Well it was a long weekend, so Mike and I decided to take advantage of it and get in some longer rides. We are prepping for Ironman Canada at the end of August, but life has been hectic for this one and we are definitely not feeling as ready as we have for other Ironman races. For starters, we bought a house in March, and opened a business last year! Then we raced TTT in Ohio (4 races, 3 days — sprint, 2 olys, and a half) and had some family gatherings while out there. So nothing I would change, but just giving some background to how we are feeling a bit behind this year, and that brings me to this weekend…

Living in Southern CA we have tons of great cycling routes we love, and so this weekend I did 3 of the ones that challenge me. Turns out, we had much cooler weather than we’ve been having lately and it was pretty much perfect for cycling.

I started off Saturday with an 82 mile loop that takes me over some rolling hills, around a lake, and more rolling hills to home. But the best laid plans… at mile 3, the road was closed. It is a small back road, and we later learned it was a fatal crash much earlier in the morning. So we got to extend our route up and over one of the ridges in town, adding 7 miles and all climbing/descending/rolling — nothing flat. But what makes me climb will make me stronger, so I just went with it. Besides, it added one of my very favorite stretches of road to the loop However, on the way home, the road was still closed (Mike had already reached that point) so I took a new road home. Wow it was steeper than I expected! Miles 75-79 were tough, but not in a way I felt was too much. And I made it over, and a couple smaller climbs later I was home: 91.5 miles (see the route map here).

Got up Sunday and headed to our tri club ride. Mike and I had let the group know that we planned to ride the Oak Glenn loop — which is a bit over 40 miles and goes from 1000 to 4900 feet, and then I was going to add on another 40. The main part of the climb is a stretch about 7 miles long from 2500ft to 4900. I just took it easy — well, as easy as my gears would let me — knowing it was going to be a long day. At the usual “5 miles from home” point (right after that favorite stretch of road again) I headed out for more, telling my self that it was just a little 18 mile out and back, nothing to it. Well, it was 14 miles of slight and not-so-slight uphill, followed by 4 miles of down… and then back up and I couldn’t wait for that down. Unfortunately, the wind was not on my side, and even the fun down parts were times to pedal. I was glad it was such a solid ride: I didn’t fight the wind, but just worked the effort I wanted and just got home slower The route was similar to the route map available here. Mike and the dogs were already at his office, so I put on running shoes and ran just over 2 miles to meet them. Why not?

Monday was going to be tough no matter what with all the miles in my legs, so I saved the vertically easiest, but sometimes windier, ride for that day. One main series of climbs, and the rest was as close to flat as our rides get, adding another 85.5 miles. It was still a tough day though, but I made it! And I guess I got wind karma on Sunday: for once the wind helped me home. And I thanked it!

So 3 days, 257.5 miles on the bike. Not a bad weekend!

Oh and for those of you waiting, I do have TTT and also Tinman Sprint race reports to post. I’ll do it, I promise!

Well, I’m back from IMC! It was amazing amazing amazing! I am so so proud of so many people, both those I know and those I just met while there. And I can’t wait for next year and to see some of those faces (of races and volunteers) again! It was an awesome volunteering experience, and I will definitely do it again.

As for the todo list, I know, I also owe a Vineman race report. And more IMC details.

But for now, it is almost bedtime, and I will have to leave it at this for now. But I did sign up for IMC 2010, along with Mike and other good friends (both online — well originally online, as I met many this trip — and triclub). It’s going to be an awesome year. Marky, get my butt well-kicked so that I earn a finishline hug!

The Tinman is a long running local reverse order sprint — 5k run, 9 mile bike, and then a 100yd pool swim. Although it has been around for over 20 years, this was the first time Mike and I had done it. Again we were there with the Exceeding Expectations kids, and some of our friends, Heidi and Bjorn from ESRI and run group, as well as Joe, Andrea, and Gus of run club, were all there. The exciting part was that it was the first tri for a number of the EE kids, as well as for Heidi, Andrea, and Gus! So they were all excited and nervous.

The race course was a bit crazy — parts through campus and part on streets and parts not really marked, so I know some people added a bit to the run (like Mike) but it was basically flat, although some false flats. It was not my best run. My legs felt heavy and tired and I just didn’t want to run. I actually felt at one point that I should just cut back across campus and I’d be there in time to cheer for people. But the stubborn part of me wasn’t listening, and somehow I kept running. And thankfully the run was soon over, and I was on my bike. Where I felt pretty good. There was a big hill, and I just rode it — pushing pushing pushing. I passed Heidi on the way up, and cheered for her, and saw Mike heading back, and cheered for him. And caught Bjorn at about halfway through the bike. And I had a nice little train drafting off me for a while — stupidheads! So I just went a bit harder, and soon was on my own again. Back to transition, and someone had left her bike on my goggles (I should have pushed it over — it was the same lady who pushed an EE kid out of “her way” in the start area). So it took me a second to grab them and run to the pool and I swam pretending I was Marky The pool felt really good since it was getting warm out! Done with the swim, I saw a girl walking just ahead. So I kept up my run, knowing the finish was a little ways off still. I passed her, and finished strong.

Tinman, June 28, 2009

55:04 — 1/ W25-29, and 4th woman overall (out of 153)! Oh, also 46/442 overall.

I was proud to see Heidi get 2nd in our age group at her first tri! And Mike won overall yet again It was a good day for all of us.

Ok so again I have failed to post for a while!

So what has happened since mid-June… well, I have continued the trend of racing every month — June also had the Tinman Tri, July had the ESRI UC 5k and August had Barb’s race (a women’s only half IM the same day as the full Vineman race). I’ll do a blog for each of those.

In non-racing life, mostly I’ve just been busy with work and school. Working on both today (Sunday) as well — but at least it has been productive! I’m excited for next weekend when I will get to go out in the field with Sierra Madre Search and Rescue to see one of their big training days and share my ideas about how GIS could help them. I hope I have a somewhat working prototype by then!

And now, off to the race reports

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” — John Maxwell

Which reinforces my (mental) training to be ok with uncomfortable AR has drastically helped my tris for that reason.