The Great Pumpkin Adventure!!

Ok, I know it has been FOREVER since I have posted. To be honest, I have no excuse. I am not training, I am sleeping a lot, I am enjoying life!!! Work has picked up as I am in a final surge with some projects. I should be finished some major projects within the month and will be ready to fill the schedule back up, so if anyone needs or knows of anyone who needs a website update/rebranding/redesign, feel free to give me a shout! I am your web-lady!


Gregory and I did go to one of my best friends wedding a few weeks back in Chicago, which was fabulous!! I love weddings!!

On the training front, it is not non-existent, but almost!! LOL Actually, I have been running a lot, and actually swam a bit...just joined the world of Boulder rec Center. Biking has been awesome now that Gregory is getting geared up for IMOZ. We biked two weekends ago and Gregory tackled Ward with me on super windy Sunday...he did it for the cookies, LOL! Actually, I am very impressed with Gregory; he always downplays his biking strength, but now he is biking with a power meter and has his numbers, he can't SLACK anymore or pretend he is slow. Kid you not, after 2 weeks back on the bike, he is dragging me around on the flats! He is becoming a monster on the bike...and I will be lucky if I can suck his wheel in a few more weeks!!

The beauty of the "off" season, is that you get to do things you don't usually get to do during the "on" season. For instance, taking a friday evening to not only carve a pumpkin, but to gut it, steam it and blend it for future cooking (now that I have the time). But, let me tell you, this can be an adventure...

Let the masacre begin!!

An ice cream scoop comes in handy!

Don't leave too much pumpkin for the squirrels (it says GO AWAY squirrels) High yielding produce! We have a lot of pumpkin puree in our freezer!

Hee, hee...I do like to carve a pumpkin....

And yes...a trademark!

And within a day...the squirrels were ready to feast...

And withing 4 days, they were still eating, deflating poor, poor Mr. Pumpkin

The aftermath....Sooo, sooo sad...Warrant out for the arrest of the local squirrel!

Lovely, lovely fall in Boulder!!

Ok, so the trees are starting to change colors and the wind is picking up!! I think it is fall in CO!!!

This is one of my favorite times of the year because for some of us, it means the "off season" soaking it all up!! Going out, having fun. Turning over the wardrobe from sleavless to sweaters. well, maybe a little to soon for that one!

It also marks my first year riding in the CO rockies during the fall. Last year I was too scared to venture up into the "mountains' by myself..I think Jamestown was the furthest I went. Oh, how times have changed. In Boulder/surrounding area, you can always find someone climbing in the mountains even if there is 10 ft of snow! LOL.

I spent my 2 week "IMWI anniversary" in the mountains this weekend, taking my sweet time enjoying the weather and colors and eating m&m's!! (gluten free!!). It is absolutely gorgeous!! Since we had a "bit" of bad weather last week, I experienced the snow dusted mountain peaks in addition to the redish/orange/yellow leaves changing color the past two days. Absolutely amazing!!

From a physical standpoint, there is no denying it, I am still pretty much in the dumps (physically) and it will take time to recovery. BUT, I am not going to let gorgeous fall days pass me by without taking advantage of them...it is rare opportunity you see the peak-to-peak on days like today! I even got the hubby a Ward cookie.

Ok, so next up is another wedding next weekend in Chicago. PARTY time with the friends!!..and some long runs on the lakefront that I LOVE!

Oh and Congrats to Jillian who completed Augusta 70.3 this weekend!! so proud of you!!

Also, safe travels to some of those I know are heading to Kona this week...still 2 weeks to go , but I know they will fly bye!!

The best feeling in the world!!

Run, run, run.....

yup, yesterday I went for my first post-IM run. Usually these runs feel like total crap (because usually I try 3 days after the race, LOL!!) This year I have promised to be "honest" with myself on how I feel, the recovery etc...but...yesterday, I could not hold back.

I am no where near 100% nor at a position where swim/bike/run should feel good nor let alone should be part of the equation. BUT, I WANTED to run, so I did...I told myself, maybe 10-20 minutes; I wanted to do what I love for a bit and then get back to work....well 10 minutes turned into 75 minutes. 75 minutes of absolute bliss!! the best feeling ever!! I headed out the door with my shoes and some music for a little "loop" that turned into a big "loop". I couldn't stop; I did not want to stop. My legs felt great for the first bit...then they got tired, and I slowed down and took it easy, but that was ok..for the first time in a long time I had no HR monitor and I was running exactly at the pace/distance I wanted to. It was such a release!! Yes, it was not 100% "at XXXXXX pace, at XXXX HR" and I didn't give a flying f#&*k what I was running speed-wise. I was taking in the cool weather, the overcast clouds floating over the mountains with just my shoes, IPOD and thoughts.....what a wonderful feeling!

Most important, I was processing what happened a little over a week ago and upon reflection I am in n utter amazement that I could do (run)what I was at the moment. I am SO blessed to have a healthy body that bounces back; a strong mind that keeps me going and a determination that keeps me looking for the next challenge.

But, the next challenge needs to wait...for once I am doing this "recovery" thing properly. I am taking the needed time for "myself" to rebuild and refocus. It is so important to me because I know i have so many life changes that await me.

This is the best feeling in the world...waiting for everything to fall into place. With a little patience and faith, I will be on my way....

I wish I had more to say...but that is it...I am happy, healthy and enjoying life!

Some Photos and fun stuff!

This is me about 1/4 of a mile from the finish, coming up State Street, balling my eyes out. What an emotional day!

Here is a link to some awesome video footage Gregory took throughout the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHttPIXN98A

And here is a link to a bunch more photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/goodcookies4me/IronmanWisconsin2009?feat=directlink


I am in recovery mode at the moment. This Ironman took a lot more out of me emotionally and physically than expected. For the moment, I am happy basking in the "uncertainty" and "open book" that lies ahead. More on that later....

Chapter 2: The Journey

13 miles and over 7 hours to complete it, I had the time to do whatever I pleased. A thought crossed my mind when going through the halfway point “should I ask Gregory to take the camera?” Because really, I was not going anywhere fast and if I was going to do this and fulfill my one desire (to have fun and enjoy) I figured what better way to catch it on camera. However, then I realized that it was not a good idea since I would probably kill the camera with the sweat/puke/water that seemed to encompass me on this journey.

I headed back down State Street for round #2. I always say to myself during this point of the Ironman “this may be the last, so enjoy it” and I always seem to end up back where I started, so I didn’t tell myself it would be the last, but rather, “no more for a while…enjoy it” For some reason this takes the urgency out of the equation. This year, I giggled because I was not looking for a tampon, but damn, I was hurting.

I wish I could put a positive spin on everything, and I sure as hell try to, but this time around, I was in pain, physically and emotionally to extents, I had never experienced before. I kept asking myself “how much more can I endure??” And every time I stopped to walk, I told myself…”just get it under control and then start running again” Truthfully, my run was not a run, it was a shuffle. I recalled a few weeks ago when I had my strongest long run, and laughed at what I considered a “run” now. That is the beauty of Ironman, it humbles and it brings you down to your roots.

I decided to throw all of my strategies/rules and plans out of the window; I knew I needed calories, so I did the one thing that I knew would not hurt me any more than I was hurting (hey, I had 7 hours to spend walking and on the porto-john if necessary, LOL!) I turned to the dark side and started drinking COKE!! OMG…what a wonderful taste, feeling and boost you get from coke. Coke literally rips my guts apart, but I figured I could not do any more damage than what had already been done, and I wanted to look forward to something… I mean WHO looks forward to WATER at an aid station?? I also started eating a few chips and kept them down!! Whooo hoooo..things were looking good!

Every step hurt and I just wanted to sit down and stop. There were many times where I would go for a ¼ mile thinking “just run one mile and walk the aid station” but I couldn’t and had to walk. The tanks were empty; thankfully my brain was in overdrive! So, I made it back down to state street with the music blasting and beer flowing; this is one of my favorite parts of the course. You really cannot focus on yourself because there is too much going on. I promised myself I would “run this part”. So, I stated doing my “run” (gimped shuffle) and made it up and down state street without a HR spike and other than the physical pain, I really was starting to feel a bit better energy-wise (it’ s called the “coke miracle”). I high fived little kids and thanked the “intoxicated” spectators for their support (they are the best!! Talk about enthusiastic!)
I then hit the 20 mile mark and chuckled to myself; my self-discovery journey started at mile 4…WAY too early for a marathon, but here I was, still going and still pushing my pathetic self to the finish. I had a bit of a pity party at that moment, thinking of the time I spent training, how the run is my strongest, and what an embarrassment I was to my sponsors, and then I took a look around me. People were walking, barfing and downright suffering and I was still shuffling and moving (albeit in pain); I had nothing to be ashamed of. I was at the end of my journey; I had covered 134.6 miles and was at the point where I was going to face the thing I was most scared off: myself. Moment of truth, what does Ironman mean to me?

I discovered exactly what I thought I would; I found out that I COULD do it. I had visualized this moment as me approaching the finish line, sub 11 hours, claiming my Kona spot, and being a HUGE success. Contrary to my predictions, this moment dawned on me at my lowest of lows, when I looked at the sun and I realized that it would be down soon and I had 4 miles to go. I asked a spectator what time it was and he said 6:15 pm. I was SURPRISED it was still that early (I thought I would be finishing over 13 hrs) and then put a new goal in my head: “Finish before the sun goes down, you owe your husband and dad that much. Last time your dad flew down for this he froze in the cold till well past 10 pm”

I literally told myself “suck it up princess” and after the 22 mile aid station I started back up…fast shuffle/walk, which then turned into an awkward shuffle/jog; that is as good as it got, but damn it HURT!! I was in a different world of pain, running on everything I had left to give. Mile 23 came and went; I discovered chicken broth (it has been a long time since I was out on the course late enough for the broth and I forgot how wonderful it is!!). Just keep moving..just keep moving; I came upon another man who seemed to be in a similar predicament and all I did was look at him and say “C’mon, let’s finish this bitch up…this is Ironman”…..and I kept going. My body was pretty much numb those last few miles, yet, the pain was so real; I don’t think I will ever allow myself to forget the pain because I know it will benefit me in my future challenges.

Then came the moment of truth, mile 25…and I broke down, literally. I was crying, I was so emotionally spent, exhausted and all I had was one more mile of a long, hellish, yet extraordinary rewarding day. Somehow, I managed to pick up my feet a little more coming up State Street moving more like a jog than a shuffle. I kept my eyes on the Capitol…just get yourself up this hill, around the block and you are done. I saw Joe and CTC members and cried more; I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and support. Every step, every breath hurt and I told myself “it is just temporary, soon it will be over” up State Street around the block and there is was…the finish…

But, off to my right were my wonderful husband and dad. I stopped, gave Gregory a kiss and cried…I looked at the clock, and at the sun, I had made it, I had beat the sun….it may have not been what I had hoped for or knew what I was capable, but it was everything I NEEDED from the day….

I was and Ironman, but more important, I was sure I had given it everything. I always question what it might be like to have a “perfect day” when I might hit my goals and get a Kona spot…but that will have to wait. What I DO know is what a day looks like when you have given EVERYTHING you have…just for one day, I towed the line, no questions, no quitting, no hesitations…this was MY day, and it is one that I will remember and take with me throughout my life and will help me tackle new challenges.

I am an Ironman!

IMWI 2009 -First Chapter

Wow, another Ironman. This technically marks the 6th Ironman I have participated in over the past 3 years. Like I said in my previous post, each time I do one, I learn more and more about myself and yesterday did not disappoint.

Before I get into details, there are so many people I need to thank!!

Your love and support has carried me through the thick and thin of this year. First, my family! Mom and dad, Joelle and Claude and the most AMAZING husband! I am so fortunate to have the lifestyle and support that allows me to do what I enjoy. Thank you Bridget and Colleen for the “race kit” and ongoing encouragement! You two are the best! Thanks Tasha for the “sperm helmet”. Thanks Carole for some awesome coaching! Thank you to my sponsors: Brooks, Pyrasports and Pamela’s Products (best gluten free cookies!). Thank you Megan (Forbes Nutritional Consulting) for getting me on track this year with my nutrition. Ironman really is a “team” sport; or at least in my opinion it is.

Now back to IM Wisconsin 2009! I was never signed up to do this Ironman until Oceanside this year when I had another horrible ½ Ironman race. I really could not think of another triathlon I would want to do in the face of another failure than IMWI. A lot happens to the ego and enjoyment of the sport when you put a lot of time in it and don’t get the results you know you can achieve. I was crushed at that time and needed to re-focus my energy back to the “roots” of the sport; the enjoyment factor!

So, I took off to France, road my bike and enjoyed; then I got down to business for IMWI! I made myself a promise to do everything that I could to ensure I prepared properly for the race (in my control). I am in the best shape of my life at the moment and knew I could have a GREAT race in WI should “everything go right”…but, it’s Ironman, anything can happen….
Sunday morning started out early for the breakfast and as I was going through my routine, I realized “hey, I made it a whole year without doing an Ironman” (which is unusual for me) For some reason, this struck me as a refreshing change….weird things go through your head at 3:30 am.

Ok, on to the race, won’t bore you with unnecessary details. Swim was awesome!! My fastest yet! I felt strong the whole way through. I did something brave and started with the “inside group” this year; this lead me to have a perfect “line” through the swim and a great draft! Yes, it was a rough start, but when isn’t it? Oddly thought, one thought that just kept reoccurring through the swim was “this might be the last time you are in the water for a long, long time so enjoy it”.

Now to the bike; things started out great. Had the usual…OMG, tired, tired feeling for the first 2 miles then settled in and brought the HR down by the time I reached Verona. I had my nutrition planned out; eat everything I packed and then there are an extra 300 calories in special needs bag. Before I go any further, I need to explain my nutrition plan, because it is important as to how the rest of my Ironman unfolded. I was relying on Carbo-Pro and gels (and a few Cliff block shots) with a majority of my Carbo-Pro mixed as a concentrate in a bottle that I would squeeze into my aero-drink with water to dilute it. I started the ride with 2 bottles of pre-mixed Carbo-Pro at proper concentration that I would replace with the water/Carbo-pro concentrate after they were consumed.

Seems pretty simple, right? Well, yes it is until you look down and realize that the sponge in your aero-drink is gone (and I had used electrical tape to ensure this would not happen!!) so my aero-drink was spilling over ½ it’s contents all over me when I was hitting the bumps in the road (you forget how spoiled you are riding in Boulder with the perfect roads until you ride elsewhere!). This would be no-good nutrition wise, because I would lose ½ my nutrition from spilling if I were to put the concentrate with water in the bottle, so I figured I would sip from the concentrate and then chase with water. I decided to have a few gels before switching to my “new” nutrition strategy and was feeling great; I made sure to keep the salt and hydration under control as it was heating up. Between Mt Horeb and Cross Plains I put my plan into effect (concentrate Carbo-Pro does not taste good!), but it soon became apparent that this was not a good idea. Around the ½ point, I had bloated out and my belly was sloshing; I was in trouble. I had to stop the Carbo-Pro concentrate. Special needs contained a few more gels and a rice-krispy treat I had packed “just in case” and I happily took them and started on my rice krispy treat although feeling nauseous as hell. Then, the inevitable….everything started coming back up…I feel really bad for the person(s) riding behind me. So, the series of events in the second loop until Cross Plains goes as such: gel, water, salt tablet, throw up…again, and again…I just could not allow myself to stop eating because if I did that would be the end of it; I wish I could say I was having fun on the bike, but I wasn’t.

Until, I stopped at Cross Plains. That is where my Chicago tri-club friends were at. I decided that it was my goal to make it there till I stopped to take some preventative measures. Plan of action: Immodium and tums and salt and rest. I stopped to fill up my bottles and group myself and then as I was heading back out, I spotted Bridget, Colleen and Jillian. I stopped for photo op and a quick chat. Sometimes all it takes is a familiar face and some encouragement when you are at the lowest of lows to bring you out of the slump. As I was leaving, Bridget yells to me “be careful and HAVE FUN” which really helped me snap out of it. Here I was miserable, sick and hating biking, which defeated the whole purpose of the race. It was then that I decided to “back off”. I took the pedal OFF the medal and began to take in what was going in around me. I knew it was going to be one of “those days” where I was going to hurt like none other; sure as hell a lot more than when you are having a “good day” but if I was going to go through with it, I wanted to make sure I was doing it for all the right reasons.


Colleen checking in with me. I was looking for some Tums, LOL!
Me, getting ready to finish the bike up. Looking/feeling pretty gross right now....

So, I made it back up the hills, passed Gregory and my dad (AWESOME spectators) and back to the capitol. I made sure to take in all the cheers and energy of that course and when I made it to transition; I knew I was in for a very “special” run.

Out of T2 I stopped to see Gregory and dad; Gregory had been doing his homework, knowing that Kona was in sight if I had a good run. 5 minutes to chase down the girls ahead and I was golden, however, the only thing that went through my head was “2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, only 1000 calories” I need to go into preventative mode before I even think of running a strong marathon. So, off I went, paying attention to the HR monitor…which, I turned off after 2 miles because it was ridiculous. I was taking in gels, and keeping most of it down…but, it was too late and I knew it. I was thinking of what Carole told me “don’t walk, just don’t walk” and I kept that up till mile 4 when the dizziness and heat started getting the best of me. I walked; at first I felt bad and “mentally weak” and then I asked myself “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??” I had 22 more miles to go and at the rate I was going, I was NOT going to make it. Rule #1 when it comes to Ironman, FIRST GOAL IS TO FINISH BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN! (After a broken bike fork at mile 95 in Florida, things take on a whole new meaning). So, I moved onto my backup plan…walk and run, walk and run…crawl if necessary, but make sure to cross the finish line and NOT end up in the medical tent. I watched my age group girls run so strong and I could pick out the winners at certain points when they would pass in the opposite direction. Parts of me were envious, but that was quickly forgotten when I focused on “MY” goal, to finish and the great feeling you have after such an accomplishment. I was having the “BEST” race I could have considering the circumstances. I WILLED myself to move when I thought I would drop and when my legs would start to shake, I would just keep shuffling.

I met so many amazing people out there yesterday; chatted with a Timex pro who was having a similar bad day, chatted with the United States Air Force Team that was out there as a Team racing, chatted with other age groupers who had come out and faded like me, walking the hills and shuffling the straits.

When I made my way up to the capitol to start loop two, I saw Gregory and dad again, handed off my HR monitor, and told them it would be a “while”. Dad asked me “are you going to finish or drop out”; which is the same question he asked me 3 years ago during my first IM when I came into T2 pretty close to transition cut-off shivering and cold and I told him “NO, I WILL WALK THE WHOLE DAMN THING IF I HAVE TOO, I HAVE THE TIME”, and I went off determined to make it, without a cut-off time looming but a long 13 miles of time to think…
And this is where it gets good…more to come

Almost time!

So, I am sitting writing, having my coffee and thinking that in 24 hours I will be in the water with 2000 other triathletes.
This is the part that astounds me! Over 2000 athletes have pushed, pulled, dragged, and forced their bodies to the limit over the last year. Endless days of biking, running and swimming and it all come down to this one day. Going to bed early, waking up early, and sacrificing those daily pleasures to get the training in. What a special day it is!
But, let’s face it, no one does this alone, we all need some sort of support system! Families, friends, teammates and the odd stranger help us, motivate us, and get us going some days when it feels impossible to move one more inch!
This morning, my race top will arrive, and not only do I have my sponsors listed, I also have my family and friends because they are as much a part of this journey!
However, there is one portion of the Ironman that I strangely dread, yet anticipate because I know that this will be all “me”’ pure, elemental “me”. I am talking about those last 6 miles of the marathon (perhaps it starts earlier for others, last year it was the last 10 miles for me) where you are stripped to the bone of all the layers you shielded yourself with to get you to that point. The HR, the rate of perceived exertion, the positive mental talk, the loud cheering from those around and the amazing volunteers encouragement are drown out by the real “reason” you are out there covering 140.6 miles. You draw upon strength you never knew you had and learn SO MUCH about yourself. Whether it is the pain from a hard year, divorce, fight, death…you confront those issues and FACE them! At the end of the day, when you cross that line, you cross more than a race finish line, you cross a line that enables you to attack the next problem, setback and challenge in life. It really is life changing; every Ironman I have done has helped me grown and learn about myself.
This year, I am hoping to get to this part and embrace it, know it is going to hurt like none other and go with it. At the end of the day, I want to cross that line and say I “did it” fully, not half heartedly ; I want to give it my all physically and mentally. Then, and only then, I want to be DONE…for a while at least; time to soak up what has been already a phenomenal year!

La Marmotte pictures!

So I lied, this post is going to be re-visiting July 4th, La Marmotte!

Today, Gregory and I went to Wallgreens to get my little disposeable camera developed. The pictures turned out awesome!

This is me very excited at 5 in the morning to be on my bike...

Off I go!
Here is the start area. every rider passes through the red arch over the timing mat. (in the direction that I am taking the picture from...you will see the actual chaos in the next pic)

Yup, this is my wave of +2000 bikers. and yes, I did pee behind the tree to your right in front of everyone!

This is when we were "herded" to the start area. Look at ALL the cyclists and flags! amazing!

A kind rider asked in "another language" but with body language, I understood he offered to take my picture. I was a bundle of nerves!

This picture is fuzzy and does not do it any justice, but the constant stream of riders continued for the entire ride.

I met a German fellow on the way and he saw me taking pics and offered to take mine. so here is an "action pic" I was really enjoying myself (first climbg, that explains it! LOL)

Here is my German friend! Thumbs up! no problem for him (obviously my photo taking skills on a bike are not as good as his!)

And here is the CHAOS at Col du Glandon (first summit where they "herd" you into a chute because the descent is so dangerous they need to limit the riders)

HUNDREDS of riders at the summit. It was phenomenal!!

This is Valloire, right after Col du Telegraphe and right before Col du Galibier (it is a ski resort)

This is where I stopped for my "Mars bar" and hydration in Valloire (the aid station was one mile up and it was out of this world busy! )

And this was me at the finish!! Never really cried before..even at an Ironman..but this event did me in. So very special (poor hubby thought I was hurt cause I was crying, LOL!)

Yup, totally shelled, but OH SO HAPPY!!

I am going to keep many of the lessons and challenges faced during this event in my head a week from now.

This year has taught me so much! learning how to climb "my mountains"

Cheers!

Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition!

They say the fourth discipline for triathlon (short and long) is nutrition, and that is no joke!! How do you fuel yourself for such a long event? Well, there are many ways to fuel yourself, but what to eat that will get you to the finish line without GI (gastrointestinal) distress?

To be honest, I have NEVER completed an Ironman where I DID NOT have GI troubles. However, I have never done an IM where I knew what my food “limitations” were. This year is different; I have found that I have “food allergies” that can greatly influence my GI and performance. To keep it short and sweet; I have fast acting response allergic reaction to peanuts and eggs (dose sensitive), slower response to gliadin (gluten) and fructose absorption issues.

What does this lead to? Well, a lot of time on the port-o-john (diarrhea), and sometimes debilitating cramps and bloating.

I know this may be too much information, but I know a LOT of athletes struggle with these issues, and what better way to conquer them than to be open and honest?

I first want to thank my nutritionist Megan Forbes who has taken me from “ground zero” to a healthy gut and normal GI. Another HUGE thanks to my sponsor Pamela’s Products who has supplied me with some of the best pre/post and during gluten free fuel for my training and racing!

So, what do I eat/drink during racing/training/everyday life?

Well, it is pretty simple and very diverse even though it looks very restrictive. I base my diet off of the four food groups; believe it or not, it is pretty balanced!! Just like a “normal person” should eat. Here are some examples of what I can eat/drink without consequence, in which you can make a number of delicious meals and snacks out of.

Protein: (this is the category to be careful of egg and peanuts) turkey, chicken, beef, fish, shellfish…my favorite is tuna (especially in sushi!) –actually, I can eat any sort of protein; these are just what I prefer. Nut butters also supply essential oils and protein; I LOVE almond butter.

Carbohydrates: brown rice, quinoa, and buckwheat (this is the category to be careful of gluten)
(one a side note, I use “NO EGG” as an egg replacement when cooking, it consists of potato starch, so technically belongs to this category)

Fruits/veggies: (this is the category I need to pay attention to Re. the fructose- fruit sugar) broccoli, tomatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, turnip etc…pretty much any veggie!! before races and big training days, I will steam/cook them for easier digestion.

Fruits are difficult for me because I must take them with a proper balance of glucose so I can absorb the fructose. But, as of now a fruit after lunch with low fructose content seems to be working well for me. For precaution, I cut out all fruits one week before any race/competition.

Dairy: I LOVE dairy products! Yogurt, cheese, milk etc… it Is all good. Sometimes I have chocolate milk for recovery. I like ALL types of cheese and use yogurt in my cooking as well as breakfast most mornings. No restrictions here!

So, as you can see, I have A LOT to work with. I think it comes down to the “hype” that everyone has and feels when they hear “gluten allergy” or any sort of food allergy for that matter. All it takes is a little creativity and research to cook up some great recipes!


This is a gluten/egg free bread I made for training/recovery. Contains: Coconut oil, pumpkin sauce, applesauce, sugar, brown rice flour, NO EGG, baking powder, cinnamon, and lots of CHOCOLATE!! yummy! notice the bits missing from the top...I thing we have a mouse:)

Now what do I use for racing/training?

I currently rely on Carbo-Pro and Hammer Gels for training and racing, substituted with gluten/egg-free high energy concoctions that I make up in the kitchen. So far, my gluten-free rice-krispy treat is the winner for “packed in goodness, carbohydrate booster, satiety satisfier, and DAMN IT TASTES GOOD” factor.

All kidding aside, Carbo-Pro is excellent for me because it only contains short chain carbohydrates and no fructose with the right osmotic balance. Coupled with Hammer gel that is made of maltodextrin instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) I have a great nutrition plan! Yes, it is boring but it works and I have cut down my port-o-john stops by A LOT!!

I can’t say I have ever been happier about where I am nutrition-wise; I know my limitations and how to work around them without sacrificing satisfaction!! Speaking of satisfaction…it’s the weekend, time for a glass of wine!

Next up: my opinion of drinking and training…should be an interesting post

Here we go again!

Wow, I officially have “butterflies” in my stomach ….IMOO is rapidly approaching! Something is much different this year though; I am not uneasy, nor replaying every possible scenario in my head, or strategizing about Kona. I am thinking about my favorite IM course, wonderful friends, and GREAT day I will have (regardless of the time!). This time around it is for ENJOYMENT; back to my roots!

Most important is the fact that my dad is making a “repeat performance” himself. Four years ago he stood shivering in the rain for over 15 hrs to watch me finish my first! I can still remember him waiting for me at the finish, giving me a hug and “getting” what it is all about. Ironman is magical, it is so special, and it is not always about that Kona slot. Each time you do an Ironman, or train for one, you discover yourself, again and again. You find strength where you thought there was none, you are humbled by each “hard” day and the unknowns you confront on “race day”.

I will be honest; I lost sight of this earlier this year and last year. I was so focused on the “time” and “Kona” to realize what was really missing: My “Desire”. So, I took a little trip to France, rode my bike, and dug deep to question “why do I do this”. I conquered mountains, finished “La Marmotte” and at the end of the day, I knew that I had to take the “pressure off”. For once I am going into a race without a “back up plan” or another race lined up “just in case” This Ironman is like a fancy dessert, one you don’t want to neglect because you will miss the complex taste and fulfillment and one you cannot eat twice.

I plan on updating my blog this week on a more regular basis to cover some of the things I have learned re. Ironman; the preparation, nutrition and “little things” that make the Madison course so Magical!!

It's getting hot in here!

Holy moly!! It has been HOT, HOT, HOT in Boulder!!

I think I am noticing it a wee bit more because our air conditioning is out-of-order for the time being and the office is a sauna. Not a problem, I think of it as a “detox”, where I sweat out all my bodily toxins (nothing to do with wine).

So, as I mentioned in my earlier post, I had a “challenging” weekend of training; of course I survived, if not I wouldn’t be writing this post. Now I don’t usually go into specifics of what my training involves (other than biking, running…and…what is the other one….oh well, must not be important) but this one was a doozy!! Last “BIG” weekend (actually, just one day) before starting the “taper” for Wisconsin.

Before I go any further, from the ankle standpoint, things are great!! I have healed MUCH faster than anticipated so I am a happy camper.

Saturday started out VERY early for me, BIG breakfast and off to the pool for a swim. Pretty uneventful, I looked at a black line for an hour and cursed at how “little” distance I can get cover in an hour (soon the NEMO fairy will visit me with gills and fins). Anyhow, it was off to the bike…a LONG bike in some already scorching temperatures. I decided last minute to go and meet up with Megan and some of her friends at Amante to “start” the ride with. Low and behold Tingle, JK1 and JK2 appeared. Unfortunately, none of these options worked out as Megan and her crew were heading straight up into hill country beginning with Lee Hill…(um, not feeling that sadistic) and some confusion lead to me missing the JK and Tingle group so I was flying solo…which, was for the best.

I headed out 36 in attempt to warm up the legs (although I was already sweating buckets due to the heat) Got into a rhythm and focused on the HR and keeping everything in check. Before I knew it I was at highway 66 and there was a lot of orange construction, plus a big billboard that said “Under construction” (what I missed was the 5 second delay which then said “closed to cyclists”) I was ready to turn around because it did not look good, but then 2 cyclists in front of me made the right turn so I figured “it must still be open.” So, I turned right, heading to Hygiene, following the two cyclists, when less than a mile they slow down, and crossed the construction barrier in the middle of the road to head back. I passed them in awe, wondering what they were doing, it wasn’t until a mile or so later where the shoulder disappears and the road is “skinny” that I realized “Hey, the road is probably closed…CRAP” so the option was to turn around or continue to Hygiene. I decided crossing a construction area was probably not the best idea, so I hauled ass to get to the turn-off to Hygiene. Meanwhile, the few drivers that passed me were very nice, I DO love Boulder….even when I AM IN THE WRONG; the drivers are still nice!!

Well, low and behold, at the turnoff to Hygiene was 2 cop cars and I immediately knew what was going to happen…so I just pulled over before they could motion me too. The cop was actually very stern at first, as he should be. But I told him what happened, and that I was out of country for 10 weeks and just got back without any sort of forewarning of the construction; and that this was a simple mistake that I would NEVER make again nor was it intentional. NOT that this is an excuse! As a cyclist (which is considered a motor vehicle) I SHOULD pay more attention to the signs and warnings on the road (there was a sign at Hygiene road stating 66 was closed which I missed, MY FAULT!). I do not appreciate bikers whose reckless actions ruins the reputations of the “good” cyclists, and I was one of those BAD cyclists on Saturday. Personally it was mortifying and disheartened expecting the DESERVED punishment, BUT, the policeman saw how concerned I was and decided not take any “demerits” on my driving record AND decreased the fee. I was very grateful, yet still upset at myself. A lesson learned!!


Here is my ticket (notice the type of offender: Bike, Yellow...Fast...LOL!! ..ok I made the last part up!) So, resuming my ride, with a ticket in my back pocket (which I imagined was a speeding ticket to make myself feel better!) I headed out for the remaining “LONG TIME” of my ride…which meant a wee bit longer on the flats and then heading up to Hill Country….YES, COOKIE TOWN!! WARD!! 16 miles of climbing bliss….14 miles of fun, 2 miles of HELL!! The last two miles of that climb do me in!! Combined with the altitude, and the odor of “Pot” (does anyone else notice this!!?? It smells like marijuana up there!!) Do me in. I kept my HR in check till those last two miles, and I WAS NOT going to turn down 2 miles of hurt…I HAD to get the cookie (although Gregory eats them now because of my allergies…3 more weeks till I can indulge!). I made it…albeit very slow, and very painful!! You can climb as many +10% grade climbs in the Frech Alpes, but other than Galibier, none of them compare to the altitude you experience in the Colorado mountains! So, yes, I sucked wind, and I…SUCKED!!

Good news is that it was a cool 30 degrees (Celcius, I am still on the Canadian/French system) at Ward, and then I descended and I entered the “Furnace”. It was FRIGGEN HOT!! I knew things were going to crap when my HR started climbing under “reasonable perceived effort”….in other words; things were going to get ugly… I did the best I could, lots of hydration, and “sucking it up”

This is me VERY EXCITED TO GO RUN!!

ICING ON THE CAKE!!

Running at 3 in the afternoon when it is +35 degrees celcius, no shade and you are already cooked. It’s in the head baby, all in the head. I went from running to shuffling, to walking, to shuffling to…well you get the idea. The longest hour of running in my LIFE!! Yes, I could have said “this sucks, I am stopping” but I needed that “uncomfortable” feeling to add to my “checklist” of “uncomfortable feelings” for Ironman. You never know what will be thrown at you come race day and a lot of it comes down to “experience” or “how much can you take” …well I took it yesterday…..I think I am still cooling down from it!! It was not pretty, I DID NOT go fast (for all of you who think I am a good runner, I think you would have enjoyed yesterdays performance) BUT I FINISHED

Isn’t that what it’s all about?? When you think of Ironman, you can think of the many time goals you have and how you expect to hit them…but, you always need to keep in mind, this is Ironman, this is 140.6!! I distance most normal people are not meant to cover in 17 hrs (unless you are in a car!) So many things can happen, unpredictable good and bad things!! So, at the end of the day, you need to take a step back and look at what you are doing/have done, the time put into it…and SMILE!!

I AM SMILING!!

I LOVE Boulder, but....

Could we not benefit from a little more oxygen?? I mean this is ridiculous!! I might succumb to depression from the way I feel, LOL!! Of course I am JOKING! but it REALLY is difficult to to adjust to the "5430"

In the French Alpe's, I was at about 2000, climbing to heights higher than Ward and the Peak to Peak, however, that 1 or 2 hours a day at "high altitude" does not EVEN compare to 24/7 at "5430"

For some reason, this time back to altitude did not give me the luxurious 1-2 day window when I "barely noticed it" NOPE, I felt it the minute I stepped off the plane. Dry mouth, tight chest when exerting myself....which, means flopping around like a dead fish on the dock when I try to swim (yes, I am sure I look like that!) but wait...I always look like that when I swim...whatever!!

Anyhow, it has been a few hard days. But, I am pleased to annouce that last night I slept the WHOLE night through without waking up!! yes, that is right, 8 hrs of uninterupted sleep! JET LAG is OVER!!

Things on the work-front are BUSY! which is extremely GOOD...well, good for me, but not the blog entries!! Sorry, I will try to keep up.

Training-wise, I am in the stage of "OMG, IMWI...MY FAVORITE IM!! it's in less than 1 MONTH!!" so, I am smiling, A LOT!! And yes, the ankle is good...I am in ACTIVE recovery.

I am looking forward to catching up with my GREAT friends in Boulder. I have MISSED them so much!! I actually had to ask for an "extra" swim workout today so that I could see some friends I had not seen since June!! ( and I NEVER want to swim more, LOL!!)

This weekend marks an "epic workout" weekend...for those of us who do IM or any other sort of sport, there is always the "build" portion in the training to an ultimate "workout or event" that will challenge you, mold you, and make you the strongest you can be on that "race day". Saturday marks this for me. I am strangely excited, scared and anxious...stay tuned for the report...

Back in Boulder and on the mend!!

I am back in the States!! I arrived Friday night and am fighting jet-lag. You can get a whole bunch done in a day when you wake up at 4 am, LOL!!

The ankle is doing MUCH better and I have decided to pursue IMWI. So, a few more weeks of hard work lies ahead....

Today was my first time back on a bike with aerobars in 10 weeks and it felt great!!

I am definitely feeling the altitude though!! Ahhhh, nothing beats oxygen, LOL!

Right now I am getting settled and catching up on many odds and ends that need to be taken care of when you have been away for over 2 months. However, I want to give my hubby Kudo's for having the place absolutely spotless and immaculately organized when I returned! The bed was even made!

To all my Boulder peeps, I will be in touch so that we can catch up!!

Im Baaaack!

Long time, no post!!

So much has happened since I last blogged, where to start???

It has been an exciting month! After my last post Joelle and Claude had some friends come and stay with us in the Alpes to hike and vacation. However, the hiking adventures were cut a tad short for Claude who fell and broke her ankle in 3 places! She dragged herself down the mountain using just her arms! When the doctor saw her, he couldn’t imagine how she had gotten down the mountain; usually people are helivacked out! My Auntie Cocole is a tough cookie! She had surgery and spent a few weeks recovering and now is starting to walk with crutches. Joelle has been nothing but wonderful taking care of Claude and hosting Gregory and I.

Now, when I say mountains, I mean “the middle of the mountains”; the boonies! So, when storms roll through, they are pretty nasty!! It is usually after a very hot spell that we have thunderstorms (sometimes tornadoes) roll through bringing hail and snow. 2 weeks ago, when Gregory and I left for one night to watch the tour (more on that in a bit) a storm rolled through, knocking out all internet and phone lines. It has been 2 weeks and the phone line is not repaired and I am working from one of those unique USB drive wireless thingy’s. Very cool, but it is slow and we are still waiting for the local internet company to fix the line (yes, we reside in the middle of the mountains!).
This is an arial shot of the EDF damn. Our house is to the left on the mountain.

This is Allemont in the winter. Our house is below and to the left of the church.

This is what Allemont looks like now in the summer

Now back to Le Tour….the Spaniard who looks like and is built like a 14 yr old boy won (not that I am happy about it..I am a Lance fan). I don’t think that people realize how small the riders are and the power they push! After spending a few months riding in the Alpes, I am realizing that the level of difficulty of Le Tour is greatly underestimated and underplayed by many who have never experienced the Alpes (the TV does not give the climbs or weather enough credit!). Over the course of 3 weeks, the tour riders go from fit to emaciated from the effort and long days.

Gregory and I found out a few days before the time trial in Annecy that our good friend Tony would be arriving in Paris for work and could meet us up to watch Le Tour. So we picked up Tony Wednesday night in Grenoble and got some great engagement news!! Congrats Tony!! We spent the night in Chambery with the “Livestrong” promotional crew and a bunch of media in our hotel. These folks are worked to the bone!! Thursday we rose early to get to Annecy, but the whole city was closed. We parked out side the city and bused to the start area. Having attended the tour once before on Alpe D’Huez, I knew it would be crazy busy!! Which is was, but this experience was unique because it was a time trial. We were able to see the teams warm up and get ready. I did not see Lance, but I did get a good shot of Matthew McConaughey outside the Astana bus, along with a bunch of other riders. We then positioned ourselves near the start to see the riders take-off. WOW!! The riders pass so quickly and SO FAST! It is hard to imagine riding at speeds they are riding at. Seeing the Tour in person really puts into perspective how fit, fast and dedicated the riders are!

So, I got my yearly dose of Le Tour!

It's Matthew!!

Team Garmin

This is how they do their laundry in the team bus.

This is Lance's bike

The Polka Dot bike


As for my riding, biking and swimming; It has been going really, really well (well, till yesterday! More in a bit) After La Marmotte, I made a tough decision to switch coaches. Wolfgang has coached me for almost two years; two years of amazing progress, and I have achieved levels of fitness I never knew I could. Wolfgang helped me obtain the endurance and patience to become a great long-distance triathlete and I very thankful. However, due to a number of factors, including time constraints I felt I needed a coach with a “better fit” for my schedule, demands and goals. After La Marmotte, I started working with Carole Sharpless and am very, very happy with that decision. Over this month, I am moving in the right direction with my swimming (it has never been my strong point), revived my running legs and kept up the strong biking!

But, life is unpredictable, and you never know what obstacles may be thrown in your path. Yesterday, while stepping down from a stone ledge in the garden, I rolled my ankle. This is the ankle that I had surgery on 7 yrs ago to repair torn ligaments (two screws and reconstruction); the only thing that went through my head was “2 months in the middle of the mountains running, swimming and biking, in the boonies and THIS is how I injure myself??” This is not a serious injury, X-rays shows no broken bones, but there is ligament damage. I cannot have an MRI because of the screws so alternative imaging may be required; I will find out on Monday; most likely it is pulled with a few small tears. This brings into play the athletes “desire” to continue training for that “one” important race or the long-term outcome.

I believe that you should learn from your mistakes. Seven years ago, I ran on an ankle that had torn ligaments and needed surgery because I did not listen to my body and I pushed too hard. I don’t want to make that mistake again. So, I am being realistic here; on Monday I might have to call off IMWI, and I am ok with that (but, I am trying to stay optimistic). There is always next year or even the possibility of a IM later in the year. Right now my focus is on the long-term as I have been down the other short-term road before.

I think this is some sort of sick way to make me swim more, LOL!

To my loyal readers

Last Thursday we had a bad Thunderstorm and winds that knocked out the phone lines and internet. Gregory and I have been bumming internet from the neighbors and fighting with the local company to get our connection(s) fixed. So far I am working with a blinking USB that magically supplies me with wireless (compliments of the network company 1 week after the fact!!) Anyhow, all is well....just waiting for everything to be fixed before catching up!!

Cheers!

Still Alive!

Don't worry, I am still around....

Things have been hectic and busy with MANY changes going on as of late! But, these are exciting changes (for the most part) that I will write about soon in a new post.

And no mom, I am not pregnant! LOL!

But in the mean time, let me leave you with this, life will pull you in many different directions and sometimes you may find yourself conflicted. At those times, follow your heart and your desire. Don't EVER let anyone tell you that you are less than what you are worth or bring you down for their own benefit! But, always keep an open mind and be respectful.

More on my adventures in a day or two!! promise!

Last Chapter: The Final Countdown, 21 turns and counting....

So, we left off in Bourg D'Oisans at an aid station... I was not doing so hot...but then...

The skies parted and the sun shone through (cue sentimental music) and illuminated the sweet nectar of rejuvination in a blessed volunteer hand. In that little white styrofoam cup lay the key to my success, PEPSI. Yes, that is right, I would survive because I had found PEPSI!! And for all of those who are aware of my food allergies, no-no's and everything I do to preserve my GI; all bets were off at this moment!! I was going nuts on the stuff, 3 cups of pepsi and 2 slices of "European ham" (the really salty and fatty stuff that I NEVER EAT) I was ready to rock and roll!!

Looking at my watch I knew I had 1 hr and 55 minutes to climb Alpe D'Huez and make "gold-standard" time, which amazed me! I had never suspected or done the math until now to see where I was at time-wise since my primary goal was to finish (and I still wasn't certain of that either!) Knowing that anything was possible in the final strech of any long distance event, I decided to hurry up and move my tush in the forward direction...out of the aid station and onto the road.

My legs screamed at me when I got back onto my bike, and I knew it would be the LONGEST 13 km of my life on a bike, and I started to cry. I biked the short stretch which passed by the campgrounds at the base of Alpe D'Huez with all the fantastic specators and families cheering and I cried some more. Deep down inside, I knew that I would finish permitting nothing out of my control or medical-related stuff happens (it has happened to me before, I never count it out) it was the knowledge of what awaited me; those 21 turns that would strip away every last layer, and every last ounce of why I "thought" I should do this and will leave me with "why" I did this...and that is for another blog post...

So, I entered the Alpe D'Huez climb anticipating the "hellish" start; 3 km at 12 % Surprisingly though, it was not too bad or perhaps I had lost my mind already??? Actually, I was going at a slow and steady pace and climbing modestly. It was all that I had...

Turns 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, and 16 passed...finally arriving at 15 the climb levels out to a "relatively" easy 8% for 5 more turns. The sun was glaring down and I was burning up. The Pepsi was coming back to haunt me with rancid burps and I was in complete misery, but strangely embracing it. Forcing down water, and focusing on my heart rate; I could feel my heart beating hard and my head was exploding with every beat. This is a strange phenomena that happens to me..when I am absolutely wasted, tired and spent, I cand do a hard, hard effort (frist 3 km of Alpe D'Huez), but my HR doesn't catch up until I have time to relax; so when we hit that 8% zone of the climb the semi-truck hit me head on! and I knew to expect it. The goal was to make it to turn 10 and then stop....no and, if's or but's! it was my plan and I was dead-set on it. So I kept evaluating how i felt, if I needed to slow down more, and I took my sweet time on the corners where you could spin and catch your breath.

Everywhere I looked there were "man-down" scenarios" at every turn on the climb at least 20 riders were resting and some were lying on the ground. It had gotten so hot and some riders so desperate that they sought refuge under the minute amount a shade the trees provided on the oncoming traffic side of the road. Along the climb there are breaks in the stone wall that flow with mountain water...as I was nearing turn 11 all I saw was at least 15 riders huddled in a circle and I wondered "what the heck are they doing?" Turns out all of them were splashing their heads with the cold water. I was in total awe, yet understanding of each and every one of these riders. We all started 8-9-10 hrs early with a common purpose and we were ALL suffering. It was silent empathy...

Finally, turn 10 and I could not unclip soon enough...I thought I was going to pass out. It took me a good 3 minutes to get my HR to come back down and I knew I needed to eat something. So as much as I hated it, I ate one of my "boiled" gels. Surrounding me were about 25 other riders, camped out for the moment...all of them male. I cannot put into words the commradery you feel at this point. Each and every one of those males knodded at me, and 10 of them encouraged me and told me to keep going. One of them held my bike as I got ready to conquere the remaining 10 turns. And then a push from the saddle; those guys would eventually make it to the top, but the fact that they helped me during a time that must have been just as hard for them as me will never leave my head. Chivalry is not dead!

Then as I started turn 10-9 (10-9-8) are some of the hardest in my opinion, the HR came back up faster than a rocket and so did the gel. So, some poor rider had to bike through my green "apple cinnamon" Hammer Gel. At least I knew nutrition was out of the question till the finish, so not to waste my time or energy on it. Water was still staying down, which was good.

When you get to turn 7 you can see the top of Alpe D'Huez, which always solidifies the finish for me. But, the question was "how long till the finish" In my mind I was moving backwards. I cannot really describe what was going through my head at this point other than focusing on keeping the legs pushing; it was all that was left.

Everything was a haze, and absolute haze to me until the last 3 turns. Maybe it was because I was focusing so much on not giving up, not stopping and blocking out the pain. But at turn 3, you see a HUGE red Marmotte logo (official Logo of the Marmotte) and I had to force a smile. All I could thing of is "I am doing a ride that is in honor of a fu*&ing prarie dog!" I am sure those around me must have thought I was nuts to be giggling at this point. But, the giggling stopped quickly as it used up valuable energy and oxygen. turn 2 and 1 passed and I was in the homestretch; just 1 km left to go once the tough part is over. When I crested the last big climb into the village and I saw the 1 km sign, I started to choke up..and tear up...and cry. I remember that last km so vividly; although it was probably the least beautiful and exciting part of the course. The finishing arch/balloon was pretty cool though...and thank GOD the final 25 meters were flat!

I came into the finishing chute with a new level of respect for the sport of cycling and a new level of respect for myself. This was an absolutely unbelievable and unforgetable experience. There is nothing that I can ever compare this ride to; it is not Ironman, although the difficulty level of it surpasses Ironman in my opinion.

I left the race site with a huge GOLD medal...and I am extremely happy and proud for that. But, more important to me are the memories and moments of self-discovery throughout this journey. It has been a long, long time since I have felt like this and I feel like I have rediscovered why I do/enjoy these events. I have been looking for this feeling/rememberance for a long time and I am going to hold on to it.

Chapter...I can't remember, but I am sure it is too much: Are we there yet??

The descent from Galibier to Lautaret is a little technical, but not the worst ever. No, there are no guard rails and no, traffic was NOT closed for this descent (it adds to the excitement!)

After bundling up at the top of Galibier and refilling my water bottles, I was set to go, but there was one thing missing...the desire to eat!! I had lost all motivation to eat and was feeling rather ill. So, I figured "I have carbo-pro in my bottles and it is a descent, so I will be fine till Bourg d'Oisans and then eat" As you can tell, I was totally, 100% coherent and thinking straight (with the altitude and effort, Galibier is like putting a few glasses of wine into me....not that you would have to force it:)

So down I went; 8 km to Col du Lautaret...however, at km 2, my tummy decided it was time to "go". Not sure if it was the nerves, the fatigue or stress of descending 12% hairpins in a raging thunderstorm. Regardless, I was really hammering those last 6 km to get to a toilet. Lets just say that it was the quickest bike-to-run-to-toilet transition I ever had. The biggest struggle was finding my 20 euro cents in my back pocket to get into the washroom (yes, they make you pay in Europe). With my business taken care of I hopped back on my bike and even bypassed the Nougat roadside stand/store to get back on the road; I was ready for this ride to be over!

After Lautaret, the descent is pretty wide-open; there are steep parts, flat parts that you need to pedal on, and even some hills. Mostly though, it was long...it seemed to go on forever!! The biggest concern about this descent is not how technical or steep it is, but the wind, and today, it was autrocious!! Thankfully, there were a number of packs that had formed that you could hop onto that would block some of the wind. About 1/3 of the way down, it had warmed up and I was boiling in my jacket. So I made the wise decision to abandon my "pack" and pull over to reomove my gear; and then hopped onto the next "pack" that came along.

Then you hit the tunnels. The tunnels are the most surreal things ever, especially when you are riding with a bunch of other cyclists. You REALLY need to pay attention. Going from daylight into a tunnel with sunglasses on puts the tune "I wear my sun glasses at night" into my head. I am grooving to my own tunes, when, bam!! all of a sudden you hear a bunch of yelling!

"ARRET, STOP, HALT, THE WORD STOP IN OTHER LANGUAGES!" and at the same time brakes locking up, screetching... Thankfully, my "paranoid descending" comes in handy at these times and had no problem stopping. Turns out there had been a huge accident at the end of the tunnel "car vs. bike" and you can imagine who won. We were all held up by the police and medics until they could clear the poor guy. Definitely shook me up.

Then if seeing the bloody mess wasn't bad enough, right out of the tunnel is a steep incline (I think the guy tried to shift and swerved into oncoming traffic or had a mechanical that caused him to cross the middle line). I was in NO mood to have my legs climb a hill after 45 minutes of descent..even if it was a LITTLE one. But, it's not like I can change that, can I? so I start pedaling up the base of the hill in the big ring and try to shift to my small and "CLANK, CLANK, CLANK" DAMMIT!! I had dropped the chain. No big deal, just get off the bike and put the chaing back on, right?? well, yes, but when you are tired, cranky and low on sugar it is the WORST thing ever...or at least it seemed though at the time. So I cursed, and cursed and cursed as I put the chain back on and climbed the hill. All the guys around me must have thought that I was not being to "Lady Like" LOL But, because I am so smart about my nutrition and when I am bonking (NOT...poor Gregory gets bitched at a lot when I am hungry but refuse to acknowledge it) I decided to eat another chocolate bar...or at least have a bite before descending again. that surely was enough to fuel me to the end of the descent, I was SURE of it (yes, I was delusional)

The rest of the descent was pretty uneventful; there was one more 3 km section of climbing, a steep descent, more wind, extreme heat, and more hunger....lovely!

So when we finally entered the last 5 km stretch to Bourg D'Oisans I was extremely happy! This is a strech of road I do on the days when I have a "flattish" ride, and it is also very windy. Maybe it was my eagerness to stop and eat or the relief that all the descents were over, but I was cruising...along with 20 other men sucking my wheels. I mean, c'mon, at least one guy had to be faster than me?? No one decided to take a pull, so I threw snot rockets. Another lady-like move, I know! So, I pulled the guys in to the aid stop and fell off my bike when I unclipped, not a good sign....

So, before I continue, with the final and last chapter of this "journey" I have to explain the title of this one. With about 15 minutes left to go in descent, there is a big sign put up by the race-organizers indicating that there is 20 km left to go to the finish. But, the sign makes it sound so easy....it would be like the kids in the back of the car asking "are we there yet" and you would say, yes, in 10 minutes!! Not this 20km!! I had to laugh and cry at the same time, because I knew what lay ahead. You see, although I covered 7 of those 20 km in 15 minutes, it would take me 1 hr and 25 minutes to cover the final 13...

Welcome to Hell kid!

Chapter 5: God Is That You??

Galibier is a very decieving climb...it is relatively "easy" until the final 8 km. Those of you who have read my previous blog entries have heard me refer to the last 8 km as the "WOW" of the climb. These final 8 km are what breaks you, mentally, physically and emotionally.

Leaving Valloire I knew that there would be no room for self-doubts or weakness, I would take the "monster" head on. During the climb to Telegraph, I was riding with a few Spaniards and through jumbled English and Spanish, we all agreed to call Galibier the "MONSTER" Low and behold, through my two pit stops and their stops, I ended up tailing the same Spanish men during the Galibier climb; I guess you could say I "latched on" and I think they were happy to have someone with them who would still try and talk and smile (although it was getting few and far between).

During the "easy" part of the climb (that sounds SO wrong) I watched the storm brewing, hoping, and praying that it was not really in our direct path. Sometimes the storms/clouds can be decieving and actually be over another mountain. Unfortunately, the farther I climbed the more sure I was that we were headed directly into a storm. Knowing that it would most likely get nasty, I reached back to make sure I hadn't lost my wind jacket and gloves; I also started loading up on nutrition as we were going to start the sharp 8 km ascent to the top and in between the effort and altitude it is hard to keep things down. It was already a struggle to keep my Carbo Pro and gels down...hmmm, not a good sign.

It was like I was in the tour....we were approaching the dreaded 180 degree turn which marks the " WOW" portion and you can see the first 2 km of the hellish climb that awaits you..although this time around it is a lot more apparant with the line of cyclists egding up the cliff. Mr. Spanish #1 looked back at me and grinned, you can tell he was a regular of this sort of climbing; his friend, Mr Spanish #2 was doing just about as good as me and we both looked at each other and grimaced. Like Lance, Mr Spanish #1 took off...for the time being....

Mr Spanish #2 and I took the turn with care and ease as we both knew this would be the last chance of any sort of rest or "catching our breath" before the top. And so up we went...and as if it was part of a script, we headed up at 9% incline looking directly into black thunderclouds (honestly, we were the height of the clouds, it was out of this world!) and this HUGE CLAP OF THUNDER rumbled...the road shook and I just about crapped my pants. The wind was whipping in our faces and all I could question is "GOD, is that you? because I am sooo scared, but in such awe of what is going on around me" The experience was surreal! Every corner we turned and went up, the closer we got to the black clouds and the thunder would shake us and the roads...I was waiting for the downpour...or the strike of lightening to hit my aluminum frame.

km 8 passed, then km 7...then km 6 and all we got was extreme wind, a few pellets of rain and ground shaking thunder. But just like an Oasis in a dessert, as you weave your way around the first side of the mountain onto the back side you see the break in the clouds and that it is sunny on the other side of Galibier. Sooo..if I make it over the top, there will be a little reprieve. And just as I had that thought, a huge gust of wind passed by and almost knocked me off my bike and all I could think was: "I know GOD, I should not count my chickens before they hatch, but could you please cut me some slack?? I am tired, I have bad gas, my belly hurts, I don't want any more gels, it is my ANNIVERSARY ! and I know I do stupid things like these bike rides and Ironmans, but please, please, can we get through this without any life altering events, trips to the ER or drama??....I promise not to ask you for anything like this until Ironman Wisconsin..promise!!"...well, God must have been listening because although the wind, thunder and crap your pants ligthening continued, the skies did not open up on me.

I continued trudging up Galibier at a snails pace with Mr Spanish #2, both of us in our own worlds, pushing our bikes pedal stroke by pedal stroke. I must admit, and I try not to do this, but I took other people's weakness as my strength. When my feet were killing me and I was ready to stop, I looked at those lying on the side of the road, stopped, streching cramps and downright done; I told myself "c'mon, you are not at that point yet, you can do this..don't stop, don't stop!" And at that moment I looked up and Mr Spanish#2 must have done so as well, because there was his buddy dying a long slow death after his first surge up the climb. So we caught up to Mr Spanish #1 and would not let him drop. Little was said at this point because it was just too hard to speak and pedal.

These final km to the summit were not too interesting..it was sooo quiet, just breathing and wind....

Then at 2 km to go, you have a clear view of the top, and although I had seen it before all I could think was "HOLY S*&T" that is a lot of vertical distance to cover in 2 km...but, I knew that I could not stop, give up or give it any less than I had because that is not me; this was a real self-discovery part of the ride for me. Over the past year I have been struggling with a lot of self-trust issues and "fear" due to many events that have happened during my racing and training. Today, I was brought back to the roots of why I do these events, because it is not always about how fast you are or what expensive bike/equipment you own, it is what gets you from point A to B when you stip everything away, when it is just you, your heart and your desire....an MY desire was HUGE today.

So going into those 2 km I focused on every minute, every pedal stroke, every breath...and every bit CLOSER I was to the summit. At one km left to go Mr Spanish #2 pulled ahead and I kept focus on his wheel, but he was going faster, so I let him go. But before doing so, he looked back at me; not Lance style, but an empathetic look and he spoke somthing I did not understand in Spanish, but I am sure it was along the lines of "keep going, you will make it"

And with that I was on my own (I never saw Mr Spanish again)...with the snow piles edging by me as I plugged along. I looked down when I was 500 meters from the top and I was in absolute awe. All you could see for miles down the mountain was a stream of cyclists riding into a raging thunderstorm. Then it was 400 meters, 300 meters, 200 meters...100 meters...then the BEEP of the chip crossing the timing mat. I have made it to the summit of Galibier.

All I could do was pull over, wheezing and fighting back the "sick" that was creeping up the back of my throat. It was then that I realized that this was just more than a bike ride, this was epic in all proportions, this was the Ironman of the cycling world.

And now, I had to keep my shit together for an hour of descending....and that is when I asked God again "Please keep me safe today"....

Chapter 4: Col du Telegraphe

After my water break, it was a quick 500 meters through the village, a sharp right hand turn and then back up into the mountains

So a great trick to make the "journey" seem not so long is to combine Col du Telegraphe and Galibier as one....I like to think of it as the "grand-slam", "go all the way, or go home". So, heading back up into the mountains, I just kept the 34 km notion in my mind, with a stop in the middle to refuel.

To be honest, Col du Telegraphe is not that hard and actually an enjoyable climb; it is what I like to call the "warm-up" for what awaits. There are only a few parts that go above 8% and it averages around 6.5-7%; it is definitely a treat in comparison to Glandon. But damn! it was hot! It was the middle of the day and the "forest" that usually makes this climb beautiful with the shade and odd rays of sunshine bursting through the trees was nowhere to be found. We had direct sunlight. I tasted the salt of my sweat and my head throbbed! I took extra salt tablets for fear of a Nice/hyponautremia reoccurance. And throughout this, all I kept telling myself is "don't push, just keep it nice and easy...if you push, it will all be over before you hit the top". Then my feet started to hurt; dammit! not one day, minute, or second over the last 3 weeks of training have me feet hurt! What the heck is going on...I was pissed so I decided the best thing was to deliberately ignore it "Take that feet! I do not want to feel you anymore! I am on strike from my feet! Go away"...it worked for a 5 nanoseconds. It's not you could clip out one foot and shake it out; actually, I tried but almost fell over, trying this on a climb is not a good idea. Sooner or later...as many of you know who do endurance events, these aches and pains become normal and they soon become a dull noise in the background...

I climbed around another switchback around halfway up Telegraphe and I didn't know whether to smile or crap my shorts. I saw the dark clouds bubbling up in the sky; they were menacing and dangerous looking. Good news is this meant the sun would soon go away; bad news is that I was riding an aluminum bike and did not want to get electrocuted in a thunderstorm. I knew that if this was any other environment/setting that I didn't need to worry; perhaps 2-3 hours before this storm passed overhead...I would be long gone and out of harms way. Not in the mountains. The mountains are treacherous when it comes to weather. Rule of thumb: always, always, ALWAYS check the forecast before you head out for a ride/run; otherwise you might end up not coming home....I think I recalled seeing thunderstorms in today's forcast.

After spending almost a month in the Alpes I have seen enough bad weather to scare the daylights out of me. The storms move light freight trains, and by the time they appear, it is too late to get out of the way. So, knowing that I would most likely encounter some "nasty weather" I double checked I had my rain jacket and gloves and tried to think happy thoughts.

Telegraphe arrived in a flash and I realized I was a bit behind on my hydration, so rather than stopping at the summit, I decided to chug my current bottle of water/Carbo Pro and descend a few km to Valloire and stop there. From what I recall, one of the biggest aid stations was supposed to be there. So down the mountain I go and I enter the village of Valloire and am directed into a timing chute for the chip to record my time. However, everyone keeps going and olny a handful of folks are stopped. I was thinking "this is not the aid station I imagined". First, the food was in the form of a "Sandwich Stand" 5 Euros for ham and bread. The water was coming from a fountain (one of those decoration fountains where the marble angel statue is peeing) which 50 riders and their best friends were trying to fill up their bottles. I got tired of waiting to fill up my bottle and wandered to the grocery store across the street and bought a bottle of water and a chocolate bar (Mars bars are awesome in Europe...absolute HEAVEN). At this point in time my stomach was in total revolt so I didn't give a rats ass about what I was eating anymore, just as long as it tasted good. After my pit stop it was off to start the climb to Galibier...

So through the town of Valloire I went, bracing for the initial km of the climb which is pretty knarly....That first little effort up the hill let me know that chugging the last bottle of Carbo-Pro and Mars bar was not such a good idea; I was about ready to pull a "squat in the bush" when low and behold the infamous Valloire aid station appeared in the near distance. It was like an Oasis in the middle of the desert...and I found my treasure, a real BATHROOM! yes, a real, honest to goodness bathroom. Not a blue plastic dome that smells bad, but a public bathroom that had been cleaned within the past week, what a treat! So I went about my business (Thank GOD!) and was ready to head on my way when I took a moment to look around me. Because I had already stopped for food/drink I didn't bother with any of it at this stop...and I was glad; this aid stop was like feeding a famine! hundreds of riders lined up for bowls of soup and sanwiches (kind of like a soup kitchen) and the volunteers were dishing it out as fast as they could. Kudo's to the volunteers!

You could definitely tell at this point that the ride was beginning to take it's toll. The medical tent was full at the valloire stop and every direction you looked there were riders streching, working out cramps, eating and lookind pretty tuckered. I tried to keep my head focused on the goal and not get the local carnage get to me...but, truth be told, I was getting tired. There were 17 km's left untill the top of Galibier and a storm was a brewing.....