Turtle Tattoo - Longest Ride to Date

I have been dreading today for a week.  A 70 mile bike ride from Meriden, PA to Moraine State Park and back.  I couldn't sleep.......what if I fall over.....what if I was the one everyone had to wait for......what if I have to pee......what if I have to walk my bike up a hill.....What if I get a headache,,,,Everything was going through my mind!!   The last thing I said to Bryan before I left was "Keep your phone near you incase you have to pick me".  The stress was at a high level.

The ride started at Shari and Kevin's house at 7:30AM.  We rode to Harmony, PA to meet the group.  I wanted to throw up, but I put on my big girl pants and got on my bike. (At least I had 2 shoes for this ride.  The last time I went to ride, I was missing one bike shoe. Some how I had a shoe in each of our cars. Still can't figure that one out.)  The ride to Harmony was great.  I didn't realize at the time it was mainly downhill, until later in the day!  We got there early and had a little break before the hell began. 

The good news:  I didn't fall over, I didn't have to pee, I didn't walk my bike up the hill and I didn't have a headache.  The bad news:  I was last most of the time and people had to wait for me.  I hate when that happens!  That is when I made the revelation that my turtle tattoo was on my body, not only due to I love sea turtles and wanted a old school, black ink, tribal tattoo, but it is my reminder that I swim, bike and run like a turtle.  I will say I am getting fasters, but I just can't keep up with people that are younger or who have been doing triathlons for years.  I was a late bloomer in my athletic endeavors. I get that and embrace it, except when people have to wait for me.

The ride ended up being 71.3 miles - 6 hours and 18 minutes. (that included a few stops) with 4750 feet of gain.  That is a shit load of gain, especially for a 50 year old's first really long ride.  I did get a great lesson from Joella when we got to Moraine State Park.   I'm sure if I remember everything she told me, I will get stronger and faster.  Always something to work on. 

I do think Shari tried to kill me at one point.  She turned the wrong way to go home and we pedaled and pedaled and pedaled up a huge hill.  (I did have a thought that I may have to walk my bike up).  Shari beat me up the hill (shocker) and  she was on the phone.  All I heard was "Hollie is going to kill me". We were a little lost.   Long story short, we had to go back down that hill and turn and go up another huge hill.  This was around mile 54-57.  Anyway, I didn't die, but I was wearing out.  Shari did have a "too close for comfort" close call with a car pulling out of a model home.  She is very lucky that she got stopped.  It could have been tragic. 

We made it back to Shari's house and she said "do you have your running shoe?".  I proceeded to say, I don't have a run and there is no f.....way I was going to run. So I put my bike on the back and the truck and went home.  After I was home for 10 minutes, I put on my running shoes and ran/walk 2.5 miles.  I check with Joella and I was supposed to run,  It was slow, but wasn't was bad at I thought it was going to be. 

The journey of IronMan is amazing.  I never knew my body would ever put up with what I am doing to it.  Each and every day I am shocked what I can do.  Even it is slower than a turtle, I finish what is on my plan and get up the next day and do it all over again.  Today's ride was a high point, due to I came home in one piece.  Next weekend is my first century ride (100 miles in a day).  Look out Niagara Falls!  Here comes the Iron Curtain!! 

First Open Water Swim of the Season with My Girls!

Not everyone was excited as I was to get in the water at Porters Cove - Moraine State Park. The water was warmer than expected and the sun was shining!  We got in one mile this week! Can't wait for the next open water swim.

This is my favorite pictures, so far, of our "Iron Curtain".  In four months we will be in Chattanogga!!! Time is flying!! 

When Hot Flashes Come In Handy!

Saturday was the Mars High School Band 5k/10k Race.  Since our company is a sponsor, we thought we should make an appearance.  It was your typical spring day in Western PA.  Cold, gray and rainy.  Both Bryan and I were doing the 5k. (It was his first 5k, with no training of course).  I don't consider anything I do as a "race".  I think of it more as a "Personal Goal Event".  My personal goal was anything under 30 minutes.  My time was 30:13 - 14 seconds over my person goal, but it was a PR for a 5k.  (I have only done one other stand alone 5K). Bottom line is that I suck at running! The best part was I didn't get cold!  I even took off my raincoat during the race.  Everyone else seemed to be cold......Not Me!  Thank you menopause! 

                                               Laura, Share and I with our new hardware!



The Mighty Moraine Man Spring Sprint was on Sunday.  Once again, it was cold, gray and rainy.  My personal goal was to beat my time last year of  1:47:55 and to not mess up my Garmin in triathlon mode. This was the first "Personal Goal Event"  I was using my Garmin.   Me being me, I practice about 20 times pushing the correct buttons days before the race.  The water was around 63 degrees.  I think I was the only crazy person that did an open water swim before the race.  I wanted to get the fear of the cold water out of my head.  Everyone was dreding the cold water and the swim. I got in with some friends and did a good warm up.  The water felt fine, cold but manageable and my swimming was stress free.  Got to the staring line with no sign of any anxiety.  The horn went off and in I went.  The first 10-15 seconds were fine, then it went down hill.  Couldn't get my breath, went off course, stopped a few time......it was not pretty to say the least.  By the time I was half way done, I settled in and got into my grove.  I was almost done, when some random guy in a wetsuit and hood floated in front of me.  I T-boned him.  Startled me to say the least.  He was not in my sight line at all!  I guess he got off course and was backstroking or just floating on his back trying to get on course.  Needless to say, I had more stops in that swim than I think I have ever had and it ended up more worst swim ever.  (That really pisses me off......I love to swim, I love open water and I wasn't a bit cold!  WTF!!)  Anyway, I get out of the water (pushing the correct button (yeah me!) and get to T1.


There is the guy that I T-Boned!  He looked like one of the safety divers!  I really need to do something about that side boob issue!


               I was really trying to look happy! 

I thought I better put on a jacket and/or glove for the bike portion.  Neither one of them would go on since I was wet and I didn't have a dry towel, due to the rain.  I just said F it and threw everything on the ground and got on my bike (and pushed my button!!). The bike was uneventful.  I just need to be more aggressive and pass people when I can.  I have to stop thinking that person is stronger than me, so she will pass me anyway on the hill.  While on the course, I did notice that a lot of people had jackets and gloves on. I kept thinking, I am going to get cold!  Nope!  Not me!  Temperature felt fine! Made it back to T2 and once again pushed the correct button!  I'm sure people that didn't understand why I keep saying, Push The Button, Push The Button out loud thought I was totally crazy. T2 went quick, changed shoes (elastic laces are the best!),  put on my new orange hat and off I went leaving transition saying, Push the Button, Push the Button!

                You can see my mess in transition??

The run was uneventful, other than all the people passing me, due to I totally suck at running.  (I think I already stated that fact!)  The finish line came at 1:46:09.  I did make my person goal and I did push my button at the correct times!  Of course me being me, I was disappointed at my swim time and thought I should have been able to get a little better time on the bike.  I came in 2nd in my old lady division. And yes, there were more than 2 crazy old ladies!  There were 3!


Of course I had to do the "Laura" - Strong/Fast Finish to the End!


  Can you tell I was thinking about pushing the button??


               Push the Button!  Push the Button!!

After the race I talked to a bunch of people and they said they froze in the water.  I heard that some people were even disoriented.  I kept saying, I wasn't cold at all!  I guess the moral to this post is sometimes hot flashes are a good thing!  After about 5 years of having them, this is the first time I was "joyful" to have numerous hot flashes in a morning!!  Let's just hope they ease up in September for IMCHOO.  I don't think it will be cold in TN!

              

When you are really tired....

You know you're really tired when you get home from a swim, open the wine refrigerator and think.....I'm going to pick a wine that has a screw top....it will be easier than getting the corkscrew out! 

Mother's Day Workout Weekend With a Dose of Good Mental Strength Training

Not that I dreed weekends since Ironman training, but, they are a different beast.  Monday's are not as bad as they used to be....I kind of look forward to them!  Saturday was scheduled with a 4 hour bike and a 5 miles run. I was a little nervous about the training, but got myself out of bed and was ready to concur the time in the saddle.  We met at the Moraine State Park bike rental at 8:00AM.  It was chilly, but better than expected.  Before we left the parking lot, I couldn't get unclipped and down I went.....first fall of the year.  Last year was my first attempt at using the clipless pedals.  (I have no idea way they call them clipless pedal's when clearly you shoe is attached to the pedal!).  I had a pretty large learning curve, falling on 50% of my rides!  I got new road clips and have been fairly successful until Saturday.  After the slow-motion fall, I picked myself up, brushed myself off and started the ride.  (Luckily I had long pants and a jacket on.  The wounds would have been worse). Off we went on the 4 hour bike ride.  It was a beautiful ride through the farmlands.  I decided about an hour in, I really did love my bike.  It has been a love/hate relationship for the past year.  I have gotten stronger, which makes life just a little easier!  I had a great ride until we got a tad lost......Laura said we didn't get lost, we just didn't end up where she thought we were going to!  Our ride turned into 4 1/2 hours.  My body was done at 4, but I had no choice but to make it back to the car!  It was good mental strength training.  Suck it up and go!  The 5 mile run was great until the half way point,  Then my stomach was not feeling the love.  Once again, had to make it back to the car.....another good mental training run! My recovery chocolate milk did make it better!

Since Sunday was Mother's Day, I thought it would be nice if Bryan and I went to Pittsburgh and run/ride the trail at the Point.  A nice flat 10 mile run!  10 miles should be a walk in the park....RIGHT??  Well, I guess my fall took a little toll on my hip.  It was a fairly flat 10 miles, but it was not pretty.  Once again, it was a good mental strength training day!  I did happen to catch some of the bike race that was in the city.  Took a little break to watch some sweet bikes and riders cross the finish line!

A late lunch at Pamela's was worth the pain!  Blueberry Pancakes ROCK!!

Clare made it back from the Kentucky Derby about 5:00PM. I  just had time to take a shower and a little nap before her arrival.  She got me the best Mother's Day gift......a Lilly Pulitzer dress in the "10 speed" pattern.  See picture below.  Check out the bikes in the pattern!!  I have loved Lilly for 20 year!  I never knew they made a bike pattern.  She searched all the vintage Lilly sites to find me a dress!  I may need to sport it at Ironman!  She also got me the Hangry sign (see picture).....I guess she has been warned about my HANGRY issues.

I took an extension on my Mother's Day weekend and went to the quarry to help with a group a students from Slippery Rock University that were getting their SCUBA certification. It was great to get in my dry suit and get under the water!  Diving has taken a back seat to triathlon training, but I still love the sport.  Diving is my yoga.  It was great to work with the students and catch up with all my dive buddies.  I did get a 30 minutes open water swim in after the 2 dives.  The water temp at the surface was 61, so I was a little chilly, but I got it done.   Another mental strength training session!   

My Count Down Clock Must be Broken