Dehydration Station

Today's post could have several different titles:

"Back to old stomping grounds"

"Ridus Interuptus"

"Laterne Rouge"

.... But yes, "Dehydration Station" probably describes it best.

Alright then, let's try to put a little bit of sense behind those bullet points.

I wanted to ride my bike today and I felt like joining a group. When I still lived out in Duncan, I joined the Great Escape (in Spartanburg) afternoon ride almost every Sunday, but I haven't been back since I moved. There used to be an 30 mile option, but that one isn't done anymore, so I joined the 40 mile group with an advertised speed of 15-17 mph.

Right off the bat, I thought this group might be a little to speedy for me, but the first 10 miles weren't all that bad... The rolling downhill might have helped with that. Around mile 15, I really felt pushed to my limits and kind of decided that I will turnaround. I am very familiar with the area and didn't think twice about it. But the ride leader and one of the guys that were close to the back talked me out of it. So my mental turnaround point came and went and I still tagged along.

From then on, I actually had some company in the back and got to talk to a couple of people which made me forget the struggle for a while. Besides, the guys let me draft a lot. But still, I carried the "Laterne Rouge" most of the time. If it wasn't for one of the guys, I would have lost the group several times, but he always reeled me back in... gave me pep talk to not get too frustrated.

Once we hit the 35 mile mark, everyone was off at their own pace and I definitely dropped off the back by then. My pep talking friend left the group earlier to take a short cut home, but the ride leader stuck with me. At one stop light, we had to stop for a couple of seconds and I felt a little light headed, but once I got rolling again, it wasn't too bad.... other than not having any juice in my legs left. A little after the stop light, I saw a runner on the side of the road and recognized a training buddy that had a cycling accident a couple of months ago. So I stopped to say hi and then the $h!t hit the fan. I felt so light headed, that I had to sit down on the side of the road. It took a while until the ride leader noticed that I wasn't behind her anymore and she turned around to check on me. Between my training buddy and the ride leader, it was decided that I won't get back on the bike. So she rode back to the shop (fortunately not far away anymore) while my buddy stayed with me while I curled into a ball on the ground. Several times, I thought I would pass out.... Getting in the car of the ride leader was the roughest part and for a moment I thought I am done... passing out... hurling... something. Once back at the shop, I still had an audience. I was hoping that everyone would be gone by then, but no such luck.... They fed me chips and coke and after sitting in the shade for half an hour ago, I felt pretty back to normal again.... What a ride.

Today, I learned a lesson or two about hydration.... Hope that is not going to happen anymore, because the whole trip was pretty scary.

Before I left, the ride leader asked me to join them again and not get discouraged by this episode.

We'll see. In general, this was a fun ride and with better preparation and maybe not a long workout on the day before in my legs... cooler temps.... and more bike fitness.... I should be golden! ;-)

Here are the stats... Witness my steady decline! ;-)

 

 

What the cool Kids do!

This morning, I finally figured out what the cool kids do on a Saturday morning! THEY RUN... DOWNTOWN! What was I thinking, running on the Swamp Rabbit Trail all the time, when the party obviously is on Greenville's sidewalks??

Seriously now, this morning, I had a running date with three running buddies. The plan was to run the Spinx Half course in order to prepare for the race in three weeks and we said we are going to meet at the starting line which is located at the Baseball stadium. In that area, there is the Baseball stadium, a couple of bars/restaurants and shops... Nothing that is open at 7.30am in the morning, but still there were tons of cars.... from runners... the cool kids! ;-)

We took off a little after 7.30am at a good clip. I was planning on shooting for a 10.30 minute/ mile average for the run, since I did my previous long runs at 10.45 minute/ mile.... You know, pushing it a little. Well, I am glad I was running with a group today, because that made me push myself so much more... Funny enough, I felt really good for the first 8 miles, even though we clocked several sub 10 minute miles. I would have never done that on my own. After mile 8, things got a little more difficult and I started struggling a little. Around mile 10, I told the girls to keep on going without me, because I needed some walk breaks.... But somewhere on mile 11, I was able to catch up with them again and we finished together. Total time 2 hours 13 minutes... A 10:11 minute/mile average. Good run... Very happy about it!

After the run, we got a little bit of rest in (Terry ran 26 miles this morning) and then took off for some running shoe shopping. As I mentioned last week, it was time to retire the two pairs that I had in rotation for the last year. I have two spare pairs of the Adidas, but I wanted to keep rotating the Adidas with something else and ended up getting the new version of the shoe I was using in the past... The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10. For the last week, I tried to find a closeout pair of the 8's or 9's online, but no luck. Terry also found some new shoes and hopefully, that'll make and end to his blister issues that he is struggling with lately.

And since the day wasn't sporty enough yet, we then headed up to Tryon NC for an open water swim at Lake Lanier.... It worked out beautifully, that I got my wetsuit a couple of days ago and was able to try it out right away. Coach Katie organized the swim for her athletes that prepare for the Beach to Battleship Iron Distance triathlon in November and I able to join them... I didn't do the whole distance though, just haven't been swimming enough lately. I ended up with around 2,000 yards... goody goody. And yes, I LOVE the wetsuit. It's comfortable and it kept me toasty borderline a little too warm. I actually managed to get into the suit without help, after last night's wrestle, I didn't think that was possible.

Here we are about to head out. We ran a little late and everyone else already took off. Katie is on the board, just pulling one of her dogs on the board for a ride.

About to start back up, after taking a little breast stroke and chit chat break.

 And this is on our way back.... What a gorgeous day and a beautiful place to spend your afternoon!

So long! ;-)

Look, what the Mailman brought!

This week was LONG! But one evening I got home and there it was.... my birthday present!!! Sweet!

A Wetsuit!

I know... It's kind of silly to get  a wetsuit now, since I haven't planned any triathlons this year anymore... But my b-day is in the fall and not in the spring... Nothing I can do about this! ;-)

That thing looks mighty small, doesn't it?

It also took a mighty long time until I finally got myself squeezed in and zipped up... I actually needed a little help... No pictures... Nobody wants to see that! ;-)

Impossible to look cute in that thing.

No matter, how much I try to strike a pose.

Well, I guess that means, I can might as well goof off! ;-)

Hope that everybody has a fantastic weekend!

Hakuna Matata

As to be expected, this week is NUTS... Even more than last week already was.

So when I finally got home last night from work, the planned trainer workout was not even an option anymore... Instead, I curled up in bed and watched "Biggest Loser" and let others "move it, move it".

At work right now, I feel like this a lot:

I still try to keep a positive vibe.... After all... Stress kills.

HAKUNA MATATA!

A Whole Lot Of Orange

Last Saturday, I was at my very first football game. We went to see the Clemson Tigers play Miami.

The team colors of the Tigers are orange and purple... In clothing, orange was predominant.

So far, I have only seen football games on TV and only heard about "tailgating", but really didn't have a clue what it was all about.

 

We got there a little after 9am and the rest of the group already started up. We had a tent and we had food and beverages (adult and regular)... Unfortunately, our grill plan fell through, so we were a little short fuel. Fortunately, some of us brought out stuff that didn't need grilling.

We also saw the band practice.

This is a view over one of the tailgaiting areas from the stadium.

The stadium at Clemson seats around 80,000 people and it was SOLD out!

We were all the way up (second to last row) and could see to Lake Hartwell. Saturday was also a really hot day and we got slow roasted on the stands.

Celebrations after a touchdown for Clemson.

During half-time, the band performed on the field with choreography.

In the end Clemson lost. But all in all it was a good day with a great group of people, enjoying the last warm days of summer.

Would I go back? Tailgating maybe, but the game... Seriously, I don't have the patience to watch sports for 4 hours... Granted, people tell me, that the game dragged along unusually long.

So long! ;-)

Sweet Relieve

Fall... It seems like fall has finally arrived here. Believe it or not, but I didn't really started to sweat a whole lot until half way through my run this morning and I slept in and didn't even get on the trail until 8.30am!!!

I got another long run in today and it was basically a repeat from my long run from three weeks ago... Complete repeat... Down to the average pace. Only.... It felt easier today and the course was a little more challenging as well. I guess, it wasn't a complete repeat over all then! ;-)

All in all, I continue to be really pleased in how the preparation for the Spinx Half is coming along.

Lately, I had some foot and calf soreness going on. I just couldn't figure out why those things came up all of a sudden. Until I read an article in the Triathlete Magazine (the Kona edition) named: "A Guide to Gear Replacement". For shoes it says: "Every three months or 300 miles. Racing shoes every 200 miles".

Well, this is no news for me.... Well, only 300 miles were kind of new to me, but for things like that, everyone has a different opinion. Anyways, it at least started to make me think about how long I am using me current shoes. I am rotating between a pair of Adidas Kanadia TR and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8 for the past.... wait... here is comes.... YEAR! I am running in the same shoes for a complete year now! And I am surprised that my feet are sore.... Kinda funny, don't you think?

I love love love the Kanadia TR shoes and actually had 2 pairs sitting in the closet for several months now. So finally today, I switched to a new pair and it sure is a complete different feeling right away. For kicks, I put on a new shoe on my left and an old one on my right and yes, it was certainly time to retire the old pair. The arch support was basically non existent in the old shoe.

And no, I didn't go out for a run in one old and one new shoes. I just walked around a little in the house! ;-)

Now that I started using a new pair, I also started to use the equipment tracker that the training log on Beginner Triathlete offers. This way, I am not going to run in long overdue shoes anymore.

Now I just need to get a new pair of the Brooks and I am all set again. Rotating between those two pairs has really worked for me and you know... never change a winning team.

So long! ;-)

Ride The Divide - Free Presentation

Crazy week.... My brain is all mushy and I am just happy it's Friday evening.

Of course there is NOTHING on TV worth watching. Luckily, there is a free presentation of the award winning documentary "Ride The Divide" available on YouTube until tomorrow (Saturday) evening.

The "Tour Divide" is a 2,745 mile mountain bike race along the spine of the Continental Divide.

People do some crazy stuff.... Because they can! ;-)

ENJOY!