for me to give up and quit. I talked a lot to myself on those last few miles. Chanting in my head, "don't give up, keep going" "Make your dream come true."

Angie: Yes, I had those dark moments when I thought I wouldn't be able to finish, but it would not be because I chose not to go on, but because at my worst point, I felt like I was going to be face down on the pavement. I have never had this horrible nausea while running before and the way I felt was kind of scary...I felt frustrated and out of control of what was happening to my body. When the nausea got BAD between miles 18-22, I couldn't even raise my head to speak to the AMAZING volunteers who tried still to get more food/drink in you...I even considered ditching my stupid hand held water bottle because I was using energy to hold it....but I didn't want to do that because my sunglasses were in the little pocket and I didn't want to lose those! I could put them on my head, but I didn't want them on when I crossed the finish. These were just some of the random thoughts running through my head during those very dark miles. I knew I would make the cut off if I didn't pass out...then...I threw up and I felt a little less foggy. Still no running, but the finish was MINE!

4. What was a typical week's worth of workouts like when you were in the thick of your IM training?

Paula: I trained 6 days a week, for 30 weeks. The peak training at the end was where things got long. Every day I trained in 2 disciplines, swimming/biking, swimming/running, and biking/running. 4 days a week were shorter days, with Friday being a long bike day, and Saturday being a long run day. Mon-Thur workouts would last anywhere from 2-3 hours, and Friday/Sat workouts 71/2-9 hours.

Angie:  In the thick of it all, I loved the heaviest of the training...it felt right. My plan was for FIRST time IM, just to finish, so mind you, there was no strength training and it seemed too light at times. For example, weekdays would be,  2hr bike followed by 60-90 min run; 3500-4000 swim followed by 45 minute run; 2500m swim followed by 2hr bike; 2500m swim followed by 180 min run. The big weekends were 6hr bike followed by 1hr run. I did my rides by mileage though, not time...I needed to know I was getting in the MILES because I didn't know what the plan expected me to be covering in 6hrs. Lots of bricks, and almost every workout was a double, unless it was an easy week.

5. With 1 IM under your belt, what one piece of advice would you share with someone who is training for their first 140.6?

Paula: Be consistent in your training, including nailing down your nutrition. Trust that training on race day, and DO NOT deviate from your plan.

Angie:  Follow YOUR training plan and TRUST the training plan! This is the first event I have trained for following a structured plan (really!) and I followed it almost to a "T". Tweaking it only a few times so the long rides were on a weekend and not weekday, but I can count on one hand the workouts I actually missed and most of those were the last week...when it really wasn't going to help/hinder anyway. Another HUGE thing for me is not comparing to others plans or ability level of the 3 events. I have two friends who are doing Lake Placid in less than two weeks and we did a lot of rides together before my IM. They are so much stronger on the bike than me and I got really discouraged. It was good for me, but mentally, I felt so inadequate and wondered what I was thinking signing up for this IM! Their 100 milers would take them 5.5 and I was out there for 7hrs...but now, looking back...none of it mattered! I put in the time, I did improve and everyone's abilities and experience is different. There are so many different plans out there, but each one is right for each person. I could have handled a heavier training load, but I am so glad I followed my training plan. I will still train w/my LP friends because I see now that it will only make me stronger and they could care less if i am slower! That's what I love about "our people"....everyone has a different time goal, but everyone's ultimate goal is the same...CROSS THE FINISH LINE!!!
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much love and peace out!

a NO suckage kind of weekend

this weekend's training was one of those to write home about. actually, the whole week was great, especially after the wash out we had around here last weekend. i got in my long run on wednesday morning, a 13 miler, and lots of strong rides. this weekend, we hit the hills on saturday and ended up with 76.5 miles and an average speed of 20.1, which is killer strong for this particular ride. this morning, the j-man and i went out for our usual 50 miler and as usual, there are always a few surges here and there...gotta spank a few cyclists now and then. i get way too much pleasure out of doing that. i'm so ashamed...NOT! we averaged a nice 20.8 mph for that ride. once we got home, i did my transition from bike to run and was out the door for my scheduled 4 miler. a big thanks to the j-man for cleaning my bike off, so i could get cranking on the run asap. before i left, i filled my hand-held water bottle with lots of ice and cold water and was on my way. this helped so much because it was hot and the sun was out in full force. i kept drinking and pouring the cold water on my head and that worked beautifully. i'm on to something here! overall, a grand weekend of training and i feel good about where my training is at this time...exactly where it needs to be.

are there any entomologists out there that read my blog? if so, can you tell what kind of bug bit the crap out of me while i was swimming in the pool? actually, whatever it was that bit me was on the kickboard i was using because i was doing a kicking set when i felt the bite but didn't really think much about it when it happened. i'm not sure if it's getting better or worse. if you click on the picture to make it bigger, you can get a better look at it. it itches on and off and when it does itch, i scratch the hell out of it. it's warm to the touch and slightly raised but doesn't hurt at all thank goodness. in the meantime, i'm keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't turn into an infection. good times!

i had a A-Ha kind of moment this week. for about the last 3 months, i have had a lot of uncomfortableness on my tri-bike saddle, particularly in the aero position. call it monkey butt, heat rash, hell on earth, whatever you like, it hurt! i tried different bike shorts, bag balm, a different seat, nothing helped. we couldn't figure out why since the first 6 months that i had the tri bike, this was never an issue. what changed? i finally figured it out when the j-man put the new seat on last weekend for me to try and i told him that i felt like the seat was now to high. we had completely forgotten that we flipped my step to make me lower in the front, thus changing my position. last night, we put the bike back to where it was originally and it was like a dream ride this morning. no pain whatsoever. i'm so happy and so is my hoo-ha!

speaking of monkey butt, stay tuned because since i've had the troubles downtown, i've been using the lady anti monkey butt powder and i love it. more details on AMBP and a giveaway coming this week. you know you want some!

i hope everyone who raced this weekend had a good one. looking forward to reading up on all the great race reports tomorrow. while we are on the subject of races, i have a fantastic blog post coming sometime this week that will focus on some quality Q & A's with 2 recent, Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene finishers. it was their first IM distance race also. i know for many of us getting ready to do 140.6 either this year or next year, we will enjoy reading about their experience since we can totally relate to them. 2 weeks ago, they were just mere mortals, today they are IRON(wo)MEN!

i want to leave you with a funny commercial. i crack up everytime i see it come on the T.V. make sure you turn my playlist off so you can here the song playing on the ad.

there are so many subtle things in the video that catch my attention, like the hoody sweatshirt that reads Hampstar and the street sign that reads Hampsterdam, and all the billboards in the background that are hamster related.  LOVE. THIS. COMMERCIAL!
much love and peace out!

suckage to the n'th degree

 ***warning***

i am all over the place today people! i have an overwhelming amount of scattered thoughts that i'm about to vomit onto this blog, so go grab a drink (i'll wait), take a xanax if you have one, kick up your feet, and enjoy.                 

Total suckage! this is the crap we have had everyday since friday. nice, for a holiday weekend huh? the rain has been plentiful and the riding/training not so much. let's rewind to thursday night. it's pouring rain but as almost always, the rain is long gone by morning, so i still had my plan in mind to get up early, hit the pool and ride after. friday morning arrives quickly at 4:45am so i get up, grab some coffee, check a few emails and get my swim bag and myself ready to roll out. the plan was a quick 2000 meters and then get back home to meet up with the j-man for a 30 mile bike ride before heading into work. i step into the garage, throw my bag in the car, open the garage door and WTF? i had no idea it was STILL raining. now usually i can hear the rain from inside but i didn't this time. maybe i was still half asleep? i made a quick decision to not chance going. a few things that i thought of in a matter of seconds to make that decision: (1) the lifeguards probably overslept anyway because the lightning probably knocked their electricity out and in turn, their clocks were still blinking, or (2) the lifeguards were on time but after one look at the radar, they see lightning in Texas and decide it's too close and won't allow us to swim. in all seriousness, i knew that i would be getting out of work at noon anyway, so swimming later would be the best option. i took my swim bag with me and my plan would be to hit the Y on my way back home. remember all the rain i mentioned earlier? it was STILL raining when i left work. i came straight home and chilled for a while. then, at about 3:30pm, a break in the weather...no rain, no lightning, no thunder. it's go time! i got to the pool at around 4:30pm and it was so eerie. there was nobody there except the 2 lifeguards! not one swimmer, except for me. good to know that friday, late afternoon, is a great time to go swim. after i got done swimming, i hit the treadmill for 4 miles of intervals. i've never minded running on a treadmill. in fact, i've done a handful of 26.2 mile runs on the treadmill when training for a marathon and my sanity remained intact, which the same cannot be said for riding a bike trainer inside. after 2 hours, my brain is fried and for the life of me, i can't figure out how the 2 could be so different mentally. anyway, i like that i can dial in a pace and hold steady on the treadmill, which helps when you head out for the actual race. you can actually teach yourself to recognize and feel the pace you want to have.

the last 2 days, saturday and sunday, we were able to sneak in a 50 miler and a 30 miler in between all the rain but nowhere near the mileage we were planning on. after the 50 mile ride on saturday, i ran 3 miles at an 8:10 pace and felt like i was running 10 minute miles. i'm always amazed at how it feels so much slower than actual pace. thanks to my garmin for keeping me honest!

speaking of the garmin, i finally put all of the accessories to use. the heartrate monitor is so comfortable. i only used a heartrate monitor a few times in the mid 90's but quickly abandoned it because it was so bulky and made me feel like i couldn't breathe. i also put the cadence/speed sensor on my roadbike so that i could pick up all the data while riding inside on the trainer. i've never been one to live or die by heartrate, but it is pretty cool to see the data once it has been uploaded.  i also learned something not to do with the garmin when outside running or riding. in my case it was running.

the wrong way

as comfortable as the unit feels facing palm up, don't do it, especially in an area with lots of tree coverage. you will lose satellite contact and will be very pissed when you see a 9 to 10 minute mile, average pace, pop up when in fact, you know you were running an 8 minute mile. i noticed that a couple of my miles were off my normal pace by about a minute. i quickly remembered reading that the face should be facing up for best satellite reception and turned the watch back over. too bad, because it is way more comfortable the way you see it in the picture.

TdF is in full swing. yesterday was full of crashes especially in the last 2km. did you all see the crash earlier on with the dog? i guess they don't have leash laws in that part of the world like they do here. this is just one of many dog incidences in the TdF. personally, if i were on of the riders that crashed with someone's dog, i'd want to kick the shit out the owner for being such a dumbass. here is a video of one of my favorite dog crashes:

next on my list of important topics, the 2010 nathan's hotdog eating contest. this year was totally disappointing to me. joey chestnut only ate 54 hotdogs, which was 14 less than last year. i don't blame him since he really had no competition. without kobayashi there to compete against him, this was about as exciting to watch as paint peeling off the wall. it's hard for me to believe that the governing body of professional eating and kobayashi are locked in a dispute, much like a sports figure holding out for more money before he signs a contract. then, after the contest was over, kobayashi was arrested and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. what is this professional world of eating coming to? next they will test for performance enhancing drugs! rumor has it that my buddy, jeff, at dangle the carrot, was on scene as a competitor spectator last year at the hotdog eating contest. i know last year was an exciting one to watch on t.v. so i can only imagine how much fun it would have been to be there in person. how many did you end up eating jeff?

as i mentioned before in a recent post, i've been experimenting with different nutrition options before, during and after training, but mostly the before and during. on thursday morning, i did my long run (12 miles) and took along a apple pie lara bar. i ate it little by little throughout the run and timed it so that i could take in water shortly after. i had no issues until i hit mile 11 and could feel my tummy rumbling a little. thankfully, i only had 1 mile to go and made it home with a finishing time of 1:41:51.  my conclusion with this lara bar is that it may have too much fiber to use during training but it may be perfect for part of a pre-race meal eaten a couple of hours beforehand.

back to the drawing board-next on the list before the long run will be a half of a white bagel (not my usual whole wheat) with some natural peanut butter on it. even though i've never been one to eat much before a run, especially a marathon, i went against my better judgement and ate a huge marble bagel with natural peanut butter on it before running the Boston marathon in 2008...it was one of my best run marathon's ever!

ok, i need to get my butt in gear now. i'm not seeing an end in sight for this rain, so i'm going to hop on the trainer and see how long i can stand to be on it, then i'm heading to the Y for a run on the treadmill and then a swim after.

i hope everyone is having better weather than we are and that you've been able to get out and enjoy it. i will leave you with one more video that almost made me pee in my running shorts. i haven't laughed that hard in ages. pay particular attention when the video gets to the 30 second mark:

much love and peace out!