5 Days: This is only a test...

It's been a while. In 5 days I race in ITU Chicago. Am I worried? To be quite honest...not really. It's a training day, except that pothole that is on the bike course which is when we come back onto Columbus Drive for the first of 4 loops on the Olympic distance, oh and the potential heatwave (Thank you Mother Nature...not). To be real, I have so much on my plate now that I'm lucky that I know the day of the week.

So, what have I been up to? Well, you know the usual: Teaching, training, coaching, working out, dealing with a lot of my own personal annoyances, working out some more, drinking copious amounts coffee...you know, the usual. The not so usual: well I became a USATF (USA Track & Field) Level 1 Certified Coach and a USAT (USA Triathlon) Level 1 Certified Coach. Getting back on track....

Now as I reflect on racing this weekend (not including the clients that I am coaching, my athletes that I am training, my Pilates Clients that I am training), I'm using this as a training day. I'm in a very competitive age group (go figure, but the men have it worse) and I'm just seeing how thing are going to pan out. I have a race plan in effect (A, B and C), I can still fit in my wetsuit and I'm just going to have fun. Anyhoo, I have IMAZ in November.

I have used all of my workouts as my stress reliever. See, I don't eat when I am stressed, upset or anxious. I work out. Sometimes, a little too much. Today, for instance-I had a very bad case of insomnia. What did I do about it? I ran 10 miles before I did some work before I had my last performance review. Did I forget to say that the run happened at 3am and that I am a Fitness Professional? Yeah. I have a fitness problem, but I'm looking at Sunday's race as cheering on my friends who are racing, having fun with my teammates, cheering random folks on and making more friends. What? You don't make friends when you race? Shame on you. But, I also get to work the expo and network.Who wouldn't want to work in at an outdoor expo by Buckingham Fountain.

So bring on the sunshine, humidity and race day. Hey, if you aren't doing anything on Sunday, come to Grant Park in Chicago and check out ITU Chicago. You might be inspired to do something EXTRAORDINARY. I'm going to sign off so I can go home to do laundry (the struggle is real y'all).

I will let you know how Sunday goes.

Peace out to you and you and yours! Later!

I'm baaaaack!

Oh yes, it's true-I'm BACK! Spring has finally (not really) shown its face in Chicago after that horrific Winter that we had (Chiberia, Polar Vortex, etc, etc) it's now time to look towards 2014 and racing. Why now? Well, I had to run the entire Indoor Triathlon Series (I survived all six fueled on coffee...thank you Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts). So, let's rundown my racing for this year: June 29th: ITU Olympic Distance October 19th: Life Time Tri Soma (half iron distance) November 16th: Ironman Arizona Also on the radar (but not a race): September 21st: Northshore Century STRONG POSSIBILITY: June 8th: Long Course Triathlon National Championship (Grand Rapids,MI) Why is this list so small? Well, I do not race a lot due to coaching my marathoners and triathletes to cross either their first or tenth and I work a lot. Now you have it and may the saga continue...

I AM AN IRONMAN!!!!!!

A week ago yesterday, I became an Ironman. I joined this illustrious group of hard working, dedicated and sometimes a little nutty athletes. This has been a dream of mine since 1982. Why 1982? Well, I saw ABC’s “World Wide of Sports” broadcast of Ironman and saw Julie Moss crawl to the finish line. I thought to myself, “I will do this one day.” Needless to say, it would be years down the road before any of this would begin. I had to learn how to swim and I did. Let’s fast forward to the day before the big day with the practice swim. We get to Tempe Town Lake and it is time to squoosh myself into my wetsuit. Don’t let anyone tell you that everyone looks good in a wetsuit. It’s a lie, all lies!!!! I decided to wear my neoprene swim cap under my regular swim cap thinking that the water would be cold as it was last year but I did not have my neoprene booties due to my cat chewing a hole in them before I left. I jumped into the lake and was pleasantly surprised that the water was cold but doable. I treaded water for a while and started swimming. I got kicked, slapped and swam over but I was okay. I felt that I could have swam forever. When I go out, I decided that I would not wear my neoprene swim cap and I would just wear 2 caps and ear plugs. We went back to hotel after lunch to pick up our bikes and gear bags to drop off. I hopped on my bike and everything felt as okay as it could. Dropped off my bike and got ready for dinner with my team. To say that I was eerily calm was an understatement. I have never felt so calm which meant either everything would go well or I would crash and burn. Race Morning: I woke up at I think 4am or so and proceeded to get ready. I had my prerace oatmeal and the Skratch Labs Cinnamon Apple hydration mix (you drink it hot) and just stayed quiet like I normally do on race morning. We proceeded to make our walk to the race site and I had my iPod on listening to Jill Scott’s version of “Lovely Day” and the entire “Purple Rain” soundtrack. I needed to just ignore all of the nervous energy and get ready for an epic day. I got to my bike and had my tires topped up along with filling all of my bottles. Once I was done, I walked over to my gear bags for one final look to make sure everything was okay. Now it was time to put on my wetsuit and stand in the Portapotty line. I mean, there is NEVER enough whenever I race. I know that there is an awesome algorithm that I can created to insure that there are more than enough but alas, that’s not happening. While trying to stay calm, I ran into a friend of mine and I proceeded to almost cry. Almost. He reassured me that I would finish. Ran into another friend and I guess it was hug the crap out of Joy day because I guess I looked like a deer in headlights again. Finally, I can go to the can. Whew! Relief. But, I had to run and drop off my special needs bags. That was taken care of and then it was time to drop off the morning clothes bag and get ready for the swim. As soon as I put my goggles on, they snapped. Oh shit! Thank God I had another pair of goggles in my morning clothes bag. Thank you to the volunteer who helped me out. Got in line and was alternating between hydrating and pouring water down my wetsuit to warm up. Now, it was the moment of truth. Drop off my glasses and get ready to jump in the water and wait….. The Swim I inched my way towards the front as much as I could. I took a deep breath and got ready for battle, aka Ironman swim start. The cannon went off and it was time to rock and roll. The first 200 yards or so, I was kicked, grabbed and swam over but I held my ground. I did kick a guy in the face because I guess he thought that he could a free ride grabbing onto my ankles. No buddy! I started passing buoy after buoy and I was ecstatic. I wasn’t going the pace that I hoped but I didn’t care. I was doing this. On my 3rd round of sighting, I saw the big red blurry thing which was the turn buoy. Everything is a blur without my glasses on. It was a bottleneck. Guys were shoving me and I shoved back. I finally saw the orange buoys and it was time to head home. Now at this point last year, I was pulling due to my legs seizing up. This did not happen! I kept swimming and smiling and breathing. Oh, and don’t forget inhaling diesel fumes. Yummy!!!! This would come back to haunt me. Once I passed the under the bridge, I knew I had about 200/300 yards to go. I started picking up my pace but then it happened. A migraine hit me. I decided to ignore and kept swimming. I picked up my kick and was hauling ass. I made it to the steps. I popped my bum on the steps and was helped out of the water by some awesome volunteers. I started unzipping my wetsuit and the next set of volunteers were there to strip off my wetsuit. I was so friggin’ happy that I almost forgot my glasses. Swim done, 2 more to go. T1 (transition from swim to bike) I made the decision to not change into another pair of tri shorts. I’ll wait until T2. I did have some chicken broth because I was cold as hell. I was shivering badly-same thing that happened last year but not to where I was blue. I threw on my compression sleeves, socks, cycling shoes, camelbak, race belt and helmet and was ready to take on the bike. The Bike I finally mounted my bike and I took off. Let me tell you a secret-I don’t like the bike. Maybe it is due to having a bike that is not the right size, maybe it’s my own little insecurities, but I would rather have a longer swim and run. : P I’m riding along and after the first aid station around mile 15 or so, I heard the whoosh. It is similar to be a quarterback and hearing footsteps before you are knocked out. It was a group of professionals riding with their disc wheels in a peloton. Umm, hello??? There is NO DRAFTING IN IRONMAN PEOPLE!!! You are to be 4 bike lengths behind the closest biker in front of you. If you are in their “draft” zone, you have 20 seconds to overtake them which means that they have to fall back, which is what I did. I read the rules forward, backwards and upside down. Anyway, back to the bike. Around mile 30, I had to get off the bike...not due to being in pain, I had to throw up. Not good...Got back on the bike. I would do this 4 more times and I think it may have been from inhaling diesel fumes or my nutrition plans A and B not working in my favor. I make the first loop and it was a tight turn. Every time I had to make that tight turn, I would scream, “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit….HOT DAMN, I didn’t fall!” No really. On the turn going into the 2nd half of loop 2, I slowed down considerably, made the turn, grabbed a water bottle but proceed to see a guy kiss the pavement, literally due to dehydration and just going to fast/not paying attention to the volunteers. There were a lot of accidents on this bike course, but you have to be hyper aware of your surroundings along with staying on your nutrition/hydration plan. Once I made it to around mile 67, I stopped for my Special needs bag. Some people put special treats, extra water bottles, more Butt Butter or Ride Glide. I had 2 new water bottles, a Coca Cola (don’t judge) and Gummy Lifesavers. Can I tell you that was the best damn pop in history! It was fabulous. Now back on the bike: I made the turnaround for my last loop (3 loop course-remember) and I started doing the math and then I started to smile. I was going to make the bike cutoff with plenty of time to spare. I was the HAPPIEST BIKER in the world. Why??? I didn’t make the cutoff last year. I make the turnaround and when I saw mile 100, I knew it was just a little while longer. It was the LONGEST 12 miles ever but I was still smiling. I got towards the bike dismount line and I was ecstatic. The volunteers asked me if I wanted anything off of my bike. My response, “You can throw it in Tempe Town Lake for all I care.” T2 (transition from bike to run) I picked up my run gear and ran into the changing tent. Some of my friends were in the tent and of course I was giddy. I changed into my running skirt, visor, running shoes and socks and of course, I had to pick out my hair. I slapped on my hydration belt and it was off to run. Can I tell you how happy I was to run. I’m not fast and I’m not slow but I will get it done. I ran past the TriMonster tent and saw some more friends and was just happy and smiling. At around mile 4, I handed the clip on part to my glasses to one of my friends since it was getting dark. Up ahead, there was the next batch of friends asking me how I was doing. Of course, I was happy and hungry. Damn 140.6 miles of racing will do that to you. Being a 2 loop course messes with your head since you will see mile 18, before you see mile 6, but whatever. I was making friends on the course, finding out where people were from, singing songs in my head….you know, a typical Joy thing to do. On the turnaround for loop #2, I didn’t need my special needs bag so I kept going. Mile 15 was when I rolled my ankle. Clumsy me, and I was starting to get tired and everything was hurting. I kept going. The volunteers made everything so much better. I had to start walking at mile 18 but started to do a run/walk. Potato chips, water, banana and pop became my favorites foods at that point. I was slowing down but I kept moving. 8 more miles...Then mile 25 showed up along with my partner in crime. He was running beside me and reality started to sink in. I was going to be an Ironman. I had to walk a little, run a little but I was going to make it. He showed me wear his girlfriend had wrote in chalk on the sidewalk since I didn’t see it the first time. I almost lost it! I kept going, one foot in front of the other. My body was in sheer pain-everything hurt and then I saw the lights of the finish chute... It felt as if the whole weight of the world had fallen on me. The emotion that I felt cannot be described by words alone. It wouldn’t do it justice...just the amount of hours I spent training, working, lack of sleep, the self doubt, everything came crashing down. Once Mike Reilly said, “Joy, You Are An Ironman!” everything was all good but that’s not the best part...Mike Reilly led me back to the finishing chute and had the crowd say to me, “Joy, You are an Ironman!” and Jordan Rapp, professional Triathlete, awesome guy, placed my medal around my neck! I do have to admit that crossing the finish line was the best thing in the world. The volunteers were just AMAZING and can I tell you that I had the world’s best french fries EVER. Once I sat down, I started shivering because I got very cold all of a sudden. A volunteer gave me her sweatshirt and I was so thankful to her. But, she was thanking me for being there and crossing the finish line as a person of color. The After Show It’s the only way to describe it. After I hobbled to get my morning clothes bag and my other gear, we went to Loco Patron. We stayed for a while and it was kind of surreal on people who knew me because of my finish. I was so humbled. When we finally got back to the hotel, I had to take a shower. That is where I discovered that my wetsuit chafed the living crap out of my neck - it never did that before and that was with body glide along with my heart rate monitor cutting my wrist and the timing chip cutting the front of my lower leg. But that is ok, because I had a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream waiting for me and I went to bed an a Ironman finisher. I just want to thank everyone who believed in me even when there were times throughout this year that I didn't. I want to especially thank FFC- where I work and train, TriMonster, Team to End AIDS, Chicago Tri Club, Team Dream, Sole Tri Sisters, Team Bright Pink, the Miles family (hey, I have to live up to my last name), all of the volunteers on the course and just everyone who wished me such great juju, good luck, prayers, etc. It meant the world to me!!!!! Thank you, thank you and thank you... This is the end of this blog but my new blog will be debuting soon (same URL but new title). It will still be my adventures in multisport but also will mark my return to marathon (in February) and going back to Arizona to improve on my time and changing some things up. I hope that in the new year my migraines disappear. That's all folks!

6 Days: I AM ATHLETE 995

In 6 days, I will be toeing the line at Ironman Arizona. It has been a long journey which started for me, last year when I didn't make the bike cutoff. I have been on this mission that I will train, train, train and will cross that finish line. I have learned a lot about myself throughout this journey. Along the way, this is what happened: *I have deleted people out of my life (very negative) *Met some amazingly fabulous people(very positive) *Learned to love the bike (I am a headcase while riding) *Found inner peace swimming and running *Ran through more swimsuits than humanly allowed unless you are an Olympian *Worked more hours than humanly possible (I admit, I AM A WORKAHOLIC) *Slept less than most teenagers *Have a new appreciation for Caffeine, chomps, Mark Bars (oh my GOD!!!!!) and Peanut Butter filled Pretzels I have faced my fear of the bike, I have squeezed in every bit of training on my plan, even if it meant working out at 3am. Luckily, the fitness facility that I work at is 24 hours. Currently, I am trying to cram 7 days of working (I work 7 days a week) into 4 days since I fly out this Thursday. I just came back from the USAT Level I coaching clinic so my brain is FRIED, but now it is time to refocus. Am I nervous? No-I am eerily calm. Maybe its because I know what to expect, maybe I have no undue pressure riding on me this year, I don't know to be quite honest. We will see. Just to think that all of this craziness started because I watched World Wide of Sports in 1982 and saw Julie Moss crawl to the finish line..."A champion is someone who gets up, even when they can't." - Natalie Rogers

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