The trials, tribulations and nonsensical babbling of a triathlete training for her first Ironman.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Crunch Time!

I'm now officially just weeks away from the BIG DAY. 57 to be exact. And I'm sick. Yup, I have a NASTY cold. Actually probably more like the flu. And I'm sure it's from the RIDICULOUS weather we had this past weekend. A bunch of us went up North to Cabana Cadman and took part in a 6 hour sufferfest on the bike (good thing I had some of my winter gear!!) on the Saturday and then a 2 hour run in the snow--yes, I said SNOW--on Sunday. The weekend was fun even though it was freezing. I actually had a decent ride and a decent run. Probably a good thing since I haven't done anything since Monday and I know these next few workouts are going to suck as I'm coming off a cold. Gary is sick as well. Cooties galore in the Kennedy household! I have a 6 hour ride scheduled for tomorrow and a 2:15 run on Sunday. It's supposed to be sunny and HOT tomorrow and Sunday (FINALLY!!) so I"m looking forward to the ride. I don't know if I'll go the full 6 hours--I'll have to see how I feel. I don't want to push myself if I'm not feeling 100%. We're going to be in Lake Placid next weekend for a training camp and I want to be 100% for that.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

The Bike Dilemna

So I took my trusty Cannondale out this weekend for it's first long ride of the season and well, it sucked. Actually, the bike didn't suck, I sucked on the bike. The position is way more aggressive than I'm used to and it seems that all the power I had in my legs has vanished. It doesn't climb half as well as the Cervelo either. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for the race. I'm going to ride my Cannondale again this weekend adn then I think I"m going to stick aero bars on my Cervelo and see what that feels like. Obviously I will get myself fit on it properly before I take it out on a long ride. God, the amount of money I have spent in the last 2 months on bike fit, clif bars, ART, massage. yikes! At least there is only another 2.5 months left. *whew*.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

So Many Things To Do...

and so little time to do them. Despite the fact that this is an easy week, I still seem to be pressed for time! Doesn't help that work is busy either. I have been meaning to call and make a massage appointment for next Wednesday. Haven't done that yet. I desperately need a hair cut, the fro is getting a little out of control--not sure when I'll be able to do that. I thought we'd have time this weekend, but Saturday night we're going to a 40th birthday party and Sunday, Gary is racing and then we're going to my folks place for Mother's Day. We only have a 3 hour ride this weekend but by the time we get out to Milton, ride, pack up and get back home it will probably be about 1:00 pm. I have been wanting to try making this pulled pork recipe that I have in this awesome BBQ book (Taming the Flame by Elizabeth Karmel--HIGHLY recommend it!) but it takes 5 hours to cook! I think I might give it a go on Saturday afternoon when we get back from the ride. I just have to make sure I have everything ready and hope to GOD that the propane doesn't run out on the BBQ! I hope it will be done before we leave for the birthday party!!
I had also wanted to do a little work in the garden this weekend as well--but it may be raining so that nixes that. The rhubarb has grown like crazy. It's sprouting leaves EVERYWHERE! And the stalks are REALLY thick. I'll have to pick some before the long weekend so I can give it to Teresa. I think I'm going to make that rhubarb compote I made last year---SOOOOO Good! not sure when I'll do that but I will do it!!

Monday, May 08, 2006

Ride From Hell

Once again, Mother Nature decided to test me this weekend. On Saturday I had a 5.5 hr ride followed by a 30 minute run. 6 hours of exercise. Good lord. Anyway, the forecast said it was supposed to be 12 and sunny. Ok, perfect. Saturday morning we get up and it's 6, overcast and rainy. Oh joy. We get out to where we're riding from (north of the city) and it's even colder. And the wind, ah, the wind. It was apparently 28km/hr out of the NW. Yeah, more like 35 + km/hr. And we rode into it for the first half of the ride. To give you an idea as to how bad it was, it took Sue & I 2 hours and 45 minutes to cover 61 km. Whereas on a "normal" day we'd probably do that in just over 2 hours. There were points where I was almost stopped the wind was so bad. But, I am trying to keep a positive frame of mind here--that ride, even though it killed me--totally made me stronger. The sun eventually came out towards the end of the ride so that helped my spirits. But Saturday was a tough day. The chicken parmigiana sandwich that I had at the little Italian cafe was a little (ok HUGE) slice of heaven.

Sunday wasn't too much better since my legs were punched from the ride the day before. I had a 2 hour and 15 minute run which was a bit of a suffer fest. But I did it. I was VERY glad to see home that's for sure. Now, we're on an easy week (WOOOOOHOO!) which means I get to sleep in a couple of extra days this week. (YAY!) Now if only my allergies would let up, I'd be laughing....

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Waking up and smelling the coffee

When I started training for this, I had set myself a time goal--a somewhat challenging one, but one that I thought I was capable of. Now, 3 months out from the race, I am re-thinking that goal. I think it might have been a bit ambitious for a first Ironman. I don't doubt my athletic abilities but I don't want to have that goal hanging over my head and potentially ruining my first Ironman experience. My entire family is going to be there watching, so is Gary's family and so are our friends. I want to enjoy my day and enjoy the experience. That doesn't mean that I'm not going to push myself out on the course. Au contraire mes amis, I will, you can be sure of that. If I make my goal, then great, that will be the icing on the cake. But first and foremost, I want to get to the finish line, regardless of time and satisfied that I gave it my best.

Monday, May 01, 2006

The Exhaustion Continues

Once again, I feel like I haven't had enough sleep. Yet I went to bed at 8:45 pm last night (SAD!!!) and got up at 6:00 am. Perhaps I got too much sleep (personally I don't think there is such a thing but apparently one can over sleep). My allergies have been particularly bad this year as well so I wake up during the night sneezing which doesn't help.
We have one more week of hard workouts (I think this week is close to 16 hours) and then we have an easy week. THANK GOD! This past weekend was insane. We had a 5 hour 15 min bike scheduled but had to cut it short so I could get out to Leslie and York Mills to get re-fit on my tri bike. I rode 4 hours and 35 minutes. It was really really windy and I was totally punched by the time I got back to the car. We missed our swim on Tuesday morning so we did it yesterday. I got to the gym for 8:00 am, was in the pool 5 minutes later, swam my 3000 meters, got out, showered, threw on my running stuff and did a 2 hour run home. My legs felt like they were encased in cement they were so heavy. Tonight I have a physio appointment and we have to grocery shop. arg. Tuesday morning we're back at it again at 4:30 am. And, I have to get my tri bike in somewhere this week to get the headset tightened because they forgot to do that on Saturday. I am counting down the days till the insanity stops!!!!