Pacific Crest....The Team Is Here......

We are up here in Bend, Oregon.  Eight of us converged here on Friday to get ready for a weekend of racing and training.  Today we had Jeanne O'Regan do the Half Ironman as well as two relay teams.  Everybody did really well..especially Jeanne who had an awesome race. We don't have any official times yet so I will post them tomorrow and let you all know.

The Half Ironman race consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 58 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.  It is a very challenging kind of race because you are out there for so long.... at least 5 hours.

Now here direct from Bend, Oregon Jeanne O'Regan who completed her first Half Ironman placing second...she had an incredible race......... 

I started my journey over four years ago with  Gab.. A lot out of shape, a little overweight  very naive.  From my first triathlon four years ago, I  looked over at Gab , who I had no clue was in shape, six pack, and going to place first.  I decided then I wanted to beat her, little did I know I would place about forty minutes behind her, after she flatted.   Gab has been inspiration, a mentor , a nemesis.   Our journey together has brought a wonderful friendship.  She has inspired me to grow and believe in myself as an athlete.   Being part of a wonderful team, with amazing women, is a gift , a dream and  something not many fifty year old woman get to ever experience.  I love you Gab

 

News From The High Desert.......

Hi all...another week here in outer space.....that is what it feels like up here sometimes....especially for a girl who grew up in the big city.  Training going well.  I have been sticking to the schedule which in reality is way less grueling than what it used to be when I was training for longer distances.  I am feeling pretty good about my cycling.  I went back to using a speedometer for this summer.  I really hate using numbers because it takes the fun out of riding for me.....but I know I need it right now to have any idea of how I am doing in training....in the end it is a numbers game.  Yesterday I went out to do a speed  interval ride and I had a tail wind in one direction and then obviously a head wind in the other.  I was proud of myself because I did the primary work in the head wind even though there was no one there to tell me what to do.  I would say that is the biggest challenge...getting out there to work without anyone else there.  I am very pleased that I have been running(jog/walking) and it feels good. It is giving me the confidence I need to go to worlds.

On Friday I leave for Bend, Oregon to join my team mates for a weekend of endurance fun.  I am going to be on a relay team with Kim Agur (phenomonal cyclist) and Reene Fiack the running machine.  I am all set to do the swim and my only fear is getting stuck in my wet suit as I have put some pudge on.  We are doing a half iron man distance so I will swim 1.2 miles, Kim will ride 56 miles over Mt. Bachelor, and Reene will run 13.1 miles.  I am also going to ride my bike the 56 miles over Mt. Bachelor but not racing.  Other team mates will be there...Jeanne O'Regan doing the whole half in preparation for the Vineman Ironman she will do in August.  Bill and Elizabeth Brent will also race although I am not sure what distance they are doing.  I will report back next week.

Until next time...and hey, if anyone wants to comment so I know you are out there!!

Progress Report......

Well, I have been here a week now and I am feeling pretty settled in.  I decided I like the idea of just having a very regimented summer in terms of training.  Each day I can just go out and do what I have put on the schedule from the work outs that Preben has given me.  Then I have the whole rest of the day to rest, recover, eat well etc.  The weather has been so great up here.  It has stayed nice and cool which has made training really a pleasure.  

I can feel now that I am into a steady training program that I have a lot of work to do.  I am feeling pleased that my leg is holding up but it definitely is getting a work out. So I feel really challenged to get out there each day and improve my performance.

Right now I am looking forward to going up to Bend to see my homies and race with them....I only have to do the swim portion and then do my own bike ride afterward so it will be fun to see friends and get a good training in.

Well I guess that is it for this week...like I said I will check in here once a week until mid August.  Meanwhile while I am not training I am enjoying the natural beauty around here.....and actually enjoying summer.

High Altitude Training....

Hi all...I am now officially up in the high desert. This is my third summer up here. My husband and I have a small place in Big Valley between Susanville and Alturas. It is high desert, sage brush steppe and sits about 4,000 feet. So I am now getting into my training plan for the summer. I am glad I have a relatively specific training plan as I can just do what it is I have to do that day. It keeps me from either under training or over training. Luckily I am self motivated enough to get myself out there and do it. This is the best kind of training where I can do my "job" each day and then chill for the rest....I feel very blessed in this regard.

So what does my training consist of right now as I prepare for the world championships...you may ask? Swimming will be once to twice a week as I am not near a pool and have to travel to the lake. But I will swim for 30-60 minutes in the open water working on endurance and speed. This will be accentuated by a couple of races this summer to work on race form and speed. The running is very slow and minimal as I am just coming off an injury. Better to be able to do something rather than nothing come September. So I am jog/walking twice a week increasing the amount of time I am out there with lots of walking before and after each jog. The cycling is going well but I still have to be careful about how much pressure I put on my right leg/foot. So I am riding 3-4 times a week with two speed workouts and one-two longer rides working on different aspects of speed/form/endurance. I am also playing with the gears trying to see how much pressure I can take and how fast I can go with less gear. My coach Preben who I mentioned last time has given me these work outs to do to keep me in gear while I am up here and far away!

Well, I will only be posting once a week for the summer..or until mid August. I have to travel a bit for internet connection. At the end of June the tri team is going to Bend Oregon to compete in a few events over the weekend and then in mid July a few of us are going to Donner Lake for the triathlon. I will let you know how all that goes. Oh and last but not least a group will come up here with Preben to ride and train for a few days...it is very fun and great for me who gets a bit lonely. Till next time......

Ok I am Getting Serious Now.....

Well my summer vacation has officially started and it feels great! It is amazing how much more inviting my training is when I don't have to put in a full day at work also. So I went to my Open Water Swim on Saturday and it was tough. My times were slow...really slow on the one mile. I was dehydrated, jet lagged, slightly hung over, exhausted before I began the swim so I guess I feel good about the fact that I could swim 3 miles in that condition. It felt like a good cleanse and a kick in the ass to get my training for the summer underway. Idid that on Saturday and then Sunday I did 75 miles on the bike. Today I plan to run for 20 minutes with walking thrown in. It is the beginning now of trying to run after 3 months off.

I am going to get a training plan from my coach. Preben has been my coach for the entire time I have been involved in triathlon. He is the coach for the Women's Traithlon Club. He has a great approach and truly knows his stuff. He doesn't like to get talked about much but I plan to devote at least one post to talking about why he is such a great coach.

A few of the other ladies in the club kicked off their season by going down to Ranch Seco and participating in the traithlons there over the weekend. I haven't had a chance to check their results but I hear they did very well (of course). Not to brag but we do tend to dominate any local events we go to (why Preben is such a good coach)!

My next post will be from up in the mountains as soon as I get my new lap top going so... Hey, and somebody should make a comment so I know you are out there plus then I might know what you want to hear about. Until then......

Time to Get Serious?

I keep thinking it is time to get serious with training....I keep thinking.....anyway, I am back from my brothers wedding which was fantastic. I actually had an opportunity to let my family and friends know about the world championships which was very cool. To my surprise my daughter was telling people what a bad ass I am...It was a proud moment!

This weekend I go to Lake Berryessa for an Open Water Swim. I really love these events because I love to swim so much and especially in the open water. I have found that going to these events gives me a bit of an edge in triathlon because I get a lot of practice with the logistics of open water swimming. If all you ever do is swim in a pool the open water can be daunting. Getting in the water with a bunch of people can be scary and you can get knocked around a bit. Then there is the navigation which can be difficult. These things can be practiced in a pool for instance to practice sighting you can swim and keep lifiting your head which is something you have to do to keep an eye on the bouys when you are in the open water. Navigatin incorrectly can cost you a lot of time in a race. so on Saturday I will be swimming in the 2 mile event and the one mile event. I plan to take it relatively easy on the 2 mile and really work the 1 mile to practice for worlds. A couple of other women from the club will be going...this swim is a good one because they have a wet suit division which is new to open water swimming. There is a purist attitude in swimmers that say it is uncool to swim in a wet suit...like it is cheating but there are more and more triathletes taking to open water swims.

Till next time....keep on trucking!!