Runner's High

Think Different.

Steve Jobs passed away last night. Most know him as the pioneer of Apple. And most started noticing Apple about the time they purchased their first ipod. 4-5 years ago? However, Apple (and inevitably Steve) have been a part of my life for the past 16 years. It has been ingrained in me since I went to Best Buy at age 18 and said, "I want to be a designer" and the salesperson said, "then you need a Macintosh" (what Apple was called back then). At first it was the technology, but as I progressed through undergrad and grad school in advertising and studied the philosophies of both the business and the equipment, it moved me, as it did many other advertising individuals of my time.

An oldy, but goody, just to show that Apple has been committed to change from the beginning.

So what does this have to do with triathlon or running? Well, everything comes full circle. I have left advertising, but do not have to leave what it has given me or how I choose to adapt those philosophies and inspiration to what I do today. Thinking different about my training and races improves not only my physical abilities, but my lifts my mental spirits as well. I was just talking with a girlfriend who remembers me from before I got to know her as "the girl who was doing all that crazy training stuff and races". To me, that wasn't crazy, it just was. Thinking differently did not only make me a better creative, but thinking differently in my life continues to make me a better person, friend, wife, mother, and yes, even athlete.

Here's another spot. THIS ONE YOU HAVE TO WATCH. The above spot is admired by creatives and mac users of old times, but this one, well, this one should resonate with everyone.

It is not that I am out to change the world, although after watching this commercial, I think that I need to re-evaluate and think differently about that.

Sun sets on my season with a big 'ole HARVEST MOON

Well, what better way can you think of to celebrate your IRONMANniversary than to do a half Ironman? Ok, so I can think of A THOUSAND other ways to commemorate the occasion, but that is what I happen to choose to do.

Harvest Moon is a half IM that is run at our local reservoir. I have wanted to do this race since we moved out here since I train out there ALL THE TIME. However, Harvest Moon is also run the same weekend as Ironman WI (I {heart} you IMMOO), so the last few years we have been back in Madison this same weekend. Needless to say, I have had HM on my race calendar for the last year.

Despite the anticipation for the race, I really didn't know what to expect. Physically, I am in pretty good shape. BUT, I strained my hamstring about a month before, so I hadn't been running, like at all. Physiology would say I should still be able to pr, but my head was reminding me how hard the course was compared to my pr course (sea level and flat). All that in mind, I went into it with two goals:
(1) To "race" my swim and bike. In the past, I have always conserved energy on my swim and bike, thinking it would help me on the run, but I have come to think that I may get even better results by pushing on the swim and run.
(2) To end up "somewhere around" my pr. Considering (a) my strained hammy, (b) the altitude and (c) that this course is HARD (read: hilly, exposed and windy), I wanted to keep my expectations in check.

The good thing about this race is that I was plenty familiar with the course and plenty familiar with the peeps racing it. Pre-race was pretty low-key– just perfect!

Me, Virginia, Shelly, Stu and Jason.

Started off the swim and all was well. I can't really say much for the swim. The beautiful thing about the Aurora res is that it is so clean you can follow bubbles. I did. Unfortunately, the bubbles/feet led me straight into a kayak, so evidently the feet didn't know where they were going. Oops! So from there on out, I tried siting myself.

This worked well till I turned around. Once heading back to shore, I couldn't tell which buoys I was supposed to be siting off of, so I did my best. At one point, Katy-I-am-EVERYWHERE-Blakemore showed up in her trusty kayak to tell me I was going the wrong way. That helped me out and then I was heading for the big, yellow buoy at the end.

Out of the water, saw Ross and he told me I was doing good (he always tells me that). :)

Onto bike and off on my way. Now, I won't say much about the bike other than it is hilly and windy. However, I know this, so I planned accordingly. Living close to the course, I got a chance to ride it and I could plan for where I was going to hammer it and where to go easy. Thankfully, I did it that way. I rode it smart and didn't hold back. AND, I ended up with a bike pr time, regardless of how windy and hilly it was. Go me!

Onto the run. So here is where the test was. Immediately out of transition and, yep, hamstring still strained. Great. I mean, OW! I worked on keeping getting my heart rate down. To be honest, not a whole lot of people passed me on the bike... and none in my division. That NEVER happens (must be improving on my bike). So I get out onto my run and I hurt. It was hot. No shade. Ugh. OK. Just get through this puppy, I told myself. Walk every aid station if you have to (I did).

I come upon aid station #1 and it is rock, stock and loaded with RMTC volunteers-- YAY!
#1 tip to racing: If you can get into a race where there is an aid station with all of your tri club or run club homies - do it! So I ended mile one happy, hydrated and doused with water from head to toe. Off to miles 2-13.1.

I proceeded, not feeling the best. Now I was starting to have nutritional issues as well as hamstring issues. So I just plugged along. What I have gotten really good about is assessing my body and what I can push it to for the next "x" number of miles and continuing on at that pace.

At some point Katy-I -am-EVERYWHERE-Blakemore (I didn't mention it, but she was also on the bike course) rode up to chat and give me some encouragement. At that point, I saw her water bottle and contemplated asking her for it. See, I usually run with my own bottle, but figured I was getting stronger and I could just live off the course. Not so. My nutritional issues, I later deduced, were coming from the fact I didn't have my own bottle to sip out of. Instead I was guzzling at aid stations, causing all sorts of weird stuff. Anyways... back to the race.

I worked my way through it. Aid station by aid station. Aid stations were only 1 mile apart, but as I mentioned, it was HOT, so by the next aid station, I needed whatever they were selling. Oy, vey!

At the turnaround was Anne (Tyler's wife). Now the thing I absolutely LOVE about the tri community is the support. We all get it. And we would all do anything to help another racer (ex: Katy-I am-EVERYWHERE- Blakemore giving up her Sunday to, well, be everywhere for everyone). So when I passed Anne, I asked her to take my heart rate monitor (it was chafing bad). As I took it off, I realized how incredibly gross and sweaty it was-DISGUSTING! Anne didn't blink and was happy to help. Now that is love.

OK, onto my way home. The second half was just plug and go. 5-10 minutes behind me I saw Tyler. Cool! We had common time goals and he started 5-10 minutes behind me, so I figured we were both on track. Plug, plug, plug. Just get through the second half. So, I did.

Mile 11 aid station. Jason caught up with me. Wanted to rally me to the end. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up. I was just getting so bogged down with the water at the aid stations-- but I NEEDED it as well.

Mile 12. RMTC AID STATION!!! I got a good dousing of H20 on the head and I was home free. That is the ONLY aid station I did not walk through-- onward home!

Hit the end and there were Ross and the kiddos and, yes, A SLIP AND SLIDE!!! I took it like a pro!

And is that where the story ends? Well, yes and no. The race DID officially end there. As did my "season". But I got to hang out with my friends, enjoy the day and get up on an actual podium.

Linc on slip'n slide

What a cutie- him, not me!

Yes, I got 3rd place for my age group. So, I was happy with that. (no pictures of the podium, as Ross was at the beach with the kiddos-- what a good dad.)

On top of that, I reached my goals- I "raced the swim and bike" with no repercussions on the run (ie, I think the run would have turned out the same regardless of if I had conserved before) and a pr for me.

And what, per se, was my PRIZE for 3rd place? What did they award me for all of my hard work, diligence and contribution for the sport?

Wine. How appropriate.

The perfect way to kick off my "off season". What is that?

IRONMANniversary

It was earlier this week and I got a text from a friend. It just said "Can you believe it's been almost a year?". I immediately knew what she was talking about.

Me and Courtney ready to take on Ironman WI 2010

2 years ago, Ross and I took a fateful step and signed up for Ironman Wisconsin 2010... and last year we completed it.

A year later, I look back at our year of training and the event itself-- they were EPIC.
** I know the word epic is overused, so I looked it up in the thesaurus for synonyms. Here's what I found: astronomic, colossal, considerable, enormous, gigantic, ginormous, humongous*, jumbo, mammoth, massive, mega, monster*, monumental, prodigious, sizeable, tremendous, vast, very big, very large, whopping. (Who knew ginormous was actually a word?) I guess those would describe it as well.

What did I REALLY get out of the training and the event? Was it just bragging rights?

Starting: I thought so. I wanted to be an "Ironman".
Looking back: No way.

It's indescribable what I gained and learned over the year. Yes, my swim/bike/run form improved, as did my discipline, my drive and my dedication. Not just to sports, but to the other areas in my life.

Training not only taught me how to manage my time, but also how to improve the uses of it. While I am sure I spent less time at work, the time I did spend was more concentrated and I got more done. The time with my kids was cherished and special.

Among the other benefits I received from training:

Meeting amazing people along the way
Having goals and achieving them
Committing yourself to one purpose
Trying new things
Following through
Putting myself out there
Overcoming fear of failure

But most importantly, the support of others. This experience, and sharing it with my family and friends, brought to light how much they care about me and are willing to support me along the way. My mom crewing me in a 50, friends pitching in to watch the kids on big workout days, the turnout of friends and family at the event (AMAZING!) and those online. That is what I will always remember.

For anyone on the fence about doing an Ironman, I say DO IT!
Everyone's journey through the experience is different and yields different results. You may go into the experience thinking that it will be a certain "way", it won't. You can plan all you want, but the experience will bring you what it does. While I thought that the year and my accomplishments would center around my swim/bike/running, it didn't. It was the emotional and spiritual benefits, not my fitness, that I will always remember and take with me. Even for those who sign-up and train and never make it to the finish line, the experience for those people too, will bring them more knowledge about themselves than most other experience in a lifetime.

If an Ironman were just about bragging rights, no one would do more than one.

Volunteering Rattlesnake!!!

I opted not to do the Rattlesnake Back2Back due to time commitment, but then I ended up volunteering for the sprint on Sunday so... go figure that one out? Anyways, it was a real fun time I had and volunteering at a race is always a blast.

The morning started out with Keith and Tom and I hanging by the swim beach soaking it all in. The sunrises out at the res are always awesome!

Another awesome sunrise at the res

Chillin' before the chaos begins

Then it was up into transition to start kicking people out and down to the beach. Here I ran into friends, including Michelle and Jon, whom I haven't seen all season. After catching up with them, I took on my volunteering duties and went to the swim beach to help out. Basically, I was letting people know the swim course and when (approximately) to get into the corral.

One of the best lane buddies a girl can have.

After making sure that everyone was safely in the corral, I headed over to the swim exit to lend my expertise in STRIPPING!!! Get your mind out of the gutter... think this:

I have only been to 3 races with strippers and the other 2 were quite a lot longer distances, so I think that it is a real novelty to have wetsuit strippers at races and I was happy to help out.

And, boy did I have fun. I really do like to feel useful and this was position that allowed me to do so. Knowing the race mentality of some of the more competitive racers, I was all over helping out those who wanted to be quick and speedy. (Michelle even told me I was the best wetsuit stripper she had ever had. What an honor.) I got it down to a science of where to grab on the wetsuit and yanking just so to get the suits off with the least resistance and all.

But then there were also those racers who were stumbling up the beach, depleted after the swim, barely even able to get their wetsuit unzipped. Those racers I slowed down and helped out every which way I could. From unzipping, to helping get their arms out, to pulling it off. I did everything I could to get them in there and out of there efficiently without making them feel rushed.

It was awesome and I had such a fun time. The one thing I didn't realize about wetsuit stripping is you get COMPLETELY soaked. Like drenched. Water is flying at you from their wetsuits. When all was said and done, minus the mostly dry hair, I looked like I had just done the swim, seriously.

Your Rattlesnake stripper extraordinaires. You can't tell, but we are all soaked through.

After the last swimmer came through, it was onto the run to cheer people out onto the run and then a little bit later to the finish. I was excited to see the Ford family and catch a shot of Michelle as she headed into the finish looking strong!

Michelle finishing strong!!!

Is that a smile?

Then to hang with everyone else as the race finished. It was great to see all the Back2Back'ers and the smiles on their faces that they finished. It is a unique and interesting challenge and the race director always gives the back2back'ers something special. This year it was a very sweet running jacket and I was super-bummed I missed out on that! Next year...

While I didn't get to do the "official" back2back, I made my own back2back racing and volunteering!

Treat I found for the race... I thought it was appropriate.

Time to celebrate a great weekend!

Yum! If only every race could have a shot named after them.

Racing Rattlesnake!!!

This weekend is the weekend of EVERYTHING it seems - Leadville 100, Pikes Peak Ascent & marathon, Warrior Dash, age group nationals and...

Rattlesnake is a two-day triathlon series out here at the Aurora Reservoir, and olympic on Saturday and a sprint on Sunday. Some people do the Back2back. I considered it, but at the time of signing up, didn't know if I could commit to both days, so I opted for the olympic. Figured it would be a great training race for the Harvest Moon 1/2 Ironman next month, as HM is also in the res. Plus, our family loves the Aurora Res, our kids could dig in the sand forever.

So, Saturday morning it was off to the res for me. Since it was only a few miles, I rode in on my bike. It was a nice, relaxing ride at 6 in the morning with no traffic and a great little warm-up. I got there, into transition, found a few friends and then it was off on a short warm-up run. I timed it well, maybe a little too close, but it wasn't too hectic or stressed of an atmosphere, so all was good. I got down to the water just in time to dunk in before finding Ross and the kids and getting into the corral.

The swim is a time trial start, which I had never done before. Basically, they lined us up oldest to youngest, women first, then men. Everyone entered the water one at a time in 4-5 second intervals. This was actually very nice avoiding the mass chaos of a wave start. As I swam out, I realized that the buoys were strung together by a yellow rope. Sweet! Since I breathe to my right and the buoys were on my right, this was optimal for me. No need to sight, just keep the yellow rope right there by side. This worked well for the first lap, but then everyone caught on and there was a little more chaos the second loop around as now everyone was in the water. I still didn't mind it though. Looking to my right beat sighting into the sun AND I found some feet. Cool. I practiced drafting - not entirely sure if I was doing it right - but liking it. After awhile, I kept tapping the toes in front of me. I am sure the woman/man was probably annoyed and was thinking "just pass me already!", so I did. Around them I went and on my way. I was pretty happy with the swim as one of my weaknesses is sighting and swimming straight and I seemed to conquer it!

I got out of the water and Ross was there excited and cheering me on! (The boys were digging in the sand, go figure.) I ran up and through transition and off on the bike.

In Loveland earlier this year I realized I don't know how to "race" a bike. I just ride a bike course and when I am done, I am done. My goal for this bike was to be uncomfortable. Not redlining, but a bit out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, this course was FILLED with hills, so it was not an issue getting my heart rate elevated. I just had to keep it that way. And I did, so I was pretty proud of myself for that. Before I knew it, I was back at the reservoir and into T2. {Where I heard my kids screaming. "GO MOMMY!" - it is awesome having a small transition where the kids can watch and cheer!}

On with my race belt, run shoes and out on the course. I didn't really know what to expect, but I did want to run the second half of my run faster than my first, so I settled into what I thought I could maintain for 6 miles. And that I did. As I progressed, I wasn't feeling so good nutritionally. I tried to keep my heartrate in check where I could take on some water and calories without wanting to yack. It was a tad bit hot and my nutrition was off so I just continued doing what I could to make my way through the run. Again, I was on my way back before I knew it. I can do anything for 6 miles, right?

Hit the end and saw the kids in their swimsuits. They ran out to the shoot with me and were able to cross the finish line - all smiles!

I was done, yay! What I realized was that with the time trial start, I had NO CLUE what I had done, what time I had done, where I had placed, nothing. Hmph. And, figuring that I am never the "fastest" at shorter distances and such, I just went along figuring I was somewhere in the middle of the pack - like usual... I got some food, hung out with some friends, the kids, enjoyed the post-party (which was a nice set-up).

It wasn't till the results were posted that I realized I placed - 2nd in my age group! This is fun for me. I haven't placed in anything in triathlon, ever. I have plenty of friends who do. All the time. But, me, well... it's not really a consideration. But today it was. And that felt good and I was proud of my accomplishment for me.

Accepting my award with Yon, announcer and friend.

Krista and I with our age group awards (and Lincoln who wants to be in every pict)

And then, of course, was an afternoon of playing at the beach!!!

All you have to do is bring sand toys and my kids are in heaven.

The two reservoirs + two cities they created next to the big reservoir.

Copper Triangle Ride

It is no secret that biking is my weakness when it comes to triathlon. I haven't been riding it for very long and I have been enjoying it for even less of that time. I have been riding just over two years and not until last summer did I real find a joy in riding, and mostly that is when I am in the mountains. I found that out a little more with all of our training for the Triple Bypass. Give me a spin ride - no fun. Give me a long ride up a few mountain passes - I can't wait to do it!

So when the RMTC announced they were going to do a self-supported ride of the Copper Triangle, I put it on our calendar as a must do. The Copper Triangle is a "classic Colorado ride" that goes over 3 passes - Fremont, Tennessee and Vail, totaling 80ish miles overall.

What a good looking group we have. Who's that handsome fellow in the gray?

As we got ready for the ride, we were briefed by Peter, who was going to ride along with us, take pictures and be a sag. (Check him out, he is an awesome photographer and all-around nice guy!) We were instructed "not to smile" the whole day, but I wasn't really good at it.

There I am, accidentally smiling. In my defense, so is Julie.

Up Fremont Pass was good. I was worried I might be chilly, as I had forgotten a riding coat, but you start of climbing right away, so I warmed up almost immediately. Fremont is just plug, plug, plug. I was amazed at how well everyone stuck together at the beginning and there was loads of conversation all around - always makes time pass quicker. As the pass got longer, it thinned out a little bit.

At the top of Fremont we regrouped, but I couldn't find Ross. As almost everyone was up, and the group started off again as Ross rode up. He had twisted his ankle a few weeks ago and this was his first real exercise since and he wasn't feeling it. We talked and he decided to go back down Fremont, get the van and follow us as a sag. {This turned out to be a tremendous help and mental relief for the ride.}

Left without the group, I had some serious catching up to do. I went down to Leadville, turned and started up Tennessee Pass. I climbed and climbed, probably pushed harder than I would have had I been with the group, but I just didn't want to be left behind. As I got part way up Tennessee Pass, I started catching some people and that was a relief, plus it was fun having people to talk to. At the top of Tennessee, I found the masses. Yay!

What an awesome picture of the group climbing. Me = still trying to catch up.

Arriving at the top of Tennessee (I think)

Hey! Hey! The gang's all here. Top of Tennessee Pass.

Then it was down to Minturn. Along the way, there were some mechanical failures, a couple cables broke. Joe came along and fixed one, Julie ended up jumping in the Peter's car and along came Ross. I was happy to see him. But I was even happier to be descending!

It's always fun going DOWN!

You can't beat views like this. I LOVE CO!

Once we were in Minturn, it was time to refuel and we descended on a gas station. I am not sure they knew what hit them with that many people coming in, buying Gatorade, using the restroom, refilling water bottles, etc.

We also took the opportunity to do a group shot for Honey Stinger,
one of our sponsors who gave us plenty of fuel for the ride.

After Minturn, we were off and rolling. Everyone kind of was at their own pace, and I was loosely following Michelle, Bill and Matt through Vail. We came to a roundabout and I lost sight of them. Since they weren't directly ahead, I assumed that they went around the roundabout to the north frontage road. (Side note: I had told Patty I just *knew* I was going to get lost in Vail and she told me to "just stay on the frontage road".) So when I got to the roundabout and saw a sign directing me to the north frontage road, I thought I was money. Took it and off I went, looking for more RMTC'ers. Aways down the north frontage road, I looked over and saw a bunch of jerseys on the SOUTH frontage road. THE OTHER SIDE of 70. Zoinks! How was I going to get over there? Back to the roundabout, around and up. I was certain I was REALLY far behind everyone now. Oh well.

On the east side of Vail, I came across Ross waiting for me. :) I stopped to talk to him and made sure I was on the right route. He said I was. As we were talking, another Michelle passed and I hurriedly kissed him goodbye as I told him "I need someone to follow so I don't get lost". (Have I mentioned how much I HATE getting lost?)

So from there on out, it was plug, plug, plug up the mountain. Now, this was my second time up Vail Pass. The first time was on the Triple Bypass in the rain and I flatted twice on it - it was horrible. This time I was on tired legs and feeling a little down nutritionally, but determined not to make it so bad.

As I made my way up Vail I realized how I really don't like it, but in honor of the promise I made to myself to make it better this time around, I had to learn to love it. Love it like an annoying little brother (which I can say because I don't have a little brother). Vail is a bike path so it is not graded like a road is graded. It has very steep pitches at points, which makes for the "annoying" part, but in learning to love it, I had to realize there is a fair share of not so steep pitches that allow your hear rate to settle down after climbing those steep pitches. So... you take the good with the bad. And I did. I used this opportunity to look around, take some pictures and enjoy what I could. It was hard, but definitely worth it.

View going up Vail Pass.

Could it be? Am I leveling out? Is that the top in sight?

I reached the top of Vail, happy and little depleted on the salt (note to self: TAKE SALT, even on overcast days/not-so-hot days). From the top of Vail it is alllllllll downhill, which is precisely what I like. Ross and I always call it our "reward" for climbing the mountain- the descent!

When I got to Copper, Ross was waiting for me with a cup of soup and a sandwich. I immediately wanted the soup, he told me to wait a minute and I told him, "no, NOW!" (normally not so rude to my husband - I swear). He handed it over and I drank the broth straight from the soup - no spoon or anything. It was the salt. I needed it. And I felt amazingly good after it. Enough to sit around, chill and have a few recovery drinks - Mix1 and Sierra Nevada's - both club sponsors... I ask you can this club get any cooler? Oh, wait, yes they can. Because then it was dinner and drinks at Old Chicago with not only Sierra Nevada, but 109 other beers. :)

Hunter's First Triathlon

Ever since we did the Wisconsin Ironman, Hunter was asking when HE got to do a swim-bike-run race??? {He now calls it a triathlon.}

Being the end of September, there wasn't really out here as the weather was getting cold, so we appeased him by running both the Denver marathon Kid's Run and a kid's Turkey Trot. Both smashing successes.

Kids Run @ the Denver Rock'n Roll Marathon

Then this year rolled around and I noticed that the Boulder kid's tri was going to be when we were on vacation. Bummer. So, I looked around and found the Kid's Tri In July. I talked to the race director who assured me that it was non-competitive, meant to introduce the kid's to triathlon in a fun environment. PERFECT.

I was most concerned about the swim. The swim is a length of the pool (any stroke) and the race director told me he could hold onto the lap line or side of the pool at anytime. Regardless, I was worried about Hunter mentally freaking out, so 4th of July weekend we went to the local pool and I "tested" him to see if he was confident to swim by himself. Boy was he ever! He (and Lincoln) were both up for swimming laps. Lots of them. With that knowledge, I signed him up! (Lincoln is not 5 till next month, so he didn't qualify.)

Race morning rolled around and we were all really excited. Like everyone. Hunter had gotten bodymarked the day before and loaded up his bike in the van and off we went.

The cool thing about the kid's tri is the anti-hype. It was all really well run and organized and we just got on our way. Basically, here is how the day went -- check out the video at the end.