It's Race Season!

... And I'm excited!

I must say that while I recognize I'm not in the best racing shape right now due to (my fantastic, exciting, and completely acceptable) competing priorities, I am SO happy to be healthy and injury-free, and I feel GOOD!  

This weekend is the first real test.  I am racing two Half Ironman races in the next month.  I know it's going to hurt, but I also know that I'm going to have a HUGE smile on my face.  

This weekend: Deuceman Half

I love this race.  I love the course, I love the venue, I love the half distance, I love the people, and I love that we always have a great showing of ONE folks out to support each other.  LOVEFEST.  Can't wait.  I'm racing Saturday and Tyson is racing Xterra on Sunday.  We are bringing the little guy and staying in a big house with friends.  It's going to be so much fun.  

The course is going to hurt.  I have done a few long rides - 50-70 miles - over the last 6 weeks.  And, I've run 8-10 miles about 4 times.  Not my best preparation, but enough to get me through the course in the pain cave.  This race is a training day.  I don't expect to be smiling.... 

June 13: Boise 70.3 

This will be my first official "Ironman 70.3" race.  Of all the halves I've done (maybe 15??), I've never done a branded "Ironman" half.  I'm looking forward to it!  I'm flying in Friday and out Sunday, so quick race weekend, but I'm really looking forward to this one.  You won't see me on any podiums (except maybe the mom podium) as I am not properly trained for that level of participation, but I am REALLY looking forward to this one!  I hear the bike is nice and hilly, and the run is flat.  Okay.  

You'll note I have made no references to swimming in this post. I have not been swimming - it's the one thing that hasn't made itself into my schedule.  When I have free time before/after work where I don't have kid responsibilities, I tend to fill that time with bike rides. When I have Siris with me, I'll put together a run with the jogger.  Swimming should find itself a home once my mini lap pool warms up in the next few weeks, but not before these races.  We shall see how that goes...! 

Bring on race season!

Teri

Balance

I haven't written in a while. The off season has distracted me - mainly because I'm such a wimp when it's cold and dark, and Siris has been so much fun! 

But I do know that staying active -- whether through the triathlon disciplines of swimming biking and running, hiking, yoga, strength classes, or simply walking the hills around the neighborhood -- is part of my personal happiness, and it's a priority. 

As we move into a new year, and as I age up into the adult woman group (40-44- yikes!), I feel invigorated! Last year ended up being the best year of my life. Tyson and I brought little Siris into our world on February 12, and we managed to keep it all together in the meantime! 

I wasn't sure it was possible. We both have full time careers and we both require outdoor sports to maintain our sanity (Tyson's first passion has become mountain biking).  We have Ethan (age 14) and Jade (age 11) 50% of the time and this new little bundle of energy 100%, I eeked out 5 local triathlons (and 5 podiums!) in 2014, and we still managed to have time for ourselves and feel like we gave each area of priority proper attention. Possible? I question it daily. 

People think we are nuts, but I find that you make time for things that are important. You can't overplan life. You just have to make decisions as they come, and you'll see where your priorities lie at the end of each week, month and year. 

I've made it no secret that we want Siris to have a sibling, so that is something we are hoping for. And... I plan to keep racing until then. 

So, with everything else going on, how do you stay active and competitive?

For me, lots of hiking, short runs, and biking when possible. Oh and occasional masters swim.  And, I added in strength training, which is a new area of interest for me. 

I've been enjoying strength work. Siris and I joined Life Time Fitness in Scottsdale. Don't laugh, but it was important for Siris to join so he could go to daycare while I'm in class. And, so our beloved nanny Alicia can take him with her when she wants to hit the gym. Siris has his own membership! 

Alicia talked me into trying a couple of strength classes at Life Time, and after getting over the embarrassment that I have NO group choreography skills (I could NEVER have been a cheerleader), I really have enjoyed it! Great workout. 

So what does this year have in store? I wasn't able to run other than racing all of 2014 due to a lingering pregnancy recovery issue. I seem to be over it, but I'm still keeping my distances down to 2-6 miles max right now. I raced the Xterra White Tanks Trail Race a few weeks ago - that was fun! 

I'm planning to race sprint and Olympic distance local triathlon races this year, and hopefully some 5K, 10K and trail races. Hopefully that will keep me entertained!!

IMAZ: To race or not to race... That is the question

I've been torn on this for months now, but it's time to make a decision: do I bag it or race? I can't let indecision make my decision.

I don't have a biking or running base right now. Since April 2013 after first breaking my thumb and second finding out I was pregnant with Siris, I have been on 5 rides over 50 miles and maybe 10 rides under 50 miles (including a handful that were 15-20 miles). I can count on one hand the number of times I've run further than 4 miles since Deuces 2013.

So, why do this?
1- I love racing
2- I love training
3- I am signed up to race
4- I could use a swift kick in the a$$ and need some motivation!
5- I'd like Siris to one day see that I was able to do this within a year of his birth
6- I wonder what I'm capable of in a 90 day period

That's right... IMAZ is 90 days away. Yikes.

Okay, so what am I capable of?
If I were reasonably trained:
1:15 swim
5:10 bike
3:45 run
With 5 min transition, that's 10:15.

With a 90 day training plan:
1:20 swim
5:30 bike
4:30 run (not sure on this one)
With 10 min transition, that's 11:30.

Goal: 11:30.

There, I said it! Now bring on the 90 day training plan!!

Yikes!

Post Baby Racing

Siris is 4½ months old this week. He’s awesome.  

I wasn't sure how this racing season would go after Siris was born. I was hoping to do some short course racing in the first half of the year to get myself back in shape, with the goal of racing Deuces Half in Show Low in June. Deuces was my very first half IM in 2010, and has been one of my favorite race venues.

I've been able to bike for about 3 months now, but I have only typically been able to ride on the weekend due to my preference for time with Siris, and my work schedule, including annual spring business travel.  In addition, I have only been able to run 2-3 miles at a time due to my pelvis not returning to its pre-pregnancy state quite yet. I have been advised by athletes I know and trust that this is due to breastfeeding and hormones that aren't yet back to normal, affecting my bone structure. Running too soon could cause serious injury.  I went to a spinal surgeon in April due to shooting pains up my back and butt, and was told its related to my pelvis and hips not being back to their pre-baby condition. Breastfeeding is worth it for Siris, so I have resigned to biking only for now.

St. George 70.3 Relay 
I talked with my coach Nick before Siris was born about trying to participate in the St George 70.3 relay the first weekend of May as my first post-baby race. Nick agreed to race with me - he swam and ran, and I biked.  He and his wife Rachel just had baby #4 in April, so we named our team “So What If We Have Newborns.”  It was fun to go to check-in with Tyson carrying Siris around in his baby carrier.  He is going to be raised in this crazy endurance environment… poor kid J

Me and Tyson before SG

Me and Jenni after
Tempe International.
She's a stud.

The SG bike course is TOUGH. I didn't get the training in that I wanted due to the pelvis issue impacting my riding for the 3 weeks prior. I planned to ride Bartlett a few times in preparation, but the one time I made it down Bartlett, I turned around before the last 6 mile descent. Wimp! Let’s just say I was nervous heading into SG. Very nervous. I managed to finish the bike leg in just over 3 hours. Not ideal, but a pretty epic ride regardless. Nick and I ended up taking third place in the relay division. And, most importantly, I reclaimed my motivation to train and race. AND, Tyson and my friend Brooke both raced the full race and both had fantastic race days. I am anxious for the day that I can race the entire SG race for myself. Epic.

Tempe International
I entered Tempe International sprint distance mid-May to see how it would go. I haven't raced a sprint since my very first triathlon in May 2009! My swim performance was less than desirable (I started too far back and got stuck behind), I crushed the bike (it was only 12 miles!), and I managed to run the entire run course after not running for a month. It wasn't a great performance, but I did take second in my AG, to my friend Jamie Dunn.

That was a nice start to the year when I didn't really know what I was capable of. I figured I could make it through an hour race even being out of shape, but "redlining" in a sprint when you haven't seen Zone 4 in over a year is interesting! I even managed a little sprint to pass some poor unsuspecting guy at the finish line.  Sorry, man.  I do still have a competitive nature…

Deuces Wild
I have not been able to run more than 3 miles. I knew I would enter a Deuces race, as we had planned to take Siris and rent a house with friends. I love the 56 mile Half bike course, and the Olympic and Half swim distance is so similar that I just can't bring myself to sign up for the Olympic and cheat myself of the opportunity to go longer on the bike. But I knew I can't (and shouldn't) run a half marathon. So, what to do? Against my coach's wishes, I signed up for the Half. Silly girl.

Deuces Swim - 34:59
The swim went fine. They shortened the course to 0.92 rather than 1.2 due to the lake water level, and the Oly race swam the same course. I'm okay with that :) Keep in mind this time compares to my friend Robin Watson who swam a 21.52. Really. Let's just say I know I have lots of room for improvement!   I haven't been swimming since Siris, and you can tell.  I won’t ever be a Robin Watson, but sheesh I have some work to do.  My arms are sore, two days later.

Deuces Bike - 2:49:07
I love this bike course. I was able to get in four "long" training rides that were 50+ miles - two solo 50 mile rides, SG 70.3, and a 60 mile ride with a small group. But nothing at elevation and nothing truly "long" which I think should be 70+. Oh well, it's race day!  Managed the second fastest female bike split, but I didn't meet my goal of breaking 2:45. I got crushed on the last few miles of hills, but it was a fun day.

Interesting note on nutrition… I find that since I'm not training too much right now, my nutritional needs on the bike are lower. Must be a metabolic burn rate thing. I'll be talking to Brooke at Fuel to the Finish about this. Bike fuel: Heed in my Speedfill, one Honey Stinger Waffle, one Huma gel, one picky bar. No water refills.

Deuces Run - 2:42:48
Yep, you read that time right. My Deuces run should be 1:45-1:50. When I don't have a 4 month old :). I enjoyed the first part of the run... I took it slow with the idea that I wouldn’t get hurt. The trail portions of the run were fine, but the road parts after about 4 miles caused me too much back/pelvis pain, so I walked much of the second lap.  I had to fight the inclination to run through the pain so I could have a decent time, but the awareness of a long-term injury kept me walking.  It was interesting to walk in a race.  I have never walked big chunks like that, and I debated dropping out at the end of the first loop. But I decided it would be good for my head to FINISH despite the barriers, and to feel what it’s like to walk large chunks.  Many people do this regularly, and it was good to feel it for myself.  I have to admit that getting the “great job, you’re almost there” cheers from people made me want to shout obscenities like “don’t you know I have a small baby?” or “I don’t usually walk like this” or “shut up – I’m not really doing a great job.”  I bit my tongue and thanked them.  Tough day out there, but I know I did the right thing for my longer-term racing.

Me at Deuces.
I'm smiling because I've been walking!

Now What
I am supposed to race IMAZ this year, but I have to get my run in check before I can train. Nick says to stay at the 3 mile mark for runs until Siris is 6 mos or I don't feel any pain while running. We shall see how it all evolves.  In the meantime, I am hoping to get in more bike miles, do a little swimming, and keep running 3 miles around my neighborhood.

Onward and upward!

Siris arrives! Now what?!

I finally got back on the bike for a spin around the block when Siris was 2 weeks old. Not having ridden since June, it felt sooooo good! Thirty minutes was all I could do - my legs were weak and my cardio was off, but it felt so good! So I rode for 30-45 minutes every few days for a couple of weeks.  This was my "refresher" after not sleeping and being a full time newborn mom for a few weeks.  Those 30-45 minute rides made me a better caregiver during the first month... I know it! I always walked back into the house ready to serve my new little master!

Triathlon training has been my happy place since the first sprint tri in 2009. It has changed my life - given me balance and helped me have perspective and success across all aspects of my life. With the addition of Siris to our lives, I wasn't sure if my passion or desire for it would change, and I was a bit scared.  People have told me again and again that my sleep patterns will be ragged, I won't have time, and I will change all priorities when I have a child. But I like my life before... So this notion made me pretty nervous. I applied for the ONE Elite team again just to put a little pressure on myself... I thrive on healthy pressure!

Enter Siris. He is precious. And I am in love :)

But I am still the same person, I have realized. Whew!  I am still craving the bike. Still itching to run. Eager to try mountain biking again, especially since we moved one mile from a gorgeous trailhead. My mom has been in town for almost a month and it has been nice to be able to get out to the office for meetings, and to get out for a ride or a run.  And to get out for dinner with Tyson (sushi last night!!). We are bringing her with us to Oceanside this weekend for Tyson's 70.3 race. What a treat!

I am in base building mode now. I was able to build up and ride the 50 mile Tour de Cure this past weekend, and I ran 6 miles on Sunday. And, Tyson even got me out on a casual mountain bike ride late Monday night!  As I've progressed with my fitness over the last month, I've been thinking about plans for 2014.

I signed up for IMAZ 2014... Not knowing if it would be possible. I now have confidence I'll make it to that race. Will it be a Kona qualifying kind of day? I don't think so... But it will be solid day. Maybe even a PR day. But what happens between now and then?

I am signed up for Marquee in 3 weeks. I'm debating making it Leadman, simply because I feel that cycling will be the first strength I have back. Why not, right? I'm calling it a training day. I should have clearance to swim this week, so that will be a priority for me. I signed up to do St George 70.3 relay in May with Nick, my coach - I will do the bike leg.  Then Tempe International.  Deuces Half in June.  Mountain Man??

So this leads to the big question... What will a training schedule look like for me in 2014? I will have less time. I'm back to work.  Our nanny starts in a week, but she won't be her at 5:30 am. And I will want all the time I can get with sweet Siris. And time with Tyson!  Soooo.... How will this work?

I am taking this opportunity to start over. To take what I know to be true (and some things I have ignored) and to rebuild my training life. Here's my plan:

1-I need to incorporate strength training into my routine. This is something I have NEVER done. In my life. I'm a bit nervous, but excited and ready.  I took my first Foundations class at Power in Motion yesterday. Class #2 is today. I'm a little sore.

2-I need to review my nutrition and clean it up.  I am working with Brooke from Fuel to the Finish to review what I know and tweak as appropriate. One change I've already made is the move to natural training and racing nutrition. I look forward to learning from Brooke and fueling more efficiently for success.

3-I have always had limited time for training. With a full time career, 11 and 14 yr old kids, and a life outside of triathlon (huh?!), I have typically been limited to 10 hours of training per week, with 2-4 additional hours built in the couple of months before an Ironman.  This will continue and may get a bit tighter. Nick has me on quality, not quantity. After St George, I will be on a full plan with Durapulse again. I look forward to it!

Well... Here goes a new and exciting year!

A pregnant triathlete!

Soooo... it's that time of year.  Time for goal setting.  2014 - what does it mean for me?  Well, there is something new coming into my life in early 2014 - a baby by the end of February.  

Very exciting times for my household.  Tyson is excited.  The kids (Ethan - 13, Jade - 10) are looking forward to it.  Well, Ethan as much as he can as a teenager... 

My last race was Deuces Wild Half Ironman Relay in June 2013.  I raced the half marathon leg for my relay team. Pregnant, I found out later. With lots of celebratory wine afterwards.  I felt really slow that day, and figured out why about a week later.  This was about two months after Ironman Cabo and a month after LifetimeTri Leadman, which were both great race days for me.  A broken thumb from a mountain biking spill in April kept me from racing/biking in May. Then, whamo... pregnant in June, a mere month into an effort to "give it a shot."

Pregnancy Training

I get asked often what type of training I'm doing while pregnant.  I ran through about three months, but I then started to feel jiggly and weird, so I stopped running and started walking around 2-3 miles through my hilly neighborhood. Panting, mind you.  Seriously!  It was odd at first, but my daily walks were treating me right. 

My doctor told me I could bike, but "just don't fall."  After a broken arm in 2011 and a broken thumb in April, both from bike incidents, I decided it was a risk not worth taking, so I hung the bike for the rest of 2013. 

Swimming?  This is a great opportunity to be working on my swimming.  Am I?  Don't ask.....

Short answer - I've done quite a bit of walking and some hiking, but not much else.  I have tried to stay true to my healthy eating habits, but I must admit the Christmas season hasn't helped with sweets all around me.  Luckily, I'm not that much of a sweets gal...

2014 Goals

So, what's up for 2014?  First, I'd like to focus on having a healthy baby, and having a pregnancy that doesn't involve too many knives and stitches, for lack of a better description.  I've hired a doula to guide the process to make this the best experience for my body.  I would HIGHLY encourage the education and guidance of a doula if it's in the cards for other moms.  

Then, work... I plan on getting back to my work as soon as I feel that I can take it back on - part-time at first, and full-time soon after.  

Then, my health and training.  I love running and biking.  I can see myself walking and jogging as soon as the body will allow it.  I expect this will help me with my mental and physical recovery.  

I have been told I won't be on a bike for at least a solid month, depending on what happens during birth :).  We'll see on that one, but the bike has been calling to me recently, as I watch the gorgeous afternoon sunshine we've had.  Trust me - I'll be on the bike as soon as feasible.  

I have lofty goals (shocker, I know) that include some racing in 2014, especially in late 2014.  But I'm not willing to set specifics until we see how February goes.  

Being a Fan

It's been interesting to be a fan the second half of 2013.  I don't typically behave well as a fan, but I've had a pretty fun time with it this year. Maybe because I have a pretty good excuse not to be racing!  

I got to watch Tyson train for and race IMAZ in 2013, setting a PR by almost an HOUR!  And, volunteering in the ONE Mutisport tent was awesome.  I love watching an Ironman.  I have truly enjoyed watching races from the sidelines - understanding what it takes to be a volunteer, and being able to share cheering sections for athletes - from the other side of the table.  I have learned some things that I'll carry with me when I start racing again.  

The Last 60 Days

I'm down to the last 60 days of pregnancy, and I'm planning to try to stay in tune with my body, not over-gain (or under-gain!), but be healthy throughout the end of the pregnancy.  

It's been pretty fun (yes, I said that) to be pregnant.  It's treated me pretty well these last 6 months.  

Stay tuned, my friends! 

Drum Roll Please.......

Cycling inside?  Running with the dogs around the soccer field? Skipping masters swim? Not racing a summer 70.3?  Attending 70.3 Worlds as a fan?  What’s wrong with Teri?

Well, this blog post is two months in the making.  Drum roll please…..

I’m 13 weeks pregnant. 

And Tyson and I are SO EXCITED!  We thought we’d “start trying” after Ironman Cabo in March.  I’ve heard all the stories about how Ironman athletes can’t get pregnant, our body fat is too low, you need two years off, we’ve been training at unhealthy levels for too long., etc. etc. And, I believe most of it! I have several friends who tried for years, and with assistance from doctors, and who couldn’t get pregnant without a LOT of effort. 

Oh, and another factor – I’m not 25.  Or even 35.  I’m 37. 

So, we scheduled some fertility appointments for late summer with the idea that we’d try for a few months and start the process of fertility treatments.  I’d race out my 2013 ONE Elite season, go race a couple 70.3 races over summer 2013, then Soma, Nathan, etc., Maybe even IM Louisville in August.  No biggie.  Don’t take it too seriously. 

Then it happened. We got pregnant, a mere cycle after IM Cabo. The impossible was actually possible.  And for an old gal! 

I’m almost through the first trimester (please, please, can week 14 get here any sooner??), and I’m ready to come clean.  We are pregnant.  And we are so excited! 

So… how exactly does one go from an intense 10-14 hour Ironman training schedule, full of early mornings and long weekends; big meals full of calories; hectic work/life/training/family schedule to being a pregnant person?  Let’s just say it hasn’t been easy.  But it’s been quite fascinating! 

FOOD

The first concern was my eating.  I’ve always been a healthy eater, but healthy in large training quantities.  Luckily, the month I took off after IM Cabo (with the exception of Leadman) was pretty relaxing.  I ate, I drank wine, I slept, I worked, I spent time with Tyson and the kids, etc. I caught up on life for a month. 

Then the slow metabolism kicks in.  What is “normal” eating for me?  The doctors say that pregnant women should eat 300 calories over their “normal” diet.  Hmmmm… what exactly is a “normal” diet?  Honestly, I’ve been training for 3-4 years in a pretty intense way with a few months off at a time, but I don’t have a “normal.”  And, I’m 10 pounds down from my weight before triathlon training.  And, while I generally eat healthy, I’m not afraid to take down a couple cookies, or a candy bar or a couple of glasses of wine on a regular basis.  So, how do I go from a hearty training diet to a pregnancy diet?  This has taken some time and adjustment and patience! 

CYCLING

As a cyclist, I rode my bike during the second month, after I found out.  I know a couple of gals who rode into their 7-8^th months of pregnancy, and my doctor actually gave me the okay to ride “as long as you don’t fall over,” she said.  Hmmmm.  I’m trying to remember the last time I fell over on purpose, so I decided that wasn’t exactly a good strategy, especially living and riding 2-3 miles on Carefree Highway to get anywhere.  And, my track record (broken thumb from a mountain biking accident April 28 and a broken arm from falling to avoid a car on my TT bike February 2011) isn’t exactly stellar.  I think staying off my bike for now wouldn’t be the end of the world.  John Dean confirmed and actually told me “Please don’t ride your bike for a while.  Please.”  I’m taking his advice.  I DO have other options. 

I went to my first indoor spin bike class this morning.  I went from 5:30-6am, and left early after some lightheaded dizzy spells, and some embarrassment from the 65 year old lady spinning next to me.  I have some work to do in that spin room, and the idea that I could push those pedals for that long, and standing up, is beyond my comprehension right now.  I am really good at the long, steady, flat power push. But these sprinty thingys are just… WOW!  My HR was in Zone 4, and I needed to tone it down.  I’ll be back though.  Thinking Tues/Thurs morning at the YMCA is going on my 6 month schedule.

RUNNING

I am a runner.  I have continued to run so far, although shorter distances, and it feels good.  While I often feel fast, my HR is high and my pace is suffering a bit.  We were in Kauai a few weeks ago and I felt like I was flying one morning on a 4 mile run (yes, 4 miles.  Don’t laugh, but it feels like a long distance run sometimes these days).  I looked down, expecting to see 6:45/7:15 pace, only to see 8:15.  True.  I seriously thought my Garmin was broken.  I have been spending time running with the puppies around the grassy park, running around my hilly neighborhood, walking the pups aggressively up and down the neighborhood hills, etc.  Trail running is out for now, but I have enjoyed getting out at 5:30am.

SWIMMING

Nick says this is a great time to work on my swim.  I know he’s right.  I will get there, I promise.  I haven’t yet, but I will. 

WORK

I generally work 8-5, or 7-4, or yesterday it was 7:30a-8:30p due to an evening meeting.  Tomorrow evening after the ONE meeting, I fly to Indiana on the red eye for a 2 hour meeting only to hop back on a plane and be home Thursday night.  Work can be quite demanding sometimes, but also quite flexible at other times, and I love it. 

SICK

Yes, I’ve been sick.  For about 2 months.  I haven’t thrown up, but I’ve had to pull off the road and recover a few times.  I’ve sat in front of the trash can at my office.  I’ve had to pull over and demand to be the driver of a car a couple of times.  It’s wacky.  It doesn’t hit me in the early morning (“morning” sickness is a misnomer in my case), but it hits me at like 9am, after I’ve been up for 3-4 hours, or at 2pm, or 6pm.  No consistency to this one.

SLEEP

Go figure, I’m up at 5-5:30 every morning, like clockwork.  But at 6-7pm, I cannot hold my eyeballs open.  I can’t seem to shift this clock either (wouldn’t 9pm-6pm sleep work SO WELL?), so I guess I’m stuck with this clock for now. 

ONE ELITE

I had some mixed emotions when we initially found out that I got pregnant so quickly.  While I was very excited it happened so easily for us, I also have a twinge of guilt and responsibility to ONE Multisport in that I committed to racing all year and only got to race half a year.  But, I’ll be back.  Don’t worry J.  Hopefully I can still be competitive post-baby and I still have the passion for the sport of triathlon.  I can’t imagine it not a part of my life.

In the meantime, I’ll be posting on occasion about all of this, I’ll be out and about volunteering and cheering on all my ONE teammates and the rest of the triathlon community!

BRING IT!