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:

• 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

  

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:

 

 

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...

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:

• Saw a beautiful sunrise
• Saw 12 rabbits, 2 squirrels, 5 rats
• The peace and tranquility of an early morning run

The negatives of my run:

• I had to wear a hat
• It was cold
• It was dark
• My body was tired
• That wind though! Straight bullsh$t!

After laying on my grid foam roller and lacrosse ball for what seemed like forever, I had to eat and refuel. I tried to get in with a friend of mine for a massage but she was BOOKED! Grrrr....

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

Peak Week

You see this picture! That's some scary, intimidating stuff! Well, guess what? I will be in the middle of this chaos in 25 days.

The positives:

• ! I think so. No wetsuits
• Sunshine
• Warm water
• Clear water
• Maybe a dolphin sighting?

The negatives:

• Will only be able to see colors and figures (yeah, I'm that blind)

This week marks my peak week of training. This will be my toughest week of training...I think. :)
 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

#trusttheprocess #believeinthepossibilities #listentocoach #respectthetraining

The Countdown: 39 days

39 things that I'm a pondering right now:

1. I am 39 days out from Ironman Cozumel.
2. I was 39 in my first attempt at the Ironman distance. (Ironman Arizona 2012)
3. This year was the 39th running of the Ironman World Championships.
4. The average age of all Age Group Athletes at Kona is 42.8. I am 42.
5. I have a list of 39 Prince songs in my head when I have to go into that dark place in my mind because training is getting tough. (ask me about that)
6. I probably have another 39 ignorant a$$ hip hop and rap songs in my head when I need to just get hyped
7. I have 13 favorite go to swim workouts that I love, 13 different body weight workouts and 13 favorite run workouts I love to do. 13 + 13 + 13 = 39
8. Crank Sports is my nutrition of choice this year for Ironman. Keep it simple.
9. 2XU are the tri shorts of choice. Yes, I do wear tri shorts for a 112 miles on a bike.
10. Would you believe this is the only race that I am doing? There are some things that I don't want to explain. Things are the way they are.
11. I think I have cried more than 39 times in this training.
12. I've made it through 2 seasons of "24" on my long rides. Ok, I never watched it when it was on originally.
13. I've also watched ALL of the Star Trek movies in CompuTrainer as well. The original 6, Next Generation and the reboot with Chris Pine.
14. Why do I always want to eat 3 extra large pizzas with mushrooms, peppers, anchovies and artichokes after my long swims??? Why?????
15. Coffee is a necessity in Ironman training.... actually in all training,
16. I discovered LYFE Kitchen during training. Oh my GOD!!!!! The Brussels Sprouts alone!
17. I've been really working on my weakness: The Bike!
18. I have done more maneuvering this year in order to do ALL of my training. There were only 2 days where I could not get my training in due to my work schedule. I really needed one of my locations to be 24 hours on the real.
19. I am not committing to any race for 2016 until I am finished with Ironman Cozumel. And no, I WILL NOT sign up for the following Ironmans: Wisconsin, Chattanooga, Kentucky, Texas, Coeur d'Alene or Boulder.
20. The goal next year is to get a new bike.
21. Yes, I am balancing on one leg on a disc to work on my core strength and balance while writing this.
22. As of today, I have swam a total of 275, 175 yards which is 156.35 miles. What the ???
23. I squeezed my a$$ into an Extra Large Roka Sports Swim Skin. Yes, I am an extra large, not an extra long which I actually am.
24. My bib number is 1451.
25. I'm missing Thanksgiving but I am totally fine with this.
26. I am working on my race plan right now. I have a time in my head but only 4 people are privy to that information.
27. With that being said, I'm working on my bike and run nutrition. South patch kids and Swedish fish are a MUST in my special needs bags.
28. I have not done any stress out workouts, but I have been doing stress out foam rolling.
29. I have not been eating enough. When I'm stressed, I don't eat. There, I admitted it.
30. I hope I can get my prescription sunglasses replaced without costing me an arm, a leg and my soul.
31. I am going to enjoy myself. https://youtu.be/Cj9GYUvj704
32. I will not workout for 2 weeks when I return. No, really.
33. I will say it until I am blue in the face, PILATES is my secret weapon. Let me know if you would like a complimentary session. :)
34. Everyone who has been doubting me (surprisingly, there are a lot). Thank you for providing me fuel for my workouts.
35. Everyone who has supported me, THANK YOU!!!!
36. I have not swam in a 17 yard pool since I started training.
37. Speaking of swimming, band and paddle workouts are just EVIL!!!!
38. I really need a shoe sponsor due to my shoe size and the lack of options out there. Thank you Brooks for the Pure Flow 4 in size 12.
39. I am not stressed out about this race.

39 problems and a race is not one.

Gratitude, beauty and friendships...

Gratitude: grat·i·tude [ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od]: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness:

"she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support"

synonyms: gratefulness · thankfulness · thanks · appreciation ·

[more]

indebtedness · recognition · acknowledgment · credit

 

I am usually not at a loss for words but this is a slight departure from my normal blog post and  I really should be asleep or eating or something of the likes. It has taken me almost 2 months to come up with the words to really express how I feel on what happened on Labor Day. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you know exactly what happened. I truly thought that I was in on a 50th birthday surprise for my friend Sally. Little did I know that the surprise was actually for me.

 

In these past weeks, I have really just been thinking about how truly thankful that I am to everyone and I do promise to do my damnedest to kick Cozumel's a$$ as athlete #1451. Yeah, bib numbers are out!

 

Beauty: beau·ty [ˈbyo͞odē]:

1. a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight:

   "I was struck by her beauty"

   • a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.
     synonyms: attractiveness · prettiness · good looks ·
     

     [more]

     
     

     comeliness · allure · loveliness · charm · appeal · eye-appeal · heavenliness · winsomeness · grace · elegance · exquisiteness · splendor · magnificence · grandeur · impressiveness · decorativeness · gorgeousness · glamour · beauteousness · pulchritude
     antonyms: ugliness
   • denoting something intended to make a woman more attractive:
     "beauty products"
2. a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular.

I find beauty in what I do. It may sound hokey, but I see beauty and grace when I am training/teaching Pilate; I see the magnificence in swimming, running and... yes, biking. Fitness is not about the pretty that most people see, but it is the behind the scenes,  the grittiness, the rawness, the struggle and eventually, the triumph.

 

Friendship... well, see below

THANK YOU!

The Tao of the Tutu

The last weekend in Chicago is a holiday of sorts.

https://youtu.be/0X7RyGBq2E8?list=RD0X7RyGBq2E8

Not your traditional holiday, but a holiday nonetheless for endurance athletes near and far. What holiday is that you may ask? Well, the Chicago Triathlon of course.

Race morning finds athletes setting up their transition areas, filling up their hydration systems, pouring water down their wetsuit to prepare for the impending shock of jumping into Lake Michigan, chant mantras and then there is me.

On race morning, after being up for over 36+ hours, I don...A TUTU!!!! Yeah, I said it, I put on a damn tutu. Now why would a self respecting coach don a tutu on race morning? I have been doing this for over 4 years and there are many reasons, but let me give you the top 10, David Letterman style:

10. You have to coordinate your tutu to your entire ensemble. This is me before the start of the 2014 Chicago marathon preparing to coach/run/motivate/cheer on my athletes. Oh, I taught my Pilates Mat class dressed like this as well. Notice the pick leopard print compression socks and Pink (can we talk about this) Newton Gravity 3 running shoes.

9. How do I stand out among the sea of other coaches and spectators? A tutu
8. How to have fun cheering? Wear a tutu with your partners in crime:

7. "Hey Coach Joy! How are we going to find you?" Look for the tutu. Check this one out of me running the Rock n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon last year. Not an epic enough tutu though it was in my favorite color purple.

6. What goes with booty shorts while you are striving for that professional, comfortable look while working an event? A tutu
5. Your athlete or friend is nervous, wear a tutu to calm their nerves. Or if all else fails, just slap some sense into them.
4. If a random stranger needs reassurance, wear a tutu and then dance, crack jokes, sing.  They may thank you at the end of the race.
3. You are trying to find your supporters, tell them to find the girl in the coach's shirt and red tutu.

2. You have to have a confidence, balls or be a bad ass to wear a tutu.

And the best reason of them all to wear a tutu...
1. When your friends all wear a tutu to give you the most EPIC SURPRISE OF A LIFETIME.

So, don't worry. This story is to be continued on why you can't do Ironman Training alone...

Happy Training... and the Road To Cozumel continues.