Would You Rather....? (Kinetic Half Iron Distance Race Report)

There's a game called "Would You Rather...?". After this weekend's Kinetic Triathlon Weekend, I pose the question: Would you rather race in the heat or in the rain? I did the half iron distance triathlon on Saturday, where the high temperature reached 85 degrees with essentially no shade relief. Sunday was the sprint distance triathlon, with a precipitation total of 2.18 inches for the day. In the game of "Would You Rather...?", neither option is favorable, but a player is expected which option he or she feels is the lesser of two evils.

Race morning started off at 3am to be able to meet Harriet at 4:30 and drive to the race. Harriet wasn't exactly keen on the idea. However, I tried to put a positive spin on the notion, by pointing out that the race was part of our training for Ironman. We'll need to wake up at 3am on Ironman race day, so why not wake up at 3am on a training day?

As I got ready to leave the house, nausea began to set in. Before long workouts, I sometimes have some sort of anxiety and essentially come on the verge of vomiting (or actually vomit), especially when I seemingly eat breakfast too rapidly beforehand. However, my stomach was still empty at this point, having planned to eat en route to be able to time finishing breakfast 2-3 hours before race start. As a result of the nausea, I sat back, slowed down, and regained my composure. My stomach settled down. At least this gave me an excuse to try some Tums. I had no stomach issues the rest of the day.

I met up with Harriet bright and early and we were able to zip on down to the race. I again tried to shed some light on the early wake-up as we heard horror stories regarding traffic from people who drove down the night before. We were able to fly down to Lake Anna State Park and get to the race in plenty of time.

The weeks leading up the race, air temperatures remained rather cool. I raced the sprint last year and swam in 56 degree water. Cold water like that hits the face like a ton of bricks, but I knew I could do it. Needless to say, the last couple days before the race, air temperatures began to rapidly increase, and by race morning, the lake was 65 degrees. Very doable. However, those rapidly increasing air temperatures would affect the race day itself. We hadn't yet trained in warm weather this season. After all, last weekend we were riding Skyline Drive in the sleet!

I was not quite sure what to expect in terms of race finish. This was my fifth half-iron distance triathlon, and first since Eagleman nearly two years ago. I have learned a lot since then, having been more disciplined about HRM training and stronger all the way around. However, this race was at the end of a challenging two-week build cycle (i.e. not tapered for it), and I knew the heat would be a factor. So, on one hand, I wondered if a PR was possible and yet on the other hand, I thought I'd be lucky to break 7 hours.

I was in the fourth and largest swim wave. Although I did a small warm-up in the water prior to race start (primarily to get past the initial shock from the cold water), it took me a bit to get into a groove once the race started. About 10 minutes in, I settled down, though, and truly began to enjoy the swim. Once I was in a groove, I was in a groove. I did not want to stop swimming. I swam wide to avoid people (and I just am a poor sighter). Actually, I swam a little too wide as when I was at the far end of the second loop, a safety kayaker flagged me down to redirect me back on course. Perhaps subconsciously I did not want to leave the water and was simply in my element?

As I left the lake and headed into T1, I was greeted by the usual sea of Team Z green. I felt great. I sauntered into transition to avoid a spike in heart rate. After struggling to get off my wet suit, I was ready to head out on the bike course.

The course was relatively flat. I'm glad there were enough hills to make things a little interesting, but it was certainly a flatter course compared to what we usually train on. I made a point to stick to a strict nutrition plan, of consuming Accelerade about every 10 minutes and either a Gu, Bloks, or Sport Beans every 45 minutes. The plan served me well.

It did get a little lonely out on the bike course though. I seemed to be passed an awful lot (and I passed maybe one person?) I kept trying to keep things in perspective and not let it go to my head. I was sticking to my plan and not worry about anyone else.

I did miss my tri bike though. As someone put it, my tri bike is on vacation in Florida. It is in Florida, awaiting me to retrieve it from Timra when I head down to St. Anthony's Triathlon next weekend. With the relatively flat course and the winds that picked up during the day, the course was well-suited for a tri bike. Nevertheless, I plan on doing Ironman on my road bike anyway.

At about the 20 mile mark, I was relieved to see some familiar faces. Dan and Roy were taking photos and also had Jill, Tom, and Linda in their company. Shortly thereafter, I approached the end of the first loop and saw several members from Team Z. Additionally, Talia, who was not racing, rode the course backwards and I saw her three times. Seeing friendly faces is uplifting.

As the winds picked up and the temperatures rose during the second loop, I kept trying to keep myself entertained. I was not going to let my morale slip. There was one section of newly paved road that was simply awful. It was soft, so the bike sank. It was rough as well, with tiny pebbles that kicked up as we proceeded. I began to loudly sing over and over, "This is the road that sucks; this is the road that sucks." I amused myself and just did the best to make light of the situation.

So, I averaged 14.8 mph on the bike. Although it was certainly on the slow side for me, I considered the bike leg a success, given my positive attitude, staying in Z2, and adhering to my nutrition plan.

I was not looking forward to the run though. It was hot. And by this point, I had given up hope of breaking 7 hours. The run course was three loops, which had it's pros and cons. I felt that the pros outweighed the cons, however, although I think I'm in the minority there. Yes, it sucked passing by the finish line twice prior to actually finishing. And spectators would cheer "way to finish" when I was actually only 4 miles into a 13.1 mile run. On the flip side, it was fun to see absolutely everyone from our team. When else do I get a chance to run with Chris Wren or Ryan Pettengill during a race, albeit briefly? And the multiple loops gave me a chance to look forward to seeing those that I knew who were still out there with me: Harriet, Carol, Kitty, Alex, Frank, Joanna, Andrea, Charlotte, Christy, Kari, Pam, and Kat. Some of them were having truly a tough day. One was Collin. At the start of my second loop, his third, he was in bad shape. I stopped to talk to him a bit, and let him know that this race was not worth winding up in the ER. I was relieved when a short while later, he ran up past me, having found new life. He looked so much better.

The one real complaint I had during the run was the lack of aid stations. Sure, they were out there, but not as frequently or well-equipped as they should be for a half-iron distance triathlon. I began to get a serious craving for pretzels and cream-filled cookies. Alas, I settled for oranges. Lots of them.

Swim: 42:47
Bike: 3:47:32
Run: 2:45:26
Finish: 7:21:56

Post race, I joined the crew in the tent for camaraderie. I saw Chris Wren chowing on some pretzels. A shadow was cast on them such that it appeared they were chocolate-dipped pretzels. I asked Chris if my eyes were serving me correctly, and John Mead concurred that chocolate-dipped pretzels would be M-O-N-E-Y. I guess I appeared crushed upon discovering they were just simple plain pretzels, as Chris then secretly went on a mission. Upon fulfilling his mission, he sent out word he was looking for me. Imagine my delight when Chris presented me with a chocolate-dipped pretzel!

Kudos to all those who raced with me on Saturday. I loved seeing your smiling faces and sharing a few laughs during the run and thereafter. Much thanks to Roy and Linda for your hospitality that evening. And lastly, big props to those who raced in the sprint on Sunday. I think after watching that, I'd rather race in the heat.

Hammer Fest at Hains Point

Time to drop the hammer at Hains Point again! I gaven't been out there for speed training since last year. It seems like the Whos-Who of Metro D.C. cycling is always out there. There's the peleton of roadies who zip on by. There's the casual recreational riders on fat tires. And there's us triathletes, somewhere in between. We traditionally are there Thursday nights for speed training.

It was my first visit out to Hains Point since The Awakening was relocated. Maybe a new sculpture will make a home at the foot of Hains Point?

I managed to top out a max speed of 22.4 mph, with an average of 18.1 mph for the whole workout. Maybe by the end of summer I can top out at 25 mph, with a 20 mph average?

Skyline Drive - The First in a Series of Three

Today was our first visit to Skyline Drive, the road that runs along the length of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Of course, since it is in a National Park, the views are fabulous. As cyclists, we ride there as it's the most challenging terrain local to Metro Washington D.C., allowing not only a chance to learn how to climb mountains, but also how to descend them.

Because of my bike fit on Friday night, I was curious. Would I have a successful day on Skyline Drive?

My first time out to Skyline Drive 4 years ago (pre Team Z), I started at Dickey's Ridge and rode from there. All the parking outside the park was taken, so I drove in the park until I was able to leave my car. That was my first visit to SNP. My car struggled with that initial climb. I rode solo that day, but a fellow cyclist whom I happened to be dating at the time (why didn't he take me out there for my first visit?) told me I missed the best part by driving the initial climb, rather than riding it on my bicycle.

I've since been out there several times. It's been a while since I've ridden it though. My climbing has considerably improved in recent months. How would I fare?

It's easy to get spread out on Skyline Drive. For one, upon entering the park, there is a fee. As a result, there's a time delay getting everyone through. Plus, with varying levels of riding ability, some are able to climb the drive faster than others. In reality, though, we are all relatively close to one another, but due to switchbacks, are out of eyesight.

I rode for the first two hours with Ann. I haven't had much opportunity to ride with her in the past for various reasons, but this gave us a great opportunity to chit-chat, giggle, and make the climb that much easier. She had to turn around at the two hour point because, well, that was what her schedule called for. Only those of us doing Ironman this year had to press on.

I was ascending for 2-1/2 hours when it was time to turn around. I made it mile marker 19. It was time to fly down the hills. However, by this time, it was rather chilly up in the mountains. And it began to sleet. Trust me, descending on a bike at 35 mph in sleet feels like razors against the cheeks. Once the ride was done, I nearly had to check in the mirror to ensure I did not have gashes on my face.

The return trip took an hour.

Despite the chill and sleet, I had an AMAZING ride. I kid you not, my legs felt fresh at the end. I was not tired; I was not sore. I had some very mild discomfort that goes with a 3+ hour ride, but other than that, I felt great! Score!

Post ride, we ventured to the traditional post Skyline Drive stop of the Apple House, a cheesy shop with useless Virginia-themed souvenirs, but the food is worthwhile. I ate a buffalo burger and fried apple sticks. Very good.

I have enough post-ride energy to show at the Sunday night recovery swim. The schedule mentions a surprise. I'm intrigued....

As the Sun Rises over the National Mall...

This Saturday was my first day working at Chrysalis Vineyard and had to be there at 10am. Yet, my training schedule called for a 14 mile run. What's a girl to do? The run would take about 2 hrs, 20 minutes, the vineyard was about a 45 minute drive away, and of course, I had to show up somewhat presentable. A dilemma. The answer was to wake at 3am, to eat and knock out a pre-run routine, then start running at 5am. I decided to run around the National Mall for safety reasons (well-policed and lit).

There's something poetic about watching the sun rise over the National Mall. I took photos of the Capitol pre-, mid-, and post-run to share in the experience.

The Cherry Blossom Parade was also scheduled for the morning. The pre-dawn run enabled me to witness the parade preparations, from the balloon set-up to the horse brushing to the color guard practice.

And there were moments where I absolutely felt like I had all of Washington D.C. to myself. The air was still. The Washington Monument glowed against the night sky. The World War II Memorial was dimly lit as if to whisper to me.

As the sun rose, the pink-and-white confetti dotting the sidewalks began to appear, as the cherry trees are now devoid of their signature cherry blossoms.

As a bonus, by 8am, my long run was done for the day and I was free.

I loved my first day at the vineyard. My job: pour wine for tasters. Simple as that. Thanks to Helen, Jenn, & Alisa for visiting there on my first day. Who's next?

The Conte's Bike Fit Experience

Ready for the weekend? This week I missed most workouts (other than swimming), as my mom was in town. Very fun to see her. And since she lives on the other side of the universe, it was no question to skip some workouts to be able to have the chance to hang out with her.

Will the extra rest pay off? We'll see when it comes to ride Skyline Drive on Sunday. Combine the extra rest with tonight's bike fit, and I should be ready to kick some ass.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the bike fit. I've never had one before. I knew naturally they'd take some measurements and adjust my bike accordingly, but not sure to what extent.

After long rides, I suffer from knee stress and lots of shoulder discomfort. I know that some discomfort is expected after a long ride, but I knew that I was in worse shape than the norm. Not good. So Conte's began doing measurements on me and the bike. I almost felt like I was visiting a physical therapist. They got my flexibility and my leg angles and whatnot.

The first adjustments were to raise my saddle and move it forward. I felt the change there instantly. As a result, I was more on my butt and definitely felt more at ease with my pedal stroke.

Next was alleviating the shoulder stress. We found that my stem was way too long and put one that was about 1/2 the length on instead. It allows me to place my hands on the hoods more (i.e. proper form), rather than on top of the handlebars as I typically have been riding. Also, my handlebars are way too wide, forcing me to reach out wider than my shoulders, so Conte's will be replacing those within the next 24 hours.

My pedal cleat positioning also forced me to tip my knees in toward my top tube while biking. There was a bit of a challenge to adjust my cleats, however. My cycling shoes are so old (over 5 years), that the cleats were rusted in and somehow permanently fused to my shoes. I never thought about cycling shoes really having a lifespan, but I guess they do just like any other shoe. He convinced me it was time for a new pair. The new shoes are sw-eet! We also put orthodics and shims in my shoes and they feel great!!

It took a while for me to experience my new shoes, however. You see, I use Time pedals. They aren't very popular, but I like them. Because they are less common, Conte's did not have the corresponding cleat for them. Hmmmm... So, in order for them to finish my bit fit and make me a happy person for this Sunday's ride, they ventured off to another bike store on a quest for cleats. Meanwhile, I got to hang out, read the paper, chat with Meredith (as she's the store manager for the newly opened Potomac River Running store adjacent to Conte's), grab a Clif Bar, talk on the phone.....

Anyway, I hope it'll all pay off. Certainly was a bit of a pricey evening. Will it all wind up shaving an hour (or more?) off my Ironman bike time??

Hooray for Recovery Week!

After Saturday's challenging bike ride and subsequent party for Holly's birthday, it was a bit of a challenge to go running Sunday. I met up with Carol for our 12 miler, which is a good thing to keep us both honest. My shoulders and knees were rather sore from the ride, which I think is largely due to bike fit. So, I'm sucking up the dough and going to Conte's next Friday for a thorough bike fit.

Anyway, our run was long and slow. We meandered from Bethesda, along Rock Creek. Carol put up with a wee too much whining from yours truly. The plan was to run 9 miles, then "race" the next 3 miles, as per the training schedule. Tough, but we do need to get used to running long on tired legs.

Needless to say, our 3 mile "race" did not go according to plan. Carol managed to "race" about 1-1/2 miles; me about 3/4 mile. The end of the run was uphill, which Carol impressively ran up. I tried, but my legs simply would not listen. In addition to massive soreness (no pain, which is good, just very sore muscles), something I ate did not agree with me. My stomach was rather upset.

Consequently, I was quite happy when the workout was over. Carol and I celebrated a successful weekend and went out for pancakes. We had to go on the semi-healthy side though.

Our ride schedule for the remainder of Ironman training was posted today. We've got some toughies ahead with some other twists and turns. Stay tuned...

The 70 Mile Ride

Ready for 70 miles? The ride for the weekend started from Culpeper. The route is known as Old Rag Views, with the ride start altered to give previews of the Culpeper Sprint Course. Several people had ridden the route last year and told tales of woe regarding the challenging climbs and whatnot. I knew it was going to be a long tough day. I was armed with my brand new large Bento Box and Aqua Joe so I was set to help sustain myself for the long road ahead. (Excuse the pun.)



The first third of the ride was relatively easy- gentle rolling hills. The homes we passed either seemed to be absolutely beautiful or serious white trash trailer homes. I never saw so many recliners, tricycles, and bench presses lying around the front lawns!

However, the latter half of the first third rapidly improved in terms of scenery. We biked parallel to the Robinson River, which was gorgeous. Additionally, the road we were on lead toward the rear entrance to the White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run Hike, one of my favorites. Because of the popularity of this hike, several quaint stores were lined along the road.

I was primarily biking solo for the first third, however. I had to stop momentarily a couple times to adjust my biking shoes and to shed a layer of clothes. Therefore, I was rapidly separated from the group. It was nice to great some smiling faces at the first rest stop.

Shortly after the first rest stop, we were in for a tough climb. I wondered if I was suddenly transported to one of the many challenging roads in Europe. Fueling this fantasy, I was biking with Jen Marquardt, who was wearing a real Chianti Classico jersey. I told Jen that she was inspiring me to crack open the bottle of Chianti Classico that my coworker Joni brought me, from her fall visit to Tuscany.

Susan (our ride leader) had told us that after this climb, we were to be rewarded with an awesome 4 mile decent. I was excited. However, my excitement turned into some disappointment, as the decent wasn't as thrilling as I anticipated. It was a net loss in elevation, yes, but an opportunity to fly down a mountain, no.

The views were rewarding, though. We were biking in the shadow of Old Rag Mountain. Although I was by myself again, the ride was rather enjoyable, given the scenery.

That is, until we approached Round Hill Road.

Round Hill Road was, in a word, challenging. There were a series of 4 climbs that stood like walls. We were forewarned about these hills as the toughest section of the route. However, I thought I heard in the route preview that this tough section was in the last third of the route; I was in the middle third. I nearly wanted to cry. Those hills were quite challenging and I thought that the toughest part was yet to come! What hell did I have to look forward to?

Needless to say, I was rather elated when I approached the second rest stop and discovered that the series of tough climbs was indeed the most difficult part of the course and it was already behind me. Yeah!

At the rest stop, I was able to rejoin with Carol, Joanna, and Kitty. We had all been biking solo through that tough section and were in need of support and companionship. Our spirits got lifted from the Reese's PB cups from the rest stop and the chance to socialize on our bikes. On top of that, the terrain was relatively kind to us.

We eventually got spread out once again, but by this time, the end of the ride was within sights. I saw Susan a couple times, who was providing SAG support. (SAG stands for support and gear.) I was counting down the miles to reach the end.

We all shared in a small victory dance upon reaching our cars. A tough 70+ miler was behind us. On top of that, it's the most challenging terrain we'll face though our Ironman training season. And it's in the past.

To celebrate, Joanna, Pam, Carol, Carrie, and I visited Dairy Queen enroute home. After a workout like that, we feel like we can consume any guilty pleasure without remorse. I embraced that notion, chowing down on a double cheeseburger, a chicken wrap, and an Oreo mint Blizzard. YUM!

The Easter Egg Hunt Ride - 60 miler

Ok, ok... the ride is really known as the Fox Hunt ride, but it IS Easter after all. Didn't find any Easter eggs though.

I should have known that the ride would start off on the wrong foot when I was tooling around the parking lot on the bike, didn't unclip fast enough, and my left knee met the pavement. It stung a little, and thought not much of it other than from the impact. I discovered post-ride when I took off my biking tights and found my knee covered in blood. Ouch.

During yesterday's 10 mile run, I managed to pull my left calf. (Left leg is getting a lot of abuse this weekend, isn't it?) It was sore all day yesterday, but feeling fine early this morning. However, soon into the ride, the soreness resurfaced. Ug. Going to be a long day. I hoped once I got into a biking groove it would loosen up. It did, luckily. However, every now and then the leg reminded me of the pulled muscle.

About 20 miles into the ride, I was STARVING. I ate a breakfast of the usual spinach omelet, and had a Gu at mile 15, but it wasn't enough. Perhaps because I didn't also have a Boost pre-ride? I'm trying to watch the caloric intake a little, but maybe I cut out too much. So, I began to nibble on my bagel with honey & banana. That helped.

By the time we reached the rest stop at mile 25, I was like a kid in a candy store. I was wide-eyed at the selection available. I was seeking out my usual mid-ride treat of Nutter Butters, but didn't find any. So, I settled for gummy bears. Not one pack, but two. Ok, they were small packs and priced at 2 for $1. They're not the best thing to consume on a long ride, but they sure were good!

Midway through the ride, I took note of the incised streams. (GEEK ALERT, GEEK ALERT!) After spending this past week in North Carolina, learning about geomorphic assessments (analyzing the physical health of a stream), I couldn't help but notice the streams. Ok, so that's truly geeky. Back to the ride...

I continued on with Timra, Andrea, Christy, and Pam. It turned out to be a beautiful day for a ride. And here we were, in Virginia wine country. My favorite ride locale. By this time I had a full belly, was enjoying the weather, and loved the scenery. My spirits were rather high.

That is, until about mile 47. Our group was spread out by then, so I was alone. It seemed absolutely endless to ride along Zulla Road into Middleburg. I was just there last weekend and I swear, the road got longer since last week. Trust me, it was longer.

Upon arrival in Middleburg, there were 8 more miles left to the car. I try to tell myself that the ride is almost over when I can easily run the remaining distance. That mental game did not help too much today. Maybe my spirits would have been lifted if I stopped at Piedmont Vineyards and visited my winemaker buddy from last week? After all, the route passed right by the vineyard.

The last 8 miles were eternity! It didn't help that my left calf began to completely act up. I had a little break when with 4 miles to go, Jill and Jenni Banks passed by in a car. I can do 4 more miles, right? I was so elated upon return to the car!

Joanna, Pam, and I decided to head home and grab a snack enroute rather than join the team at the tavern in Middleburg. I think we made a wise choice. Panera was heavenly, especially my non-fat caramel latte. YUM!

Heading off to swim this evening to loosen up...

Giddy Up!

All right. I NOW feel like it's truly Ironman training time. For the month post Myrtle Beach, our workouts were rather low key. No speed work, no increase in mileage, sort of just maintaining a base. However, it's now ON. Having our Ironman 2008 Team Z Get Together Friday night sort of helped too to get us all in the mind set. (Ok, so we were drinking beers and eating pizza, but we were there all discussing the intensity in training and the race itself, right?)

I'm in Cary, NC (near Raleigh) at the moment, so it's a little challenging to get into the groove. I'm getting workouts done at the hotel gym. The workouts are not as ideal as running on familiar roads and using my bike, but better than nothing. I also needed to take off a week from swimming to let a minor shoulder injury heal.

I'll be back Thursday evening to meet the Team for Thursday night spin 'n' swim.

Giddy Up!

Le Tour de Fleur de Vin

The Tour of the Flowering Wines...

Yeah! Recovery weekend. Can't think of a better way to spend it than going on a ride from Middleburg with Jenn, Helen, and Alisa! Yeah! And lo' and behold, Middleburg just happens to be in Virginia Wine Country.

Didn't someone say that wine is the best recovery drink? I think I read that somewhere... hmmm...

We first stopped at Piedmont Vineyards and sampled 4 wines. We were luckily by ourselves at the tasting bar. Now, upon arrival, I noted the dessert wine and mentioned to Helen that dessert wine is a somewhat of a misleading misnomer, as dessert wines are actually classified by their alcohol content, not because they are sweet or for dessert. Wines that have more than 14% alcohol are classified as dessert wines. Yes, they are USUALLY sweet and often enjoyed after dinner. However, a dry sherry IS classified as a dessert wine, but it's dry and generally an apertif. Anyway, the guy behind the bar (who I later discovered was the winemaker) said I was wrong and that he's been making wine for 17 years and knows his stuff. Naturally, I verified my statement when I returned home this evening and I AM RIGHT!

Needless to say, they all gave me a hard time as they felt that the winemaker was good looking and hey... a WINE MAKER after all and seemingly single. And on top of all that, seemed to be amused by our conversation. So, for those reasons, I should have agreed with anything he said. Humph.

Next stop was Chrysalis Vineyards known for reintroducing the Norton Grape. On top of that, I LOVE their Viognier. We did the super tasting there, flirting with the sommelier and his assistant. Tried 11 wines. Whew! I could have certainly bought more, but I guess $80 of wine in one day is enough.

Come on over and share some with me!

Who's on the Ironman Training Schedule?

"Oh, so LEFT on Friendship Road!"

Sunday = Bike Ride Day! Today's ride was a return to Chesapeake Beach. Recall we were just there a couple of months ago to do the same 48 mile loop. Familiar territory, right? Driving to the ride, Joanna sent me a text pointing out the obvious: "It is FREAKING cold outside!" As the Weather Channel pointed out to me as I had my pre-ride spinach omelet, the wind chill was 19 degrees. Bone chilling. At least the sun was out.

As we started the ride, I mentioned to Joanna that we'll miss days like this once we're riding our 120 miler in a few short months, and it seems like it's 1000 degrees outside. She agreed. And by mile 8 we could feel our fingers.

We soon got rather spread out over the roads. I was within eye sight of Kim and Matty Lynn when we approached the intersection of Fairhaven and Friendship Road at mile 13. I thought I saw them turn right onto Friendship Road, and followed without verifying the turn against my cue sheet. Friendship Road was a little brutal, heading into a headwind. The territory seemed familiar: a coffee shop, a traffic circle, sights I recall from the ride a couple months earlier. (As I would later discover, these sights should have been saved for LATER in the ride.)

I continued on, and saw that I should be approaching Walnut Road. I know Walnut Road well. I remember distinctly being on it back from Ironman training 2 years ago, as we rode our 100 miler. And I remember it well from our ride 2 months ago. The area leads into Rose Haven along the Chesapeake Bay and heads toward the Boardwalk. I was nowhere near Walnut Road.

OK. Where did I go wrong? Did I miss a turn? I began to head back and encountered a fellow cyclist. He and I surveyed my cue sheet. He pointed out that I needed to head back onto Friendship Road (OK, I WAS on Friendship Road), and turn right at the next turn and I'd be on my merry way.

Well, the next right was Old Solomons Island Road. That's not the way to go! I should be on Friendship Road! Where did I go wrong? Where was Boyd's Turn? So, I continued back and my concern grew as I saw no other cyclists approaching me, knowing full well there were others behind me. At least heading back along Friendship Road, I had a tailwind and was able to comparatively fly.

Eventually, I returned to the intersection of Fairhaven and Friendship Road. I pulled out the cue sheet and found the error of my ways. LEFT on Friendship, not right. Oh.

I went 5 miles out of my way, which does not seem to much in retrospect, but on a windy day, solo, it can feel much further. It meant I was about 20-30 minutes behind everyone else.

I gladly approached the Chesapeake Boardwalk and continued on, on the correct route this time. I hoped that I would be able to catch up with some people at the rest stop, about 7 miles ahead.

As I approached the rest stop, no one. Crud. My morale was beginning to sink. I was alone, tired from travel to Baton Rouge and Atlanta. My flight last night from Atlanta got into BWI 2 hours late, took another hour to retrieve my luggage, and took 1-1/2 hours to get home thanks to an accident on the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy. Add on top of that, the loss of an hour of sleep for daylight savings. (Ok, I'm fundamentally thrilled that it's now daylight savings time, but this morning, I was quite cranky about it.) Needless to say, I only had 6 hours of sleep pre-ride.

I continued along, when out of nowhere, a fellow Team Z'er approached me on his bike. Where did he come from? I didn't quite recognize him, given we were all bundled up in winter gear, but nevertheless, it was great to have a friendly face. He apparently missed the clock change and got to the ride an hour late. Given he started an hour later than me and had caught up, he was a much faster rider, and he soon dropped me. During my chance Team Z encounter, Ed had found us and briefly checked on our well-being, and left.

I was once again alone. My morale was rapidly sinking. Why am I training for Ironman again? Why am I putting myself through literally 1000s of miles of road biking in preps for this thing? I've already done an Ironman. I know how challenging it can be. In fact, I wound up in the emergency room the first go-around. That enough should steer me away from returning to Lake Placid. Yet, at the same time, I find that drive within myself. The challenge has some sort of allure to it that I cannot quite put into words.

Things could very much be worse. Sure, I was biking solo, on a chilly windy day. But the sun was out, I had my cell phone on me in case I got into trouble, and I was experiencing no flat tires or pain.

I saw Ed again. I knew I was the last one. Ed basically helped me weigh my options. I had 10 miles left to the start. He made sure I had enough food and fluids to sustain me. He'd check how far I was behind the rest of the crew and encouraged me to ride at least another 5 miles. Those 5 miles would put me at 48 miles, the ride distance for the day.

When I reached 48 miles, I once again saw Ed as promised. He told me that I was only a short distance behind Tim. Really? Hmmm.... I knew I'd kick myself if I bailed out now. I only had 5 more miles left to go. Sure, I'd wind up going a total of 53 miles, further than scheduled for the day. However, I am training for IRONMAN after all. Plus, there's something to be said about arriving back at the cars on bicycle versus in Ed's SAG vehicle. It's about FINISHING. I told Ed thanks, but I'd continue on.

About a minute later, I began to second guess my decision. My right knee was bothering me a bit. (Note to self: verify bike fit.) I was tired and a bit hungry too. Then I reminded myself why I turned down Ed's offer in the first place: there's something about FINISHING the ride.

I arrived back into the parking lot with a beaming smile on my face. I did it. And now I can enjoy recovery week before we ramp it all up again.

Wednesday Dash 'n' Dine

Once again I hail from Louisiana.... Baton Rouge to be exact. Here on business once again.

Alas, it gave me an opportunity to meet up with the old Wednesday night Dash 'n' Dine group. The concept is simple: meet up at the host's house, go for a run, then enjoy a pot luck dinner afterwards. Although I moved away from Baton Rouge 4 years ago, it's nice to know I can easily meet up with old friends and catch up. I caught up on the local adventure racing and triathlon scene and the personal lives of everyone in it.

Felt great running too. Workouts are going great so far this week, but it's going to be a challenge to swim today. Hmmmm....

Off to the hotel gym for a bike ride...

Take a Ride on the Dickerson Express

It's time to start ramping up that mileage in the bike saddle! We had the option today to either ride 39 or 50, and I'm glad we went with the longer distance.

I recalled the last time I rode from Riley's Lock on the Dickerson Express, I crashed. Perhaps it was a different route we took today, as I do not seem to recall passing the same spot where I crashed.

Anyway, we did the Dickerson Express loop, and added a loop to Sugarloaf Mountain to make it 50. I haven't been past Sugarloaf Mountain on my bike since EARLY Team Z days, over 2 years ago. That day a couple people rode their bikes up the mountain (about 1-1/2 mile ascent), but I passed. When we arrived at the foot of the mountain today, I was with Carol Camel & PamZee. We arrived just as Kim had descent. I tried to convince the Camel & PamZee to summit with me, but they convinced me otherwise. Oh well. Next time.

And also maybe next time I'll stop at the Sugarloaf Winery. (Ok, post ride.)

Post ride, I headed up to Gaithersburg (I was way out of my territory) to Noodles restaurant (which was fabulous post-ride food) with Collin, Kari, Matt W., Kim, Frank, Chris Wren, Dave & Kathy Lett, and Tim. And then to Starbucks for a venti skim white chocolate mocha. Score!

Ride distances will ramp up fast. By the end of March, we'll be up to 70 miles....

Six Mile Run Along Four Mile Run

This week truly started Ironman training. The winter's focus was running and simply keeping a decent swim and bike base. But, now, I feel that the upcoming race is looming over me. It's hard to imagine, given how chilly it's been, that my first triathlon of the season is about 1-1/2 months away!

Anyway, today was a 6 mile run. It was a fabulous day for a run-- sunny, about mid-40s, except a wee too windy. Whew! I think there was a headwind both ways! I cannot complain, overall though, given the otherwise decent weather.

Four Mile Run is a stream near me, bordering Arlington County & the City of Alexandria. I sort of take ownership of the stream, given the location. I participate in stream cleanups for it as often as schedule permits. And of course, being a water resources engineer, I'm on top of the hydraulics and hydrology of the stream and the revitalization project for it. (I'm showing my geeky side.) My stream.

Time for a spinach omelet.

Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon

Well,

I wasn't quite sure what to expect for this race. Slammed at work, limited sleep... I figured my race wasn't going to be top notch anyway, so I enjoyed beer at the race expo and wine with dinner beforehand.

And somehow I had a really good race! It wasn't my fastest time, but certainly up there as one of my best! To top it off, I negative split the race! (In other words, I ran the second half faster than the first half.) I've never negative split a race! Maybe in a 5K once? Anyway, they didn't truly have the halfway point for the race, so I timed the first 6 miles (56:28) and then the second 6 miles (55:51). My overall finish was 2:03 flat, according to the watch.

Many people on Team Z had a great race too, between the half and the full.

Don't you love Carol's Accelerade Mustache?

Difficult Run?

For an easy training weekend (well, taper for next weekend at Myrtle Beach), I thought of a "difficult run"... as in the stream in Fairfax County, Difficult Run.

Difficult Run is the largest watershed in Fairfax County, with some fabulous hiking/trail running/mountain biking/horse riding adjacent to the stream. I was long overdue for a visit. I am not sure how the stream quite got its name, but it seems that going down the stream in a kayak would be quite difficult. It's rather rocky and steep in some sections, sort of a microcosm of Great Falls along the Potomac River, which is nearby. In fact, the Difficult Run trail connects to the Great Falls Park trails. And that's what I did today. A trail run. I took it easy, not wanting to fry the legs and just took some time to enjoy the scenery.

Tomorrow is slated for a 25-mile ride. Hmmm. Seems that the weather is not going to quite cooperate. The wind chill is going to be potentially unbearable. I think it'll be a good opportunity "train on the Ironman Lake Placid" course again, as ride the trainer, watching the training DVD.

Mardi Gras Weekend

I succeeded in dragging myself out of bed this morning to go for a run. I knew it wouldn't be pretty. (1) I was up well past midnight last night watching parades. (2) Dinner last night consisted of 2 pieces of Popeye's chicken and 2-1/2 Abita beers. (3) No means for pre-run breakfast. Oh well, some run was better than no run. So, I headed out with a bottle of Accelerade in hand to scope out the early morning action along the parade route and in the French Quarter.

I remember why I tend to steer clear of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras, particularly Bourbon Street. I ran only three blocks of Bourbon Street, before I could no longer take running through the mysterious goo on the sidewalks. (Stale beer, discarded beads, and a lot of stuff I don't want to think about.) So, I switched to running along Royal Street, peeking in the windows at more art I'd love to add to my collection.

Returning along Decatur Street, I paused to flirt with the group of guys trying to convince me to trade in my Accelerade for some beer. Maybe I should have?

Anyway, it was a short run, but I managed to knock out something. Besides, does the 4 miles I walked to and from parades last night count?

Pre-Parade Speed Work

Hello from New Orleans. Here for business again, it also happens to be Mardi Gras time. The coincidence! I won't be here on Fat Tuesday (Feb 5), but it's still great to be here for many of the parades and mayhem.

So Wednesday = speed work at the track. Instead of the track, I ran in Audubon Park. I've logged many many miles in that park. It's a 1.8 mile loop under the live oaks. I had a nice run until the catfish during lunch began to haunt me and I managed to hurt my ankle. Boo. As for the catfish, I generally avoid fried foods, but when I was running around the swamps with my client yesterday and that's where they wanted to stop for lunch.... that's the way it goes.

So, Mardi Gras. I lived in New Orleans & Baton Rouge (80 miles northwest of NO) for a total of 8 years. I came to Mardi Gras 3 times while I was in college. And I've visited the city many times since moving to DC. The Mardi Gras Guide has a list that states "You are a true New Orleanian if you find nothing odd about these statements..." (my comments in italics)

• My hairdresser, Bruce, will reign as queen of a Carnival ball - hmmmm... I guess referring to Krewe du Vieux, which tends to be quite satirical, off-color, and the one parade where I'd recommend not bringing children too- yes Mardi Gras is overall a family event.
• Float #17, upper deck, neutral ground side - The neutral ground is the road median everywhere else. I used to ride in the Krewe of Tucks, and rode on Float #15, lower deck, neutral ground side. You need to let your friends know where to find you to catch the good loot!
• My dogs are named Iko and Jockomo. Need to name the pets in true New Orleans fashion. I got my cat while I lived here. Her name is Socrates, pronounced so-CRATS as in Socrates Street in the Algiers section of New Orleans. That's how the street is honestly pronounced, and she was named by a couple friends of mine after the street. I also used to have some fish, named Comus, Momus, and Proteus after three old line Mardi Gras krewes.
• The men used to hold their balls at the Municipal Auditorium. Formal balls are part of every Mardi Gras krewe. There are many more krewes than the ones that parade. Many krewes used to have men-only membership; some still are. The Municipal Auditorium has not held a ball since Katrina.
• I caught these panties off a lady from Venus. Yes, you can catch panties off a parade float. I prefer beads. Beads are meaningless outside of New Orleans, but here, it's an exhileration like nothing else to catch a good pair in the air.

Run from Fletcher's Boathouse

Saturday was our last long run before the Myrtle Beach Marathon, a 20 miler. I, of course, since my knees were giving me a bit of grief recently, am doing the 1/2 marathon instead. Nevertheless, I wanted to get a long run in to essentially follow our Ironman training schedule and ran 16 miles. Running from Fletcher's Boathouse is fun, as I can say I ran from DC-MD-DC-VA-DC.

Carol "Camel" and I ran the first bit together, from the Boathouse all the way into downtown Bethesda, MD. We did the run-walk thing, feeling good. Coming back was a net loss in elevation, and we managed to negative split the 5 miles by about 10 minutes. Who-hoo!

We refueled back at our cars, said hello to those who ran shorter distances, and went back out to finish the run. Carol wanted to retrace her steps on the Capitol Crescent Trail, back into MD, whereas I wanted a change of scenery and be able to cross the Key Bridge to say I indeed ran into VA, so we separated. Besides, she needed to run the longer distance as she'll do the marathon.

There's something therapeutic about running solo, along the Potomac River and the C & O Canal. The canal had a sheet of ice, suspending itself in time. What I like most about running in Washington D.C. is the opportunity to observe and enjoy all that the city has to offer. All too often, people zip by, busy with their lives, and never have the chance to notice what's around them.