Time flies when you are having fun! The last ten days have passed like a flash. I had said I would post every day about my training and that apparently didn't happen. I don't have much excuse for days 9-12 but days 13-17 I was on vacation! What a vacation it was, celebrating 25 years of marriage. We didn't go anywhere exotic but just getting away from the hustle and bustle was very relaxing. Over the last ten days I did get some training in but not according to plan. I don't want to talk much about my training in this post but more about my volunteer time at the Ironman Arizona on 11/16/2014 which was part of our "vacation". The Ironman is a distance that I find incredibly intriguing. Roughly ten years ago a couple of Real Estate clients were starting their journey in IM. During their selling process we would often discuss the IM. I loved listening to them talk about their experience. At that time I had no idea I would fall so interested in the long distance let alone do half of that distance. I loved their intellect and talking to them about endurance sport. It made me think I could embrace at minimum sprint triathlon. My problem...I never ran...ever. I overcame that obstacle and can say I have not only completed a few run events including 3 half marathons but I have also completed a 70.3 (half Ironman). Ten years later I found my self volunteering at the IM AZ, an event my husband conquered just 3 years earlier. He is a bad ass. I volunteered with the idea that I "may" just sign up. As a volunteer you get a priority registration the next day. I wasn't 100% sold but in the back of my mind, I knew I would do it if I could get a spot. Our shift was 7pm to 12midnight. I chose the run station #12. I wanted to be near the end of the race both time and distance. Reason: I wanted to encourage those giving it their all to get to that chance to hear Mike Reilly call their name, ".....You are an Ironman!". I want to hear that one day. We got to our post just in time to start. We didn't eat before hand and were pleasantly surprised to find that they had a grill there to feed us burgers and hotdogs...and Doritos, and Twizzlers, and Skittles and Oreos....oh my... The station we chose happen to be the one for the Sally Meyerhoff Foundation. I had not heard of her story until that day. Today I read her story. A talented, loving, vibrant athlete whose life was cut short doing what she loved. Here is a link to a story about her life and her tragic accident. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/articles/2011/12/03/20111203sally-meyerhoff-tribute.html Each run station has a theme, ours was animal print. When we heard that was the theme, my husband and I had no idea what we would wear, "do we own any animal print?". On the day of the event I remembered we had some halloween costumes fitting the theme. I was happy to not have to purchase any animal print anything. Just not my style. Animal print happens to be part the Sally Meyerhoff Foundation logo. Animal print and pink. I can finally get my head around animal print. When I see it I will think of Sally, whom I only met through her mother's sweet description of her daughter. Her sister was proud of her, you could see that on her face. I was happy to have chosen that station. I hope to help them again in the future. Not only did the joy of helping a family support their daughters dream bring joy to me, watching the participants make their way to their final mile was so infectious that I just couldn't stop being excited for them. 5 hours.....5 hours of holding out cups of Perform yelling "perform, perform"...over the loud music being blasted through the speakers. Speakers blaring out music that was upbeat and cheery. At times we watched some come through the station with a little dance in their step. After 2.4 mile swim, 102 bike and at that point around 24 mile run..watching people dance through the station was so uplifting. In the first half of our shift they were happily taking the perform and grabbing small snacks like bananas and grapes. After they started coming around for the second lap and nearing the end the requests for water and perform were few and far between but the requests for broth and cola were being voiced more often. Bananas and grapes were not even of interest. It was cold and windy and I would assume broth was what was needed to warm their bones the final miles. At one point they were cooking burgers on the grill for the volunteers and one poor fella, running, looked at us like we were torturing him and asked "who is cooking the burgers?". I felt so guilty. It was like drinking water in front of someone who just crossed the Sahara and telling them you can't have any. Others asked for beer, one told us he had a margarita in his water bottle. I am still not sure about that, but it was questionable. As they were realizing they were going to be finishing some were elated and picking up their pace knowing they were nearly done. One man said "I am going to be an Ironman!" I was so excited for him. Some had smiles as they knew what was just ahead, some were just completely focused on every step they took, others completely laboring any move forward. They all have a story. What I learned is that an athlete does not have a specific look or speed or style. They all have their story. The heaviest of person may have already lost a ton of weight, others may have overcome a health condition. Some are running with prosthetics others blind and lead by a partner on a lead, some simply running for someone who cannot run or is simply running in the memory of someone. There is not a defined example of what an Ironman looks like. All I know is there is so much inspiration in those final hours. Sure the pros and the top finishers are lean and at the top of their game but the ones coming in at 7-midnight are the strong, the determined, the motivated the ones who can endure the journey long into the night. Their reasons to finish are lead by things greater than times or financial awards. For the pros and leaders they are finishing in just over 8 hours and age group leaders in 9-10ish. For the ones late in the night, they could see 14-16 hour times. That is a long hard day of continuous movement. The glory for some is in the final numbers, it is the Kona slots, it is in the PR that they obtained but for everyone in the end... the outcome is the same...they are all Ironman! One day...that will be me too.
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My new running training group has long runs on Saturdays. My Team Soul cycling team rides long rides on Saturdays. Oh, the quandary. I decided to alternate weekends with bike rides and runs. I love riding with TS. Currently, many of them are training for the el Tour de Tucson so their rides are getting long. This Saturday they were riding a 80+ mile ride, thankfully up near the NW. So I decided I would ride with them as I was already committed to the Everybody Runs Veterans Day 5K with My Team Triumph, tomorrow morning. First, I had to get through preparing some details for cake order for Saturday. Lack of sleep from last night and the need to finish a cake order after I was done with my ride kept me from meeting them early in the morning at the starting location. So I worked on where I could meet up and ride a bit with them. I tried to time my departure from home in order to meet them about 20 miles out. I kept looking for them and kept riding further, hoping to see them. I got to Coachline and Twin Peaks where I had visions of them riding past me in a group formation as the sound of the wheels filled the air. I thought I would be standing there by my bike cheering them through the ride, surprising them that I met them that far on the ride. They never came. So I kept riding thinking they may have gotten a later start. I rode all the way out to Avra Valley, taking the well know Rattlesnake Ridge. Well known for the "ugh" factor when you get to it in the El Tour at around 75 miles into a 109 ride facing head wins. (there are always head wins in this area) I rode up and over Rattlesnake Ridge and out to Avra Valley road where I was sure I would catch up to the team. No such luck. So I turned around and made the trek home. This time taking Rattlesnake Ridge South. North was so much easier. The good thing is after 17 miles on the bike the "ugh" factor is as great as after 75 miles. On the way back, I was greated by so many nice cyclist. Some out leisurely, some out putting in the miles, others out powering down on their ride. I even passed many runners. When Runners and Cyclist can co-exist on the same path with sincere respect for each others space on the road, life is good. It boggles my mind when runners run with traffic or will not get off the road when you ride by at 20+ mph. The walkers are the worst. They never move, NEVER! Today I passed a lady running, agains traffic, who stayed to the side of the road giving me the space I needed so I wasn't out in traffic. With a friendly hello and wave of the hand, I thought...that is how it should be. Thanks runner! Rarely do I come across cyclist who are not as friendly as the many I saw today, however, it happened. I was at a stop light when a group pulled up next to me. Mostly men, mostly 6' and taller, mostly on custom bikes. They did have a teeny tiny lady riding with them. I think everyone of them sized up my bike and my appearance as I felt 20 eyes looking me up and down, glaring at my bike. I felt inadequate. They were snobs. I tried to stay in their draft a bit but they treated me as if I just violated some sort of unspoken cycling etiquette. Whatever dudes and dudette. I let them ride on. Not my type of company. They are not like most cyclist. I will never be like that. I embrace all cycling levels and don't care what you are riding, as long as you are safe, and wearing a helmet. Always wear a helmet. The wind in your hair doesn't feel so great when you crash on your bike and have nothing to protect your head from the ground. I finished my ride a 40 miles. I certainly would have rather have ridden with Team Soul. They are my peeps. I miss my time with them. I will have to wait until el Tour to see them again, where I will be at the finish (providing UofA doesn't put Tyler on the travel squad for Utah). <crickets> ZZzzzzz
Although this was rest day I kept myself plenty busy throughout the day at work. I was in back to back meetings all day and when I got home I had to prep details for a cake for the next day. Planning the day before for an event or training session the next day is critically important. The most important thing I am learning is the water intake and food intake the day before. If I am not properly pre-hydrated, I feel it the next day. The same is true of food. I know that when I intake too much sugar I can really tell the next day. After arriving home I knew I needed to get busy working on my flowers for cupcakes the next day. They were not working out as planned and were taking much longer than anticipated. With every flower I watched the clock. I needed to be in bed by 10 to get enough rest for my planned 60 mile bike ride the next day. Then 10 pm passed and I had 3 flowers made and I needed twenty. I was frantic. I was telling myself "forget the ride, focus on the cake" "sleep in and don't stress". I even posted on my Team Soul's FB page, "I am a loser.....not going...." After a bit of thought and getting through 7 more flowers in a short amount of time, I went back on FB and deleted my post. They must think I am psychotic. I finally got to bed a little past midnight. Group ride was suppose to meet a bit after 6 to leave at 7. I decided to still ride but I would meet them part way. This was a nice compromise for my crazy mind. I admit it, I slacked off yesterday.
I was suppose to get in 4.5 miles on my own. That is where it went wrong. Running on my own without the guilt of someone waiting for me is still a bit risky. I can easily find an excuse to not go. Today I didn't have that problem. Although the run group was to meet at 5 I arrived late. Many times I tried to give myself an excuse. "They will have already started, you will get out of work too late, you can get in a better routine next week". Bad self talk, bad. It really helps that I have my friend Mairead to push me and make sure I am going. On several occasions she has text me, "Are you going to be there?" and every time I go. She is great for keeping me accountable. The run plan, a 4.5 mile tempo run. I still don't know what tempo means and I am sure I really only have one pace so I just run the run I can. I set my Charity miles to run and for Wounded Warriors, an organization I love to give my miles to when I bike or run. Haven't heard of Charity Miles? Check them out http://www.charitymiles.org. I set my run keeper to let me know when I hit the half mile marks and I start my run. The first part of the route was up hill and I whined in my head all the way until I crested the climb and was ready to turn around. I hit the turn around point and I could feel the pace picking up because of the down hill. If only I could feel that way every time I run. I felt like a gazelle but I am sure I looked like penguin. In either case, it felt good and before I knew it I had 5 miles completed. Now I have to figure out how to stay awake so I can decorate a cake. 4am wake up came awfully early this morning.
It's track day, starting at 5:30am. I wanted to be sure to eat before I headed out and to get my morning cup of coffee in me too. I opted for steel cut oats. I am still getting use to them, not really sure. Topped with some blueberries, they did the trick. Then it was time to bundle up. Yes I said bundle. I know it is Tucson but good grief Charlie Brown. It was 42 degrees this morning! We got the track and started our workout. I started with just 3/4 mile warm up, while Dan did 1.5 miles. I think in the same amount of time...LOL...not joking. I am so slow it is like a turtle running in peanut butter. Bill was there, as he is every day, super early walking in the dark and walking the track for miles. After our workout we did plyometrics. Confession: I heard the term many times and had no idea what they were and as we were doing them I was like, duh...warmup exercises. By this time I am thinking we are ready to go but then coach let's us know we are running 400's and gave out how many times to do them based off pace. I, of course had to do half of everyone else because I can't keep up. This was a great work out and I was ready to go but then it was announced, "Today's workout is a 3-mile test" <insert wide eyes stare> OMG...3 more miles....on a track...going round and round.... The first 1.5 miles were a bit slow and labor intensive but after that I started to get my rhythm. As I was nearing my 2nd mile mark I noticed nearly everyone was done. Wowwie! they are super fast. "I will be like that one day". This is my self talk. My other self talks goes like this "What the hell were you thinking, they are so out of your league, you are slowing them down". Then, as I pass them they are saying things like, "Great job Torie, looking good, keep it up, you have a great consistent pace". Bill even said, "Hey, at least I am out here cause you are faster than me" (knowing everyone was finishing and I was not, as he is walking the track). haha...Thanks Bill. I really enjoy being around runners, cyclist and triathletes. They rarely think they are better than you and are always encouraging you to do well. They know they too were once a beginner. Everyone is out there working on their own goals and PRs not trying to impress or compete against you. Now with that run (I did 2.60 to everyone's 3 so I didn't keep them out there waiting on me in the cold) we will get our pace marks for the various speed zones. I am afraid I will have fewer speed zones than everyone else. They will be interesting to see none-the-less. As everyone says: "Track will make you faster!" So we will see in the weeks to come how this plays out. Time to take a warm shower. The discipline I love the most is cycling. When I looked at my training plan and it said Flex Day and listed various things that could be done I was quick to choose the bike. My goal was to spin for about 2 hours an hopefully getting nearly 30 miles in the books. I changed my plan a little. With new friends in the area that also enjoy a little two-wheel action I opted to meet up with them to show them some of the routes in our area. I just love being on my bike, no matter the pace. I am happy to take it slow and enjoy the ride or I can hammer it down and get in a work out. Today I did a little of both. Knowing my pace was going to be slower I chose a couple of areas to be a bit speedy and take advantage of a little downhill fun. I also planned to power up a few nasty sections of the route hoping to work on getting off the saddle. This part wasn't as easy. Climbing is my nemesis. Turned out to be around 23 miles in just about 1hour 45 min. Great company and conversation and I wasn't running! Tomorrow is a rest day. Looks like a good day to do a little Yoga! The first run is in the books. I signed up for a half marathon training plan and clinics through a local trainer, Grasky. I figured I need to figure out how to run better. What a better way than to do a half marathon right? The plan: a 4 or 6 mile run. I chose 4. Well the run wasn't very easy. My pace was ridiculously slow and I felt like I was back to the drawing board. In the end I got in my 4 miles. I am using Training Peaks to know the training plan and for my coach to watch my progress. I like that I know someone is watching. It makes me stay committed. My Goals: to not die, to run faster than I am now and to learn to love the run. The first one is easy. I know I won't die. I have already completed 3 half marathons and a 70.3. It is definitely mental or maybe I am mental. Either case, that is what keeps me out there. It is the 2nd and definitely the 3rd one that I have to work on. My friends are great runners. I am in awe of Sharon Silvas who can run like she is on a moving walkway and be able to chat the whole way. If I talk I slow down my pace. Kristen Lodge is also pretty amazing. She is always pushing herself to run long. Goals of 50 mile runs and 100 mile runs come out of her mouth and then my jaw drops. What? She is joking right? Nope, she is amazing. The one thing that my friends always say is that you have to be consistent. For me it is hard to be consistent when I know that I am so slow. Being slow feels harder than if I was faster. I just have to push through it and get 'er done. After all...a mile is a mile no matter how fast you go. |
Victoria "Torie" GrammarJust your average Mom and Friend who found a love for the swim, bike, and run. Archives
January 2023
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