My road to somewhere...

140.6 What a long strange trip it's been.

2010-11-23T08:51:00.027-06:00

To get the full scope, I am briefly starting back to 2009.

After I signed up for IMCDA in 2009 , I had to pull out 3 months in due to my back (whatever the hell was/is wrong with it). 2 car accidents, 1 bike accident during Lonestar Tri... Quickly, I fell off of the map... I was frustrated, burnt out, my back hurt but mostly I was disappointed. I wanted this, but it just wasn't my time.

A year ago I came to Arizona to watch a few team mates complete their dream of finishing their Ironman at whatever speed for either the first time or more. I had no intentions on signing up while I was there. (honestly). Then after being in a kayak watching the mass floating swim start I knew as my eyes teared up that this was in my sights again. It had been a full tri season since I had trained... Train, trained... I travelled to Russia, biked and enjoyed my summer. I gained 20lbs literally overnight due to a new medication I was put on. This was going to be hard... Starting over hard.
Over the last six months I've been on what I like to call the "D" plan aka. the weekend warrior. It had been at least a year since I had been in the water, or had set a foot on a road or track to run on. I was fat and I was way behind, I knew it was going to be hard for me to watch my teammates who had been training since I was gone. Most of them trained for halves before the training for IMAZ begun, they were ready. I was worried I wasn't ready for the training. Unfortunatly, I am competative, stubborn and I beat my own drum, this being the only child in me. My goal from the beginning was to get my mind around NOT having a time goal and really.... REALLY! Just. Finishing. If any of you know me you will know that when I train.. I train and I want to be the best that I can be. Time for the hardest change of all.... My ability to just let it go.

TRAINING
SWIM - Splash!!! Back in the water again, it had been at least a year for a coached swim... All the people I use to swim with I couldn't keep up with anymore. Grrrr. I forgot how hard it is to start from scratch... BUT this time my stroke feels smooth. Slow but smooth... Strange. I swam at practice for about 6 weeks and did a 2.4mi swim just to see where my time stood. 1hr:20min. I was ok with that. So, I stopped swimming except for my long swims. Six weeks before the race I started going back to swim practice just to make sure I could still do the 1hr:20min for the whole 2.4 mi swim. What I called maintaining.
BIKE From day one I thought this would be my strong point since this is the one sport I kept up with while I wasn't doing tri's over the last year. I got rid of my old tri bike and rode my road bike till I got my new tri bike... And I cursed myself. I started averaging well over 18mph in wind and or hills to by the end of training riding 15-16mph. Apparently, I wasn't doing things right. The fits on my bike were changing from week to week since I am SO impatient. Go figure. I did most of my long rides by myself, I liked it that way. The bike is zen to me... when I like my saddle... and when my wheel isn't rubbing my frame for 75 miles. Bottom line... training was hit or miss I had no idea what to expect here. This was frustrating.
RUN - My long runs started on the greenbelt... it didn't hurt my back, so this is where I kept running. I really loved running out there in the trees! Then half way through training, I decided my body needs to get use to the pavement and and get away from the summer snakes. Town lake trail it was... BOOM! My back fell apart. Again? Shit! Back to where it was a year and a half ago. I backed off went to see a doctor, got an MRI (no herniated disk), two rounds of cortisone shots in two areas, (none of which did anything). Now, I am 2 1/2 months out and I have got to figure out what I was going to do. This one I'm not backing out of, I am just too far into it now. What about orthotics. I said it... no Doctor did... Huh... Finally, something finally helped. The pain never fully went away but it was better and that is what I settled for (good enough to finish.... Ohhhh yahhh thats my goal)... Thank you, I will take it. I cut the miles back and nursed it.

DAYS BEFORE RACE- This consists of walking/driving back and forth to Ironman Village to... Standing in line to sign a waiver, stand in line to pick up your race bags, stand in line to get henna body marking that looks like a spongy, non legible mess, stand in line to buy things, stand in line to check bike, stand in line to drop off gear bags.... Ohhh wait! Stand in line to stand in line. The calm before the storm. uhhhhh. yaaaa. little stressed. more meds.

RACE MORNING-1:30am I wake up... Plan was 3:00am... I woke up early for the first time in the last 6 months! Ironic. My mind was up and there was no going back to bed. Shawnda my sherpa got in late so I was doing yoga and drinking coffee in the bathroom till others got up. Breakfast - One bagel with nutella and banana, three cups of coffee. Second breakfast 1 hour later - Two packs of instant oatmeal with a full cup of raisins (FYI..I hate raisins). Time to get to IM village get your special need bags and lets go! I am feeling good... chilled out and content. Whats the worst case?... I made it here... What happens after... is after. John, Shawnda my Dad and I chill out on the grass till they start telling us to stop screwing around and get in the water... John and I head over a good luck kiss... I gotta go claim my spot!

SWIM- Spluuuush! in I go! Okay.. ok... it might be a tad chilly... I keep telling myself its not nearly as cold as Alcatraz! I swim under the bridge to the start bouy and start asking people around me what their swim pace was, I didn't want to lose a tooth or an eye in what is called "the washing machine". Finally, I find as comfortable of a spot as I think as I am going to get and I start floating on my back looking up at the Scottsdale/Rural road bridge (also, claiming a larger area of water to myself)... This is beautiful, awesome I'm laughing to myself... I'm thrilled. People lined up everywhere to watch 2700 people start a 2.4mi swim all at once!... talking, yelling, music in the background and still I feel like I should be here... No nerves here. Coldplay, Viva la vida! Annnnnd.... the cannon goes off and I'm swimming with my head above water like I am learning all over again. People are kicking swinging and I kept thinking when is someone going to knock my goggles off? When is someone going to kick me in the jaw? Didn't happen. Swim swimmy swim.. What washing machine? And we are at the turn around bouy! Half way there! I look back a what there is Nancy! "Hey! Nancy!" And a "Hey" back. Funny how the world throws you in a pot and spits you out and lets you see who you see and when. Small world! For those of you who haven't swam in a wetsuit there are two types of people... those that pee in their wetsuit and those that lie about it. I don't like it and will avoid it if I can but before the end of the swim I peed 4 times in the suit. WHAT? That is a lot! Sorry wetsuit strippers! Yay! Finally, the stairs that lead to land. Whoa... there isn't a step out, its a huge gap, from the water to the stairs. A guy reaches for my hand and helps me out... hooooo rahhhh. Getting out was more effort than the swim. I begin to peel off the wetsuit and it is sucking on to my arm.. the stripper grabs it rips it down I lay down.. Boooom! its off! and to.....

T1- I trot....Grab my bag run to the changing tent. A girl goes what can I help with? What do you need? I said "Nothing I'm not in any hurry here, but thank you for being here! And she smiles and asks again. All good here! I dump the bike bag out, put on my glide and more glide, cycling stuff and look at more than half of what was laying on the floor and wondered why so much stuff? Off to grab my sweet ride.

BIKE- The ride out of the shoot, people screaming, photos popping, chilly air chilling. This is where the tunnel vision kicks in. Drink drink drink. fooood. High cadence these wheels are hurting me more than helping me! Ugh.Double Ugh! Suck it up can't go back now. Tailwind on the up hill, headwind on the downhill, crosswinds (I heard.. 25mph winds and up to 35 MPH gusts), saguaros, agave, prickly pear, team mates, rain, hail and rainbows. I stopped five times on the bike to pee (3x... seriously, thats 7 times total today) see a bike mechanic (1x go to special needs refill my nutrition... since I ate it all! Thats a first. I sit down for "lunch" my Dr. Pepper and salt and vinegar chips! Any I had an awesome caddy holding my bike waiting patiently for me to finish "lunch"). I thank my bike caddy and peddle away I go. The turn arounds were the best! Cheering team mates all in blue smearing up the course! Awesome. Finally down the finish shoot.

T2- Heres my bike, grab my run bag and where is the changing tent? Oh there it is. I sit down and have a reflection of the chilly, crowded but non-violent swim and the really windy, rainy, crapy ride and what I smile. I am still here, smiling from start to middle. Shorts are on (packed the wrong ones, a little shorter than the ones I wanted) My apologies to everyone on the course... you are going to have to look at my big rump.

RUN- here we go the part where I am worried the most. Aid stations every mile drinking the gadorade, powerade, sports drink or whatever they called at that station all the same stuff just with a different name. Go Alison... Looking gooooood, Alison, I hear my name all over the course. What? how do these people know my name? Oh shit, my name is on my bib. Every time from start to finish I thought it was someone I knew, sometimes but not all the time. Funny stuff. I pass Shawndie mile 1 1/2, Twice! Hey, nice to see that face! But...Put that camera away. :) Walk walk. Chuckles "HEY!" Me, "Oh HAY!!!!" Chuck, "How are you?" Me, "Good!" (I was I was real good! Chuck "Are you?" Me, "Ya!" Trot! trot! Special needs first lap grab my nutter butters, chomp chomp YUM! and the rest get shoved in my sports bra, the best pocket ever! Second lap I was a little worried about time, but still felt good, slow but good! :) Walk, walk... jog, jog... run... walk. Last mile on my second loop I had to stop at the Reno 911 aid station... This blister on my big toe was making me hobble/walk. I hobble in the aid-cop says sit down. I told him if I sit I'll stop. He tells me well I can't fix your toe if you don't. I listened to reason and sat. He gets a bandaid and slaps it on. I poked my toe and told him ummmmmm this isn't going to cut it I need about ten more. Hold on I've got something... White duct tape. He wraps that thing so well I could have dropped a brick on it... okay, maybe not a brick. Thank YOUuuuuuuu! I slowly trot away. Last loop? I can't count... One... one... two... THREE! I left my garmin on my bike I had no idea what mile I was on....Bad move... It was like quantum physics trying to figure it out. My name is Alison thats all I needed to know right? Last loop I run by the finish exit and ask what looked to be like an official Ironman guy how I was on time... Keep the same pace and you are just fine. Ok then... Smile, giggle let get this last loop done. Trot trot, walk walk. Am I losing my mind? I have been up for way too long. Tunnnel vissssion. Did I just say television? Want some soup? Uhhhh, think less and drink more... Ok why not... "drink the soup!" its warm. sip... sip... Gulp. Nasty. To each his own. Sticking to the mystery sports drink, thank you. I'm walking more looking at my watch. Still greek to me. The road gets darker. yet shorter... As, I come to the finish right before the shoot Dionn jumps in front of me and says you have to run from here. Ok, ok but I'm walking right now. Hee hee! I'm here! I'm here! Run! run. people are screaming! hands are out wanting to high five me.... weird but nice. Am I far enough away from the guy in front of me so I don't ruin his picture? Think I'm ok. "ALISON STEINER FROM AUSTIN, TENNESSEE YOU ARE AN IRONMAN." (Ha ha! When I signed up I was trying to be incognito so I put Tennessee instead of Texas) BEEP. I crossed the mat! I shoot my guns in the air! Smiling from cheek to cheek I did it! WOOT! (what no tears? I thought I was going to cry for the last 6 months but instead just an intense feeling of joy! A warm bear of a man hugs me with a shiny, silver, sparkly, blanket... " How are you?" " Hi, I'm fine how are you?" Bear takes a closer look... I smile Then a closer look. Bear, "how was it?" Me, "ummmm great!" Bear, "someone wants to say something to you" Boom! right in my face was Chrissie Wellington... Took a second to realize who it was again... rocket science is soooo hard. "Congratulations on becoming and Ironman!) Me, "Oh thank you! Nice to meet you." and the warm bear took me away I keep taking the blanket off its way too hot! way too hot. I'm hungry, I want a cocktail. He shuffles me to the t-shirt tent she lifts up a small... HA was this a joke? :) When I was small I couldn't fit in that. I haggle with her about size grab one... walk away with the Bear who is still hugging me and I turn around to get a different size once again. The bear and shirt lady think I'm nuts at this point... No.. no... blanket too warm. Medal, Photo and the bear is gone. "ALISOOOOOON!" Shawndie in tears, Dad teared up, and my Mom who thought I was crazy this whole time with a smile. John! my sweet partner in crime . All done now.... NOW what?

Its all in the title...

2009-05-10T14:22:00.007-05:00

Today I did a little volunteering at the Rookie Triathlon First at the "Crew Tent" then on to the bike course mounting line. One of the guys whipped out a bullhorn and my eyes lit up like Sing Sing, correctional facility when a felon is escaping. It was a little weird at first but as with most things I quickly adapted.

After getting a little taste of bullhorn action I am proud to announce myself as:
"Chief Cheer Squadron Leader O' CDA 2009".... AKA.."CCSLOCDA" or "Spectator". (yes, I named myself).

While, I know this is a rather large responsibility. I am more than willing to take it on.

You may think what? This girl is off her rocker.. (OK, tell me something I don't already know) What all is entailed for this? First off I am keeping my race number so I can go wherever I want on the course.. (although, I'm not sure exactly what all I can get away with :)) As the head CCSlOCDA in charge I have created a check list. Should you find anything missing please let me know..
Bullhorn, cow bells, camera, road bike, silly string, clown outfit, elephants, ticker tape parade and pinata....

And just to be true to form I have been working on race day nutrition! Lord knows this is going to be a long day of cheering. I don't want to bonk spectating the run! Infinit works well with me and so do hammer gels. So this means I will be setting my watch every 20 min to drink and take a gel every hour... With maybe a beer stop squeezed in... here and there...

Next on my race schedule... Cap Tex Tri Relay (bike) May... Fredericksburg Road Race June 28... The Austin Tri (oly) Sept...Chappell Hill (Sept).. and a few crits here and there.
But first gotta get back to training...

The complete and total package.

2009-03-18T18:08:00.003-05:00

I have finally come to terms that this is not the year for me to become an Ironman. While there are so many bones in my body saying go, go, go there is an equal amount saying not so smart Lil' Missy. I have layed off the running per the Dr. because of my herniated disk in my back and ya know what... no siatica pain.. Imagine that. So, it was to be 6-8 weeks before I were to run again which would put me in April to finally start training for a marathon at the end of my race. Could I do it??? No question... Would it be hard as hell.. Yes.. My run would hurt more than the next guy who was able to train properly by far. I have heard there is plenty of time.... No... not when you are as hard on yourself as me. My thought is there is no half assing... if you're going to do it do it right. And my way has goals. (Everyone has individual goals. Please, understand we are who we are and this is just the way I am and am in no way trying to insult anyone else's goals).

Bottomline: My goals.. Yes.... The time in which I wanted to complete my first Ironman. Wrong way to think for most people, I know... Fair enough..your opinion. But I had my goals. My goals had to shift when I got injured to swim then bike a whole whole lot!.. But ya know something is missing. No matter how much the run hurts it all makes some weird, really nice package when its all put together. Kind of like Hot Cocoa without the hot... eeewe... You don't know what you are missing till its missing... And that my friends is what I want.... The complete package to be able to do my best in a HEALTHY state. Period. Love it leave it, I don't care.

So, in the mean time... I will be working on my.... cheer leading skills, working a bull horn, yelling, wearing really BIG ass bells, blue, white paint... and maybe rollerblading with tights or in a shark costume...?

Come on you son's a biiiiaches! I'll be there yelling ya'll on! No more cow bell needed when I'm done with ya... :D

Happy trails...

375....

2009-03-09T19:31:00.005-05:00

That's how many miles I have ridden on my bikes in the last two weeks... Assuming the cycling study was 60 miles for 4.5 hours... I wanted to get to 400 but what can I say I wanted a day off more... and I'm okay with that... :)

Now with riding everyday comes its trials and tribulations....

Tight hip flexors
Slow and tired legs
Do I dare say it?.. saddle sores
Achy calves
Launching favorite water bottles across 620
Salty body so much so that I feel like pure grit.... and not in a hot cowboy kind-of way.
Getting honked at by day labor's AND people that didn't want me riding down 2222 in their lane, on a windy as crap day. Sorry, see ya on Wed. I have nothing else to do.
Just being out and out, around stinky
Funky sunburns and tan lines which include: "Typical watch tan", "The white forehead tan" , " The not so short, short tan", "the 5 different shirt/tank top tan, to blend out the previous tan line, tan" and last but not least "The I grip my aero bars too much or let my hands dangle down tan" which consists of half of your fingers being white while the rest of the hand is tan. Oops and 'The I wear shoes in the sun tan".
Peeling from the sunburns
And well... probably WAY too much tome to myself to think.

God, I love it...

Surpassing...

2009-03-06T10:04:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I completed the first real day of the cycling study. Fasting blows! We couldn't eat anything from 7pm the night before until we were done with the test. That being said, I ate like I had never eaten before. Sushi. Yum! I always eat it before my races so I figured why not for this. I loaded up on raw fish and rice for the two dinners prior to the test. No complaints about that! But I ate so much that i thought I was going to explode.
Arriving at 7:30 getting on the bike by 7:40ish we (my legs and I) start to spin. I am tired my legs are pooped I have ridden my bike for the last 6 days straight this being the 7th! I was honestly worried I would have to get off early. My biggest fear is always to fail, so damn it I will make this 3 hr test if it kills me (well... not if it kills me). Basically, it is a long ass (3 hour interval session) to get you to where you can't spin past 60 cadence (failure). The beginning was easy after I got warmed up, my cadence was high 90's then the hard interval would kick in backing me down to high 80's this goes on and on and on ONLY drinking water every 20 minutes. I could count how long I was on there and how much I had to go till the 3 hour mark, by how many water bottles they gave me. Towards the end it it got way easy for some strange reason my cadence popped up to the 100's. The only thing that bothered me with this whole test was I didn't know my heart rate, distance, MPH, the time, or even where I was on the course. The only thing I knew was my cadence. This was a bit of a mind bender staring a a screen of nothing-ness. Finally, I made the 3 hour mark. Yay! But my cadence was still in the high 90's and this was feeling pretty good still I knew that it was going to be a while... Not realizing it would be an hour longer...Really I just wanted to get off and go eat a horse. MAN I WAS STARVING! I know at one point they pealed back the paper covering the screen and my calories burned said just under to 1600. Don't worry I ate it all back after!
So,I am at my goal (3hours) my cadence is dropping, and popping back up to the 80's and dropping and popping up.... The burn in my legs was BURNING!! Burning... my butt, quads, hammies all the way down to my claves. I had to hit my legs to make the burn go away or at leastmake it think it was. Sitting up and going down into aero position, sitting up relived my legs but my cadence slowed down when I did this. Covered in salt, my skin felt like sand paper, when I wiped the sweat it was gritty, almost cutting my face. Teetering back and forth from 60 to 59, 58, 60, then 70 back down and the girls are there cheering you on then cadence perks up again... then down then up then down then down, down, down, UP to 80? NOoooooo.... then down, down down, down, UP and down.... AND DONE...
4+ hours later I am done. I don't know the exact time but I think that I ended at about 12:15ish. I thiiiiink I can consider that my long bike for this week... :D
All over again next week... And I'll get to see if the velotron was broken yesterday or if I actually was on there that long....if it's twice as hard next week! :)
I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought... But I also have to say I was pooped yesterday! When I got off I was a little delirious from lack of food! And oddly enough...while my legs were like cinder blocks on fire and heavier than gold bullion. I had some crazy, weird energy and high, while I couldn't speak properly and it took a little more than normal just to think at all. Strange I felt great, tired and legs achy, yes but alert very alert!...

Today Friday... I feel fantastic! Why I have no idea! My rump is a little tender, but hell if I needed to I could go for a ride! Too bad I am taking the day off. :D

Bottom line: Its amazing what your body can do... Thank you body for putting up with me.

Ode to Water Bottle!

2009-03-04T17:43:00.004-06:00

You were a silver-y bottle
That locked on the top
Tight little nipple
That never spilled a drop

I used you always
Because you were grand
Fitting so perfectly
In my own little hand

Nutrition got stinky
But I bleached you out
So squeezy!
Squeezing just the perfect amount!

While biking
I put my petal on the throttle
Oh shit!
There goes my favorite fucking bottle!

This launching you
Into full flight
While you held onto my nutrition
Oh so very tight!

A bump and a crash
A rattly tat

I turned back around
When I heard you hit the ground

Gone! you are gone!
I don't know where you are?
Oh no! Right there!...
You got hit by a car!

Now you are gone
I am so sad and blue
I'm Hungry
SO hungry riding with out you.......

I am proud to be a Lab Rat...

2009-03-02T09:05:00.007-06:00

I signed up to participate in the UT Cycling Study over the course of the next month. Thought hey I can get a few extra bucks for doing something I was going to do anyways. Right? Well Kind-of. I typically don't breathe through a mouth piece with a plastic head gear like device strapped to my head attached by a clear garden hose. But whatever... Who's splitting hairs? Close enough... I warm up on the Velotron (a very upscale computrainer with a flywheel... very cool!). Then they whip out the head gear and I am OK with it... UNTIL... she slaps on the nose plugs. Wow. Claustrophobic much? Uhhh ya... I immediately take the nose plugs off and the mouth piece out of my mouth. This was going to take a minute to get use to. I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth when I train. Its how I have my rhythm. The nose plugs caused my ears to clog up when I swallowed, bleeck!!! We try again. OK I'm OK I'm OK. We start the test. Prick, prick prick, prick, prick, prick AND prick. The girls seemed to like me, since I was a "bleeder". One of them said a perfect "subject". Oh Boy! I am bleeder, but better yet I am perfect! :D We finish the first test the now for the Lactic threshold test. I make it up past a few of the one minute stages and my heartrate got to 194 and was still climbing... But at this point I was having problems with breathing through the garden hose attached to my mouth and really needed air in my nose and ripped it off. I probably only had another minute or two before I was out for the count anyways my quads we on fire!
Vo2max: 42 Max Heart Rate: 190 (but hit 194 and was still climbing).
I have no idea what I do with this information but apparently I can use it for something. :)

The long bike this week was my longest ride to date 76miles! Yay ME! and whoever else did it too! My goal this ride was to stay in my "zones" and not get burnt out. I caught myself trying to go faster and catch who was in front of me but I restrained! Good girl! Oh so hard to do sometimes. Sorry, I like rabbits. The ride was tough my legs were tired, partly I think because I did the threshold and LT test the day before. And partly because I had never ridden this far before. It was 90+ degrees pretty warm considering the weather we have had lately. We didn't have much time to adjust! Over all the ride went well not as bad as I had expected.

Carcass count on the long bike ride was a lot of skunks way too many to count!
My helpful lost cause words of wisdom for the week: When having plastic headgear and garden hoses strapped to your head and face, with nose plugs breath with a rhythm.

I haven't been one to add up my miles over the course of more than a week at a time, but since I can't run for 6 weeks-ish I am going to tally up the miles per week on my bike that I have ridden until I can run again.

This last week: Was right at 200miles (I had to guess @ how many miles I did in the cycling study).

Lets see what happens this week when I ride everyday. I am sure that I probably wont like my seat by the end of the week and I am sure my legs will be tired of riding. But.... I have to compensate some how.
Monday- swim/bike spin
Tuesday- yoga/bike
Wed- Swim/bike
Thurs- UT cycling Study
Fri- Swim/Bike
Sat- Long Bike
Sun- Swim/Bike

This will be 10 days in a row of cycling... eeeek! May have to throw a day in there of rest.

Strange how when someone takes something (running) away then suddenly I miss it... even though it was so painful! Strange.

If you can't fly then....

2009-02-14T12:11:00.004-06:00

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." Martin Luther King, Jr.
And this is, exactly what I plan on doing! I found this pretty fitting for me this week, hell or anyday!

So I didn't sleep a wink last night because I am soooo excited for Valentines day... Kidding!!... Even though I've got a sweet, sweet, sweet boy... this holiday, to me it is silliness. But that's okay, M and I will have a great day none the less.
I woke up at 3am, 4am, 5,am, 6am, and 7am with my leg throbbing from my rump on down to my foot. Siatica. Can I just say I am tired of it bothering me all the time even when I am not training and I am lounging on the couch or sleeping in bed its a nagging, constant pain. So instead of the long bike I went to yoga this morning and will get my bike in tomorrow.

I went to see the Dr. this week to have some ART done so it would will help the nerves...
No.. In fact it hurts worse now then it did when I went in. Instead, I was told that I shouldn't be running at all or much less training for Ironman and I should call them and see if I can swap it out for a race next year... Uhhhh... nooo... noooo... noooo. I have made a comitment here. How about I swap you (doctor) out for someone that will fix me and tell me what I want to hear. :D I've had this pain on an off for the last 2 years, they fix it, it comes back after my long runs anything over 7mi), but then they fix it. Rinse and repeat. Yes, its a repetative circle but, I have been doing it this long why stop now? In my eyes and my coaches eyes I'm still doing Ironman... But if the 2nd opinion says no running then the "run" will be a walk and we change focus to just training swimming alot and really training hard on the bike. (my two favorites) The funny thing is I like to run when there is no pain and I could be half way decent at it.. but it hurts. Dang what ever it is that is causing it.

OK so pain aside... Training has been going well. I got my ass in the pool for a coached swim for the first time in well over 3 months but more like 6 months since I have been consistant with it. :/ It wasn't as bad as I thought swam about 3k meters then followed it with a 30mi bike brick. I will have to say I was tired after swimming.BUT over all I was pretty happy and had a productive good workout! The bike ride took me about 10mi to get my legs just to cooporate with my brain that we had another 20mi to go and to block that siatica out. and well it worked. The ipod helps that too! :D

So what did I learn this week? Keep truckin... instead of pounding the pavement get on the elliptical instead... :P

People are people...

2009-02-10T13:42:00.009-06:00

Over the last week everything from my hips down to the tops of my feet feel like... Lets see how do I put this... Like... Like my whole lower body was put in a meat grinder and then pulled out because OOPS it wasn't suppose to be there. But then Mr T. and The Hulk decided they wanted to grab my calves and glutes as hard as they could (fingers digging) and never let go, while stomping on the tops of my feet and kicking my shins... You get the picture.
If you know me then you know, I always have something to bitch about, weather it be the pain in my ass or legs or just how bad I sucked that week or how the person in the grocery store is standing in "my space". (wow! how I can go on about that... does that shopping cart really need to touch my ankles? and do I really need to feel the hair on the back of my neck move, because of your breathing? ugh!)

WAH WAH WAH! Debbie downer? or humorous... Lord! Hopefully, I am witty enough to make it funny, because the thought of bringing people down really brings me down... and again...... wah! wah! wah!

All in all nobody is perfect, no matter what they say! and we all are different and "deal" in different ways. Man, I love people! Makes life so intersting.

Oh and I go to the doctor tomorrow for my hips... So, I wont bitch so much! :P

New plan to attack

2009-02-06T15:43:00.004-06:00

Had a little pow-wow and we changed a few things around to my training. Adding a few more hours and some more running to my schedule since, my running is really suck-y lately. 5 days of running (short runs), 4 biking, 3 swimming and 1 yoga/pilates. Beginning, next week... I should be hurting I already am just thinking about it. So, I am sure there will be some great stories to come of it. As well as some great naps! :P

Stilettos....

2009-01-29T21:16:00.005-06:00

This week has been a total cluster. From job hunting to going to a job open house and going to a job fair standing in line for close to 3 hours in high heels, killing my calves. (my poor calves). I am not even going to talk about my training until after Sunday b/c I have some serious hours to make up between now and then!
Seriously, I forgot what it was like to wear heels everyday to work. I really LOVE high heels but, they are horrible on my calves and my torn ACL and meniscus! Wed. standing in line reminded me of this. I have been paying for it the last two days. Tomorrow long as crap run... shooting for 13 although the plan calls for 15 but I am ok with that.

But all and all... the red patent leather stilettos are quite hot and will be worn again b/c I love them.

Hush up ya big baby!

2009-01-26T10:45:00.005-06:00

Over all, this past week went pretty good (as far as pain). I got in all of my training hours (11.5) this time on the "B" plan which I should be able to do since, I have nothing else to do being jobless and all.

We decided to do the long ride on Friday instead of Sat., it was 60 miles from Cool River and half way down to the middle of who knows where... Liberty Hill... no... Georgetown... no... Austin? I don't know... and back to the car. It was 83 degrees out which was nice to get some vitamin d for a change! We had an awesome tailwind out 26+mph on the flats, 35mph Down hills weeeeeee (not as fun as Lost creek where I have hit 50+ but still fun!) and this bear of a head wind coming back 8.5mph in some areas. Damn the 11/23. I got dropped like a hot potato. And yes, I was upset about it. I have NO endurance right now really kind-of sucks. Never take 3+ months off of training! It really was the most stupid thing I have done in a long time (other than falling off the treadmill and a few other things I refuse to mention). All I can do is put in my time in the saddle and give it time. Time, time, time...So, I decide to take my only child, whiny ass and bitch about it after the ride.. Of course I will blame someone else first and then say sorry later. So here it is... Sorry, to everyone I bitched at.. Point blank I have to ride alone in the tri's. So... I am sucking it up, buttercup. Really, a great, fun group of girls to ride with good humor and good attitudes... I am still in wonderment on why we didn't go get cocktails?

Carcass count: 3 Cool visuals: Seeing the girls sprawled out and being at one with the cool river parking lot stretching.

Long run... Done... Longest run of my life to date...Painful...On the treadmill...Ice bathed....Tired legs today...BUT not sore! YAY... I think..

This weekend road race in San Marcos, TX. There is a 36mi race and a 48mi... This will be my first road race.. I don't draft very well, I am not fully comfortable when people draft off of me and I don't steer straight... There might be problems. :) The long bike for Ironman training this week is a 50miler. If, I do the 48 in the race it will count as my long bike but, 36 sounds more appealing.

This weeks goal: Don't stress that you don't know how to ride a bike and you are racing on Sunday... :D AND stay with the plan you have been staying with.

Ali's dumb-ass tip of the week: Don't stop till ya get enough.. Training that is.

:P

The TOE experience....

2009-01-21T13:38:00.007-06:00

So... this afternoon I was formally invited to accompany my bfff (best f***ing friend forever) Shawnda to the Doctor for a little moral support. Shawndie had an ingrown toenail that she needed the the Dr. to operate on (remove it!). By the way she her nails were painted blood red.
The Dr. freezes her toe... literally... the toe was frozen I saw the frost! Then injected something in it to make it as big as a cucumber. Now the funny thing about this is she isn't good with needles...I didn't know this going into it, but quickly figured it out as she sunk into the chair when the shot came out... Grabs her sweat shirt an covers her head. She was squirming, and whining telling the Dr. he lied like a cheap rumpled up rug on the floor when he said it won't hurt as bad. What a drama queen. Hee hee hee... The minute the needle went away she was up in the Dr. buisness looking at him operate. Funny stuff!
Big gimpy toed Shawnda is ALIVE! And if you know Shandie you know exactly what I mean!

Shawndie I have nothing but love for ya girl!... you and your clubbed toe. Let me know if you need anything. xoxo

structure...repetative-ness-ness...and some heavy-ness-ness

2009-01-19T11:20:00.006-06:00

This is the week that I plan on buckling down and actually pretending to be serious about this Ironman thingy magiggy... Last week was all over the place and so was the week before... This week a focus on structure.... patterns...and repetitiveness for the weeks to come. I have been lackadaisical and boy do I love it but, oddly enough I love knowing what I am doing next, 7 days in advance makes me happy. And in this kind of environment, I have to stick to a plan be it a half assed it's still a plan.
This weeks goal: I vow to stick with the plan..

I enjoy talking about my long bikes b/c you are out there for so long its always a nice time to reflect. Yesterday, I did my ride b/c I felt like crap on Sat. So, I swapped some things around. 50 miles from Lost Creek to Palmer and back. About mile 15 my seat decided it didn't want to hold my plump rump up anymore so it tilted down and I had to stop and adjust it. I adjusted it again at mile 30 and I pretty much was shifting my body around the whole ride back. oooouch... I had just gotten it re-fit and it was finally feeling good till I touched it. So, needless to say today I don't want to ride my bike today, b/c I jacked with the seat. Back to see Zane... again.

Carcass count: one Cool bike visuals: hawk

Ali's tip of the week: Mark where your seat is and don't move it!

Ahhhh Yes...Monday...

2009-01-12T11:58:00.006-06:00

Me wee little legs are a wee bit sore... But NO hip pain thus far... And that my friends is huge! Very huge. I remember running last season and after long runs like that, I would have to hobble to the car from my hip pain being so bad. I really think yoga and pilates is paying off in a big way.
So.. I run 7 1/2mi. on the treadmill on Sat. (that is longest run I have done since, Escape from Alcatraz in June that's 6 months ago... ha ha ha) and it felt good... WHAT? yep, it felt good! So strange since, running and I have a unhealthy relationship... But...I think we might just be able to work this out. Eureka. A light at the end of the tunnel. I am a runner... I love to run... I am a runner and I love to run. eeechem... Give me a break, I'm trying here. :P

During this great 7+mi run on the treadmill I decided to zone out on mile 5... really feeling in the groove... I shut my eyes, listening to my tunes... AND WHAP! Man down! Man Down! HA HA are you flipping joking? Yes, I fell on the treadmill. Thank the lord I was not at the gym and I was at my personal Ironman training center (Mikey's house). Mike walks in and by this time I am back up and running. I look at him and go "Whaaaat?" like nothing had happened...(and who wouldn't). And he walks out of the room I am sure thinking I am the MOST suave girl in the world.. or at least in that room. :)
Good grief... I am a tool sometimes!

Long ride Sunday... Ummmm ya... Trashed legs from my GREAT run on Sat.
Carcass count: zero... Cool Cycling Visuals: Road Runner.

But, it's done got in all my hours. Now on to week two...

As I learn new things through out my training I will be sure to pass these helpful tips along to you... Ironman training advice from Ali Week one:
First, Run long on Sunday after your long bike on Sat.... then the bike won't hurt as bad...
Second, Don't close your eyes not even for one second on a treadmill. AND, if you do b/c you are just THAT cool, Get up quick, gain your composure, and pretend nothing ever happened!

Plan of attack for week 2: yes... lots of maybes...
Monday: Spin
Tues: Spin, Yoga (maybe hill repeats depending on the body)
Wed: Core, Swim, Track (or 2 of the 3 depending on the body)
Thurs: Spin, Swim (maybe little jog or quick spin outside)
Fri: Track
Sat: long bike.. 50mi
Sun: Run.. 10mi

Week one...

2009-01-07T22:57:00.004-06:00

So....my first week of training was not EXACTLY what I was looking for... but hey! I haven't trained in months. So, things could have been worse. My thing was for me to do one thing everyday and don't miss the long weekend stuff (for the first two weeks) and I will be fine (even if I do it on my own its okay, as long as it gets done). I figure give myself two weeks till my body gets use to all of this again then add in whatever I plan to add in. Not having a job right now makes things pretty flexible for me. So, If I don't wake up at 5am to spin I can do it later. I have found out that this kind-of flexibility doesn't work for everyone and if I don't do it the way they think it should be done its wrong. And, why people are so concerned about what I do, how I do it and when I do it? I have no idea... Worry about yourself, that's all I am doing.
Well...Here's the deal, I have 6 months of this and I am not going to burn myself out in week one. So, easy does it it my motto this month and I am sorry if that bothers you... Not really.

Holy moly crapoly I am out of shape!

2009-01-06T20:33:00.002-06:00

Ya ya ya... I haven't been training the last three months... And NOW it time for training for Ironman for the next 6 months of my life. Excited... ya! finally I think I got excited.. it fluxuates but generally I think I am happy to be training again. I will trying to ease back into everything over the next two weeks since all I have done is ride my bike from time to time.

So, Sunday I decide its Yoga day... Ummm... When you are sore for two days after the class I think that is a sign that you might need to tone up a bit. Monday... a short 3 mile run. Spin on Tuesday morning... YES I got up... Holy crapoly and it felt good to get up and get my day started. And a short run on the treadmill (slow...sore from yoga, ha ha ha!). Wed. lets see... its a long day for me on Wed. wake up for core... Swim at lunch and track in the evening. UUUGH... Tooo much, too soon? I will let you know manana!

Amazing what the silliness of a fresh start aka. a New Year can do for anyone...

Happy trails.

New this... new that....

2009-01-06T19:49:00.000-06:00

I attempted to update my old blog to a new improved template.... Ya... that worked out great.. Not so much. So, I saved all my old blogs (so I thought) Well, they won't transfer so a new blog it is...

Welcome... This blog will be about a few things... first and foremost my days and training leading up to my first Ironman in June of 2009, my voyage from unemployment to employment and anything else that I find entertaining.