Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Last Chance!
It's the night before take off... the work is done, the butterflies are learning their formation.... I only want to finish this to put the polish on my confidence. When I cross that line, it will be a new beginning for me.... time to start kicking some ass, firstly my own..... I have gained so much confidence and have been so touched and amazed by all the support..... I have my flag, I have my gear, I have my best friend to cheer me on, my friends from DC coming Thursday, this will be the test. It doesn't matter that I won't be first... I will finish. Rock on, friends, I'm off to the Big Easy to do the Big Race.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
single digits!
Well here we are only 8 days to blast off.... my plane leaves at 0759 on the 1st of April, and I race 4 days later. All the work is done, the sweating is over, now the worrying begins. When I cross the finish line in NOLA, it will be my longest completed race in nearly 7 years. I have now doubt barring a fatal crash or a meteor strike I will finish. I feel stronger all around than I have in many many years.
I always thought triathlon was a personal and solo pursuit... I was wrong. The people on my team at work surprised me by telling me how dedicated they think I am to keep going, how strong willed I am to train through the winter and how brave I am to even take this on. I only hope some of them donate to the foundation! I am humbled by their admiration.
Coach Mark is recommending I go to camp at the end of May for a week of ass-kicking workouts, schmoozing with others and training with others as well. It will be a chance to see my brother and sister in law, my neice and nephew, and hopefully elevate my game, as coach seems to think this will do.... only one small problem.... time off can be a concern. I have it, but will they give it? The only hope I think I have is to take one of the weeks I have in Sept, trade it for the week in May and then pad my week in Sept with a few personal and holiday days. Cross your fingers, pray if you do, and hope for the best. I think I need this. As I told Mark, if you wanna run with the big dogs, you have to jump off the porch.... here's my chance!
Till soon
Swim, bike, run, laugh, finish, celebrate and cheer
Wheels
I always thought triathlon was a personal and solo pursuit... I was wrong. The people on my team at work surprised me by telling me how dedicated they think I am to keep going, how strong willed I am to train through the winter and how brave I am to even take this on. I only hope some of them donate to the foundation! I am humbled by their admiration.
Coach Mark is recommending I go to camp at the end of May for a week of ass-kicking workouts, schmoozing with others and training with others as well. It will be a chance to see my brother and sister in law, my neice and nephew, and hopefully elevate my game, as coach seems to think this will do.... only one small problem.... time off can be a concern. I have it, but will they give it? The only hope I think I have is to take one of the weeks I have in Sept, trade it for the week in May and then pad my week in Sept with a few personal and holiday days. Cross your fingers, pray if you do, and hope for the best. I think I need this. As I told Mark, if you wanna run with the big dogs, you have to jump off the porch.... here's my chance!
Till soon
Swim, bike, run, laugh, finish, celebrate and cheer
Wheels
Monday, March 9, 2009
Mr Bravehart
First off, this entry has little to do with me and much to do about some of the people who do things more for the good of others than themselves.
I belong to a cause to help raise money and awareness for trisomy 18 babies, www.ironmanforkids.com, along with a number of other people.... if you're not familiar with it, check it out, join our cause and donate if you can. I am doing New Orleans with these little tykes and their families in mind, as did a friend of mine recently. He did IM New Zealand on Saturday, and it was a personal thing as well as raising awareness and money for the cause.
David "Ninja" Njiwhan from Kokomo Indiana missed the bike cutoff last year during the miserable IMNZ we both experienced. Ninja decided he had to go back to NZ this year and settle up some unfinished business. Last year we both met Michael Hennessey, the fellow who started ironmanforkids and set a world record by doing 15 Ironman races in one year. That was incredible, but Michael is a humble, giving and unselfish man... he was doing this to raise awareness of this very sad disease that robs these families of the joy of bringing up their children. Trisomy 18 babies normally live mere days.
David thought that doing this race would only be for the kids.... he felt that finishing his first Ironman was totally secondary... and in a way, he is correct. He wanted so many times to stop, when his cleat came undone from his shoe and he had to ride with only one shoe for 20 miles while someone fixed it, and all during the run where he alternately jogged and walked through the marathon, he wanted so many times to pull out and lay down. He didn't, he just kept thinking of baby Jeremy, a trisomy baby who lived less than 24 hours, whose memorial Ninja attended, and to whom he dedicated the race. To make a long story short, he perservered in 16 hours 10 minutes, got a young kid to run the last 100m with him, and even though it was secondary... hearing Mike Reilly say "David 'Ninja' Nijawhan, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" still felt fabulous, but after all that, the sore feet, the doubts, the wanting to stop so many times.... Ninja, you're more than an Ironman, you're a hero for these kids... and one of mine.
God bless you Ninja..... from the kids
Swim, bike, run, laugh, celebrate and love
M
I belong to a cause to help raise money and awareness for trisomy 18 babies, www.ironmanforkids.com, along with a number of other people.... if you're not familiar with it, check it out, join our cause and donate if you can. I am doing New Orleans with these little tykes and their families in mind, as did a friend of mine recently. He did IM New Zealand on Saturday, and it was a personal thing as well as raising awareness and money for the cause.
David "Ninja" Njiwhan from Kokomo Indiana missed the bike cutoff last year during the miserable IMNZ we both experienced. Ninja decided he had to go back to NZ this year and settle up some unfinished business. Last year we both met Michael Hennessey, the fellow who started ironmanforkids and set a world record by doing 15 Ironman races in one year. That was incredible, but Michael is a humble, giving and unselfish man... he was doing this to raise awareness of this very sad disease that robs these families of the joy of bringing up their children. Trisomy 18 babies normally live mere days.
David thought that doing this race would only be for the kids.... he felt that finishing his first Ironman was totally secondary... and in a way, he is correct. He wanted so many times to stop, when his cleat came undone from his shoe and he had to ride with only one shoe for 20 miles while someone fixed it, and all during the run where he alternately jogged and walked through the marathon, he wanted so many times to pull out and lay down. He didn't, he just kept thinking of baby Jeremy, a trisomy baby who lived less than 24 hours, whose memorial Ninja attended, and to whom he dedicated the race. To make a long story short, he perservered in 16 hours 10 minutes, got a young kid to run the last 100m with him, and even though it was secondary... hearing Mike Reilly say "David 'Ninja' Nijawhan, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" still felt fabulous, but after all that, the sore feet, the doubts, the wanting to stop so many times.... Ninja, you're more than an Ironman, you're a hero for these kids... and one of mine.
God bless you Ninja..... from the kids
Swim, bike, run, laugh, celebrate and love
M
Monday, March 2, 2009
how come? how come?
I want to know why when running was always my strength, always the place I could count on to redeem myself for a crappy swim or bike, I am afraid of running... I guess the long runs seem daunting, though I have no problem with them once I get trucking.
I have some theories, some of them weird and some of them good..... it has forced me to get over my fear of pain during the run (other than the normal fatigue and sore muscles) realize that I won't probably run as fast as I did when I was 35, and embrace the crowds.... hell, I'll be looking at them longer, why not like them?
It has also forced me not to rely on my run.... hone my swim (I will never be Michele Phelps) and use the time on the trainer to be a better biker. Best of all, it has taught me I can improve my run gradually over the next few years and maybe win some age group stuff... look out old ladies! I tri because I love it..... and improvement is good!
30 days to take off to New Orleans, a holiday with my best friend, seeing my pals from DC again and enjoying some time in the Big Easy.... laissez les bons temps roulez!
I have some theories, some of them weird and some of them good..... it has forced me to get over my fear of pain during the run (other than the normal fatigue and sore muscles) realize that I won't probably run as fast as I did when I was 35, and embrace the crowds.... hell, I'll be looking at them longer, why not like them?
It has also forced me not to rely on my run.... hone my swim (I will never be Michele Phelps) and use the time on the trainer to be a better biker. Best of all, it has taught me I can improve my run gradually over the next few years and maybe win some age group stuff... look out old ladies! I tri because I love it..... and improvement is good!
30 days to take off to New Orleans, a holiday with my best friend, seeing my pals from DC again and enjoying some time in the Big Easy.... laissez les bons temps roulez!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
all done whining!
The last few entries in my blog have been pretty philosophical, so I don't want to burden and whine.
Training is going really well with two monster swims and some smoking good runs and bikes. I am getting a little antsy about the bike as it's serious winter here and I can't get out on the road until all the ice is gone. I keep watching the weather channel in hopes that it will miraculously show me that by wednesday the snow will melt and I can put on my warm suit, take Violet (my bike) out onto the Henday for a 3 hour tilt, and I will feel a little more confident about riding 90km in NO in 5 weeks.. even a few long rides would make me feel WAY more comfortable.
Even though I have been running in the sub zero weather, I feel confident for my run because I know that shorts will be nice......
The really good news is I think that Best Buy Sports has finally sent my wetsuit after 7 months of promises....... PLEASE let that be my parcel!!
Rob, hope you're reading this after Hockey Day in Canada, yes, I'm doing well and ready to rock New Orleans!
Swim, bike, run, laugh, cheer and celebrate!
Wheels
Training is going really well with two monster swims and some smoking good runs and bikes. I am getting a little antsy about the bike as it's serious winter here and I can't get out on the road until all the ice is gone. I keep watching the weather channel in hopes that it will miraculously show me that by wednesday the snow will melt and I can put on my warm suit, take Violet (my bike) out onto the Henday for a 3 hour tilt, and I will feel a little more confident about riding 90km in NO in 5 weeks.. even a few long rides would make me feel WAY more comfortable.
Even though I have been running in the sub zero weather, I feel confident for my run because I know that shorts will be nice......
The really good news is I think that Best Buy Sports has finally sent my wetsuit after 7 months of promises....... PLEASE let that be my parcel!!
Rob, hope you're reading this after Hockey Day in Canada, yes, I'm doing well and ready to rock New Orleans!
Swim, bike, run, laugh, cheer and celebrate!
Wheels
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
water water everywhere
Today I did the longest swim I have ever done in my life... thinking my coach was on crack, I trundled down to the pool and completed the entire workout... 4200M... count 'em yes, more than an Ironman swim! I also have one even longer on Friday, so this could be a very productive swim week! My running is coming back in leaps and bounds, and I think my cycling is pretty fair, though it's hard to tell sweating on a trainer. Mark will either kill me or make me Iron-tough! If the mental toughness is there, and I am sure it is, New Orleans should be a race to remember in a good way! I promise to take lots of photos and post some of my racing that hopefully Donna and Paul will take, and have a finish photo to share.
Swim, bike, run, laugh, enjoy your friends and celebrate life!
Michele
Swim, bike, run, laugh, enjoy your friends and celebrate life!
Michele
Sunday, February 15, 2009
giving back
Yesterday I did something I haven't done in a while, and have never really done with a totally open and selfless heart. I volunteered at the Canadian Birkebeiner ski race, and must have run 20K up and down a hill encouraging and cheering people on. That was my weekly run! I am sore in a few weird places, but it is a great feeling to know that you were there at 47.8 km of a 55 km race and people smiled because you got them up a hill and on their way to the next stop.
New Orleans update: Donna and I are now on the same flight from Denver to NO, and from NO to Chicago on the way back... and the week in between will be fun! I hope she takes lots of pics and lends me her camera to down load them or I get a REALLY big bonus and get a nice little one of my own. Looking forward to jazz and blues (will be thinking of you, Rob) a paddlewheeler ride (thinking of Mark Twain) and the rest of the hoopla..... that's for Donna and me!
Training is going well, I am smiling, my old friends are shocked at my happy thin self, and life is sunny..
Swim, bike, run, laugh, cheer, celebrate...... living well is the best revenge!
Michele
New Orleans update: Donna and I are now on the same flight from Denver to NO, and from NO to Chicago on the way back... and the week in between will be fun! I hope she takes lots of pics and lends me her camera to down load them or I get a REALLY big bonus and get a nice little one of my own. Looking forward to jazz and blues (will be thinking of you, Rob) a paddlewheeler ride (thinking of Mark Twain) and the rest of the hoopla..... that's for Donna and me!
Training is going well, I am smiling, my old friends are shocked at my happy thin self, and life is sunny..
Swim, bike, run, laugh, cheer, celebrate...... living well is the best revenge!
Michele
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