In need of a little inspiration...

When you find yourself Googling "Inspiration for Ironman Training", you know it's time to pull in the big boys, call out to the iron gods and ask for a little help & guidance.

I've recently had a few criticisms come my way (some constructive, others not so much), as well as a few naysayers who don't think I can do this.

Five months ago, I would've said HOLD your horses, give me some time; I'll get there. And right now, I'd likely still say -- just watch, wait, and see. Yet after being SAG'd forward on the bike portion of the Wildflower 1/2 Iron Course two weeks ago, due to missing the time-cutoff, I can't help but feel like I'm wavering a little on the confidence front. I'm logging in the time, putting forth the effort and focus, and still possess the same positive attitude that took me to two finish lines of a 26.2-mile marathon when just months before, didn't even run.

I know it's doable, and I know I can get there. I've got five more months of training and have developed a solid base upon which I can continue building from now until the end of August ~ thanks to my incredible Team of coaches, mentors, teammates, & honorees. As well as those of you who have been following me during this journey.

I've seen all the mental and physical progress I've made since November, leading up to today. But right now, what I could sure use is a boost. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get there. And right now the priority is to get stronger and faster on the bike.

My mid-season conference with my coaches this week assured me that my swim is looking good (which I intend to keep working at); and the run is my strongest sport of the three. But as of now, the bike is what's slowing me down the most and as far as immediate planning goes, I'm working on figuring out what my Lactate Threshold (LT) is and how I can work and train just under it, to maintain efficiency and speed. It'll be a quantitative way to ensure I'm working at my optimal fitness level, without going beyond my means.

If I've tagged you on this, it's because I know that you guys are in particular: rockstars at what you do. And you know my course: IM Louisville. Any insight, tips, encouragement or guidance you can provide would be so helpful.

And as for anyone else who's got a pearl of wisdom or two to share, feel free to bestow some of it below. This has been a truly humbling & rewarding experience for me ~ with moments and memories I've not once regretted. And as we start to ramp up for Part II and work on the build and race phases of our training, I'd love to continue training with that same zeal, vigor & sense of enjoyment I had for the first half :)

Thank you, all!
your aspiring Ironwoman,
Maria

Wildflower Training Weekend: 1/2 WAY TO IRON!

Let me tell you the tale of my first "camping trip," which also happens to coincide with my first crack at the long-awaited and heavily-anticipated Half-Ironman Triathlon... on the renowned Avia Wildflower Long Course at Lake San Antonio. It boasts its status as one of the toughest Half-Ironman courses in the nation.

This course is known for its challenging terrain, and has lovingly been given pet names for the obstacles it brings ~ spots like "Nasty Grade" on the bike course, a 1000 ft uphill climb at an average 7% grade over a distance of 5 miles. Or the 2-mile climb of trails along the run course upon reaching mile 4, where you're eventually taken into "The Pit", a 2-mile descend that takes you out and back -- just before leading you to the end of 70.3 miles of racing.

This is what I was in store for on Saturday, and let me tell you: It was an exhilarating ride.

I arrived at the Lake on Friday afternoon with my band of Ironmates (Coach Dave, Coach Doug, Arlene & Kristin) in our mobile oasis, [and despite our wild and wacky drive over, complete with a tire blow-out by the city of Morgan Hill] we arrived safely and immediately set up camp at Redondo Vista and commenced with bike/gear checks.

After dinner with my Mentor Group, I got ready to hit the hay early. I surprisingly got an excellent 8 hours of sleep in the ol' camper, despite the chilly temps. I dreamt well and had some calming and positive visualizations in my head in preparation for my 'race day'. I had been struggling with a number of stressors all week and getting a dose of calm as I slept was just what I needed.

I woke up at 5 a.m. feeling refreshed (and lucky, to not have been subjected to Coach Dave's blaring sounds of Scottish Bagpipes as the Team's special wakeup call all throughout the campsite). It paid off to room with 2/5 of the coach staff!

It was pitch dark and we all made our way to the transition area, with headlamps in tow. We had to setup our transition areas pretty much "by candlelight". Kind of not knowing where I was, much less the proximity to the lake or the roads could have very well freaked me out, but instead, I just continued to get ready, and remained calm and focused. I had a few mentors and teammates ask me if I was really nervous. I actually wasn't. I think the best way I could describe it would be to call it a calm readiness. Ready to see what the day would bring me and to embrace whatever that was.



After getting body-marked with our race numbers, sunscreen sprayed, and suited up, we headed to the dock to prepare for a 1.2 mile swim. With no fear or hesitation, I jumped right in! And then... the siren went off!



A mass start of about 80 of us, I took my time settling into my stroke and sighting regularly to make sure I stayed on course. I took many moments to take in the beautiful sunrise. As I'd lift my head to the side to breathe, I'd peek out at the sun and mountains. I was in just the right place too, with teammates up ahead and some behind, so I never felt lost or alone in the open lake. The swim was utterly amazing and I felt alive. Before I knew it, I had already come up on the red buoy, indicating our turnaround. I continued stroking consistently and even felt stronger by this point. Soon, in the distance, I could see the dock again, and just minutes later, I was being pulled up by our volunteers onto the dock. I had just swam 1.2 miles!!

One of my teammates, Cori, was just behind me walking from the dock and had swam not only her farthest distance, too, but conquered some major demons and was overwhelmed by how proud of herself she was and started to tear up. I recognized that emotion all too well and took a moment hug her and tell her how excited for and proud of her I was, too. I live for moments like that, where I can witness greatness and accomplishment right in front of me.

Soon after, we were back at transition and ready to be stripped of our wetsuits. One more layer of sunscreen, popped on the helmet and swapped shoes, and off I went onto the bike course.



Just a few miles in (maybe 2-3) and we were greeted with our first hill: Beach Hill, with a grade of about 4%. I pushed through and took my time and felt great once I reached the top. I had a timer set to alert me every 15 minutes so I could refuel with my concoction (a heavily-concentrated Carbo-Pro + Gatorade), chased with H20. Unfortunately, I had felt a looming headache coming on. Not from any type of dehydration, but instead, it had a similar sensation to a brainfreeze -- a sharp pain along my forehead. Perhaps it was the headwind going straight for my face, as I just returned from the water? At any rate, I continued on and made sure I hydrated and fueled regularly.



The rest of the terrain consisted of rolling hills, and some flats. It was a gorgeous course and I could see budding remnants as to why the course got its name, Wildflower. At about Mile 30, I had to make a pit stop, which is also where our SAG Vehicle (and awesome volunteers, Claudia & Meenu) were hanging out. They told me they had just received instruction to advance all cyclists at that point forward. Our bike ride wasn't over, but in order to make a time cutoff, I needed to be at a certain spot at a specific time. My heart leapt as I heard the news but that sense of calm came over me again and I refused to beat myself up over something that could not be controlled. Another teammate, Jen, and I were advanced forward to the bottom of Nasty Grade, at Mile 40-42. By this point, I took this experience as a sign and meant-to-be moment that I was to tackle this grade with fresh legs and a positive, refreshed outlook. And so I did.



Just as I started to pedal up Naciemiento Lake Road, the start of the climb, Honoree Captain Liz rode by and with her most energetic and enthusiastic voice, shouted "Is that Maria?! I'm so glad I got to meet you here! Are you ready for this climb?? Remember that for every person you see on this hill, whether they pass you or are right behind you -- they carry this energy that will PULL you to the top!" Those words stuck in my head all throughout Nasty Grade, and let me tell you... I kicked the 'ASS' out of NASTY! I just maintained my strong & steady / smooth & steady mentality and when it got extra steep, muscled through it. More sweat would bead down my face, but I thought to myself -- how thankful I am and should be to be outside at this moment, on this beautiful day, to be able to feel the sun on my face and see all these wildflowers in the distance. Several more pumps and pulls with the quads and hamstrings and I was at the false summit. Hah, not the best term to use (or even think about) during a climb, but it was the perfect stop to put an aid station and my next 15 minute refueling stop was here again. So I took a moment, wiped the sweat from my brow, took some swigs of my bottles and prepared for more climbing.

Unfortunately, I was still experiencing that same headache -- which I would later conclude was the result of having my helmet on too tight (it turned into a small bruise along the top of my forehead). These next few climbs were not nearly as steep but I knew what was coming next -- a -6% grade descend (what some cycling enthusiasts would refer to as a 'screaming downhill'). So as I peered over the top of the hill of Mile 44, I shifted over to the big ring, prepared to pedal through it and just let myself go. Off! I went down the hill. It was exhilarating! The best part about this descend is that I could actually see where I was going and where I would end up, and there was nothing scary about it! Instead, I just held on, and embraced the speed I was picking up, the wind cooling all the heat I had generated during the climb, and just went for it with no fear. I noticed Jen about midway through the descend (she had been reluctant about the downhill portion), and was SAG'd forward so she could walk her bike down the hill. I understood her hesitation and could recognize again, that we all have our own demons to face.



After a few more rolling hills and a couple brief refueling stops later, I found myself back at transition again, just as the day started to heat up some more. Captain Tony immediately greeted me at transition and was kind enough to relieve me of my bike. I quickly changed to my running shorts, threw on my cap and water belt and brand new Nikes, and off I went to get this run going.

Starting out, my spirits were still up but I had no idea what was ahead. 60% of the run course was on a trail. I often find pros and cons to trail running. Softer ground and better for your legs and feet ~ but oftentimes more hilly. And boyyy was this the case for the Wildflower Run Course. I had decided to use a 4:1 run/walk strategy; and if I encountered some longer hills, I would take more time to walk them and then speed up my run pace on the flats. I shot a 2x caffeine Gu to get my momentum flowing, and at Mile 2 of the run, I was greeted by a familiar face. It was Tiffany. We hadn't ran together since our last marathon in October, so it was great to catch up and talk through some of our looming doubts about the run ahead. The day got hotter, and the hills started to build. Our first water stop was coming up and I couldn't believe it -- we had just arrived at Mile 3. Only the third mile?!, I thought. It had felt like five already. But before I let any demons or ugly voices creep up, I pounded some more water and took it one foot in front of the other. The gorgeous lake we had swam in hours before was the view to our left and the thought of jumping right back in was too tempting.

At about Mile 4, we were greeted with a steep 400 ft climb that would later bring us into a 200 ft descend on foot. My liquid calories were starting to slosh around in my stomach and I was starting to get cranky in the heat. Tiff and I both were getting tired (she was also starting to get calf cramps and knee issues) but we were delighted to hear a familiar voice coming up from behind us. It was Coach Sedonia! She was designated to sweep the course and bring in the last runner(s). I kept a few feet ahead as Tiff and Sedonia chatted, but man... I was getting weary, with no sign of improvement coming along anytime soon. I popped a salt tablet since I was losing some water and salt under the sun, but could still feel the sloshing and 'empty' feeling in my gut. I was running on low. And then BAM! Here came my wall.

Mile 5. Halfway through this monster hill, with nothing but dirt trails around us, and I was in the back of the back of the run. I turned around and started to power-walk backwards up the hill, and looked down at Sedonia and Tiffany. "I've hit my wall, guys, and I don't want to do this anymore," I said.

It was an unmistakable moment. I was in the lowest depths of my wall and I wanted OFF that trail ASAP. It was then that I asked myself, "WHY am I doing all of this? WHAT is all of this for, and what is the freaking point?!" [The answers to these questions would later reveal themselves to me and are found below...] All I wanted to do was whine and pout and complain. I was tired and hot and felt gross after nearly six straight hours of being outside and burning all my physical and mental energy. AND I still had a ways to go on the run. And these were my thoughts during mile 5 of 13.1! If that's not discouraging, I don't know what is.

But somewhere along the way, after arriving at our next water stop, we saw Head Coach Dave (a.k.a. one of my RV-roommates for the weekend) on his mountain bike, whose presence sort of gave me a looming feeling of worry ~ kind of like a, "watch out, he's going to crack that whip and you'd better speed up"). The three of us girls dumped ice cubes down our bike jerseys (which we ran in), and under our hats to cool our heads, at the aid station. A new thought came to me... you know, we're kinda close, we can't stop. I had stopped looking down at my watch at this point, quit with the 4:1 run/walk, and just literally focused on putting one foot in front of the other. If I had momentum to pick up the pace and RUN, I did. If the onset of more hills came along, I power-walked.

Coach Dave rode alongside me for quite some time, telling me if I wanted to push myself a little, now was a good opportunity. He said, "This race and this day isn't for anyone else but you. So if you want to prove something to yourself, you shouldn't hold back." We talked some more [I mentioned getting SAG'd forward on the bike, and he was unfamiliar with that specific cutoff time, saying there must have been some confusion and it may have been too early to pull me forward, which brought me some relief]. And after awhile, I sort of forgot about the mental anguish and tiredness I was feeling back at that seemingly endless hill at Mile 5. I hadn't realized it, but I had overcome the wall and was back to moving forward and getting as much out of that half-marathon as I could. Moments later, we reached the third water stop. And one of our Honorees, Laura, was there to greet me. She offered me some salty Pringles -- which totally hit the spot. Seeing her again, reminded me that being out in the sun and running these hills is only a fraction of what she has gone through over the course of 20 years, battling cancer, treatments -- on again and off again. I still felt tired, but it gave me some real perspective. A few more heavy swigs of the water, and Coach Dave told me to keep on going. He would later go back to check on and ride alongside Tiffany and Sedonia.

So I hit the trail again. A few steps into it, I saw another friendly and familiar face that would bring me not only more perspective, but rejuvinated my enthusiasm for what I'm doing, how we are making a difference, and a reminder of the importance of the journey. And that person ~ who again showed her face at the right time... was Honoree Captain Liz. We ran when it was flat, and we walked when it was steep. During one of our very last descends along Lynch Road, Liz was feeling some knee pain and I, calf and IT band tightness. So we took it easy on that downhill. We reminded each other why and how we met in the first place ~ to make a difference for others, give back to those in need, and to push ourselves beyond what we thought was possible. And low and behold, we were doing those very things in the last moments of our run. I was again so touched by our conversation and smiled because it all was so true. And just like that... we came up upon transition again. I could hear, see and feel my finish line approaching.

Liz told me to go for it, that it was my moment to enjoy. So I took it home -- I sprinted as fast as I could [again, where this energy came from after hours and miles now behind me, I have NO idea]... and I finished strong! I had completed the Wildflower Long Course and I was now Halfway to Iron.



I basically spend 90% of my time with IronTeam and all this triathlon business absolutely OUT of my comfort zone. Those of you that really know me and see how well I keep it together in most other aspects of my life probably wouldn't recognize the klutziness, chaos and hilarity that ensue when I'm squeezing into a wetsuit, within a 1-mile radius of a bike, and trying to coordinate myself during a brick workout. But sure enough, as we now reach the 1/2 way point of our season, peering over the second installment of challenges, excitement, & highs and lows that are soon to come our way (comparable to what went through my mind peering over Nasty Grade's descend), I'm starting to see some incredible progress and growth within myself.

I just couldn't believe at the tail end of the race on Saturday that parts of me actually started to feel comfortable -- started to get used to the triathlon way of life and accustomed to being a triathlete. Never thought I'd see the day.



I soaked in these precious moments of reaching my finish of the Half-Ironman, as I sipped my Recovery Drink, threw on my flip-flops and waited for our final finishers to come through. I was in the presence of greatness: support, camaraderie, laughter, tears, accomplishment. True endurance athletes who pushed through their very own walls, dealt with the day's obstacles, and still managed to have shining smiles on their faces. I returned to the lake to soak my leg muscles for a makeshift ice bath (complete with musical medleys by Captain Tony and Coach Doug who themselves jumped into the lake).



This is one of Marina, Doug, Belinda, Cori & I.

The whole Team went on to eat a good meal (provided by LLS), and celebrate all that we achieved that day. Good times were had, many stories were shared, and yes, we have now become that much closer as a family. I'm so thankful to all our volunteers and the course support we had out there throughout the day. None of the success we had would have been made possible without each and every person who volunteered their time, energy, cooking skills (and loaner full-sized grill & oven set ~ thanks, Susie!) if not for you all and your talents & generosity.



By Sunday morning, after another full night of sleep, I awoke to a whole community of people: A Family of Teammates and Friends, gathered 'round the fire with cups of hot cocoa and coffee in their hands, reminiscing with the glow on their faces (yes, from the tequila shots from the night before -- but also from the pride and joy they felt by what they had accomplished on Saturday). I was truly content and so full of happiness and gratitude by what we put out there on the Wildflower Course, and the new memories and lessons we now take home with us.



Here's one of Coach Dave, Coach Doug, Coach Sedonia, Mascot Belinda, Coach Mike & I ~ all sporting the Ironman Underoos...



I had asked back at THE WALL -- why do I do this? What is it all for? And on Saturday night, I figured it out. This is the new mantra I gave myself:

Today, I pushed myself. Today, I accomplished and exceeded my own expectations. What could have been just an ordinary day -- instead, became one where I struggled, doubted, overcame & succeeded. And without those uncertain moments and experiences of falling down and getting back up, it's impossible to grow and have the ability to look back and see the long way you've come and how far you can go. Tonight, I celebrate all this day has brought me. Tonight, I celebrate my victory as well as those of my IronTeam Family.



***
Week #19 Workout Summary:

Swim: 1 hour and 0 minutes
Bike: 5 hours and 0 minutes
Run: 3 hours and 0 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 30 minutes
Total Workout: 9 hours and 0 minutes

IronTeam 2010's Fundraising Progress to Date: $129,020
My Fundraising Progress to Date: $5,505

My Weekend: A Panorama of San Francisco & Turning Mountains INTO Molehills

Probably one of the most picturesque weekends I've had in a long time. I am one giant sore muscle today, but with a smile on my face thinking back on the last couple days and what my Team and I all went through...

Starting off Saturday morning ~ bright and early, we headed out to the San Francisco Bay for the heavily-anticipated maiden open water swim in salt water: Aquatic Park.



We were incredibly lucky to be given spectacular weather to work with, because I swear, every time I shivered or thought of how cold the water was, I couldn't help but look up and feel incredibly blessed to live and train where we do. Where ELSE in the world would you get a chance to swim with views of Alcatraz up ahead, Ghirardelli Square on your right and the Golden Gate Bridge to your left?



So after taking a few awesome photo ops, the Team and I bravely headed into the water. It was about 54 F. The initial shock to my head was like no other. Sort of a combination between a brainfreeze and a sharp pain across my forehead. But I persisted, repeating to myself that I'd get used to it and to just keep moving. Sticking your face in the water is the toughest part. But once you get it over with, the rest is all mental and your body just follows. It was about the distance between the shore and reaching the first buoy, that the sensation in my face started to come back to me. I was then able to practice my sighting technique some more and start to get comfortable and settle into my stroke. I decided to sight the Hyde St. Pier sign. I'll tell ya -- that thing got me through a lot.



I swam and swam, salt water sloshing in and out of my mouth, but buoyant and feeling so alive to be where I was and with my Team. Captain Tony was in the kayak at the first buoy, smiling and encouraging as always. Once I turned the corner, I was to head straight to the other end of the water, where Captain Kristie was waiting in a kayak of her own. I spotted/sighted a light post that time around but kept getting distracted by the Golden Gate Bridge in all its glory, facing directly toward us. It was all such an incredible sight to see as the sun was shining and the air was clear.

Of course, no IronTeam workout is that straightforward. In between our buoy-to-buoy laps we had to come to shore and complete certain "tasks" given to us by the coaches. During my first lap, I had wondered what this meant. To my humbling surprise... 20 pushups!



I noticed some dizziness after getting in and out of the water, so Coach Dave advised that I swim with ear plugs to prevent the frigid water from getting into my head every time I turned to breathe. Makes perfect sense! Here he is, jamming the wax directly into my ear ;)



After the second lap, we had to do crab walks and sumo walks in the sand (I'll spare you those photos). After completing three laps, I had successfully swam 1 mile in the SF Bay. Never had I ever thought I'd do something like this.



After drying off and warming up, we set out for a 1 hour and 40-minute run through the Presidio. Again, we were greeted by some of the most picturesque views of the city even I had never seen before. Sandy was my running companion this time around and we had a blast catching up and laughing off our "You know you're Iron whens..." After meeting up with Margaret for the last leg, I pulled it in for a sprint back to Sports Basement (my Garmin read 8 mins/mile for the last few yards, which I think was a lie). Otherwise, the GPS gods were certainly on my side!

Just as I was able to whip out my recovery drink, Coach Doug told us to head over across the street to the beach area. Time for core / strength training sand-style. Again, as our legs fatigued and we wiped a bit of the sweat from our brows, I had to take a moment to really soak in where we were and how damn lucky we are...



I mean, how could you even complain?!

My upper body was pretty sore waking up Sunday morning (and I discovered some "love scars" on the back of my neck from the wetsuit), but knew what the next day would bring... our steepest and longest ride of the season to date: The Marin Metric Century Route (62 miles; and 3,800 feet of climbing).

Here we go ~ another bout and lots of personal time with the bike again. For those of you who've been following my journey, it would come as no surprise to you that my sentiments about the bike are such that we're 'in a relationship' but still defining what that might be. Are we in love? Is it complicated? What I CAN say for now, is that I'm committed. That thing has bucked me off repeatedly and I have become one with the gravel more times than I can count. But I do what I can, and this time, knowing full well it was going to be a long day -- was no different.

I mixed and packed my bottles for the day (approximating 1,000-1,200 calories) and got my mind right and ready for what the day would bring. Here is a diagram / map of what it brought:



Elevations reaching as high as 600+ ft, and grades at 7%. We rode from San Rafael to Petaluma and back. We were again blessed with gorgeous weather. Just as I was about to depart the parking lot to begin my ride, I realized. One of these significant bottles -- packed with all my nutritional goodies was M.I.A. This was not a good sign. But before I could even get worked up and stressed, I calmed any nerves and just said to myself it'll all get figured out. (I've learned that proper fueling on the bike in particular is measured down to an exact science and frankly if you just don't have enough [carbs, electrolytes, water], you will bonk. It's just a matter of fact.) In any case, it was way too early to start worrying, so I didn't even allow myself to go there just yet.

We set off on our ride, with me pretty much sweeping the back as usual ~ but I decided from the very beginning that my goals were to 1- Take my time; and 2- Enjoy the day. And so I did :)

The first climb was tricky. The second climb taught me something new (I exclaimed to Helen [which is a first; I mean I never used to be able to let out so much as a grunt while climbing, let alone full sentences] -- "wow, the grade isn't as steep compared to a second ago, this is like a breath of fresh air and we actually get a small break in here!") If you can imagine it, the hill would just go up and up and parts of it actually felt more than manageable to me. Go figure. I am without a doubt sure that all these extra spin workouts I've been packing in during the week are paying off exponentially in my ability to endure the hills I encountered today.

The third climb wasn't too bad either. Will sped by me while seemingly trying to catch and pass another pro cyclist. His cadence on hills astounds me. The fourth climb. Now that was much harder. So much so that I had to channel in some major inspiration for this one. For part of it, it was Louie. I imagined him pulling up right next to me coaching me through it, telling me he rode that same hill several years back and that I could do it too. After Louie, it was Frank. Frank, if you happen to catch this update, I truly owe you. Hah, I don't know if our Team had crossed your mind at all yesterday but you definitely helped me get up that hill yesterday. All I could hear as I pushed and worked up a sweat on the climb was you telling me as you have in the past, "Anything's possible. Don't give up". Your lasting words and encouragement have made such a significant difference for me (as well as your story and beating your own battle with cancer and going on to finish IM Louisville last year) ~ that you were as much there with me in spirit yesterday as any day I'd just run into you at a workout. So thank you.

I reached the top of that climb and I started to cry, feeling so proud and fulfilled after pushing through and reaching my goal. Completing these steep climbs are small, yet very significant victories for me and I celebrate them each and every time.

Back down on some descends and rolling terrain, I admired the beauty of the Nicasio Reservoir, farms in Petaluma and various residential neighborhoods throughout Marin County. I took all kinds of opportunities to up my cadence, get a good heart rate going, and really challenge myself on the flatter terrain. I felt confident.



Upon arriving at one of our water stops (running pretty low on nutrition), I chomped down on half a Power Bar and filled one of my empty bottles with Gatorade. Ahhh, relief. Another electrolyte drink to help boost me up. Off I went, up some mini-hills and some fun descends, playing around with the harder gears and keeping that cadence high. And then -- I heard kind of a faint pop noise. Don't worry -- tires were full and intact. But as distinct a sound as it was, it didn't concern me too much. Shortly after, Sara sped by me, determined and looking strong! (She had blown out one of her tires and actually made it to a local bike shop to replace it. Awesome as she is, she hopped back on and conquered the course with a vengeance!)

Just as she had passed, I thought it wise to pull over, get situated, and take another few swigs from my bottle. Low and behold -- I lost my Gatorade! It obviously flew out of one of my rear bottle cages and I was at a loss, again, of my fuel. It was long gone, too. So I downed some more water and still remained positive.

Soon after, I encountered the big one. Climb #5. This would be the most challenging and steepest mother of them all. Luckily, the pavement looked to have been newly redone so that was one less thing I had to worry about (bumps, cracks, uneven surfaces, etc.). So I went for it. Slow and steady, slow and steady, I kept repeating to myself. Cars would zoom by, I'd try to keep my line straight and just not give up. Whatever I did, I thought, just don't give up. I huffed and puffed up the hill, keeping my breathing in check, feeling the sweat beading up under my helmet and along my back. I could smell the SPF 50 Coppertone I sprayed on myself earlier in the morning. At this point I was getting hungrier by the second. All I could think about was inhaling the other half of the Power Bar sitting in my back pocket. I saw a pullout on the side of the road and thought... ok, you can stop here. Just do it. You can eat, take a break, stop. And then you can continue riding. But the climb just went up and up. There was no way I could comprehend stopping in the middle of a hill only to start up again BACK on a climb. It sounded absolutely dreadful. I literally came to a mental crossroads upon reaching the pullout spot in the road. I could hear my conscience telling me to KEEP IT MOVING, going at a pace probably comparable to an insect on the ground, but I passed by the spot and said, no giving up. You are not hitting any walls today, Afan.

I promised myself once I reached the top, I would tear open that 1/2 a Power Bar and have a field day with it because it was the least of what I earned after all that. But as I got to the top, I thought I should go for that downhill, descend like there's no tomorrow and enjoy the cooldown. And so I did.

Once I finished that descend and it leveled back out again, I found a spot to pull over and just absorb everything I had experienced -- mentally and physically. A Power Bar never tasted so good.

By that time, however, I was on the last legs of any water or fuel I had on me. I had completed 42 of the 62 miles and was on the road for a total of 4 hours. I felt truly accomplished and went my farthest distance to date (increasing by 10 miles with those climbs, from my last ride -- the infamous Jelly Belly ride, during which I had my crash). I was proud and wanted to be wise about ending on a high note, before we set out for the Wildflower Half-Ironman Course next weekend. So I weighed my options and decided to call Belinda, in our trusty SAG Vehicle, to come pick me up.

I walked away from today's ride feeling proud, accomplished and happy with what I put out there on the road and what I can take home with me.

For upcoming rides, I plan to pack in double the amount of calories in each bottle, as well as pack more food items with me (in my bike jersey) so that if any future unexpected or unplanned mishaps happen, I'll at the very least have MORE nutrition on me, to account for any lost (or flown off the bike) ;)

All in all, a very challenging, eye-opening fulfilling training weekend. Can't say I'm not exhausted and that I don't plan to take some extra time to rest ~ but I feel great and couldn't be any prouder of my Teammates for enduring through these tough two days.

Wildflower, here we come!!

***
Week #18 Workout Summary:

Swim: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Bike: 6 hours and 0 minutes
Run: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 30 minutes
Total Workout: 10 hours and 30 minutes

I love nights like tonight!

Just checking in mid-week. I have to say -- I swear by the occasional "normal Saturday". The series of evening workouts this week I've had, have been phenomenal. And I rarely use that word unless I mean it! Not only had I been looking forward to each training day (well, tonight brought a little hesitation getting my rear in gear to the pool for a solo lap swim) ~ but I had top-notch 110% quality workouts these last few days and I really enjoyed them.

Tuesday - I was finally able to make it to the Walnut Creek Sports Basement Spin (and traditional sushi extravaganza post-workout). We had some tough speed intervals... at one point having to maintain a cadence of over 95 rpm, then 'recover' at 80-85 rpm. I powered through and once those electrolytes and carbs were coursing through me, I just went for it, chose some harder gears and impressed myself by not just completing the sets, but feeling amazing afterward. Of course, it helped to spin two bikes down from Head Coach Dave, who strategically planted himself in the middle of the crowd. But I just felt powerful and strong, two words I never thought I'd use to describe myself on the bike.



Wednesday - Followed up with another spin session at Sports Basement with Team Shadow. In this photo with Belinda (currently training for her second Ironman and first Death Ride cycling event), and Anna, I'm cycling in some much harder gears yet beaming because I'm truly having a great time. Team Shadow Coach, Paul, had us do longer sets in 'the big ring' and try to maintain a cadence of about 55-60 rpm. It really gave me a sense (mentally and physically) of what it's like to climb steeper and longer [distance] hills. Something I'll surely need for this weekend's Metric Century Ride. Again, powered through, and didn't feel drained by the end. As I said after both consecutive nights of spin -- they were hard, but a good kind of hard. (easy there, to you one-track minded folk. I know how that sounds, but if you were in my shoes, and I mean bike shoes, you would know exactly what I mean!)

And finally tonight, Thursday - A culmination of all three nights of hard work. These are the nights that make it all worth it. These are the nights that give me that sense of fulfillment, joy, pride and reassurance that I'm doing something I truly enjoy.

A swim! On tap, we had a 2500 yd workout where we would have to time 15 sets of 100 yds and record each one. I knew it wouldn't be easy, and it's been over a week since I've swam. But I was a woman determined. Determined to put some real power in my stroke and keep it as consistent as I possibly could. To not only make my swim coach, Sedonia, proud -- but really, for myself. To see what I could do. I shot a 2x caffeine Gu (my new secret weapon - jet blackberry is the way to go) prior to getting into the pool and starting my drills. And just after warming up -- I began the set. At first, I felt like I went out too fast; I could feel my heart racing and I knew the second 100 yd piece would require me to take it down a notch. You have to keep in mind that when I first started out in November, my average time for 100 yds was 2:23. Here were my times tonight:

1- 2:00
2- 2:07
3- 2:05
4- 2:05
5- 2:06
6- 2:01
7- 2:01
8- 1:59
9- 2:01
10- 1:58
11- 2:05
12- 1:59
13- 1:59
14- 1:55
15- 1:52

Negative splits, baby. I just couldn't happier. As I said, I swear by the occasional "normal Saturday". The proof is in the pudding. And to see that kind of improvement (despite taking a break every now and then to recharge, and coming right back strong and ready) just makes all the hard work, exerted time and energy and yes, even some of the blood, sweat and tears, all the more worth it. **and on a particularly humble note, thank you to all my friends and family who are continually so understanding and forgiving of each time I say "I can't tonight," or "I'm busy," or when it seems like training for this thing is all I ever talk about. I think of so many of you (especially those I haven't seen in weeks or months!) often. And would you believe -- even as I swim lap after lap in the pool. As I climb the hills on the bike. You are constantly in my thoughts and I thank you for your unending support and encouragement.

Off to get some dinner and sleep and gear up for Aquatic Park in two days!

Time for a Breather!

I personally designated this past week as a mental recovery week for myself. I've been starting to notice things building up and cast aside as a result of all my training and constantly being on the move. Laundry, errands, overloaded To-Do Lists, and most importantly the need to recharge my batteries and spend some time for and on myself -- apart from work, training, and my other obligations. And man, was it the breath of fresh air I needed!

The week started off great, with a fun Tuesday night spin session at Captain Tony's Studio (that makes him sound like a superhero) in Oakland, with Rocky and Phil. We got some solid speed intervals in, and followed up with some much needed foam rolling, stretching and a little bit of core exercises. Gotta love those guys. And suffice to say, we've now bonded and know each other a little better after that experience.

I wrote earlier about my Wednesday night swim, a workout I was very pleased with, amidst the on-and-off showers and wind that the evening brought.

For the end of the week, I promised one of my teammates, Kathryn, to volunteer and put myself up for bid for her fundraiser: A Date Auction for LLS. All went well! Will, another one of my teammates, was the lucky winner. Here are a few of us up for bid at "The Green Party": Jennifer, myself & Johnny...



As a last-minute decision, I decided to take Saturday off for a mental health day (which I deemed "normal Saturday") and I was so relieved to give myself a few more hours in the week. Wrapped up the day with a great dinner in the city, catching up with friends from college whom I haven't seen since starting Team in Training in 2008.

By today, I was back in the swing of things. I got together with some of the gang: Kristie, Belinda, Marina, Tiffany, Mary, Cori, Helen, Nick, Mike, Stephanie, and Martina ~ to all meet for a run through Clayton, followed by a fantastic brunch at Captain Jen's lovely home.



The weather was beautiful for a run through the town and trails of quaint Clayton. We saw llamas & emu as we broke a sweat under the sun and completed anywhere from 6.5-7 miles at our easy/long pace. I also followed Kristie's lead and tried a new run/walk strategy (4 mins run / 1 min walk). I'm experimenting with this now so I can get comfortable with my pacing for the marathon during my Ironman. I know those walks are certainly going to come in handy especially getting off of the bike with "fresh bricks" for legs.

Our meal post-run was simply the best. Great company, savory food and delightful mimosas on a Sunday afternoon. Today just couldn't be beat.





Up next and looking forward to...

- Saturday, 3/13: Aquatic Park ~ yes, IronTeam will be swimming in the San Francisco BAY next weekend! Can we say brainfreeze? (that one's for you, Rocky)

- Sunday, 3/14: Marin Metric Century Ride Route ~ can you believe it? My first metric century (that's just over 62 miles) through the rolling, and from what I've heard STEEP hills of Marin County. This should be an adventure! I'm trying to calm the nerves of my quads and hamstrings. They're getting awfully nervous for those hill climbs.

- Friday, 3/19: We take off for yours truly's FIRST camping trip ever. M-dot meets wilderness. This should be good.

- Saturday, 3/20: HALF-IRONMAN DISTANCE TRI at Lake San Antonio (a.k.a. The Avia Wildflower Course)


Phew! Makes that little bit of downtime worth it... and what already seems like a dream ago!


***
Week #17 Workout Summary: [Personal Getting My Head Back On Straight Week]

Swim: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Bike: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Run: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 15 minutes
Total Workout: 4 hours and 0 minutes

New Perspectives

Third post in one week! I'm blog-happy this week and it's no doubt because of all the wonderful things I have to absorb.

Firstly -- all the LLS Love & Support. Thank you to everyone who reached into their pockets and wallets on the 1st of the month to help us BREAK the $5k mark! Not for any reason but out of your generosity and kindness. I had no type of deadline or minimum to reach on that day. I simply asked, and you gave. And it's a true testament to what great friends, family, colleagues and even mystery donors (yes, anonymous friend, I'm still trying to find you!) I have in my life. THANK YOU!! You are heroes and are helping to save lives.

Secondly -- I've learned the importance of perspectives. How they often change, shift and grow in your lifetime. And it's crucial to take a moment every now and again to look back and see where you've been.

On the 1-year anniversary of my very first marathon (which took place on March 22, 2009 in Rome, Italy), I will be in the midst of completing my first Half-Ironman Distance Triathlon on March 20, 2010 at Lake San Antonio, CA. It's just remarkable to me how this becomes possible. How you can go from barely being able to run a mile, to completing a marathon; to not having swam or biked since the age of 7 to swimming up to 2,000 yds in one night (our weekly swim workouts) and climbing 3,500 ft on your very first road bike (two weekends ago) months later.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, it's the Coaches, Mentors, Captains, Staff & my Teammates that I see day in and day out that push me to get to the 5-6 trainings per week. And it's this will and determination they've helped me to cultivate that get me to finish each challenging day. And I am just so thankful.

I had a definite IRON UP moment last night. It had been a long day at the office and with my hour-long commute from SF to the East Bay, rain, chilly temps (relatively speaking; I know you East Coasters venturing out to ski right now are skeptical of me), I just wanted to go home and stay there. To change into my cozy wear and curl up in front of the t.v. and do nothing (which feels the best after a long day). Despite knowing I had a swim workout waiting for me. Not to mention, Phil, who was also planning to be at the pool. As I wavered on whether I felt like going back outside, I ate my Gu Chomps and just started moving. Started breaking out the swimsuit, goggles and cap. Just going through the motions. Before I knew it, I found myself walking to my car and getting to the pool parking lot. I got out of my car and felt that brisk air again and it started to sprinkle.

The lot was nearly empty. Aside from the usual swim and dive teams, there were no lap swimmers but for Phil and I. I dis-robed from my fleecy parka and jumped right in to get warm again.

What I didn't realize back during the wavering (read as: lazy) moments of the evening, was that I would go on to swim 2,500 of some of my best yards in the pool. I found myself pulling and catching for longer periods of time than I had before (meaning, swimming consistently at "Level 6-7", rather than 3). I picked up new things with my stroke and truly felt powerful. So had I not gotten my rear in motion to get to the pool and iron up, I would have completely deprived myself of this experience. It was even pouring rain at one point -- our tri bags and water bottle tops getting soaked on the pool deck. I got out of the pool after about 1:15:00 and shivered upon returning to that mild wind and drizzle of rain. Only instead of feeling regretful or resentful to be outside, I felt so fulfilled and accomplished to have completed what I did.

It's in those moments that I feel truly proud to be on IronTeam and to be committed to something as big as training for an Ironman. Because now, as I sit in front of the PC, clearly dry, warm and out of the rain ~ I feel that hint of a fatigued muscle here or there, which is a reminder of all the hard work. And in turn, every yard, hour, mile and push I've given and endured adds up to the results I get to see after our marker sets and truly being tested to see what we're made of.

So as we gear up for another return to the open water this weekend, and with Wildflower Weekend and our heavily-anticipated Halfway to Iron Camping Trip (March 19-21) around the corner, it's important to keep this perspective. To remember the tough moments. The ones that test you and get you to either waver, not make it (sometimes), and complete and conquer what you set out to do. Because that's how you get to see progress and growth in who you are and who you can be.

How can YOU be a part of My Team?

Well first of all -- that was a trick question. You ALREADY are, if you're reading my blog! :) But seriously... I have been giving this some thought for a while now.

So many of you have been incredibly supportive, vocal and encouraging throughout my journey. You've followed my blog and aren't shy about posting those comments on Facebook! However, some of you have wondered how YOU can be a part of my Team (without having to swim, bike & run alongside me). And I've come up with a solution!

Whether you plan to watch me race in Louisville on Sunday, August 29, 2010 ~ or are cheering me on from afar throughout the season, I'd like you to be part of My Team, Team M-Dot (a name combining the recognizable Ironman logo, the "M-Dot" and my first initial), by sporting the lime green and purple flame ~ just like me! Whenever I train, I proudly wear these colors and flames to not only be seen (for safety) while out on the road, but as a reminder that I'm part of a Team that's constantly in motion to become stronger, and fighting for a cause ~ to give back to those in need. Wear it as a sign of support for IronTeam; wear it as a sign of support for Team M-Dot!

After some brainstorming and scheming, I've come up with a design I think you'll really like! I am selling Spectator Tees in the following two style options:

- Short sleeve cotton for $15
- Long sleeve cotton for $20

A portion of the proceeds will go directly to LLS, AND is available to both you, and any of your friends or other supporters of those on IronTeam 2010. So order one for yourself, and a friend! They're ideal for Race Day ~ as well as to don throughout the season in support of your friends out there training to become an Ironman, just like me.

As you'll see in the above photo, the front displays our Team Name and Season, and the best part -- the reverse side will be customizable at no additional cost. You can have mine or Our Team's name, i.e. "TEAM M-Dot" or "GO MARIA!", or perhaps even your favorite mantra, "Cancer Sucks!" (if it's a short one!) ~ printed on the back (up to 12 characters).** The idea is to make it your own!

Here's how to order:

1. Select your size(s) (Youth Small to Adult XXL) - Note: anything larger than XL will be an additional cost of $1.
2. Complete the order form [please send me an email requesting the form].
3. Payment must be submitted in the form of cash or check, made payable to me.
4. Please mail/return form & payment to me no later than March 31, 2010.

for my contact info, email me directly at: missmariacarmela@gmail.com

Your customized Spectator Tees will be delivered by the weekend of April 17-18, 2010.

Every time I go out to train for a 5+ hour day, I make it a point to reflect on not only my Team Honorees ~ but also those that support and encourage me along the way. Those individuals are YOU, and I consider you an integral and irreplaceable part of My Team. And I just can't thank you enough. Please consider being part of Team M-Dot by sporting the lime green with me from now until Ironman Race Day in August!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
GO TEAM!
Maria

**other customized options are available at an additional cost; such as name embroidery on the sleeve for $5 extra, or additional lines exceeding the 12-character limit on the reverse side of your Spectator Tee.

Oh what a Recovery Week can do!

Let me just start by saying I have THE best coaches an Ironbaby could ask for. They have provided us with the most detailed, efficient, well-planned and organized training schedule this season (complete with not only the physical training, but mental training exercises, weaning us into wetsuit/open water experiences that would otherwise be terrifying, and timely 'marker sets' to help us see our progress and how we are improving every few weeks). What's more, they spend hours behind-the-scenes, meeting with our mentors, captains and staff to ensure we, as aspiring Iron athletes, have the best experience possible. And so I'd like to give proper acknowledgment and say HATS OFF! to them! I appreciate every bit of energy, encouragement, enthusiasm, support and guidance they give us along the way. And that goes for every last mentor and captain who sweeps the bike and run courses for our safety. You know who you are! :) Each one of you is an integral part of this experience and I can't say thank you enough.

This week was designated as a Recovery Week from our infamous Boot Camp Weekend. We took the opportunity to take our workouts down a notch, soak in hot tubs, stretch and foam roll out, and even get some much-needed massages. I had a 50-minute trigger-point session that made three hours of sleep seem like 8. Note to self: Will be booking same therapist after Wildflower Weekend.

Waking up on Saturday morning was tough. We had a smaller anticipated turnout for the coached workout in Novato (a trek for most of us who live in the East Bay), and the rain was stop and go for awhile. But I managed to peel myself off the bed for what would be a day I wouldn't regret...

We had two marker sets scheduled: A Swim & a Run. And here are my results:

Swim: 1500 yds (60 laps in the pool, the same distance I swam for the first time at the Louie Tri) in 0:33:58, a five-minute improvement in my time since January, and with a 20-second negative split (the last 30 laps were 20 seconds faster than the first 30).

Run: 5k on the track in 0:29:00 ~ I never knew I could run like that!

And on Sunday, our bike marker:

Bike: 4-mile ride along a slight incline along Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon, improving my speed by 1.6 mph, which according to Coach Mike, is a 20% increase in my speed! This piece of news especially blew me away.

After our bike ride on Sunday, we combined it with a run to make it a brick workout, where I felt good, ready and smooth. It's truly amazing to see the real progress we've all made, and particularly, how much of a difference a little downtime and recovery can do for the bod! I am truly in awe!

Coaches' Feedback:

"Holy moly!!! What improvement!!!! You took 14 minutes off your extrapolated 2.4 mi time and you shaved 20 seconds off your average 100 yard pace! This is HUGE Maria!!! Furthermore, you negative split perfectly!! This shows what a solid base you created and is a testament to all your hard work! You are an inspiration to the entire team and your spirit is infectious!" -Coach Sedonia, Swim

"Wow, you improved your average speed by over 1.6 mph. That may not seem like a big number, but for this bike marker, we are not expecting change like that. You decreased your time and increased your average speed by ~ 20%. That's HUGE! Keep up the great work." -Coach Mike, Bike

***
Week #16 Workout Summary: [Recovery Week]

Swim: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Bike: 3 hours and 0 minutes
Run: 3 hours and 0 minutes
Core/Strength: 0 hours and 30 minutes
Total Workout: 8 hours and 0 minutes