Give to it the rainbow

My grandmother has taught me a few things in life. 1) Always smile and wave at people, even if you cut them off when driving or want to shout obscenities at them. 2) There is always time for cocktail hour. 3) Try your very best.

I'm sure there were many more lessons along the way, but these 3 seem to be very present during my Ironman training. For example, the other day I was out on a run minding my own business and trying to stay out of the way of traffic. I came to a particularly narrow strip of road where the brush on the side is so thick you are forced to run in the road (and if you are familiar with Massachusetts roads, you know they stink). This section of road lasts for maybe 20 feet; then you are able to get back off the road and into the grass. I have frequently run this section. Cars will usually slow down or go around. But not this day. Instead, some woman in her Buick Le Sabre (taking up what looked like 2 seat widths) coasting down the road did not feel the need to slow down but rather lay into her horn for a good 10 seconds just to let me know I was in her way. What I wanted to yell was, "Heard you loud and clear, Fatty!" while flipping her the bird. But what I ended up doing was putting a huge smile on my face and waving at her. I think Mum would be proud of that one.

One thing people will tell you about triathlon training is that it takes a toll on your social life because of the endless hours of swimming, biking, and running. Lucky for me I have pretty good time management skills, a trusty alarm clock, a very understanding family, and the opinion that a few beers is considered carbo loading. So far, everything seems to be working out pretty well and cocktail hour has not been sacrificed.

"Give to it the rainbow," is a saying I have often heard my grandmother say. It was printed on a flimsy place mat but holds very strong meaning. If you were to ask her about it, she would say that it means to try your very best. It was how my great grandfather went from sweeping floors in a canning company to eventually becoming the president of the very same company. Or how my cousin with dyslexia graduated from college and is now working towards his second Master's degree. It's about setting a goal and achieving it - no matter how much hard work, sweat, tears, or time that may take. It is how I plan on becoming an Ironman.

Mum passed away 3 days ago but her words still ring loud and clear. A few weeks ago she told me that she had no regrets. She had lived a good life and was fortunate enough to be blessed with the family she has. Now she was ready to go see my grandfather again.

I think she found her pot of gold.

I'm Training for an Ironman

Clip Out!

Today was the annual Hockomock YMCA triathlon - a sprint course in Wrentham, MA. It was the first official race on my calendar this year to help get me into the racing mode. Like "they" (pros, triathlon gurus, etc) say - every race will teach you something. Yes, you may learn it the hard way but you will never make that mistake again.

While entering the transition to set up my race gear, I heard someone yelling my name. And not my married name, but my former last name. I thought, "Who the heck do I know here?" And then I turned to see Julie, one of my college swimming teammates in transition gearing up for her first ever triathlon. Small world. I thought back to my first triathlon and told her, "as soon as you finish this race you will be hooked."

Me, Andrea, and Julie - IC swimming reunion!

The swim was a nice .25 mile jaunt around the lake. The swim is the leg I look forward to the most mainly because I know I can do it. I wish it was last so I could catch up and pass all those cyclists and runners who ALWAYS pass me. But alas, that will never change. This swim was relaxing. The only part of the swim that was a little irritating was the girl drafting off of me. Every once in a while I could feel her hit my toes. I would give a little Peck Power kick and she would be gone for a while.

I learned my first lesson of the day in T1: have your bike shoes open and ready to slide your feet into. My shoes have a buckle on them similar to ski boots. You have to push a little lever to release it. I did not have my shoes unbuckled and my lever stuck. I thought I was going to be riding my clip pedals in sneakers. Luckily I finally released it without damaging my shoe. I took a little more time in transition then I would have liked but oh well.


The bike was... the bike. I like this leg of the race least. I usually have nothing good to say about it besides the fact that I finished. The roads were a little wet from the rain earlier that morning. My legs were also pretty tired from my 2.5 hour ride yesterday (with my brand new training partner, Jodi. That's Jodi below, she is one of my co-workers and will be my physical therapist when I hurt myself. I blame her and Indian Hill for my tired legs).





I was rolling into T2, super excited to be off the bike when I forgot one of the most basic things I need to do in order to dismount - CLIP OUT! Rookie. My left foot came out, but my bike started tipping to the right. Everything was in slow motion, and I had visions of snapping my ankle or face planting onto the dismount line. Thankfully, I got my right foot unstuck just before I lost all control. And what do you do when you almost make an ass out of yourself in front of a crowd? Give a little wave and smile to all the onlookers. (I told you the bike dismount is comical to watch.)

The run was actually quite pleasant. My main goal was to keep my heart rate down and practice the pace I want to run during the Ironman. Hopefully I feel this good during the Ironman, but I highly doubt it. There were a few uphills but the course was mostly flat and downhill. I felt like I was flying to the finish line. Love it!


I learned my lessons for the day. Shoes ready, check. Clip out, check.


After the race I was talking to Julie and she said, "I am totally hooked on these things now," with a huge smile on her face. Now I have a new training partner to add to my list :o)

Where's my tailwind at?

Just a quick little note. I just got back from riding for about an hour and some change. No big whoop - except for the 90 degree heat and humidity. Oh yeah, and a headwind that felt more like a head brick wall! I tend to ride in loops so I will get use to the 3 loop course in Arizona. You would think when you round the corner and go in the opposite direction the brick wall slowing you down would turn into a turbo charge for your bike. Well, not today ladies and gentlemen. Not today.

Here's to hoping for a tailwind.

Ellie says, "Hi."

Do whatcha gotta

I've been in the thick of my Ironman training for 6 weeks now, and I have to admit.... it's not so bad. Yes, I realize the worst is yet to come, but I have successfully been swimming, biking, and running on a fairly consistent basis. It's true that my training was a little lack-luster while I was in New Orleans. And I was very motivated while on family vacation at Canandaigua Lake until I threw my back out lifting my bike into the back of my car which put me out of commission for 3 days. (I know, I know.... as a PT I should have known better. I can tell you at least 10 things I should have done differently that day, but like my profile says, I'm the worst patient out there. At least I knew how to fix myself.)

Thanks to a very supportive director at work, I have been able to change my work hours to help get in all of my training. This has been the first week of the schedule change. While it may take a little time to get use to working 8-7 on Mondays I feel confident that the schedule change will make the hard parts of the training doable.

I also have to thank my very supportive husband. I know he thinks I'm nuts - he just won't tell me that face to face. It's hard when you have to go ride for an hour or so and then run just as long (and from here on out it just gets longer). While I'm out training I would like to say that I am 100% focused on the race and what I need to do. But the truth is that I sometimes feel guilty being away from home - like I should be cleaning, doing yard work, walking the dog, or just spending time with my husband. But when I get home Kevin always asks how it went. I usually respond with some grumbling and the phrase, "I know, I did this to myself," when he just looks back at me and smirks. The conversation usually ends with him saying, "Do whatcha gotta." (which is funny if you know Kevin because he usually has very good grammar.)

So I have figure out what I "gotta" do - I will most likely enter a sprint triathlon in 2 weeks to get me into the racing mode. My test race will be the Pumpkinman 1/2 Iron-distance race in Maine in September to see how far my training has brought me and to work out all the kinks for the longer distances. All are welcome to come and cheer. I can't say that longer races are the most exciting things to watch, but the bike dismount station is usually pretty comical. Stay tuned for more exciting updates :o)

Sometimes this is how I feel after a workout.

Elephants

This week is the Peck family reunion in Canandaigua, NY. I have family from all over the U.S.(Utah, Minnesota, Colorado) converging on one of the most beautiful places I have seen. This week is also my self-proclaimed "training trip". No work for a full week? Whatever shall I do with my free time? I guess swimming, biking, and running should be on that list as I am now at T minus 5 months until IM Arizona (ahhhh! Silently freaking out to myself).

You know that old saying your grandparents would to tell you, "When I was your age I walked to school uphill both ways," yada, yada, yada? Well that is what my bike ride felt like this morning. I mapped out a route and had Kevin drive it with me before I actually rode it. Turns out the hills had what seemed like a 200% grade (if that is even possible) meaning that it would be impossible for me to ride it. Ok, change of course. On my new course the hills were still torturous but I am proud to say that I did make it up all of them. Lungs burning, heart pounding, feet going numb. The whole ride I was telling myself, "You did this to yourself. Get your stupid a$$ up that hill." Hey, whatever works.

After the first monster I decided to enjoy the scenery. There were lots of older farm houses, flowing fields of wheat (or maybe just unplowed grass), home-grown berry stands, and beautiful vineyards. Who knew NY had so much to offer? The good thing about hills is that if you go up them you eventually have to come back down. My cool down was more of a "coast" down and my biggest fear was burning out my brakes. Good times Canandaigua, good times.

Later in the day my Mom and I took a trip in to one of the small towns nearby. I found a print in a gift store that read, "Always keep your elephants calm." I like that. I'm sure you can apply that to many facets of life. Today I am applying it to hill work during my Ironman training. If you stay calm and enjoy the view then the hills won't kill you. (That is my wisdom for the day).