Yes, I did it! Stay tuned for more photos and a full blog entry in the days to come.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Week 40: The Final Week
Can you believe it? I have just 6 days to go before my race. I have trained 40 weeks and this is my last week! This past week I think I have been in denial. Just two weeks ago I was drinking way too much like I wasn't doing oh, an IRONMAN in 14 days. This week I can't even believe it. I almost don't want to believe it. So much has to happen that I have no idea how it will all come together.
Monday - Rest Day
I shipped my bike! OH MY GOD. I spent the weekend packing my gear bag with all my stuff so that when I leave for my race all I have to bring with me are street clothes and whatever else I forgot to pack with the gear. I was really stressed out because IT'S REAL! My bike is on it's way to Lake Placid all nice and clean. Then I met up with Zack and we got sandwiches and walked to Delores Park and hung out. It was super warm out and was a great day.
Tuesday - Swim
I am rocking the taper workout and only having to swim 1900 yards! I feel kind of guilty driving all the way down to Burlingame to swim in their fabulous outdoor pool but it is so worth it. It's glorious only having to swim for 45 minutes. Now if only my new goggles would stop fogging up in 15 minutes.
Wednesday - Track
My taper workout was a 15 minute warm up, 3 by 2 miles (run 2 miles 3 times), and then a 15 minute cool down. At the last minute I realized I didn't have to do this workout at the track but I didn't pack a water bottle I could carry with me so I just decided to run the 8-9 miles on the track. I thought it would be boring but I had my ipod and just ran around and around. So many times I wanted to cut the workout short but in the end I just sucked it up. Spent the rest of the day cleaning out closets and drawers to donate clothes.
Thursday - Swim (twice!)
Headed down to Burlingame and swam the very doable 1350 yards. Love the taper! Came home and got ready to spend a day lounging on the beach at Lake Sonoma. Zack picked me up and we were on our way. It was 100 degrees up there (no lie) and the water was amazing. Zack is also a swimmer so we swam out beyond the roped in area a few times, and out into the lake. It was nice, to swim together, since we are about the same speed. Once back on the blanket it was so hot that we decided to just spend the 4 hours in the water the whole time. Came home and made dinner and watched TV.
Friday - Chiro
Boy did I need to see my chiropractor, although, it was very painful what with the psoas and butt "massaging." Then Elektra came over and shopped in my closet and then we took the left overs to Goodwill. Stayed in and watched TV.
Saturday - Cleaning
I took Saturday off to really REALLY clean my house. In the midst of it Shai Kitty, who had been exhibiting some strange behavior over the last few days, was acting even weirder which prompted a trip to the emergency vet. So I spent about 3 hours there. Shai has a condition which he is susceptible to and it prevents him from peeing. The low estimate was $500 and the high estimate was $2200. As I was standing there crying and trying to figure out how to pay the bill this woman (who was there with her kitty) overheard my conversation. She sat next to me on the bench and told me she would like to help and offered to pay what I couldn't. (!) Can you say ANGEL? I was so amazed and thankful and grateful. I was speechless. Faith restored in humanity? Yes. Shai Kitty came home with medication and instructions to be monitored closely.
Sunday - Run
Ironteam does an annual run to honor Louie Bonpua, the spirit of ironteam. Louie was a participant who trained and completed an ironman while undergoing treatment for Leukemia. Unfortunately, Louie lost his battle with cancer. This run helps us to remember why we are here and training so hard and raising money. Off we went on our run to Louie's resting place in Los Altos. Once there, we all sat around his grave and shared Louie stories, or stories about our personal honorees and our connection to the cause. Afterwards, we ran back to the start and had a little bagel breakfast and got our race singlets. The morning left me in a weird mood. I came home and finished cleaning the rest of my apartment and prayed that Shai Kitty would pee.
Yi and I in Los Altos
Monday - Nervous Breakdown
I'm dipping into this week since the poignancy of freaking out may be overshadowed by the race report. This morning I don't really know what happened. I started out ok and then all of a sudden I was sobbing and hyperventilating and calling my friend, Iron Mo, who lives 3,000 miles away and in another time zone. I left a message on her machine just sobbing and freaking out. The main gist of the meltdown was around cat sitting. Shai Kitty is on medication that needs to be administered twice daily the whole time I am gone, needs special food and has to be monitored all day...and knowing my cat sitter couldn't really do that schedule AND that I couldn't really afford it...then the fact that I am insecure in my relationship...added with losing my job and not having any money...and wondering what will happen with the future...and oh...and I have to do an IRONMAN ON SUNDAY....well it was just too much and I totally lost it. Cried all morning, in the shower, then while blow drying my hair. Then I left to run errands and cried in my car. Zack called me while I was in the supermarket and I was like, hi, I am having a nervous fucking breakdown and can't talk right now since I am in public and then started crying again. Called him back when I was in my car and he was like, what is going on? I explained basically what happened above and he was like, uh...everything will be fine. Then he asked if I wanted to go for a walk with him in Golden Gate park and freak out was temporarily derailed. Later I went to our team dinner and when people asked me if I was ready for my race I just said yes and nodded. I am saying yes to all race related questions and just trying to stay focused! I leave Thursday. Wish me luck!
Monday - Rest Day
I shipped my bike! OH MY GOD. I spent the weekend packing my gear bag with all my stuff so that when I leave for my race all I have to bring with me are street clothes and whatever else I forgot to pack with the gear. I was really stressed out because IT'S REAL! My bike is on it's way to Lake Placid all nice and clean. Then I met up with Zack and we got sandwiches and walked to Delores Park and hung out. It was super warm out and was a great day.
Tuesday - Swim
I am rocking the taper workout and only having to swim 1900 yards! I feel kind of guilty driving all the way down to Burlingame to swim in their fabulous outdoor pool but it is so worth it. It's glorious only having to swim for 45 minutes. Now if only my new goggles would stop fogging up in 15 minutes.
Wednesday - Track
My taper workout was a 15 minute warm up, 3 by 2 miles (run 2 miles 3 times), and then a 15 minute cool down. At the last minute I realized I didn't have to do this workout at the track but I didn't pack a water bottle I could carry with me so I just decided to run the 8-9 miles on the track. I thought it would be boring but I had my ipod and just ran around and around. So many times I wanted to cut the workout short but in the end I just sucked it up. Spent the rest of the day cleaning out closets and drawers to donate clothes.
Thursday - Swim (twice!)
Headed down to Burlingame and swam the very doable 1350 yards. Love the taper! Came home and got ready to spend a day lounging on the beach at Lake Sonoma. Zack picked me up and we were on our way. It was 100 degrees up there (no lie) and the water was amazing. Zack is also a swimmer so we swam out beyond the roped in area a few times, and out into the lake. It was nice, to swim together, since we are about the same speed. Once back on the blanket it was so hot that we decided to just spend the 4 hours in the water the whole time. Came home and made dinner and watched TV.
Friday - Chiro
Boy did I need to see my chiropractor, although, it was very painful what with the psoas and butt "massaging." Then Elektra came over and shopped in my closet and then we took the left overs to Goodwill. Stayed in and watched TV.
Saturday - Cleaning
I took Saturday off to really REALLY clean my house. In the midst of it Shai Kitty, who had been exhibiting some strange behavior over the last few days, was acting even weirder which prompted a trip to the emergency vet. So I spent about 3 hours there. Shai has a condition which he is susceptible to and it prevents him from peeing. The low estimate was $500 and the high estimate was $2200. As I was standing there crying and trying to figure out how to pay the bill this woman (who was there with her kitty) overheard my conversation. She sat next to me on the bench and told me she would like to help and offered to pay what I couldn't. (!) Can you say ANGEL? I was so amazed and thankful and grateful. I was speechless. Faith restored in humanity? Yes. Shai Kitty came home with medication and instructions to be monitored closely.
Sunday - Run
Ironteam does an annual run to honor Louie Bonpua, the spirit of ironteam. Louie was a participant who trained and completed an ironman while undergoing treatment for Leukemia. Unfortunately, Louie lost his battle with cancer. This run helps us to remember why we are here and training so hard and raising money. Off we went on our run to Louie's resting place in Los Altos. Once there, we all sat around his grave and shared Louie stories, or stories about our personal honorees and our connection to the cause. Afterwards, we ran back to the start and had a little bagel breakfast and got our race singlets. The morning left me in a weird mood. I came home and finished cleaning the rest of my apartment and prayed that Shai Kitty would pee.
Yi and I in Los AltosMonday - Nervous Breakdown
I'm dipping into this week since the poignancy of freaking out may be overshadowed by the race report. This morning I don't really know what happened. I started out ok and then all of a sudden I was sobbing and hyperventilating and calling my friend, Iron Mo, who lives 3,000 miles away and in another time zone. I left a message on her machine just sobbing and freaking out. The main gist of the meltdown was around cat sitting. Shai Kitty is on medication that needs to be administered twice daily the whole time I am gone, needs special food and has to be monitored all day...and knowing my cat sitter couldn't really do that schedule AND that I couldn't really afford it...then the fact that I am insecure in my relationship...added with losing my job and not having any money...and wondering what will happen with the future...and oh...and I have to do an IRONMAN ON SUNDAY....well it was just too much and I totally lost it. Cried all morning, in the shower, then while blow drying my hair. Then I left to run errands and cried in my car. Zack called me while I was in the supermarket and I was like, hi, I am having a nervous fucking breakdown and can't talk right now since I am in public and then started crying again. Called him back when I was in my car and he was like, what is going on? I explained basically what happened above and he was like, uh...everything will be fine. Then he asked if I wanted to go for a walk with him in Golden Gate park and freak out was temporarily derailed. Later I went to our team dinner and when people asked me if I was ready for my race I just said yes and nodded. I am saying yes to all race related questions and just trying to stay focused! I leave Thursday. Wish me luck!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Week 39
I used my posting mojo on an email this week. New update in a few days...
In just 14 days I will have the opportunity to complete my first Ironman triathlon. To remind you an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. 140.6 miles, to be completed in 17 hours.
In just 14 days I will have the opportunity to complete my first Ironman triathlon. To remind you an Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. 140.6 miles, to be completed in 17 hours.
I’ve been reflective lately (as the distances I am training are conducive to that) and looking back over these last 9 months brings a lot of emotions to the surface. In October I had no idea what I was getting myself into. July seemed like a long way off and maybe even just a dream. Would I really be able to complete an Ironman? But through the support of my coaches, mentors, teammates and amazing friends I was able to build a solid base of fitness and mental capacity to aid me in the completion of the most difficult thing I will attempt in my life thus far. I am feeling pretty confident. Plus, not finishing is NOT an option.
Training for Ironman is not easy, and sometimes I can’t even imagine not having it in my life. In nine months I swam the longest distance I ever have (2 miles - I never thought it possible!) and ran the longest I have ever run (15 miles). I lost close to 30lbs but gained 10lbs of it back in muscle. For a few weeks there, I was training close to 20 hours a week. I’ve put endless miles on my car and my body and both held up! I’ve put close to 1,000 miles on my bike and on most days have put close to 4,000 calories in my body. Before Ironman training I used to look at food and say, “Oh my god this has 300 calories in it!” During Ironman training I now look at that same food and say, “Oh my god, this ONLY has 300 calories in it!”
I am happy to report that I met my fundraising goal of $8000 on July 3rd. Seventy-six of you donated an average of $105. Once again I was amazed and grateful and comforted by the fact that there are remarkable and generous people in my life. People who not only support me but who also want to see an end to cancer. After this third season with Team in Training, you and I will have raised close to $20,000 to help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their fight against blood cancers. Did it slip your mind? I am still accepting donations here: http://www.active.com/donate/
In these last days I will be getting my gear packed, shipping my bike and tapering my workouts to get my body well rested for the big day. I will also be working on the mental aspect of the race. Right now I am scared shitless! I am worried about so many things and am trying to put to good use my number one mantra for race day: “Let go and let God.” Other “mantra’s” that have helped me throughout the season are: “C’mon girl!” “One and two and one and two and…” “You’re a good girl!” and “What the f**k are you doing!” (Oops! That’s not a mantra!)
The next time you hear from me I will be an Iron(wo)man. So think of me on race day: July 20th, 2008. I’m racing to cure cancer, to do something only a few can and to remember those who have lost their fight. Wish me luck!
Love,
Hez
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