Reach

"Five three hundreds." Coach Lorie instructed us the other morning. And then she set the interval. Doable, I thought, with a little reach. This morning I was swimming in a Grimm Sandwich. Erik in front of me and Heidi behind. I waved Heidi ahead, she was preparing for the Madrid World Cup and needed a little push.

Erik will typically lap me at 250 yards and today was no different. Except that I finally got sick of it.

A month ago Coach Lorie videotaped us swimming above and underwater. A DVD was then created of the whole team. I was horrified as I watched myself. I was a shadow of the swimmer I grew up as. I really never kicked. Never. Not once not even a blip.

As we headed into set #2 of those 5 X 300's I thought, this is it. I am sick of getting dropped. I am a swimmer damnit!

I began #2 on Grimm's feet. And that's where I stayed for the next four. I added my kick. I felt like the college swimmer i used to be. I felt my heart swell, I felt myself reach for something more. Contentment had taken over me in this lane and I hadn't made the reach in ages.

"What was that?" cried Dr. Les when we were done. "That's the best I have seen you swim in five years!"

""I decided to finally buck up and swim." I told him. I was smiling, my lane mates were proud. Through the next sets I did it again. And again.

Then this morning I did it again through 4,000 yards. It was not easy. I started to fall back but I kept trying.

When on earth did I stop trying?

When did I stop believing?

When did I get comfortable being last in the lane?

When did I stop reaching?

That all stopped this week. I dropped it. It's part of dropping that bag of shit I talk so much about. I just didn't realize this was in that bag. And it isn't anymore.

How often in our lives do we create those habits? We get comfortable with where we are. At the top, at the bottom, somewhere in the middle. We come back to that same habit. Over and over and over.

Well what if we began to create a new habit????

What if instead of avoiding the final hill we took it? What if instead of finishing ..... we finished big. What if we finished each workout with our hands in the air declaring victory?

You see what happens to the people who get stuck. They do the same thing day after day year after year. It's hard for them to stray. They wonder why they always end up in the same place. They try to move ahead but their old habits bring them back.

Don;t let that be you. Hell it almost became me. Look higher, reach further, dream bigger. Why not. We won't ever know how far we can go unless we risk going a little bit further.

Five Ironman Week Mistakes

My Coach posted this over on our forum.... ( come on over and join us no matter where you are from) which I think is brilliant advice!

OK Ironman season is here again. Here are five things I see that people do during the week leading up to an ironman that potentially sabotages their chances for a good race. A lot of the examples are from Lake Placid but they apply to all races. They’re in no particular order and I’m sure there’s a lot more that I missed. Feel free to add or debunk.

Too Much Swimming

Ok it’s ironman week. You’re in Lake Placid four or five days before the race with really nothing to do but taper. So what do you do? Swim a lot. You go down and swim one lap (2000 meters) of the course every morning. If you’re there five days before that’s around 8K meters plus the 4K for the race which makes it 12K meters for the week. For most age group triathletes that’s their biggest swim week of the year! You have to taper the swim as well.

Treating it like a Family Vacation

I know you have used up lots of emotional capital with the spouse and kids in your lead up to the big race. So you try to make the “down” time spent in town before the race more of a family vacation. You walk up and down Main Street shopping all day in 85 degree heat. You climb up Whiteface Mountain or the ski jumps. Spend too much time at the athlete’s expo shopping. Coupled with the 8-10K of swimming you’re pretty much spent by the time race day comes around. The best thing to do before race day, when you’re not eating or doing a workout, is to sit at the hotel/condo with your feet up (even better lying down). Show up as close to race day as possible and promise the spouse and kids that the vacation will start after the race. You might be a little sore, but. You won’t be as stressed. You’ll be able to eat and do anything, which will allow you to truly enjoy the family vacation.

Not Putting on New Tires

$500 Registration, $5000 bike, $2000 wheels, $2500 for lodging but you’re going to race on tires you have raced on for the last one or two years? Ok I don’t have the stats for this one. It might just be my own silly superstition. But why not mount some new tires during race week. Ride them a couple of times to ensure there aren’t any problems. Race day flat insurance.

Listening to Race Week Experts

It doesn’t matter what your expected finishing time is going to be. It will seem that everyone you to talk during race week is planning to finish several hours ahead of you. They’ll have great advice and opinions on pacing, nutrition and equipment. You will be tempted based on this advice to tweak your race day plan. The race plan that you have been perfecting (hopefully) for the better part of ever. Don’t do it! The fact of the matter is most people are winging it on race day. Don’t change your race strategy based on a conversation you had with a person while wading into Mirror Lake for your 2K swim.

Forgetting to Have Fun

The winners are only going to get $10K for 26 weeks of training. You can make that on unemployment. Relax.
__________________

Looking Forward

Cast A Shadow Snowshoe Race 2007

It's May. The sun is shining. The first race of the year is behind us, and that means one thing. It's camp time again. Weekend at Placid to be exact.

The Weekend at Placid originated way back in 2003 and we've been going every year since. The name comes from that movie … remember "Weekend at Bernie's?" that's where the name came from.

It was 2003 and my friends and I were doing the Tour of the Ohio Valley Southern River (TOSRV). It was a 200 mile ride. 100 miles from Columbus to Portsmouth Ohio…..sleep overnight on a gym floor and then ride 100 miles back. The weather was warm but hell it was rainy. And windy.

At one point Kara screamed out that there were tornadoes and we believed her. Until we realized they were smokestacks.

My dear friend Ellie Hershberg was in her residency at the time. At the same hospital I am a nurse at. In fact many nights we worked together, and rode long after 2 hours of sleep.

On this ride we reminisced about old movies. Weekend at Bernie's was a favorite of the group.

You know how when you are riding 200 miles, a little tired, depleted… you know how things are really, really funny? Things you'd snort at if you were in your normal life?

Well I had the brainchild idea to call the weekend we'd soon be spending in Lake Placid…. Weekend at Placid…… and we'd all be the dead guy. At the time… I swear…. every single person was rolling around on a gym floor laughing.

Uh…. yeah…. so that's how the name came about. We've been heading up to Placid ever since.

For me Lake Placid is a place that is all about wellness. Goodness and wellness. A town where not so many people are walking around on their Black Berries. Where people are spending time together. Where there are road signs that signify cyclists on the roads and please drivers… please respect them.

This is the place where the Olympic hopefuls train. The skiers. The Luger's. The skaters. Everyone. There are kids, there are teenagers and there are adults following their athletic hearts. Following their dreams.

And we are no different.

The mountains are beautiful; the course we ride is lined with rivers. The trees are greener than anywhere else. We get to spend three days with each other, training, laughing and learning a lot about ourselves.

The lessons that need to be learned are not in any training manual, or any piece of advice that I can give. Things happen when you go to a camp. Things come up when you ride long, pieces of you start to surface. Some that you like and some that you don't. Maybe patience or pack thereof starts to bubble up. In the middle of 112 miles when no one is around to pick you up.... you learn to deal with it. You learn to be patient.

If nutrition starts to fail than you learn how to fix it.

If your pedal comes loose and you have no tools.... you figure it out.

These are the lessons that as a coach I have to let my athletes learn. These are the lessons I can't necessarily teach. Walking through the fire, flying down the 10K hill.... I can talk until I am blue int he face about it. But when you experience it you learn it.

Then I get to see the excitement in your eyes, and the thrill in your voice when you tell me just exactly what you repaired with duct tape. And how during the Ironman you know what you will do if.....

I have the best job in the world. I know the ending of the story. I know this team has put in it's work. I know this team is close knit. I know this team is family.

So as we are traversing the mountains of Placid next weekend, learning all we can about ourselves..... our thoughts will be with one of our own. She's traveling to Brazil for her first Ironman. Tomorrow night I help her pack up her bike. Tuesday she's off on a long journey and the next time I will see her, I will call her an Ironman.

Now that's what this is about.

Looking Back

Rachel this picture is for you.......

One week ago today I was 30,000 feet above the ground flying to Panama City Beach. Isn't it funny how you wait for a trip to come and then suddenly you travel through the Star Wars warp speed tunnel and you are sitting here on the other side. Wondering ..... did I even go at all?

The sand in my hair confirms.... I was in fact at the beach and running through waves.

You must read Ashley's recap of the weekend. It might be the funniest thing ever in the world!

You must also read my new friend Ryan's report.... he might be the funniest person ever in the world. And by the way Ryan you are a member of HTFU! Ryan confirmed for me that I am not the only one who has thought God was speaking at the finish line of an Ironman, Some people think Morgan Friedman is the voice of God... but for triathletes it's Mike Reiley!

And Amy Kloner has no blog........ WTF??? What I can say about her is that each conversation I had with her.... she speaks in a voice that is highly excited and a step above talking and a step below screaming.... even when she's giving a post race interview from a wheelchair! I might be the same if I won the race to though..... and for the record remember that picture of her on the cover of USA Triathlon with "the helmet" .... it looks much better on her in person.

All weekend long people kept asking the three of us how we met. We'd look at each other and chuckle...... the Internet..... blogging..... I almost wanted to say on Match.com!!!!!

Does it really even matter how we meet? We find each other's blogs, we get to know each other through our writing, we become friends. We knew each other before we ever met. How lucky is that? So very lucky.

I am so very lucky that I could travel far from home to a race I went to completely alone last year. I came home this year with even more friends than I went with.

I learned that Marit is the all in one. from weather to fish to no there is not a second floor in Target..... you need to know something..... she's your woman. At one point from our balcony she spotted a stranded Manatees and she flew out the door of the wind tunnel (our hotel room) to save it. She got to the beach and it was already saved. But that's Marit for you. She'd do anything for anyone. That kind of Karma comes around.

I learned that Ashley really loves to be the queen of skank. I think it has always been her secret dream. Best part of the weekend was when we were practicing our open water starts and she looked at the ocean.... muttered fuck it..... and ran into the waves like she meant it. I learned that Ashley loves the life and the experience and it reminded me.... why did I travel here alone last year? Races are meant to be shared with friends and I swear I will always remember that.

My abs still hurt from all of the laughing I did this weekend.

We have decided that there will be a fall meeting of HTFU. Las Vegas Baby and 1/2 Max Nationals. I have absolutely no desire to go anywhere that does not involve ocean..... but if my sisters are going and I survive Ironman #5 .... you can count me in.

So look out Vegas..... the Hooters girls are on our way this October!

Gulf Coast..... Roast..... 1/2 Ironman

I was the girl smiling today. In the bathing suit with the sunshine on it. Seemed fitting this morning as Marit reminded me that my camp HTFU nickname was Miss Mary Sunshine.

So that was me. And ironically that's what I got called all day long on the course here at the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman. I had a ton of fun. I felt so lucky to even be on the starting line.

I rate this race as a B+ for me. Not my best time but we are getting there. This was a B priority race for me (some people wonder why people have B races…. why travel so far for a B race…. do you know my camp HTFU sisters? That's why). The goals were pacing pacing pacing. I am also not strong on flat hot courses. So putting myself right on the sun was the idea. Last year was not a great experience for me, and this year went a bit better!

The swim went fine. I felt great and it was fun. Knowing the physics of surfing helped me time my strokes and breathing with the great waves we were so lucky to have!

Onto the bike I was feeling very good. I had to stop in the beginning because I dropped my nutrition, a little bumpy road and a forgetful athlete, need to make sure those cages are secure. I met up with a fellow Splsih suit wearer and when I had to stop the second time, to secure my front cage…. she screamed at me "No Stopping EGGERS!". It was nice to make a friend out there. I rode pretty much alone; the only woman who passed me was Atlanta's Amy Kloner, eventual winner and pro duathlete!!! (might want to think of that triathlon pro card Amy!) We've emailed a lot but never met face to face. She introduced herself and for a minute I thought I would hang with her.

Pacing goals, I reminded myself, hung my head and stayed back. I rode a bit beneath my wattage goals, and I felt great. Nutrition was spot on. The wind was fair. The air was hot and for now the sun was hiding. The fog signaled to me humidity was present.
Onto the run things felt good and hot. I had to hold myself back the first 4 miles and then…. my Garmin battery died. Oh well, I thought, I will have to run this on feel. I didn't even have a watch with me.

I took so much salt during this whole race that I was feeling very confident in my electrolyte status. I hit coke at each aid station. I kept cool. I felt that I was on pace. After the race I realzied the pace I had found was my Ironman Pace. Good news for IMLP. I felt excited about that. If all fails me at IMLP I can find the pace.

I could have gone faster. Hooray for Mooseman! And I wont' forget to charge the Garmin or make the rookie mistake of not wearing a watch!

I didn't quite feel like I would be able to run harder at mile 10. I felt a bit foggy, which was strange. At eighty six degrees it may have been hotter than this New Yorker was ready for.

The entire time I was waiting for Ashley to pass me on the run. She's a much stronger runner than I am and I had calculated she would catch me at least by mile 10. When I didn't see her I felt worried. Little id I know she was pushing through some really tough nutritional issues. I have been there, it's not fun. Part of me wanted to turn around and wait for her. She'd have killed me if I did that. I prayed that she was okay and that I would see her soon.

Exactly at mile 10 someone turned on the sun. I walked 2 aid stations to get cool. I took more salt. My muscles felt fine, my head just felt foggy.

I crossed the line 10 minutes faster than 2006. But well off my PR. We knew that coming into this, Lake Placid is the prize. I will admit to initially being disappointed by that.

Then I remembered a few things. How lucky I am. To arrive at a staring line, to be healthy enough to compete, to have the people in my life that I have.

I thought about Marit. She stood on the sidelines all day long. She's been Sherpa-ing us around all weekend. Marit would take my "not a personal best time" in a heartbeat. She'd be doing anything right now to be on that race course.

A man drowned in the swim today. The story is not clear now but someone started this race who did not live to see the finish.

Puts things into perspective, eh?

So I will take it. I know my better times are coming later. I know my day is coming. I know I am getting closer. I know I just have to believe.

I felt happy all day long. I felt in control and I dealt with the heat as best I could. As a test of fitness I think we did pretty well. The coming month is going to be hard. I am ready, I am willing and I told Coach T to lay it on me!

Delta Delta Delta

Happy Mother's Day to me! In the Atlanta airport eating a parfait, and at least I have Starbucks.

This afternoon I paid two hundred and thirty dollars to fly my bike. TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY DOLLARS.

The gate agent said the price and not only did I throw up in my mouth, but I shat myself as well.

"New regulations." She said.

"Since Thursday?" I asked. "I paid $80 to fly it down!" And was told that the gate agent in Rochester "did it wrong." I ask her to explain to me how on earth this costs $230 to fly. IS there a dollar amount per inch? Per pound? I know the rules, I am an athlete who flies with her bike quite a bit!

I politely ask to speak with the manager. He tells me the rules and the rules and that I need to take it up with customer service.... honey. I sigh and hand them my card. Of which they tell me they can not accept because they can't quite clearly read my name on the back. And my business name is on the front.

"We don't know it's yours." The manager tells me.

"I own the business." I laugh. "Founder.... President..... CEO...."

"Sorry." He says "My agent won't be accepting that!"

Am I on some show, where Marit will be running around the corner with a TV camera laughing? Now would be the time for that to happen.

"There's an ATM around the corner honey." He instructs me.

I walk around the corner ready to withdraw TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY DOLLARS in AMERICAN money might I add.... to fly by bicycle. And then I see it.

OUT OF ORDER.

I sigh. I walk back to the counter. I tell them it's out of order. All three gate agents shrug. They rudely tell me I can take a cab to the nearest ATM machine..... 3 miles away.

Oh my god. Marit... Ashley.... are you here with cameras???????

I dial my husband.... who doesn't answer.

I dial my parents.... who don't answer.

I start dialing friends..... finally one answers. God love him he gives the gate agent his credit card number over the phone..... because did I mention they would not accept the card from my non business account because they could not see my name clearly enough either? And when I asked if we could call the 1-800 number.... or I could pull up the account on my laptop..... no sorry honey, that just won't do.

My ever so amazing friend gives them his credit card number over the phone. They take it, and I am so grateful to him! I ask them why on earth they can accept a credit card over the phone (for a fee that is so up the ass it's not even funny!) and can't accept TWO cards I have in front of them.

"Policy honey." I am told. Did I acquire a new boyfriend? Am I going steady with this man? Is there a reason he seems to think my name is honey?

This is all code word for: we are gate agents who don't have a brain cell to think from, so we just blindly follow rules we don't understand.

Once in Atlanta... where I am now..... I walk to the customer service desk. They repeat the same schpeel. Hey gate agent in Rochester..... look out.... Delta keeps calling you an idiot!

But they ask me to put into writing what has happened. That in 30 days they will refund whatever they deem appropriate.

How about next time I buy the damn ticket for my bike and it gets to fly with me? because if I am going to pay more than my ticket to fly my bike then it gets to sit next to me instead of get manhandled by your baggage people who like to break my freaking bike box!!!!!!!

Hell I have been wearing the same clothes for four days so that the only thing I have to check is the bike box!

As I left my bike in the hands of the gate agents in Panama City Beach I warned them.... not only had my bike better arrive... it'd better arrive without any damage. (I imagine they were just shaking in their boots... uh... yeah).

I shall keep you updated. I will not be taken advantage of like this. This is robbery. Rules one day don't matter the next.... people who can't seem to agree on anything.... and people who follow policy to follow policy.... I don't think so!

Happy Mother's Day to ME!

Last Day on the Beach

Marit and I on the beach.....

Our Saturday night picnic sponsored by Cherry M&M's

Ashley is the queen of Jim Carey faces.......

It's our last day on the beach. I shall post a race report tomorrow, as I am still reviewing. The most significant thing that happened to me.... my Garmin battery died on the run. I was aiming for my "M pace". And I didn't wear a watch. I thought, oh good... an opportunity to see if I can find M pace by feel.

I didn't, I held E pace by feel. For the Ironman that's a good thing, and that's the ultimate goal.

Last year I came to this race alone. This year I got to share it with friends.

Last night we had a picnic on the beach and it was awesome. I feel so blessed and grateful to have made these friends. Which also makes me grateful that I have made friends with all of you. I just know that if all of you were here we'd be having the time of our lives.

It's neat how we found one another. People will ask the three of us how we met and we'll say "Blogging.". In one way it makes us feel like Internet stalkers and on the other hand I am really really happy.

Where else would I watch Ashley reuse a coffee mug that she barely rinsed to heat up water for oatmeal?

Who else would I take a half chewed NUUN tablet from and throw it in my own water bottle, but from Marit?

These moments are the moments that memories are made. And I am so very grateful to have shared them with Marit and Ashley!