The Taper

I am 10 days out from race day and in full taper mode. What does that mean? It means less volume, more sleep, and lots of recovery. It also means that my training is pretty much done. I have officially put in all the work that I will need to in order to survive this race.

There is a question that keeps coming up over and over, how are you feeling? To be quite honest, I don't have a specific answer other than, fine. I know that I should be more excited, or at least nervous or scared but, I don't feel any exact thing... yet. I guess you could say that I am just plugging along for the time being until the undoubted rush of emotions takes over.

One thing I can confidently say is that I have started to pack, yay! I have been making lists of the items that I will need to have with me on race day, as well as started my suitcase with stuff for the whole trip. Hopefully this will help ease any anxiety that might creep up about forgetting something.

My plan is to blog one more time before race day, but once I have arrived in Hawaii. I'm sure I will be singing a different tune then as far as emotions go, and hopefully I will have so much more to share.

Hawaii here I come...

My bib# is 1940

Clothes I will be wearing on race day

Let the countdown begin...

If you ask me today how I'm feeling my response would be, somewhere between Oscar the Grouch and Sam the Eagle. My mind is tired. My body is tired. Not to mention that I am perpetually hungry and extremely cranky.

I have 30 days to go and right now everything is annoying to me. I don't want to talk on the phone, I don't want to talk about my training, I just want to sleep. I've asked some of my Ironman friends about it and they say that this is completely normal and temporary. Phew, what a relief! I was beginning to worry that this state of mind was going to carry me to race day.

Last week was a bad one for me in terms of training. I was not able to complete everything that coach prescribed and my sleep pattern was way off. Looking back, it was probably due to a combination of two things: the extreme heat (I ran 10 miles in 102 degrees and pretty much gave myself a heat stroke), and not being fully recovered from my Triple-T training weekend. Being the type A that I am, not being able to finish a workout really bothers me and I still feel guilty about it. So I decided that this week would be a better one.

Then I got the email from Coach with my schedule and my heart sank a little. Holy crap! I cannot have another bad week. I read the schedule a couple of times to let all the workouts sink in and allowed myself a few minutes to pout over it. Ok, I'm done. Yeah it's a lot, but I can do it and I will do it. All I have to do is approach it one workout at a time and slowly I will check each workout off the list. I got this.

I have a lot of mixed emotions heading into the last weeks of training. I'm excited that the countdown has begun and a part of me will be glad when it is all over. I've loved having a GIANT goal to work towards and at the same time I worry that I will feel lost once the race is done. I am also very excited to go to Hawaii, which is a place I have never been to, to relax and spend some time with my family. But most of all I am looking forward to sleeping in on the weekends again!

So Linda, it's time to embrace the "suck" and toughen up. I only have a couple more weeks of hard training before the "taper" and these workouts right now are key to crossing the finish line under 17 hours.

Triple-T Training Weekend

FRIDAY NIGHT
Sprint Triathlon

I arrive early and keep checking my phone to see if I have any missed calls or messages from people who might be joining me. Tonight is the kick off to a really long training weekend that I have been anxiously looking forward to.

Two familiar faces greet me as I gather my gear and head over to the pool deck. Now that I know I won't be by myself this evening, I'm really excited for this workout as it will be the shortest one over the next few days. Three more Kona Support Crew members join us, we each
take a lane and jump right in. The water feels amazing because, even though it's 6:00 pm, it is easily 90 degrees out. I swim a very relaxed 500 yards (00:07:55) and try my best to transition in a timely matter. This weekend my transitions are not important. The main goal is to do the entire Ironman distance over three days.

We get about a mile into our short 12 mile bike ride (00:42:28) and I get a flat. I just bought new tires so at the moment I'm a bit irritated. However my annoyance is short lived because my Coach is there to help. Yes, I am aware that I should be the one changing my own tire but if help is offered why not take it. We make our final loop and lucky
for us the weather has cooled quite a bit. Tonight the run is a piece of cake! A nice easy pace, lots of conversation, and only 3.1 miles (00:30:45). It goes by in a flash and before you know it I am done with triathlon #1.

SATURDAY MORNING
"Olympic" Triathlon #1

Zuma Beach is alive with people and every five minutes or so more and more arrive. The Nautica Malibu Triathlon is next weekend and this is the last big training day for many of the participants. It also happens to be the site where I will be doing triathlon #2.

This morning I definitely feel the love from the ladies of my triathlon group as 13 of them showed up to workout. Each one of them is training for an upcoming race so it was a lot of fun for all of us to get together. We hit the water for the 1/2 mile ocean swim (00:20:00*) and it's absolutely perfect out. A few waves here and there, but once you pass the surf line it is completely glassy.

I would say this was the longest transition of the entire weekend by far. Rinsing wet suits, changing into biking clothes, eating some food and taking my sweet time. All of us gather and head out for an easy out and back 22 mile ride (01:16:07).

Normally during the summer it stays pretty cool at the beach, today not so much. None of us are carrying any water but as luck would have it we find two water fountains along our 5 mile run (00:49:17).

We all make it back in one piece and as I head back to my car I wonder to myself, how the hell am I going to do another one of these in a few hours?

*forgot my watch so I don't know what my time was

INTERLUDE

My feet are up, I am eating a GIANT salad, and I am very much enjoying my air conditioned home as it is 100 degrees outside. No joke! I have about 3 hours to relax and recover before I have to head out again for triathlon #3. The key to surviving this weekend is preparation for sure. I picked the holiday weekend in advance for a reason, mapped the routes, prepared my food, and emailed my plans. Everything is going amazingly well. All I have to do is show up and let my body do the rest.

SATURDAY EVENING
"Olympic" Triathlon #2

I am fried. It's still about 100 degrees out and I have zero desire to workout. I keep telling myself that "this is the path to Kona" and "you have to train in the heat." Blah, blah, blah. All I can think about is how it feels like a freaking oven out here! My motivation is almost gone until I see my two workout companions for the evening. Oh boy! These ladies are going to make me work. I make them take a BEFORE picture because trust me there is no way in hell we'll be smiling at the end of this.

The swim is fabulous. I could have easily stayed in the pool all night but alas the 750 yards (00:11:41) goes by much too soon. We head out for what looks to be a really hot ride and being the experts that they are, they modify the bike route for less hills and less traffic. I bring three water bottles with me and some food. This weekend is not only to see how my body recovers from back to back to back workouts but also to practice my nutrition. However, right now something feels off because my stomach does not like me. It's possible that I ate too much between triathlons today, and after all those flip turns in the pool I've definitely done something to upset it.



This 22 mile bike ride (01:29:50) seems like an eternity. I absolutely love the company but my mind is all over the place. My tummy hurts, it is hot as hell, and the wind is super annoying. I try my best to embrace the Kona like conditions, but I'm struggling. Finally, I am able to focus a bit more as I set myself on auto pilot and follow their lead.

Our 5 mile run (00:53:52) is nothing special. We are beat and all we want is for it to be over with. The weather cools down a bit which is a huge plus, but our bodies have taken a beating. There is not a doubt in my mind, had these two not shown up, I probably would've skipped this one for the day. I'm so glad they did.


SUNDAY
Half Iron Triathlon

This is it. The last triathlon of the weekend. By some miracle my body seems to be holding up pretty well which is good because today I will need it. Once again a great group of comrades have assembled and we take a few minutes to discuss the day's game plan. Since today is going to be a long day, my approach is to think about in terms of parts and mentally check off each one as I complete it. Not everyone can stay, and to be honest I didn't think anyone would want to. But when my "equally crazy as me" friend says she's in for the whole thing, I am pumped!

Part 1, check! 1.2 mile ocean swim (00:31:37) Part 2, check! 56 mile bike ride (03:25.53) Part 3, the dreaded 13.1 mile run in the blistering heat (02:22:26) AH!!! I drink lots of water before we even start and I am happy to have my water belt with me, but I know it probably won't be enough. One mile at a time ticks slowly by and little by little the conversation dwindles. We are exhausted, thirsty, sweaty, and we have a little more than two miles to go when out of no where pops out an angel with a bottle of water. She is just what we needed to lift our spirits and give us the last burst of energy that we needed to finish.

4 triathlons in 3 days, equals 140+ miles of Triple-T madness!!! I survived the longest training weekend yet and couldn't have done it alone. Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend. Each one of you helped me get one step closer to my Kona goal. You're AWESOME!!!

The results are in...

I am truly humbled to see all of the support you have given me throughout my training and especially this contest. This was a great way for me to engage with you all, and based on the amount of pictures, I think it was a HUGE success. 

I love how creative you all were and that I had so many different types of pictures to choose from. Check out what I mean:

#1 Cheerleader

Runner's High

On your mark, get set, 5k!

Rex on Guard

Ready to Roll

Jumping Pookin

Swim in Peace

Back to School

Wheelchair Sprints

On the Road to Wine Country

Hermosa Beach Runner

It's Hockey Time!

PT Trooper

Sunday Mornings with Jake

Totally Loving Life

Bikini Body Prep

Maverick the Kona Crew Dog

Swim Champion

Saturday Triple-T Crew

The family that plays together, stays together

Warming up the Island

Pushups with Pancho

However, based on the original criteria of the contest, there were three pictures that stood out the most. The winners of the Kona Crew T-shirt contest are:

Bikini Body Prep, Jumping Pookin, and 
The family that plays together, stays together.

Congratulations!!! You can expect some goodies arriving on your doorstep in the near future.

Thank you all for participating. 

Steelhead 70.3

"Go, sister you are almost there!" I turn towards the voice as she yells again. "Keep going!"
I see her smiling face with her camera in hand as she cheers me on to the finish line. "Go Lindy!" Another unmistakable voice says. I turn and I get a quick glance of my dad's face in the crowd.

My hands go up in the air as I triumphantly cross the finish line. Well done Linda, well done.

_______

I arrive at transition with my towel, wet-suit and gear in hand around 6:15am. I checked my bike in overnight so it's already racked and ready to go. My wave doesn't go off until 7:24am but they are kicking everyone out of the transition area at 6:45am. I know I am early but I always like to have some time to set up my things without feeling rushed.

I meet my dad and sister once I have everything ready to go and we make the 1.2 mile walk down the beach to the swim start. I've always found it odd when they refer to the stretch of dirt or sand surrounding a body of water as "the beach." I mean it's Lake Michigan not the Pacific Ocean. But make no mistake, today the lake is alive and moving. The wind has picked up and with it so have the waves. There is a slight current but the water feels warm.

Having my family with me has definitely helped my nerves. It's just a training I keep thinking to myself, no big deal. I put on my cap and goggles and jump in to test the waters.

Once out of the water my nerves are gone. I got this, no problem. We hear the cannon go off signaling the start of the race. The pros are first and shortly after the age groups start. I'm in Wave #7 Females 30-34. I give my dad and sister a hug and I take my spot on the sand. I see many nervous faces around me as everyone seems to be studying the water. I strike up a quick conversation with the girl next to me and ask if these conditions are typical. She informs me that this race is notorious for canceling the swim portion, so these waves are nothing like in years past. I love them, the waves I mean. It feels just like home. Like the beaches of Malibu or Santa Barbara where I normally train.

3,2,1... Boom! We all take off, but no one starts swimming. Instead everyone is walking. It's really shallow so no point in diving in just yet. We get further out in the water and it finally gets deep enough to start. I'm surrounded by a sea of yellow caps. I am calm. I concentrate on my stroke and focus on keeping my head down. I am feeling good as I weave through the yellow caps. One stroke at a time I keep moving through the water. The water is really choppy and it doesn't seem like I'm going anywhere. I take one stroke on the peak of the wave and another in the bottom of the trough. I remind myself to just keep swimming because there really is no other option. I breathe and see the buoy to my right. I follow the swimmers in front of me and I realize I'm now deep into a sea of blue caps. Where did all the yellows go? Oh well, keep moving. Another buoy, and another. Little by little I pass the blue caps, and I am well into the purples when I see a random green. Green? Holy crap, she was in the wave after me. Good for you girl. I swim by some pink caps who are literally stopped in the water, and some orange caps that are doggy paddling. The waves are absolutely relentless. We don't stop! The "we" I am referring to in this instance, is my mind and my body. "We" can slow down, but "we" never stop.

As I round the big red buoy and make my way in I start thinking about my transition. Don't waste time. Make every move count. I run out of the water and I see them again. I'm so happy that they're here. "Go Linda go!" I keep making my way through the sand, run down the long stretch of pavement and reach my bike. The next sequence of events flows just as I had pictured it. Wet-suit off. Dry off feet. Socks on. Shirt on. Glasses on. Helmet on. Bike off rack. Run out. I pass the mounting line, place my right foot into my shoe and take the first pedal stroke. The rubber bands break and I'm off and rolling.

I think the key to survive a long bike ride is not to focus on how many miles you have to ride or how long its going to take, but finding little things that will keep your focus elsewhere. For example, as soon as I get on the bike I tell myself, you can eat your first snack once you've been riding for thirty minutes. Awesome. Thirty minutes go by and I am enjoying my delicious apple cinnamon rice cake. Ok Linda, in thirty more minutes you can check your odometer and see how far you have gone. Yay! One hour later and I am pressing the buttons on my CatEye bike computer and I read the number.

In long distance triathlons you have a lot of time to think or even have conversations with yourself. You have so much time out there that it's nearly impossible for your thoughts not to take over. Another hour goes by and it's time to check my odometer again and my thoughts begin to spiral as I see the number.

At this point I've been riding for two hours.

I believe I have a little more than an hour to go.

What if I picked up my speed even more?

Let's do the math

18 miles +18 more miles... 

I have to ride 56 miles, I've ridden 36 so far.

If I picked my speed up to let's say 20 mph

 I have a chance at breaking the 3 hour mark.

56 miles in under 3 hours.

Wow, that would be amazing.

I've never done that before...

I pick up my speed as it sets in that I might actually be able to do this. It helps that on the way back the course seems to be in my favor, a slight decline with a little bit of wind to my back. Keep moving Linda! It's going to be very close. It is safe to say that I have never pushed myself this hard on a bike ride. Up until recently the bike portion of the triathlon was just something I had to "get through." Now, I enjoy it immensely.

I have no idea what my final bike time is as I approach the dismount line, and to tell you the truth, I don't really care. Whatever it was I now have a 13.1 mile run to worry about. Transition #2 is always faster than when you come out of the water. Just less stuff to deal with. I see my cheering squad again as I head out on the run course. Last portion of the triathlon, yes!

Your body feels so weird, those first two miles on the run, as it adjusts to the pavement directly under your feet. This sucks! I feel like stopping. We don't stop! Remember? That's right, we don't stop. Little by little I run one mile at a time. There are aid stations all over this two loop course. I make sure to grab water and ice at each one, never stopping, never really drinking a full glass of water.

On the run course is where you start making friends. There are no rules about running too close to someone and because everyone is tired and most are ready for the run to be over with, people are eager to pass the time with any sort of conversation that you give them. I know I am. A few "good jobs" and "keep it ups" later I find myself on the second loop of the course when someone shouts out the time: 12:48pm.

My wave started at 7:24am

In order to break 6 hours,

I have to cross the finish line at 1:24pm.

If it's indeed 12:48pm right now

I have a little over 30 minutes to get to the finish line...

I'm not sure exactly where I am on the course

I know I'm somewhere between mile 9 and 10

I snap myself right out of my thought spiral as I see the sign to my right that reads Mile 10. Come on Linda, move it! Only 3.1 miles to go! You have less than thirty minutes! You can do it! My pace gets faster and my focus is razor sharp. I now have one single goal, to cross the finish line before it says 6:00:00. I grab one more cup of water and ice at the second to last aid station, and I don't drop my new pace until it's all over.

The finish line is near, I can tell because I hear the noise from the crowd. I smile knowing that somewhere in that noise, my dad and sister waiting for me to cross the finish line. 

My final race time
5:56:37

Overloaded

I am acutely aware of the knots in my back as I sit and type this latest post. I feel guilty that I have not been able to write in a long time and I am hoping that once I hit the publish button a sweet sense of relief will wash over me as I check one more thing off of my "to do" list.

These past few weeks have been absolutely nuts. Between attending a couple of weddings, flying to Chicago, keeping up with the increasing workload from my day job, having my car broken into, my family being in town, re-organizing my garage, planning activities and fitting in all of my workouts, my head has felt like it was going to explode on more than one occasion. But I am here. Still alive. Still enjoying the entire process.

When I feel overloaded, I find that the best thing to do is to focus on ONE thing. Right now that has definitely been my workouts. I am in the crux of "Phase 2" and as the distances have increased the importance of my sanity remaining intact is crucial. No matter how stressed out I get with all the other things going on in my life, every time I train I feel recharged. When I'm out on the road for a five hour bike ride (which I've done twice this month) all of my worries seem to disappear and I am ready to face the world.

Yes, those are whiteout marks--->
There are days when the scheduled workout does not go according to plan so instead of crossing it off with pen I white it out ;)

Illinois.
My time spent back home was amazing! As always, it was a jam packed trip that had every hour accounted for. I got to spend some quick quality time with my sister and future brother-in-law. Had an amazing time at my college roommate's wedding with my old dorm mates. Ran a 5k with my best friends from high school. I even got in a half-marathon distance training run. All of this craziness was possible with a lot of help from my sister and friends. As some of my fellow mid-western transplants can relate to, I love California but nothing like going home for a few days.





Family Time.
Fitting in my workouts while my family was here proved to be easier than I thought it would be. They were extremely supportive of me in that we planned all of our activities around my workout schedule. Was I burning the candle at both ends? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Of course. Great dinners, lots of laughing, story telling, crazy dancing, some crying, introducing them to my friends, cleaning and re-organizing, planning. Everything you could hope for when you spend time with those who know you best.




"Balance is key," yeah yeah I know. When you are training for an Ironman, I'm not sure how you can ever balance it all out. But as you can see, this month the scales were definitely even. I nearly went insane in the process, but I had a blast doing so.