WHERE DID THE TIME GO????

Time has been going by WAY too fast....I cannot believe ironman is in 3 months. I have had 2 races since my last post....sorry I didn't not write up individual race reports but Jen Harrison has kept me busy...;)

Palos half marathon;
I love this race, its less than 10 minutes from my house so no super early wake up....YAY! The morning went well I went with my sister in law & was abruptly stopped by the SWAT team in full gear with AK 47's to not cross the yellow tape. Holy crap! There were even snipers on the roof....what a shame it has come to that!
Anyway, I did my warmup as instructed & felt pretty good. Hit the potty 1 more time then Rachel left me because it was about to start but I knew if I didn't go now it would come & get me later...haha! I was told not to go out too fast, which I do sometimes, nothing sub 9:30's for the first 2 miles...then after 10k pick it up. The plan was working, I felt good. I even ran into my other friend Shannon, who was there despite having the flu all week....she's a rockstar! We ran together for a bit then 6 miles in was my time to pick it up...so I did. I was still feeling great, that is till about 8.5 miles in....uh-oh....I had that poopy feeling. So I walked & looked for a potty....nothing! I walked till I felt better & began to run again but it was a little slower, not what I was supposed to be doing. Keep the feet moving & I will be ok....mile 10 comes & it hits me again, oh God! So I stop & walk a bit more. By now doing better than last year is probably not going to happen. I come down the small downhill at southwest hwy & can see the finishline....I look for my family & finally see them.. I grab my little girls hand & we cross the finishline together. They put the medal around her neck & she told me she WON! I LOVE IT.....

JFMTT RACE REPORT & MORE.....

John Frasier Memorial Time Trial....

It all started Saturday, I did my pre race workout...a short ride followed by a short transition run. I went to get some new bike cleaner to pretty up baby blue (my bike) & then some food.
When I got home I put the little one to bed & began polishing my bike & making sure I had everything ready for the TT. This was my 3rd time doing this race so I knew where I was going & how long it would take to get there (1hr 20 mins). The forecast said 40 degrees & rain, truth be told I am scared of riding in rain & falling. Coach told me I can go straight the same so....there you have it. Basically get over it....lol!

While cleaning baby blue all up I noticed I had a flat back tire & put some air in & waited...a little while later it was flat again. I begin to inspect the tire & I am ready with a new tube but I find a small hole in the rubber of the tire.....EFFFFF!!! I change the tube & hope it works, after all I only have to go about 10 miles for the TT tomorrow.

Wake up in the morning at 6:15 am, check the tire & its FLAT....panic sets in & I don't know what to do. I pump up my tire & then Todd (my husband) tells me to stay home. Is he CRAZY?! I CAN'T stay home....so I leave all frantic & sit at the end of the block for what seemed like 10 minutes only to turn around & come back home to try & somehow fix my tire....I felt it & I was convinced it was loosing air much more quickly that it actually was. When I got back home Todd assured me it was not loosing air & to just go & get em....so I pulled it together & I was on my way!

I get to Maple Park in plenty of time to get my bib & do my warmup....but it is 40, windy, slightly rainy & feels like its 30 on the bike....hard to warmup. Against that wind easy felt hard & hard felt impossible. They were running about 8 minutes late on start times so I had some time to go back & make sure my tires were filled & pray they lasted the 10 miles. This is a VERY competitive race with lots of disc wheelers &  aero helmets & then there's me....

The wind was crazy....going 13 miles an hour one way then 30 the other. Gotta love a tail wind! After my warmup I was NOT warm my face was freezing & my nose was running & I had to spit a few times only to have it come back at me....gross! I went as hard as my legs could against that wind & pushed hard on the tail wind...the tire held up. Thank you GOD!

Coach Jen had a 30 min transition run following the TT so I hit the pavement right away. My feet were numb from the cold air & I couldn't feel my legs from the effort. I felt like I was running so slow but GPS said 8:40....Woah, had to slow it down. Funny thing is, is that it felt better to run faster on my legs than slower but I slowed it down & found my legs & finished up just in time to see my coach & her hubby finish.

My time was the slowest of all 3 times racing but it was also the most windy....its all relative. I felt like I gave it all I had out there & that's what counts. When I got back home wouldn't you know my tire was flat....I was much calmer than when I left & happy to spend the rest of the day with my family.

More to come.....

Goodnight

What's going on....

What's going on you ask.....well, lots!
It has been a while since I have posted but that doesn't mean there was nothing to post about, in fact I have been so busy with training & life that I haven't had time for much else.

I want to put a solid effort into my training for this ironman & as many know I am a fitness instructor so working out is my job. Training for this ironman is my workout. Confused? I know...let's just say teaching multiple spin, bootcamp, & yoga classes is not going to get me to the finish line of IMKY. That being said I had a VERY hard decision to make...I decided to cut back on my classes so I could have more time & energy for training. Not only is it my livelyhood but I genuinely love all of my "clients" but I am taking the time to focus on a dream & I will be back to all of my classes after I cross that finish line.

As of April 1st I have had more time for training & then some personal things were going on....not going to get into all of that but for now the stress & worry is over, THANK GOD! So back to training, I have had some good training days & some not so good training days. My swim is coming along nicely, not much to talk about there except the idiot that wanted to race me in the pool today...seriously?! I told him I had a workout to do & he kept trying to get me to race him, I just laughed & said "you know I will beat you, right?" Then kept on swimming. Haha! Some people kill me... Biking has been going pretty well too, I love the CT sessions I have been going to & hope to do another FTP test soon. Looking for an improvement of course. And finally the run....ah, the run...well, its still slow but there was one run this week that felt amazing. Coach Jen is implementing some speed work & I mentioned how I was getting a little nervous for my half marathon coming in May so now I'm running more...be careful what you tell your coach...lol! I secretly love it Jen :)

I also got a great massage from my fellow team mate & recent massage therapy student BC...it has been quite some time since I have had a massage & I didn't know how much I actually need one until these muscles were manipulated. I will be your guinea pig anytime BC, happy to help..;-) Thanks so much, it felt wonderful! Just in time too, I have the John Frasier Memorial Time Trial on Sunday....

Till the race report here are some fun pics of what's been going on....

RUN TEST.....

I went to see P!NK this past Saturday, she is one of my favorite artists & she was AMAZING! She has one of the most physically demanding shows I have ever seen. She flys high over the crowd, does her silk act & more, all while singing. She also has abs for days...rediculous!  Monday after my spin class I did not feel well at all so I headed home took some meds and basically slept for 2 days....maybe I had too much fun seeing P!NK....:p

Today was another test....this time it was the dreaded run test. I knew this one was going to hurt! I was prepared to suffer for an ALL OUT for 20 minute effort, but I went out too fast and was dead by the end of it....

I had my music on loud so I couldn't hear my rapid breaths or any noises I was sure to make. Thank god there were not many people on the path to hear me or see the ugly faces my husband tells me I make when running hard...haha! It really was a beautiful day for a run, I beat the rain!

Later was a quick swim & my legs were definitely still feeling the run...they are still feeling that damn run! My foot on the other hand feels great! This taping thing really works. Getting in some good stretches & foam rolling then off to bed so I can hit it tomorrow....

Sweet dreams
Courtney

"TRY" ing....

1 week ago was my longest run since being on this journey with Jen Harrison.....she gave me a 1 hr run. My runs are still slow & I am working on form & continuing to heal my foot & hopefully be completely pain free....soon! But I got in 6+ miles in that hour and it felt great! PT is done & I discovered taping my foot has helped a lot.

This past week was a bit scaled down from previous weeks since I had a FTP test on Wednesday & an indoor tri today. My FTP test was disappointing to say the least, I would kie to come up with a million excuses on why I didn't do as well as expected (sore, tired,....blah, blah,blah) but it is a number I can & will improve on. On Friday it was really nice to have a full day of rest, although I did feel a little lazy & I was kind of bored. Saturday rolled around & I had my pre-race workout & it was the 1st time I ran FAST....well, fast for me, but only for 30 seconds. It felt good, but what will tomorrow bring when I have to swim,bike, & run consecutively for 15 mins each....

Sunday morning I leave at 8am, my wave goes off at 9am...I'm only 10 mins away....sweet! I get to Evergreen Pk HS & begin to feel a little nervous, after all this is my 1st race of any kind since September. I was supposed to warm up for 20 mins on the bike or run....but the bikes & treadmills were all being used for the racers so 20 mins was NOT going to happen. I did get to sneak in for about a 4 min spin on the stationary bike & didn't feel warm at all.....so I decided to just go to the pool thinking I could warmup there. Not a chance! On with the race....I am not sure of the results yet but the swim & run felt good, but the bike hurt a little. Maybe its time for a massage! Once results come in I will post again!

Nighty nite....

Catching up....

Time is going by so quickly, I can't believe it has been over a week since I have posted anything. I have been busy training & with life. Over the past 11 days I have swam 7,700 meters, biked 7 hours including a bike test, and ran 180 minutes.

So back to this bike test...similar to the swim test after a 20 minute warm up then a 20 minute all out effort, and a 20 minute cool down. This was TOUGH! I would have liked to have been faster, but its a start.

I have been trying to find more patience with myself and training. I know I'm am only at the begining of this adventure and I have a lot of faith in myself and my coach....Jen! I have always been an "I want it now" person, but I am slowing down and trusting the training and trusting that my body will respond to it. Right now I am not swimming 1 minute 100's, or biking 24 miles an hour, nor am I running 6 minute miles, but I am swimming, biking, and running...:)

I am thankful for the small victories in life and training. Yesterday I was free of pain in my heel for the 1st time in a long time....today I feel it, but again...its a start!

I have had some fun times outside of the triathlete's world as well...a indoor picnic with my beautiful 3 yr old, a valentine's date with my hubby, my son's 1st track meet, and Eva's 1st ice skating experience. Excited about this week of training....

Here are some picks of my past week...

Computrainer....

Not much to talk about as of late but yesterday I got back to computrainer classes & what a difference a year makes. The workout on the screen said 6x6 Easy, but it was NOT easy.

I was going off of last years FTP number & had to dial it down a bit to finish my 6x6 minutes....humbling! I realize I have A LOT of work to do and I am going to put in the work...everyday, and everyday I will get better. I will get stronger. I will get closer to my dream of becoming an Ironman...IRONWOMAN!

Till next time,
Courtney