Oxygen Please!!

I wonder why the altitude thing “creeps” up upon you?? When I travelled to Austin, within 0.01 seconds of reaching the TX border I could take a deep “breath” of oxygen. It was the best feeling ever; my biggest complaint during the ½ marathon race is that it didn’t “hurt enough”..in other words, my legs were not prepared to move as fast as I wanted because I had never trained them that way, but I had trained my lungs/tolerance to hurt a whole hell of a lot more than I did during the race. It was the battle of endurance vs. speed at sea level…

So now I am back at altitude; I must admit, it is not as bad as I expected, but it creeps up on you. Wednesday I felt on top of the world, Thursday was a little tough, Friday I wheezed during swim practice, and today…well, I almost passed out while “spinning” as a warmup for some “interval” work on the bike. Thank goodness for the ladies I have a wonderful opportunity to train with that pull me through days like today!

When I got back to Boulder, the first thing on the agenda was to meet with Wolfgang to figure out the “next steps” leading up to Oceanside. Sooooo, one of the first things out of his mouth was “What happened?” regarding my race…..I gave him the briefing and we agreed that I was way below my capable performance, but then focused on the “next steps” One thing I love about Wolfgang is there is no dwelling, just steps in the forward direction; and that is exactly what we did.

To put it mildly, I am in store for a whole hell of a lot of hurt for the next 3 weeks; it will include a lot of intervals and intensity. Honestly, I am the biggest slacker when it comes to “intense workouts.” Maybe it is because I used to run track and I do not want to revisit that sort of “pain” again, but it is necessary. So, I am recruiting my “speedy” friends and hoping they will help me to “toughen up” and pull me through this hard but necessary 3 week training block.

Wolfgang knew that I was getting a little burnt out, but gave me the “candy” to keep me going….a 2 week taper for Oceanside!! I only have to tough it out 3 more weeks, before I get a “break.” It is sad that I feel like I need a break when it seems like it is only the beginning of the season, but there has been a lot of up and downs in my program. I started my 2009 training season in December 2008 with goals of using Oceanside as a test race for Ironman Nice, France. Then I had Visa Issues, so now Oceanside has become an “A” race to help me qualify for Kona or Lake Placid…so, there is a lot at stake, some training changes and a lot of early season physical demands. That being said, I have balance, I have work, a husband, family, friends….and I keep everything in perspective:)

This afternoon, after my workout…after my husband did a crapload of work and worked out!! We had a 2 hour nap!! Yes, I am spoiled…who gets to enjoy a day like I do?? I work a lot, enjoy my work, have flexibility with my work which allows me to train, relax, enjoy a coffee shop etc… I really do live a great life! I also have a husband who supports me 150%!! In whatever I do. He also will not let me settle for less than what I am worth/can do…this can be a bitch sometimes, but makes me a better person. I have changed careers, made huge improvements in my physical/triathlon capability, and become a stronger person because Gregory won’t let me settle for anything less.

Gregory is the one who plants 2 feet into my back in the morning to push me out of bed to go to swim practice. Gregory is the one who sends me encouraging emails, “to do” lists, contact information, meeting information etc… Gregory cooks me fantastic meals when I am content to settle with sliced meat and cheese for dinner. Gregory makes me a better person!! I am sooo thankful!!

Austin Recap!

Well, so much for my trip “updates”…Gregory and I returned to Boulder today, so I am writing a “big” update.

What a wonderful 2 weeks!! It was so awesome to have the chance to visit some of our best friends and enjoy the warm weather down in Texas. However, I know that Boulder gave TX a run for its money. Apparently it has been a stellar 2 weeks up here too….I swear when Gregory and I got back today, we felt like it was summer!!

As for my update, I will start off from where I last left off…the ½ marathon. Well, a cool front had blown in on Saturday, so the temperatures were not stellar over the weekend nor on Monday (I mean by TX standards…it still was between 55-60 degrees!). On Monday, Gregory and I met up with Mitch at Barton Springs for a short swim and breakfast before Mitch had to head home to Houston. Barton Springs is an amazing spring fed body of water that you can swim in!! for free! However, it is a bit on the cooler side. The air was breezy and cool, so I figured getting into water 65-68 degrees would be no big deal…I was wrong! Mitch lasted about 30 minutes before deciding he was an ice-cube and since I was a little late getting into the water-, it took me 10 minutes to get the guts to submerge myself, I swam a bit extra, but not much!! We ended off the morning at the SUPER WHOLE FOODS! That place is amazing! Gregory and I would be broke if we lived in Austin for that simple reason!

…the Whole Foods has a dessert bar!

Tuesday was my “planned” long-ride day. I woke up to rain and fog, I started biking in rain and fog, I lasted 4 hours in rain and fog before deciding I was a friggin lunatic! As much as I love Austin, it’s riding terrain and nice people, it will always be hard to get used to the “zooming cars” go by you as the routes are mostly highways. I figured 4 hours riding in the cold rain would sum up to a 5 hour ride (I am so used to making excuses for myself:)

On Wednesday, Gregory decided to go for a ride with me. It was really nice!! However, I think that he decided it was not so nice after an hour when he got a flat tire….then another…and then I had to time-trial back to our place and then pick him up. The bikes went into Jack and Adams for a “tune-up” after that experience. BTW, Jack and Adams is a phenomenal bike shop! I cannot say enough good things about them, so if you are in the Austin area, or will be soon, make sure to check them out!

On recommendation, I checked out a pool in the South Side of Austin, called Stacy Pool. It is 33 yrds in length, outdoor and pristine! The lifeguards are younger in age, but very helpful, polite and just nice people! I went too late in the day on Wednesday to get a solid swim in with all the kiddo’s enjoying the pool and sun so I decided to do some technique and then take advantage of the pool over the next few mornings.

Thursday started out with a swim at Stacey pool and then I picked up my bike from J&A’s. I ventured out into hill country for a 3 hour “hilly” ride…nothing is flat is Austin, and I love it!! The weather was beautiful! And although it was very windy, it was a consistent wind, which made me much more comfortable riding than in Boulder when the winds are “gusting” and you never know if you will be eating ashphalt:)

Friday was supposed to be the “big” day…a swim followed by a 6hour ride. Well, I made the swim, and I did “most” of the bike….It is amazing how we take our bodies for granted and how we figure that “I did that last season” so it shouldn’t be hard right now…wrong!! I made it just under 5 hours with ~6000 ft of climbs…I was TOAST!! Absolutely fried! But very pleased with the amount that I got to see and the quality riding I got in.

I seem to be dwelling on the “workouts” throughout the week, but there was much, much more going on…First and foremost is work; I finished up most of my project with UC Davis and started some new branding projects. Gregory and I also spent some good quality time with Jeff (our awesome host!) that included good meals and good wine! Our last night in Austin we went out for dinner with Jeff and Jen to an awesome steak and seafood place; the food was excellent!! The night was capped off with champagne and watching the final stage of the Tour of California on the big screen TV.

Saturday we headed to our friends in Dallas to spend the weekend. Emmanuel made a FEAST for us and a few other friends which consisted of a bunch of appetizers (my favorite was the shrimps!), a double whammy of salads; the first was asparagus with goat cheese, second an arugula and endive salad. The main dish was a veal and ham stew. Finally the meal was completed with crepes….so French!! And yes, if you are wondering, yes, I am spoiled.

Oh, did I forget to mention there was wine with this meal too??:)

Sunday it was back to business with a long run around White Rock Lake followed by an afternoon of work. The day was capped off with Gregory’s and my last Tex-Mex dinner…so sad….

Monday we hit the road back to Boulder. We made it to Hay’s Kansas before calling it a day…..I wanted to keep going to CO, but I think Gregory would have gone cookoo. To be honest, the sign’s on the side of the roads dictating “abortion is sin” and “Jesus rules all” is kind of creepy. For some reason, billboard signs promoting “religion” does not seem too religious to me…but each to their own, who am I to judge??

We did find an awesome hotel with 2, yes 2, treadmills..both in functioning order!! So this morning I was up to do “intervals” on the tready (I had to take advantage of the low-altitude for my intervals:) It was great! If only I could run like that in Boulder:)

5 hours later we arrived in Boulder (+ a Costco trip) got unpacked and now I am trying to write an update blog. I know I left soooo much out, but as I free up some time and reflect upon the trip I am sure there will be much, much more to write!

Austin 1/2 Marathon: Not good, not bad

Somedays you have it and somedays you don’t. Today I had it for 8 miles, and then I didn’t.

First and foremost, this is a great race with live bands along the course and a “few” hills. The course is always challenging with virtually no flat; and that guarantees you never get bored. Volunteers were extremely organized and as always, the key to the race. Thanks!!

So, I had high ambitions for myself today and decided to risk it and line up with the 3:00 hr marathon pace group so I could run a 1:30 ½ marathon. I knew it was a realistic goal as my training has been going well and I was down from altitude. So the gun goes off and we start climbing!! The first 3 miles of the course are up, up and more up…and I found myself keeping the pace group in sight, but not catching up to them. I knew then that 1:31-1:32 was realistic with my splits and I was feeling really good. The legs were turning over well and I could breath!
We then started a long downhill portion of the course which really gave the legs a chance to turnover quickly (something they don’t get to do much with my training program unless I am on the bike). Before long we were at mile 6 and I was deciding if I should “take it to the next level” and make it really hurt and see if I could bring the time back down to 1:30; and I took that risk. I figured ~10km to go, I can do that, and I can put up with the pain for that long. Things went well until mile 8 and then the legs decided they had enough of this “fast” stuff.

Try as I might, I pushed, but my legs didn’t go. I didn’t bonk because I was still moving at a fair clip; I didn’t feel like I was dying, I just couldn’t make my legs move “that fast”. The rolling hills started and I took them on with all my might, but my typical “pace” plagued me. At mile 10 the course branches off and the marathoners head into 16 miles of more hills and the ½ marathoners head back into the city. The thought of continuing on to the marathon did cross my mind; I was feeling confident I could PR with the way I was running, my endurance base, and the fact that I was not getting any faster on the ½ course…so why not add another 13 miles?? Simple, I don’t want a divorce and to have to face the wrath of Wolfgang.

So, I did my best to get these darn legs of mine to turn over for the final 3 miles (brutal uphills!)….it didn’t work and I ended up crossing the line just under 1 hr and 36 minutes. Not exactly what I had hoped for, but I learned a lot about my fitness level and where I need to improve.

I am happy about my “base” at the moment and am becoming more confident every week of training that I will have a successful Ironman race this year (if I get into one!!). I am realistic about Oceanside; my training is not geared towards speed right now, I think I can have a good race there, but if I want to “run” with the “big” girls, I need to do more intensity. Today was not about bonking or not being “ready” it was about not having the “speed” for 13 miles.

Finally, when I was running today, I had to think of the ladies I usually run with on Sunday! Miss y’all!! Hope you all had a great run too!

Now I begin my “hell week” of biking. I am really looking forward to getting some miles in my legs. I am also going to pay “Barton Springs” a visit to get some swimming in.

Austin is such a fun city! And the Whole Foods is from another planet! I could spend all day in that store.

OK, I am fixin to go get some eats with the hubby, Cheers!!

The great journey!

It all started after a refreshing swim on Tuesday morning…not!! Realistically, I needed to get a swim in so that I would not forget to swim over our 2 day journey down to Texas:)

10.5 hours of fun in the truck with Gregory, our bikes and my “dog” (a stuffed toy, that I “make-believe” is real because I cannot have one….) First two hours were great!! Driving south, a beautiful view of the mountains to the West…it was a nice start…until our immigration lawyer called…

Long story short, we spent a bit of time in Trinidad to print, sign and fax some last minute documents to the lawyer in Denver as my visa was about to expire in about..umm, 12 hours:) Disaster was averted and we crossed the New Mexico border.

New Mexico has some beautiful terrain; it was really nice to drive through, and then we hit Texas…

I must say, Gregory did pretty well; he had healthy buckwheat waffles for breakfast, a ham sandwich and apple for lunch and then we crossed the border….

Dairy Queen, hot dogs, and chocolate bars almost capped of the day….we did however finish off with the Olive Garden with some healthy choices.

We made it to Lubbock to have a good night sleep and then it was off again!! This was after I managed a short treadmill run while watching “Alien vs. Predator”..nothing will beat that experience! What a trip!

Tuesday was a much shorter day on the road (7 hrs…and that was with me driving with the lead foot:) We finally arrived!! It was such a relief! I cannot sit still and I think I spent more energy staying occupied in a vehicle for 2 days vs. completing an Ironman:)

So, not to rub it in or anything, the weather is awesome!! Thursday I arrived to the swimming pool (outside) in shorts and a t-shirt at 7 am!! Then managed a bike ride in shorts and a short sleeved jersey!! Oh, and I can breathe…altitude sucks (in a good way)!

Yesterday my good training buddy from Houston arrived. He is amazing!! Less than ½ a year ago he almost lost his life taking on a semi with his Cervelo!! Needless to say, the semi-truck won the battle, but Mitch faired/recovered amazing…what a miracle!! We had our first ride together since last summer today. It was a lot of fun! I miss riding with Mitch, he always keeps a smile on my face… I can’t wait for him to come back to Boulder this summer.

So, tomorrow, I have a “rest/easy” day before I try to ‘hammer’ a ½ marathon on Sunday. I also have friends with big expectations regarding my “pre-race” run ritual…more of that to come....

Cheers!!

Austin Bound and 25 things!

Tomorrow is the big day!! 10 hrs in the car with Gregory....

Actually, I am really looking forward to it. Especially our "planned" overnight stay in "lovely Lubbock." I was thinking I could go out for a short run on Weds. morning before we headed down to Austin, but then I remembered....it is Texas; it is Lubbock...last time Iwas there (Buffalo Springs Triathlon 2 yrs agao) I tripped on the sidewalk while going for an "easy" run, skinned my knees so bad that I looked like a scene from a horror movie and then a bunch of guys in a pickup tried to run me over, honking there horns and thinking this is the "highlight of their week". Hmmmm, I think I might stick t the treadmill:)

Ok, ok, enough of my bitching and moaning:) I am really excited to see our friends in Austin this weekend and take a break from the usual "grind." Two weeks with warm weather and good company! Nothing could be better.

I have promised many to update and post lots of pictures of the adventures of "GREGORY AND ERIN"..so stay tuned.

Until then, I have been harrassed via email and Facebook to do the "25 things" thing..so here it is:

1. I am Canadian, eh!

2. I ran track and field/x-country throughout high school and my first year of college (then I decided drinking and eating cookie dough was more fun..) And yes, I did wear shorts in sub-zero temperatures; I am so weak now!

3. I have a PhD in physical Organic Chemistry

4. My career is website design/branding (how did that happen??)

5. I spent a year in Houston at a big chemical company after I received my doctorate
degree…I almost went crazy with Houston and the job so I quit and moved back to Boulder with Gregory.

6. Gregory helped me to learn a few things about computers…after a few months and a lot of books I am well on my way to website design/branding and love it!!

7. My husband and I had our first date over a 125 mile bike ride

8. My husband is French

9. My husband is “real” French, not “Quebec” French

10. I cannot speak French

11. We have a house in the French Alpes a few km away from the base of Alpe d’ Huez and you can ride Col de le Croix Fer from our back yard.

12. I did the Alpe d’Huez triathlon last year…it kicked my ass!

13. I love to bake

14. I love red wine and gin (not together:)

15. I am a triathlete, but I really can’t swim:)

16. I have really bad luck when it comes to carbon fiber bikes

17. I bought Wolfgang’s bike, which is not carbon fiber, but has the red bull label on it (sweet!)

18. Wolfgang is my coach and is AMAZING! His programs work for me…I consider myself very fortunate to have such a resource (and nice man!) to help me out

19. I want a dog, so as long as we cannot have one, I keep bringing home stuffed animal dogs and telling my husband they are “real”

20. I sleepwalk..and have conversations in my sleep

21. I am not afraid to embarrass myself

22. I am a HUGE clutz!! I always run into things…Gregory consider it the highlight of his day!

23. I have no sense of spelling/grammar

24. I am always early to anything…even when I try to be fashionably “late” to an event I am the first to show up!

25. I believe in “building your life.” If you want things to happen in your life, you need to reach and make an effort to obtain whatever it is you desire. Nothing comes without hard work...and nothing comes it you make “excuses.”

Austin Bound!

In less than a week, Gregory and I leave for Austin. We are both running the ½ marathon and then staying with our good friends for 2 weeks. I am going to try and repeat my post-race martini ritual with my proud supporters. Two years ago, I ran the Austin marathon, and our trip to Austin included my first meeting with one of Gregory’s best men for our wedding. Long story short…what is one to do first time away from Houston on the day before a marathon? Get S%&*faced drunk with one of the best men for your wedding with you future husband watching every step (or drink!:)

I dragged my hungover ass out of bed to run the marathon, managed to qualify for Boston, then went to eat French Fries and have one final cocktail before heading back to Houston. It was a great weekend!

Now, to make this trip even more interesting, let’s get two of the “best men” from our wedding in Austin at the same time I am running a race…folks it will not be pretty. I can’t wait!! Emmanuel and Tara from Dallas are driving to meet “the crew” in Austin for a weekend of fun.
I am also looking forward to the warm weather, the huge Whole Foods and lots of time to ride my bike!! The whole purpose of the long stay is so that I can get some miles in my legs before Oceanside (let’s face it, these CA chicks will kick my butt otherwise!) so I plan on making the most of it.

On Monday, Wolfgang came over to help change out my headset, brakes, derailleur etc…with my old Kuota components. The new fit is awesome!! It is just like the old kuota (minus the fear of cracking carbon:)With my long legs, I have a cycling advantage and the new fit gives me maximum torque in my pedal stroke…today I felt like I was flying on the bike. I am looking forward to many more miles on the road.

Nutrition wise, things have been going well. I am now on a diet that cuts gluten and fruit sugars (to an extent depending on training); the first week was hard, but now I am getting used to it. I never realized how much processed stuff I put into your body until now. This is definitely a change for the better! Megan (my nutritionist) and I are still working on “getting enough” calories, but the good news is that we are finding foods that work, and tastes good!

Finally, I must say I like Thursdays!! Today is the only day I do not have a morning workout so I don’t have to get my but out of bed at the crack of dawn. So, I slept in with Gregory and we went to get coffee/breakfast before starting the day. Some people may say that “you work together..don’t you see enough of each other?” and the answer is no! Most of the time when we are working, we are either on calls with clients or deeply engrossed in work; we may work in the same office less than a meter away, but that is not time for “us,” it is 100% time for the client. Our days don’t end at 5 pm either; our days can go until midnight depending on the workload. Otherwise, Gregory will go to the gym during the evening while I finish up work and we have a late dinner. We try to have our meals together which may end up being at 8:30 pm depending on the day, but we make the effort. I think this is why it works for us, we both understand each other, our needs and wants, which dictate the schedule…the fact that we both want to support each other makes it easy to compromise. I am very fortunate to have a husband that supports me 100% and I love sleeping in on Thursdays with him!!