Finally Full

I wake up hungry. I have no need for an alarm clock - my stomach gurgles and aches without fail between 5:30 and 6:00 am. The hunger pains are so strong, I feel like my stomach must be ready to eat my other muscles and organs. I think about food constantly - what will best keep me going on an 80 mile ride or even through a long meeting at the office after an hour and a half morning swim? I found myself ducking out of a meeting at work this week to “use the restroom,” which actually meant stopping by the kitchen to scarf down half a turkey sandwich!

Eating every two to three hours is a necessity for me. While nutrition experts are debating about the need for carb-loading, there’s no doubt I need lots of food, all the time! So, I’m pleased to report that the 4th of July was the best training day yet - and not because of the 50 mile Seneca training ride with the tri-club! I ate enough for the first time this week to sleep more than 5 hours! Thanks to Stephen for hosting a rooftop bbq where I filled up on 2 cheeseburgers, potato salad, cucumber salad, a hot dog, and lamb skewers! Oh, and making and bringing these two desserts - a nectarine-rasberry crisp and celebration cake - definitely helped! I didn’t even have to have my usual bowl of grape nuts or cheese stick before bed!

Given the remainder of my workout schedule for this weekend, I doubt my stomach will remain satisfied. What is your favorite late night snack to curb hunger and get to sleep?

 

How to Prepare for the Ironman Swim Start

This is too funny!  Maybe I should practice at Sandy Point or Lake Anna this weekend…anyone want to help?

 

Get Packing!

Looks like I’ll need to start my packing this weekend! Some friends prepped me about the special needs bags for the bike and run. But, I just received an email from the Community Fund about Race Bags - check out everything I’ll need below. It’s definitely a bit more involved than my other races! Good thing there’s an EMS outdoors store in Placid in case I forget anything!

Besides the standard extra bike tubes, CO2 cartridges, reflective tape (for when it gets dark on the run) and a long sleeve shirt, any recommendations on what I should put in my special needs bag? There’s no doubt I’ll have pringles and fritos in there! What else might be a good little treat to keep me going?

Race Bags:

In your race bags you will find the following key items:

• Dry Clothes Bag – this is used to put any clothes you may wear down to the race start and clothing you may want at the end of the race. You will drop this bag on your way to the swim start and it will be available at the finish.
• Swim to Bike Bag – this bag is for your bike helmet, shoes, sunglasses, clothing etc and anything else you will be putting on after you exit the swim and make the transition to the bike leg. This bag is checked in the day before the race at bike/gear bag check-in You will have access to this bag race morning should you forget anything.
• Bike to Run Bag – This is for your running shoes, socks, hat, clothing change etc or anything you may need for the run leg. This bag is also checked the day before at the bike/ gear bag check-in, and you will have access to it on race morning if you forget anything.
• Special Needs Bike – This is an optional use bag. Special needs for the bike is stationed at approximately 56 miles into the bike leg, right on Mirror Lake Drive, as you are completing the first loop of the bike course. You may use this option if there is anything special that you would like to pick-up at this point of the event. For example if you have a special drink mix that you would like to replenish, extra, back-up salt tablets, a spare tube or any other kind of comfort food/ item that you think-you may need or want and cannot get out on the course. DO NOT PLACE ANY VALUABLES INTO THIS BAG. We do try and return these bags to the transition area after the race BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE you will get them back. You will hand in this bag on race morning – you will have to make the walk down Mirror Lake Drive to drop this off. This is the same location as the drop for Run Special Needs. In addition we do have volunteers at this point on the bike course who will try and hand the bag off to you BUT be prepared to stop briefly if you really want to get your bag and it is busy.
• Special Needs Run – Like the bike this bag is handed in on race morning on Mirror Lake Drive. During the race you will have the opportunity to pick-up these bags as you head to the turnaround on Mirror Lake Drive at 13 miles. It is for anything special you may need as you make the turn to start the second loop of the run. Special foods, drinks, salt tablets or even perhaps a warm shirt for those of you that may be out on the course late into the evening. Once again we will try and return these to you BUT IT IS NOT GURANTEED.

That’s a lot of stuff to prepare!  Any tips or thoughts about what may be good to have?  I think if I learned my lesson from Black Bear, some sunscreen and extra body glide will be a must!

 

The Countdown Begins!

Just 20 days until the Ironman! While I was in Placid training last week, I had the great idea to write a post for every day until the race….then, I rode over 100 miles on the course and went to sleep instead of writing. The next day, I ran 13 miles and swam over 1.5…only to focus on eating and driving back to DC. Needless to say, I’m still focused on training.

So, over a week later, I will now officially kick off my IMLP Countdown! Here’s one of my favorite photos from the Lake Placid training weekend:

 

Jimmy G is Man of the Year!

Just a couple short weeks ago, my friend and training partner Jim was named Man of the Year by the National Capital Area Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Jim raised over $160,000 - well exceeding his goal to raise $140,600 for the 140.6 miles in our upcoming Ironman.

Read more about Jim and see pics from the celebration night!

While the Ketel One bar at the gala may not have helped our training on Sunday, I think Jim’s accomplishment helped inspire us all for these final training days!

 

Black Bear - Lessons Learned

Post Black Bear, seven us weighed in on our top lessons learned during our first half ironman race. Here are the top tips for the next half or ironman distance race.

• Eat breakfast early. Peanut butter sandwiches, banana, and rice are all good starters. If you don’t, you may be a little nauseas on the swim.
• Peeing in a wetsuit will warm you up in cold water if only for a minute.
• Take your time in transition, both setting up and during the race. 10 seconds makes little difference over 6 hours! And that way you make sure you have everything you need
• Use LOTS of body glide before the race, apply vasoline to the feet before the run, and when in desperate need, use chapstick for any chafing!
• Make sure you eat and drink plenty on the bike, you’ll be thankful when you start that run! Two bottles of Perpetuem will not be enough. Be sure to have at least two bottles of water and two bottles of sports drink (no matter how nasty Heed is or whatever they give you at the bottle exchange). Also be sure to eat a couple gels and possibly a cliff bar or peanut butter sandwich.
• Speaking of nutrition, ask what nutrition will be on the course. Take Heed if there is Heed on the course and bring your own stuff
• Make sure you bike computer is “on” and working before you go off to the swim start. Mine was stuck in “indoor” mode and only gave me the time.
• Check your tires – they have no more than a 2 year life span. Changing your own tire on the course is a pain in the arse and it really puts you in a bad mood– replace tires every year.
• Lower your expectations on a hilly course or if the heat is bad.
• Hat is better then a visor, you can put ice in it (or at least I would imagine!)
• Maintain your own pace and do not get caught up by competitive flow. Remember that there is a lot of race ahead of you.
• Find time after finishing in order to put your feet/legs up and rest
• Don’t be too shy to ask volunteers to get you food or drink if your legs are too tired.
• Don’t forget to keep eating and drinking when you finish. Coke and cliff shot blocks go along way

 

What a Bear!

You know you’re in for a tough race when the race shirts say, “Hope you finish…”

Here are some quick pics from the weekend. More details to come!

Black Bear Half Ironman

 

Black Bear or Bust!

Excitement, dread, eagerness, fear…these are all the things I’m feeling as I prepare to head out to my first Half Ironman race this weekend: BLACK BEAR.

The course will be tough! It starts with a pleasant 1.5 mile swim, then a hilly 56 mile bike ride and finishes with a 13 mile hilly run! What am I thinking?
Check out this video of the course!

The race kicks off Sunday at 8 am. My goals are as follow:

• Have fun in the swim
• Get my wetsuit off without too much of a struggle
• Eat well on the bike ride
• Stay strong on the climbs
• Don’t worry about poking along
• Remember to take some advil before the run (my shins have been hurting)
• Reapply sunscreen
• Walk if I need to
• And, if possible, finish before the awards ceremony starts at 3 pm!

I’m excited to have some support at the race too! My buddy Derek is going up with me. And, my friend Jim and his crew will be there racing too!

 

Hill Training is Fun

Gambrill, Harp, + Second Gambrill Park Loop
Find more Bike Rides in Frederick, Maryland

 

Too busy training

A lot of people have been wondering where I’ve been and why I have not posted recently….but do you really need to ask?

I’ve been training!

With the Black Bear Half Ironman race less than a month away, it’s time to get a little more serious about racing! Last week, I logged over 100 miles on my bike, ran about 25 miles, and swam at least 8,500 yards.

While it was great to get out for a nice, long solo ride to Sugarloaf on Friday, I really enjoyed the Saturday group workout with the DC Tri Club. We journeyed up to Columbia, MD to try out the race course there. We rode the 25 mile bike loop at least once and ran the 6.2 mile run loop. My friend Katie and here crew were a bit more serious than I, but we all had a great time with the hills and the picnic afterwards. You know you’re training well when hills seem like fun!

This week is a recovery week for me, so I’m taking it easy and trying to pull together all the little things for the next couple weeks.

1. Try out my new wetsuit

2. Buy new wheels for my bike - the back story coming soon!

3. Find a good 16-20 mile run in Chicago while I’m there for a wedding over Memorial Day Weekend