Week before taper - cue the Wilson Phillips crescendo (read first, then watch)

I often sit and wish I had a soundtrack to my life. I've thought that it would be awesome to have someone following me around all day toting one of those 80's-style boom boxes to capture my every emotion. Not only would I hear it, but everyone else within ear shot would be able to hear it too. Think about it - the annoyance, the inspiration, the impromptu dance sessions you could have (yes, this has potential).

I have 1 last week of hard, kick-you-in-the-ass training before the wonderful transition into taper (decrease in mileage before the big day). Until the Ironman rolls around on Nov 20th, this week will be the longest I have trained on a bike or run...ever. Up until this point training has been tough, but I've managed to make it through. And while I'm sure I will be able to say the same thing come Monday morning, Saturday's long ride (6 hours!) and Sunday's long run (16 miles!) just seems plain old ridiculous. Even though I have been sans iPod for the majority of this journey, I am imagining what would be playing on my 80's style boom box along the way...

- Wednesday's morning swim: a little Enya as I swim with one eye closed/half asleep because it is 6 AM. Nice and mellow thinking of being in my warm bed.

- Wednesday's treadmill run (holding under 9:30 min/mile). Flo Rida is telling me that this treadmill (instead of da club) can't even handle me right now because it is AMAZING that I can actually run faster than 10 min/mile. This swimmer is now a jogger - ohhhh yeah.

- Saturday's bike on the trainer (6 hours, indoors due to possible snow!, bored out of my mind, determined to keep going): Tom Petty is telling me not to back down. I will listen. I won't back down. I will pedal ... a lot.

- Sunday's 16 mile run (finding it difficult to put 1 foot in front of the other, proud that this is the longest I have ever gone, terrified that I will have to do 10 more miles in less than a month, thoughts of wanting to stop/turn around/go home invading my head, wondering if I can hold on 1 more day until taper begins...): cue the crescendoing sounds of Wilson Phillips (please refer to video post above). I will start to run faster and lighter, I will be jamming out with an awesome air drum solo while belting out the words coming from the boom box following right behind me. I will make it through.

Everybody needs a best friend

Check out this story on the Chive. You might just cry. Or at least tear up.

http://thechive.com/2011/10/24/best-friends-4-photos/

Also, check out www.americanlabrescue.com. I have a shout out on the front page! Go me.

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!

Today I'm talking about goals. And although we all LOVED the Bruins' big win in 2011, I'm not talking about that kind of goal. I'm talking about the goals that we set for ourselves, the ones that drive us forward, that make us reach a little out of our comfort zone. The goals that help us realize the potential we actually have within us.

As Ironman Arizona draws near, people are frequently asking me "Why on Earth did you sign up for this?" (in addition to, "Did your parents drop you on your head when you were younger?" followed by the statement, "...because you are crazy.") To be honest, a little over a year ago I sat down and made a list for myself. That list was all of the things that I wanted to accomplish before I turned 50. I would call it my Bucket List, but I sure hope turning 50 is not my end of days. Some of the items listed were things I knew I could easily accomplish (i.e. get a dog - easy to do when you fill out the application while your husband is at a bachelor party), things I thought I could accomplish with a little effort (i.e. take/pass the orthopedic specialist certification exam - hours of studying but I managed), and things I knew I had to work my butt off to accomplish (i.e. small little triathlon happening in 4.5 weeks). I'm proud to say after a little over a year I have 3 items checked off (but many more to come).

Now it is one thing to set a goal. But it is a completely different to actually see it through. It takes planning, financial resources (usually), determination, passion, and vision. If you can never truly see yourself meeting your goal, maybe it was set too high or it was too unrealistic. But the great thing about writing a goal is that it is not set in stone - you are allowed to modify it.

Since signing up for Ironman Arizona I have done nothing but set goals for myself. They started out simple: Register for Ironman Arizona (kind of necessary to move forward with this whole process). The goals became progressively bigger from there. I had daily goals: to wake up and get to the gym by 6 AM, to complete all training sessions, to eat better at most meals. I had weekly goals: to stay positive, to not dwell on the frustrations of training, to keep my family and friends up to date on my training (as most of them are far away). I made goals during each of my workouts, I made goals during each of my races. I made goals to keep me on track mentally and physically. I have set goal times for each of the 3 events of the day. I have set a goal time for my overall finish. I have also set a goal on how many high 5's I want to give out as I run down the finishers chute (10, I want at least 10).

The 3 most important goals I have set for myself during all of this were simple: 1) Finish Ironman Arizona in under 17 hours 2) Have fun while doing it 3) Raise money for a charity I am passionate about.

As you can see my goal of $500 was increased to $1000 for American Lab Rescue - as I said before, goals are not set in stone. So, in an attempt to get you all to help me achieve my goals, I will dedicate a mile to everyone who donates to American Lab Rescue. I have about 100 miles left to dedicate, so open your hearts and open your wallets :o). During "your" mile I will think about you non-stop. Some miles will take me longer than others, but I appreciate you all the same. Not only will you be donating to a wonderful animal rescue group but you will help give me the inspiration to continue on my 140.6 mile journey.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed so far. Much appreciated!

140 things I love about training for Ironman Arizona

In these final weeks of hard training for Ironman Arizona I find myself trying to look at the positive side. Here are 140 things I love (well, like.... love is an awfully strong word) about training:

1) The exhausted feeling your legs have the day after a really long bike ride

2) Free to eat that extra brownie (or 2)

3) Chocolate milk after long bike or run

4) the feeling of accomplishment when I first rode 60 miles

5) the feeling of accomplishment when I first rode 76 miles

6) running in the New England fall weather

7) buying new tri gear 75% off

8) shoulder rubs from Kevin

9) Young's Chocolate Stout (it's like chocolate milk, right?)

10) soundly sleeping all night long because I am exhausted

11) Losing a few lbs (woot woot!)

12) Quality "me time" while I am swimming/biking/running

13) Knowing that every time I go out to train I am raising money for a good cause

14) No wind during a training ride or run

15) chocolate chip Cliff bars

16) Foot rubs from Kevin

17) My cool down lap around the neighborhood with Ellie

18) Spandex (I have a whole new appreciation for them)

19) New sneakers

20) Running in the rain

21) Hot shower after running in the rain

22) Pre-training oatmeal with honey

23) Frozen snickers bars

24) Knowing that I will survive 17 hours without my iPod

25) http://www.mapmyrun.com/ otherwise, I would be lost.

26) Finally being able to ride in aerobars!!

27) My bike support crew at Landry's bike shop

28) Knowing how to change a flat tire (on my bike, of course. AAA for the car)

29) Coffee after my morning swim

30) Not having to be to work until 11:30 0n Wednesdays.

31) Knowing that my ass will stop hurting when I finally get off my bike

32) The fact that my ass can now handle a 5 hour ride (the shoulders are a different story)

33) My speedometer/odometer on my bike - what did I ever do before this wonderful gadget?

34) Sunscreen!

35) Saturday night sushi dinners after long rides

36) All the supportive emails and Facebook comments

37) No training on Mondays!

38) Funfetti cake made with diet soda (don't knock it until you've tried it)

39) Running down hill

40) My running visor from Timberman

41) My Fuelbelt with a buckle instead of velcro

42) No guilt when I veg in front of the TV at night

43) Catching up on bad TV when I'm on the bike trainer

44) The fan set up in front of me when I'm on the bike trainer

45) Quiet roads on Sunday mornings

46) A lane to myself in the pool

47) 60 minute massages (Thanks Amy!!)

48) Zoning out when I run

49) http://www.mapmyride.com/

50) No rain when I bike

51) CO2 cartridges to inflate my tires

52) Biking around cranberry bogs

53) Lemon-lime Perform (weird, but I actually like it)

54) Body glide!

55) Wearing Kevin's sunglasses on my bike ride (because I'm too cheap to get new ones)

56) Flat bike course

57) Right hand turns when I am biking

58) The water tank on my bike

59) Feeling strong after a swim workout

60) Kick sets in the pool

61) new swim caps

62) Hockomock Sprint Tri

63) MY SWEET NEW BIKE

64) The red handle bars on my sweet new bike

65) Strawberry Shotblocks

66) http://www.iamtri.com/

67) all the wonderful people on iamtri Arizona 2011 who have great insight into the race

68) YouTube motivational videos

69) Pasta dinners

70) Pumpkinman 70.3 2011

71) Not requiring medical assistance after finishing Pumpkinman 70.3

72) coming home to have my dog sitting at the front door waiting for me after a run

74) Funfetti frosting (the pink kind)

75) Jamming out to "Don't Stop Believing"

76) Tuesday night Pilates class

77) Words of encouragement from my patients

78) A full physical therapy team at my finger tips everyday (although I haven't required any assistance yet)

79) Company on training rides

80) Thinking I am going to wake up sore the next morning but I don't

81) My cheering section at my races

82) a new bathing suit

83) Pool water at the perfect temperature (not too hot or too cold)

84) Lane lines that are tightened properly

85) My "I am an Ironman" playlist on my iPod

86) Visualizing crossing the finish line

87) Visualizing the moment Mike Reilly tells me I am an Ironman

88) 2 weeks vacation at Thanksgiving

89) My ponytail holder

90) My Cranberry TriFest water bottles (all of them)

91) My powder blue bike shoes

92) The padding in my bike shorts

93) Wide shoulders on roads

94) Getting lost on bike rides

95) Finding my way home on bike rides

96) New running routes

97) New biking routes

98) My homemade aid station in the driveway

99) Getting 2 compliments on my bike jersey during a race

100) The look on people's faces when I tell them I am doing an Ironman

101) The look on people's faces when I tell them what an Ironman is

102) The look on people's faces when I tell them I only have 17 hours to finish it

103) Writing my blog (hey, thanks for reading along)

104) My quote of the week

105) Learning how to properly hold my bike handles so my fingers don't go numb

106) Making travel plans to Tempe, AZ

107) Stretching

108) Not falling off my bike when I try to clip out

109) Holding under 10 min miles on the treadmill (never thought that day would come)

110) Bike gloves

111) my countdown to November 20th (although this is somewhat anxiety producing)

112) Watching the World Championships online

113) Good weather in October so I don't have to do long rides on the bike trainer

114) My understanding husband who does not get mad with the ever-growing pile of socks, bike shorts, t-shirts, and towels on the floor.

115) Salt tabs!

116) The container with a flip top I just found to hold said salt tabs

117) All the people who have donated to American Lab Rescue so far!

118) 3 pockets on my bike jersey

119) The look on my neighbor's face when, after 2 hours of running, he asks, "You're still going?"

120) Naps at work during my lunch hour

121) Getting in the best shape of my life

122) Now thinking that biking for 2 hours is a "short ride"

123) Now thinking that a 6 mile run is a "short run"

124) Doing distance workouts in the pool (My college coach would be so proud)

125) Feeling strong

126) Having more energy

127) Being less jiggly in certain places

128) Water

129) English muffins with peanut butter

130) Reading the newest edition of Triathlete magazine

131) Getting a proper bike fit

132) When people tell me I have inspired them to sign up for a half marathon (Go, Aimee, go!)

133) Cuddling with my dog after a bad training day

134) Carbo loading

135) Looking at my signed Chrissie Wellington and Johnny Kelly posters for inspiration

136) My pink Ironman watch

137) Long sleeve finisher's shirt at Pumpkinman

138) Looking for people with MDot tattoos while I'm out swimming/biking/running

139) Thinking of what type of MDot tattoo I'm going to get when I finish (that's right mom)

140) Knowing that I will be an Ironman in 5 weeks!

Keeping the faith

I'm not going to lie. It is getting much harder to stay on track with this whole Ironman training thing I've gotten myself into. Not only are the training sessions getting longer and harder (which is to be expected) but the weather is getting colder and the hours of daylight are getting shorter. All this being said, I am spending more and more hours on my bike trainer - and I AM BORED. I do use this time to catch up on crappy TV shows my husband refuses to watch with me, such as Revenge and the one about the Playboy bunnies. They are mindless shows that help me pass the time. Sometimes I think up ways to raise more money for my charity (plug for American Lab Rescue!), or I just focus on how uncomfortable I am on my bike seat.

In the recent passing of Steve Jobs I have found myself pretty impressed with this man who, until fairly recently, I knew very little about. If you check out his graduation speech to Stanford (http://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc) in 2005 it is filled with endless quotes of not giving up, doing what you love, and keeping the faith when all else seems lost. Seriously, we had to lose a guy like this!? I would love to have a mini Steve Jobs sitting on my shoulder during the Ironman. I'm pretty sure he would come up with great things to tell me to 1) make me laugh and 2) get me to the finish line.

My favorite quote from Mr. Jobs I've heard so far is, "Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith." Obviously this proverbial "brick" can mean many things to many people. His brick was cancer (or Windows). At one point in his life his brick was being fired from his very own company that he started in a garage. My point is we all have our own bricks. And they hurt. And they are all different things to different people. Just because the bricks are not the same doesn't mean they hurt any less.

Today my brick is actually a brick (bike followed by an immediate run). It hurts and it's hard. Sometimes I feel like I want to throw up and other times I feel like I am going to crap my pants. Sometimes I think, "Is this all worth it?" - the endless miles, the pain? Then I imagine crossing the finish line and being able to look back at all the events that got me to this point - the hours of bad TV logged while riding my trainer, the limping around work on Monday morning because of an awesome 70.3 race the day before, the glorious massages I treat myself to because, dammit, I'm training for an Ironman! That finish line is my iPhone. I am in no way implying that my Ironman finish will revolutionize the world, but I do hope it will help support a great animal rescue group (second plug for American Lab Rescue - click on ChipIn link to the right to donate!!).

Look kids! Big Ben. Parliment.

My lady parts hate me, but I have officially been on my longest bike ride yet! Up until today my 56 mile ride as part of the 1/2 Ironman was the longest distance I had covered. Today I sat on that damn seat for 4 hours and 30 minutes for a total of 68 miles. Go me!

The course for Ironman Arizona consists of 3 loops to total 112 miles. Besides having to ride 112 miles, the second hardest part will be getting myself mentally ready for 3 loops. Can you imagine riding 37 miles and some change only to know that when you get back to the starting line you will have to do it all again, and then a third time? My husband has never been a fan of repeating himself. If he leaves something at home and remembers it at the end of our street he refuses to turn around to get it. If I ask him a question that he has already answered he will just look at me and walk away. (Then I chase after him and poke him in the shoulder until I wear him down.) I think some of his aversion to repetition has rubbed off on me, so now I have to train my brain to love repetition.

Since the start of my training plan I have been riding loops. The loops started out fairly short but have progressively increased in distance. The good thing about riding in loops is that eventually you learn the road. Today, the bump at Mile 10 was my enemy. My first time over the bump I didn't even realize it was there, and my lady parts yelled, "Owwww! Holy Hell! What was that?" On the second loop I was futzing with my water bottle and wasn't really paying attention when, thud, and my lady parts said, "Hey moron - still hurts the second time. For the love of God, stand up!" On the third loop I was able to prepare myself in advance of the bump in the road. I stood up and my lady parts applauded.

Riding in loops also tends to make me feel like I am in the movie European Vacation with Chevy Chase. You see the same thing again, and again, and again. I noticed that it took a family about 3 hours to remove a tree stump from their front yard. Between the miles of 15 and 16 it smells like a combination of dirty diaper and skunk - the stench lingers and never seems to go away until you ride out of it. I also noticed that as the day progressed the number of squirrel carcasses multiplied. The dead squirrels that were on the road during Loop 1 became more squished each time I rode past them.

But anyway, my loops are finished (for today). If anyone is interested in keeping me company on one or some of the loops let me know. I love training partners!