SWBKRUN Mentor Group-"Off Season?" What is that?!! (Page 335)

fattyfatfat - 2009-11-09 9:45 AM

you beat me to it. 

Jeepguy2358 - 2009-11-09 11:48 AM

Okay, this is crazy - I can't ride my bike outside today because a plane crashed on my route!  Anyone ever said that before?  Luckily reports say that the three passengers have survived and are at the hospital- two with minor injuries and not sure about the third.  It is about 1/2 mile from my house.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/news/21560386/detail.html

tahrens - 2009-11-09 9:57 AM Courage isn't always a lion's roar - it is sometimes the heart at the end of a day saying......"I will try again tomorrow."

tahrens - 2009-11-09 7:51 AM Hi guys,  most importantly, a HUGE congratulations to Chet, Linda, John and Sam!  I am so proud of all of you and thought of you often. 

The writing of this is very hard, for it means I have to re-live the experience.  The only thing harder than what happened is telling this group about it.

Lets start with the good.  The swim, as Chet said, was fantastic.  The mass beach start was wonderful to be a part of and I did very well.  1:04 total time- but there was a great current for most of the swim.  I by passed the wetsuit strippers to get to the hand off faster. But to be honest I had a friend volunteering as a stripper and it would have been great to have him "strip me."  He sent a message to a buddy saying "I stripped you wife and she looked great."  But back on track - glad to have the wetsuit and booties for the long run accross several streets to Doug, passed off the chip, and sprawled out on the grass for a while.

Then I took a shower, ate, changed, and headed over to the Battleship for the second hand off.  I went early but didn't want to sit around my hotel room by myself.  I was prepared for the weather to be in the predicted low 60's but it must have hit the upper 70's as I STOOD standing for Doug for 3 hours.  That was the first of my problems.  My injury is exasperated when I stand so that was not a good start.  Doug was about 35 minutes off his target (as Chet mentioned the wind and Doug cramped) so I was worried about him.  But he got to me and I was off.

Right from the get go I started getting weird cramps in my abdomen - places I never cramp. I realized it was from the twisting out of my hips.  If I run with my calf taped the muscle is protected but the resulting twist from my hips plays out in my back and IT attachment on the outside of my left knee.  But I worked through the cramps and motored on, feeling pretty good.  Chet called my name around mile 5 for me. Didn't think my race number was visible but then realized who else has their leg taped like that. It was great to see him.  On the return of the first loop I started walking around mile 10. The temperature was dropping and my feet and back were really starting to hurt. You know you look bad when the spectators and volunteers stop cheering and get quiet looking at you when you pass.  I made it to the turn around and started to put on my warmer clothes. A race worker came up to me and tried to give me a pep talk. Very nice. She  said the crying is a sign of low blood sugar so I thought okay, chicken broth at the next mile.  A racer passed me and asked my name then did a prayer right there. God , did I really look that bad?  So I got mile 14 aide station and the broth was cold!  At this point I started to really panic b/c I was starting hypothermia due to lack of running and the temp drop.  I was planning on the broth to warm me and then was scared the broth would be cold at all the stations. (turns out it was just that one but I didn't know that at the time).  That was when I really didn't want to race anymore. It had taken my over 2 hours to hit the half way point and there was no way I could do at least 3 more in the cold with my feet, back and knee hurting the way they were.  But I couldn't just stop on the side of the road.  Doug was over the bridge and waiting with our friends downtown so I had about 3 more miles to get to him.  A friend who was traveling along the run course on this silly little scooter found me and did a great job on trying to cheer me up. He was singing - badly - saying things like, this road is the road to IMCA 2011.  I was so miserable I said, "but I don't want to go to Canada, I just want to stop moving."  At mile 16 I saw Doug coming towards me and I literally collapsed in tears in his arms. I kept saying "I don't want to do this anymore, I am so embarrassed but I don't want to do this anymore."  He sat me down and let me cry for a while.  The worst part was at that time a girlfriend of mine, who was having a fantastic race, came by and tried to pull me with her saying we'd finish it together.  The last thing I wanted was for her to have this horrible image of me or to slow her down.  She plowed on and ended up with a PR finish!!!! 

Doug took me into the hotel and as we were waiting for the elevator the lady at the front desk asked if I needed anything- I was still crying.  She personally brought some tea to my room.  I got into a hot bath with my hot tea and a coke and sent Doug back to the finish line to cheer on our friends - all of which did fantastic.

People keep telling me it took more guts to know when to quit than it would have to finish it - I'm trying hard to believe them.  I am crying again just remembering this, but I really did learn so much about how an ironman works and about myself.  I need to heal my injury, work on my nutrition and most importantly heal mentally.

Thanks for all this group's support.

roni_runnw - 2009-11-09 8:04 AM

I did my 26 mile training run yesterday! It rained, and I had to walk some sections of the dirt trail because the mud was so slippery I could barely walk it safely let alone run it...  perfect ultra training!

I did some soul searching to figure out why I was having such a difficult time getting this one done. After all, I've run 26 miles three times before this one. I enjoy running marathons, so why was this so difficult. I'm not really motivated by the shirt or the medal, though I do joke about it. I'm motivated by the goal of completing the distance. So why was this any different? What I realized was that in a race quitting is simply not an option. My mindset is focused on getting to the start and completing the goal. I don't let my mind wander to thoughts of shortening the run, or putting it off for another day. So, I brought this same mindset into my training run and actually used the mantra, "quitting is not an option",  and it made all the difference in the world.  Thank you guys for being here to keep me accountable and, especially, to Kim and Suzy for helping me realize how important it was to get this one done and for sharing their experience! You all are awesome!

But... shouldn't I get a shirt or something for completing that long azz run It's good to have this one behind me, now just one more long one next week before taper time.

ashort33 - 2009-11-06 9:45 PM

No need to go back 200 pages - I'll sum it up for you - there was some smack talk, there were some races, some did better than expected, others didn't.  There was some more smack talk.  Bunch of people meeting at the Lonestar Tri Festival in Galveston.  More smack talk.  Sure there was some pearls of wisdom, but that's a lot of oysters to shuck to find them...

Welcome Home!

kt65 - 2009-11-09 11:57 AM Yes, you do get a shirt! A Swbkrun MG shirt if you go to Lonestar! Roni, excellent job getting this done. When it gets lonely and hard out there on your 50k, just remember your 11/08 26 mile run and you'll say "piece of cake" AND I get a medal at the end...and the knowledge that very few people will have completed what you just did, Ms. Ultra! I'll think of you next weekend when I do my last long one, too! This MG is just so inspiring.

roni_runnw - 2009-11-09 10:04 AM

I did my 26 mile training run yesterday! It rained, and I had to walk some sections of the dirt trail because the mud was so slippery I could barely walk it safely let alone run it...  perfect ultra training!

I did some soul searching to figure out why I was having such a difficult time getting this one done. After all, I've run 26 miles three times before this one. I enjoy running marathons, so why was this so difficult. I'm not really motivated by the shirt or the medal, though I do joke about it. I'm motivated by the goal of completing the distance. So why was this any different? What I realized was that in a race quitting is simply not an option. My mindset is focused on getting to the start and completing the goal. I don't let my mind wander to thoughts of shortening the run, or putting it off for another day. So, I brought this same mindset into my training run and actually used the mantra, "quitting is not an option",  and it made all the difference in the world.  Thank you guys for being here to keep me accountable and, especially, to Kim and Suzy for helping me realize how important it was to get this one done and for sharing their experience! You all are awesome!

But... shouldn't I get a shirt or something for completing that long azz run It's good to have this one behind me, now just one more long one next week before taper time.

fattyfatfat - 2009-11-08 8:34 PM Hey everyone.  I had a great day. Almost an hour faster than Lubbock. 6:51.  I don't have my splits yet but from what I remember the they were in the neighborhood of....

s: 43:xx
b: 3:30
r: 2:30

I was 4th out of the water in my AG.  And it was 200m long so somewhere a little faster than 1:55 / 100.  Not you know who over there in Florida but I'll take it. 

I'm cool with the bike.  Constant rollers w/ almost no flat.  I passed a few people, that was odd.

I'm cool with the run.  My one long shot goal was to PR the half marathon, 2:13.  Was in the 9:40 range for the first 3 miles but I sh+t the bed at at mile 5.  HR was good just no legs.  Suzy your advice played a big role today. Thank you.

Overall the bike course was a little bit easier than Lubbock but the run was almost right there with it.  Some great improvement!  And I'm feeling it a lot more than I did up there.  My legs and butt were hurting so bad at the end of the run and for few hours after.  Bottom line, I left everything out there.  I did go by medical after the race because I was seeing weird spots.  My BP was good and no fever so they think it was because I was spent.  Started feeling better about 20 minutes later after just sitting and doing nothing.

And that's my first season...  1/4 IM, sprint, 1/2 IM, sprint, sprint, 1/2 IM.  I love the 1/2.  You really find something out about yourself. Most of it is good. 

I can't wait for Lone Star and racing the 1/2 with some of you.  I wish somehow all of you could be here for it. 

I'll get a RR up tomorrow. 

Thanks everyone.

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 6:03 PM Hello - finally back home.  We had a great weekend at the beach w/ our friends and at the race.  I was pretty pleased with my race.  I want to qualify for Boston at some point and made that my goal for this race knowing that it was VERY ambitious.  Even though that was what I trained for I really wanted to break 4 hrs. as my real goal.  I was sort of close - 4:09 and some change.  I would have been a lot closer but I ran into some severe leg cramping around mile 22.  I've got to figure that out before my next long distance race.  Same thing happened at Baltimore.

Still I PRed my 1/2 marathon time by 2 min. and 15 sec., bested my last marathon by 21 min. and beat our neighbor friend (a guy  ;-)) that I bet w/ by 26min. HeHe

I learned a lot out on course and hope to apply to the next go round.  I'll have my race report up tomorrow.

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 6:08 PM

Great job John - I'm looking forward to a little friendly competition at Lonestar.

TrevorC - 2009-11-09 7:33 PM

You think??? OH Sam it's on....Texans vs North Americans!!

SSMinnow - 2009-11-07 7:51 PM First, I continue to be amazed by our Linda.  Just think how much she has been through the last two weeks leading up to this race...mentally tough and a physical animal to boot.  I was telling the BT'ers at my race about her today. WHOA!

Roni,  I think this run is extremely important for you.  Like Kim said it builds mental toughness and makes you think about your strategy to get through it leading up to your ultra.  You need to go inside yourself versus having the distractions of the fans,etc.  When I did 26m on a TM, I would alter pace to keep my legs fresher and back then I also listened to music. Today my advice would be to focus on how you would handle yourself in your ultra, when to drink, when to speed up, how to handle pain, practicing your mantras if you use them, etc. 

Did the half in around 2:04ish which was hard for me to accept mentally. My HR was Z3 from the start despite an ez RPE so in essence I stuck to the plan.  I decided to go with it and ended up seeing a friend at 4m who asked me to pace him to the finish which turned out to be great for both of us. No leg pain at all, but my right foot is messed up,not PF, but at one point I thought it might be an SFX.  After being home, I think it is something else....ice is the order of the night....the bright spot is I met a slew of BT'ers--Schmize, CoreDump, Whizz, DJDavey, JMWebs and a lot of other tall Donkeys (the BT WI tri team)....really fun to put people to handles and avatars.

Good luck Sam, John, Chet and Tracy.  I will be rooting for you!

PS Jeremy would love to have you do Racine.  My advice is get a hotel asap.  The host hotel , Radisson HarbourWalk is within minutes of the start walking, but requires a two night minimum.  It will fill fast.  I am not staying there since I only need to arrive the night before.

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 7:03 PM Hello - finally back home.  We had a great weekend at the beach w/ our friends and at the race.  I was pretty pleased with my race.  I want to qualify for Boston at some point and made that my goal for this race knowing that it was VERY ambitious.  Even though that was what I trained for I really wanted to break 4 hrs. as my real goal.  I was sort of close - 4:09 and some change.  I would have been a lot closer but I ran into some severe leg cramping around mile 22.  I've got to figure that out before my next long distance race.  Same thing happened at Baltimore.

Still I PRed my 1/2 marathon time by 2 min. and 15 sec., bested my last marathon by 21 min. and beat our neighbor friend (a guy  ;-)) that I bet w/ by 26min. HeHe

I learned a lot out on course and hope to apply to the next go round.  I'll have my race report up tomorrow.

TrevorC - 2009-11-09 7:32 PM

Nice run there lightning!!
Hey out of curiousity , what Tony's fastest marathon?

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 5:03 PM Hello - finally back home.  We had a great weekend at the beach w/ our friends and at the race.  I was pretty pleased with my race.  I want to qualify for Boston at some point and made that my goal for this race knowing that it was VERY ambitious.  Even though that was what I trained for I really wanted to break 4 hrs. as my real goal.  I was sort of close - 4:09 and some change.  I would have been a lot closer but I ran into some severe leg cramping around mile 22.  I've got to figure that out before my next long distance race.  Same thing happened at Baltimore.

Still I PRed my 1/2 marathon time by 2 min. and 15 sec., bested my last marathon by 21 min. and beat our neighbor friend (a guy  ;-)) that I bet w/ by 26min. HeHe

I learned a lot out on course and hope to apply to the next go round.  I'll have my race report up tomorrow.

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 7:03 PM Hello - finally back home.  We had a great weekend at the beach w/ our friends and at the race.  I was pretty pleased with my race.  I want to qualify for Boston at some point and made that my goal for this race knowing that it was VERY ambitious.  Even though that was what I trained for I really wanted to break 4 hrs. as my real goal.  I was sort of close - 4:09 and some change.  I would have been a lot closer but I ran into some severe leg cramping around mile 22.  I've got to figure that out before my next long distance race.  Same thing happened at Baltimore.

Still I PRed my 1/2 marathon time by 2 min. and 15 sec., bested my last marathon by 21 min. and beat our neighbor friend (a guy  ;-)) that I bet w/ by 26min. HeHe

I learned a lot out on course and hope to apply to the next go round.  I'll have my race report up tomorrow.

sdalessio - 2009-11-09 8:03 PM Hello - finally back home.  We had a great weekend at the beach w/ our friends and at the race.  I was pretty pleased with my race.  I want to qualify for Boston at some point and made that my goal for this race knowing that it was VERY ambitious.  Even though that was what I trained for I really wanted to break 4 hrs. as my real goal.  I was sort of close - 4:09 and some change.  I would have been a lot closer but I ran into some severe leg cramping around mile 22.  I've got to figure that out before my next long distance race.  Same thing happened at Baltimore.

Still I PRed my 1/2 marathon time by 2 min. and 15 sec., bested my last marathon by 21 min. and beat our neighbor friend (a guy  ;-)) that I bet w/ by 26min. HeHe

I learned a lot out on course and hope to apply to the next go round.  I'll have my race report up tomorrow.