Training Log Archive: ironqueen

In 20 degrees at 7:45 am Cricket and I zoomed along the #1 Hwy in sleepy little Cambridge, up the killer Cambridge Mtn road and all the way down the other side of the mtn. The humidity was broken only by the lovely breeze on the top of the mtn. Down into North Alton and along into Kentville. At 20 kms we had taken 1:58 minutes and felt strong. Having to face the last 12 kms along the #1 Hwy with cars/trucks zooming head on past us, was demoralizing. I turned my ankle and Cricket was now 25 metres ahead. I wanted to walk, but I am the IronQueen so I shuffled home. The last 1km was accomplished ONLY by repeating my mantra, "Diet Coke, Fresca, hot tub, diet coke, Fresca, hot tub". I'm still 2 minutes faster than last wk and it was a better run for the first 3/4.

C • Wow! 3

It was raining today and only suppose to amount to 2 mm. Sure. Welcome to our weather systems!! It was pouring down and must have amounted to 20mm. We 4 hearty women set off in the woods outside of Berwick on the trails. My new, wonderful Nikes were mud strewn and water was sloshing in my once pristine shoes. Oh the indignity. These women are fast and strong so every Wed nite run is a challenge for me. It's great to have them to train with b/c by Wed I'm so tired and facing 4 more days of hard training---that without them, I'd probably not run. Anyhoo, the roots to jump over were very wet and slippery and the grass was up to my arse but I survived. With 15 minutes to go, Irongirl suggested I just "run straight down the hwy back to the car and wait for them". That was a great "red flag" to get me motivated to keep going. Whatever it takes:) It was the best of times and not the most pleasant run I've done, but again, the Ironman is a test of mental and willpower and this run was exactly that!!!

Well folks, this is my first real bike ride and the Ironman is in 6.5 wks. I just haven't been able to inspire myself to go. This is strange because this has always been MY BEST discipline. Anyhoo, as soon as I sat on the seat and peddled down the driveway I remembered how much I love biking. Of course I started out with a killer over the mtn route. Since California and the Hawaii Ironman races are KILLER for hills, I'm going to do up to 4 repeats of this route to get in the 180 km distance. I enjoyed it until about 32 kms in once more into a headwind. The winds are strange here. You start out into a headwind and think, "no prob, then I'll finish up with it behind me". Then the wind changes. It's great for training b/c no wind is worse than what we train in!!! For the final 8 kms I just hung on until I turned the corner and then hammered home. The hot tub was SWEET after that.

C • Welcome! 2

Have been sick with flu all wk and taking DayQuill and NightQuill and NeoCitron. I'm sure there were still so many residual drugs in my system that this is the reason my legs just wouldn't do more than a shuffle for the first 10 kms. IronKing wanted me to go down the mtn at the 10 km point but I was getting stronger so followed him the entire 32 instead. I felt great to complete it although I suffered.

First time I've tried 100m repeats on 2 mins for years. It made the training more fun and I hope will push up my pace.

After killer run up mtn yesterday this was the best I could do. It's all good because overall I'm getting stronger.

Great pace with my running buddy. Easily held her. The most she got ahead of me was 8 metres going up the killer mountain. I'm loving this run now.

I didn't think my running could get more difficult than the last run. Think I'm increasing my mileage too fast but the big race, California Ironman is just 2 months away. At least I survived by running and then walking and sipping and then shuffling. I got stronger after 10 kms and enjoyed the last 7 with my friend pacing me.

Stomach upset. Note to all: don't eat an entire bottle of anti pesto at noon and then try to run 17 kms. Help. I survived.

Great pace with my running buddy and having to rush to get home for company for dinner so highly motivated. Wonderful sunshine too.

First day back training in over a wk. Was that tough or what?