70.3 DONE!!

I did it and it was awesome!! I am going to re-cap the day, so I apologize if its boring, but when I decide to do another one of these I want to have this to look back on:)

The day started very early. I slept at home since Fishers is only about 50 minutes away from Muncie. The girls were at my parents house so it was just Paul and I. I got up at about 3:30am! I ate a fried egg on toast with cheese and of course sprinkled with salt and some gatorade to wash it down:) I woke Paul up and we headed up to meet my friends at 5:00am.

We arrived at the site of the race at 6:10am. I had 2 bagels with cream cheese and more gatorade on the way up there. Well, I saved one bagel to eat while waiting for the race to start. We parked our car and loaded up to head to the transition area to organize our stuff. We had checked our bikes in the day before, so that was nice to not have to deal with everyone's bike. We pumped up bike tires (brought our pump) and got water bottles organized, sunscreen on, and then we waited! My swim wave didn't start until 8:25am so I had some time to get nervous! There were so many people who looked like they were such good athletes and had awesome bikes (I WILL be getting a new bike ASAP!)

We watched the sprint triathlon finish and then went over to the swim start. The Pro's started at 8:00am so that was fun to watch, they are crazy fast! They were getting out of the water right when I was starting (that's a 25 minute swim)

My wave was finally coming up so I got my cap on and got in line with my group. I was really nervous and really had to pee!! HA! I got into the water and the gun was off. The swim was busy, but awesome. All of my open water swims had paid off, because this was a breeze. The people everywhere didn't bother me and neither did not being able to see where I was going. I just settled in to my stroke and swam. I passed a lot of people. I passed my whole group, then the next two groups in front of me...but honestly I felt like I could have gone faster, but wanted to save some for the bike and run. My swim time was 40 min which put me right about 500 overall!

I got out of the water and jogged UPHILL to the transition area and got ready for the bike. I was happy to see most of the bikes around me were still on the rack. I took off on the bike (with a 5 min T1 time) and settled in for the bike. The bike is my least favorite, but I was determined to be positive. I felt great the whole time. I did a gel right at the beginning of the bike. I really ate and drank the whole bike. I took in 5 peanut butter crackers, 5 salt tablets, a cliff bar, about 30 ounces of Ironman Perform, and 40 ounces of water. I felt really good the whole time, but I am SLOW and need to improve my biking. I felt like everyone in the race passed me! I tried not to let it get me down, because I was really out there to finish:) Anyway I was good on the bike until about mile 50 and then I was ready to get off the bike. My butt hurt and I wanted to be able to unclip my feet. I rode the whole way with no stopping and even grabbed a bottle of water to refill my aero bottle from a volunteer on the go! My time for the bike was 3:15, which was about what I thought it would be. I was just glad to get off the bike!

I got off the bike and changed into my running shoes. I hit the bathroom and sprayed myself with sun screen. I was so thrilled to have made it this far I knew I could get through the run. I started running and within the first mile I knew I was good! People were already walking and cramping, but thankfully I was feeling great, no goosebumps, no throbbing head, just ready to go! I had 2 gels with me and about 6 salt tabs. I took a gel right away and got water at the first aid station. Basically every mile was an aid station so I knew that was coming which kept me going. They had these awesome sponges that were in tubs of ice water and they were great! So I ran every mile and walked through each aid station. Most people were running/walking because by this point it was in the high 80's and 1 or 2pm. I took in 5 of my salt tabs and lots of water and some flat soda which was refreshing after all the water and Ironman perform. I got to the finish and felt great and ran down the chute and smiled big for the camera! IT WAS AWESOME!!! My overall time was 6:35. I wanted to be less then 7 hours so I am happy with my time.

All of my training paid off. I am so thankful for all the support I received from my friends and family. I didn't love every minute of training but I kept my eyes on the goal and I am so glad I did! I know my money was well spent on the nutritionist I met with because I didn't have one health issue during the race. I am also so thankful that I didn't have any mechanical issues with my bike! WHEW! I will be getting a tri bike very soon though, because my bike weighs a million pounds and is a beast!

A special thanks to all of my training friends and especially my husband Paul. Thanks for being there to lift me up when I didn't want to keep going, putting up with my anxiety and my grumpiness and cheering me on the whole way.

This was my first half Ironman, but I don't think it will be my last!!

24 Hours!

In a little over 24 hours I will be starting the race! Its crazy that about 7 months of training have finally led to this weekend. I am as ready as I am going to be. I am very nervous and have major butterflies in my stomach.

I head up today to check in and then a pasta dinner with my fellow Team Funcie members tonight. Tomorrow the race!

If you want to follow me on the race go to ironmanlive.com and I am bib number 659.

I will write a recap of the race sometime Sunday or Monday!

T minus 5 days!

5 Days!! I made it through week 1 of the taper, but it wasn't pretty. I had no idea I would feel so sluggish, antsy, and achy! I actually googled it and talked to some of my friends who are in the midst of the taper as well and my feelings were confirmed. I just didn't expect to feel this way and it caught me off guard. Anyway I made it through the week and then did a long-ish bike ride yesterday and then a run and a swim this morning. I felt a million times better after the long bike ride...I know I need to be slowing down and I have been but with all of this training the longer the swim, the bike, or run the better I feel. It takes me awhile to get in the groove and feel good so when I go a long distance I feel good:)

Everything is all set for this weekend. My parents will have the girls from Friday afternoon and over night Friday night and all day on Saturday. Paul is coming with me on Saturday (which will be a long day for him) because we have to get up early and be there early but the race doesn't start until 8am and I am sure my wave doesn't start until later then that. Friday afternoon I have to go up to Muncie to check in and attend the pre-race meeting. Plus I want to go into the Ironman shop! I might need a 70.3 sticker for my car:)

I will update once more this week before the race...

Taper Week 1

I made it to the taper weeks! Woohoo! I have looked ahead in my training so many times and have looked at the taper wondering if I would make it and now its here. I did my last really long workout yesterday, a long run. I ran a little over 12 miles and for the most part I felt great.

I am proud of myself for sticking to the training program for 18 weeks so far and for dedicating so much of my time and energy towards this race. No matter what happens on race day I know I couldn't have done much more to prepare for this race. My body has impressed me as well as annoyed me, but mostly I have been happy with my training and the preparation for this race. There have been countless early mornings, long evenings, and tired days because of all this working out, but hopefully come July 9 it will all be worth it.

I was supposed to take today off because Saturday which is usually my day off I had to be on an indoor cycle for about 3 hours! I was getting my Group Cycling Instructor Certification and we all taught about 15 min each and the instructor took us through an hour ride as well. Then Sunday I needed to get my long run in and today I teach spinning. Tomorrow is just an open water swim and then I think I will take Wednesday off and then Saturday off. Other then that no other days off besides the day before the race!

I will update again when the second week of taper begins and again closer to the race. For now I am trying not to be too anxious about the race but that is proving near impossible! I am freaking out;)

This week of taper still has a couple long-ish workouts, but nothing too taxing and then next week is very light, with small run through's of each sport (like tiny little triathlons) to keep every thing fresh.

3 weeks....

Holy Moly this is really happening and soon! I cannot believe I have one more week of hard training and then a 2 week taper. I feel ready but so scared. This race has forced me to sacrifice time with friends, time with family, sleep, etc. I know it will be worth it when I cross the finish line, so that has pushed me through. I did a long run in the heat yesterday and I found myself repeating some mantra's over and over again that I know I will use during the run on race day to get myself through.

I also found out the race is going to start at 8am, instead of 7am, which isn't a huge difference I know, but it just means one more hour of heat later in the day during the run. I don't know why they changed the time, but basically I will be starting a half marathon around 1:00pm in July---not my idea of a good time, but what can I do?

I am happy I have stuck through this training and know that I have put my body through a lot of challenges and for the most part it has risen to the challenges. I have never had so many mornings where I have woken up sore only to try and remember what workout made me sore only to have to go back and do the same thing again to my legs. I always work out a lot and so I didn't think I would notice a lot of changes in my body, but I do know I have thighs of steel now thanks to all the biking I am sure. Also my arms and shoulders have gotten stronger thanks to all the swimming! The only thing I have gotten from all the running is some blisters, sore feet, and messed up toe nails.

This coming week I have a three hour ride followed by a run and a short ride followed by a 2 hour run on the schedule. I am also going to try to get an open water swim in this week or early next week just because I like them:)

The countdown is on...20 days!!

4 weeks to go!

What??? Only four weeks to go, that is scary! So in 2 weeks I taper for the race--YIKES! As ready as I am to be done training, I am anxious about the race and getting through it. I have been feeling good and getting in a lot of good workouts, which since preschool is over we don't have a day to day routine anymore and therefore my workouts are all over the place.

This past Wednesday it was very hot, over 90 degrees and I wasn't too interesed in running or biking so "team Funcie" which is about 6 people who are training for the Muncie half Ironman and I went up to Muncie to do an open water swim. We got to see where the swim course is going to be and get an idea of where everything else would be too. That made it seem very very real. It was fun to go up there though with these 5 other people who are great athletes and are most likely crazier then me when it comes to working out---yes people who work out and train way more then me! Anyway, we swam around a mile and headed home (all of us piled into one mini-van). For me it was nice to have an evening workout and not to have to worry about the heat.

I have 2 more weeks of hard, long workouts ahead of me and then taper which I believe will make me insane! I know its important and necessary but it will be hard not to push it. I know Paul will be happy when this is over because I will be around a lot more on the weekends (well Sunday since I work all day Saturday)

I got up early this morning (Sunday) and rode 35 miles by myself and then ran 5...it was a beautiful day and a lot of my friends ran or rode in races yesterday so I knew I was on my own, but biking by one self is quite boring!

I am off to fold laundry and watch the Ironman 70.3 World Championship on TV, which will make me excited and anxious I am sure:)

Getting Closer

This race is creeping up closer and closer! I think there are only 2 more weeks of training before I taper for the race---WHAT? That scares me. This past weekend was Memorial weekend so I tried to fit in some long workouts. On Sunday it was hot and windy but I set out with some friends and we rode 50 miles. The last 15 felt really long because of the wind. We stopped to refill water bottles a couple times and thank goodness we did. I drank a lot of Ironman Perform and water as well as ate two gels and a 1/2 of a cliff bar. I was tired when we were done and hungry, but so glad I went to the distance. Then Monday morning (memorial day) I got up early (what's new) and ran 5 miles and then went to Morse Reservoir to swim with some people on the NASTI swim team. We swam 2 miles! It was my longest open water swim and it was tough but I made it through and now I know I can swim 1.2:)

These early morning workouts have become a normal thing for me and I love getting the workout out of the way early in the day, but man 4:30am SUCKS! I drag my sleepy self out of bed and straight downstairs because I always have all of my stuff laid out down there so I am not shuffling around upstairs. Paul might kill me if I woke a kid up before 5am! I am not sure if I mentioned in my last post, but I needed to do a 2 hour run and we had a lot going on that day and it was supposed to storm later in the day so I got up at 4:15 and was running by 445am in the dark! I ran 12.5 miles before 7am, it was so weird. But again I got it done and was able to do all the other things that needed to be done that day, just a little slower.

I actually feel very ready for this race. The only thing that is scaring me is the long run after the bike in the heat. I have done long bike rides and long runs, but not in the extreme heat that is a real possibility on July 9th in Indiana:) I am really excited to do the race and also pretty excited for it to be over.

I want to give another shout out to my husband Paul---without him all this craziness would be impossible. He often has the kids by himself way more then he ever has and he rarely if ever complains...:)

I am sure there is more to report, but I got up at 5am to swim a mile in Morse and I am feeling sleepy!