Short update

How is training going? Good

Today Linda came over and we ran a few hills, we were supposed to do 7 hill repeats but ended up doing just 3, due to time restraints.

Here is a chart that compairs the bike courses of all the USA Ironmans - elevation. Florida is flat but they swim in salt water.

Wisconsin is next flattest, then Arizona. Canada is the hardest, then USA. CDA looks good to me and its close by but they have a cold swim. Oh well, its looking better and better. And CDA is only $600 registration fee right now.

Biking and swimming today

How is training going? Bike and swim today.

I slept right through my YMCA workout class with Torrey today, just too tired after my late Monday night shift at work. So I hopped on my bike and went for a ride. Daily Mile said it was 12.24 miles, my bike computer said it was 13.1. Anyway, I did it in 1:02:22; last year I did the same course in 58:54. 4 minutes slower this year, a huge difference. I'm going to need to work on that more.

I did get to spend a few minutes out in the barn with the horse and Cassie. I didn't do anything with them but it was nice just to be out there. Meghan as agreed to come out tomorrow to help me ride Wifi again so I'm hoping for good weather. Local news is saying rain tomorrow, &*$%#^%$. Damn.

Oh well, we can still work her one way or another.

I need to get the camper cleaned up. Used it last weekend and it needs to be vacuumed and the outside washed. Its still in nice condition but Lan and I are thinking about selling it now. It does have some things that we dont want to bother with so its time to let it go. Another reason to sell is that last week a man in our area had one of the jacks fail and his camper squished him to death and our jacks aren't in tip top shape. Lan is always careful with it but what if...

Its SO nice to have on race days, we can have all out stuff inside it and change in comfort after we get ourselves all sweaty. Don't have to pay for another day at a hotel either nor go home sweaty.

The outside has some algie from the winter, not a lot since I cleaned it last fall, but some. I'll get it all cleaned up then we will want to use it again. 

Lan is planning on racing in the Federal Escape Triathlon next weekend. He'll get a free entry because he is going to volunteer at one of TriFreaks other races, Grand Columbia Full Ironman and Super Triathlon, the first in the country. And because we volunteered at Ocean Shores a few weeks ago we will get 25% off out half ironman entries next year at Ocean Shores. Its part of my training plan.

Is there a difference?

How is training going? Well.

What I want to know is, is there a difference between 'step count' and 'mileage'?
I use a pedometer to count my steps each day because I was wondering how many steps I take at the dock when I'm working. I did measure my steps and input the information into the pedometer so its at least close to accurate for distance. Except, I don't always take a 'step' forward when I move my leg. I take many steps where I just lift my foot and set it back down, to relieve the pain. Yesterday I took 6634 steps but the day before I took over 13,000 during the day and there was a huge difference in the pain in my feet.
Linda uses a BodyBugg on her arm, it counts steps and calories and I don't know what all else. She wears it when shes doing all of her exercise classes, including kick boxing, spin and all others. I think this is giving her a false step count, since these aren't steps. Yes, shes moving but no, they aren't steps. I don't wear my pedometer unless I'm actually walking, all my spin classes, bike rides, etc are extra.
Just my rant.

Raising money for an Ironman

How is training going: Today, great.

I bought myself a pedometer so i know how far I go each day. Yesterday it was 6770 steps and I wanted to get in 10,000. I havent been wearing it yet today and I dont count spin/core or kickboxing classes on the meter. Thats cheating.

I'm selling items that I own to finance my registration fee into Ironman Canada. So far I have $270.00 saved up, sold my tack trunk and the big shelving unit in the barn. Paid $75 for them. I have a lot more to go, both in getting rid of and saving but I'm trying.

My 40 hour schedule will start on Sunday. Good pay checks, never see my husband. The money I earn will help towards Ironman. My horses will suffer. The hours suck, totally.

Really gotta get serious now

How is training going? Good.

Lan and I went for a 5k run this morning and then a 14.5 mile ride. I'd have liked to have gone farther but I had to get ready for work. If I'm going to do an Ironman next year then I feel like I'm already behind.

Work is going to be a bit easier because I bid on & won a 40 hour shift, too bad its all weekends. But I'll have Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays off. I can do my bricks on Mondays before work and still swim on Tuesday nights and do Torreys classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

One thing that sucks is that I have NO TIME to ride the horses. Its going to be so much worse next summer when I'm working out 30 hours per week.

Speaking of horses: I brought Wifi home from the trainers and I will not be taking her back. Shes got some bad habits that she didn't have before and that really makes me mad. She kicked at me yesterday in her stall and that really pissed me off. She hasn't kicked since she was a yearling and that's bullshit. I'm going to write a nice letter to Vicki and ask for a refund for the 2nd months fees that I already paid and I'm going to tell her why. 1. she never rode my horse. 2. she never opened the outside door to the run that she said would be opened the next day.  3. she didn't even lunge Wifi.  4. someone had to have abused my horse to make her kick at me.  5. My horse lost a LOT of weight and has no muscle tone, which she would have had a HUGE butt if she were being lunged every day, or even just 3 times per week.

Wifi, the day she left home, June 13th

Wifi, the day she came home, July 13th

Shes lost a lot of weight, shes got no muscle tone. Her hips stick out and her tail is knobby. she acted head shy for a while and kicking at me in her stall is so un-Wifi like. Shes going to stay home and Meghan will help me train her myself.

Good news, I guess.

How is training going? OK, I guess.

So I work at the Washington State Ferries and just completed my first bid and got a great 40 hour per week shift. The days suck but I'll have the same 3 days off each week till the end of September. Whats weird about me getting this shift is that I'm only the 2nd Newbie to ever get a 40 hour shift on their 1st bid. One other time a guy got a graveyard shift on Vashon Island for the summer. My days are Friday 10:05am-8:05pm, Saturday 6:40am-4:40pm, Sunday 6:40am-4:40pm & Monday 1:45pm-11:45pm.
On Fridays I can get an OK ferry over but have to wait for an hour to get on a boat home. On Saturday & Sunday I'll have to catch the 4:30am ferry in order to get there on time, that's going to suck. Mondays I can get the 1:10pm boat over and the 12:25am boat home. Its not great hours but its steady and I won't have to be doing any money shifts. They pay more but are slow.

And I'll be earning a pretty penny so I'll be able to afford some nice things-for the summer.

I'm going to put away money from each check for Ironman Canada registration, lessons and equipment. I can wait till fall & get a better deal on a wetsuit and I'll figure out a way to take swim lessons during the winter.

Yesterday i actually went out to Wildcat Lake to swim with the TriBabes and I ENJOYED it. I'm looking forward to it next week or even just later this week. I've never had so much fun as I did last night and I passed a few other people, which never happens!!

Now I need to get my ass out there and run.

Some serious thinking going on.

How is training going? Good.

Barb is trying to talk Linda and me into doing Ironman Canada 2012. Because Barb and I will be turning 50 next year and Linda will be 49. We aren't getting any younger, that's for sure so wouldn't now be the time to do it? That's what I'm thinking.

I know its going to be expensive, extremely expensive. Signing up is only $650 but I'd need a new wetsuit, swim lessons (serious ones, maybe with Ryan Chapman) and I'll need a coach. Lan can coach me on the bike, that wouldn't be a problem.

Lisa Ballou said she would think about coaching us for this endeavor so I would be happy with that. I know Lisa, I trust her to do her best, I know she has experience and knowledge because shes a 6 time Ironman already herself.

There will be many other expenses, like the fees for other races we would need to be in beforehand to prep ourselves. I've got a perfect Half Ironman chosen, more later.

I can go to the YMCA and use their pool all winter for laps so I'll need a lap counter of some sort. I figure I'll go through at least 3 pair of shoes and I'll need new Superfeet insoles.

Yesterday Lan and I went out to Ocean Shores and were volunteers at the TriFreaks Multi Sport Weekend. 5k, 10k, Spring, Olympic & Half Ironman triathlons, marathon & a half plus kids sports.

These are the men from the 1st wave of Half Ironman participants just minutes before they started the swim.

 They had to swim all the way to the other end of Duck Lake and back, 1.2 miles.

They then rode their bikes 56 miles on a perfect course.

All the roads in Ocean Shores were just repaved so they are all nice and smooth, no potholes or cracks. And the entire course is flat except the one bridge they went over. Half Ironman'ers had to go over this 'hill' 4 times but it was just a bump, maybe 10-15 feet in elevation.

Here is one of the tables we manned. This was the 4.5 mile aid station along the Half Ironman run route, which was 13.1 miles; it was 1.7 miles to the turn around and about 5 miles on the way back to the finish. Water, HEED, bagels, bananas, Gel and lots of cheering and moral support. We did lots of cheering, clapping, yelling, joking, water pouring, cup picking uping.

This guy was in first place on his way out but he was in pain. All he wanted was water. On the return he was in about 6th place and much slower.

This was a fun time, Lan had just snuck off to the bushes to go pee and I had 6 people returning. The 2 guys in the red shirts didn't need anything but some of the others did. 

It was a real kick in the pants to assist TriFreaks and all these runners. There were 64 who started, I don't know how many finished. There were a few who were questionable.

The last place finisher was a woman who weighed 350 lbs a couple years ago, shes lost 80 so far and she was bound and determined to finish this race. she didn't make the cut off time but she did finish. Her goal is to go to Kona Ironman in 6 years. YOU GO GIRL! Lan and I stayed at the aid station till we were relieved at about 3:30pm and she was the only remaining runner. I wanted to stay and cheer for her but we had to leave but as soon as we turned the corner, there she was. She was hoofin' it!

Once I find a way to pay for all my Ironman Canada expenses I'm going to go for it. I have until August 29th and I'll have to be there in person IN CANADA to register. I could TRY to register online but last year it sold out in hours so that might not be an option. Linda and Steve are going ot be up there for that weekend to cheer on Sarah McCoy so shes got it covered.

But Linda doesn't want to do it.

I agree with Barb, this is our year, I need to do this for me, because I can.

Other news: I have registered for the Tacoma City FULL Marathon in May 2012 so I can get the full medal. Wish me luck.