Rule #1 Have Fun
This is the most important rule of training, and racing. It must be fun. When working with clients, especially the longer truly epic adventures, I let them know, “It will be fun, just know the last two weeks before taper, it may not be fun. The fun part will come just as that peak training is completed, with the recognition that now comes the time to rest and recover”. The take home message; the last 2 weeks, not the last 2 months.
I have been very excited about finally completing my bucket list item, Ironman Coeur D’Alene. The opportunity snuck up on me when Ironman announced that they were going to bring back the full distance Ironman to my ideal location. Coeur D’Alene would be a perfect event for me: it’s cold, hilly, and loops. Loops are important because I carry all of my own supplies, nutrition and fluids, which is never ideal, it puts me at a disadvantage, with extra weight, and the planning it entails.
Back in 2012 I ran 50 Miles in Leadville, and the plan was going to be to do Coeur D’Alene the following year. Two weeks later after completing my SR50 I broke my foot, taking roughly 2 years to heal. During that time, Ironman did away with the full distance om CDA, which completely separated me from this bucket list item, until last year.
Last March I began my year long journey with Covid, and in April discovered a bone spur in my left foot that made it difficult to walk around the house without a cane, being the optimist, and an Exercise Physiologist with a great team, I knew it was still possible. I reserved my AirBnB last September, I registered in December, I began my training, building my base. All which was off road. I had some wonderful days, and some great adventures.
The months went on, the training continued off road, primarily with the exceptions of interval training. Most of my long rides, were done on the gravel bike.
Within this time frame I am blessed enough to have had my relationship with the City of Albuquerque, Zoefitness swimming group has been able to have the pool, and lanes, one Friday per month for 2 hours, I LOVE my swim, it took me a couple of weeks to figure out, I had to make this less os a social event, and more of a swimming workout, have been able to progress in the water, and comfortably swim a 5k.
The foot and the soul have done a great deal of healing. And now it’s time for specificity, and the New Mexico spring winds. My 1st road ride went pretty well, I went out with a friend, and client, we had a blast, 50 miles, there was a lot of wind, I had a lot of fear, I had to brake while descending, to a near stop. The thing about me, and my road bike, is when the wind is blowing hard, it will pick me up, and carry me around, this is not fun to me, it is terrifying. The fear was tolerable because of the company. I backed this up with a 5 mile run on the trails after, went great. Just over 50 miles is a great amount of time on the road bike, in the wind, I learned. Having a partner in crime made it much more enjoyable. I had no problem with the aero bars, and my body position, I was a little sketch, or twitchy, just having not spent anytime on that bike for years.
I thought to myself, I can do this, I can ride the road, park at a trailhead, and then, run trail after to keep myself true to my heart, and in Nature.
2nd brick, 60 mile ride, 8 mile run: I was very excited about the route that I had picked, I had decided to park at Mars Court, ride mostly on the east side of the mountain. Again the wind. My ride, was fun, until it wasn’t. It went from this is great, to oh my god, I am going to die, several times. I had already been evaluating my decision making from my last two major road rides, by the time I got the Ranger station, ran into a Mountain Biking buddy of mine, and just let out a barrel of piss and vinegar for about 20 minutes of wind and road biking, he joined me reinforcing how awesome mountain biking is. I was even working through how can I possibly train for this Ironman completely off road. Tim had asked if I wanted him to come down, and join me(sometimes I like to suffer alone), I did absolutely want the company, and so we went up the hill together. Still strongAF on the bike, emotionally traumatized by the wind, was looking forward to my time in Nature.
The day before I got to swim around Buoys at Lake Cochiti, with friends, it was AWESOME!!
I had a lot to think about.
I had already signed up for Telluride 100, and for Xterra Pan-Am National Championships. Transitioning from Ironman to Telluride 100 would be a cake walk, because my endurance would be crazy.
But my Heart. My Soul. My Joy. I know I would have fun during the Ironman Race. I always do. 12 hour racing, is like my thing, I love getting into the zone. Yeah, it starts to be type 2 fun, but being out there, surrounded by the vibe, swimming, the lake, the company, the challenge… I am all in. I am 2 months out, and I am not having fun on my long training road rides. I’m not just talking about wah, this is not fun kinda fun, I am talking about screaming out loud while riding, because the wind just about ditched me, or being so frustrated because I have to brake to an almost complete stop on the downhills, due to death, not kind of fun. How do I come to terms with bailing on one of my bucket list items?
And that’s when the Truth comes. I must feed my soul. I must make the most out of life. I must have balance in the chaos. I must do what I love.
Even with 30 mph winds being here, in the woods, is where I belong. It also gives me the drive to see about having a Full Distance Off-Road Triathlon.: 2 mile swim, 100k mountain bike, 20k run. Sounds fun, right?!?
Balance is key. Joy is key. Love is key. And I feel more than ever now, having gone back to school for Respiratory Therapy(don’t worry, this doesn’t mean I am going any where with my coaching!! Or Zoefitness!! I just want more, we need more RTs and being an Exercise Physiologist and an RT seems to that it will be an extremely needed niche right now), I have suffered through a semester of lack of adventures, I want to put on my “A” adventure pants this summer. I have the summer off of school, I take Microbiology in the fall, and then, next summer will be in school full time with a clinical, assuming grades, and time make the cut. My heart wants to sing.
Do more of what you love. Be Your Ultimate Potential. Be Free. Live Truly, and Be Your Joy.
I am so excited about what the future brings. I am so excited about doing Telluride 100 which has been on my bucket list since it’s inception, I am so excited about the future, and doing more of what I love. I will do Ogden Xterra, I will likely swim a 5k in Horsetooth Reservoir, find another Xterra, if it works, and a local tri in August. Most of all I will have fun.