Enjoying the Racing Moment

In 16 days I will be racing long. I’m excited and nervous. It’s been too long since I raced long. I have a lot to review and prep for. As someone who has been “winging” her last few races, not thinking about them until the night before, I know I have to get back to “racing long mode”. 

I feel like everything is going so well: I’ve been biking more than ever, I know my stroke is more efficient than ever, and the run, well, the run, I don’t know about the run. 

I am healthy, strong, confident. But so many things can go wrong and I'm preparing for that. 

I think I just need to do the mental training and make lists. I’m good at making lists.

One thing that I really enjoy doing is helping my friend Joanne through her first Ironman. I met Joanne a year ago at a race in Granby. She came up to me to ask about my Ironman Arizona hat because she was thinking of doing the race. We talked, exchanged emails, and are now friends on Facebook.

In the year since she signed up for IMAZ, she has emails me many questions and concerns about her race in November. My job is to talk her off the ledge. 

She is going to do amazing. 

She has raced multiple marathons and is biking more than I ever did for my first Ironman. I'm telling her to live in the training moment. 

That is the biggest lesson I have to keep learning over and over again – live in the training moment.

Why – because as soon as the race is over, she is not going to know what to do with herself. What’s next? She will ask herself. What do I do with all my free time? She will be depressed.

I told her, enjoy that 100 mile training ride. Enjoy that 10 mile run because you aren’t going to be going long like that for awhile, post-race. At least I didn’t.

I’m not sure Joanne knows how to chill out. She is a searcher – always searching for that next thing – never satisfied. I know all about it.

What’s next? Always the question.

I know for me, what’s next after my long course race on November 10 – El Tour de Tucson on November 17, then the Tucson Marathon a few weeks later. Then a break and then - ramping up for Ironman Wisconsin and getting faster. Getting more efficient. Learning everything I can. 

Now if I could just learn how to stop hitting submit. 

Top 10 Ways to Fall in Love With Running, again

1. Sign up for a race with friends that is longer than you think you can do
2. Buy a foam roller and roll before & after every run
3. Schedule a massage every time you run three times a week for a month
4. Read every blog and website you can find about running & trail running
5. Buy a bunch of magazines & books about running & trail running
6. Live in a place where you can run year round
7. Record your time for every race so you can chart your progress using Excel Charts
8. Post every training run and race on Facebook & Twitter
9. Use Map My Run on your smart phone so you can see mileage/pace, etc
10. Make an "after run plan", especially after a long run, or dream about it while you run, for a way to relax & what you will eat/drink after your done. I like to lay on the sofa and watch TV Shows on DVD as a recovery activity and eat sushi or steak.

The Way It Is - William Stafford

I've quoted this before, but thought of it again:

The Way It Is

 

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change.  But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

 

William Stafford

Ski Valley Mt. Lemmon, Biking, and Trail Running

I  can't seem to get away from ski towns. Ski Valley is the southern most ski area in the US.
I biked to Mt Lemmon this past weekend, it was hard, hard, hard. 
I love when every bike and run is hard. It means I'm pushing the limits. 
This weekend Team Soul is riding 70 miles in preparation for El Tour de Tucson.
Then a 10 mile trail run in Coronado National Forest on Sunday with the Tucson Trail Runners.

Arizona surprises me, every day

I laugh to myself when I see a jack rabbit run so quickly across the street when I’m walking my dog, Daisy. She wants so badly to chase it.

When I hear a bird in the distance, look up, and it’s sticking its head out of the top of a Saguaro.

I love to see the flowering plants and trees. The desert is blooming; it’s not just flat dirt. There are trails to run, and roads to discover. I want to know them all.

On Saturday I biked to the top of Mt. Lemmon, the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The peak is 9,157 feet. The road to the top is called the Catalina Highway. I didn't really notice the curves in the road on the climb up (8,000 feet of climbing, by the way). On the ride down, biking at about 35 mph, I noticed the curves and it was fun to go fast. Apparently the road has been used by professional cyclists for training. Runner compete in an annual marathon climb, I can’t imagine running up this road.  

I was glad to see pine trees and a lush forest about half way up, and cool temperatures. At the almost top is a ski area. There were a few Aspen trees scattered around the ski area.

At the very top is the Mount Lemmon Observatory. It is only open for special events, closed when I was there.

I'm also trying to do all 101 Things to Do In Tucson according to the Tucson CVB.
Mt Lemmon, and Beat the Heat is Number 11

Just another way that Arizona surprises me every day. As I drive home from the ride, and see the mountains surrounding the city, they serve as a reminder that I have more places to explore and know. 

Trail Running Shoes versus Road Shoes

I’ve been running on the Minimus 10 Trail shoe from New Balance.

I wore them on the Catalina 10 mile trail run despite other runner friends warning not to wear them on rough trail runs or for long distance.

Catalina State Park is # 17 on the list of 101 Things to Do in Tucson. My plan is to do all 101 in 365 days.

 I also own Merrell minimal shoes, Barefoot Run Pace Glove. I have worn them once on a trail run and the next day I felt like I was hit by a bus. I might try to mix them in on some runs. After reading some reviews on the Merrell website, I might try starting out on walks wearing them and getting a bit more used to them.

I love training in Tucson. There are so many places to run and bike - trail and road.

Chrissie Wellington and Motivation

According to Chrissie Wellington, the 3 most precious faculties

1.       Remain positive

2.       Stay focused

3.       Stay disciplined

I just finished reading her book, A Life Without Limits. I thought of these three faculties while swimming today. 

The first five minutes in the pool I felt tired and not motivated. I felt blah. 

I wanted to stop and go home. Then, I remembered what Chrissie said. Remain Positive.  

When your mind keeps saying over and over - I'm tired. I should stop, then the body will stop. 

When I turned off the negative self talk, and started thinking about other things, my pace picked up and I felt better. I couldn't freestyle the swim plan, which was 500 wu. 3X400, 4X50 fast. I just mixed up the swimming, kicking, paddle, pull buoy and enjoyed the water and sun. 

As I kicked on my back, I looked up to the blue, blue sky without a cloud in sight and watched a bird soar above me. I finished my one hour in the pool, but just not with the original workout. 

I am thankful to live in paradise. The last 15 years I thought every place I lived was paradise, and it's no different here in Tucson, where a warm breeze drifts through my windows reminding me, there will be no frost tonight. Ha - triathlon training year-round, babe!