No rest for the weary
by admin @ Rolln' with my Hommies in IronTown
Sunday called for a Sprint Tri at UVAS reservoir and generally speaking, I’d welcome the opportunity for a 2 hr workout, however on this Sunday morning…not so much!
Just the day before, we CDA’ers finished a lovely 100+ mile ride in the rolling hills of the Sonoma County. It was a perfect day for a long ride, but the day began with a 4:30am wake-up. Wow, that’s early! We finally rolled back into the driveway at home at 6:30pm. Wow, that’s a long day!! The ride went really well, and we got in our longest ride of the season to date! As soon as we got home, Mike and I unloaded the car, the water bottles, and finally ate some dinner. After dinner we caught up on our Tivo by watching The Soprano’s and I filled my water bottles and checked my tri bag for the race the next day. UGH…another early wake-up.
The alarm must have gone off early…there is NO WAY it is time to get up already. I checked the clock, yup it was 5am. In a haze that can only follow a century ride the previous day, I rolled out of bed. I walked to the bathroom with my eyes half closed, splashed some water on my face and brushed my teeth. I slowly slipped into my tri-clothes and headed down stairs to pack up the car. Mike wasn’t racing because he had to work, but being the sweetie he is, he got up with me to load up the bike and pump my tires. With a quick kiss and a “Go ‘till you blow” wish, I closed the garage door and headed out to pick up Danny. Got to 85 and El Camino and realized I left my wetsuit in the garage…quick U-turn…and I was back home. Maybe I should just go back to bed….No, stop thinking like that. Okay, grabbed the wet-suit and I was back on the road. Quick pit stop at Danny’s, who had a nice hot latte waiting for me, and we were headed toward the reservoir. Man, we were both plum-tuckers. Along McKean road, it started to pour…I think if Dan wasn’t in the car with me I would have started to cry. He helped to keep my mind off the yucky conditions. We parked about a mile away and had to walk into the race start…well, I guess I should say that is where I hopped on my bike to ride in and I left Dan there to walk in on his own. We were a bit late and I knew I would need just about every minute to get ready. As soon as I entered transition, I saw Wass…this was great because he had an empty transition stall right next to him. We set-up our transition areas and anxiously awaited the arrival of our race packets. I ran off to get in the port-a-potty line (that latte really paid off!) and when I returned my packet was waiting at my bike. GREAT, now I really have to race! I told myself…just get through the swim and if you feel like it, keep going. I went off to get my body marking done and when I got back, they were kicking us out of transition. Okay, here we go…on with the wet-suit and off to the water. I walked down to the water with my buddy Ellen, who mentioned that they moved the wave start times up…oh geez, I have no idea what time my wave goes off. Well, I’m sure I have at least 15 minutes. GUESS AGAIN! Before I knew it, I heard the Women’s Wave 34-Under wave is starting in 3 minutes. HELP!! I’m not even in the water! I run to the water’s edge and actually slip and fall on the way in…I guess that’s one way to warm up! Okay, I swim to the start line and off we go! The swim went pretty well, I only zig-zagged a little on the last stretch into the boat ramp. YAY! Okay, the swim in done! Back into transition, I get ready for the bike…oh, the thought of getting back on my bike after yesterday’s ride does not sound like fun. Somewhere between mile 1 and mile 2 on the bike, I told myself, I am not going to run…my legs are absolutely shot! The smallest hill felt like Tunidas Creek! I was exhausted. Okay, just finish the bike and you’re done I told myself. On my way back into transition, I then started thinking…but I’ve never DNF’d…I have to finish. It’s really only a 5 mile run. It’s just like going to the hairpin and back at Rancho. I can do that. Okay, back into transition I see Danny…he’s smiling and cheering…okay, I have to finish. Once off my bike I tell the girl standing next to me…I hate races. She laughs and I throw in my shoes and hat and I’m out. Just a five mile run…just a five mile run…just a five mile run. I feel like I’m running in sand…every step is a challenge, but it’s only a 5 mile run. I see the lead men and women coming in…they look amazing! I make it to the turn around and I start to see a lot of my buddies! Seeing them is a great pick me up! Near the last 1 mile or so, I see Ann…she gives me a loud “Woo-Hoo!” I just look at her and shake my head…she can see, I’m DONE! Okay, one mile left…you can do it. I pick up a guy running at about my pace and we run together…I tell him not to leave me because he’s helping me pace. Back at the entry to the finish chute, I see my teammates…Go DANA!! I’m going to finish…here we go…down the chute and I’m done! That quite possibly was the hardest race I’ve ever done. I had to dig really deep to keep moving forward. The one thought that kept going through my head was, this is what IronMan training is all about…moving forward, even when you don’t want to. This was probably the best mental toughness day I’ve had in a while. In the end, I am happy to have had it.
The only thing that was missing at the race… was the smiling, cheering face of my Schmoop. He had to work on Sunday morning, so no hugs from him! SO SAD! But I had my team there for support, encouragement, and great laughs! The single best finish of the day was Ann & Bev…you have to ask them about it…it cracked me up for hours!
After a great feast, Dan and I headed home. As always, I have to say that thanks to the support of the team, everyone finished with smiles on their faces!
Just the day before, we CDA’ers finished a lovely 100+ mile ride in the rolling hills of the Sonoma County. It was a perfect day for a long ride, but the day began with a 4:30am wake-up. Wow, that’s early! We finally rolled back into the driveway at home at 6:30pm. Wow, that’s a long day!! The ride went really well, and we got in our longest ride of the season to date! As soon as we got home, Mike and I unloaded the car, the water bottles, and finally ate some dinner. After dinner we caught up on our Tivo by watching The Soprano’s and I filled my water bottles and checked my tri bag for the race the next day. UGH…another early wake-up.
The alarm must have gone off early…there is NO WAY it is time to get up already. I checked the clock, yup it was 5am. In a haze that can only follow a century ride the previous day, I rolled out of bed. I walked to the bathroom with my eyes half closed, splashed some water on my face and brushed my teeth. I slowly slipped into my tri-clothes and headed down stairs to pack up the car. Mike wasn’t racing because he had to work, but being the sweetie he is, he got up with me to load up the bike and pump my tires. With a quick kiss and a “Go ‘till you blow” wish, I closed the garage door and headed out to pick up Danny. Got to 85 and El Camino and realized I left my wetsuit in the garage…quick U-turn…and I was back home. Maybe I should just go back to bed….No, stop thinking like that. Okay, grabbed the wet-suit and I was back on the road. Quick pit stop at Danny’s, who had a nice hot latte waiting for me, and we were headed toward the reservoir. Man, we were both plum-tuckers. Along McKean road, it started to pour…I think if Dan wasn’t in the car with me I would have started to cry. He helped to keep my mind off the yucky conditions. We parked about a mile away and had to walk into the race start…well, I guess I should say that is where I hopped on my bike to ride in and I left Dan there to walk in on his own. We were a bit late and I knew I would need just about every minute to get ready. As soon as I entered transition, I saw Wass…this was great because he had an empty transition stall right next to him. We set-up our transition areas and anxiously awaited the arrival of our race packets. I ran off to get in the port-a-potty line (that latte really paid off!) and when I returned my packet was waiting at my bike. GREAT, now I really have to race! I told myself…just get through the swim and if you feel like it, keep going. I went off to get my body marking done and when I got back, they were kicking us out of transition. Okay, here we go…on with the wet-suit and off to the water. I walked down to the water with my buddy Ellen, who mentioned that they moved the wave start times up…oh geez, I have no idea what time my wave goes off. Well, I’m sure I have at least 15 minutes. GUESS AGAIN! Before I knew it, I heard the Women’s Wave 34-Under wave is starting in 3 minutes. HELP!! I’m not even in the water! I run to the water’s edge and actually slip and fall on the way in…I guess that’s one way to warm up! Okay, I swim to the start line and off we go! The swim went pretty well, I only zig-zagged a little on the last stretch into the boat ramp. YAY! Okay, the swim in done! Back into transition, I get ready for the bike…oh, the thought of getting back on my bike after yesterday’s ride does not sound like fun. Somewhere between mile 1 and mile 2 on the bike, I told myself, I am not going to run…my legs are absolutely shot! The smallest hill felt like Tunidas Creek! I was exhausted. Okay, just finish the bike and you’re done I told myself. On my way back into transition, I then started thinking…but I’ve never DNF’d…I have to finish. It’s really only a 5 mile run. It’s just like going to the hairpin and back at Rancho. I can do that. Okay, back into transition I see Danny…he’s smiling and cheering…okay, I have to finish. Once off my bike I tell the girl standing next to me…I hate races. She laughs and I throw in my shoes and hat and I’m out. Just a five mile run…just a five mile run…just a five mile run. I feel like I’m running in sand…every step is a challenge, but it’s only a 5 mile run. I see the lead men and women coming in…they look amazing! I make it to the turn around and I start to see a lot of my buddies! Seeing them is a great pick me up! Near the last 1 mile or so, I see Ann…she gives me a loud “Woo-Hoo!” I just look at her and shake my head…she can see, I’m DONE! Okay, one mile left…you can do it. I pick up a guy running at about my pace and we run together…I tell him not to leave me because he’s helping me pace. Back at the entry to the finish chute, I see my teammates…Go DANA!! I’m going to finish…here we go…down the chute and I’m done! That quite possibly was the hardest race I’ve ever done. I had to dig really deep to keep moving forward. The one thought that kept going through my head was, this is what IronMan training is all about…moving forward, even when you don’t want to. This was probably the best mental toughness day I’ve had in a while. In the end, I am happy to have had it.
The only thing that was missing at the race… was the smiling, cheering face of my Schmoop. He had to work on Sunday morning, so no hugs from him! SO SAD! But I had my team there for support, encouragement, and great laughs! The single best finish of the day was Ann & Bev…you have to ask them about it…it cracked me up for hours!
After a great feast, Dan and I headed home. As always, I have to say that thanks to the support of the team, everyone finished with smiles on their faces!
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No rest for the weary
by admin @ Rolln' with my Homies in IronTownSunday called for a Sprint Tri at UVAS reservoir and generally speaking, I’d welcome the opportunity for a 2 hr workout, however on this Sunday morning…not so much!
Just the day before, we CDA’ers finished a lovely 100+ mile ride in the rolling hills of the Sonoma County. It was a perfect day for a long ride, but the day began with a 4:30am wake-up. Wow, that’s early! We finally rolled back into the driveway at home at 6:30pm. Wow, that’s a long day!! The ride went really well, and we got in our longest ride of the season to date! As soon as we got home, Mike and I unloaded the car, the water bottles, and finally ate some dinner. After dinner we caught up on our Tivo by watching The Soprano’s and I filled my water bottles and checked my tri bag for the race the next day. UGH…another early wake-up.
The alarm must have gone off early…there is NO WAY it is time to get up already. I checked the clock, yup it was 5am. In a haze that can only follow a century ride the previous day, I rolled out of bed. I walked to the bathroom with my eyes half closed, splashed some water on my face and brushed my teeth. I slowly slipped into my tri-clothes and headed down stairs to pack up the car. Mike wasn’t racing because he had to work, but being the sweetie he is, he got up with me to load up the bike and pump my tires. With a quick kiss and a “Go ‘till you blow” wish, I closed the garage door and headed out to pick up Danny. Got to 85 and El Camino and realized I left my wetsuit in the garage…quick U-turn…and I was back home. Maybe I should just go back to bed….No, stop thinking like that. Okay, grabbed the wet-suit and I was back on the road. Quick pit stop at Danny’s, who had a nice hot latte waiting for me, and we were headed toward the reservoir. Man, we were both plum-tuckers. Along McKean road, it started to pour…I think if Dan wasn’t in the car with me I would have started to cry. He helped to keep my mind off the yucky conditions. We parked about a mile away and had to walk into the race start…well, I guess I should say that is where I hopped on my bike to ride in and I left Dan there to walk in on his own. We were a bit late and I knew I would need just about every minute to get ready. As soon as I entered transition, I saw Wass…this was great because he had an empty transition stall right next to him. We set-up our transition areas and anxiously awaited the arrival of our race packets. I ran off to get in the port-a-potty line (that latte really paid off!) and when I returned my packet was waiting at my bike. GREAT, now I really have to race! I told myself…just get through the swim and if you feel like it, keep going. I went off to get my body marking done and when I got back, they were kicking us out of transition. Okay, here we go…on with the wet-suit and off to the water. I walked down to the water with my buddy Ellen, who mentioned that they moved the wave start times up…oh geez, I have no idea what time my wave goes off. Well, I’m sure I have at least 15 minutes. GUESS AGAIN! Before I knew it, I heard the Women’s Wave 34-Under wave is starting in 3 minutes. HELP!! I’m not even in the water! I run to the water’s edge and actually slip and fall on the way in…I guess that’s one way to warm up! Okay, I swim to the start line and off we go! The swim went pretty well, I only zig-zagged a little on the last stretch into the boat ramp. YAY! Okay, the swim in done! Back into transition, I get ready for the bike…oh, the thought of getting back on my bike after yesterday’s ride does not sound like fun. Somewhere between mile 1 and mile 2 on the bike, I told myself, I am not going to run…my legs are absolutely shot! The smallest hill felt like Tunidas Creek! I was exhausted. Okay, just finish the bike and you’re done I told myself. On my way back into transition, I then started thinking…but I’ve never DNF’d…I have to finish. It’s really only a 5 mile run. It’s just like going to the hairpin and back at Rancho. I can do that. Okay, back into transition I see Danny…he’s smiling and cheering…okay, I have to finish. Once off my bike I tell the girl standing next to me…I hate races. She laughs and I throw in my shoes and hat and I’m out. Just a five mile run…just a five mile run…just a five mile run. I feel like I’m running in sand…every step is a challenge, but it’s only a 5 mile run. I see the lead men and women coming in…they look amazing! I make it to the turn around and I start to see a lot of my buddies! Seeing them is a great pick me up! Near the last 1 mile or so, I see Ann…she gives me a loud “Woo-Hoo!” I just look at her and shake my head…she can see, I’m DONE! Okay, one mile left…you can do it. I pick up a guy running at about my pace and we run together…I tell him not to leave me because he’s helping me pace. Back at the entry to the finish chute, I see my teammates…Go DANA!! I’m going to finish…here we go…down the chute and I’m done! That quite possibly was the hardest race I’ve ever done. I had to dig really deep to keep moving forward. The one thought that kept going through my head was, this is what IronMan training is all about…moving forward, even when you don’t want to. This was probably the best mental toughness day I’ve had in a while. In the end, I am happy to have had it.
The only thing that was missing at the race… was the smiling, cheering face of my Schmoop. He had to work on Sunday morning, so no hugs from him! SO SAD! But I had my team there for support, encouragement, and great laughs! The single best finish of the day was Ann & Bev…you have to ask them about it…it cracked me up for hours!
After a great feast, Dan and I headed home. As always, I have to say that thanks to the support of the team, everyone finished with smiles on their faces!
Just the day before, we CDA’ers finished a lovely 100+ mile ride in the rolling hills of the Sonoma County. It was a perfect day for a long ride, but the day began with a 4:30am wake-up. Wow, that’s early! We finally rolled back into the driveway at home at 6:30pm. Wow, that’s a long day!! The ride went really well, and we got in our longest ride of the season to date! As soon as we got home, Mike and I unloaded the car, the water bottles, and finally ate some dinner. After dinner we caught up on our Tivo by watching The Soprano’s and I filled my water bottles and checked my tri bag for the race the next day. UGH…another early wake-up.
The alarm must have gone off early…there is NO WAY it is time to get up already. I checked the clock, yup it was 5am. In a haze that can only follow a century ride the previous day, I rolled out of bed. I walked to the bathroom with my eyes half closed, splashed some water on my face and brushed my teeth. I slowly slipped into my tri-clothes and headed down stairs to pack up the car. Mike wasn’t racing because he had to work, but being the sweetie he is, he got up with me to load up the bike and pump my tires. With a quick kiss and a “Go ‘till you blow” wish, I closed the garage door and headed out to pick up Danny. Got to 85 and El Camino and realized I left my wetsuit in the garage…quick U-turn…and I was back home. Maybe I should just go back to bed….No, stop thinking like that. Okay, grabbed the wet-suit and I was back on the road. Quick pit stop at Danny’s, who had a nice hot latte waiting for me, and we were headed toward the reservoir. Man, we were both plum-tuckers. Along McKean road, it started to pour…I think if Dan wasn’t in the car with me I would have started to cry. He helped to keep my mind off the yucky conditions. We parked about a mile away and had to walk into the race start…well, I guess I should say that is where I hopped on my bike to ride in and I left Dan there to walk in on his own. We were a bit late and I knew I would need just about every minute to get ready. As soon as I entered transition, I saw Wass…this was great because he had an empty transition stall right next to him. We set-up our transition areas and anxiously awaited the arrival of our race packets. I ran off to get in the port-a-potty line (that latte really paid off!) and when I returned my packet was waiting at my bike. GREAT, now I really have to race! I told myself…just get through the swim and if you feel like it, keep going. I went off to get my body marking done and when I got back, they were kicking us out of transition. Okay, here we go…on with the wet-suit and off to the water. I walked down to the water with my buddy Ellen, who mentioned that they moved the wave start times up…oh geez, I have no idea what time my wave goes off. Well, I’m sure I have at least 15 minutes. GUESS AGAIN! Before I knew it, I heard the Women’s Wave 34-Under wave is starting in 3 minutes. HELP!! I’m not even in the water! I run to the water’s edge and actually slip and fall on the way in…I guess that’s one way to warm up! Okay, I swim to the start line and off we go! The swim went pretty well, I only zig-zagged a little on the last stretch into the boat ramp. YAY! Okay, the swim in done! Back into transition, I get ready for the bike…oh, the thought of getting back on my bike after yesterday’s ride does not sound like fun. Somewhere between mile 1 and mile 2 on the bike, I told myself, I am not going to run…my legs are absolutely shot! The smallest hill felt like Tunidas Creek! I was exhausted. Okay, just finish the bike and you’re done I told myself. On my way back into transition, I then started thinking…but I’ve never DNF’d…I have to finish. It’s really only a 5 mile run. It’s just like going to the hairpin and back at Rancho. I can do that. Okay, back into transition I see Danny…he’s smiling and cheering…okay, I have to finish. Once off my bike I tell the girl standing next to me…I hate races. She laughs and I throw in my shoes and hat and I’m out. Just a five mile run…just a five mile run…just a five mile run. I feel like I’m running in sand…every step is a challenge, but it’s only a 5 mile run. I see the lead men and women coming in…they look amazing! I make it to the turn around and I start to see a lot of my buddies! Seeing them is a great pick me up! Near the last 1 mile or so, I see Ann…she gives me a loud “Woo-Hoo!” I just look at her and shake my head…she can see, I’m DONE! Okay, one mile left…you can do it. I pick up a guy running at about my pace and we run together…I tell him not to leave me because he’s helping me pace. Back at the entry to the finish chute, I see my teammates…Go DANA!! I’m going to finish…here we go…down the chute and I’m done! That quite possibly was the hardest race I’ve ever done. I had to dig really deep to keep moving forward. The one thought that kept going through my head was, this is what IronMan training is all about…moving forward, even when you don’t want to. This was probably the best mental toughness day I’ve had in a while. In the end, I am happy to have had it.
The only thing that was missing at the race… was the smiling, cheering face of my Schmoop. He had to work on Sunday morning, so no hugs from him! SO SAD! But I had my team there for support, encouragement, and great laughs! The single best finish of the day was Ann & Bev…you have to ask them about it…it cracked me up for hours!
After a great feast, Dan and I headed home. As always, I have to say that thanks to the support of the team, everyone finished with smiles on their faces!