I'm pretty sure I fall into one of the above categories at any given time these days. Add "Unmotivated" and "Anxious" as well as "Weepy" and "So-excited-I-can't-keep-my-head-straight" and that rounds off my moods nicely.
As Peak Phase of my training is in full swing, it is getting harder and harder to train. Don't get me wrong, I'm out there getting it done, but the anticipation of race day is looming and I'm just about over the training portion of this journey.
August 2nd brought my and Jason's 11th wedding anniversary and our first Copper Triangle Cycling Event. It is a beautiful ride over 3 mountain passes from Copper Mountain to Leadville, through Minturn and then up and over Vail Pass back to Copper. We clocked in at 80 miles and about 6 hours of pedaling time.
It was bitter cold when we started at 7ish and there was ice on the windshield of the car we parked next to. 34 degrees. By the time we reached the top of the first pass, Freemont Pass at 11,318 feet, we were starting to thaw out a bit.
Feeling good at Tennessee Pass
Support is so critical in life & triathlon. Our bikes have the balancing act figured out and I think we do, too.
SKI COOPER!!! We must take Cooper here this winter.
Thanks to Google for such a nice enhancement of this pond at the top of Vail Pass.
And many thanks to the volunteers for the brownies at the top of the Pass and for all their support throughout this ride!
(Psst: The climb up Vail Pass was easier than I anticipated.)
(Yes, this!)
(Psst: The climb up Vail Pass was easier than I anticipated.)
(Yes, this!)
Happy Cyclists! Happy Anniversary, Jason. Lets do this again next year!
Sunday rolled around and my schedule called for a 2 hour run. Since we were staying in Keystone for the weekend, well, what's a girl to do but run up the mountain. What the what? OK.
After some smiles from my monkeys, I was out the door and up the mountain.
My "pain cave" for the morning. And the views were incredible!
After a mountain employee who passed me in his 4 wheeler on my way up the mountain told me that I could hitch a ride down on the gondola from the top, my decision was easy. 6 miles to the top. Sure. Why not? 1:40 minutes from start to finish and a negative split, too. 60 minutes for the first 3 miles and 40 minutes for the last 3! It was quite a journey. And not an easy one but one that I will proudly look back on as I suffer and dig deep on race day. Mental toughness is built when you do things you think you can't or shouldn't do. I think it was about 2,500 feet of climbing.
My Highway to the sky.
Dillon Reservoir in the distance. It was quite a view from the top.
My weary legs were happy for the ride down.
The weekend concluded with fun at the top of the gondola in Breckenridge and the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
Weee! Cooper's first bungee trampoline adventure.
Cute hats, guys!
Choo! Choo!! Did someone say Choo? IMCHoo, here we come!!!
So, as August drones on, I've also included 2x per week swims of 2+ miles each, another 80 mile ride with Jason, a few more 10 mile and 5+ mile runs and just this past weekend, a great open water swim with Kelly at the gravel pond, (she was in town for the weekend; yay - I miss you, Kelly) and a really long brick in the heat.
A brick, for those of you who aren't familiar with the term is a bike ride followed immediately by a run, as you would do in a triathlon. It is called a "brick" because of how your legs feel when you try to run after biking. (True analogy.)
Jason and I started out early on Sunday morning for our 60 mile, 4 hour ride. I needed some encouragement and a good hug just to get on my bike Sunday morning (enter the "Weepy" dwarf here). I wiped my tears, put on my big girl bike shorts and off we went. It was a beautiful morning and I started to feel better about 20 miles in. Give or take. I tried not to think about the inevitable run that followed and would likely commence when the temps hit near 90 with the sun baking down. I feared bonking on the run so as my every-20-minute alarm went off, I diligently took in my nutrition and drank along the way.
We finished the ride with no issues and I bid Jason farewell as I started on my run. I ran north first, knowing that it was likely that someone would be at CrossFit and I could sneak in there for a refill on my water and a little sink bath. It was desperately needed, even after only a mile or so into my run (thanks guys). I set my watch for a 4:30 min run/1 min walk schedule but the heat got the best of me. Although I was able to cool off with a sink or river bath and refill my water every 2 miles or so along the trail after turning back south 30 minutes in, it was a brutal run and my slowest to date. I averaged just under a 13 minute mile over the 10 miles but I finished. The partial cloud cover that moved in about mile 6 or 7 helped a bit. I told myself that as bad as it was, it wasn't that bad and I could have felt much worse. If I hold that pace for the 26.2 miles, I'd still finish the marathon under 6 hours. And I'd be thrilled with that.
My 6+ hour journey on Sunday was followed by my first ice bath! Now that was quite the experience but my legs feel good today (2 days later), so I think it was worth it and I'm sure there will be a few more in my future.
Next weekend I have my last 100 mile bike ride planned. Following that, I work my way up to a 3 hour run with one more big brick and then on to the taper.
Stay tuned, friends. And thanks so much for your interest and support! You really don't know how much it means to me.
