Friday started with PB and ended with chickens!

No really! Yesterday was a fantastic day. I was going to bike to the base of Grouse Mountain before doing the Grouse Grind but took the bus with my bike instead.  I wanted to try for a PB. I managed it but it sure didn't feel like it was going to happen. A lot of tourists on the Grind, as well as kids (but very well behaved kids!) and even a couple 20 somethings that thought they could do the grind in flip flops and tight jeans. Really? It even says at the bottom its hard! I was happy I took a little over one minute off my last PB! 

I had my cyclocross bike instead of my road bike (was starting my search - finally - for my wetsuit) and was utterly shocked that I was so fast coming down Grouse Grind!! I was Queen of the Mountain!! He he, never sure when it's going to happen again so I had to take screenshot! Yes, I was super happy about it. I also did the Lion's Gate Bridge ON MY OWN! If you know me you know how terrified that bridge makes me. I started going fast on the downslope on the other side and started repeating "too fast too fast too fast". I wasn't going that fast.

After I calmed down a bit I headed over to Pacific Multisport. The owner was funny. As he handed me a wetsuit he thought might work he said "welcome to your first traumatic experience trying on a wetsuit". Didn't help that I was sweaty from the Grind and it was humid out. I walked out of the change room swearing because I couldn't get it up all the way. It fit but not properly around the neck and he didn't want to sell it to me. I might end up having to settle as they don't really make girls wetsuits for larger women. Maybe large women don't do triathlons?

My day ended with chickens so it was pretty good! I went for a run after dinner in my neighbourhood and was stopped in my tracks when I saw the chickens in the lawn! I've been on that street running a couple times, never saw the chickens! The neighbour saw me stop to take the photos and was giggling, probably happens a lot.

All and all, was a pretty good day off work! Who says you can't have fun exercising?

Who said Monday's were bad?

Had today off so got in 4125 metres of Kits Pool, in the pouring rain (outdoor heated), followed by one loop of the UBC Hill then a 10km run. To be fair, I had an hour break between the bike and run. Was overly hungry when I got home! Realized I hadn`t eatten much since lunch the day before.

I`ve been running to my heartrate and it seems to be finally working! My heartrate is remaining steady and my pace is getting (every so slightly) faster! This training to my heartrate is for one purpose, to be able to run a less than 5 hour marathon for....the Medoc!!!  You need to be able to finish a marathon in 6.5 hours, and this one is with wine, so, I better be able to finish it in 5 hours because I have a feeling I might be a little (lot) drunk by the end of it!!

Yes, I know there are other benefits as well to running a faster marathon, but, for now, this is the goal!! I`m only sad the theme for this year isn`t for next. Le sigh!

Newly discovered song of the day!

I need to get off the Hed Kandi channels on youtube. I didn`t realize Kelly Rowland was featured in this song a couple years ago, I`ve a new hill training song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3skLy7fngs

Song of the day

I'm loving this song right now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IJELRVYVMA

Panic attacks, cramps, and long weekend!

I know, maybe too much information in that title, but its true! I took a long weekend and it was fantastic to be able to train and rest all at the same time. Today, different story, but only because, well, cramps! I was balled up on my couch for most of the day, off for a much needed massage and then back to being balled up on the couch :) I did make some delicious roasted almonds tonight though! Raw/organic almonds tossed in MCT oil, a bit of local/raw honey and raw/organic cocoa. Yummy!!!

I'm still off tomorrow so its long swim, short bike, long run, find wetsuit day! Should be fun!!

The closer I get to Ironman the more panic attacks I have. Funny though, I'm having more panic attacks about the half ironman in July (three weeks away) then I am for Ironman. I do need to start running long again. I've been lazy, doing the Grind in place of my runs. I need to get back into running. There are times I want to just totally quit all of the training and then I found this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhsDOiDEXzc  I can't help but tear up (cry a lot) every time I watch this video. So moving and impressive. I want to go to Kona one year to watch, but I want to watch the last four hours of people coming across. What's really moving? When the oldest man in the race comes across the finish line and he looks as fresh as if he just did a 5km run!!!! Amazing what the body can do when you train year after year.

Training is going...well....

Depending on the day you talk to me, either fantastic or absolutely horrible. Some days I want to just give up and quit, other days I think, FUCK YAH, its amazing what I can do! And then I have a bad day again. This past week was a horrible training week, except for one thing, the Grouse Grind. For some reason I started off really slow and ended up doing really well (did it three times this week between everything else). I've gotten really lazy with my running and have replaced my 10km runs with doing the Grouse Grind. I know, I'm doing the Grouse Grind because I'm too lazy to do my 10km runs, but, in my brain it makes sense!

Anyway, the week of training started off on Sunday (Saturday my body decided it just want to sleep ALL DAY LONG). I biked to the top of Grouse Mountain with Jamie, then did the Grouse Grind with Andrea. The bike down was certainly more enjoyable then the ride up. The scariest part, coming across the Lion's Gate Bridge! I hate that bridge, with a passion. I was shaking when I came across, then the "fun" of the climb came up. I maybe wanted to die when I got to the base of Grouse, but I still did the grind and my friend Andrea had a big bottle of water waiting for me at the top!

Wednesday, while biking around Stanley Park, 4kms into the park I heard a giant POP like a firecracker. Blew out a tire, not just the tube but the actual tire as well! Good times. I had to carry it back to my work to deal with the next day. Annoying but I did feel a bit like a bad-ass walking out of Stanley Park carrying my bike on my shoulder. Have I ever mentioned it doesn't take much to amuse me? No? Well, its true! I was also blown away by someone offering me a lift of the park! Faith in humanity, restored!

I've a four day weekend that I'm using for extra training and sleeping, with probably a lot of eating. Here's to a great run this weekend, I will not do the Grouse Grind, well, I might on Monday but I won't do it as my 10km run!