Ironman- The Journey- Part 6 - Phase III Complete: What makes you happy?Phase III was the Endurance Phase. Looking ahead, I think the next phase is really about endurance- or endurance on top of endurance and no recovery. BUT let's talk about this phase. Since I always start the updates off with weight gain, I'll continue with that. It still is on the incline but I'm paying close attention. Up until this past week (recovery) I was getting in the swing of really only eating things for the purpose of fuel. It's not about the enjoyment of food right now, it's about what will make me recover the fastest and keep my energy level up and not be extra junk that will lead to bad weight gain. This seems logical to do- but I love food so usually there's always added pleasure food :)
This phase was kind of the kick off of Triathlon season in Chicago. I might have been training since January, but the fun starts when you can get outside. I've also met alot more triathletes via the races.
I really am the happeist and just in my zone- with my people - when I'm racing or riding in groups with others. The past 4 weeks of training would be categorized as my favorite weekend training thus far. The main point of discussions in this write up: The Triple T, Bike The Drive, Udder Century and a trip to Madison.
I thought the triple T would be some sort of peak- but it seems like every weekend, the same endorphins are released and I'm around people who get it- so I just continue to ride on the high! Details of Triple T are in that novel of a write up posted just before this one. Some serious great take-aways for training that the Triple T brought to me was 1) Hill Preparation 2) Working the transitions 3) Working through race start anxiety 4) reducing the junk or better organizing the junk that goes into transition.
The weekend after the Triple T- Veronica and I decided we would have a relaxed weekend of training. A weekend where we didn't have to spend time to travel to bike, a weekend where we would avoid hills, and a weekend where we wouldn't go fast. Bike the Drive was on Sunday, which if you don't know what that is, on a Sunday from 5:30am until 9:30? am Chicago closes down Lakeshore drive and it becomes filled with bikes- Biking the drive. This is an event that
brings all sorts of people. Rarely do you have people like V and I, who use it for training, because it's not a place to be serious. You have your families and mountain bikes and just other normal people- but people who do 20 miles of it, and that's a great feat for them. The day was foggy to the point it was almost like a mist. Rain was on its way, and Veronica and I didn't start until about 7am. We had to get in 60 miles that day. With the wetness of the fog, and it being in the 50s, I pretty much froze. This probably wasn't the most enjoyable ride, and we only managed to get in about 50 miles. I decided I was done with the cold, and I went to finish off at the gym (which the 60 miles was followed by a 3 mile run). I thawed out and warmed up on the last 10 miles, and the run was great! I felt so accomplished as I also had a 15 mile run the day before (which wasn't so great). That feeling- of accomplishment- makes me content.The following weekend, I signed up for the Udder Century with Jeff and his f
riends. This had a 75 mile option (or really 78?). That fit my training for that week, so that's what we did. The Udder Century is in McHenry County. People can either ride 26, 50, 62?, 75 or 100 miles and it's just one loop. It was a relatively flat course and we averaged somewhere around 20 mph. I met another girl - Torrey- who did the Triple T. And got to see Melody and Steve at the rest stops. Triple T made me happy, and at this point I realized that even the training rides can make me really happy- these are my people- this is my thing! It got to be real hot by the time we were done with the ride so the run was a bit daunting. It, like many runs since the Triple T- was weak.The last weekend before recovery, Jeff and I made plans to go up to Madison. He actually ended up having another obligation in Chicago on Saturday, but he, being such a great friend, still joined for one loop- the first loop I've ever completed of the Wisconsin Ironman course. We started real early. Maria was going to be there with a group of friends a little later, so I hoped I could get with them on the second loop. It had rained over the night and it was cloudy and the ground was wet when we started. As we made our climb to mount horeb, it started to mist a bit. Jeff was letting me set the pace to enjoy the scenery and well- since I had a 2nd loop to complete, he didn't want to burn me out. We got to Mount Horeb and then he took the lead. He picked up the cadence (which is the way to get through the Madison Ironman), and we picked up the pace. The 2nd half of that loop has 3 hills that are known to be bad. They were not pleasant but luckily they didn't compare to the Triple T courses.
The whole ride was like a great tour, Jeff was pointing out different events that have occured during the Ironman races him and his friends have completed. This included the story of 2004 when a farmer herded his cattle across the street from one side of his land to another- midst the ironman! Jeff had to stop and wait for them to cross. This is something that doesn't suprise me with what I've heard about the Farmers around there. They do NOT like the bikers that come to train and race the ironman. It brings too much traffic, so I'm sure this guy purposely chose the middle of the ironman to move his cattle.
With 5 miles left, I knew we were cutting it close to my ability to hop onto Maria's group. We picked up the pace and flew. When we got back into Verona, we were on a bit of a decline, and we laughed as we were speeding in a 25 mph zone. We got to the cars just as Maria's group was unloading their bikes. So I said goodbye to Jeff and started loop 2 with Maria's group.
Now, if you know Maria- you know she's quite the athlete. Last year she was one of the last out of the swim at the Ironman, but then passed many on the bike and more on the run, and finished something like 23rd in her age division 11 1/2 hrs. This means- she's one hell of a biker (and runner). I was nervous to join her group, and kind of told her not to worry if she lost me. However, I managed (with additional work at some points) to stay with them! We definitely were going faster than Jeff and I started, but it was comfortable- I find that sometimes with higher cadence to make you go faster, it's easier. Every now and then I'd draft off Maria to keep up or give myself a break, but all in all, I did all my own work to keep up. Around the 20 mile point of the loop, Maria's friends all wanted to do an additional 5 miles of horribly hilly. I feared if i did it- that would be the point I would lose them. I only know my way around the loop- not the extra credit- so I decided to continue the path knowing, if i got a flat or something went wrong, they would be just behind me somewhere. I finished the 80 miles in 4:26 with the first loop at 2:19 and the 2nd at 2:07. This is super amazing and wonderful- i didn't expect to ever have my first time on Madison be like this. And just being - once again- with my people - just makes me so happy!
The 3 mile run that followed went well, and then the following day my 15 mile run was the first run where i felt like, since the Triple T- I got my running legs back. I think part of what helped that was the confidence booster and the regained excitement for what's to come at the finish line of training.
If there is one down side to training it would be this: I am a people pleaser. I do have a stubborn side which you can say I get that from my Grandfather- it's a Greek thing- but if you give me the choice, I am an accomodating person (stubborn side of me says if you don't give me a choice- then I'll most likely rebel!). I usually will go wherever and do whatever with my friends, but because of training, I'm having to be a bit selfish. This is difficult for me as I hate disappointing my friends when I can't make something work because i"m too exhausted or too hungry or because I don't want to change my training schedule because I feel I'm benefitng most with how i have my schedule set up. I appreciate those friends who have been understanding of my schedule, that I'm not able to just do what they want to do when they want to do it. I have to listen to the hunger pains and can't wait for dinner at X time, and I can't run with some of my friends I usually run/bike/swim with because I can't make my schedule work to that way.
Even with this downside of coming to terms that I have to accomodate to myself before others, when people ask me "How is training going?" My response is (with a big smile) 'I LOVE IT!"
And when people look at me with a confused look as to why I do this and why I WANT to do it? My response is "Because, it makes me happy!"
