I don’t think you can commit yourself to training for something like a half-ironman and not change a little in the process. Like anything, when you spend so much time on something you can’t help but become attached. I feel like the race was a stranger to me in January. We didn’t know each other and I was just a guest in his home. But now, life is so different. The race has become my friend – my confidant. I’ve given him love; shown him dedication and we’ve pushed through our hard times. Somehow in one summer, a simple registration fee and a day in August has turned into a relationship and a change in lifestyle. As bizarre as it may sound, I can’t really imagine what life was like before him, or what my life would be without him.

I can remember looking at my training program and thinking, “are you kidding me?” The schedule called for only a handful of days off and most days included two workouts. It was a little daunting, but I knew that being strict with myself and committing to training was my best shot at finishing. And so it began…I slowly started getting used to my days starting with a swim and my evenings ending with a run or bike ride. It’s sort of funny to think back to my first few rides. It’s not that my bike is foreign to me in any way. I’ve had it for several years and done several different events on it. However, it felt a little uncomfortable…I couldn’t help but think “who am I trying to be with all these cyclists?” I definitely didn’t have the technical clothes. I wore cycling sandals, and I stumbled upon routes. It seemed like unfamiliar territory. After all, Boulder is overflowing with ripped bodies and triathletes; which can be a little intimidating to a girl who registered for the race because it guaranteed lots of time outside and an increase in food consumption.

As the days went on, the process became more familiar. The early morning trips to the pool got a little easier as the sun rose a little earlier and winter turned into spring. The rides got a little longer as my butt got a little bigger, and, well the runs…they were totally dependent on what my knees felt like doing that day. The training became the one thing I could rely on every day, especially in a time where other aspects of my life seem so inconsistent. And before I knew it, four hour bike rides and two hour runs were what I looked forward to on my weekends.

And now here I am after roughly 2000 laps in the pool, 950 miles on the bike, and 300 miles of running (in 3 ½ months) – not to mention the 3 ½ months of before that just to be ready for the training program. I’m less than one week from hopefully crossing that finish line, where I’ll have to say goodbye to my friend – the race. I know there will be others (at least I think there will be), but like your first love…your first race is something special. I’ll deal with that next week, but for now I’m enjoying my last few days of training and mentally preparing for a great race. I’ll end this with a list of a few things I’ve learned, tips for others, and random thoughts I’ve had during this journey.

1. Always check to see if your handle bars are tight – learned this the hard way by practically ejecting over them on a downhill. I’m actually lucky to be alive.
2. Other athletes’ level of acknowledgement is entirely based on your apparel. I say “hi” to pretty much every single person I pass on the bike or while running and it wasn’t until I finally invested in my first pair of tri-shorts that someone said hi back.
3. I no longer need a belt to keep my pants up, because my butt has doubled in size from the cycling. I actually started running into things that I never did before because of my new booty.
4. Turns out that running in tight shorts (spandex – tri shorts) is actually fantastic! Maybe it’s because everything is “sucked in,” but regardless I think I may be changed for life.
5. Never rely on cottonwood to tell you which direction the wind is blowing. And always assume that a headwind will stay a headwind when you turn around. It’s a phenomenon that I still don’t understand.
6. After months of testing out gu’s, gel’s, bars, and drinks, my favorites include, Clif bars, Chocolate Gu, Sport Beans, Peanut Butter Balance Bars, Gatorade, and SNICKERS!
7. Keep in mind, I’m not too fancy, but my favorite pieces of gear include my orange Nike visor, Zoot tri-shorts, Brooks sports bra, Asics Gel-Nimbus running shoes, Specialized triathlon cycling shoes, and Pearl Izumi cycling gloves. It’s just as important to look good as feel good, right?
8. I’ve learned that, though probably not safe, it’s possible to fall asleep while running, biking, and even swimming. Don’t ask me how…it just is.
9. I’m truly in this for the love of the game and hoping just to finish (well, finish strong), but there still is something so great about blowing by a “decked out” guy on the bike!
10. The hardest thing to do is to get out the door. Though some workouts have been easier than others, I still consider myself so grateful to have been blessed with a body that has allowed me to strive for this goal. My eyes have allowed me to see beautiful Colorado in slow motion from my bike, my ears have allowed me to listen to music to get me up tough hills, my mouth has allowed me to taste all the delicious post workout goodies I’ve earned, my nose has allowed me smell fresh, clean jerseys; and my sense of touch has allowed me to feel the water glide against my skin and feel the breeze at my back. I’m a lucky girl and that’s all there is to it.

Yesterday on my run I truly felt as though I actually had a piano strapped to my back. I don’t remember asking the training gods for the added challenge, but apparently they don’t really care. The whole week has been a little rough. It started out with a super early call time for my swim on Tuesday morning. I stumbled out of bed, put on my suit, and drove to the gym. I love that my gym is literally five minutes away (and yes, I drive). The short commute does not allow my brain enough time to register just how tired my body is nor does it have time to finish the debate of whether or not I should push my swim back until later in the day. In general, I am pretty good about not even allowing these thoughts into my head, but when it’s six o’clock in the morning and my bed is calling my name, it’s hard not to.

I made it to the gym without falling asleep at the wheel and counted six yawns between the parking lot and front door. As I handed over my member id, the super perky receptionist couldn’t help but make a comment about how I need to WAKE UP! I wanted to say, “Really? No kidding. Maybe you could fork over some of the “speed” you are on and it would make my morning a whole lot easier; not to mention I could probably finish my swim in about the half the time.” Instead I gave her a smile and headed to the locker room knowing that she didn’t want to be up and at work that early either.

I managed to get my butt in the pool and after about ten minutes the lights went out and the place was pitch black. I had a split second where I sort of felt like I was in the movie Jaws. It was dark; there was splashing, and it only made sense that somehow a shark would have entered the pool. Just as I was about to plan my escape, my brain quickly fired the thought “Wait, am I dreaming and is it possible I’m still asleep?” Nope, the power was out and we had to evacuate the building.

The rest of the week has felt a little bit like that experience. My legs have felt a little dead, my eyes a little heavy, and my butt a little sore. I knew that there would be weeks like this and I am prepared to push through these valleys. Ok maybe I’m not really prepared, but just like most things in life; you don’t really have a choice but to find your way through it…and so that’s what’ll I’ll do.

Training for a Triathlon Half-Ironman

A 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, a 13.1 mile run. You wonder what I was thinking when I registered for this event, and the truth is – I’m not entirely sure. I do know that I clicked the “register” button after having a glass of wine (or two) with my family on a trip home to Chicago in December. Sometimes we need a little push from behind or a bottle to take that next step. I embraced that little nudge and clicked the “register” button while my mother sat quietly next to me while shaking her head.

I woke up the next day realizing that not only had I just put another couple hundred bucks on my already well-used credit card, but I committed to doing a half-Ironman! Keep in mind, I’m not afraid of a challenge nor am I afraid of spending hours training for an event, it’s just that, well, that’s a BIG challenge and a LOT of training. At least I was smart enough to allow myself enough time to prepare. You know to get things like a swimsuit and cycling shoes and maybe one of those super tight, hot triathlon onesies. It’s all about how you look, not how you feel, right?

The race is August 2nd in Benton Harbor, Michigan. I chose that location in hopes of racing in 115 degree weather and, if I’m really lucky, the humidity will be at 95%, which will be ideal for the mosquitoes to stick to every inch of my exposed skin. I also knew that picking a race as close to Chicago as possible would be my only hope of getting the family to watch me crawl across the finish line. Let’s be honest, I’m going to need someone there to carry me to the car and spoon-feed me ice cream after the race. I’m just hoping they, too, are training for this.

I invite you to read my stories about the rest of this journey into “crazyland” right here in the Women’s Adventure blog. I’m heading into my fifth month of training and it’s been entertaining to say the least. I can’t say that I’ll be a resource for tips on how to do this best, but I can promise not take myself too seriously and be open with you about all the embarrassing moves I make!