Is it 10 PM yet?

Over the past couple of months as my workouts have gotten longer and more frequent, I've noticed something is happening to my body.

If you guessed rippling muscles and guns of a size even the Army could appreciate...well my friend, you would be wrong. Sorry. Let's check back on that in a few more months. Hopefully.

Nope, this change is somewhat disturbing. I've started, gasp....going to bed earlier and earlier. I shamelessly watch the clock like a pot about to boil and wait for a witching hour that feels like a respectable time to call it a night.

11PM. 10:45PM. 10:30PM. We're barely making it until 10PM now people! Is it even dark at 10PM? But I can't keep my eyes open a minute longer...and here is the new form of training I am undertaking:

I'm not complaining. I'm just observing. I'm also giving a big shout-out to those of you who embark on this journey with kids in tow. You rock. I don't know how you keep the energy up Iron Friends!

Goodnight...

I want a do-over!

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

Frederick Douglass

I rode to my ability today, which is the exact reason I am disappointed. After spending some time in the gym lifting weights this week, working on my core strength, running, and doing fun things like ILTs on the trainer, the inevitable happened: I wore my legs out.

Today's ride was a repeat of last Sunday's. I figured it would also be a great test of any improvement I may be making. I had hoped I would dance on the pedals and blow through the ride in 15-20 minutes under last week's time. That didn't happen.

Valencia & Tom - who joined us on the ride today for the first time & loved the hills - cranked out the first few miles in a pace I can only hope to someday experience. By the time we hit mile 8, I informed them that I was cutting today's ride short. I decided to turn around when we hit Paoli rather than do the additional loop with the crazy hills.

My.legs.were.so.tired.

I fought very hard to not let negative thoughts creep in. It's early in the training. I still put 22 miles in. I've been putting my legs through the ringer so it's to be expected.

I'm still a little disappointed.

In the meantime, I'm on the lookout for the right online training program for me. I sampled Training Peaks and liked it. I'm also checking out BeginnerTriathlete which looks similar to TP. If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate the help!

This week I've upped the training to 10 hours total. Need to get that running up if I'm shooting for a half marathon in late January...which also reminds me - I'm working through my 2008 race schedule now. I hope to have that posted this week. Definitely a couple of half marathons, and hopefully a couple of half ironmans. I'm excited about putting pen to paper, so to speak.

My husband says an idle Mindee is the devil's workshop. To keep me going through to next September I'm going to need a few checkpoints along the way!

ILT...is that like BLT?

I did a very fun thing on the trainer the other night. Thanks to my 8 day trial membership of Training Peaks, I get to sample a wide variety of brand new workouts. And there it was on Wednesday's agenda:

ILTs.

(can you see me cocking my head to one side, confused expression on my face, slightly scared?)

I requested a translation from Training Peaks and here is what I got:

Isolated Leg Training (ILT) on trainer. After warm-up, alternate 20 to 60 seconds with 1 leg only--the other on a chair. Get in 7-10 minutes with each leg total in the workout. CP180 on ILT.

Had to look up CP. CP=Critical Power. 180 is minutes. So, the critical power I could maintain for 180 minutes. Aka, low intensity.

I'm learning so much!

This workout was eye-opening. I found out I'm a mess on the pedal stroke. I'm all over the place. Which typically results in a very disgraceful, hideous jerking movement at the top of the stroke when my leg catches up with the pedal. This is something I never would've uncovered with my current 2-legged pedaling training.

And, it was great. I loved the workout. It took a tremendous amount of concentration to smooth my stroke and as I neared the end of the set it took a whole lot of energy to get my shaky leg up over the top again. When I cooled down with both legs at the end, my stroke felt smooth like butter. In one workout, I could honestly feel a slight improvement! Now those are my kind of workouts!

Paoli Pictures

As promised, but perhaps a little late...here are a few shots of the weekend ride! And Tea, you are so right - I am very lucky to get to ride on the IM course...it is wildly beautiful.

The gang before the ride, from right - Brian, Johanna, Valenica, and myself.

Top of the world (or just a very big hill outside of the town)

Rolling hills (actually pretty fun in this section - you can pick up a bit of speed)

Blue skies (have to appreciate the blue before the gray sets in)

My ride (s)

Holy Hills & Wicked Wind

Our adventure began Sunday with a pretty standard trek out to Paoli, followed by a new little jaunt for us, ever-so-cryptically called "Pedaling around Paoli", followed by the ride back home.

It was Valencia, Johanna & her husband Brian, and me. I have a few pictures I'll put up tomorrow.

46.3 miles when all was said and done. Isn't it funny how once you pass a bigger milestone, the smaller ones seem even more doable? After 73 miles, anything less just sounds like no big deal to me. 'Sounds', not 'feels'. Anything over 30 still 'feels' like 73 to me. I'm excited for that magical moment when sounds and feels become one.

Back to my story - around Madison for cyclists, I think all roads lead to Paoli. Round trip from the near west side of town averages around 23ish miles. It's hilly in parts, but we're not talking l'Alpe d'Huez here so it's manageable if you're say, not Lance Armstrong. Totally manageable.

Pedaling around Paoli, as we discovered, is very hilly. Turns out I can climb a hill so slow that my computer will actually be unable to register any speed. Not even when I slide backward!

Beyond the hills, in my opinion, Madison is pretty famous for at least a couple of things: Halloween and wind. It's not Halloween yet so let's focus on wind.

This is the kind of "Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" type of wind. No kidding, I swear I saw a cow or two taking to the sky. Since my bike shoes are not ruby red, I had to figure out how to stay on the ground.

Which culminated in 3 big firsts for me on this ride:
- 1st time I hit 36 mph on my max speed, achieved during this amazingly long downhill patch outside of Paoli. What a rush! And thankfully, no potholes or pavement anomalies to send me flying into a row of corn or broadside into a barn. It would seem like this would have nothing to do with wind, unless you consider that it might have been at my back...
- 1st time I really had to battle strong winds on my bike. And for 90% of the day, these were not at my back. I had to practice leaning into the gusts to maintain balance.
- 1st time I've been part of a paceline. For about 5 miles on the route home, when the wind was truly at our backs and the road was flatter than a pancake, we formed a beautiful straight line averaging 22 mph. I have decided I want to ride my 112 miles at 22mph. The feeling of effortlessly going that fast...that was pretty incredible. Poetry in motion.

All in all, I came out of the ride just a little more confident than I went in. I want to do a ride like that a hundred more times so nothing about it is scary or intimidating for me. Had I not been training for Ironman, I would've told myself it was too windy to ride and I would've missed all those 1sts.

Can you imagine?

Wow!

I love triathlons, but I gotta say - I love the people I have met along the way even more. Check out this warm welcome from my new Iron Friend Tea. She's swimming, cycling, and running with altitude all the way to the COEUR D'ALENE Ironman in 2008!

I am still grinning from ear to ear after getting such a cool shout-out! The Ironman video is inspiring on an all new level. It really sums up the blood, sweat, and tears that will make hearing those golden words "You are an Ironman!" so exquisitely beautiful.

Thank you again Tea. You made my day!

Diva Night

Last night was girls-night-out, and it was exactly what I needed. The 5 of us met at Eno Vino for fabulous cocktails & conversation before heading over to Fleet Feet for "Diva Night"...a special evening for the ladies, complete with a fall fashion show of the latest trends in workout gear and exclusive shopping discounts.

In the fab 5: Johanna & Valencia - both celebrating their Chicago marathon milestones, Jen - avid runner & newlywed, and Azure - incredible mom who is also training for a 10k in December. We had a blast as women typically do when they get together.

It is hard to describe how wonderful it is to have a strong support network of women. It is so inspiring. I even won a raffle item - a long sleeved base layer T from Horny Toad. New workout clothes also help with motivation!

I also just bought a resistance band to work on my hip flexors and a wobble board so I can do some core exercises. The wobble board is crazy. It is really difficult to balance on it, which is good - that means this is going to be a challenge! I watched the attached DVD and it was easy to follow the different moves. I know I have a weak core and I think by investing in some of these exercises now, it will help when the serious endurance workouts start in a few months.

This weekend's agenda is a nice and easy 5 mile run on Saturday, followed by a 3-4 hour bike on Sunday. Johanna is going to join Valencia & I on the ride. It will be a lot of fun. The weather has really turned into true fall temperatures and fall is my absolute favorite season. I love the crispness of the air and the falling leaves. I can't wait to get on my bike outside again and see what the farms are up to this weekend!

Starting Now

If you're coasting, you're going downhill.
L.W. Pierson

Some days are just harder than others. I've been "on the program" for 4 1/2 weeks so far, and today is a hard day. Actually, today is a lost day. I didn't do my workout. I feel guilty about it and I'm not happy with myself. I made a few excuses (I'm tired. I need a day off. I'll get back to it tomorrow.) and the evening has slipped past me.

I'm sure this is not an uncommon problem. But it also occurred to me tonight: how important is this day - this workout? When I get to that starting line in September of next year, will this lost workout make the difference?

I came to the conclusion that it could. It might. It's possible. And I don't want to risk it. I made a vow that today is the last lost day due to lack of motivation. There may be lost days due to circumstances outside of my control, but starting now I promise myself that I won't continue to let myself down.

It's hard to go workout. It's hard to change habits. It's hard to strive for a goal. I'm committed to this 100%. And starting now, "hard" is about to get a run for its money!

Like a fish out of water

I lifted weights today. First, I went up to the gym at work and stumbled around cluelessly for about 15 minutes, but then I actually lifted weights. It really transpired like this - what's this machine called? oh ok, is this on my list of exercises? yep, there it is...now how does this work? wait, am I doing this right?

Repeat for about 10 machines.

And for about an hour.

It was cool to get it started. I know I will get into the routine soon enough. Then I went home and did about 30 minutes on the trainer. My legs were so tired! I realize I am supposed to schedule strength training & cardio a bit further apart, so that's next on my agenda.

I really like the little "firsts" so far...first time back in the weight room after more than 7 years! (the summer before my wedding was the last time). First ride past 40 miles...which also means first 73 mile ride. First "two-a-day" workout (if you count weights & the trainer).

Even though I know I have a long way to go, there are so many things to look forward to on this journey...

But I'm already in my smallest ring...

Valencia, recovering from the Chicago marathon, was dying to get back on her bike and do a nice long ride. At one point she mentioned century, but my husband and I outnumbered her and picked a 68 mile journey from Madison to New Glarus, WI and back. That sounded daunting enough.

Saturday was a great fall day - crisp autumn air and no sun. Here 's a pic of the 3 of us just before we set off at 9am.

You may be wondering how a ride this long got on my training plan of "building up slowly." It didn't. This was nothing short of slightly crazy. It's so early in the off-season we figured it couldn't hurt and it was designed to be an eye-opener as to how much training we have before us.

Turns out, that's a lot. At least for me.

Valencia and Jeff stayed together most of the ride, while I was behind. They waited for me, which always made me feel like I was holding them back but was very nice of them at the same time. (they won't admit it, but I think they appreciated the little breaks. ok, that's my own rationalization) The hills were killing me. I'm adding strength training to my plan starting tomorrow. My legs were woefully unprepared for climbing.

The scenery outside of Madison is breathtakingly beautiful, with miles of farms & animals. We had to stop and take a picture of this place though - they had a llama! It was too funny to pass up.

On some of the hills I chanted in my head, "You can do it" - each word was the down stroke of the pedal. Near the end, in the last 15 miles I switched to "You can only get home by riding." My brain was looking for a way out at that point, and my body was right behind it. I swear, if a taxi rolled by one of the farms we rode past, I would've packed my bike in the trunk & got in faster than I rode most of the day.

For nutrition and hydration, I was trying PowerBar Triple Threats, Jelly Belly Beans, Nuun, and Clif Shots. I felt pretty good overall, but could've used more substantial energy than the Triple Threats were providing. Next I'm going to try the PowerBar 3 step system in training to see how that works for me.

We finally finished the day, but it took 6 hours and 40 minutes to cover 73 total miles. Unacceptable! I have definitely established a baseline that must be crushed with further training. I think Jeff & V could've shaved off a bit of time without me, which makes me even more determined to work harder! I was completely exhausted afterward. Jeff was not that tired and only a little sore - V was tired but got a 2nd wind near the end and finished fine.

I have a ton of work to do!

It takes a lot of heart...

Congratulations to my friends Valencia, Johanna, Alesia, Gil, and Dan for their incredible victories today! You guys are rockstars! The challenges you faced and the battles you won are true testaments of your character, training, and heart.

The 30th Annual Chicago Marathon promised to be a great celebration of a great race in a great city. The first and the last were definitely true today - the race itself, however, may not top a lot of the participants' favorite memories. As spectators we watched in horror as the record high temperatures chewed the runners up and spit them out in front of us. On mile 25, I overheard one of the policemen on the course tell a fellow supporter, "We have essentially declared the city a disaster zone." Moments later, police cruisers drove directly into the mass of runners announcing, "The race has been called due to heat. Please stop running. We are asking you to begin walking to the finish line." Ambulances, rescue trucks and emergency crews were flying everywhere - from one fallen warrior to the next - administering first aid and providing hydration. The runners were clearly in survival mode; concentrating on whatever they would need to get them to the finish line in 1 piece.

My friends Valencia and Johanna (shown above) have been training for this day for months & months. After our swim class on Monday & Wednesday mornings, V would meet Johanna for a run before work. On the weekends they shared the long runs - with a few in heat similar to today's. They were ready - there's no doubt about it. Then, as if running 26.2 miles isn't challenging enough, Mother Nature decided to up the stakes, so to speak. And the war was waged.

As for me, I had completely underestimated the sheer number of runners on the course and managed to completely miss all of the people I was there to cheer for, at 4 different checkpoints. It baffles the mind as to how that could happen, but it did and to say I am disappointed would be putting it lightly. Especially given the conditions of the race, I would've liked to scream & dance & otherwise embarrass myself for the sole purpose of pushing a friend a little closer to their goal. As it were, the sign I made above was only seen by Valencia & Johanna AFTER the race. But look at those smiles - they did it!

Not seeing them along the way doesn't change how proud I am of them though. I am beside myself giddy that they are 1) ok, and 2) they came, they saw, they conquered. Today is one of those days when it becomes so clear that in endurance sports it's not just physical or mental toughness that gets you through. It takes a lot of heart. That's how Valencia described Johanna's rebound from a very tough first half to a strong second half finish. When your body is pushed to its limit and your mind is asking you if quitting wouldn't be a better option...heart kicks in and reminds you why you're there. Why you pulled yourself out of bed for early morning runs, or gave up your Saturdays for training. Heart trumps mind and body when the going gets really tough.

To everyone out there today - you are amazingly strong athletes and you've taught all of us watching about the power of heart. Congratulations!

A glimpse of euphoria

I channeled Tiger Woods tonight.

I was in the midst of a thing of beauty, a rare gem in a field of heavy boulders, a moment of clarity in the chaos of life. I was having a great run.

Every now and then it happens. I start out feeling perhaps a bit more solid than I do on a typical day. As my legs begin to warm up and my body acclimates to the forward movement - just when I least expect it - the feeling hits. The best way I can describe it is to call it my "I could run forever" feeling. No pain, no fatigue...just boundless energy that seems to replenish on every strike of my foot on the pavement. Of course the run eventually comes to an end because I can't run forever and even if I wanted to try, I wouldn't be able to walk tomorrow. But for that run - that fleeting window of time - everything is in synch and it feels like perfection.

My friend Pete back in Michigan is an avid golfer and I can't recall if I gave him this comic strip or if he gave it to me, but here's the gist of it. A few guys are together on the golf course and none of them are having a particularly stellar outing. After a really bad shot, one of them proclaims that after this round he's quitting the game entirely because he's not getting any better and he just doesn't see the point in continuing to torture himself. On his very next shot, the frame shows a little angel version of Tiger Woods sitting on the guy's shoulder as he takes his swing. The ball flies flawlessly onto the green as the other guys are watching in disbelief. It's a beautiful shot. The spirit of Tiger smiles in approval as the struggling golfer lights up with renewed love for the game. Another golfer is saved from giving up on himself.

Incidentally, if the "reborn" golfer is anything like a few of my friends, he's now about to empty his bank account on a new set of clubs because he had no idea he was quite that good and can you just imagine how awesome he'll be with a new state-of-the-art set? PGA here we come...

Anyway, the moral of the story is actually very well-known: All it takes is 1 great shot out of 100 not-so-great ones. Or 1 great run.

As humans we are suckers for random reinforcement. Although my Tiger Woods moment isn't the only thing that motivates me to come back for more, I'm going to take it and relish it today.

I just don't know when it will hit again...

And now a message from my supporters...

I've had a lot of fun telling my family and friends that I want to do the Ironman, and some quotes are just too much for me to keep to myself. Here's a few of the funny, outrageous, and perhaps more typical ones. I'm sure others have had similar experiences with their support team...

"Why don't we just go to the batting cages, you take a few in the chest, and we'll call you an Ironman? I think it's the same thing."
--That sounds like a good time, and I'll still be laughing about this analogy during the most intense training of the upcoming year. By far, the most creative response.

"Are you serious?"
--Does this seem like something someone would joke about? There has got to be better material to work with than "I want to do an Ironman" when you're looking for a few laughs among friends.

"You are crazy!"
--Absolutely no argument that would hold up in court against that one and as much as I'd like to attribute it all to registering for this event I'm afraid there are enough witnesses who would testify there was a little bit of crazy already in here before this happened.

"Why would you want to do that to yourself? Don't you like yourself at all?"
--Well, yes and no. I do like myself, but I also want to push myself further than I ever have before. You only push the ones you love, right?

"Seems like you could have a lot more fun just hanging out and drinking beer with us for the next year."
--Probably true in some respects. But at the end of the year I will not be an Ironman, nor will I have an iron stomach. In fact, I won't even have an iron liver. No, I especially won't have an iron liver.

"How about I run you over with my car instead? Then we'll call you an Ironman."
--Hmmm, have you been considering this for awhile? Remind me not to tell you where/when I plan to train.

"I have a friend who did that and s/he fill in the blank (never recovered, will never do it again, was never quite right in the head, or loved it but had to train all the time!)"
--Well, hopefully you will now have 2 friends who have done it so you can add more credibility to your story. Statistics never lie.

"Don't you have to train a lot? Will we have to pick up the slack for you at work?"
--Don't you do that already? Just kidding. I plan to schedule my workouts to occur during those hours we generally call "personal time" and hopefully no one will be impacted by that. Well, except my husband, 2 dogs, 2 cats, family, friends...ok, so no one gets out unscathed. I'm sorry in advance.

"I thought you had to qualify for that."
--Nope, that's Kona. Let's just try finishing it this time around, then we'll focus on breaking land-speed records if I come back for a 2nd shot.

All funny, outrageous, and typical quotes aside, everyone I have told has ended on this one (for some, this is where they actually started before the teasing) which, in light of my diatribe above, shows just how wonderful and supportive my family and friends really are.

"If this is what you really want to do, I support you and will be cheering you on."
--That means the world to me.

I must say, my Mom's response really blew me away: "UNSTOPPABLE!!! Hi Mindee....PROUD to hear about your most recent challenge...it sounds like more of a triathlon than they do in the Olympics!!!! I am behind you 100%..."

Well, it just doesn't get any better than that. I don't think we ever get too old to hear our parents tell us they are proud of us, especially when they are proud of us for just trying to reach our goals.

To all of my supporters -- Thank you, from the bottom of my running shoes. And I really mean that.