Honoring my most influential Ironmen before my 2014 journey

It's almost 2014.  It's gonna be a HUGE year for me.  It feels like I should reflect on my past journey to appreciate the one in front of me, especially when it gets really difficult to Just Keep Moving Forward. 

 

I've been thinking about a full Ironman since June, 2011. It was just a flickering of an idea that came pretty much out of nowhere.  Call it luck or insanity.  I kept thinking about it louder after each time I met a Full Ironman triathlete. These are the triathletes that have impacted me the most and I really want to honor them as I face my 2014 ironman journey.  I know as I endure my Ironman race on Nov. 16, I will reflect on each of you to give me the strength to do my very best to cross that finish line. I will carry your names on my forearm at IMAZ because you were all with me to get me to my ultimate goal.

 

 I met my first Ironman at LA Fitness.  She was in her 20's and had a pair of twins. I thought it was insanely awesome to accomplish such a goal.  Her passion was contagious and it made me research her hobby.  Ashley was a superwoman to me.  She had no idea that she would change my life.  I saw her finishline picture and was in such awe of her IM St. George accomplishment.  Because of her, I have met so many other amazing Ironmen.  I never would have crossed their paths without Ashley's contagious passion and influence.  I will forever be indebted to her for showing me the path to triathlons. I even won a contest writing about Why I Tri and her impact on my sport.  That $100 helped me with one of my first triathlon purchases which was the Garmin Forerunner 310XT! I couldn't believe how much this watch cost!  Little did I know the amount of money I would spend over the next few years!! Thank you so very much Ashley Jensen Paulson! You will always be my original Rockstar Mentor!

 

 

Every time I have met an Ironman, they have turned out to be pretty damn awesome.  I love their dedication.  I love that the journey means more than their finish time.  I love how they all give back to the newbies.  My 2nd Ironman connection was James Cengiz Ismailoglu.  I went to an intro meeting for TCSD Cares.  I stared at him like he was Super Human.  He started in TCSD Cares like me, but a year plus a few months later, finished IMAZ.  How can that happen?  I can barely finish a marathon.  How do you train for 140 miles if 26 seems so daunting? I've followed James' journey while zigzagging on my own tri journey.  Wow he really is incredible.  He is giving; he is patient; he is determined; he is focused; he is relentless; he just loves the journey.  He really is my super human triathlete mentor.  I wondered if one day I could somehow, maybe, join that IM circle too. But, I just couldn't understand how people do this.  It is just such an overwhelming achievement.  I am a mere mortal with no athletic background.  I just can't see the light.  But I was still attracted to the possibility.

 

Then I met Dean Sprague.  How can we be the same age? How can someone finish over 25 Ironman races and still be alive?  He is so humble, so wise, so giving. Who enters a Full Ironman race with a newbie just to be by their side for almost 17 hours to ensure they finish? Seriously??? He probably could have finished a double Ironman in 17 hours!  He joined my club race team when we had a 3 person club race just for the challenge! I am so proud to know Dean.  He is the most humble athlete I have ever met. I just love his Tigger bounce when he runs by me like a freight train! His kind encouragement and club support is absolutely relentless. He taught me everything I know about the Garmin 310XT so I can teach others. His tri journey has shown me that anything is possible if you just dedicate yourself to the goal.

As I worked on my technique, my endurance, my feet, and had plenty of setbacks,  I watched Tracy Cohen-Peranteau.  She is incredibly positive with every level of triathlete she meets. Her personality shines proudly through her multiple Ironman tattoos on her leg.  She is also such a giving and supportive teammate in our tri club world.  She must have seen my pain as I tried to finish strong at the San Dieguito half marathon and so she helped me finish strong by making me chase her to the end! Wow - never has a finish hurt so good! It was one of my most rewarding races to date. Tracy is a giver in so many ways, whether her classroom or a triathlete, she is highly respected for her level of fitness as well as her inspiration to others.  I am so lucky to know this amazing Ironman. I will especially think of Tracy on my IMAZ run because I don't know anyone who can pick up a pace at mile 20 so they can reach the podium!

My online Ironman mentor this year has to be SwimBikeMom. She has shown me that anyone that has a crazy busy life, weight issues, kids, injuries, fears, phobias, can be an Ironman with determination and perseverance. She showed me by example that anything is possible and even a mere mortal with no athletic ability, can build on their technique and confidence which will lead one to believe it is possible to  reach an Ironman goal. I am so grateful that she blogs her journey. She has given me incredible courage through her own experiences. She has helped me believe in myself all year in 2013. Always dream HUGE! and Just Keep Moving Forward... Thank you Meredith, I definitely will.

 

Rachel IMLT

Julie the Coach

My most important Ironmen for 2014 have to be Julie (Moss) Dunkle and Rachel (Rocket) Wills.  These women know how to calm me, support me, and push me to be better than I thought possible. Rachel has advised me on all of my questions and set me up with all of my tri equipment.  Of course my new tri bike is appropriately named Rachel Rocket. Julie is coaching me to the finish line with her incredible experience and patience.  I am so grateful to have them both on my journey through my multiple events in 2014.

 

Ashley, James, Dean, Tracy, SBM, Rachel and Julie will give me the strength and confidence to achieve my 2014 goals. I am so grateful for their influence and experience.  They are all incredible and these Ironmen will take me across each finish line in 2014.  My dream is to hear from Mike Reilly while I am searching the chute for my supportive family who will be putting up with this very difficult year of milestones and cheering me on every step of the way.  This journey is going to be epic. It takes a village to create an Ironman and I will carry each of them with me every step of the way. My celebration will be at IMAZ on November 16, 2014. I am so excited for 2014!
 

My 2013 tally (base building for my 2014 journey)
2 successful foot surgeries/recoveries.
2 Ironman 70.3 races, Cali & SOMA
1 marathon, Half Moon Bay
8 half marathons, (LA New Years, Tinkerbell, Surf City, San Dieguito, SD Half, SF Half #2, Costume Party, Wine/Dine DW)
3 Olympic tri's, CV/Malibu/Superseal
1 Jump Aquathlon
3 cycling events - 2 metric centuries and a 50miler in Mexico. 
11x hill repeats on Tidepool hill (PR)

 5208.36 bike miles ...
907.64 run miles
354577 y swim = 201.46 miles

My final foot surgery is over. Now begins my IMAZ journey

Finally yearend has arrived and it is time to complete my bunionectomy journey so I can continue the journey to Ironman!  My right foot bunion surgery was on Thursday Nov 14.  This second round will be easier than the left because I don't have any hammertoes on the right foot. Three days after surgery, I will attend a speedpass volunteer shift at IMAZ on Sunday from 10-11:30pm. I was fortunate to have been offered a switch to 8-10pm shift instead!

The surgery was faster and I was very calm since I knew the routine.  There were only two differences.  This anesthesiologist didn't like to put you out.  In all my outpatient surgeries, I was told "you will be awake but feel nothing" and I black out instantly. This was the first time to be asleep yet hear conversations in the background.  It was so strange..a little creepy too but still a pretty good rest! I was in the recovery room less time too.  In fact, I kept being awakened by the HR monitor alarm which sent nurses charging in when my HR dropped below 40 beats a minute!  It would scare me and my heart would jump over 40...Oh, false alarm.. the nurse would leave, I'd sleep 5 minutes and the alarm would go off again!  Apparently my Resting HR is about 37!  I told them I was a triathlete and that 40 was normal so that must be where they set the minimum! If you want further information about Dr. Berenter, here is his website . He also has a video on a REAL surgery without any blood! Check it out here!

I had no extra bleeding, so no extra bandage changing, and  just some throbbing a couple nights. It was pretty uneventful. We drove to Tempe, Arizona on Sunday morning with my right foot in an aircast resting on the dashboard.  I iced Thursday to Saturday.  This time I did take one pain pill at night the first two nights because the throbbing woke me up.  But otherwise I was pain free. I was completely ready for the aircast by Sunday with no pain whatsoever.  I knew that standing for my IMAZ volunteer shift wouldn't be any problem.  I was so grateful to get a speedpass.


The speedpass wristband is earned by working a volunteer shift that specifically states SPEED PASS in the description. You have to sign up on the first day volunteer slots open which I did on July 1 at noon.  It typically is a "hard to fill" position.  Earning it means I am not waiting in line at 3am to buy my entry for IMAZ 2014 on Monday morning.  I have head of line privileges so I basically just walk up and get my ticket in front of thousands in line.  All I need is a green band, my ID, my credit card, my USAT card. In return, a get a little piece of paper!

Pretty cool! My shift actually only lasted from 8-9:15pm because my water station #1 was the cutoff mark at 9miles for 2nd loopers.  After the dreaded headlights arrived, we knew there were not going to be anymore runners.  I was so thankful runners were pulled off the course just before our station so I didn't have to witness that horrible scene.

Monday, I awoke at 7am, and was registered by 7:30am. SWEET! Let the training begin...

 

I know the foot routine..ugh.. no water on the foot for first 2 weeks until  my stitches are removed. Then, I wear the aircast another 2 weeks which means 100's of miles in the lounger spin bike at the gym in the meantime.  Another 2 weeks later, I will begin running again.  It also means basically soup and salad for months to lose this extra 10 lbs I have packed on with two vacations in 6 months.

So, fast forward 3 weeks from surgery...my hopes are coming true and this recovery is faster than my left foot which had the hammertoe fusion.  I have far less swelling and don't even ice it, so I'm pushing much harder and sooner.  I couldn't swim until the knots were removed BUT I started on the elliptical by week 2 and it felt great. I'm also out of the lounger bike and now in the upright spin bike in week 3.  I feel almost normal with bike, elliptical and swim workouts now. The timing is perfect for removing the stitches because Dec 1 is the beginning of the NCC USAT 3 month challenge.  Julie, my coach, headed up a 100x100y swim on Dec 1 to kick off the swim miles and I achieved my first 5k in a pool on Dec 1!  That is 2 weeks 3 days post surgery! Granted I was tired after the long swim but my foot felt amazing since it was soothed in the water for 2 hours!

Although I didn't spend too much time at IMAZ13 this year, I did REALLY get the tri bike bug...Black Friday sales were already boasting their screaming hot deals.  So, my Honey awarded me an early Christmas present and we drove straight to Moment Cycle Sport after I bought my IMAZ14 ticket!  My tri bike fitting said I really fit better in the Cannondale Slice vs Cervelo so I bought one on sale with deep discounts, used my Reynolds and Quarq powermeter, and applied the savings to upgrade all the components to Durace.  My little beauty has been appropriately named RACHEL ROCKET because I gave Rachel, at Moment, the go ahead to make it the best it could be as if it were her own bike.  Rachel has supported me since the first day I inquired about triathlons at the Moment shop. She is an awesome mentor! Now I can only hope she will give me her incredible endurance and speed as well!  I will be taking my RR for a 20 mile spin only 3 weeks 3 days after surgery!  Then Sunday, I will go a little further as I adjust to the Tri position.  Isn't she a beauty??!!!

I had my 4 week (minus 2 days) check up this week and Dr. Berenter is very happy with my fast progress.  I learned that he is one of the few podiatrists that uses dissolvable hardware and he has been using it for 18 years now with fantastic results.  Maybe that is why I have had virtually no pain. The screw material is made of the same product as dissolvable stitches, but just poured into a mold. I am ready for a spin class now that I can fit into bike shoes.  My next goal is to begin running at the 5 1/2 week now. For now, I am pushing myself on the elliptical, hoping that I haven't lost too much of my running base.

So I reflected on my goals for 2013 since my year is basically over. In 2012, I decided after IMAZ volunteering, that I wasn't ready for the Ironman journey.  Mentally and physically, I knew it wasn't the right time.  I decided to train smarter, build confidence, and repair both feet in 2013.  I accomplished a lot in 2013, besides two successful foot surgeries/recoveries. I completed 2 Ironman 70.3 races, 1 marathon, 8 half marathons, 3 Olympic tri's, an inaugural race called Jump Aquathlon and 2 cycling events - a metric century and a 50miler in Mexico. I am so happy that I improved greatly in all three disciplines.  It's been an awesome building year.  2014 is looking even better with a great job, a coach, a true tri bike, 3 70.3's, a couple marathons and hearing Mike Reilly tell me: YOU ARE AN IRONMAN on November 16, 2014!