Week 7: Days 42-46

Day 42: So far I have got to say Mondays are on of my favorite days!!!!! It may be because it is one of the easiest days. =) Today was a good day just relaxing and getting a few things done around the house. Monday nights I am starting to go to a Masters Swim class which I really enjoy. It is geared for triathletes and it is just nice swim with a bunch of people that are in training as well. Also since there are a bunch of us we also share lanes and circle swim so it pushes you to swim fast as well because you have some one swimming behind you and you don't wanna slow them down. I swam 3,400 yds, and I am hoping to step up the yards here soon.

Day 43: Today was an interval training day on the bike. With a few storms that hit throughout the night I decided to put the bike on the trainer and do my intervals inside. Puddles and wet pavement is never my idea of fun and even though I would rather be outside doing intervals, the trainer is the next best thing. I spent about 45 minutes doing intervals and it was horrible. Our A/C has been broken and we are in the process of getting quotes of a new one, so I was on my trainer in a house with no A/C. Not really sure what I was thinking but I know I will never do that again. I think I would ride out in the rain before I but my bike on a trainer again in a house with no A/C. The most important thing though is that I got it done.  =)


Day 44: Every Wednesday I will be going up to Cartersville for a short 27 mile bike ride followed by an open water swim in Lake Allatoona. It wasn't suppose to rain till later on that night but as I pulled into the Budweiser Plant it started down pouring. So we decided to not do the ride and decided to go grab breakfast and wait for the rain to pass then head over to the lake. It ended up turning into a very nice day and we headed over to the lake for the open water swim. The water 68 degrees for my first swim! It was actually very comfortable for having a wet suit on and I was glad it was that temperature. the temperature should be around there as well for Ironman Wisconsin! It wasn't a very long swim, but it was nice to get the wet suit on and get in the water. If I had to guess I did about 1400 yds. Wednesdays are one of my favorite days, with the bike ride and open water swim, and after  someone usually brings a spread of food and we all hang out and talk and enjoy the day. I just wish I could stay longer and hang out, but work calls! Here are a few pictures from today.

In the water and ready to swim

Day 45: Today was suppose to be a day of running intervals, but I just turned it into a normal run that turned out to be a horrible run. I was dealing with some issues that was just not letting me run like I can and enjoy it. So after 4 miles of struggle with some issues I called it quits and headed back home. I ended up doing about 4.5 miles and Jordan was very supportive and stayed with me as I struggle bad through this run. I am just hoping that I can get some of these issues figured out before the big day!

Day 46:Today there are some optional training things I can do, but most likely I will always take fridays off due to work. Fridays are always a tough day for work, because I work from 5:25am - 1:25pm then have to go back at 10pm and work through the night. I try to take that time and sleep for work.

Until Saturday, Happy Training!!!!

"Success must be felt within before it can be seen on the outside."

- Unknown

Day 41, Happy Easter!!!!!!!

Day 41: Today was a long bike ride day and it completely kicked my butt! 5:45 am came early this morning since I have been lacking major sleep, but training calls. I headed out to Cartersville to do the Donkey ride again. Since Misty and I wanted to get in extra miles though we started riding at 7:30 and did 20 miles, then met up with everyone else and had a nice 52 mile ride. There was a good group of us that got together for an Easter Sunday ride! The weather in the morning was perfect it was cloudy so it kept a nice temperature. When Misty and I started out for the 20 miles I knew this was going to be a tough ride. My legs were so tired for yesterday's run. I could tell my cadence was down and this was not going to be fun. I survived the first 20 miles but it was slow and I knew that I had another 52 to do now at 9 am. We finally joined up with everyone and on we went for 52 miles and to my surprise  my legs we feeling ok. I think they just turned numb to the pedaling pain, but all I knew is I had to keep pushing even on the hills when they did hurt. I kept telling myself I have no idea how I am going to feel during Wisconsin Ironman so push through everything, because there is no giving up! About half way through the 52 mile ride with everyone the clouds that we were all loving went away and the sun was out and it was HOT!!!! We all pushed through and had a nice stop at the donkeys to feed them!

Then it was back to the Bud plant to finish up a total of a 73 mile ride!!! It took a lot longer then I had wanted but you can only pedal so hard when your legs just are not feeling it. After the ride Misty and I headed out for a 3 miles run which seemed like the hardest run ever. I ran the first 1.5 miles then did a walk/run the last 1.5, I wasn't happy about doing the walk/run but it was almost all I could do at this point. I forget how much my body hates running in the heat so I am really going to have to figure this out in case Wisconsin is hot. Also with this being my first full week back from almost two weeks off I was really feeling it every where in my body and it really showed me I really need to kick it into gear. So I am going to apologize to all my friends now that if I seem to disappear for a while I am just really focusing on this training so I can have the race of my life in Wisconsin, I am so excited to be able to race Ironman Wisconsin!

The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender. - Vince Lombardi

Day 40

Day 40: Today is was my long run. I was suppose to do around 6 - 8 miles because it is a recovery week, but I'm not sure what I am recovering from since I just came off vacation and I was sick for a few days. So I took this day to go out for a longer run then what is planned. I ran with the Hoochies today done at the river and it was a nice flat run. To bad I don't need flat runs but it was still nice. It was chilly this morning and very foggy, but with the humidity  I was sweating like it was 90 degrees out. This first 5 miles was a struggle with some issues I was dealing with with my body but after I got it all figured out my run turned out to be really good. Towards the end my knees started bothering me again so it looks like the tape is going to come back out. For a training run I ran 12.5 miles in 1:52 which I am really happy about! Maybe I'm getting fast? I do have a good group of people though that I run with that push me a little to go fast which I love.
After my run I enjoyed some coffee with people from the running group then off to Atlanta Fitness Dive to workout. Once again I got my butt kicked by Pamela. By the time we were done my whole upper body was shaking and in pain, but it felt so good. Is that weird? lol
Finally after working a midnight shift and getting off work at 6am then going straight to the river to run and then to the gym to lift weights it's finally time to go to bed for a few hours before the house cleaning begins.
Good Night till tomorrow!!!!!

"It doesn't get any easier; you just get faster." -Greg Lemond

Day 39 & 40

Day 39: Today was just a running interval day. I had a really good run though even though it was really hot out and I was just hoping it would rain on me but never did. =(  I ran over to Piedmont Park from my house for a warm up and then ran the track for fartlek runs. They went really well and I even averaged 6:45 for a minute which is really good for me!!!!! After the fartlek I did some drills and then had a nice cool down run back home. I ran 6 miles for an hour with all the drills and then came home to a hot house since our AC is broken and we need to get it fixed. I thing I should say is when you are breathing heavy try to keep your mouth closed a little so you don't have little bugs fly in your mouth. Ugh I think I swallowed 2 bugs and they don't taste good. lol

Day 40: Today is REST DAY!!!!! So I'm going to enjoy it and take a nap. Good Night!!!!!!

"Success must be felt within before it can be seen on the outside."

Week 6: Days 36-38

I Can't believe it is only 5 months away now. It seems like I was just there volunteering as a catcher and signing up! With that said so far I have had a pretty good week since that last few weeks were not that good.

Day 36: I love Mondays, they are a pretty easy day with just swimming. Today I tried something different and went to a masters swim class. I absolutely loved it. It was nice just swimming with a bunch of triathletes and all there doing the same thing. It's nice having a coach on the outside of the pool as well to correct things you are doing wrong. I'm not sure of the yards I put in but I was in the pool for 1 hr and 15 mins. We started out with a few drills and the did swimming sets and I loved the way it was set up.

Day 37: Pretty much all I have to say about this day was that I got suck reading a lot of emails about stuff going on at work that I lost track of time and had to rush off to work out with Pamela and Atlanta Fitness Diva. I had a really good lower body workout with her that I am sure I will be feeling later. Thanks Pam!!! I never got a ride in today like I was suppose, because I got busy then had to go to work.

Day 38: Another swimming day, and I really need to work on my swimming so it is good. I had planned to go out to Catersville to bike and swim out there with the TriGeeks. I was really looking forward to it, because we were going to be getting in to the lake for the first time this year (yes it is going to be cold, but that is what wetsuits are for, right?). With a thunderstorm coming they were making a last minute decision on weather to go or not go and at 6:30 they said it was a go. So I started heading out that way and about 10 mins away it started raining and I wasn't game for the rain today so I turned around and headed to wonderful LA Fitness to swim.  Even though it wasn't the lake I still had a good swim and I thought I was going to need my wetsuit in the pool. The pool was so cold that I really never warmed up and I swam 3,400 yds. Maybe next Wednesday I will be able to jump into the lake and do an open water swim. I also went on a 40 min bike ride around my house climbing hills I never knew where there. I was really enjoying my ride until I found myself on a street a few blocks from my house that was surrounded by cops. No joke there were about 15 cop cars some undercover and some were in their car and some were out. As I pedal to the end of the road I found cops block cars from coming on to the road were I was. As I start pedaling a little fast because now I have now idea what is going on a Special Team Forces van turns in front of me making me hit my breaks like no big deal. So after I finally got of this road I figured it was time to head home. I'm not sure if it was a good or bad thing that I was only a mile from my house. Come to find out when I got home it was a man hunt. Ugh thank God I made it home safe and nothing bad happened as I was out biking. So for the rest of the day I think I may stay in my house. Who would have thought a bike ride I went out to do for an hour would end up only being 40 mins and caught in the middle of a man hunt. Here is a link of a brief summary of what I found myself in the middle of.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/27614687/detail.html

Well that was exciting.

Until next time.....

I'd rather have more heart than talent any day.

Day 35

Day 35: Yes, I know I skipped over day 34. Let's just pretend that day never was there. I do have to say though even though I didn't run I shoveled an enormous amount of dirt if that counts for anything, oh and planted flowers. =) So on that note back to day 35! I went out to the Gaps for the first time with a good group of people!!!  FOr those of you that wanna know here is a link that descripes the gaps.

http://www.cyclenorthgeorgia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=35

I did the first 3 gaps and it was a blast. The names of the Gaps I did are Neels, Wolf Pen and Woodys. Neels Gap was the longest climb of them all and Wolf Pen was the steepest I  thought of the three. All I can say is I was glad Woodys was the smallest and the shortest, since that was the last one. =) Here is a link to the elevation was well of the 3 gaps so you get an idea of the hill climbing I did.

http://www.cyclenorthgeorgia.com/images/stories/maps__profiles/three%20gap%20elevation.png

It crazy as it sounds I loved the hill climbing, it is amazing to see yourself climb hills like that and not fall over. We got done to about 6 mph on the bike going up. The best thing to remember though is what goes UP most come DOWN!!!! Going down was a blast I got up to about 34 mph going down and that was not even letting go on the way down. I held back a lot because I didn't know that roads very well and there are some sharp turns. It was also a busy weekend up there, since it was such a nice day there were a lot of motorcycles riding the gaps as well so I was a little nervous with all them out there as well as cars and other bikers all trying to share the same road.   Here are a few pictures on the top of each gap.

Taking a short break on to of Neels Gap.

Amazing!!!! On top at Wolf Pen Gap.

Made it through all 3 Gaps and on top at Woodys Gap!!!!!!

One last look before heading down. The view is amazing!!!!

After the ride 4 of us did a 3 mile run after which was of some side street of the main roads, but just like anything in North GA you can't go anywhere without hills. So we decided to name this hill ourselves and called it Chicawomen Gap. This hill was a but kicker as well, the only thing that made it enjoyable was the scenery. It was such a pretty run with some waterfalls and this river along the whole run. It make you feel like you were not in GA!

So overall is was an unforgettable day at the Gaps and I can't wait to go back and maybe one day I will do all 6. =)

Day 32 & 33

Day 32: Well today is the first day I tried to do something since I have been back from Rio and from trying to recover from this head cold. I went out for a 4 mile run, but it ended up being only 3.2 miles. It was the longest hardest run it felt like ever. I felt like I have never ran before and my throat and nose were burning from my cold. I couldn't wait to get home from the run.

Day 33: not much to say about this day except is a rest day. I think I have been resting but I took it anyways =)

Saturday is a long run day between 9-11 miles and Sunday we will be doing the 3 gap, so I am sure I will be hurting on Monday. Wish me luck.

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. -Joe Paterno

Week 5: Days 29-31

 Well not much to really to say here but still recover from this head cold. I am starting to feel better and I hope to start getting back in the swing of things tomorrow. Good thing I just have to run.

On Sunday though I will be heading to the Gaps for the first time! I can't wait!!!!!

Week 4: Rio de Janeiro

Yes you read it right, I was in Rio de Janeiro for the week with some girlfriends celebrating our 30th birthday!!!! We had amazing time and enjoyed the beach every day. We say Cristo Redentor, went to Sugarloaf mountain, the rainforest, the botanical garden, drove through the fivelas, went to the cathedral and saw the steps in santa teresa. It was so pretty and pretty here are a few pictures.

The only downfall of the whole trip is that I got a bad head cold the last day I was there and the10 hour flight home was not fun.

Day 21, Donkey Ride

Day 21 was a an amazing day for a bike ride. I drove up to Cartersville to go on the Donkey ride with an amazing group of people. Yes, I said Donkey ride!!! I did the 31 mile route and took 2 hours! The weather was prefect and I also got a wonderful tan line going now. With riding on the Silver Comet so much and then going up to Cartersville I just realized that I am never again allowed to ride on the Comet. The Comet is really flat and Cartersville is very hilly. Wisconsin is a very hilly course so from here on out no more flat. Normally 30 miles is very easy, but I got my butt kicked on this 30 mile course. We call it the Donkey Ride because near the end there is a house that has a bunch of donkeys and they let us feed them. So it is tradition to bring carrots on the ride and then we stop to feed the donkeys!!! I Love Them!!!! Here are a few pictures of us hanging out with the donkeys for a little before we continued on.

After the bike ride I just need a mile run for a really short brick. I really wasn't suppose to run at all, but I just felt that I need to do just a mile. Overall if was a very good ride and enjoyed it even though I got my butt kicked on the hills.  Well it's off to Rio tonight. Talk to you in a week!!!!!

Day 20

Day 20,  after getting off work at 6am I joined the running group at 7:30 am to do my 7 mile run. I really enjoyed the run today it was a tough hilly course we ran, but I felt really good and was wanting to go longer but I didn't. I figured it would be best to stick to the schedule and I will have plenty of days to do long runs. My total run was 7.7 miles and took 1:09.

After finally getting home after the run, I was so excited to jump into bed and go to sleep. After a 3 hour nap the dogs and I took a 2 mile walk to enjoy the amazing weather today. Now it's time to relax and enjoy the rest of the day and try to get some more stuff together for my trip to Rio. Until tomorrow, enjoy the day!

Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated." -Anonymous

Days 17-19

Day 17 was somewhat of a successful day. I was suppose to get a swim in but when that wonderful alarm went off at 6:30 it appears I may have turned it off and went back to bed. That could only mean one thing... I must have needed the sleep. By the time I woke up at 9 am it was time to get moving and head to the gym to workout with Pam. I had a good lower body workout, it is always nice walking out of the gym after a good workout. I am really starting to think I am going to have to find a new day to go to the gym though, because this rushing home and hurrying to get ready and get out of the house to get to work on time is just not cutting it. So when I get back from Rio and may have to look again and see what other days I can hit the gym.

Day 18 was good I did a 40 min run that include fartleks, I really am one that is starting to realize I would take a day of a long run or ride then do speed work. No wonder why I never did speed work before. Tracey = not a fan of speed work. It is really nice that the days are longer now though, because I was able to wait for Jordan to get home from work so he could go running with me. It is always nice when you have someone to run with.

Day 19 is my favorite day so far. It's my day of REST!!!!!! Although I will be running around trying to get more things done before I leave on Monday for my trip.


"We are judged by what we finish, not by what we start" - Anonymous