So everybody keeps asking me if it's true...
Yes, I am doing another ironman...my first in almost 4 years. I head to South Africa 3/24 to slug out a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. I got the itch after I quit training and racing bikes last May and by October I was so out of shape that it seemed like a good idea to contemplate...how else could I ever get back in shape? By December I was hooked on the thought and had announced to Dicky that I would train 12 weeks and race Ironman Malaysia...well, race would not be the best to describe the potential day on only 12 weeks of training after not running nor swimming in 4 years...maybe participate would a better word. Anyway, a few issues popped up with Malaysia which became a "no go" and I had 5 weeks of training under me and I could not see that going to waste...so with some help from Hillary and a few others I consulted, Ironman South Africa seemed to fit the bill on 4/5. I have 5 weeks left to train and a whole lotta miles to go.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Flats, Crashes, and Fun at VOS
Kelli and I headed to VOS in Phoenix, AZ for Friday's 3 day stage race. In short the TT left KJ with a blow out, the RR left myself behind two crashes- the last crash on the final ascent to the finish, and the crit...well it summed up the 3 days...it just wasn't gonna come together for either of us- but we rode hard and never gave up despite our many unexpected setbacks. I love the first race of the season because everything that can go wrong does and you just deal with it, move forward, and keep pedaling. VOS had a great field this year- 80+ with the 3's added in and a lot of So Cal girls in the mix along with Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Az, and Texas. Both Dana and Holly were great hosts and we appreciated their hospitality and wish Holly a speedy recovery.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Red Trolley Crit
While Neva successfully took on the rain and the field in Dominguez Hills at the CBR crit, I was at the Red Trolley Crit in San Diego. The Women's 1/2/3 crit started at 2:30 p.m. I decided to ride to the crit, allowing me to get a 20-mile warm-up in before racing. All morning it looked to be dry in San Diego, but on the way to the race it began to pour on me. After about 6 miles, I was out of the rain, and thankfully it was the last of the rain that day.
Red Trolley is a fast course with a good-sized power hill before the finish straight. It was my first time doing Red Trolley since I crashed two years ago and broke my collarbone and suffered a pretty good concussion. I went into the race just wanting to hang in and get used to racing in a crit again. About 10 minutes into the race, I decided to give my legs a test and went to the front for about 3 laps. On my third lap on the front, Sarah Hammer exploded by, along with riders from SDBC and Helen's. Amazingly, that break did not stick. Another break would get free later, with Helen's Michele Orem out on her own and a small chase group followed by the peloton. With one lap to go, Sarah Hammer once again went, closing down the 20 second gap held by Michele Orem and taking the win, while I rode in for a finish in the field.
Red Trolley is a fast course with a good-sized power hill before the finish straight. It was my first time doing Red Trolley since I crashed two years ago and broke my collarbone and suffered a pretty good concussion. I went into the race just wanting to hang in and get used to racing in a crit again. About 10 minutes into the race, I decided to give my legs a test and went to the front for about 3 laps. On my third lap on the front, Sarah Hammer exploded by, along with riders from SDBC and Helen's. Amazingly, that break did not stick. Another break would get free later, with Helen's Michele Orem out on her own and a small chase group followed by the peloton. With one lap to go, Sarah Hammer once again went, closing down the 20 second gap held by Michele Orem and taking the win, while I rode in for a finish in the field.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Racing in the Snow
The Boulevard Road Race is the traditional start to the racing season in Southern California. Starting around 4,000 feet at the beginning of February usually means cold temperatures. In my many times riding that course, whether just training or racing, it has always been pretty miserable - cold in the winter, hot in the spring or summer, and always windy.
However, the 2009 edition of Boulevard on February 7 redefined "misery." The forecast called for a high temperature of 46 and rain - miserable conditions, but not absolutely horrible. It was nice before we started, and when the officials gave us the choice of cutting the race down to two laps, I was one of the two who said we wanted to do the full three laps. I was approaching Boulevard as a training race and had no goal of doing well, but wanted to get the mileage in with race conditions.
We started off, and it was a bit chilly, but it wasn't too bad. As soon as we began climbing up La Posta, I was actually feeling hot and unzipped my jersey and took off my super warm gloves I had opted for. I made the turn onto Old Highway 80 and it got really cold all of a sudden.
After starting the second lap, the rain started to fall and quickly turned into a hard, driving rain, and soon became hard, driving sleet. At the turn onto Old Highway 80, I noticed that the rain had started to float. It was snowing!!! They had forecast that snow was possible at 4500 feet, but at 3500 feet?! At the finish area (around 4,100 feet), it was amazing how much snow was falling -- and sticking.
One more lap to go. That lap was horrible. I couldn't see anything on the descent, and it had gotten so cold. I (non-climber) couldn't wait to begin climbing so that I could warm up a tad. I caught Nicette from Helen's when we made the turn onto Old Highway 80 for the last time, and Simonne was just up the road. Nicette and I rode together for those last 5 or 6 miles. We hit the 1k to go sign and you could barely see it because it was covered in snow! I couldn't help it and just started to laugh. The 200 meter sign was all but invisible.
We finished the race! The misery was over -- wrong! The start area where we parked was another two miles away - downhill. I was cold at the finish, but I was comfortable. When I started that ride down to the car, though, I absolutely froze. When I finally got my wet clothes off, I went inside the restaurant and stood next to the fireplace with several other of the women for a bit.
Another Boulevard Road Race finished. I'm sure that when we're racing in Bakersfield in May or June and it's over 100 degrees, those of us that did Boulevard will be reminiscing about our day racing in the snow.
However, the 2009 edition of Boulevard on February 7 redefined "misery." The forecast called for a high temperature of 46 and rain - miserable conditions, but not absolutely horrible. It was nice before we started, and when the officials gave us the choice of cutting the race down to two laps, I was one of the two who said we wanted to do the full three laps. I was approaching Boulevard as a training race and had no goal of doing well, but wanted to get the mileage in with race conditions.
We started off, and it was a bit chilly, but it wasn't too bad. As soon as we began climbing up La Posta, I was actually feeling hot and unzipped my jersey and took off my super warm gloves I had opted for. I made the turn onto Old Highway 80 and it got really cold all of a sudden.
After starting the second lap, the rain started to fall and quickly turned into a hard, driving rain, and soon became hard, driving sleet. At the turn onto Old Highway 80, I noticed that the rain had started to float. It was snowing!!! They had forecast that snow was possible at 4500 feet, but at 3500 feet?! At the finish area (around 4,100 feet), it was amazing how much snow was falling -- and sticking.
One more lap to go. That lap was horrible. I couldn't see anything on the descent, and it had gotten so cold. I (non-climber) couldn't wait to begin climbing so that I could warm up a tad. I caught Nicette from Helen's when we made the turn onto Old Highway 80 for the last time, and Simonne was just up the road. Nicette and I rode together for those last 5 or 6 miles. We hit the 1k to go sign and you could barely see it because it was covered in snow! I couldn't help it and just started to laugh. The 200 meter sign was all but invisible.
We finished the race! The misery was over -- wrong! The start area where we parked was another two miles away - downhill. I was cold at the finish, but I was comfortable. When I started that ride down to the car, though, I absolutely froze. When I finally got my wet clothes off, I went inside the restaurant and stood next to the fireplace with several other of the women for a bit.
Another Boulevard Road Race finished. I'm sure that when we're racing in Bakersfield in May or June and it's over 100 degrees, those of us that did Boulevard will be reminiscing about our day racing in the snow.
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