Good Riddance January

Good bye January.

I'm not sad to see you go.  You're my least favorite month of the year and quite honestly you can't blame me for having these feelings.  Your long, dark, cold and just a depressing.  Quite honestly, it's not all your fault.  It's not your fault you come after one of the most party ridden months of the year.  Or that the just about every day of you is below freezing and filled with 9-10 hours of daylight.  Or better yet that you are the epitome of "the dead of winter".    It's not your fault that I spent all my money on Christmas presents and New Year's eve which means that I can't go out and do mediocre indoor activities such as bowling.  It's not your fault that you don't have a good "theme" to your images on the calendar.  Or that you're one holiday has not been commercialized yet so some companies don't celebrate it.  I wish I wasn't delayed do to severe weather for every single flight that I take during you.  What's even worse is that when I'm delayed I can't get something to eat because I'm trying to watch my diet because I'm sticking to my New Year's resolution.  I hate that a good day means I can feel my toes when I get to work.

Good bye, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

I hate being sick

I haaaate being sick.  I mean really hate it.  I'm a semi type A personality person who is a busy body.  Even on the weekend I can't just hang out on the couch.  I have to have some sort of a plan for the day, with some sort of a list to cross off (even if it's just writing notes and planning a few meals for the week).  It's just who I am.  So this shouldn't shock you that I'm not someone who can rest and just "get healthy".

For the past three days I've been sick. Sunday I had sore throat and some achiness. On Monday I had a man voice and a head so stuffed up my sinus' ached from the El ride today and a feeling of just crap (there's another four letter work that I REALLY feel like, but I've told myself that I will refrain from cursing in this.  I mean, come on, I'm not even into the part of IM training). I've been home from work for a day and a half and I still don't feel like things are looking better.  I made myself go to work today (you should start feeling sorry for me at this point) because I'm worried about falling behind.  I've watched re-runs of Desperate Housewives and more than my share of Lifetime movies (don't judge me, I'm sick).  It's boring at this point.

I hate being sick, especially like this.  I'm not going to wake up and suddenly have no cold and be ready to go run a 10K.  This is going to take some time to get through.  I hate it because I end up having to take off time from training and I end up sitting around feeling sorry myself and then dealing with a boyfriend who has been kept up for by sniffling for three nights.   The moment that I think I might be getting better I start thinking that I can be active.  I do some dishes, take the dog for a walk, update my blog, and check off some stuff on a list.  Then, after about 20 minutes I'm exhausted and getting in bed again.  I'm sure if I wasn't such a bad sick person I would be better a lot faster.  I really do try to be a good sick person, it's just so depressing to sit in bed.

This is especially hard because for one of the few times a year I have NO DESIRE to go to the gym.  I'm to tired.  I just don't feel good.  I  hate this feeling.  I feel lazy, like I'm moving away from my goal instead of getting closer.  I know I'm wining right now.

Ok, I'm tired.  Time to go lay down, rest and watch another re-run of Law and Order SVU.

My walking shoes are better than yours

I race people to and from the train in the morning on my way to work.  Yeah I do. When I'm getting off the train I can usually pick out someone who is slightly more antsy to get to their office building than I am.   The race starts when I pick em out.  I make sure to make eye contact with em.  It's usually as I'm making an early pass.  I give them the "yeah, you just got passed" look that let's them know that it's GAME ON.  The race is just as much about defense as it is about offense.  It's important to keep a good pace while also being cognizant of the slower walkers around me that can be critical to my success.  My favorite move is the block.   A block is when I slowly get my competitor walking against the wall and then I use the slower walker in front of them (that is also up against the wall) to help block them in as I walk slightly next to them, while ever so slightly ahead of them.  As long as I keep well paced with the slower walker in front of them, the only way they can get out of it is to slow down a lot and go around.  This move takes a lot of time and when I notice they are doing it I can usually just take off, maintaining my lead.  Another one of my favorite moves is the bag block.  When I'm in the lead and I can feel my competitor directly behind me I will hold my bag instead of putting it on my shoulder.  Then I can take up more room and block the passing window of my competitor.  Since train racing is a non - contact sport it's a nice move because I know my competitor would never ever have the guts to come in contact with my bag.

Yeah, so did I mention that I'm a competitive person?

A trip to heaven . . . aka Colorado

Last weekend Monkey (my Boyfriend) and I took a vacation to Colorado.  We spent two days in Boulder and two days at Copper Mountain with Monkey's brothers and then a friend of mine.  I think I need to move there.  Seriously.  It was heaven and here's why; Cycling in January and then a foot and a half of fresh powder.

A little history:  skiing is a sport that is near and dear to my heart.  When I lived on the east coast I was in a ski house on the east coast spend every weekend in Killington.  I was a winter warrior on the mountain.  I loved being up for first tracks.  I would barrel down the mountain, ski down closed trails (in search of untouched powder) and when all was said and done it was time for happy hour.  There are only two times to drink a bloody Mary, brunch and apres skiing.  When I moved to Chicago I decided to sign up for a marathon because I was missing my ski winters and wanted something thing that would get me outside (even if it was January in the Midwest).  It was cold and lonely in Chicago.  I had been in Chicago for about 6 months, of which I had been working 80 hour weeks for about 4 of those. Work had died down (deal closed on December 31st) and I was bored out of my mind.  I was used to Ktown and there really isn't much skiing in the Chicago area.  I believe there is a small hill in Wisconsin that has skiing, but personally it's not worth the lift ticket price, or even the gas money to get up there.   As a result of pure boredom I decided to head out to the lakefront path and get a run in.   When I got home I realized that even though it was 14 degrees and snowing, it felt awesome.  I decided to sign up for a marathon that afternoon.  I had always talked about doing one and figured May 2009 was the perfect timeline.  I ran the Green Bay Marathon and two days later I signed up for a half ironman triathlon. Six weeks after that I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin.   If I hadn't missed skiing I would have never made myself go for a run that day or even wanted to train in the winter.  For me, Skiing was my life pre-triathlons.  I haven't really had them collide since this past weekend. 

So here's a little bit more about my time in heaven:

Boulder is home to many professional triathletes. I used to think it was because of the amazing terrain and ability to train at a high elevation.  Well, It's also 'cuase you can ride outside in January.  We were staying with Monkey's brother who lives on the north side which is the entrance to all the major cycling routes. The first morning we walked to Amante, a local coffee shop.  I walked up and outside were at least 10 road bikes leaned up against bike stands and walls.  of course I checked out the bikes and the gears to size up the kind of riders that were inside.   This only made me start drooling.  Sitting on the side of the road was at least $45K worth of bikes.  I walked in the door and inside were groups of cyclists in the most obnoxious bike jerseys (and seem to love the most obnoxious ones).  Everything was all sorts of matchy matchy.  Then I think:

Oh no, I'm a cyclists and but I'm just in jeans and sneakers.  These people will just think I'm some blond chick, non cyclists walking into their cafe to drink from their coffee pot.  They won't know that I'm as cool as they are . . . Ohhh phew, I'm wearing my Ironman finisher jacket.  Not only do they know I fit in, but they know that I AM AN IRONMAN . . . who drinks french press coffee . . . black (ok with splenda in it)  SUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

At a certain point in the coffee shop Monkey had to tell my to close my mouth because I was drooling.  I was drooling over the fact that (I know I've said this) but it's JANUARY AND EVERYONE IS RIDING OUTSIDE.  I tried explaining it to Monkey's brother's girlfriend by showing her a picture on Facebook of the Wellfit training center computrainer room.  I've been riding there since November and I still have another two and a half months (at least) of indoor training. 

Later on in the trip we drove two and a half hours west out to Copper Mountain.  When we got into the mountains it had been snowing for about three hours.  It continued for another 20 hours totalling 18 inches of new snow.   All the skiers reading this know that nothing is better than fresh powder.  The whole day I was on first tracks.  It was phenomenal.  The good news was Monkey can ski.  I was testing him (this is one of the last ones).  He had told me he knew how to ski but I had to see his abilities to understand if he would be able to keep up with me during a ski trip or if he would simply stick to the blue and green slopes.  The bad news is I am out of ski shape.  Yeh, my legs were burning.  I thought that with all the strength training and cycling I've done as a part of my pre-season training I would have a shot at not having sore quads.  NOT POSSIBLE.  I now remember how I was in great shape when I was living on the east coast.  I could rip through a whole slope full of moguls without stopping more than once.  This time I thought my chest would beat out of my chest.  The altitude (14,000 feet) may have had something to do with it, but I do think most of it was attributed to me being out of skiing shape. 

Thank heaven for Hills (or at least the incline button on the treadmill)

I KNOW . . . I shouldn't love hills.  Let me be explain.  It's the middle of winter in Chicago so I do all of my hill workouts on a treadmill.  I despise when I see them listed in a workout.  I am cursing them (and my coach) when I'm in the middle of one.  I pissed after I finish a hill interval 'cause my heart is beating out of my chest and my legs are burning and I don't understand why I feel like I'm out of shape.  I LOVE the hills about three weeks later I go for my next long "tempo" run out on the flat Chicago Lakefront path and all of a sudden I hit what should be the part of the workout when I have to convince myself to make my legs move faster.  Except this time there is no convincing because my legs are moving faster all on their own, no convincing needed.  I love hills!

TTT

This week I signed up for the American Triple T Ohio.  Now, for those of you who don't know what the triple T is, it's a three day event consisting of four races:  A super sprint, two olympic distances triathlons and a half ironman distance race.  It's a great deal, 4 races for $200 (FYI, 70.3 series races start around $225), but it's also somewhat crazy.  I wasn't planning on doing this race this year.  The only thing I can say is that I always thought about doing it, I even said I would do it someday. I was shocked at the deal.  In fact, Paul and I were having friends over for New Years Day brunch and I actually interrupted the conversation to say what  great deal it was.  I mean come on, four races for $200, that is a phenomenal deal.  


When I brought this up I noticed that I caught a certain friend's attention.  This friend (Ross) raced Ironman Wisconsin with me.  He didn't sign up for IM this year and it's obvious that at this point of the season he misses the IM goal.  When I asked if he wanted to sign up he said he would think about it.  I didn't pressure.  I just moved on.


So fast forward to Wednesday morning.  I'm thinking about Ross, wondering if he had decided.  I had not really thought I would sign up for the race.  It's 7 hours away and I don't want to travel that far if I don't know anyone.  Plus I'm already scheduled to race that weekend (Galena) I emailed him and here's a paraphrasing of the conversation:


Tory:  Are you doing the Ohio Triple T?  
Ross:  If you are confirmed ttt then I will do it
Tory:  Let me check with my coach.  
Tory:  Elf is cool with it, I'm in.  
Ross:  I have 4 minutes before I have to pick up the kids.  I'm signing up now.   


So the next day I received this message:  


Ross:  Getting a bit...'what the f* did I just sign up for' given all the hellish comments on FB.  Oh well, it's gonna be legend...wait for it...ary (to quote the great Barney Stinson)


Well, so now I'm going to admit that I'm afraid for the TTT.  I'm not afraid of the Ironman but I'm afraid of the TTT.  I have to do the Iron distance over 48 hours, when I'm still four months away from the Ironman race.  In addition, I'm not training specifically to peak at this race.  That means it will be painful, Wait, very painful at points during that weekend.  I know that.  I will have barely cycled outside, I will have little open water swimming practice.   Ross, it will be legendary.  Let's just hope it's legendary for the right reasons.  

Because I've earned it Ms. New Years Resolution

Dear Ms. New Years Resolution,

I am writing you this letter to ask/tell you that you need to find a different treadmill to use during the lunch hour. If you hadn't noticed, from 11:50AM to 1:00PM the treadmill on the far right of the first row that has the window on the front and ride side with the view of the Chicago River and the Monroe bridge is mine. It's mine because I've earned it through months of hard work, consistent gym use, and good 'ol fashion blood, sweat and tears. I understand that you made a new years resolution to get back to the gym. And I'm not trying to get in the way of your three week stint at the gym. Really, I'm not. I'm just simply saying that you can't just walk in and take my treadmill. Especially when you haven't earned it. There are 17 other perfectly useful treadmills in the gym. There are also spinning, step, cardio kick boxing and a wide array of other group classes that go on during that hour. I've heard those are good for people who are trying to get back in shape.

Kindly,
Tory

PS - If your still around in June we can talk about a possible time share during the lunch hour. Who knows, if you catch me on a good day I might offer you Tuesdays and Thursdays

What's in store for 2011!

With a new year comes new races!

Here are the races that will make 2011 memorable:

April 10th:  Cheaha Challange ride (distance TBD)
May 1st:  First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon
May 22nd:  Galena Triathlon
June 18th:  High Cliff Half Ironman
September 11th:  Ironman Wisconsin

Each race is new to me with the exception of Ironman Wisconsin.    Now it's time to get working toward these goals!