it's official. I got a coach. April 2, 2016 is only 5 months away. This is the date of our Oceanside 70.3 event (Half Ironman distance). While I feel like it is just right around the corner. I am starting my training a little bit early than I did for Boulder 70.3 in 2012. I have different goals this time. Boulder was only my second triathlon. The first being a sprint only 5 months prior. They say that triathlon is addicting and I must agree. Once I had completed that first sprint I couldn't wait to do another event. My mind was set on a half immediately. I had seen the distance and knew of Ironman branded events so I couldn't wait to do one myself. I knew I could do it. Originally Racine, WI was the plan but it was sooner than we could train for at that time so we opted for Boulder since it was a drive-able distance from AZ. I can now say I am a Boulder 70.3 finisher. My finish time wasn't pretty but looking back at all the circumstances: altitude, lack of training, lack of experience (did I mention altitude?), I was pretty happy with my results. My finish time was 8 hours 17 min and 57 seconds. Out of 1840 participants I finished #1334. Not too shabby for a beginner. The cut-off time was 8 hours and 30 minutes after the final wave of swimmers. I think that I had only about 45 extra minutes to spare. Phew...so close. This time around I would like it to be different. I am setting a time goal. I know what I have to work on to get to that goal I just don't know how. So I got a coach.
They were training a group to run the Sedona 10K/Half Marathon. This is where I met my coach, Matt. He was also running with the group as he was assisting with some of the workouts. Matt likes to run. I...well...I do but it is like pulling a cat into the bathtub for a bath. I enjoy it in the end but getting me to start is the challenge. My husband and I started to train with them for the half but due to some heath concerns I was only able to work out completing the 10K. Wow, was it beautiful and holy hills....I can't imagine running that for a half marathon. I feel blessed to have made the choice to train with Brian Grasky for Sedona or I wouldn't be in the spot I am in today. I feel so much more confident and I am learning every day. The Sedona 10K was in the first part of this year. Since then I have been on event mode. Over this last year so far I have run the Sedona 10K, Oro Valley Distance Classic Half Marathon, the Oro Valley Sprint Triathlon Series in March, July and Oct and the Lifetime's Esprit de She Olympic triathlon. I haven't been riding my bike as often as I would like but I am getting stronger and stronger. My husband even commented on how fun it is to ride with me now that I am able to ride at his pace. He is kind because his paces much faster than mine. I just think he doesn't like to have to constantly stop and wait for me. I am confident that I can finish Oceanside in time. This time I want to finish my event confident in my time as well not just satisfied with finishing. Last time I did a Half Ironman I pretty much went into it blindly not knowing what to expect. I just knew that my drive and "never quit" mentality was going to get me through it. I had only run a few running events prior to Boulder in 2012. At that time I was still doing my run-walk business. In Boulder I walked most of the 13.1 miles because I had not trained well with brick workouts from the bike to the run and my legs were like jello on the run. Not to mention altitude (again) and there was maybe one tree along the entire run course that offered any sort of shade. The temperatures were 90 degrees that day. That pretty much sucked. I dont' want that experience again. I want to enjoy my run and I don't want it to feel so challenging. Right after Boulder I ran 2 more Half Marathons that year. Right after that I had not done any run events with the exception of a few 5k events running with My Team Triumph. Those events were not for me they were for the children we were running for so I don't count the as any of my events, I never even kept track of time. When I don't have a reason to run, it is hard to get me out to do it. I see so many great results because of running. Now with my connection to RACE Tucson, I have put more focus on my run training. It still isn't where it needs to be but through my RACE Tucson club and Grasky, it is better than where it was. One thing I have learned is: Track Workouts. They are a must. Even in the dark. I now have a headlamp so there is no excuse. Although I seem to keep making them. Again, refer to the bathing cat. My average pace lately for any distance always seems to be around 12 min miles. I am always telling myself, "a mile is a mile not matter how fast you are". While this is true, being on the road a third longer than most people is harder on your body. I want it over with sooner. On the track I can see 10- 9:38 miles. It is so exciting but then I hit the road and I fall back to my 12 min pace. I have seen a few 11:30 minutes lately but I want to see that 10 min pace more often. So I got a coach. In July of this year my husband and I took a quick vacation to Newport, CA to put our toes in the sand and to detox from work for a few days. We decided while we were there that we would go by Oceanside to take a look at the swim portion. The swim is his focus so this was a good thing for us to do. Getting your head wrapped around the race course makes it so much easier. I will need to work on my swim. I need to get some bilateral breathing practice in and just keep swimming long distance. I love the pool. Especially when the sun is shining on the water. Most days my workouts are hurried so I can fit them in before work or just after before it is dark. In March our RACE Tucson club had a swim challenge. We were trying to get through the distance from Scotland to Ireland within a month. The required distance for the challenge was 21,000 meters completed for the month. I joined the challenge, I made the goal and I got a shirt to prove it. Having those types of challenges really ignite me. While I know I can go a swim a mile tomorrow, I want to be able to have the tools for any thing that unforeseen happens like waves and such so bilateral breathing has to be learned. So I got a coach I am also told that in Oceanside the bike course is through Camp Pendleton and it is hilly in some parts. I need to work on my climbing. I am pretty sure my bike average would be much better if I wasn't such a horrible climber. I am always analyzing everything I am doing or not doing on my bike to figure out why climbing is such a challenge. I have ridden up Mt. Lemmon, to an area called Molino Basin a couple of times. I see more training up this mountain in the next 5 months. I am told the grade is very similar to what we will experience in Oceanside. We signed up for Computrainer through Grasky Endurance Coaching. Weekly for 8 weeks I take my bike to the shop where they have 8 trainers connected to a computer. The computer manages your tension while the course changes. I cannot wait to see how this affects my cycling. I am hoping it makes me a stronger climber. I know this won't be enough for Oceanside's climbs. So I got a coach. So tomorrow is the day it all begins. My fees are paid, my Training Peaks calendar is full of workouts for this week. My Garmin is set and feeding to my Training Peaks. My Garmin cadence sensors and speed sensors are in and on my bike. My pantry is full of Hammer Nutrition products. A trip to Tucson Endurance Performance Center is needed to pick up some tubes and CO2. There are still more little things to purchase along the way. This sport is expensive but worth every penny to feel like I do when I complete a workout or an event.
First workout tomorrow is a 4 mile baseline run test followed by a 20 min core workout. And so my coaching begins....
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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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