At this time next week, I should be on the run of Ironman Cozumel. So, what is going on in my head? A lot of people are really wondering this, so here we go with a word and a song associated with each letter in Ironman Cozumel:
I is for Ironman. It is not a fad, it is not a phase. For me, it's a lifestyle.
"I'm Gonna Be Alright (Track Masters Remix)" - Jennifer Lopez featuring 50 Cent
R is for resilience. This year has been very tough for me personally, professionally and emotionally. I have weathered the storm, hurricane, monsoon and blizzard all wrapped into one with an acid rain added to the mix.
"Rock Superstar" - Cypress Hill
O is for Organized. My life may not be as organized as it should but my workouts were. Get up at 3, on the train at 3:45am, at the gym by 4:45am waiting for them to open up, hop in the pool at 5, get to my location by 7:30am to train clients, get on a conference call at 11, try to snag some food, train more clients, get a strength training session in at 3:30, on the bus by 4:45 to coach a 6pm CompuTrainer class. Yeah, organized!
"Outstanding" - Gap Band
N is for Nutty. You may be nutty if you decide to embark in the world of long course.
"Not Afraid" - Eminem
M is for Miles. Yeah, my last name is Miles and I have put in miles and miles of training. Doing my last name proud.
"Money Maker" - Ludacris
A is for Awesome. Anyone who even toes the line to an Iron distance event is AWESOME! Enough said.
"Alright" - Janet Jackson
N is for New. Cozumel is a new course, new experience and new location for me. The last 3 years I was in Arizona.
"New Agenda" - Janet Jackson
C is for CompuTrainer. I spent a LOT OF TIME in the CompuTrainer studio at The Endurance Training Center. The total amount of hours I think I have done is over, at least 100 hours.
"Controversy" - Prince
O is for Opportunity: Cozumel is my opportunity to prove to myself that I can finish this race.
"Off the Wall" - Michael Jackson
Z is for Zen. Training and just working out in general is my Zen.
U is for Understanding: This is more for friends, colleagues etc. who had to understand that my training this year meant more to me than ever.
"Up Jump Da Boogie" - Timbaland featuring Magoo, Missy Elliott and Aaliyah
M is for Motivation: You have to have the motivation and desire to do this. Without motivation, what and why in the hell are you doing it.
"Music" by Erick Sermon
E is for Early: Early morning workouts and getting a jump start on organizing my workouts and my life week by week. You don't do it early, well you will just fall behind..
"Escape" - Prince
L is for Lifestyle: This is a lifestyle for me. Some may understand it. Some may not. It is not my job to make you understand. Just understand that this is a part of me.
"Lose Yourself" - Eminem
And there you have it. I have less than 7 days now and I'm ready. Whatever happens, I'm leaving it all out on the course. Come Sunday, I become Athlete Number 1433.
The saga continues...
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Tapering down
"'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
Feel weak, and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up.
But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
And just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up
And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse." - Lyrics to "Till I Collapse" by Eminem
Tapering down does not mean stop working out and eat everything as if you are a bear hibernating for the winter. No, there are some people who think that. As I am writing this, I am watching the snow lightly fall-I digress. Nope, tapering down means reducing your workout volume and not eating everything in sight except after a swim. ALWAYS after a swim.
Right now, I am getting my race plan together for my coach. I actually threw out the first 3 drafts due to changes I found out about our start time and my race number changed (1433 now). I have a time in mind that I am NOT sharing with anyone. I've given only a very vague idea to some people. I feel ready. It's just been a LONG ASS TRAINING SEASON.
THINGS I MISS:
Feel weak, and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up.
But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength
And just pull that shit out of you and get that motivation to not give up
And not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse." - Lyrics to "Till I Collapse" by Eminem
Tapering down does not mean stop working out and eat everything as if you are a bear hibernating for the winter. No, there are some people who think that. As I am writing this, I am watching the snow lightly fall-I digress. Nope, tapering down means reducing your workout volume and not eating everything in sight except after a swim. ALWAYS after a swim.
Right now, I am getting my race plan together for my coach. I actually threw out the first 3 drafts due to changes I found out about our start time and my race number changed (1433 now). I have a time in mind that I am NOT sharing with anyone. I've given only a very vague idea to some people. I feel ready. It's just been a LONG ASS TRAINING SEASON.
THINGS I MISS:
- My bike. Yes, I miss Beeker but the wonderful folks at TriBike Transport are taking great care of him.
- A somewhat normal schedule. Now, let's be honest, my schedule is not normal due to the fact that I am a Pilates Trainer, Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Coach. My Ironman training schedule right now has revolved around my coaching, teaching and training schedule. It's been a circus at times but I don't regret it.
- A normal load of laundry.
WHAT I DON'T MISS:
- Racing to the gym to get that coveted swim lane at 5am.
- Doing more laundry than is humanly possible for 1 person. Yes, 1 person! What in the hay????
- Explaining to people that my race is the very last North American Ironman
One more blog post to go! Or maybe 2 before this race. 8 days to go! #RoadtoCozumel
Thursday, November 12, 2015
17 days...there is a significance to this
Ok, there is no big surprise that I am the BIGGEST Prince fan next to my friend, Sally. 17 days is a title of one of my favorite songs. Actually, it is his most famous B-sides. It first appeared as the B-sides to "When Doves Cry". I digress...
I am in day 4 of my taper and I am not in "taper crazy". I'm just following my training plan and getting mentally ready for what's to come.
On Tuesday, I picked up my beloved Beeker and took him to Element Multisport. If you still have no clue who Becker is, this is him:
Yeah, I had an attitude. At one point, I was running in place. That gives a new meaning to the "running man".
Someone had asked me if I was scared and nervous and my response was, "NO". Why should I be scared. This is not my first rodeo nor will it be my last. I am just laser focused on what I have to do. My Coach, Jenny knows, my inner circle knows and of course, my loved ones know even though they don't understand this thing called Endurance Sports.
The Saga Continues...
I am in day 4 of my taper and I am not in "taper crazy". I'm just following my training plan and getting mentally ready for what's to come.
On Tuesday, I picked up my beloved Beeker and took him to Element Multisport. If you still have no clue who Becker is, this is him:
He is misunderstood. Yeah, he is a size smaller than I should be riding, but he is up to the challenge. TriBike Transport is who I use to send my guy to Mexico. I am a little sad that I only own 1 bike but that's ok. There's always the spin bike... cue sinister music: https://youtu.be/yXQViqx6GMY
Yes, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" is sinister sounding.
Anyhoo, I have already started packing. Yep, shorts, running skirts, race gear and of course the bikini!!!! I need sunshine like it is no one's business. My run , this morning was a perfect example. Headwind coming and going plus some crosswinds. Mother Nature was damn disrespectful. Oh, and the real feel temperature was 29 degrees. Straight bull! THIS was the look on my face right before I had to turn around:
Yeah, I had an attitude. At one point, I was running in place. That gives a new meaning to the "running man".
Someone had asked me if I was scared and nervous and my response was, "NO". Why should I be scared. This is not my first rodeo nor will it be my last. I am just laser focused on what I have to do. My Coach, Jenny knows, my inner circle knows and of course, my loved ones know even though they don't understand this thing called Endurance Sports.
The Saga Continues...
Sunday, November 8, 2015
21 Days and I'm Still Standing
https://youtu.be/ZHwVBirqD2s
Yep, I'm still standing-still trying to figure that out. 3 weeks from today, I will be towing the line at IM Cozumel. These past few days have been extremely rough. Try doing an Ironman simulation when you had to work in the AM. It was rough, but I did it. I swam in the pool with my swim skin on. It was very comfortable while I was cranking out my 4300 yards except for the damn string attached to the zipper. Grrrr.....Gotta figure that out.
From the pool, I donned my tri shorts and top on went to the CompuTrainer. I had 5 hours to ride on the Cozumel course. The goal was to get 80-90 miles. I ended up with 75 miles and 3 movies.
The goal was time in the saddle, work on nutrition and high cadence. Because Cozumel will be hot and humid, I cranked up the heat, turned off the fans and got to pedaling. Oh, I also cranked up the Chicago House music as well to keep me motivated. https://youtu.be/LNRA2SOV3DY
After the bike, I had to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Why the treadmill? Well it was close to the studio and I did not have my headlamp to run outdoors. I made it through. I was tired. When I was leaving the gym, the front desk staffer looked at me like, "You have been here for HOW LONG?" Yeah, I was. She asked was I going to go home and sleep. Honey, I am getting something to eat. 10 wings, 3 shredded chicken tacos, yellow rice, black beans, water and a Corona (don't judge) later, it was time to go home and prepare for the next day.
Saturday's workout consisted of a 2 hour and 45 minute run. The run total was 15 miles + 1 1/2 miles walking back to my place because I ran with no Ventra Card (that's for the CTA-Chicago Transit). No temptation. The positives of my run:
Today, was Pilates! Oh, how I love Pilates!!!!! This is it!
Tomorrow, I start taper. That means my volume slowly decreases while I get my mind, body and soul ready for Cozumel. It's almost go time!
#Iwillnotgointothetapercrazies
https://youtu.be/ZA3n-KUe3j0
Yep, I'm still standing-still trying to figure that out. 3 weeks from today, I will be towing the line at IM Cozumel. These past few days have been extremely rough. Try doing an Ironman simulation when you had to work in the AM. It was rough, but I did it. I swam in the pool with my swim skin on. It was very comfortable while I was cranking out my 4300 yards except for the damn string attached to the zipper. Grrrr.....Gotta figure that out.
From the pool, I donned my tri shorts and top on went to the CompuTrainer. I had 5 hours to ride on the Cozumel course. The goal was to get 80-90 miles. I ended up with 75 miles and 3 movies.
After the bike, I had to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Why the treadmill? Well it was close to the studio and I did not have my headlamp to run outdoors. I made it through. I was tired. When I was leaving the gym, the front desk staffer looked at me like, "You have been here for HOW LONG?" Yeah, I was. She asked was I going to go home and sleep. Honey, I am getting something to eat. 10 wings, 3 shredded chicken tacos, yellow rice, black beans, water and a Corona (don't judge) later, it was time to go home and prepare for the next day.
Saturday's workout consisted of a 2 hour and 45 minute run. The run total was 15 miles + 1 1/2 miles walking back to my place because I ran with no Ventra Card (that's for the CTA-Chicago Transit). No temptation. The positives of my run:
- Saw a beautiful sunrise
- Saw 12 rabbits, 2 squirrels, 5 rats
- The peace and tranquility of an early morning run
- I had to wear a hat
- It was cold
- It was dark
- My body was tired
- That wind though! Straight bullsh$t!
Today, was Pilates! Oh, how I love Pilates!!!!! This is it!
Tomorrow, I start taper. That means my volume slowly decreases while I get my mind, body and soul ready for Cozumel. It's almost go time!
#Iwillnotgointothetapercrazies
https://youtu.be/ZA3n-KUe3j0
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Peak Week
The positives:
- ! I think so. No wetsuits
- Sunshine
- Warm water
- Clear water
- Maybe a dolphin sighting?
- Will only be able to see colors and figures (yeah, I'm that blind)
As I stated on Facebook, I apologize if I snap at anybody. Just be nice to me and give me coffee. In 7 days, my beloved Beeker leaves for Mexico. Lucky guy.
Anyhow, Let's recap last week why don't we. I stretched a lot, foam rolled a lot, Pilate'ed a lot, swam a lot, biked a lot and ran some, even in the rain.
I'm feeling good about training and race day. Everything else in my life right now, well that is a whole different story. Nutrition plans 1, 2 and 3 are all set. Outfits are just about set. Wayment!!!!!!!! Did she just say outfits? I sure did. One of the benefits of doing Ironman, there is a changing tent. #winning Oh, did I mention that I have already started packing as well? Yes, I am THAT person.
I just need to get through the next 22 days before I fly out. The waiting is the most annoying part since most of my friends are already done with their races or they are racing this Saturday at Ironman Florida, or they are about to do Ironman Arizona on the 15th. I have the luck of being in the last Ironman race in North America. Isn't that special. Well, I think so.
Just think:
- 7 days before my bike leaves
- 22 days before I leave
- 25 days before I race
- 26 days before my off season starts
- 27 days before I fly back and head right to work
- 28 days before I plot 2016
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