Tempe Time!

I signed up for Ironman Arizona a year ago. The training has been a blast, and I can scarcely believe I've been here in Tempe for a couple of days now. The first time I did an ironman (2000, IM Canada) I didn't really know what to expect. Ten years later I did another (2010, IM arizona), and had kind of forgotten. But it's ringing clearly in my memory right now how much that last third of the marathon is going to hurt!

Swimming at ASU in the sun.

I'm trying to think of fun mind tricks for when I'm in that place where each step of the run is like daggers in my quads. I think Stuart Smalley was on to something with his daily affirmations: "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog-gone it, people like me!". If I keep saying that to myself, it will keep me smiling. And when you're smiling it means all is good!

Pre-riding on the Beeline.

That brings me to my goals for the race. My number one goal is to enjoy the day and appreciate everything it brings me. I am so lucky to have a life that allows me such indulgences like ironmans. I can't control the weather, I can't control my competitors, I've tried to manage mechanical issues with my bike... so at this point all I can control is my reaction to everything around me. I have no reason to react with anything but positivity - what's not to love about a life that lets me have some serious "no fun fun" in the Arizona sunshine?!

Of course I'd like to go faster than two years ago, but if I don't.. as long as I've enjoyed the day and haven't gotten all sucky it will still be a success. Lucky for me, I have some great peeps in my corner who won't hesitate to remind me of that!

In the meantime, we've been enjoying Tempe and I'm all checked in and ready to go. Sunday can't come quickly enough!

Heading in to registration.

Emerging with my timing chip and wristband - I'm officially committed!

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Pimp My Ride 2012

One week out from Ironman and it's time to get the bike ready.  Jason and I spent time this weekend dialing everything in.

First step is cleaning the bike.  It wasn't too bad seeing as it's seen a lot of trainer action lately to avoid the rain.  Still, I can't show up to such an important event with dirt on it!  Since Jason was doing some other jobs, I got to clean it with no cranks, chainrings, or chain on it.  Made it easier to get into a lot of nooks and crannies.  For anyone familiar with me, you know how much I like a clean bike, and I'll put in some serious effort towards that.  Check out my post on how to clean a bike here: Bike Bath.  I also took off the bottle cage and pump mounted on the down tube.  I need all the aero benefits of my sweet Specialized Transition frame!

All shined up, and Jason put bigger chainrings on.  Living on hilly Vancouver Island, I have pretty wussy gearing.  But headed to a fast course like Arizona requires some different gears, so new chainrings, different cassette, and new chain.  Smooth!

New bar tape, computer mount off, and bar-mounted bottle.  I love having the bottle right in front of me on my bars, as it reminds me to drink.  

Race wheels on, and we may add a disc cover once we get there.  This will be the first time I've raced without tubulars.  Jason's been doing a lot of bike gear research (nothing new, that may be the understatement of the year) and he's decided we should move to clinchers.  New clincher tires have almost as low rolling resistance as tubulars, and with latex tubes ride just as nicely.  We're going to put Stan's sealant in the tubes to help prevent flats - lots of thorn potential on a course that rolls through the desert.  Another advantage to running clinchers is I only have to carry a tiny tube rather than a spare tire.  I can change a tubular and clincher in about the same amount of time, so that's a wash.  Clinchers it is.  Jason is the bike gear guru around here, so if he thinks clinchers are the way to go, then I defer to his judgement.

A quick test ride up and down the street and we're ready to roll.  Which actually means taking the bike apart (sort of) and packing it up for travel.  For tips on how to pack a bike, check out my earlier post (click here).  Flying with a bike is a source of stress for me, so I'll be happy when we're there and everything's reassembled just right. 

Holding Together

I'm one week out from Arizona, and have managed to hold it all together without suffering any injuries during training.  That's due to a combination of a smart training program, injury-preventing body work (any little niggles were immediately subjected to ART, Graston & IMS by my chiro and PT), and a whoooooole lot of luck.

One thing that's really helped my chronic knee injury is KT Tape.  Jason first started using it a few years ago under the guidance of our chiropractor (Dr. Jim Verners in Victoria, BC).  Admittedly, I was skeptical.  How can a piece of tape do anything?  Jason assured me it helped him through a plethora of injuries, so when my knee let me know it was venturing down an unhappy path, I decided to give KT Tape a try.

KT Tape / kinesio tape / SpiderTech tape / a bunch of other brands is basically a flexible fabric tape that has several different functions depending on how it's applied.  It can be support, help to enable movement, help to restrict movement, encourage lymphatic drainage, relieve pain, prevent injuries... etc... All you need to know is the particular application for the body part and the function you need.  Jim helped me get started, but there are many many YouTube videos that can anyone can watch and learn from.

Normally after a long run (1.75 hour +), my left knee gets pretty sore, a bit swollen, and I limp around for a day.  Once I started using KT Tape - no pain, no swelling - no limping... almost unbelievable but true.  Now I can't even imagine going for a long run without taping up first.

Do-it-yourself knee support using
two separate pieces of KT Tape.

SpiderTech's pre-cut "full knee spider".

I tape my knee, and am considering trying it on my adductors for long runs as well.   Jason has taped his calf, achilles tendon, hamstring, anterior tibilalis, vastus medialus (part of the quadricep), rotator cuff and shins.  (Don't ask...) We are both KT Tape converts, and it's my go-to suggestion for anyone experiencing pain or discomfort.  I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but give it a try!

School Pictures

Because I am a high school teacher, my life is being documented every year by the ubiquitous school pictures.  What everyone wants, isn't it, a portrait every year?  Just for you, here is a sample of my life in pictures:

Kindergarten - first school picture.
1975

High school graduation.
1988

 

10th year at Cowichan Secondary.
2012

Pumpkin Carving

Every year, Jason and I do a pumpkin carving contest.  We get the trick-or-treaters to vote as they come around.  He won for a long time; that is until I figured out what the trick-or-treating public wanted.  Then I started destroying the contest.  Jason finally caught on, and last year slayed me - all the trick-or-treaters voted for his.

This year, I have been a bit distracted with Ironman training (2.5 more weeks!), so my pumpkin carving isn't up to the usual standards.  Here's what I came up with:

Get it??
Ha ha - pumpkin "pi"!
(I may have just outed myself as a huge nerd)

Here are some selections from past years.  Funny though, I couldn't find a picture of my best pumpkin ever: a big monster pumpkin eating a tiny pumpkin.  All the pictures seemed to have disappeared... suspicious.

My first winner - I figured out what the kids liked.

Another winner.

Didn't win, but a nod to my youth.
(Pacman chasing Inky)

 

Jason's triumph.

New Wetsuit

The time had come for a new wetsuit. My current one was getting a bit big, and I never mind replacing something with a smaller size! Of course it's fall now, which meant trying out the new wetsuit in a pretty cold lake...

We have had a really warm autumn - warmest and driest ever - but of course I get the new suit and it gets cool and rainy. Definitely cool enough at night to really cool off the lake water, and cool enough during the day to make me not want to go to the lake! The other option is the ocean, so in the end the lake wins.

 

Yep - cold water. Cold enough to make me do my sea otter impersonation of hands, feet, and head out... Until I was brave enough to actually swim. Suits fits and I didn't plan a whole workout; I lasted about 5 minutes before time to get out.

I'm glad my car has heated seats!

 

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Swift Kick!

I know it's only fall - and as far as I'm concerned it's newly-minted fall at that!  Despite the calendar saying autumn officially started on Sept. 21, the weather just became fall-like here a few days ago.  But even though it's only fall, a new year is looming on the horizon.  Yes, 2013 will be here before we know it!

What happens at the beginning of the year?  We all make new year's resolutions to be a better person, healthier, more organized, nicer, neater... wherever we think our weaknesses lie.  A common resolution is to exercise more.  I have an offer for you - how about we fire up that new year's resolution a bit early... let me give you a "Swift Kick" in the posterior region to get you started!

GOTRIbal is offering you a kick in the butt to help you commit to running a 5K on New Year's Day.  Yeppers... January 1.  I can't think of a better day to toe the line in a 5k race, can you?  Ha ha.  But seriously, the Swift Kick program starts October 29, and is an 8-week training program including coaching, online resources, weekly tips, online forums, and yes - even some sweet surprise schwag to wear in that 5k on Jan. 1.   This is more than a program though, it's a lifestyle!  Check it out at GOTRIbal's Swift Kick page.

For those of you in the US, you can check out if you are near one of the 35 cities that have Commitment Day 5k races on January 1.  If you're not, like me, then just pledge with me to run 5k on January 1 at race pace.  No sluggish run... if we're going to work off those holiday indulgences it better be at a good clip!

I've been thinking about when I first started running, back in the mid-90's.  I basically had a pair of running shoes, a sports bra, and inspiration from some super-fit friends.  I didn't know what I was doing, I'd just head out the door and run for half an hour or so.  No plan, no coach, no goals.  Do you need all that?  Not really, but sometimes it really helps to have that "swift kick" when you don't feel like getting out the door, are not sure what you should be doing to improve, or just want to connect with like-minded other cool chicks who are active too.

I am sure my stupidest running moment is yet to come, but I do recall one total newbie move... it was my first half marathon; the Capital City Marathon and Half Marathon in Olympia, WA, 1996.  I had never run that far, and the idea of running 21k was pretty intimidating.  Jason was doing the marathon which started first, so I said goodbye to him as he toed the line and I wandered around until my start.  When everyone was lining up to self-seed, I had no idea of the proper running etiquette, and I didn't want to run a step further than that 21k.  I think you see where I'm going with this... yep, I lined up RIGHT on the start line.  Got some funny looks of course from the elite runners, and pretty much everyone else.  The first 15 minutes of the race consisted of thousands of people streaming by me.  I told Jason what happened once we'd both finished, and he had a good laugh.  Don't let this happen to you!  Sign up for Swift Kick and get the knowledge you need to not look like a total goober like me!

I will see you all on January 1 cranking out a 5k with me, right?