Last Long Run before Ironman

This morning, my new good friend, Ginger, graciously ran slowly with me on my last long run before Ironman. It was no speed record by no means but we got it done and I am feeling much more confident in my run at Ironman. Today we ran 13 miles and I ran 4 miles yesterday so basically 17 miles in 24 hours so I know I can get through the other 9 miles. We ran on a local road where we saw several cyclists we knew which was fun, too! Thanks Ginger! You have no idea how much I needed that!

Yesterday, I ran 4 miles and swam 1350 yards. It was okay. I will be looking forward to a break after Ironman. Of course, this lasts about a week or so...

Honestly, I have been seriously considering giving up triathlon. Six Ironman races in five years is a lot (maybe not for some pros but for this Texas girl) and I think right now I am a little burned out - not to mention two 50 K runs, a 50 miler and countless other marathons and varying distance triathlons. I still want to cycle and run and maybe swim but training for long distances all the time has finally worn a little thin. Ginger told me today she has been doing triathlon for 23 years! WOW! First, if you saw her you would not believe she is over 23! Second, she said her secret is to spread those Ironman events out and add shorter distances for fun and speed work. Maybe after a short break I will consider this. I have not considered myself anything but a triathlete for the past few years so I cannot imagine being something else. Hopefully, her enthusiasm will rub off and get me back in the spirit before too long. I really do like long stuff as I am not a speed demon (yet) and I do not mind doing stuff forever! I really would like to do something entirely different but still get a workout...maybe salsa or something fun like that! However, I cannot imagine at least running and cycling.

My first true love is running and I love the "runner's high" during that perfect run when you feel completely balanced and all is right with the world. This is when I truly feel closest to God and appreciate all of the gifts we all so often overlook like the sun peeking out over the little pond in the woods. Unfortunately, I haven't felt that too much this year. Maybe after a break!

Enough of that stuff, 19 days to Ironman! Besides going to Louisville, seeing my delightful parents, doing IM, I am really looking forward to seeing my good friend, Elizabeth, at IM! She rocks! She qualified for Kona last year and hopes to again this year! Elizabeth is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out! She always has a great smile and an even better attitude! Her family is great, too!

Off to ride in an hour or so, lift weights tonight and try to squeeze in some yoga. Next week school starts back so I will be back teaching next Thursday. My free days are numbered but I will be thankful to get back to school and my students! They make me crazy but I love it somehow! Hopefully, I will be back in school too. I am awaiting approval to take a graduate class at UNCG this term and deciding if I will go back to graduate school for my Ed.D in Exercise and Sport Science. Imagine me being called a doctor...WOW! It could be as soon as 5 years away (hopefully less)! My Doodle is right...I will always be a lifetime student. Always learning is a good thing!

Sunday

This is my brother-in-law's UPS truck. Due to another driver's careless driving, he wrecked his truck. However, he avoided a multi-car pile up where many more people could have been hurt! His angels were working overtime and he is safe and virtually unharmed. This just goes to show you that you must pay attention when you are driving!

Rode too hard with the club today. However, we raised over $400 for our Junior Development Team! YEAH! I should have rode alone because my heart rate was way too high. I hope this doesn't affect me later. I have to be much better about staying at the right heart rate. I guess I have spent so much time being last that I just hate it. I knew it was a rest week and I sort of blew that today and yesterday. Hope I do not pay for it at Ironman!

My husband always encourages me and believes in me...that means a lot. When I talked to him today, he just knew I would be just fine at IM. He knows I always get nervous before IM and he does very well at calming my nerves. He is just delightful.

This week's plan...

Monday-swim, run, teach one spin class

Tuesday-run, bike, yoga, weights

Wednesday-swim, teach one spin class

Thursday-bike, run, weights

Friday-swim

Saturday-bike

Sunday-run

Saturday

Today, I rode with our club. This might be the fastest I have ever rode on a consistent basis. We rode consistently at between 20-22 mph and we had to make a catch at 25-27 mph and I hung ON! WOW!!!!!

Tomorrow is our club's charity ride for our Junior Development Team. I hope to have a good ride but take it a little easier tomorrow.

Only 3 weeks to IM Louisville...can I do it?

Omigosh...a day off!

Today, I actually had a whole day off from working out. YEAH! I did not even feel bad for not working out. I did teach my spin class off the bike, which I never do. I hope my spinners got a good workout! They sure looked like they did. I felt semi-guilty but my legs feel like they weigh 9 million pounds. Luckily I have a massage scheduled for tomorow. Sometimes it actually hurts my shoulder worse after a massage but my legs need to be flushed out.

Thursday-run, bike, weights and maybe yoga
Friday-ride to work?
Saturday and Sunday-ride

25 days to IRONMAN LOUISVILLE!

Much Needed Rest Week

Monday-swim, run, and teach spin class
Tuesday-swim TT at 50 meter pool, run, bike and weights

Today, I am tired and need a rest. However, I had a good swim outside and wondered why I have been swimming inside all summer...my tan might actually even out and I might not look like I have cycling clothes all the time. My bike legs were tired today. It was also quite hot today.

Tomorrow - teach spin class and new HAIRDO! YEAH!!!!
Thursday-run, weights, ride - MASSAGE!
Friday-off
Saturday and Sunday-ride my bicycle!!! Easy rides both days!!!

Only 26 days to Ironman Louisville!!!

Next week is a rest week, YEAH!

REST WEEK is very much needed....
Yesterday, we went to Carthage and rode the metric century there. It was a hilly course but it was great fun! We had a great group and everyone was pretty pleasant. It got a little warm at the end but we made it in without any major problems. Lots of people cramped up but thankfully since we rode it last year and Hal had a major cramp in his legs, we were well prepared and shared our goodies with some other riders. Came home, went to the grocery store, mowed the grass, drank 5 margaritas on the front porch alone because my favorite sista girl was on vacation and had no one else that would have cocktails with me! Hope she comes home soon!

Got up this morning and felt okay. Got on the bike and did not feel so good. Met the group and rode an easy 55 miles and started to feel a whole lot better. Of course, this was not exactly my plan-7 hour ride and 1:15 run...NOT! I have a whole list of excuses but I will spare everyone.

Rest week coming up and I am very thankful. This body needs a rest. We only get bigger, better, stronger when we rest. I wonder if we get faster...

Only 28 days to Louisville. Is a PR possible? Maybe. My swim is okay but I do not know if it is faster. My bike is going well but how well I do in the hills? My run is okay but can I do the fastest marathon I have ever done at IM? Is the goal unrealistic? Who knows? If I can do even 1 second faster, then it will be an awesome day. I might not meet my goal but a PR is a PR. So what if I do not PR? Is the world going to end? Will it make me less of an IM? Will I die from disappointment? The last one might feel like it will happen but I think I will live. I remember my first IM and I was afraid I would not make the bike cut off and I got off the bike with enough time to spare. At IM Arizona in April, I seriously thought I might not make the cut off and had my slowest time ever. I did not die and I finished when 400 others did not finish. This is the only time my name will ever be before a pro's name! Now, that I have told everyone I want a PR - did I put too much pressure on myself?

Say what you need to say...read warning...

WARNING...I have had 5 margaritas!!! If you know me really well then you know that my favorite musical artist is John Mayer...he really speaks to me and any of you that have been fortunate (or unfortunate ) to have been in the car with me for a long period of time with me...eventually John Mayer is on my radio. Lately, my favorite song is Say from the movie, The Bucket List. If you do not know know, my dad died from lung cancer on April 2, 2006. My dad and I had quite the tumultous relationship. We loved each other but we were mirror images of teach other and that caused 99% of the problem. The Bucket List is a great movie but to my sister and I it is like seeing our dad on screen (Jack Nicholson). The point of this is that in the song it says "It is better to say too much that to never say what you need to say again" and the lyrics say...
Take all of your wasted honor. Every little past frustration. Take all of your so-called problems. Better put them in quotations. Say what you need to say (8x). Walking like a one man army. Fighting with the shadows in your head. Living out the same old moment. Knowing you'd be better off instead If you could onlySay what you need to say (8x). Have no fear for giving inHave no fear for giving overYou better know that in the end It's better to say too much Than never to say what you need to say again. Even if your hands are shaking. And your faith is broken. Even as the eyes are closing. Do it with a heart wide open. Say what you need to say (lots of times).

So, I did not always tell my old man what I needed to say and I promise myself that I would never do that again. DO NOT EVER NOT TELL SOMEONE WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY! Trust me on this one. Having said that, I will say to some people in this blog post what I need to say and if I did not mention someone, it is not that I forgot you - it is the margaritas...
Matt-I love you. You have given me the world and more than I ever deserved. I love you. I hope I am half the wife you hoped for because you are more than I ever hoped for. You bought me a Jeep and given me so much more.
Dad-Please forgive me and I do love you. I only wish I could have been there when your eyes were closing and knew that you knew that I loved you...no matter what.
Mom-I love you. You are the best mother one neurotic triathle could hope for.
Ray-I love you. If I had to choose a 2nd father, I could not have asked for more.
Nette-You are the best sister one person could ask for. I love you.
Lucas and Lanie-You are the apples of my eye and I love you like my own kids. Please take care of your Auntie Jen when she is old and the cat lady. Do not send her to the nursing home when she is old and senile and has 10 cats!
Mom and Dad D. - You have raised one of the best men on the whole planet and I truly do not deserve such a great fella but he is mine and I am not giving him up. You really have no idea how good he is but he is. Thank you.
Hal-you are one of the best men I have ever known my whole life. I could not have asked for a better friend.
Leo-you are one of the best people I have ever known and I love you madly. You have no idea how much I love you.
Pat-YOU ROCK! You inspire more than you will ever know and I love you for dragging me around the country side and love our chats. You are one of the best people I know and you will never know how great of a friend you are to me.
John K.-You are one of the happiest people I know and I hope you always will be.
Bob M.-You ROCK! You inspire me!
Ginger-You are grand and you have no idea how much I need you in my life.
Milanne-You know I love you even though we are on very different paths right now and I hope you are very happy because that is all I truly wish for you. We may never be like we were before but I hope you know that I appreciate all you have taught and given me. Thank you. Yes, I am wearing sunscreen!

I am sure I have not included everyone and my deepest apologies! I feel very blessed to have all of you in my life. Thank you for the gifts you have given me. Sorry for the babbling post.