What success looks like...

70 k bike / 21 k run

no posting ='s work outs being done

sweet.

It's Sunday. Weekend workouts are done!

65 kms on the bike and a 16 km run. Had 2 dropped chains during the ride, which I now know I can fix and a hard time with my gears. First thing that happened when I was picked up at the arranged meeting spot was take Mardi for a tune up. She just isn't riding right...

I'm pleased with the ride yesterday. It was a windy, windy day and that added to the experience. Today's run was a just gett'er done workout. Legs were moving but not with any finesse. The hills that surround us often make me want to stomp my feet. I know they are great built in training tools but g'eesh.

Anyhow. I'm on the deck now. Sun is shining, I've earned my beer and I'm making a to do list. Exciting things like laundry, empty dishwasher and obtain insurance quotes are on there. Woo hoo.

I really, really need to get going on organizing somewhere to stay during Ironman. I just can't get over the mark up on the house rentals.

Off to apply sun screen and stop the dogs from woofing at a passing puppy.

Back at it. Nice break both mentally and physically BUT really have run out of time...

Less than 80 days until 'The Day'.

Found a new running partner to run with during the week before work. Truthfully I had been avoiding her casual invites to run with her. Her background is marathons and has two Boston runs under her belt and that scares the bejeebers outta me. You have to be fast to run Boston and umm, yah? my speed? More of a jog than a run. Turns out to that I held my own. In the rain. Sweet! Every Wednesday, 6.45 AM! 8-12ks.

Last night I went to a make up Yoga class. Thursday nights are a level 3 class that pushes me. Totally what I needed. A fantastic stretch after my morning run and first real long stretch since the Bay.

As much as I was warned (and obviously didn't listen) this game is heavily stacked towards being Mentally prepared.

I will succeed...

Long weekend review via photos.

And yes, there is not a photo of a bike, bathing suit OR a pair of laced up running shoes. Which yes, means none of the three activities happened.

Instead, home repair, garden clean up, visiting family, hosting friends and enjoying the gorgeous weather took precedence.

So yep, it was a great weekend!

Friday morning. The sun is shining and it is WARM. It is supposed to go up to 25 today. I have to admit I was leery because the past 2 days had reached temps of 18 to 22 degrees but it still felt mighty cool. But today, the breeze is warm, sun is beaming....

I moved the indoor plants outside for their first taste of sun in months. I believe I can hear them singing and giggling. I'll need to remember to bring them in tonight...otherwise I'll hear them crying!

I was gonna post a picture of me squinting in a sunbeam. BUT I won't. Bedhead reigns. Instead here is another bedhead and the kat...

It is a 4 day weekend (my 1st ever 4 day Easter weekend, evah!) and I'm excited. We had planned on going to 'the cottage' the entire 4 days but my parents invited us over for dinner. More so because 2 birthdays happened this week...I'm trying to decide if we will cab it home or if I'll be the DD.

I missed my workouts yesterday** because it was Stj's birthday. I enjoyed myself, it was really nice even though we stayed home. Hope the birthday boy had fun too. (**not that I ever really need much of a reason to miss a workout). So I need to get a 70 k bike ride in and a 10 k run this weekend. Since I'm already dreaming of beer...the bike ride probably won't happen today. Possibly a brick tomorrow so that I can enjoy another guilt free day off working in the garden?!

I'm off to ponder, enjoy the sun and listen to plants singing while they bask in the warmth!

ps an essie coffee was just delivered to me. aaaaaah loverly!

Who? Who in their right mind designed toilets so close to the ground? Obviously someone who has never had to deal with lactic acid build up, that's who.

Holy crow. Owwie, owwie, owwie!

Once I get going, I'm fine but the initial 5 to 10 steps...? Yeah. Hell on earth.

Silver lining in all this. Not nearly as sore as the 1st Around the Bay AND a way quicker time. Felt much stronger for longer and the hills were a breeze...no issues until the last 4k....then the tweaks and twinges came out to play.

34 minute improvement over the first year? Yah. I'll take that.

Alright...for the whole 3 people who read this blog and who are used to a negative, holy shit what have I done tone of this blog...get ready 'cause;

THIS WEEK HAS BEEN BLISSFUL. SUPER. RELAXING. Actually ENJOYABLE

This translates to TAPER WEEK.

Around the Bay is tomorrow. A 30k run with a punishing last 10k.

No matter. It got me a light week of workouts that made me laugh. 4 k run with 3 intervals, 3 k run with 3 intervals, a 20 minute run today ~ no distance required. Just 20 minutes.

This week made me realize that I cannot wait for the weight hanging over my head to be gone. I knew that it was affecting me but I had no idea to what extent. I was actually pleasant to be around this week.

Pleasant. Laughed. Found humour in life.

Yeah. I've missed her. Can only imagine how Stjohn feels.

Alrighty. Two weeks since I returned from the 'trip from hell' or 'the character building' trip' or 'what the fuck was I thinking' trip. Actually I could come up with a kajillion more descriptors but I'll leave it at that.....

Training has been more than 50% but less than 90%. I'm happy with them overall because they have been quality work outs.

A 3000 yard swim

A 3 hour spin class (on a malfunctioning bike ~ which I'm trying not to read into)

A 18.5 km run....

Life is busy throwing curveballs but wow...thank god for a supportive husband. I love him to pieces.

I'm home.

Lots to digest.

I'm tired. Off to bed.

Sorry. A lot of whining this week. You need some photos.

Each day is getting a little better. It is too bad the week started the way it did. Everyone keeps telling me that Sunday's bike ride is like nothing they've even seen before. The biking conditions were deplorable and if I survived that, I can survive anything. Maybe. But every shred of biking confidence I had was destroyed during that ride. It doesn't help that since then...I've been the last biker on every single ride. The people have been great. In fact, in some cases phenomenal. Many people will drop back and ride with me, but it seems in my case, misery does not love company. I just need to plough through

I got a lot of work ahead of me if I plan on actually completing this journey.

Suntan lines have been acquired along with a sunburn on the face...not sure what to do. It's 55 and 30 SPF being applied ALL the time.

Today's agenda is a choice of bike or hike. With a 1.5 swim in the afternoon. Even though I need to work on the bike, I'm going to choose the hike today. Had enough of the fucking bike and being last. It is my vacation and I have Mt Lemmon to dread tomorrow.

Fuck. Whose idea was this.....?

The sun came out to play yesterday. Unfortunately the ride in the snow and rain on a highway the day before eroded any confidence I had in my biking.

Yesterday saw an hour long yoga class. 1.5 hours in the pool. 2 hour break and then a 2.5 hour bike ride.

What the fuck am I doing here? If someone offered me a ticket home today, I would go. Some hard decisions are needed...

I had typed up a post of my first full day in Arizona but screw it...here's my update:

I AM HAVING AN ABSOLUTE SHITTY TIME!

SHITTY.

The absolute icing on this experience so far was that it fucking snowed on our bike ride this morning. I just can't find a silver lining in that experience. Nothing.

After a 4 am wake up call, arriving at the airport at 7.15am, clearing the checked bagged line, the immigration line and then finally the security line up, all while having to pee and yes I was one of the individuals who had to go through the new whole xray body scan, the flight is posted as En Retarde. Due to an equipment malfunction, the plane was grounded, due to the size of the flight and the weather the flight was re-scheduled to 3pm. 5.5 hours LATE. You kidding? I'm not going to dwell on the fact that by the time I had to be frisked because I failed the body scan that I thought I was going to pee myself. It hurt so bad. There was a lot of positives. Access to the business class lounge with free wifi, alcohol and food for a minimal fee helped ease the wait. Unfortunately, we left the lounge too early. The flight didn't end up boarding until...well you know what, I had stopped taking note by this point. We arrived in Phoenix at 9.35 pm. 15.5 hours after the morning wake up call. And all I got to show for it was a 'comp' beer on the plane...but I'm not even going to go there. We still had to find the rental, start the two hour drive to Tucson and grocery shop.

AC didn't win many points yesterday, I think the last straw was luggage showing up SOAKING! I'm pretty sure they left the cases on the tarmac during the first snowstorm of the year. And yes, my case was one of the wet ones. Fortunately, the liner did not let too much wet through but the case weighed about 20lbs more than when I left.

I'm here. Safe. Sound. And with a fridge full of hodge podge groceries.

I have so much more to say about the personalities of yesterday, the disappointment of driving to Tucson in the dark but I hear my room mate is up and I need to get ready for today's first session. A 3 hour bike session, lite ride with technical skills thrown in.

I'll try to post later and try to get photos....

So. Day 1. A snowstorm. A late plane. An unexpected entry into the Maple Leaf Lounge (FREE BEER).

We are off to a good start.....

Here it is. Sunday evening. I survived yet another training weekend.

I am content.

It is 6.15 pm as I type this post. On the deck with the creek gurgling below. There is still light in the sky & the moon is out above.

Today felt so much like spring and was the kind of day that makes you appreciate what you have.

I have come far in this journey. I know there is still miles to go but when you stop and take stock, I'm heading in the right direction.

Okay. Today is just getting crazy:

• My cell phone can send it's photos to my laptop.
• Then my laptop software uploads to facebook directly in a matter of seconds.
• My Garmin uploads directly to blogger

AND

• Photo Booth takes videos which also exports & then uploads to blogger

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for run from hell with hills from hell in it...

Plus...

Lazy Dazy Day on tap...

Books, fire and wine.

Sweet!

What I learned on today's run:

• Hills suck
• Head wind sucks
• Running on snow covered roads suck
• Being hungry while running sucks
• Running on tired legs suck
• Caca is actually spelled Kaka...
• Finishing 15k while encountering all of the above ~ Rocks!

Knowing that a yummy breakfast and coffee supreme was waiting helped get through the last 4k!

Thanks Melissa! And Kate, I hope you are feeling better?!