Great week - all inclusive!

I really had a tremendously good week of work-outs.  Some weeks are like that – and I am grateful.

Unfortunately, after our regular Tuesday morning run (6 miler), Matt came down with the sickness.  He knew something wasn’t right when we attempted our usual route on Tuesday morning – and to be honest, I knew something wasn’t right, as well.  Matt really never complains on runs.  Rather, he deals with my whining (about the heat and/or humidity).  Not Tuesday – Matt was unhappy for the majority of the run, but allowed me to chat at him for a full hour (1:02 to be exact).  It was among our worst times, as well.  By 3pm Tuesday, Matt had left work to climb into bed and not be seen for 36 hours.

For someone sick as a dog, he looks pretty good, don't ya think?

I, on the other hand, had a great, strong ride on Wednesday morning – putting 18 miles on my legs at an AVS of 17.9.  Then Thursday, Matt was still not 100% and the rains had made the trails into mud-traps, so I did my usual 6 mile route in 56:27.  Knowing I could still pull sub 9:30’s through the Foothills in the heat and humidity meant a great deal and I was really feeling good about all of the training.

Friday morning, a healed-Matt showed up at my house just before 5am so that we could do a slightly longer ride than our usual 20.  He really wanted to allow me the opportunity to take the lead for the entirety of the ride – including the toughest of the hills.  He’d told me that I needed to be at 90% for the whole ride and that he’d be cracking the whip if I got below 18 mph on the flats.  So, I was excited and nervous about this ride.

I was doing really well for the first 4-5 miles when suddenly it felt like we were riding through a trough of bugs.  As we inched farther through it, we both realized that it had actually started to rain.  By the time we got to the end of that particular stretch, it was an all-out downpour.  Luckily, we were next to a Park and Ride with covered parking spots, so we darted under for a small respite.  5-10 minutes later, I told Matt I was convinced the rain had passed and that we should head back out and try to finish what we started.

I was doing relatively well until I blew up on one of the larger hills (24th Street) – then it was all I could do to stay motivated as Matt reminded me from behind, “try to keep it over 18 mph, Mer.”  (The Bastard!)  As we crested the toughest of the hills on Desert Foothills, the rain began to rear its ugly head and by the time we’d reached the bottom of the hill, it was a torrential mess!  Streets were flooding, shoes and socks were soaked through and we could barely see in front of us.  Looking at our bike computers, we could see we were 12 miles into our ride and another 7 miles from anywhere we might gain shelter.  All we could do was pray it would ease up.  And, as it did, we made a left hand turn right back into it to head home.  I was miserable and Matt was laughing (hopefully at the ridiculousness of the situation and not at me).  I was riding as hard as I could through the sheets of rain, feeling more and more defeated with every rotation.  Then, my bike computer crapped out – it was too wet to continue, I guess.

As we hit the 17th mile, Matt signaled for me to make a left on 24th Street so that we could just ride to his house, throw my bike in his wife’s car, and get out of this “shit”.  And, so we did.  Of course, this also meant, I had to shower, drive back to Matt’s to pick him up and take him to his car (parked in front of my house) so that we could both get to work on time.  Needless to say, we were NOT on time to work, but some days are just like that.

Through the car windshield as Matt drove me home - what a mess.

No way to take the picture outside -- post-ride shot inside the cabin of Matt's car.

Saturday morning, I woke up excited for a new adventure.  Jim and I decided we needed some practice in an Open Water Swim (race) and had both signed up for a 2000 meter swim at/in Lake Pleasant.  Jacqui came with us.  I was thrilled with the course, but less thrilled with my time.  I was hopeful that I would be under 52 minutes – but I was closer to 55 minutes by the time all was said and done – 3rd to last.  The water was lovely, but I know where I have some work to do!

Pre-Swim shot: Jac and Mer

And, that gets us to THIS morning.  Brent agreed to try another 10 mile run with me at 5am.  We hit the road on time and headed deep into the Foothills to do one of the tougher ten mile routes.  I think one of the things I appreciate most about Brent is that we really have a great time hashing out our weeks with one another.  We’re running together a lot more often, now, and it feels really good to be able to have him to lean on when times are tough at work or personally.  Brent hasn’t been putting big miles on his legs much lately, so I am always really pleased when he decides to hit the long runs at my side.  As we hit the top of one of the toughest hills (at mile 8.75), Brent tells me he’s dragging.  I smiled and told him we only had a little over a mile left and it was almost all downhill.  I think I got a smile out of him, as he agreed to trudge on – and with huge success.  With only about ½ mile to go, I said to Brent, “our last ten miler in the heat was 1:47, right?”  “I think so!” he uttered.  With only a smidgen left I could see we were going to blow those numbers away.  We did!  Total time 1:38 – avg pace 9:48.  Not too shabby, considering the heat and humidity haven’t really left the valley (although it was at least 5 degrees cooler today than the last time we headed out, together).

Proud post-run picture!

After saying our goodbyes, I ran into the house, changed into my bike jersey and shorts, tossed my bike into the back of my car and headed to South Mountain Park.  Once a month they have what they call Silent Sunday – an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the park without cars driving through and around all of the sites.  I took advantage of the early run finish and was in the park by 7:15am.  The heat was already rearing its ugly head, but I wanted to get a short, hilly ride through San Juan Road.

And, I did – with huge success.  I was dying at the start, but found my groove a couple miles into the ride.  As I hit the lowest point on the ride and headed back up the hills, I realized I was able to pass rider after rider.  No one passed me at all.  In fact, at one point some jackass (male) and two female riders had completely stopped at the top of one of the steepest points (likely because they were dying) and took up an entire lane of traffic.  Naturally, I scolded them and asked them to be courteous enough to move to the side of the road.  I knew he yelled something back at me as I passed, but I didn’t hang out to find out exactly what.  Instead, I hear another woman (right behind me on the hill) quip back at him – again I had no idea what transpired.

She worked hard to catch me on the next hill and told me what had occurred.  I guess he said something like, “Can’t you just go around us, bitch?”  So, she told me she said, “Look, asshole, we can go around you, but common courtesy would be for you to move to the side of the road.”  I appreciated her tale and then we rode together bitching about male riders for a good mile after.  I feel fortunate that I ride with some very accommodating, courteous men – but they are not the majority, I promise you.

44 minutes later, I finished another great ride: 12.5 miles and an avs of 16.9.  I was never so pleased.  What a fantastic morning!  I am feeling more and more ready for this triathlon.

South Mtn in the Background of my great ride!

My breakfast buddy shortly after finishing a great morning run and ride!!!  

20 days and counting...

My friend Matt and I always joke that he’s a cyclist with a running problem and, on the flipside, I am a runner with a cycling problem.  This just means that when it boils down to it – he typically doesn’t miss a ride and I typically won’t miss a run.  However, the heat, these last few weeks, has certainly made cycling a hell of a lot more attractive than running.  What we’ve both found is that we’re pretty good on the run until somewhere mid-mile-three.  Then it’s a struggle to do anything without thinking about the heat, the thirst and the discomfort even breathing.  The monsoons have brought us an incredibly humid August and we have both been pretty miserable.

Tuesday’s 6 mile run wound up being a 3.5 mile run and a 2.5 mile walk.  And, Thursday’s trail run wound up being a 5+ mile trail run with some intermittent walking after mile 4.

However, I must have been on fire on Wednesday when we met for our 20 mile ride.  For a change, we opted not to do a ton of hill repeats and rather just hit the largest of the hills and then did some rolling hills around Ahwatukee and Pecos Road.  The ride started off with me in tears due to a tough (prior) day at work and a severe leak in my master bathroom, but ended with me pulling 21-22 mph at the front in the last several miles of our ride.  Matt claims I dropped him on the last hill, but I think he just gave up and I trudged forth.  It did feel good to pass him, until I realized he was fairly far behind me on the flats after the hill.  I am a crappy riding partner – I didn’t even realize he wasn’t with me.  (You should know he would NEVER do that to me.  Matt is VERY conscious of my comfort, speed and location at all times when we ride.)  Regardless – we had a great ride and I think, once again, Matt has a lot to be proud of.  He has, after all, taught me everything I know (about riding).

Do I need to label these, anymore?

At work on Wednesday, and given the great ride that morning, Matt was already talking about our 25 mile ride he was planning for Friday morning – lots of hills and speed work.  But, as luck would have it, when our respective alarms went off on Friday morning – it was pouring rain.  No ride for us.  Naturally, I took that opportunity to get to the pool and push out another 2000 meters, which – with the exception of the lousy company in the pool – was a fantastic alternative.

You’ll all be glad to hear, I actually took the day off on Saturday.  It had been some time since I took a day off of training; not to mention, I had to be in the office for a full day of work – last weekend prior to the start of the semester.

After a good night’s sleep, I awakened at 3:30am this morning so that I could push out a long work-out before the horrible sun and heat took over the valley.  By 4:15am, I was in the pool.  The 1500 meters came easily and I finished in 38:07.  Not my best time, but I will take it.  My right shoulder was a little sore, so I spent several hundred meters focused on working it out – it may have taken a few seconds off my time – but nothing I am remotely worried about.

After throwing on my bike shorts and shoes, I pulled my bike out of my car and headed out just before 5am.  However, before I could even get through the gym’s parking lot, I had dropped my chain.  I was really annoyed and it changed my focus, entirely.  I was nervous – I have never had an issue on a ride that didn’t include Matt.  Let me just say that putting the chain back on is MUCH easier when he is standing over me, holding my bike upright and coaching me through it.  However, after several very frustrating minutes moving my pedals and propping my bike up on my head – I managed to get my chain back on and was off.

As I turned west to head back into the foothills, I was met with a WALL of wind – and I mean wind like I had never experienced on a ride before.  My brain was already in an annoyed state for losing time with the chain, but now I was going to have 10+ miles of my 20+ mile ride facing 20-25 mph winds (and yes, the first of the major hills is due west and is all I thought about for the 30 minutes of riding prior to hitting it).  You can only imagine how defeated I was – but I trudged through.  I worried about dropping my chain and blowing a tube every inch of the ride, so I was never so happy to get the windy ride over with and pull into the parking lot of the gym, again.

As I took off my bike shorts and replaced them with my running shorts, I received a text from Anne telling me that she got a late start on her run and would meet me for breakfast at (closer to) 7:30am.  This was no problem – between the chain and the wind, I was also running behind.  

Soaked an unsure whether to even take a pic.

The temps were in the upper 80’s, the humidity levels were over 70% and the sun was beating down on me as I made my way into my run.  My legs felt fine, but I was soaked from head to toe.  By mile two I could feel my shoes soaked through and my socks sloshing around in them.  The sweat was pouring off my head, arms and legs like a faucet.  I drank from my Camelbak earlier than usual, but nothing seemed to quench my thirst.  As I approached the second mile I decided that 5 miles was not going to kill me – even though I had planned 6 – so I made a sharp right along a lovely trail/path through a Tempe neighborhood.  I took a couple of little water-walk breaks, just to try to get something back in my system, since I was losing water faster than I could consume it.

I was, sadly, out of water before I hit mile 4.5 and decided that cutting the run short was one of my smarter decisions.  Besides, I was tired and soaked to the bone.

I finished another tough 3 hour work-out in preparation for the San Diego Triathlon in another 20 days.  I KNOW the weather in San Diego has to be better than Phoenix; so please join me in praying to the weather gods that I am right.

Post-Breakfast at the Airport Cafe -- we're both finally less damp!

Ok, enough about me…nap time.

The Day the Circus Came to Town

Some weeks are simply more challenging to write about than others.  This week, however, was full of greatness and I am excited to tell the tale.  Oddly, enough – I think I am so excited to tell you about it that I haven’t a clue where to begin.

So, while there was a great (but painfully hot) 5 mile trail run on Thursday and another incredibly difficult and hilly 20 mile ride on Friday morning – this tale MUST truly begin on Friday evening.

Post-Trail Run on Thursday

And, post ride on Friday.

About two years ago I started going to a new General Practitioner – Dr. George Roso.  After my first visit, I knew I’d made a fantastic decision to change GP’s – he was young, understood my passion for endurance sports and always seemed to relate to me, not to mention he was single and absolutely easy on the eyes.  On my first visit, I told him I was a marathon runner – so he asked me if my knees suffered any pain.  Enthusiastically I answered, “yes!” Fully expecting some sort of miracle drug or a stretch to assist with that very pain.  His response, “Yeah, so do mine.  You’re the picture of health.”  Within that same year, during a routine visit to his office, he hopped up on the medical table with me and showed me his new found passion – Trapeze.  From his iPhone, there were pictures and videos, and Dr. Roso in tight clothing.  The only thing not-so-perfect about this picture, I wondered if heterosexual men liked trapeze, or if I my gay-dar had simply not caught on because he was so interesting.

Well, fast forward another 18 months and Dr. Roso invited me and 3 of my co-workers to join him at his newly created Trapeze School.  THIS was Friday my night.

I wish I could tell you all about it, but there simply are no words to explain the amount of fear, excitement, pride, strength and camaraderie that took place for all of us that night.  We all took pictures and videos of each another – and Erica was nice enough to compile it all for us.  I have done a lot of cool and exciting things in my life, but this was certainly one of the most memorable for all of us.  It was hard, but once you got the hang of it, it was only about listening for the commands of Colby – Dr. Roso’s colleague and right-hand man – and executing.   Also assisting them was Dr. Roso’s lovely girlfriend, Teri (yes, yes…I know).   She was delightful and encouraging – just as Dr. Roso and Colby were.

Kim, Mer, Colby, Erica and Sam

Saturday morning, I woke up with incredibly sore abdominals, arms and shoulders.  But, I trudged through 1600 meters in the pool, anyway.  My times were just awful, as I thought about the pain during every stroke and just tried to concentrate on finishing.  I could not do all 2000 meters, as planned, so I cut it short after I’d hit 1500, since that’s what I need to be able to crunch out at the Tri in 4 weeks.  I actually thought the pool might loosen me up.  It didn’t – I was tired and sore the entire time I was in the water.

I’d set my alarm for 4:10am, this morning, because I knew I needed to be on the road for my 10 mile run by 4:45am without fail.  I had agreed to meet Kris at South Mountain Park to watch her complete the last of the 5K Summer Series, and she had agreed to drive me home after she finished.  Yes, my 10 mile route would take me to a race finish line – kind of cool, I thought.  Much to my chagrin, the temps at 4am in Phoenix were an impressive 95 degrees, cooling to 93 by 5am and then heading up again.  I needed this to be a better effort than the prior week, but knew that was going to be tough.

My route, this morning, consisted up climbing up for a few miles and then taking the canal along the north side of the South Mountain Preserve and then eventually completing the climb into South Mountain Park, where Kris would be doing her 5K.  And, it was a gorgeous choice for morning routes.   Not only does the canal get really close to the side of the mountain, but there are homes up there that are stunning works of architecture.  You can only see many of them from the canal, as they rest snuggly into the edge of the mountain as it ascends.  I wished I’d felt compelled to stop and take pictures of some of them – but there were simply too many to stop.  I really wanted to see the race start (and finish), so I was focused on finished the run by 6:30am.  
Some of the climbs toward the mountain were tough, so I walked a minute or two only 2 times – just to get my breath and cool off a smidge.  But, my times had been good enough that I thought I could risk a couple of respites here and there.  I only needed them at mile 6.5 and mile 8.

10 miles done and felt really good!

As I climbed my way into South Mountain Park, I really pushed myself to finish strong.  The prior 1.5 miles had been up, up and up – so cresting into the park for the last .5 miles was fantastic.  I finished in 1:41 – a solid 6 minutes faster than last week’s flat route.  I was really pleased with myself and YEP – I caught the start of the race.  I landed at the starting line 4 minutes prior to the horn blowing.

It was great to see Kris finish what is always the most difficult of all of the Summer Series courses.  As I say each week after my trail runs – South Mountain can and does defeat all of us from time to time.  It’s good that we get out there and try to beat it down every now and again!  Good work today to Anne, Loretta and Kris – they all got out and hit the pavement!  And, to my workout buddy, Matt – who should be finishing up an incredibly difficult 18 mile trail hike/run, soon.  We should all feel pretty good about our accomplishments, today!

Swims, rides, runs and weight gain/loss!

Monday of this week marked the end of our 4 day work-weeks, but it also meant that I would have an hour more time to finish my daily workouts, shower, eat and get to work.  The week prior I had lamented to Matt on one of our rides that I’d gained a ½ lb and was annoyed – because I’d been working so hard to eat right and work-out consistently.  To gain a ½ lb was an insult.  Putting it in perspective, he said “ya know, my wife always gains weight around ‘that time of the month’ ”…

So, keeping in mind that it had been “that time (of the month)”, I stepped on the scale with trepidation on Monday morning (after my 2000 meter swim) and I had not only lost the ½ lb I thought I gained the prior week, but another lb, as well.  All was not lost.

Tuesday morning, Matt met me for a 6 mile road run – which wound up being 4-5 miles of running and at least a mile of walking.  It was ok – sometimes your runs need to be about good conversation and company and less about pace and heart-rate.  Right?!  (Well, we thought so.)

We look good...probably because we walked the last mile!

Wednesday morning, though, we really cranked it up on the bike and decided that the additional time we had in the mornings needed to be filled with tough hill training – and we really cranked out one of the hardest hill rides we’ve ever done together.  My bike computer reminded me with each hill that I am getting stronger and better – and that I should fear San Diego less and less.  21 miles later, we felt accomplished!  I should also tell you that my work-out buddy – the one who convinces me that I don’t need the peanut M&M’s when I crave them, the one who told me how proud he was (of me) when I resisted an entire tray of brownies all day, even though they lay in front of me and everyone who came by ate one – Yes, HIM!  HE TEXTED ME FROM THE DRIVE-THRU OF BOSA DONUTS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON and moments later appeared in my office with an entire box of deliciousness, explaining that he had already consumed TWO!  All I could think about was the ½ lb I had almost gained the week prior.  But, dang it, I reached into the box of good-ness and ate one!  (Shaking fist at Matt!)

So, when I got the morning text on Thursday saying he was “too tired” to do a trail run with me, I strapped my feet into my trail shoes and headed out, alone – to work off that goddamned donut!  The sun had not quite come up when I reached the trail, so I had to be uber cautious at first, but got into a nice groove by the 3rd mile, when I passed a couple of mountain bikers who commented about how “hard core” I was while running up one of the tougher inclines.  I went further than I typically do on my trail runs, so it was a huge accomplishment.  It also solidified (to me) that the dang Bosa was a thing of the past.  Trail running is so much more difficult than street running – and as you can see, its 100% more aesthetically rewarding!  6 miles later, I headed home to send my stats to Mr. Sleepy-head!

About 1/4 of the way -- at the top of a tough climb!  So gorgeous!

Accomplished!

And, of course, Friday was no longer a day off, so our 30-40 mile rides quickly became a thing of the past.  But, Matt did get his ass out of bed on Friday for another nice 20 mile ride through the foothills – kicking my butt all the way up the tougher hills.  One day…one day.

Bosa-butt and me, post ride!

Saturday morning I woke early to swim because I knew I needed to pick Anne and Loretta up at 7:15am from their runs.  (They decided to have their long run end at a favorite breakfast joint and I would be their ride home.)

After cranking out the BEST 2000 meters I have ever had (49:58), I dried off and stepped on the scale, again.  Maybe the thing needs recalibration, but according to the scale I use each and every week (and every time I swim),  I worked off that Bosa and more – the thing said I had lost another 4.8 lbs that week, which officially brings me to 1.5 lbs less than I weighed the day I started high school in 1987!  Boy, how nice would it be if it was actually right.  I’ll see tomorrow, I suppose.

I bears mentioning that Anne and Loretta finished their 6 and 8 mile runs with flying colors and I was never so proud to be the Sherpa who brought them both home, after!

Loretta showing Sean the Reverse Camera Feature.  He loved it!

Around 3am, this morning, I rolled over and remembered that the women’s Olympic marathon was to begin, so I clicked the TV on in the bedroom to have in the background before actually rising for the day at 4:15am.  By 5am, Kara Goucher was clearly not going to be the winner and Brent landed at my house to push out another 10 mile run.

I abandoned the marathon viewing to head out into 91 degree temperatures for 10 miles.  We did very well for about 6.5 miles, but then really become outdone by the heat.  We resolved to do some walking here and there and finished the 10 miles in what may have been our slowest time, ever: 1:47.  I know I have mentioned it before in this blog – but I really need to be more “ok” with my times in the heat than I am.  I cannot quit training, so I just have to know that some mornings are going to destroy me/us and it’s about having the motivation to continue and also having enough water to hydrate properly.  Today we had both – even though our times were not pretty.  I am just glad we pushed through it and finished!

We made it -- a little less sweaty than last Sunday!

Here’s to hoping I can convince my running/cycling buddies that the heat won’t kill us – even though it may defeat us from time to time.  Just think – only about 8 more weeks of this!  (smile)