Wildflower - Half Ironman

This past weekend I completed a 70.3 mile triathlon race. This is half of an Ironman:

a 1.2 mile swim

56 mile bike ride

and 13.1 mile run! 

What's worse (or better?) is I did this at Wildflower, one of the top 5 most difficult half Ironman distance races in the world. I can't even begin to put into words the insanity of this past weekend! .. So, this blog will be pictures.

 This is Wildflower:

 Wildflower is at Lake San Antonio in Paso Robles. There are no hotels, so you camp.. On the way up with all camping and triathlon gear

At our camp prepping bike for the race

You start with a 1.2 mile swim. Swim area before race:

Please note abs..

3. 2. 1. GO!! (ok, yes those are the pros.. I'm sure I look just as bad ass when I start)

Yes, you do get kicked in the face..

Me getting out of the water! Goal at this point: take off wet suit, don't fall over, find bike.

Next is a 56 mile bike ride, but first you have to take off your wetsuit, put on your bike gear, and FIND YOUR BIKE! All in a matter of minutes. For you non-triathletes, this is called transition

The Wildflower Long Course Bike ride would be beautiful if it weren't so hard.. This is the legendary 4 mile climb called 'Nasty Grade'

Me on bike:

Last you run 13.1 miles uphill. Yes, it is all uphill.. I don't know how this happened because logically you start and end at the same spot.. But somehow you only run uphill.

And the finish line:

IronMan Mad-libs

Before IronTeam:
Hey Janelle, how's it going?  I had such a crazy night, I went to the club and danced for hours! We got to the club pretty early, around 11PM or so.  For the first couple hours I did my best to get as drunk as possible but later I was definitely feeling it. My dress got a rip but I managed to fix it. After the club, we were starving so we went and gorged at Swingers in Santa Monica. Afterwards I passed out.. I drank so much vodka and red bull.. I tried to recover by drinking lots of water but still woke up this morning extremely hungover.  All I want to do is lie in bed, I'm going to be dead at work tomorrow, hopefully my boss doesn't notice. What a great time, it was totally worth it. 

After IronTeam:
Hey Janelle, how's it going?  I had such a crazy morning, I went to IronTeam practice and biked for hours! We got to practice pretty early, around 730AM or so.  For the first couple hours I did my best to hydrate but later I was definitely feeling it. My tire got a flat but I managed to fix it. After practice, we were starving so we went and gorged at Swingers in Santa Monica. Afterwards I passed out.. I drank so much powerbar perform drink..  I tried to recover by drinking lots of powerbar recovery but still woke up this morning extremely sore. All I want to do is lie in bed, I'm going to be dead at  practice tomorrow, hopefully coach Brad doesn't notice. What a great time, it was totally worth it. 


While the 'Before IronTeam' was fun the 'After IronTeam' is a much more satisfying and fulfilling fun. Also a lot healthier :)

How an IronMan-in-Training Spends a Weekend

So this blog should be about how I biked 60 miles today, or about how I finished my first Triathlon last weekend, or how I love IronTeam or some other motivational sht, but instead I want to outline my weekend because I can't believe that this is now my life. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying it is a lot, A LOT of work training for an IronMan. I used to spend my weekends shopping, clubbing, drinking, sleeping-in, relaxing, running errands, visiting friends and family.. But now, this:

Friday night:
Get home from work at 7. Eat healthy meal in preparation for 4 hour ride the next day. Debate about having a beer for about 20 minutes.. barely decide it isn't worth it thus zero alcohol consumption this Friday night.

Prep for the 4 hour ride including filling water bottles, washing riding clothes, planning nutruition etc.  This is more complicated than it sounds.

Bed by 11.

Saturday:
Wake up at 645, 'fuel' up with oatmeal. Apply Chamois Butter. Leave for practice at 730.

Arrive at PCH and hear route, BIKE RIDE FOR FOUR FCKING HOURS: pedal, pedal, pedal, hydrate, pedal, pedal, pedal (and so on). Finish ride and immediately RUN HILLS FOR 30 MORE MINUTES. Stretch, drink recovery drink, act perky to try to mask the pain (fail), listen to pep talk from coaches..

At this point it is already 1:30 in the afternoon, I've burned probably over 2500 calories and I am starving so head to lunch with IronTeam.. Scarf food, occasionally remembering to chew.

Lunch ends around 330. Limp/stagger home for long hot shower and 100% necessary power nap (best part of day). This isn't a normal nap either, it's more like a state of coma..

Ok, now it's 530 PM, I have done nothing all day but train and recover from training..  I remember that I am not only doing an IronMan but also trying to raise $6000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma in order to do this IronMan... I am trying to throw a fundraiser so I sit down for 2 hours and research a bunch of venues for my fundraiser, send emails, search for companies that will donate stuff.. etc.

At 800  cook a healthy dinner in preparation for the next workout, eat, clean kitchen..Again, zero alcohol consumption.. Honestly, I don't even want to go out at this point.. It hurts too much!

Since I have another workout tomorrow I have to go to bed early, so at 9 I prep water-bottles, running gear, set alarms, etc..

Blog about IronWeekend because maybe people will pity me and donate to my cause.. (hint hint)

Bed by 1030..



Sunday my schedule will most likely be:

Wake up @ 745, 'fuel' for 11 mile run. Get to practice, RUN 11 MILES. Finish practice around 1130.. Head straight to the POOL to SWIM for 1+ hours! Shower and head home. So around 2 I'll be done working out for the day...

For the few non working-out hours I have I plan to visit as many potential fundraiser venues as possible with the goal of choosing one.

6PM- head to West Hollywood to support teammates at a fundraiser...

11PM- crawl into bed, yes, literally crawl. At this point I will have biked 60 miles, ran 11 and swam nearly 2 in the last 48 hours.. I will have devoted pretty much every waking moment of my weekend to Team in Training.  I wish I could finish this with something motivational and inspiring but I won't because, first, I doubt anyone read to this point anyone, and second.. I'm too tired.

First Triathlon this Weekend!!

I will be participating in Desert Tri this weekend! My first triathlon and exactly one quarter of a full IronMan. I'll swim 800 meters, bike 24 miles, and run 6 miles. Suuuper excited :) Will be able to officially say I am a triathlete.

For all two people who actually follow this blog (thanks Mom) I'd like to update you on my training.. When I started I had never been on a road bike, never ran more than 13 miles, and was barely a decent swimmer.. Now I can bike over 52 miles, run over 10 and swim 2000+ meters no problem.

I love this from teammate Marvin:

Music for Running - What gets you going?

I just got a new iPod for running and I need to fill it with awesome songs that motivate me to run! I like a fast tempo .. Please help me fill my playlist! So far most of what I have is club/dancing music.. Which is appropriate because training has significantly cut into my clubbing time.. :(

This is a great warmup/ get you going song:

42 Miles on PCH

Very cool video of my Saturday ride put together by teammate Rommel C..... If only it went by as quick :)

PCH40 from Rommel Calderon on Vimeo.

THANK YOU!!!!

I sent out an email two nights ago asking for donations to my Leukemia and Lymphoma fundraising campaign. I am absolutely thrilled at the response! I was able to raise nearly $1500 in less than 48 hours! WOW! What amazing friends and family I have. A very special thanks to all of you who donated!

That being said, I know the real reason people donated is because of the awesome tee-shirt with my face on it that I promised:

If you donate $50 or more to my fundraiser by January 17th you can also get an awesome tee shirt :)

Thanks again everyone! I am so lucky to have such amazing, supportive friends and family.