Motivation

I had a friend ask me the other day what motivates me when I'm training and racing?  I paused for a moment because, honestly, I didn't have an answer.  I can't really say what keeps me motivated!  When I wake up (usually somewhere around 4:15am), I find it somewhat peaceful and quiet - I have 2+hours all to myself.  In the summer, I get to watch the sunrise and there is something so magical about the pink sky just before the sun bursts over the horizon.  Sometimes, if I have to get my workout in late, I get to watch the sun set and there's some equally magical about the sun setting.  Lately it's been really dark and a little chilly in the morning, but the skies have been clear and the stars and the moon are still out.  There is something so peaceful and calming about the darkness, early morning.  It's different than the night-time darkness to me.  I find it calming to head out into the darkness with my reflective belt and glowing headlamp.  When I'm on the trainer in my basement spinning away, I can see the reflection of the basement lights onto the beams of the deck.  For a moment, I think it's light outside and then I realize it's just the light from the basement.

As I reflect on my racing season, which isn't quite over yet because I still have the Chicago Marathon, Monumental Marathon, and the Huff 50K trail race left - I think of how exciting it is and how lucky I am to have recorded personal best times at all but one of my races (IM Boulder).  I still have my marathon goal of 3:15 ---- hoping to achieve that in Chicago in a few weeks! :)  But when I get up each morning, I try to keep these goals in mind (they have been taped to my bathroom mirror all season - they keep me going.... motivating me to give it my best effort that day.  Not every day is perfect though.  I recently sat in on a forum by Endurance Nation and the speaker said something that really hit home for me - he said "Your racing self should honor your training self"  I really like that phrase - your training self gets up at the crack of dawn most days to complete a workout often when it would be much easier to hit the snooze button.  Not all races are perfect either - weather and personal health is key to a great race and sometimes that's not always possible - waking up on the day of Long Course Nationals to pouring rain in June is a great example!!!  But at that point, it becomes mind over matter - I think.  If it's windy, try to put that out of your mind.  If it's cold, tell yourself it's only temporary.   I also make a point before each workout to set a goal for myself and try to stick with it - I am working with a coach now, so it helps that I have some specific direction as to what I'm supposed to do - how far, what pace, etc.  But even that, I'm given a little bit of freedom with pace, etc.  I did a workout this week where I was supposed to do two 5 mile segments at half-marathon pace - so I looked up a 1:30 marathon pace and thought I would shoot for between 1:30 and sub-1:30 pace.  Before  I started the workout, I thought it would be really tough to hit those paces - but I was determined to hit the paces as close as possible  - I found myself actually finishing the last few miles faster than pace.  I couldn't help but think to myself afterward - "could I have run them faster from the beginning?"  "was I too conservative?"  There are many times this season that I have surprised myself (IM Wisconsin, Long Course Nationals, defending my sprint title in Traverse City).  I try to think of those good times - the way I felt finishing the race to keep me motivated each day.  I take things ONE MILE AT A TIME and that really seems to help - whether it's a 3 mile run, a 15 mile progression run, or a 5.5 hour bike ride  - I live only in that mile.  My family is a big part of my motivation too - I want to show them an active, healthy lifestyle. 

  the kids put these in my tri-bag so I could read them in transition.  I really love the one that says "Let's Go!  Finish it with every last drop of energy you have!"

These are a "few" other things that keep me motivated:

 hustling in transition

 riding on a mission!

Fair Fun!

Yesterday was Kid's Day at the St. Joseph County fair - kids had a half day of school so we decided to spend a few hours at the fair.

 Jillian didn't have school at all on Monday - so can you guess where she wanted to go?  ...... the coffee shop!  for some chocolate milk with whip cream!

 riding a swim team friend's horse

 jillian is not too sure about riding the horse :) 

 petting a friend's cows

 ...... and swimming in the infinity pool --- there is a demonstration going on at the fair and the swim team members were asked to spend some time swimming in this special pool.  wouldn't this make the perfect addition to our basement for triathlon training ---- only $25,000! :)

found helen sleeping with her turtle

Ironman Wisconsin 2014 Race Report - Madison, Wisconsin

Ironman Wisconsin 2014 Race Report

I don't know where to begin here ---- it was surely a race I will not forget for a long time.  It was the best end to my triathlon season :)  I've double and triple .... well maybe a few more times .... checked my race results.  I cannot believe my time, I cannot believe my place, I cannot believe what I did last Sunday!!  I've been torn since IM Boulder on August 3rd, quite honestly, frustrated and disappointed at how I raced in Boulder.  I really thought I could race a PR that day.  But when I look back, I know the altitude and my nutrition had something to do with the outcome (14 hour finish time) that day in Boulder.  I found myself mid-race realizing how nice it was to actually be able to breathe the air and control my heart rate :) 

As usual, I was a nervous wreck in the days before heading to Madison - would I have another marathon failure?  would I get a flat tire on the bike portion?  would I find myself doing the death march of walking once again at the end of the IM?  --- fortunately I had a busy first week of school with the kids and Helen's birthday on Thursday before I made my trek to Madison.  I checked my gear 1,000 times  - bike - check!, bike shoes - check!, running shoes- check!, wetsuit - check!, goggles - check!.... you get the idea .... the list of items required for a triathlon goes on and on and on :)  I made the comment to someone at bike check in on Saturday that I was looking forward to running the Chicago Marathon in October - I could wear my running shoes and clothes to the start of the race and just "RUN" - no extra baggage required :)  But there is something strange that my OCD, Type A personality loves about doing Ironman triathlons :)

The photos below are credited to my sis-in-law, Erin, who came up for the race to support me and cheer me on.  She got up super early with me on race day and followed me around from swim to bike to run!  I am so thankful that she could come and I looked forward to seeing her familiar face at each point throughout the day.  :)

 sun about to rise on Monona Lake

 there's the SUN!

 nice wetsuit, huh?  :)

 final reflections before tackling 140.6 miles (i'm in the white cap - I earned the status of All World Athlete for 2013 so I get to wear a white cap during the swim - pretty cool!)

 What am I about to do?!?!?

 into the sea of athletes

 on the jumbo-tron you can see all the athletes treading water (for about 20 -30 minutes) before the start of the race.  honestly, the most unusual triathlon start that i've done.

 and we're off!

tons of people lined the parking garage structure (which was the bike transition area)

 the finish line area

 Erin rode a school bus out the Verona to watch me on the bike course

 Erin cheering for me :)

 look Ross, I'm in my aero bars :)

ahhhh - my happy place ..... running :)

 I'm so happy, I'm waving :)

 My running friend, Maritza, came up from Kenosha to watch me race... I haven't seen her since the LA Marathon last March...... and I am offering her a super, sweaty, smelly HUG!!  After I gave her a hug, I realized that maybe she didn't want a hug from a sweaty, smelly girl :)

 but she gave me so much energy!!!

 still smiling ......

 .... .and waving!

 ..... and trying to pass people :) 

 ........ AND the FINISH!!

 didn't take me long to catch that guy and then I realized later that I totally ruined his finisher's photo!  oops! 

 so happy, I am LITERALLY CRYING!!  

 I'm not ashamed to say I cried!  I could not believe what I had done - I CONQUERED THE IRONMAN MARATHON!

 and now, my attempt at jumping after swimming, biking, and running 140.6 miles :)  on a very hilly course too!

i DID it!  I finished an Ironman in 11 hours and 51 minutes!! 18/120 in my age group.  519/2826 overall.  72nd female.

some race notes:  swim start was rough - we had to tread water for about 20 minutes or so.  i found the ski ramp to cling to for at least 15 minutes and that was great.  it was filled with lake barnacles (yuck!) but I didn't care - I didn't have to waste my energy treading water.  with the shot of a cannon at 7am, all 3,000 athletes were off!  i positioned myself about 3 rows back in the swim line.  it was a rough swim - very crowded - to be expected, i guess.  i couldn't seem to find a good line to swim in - swimmers were on top, to the sides, and grabbing at everything.  one guy even socked me in the goggles - ugh!  the turns were the worst!  i felt like i pretty much came to a complete halt around the turns.  i swam a 1:10, which is comparable to my Boulder time - but this time I didn't feel out of breath like I did in Boulder and best of all - my wetsuit did NOT rub on my neck!   i have some room for improvement here - some things to work on over the winter.

the swim to bike transition was long - we had to run up the helix of the parking garage which was lined with people cheering (that was awesome!) and run into the hotel conference room to get our gear bag and change into biking gear.  then after getting the bike, we had to bike DOWN the helix on the other side (i was so nervous about doing this - i didn't want to fall in the first half-mile!).  i made it down the helix safely and out on to the bike course.  it was a 2 loop course and i tried to be conservative on my first loop because i didn't know what to expect in regards to the hills.  IM Wisconsin is known for it's tough bike course but honestly I didn't find it much more difficult than Boulder.  My time was a little slower in Wisconsin but it was because I took it a little slower not knowing what to expect.  There were a a few long, steep climbs but Ross would be so proud of me - I changed between my small and big ring effortlessly :)  after completing the 2nd loop - we were headed back to the parking structure and the dreaded helix!  i was so worried that my legs would be tired and i wouldn't be able to climb the helix on my bike.  i made it - it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be :)

on to the run --- the most anticipated part of the Ironman for me ---- would i blow up again?  would i end up with a run split the same time as my bike split again?  would i end up walking most of the marathon AGAIN?  i started out very conservative --- like 9 to 9:30 minute miles conservative.  i watched my heart rate, as directed by my coach.  i put away the miles, taking a drink of cola at the aid stations and gel in-between.  as the miles when on, i was feeling good ---- unusually good --- i kept waiting for the wheels to fall off the cart - for me to hit the famous "i must sit down, i'm SO unbelievably tired" point.  i didn't - i kept going ---- drinking the "magic" cola and gu  ------ and it worked!!  i eventually picked up the pace a bit around the 15 mile mark - watching my heart rate get a little higher but knowing i was almost done!  i did it!  i finished the Ironman marathon in 3 hours 52 minutes!!  I still can't believe it!!  I am so happy!

after finishing the IM on Sunday in Madison, I was able to submit my qualifying time for the Boston Marathon --- today I received my acceptance letter and I'm IN!  So excited to run Boston again after being shut out last year because my qualifying time was not fast enough :(  Something to keep me motivated as Old Man Winter sets in soon!

 Ross brought me these flowers on Tuesday

 Farmer's Market in Madison around the capital on Saturday before IM

 another view of the capitol grounds with the farmer's market

 Lululemon Storefront - graphic of all the IM athletes outlining the state of Wisconsin

 Race morning fuel prep

picture of the kids watching me online as I finished