Ready or Not, Here I come! Ironman Arizona 2012

It’s race week! Come Sunday it’s do or die time, 140.6 miles of guts, determination, inspiration, sweat, hopefully little to no blood, and finally excitement and accomplishment.  I’ve been prepping and asking myself all the important questions:

“What am I going to wear?”

“How should I do my hair?”

“Which pro athletes are going to be there?”

“Should I practice a dance for the finisher’s line?”

Ok, Ok I am taking it more seriously than that!  Last week hubs asked me how I felt and if I was prepared and compared to last time.  I couldn’t give him an answer!  Then I managed to figure it out, physically I think I’m more prepared than last time mainly cause I have experience now and my body is used to being punished.  But I felt that mentally I wasn’t quite as prepared as I was last time.  Don’t ask me why but I seem to have a lot more doubts, fears, worries and anxiousness this time around.  So I watched the 2012 Ironman World Championship special this weekend and got PUMPED UP!  I am dedicating this entire week not only to tapering but working on my mental toughness.  I’m going to focus on being strong and a lot of positive self talk!  I will listen to some of my favorite music and do some dancing, to the dismay of my dog who growls every time I do, and I will get myself mentally prepared for this weekend.

So I have started printing directions, athlete guides, and prepping lists of what to pack.  My list includes the following right now:

Advil, muscle relaxers (for the car ride home), motion sickness pills, sunscreen, wetsuit, trisuit, goggles, fuel, running shoes, socks, warm up clothes, extra shirt, hat, visor, bodyglide, Vaseline, sunglasses, windbreaker, towel, camera, helmet, bike, bike shoes, 2 spare tubes, CO2 cartridges, water bottles, thingys to get the tire off (I’m so distracted I can’t come up with appropriate words), bib belt, index cards with affirmations, MP3 player, USAT Card, flip flops, long pants jic, First Aid kit, family, bagels and PB & Honey, Attitude!

Here’s a pick of what my dad has started packing:

Here’s a fun thing I did to distract myself, wrote down all the feelings I was feeling and put it into Wordle:

What’s your favorite way to prep for a big race?  Happy Training!

Dizzy Spells and Winner!!

So I did do the drawing for my giveaway yesterday as promised but I didn't get around to posting the winner yesterday due to going to the doctor and having dizzy spells.  But have no fear I am posting the winner today.  After tallying up the FB & Blogger entrants I used Random.org to draw a number for me and I am happy to say the winner is:  Run With Jill!!!!

 

Email me the size shirt you want and your mailing address at cautiouslyaudacious@hotmail.com  For those of you who entered and didn't win the prize pack if you'd like a sticker send me your mailing address and I'll send you one!!  If you missed out don't forget to check it out http://cautiouslyaudacious.blogspot.com/p/shop-cautiously-audacious.html

Now for the dizziness just writing this post is hard because staring at my computer screen is making me a little nauseous but I really don't want to take the meds the Doc gave me because he said to only take it if necessary and if I can deal with it on my own to do that.  The night before last the room started spinning when I'd flip sides while sleeping.  It happened quite a few times and so I woke up feeling really nauseous.  Today it's better no spinning rooms but I still feel weird or woozy and sudden movements or staring at my computer is making it a little worse.  Luckily he said it was viral which means it should go away in about 1 week and I should be better in time for the Ironman!  Why do I always get sick during taper???!!!  And why is it always something weird?  Turns out someone at work had this last week and that's probably how I got it.  I'll keep the meds in my IM special needs bags just in case cause I don't know how I can swim or ride my bike feeling like this.  I know I could run like this but that's at the end.  So here's hoping to a speedy recovery!

Happy Training!  I'm out of commission for two days or so :-(

Crashes, Doggie Dashes, & Sarah Silverman?

I had a great weekend despite a few bumps! 

Crashes

Saturday I was going to go for a 60 mile bike ride followed by a short transition run (I’m on the taper portion of my IM training now).  Around mile 40 of this ride I had a little bit of a crash.  It was the silliest thing ever and probably bruised my ego more than anything.  With only 2 weeks to go to IM it messed with my head more than anything.  I was immediately thinking “NOOOO not now!” and “Is my bike ok?”  I was riding with a friend and she was in front, we were going under a bridge and it dips down to take us under the road then come back up on the other side.  She tends to slow down on the downhills then speed right back up on the uphill so I usually let myself get pretty close to her but don’t pass.  The problem was I wasn’t paying close enough attention to her and when she thought this line of pigeons weren’t going to move she slowed down drastically.  I had to slam on my brakes, skidded out, could smell rubber burning and then last second I couldn’t clip out fast enough and down I went!  Bruised palm, elbow and hip!  Luckily it’s just bruising and swelling because I was wearing 2 layers I didn’t get road rash so I will be able to swim just fine today!  Same side I fell on when I was running downhill early in the season so I think that bump on my elbow is going to become permanent.  I also put some flat spots on my tires so had to get new ones.  I called it a day with just a 50 mile bike ride.  They are also doing away with my size wheel (650s) so I had to buy something different from what I’m use to!!! I hate making changes right before a race even if they say it’s better, folding tires, but what happens if I have a flat during the race and I can’t change it, guess I have some practicing to do!!!!  I’m not panicking at all, don’t worry deep breaths…

Doggie Dashes

The next day I had a 5k Doggie Dash to raise money for Animal Humane of NM and it was my dog’s 1^st 5k race ever.  I was a little nervous with all the other dogs and owners around cause she gets really hyper and wants to jump on everyone.  But after we got out of the congested start area she did awesome!! I’m so proud of her!  She likes to be in front so she kept weaving in and out of people and dogs and I just ran behind her saying excuse me and sorry.  She got a little distracted when she heard her dad cheering for us and tried to go over to him a couple of times, and she also went around a pole a few times wrapping the leash but other than that we were great!  We got 3^rd in our AG 30-39 F w/Canine with a 23:50 official time so this counts as a PR right since it was the first 5k with dog?!  We also took her through her first agility course and she’ll do anything for treats!  Needless to say she’s been sleeping ever since we got her back to the house yesterday!  We had so much fun all three of us and is just what I needed to get my mind off the race and being a nervous wreck.  I love days like this!

Look how tired she looks, we sprinted it in!!!

 

Sarah  Silverman

So at the race I was told that I look like Sara Silverman!?!???  Not only that but it was two older ladies that told me that, one had to have been well into her 70s.  I said I hope I don’t have her personality :-) and one said No, that’s why they hesitated to tell me but that I looked like her with my hair back in a ponytail.  Ha!! Hubs has had a field day with that one for the last 2 days!    

Bike, run, swim, eat sleep, repeat; yup that’s my life!

So the longest weekend of my training for Ironman Arizona is done and I have just 3 more weeks of training left!  I am both relieved and anxious!

Saturday – 100 mile bike ride with my dad.  We started at 10:00 a.m. in hopes of it warming up a bit but it was still in the 30s when we started which made my dad cranky.  Then he got 2 flats in a row which made him even crankier.  Then we hit our 1^st hill that at least warmed us up.  I kept having to stop at porta potties, I’ve never had to pee so much during a ride ever!  Then we got kind of lost and had to make up some extra miles on the bosque trail which can get a little boring after riding back and forth more than once.  Then there was the headwind on the way back which made me cranky, so with all that we were out there for a LOOOONG time.  I think we finally were done about 7 hours later!  We waddled our way to the local pasta buffet where they treated us to free lemonade and soda cause we looked so beaten and down trodden but really we were both happy to have gotten the ride in and survived.  I think we each consumed our own body weight in pasta!

Sunday – I was solo for an 18 mile run which I was dreading but it went surprisingly well.  I kept my hat pulled down and my head low so that I wouldn’t see the path ahead.  Every time I kept thinking ok my legs are going to start hurting any minute now, it didn’t happen and I just kept saying IMF “incessant forward motion” to myself.  My other mantra for the day was “that too shall pass” For example:

“I’m tired” – That too shall pass

“I’m dizzy” – That too shall pass

“I’m nauseous” – That too shall pass

“I have a cramp” – That too shall pass

“I have all these great blog ideas” – That too shall pass

“I’m cranky” – That too shall pass

“I think my left side is hurting” – That too shall pass

Until finally the 18 miles also passed! 3 hours and 15 minutes later with the uphill on the way out to make the way back a little bit easier.

Then I went home to eat a little lunch and wanted to give up but texted my friend that I knew wouldn’t let me and I was convinced to hit the pool to finish the weekend off with a 2100 yd steady swim.

I txted hubs as he was driving back into town to tell him the floors were covered with stinky clothes and the sink was full of dirty dishes and he better be ok with that.

Now the pre-race dreams have started.  A few of the usuals, running late for the race start so I take off naked.  A few new ones are making it into the rotation too, Lance and I (yes we’re on a first name basis) are crawling to the finish of the IM and he gets mad cause I call him Lancey and tries to crawl right over me, and another one being so dehydrated that they are trying to force chicken broth down my throat as I yell “I’m vegetarian give me water!” 

Do you have pre-race dreams?

Last week to enter the giveaway HERE!  

Winter has arrived, or has it? & Happy Friday!

I'm torn between being excited and being horrified......  I LOVE WINTER because I LOVE SKI SEASON, but we are supposed to have our first freeze tonight and it is going to be sooooooo COLD for my 100 mile bike ride tomorrow!  So I"m a little scared.  I haven't even winterized my swamp cooler or turned on the heater, I'm pretty sure I haven't turned the drip system off for the few plants I've managed to keep alive, and my dog hasn't even grown in her winter coat, I still haven't switched over my closet from summer clothes to winter clothes (yes I have to do this ever since my husband moved in with me and wouldn't let me keep my monopoly in the closet), I could keep going.  What if my fuel freezes while I'm on my ride?  Ok I'll quit being a big baby and just deal!  Now I have to say I am definitely ready for Ironman training to be over and ski training to being (weight lifting).  I don't mind running in the winter, actually I prefer it.  But swimming and biking during winter is a whole nother story for me!!  So come on Ironman let's do this so I can enjoy winter.

Who's watching the Ironman Special on NBC this weekend!?!???  I'm super sad I don't think we'll be done with our bike ride in time and I don't have a way to record it.... :-(

Happy Friday!


Yes, it's Friday so yes,it's simple humor...


Do you run through the winter, outdoors or indoors?  I love running in the snow!

Don't forget about my giveaway HERE!  Chances are good you'll win!