Work Ride

I thought I'd share a photo from my lunch time bike ride.  It was great.  The route was very hilly and I got my heart rate up in a short amount of time.  This job might be great for training if my schedules stays like this! 

Tour de Scottsdale - part 2 - DNF




Kate and Kim Looking Good at the Half Way Mark!  

Did you all read Kim's post?  She did a great job detailing the ride.  It was BEAUTIFUL but it seemed like most of the ride was uphill.  I was very proud of our performance considering we did not do many long training rides.  Last year I tackled this ride with Lance, Jake, Eric, Geoffry, and Ron and we all did really well.  BUT we put in a ton of riding time.  They guys were all riding with me as I trained for Ironman.  By the time Tour of Scottsdale rolled around we had done several rides over 50 miles.  Compare that training to this year . . . Kim and I didn't do one ride over 50 miles.  Maybe not even over 40 miles.  I knew I wasn't trained but we had already signed up and spent the money.  Why not try?   

Kim and I were very good riding partners.  When one of us would get tired the other would push ahead and keep us moving.  It worked really well.  If one of us got ahead the other would catch up quickly.  I also think we did a pretty good job with our nutrition. 

After the picture was taken above, you could really see people starting to fade.  We were doing pretty good then a huge hill on Shea kicked my rear end.  It was brutal!  It also got really hot.  Around this time I told Kim that she should keep on moving regardless of what I did.  I didn't want to hold her back.  We ended up staying together until the 7 mile mark.   

By the time we got to the last 7 miles, I knew it was all uphill and I was spent.  I was going to stop at an aid station but I thought I'd keep trying.  I made it another 3 miles and was officially pooped.  I made it another mile and I finally got to the point of where our cars were parked.  I could keep going OR jump in the car and leave. 

It was a tough decision but I decided to pull the plug.  (1)  It was HOT!  (2)  The last few miles were all up Hill.  (3)  I was feeling a pain in my Hip.  (4)  I knew if I went up the last few miles I'd have to turn around and come back to the car.  (5)  I was wiped OUT! 

When it was all said and done, I am still comfortable with my decision.  I still rode 66 miles of an extremely tough bike route.  I had an excellent work out.  That is good enough.  I'm also very proud of Kim for finishing her longest ride.  I would say we have a strong start to Ironman 2012.   Can't wait to tackle another race with the other Ironmoms!   





Kate after her DNF (Did Not Finish)





Tour de Scottsdale

Kim and Kate at Race Start

Kim with the finsher's medal

So, a couple of weeks ago Kate asked if I'd like to join her on the 70 mile Tour de Scottsdale ride. She and her husband had planned to do it, but he decided against it for a variety of reasons. Of course, I said yes! Never mind that my longest ride (ever) prior to this was approximately 56 miles, that I hadn't been training for a long ride (in the last few months I've only done relatively short--25-30 mile--training rides) and that it was a hilly course.

The ride started out with some low grade climbing--nothing too steep, but a long climb. Kate and I tried to make sure we hydrated and ate regularly to preserve our strength. We made it through the first 1/2 of the ride in pretty good shape. It was nice to finish out the first half riding down a very long (nearly 10 miles) hill.

Then, things started to get a little bit more tough. It started to get warm, hot really. The worst part about riding in the heat is that there's little relief from it. The sun beats down from above and the road radiates heat from below. The next 20 miles included lots of rolling hills and then a huge killer hill as we left Fountain Hills. It was at least a full mile of climbing approximately 52 miles into the ride. It took out a number of cyclists--you could see a growing number stopping and walking their bikes or cutting out at the aid stations. Kate and I powered through it, but we could feel ourselves fading.

The rest of the ride was a test of my mental toughness. I really didn't think I could manage another hill, but I was not going to get off that easy. At the 62 mile aid station, Kate and I talked about stopping--especially if we came upon the school where our vehicles were parked. I pushed off from the stop only to find myself climbing another low grade hill--a long and painful uphill ride (I was close to tears at this point--thinking, why was I doing this again?). For the first time in the ride, I switch from my big front gear to my little one just so I could keep moving. We finally got a little downhill relief. There was one last aid station around 65 miles. Imagine my disappointment hearing the volunteers yelling, "hydrate for the hill!!" I really didn't think I could take another hill, but I still hadn't gotten to my car and there were only a few miles left.

The hill was another painful climb. At the top was the parking lot where we had parked. I debated about finishing or calling it good at that point. I was just too close to check out, and I had just climbed the last hill of the ride. I continued to the finish where I was very happy to be done with the official ride. However, there was more riding to be done. The parking lot was about 2 miles away, so I (very reluctantly) climbed back on my bike and headed to the truck. The air conditioning felt so good!!! I hurried home to shower and head out to see West Side Story at Gammage with Adam. It was nice sitting in a cold and dark auditorium.

After the show, we helped set up for a Diversity Pipeline event at the law school and then caught dinner (I was starving!!). Finally, I ended the evening with a nice, warm bath using the new Dr. Teal's epsom salts that I won from the very awesome Mary Sailors (who ran a killer TC Marathon yesterday as I was riding around Scottsdale) at Fit This, Girl!. The salts were very relaxing and after a quick electric pulse massage on my sore neck, back, and feet; I fell asleep for a much needed night's rest.

Nice Group Ride

We had a nice group ride today.  We ended up riding 22.5 miles.  It was short but nice. I think the best part about it was the weather finally broke.  It was absolutely beautiful out.  Here is a photo of me, Annette and Kim taking a break at the end of Pecos Road.  Feels great to be out there.

Usery Loop + Ride

Today half of Team Ironmom was out of town this weekend.  Annette, my husband Ron, and I went on a nice ride of Usery pass.  It was about 28 miles of rolling hills plus a 4 mile climb.  Awesome!  I've included some photos to show you the ride.

Biggest Surprise

I've always known that I can be a strong swimmer, but I think the nicest surprise I've discovered is that I'm a pretty decent cyclist as well. I've enjoyed the climbing challenges - even when I'm only going 4 mph...I just keep spinning, knowing that I'll eventually get to the top.

Going downhill, however, can be harrowing. I've never really been much for going downhill REALLY fast....I don't ski either. I do practice my NASCAR steering techniques though!

Training schedule - Phase 1

I'm taking the approach that the first part/phase of my training regime requires me to just get physically fit. That looks like losing a good amount of weight......I've spent too many years just watching the Ironman on TV.

So, my exercise choices include cycling, hot yoga (LOVE IT!!), and now starting some jogging. I also spend two nights a week with a personal trainer focusing on weight training. Here's how my week looks:

Monday - morning ride 2 neighborhood loops (1 loop = 8 miles) in under 1 hour.
Tuesday - Morning ride 2 neighborhood loops. Evening is an hour at gym - 1/2 hour cardio; 1/2 hour with the Trainer.
Wednesday - Hot yoga.
Thursday - Morning ride 2 neighborhood loops.
Friday - Jog the canal for at least 30 minutes; or hot yoga.
Saturday - Long ride somewhere........
Sunday - no rest for the wicked! More jogging the canal.

Running isn't my most favorite thing but knowing that what we think we become - I'm the BEST damn runner evah!!!!!!!!! Ha! Ha!

Our Ironman Loop bike ride

Pictures during the ride. 
 Kristin is up front setting the pace followed by Annette and Kim. 

Kristin, Kim and Kate posing after our 37.4 miles!

Annette and I being CHEESIE!

I had a great ride with Annette, Kim, and Kristin. All the gals did great and I think we will be very good training partners. It is so nice to have training buddies!  We have a long way to go but I'm confident we can ALL Rock the Ironman!