Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 94)

First an admission and an apology:  Being technology challenged, I wasn’t sure how to load a px with my posts.  Not wanting to be a complete stranger when we start meeting at Lake Placid, I told my kids I should finally add a px.  Later one of my sons who is also doing LP, told me to read one of the latest posts, causing me to discover they had helped me out and loaded a px for me.  My apology for how big it is – I didn’t mean for it to take so much room, but am not sure how to shrink it down.

Just completed 2 days of training that I’m sure was different than anyone else’s – had a colonoscopy today, meaning yesterday and this morning was prep day.  This meant a 6 mile run yesterday before starting the prep and biking on a spin bike in the basement before today’s exam.  Prep   clear liquids, and NPO are not exactly the best way to carb load though. 

Hi IMLPeeps! I had an idea that I thought might catch on, who knows? I thought it might be cool to read some of the best training moments everyone has had leading up to the race. Reading stuff like that is inspirational to me and thought it might be for others too.

I don’t know if these should be considered best training moments or craziest training moments, but a few of mine were:

A night run which found me running into the teeth of a very strong wind during a major blizzard (could hardly see or keep my footing) trying to prove that it could not stop me.  The blizzard was so bad that it shut life down for a couple of days – but not my run!

Running in a torrential rainstorm in which a driver stopped and asked if he could give me a lift somewhere and looking at me like I was absolutely crazy when I politely refused by saying I had to get more time in yet.

Finishing a 105 miles of hill after hill after having bike trouble, causing me to struggle through many of these hills in my big ring.  My husband and sons told me to just wait for a SAG vehicle, but that was NOT on my training plan.  Not only did I finish but I made it up “the wall” towards the end without having to get off and walk my bike.

Completing my first HIM when I thought they would need to bring in a large spatula to scrape me off the hot road during the run portion.

Finishing a long swim and having a neighbor clap because we had swam for so long.

Every time I found myself struggling through a difficult situation, I encouraged myself by reminding myself this is how I get ready to become an Ironman.

And on the positive side - spending time with my husband and sons on long bike rides which included riding out to Lake Michigan on a gorgeous summer day, meeting at a town located between us and eating an ice cream cone in a park before returning to our respective ways, riding bike trails all over town.

Looking back, it’s been quite the journey, no matter what the outcome.

My moments are a bit different over the past year:

1.  Completing my first triathlon ever in July of 2010 (NJ State Sprint)

2.  Dropping below 200 lbs for the first time in 10 years.

3.  Dropping below 180 lbs for the first time since college! (40 lbs lost in 18 months)

4.  Having to donate just about all of my clothes and jackets since they no longer fit!

5.  Finally being able to link pool laps together and going from 4 to over 40 overnight.

6.  First Sprint Tri in a training and blowing away my time from last year.

7.  First open water swim of 1.5 miles and it was EASY!

8.  First century ride.

9.  First run over 10 miles since my Army days.

10.  Running 3 mile "warmups" now just for fun.

11.  Dreading that first ride in pouring rain and actually loving it!

12.  Doing multiple HIMs in training and having energy afterwards.

13.  Meeting Dave Scott in person and having him wish me luck!

Looking forward to...

1. Hearing my name announced as I cross the finish line.

2. Knowing that my family worked just as hard (or harder) at this so I could train and spending a LOT more time with them (I owe them big time!)

3.  Running the Boston Half Marathon in October and thinking how easy it will be.

4.  Meeting fellow BT members who have provided laughs, moral support, advice, and peer-insanity during this journey.

5. Being able to withdraw from the training that I've banked over the past several months.

6. Knowing that I'm not the only one who is nervous, anxious, and wondering if I've done enough for this race.

7. Large, cold beer at the end of the race!

my "best of" training moments:

overall... having the courage to commit day in and day out!!

-doing multipl 2-3 hour trainer session, difficult, but im always amazed that i can get through it !

-racing a half marathon the day after an 85 mile bike and feeling good!

-swimming 4k yards= CAKE

-running a 13.5 mile trail race , with the first 3 miles taking me 1 hr due to 2200 ft elevation gain, then finishing and continuing down the road for 3 more miles to get my 16 miler in!

-riding my first 100 miler, wasn't so bad!

1. First sprint tri. (Beating my younger brother in law)

2. Biking and running in the rain felt normal. Swimming in the rain is just plain weird.

3. Stopping to help a runner in distress during my HIM.

4. Online regestration for LP. Phew S T R E S S.

5. 2nd in my age group for a mile swim.

6. Buying my big boy bike.

7. Playing in the surf of Lake Michigan and having a blast like a little kid.

Awesome reflections on the year everybody - really nice to read through them.

I'm actually getting a kick out of watching the weather - it's taking my mind of the nerves.  If you watch the forecast it changes several times during the day.  Yesterday showed rain, then hot/humid, then warm/sunny.  Today shows thunderstorms on one site and partly cloudy on another.  Then again, I'm kind of expecting to see just about all of that on the same day.

Anybody else bringing young kids there?  My girls are 5 and 8 and looking for fun things to do with them up there.  I'm sure they will thoroughly enjoy driving the bike loop and watching daddy ride some of the hills to get a feel for them (not) but interested in what we can do that is fun for them and allows me to rest for the race at the same time.  Hopefully weather will support hanging out by the lake.

I just watched one and was thinking how much fun it is going to be... then realized how much climbing is coming to make up for that fun.

the decent is long and fast.........everyone be careful!

the uphill is , well, a slow climb up.....but it will get done !

As long as fast as it is, are you guys watching the tour this year?  Just got into the mountains yesterday and that's some long and fast descending and brutal climbing!

Absolutely, glued to the set. The only reason I selected LP as my IM race this year is because the mountain stages coincide PERFECTLY with my taper. OK, not really, but still, timing couldn't be better.

I think its amazing that you and your son are doing Lake placid!! What an incredible day it will be for both of you, and you will share that forever and ever!! I can never imagine my mom/dad doing an IM with me....it would truly be one of the greatest days in my life! kudos to you both!

Congrats, that is fantastic!!!!  Great job staying positive and focused.

And your race number is so awesome!  you lucky dog.  It was meant to be.   ..."AGAIN!"...

Best part of the movie!!

Hooray!  Glad to hear you got the green light.  Your race number is quite honestly the BEST # you could get!!

Awesome news!  If that's not good Karma, I don't know what is...

Jeff - that is simply fantastic news - really, really glad to hear it.
Awesome number - couldn't be more fitting!

Seriously awesome news!

Bumping to the top. Anyone?