You're gonna like how it feels.

There are races.


And there are RACES.


This morning, I got up for the last race in the Run Denver Series. The Run Denver Series consists of 5 5ks (or you can choose the half marathon for the last race).


We've dealt with wicked weather for this race series. We've had snow and ice and +35mph winds and sub freezing weather. 


And at each race, I've managed to pull a PR out of my butt. Sometimes completely unexpected.


But TODAY was different. A month ago, (after my last 5k), Coach Mike said "You've proven you know how to PR. Now, let's go for a new goal."


He throws out (of maybe it was more of throwing up) a goal.


I was like all DAMN FOOL where you get those numbers from.


Of course, I didn't say that to him. I'm not stupid. I didn't exactly want the next week to consist of holding plank for 5 minutes.


But, no way, nuh uh, I could hit that goal. So, I posted it to my computer monitor. Everyday, I looked at it. And everyday, I started thinking "Maybe coach isn't crazy. Maybe."


Then I started strategizing....thinking "OK, to hit that goal, I need to run the first mile at x, the second at x-10, the third at x-10+puke.


It could happen.


Race morning


I decided to leave a little earlier than normal. It was a different venue. I didn't know where I was going AND there's also a half marathon. I expected that meant there would be a whole lot more people.


When I arrived, the first lot I passed was full. the second lot was full. I get to the third lot (which was right next to start). I had nowhere else to go, so I turned into the lot.


Right in the front row, there is a parking spot....just sitting there....right in front of the start.


Today is going to be a good day.


I drink my SUPER FAST BEVERAGE. it's a secret recipe, so if I tell you, I'd.....you know.


I hop across the street. I pick up my race shirt and notice that it's white with GREEN. The green matches my socks.


Today is going to be a good day.


Then I head over to get my medal for completing 3 of the 5 races.  It is one of the coolest medals I've ever seen.


Today is going to be a good day.


I drop my stuff off at the car.  I realize that I need to find a porta potty pretty fast. That was a long drive to the race.  then, I see the lines. Lines that go all the way to Kansas.


Then I remembered the park across the street. They have bathrooms. they're probably packed. But, if nothing else, I can go behind a tree.


I jog over to the park. The bathrooms are completely empty. EMPTY.


Today is going to be a good day.


I jog back up to the start.


I meet one of the coolest women at the start. She is just like me and Sam. We spend the time laughing about completely stupid stuff. 


Today is going to be a good day.


This race was going to be interesting. Temperature was expected to rise quickly and the wind was expected to start dying down. We're running along a Dam, so it's flat but completely exposed. I look out over the Dam, and I can see a flag in the distance blowing around like crazy. 


I don't have time to think about the wind, and the race starts! BOOM CHUGGA, I'm off and running.


For the first time ever, I decided to actually USE MY GARMIN. I set my paces for each mile. 


Of course, I take off really fast and garmin SCREAMS


SLOW DOWN


But, I feel so good! I think to myself.


SLOW DOWN


Really? Will slowing down really help me that much in the end.


At that point, garmin got pissed off and yelled:


TRUST YOUR COACH


Fine, but for the record. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS.


We hit the first mile marker, and I pick up my pace about 10 seconds per mile. As I hit the turnaround, I start thinking that this is starting to hurt.


I have to pick up the pace again at mile 2.


That's going to hurt. I can't handle the pain. 


No seriously. I CANNOT HANDLE THE PAIN. HOW can I go faster?


I start closing in on mile 2. 

That's when Enrique showed up to run with me. 


It's my time.
It's my life.
I can do what I like.


(but most importantly)


I LIKE HOW IT FEELS.
Give me more more more.
What y'all consider the best, I consider mediocore.


And who's going to argue with Enrique or Pitbull?


Not.me.


The wind is not bad but it is a headwind, and I'm supposed to be running faster.


And now, I'm right on pace. RIGHT ON PACE. I can't slow down.


I keep singing over and over. 


I LIKE HOW IT FEELS.


Did I mention this was an out and back course? That's all fine and dandy.


Except that it's wide open.


That means from 1.5 miles away, I can see the finish. 


from 1.5 miles away.


why does it look so far? 


I LIKE HOW IT FEELS


I finally look at my garmin. I have .25 miles left. I start running. Just running as hard as I can. A quarter of a mile is far.


It's really far.


I keep staring at a street light off in the distance. 


I know that I'm right on the edge of hitting my goal. But I don't care anymore. I'm going as hard as I can.


I swear to you....if I have to hold this pace for ONE MORE SECOND.....


I cross the finish line. 


My hands are shaking. 


I have to walk. Clock time showed that I missed my goal by a few seconds. But I don't know my chip time.


I grab some water. I need to walk. My heart rate is coming down. All I want to do is sit. I start walking to the car. I wanted to run into the woman that I talked to at the beginning of the race, but I couldn't find her. 


I still don't know my official results.


I don't know if I hit my goal. 


I know I PR'd, and it was a big one (30 seconds or so)


I know that I had nothing left to give. There was some part of me that came up from the depths that just wasn't going to give up today. 


5ks are short and painful. If you race them, REALLY painful. 


More than ever, I think I LIKE HOW IT FEELS.

That's what you think? Really?

For Turbo: I got my ass kicked. Period. 


********************************
Alot has happened over the past 4 months. I won't recap it all for you, but here's the important part. I gots ma-self a coach.


Yessirreeee. I finally pulled the trigger. Why did I do it? Actually, a number of reasons but number 1 was that I pretty much suck, and I haven't been getting any less sucky.


Now that, THAT is out of the way, I'll tell you a little story.


********************************


I was setting up my race schedule for 2012. Coach and I have now been working together since the first week in December. It's actually working. Shocking, right? Pass the control over to the expert and amazing things happen.


I'm already off on a tangent. 


We decide that since I am really going to focus on sprints this year that I'm going to do a number of them. A number as in 5 triathlons and numerous running races ranging from 5k-5 miles. 


That's a lot for me. My kids are older. Both are driving. I have more time now to dedicate to ME.


Damn tangents.


My first tri of the year will be June 1st. It's a Friday night, should be a lot of fun. I've never done this race, but it gets really good reviews. AND they do a happy hour of sorts post-race. 


I sez to coach: Let's make this my test race. I haven't done a sprint in years. I need to practice everything! I need to practice fast transitions. I need to learn how to go fast. I need to learn everything. Please, I'm a sponge. Teach me the ways, O wise One.


THEN


Something happened


I mention the race to my smart ass BFF.


A few minutes later, she sends me a picture of HER REGISTRATION FOR THE SAME RACE, SAME AGE GROUP.


bitch.


Let the trash talking begin.


Not by me, heck no. I'm not the fastest chicka on the course. No way.


BFF starts going on and on and on about how she is going to totally kick my ass.


And on the run, that is true.  I'll give her that.


Here's her reasoning:
1.) I'll beat her on the swim. (Tru dat homie)
2.) We're even on the bike (Really?)
3.) I'll make up the difference on the run. (Ummm ok)


Now, I like flying under the radar. 


And I'll listen to her trash talk.  (Mike and Jman and Googs have even volunteered to help me work on my own trash talking).


But here's what I'm thinking: I WILL BEAT HER. Here's MY reasoning:


1.) She can't touch my swim. I'll have at least 10 minutes. YES, 10 MINUTES on her.
2.) The bike. The bike. The bike. Awww heck. Do you KNOW how much time I've been spending on the bike? She thinks we're even. I sincerely doubt that. I think I can extend my lead on her on the bike. Coach has me doing more bike work than I have ever done in the winter.
3.) The run. Yea, she can beat me pretty easily. But can she make up say 15 or even 20 minutes on the run? Come on. She's fast, but she ain't THAT fast. 


I won't even mention that I've recently PR'd on the 5k....THREE TIMES in 2 months.


Nor will I mention that I'm posting my fastest bike speeds EVER.


Nor will I mention that I'm doing Master's swim meets and my swims are at the fastest they've ever been.


Nor will I mention that BFF doesn't have much history in the *training* department. ie: she tends to allow her natural ability to carry her through a race. Don't get me wrong, her natural running ability is pretty incredible.


I don't expect to place.


I don't expect to even be top 10. 


But this will certainly be an example of nature versus nurture.


Hard work versus natural ability. 


And, I am pretty confident that I'm going to get my own bright shiny new PR in the sprint distance.


All I can say, LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

Not going down without a fight

We are closing in on a month before TTTTD (The Turkey Trot Throw Down).


At dinner, Googs announced that he will now start training for this EPIC EVENT.


I cringe at the thought. I'm pretty much toast if he trains.


That's when he turned to me and asked, "What are you going to do if I beat you again."


I gave him that confused dog look and responded: I'll just train harder for next year. 


He says: But I would have beat you twice. What if I beat you by MORE this year.


I said: You might win. You might beat me by a large margin. But, you might not. I believe that I CAN win. And that little sliver of hope is why I'm not going to give up. That little sliver of hope is why no matter how many times you beat me, I'm going to keep training harder and keep coming back.


Googs chews on this for a minute. 


Then I continued: Besides, one of these days you're going to come back from college all fat and stuff.


That's what I'm really waiting for.

Act your age

My birthday is right around the corner. Next race season, I age up. 


Back when I was in my 20's and even 30's, I thought being in my 40's would feel ancient. That might have been because of the people that I knew who were in their 40's...well, they looked ancient, acted ancient and moved like they were already planning their path to the grave. 


I had no idea what to expect. I'd spent my entire life mostly eating right, indulging in my favorite gelato or cheesecake on those special occasions. I'd been active since high school doing everything from swimming, cycling, running, hiking, strength training, yoga, karate....I'm sure I'm leaving things out. 


The point is that I've always been doing those things, and I was really afraid of the day that I couldn't do them. 


I didn't want to be in my 40's and only see the sunrise from the glow of a tv screen.


But that's what I knew....that's who was around me when I was younger. 


Even now as I am looking at 44, I see other parents complaining about their bad joints or how hard it is to go up and down the stairs at the school. 


I want to yell at them: WAKE UP PEOPLE! 


I have friends who are 25 years older than me finishing Ironman. I have a friend 35 years older than me doing triathlons. There are woman 20 years older than me who leave me in the DUST at masters swim. I've been passed on the mountain by men and women who look like they are as old as the mountain. I know people in their 60's that move better than people half their age. 


They are the age groupers that I admire. They are who I plan on being. They are the people that I wished had been around me when I was younger. I didn't have any women athlete role models. Think about this, in the US, the 1992 high school graduating class, was roughly the first generation of girls that grew up under Title IX. That was 2 years before my Googs was born. 


Some of my friends are just starting an exercise program, some have been doing it a long time, but the important thing is that we are all redefining what it means to Act Your Age.


To all those people who complain about getting older or being tired or having bad joints, this one's for you.

The changing of the guard, not forever, just a little while

7 weeks ago, I had written off my race.


5 weeks ago, I started giving thought to next year's goals.


4 weeks ago, I started walking and running again.


3 weeks ago, I thought maybe I could walk 4 or 5 miles of the race then cut the course and quit. At least I would have started it.


2 weeks ago, I ran 8 miles and thought maybe I could run 8 miles then walk the rest.


1 week ago, I ran 8 miles and thought maybe I could run 13.1 miles really slowly....


Then, I thought "Why bother at all?"


I'm not a medal-bagger. I've run a lot of half marathons (closing in on a gazillion of them).


They hurt whether or not you are trained. Do I really want to run or walk 13.1 miles just to do it? 


I.don't.think.so.


Two days before the race I considered a few things:
1.) This was going to be my last half marathon for some time. I don't know how long, but I'm taking a vacation from anything longer than a 10k.
2.) This is my birthday race.
3.) Could I even finish? Isn't that a little bit overconfident? I hadn't even run more than 8 miles since July.


TWO DAYS before the race, and I didn't know if I was going to do it.


Then, I went to packet pick up. In the packet, there were two bumper stickers: one for the half and one for the full marathon. they read: I ROCKED 13.1/26.2 miles. 


I immediately thought to myself: NEWBIES.


Where did the excitement go? The half marathon used to be my favorite race. 


The day before the race, it snowed, alot. Not wanting to miss running in the first really cold snowy day, I went out. 


It was THIS race years ago that was done on 10/21 when a snowstorm hit. the conditions were almost identical to what I was running in. But that year, I ran the marathon. 


Many of you know this story, many of you REMEMBER my race report. I didn't train for the marathon. I ran 14 miles once, called it training and figured my fitness would carry me through.


Fitness and Mr. Tea meeting me at every mile from 18 on to give me warm, hats and mittens. 


Sort of weird isn't it? 


Almost identical conditions, yet back then, there was no doubt I was going to do the race. 


Once again, I turned to Mr. Tea: What do I do?


Mr Tea: I'm not giving anymore race advice. You can do a half marathon in your sleep, walking backwards & juggling baboons. You do whatever you want.


I hate that answer.








What's the harm? Just go do the race. You feel like you need to prove something don't you? Like you need to prove that you're not just going to wimp out, huh? 


Look, you're perfectly healthy now. I know you haven't run long. I know the 8 miles was a run/walk. I KNOW you didn't taper or anything, but....but


couldn't you just try it?


With that, I decided to do the race.


That's when the most remarkable thing happened.


I met someone doing her first half marathon. 


We ended up running it together.


I've never run a race with someone before.


Right from the start, her nerves/energy started to pour over to me. I remembered what it was like standing at the start of my first half marathon. At my first half, I was so nervous that i didn't eat breakfast (which I paid for later).


Fast foward....years later.....


We started running, and she took off like a bolt of lightning. I almost stopped in the middle of the street, with sheer shock.


Then, I saw her stop and put her hands on her hips. I ran up to her, and she said, "That was dumb."


I said: It's not dumb. I bet you got a sweet race picture.


From then on, we ran.


We had a plan:
Run to the aid stations. Walk through the aid stations.


When we can't make it to the aid stations, we'll run 3 songs and walk a minute.


When we can't do that, we'll walk one song, walk a minute.


When we can't do that, we'll walk the uphills and run the downhills.


But no matter what, we are going to finish this race.


And our evil little plan worked. 


We only walked aid stations until mile 8. At mile 8, there was supposed to be an aid station. She wanted to stop. I wanted to stop. I needed some water. We were still running. That's when I saw the aid station around mile 8.25. We decided to run to it.


At the aid station, we decided to walk for awhile: one song. We hit a turnaround marker at 8.5 and decided to run. Running was getting harder now. I think it was even harder for me than her. This was the furthest I'd run in awhile, but I was not going to stop.


Just then, I saw mile marker 9. We both wanted to take a break. I said, "We can make it to mile 9. When we get there, let's take as much of a break as we need."


Mile 9 has never seemed so far away. 


She said, "Why does this hurt so much more today?"


I said, "Because you are running really fast. You told me you wanted to beat 3:30. We're going to DESTROY 3:30. I bet we even beat 3:00.


After mile 9, it all became a blur. We talked less, ran more than you would have thought. 


But finally, we were down to Walk the uphills, run the downhills. 


As we closed in on the bridge, i told her to turn off her ipod. She said, "Why?"


I told her: You have to hear this. We are about a  half a mile from the finish, but you can already hear the crowd screaming for us. 


She instantly got tears in her eyes: a half a mile. I'm going to run it as hard as I can.


"Alright let's do it."


As we were running, passing people left and right, I realized that this was going to be my last half for some time, but it was her first. In so many ways that day, it was like the changing of the guard. 


I looked over at her as we were running. I could see the tears streaming down her face.


13.1 miles earlier, we were total strangers. 




Now, I couldn't hold back my own tears, for her




for me




for the changing of the guard. 

Misadventures of Tea

By now, you all have heard about my misadventure on the mountain.


Painful, yes.


Funny, yes.


Preventable, well not really.

Sawtooth to the left. I snapped this picture about 250m from the summit.

Taken from the summit of Bierstadt. That's sawtooth.

As I've been laid up, I've had way too much time on my hands for thinking. 


First of all, accidents happen. I wasn't too terribly upset about this. In fact, I wasn't upset at all given how bad it could have been. Although Justin said that I should get the Bad Ass Mom of the year award. I know, at the time, he was scared.   


Yesterday, I made my first appearance back in the gym. I still can't bear additional weight standing, but my back & shoulders are no longer sore. My hands are scabbed up. My rehab exercises all consist of balance, strength and stretching with my own body weight. During my first appearance back, I ran into Helen who stared at my bruised and battered body, pointed at the bruises that went from the tips of my toes up to my knees and yelled in that demanding voice, "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?" After I explained, she said, "It's lucky that you are in such great shape. It could have been alot worse."


Of course, that sent me right back into my thinking mode. 







Even before the fall (fall as in GO BOOM. Not as in Autumn), I had been thinking a lot about things that I like to do.


My problem is that I enjoy doing SO MANY things. Thank goodness I don't live near an ocean because I don't know HOW I'd fit in my obsession with sailing or quiet my overwhelming surfing urges. 


So, it comes down to prioritizing. I can either focus on ONE BIG TIME CONSUMING *thing* or enjoy a little of everything.


Given that I tend to get bored with things quickly, my best option is enjoy a little of everything. 


I can't do any of it without a certain level of fitness. If you run, do triathlons, swim 10ks, climb, hike....I don't care what it is...you know that you can't do those things without having a basic level of fitness. And, just because you can do Ironman, that doesn't mean you can climb. Because you can ride 100 miles, doesn't mean you can run 50 miles.


BUT!! The one activity that DOES connect all of these is strength, core, balance....those types of activities. When you DO plan on doing a different activity, it will be that much easier because of the work you've done in strength, core & balance. 


(btw: when I say YOU, I mean ME)


Where does this leave me?


Well, once I'm all better....which should be in about another 4-6 weeks, I'm going to do my half marathon. My friend is coming in from Costa Rica to run with me. Well, not WITH me, especially not NOW. I will likely do the half as a walk/run as I am going to miss out on my long runs. 


Then, it's about fun. Next year, I want to climb & hike more. This Fall (Fall as in Autumn not as in GO BOOM), once I'm healed, Justin and I are planning on going up hiking if weather permits, if not snowshoeing. 


I can't help it. There's nothing in the world like standing on top of a mountain. If I took a personality test, it would likely come out as a "high risk, high reward" type. Or better yet, as my friend Ti quotes on her blog "When you marry a mountain girl, you marry the mountain." (Oh, and if you haven't read her blog, please do. She's pretty amazing, and she's my idol.)


I've also gotten a great opportunity to do CrossFit for 3 months. Talk about PERFECT for my mentality. I love this type of workout. Well, it's a love/hate type of thing. 


Never fear, triathlete friends! My desire for triathlon hasn't died. In talking to coach, I've got a plan to focus on short distances, probably for the next few years. Shorter distances will give me the opportunity to do all the *long* workouts without having to sacrifice all the other things that I love....


And give me time to find NEW things. 

Turkey Trot Throw Down

It has gotten U.G.L.Y here in the Land of Chand.


You might remember what happened last year at the 4 mile Turkey Trot.


For years, I've held the title of FASTEST MOST AWESOMEST RUNNER IN THE LAND OF CHAND.


And, I haven't hidden this fact. 


When I WIN, I like to remind family members that YES, INDEED....I ONCE again won the 4 mile family friendly Turkey Trot. 


So, I've had to resort to....evil methods...to ensure my win. SO, I've hidden timing chips, running shoes, warm gear and bottles of water. 


A little HTFU never hurt anyone.


especially not a 10 year old, right.


Imagine my surprise, when I finished the race last year....all smug like....only to look around and see GOOGS already sitting under a tree, drinking water.


WTF?


Needless to say. I was NOT pleased when the official results came down that GOOGS beat me by :24 seconds. 


:24


Immediately after my race I started plotting for the future. Because, let's be honest, this was NOT going to happen again. 


And don't feel all sad for Googs either, he's 17....he can handle his mom being a sore loser.


*****


My plan came down to this. Googs likes to weight lift. Serious, big time, weight.


Because I didn't do the Boulder race, all of a sudden my schedule cleared out to train for SPEED, man, SPEED.


Hmmm, jordan keeps getting bigger....hee hee....I get faster....I started salivating with the thought of regaining my title.


THEN that little bastard did the unthinkable.....he started running. Not just any running.


THE KID IS RUNNING 400M SPRINTS.


HOW CAN I COMPETE WITH 400M SPRINTS?


I needed help.


I called for reinforcements.


Behind an abandoned building in Denver, we meet to discuss the plan.


Did you bring the stuff?


I nod and hand him the bag of donuts.


He takes the bag. Shoves a donut in his mouth and says, The ways I sees it. Your only chance to beat this punk is (he looks around) to use my secret weapon.


I move in closer, What's that?


First, you gotta do these VO2max workouts. I ain't gonna lie. They're gonna hurt.


I start scribbling down the workout. Ok, ok.


He wipes his mouth and says: Next, we need to come up with a plan for you to visualize, visualize, visualize. You got plenty of time to beat this kid, but you gotta BELIEVE you're gonna beat him.


I write it down. Anxiously awaiting the next training trips from the Great One.


What? he asks. That's it. that's all I got tonight. Next time, bring me sprinkled donuts. I like the sprinkles. They remind me of when I was kid.


And he disappears into the night.


*****
Dear blogger friends. 


Intervals, visualization & donuts.


I can almost taste the victory!


Mama's coming boy. And she has a chip the size of Colorado on her Shoulder.