As I sit here on my couch, with my legs propped up, I have a moment to reflect on how perfect this weekends activities could not have been more perfect of a celebration.
I suppose the celebration started on Thursday evening, with swimming 2 miles for the first time. I had went into the swim planning on swimming at least 2000m, because that's what I had swam on Tuesday, and it felt really good. I get into the swim, and it just felt amazing. So I decide to go for my longest swim ever. Previously, my longest swim had been 2400m, so I was going to go for 2500. I know...what a way to blow out a record swim distance. But I get to 2350, and I'm feeling really good. And I start having a thought about hitting 2 miles. And I'm not sure if I can do it or not. But I was feeling really good, so I went for it. I cramped a little...but I finished, and it felt great.
Then it was on to dinner with friends, and proceeded to have a fantastic time.
I took Friday off work because I really wanted to clean my apartment, and do laundry, and sleep in and drink coffee and read. Well...I slept in, I drank coffee, and I did laundry, and watched TV. And I slept some more. So I didn't get nearly as much accomplished as I had hoped, but I think the rest was much needed. And then the evening was finished with dinner with some amazing friends, who were so gracious to work my training schedule into celebrating. I got to bed relatively early, all in preparation for the next days training activities.
So I wake up early on Saturday morning. Sleepily pack my gear, and get it loaded into my rental car. I started driving off to Easton. Though barely awake, I didn't get lost...which is excellent. I get ready to start riding, and am actually looking forward to riding 110 miles. I know, I'm crazy. The first 50 miles are great, fantastic, amazing. I, somehow, now love riding my bike. It was wrought with wind, and lots of time spent in aero...but it was truly a lot of fun. To say the least of a brief stop at mile 40 that was most memorable for both Misha and I. But I felt better, and continued my ride :) I stop back in the parking lot at mile 50, and refuel, and head back out for 60 more miles. Almost immediately, we were hit with a hellacious, demoralizing headwind that pretty much made all of the enjoyment I was experiencing go away. And I was pissed (there is no other better description for how I felt). More that the wind ruined the lovely bike ride I was having. I get to the turn around, finally, after several moments of having to talk myself into moving forward. So I take a moment to not be moving forward, but not too long. I start back up with Tracy, and we're moving along just fine. But after a couple of more miles, I started hurting. A lot. And I forgot my Tylenol at home. Did I mention I was half asleep as I was packing my gear? So I keep moving forward, but I've slowed waaaaaaaaaaaaay down. And fortunately Matt came up behind me at mile 85. Asked how I was doing, and suggested I get off and stretch, so I do. And eat an energy bar. And get back on my bike and keep moving forward. I request a brief stop at the Shell station...and again, we keep moving forward. I'm so glad Matt stuck with me. I might have been able to finish the entire thing without him, but he definitely made it a LOT easier. So I get back to the parking lot. And immediately ask for pain killers, and AJ hands me a bottle of Tylenol. Again, not wanting to wait too long, I head back out for those last 10 miles. And after having to wind around a side neighborhood, and the Target parking lot...my bike computer FINALLY read 110.04 miles. It's about damn time. But I finished with a HUGE smile on my face, and sheer amazement at what I had just accomplished.
And the adrenaline kicks in. And we're all bouncing off the walls. So we head over to Chick-Fil-A for some post ride grub...and we didn't completely pig out (this phenomenon will be discussed a bit later). But we did have a good time enjoying our adrenaline high. Though I'm quite surprised that some of the families surrounding us didn't request that we leave, or turn down the volume.
I totally crashed from my adrenaline high on the way home, and looking back, I'm surprised I made it. I take a quick ice bath. Choke down a bit of dinner, watch 20 minutes of TV, just so I can attempt to feel like a normal human being, and crash.
So this morning, I was scheduled for another early wake up call, where I could once again, drive over an hour to run 2 hours and 45 minutes. So off to Gunston I go. I've been using my phone for navigation lately, and it hasn't failed me yet. But never underestimate Johanna's ability to get lost. So, GPS tells me to get off at exit 166-A. I, for some reason get off at exit 166-B. And I realize immediately that this is definitely not right. So I try to get off on the first exit ramp. And wind up in some secure government facility. Fortunately, the very nice security guard didn't drag me out of my car and arrest me. He pulled over, flashed his lights, and asked where I was trying to go. I tell him my error, he politely tells me where I was (without telling me WHICH secure government facility I was at) and how to get back to where I needed to be. He follows me out, and I hope that this isn't an indicator of how the day is going to go.
I finally make it to Gunston (without any further detours) and get ready to run. There aren't as many people as I was expecting, and no one that runs my pace. So I start running, and it's not feeling so good. I take a couple of brief walk breaks, and walking feels ok...but I'm definitely not feeling so good while running. I'm getting woozy, and just want to curl up and sleep. Oh, and at this point, it starts raining, and I'm so cold I'm shivering. So I run...walk...walk...walk...run a bit more...and then start walking. I tried my hardest to keep running...but I started taking a self inventory of what's going on. Am I feeling sorry for myself? Not really...I wish I had someone to run with, but I'm not sure that would fix the situation...but it's possible it could have distracted me for a little while longer. So then I recall a "run" I had a couple of years ago...my 20 mile run for my first marathon. I'd had a rough bout of insomnia the night before, and I got the mileage in, but there was a lot of walking. And I realize that's exactly how I felt this morning. Except this time, I actually slept between 7-8 hours. So, I'm going with my body is just exhausted right now. But I kept moving forward. Jordan finally caught up to me, and told me he had an extra jacket in his car, and to head back to meet him there so I could wear that. I also choke down an energy bar. And catch up to Tracy in her pace setting walk. We make another loop...and get to see everyone else running. The warmth, the food in my stomach, and the company definitely helped. But I'm certain I'm stubborn enough I would have gotten the miles in even if I hadn't had all of those things. So the day ended with a total of 12 miles between walking and running. Yes, my legs currently hate me :)
One of the things that I've been thinking about lately is what IMAZ is going to be like. Well...not so much the actual day, per se. But what the possibilities of that day are. It is bound to be the most grueling day of my life. And also, hopefully one of the best. But there are a lot of possibilities of what can happen. Within the past week, I'm finally starting to feel like this whole thing *might* actually be possible. I know (from past experience) that I can come back from a horrible asthma attack, and continue moving forward. And also, because of that day, I know just about the worst thing that can happen in a race...but more importantly, I know that I can move past it. I know that I can ride 110 miles. And that if worst comes to worst, I can continue walking the marathon. My inner Ironman is starting to feel happy.
Ok, so now time to talk about this weird phenomenon that's been happening lately. I love food. I really, really love food. We all know this, right? Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that I just don't want to eat much of anything. Ever. I do eat, because I know I need the fuel. But I really don't want to. I thought it might be stress induced, but now I'm not so sure. Coffee hasn't tasted that great to me, and both yesterday and today, I didn't even finish the coffee that I made. I ate french fries yesterday at Chick-Fil-A, and they tasted great. But I had to choke down a piece of chicken last night. Literally, it grossed me out. Breakfast this morning was the same way. I forced myself to eat eggs...which I normally love. The energy bar I ate in the middle of my walk this morning...I literally almost spat it out. Again, post run, I eat one serving of french fries...and they taste great. So I eat some more. But when Ed got done grilling the meat...I was on board...thinking that the tide had turned. I could not have been more wrong. I eat a bit of chorizo. And then look down at the chicken left on my plate. I take one bite. And I'm done. I couldn't even look at it. This afternoon, I even told my mom that the mere thought of eating a cookie or a cupcake disgusted me. She got worried. I love cookies and cupcakes. And even now, I know that my stomach is hungry, and that I need to eat, because I haven't done so since around noon today. But I'm grossed out at the thought. Seriously...WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I mean, don't get me wrong, my inner anorexic is ecstatic. But this is not so good for the inner Ironman.
My honest guess is that I'm training a ridiculous amount, and my body is thrown off whack. I just hope I get some of my appetite back...eventually. Because...you know...I love food.
So...that's pretty much it. Just a low key, relaxing weekend for the birthday girl. Here's to a great year ahead of me!
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