Rest Week

August 7th, 2009

I had my 25th High School Reunion last week and Rich helped me put together a kick ass, video presentation and then a second photo presentation with mixed 80s music. It was great. I saw happy faces from high school that I haven’t seen in years. Some changed a lot, some not at all. Good times….

I have taken this week off to rest and regroup. It is wonderful to catch up on things that need attention… I will lace up the tennies again this weekend and see what adventures lie ahead. Somewhere with a dirt trail, somewhere with elevation and somewhere serene, I am sure.

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Torrey Pines State Beach to Mt. Soledad & Back

July 29th, 2009

Unsupported Suicide Half Marathon + Miles

I started out at the foot of Torrey Pines State Beach on Sunday, just after 5:30 a.m. I knew there were others running at this early start time, but didn’t know who. I realized that there were a few runners that passed me as I was closing up my car, but I didn’t think to ask if they were with the SD Ultra Runner Friends or SURF. So off I go with my fully charged iPod, fuel and attitude for this 16 mile run.

Immediately as I started charging up the inside of Torrey Pines hill, I switched on the Doubting Desi side of my personality and had to ask myself, “What the hell are you doing?” My logical side stopped me from charging up the steep grade as I hadn’t even stretched or warmed up.

When I reached the top, I began to stretch a bit and realized the enormity of the miles that would be ahead of me. Climbing the inside of Torrey Pines in itself is a task, but climb to the top of Mount Soledad after descending La Jolla Shores…and repeating in reverse??? Once again Doubting Desi wanted to dictate the mindset of this run. After a few words with myself I changed the tempo on the iPod and off I went. I realized that I was the only one in the Torrey Pines State Park during the long stretch of road. How peaceful to be in such an amazing place with views that go on forever on either side and no one around. It was all mine…and of course the rabbits that line the roads and trails in the morning.

I ran through UCSD searching for a water source or restroom as a precautionary measure and found nothing open. The campus that is usually bustling with life was as quiet as Torrey Pines was. Not even a jogger. Again, the hockey and track fields were full of the morning rabbit brigade.

As I neared La Jolla Shores Scenic heading south down to Ardath or La Jolla Parkway, as it is called now, I never realized the views from there. Wow, amazing. Why didn’t I bring my camera? Why are my knees feeling so good on this long descent? Why am I not running slow? Wow, the motivation and peaceful route was so much easier than I thought it would be. After running the last few weeks at 6,000 feet of altitude, running on the coast was glorious and smooth. No heat, elevation or jagged trails to deal with.

When I got to Hidden Valley I almost had to laugh out loud at the light when I realized that Mt. Soledad was WAY UP THERE! Holy Cow! I was a little frightened by the enormity of the climb ahead of me. Step by step, I just kept walking and then jogging when I could. I tried my hardest to not focus on the top of the mountain, but rather the next driveway or street sign. …and on and on this went for an hour and 10 minutes. When I got to the top and recognized a few towers, I knew I was there and that it was time to eat and enjoy the foggy view.

There was a fishing troller in the middle of the La Jolla Shores - Cove stretch and I was wondering what was going on. Maybe it was the Coast Guard, who knows it was hard to tell from where I was. Cyclists were beginning to make their daily pilgrimage to the top. The sun almost wanted to poke through the clouds from up there. The others should have been starting at 7:30 when I reached the summit of Soledad.

I began my descent and then I felt the knees begin to wobble…oh, yes, downhills are great! It felt nice to be cooled by the ocean breeze.

Soon enough I was climbing again…where was everyone else? I should have seen them by now. As I reached the edge of UCSD, I began asking runners (who wore the usual ultra runner attire) if they were with the group. Many I did not know, but we briefly chatted as we met up with each other. I was on my way back and they were going to only run 13 miles and end their journey for the day at the Cove.

I would do it again, though my calculations came to just below 16 miles, the Mapmyrun site states that it is 16.58 miles. Maybe the Polar unit I am using needs to be retired…this seems to be happening more and more and more.

Annual Mileage

Swim ~ 21 miles
Bike ~ 1654 miles
Run ~ 345 miles

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Day 1 - Noble Canyon 50k Training

July 19th, 2009

Well, when I filled out the check and mailed off my registration form for the Noble Canyon 50k, I hadn’t run more than 6 miles (in a row) on the roads since Ironman Coeur d’Alene last month. Bored with stagnation and recovery, I spontaneously picked the toughest local race. Last week I was fantasizing about keeping up my endurance and signing up for the Orange Curtain 100k (62 miles) when it opens in late fall.

Fast forward to yesterday, I met up with Madonna, Carol and Mo Mo and we ran 12 miles along the Pacific Coast Trail, Big Laguna Trail and did it all in 90 degree heat. At mile 3, I was wondering what the hell I was thinking. How easily I forgot about the gullies, rocks, inclines of up to 18%. and most importantly the elevation of 6,000 feet.

So, after the run was finished and I was charged with adrenaline, I felt better. It is great out there. When you feel like your feet are going to spontaneously combust, some one will be hiking by and say “Wow, you are out here running?! Good Job!” With a little stroke to the ego, we keep moving on until we are humbled by a guy on a mountain bike that comes sailing UP the terrain, jumping boulders. In turn, we say to them, “Wow, you are riding UP this mountain?! Good Job!”

Race day is September 26th. I will finish the course. I am only looking to finish; maybe not in stellar time, as Michelle Barton will complete the course in half the time as I. I just want to realize my limits of endurance out there in the Lagunas. It is tough. When I complete this race, maybe, just maybe I will fill out the 100k application when recovering…

Annual Mileage ~

Swim ~ 21 Miles
Bike ~ 1643 Miles
Run ~ 323 Miles

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Ironman Coeur d’Alene Closure

July 7th, 2009

Before anything else, I would like to thank my husband and daughters for managing the family crisis that was unfolding while I was in Idaho preparing for the race. I love you more than ever!

Two years ago, Rich, my daughter Arni and her best friend who lives in Coeur d’Alene (CDA) all watched and rooted as I completed my first Ironman. I barely finished the course before the cut off. Fast forward two years later and with three Ironman races under my belt; I decided to return to where it all began. Call it benchmarking my progress, or insanity, this course just beats me up.

The Swim ~

Once again, the lake was not similar to the conditions that I had trained in while swimming in the Pacific Ocean. I mean really, how does one prepare themselves for a choppy swim on the west coast? We have no fresh water swim conditions that mimic Lake Coeur d’Alene. If I swam in the ocean during the winter before a storm, I may be able to get the full effect of water plowing over my face when sighting the buoys.

While getting to the first buoy, I had my face down in the water exhaling and for the first time ever in any swim I was nailed by some one on the left cheek and shoulder. I believe it was an older man that was back stroking and semi-panicked. Soon after I paddled away from the helicopter appendages of this man, I realized that my molar cap was missing from my tooth. My shoulder and left arm were dead, almost like a Charlie horse. I could not control my arm. This is the strangest thing that I have ever experienced.

Transition 1 ~

I had to comment on this transition as I was unable to use my left arm to pull of my swim cap or wetsuit, I look up and there is a family member of Jena’s who also lives in CDA. What a sight for sore eyes. She grabbed me, knocked me down, ripped off my suit and listened to me whine about the swim. I stated “Never again” to her…I am such a drama queen. She sternly said “This part of the race is over, move on to the bike and have fun.” So, that is exactly what I did.

The Bike ~

The minute I got on the bike, I knew that it was going to rain at some point during the day. You could see it in the distance and the winds were swirling around every corner. I was out of the saddle on every hill and raced in the large chain ring. There was one hill on each loop that I sat down and switched to the easiest gear possible. It amazed me that two years ago I was barely able to stay on my bike on many of these hills and the conditions were stellar then. The wind picked up as the afternoon went on. After doing the Arizona course twice, wind does not fatigue me or make me angry anymore. The last mile on the course I felt a rain drop on my cheek as I was getting ready to get off of the bike…phew, just in time! My shoulder was acting up on most of the ride as I could not get comfortable in the aero position…since my fingers were cold anyways, I didn’t really notice that they may be a problem.

Transition 2 ~

Houston, we have a problem… I couldn’t get my left hand to unbuckle my helmet or tie my shoes. I just figured that my fingers were cold and that was it. Thank you volunteer Debby for helping get me out onto the run course. She offered to cement my dental cap back in on Monday at her office in town. What are the odds that a dentist was listening to me whine about my swim…again!

The Run ~

So off I go to challenge the same run course that nearly killed me two years earlier. The conditions this year were windy, cold and wet. It rained for the first loop and then was cold on the second loop. Two years ago I had a friend on a bicycle follow me for the last 10 miles (yeah, yeah, I know, against the rules). We didn’t know any better back then and I was walking dead, so she felt compelled to just stick with me as she was merely riding by originally checking on everyone’s progress.

I felt strong on the first loop and then at mile 22 decided, you know what, I am going to walk. I will finish more than an hour ahead of my last time here…what the heck, just walk for a mile and give yourself a break. Oops, that was a mistake. I walked the rest of the distance and finished an hour and a half ahead of two years ago. I did not bonk and I was secure in the fact that I would finish. For me, this was a win…tougher conditions both personally and environmentally. As I entered the run course, I was able to get an update on the family situation and was able to put my mind at ease.

Benchmarking ~

I would like to go back again in another two years and see what this course offers up on race day. Two years ago the conditions on the bike and run were stellar. This year it was windy, cold and wet. Both years the water was choppy. Ironman is a personal journey of endurance, reaching new limits and self realization.

8 Western States of Glorious Sight Seeing ~

The same as last time, we travelled in a rented mini-van. On the way up it was Rich and myself; on the way back, my eldest daughter Arni came back with us to see the sights in Zion and the St. George Utah Ironman course. During the road trip I always see how many states and Canadian Provinces I can find on license plates. We found six Provinces and 45 States. We counted steeples while driving through the city limits of Salt Lake City too…we were well over 50 and that is what we could see…can you imagine how many are not visible from the freeway?

We went to/through or by: the Sacramento State Capitol, Mt. Shasta, Oregon Caves, Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge, did the Ironman, toured Montana, Zion National Park, portions of the Ironman St. George course and then finally Las Vegas. Then we came home and napped on and off for a couple of days! 3,400 miles of exploration is good for the soul.

What’s Next ~

I have decided to casually run/walk the Noble Canyon 50k (33 miles) in late September. 10, 317 feet of elevation gain/loss from Pine Valley to Mt. Laguna and back. This is a rugged 2, 300 foot climb and descent with views into the desert and a nice run along the Pacific Crest Trail and Big Laguna Lake Trail.

I am doing my best to focus on family and friends this fall and spend quality time with everyone. Other than that, another benchmark will be the Carlsbad Marathon January 24th, 2010 and then of course Ironman St. George, Utah in May 2010.

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Back From Coeur d’Alene

June 25th, 2009

Time 15:24 - no excuses, but my altercation with a panicking swimmer on his back (I have named him the North American Kicking Fish) has left my left shoulder and arm “dead”, numb and/or weak. More when I can type again. Here is the diagnosis…

Neuropathy - Symptoms:
Common symptoms associated with damage to the motor nerve are muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. Loss of balance and coordination may also occur. Damage to the sensory nerve can produce tingling, numbness, and pain. Pain associated with this nerve is described in various ways such as the following: sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock”, burning, freezing, or electric-like, extreme sensitivity to touch.
Neuropathy - Treatments:
Not many…depends on individual case. In my case, Flexeril and physical therapy are what the doctor ordered this week, until I return next week.

So it hurts to write…I will write more later. Fun race…can’t wait to do it again.

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Off to Ironman Coeur d’Alene

June 17th, 2009

I know that I haven’t seen or talked with many of you over the last few months as I have been diligently training for Ironman Coeur d’Alene. Remember in 2007 when it was 10 minutes until midnight before I finished? I have been trying my best to work on faster hill climbing and running speed after riding 112 miles on the bike.

Training for Ironman is no easy feat. Four days a week I get up at 4:00 a.m. Some days I do two workouts. Some days it takes everything I have to stay awake if I am sitting still for more than five minutes. Some nights I do not get home until 9:00 p.m. Most all of this training takes place 25 miles (or more) away from my house. My bedroom looks like a bomb went off; my car is caked in dirt and smells like a gym bag. I finally changed my tires on my bike after the tread was literally flapping.

In previous seasons I have been exhausted just “learning the ropes”. This season was solely focused on efficiency while training. The mental state of mind that it takes to pay attention to every pedal stroke on a five hour ride up a mountain side is not an easy task at first. When my social riding habits wander off and starts looking at the scenery…my coach’s voice pops the visual relaxation bubble and barks, pedal stroke, abs, cadence…and so it goes. While swimming I have learned to stop sight seeing in the ocean and only focus on my stroke. When running I have learned to pay attention to my cadence, form, form, form, form.

Sounds pretty boring right? Well, my experience lately has been that shutting out the negative wandering thoughts and focusing on efficiency and cadence, really keeps the day moving along…in more ways than one. While dwelling on deficiencies during my first two races, I was racing the clock and allowing myself to walk or stop. My last Ironman was the first taste of what a little focus provides. Now I am focused and know how to keep that negativity and doubt at bay most of the time.

So, I am off to Ironman! My second visit to Idaho to swim 2.4 miles in Lake Coeur d’Alene, climb, descend and climb some more for 112 miles…and of course run the full 26.2 marathon after all of that!

My race number is 2449 and you can track my progress throughout Father’s Day next week at www.ironman.com. Use “Track An Athlete”. There is a way to view the finish line as well, but I have NO IDEA how to make that work…good luck. The gun goes off at 7:00 a.m. PST.

The month of July will be a blast as multiple family members are converging on San Diego and I will be relaxing and working in my yard…that is my only commitment…family and our property…of course until I start training for the new Ironman St. George, Utah race next May! I have a few months until then though.

Thanks for being a part of the journey this season!
Desi

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The Bunny Parade

June 13th, 2009

Bunny Parade

Today is the second day of my taper to Ironman Coeur d’Alene. I decided to run on the River Park trail here in Lakeside and do my sprints. Driving to La Jolla for a 45 minute work out seemed senseless. So, it was me and the bunnies at 6:00 a.m. this morning. I would run for 30 seconds - all out sprint and all the bunnies hiding in the scrub would run along side of me, seemingly keeping pace with me. I would stop for my recovery minute and they would dart into the shrubs alongside the trail. When I started running at my all out pace, again the next group would run alongside me until I stopped. This went on for four of my sprints down the trail. How weird is that? I mean, what the hell are they training for?

Recap of Last Weekend’s Training

I swam at the Cove last weekend and had a great meal before going up north to Marina Del Rey to hang out with a friend. We decided to ride the Los Angeles River Route Century together. It started at the Gene Autry Museum and went to Long Beach and then back.

I had to ride five and a half hours and we ended up just shy of 80 miles. I rode ahead of her for most of the sections as I was riding in pace lines with various groups of strangers. I rode with two Air Force guys, I paced a group of hispanic men who spoke Spanish the whole time, I rode with a hodge podge of groups that were trying to dump each other…that was fun and fast! I would wait at each aid station and we would regroup and off I would go to catch up with the next pace group.

Did you know that Los Angeles has a Twin Towers Correctional Facility in East LA? This century ride took us right through that part of town…I guess if you are going to get the view of Los Angeles, you need the ENTIRE scope of what makes that city tick…

Funny Things I Have Seen This Season
Each training season I come home with ridiculous stories about the funny things or people that I have met while out and about…here goes~
* Being passed by a guy on a fixed gear bike on the Gran Fondo, near Jamul
* Coming up on a snake on Iron Mountain
* Singing “The Lonely Goatherd” with Mo Mo and Diane
* Being given a tour of Borrego by locals
* Getting back in the ocean & seeing a school of Bat Rays the first day!
* Being 10 feet from an antlered buck in Penasquitos Canyon with Deb
* The Buzzards following me on a trail run…how did they know I was exhausted?
* Running RAGNAR Relay as a training run - especially the oil refinery pit stop!!!

Annual Mileage ~

Swim ~ 16
Bike ~ 1462
Run ~ 271

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A Change of Scenery…

June 3rd, 2009


Yaqui Pass

Weather for Borrego Springs, CA
96°F
Current: Clear
Wind: E at 0 mph
Humidity: 16%Sat

97°F | 70°FSun

97°F | 72°FMon

99°F | 70°FTue

97°F | 72°F

The last few weeks of Ironman training are always a blur. The body is fatigued, the brain is in habitual training mode and everything either becomes really funny and mundane or small things are a HUGE chore. Add a little adversity to the life mix and everything can seem magnified times ten.

Being that I am training for my fourth Ironman, I feel that there is nothing too huge and adversity would be there anyways…so embrace the distraction and keep on training. I take care of myself when I need to and stay on the schedule as much as possible. For instance, the only work outs that I have missed over the last three weeks are a few mid-week swim sessions and two time trials.

I am back swimming in the La Jolla Cove and have really enjoyed the return to the ocean. When I do not feel like viewing the fishies below, I have been swimming in a way less desirable spot, De Anza Cove. There are bouys that allow for interval training and no one is on that beach on weekdays…ever.

Last weekend Mo Mo and I headed out to Borrego Springs as it was sprinkling here. We rode in 97 degree weather for five hours. What a task that was. Riding was actually the easiest part…we climbed towards Yaqui Pass and Salton Sea…of course we enjoyed the never-ending flat roadways that were all recently paved too. The worst part about the trip was running for a half hour in the mid-afternoon temperatures. How easily I forgot how that feels. My body does okay on the bike when climbing and riding in high temperatures, but I physically felt the transformation into survival mode as my heart rate started soaring when I began to run. I could barely keep an 11 minute mile pace. Grueling, absolutely grueling…I hope Ironman Coeur d’Alene has moderate temperatures this year. I do not want a repeat of 105 degree Ironman Arizona.

With the joys of an upcoming wedding for my youngest daughter, spending time with my grandson, getting my son graduated next year, I look forward to finishing the Ironman season this summer and merely running ultra-races through the fall. That’s it…that’s the only thing that I have planned. I am only doing one Ironman this year so that I can focus on mountain trail running through the fall. 18 days until Coeur d’Alene, then a month off, then trails…here I come!

No pictures on this post this week…too busy to remember the camera…

Annual Mileage ~

Swim ~ 12 miles
Bike ~ 1312 miles
Run ~ 237 miles

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May 22nd, 2009

Below is an email that I wrote to my cousin who is away serving this fine country. He sends emails and I am grateful for that. He is an AVID sports fanatic and I finally get why he enjoys playing sports so much…

Hi Paul,

Exactly one month until Ironman Coeur d’Alene and I feel stronger than I ever have in my life. Both mentally and physically. It seems for years I searched for something that was mine. No one else’s, but mine. Triathlon is where I learned patience, endurance, inner-honesty and inner-strength that I truly never knew existed inside of me. I grew up confused and afraid of everything and everyone…not sure why. I never understood why people liked sports…boring…too much work and too much time spent sweating. All the things that I should have learned as life lessons, I did not find until I finished my first Ironman and understood commitment and achievement after the goal was completed. The doors have swung open and the flood is rapid. My whole life has come into focus.

Why did I not learn these lessons before you ask? I believe it is because I spent time on the bike, running and in the ocean talking one-on-one to a God of my understanding. Sometimes begging for mercy to just make it up this one hill. Sometimes I would wander off and have a chat with him about the past, present and his will for my future. Sometimes I would hear him in the wind as I was whizzing down a hill or in the trees as I ran through a tree canopy. Sometimes the answers came quickly; other times not until days, weeks, or months later. Sometimes I would have epiphanies and have to call my cell phone and leave myself a message about the thought pattern that just flashed into my conciousness.

I guess why I am chiming in on your email is that I understand now what I have found out there while enduring triathlon. I found myself by finding a higher power. How awesome is that. That is not what I was looking for when I started running and getting into triathlon…far from it. I just wanted to find myself…and that I did.

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Mother’s Day Weekend

May 11th, 2009

Who’s Getting Married…and Where?

Yesterday was Mother’s Day and as usual it was wonderful. When my youngest daughter Kyeri came over with her boyfriend, they made a proposition. If they helped with the landscape detailing…could they have a wedding reception in our back yard? There is an open acre of land behind our fenced yard that could be used for parking and the grassy area is at least a quarter acre. That’s a lot of space for guests, tables, etc. Our deck could be converted to a food and gift area and the entry way to the back could be converted to a nice flowery path for guests.

All this would have to be done by November 1st…but no pressure :} So, the good part of last night my husband and I were chatting it up about “getting it together”. Our first order of business is to have a landscaper come out here and give us an estimate on a property of our size. Some one we know has a gardner and they are paying him around $100 a month and their yard is no more than a postage stamp in front and back. What ever the cost, it would be worth the piece of mind to me…

Training


Above ~ Look who wanted to go with me!

At the Velodrome on Monday, I raced the 200 meter in 2 seconds faster than the month before. Woo hoo!

During the Fiesta Island Time Trial on Wednesday I did the 200 Kilometer in a half MPH faster than last month. I felt like a slug…

I felt fatiqued when I ran the entire week. That means I am right on course for an excellent time at the Ironman.


I rode the Great Western Loop in record time on Saturday with Tanya, Mo Mo and Victoria until she had bike troubles. Out of no where, in the middle of no where, my friend Bill was on the side of the road and offered to give her a ride back to her truck…amazing!

On Mother’s Day I got back in the ocean and swam a mile. It was time. It is as beautiful as I remember and not nearly as spooky as I remember after the sequence of events that I experienced last year. The sensation of the ocean rolling below you as you stroke through is calming and surreal. At the peak of the current you can see the bouy you are aiming for. At the valley of the flow, you are surrounded by green water and it encloses you. What used to confine me with Agoraphobia has gone away. The Ghirabaldi were out in force yesterday. I forgot how wonderful it was to look down into the depths of the Cove to see how far my eye sight could follow the towers of kelp.


On the long run yesterday down the La Jolla coast, the baby seals were absolutely adorable at the Children’s Pool. They are no larger than a full-sized house cat. Further down the beach, was a sea lion, huge, but dead…sad really. Back at the Cove a baby seal was being rescued by Sea World as it was abandoned by it’s mother and not doing to well.

Ironman Homework

Well, I am still compiling my “homework” list of things that I have learned over the last two years during the last three Ironman races. I think that the list will not be completed fully until after the race in Coeur d’Alene in June. At that point I can see the differences between the first time as an Ironman and then returning two years later during my forth Ironman on the same course that I completed my first race on.

Annual Mileage ~

Swim ~ 8 miles
Bike ~ 1007 miles
Run ~ 164 miles

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