20 days: Begin the taper....

So I have 20 days remaining before I compete at Ironman Arizona. How am I feeling? Excited, stressed, anxious, tired, overwhelmed, relieved...well, you get the picture. This past week was Peak Week of training and I was a total head case. Not because of training, but work as well. I have been burning the candle on both ends for a LONG TIME and it is now catching up. Some highlights of Peak Week: Monday: 1 hour swim Tuesday: 75 minute CompuTrainer + 30 min Run in the rain + 15 minutes of strength training Wednesday: 60 minute swim (almost 2 miles) + 55 minute run in the cold and a 15 min strength training Thursday: Another 75 minute CompuTrainer + a 60 minute run and a 30 minute strength training which became 45 minutes of Pilates Friday: 96 minute swim (well, that became 5, 338 yards in a 17 yard pool for you guessed it-157 laps or 3.032 miles in a time of 1 hour and 40 odd minutes) Saturday: 2.4 mile swim (1:14:09) and a total of 63 miles biking and 1 mile of running. 30 minutes of strength was attempting pushups, squats and lunges (oh it was NOT pretty) and then I passed out once I got home from another swim practice that I help coach Sunday: 11 mile run at 4 am in the morning. My body hates me, I'm cranky and tired and I am ready for Arizona! Bring it!! Emotionally, I am a total wreck. This is sooo worse than PMS. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And to top it off, one of my suitcases is packed since I have to fly to North Carolina a week before for the USAT Level I Coaching Certification in Raleigh, NC. But you know what made Saturday's workout? Listening to Prince Radio on Pandora and singing along with my training partners. So, stressed out...not at all!!! Now it is time to get into serious GLADIATOR MODE!!! Please be nice to me and don't make me cry. And if you touch my food or coffee...you may or may not have a hand...

34 days: Kona/Chicago/Numb Toes

I have 34 days or basically 5 weeks minus 1 day to toe the line of Ironman Arizona. I was suppose to publish this post last night but I was so exhausted from the marathon. I didn't run the marathon but I was there in the capacity of coach/cheerleader/motivator. Hence, why I have no voice today. So, what's been going on this week. Well......Let's get into the stupid shit that did in order to prepare for Ironman. 1. Monday: I did a 60-minute swim with Coach Allan. I feel like we have made some more progress in my swimming. 2. Tuesday: The workout called for a 75 minute CompuTrainer, 30 minute brick run and 15 minutes of strength. So the 75-minute CompuTrainer class was on tap so I thought, instead of running 30 minutes on a treadmill and 15 minutes of strength, I decided to run back to FFC East Lakeview with a 30lb backpack on my back. That's strength training, right? Stupid shit that I do for training but I also had to go back to work. It makes sense to me.... 3. Wednesday: 60 minute swim and a 90 minute swim + 15 minutes strength. In order to get these 2 workouts in, I decided to go to the gym at 4am in the morning. I know that you are probably thinking, that girl is cray cray. yes, I am! Next question. I had to get it in since my schedule was a little crazy with all of the coaching/teaching/training that I have to do throughout the day so this is what I had to do. In the evening I went home to do my 90 minute run and 15 minutes of strength training which consisted of 20 pushups/20 squats/20 lunges/20 burpees 3 sets with a 30 second rest in between each set. 4. Thursday: 60 min run and 30 min strength. You know what, I scrapped the run since I was going to run 18 miles on Friday. 30 minutes of strength was actually 45 minutes of Pilates Mat and another CompuTrainer class (I told y'all that biking is my weakness). 5. Friday: Stupid Shit Done on Fridays-18 mile run and a long swim. Well, I did the 18 mile run since I was not going to jump into the Marathon on Sunday since I had to work. Why take away from my athletes? I ran the first 6 and then spoke with my partner in crime in Endurance at the Lake for a few before I finished the final 12. Went back to work to shower, change and get ready for another client. when that client did not come in, I went back out to the Lake. Oh SFD! (Shit Fuck Damn). That water was cold. I went for a swim with a full wetsuit (love my Orca) but without my neoprene swim cap, ear plugs or booties! He head was fine since my afro acts as a natural insulator but my feet turned blue from the cold water (58-60 degrees). I was able to swim for an hour, not 2 as it was in my schedule. My feet would not have feeling again until late that evening. 6. Saturday: Kona viewing party!!! Also known as 100 miles in CompuTrainer and 5 miles of running on a treadmill. Well, that is now what happened. it was more like 85 miles and a 5 mile run on the treadmill. 20+ miles in I had a flat on the back tire...WHAT THE FUCK? Almost broke a finger trying to getting that fucking tire off (my tires are very difficult to remove). After spending what seemed like a lifetime fixing it with Chris' help (felt like a very stupid girl), got back on the bike. The Kona broadcast was not on yet, but I was okay. We got off the bikes and went to the treadmill to run 1 or 2 miles. I ran 2 miles. The only way to get through a treadmill run of any distance is to listen to Eminem or Bob Marley's "Exodus". Hopped back on again and finally the broadcast was on. Made it 50 miles with more issues with my back tire and back to the treadmill. This time I did 1.5 miles on the treadmill. Came back to ride again. I knew I was getting dizzy and seeing spots but tried to ignore it. Well, Mr. Migraine decided to show up. I had to get off the bike and just sit for a while trying to will it away. That shit didn't work! I got back on and made it to 85 miles but knew I was running out of time since I had to go to a Marathon dinner for my Team Bright Pink Runners. I went another 1.5 miles on the treadmill and proceeded to throw up afterwards (that happens sometimes with my migraines). Do you know how much that sucks? A whole hell of a lot. After looking like a human again (showering and putting on real clothes), I went to the dinner and was so happy to be surrounded by all my athletes. Those preparing for their first marathon and those getting ready for their 10th. After the dinner, I finally got home and collapsed. That's how tired I was but I woke up 2 hours later to eat AGAIN!!! Now this leads into Sunday and the Chicago Marathon. I was so happy and proud of my runners that trained with us but also all of the other thousands of runners. Like I stated in my Facebook post, there's something magical about the marathon. It's better than Disney World! Just seeing people of all shapes, sizes and color pushing, sprinting (Kenyans), running and walking. It just makes me so happy with my choice of fitness as my career! Now what's next? RECOVERY WEEK!!!! Oh, I need a voice (it's shot), a nap and another head since my migraine is killing me today! That's enough with my rambling...

41 Days: GLADIATOR!!!!!

“Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy” - Lao Tzu This quote really struck a chord within me. After the ups and downs like a roller coaster that I have felt, I feel a little better now. I have 6 weeks before I toe the line at Ironman Arizona and EVERYTHING that can be thrown at me, it has. From lack of sleep, not eating enough, working too much, training a lot, it is getting to me but you know what? I ain't got time for that! This next 3 weeks is going to be ROUGH!! That's why I am nicknaming this period of my training GLADIATOR mode!!! I have to think of this training as a battle everyday with my dysfunctional work, eat and sleep schedule. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but it is soooo far away. My swimming is improving(thank you Allan and Derrick), running is my thing (Run Joy Run). I may be slow but damn it I can still chase your ass down. : P Now let's talk about what scares the ever loving crap out of me (besides CLOWNS) is the bike. I have a plan (A, B, C and D) in order to tackle the bike depending on how my swim goes. I know it's in my hed but HELL, its 112 miles on a bike where my seat is about 4 inches wide. No, really. Oh, and did I forget to say that it may be HOT in Arizona. I guess I can work on that most fabulous tan, right?? Let me stop all of this rambling. This week calls for: Monday: 60 minute swim Tuesday: 75 minute CompuTrainer class followed by a 30 minute run (Brick) and a 15 min Strength session Wednesday: 60 minutes of swimming, 90 minutes of running and 15 minutes of strength Thursday: 60 minutes of running and 30 minutes of Strength (add in that I take a 2nd CompuTrainer class on this day) Friday: 2 hours of swimming Saturday: Kona viewing party in CompuTrainer (400 minutes biking ~ 6 1/2 hours) + 50 minutes of running and 15 minutes of Strength Sunday: 180 minutes of running + 15 minutes of strength. Okay, here comes my creativity in my plan. This Sunday is the Chicago Marathon which I have to work and cheer on my athletes sooo, I am running 18 miles on Friday (my work schedule is cray cray this week). My 2 hour swim is happening at an ungodly time on Friday just to get it in unless I do it on Thursday. Whew!! I think that is it for now soo, I am going to find some food before I eat one of my coworkers. Happy Happyt Joy Joy