In my last blog I wrote about the demise of my old bike and posted a photo of the bike I was looking at. Thanks to some awesome people at Wheels of Oakville and the great policies that American Express has, I was able to get my full money back for the dud of the other bike and purchased my new Cervelo S2. All I can say is we were made for each other. I absolutely love that bike and I feel so much stronger and powerful on it. It's a good thing because I'm only eight weeks away from Lake Placid and that bike course isn't getting any easier.
I've been riding lots and lots of hills and I really felt it this past weekend when I did a hilly bike ride on the Saturday and then I did a hilly run the next day. I'm still feeling it today, but that's why I get a recovery day. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that. I totally believe that and remind myself of it every time I waver.
I've been enlisting people to assist me in my training and make them do long distance rides that they don't need to do. For that, I am truly grateful.
I'm getting those required swims in. I don't like them much, but they are a required element of Ironman so I do them. I won't know until the race whether I've improved because I'm not doing any other racing before the big one. Not the best move, but because of the timing of Lake Placid, there really isn't anything that fits into my training schedule living in the great White North. As long as I come out of it alive, I'll be happy. If my training is any indication, I expect to have at least a slightly better time than my Vineman race -- or similar -- but a much better time than Arizona. That was just all kinds of cold and very, very miserable.
Running is my comfort zone. I never mind training this discipline because I feel the most alive when I run. Most of the time I feel at peace, especially on the long runs going through the beautiful area of the North Shore hills.
I just got back from an amazing vacation in Arizona with my husband and awesome friends. While my friend and I did some bike riding there -- and climbed South Mountain -- my husband and other friend got some golfing in. I think we both won. South Mountain was a challenge, but I found the descent most difficult. It was a pretty windy day and I'm afraid of heights. Not a good combination on a windy, kinda steep downhill. I stand behind my statement that I came down slower than going up.
It wasn't all training, though. Although I worked out almost everyday, we did indulge -- lots -- in wonderful cuisine and delicious margaritas. Margaritas in Arizona just taste better. Maybe because they have such a vast selection of tequilas. Of course, my friend is a bit of a tequila connoisseur so we didn't have any run-of-the-mill tequilas. I think the most expensive margarita we had was $25 a pop, but so worth it! I want to go back!!
You have to have a little bit of fun mixed in with all the craziness of training or else it becomes a drain on your life and your marriage. Thank goodness I have the support of everyone in my life, even my parents who don't understand any of what I do. They just worry that I'm going to get hurt. If they really saw all that I did, they'd faint.
Next up will be my "I'm Grateful For" posting. Thanks for reading the ramblings of someone who doesn't really know what they're doing in this blogging adventure.
"The body achieves what the
mind believes."
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