140.6

i am starting a list. 140.6 things to know about training for your first ironman. i should have asked for this list from someone BEFORE signing up for ironman... but live and learn! it is not complete today but i still have 67 more days to figure it out.

1. training for ironman creates a lot of laundry. mostly lycra/spandex.

2. there will be no more time to do laundry. or any regular chores for that matter.

3.training for ironman requires multiple granny naps throughout the week.

4. granny naps require time. you should factor that into your schedule.

5. you will be hungry. all of the time.

6. being hungry means you need to buy more food for the week.

7. long bike rides will take half or all of your day on the weekend.

8. waking up at 5am will be required 7x per week if you work a full time job.

9. tan lines will mostly result in a 'farmers tan' or 'raccoon eyes'

10. speed becomes irrelevant when you think about how long you have been running.

11. going into stores in your bike kit no longer phases you.

12. all of your 'free time' will be spent either swimming, biking or running

12.5 or sleeping and eating

13. be prepared to explain and re-explain to people what ironman means

14. be prepared to explain why you would choose to sign up for such a thing

15. enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when you finish a long workout

16. load the ipod shuffle ahead of time before your workout.

17. make sure the garmin is charged before your workout.

18. allow time in your schedule to remember to do little tasks of charging and organizing watches, phones, ipods, etc.

19. finding clean socks may be a challenge.

20. don't blame the dog when she has the socks- you've been gone all morning on your bike

21. even though you are tired you still need to be nice

22. do not hesitate to have a cup of coffee mid-day

23. enjoy the company when you have it but realize ironman must be done on your own

24. enjoy the solitude of a solo workout

25. be grateful that you are capable of doing such an event.

26. be aware that your facebook status may result in all 'training/workout' posts

27. you will most likely blog about your experience so others can read it with or without actually having to do it

28. the guys at the bike shop are your new best friends

29. attitude determines how successful you will be at completing an ironman

30. hard work is the only way to prepare for race day

to be continued...

to your health,

C

when you least expect it...

the past 3 weeks i have done 3 incredible bike rides. all 3 of them being my long rides.

the first being a ride from solana beach with a goal of making it to temecula in 4 hours. i made it to fallbrook- the hilly route i chose slowed down the expected pace. the second ride was in santa barbara last weekend. we did over 3,000 feet of climbing in a mere 4.5 hours although i do not think the hills really started until 2 hours into the ride! and yesterday was my longest ride ever done in the books of 6 hours 18 min and 104 miles! i did make it to temecula finally and back home!

all said and done there are a lot of things i expect when i head out for a long ride. i expect it to be foggy and cold at first. i expect the hills to make my quads burn. i expect to feel truly grateful that i am capable of even saying i am about to go out for a 4+ hour ride. i expect to hopefully meet up with friends or enjoy the solitude of riding alone. all of things are what i am ready for as i leave the front door.

what i am starting to learn are that the things least expected are what truly make my ride worth every minute.

on my solo 4 hour adventure to temecula i did not expect to enjoy the challenge of a new route. i did not expect to do one of the hardest descents i have ever done. i did not expect the view of climbing into lake wolford at 7:30am to see the steam from the warm lake water to being rising up with the sun. i did not expect to be so relieved to see justin when i was only in fallbrook because the thought of any more climbing seemed unbearable.

in santa barbara i did not expect to ride along a ridge line of a mountain. i did not expect to be able to see all of ventura, santa barbara and goleta at the same time. i did not expect my legs to handle the amount of climbing that we did. i did not expect that i'd make a new riding friend so now i have someone else to call when i visit.

yesterday was the least expected thing i have ever experienced. i went out riding with a few friends and i did not expect to leave them to continue on with the other half of the group to temecula. i did not expect to drop part of the group up the climbs. i did not expect to ride with a complete stranger for 3 plus hours. its crazy to think that i came home and felt like i had the best time riding with someone i had just met on the ride. i did not expect a rider of that caliber and talent to make sure i pedaled all the way home. i did not expect to laugh so much yesterday at all of the jokes. most of all i did not expect to feel that humbled by the company i was riding with- all very cool and very fun!

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau

to your health,

C

bumpin raw 'beets'

most greens in my vegetable garden start, like the swiss chard below, out green and pretty! then they get combined with Vega protein powder (hemp, pea protein), blueberries and almond milk. they turn into this:

yes- that is a glass from a triathlon finish. clearly wedding registry will do me and my dishes some good!

this was the ONE and ONLY beet from my 'winter' garden:

i am very proud of this beet. it survived not-so-nutrient- rich soil without any regular watering.... i do need to work on my gardening skills. although i found i am most successful with things that need little time. go figure. see swiss chard below that looks fabulous!

hopefully some where between work, ironman training, wedding planning and swim team i can go pick up some tomato plants, more chard and zucchini... all to be posted green and glorious!

to your health,

C