My Ironman Theme Song

Lose Yourself - Eminem

Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity
To seize everything
you ever wanted-One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
…..
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you
better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to
blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

8/18/08-8/24/08 Training Update

This week I trained for 7.75 hours. I followed the training plan, almost. Missed a long bike ride today and a swim on Friday. I worked on speed and hills today on a trail run after work. No snow this weekend.

And, today I found another woman's Ironman website: http://trishannon.blogspot.com/
I really like what she writes and as I read her posts, her times are close to mine (she's faster). I've put a link to her blog on mine so I will visit it often.

And, last but not least, today I ordered my Wetsuit. It's an Xterra Vortex. I bought a wetsuit in 2005 when I was first learning all about triathlon. Instead of going into a wetsuit store, I bought it online at a discount store and turns out, it was a water sport wetsuit, not a tri-wetsuit. Great for water skiing, not so great at swimming fast in open water. I can't wait for my new wetsuit to arrive so I can 1) make sure it fits and 2) try it out in Lake Granby. My friend Denise has a boat and she said she will follow me so I don't drown. What a great friend.

What I did Wrong

I finally realize everything I did wrong for the 1/2 IM now that I'm on week 2 of my 20 week training plan. I'm so mad at myself but now I'm doing everything to fix it.

1) I didn't have a training plan, just did what I felt I needed to do
2) no bricks
3) didn't lose weight - ate too much
4) no speed work
5) didn't spend enough time on my bike

I'm now following the training plan exactly. I'm not eating chocolate and ice cream. No more wine until after the 1/2 marathon. Doing more speed work; I can feel myself getting a little faster already; I love that. I'm biking every other day.

I love training.

Skirt Chaser

Just watched this video on the running skirt. I love the concept and may even consider running in a skirt (maybe).

Post 1/2 Ironman Blues

I’ve been reading everything I can find about Ironman and training for Ironman this week. I bought The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training and swimming fins yesterday. I read an article on Beginner Triathlete about post Ironman blues and the fix is to have a recovery plan. Since I have post-Ironman blues my recovery plan includes signing up for the ½ marathon in Kremmling next month. I think it will help to have this race to look forward to.
Despite the rain and snow in Grand County today, I still feel very motivated. During my off day today, I did some core exercises and stretching. Tomorrow I hope to go on a 90 minute bike ride according to my training plan. But if it is rainy and cold will I have to break out the trainer already?

Here's the Continental Divide covered in snow today:

Training Plan and Why I want to be Ironman

I’ve decided to start on a 20 week training plan to see how it will go. My intensity may be a little lower than when it really begins for Ironman on 2/1/09. But here is my plan:

Training Plan
1. The Daily Workout
2. Stretching
3. Core Strength
4. Nutrition
5. Mental Concentration / Meditating
6. Sleep

There are so many things to consider about 1 year of my life. The financial element is the first thing that comes to mind. Then there is work and dogs. I’m not sure how it will all work; if it will all work.

I just want it.

I want it more than anything I can think of right now. There is just something inside me that knows I can do it.

Here is my list of reasons why I want to be Ironman:
1. I’ve been thinking about it for 3 years; since I started competing, reading blogs and Triathlete Magazine.
2. I don’t have anything going on for the coming year.
3. I’ve always needed something to look forward to.
4. I’ve mapped out the drive to Coeur d’Alene, ID and I will be retracing my steps from the hiking trip I went on in 1988.
5. My parents want to be my support and they’ve never seen me compete in a triathlon. The mack-daddy will be their first. I’m very excited about that.
6. I want someone to say “Kristen Lodge, you are Ironman”
7. I’ve been goal oriented as long as I can remember. Whenever I come up with a long term goal I usually always achieve it. I remember every goal that I did not achieve and what it did to me; I don’t want to experience that ever again.

Welcomed Advice from Tina

Tina: "I have been racing XC for 20 years and every race, I say to myself, I have things to work on! That's what makes it fun...you start to fine tune things, and then you get better!"

Long Course

Not my best race which is a bummer since it was my A race. Time to regroup and think about ALL the things I did wrong and how to fix them in time for Ironman.

I thought I was ready and so many things went wrong. Don’t get me wrong it could’ve been worse; like a flat (which I wasn’t prepared for either).

The swim was difficult in that I hurt my left hand when people got in my way (note: I didn’t get in their way at all ;-)) Biking - I went too hard and had jelly legs on the run. That is the short version.

There was cloud cover most of the day until the run which was hot and muggy. I think it was much hotter in 2006.

The thing is this: I’m still learning. Even after 3 years (not including the year I took off 2007) I still have so much to learn. I also realize that as much as I say I want to “finish” I really want to do better each time. I think I should have done a few shorter triathlons this summer to build momentum for this race.

This week is “self evaluation” week. I will decide if I need a break or if I’ll do a few more events.



Here's Boulder Res before the race:

3 days to Long Course

3 days until the Long Course in Boulder. I'm ready and tapering. I should swim this morning but I slept until 7:00 for the first time in a very long time. I've been so tired. I'm letting my body dictate what I do for the next few days.

I have this weekend off; the first weekend since the Steamboat Marathon. I'm going to enjoy it. I have shopping to do in the Triathlon Captial of the World this weekend. Shopping for Ironman. My goal is to buy a new tri suit, check out wet suits, look at new pedals and bike shoes, and test drive a tri bike. Wishful thinking, all of it, but I buy a powerball ticket twice a week.

I'm ready for this race. It's my A Race. Other than the marathon, it's what I've been working towards all year. Compared to the long course race from 2006 I've spent more time swimming and running this year. I spent more time on my bike in 2006 so I'm a bit worried about the bike especially since some people (who remain nameless) think "it's all about the bike". I hope to finish in 6 hours. ~ I'll let you know.