Here we go

Part 1 is here.

I have a half marathon on Sunday. It's my first of 3, and my goal is to have a course PR.

My speed workouts have been excellent.

My distance runs, not.so.much.

I'm excited. I love running half marathons.

13.1 miles of going as hard as I can.

I wish I could say that I am ready to knock that PR out of the park.

I.feel.ready.

I feel strong.

I feel fast.

But am I?

Block out the discomfort.

Keep moving forward.

Don't doubt myself.

Stick to my plan.

Focus on the person in front of me.

Pick them off one at a time.

Until I can't go any faster.

Then, hold that speed.

Running a half marathon is easy, right?

Go as fast as you can for 13.1 miles....

piece o' cake.

Product Review: Recover03

I haven't done a product review in several years. I decided to do one on the new Gatorade Recover 03 for a couple of reasons.

I have tried every product under the sun and have not found a recovery drink that does not upset my stomach. I've always thought it was funny that I can eat/drink anything on the run but as soon as I stop, I bloat up so much that I can almost float off into the sky.

In fact, I have checked content of those pre-mixed drinks, powders, every chocolate milk out there, slimfast, ensure...you name it-I've tried it...and I have been unable to figure out what is causing this problem.

That means I am always in the market for something new.

We all know that the first 30 minutes after a workout are critical to replacing nutrients.

I've seen the commercials for the Gatorade 1-2-3 products. Heck, if it works for Peyton Manning it should work for me, right?

I went up to the store. All Gatorade products were on sale....I mean really on sale. So, I thought "What the heck? I'll try it".

I checked the content of the Gatorade 01. It's basically a GU in juice form. I didn't bother even buying it because I am very happy with my AccelGel. I don't have any issues with consistency.

As for Gatorade 02: Well, it's Gatorade. You either love it or hate.

Basically, I'm saying do what you will with Gatorade 01 & 02.

However, the Gatorade 03 Recover drink might be something for you to try if you have any of the problems that I've had.

Let me give you the nutritional content first:
Calories: 130 for the 16.9 oz bottle.
Fat: 0
Sodium: 250mg
Potassium: 95mg
Carbs: 14g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 16 (whey protein)

My first thought was that for an endurance workout, the carbohydrates were a little low. But, if it works, I can have a banana with it.

The first flavor that I tried was Mixed Berry. Now, honestly, I'm not a *berry* person. So, the first swig was a little overwhelming. However, I drank the bottle down in a few minutes. I noticed that I didn't have that bloating feeling. (It normals strikes immediately).

I took the drink after a 7 mile tempo run. It wasn't an extreme distance by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a tough workout.

For me, the experiment was a success. After having the drink, I didn't feel drained or as though I lacked any energy. Once I got home, I followed the drink with a banana to make up for the lack of carbohydrates.

Overall, I was impressed. I am going to use Gatorade Recover 03 again. Even though the Mixed berry was just "ok", not having stomach issues makes it well worth it for me. Next I'll try the lemon-lime.

To balance out my positive review, my son played basketball and had the lemon lime as his post-workout drink. He wasn't all that crazy about it and is going to stick with his drink. Then again, he didn't have the problems his crazy mom has.

Take my review and do with it what you will.

I'm sold and will be buying Gatorade Recover 03 again.

The 5 year plan

It's hard to believe, but I'm in my 3rd year of my 5 year training cycle.

What 5 year plan? You ask.

In 2008, I put alot of thought into how I wanted future races to look. I took a hard look at my strengths and weaknesses.

At that time, I didn't know if I would do another Ironman race, but I knew that 70.3's were something that I enjoyed.

So, my 5 year plan was goal focused and not race focused. This would allow me to do some different things while also working toward my yearly goals.

In 2008, I worked on my swim muscular endurance, or going hard for a long distance.

In 2009, I worked on my bike endurance & climbing.

This year, I am focused on my running speed/endurance at the half marathon distance. That means, no tri's for me this year.

During the past three years, these goals have (obviously) not been worked on exclusively but having a primary goal for a year gave me the ability to focus more on my limiters, than I have in the past.

In 2011, as long as I don't change my mind, I am going to do Ironman Boulder. It's a 70.3 in August and give me the opportunity to race in better weather than I have in previous years. Quite honestly, I am tired of doing half-irons in terrible weather ranging from record cold water and air temps, getting pelted by hail, & fighting 35mph winds.

The 70.3 is hard enough, and I've done 3 of them in horrible conditions. (Yea, remember my HM race reports? Screaming at the sky. I'm sorry for the RD, but I just can't go back. There are too many choices...yea, I know it's in my backyard but that only gets you so much).

But IM Boulder? Did I mention that I can ride the route every weekend?

August is a very nice (albeit hot) month in Colorado. Hot I can handle. Boulder will be almost perfect timing when my training volumes begin to increase Spring snowstorms will be over and fall will be a few weeks away.

Also, I get to take part in the dip n dashes throughout the summer as prep for the race.

Let's review:
1.) Weather
2.) Location
3.) Date
4.) Training races

What's not to love?

Unless of course, I change my mind.

That will be year 4.

Year 5 of my plan (unless I change my mind) means...sigh....another Ironman. Sigh as in I think it's time not as in Everyone's doing it so I have to....

Year 5: 2012....One son in college, one almost done with high school.
That level of responsibility really changes things.

Unless you've been there, it's hard to explain the sacrifice Ironman training takes. Getting up at 3am to do a 4000m swim and 3 hour bike before baseball/basketball/football games, it almost put me over the edge last time. (Not to mention having to go to work). And that was just sacrifice on my side....Mike and the boy's (during Iron weekends) spent the entire weekends only really seeing me for dinner on Saturday & Sunday nights. On non-iron weekends (ie regular training), I was just tired all the time.

Again, it's a timing issue. My 5 year plan peaking with an Ironman race. It wasn't intended, but everything just kinda fell into place.

Those always seem to be the best kinds of plans.

My race of Choice is currently Redman; however Vineman is the close 2nd. A July race versus a September race.

****
Unless, I change my mind.

The butt of jokes

For years, I was the one who was always the butt of the jokes in the family.

I was the one who brought my own meals to barbeques and holidays, turned down cakes and pies and ice cream and chips and candy and cookies at family events. I come from one of thoe traditional Irish catholic families....so there were ALOT of family events....mostly because there were ALOT of family members. Just in June, we have over 8 birthdays. Just in JUNE. Of course, everyone has to have their own party.

Being the OLDEST of all the first cousins didn't really help matters.

I was the first to leave parties to get up for those silly races.

I brought my own food.

I didn't get drunk with them.

I was the perfect target. The ultimate Goody Two Shoes.

But I took it all in stride. It was all in good fun.

One year, I mentioned that for my birthday I'd like for everyone to do a 5k with me.




You could hear a pin drop.

Before my grandparents died, the Family was on a constant mission to fatten me up.

Over the years, the Family has grown and grown and grown. My 30 first cousins have now an average of 5 kids each. (Them Greeks got nothin' on us). So, the Family has split up into smaller more manageable groupings for birthdays and holidays.

About a week ago, we had a psuedo Family reunion. It was impromptu but every was able to make it. Now, I hadn't seen many of my first cousins for quite a few years. (Barring funerals....but I don't count that because everyone looks like crap at funerals).

Here at the reunion....everyone was having a good time, laughing, drinking, eating, dancing, all the normal stuff.

Then, I mistakenly took one of my first cousins (one of the youngest ones) for her MOTHER. My Aunt.

That's when I started looking around. I realized that everyone looked so old. SO much older than they are.

My *thing* has always been that I don't mind looking my age. I'm 42 and a half. :) I just didn't want to look OLDER than I am.

But looking at everyone that day, I realized how much YOUNGER than everyone I looked.

Younger than the youngest. The cousins close to my age? They looked at least 20 years older.

I don't know if I actually look younger than my age or if they look so much older than their's.

I just know that sometimes being the butt of jokes is a good thing.

If you're reading this, and you know someone like me: *THAT* person...the one always getting up early on Sundays to train for some silly race or the one always watching what they eat or the one people always guess to be younger than they are.....

that can be you too.

Just ask if you can go watch the race.

Ask them what they are training for.

Ask them what they eat.

Then, make the decision to change one thing for that month. Get up in the morning and walk for 20 minutes. Don't run, don't try to go fast....just walk.

But do it every single day.

Commit to it.

Commit for yourself, your family, your friends.

Before you know, you'll be the butt of all the jokes in your family.

Clarification

Because I was cranky & tired, I didn't go into all details. I'm still not going to, but for clarification purposes. Based on some of the comments here and on FB, I thought it was only fair.

The guy is an arrogant jerk who has said:

"You're not a runner unless you do a marathon"

"You're not really a marathoner until you run Boston"

"The worst possible thing would be to DNF at a race. Those people are just mentally weak."

"Ironman is the only race that will challenge me."

"I should be able to qualify because I can run a 3:30 marathon. The swim should be piece o' cake and as long as I keep my run speed up, the bike isn't really a big deal."

This is just a sampling of the types of things he says.

Of course not.....of course running a 3:30 marathon is all you'll need.

Of course running a marathon after a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike would be easy.

Those issues....I can ignore.

But to claim that people (my friends even) aren't runners because they haven't run a marathon?

Apparently this guy was born with running shoes on and never went through the beginning stages.

Guess what else? I've DNF'd at IRONMAN.

Surprisingly, it took MORE mental toughness to stop the race than continue.

I've run marathon(s)....but here I sit anxiously awaiting to be referred to MARATHON-TEA. I might as well throw out my crate of medals because I have no desire to run Boston.

He thinks doing a sprint is EASY? EASY? I'll tell you what's easy, doing ONE SPORT FAR. That's easy. All he has to think about is when to take a GU and what shoes he's going to wear. Imagine going all out fast in 3 sports.

Let me add one thing, my friend David....his Long Runs which regularly exceed a marathon, are done at this LOSER's Boston race pace.

Still, we both just looked at him, shaking our heads.

That is why I think he is simply an unhappy/unfulfilled person who can only feel better about himself when he can talk about himself....over and over and over.

apples and oranges

Every Spring, I go through the "apples and oranges" phase.

It has nothing to do with me.

I get very excited when people want to become triathletes.

However, I have a very short fuse when it comes to "expert runners" wanting to become triathletes.

NO.RESPECT.

Here's my story:

A friend of mine is an ultra-marathoner. He is super fast and regularly competes in 50 and 100 mile races. He recently told me that he would never think about attempting Ironman. "You guys are crazy", he said.

Likewise, I think he's crazy and I have no desire to run that far.

On the other hand, my friend and I both know a guy who runs Boston every year (for the past 10 years). No doubt the guy is a great runner.

So, can you tell me why this guy seems to think that with less than 4 months of training that he'll easily do Ironman?

With no swimming base.....

With no cycling base.....

No.RESPECT.

Ironman is NOT a race that you can do with sheer determination. It's not like running a marathon where you hit the wall at 20 miles and think "it's just another 10k". You hit the wall in Ironman, and there are problems.

I started my athletic career as a runner. I never ever assumed that cycling would be easier or that swimming would be a piece o'cake.

Putting them together....I thought would be hell.

WHY DO so many runners think that doing a tri is so easy? Why do they assume that just because they are a runner that they can do less training or that they can "conquer" any distance triathlon in less than 6 months?

Doing the run portion of a tri after swimming and riding is very different than running.

But let's look at the numbers:

So you wanna do a sprint tri. Since there aren't any assigned distances for the sprint, I'll just use common distances. In a sprint, you'll cover roughly 18 miles. If you're a beginner, this race will take you longer than a 10k and possibly as long as a half marathon.

In an oly, you'll cover roughly 32 miles. Longer than a 50k, this race could take you as long as a 50k or as short as a slow half marathon.

In a half iron, it's 70.3 miles. Almost 3 times a marathon with a lot more pain & completely different nutritional needs.

Ironman....hmmmm, well any race that starts at 7am and ends at midnight should be taken seriously.

If you are a runner, respect triathletes.....just like we respect you and cyclists and swimmers and everyone else that has an incredibly athletic life.

Training for a triathlon (especially Ironman) is not taking a marathon plan and adding in swimming and cycling.

It's a completely different animal.

One is not better than the other.

By all means, go out and do a tri. Have fun! But don't tell me your first triathlon is going to be Ironman....oh, and that you are going to qualify on your first attempt. That's just ignorant and dangerous.

Apples and Oranges.

That Sneaky Sneak: A race report, in 2 parts

What a beautiful day!

After having several snowstorms in a row, we were all a little worried about the race today.

"We" included: Yours truly, Mike, Justin & and my Thista ---------->

The Sneak is a 5k race and a 5 mile race. You can run both or run either. I ran both. Everyone else did the 5k.

Me and Thista arrived earlier because she had to pick up her race packet. I was surprised at how warm it already was. It was incredibly sunny and around 35 degrees.

We walked around, chatted, waited for Mike and Justin, waited s'more....when I look up at my friend HELEN is staring at me!

Helen, my friend from the gym, who did her first triathlon last year at age 80! We chat for awhile when Mike and Justin show up.....7 minutes before the race starts.

I think for a minute, "hmmm, I didn't warm up."

And then I look at the crowd of people all line up at the start. Oh shittake, how am I going to make my way toward the front? With a little slide here, an excuse me there, and a couple of quick steps, I manage to make my way closer to the front.

Since I didn't warm up, I decide to not go all out but to run hard and consistent.

When the gun goes off, the pack takes off like a wild banshees. Everyone is really jostling for their own space. So, I figure "eh, this is a training run, do whatever you feel like doing." Most people running the 5k are not then also turning around to run the 5 mile race.

So, I decide to slow from 8:30 to I don't know what pace, run to the side and let people pass. What the heck, they're probably going for PR's.

Me, I'm just out enjoying the day. La-dee-la.

We pass the first water stop. Really, THAT many people need water one mile into a 5k? Really?

Ok, well. The crowd has thinned at this point, and I decide to push the pace to where I am feeling a medium level of discomfort but that will still leave me with gas for the 5 miler.

WOW---5k's are short. In a blink of an eye, I'm done. I quickly finish, run through the finish party, grab a bottle of water and 2 small bananas, eat bananas, run to car, up 3 flights of stairs, throw my party goodies and jacket and hat in the car, swap out for my visor, and run back to see Mike finish.

Didn't get to see Mike finish, but we did hook up at the finish to look for Thista and Justin.

I'm frantically looking through the crowd, thinking that I'm going to miss them! My next race starts in less than 15 minutes.

Just then, I see Justin and Thista finish! YAY!

They finished in about 1:02. Mike finished in about 48:00.

Dang, I look at the crowds. There are ALOT of people running the 5 miler. Right before I head to the start, Mike took this picture of me and Justin. Yep, he's taller than me now. If I didn't know better, I'd say I look downright petite next to him.

I quickly say my good-byes (Mike and Justin head home). Thista is staying to watch me finish.

O.M.G.

The crowd. I look toward the front. This time, there's no way I can make my way to the front and with 1 minute until the gun goes off, I don't know if it's really necessary. Afterall, I'm just training.

So, I decide to line up in the 10:00 + pace section. I'm pretty far in the back, but this race is really about having fun.

The gun goes off....and slowly I make my way to the front. Before I know it, I'm off and running again. I find myself in a great little pace that I'm pretty sure I can hold for the entire time. I don't want to go hard, but I want to run faster than a training run.

BUT, my legs are feeling the previous 5k. Oh my my my, I can hold the pace, but by the first mile my booty and quads are starting to.....HURT LIKE HELL. I just keep running.

I know I won't stop.....chaa.....hell no, that ain't going to happen. I decide to run a little harder. I pass the first water station. As I pass mile 2, I think "MOVE YOUR ASS CHAND". There's a very slight uphill from mile 2-3, and I decide to push it up the hill and pushing the leg pain away.

Focus.

Focus.

Focus.

I'm more than halfway now. Maybe I ran too hard for the 5k. Too late to change it, keep going...and so help me, if you slow down now I will royally KICK YOUR ASS.

As I round mile 4, I look up, and I see Heather. Heather is an RD for all the Dip n Dashes and some tri's in the area. She's got a good pace, and I make it my goal to pass her. I catch her, and we chat for awhile. I fall back for a few steps and decide to go as hard as I can for the last .75 miles.

I really feel good at this point. My legs are hurting, but my breathing is controlled and I'm focused. As I round the very last corner, I'm pretty sure I was hauling ass. All of a sudden I hear screaming and "TEA!!!!" I look up to see Thista! I smile and wave and run right to the finish.

WOO HOOO! What a race! Faster than I planned to go, but not as fast as "race pace". (heck, I just did mile repeats, day before yesterday).

Thista meets me at the end of the corral, and we decide to go walk around the post race party.

Of course a race just isn't a race, without mini-goats....

Or chickens......

Or a guy dressed like an eagle.

After walking around, I could tell Thista was tired and was having some pain, so we decided to go.

We stopped to get coffee on the way home. When I got home, Mike had a nice big lunch all ready for me.

Then, it was time to shower.

Now, we're off to the Rockies game!

There can't be a better way to spend the day. :)