So Close, Yet So Far

I would have to look real close from last year to see if I had mileage weekend like I had this weekend. Thats a plus. I never did the whole bike course until race day, thats better (I did today). When I first started cycling I couldnt climb the sisters, today I was able to get 3/4 of each after 45 miles or so. Im not happy about it. I am glad my family wasnt around when I unclipped. I was pissed. The whole ride I thought I was going to be able to do it. I didnt have the strength or endurance to polish them off. Sure my legs were very sore from the day before but I wanted it badly. With the swim venue change the bike is even harder. Really? This race is challenging. Overall it was a very strong weekend but the icing on the cake would have been no walking on the stupid sisters. Here is how the week went:

Wednesday-Bike was in the shop. Bad "hanger" and got a tune-up.

Thursday-Progression run/fast finish. Funny how my watch didnt work. It was not keeping the right speed. I used rate of perceived exhaustion. I would guess, 9:15, 9:00, 8:45, and 8:30 for 4 miles. I felt good despite the wind.

Friday-rest

Saturday-11 miles. Since I had 4 friends racing in the Lake Las Vegas Triathlon I decided to get my long run it super early. Like head lamp, blinky, vest early, straight Ragnar-style. I averaged 10 min miles but that includes running on 2 of the sisters. BIG HILLS. I felt very good. I wasnt even tired until after running the hills. I was keeping 9:00 to 9:15 prior to the big hills. I was thinking the whole time I cannot wait for my next 1/2 marathon. Congrats to Susan, Becca, Shannon, and Cody. All did very well respectively.

Sunday-Long ride. Silverman course in its entirety. I was very sore from the day before. I wanted to stay in bed I was that sore. The ride was a supported group ride by Jackie Arcana, the big tri coach around here. My goal was to travel the 56 miles plus make it home. 62.25 miles total. Lots of relentless hill climbing. One after the next. I am dead right now. Nothing hurts but everything is sore. I wanted to quit about 100 times and I ground it out. I tried to gear 1 or 2 smaller than I normally do. I felt fantastic with that. I went kinda slow but a long way. 73 mile weekend. Here are some pictures of the sisters. I am not sure what you can get from them but here you do.

When I see these lines I am at the top of 3.

From the top of 3 (in front of the 3 lines) looking back at where I came from

From the top of 2 looking back at 1

From the top of 2 looking up at 3.....Quote:

“Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.”

I am so glad I didnt give up.

Me Vs the Sisters, 2010: Ron 3-sisters 0

So my A race this year is the silverman 1/2 iron again. Voted by Triathlete magazine as one of the 3 hardest races in the world. The reason is mostly the bike course. The pros have commented that if it was an IM event it would be hardest race course on the circuit. It is also the race course for the ITU 2011 World Championships. Got it? Its "challenging." One of the reasons it is challenging is around 40-45 mile mark or 100-105 mile mark for the full is a set o3 climbs called the 3 sisters. Last year I had 8 (count em) 8 training rides and the 9th was the race itself. I climbed one sisters one time. On the race I saved my energy and didnt even attempt them. I am not happy or proud about that. In fact, I remember the loads of people there who had looks on their face that was less than impressed at the race last year. I am probably projecting that onto myself but I was embarrassed. That isnt happening this year. I took one step towards that this week. Here is how my week went. This week was difficult or several reasons. No excuses just life. Heat, my wife (who is a twin) birthday WEEK started, and slight taper for Strawberry Fields next week.

Tuesday-Softball started back up.

Wednesday-Hills....climbed all 3 sisters. I even kept 9 mph or faster on them. I am pumped. 16.4 miles in 1:20 elevation gain 1064 ft. Can I do it after climbing lakeshore and northshore? Thats another question. But this small victory builds confidence. As I look back on this time last year I am going longer and faster. After Strawberry Fields I am going to start going very long out by the lake. I did have some slight cramping and fatigue. I wasnt hydrated or nourished like I should be for this ride. My first midweek big ride. It was nice and hot too.

Thursday-Pushed a swim.

Friday-Rest

Saturday-Long run of 8 miles in 1:28. I wanted long and slow. Thats what I got. It was nice and hot out with some humidity too. My mind is playing tricks on me. I have to work on my mentation. Funny how that is the hardest thing about this whole triathlon thing. I would like to mention that Julie (my wife) and Andi (best friend-in-law) are more than prepared for an olympic race on Sunday. I am pumped that it will be my first REAL Marathon bar event. I will be geared up with bars/coupons to hand out. It will be a challenging swim. My first open water OCEAN swim. What will the current be like? What will the waves be like? Salt water? I am shooting for 35ish min. The bike will be flat and fast. I am shooting for under 1:30. As close as I can to 20 mph. The run will be flat and fast too. Sub 60 min? Whole thing under 3? Should be fun. There is a possibility there will not be a medal and wife is gonna freak out. There is a compression sock giveaway going on here. I have been researching these garments and the literature is mixed. Some say they help with recovery, some say they dont, they all say they do not help with performance. I would like to review some, so I hope I win. Quote:

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

Nelson Mandela

What hills have you climbed?

The 3 sisters-2, Ron-0

For those of you not around here the 3 sisters are 3 climbs on the river mountain loop trail (RMLT). A cycling/running/horseback riding/4wheeel etc trail. There is no river and it is close to a very very small mountain. When it is finished it will be 36 miles (I think) round trip. It is paved. The climbs are 15, 16, and 19% grades. OUCH. Actually ouch is a good word as I crashed on the first one for lack of forward motion (rest assured no one witnessed it to my knowledge). What I am excited about is that I didn't quit. I'm just not strong/fit enough yet. On my 1/2 iron distance race these hills will be in the last 1/3 of the bike leg. 3/4 quarters of the way up each climb is better than last time when I didnt even make it half way. My biggest fear is having to walk them during my race. That is straight up not acceptable. Here has been my week so far:

Monday-Rest...my wife had a very minor surgery (if there is such a thing)
Tuesday-recovery run of 3 miles
Wednesday-Hills. Total of 15:30 miles. I rode from my mother-in-laws house to the RMLT. Floundered on the hills but pounded it out. I gave it my all. Now that I look at my garmin screen there is a 23% under the grade section. This my second attempt at the 3 sisters and I am determined to beat em.
Thursday-Seeming feeling no ill effects from yesterdays "fun" I decided to go for a tempo run. That turned into a hill run. I met up with the Village Runner group and the course they run is hilly. My legs were pooped. 4 miles total. Very slow.

I have been slacking on my information giving post during the week. Lack of time and a clear topic to research. I have been listening to podcasts on itunes on triathlon. They are awesome. Free too. There is a runners podcast as well. My rest of week will look like this....tomorrow short swim, sat long ride 45 miles or so. Sunday brick of biking about 20 miles followed by 6-8 mile run. QUOTE:

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

yeah I will be back you 3 beotches! (HA)