This is one of my favourite Ironman videos to get me excited for Ironman Mont Tremblant!
J.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
The wind this Spring has been relentless! I've been cycling and competing in triathlons for 12 years now
and I have NEVER seen such wind! Today the wind was 35km/hr with 59km/hr wind gusts.
To give an example, typically my speed on the flats would be 26-30km/hr.
Today on the way out I had a tailwind
and I was riding at 42km/hr with little effort ,and I was climbing hills at 32/km an hour!
That made for a sweet ride!
The way home was a different story. I was standing still! I couldn't seem to ride past 15km/hr.
I was climbing hills at 9km/hr ( any slower and I would have fallen over!)
I couldn't believe on some of the downhills I was only able descend at 21km/hr!
A break would be nice, but I can only hope all this wind is making me stronger for race day!
J.
 |
 |
| I thought about leaving my bike here! |
Sunday, April 27, 2014
A great 1 hour swim in the pool today. No drills, just an easy swim focusing on the pull in every stroke.
It's always a nice break being in the pool and giving the legs a break. I finally found a pair of goggles that I love! Aqua Sphere goggles make swimming that much more enjoyable. No more leaking goggles, fogging lens, or face pain from the pressure of the goggles. Aqua Sphere have specific goggles that fit small faces and they also reduce " goggle face" which is a bonus!!
My favourite are the ladies specific Seal XP Ladies and the Kayenne Ladies Goggles.
Check them out here Aqua Sphere
J.
J.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Today Lisa and I met up for our long run on what started as a cold windy morning.
The first hour of the run we were met with strong winds that were desperately trying to prevent us from moving forward. We were relieved to run the second half of the run on a sheltered trail that consisted of crushed gravel, compact dirt, and soft mulch. We were feeling grateful to have such beautiful trails to run on and to have each other to get through a difficult run. It's so much easier with a training partner and good company!!
We enjoyed seeing the blue jays, yellow finches and chipmunks but I could have done without the garter snake on the trail! Thank goodness Lisa has good eyes!
An hour and 50 min run in the bank!
J.
 |
| Lisa perched on a rock as we navigate some of the muddy parts of the trail! |
 |
| Fuel for todays run! |
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Todays ride was all about finding the strength. After a few difficult training sessions last week I had put it down to "tired legs." Little did I know I was fighting off the stomach flu which knocked me and the entire family to the ground earlier this week.
Needless to say I've listened to my body and cut back ( eliminated) my training this week. Today was my first time out and I wasn't sure how I'd get through a 70km ride since I was feeling nauseous before I even started riding.
All I can say is thank goodness for training partners to pull you through!!!
It was a gorgeous day ( no wind! ) as we cycled through quite country roads with cute Lama's and beautiful horses looking on.
J.
Friday, April 18, 2014
My husband and I were both off work today and the kids were in school so the plan was to fit in our long swim and bike workout. Chris asked me to get him back in the pool since the swim is the weakest of his 3 sports, and Chris says he always slacks off when he swims on his own.
500m warm-up
10 sets x 100m slow/build/fast/slow
5 sets x 50m sprints
cool down
After about an hour in the pool it was time to head home an get ready to ride.
My training partner Lisa, Chris and I headed out for a planned 80-90km ride.
It was a beautiful day and we started out a bit late but we were cruising along in the country at an easy 35-40km an hour pace. That should have been our first clue! We knew the wind was at our back and that we were in for a bit of a hard ride on the way home. We just had no idea HOW hard until we turned around!
It didn't help that we stopped at a stop sign for a minute and there was a bit of slant to the road. As I was getting ready to clip in, my cleat on my cycling shoe slipped on the pavement and I came crashing down on my bike, OUCH !!! ( I found some other choice words that Lisa has never heard me scream!) Let's just say at that moment I was wishing I was riding a women's specific leisure bike!
It seems there is always a story to tell when we train!
Chris road with us then he had to head back to get the kids from school. He put in a solid 60km ride.
Lisa and I continued on and enjoyed the ride. We rode for 40km before we started heading back. When we turned around it hit us like a brick wall.
Hello headwind! We were riding directly into a fierce headwind that left us practically standing still riding at 13km/hr at times.
After riding for 3 hours and going virtually nowhere we soon realized we were not going to make it back in time with this headwind. Lisa had plans to take her son to a Birthday party.
Family comes first and we didn't want her son missing a Birthday party, so we called Chris and he saved the day by picking us up! I think I was done at that point. I had been feeling not the best, slightly nauseous. I later found out I suffered a two inch gash from my bike incident so that may have had something to do with it! However we had only packed one gel and didn't bring any other liquid nutrition besides water, so that had a lot to do with it as well. Once depleted it's very difficult to make up for it.
Chris found Lisa and I sprawled out on the pavement of a church parking lot in the country, exhausted and laughing at ourselves.
It's early in the season and it was a reminder that we truly FORGET all that's involved when riding.
The weather conditions, packing proper nutrition, fuelling properly beforehand, building mileage slowly, all of that and more needs to be taken into account when heading out to ride.
We will get it together eventually!
Another lesson learned.
Keep it safe and keep it fun!
500m warm-up
10 sets x 100m slow/build/fast/slow
5 sets x 50m sprints
cool down
After about an hour in the pool it was time to head home an get ready to ride.
My training partner Lisa, Chris and I headed out for a planned 80-90km ride.
It was a beautiful day and we started out a bit late but we were cruising along in the country at an easy 35-40km an hour pace. That should have been our first clue! We knew the wind was at our back and that we were in for a bit of a hard ride on the way home. We just had no idea HOW hard until we turned around!
It didn't help that we stopped at a stop sign for a minute and there was a bit of slant to the road. As I was getting ready to clip in, my cleat on my cycling shoe slipped on the pavement and I came crashing down on my bike, OUCH !!! ( I found some other choice words that Lisa has never heard me scream!) Let's just say at that moment I was wishing I was riding a women's specific leisure bike!
It seems there is always a story to tell when we train!
Chris road with us then he had to head back to get the kids from school. He put in a solid 60km ride.
Lisa and I continued on and enjoyed the ride. We rode for 40km before we started heading back. When we turned around it hit us like a brick wall.
Hello headwind! We were riding directly into a fierce headwind that left us practically standing still riding at 13km/hr at times.
After riding for 3 hours and going virtually nowhere we soon realized we were not going to make it back in time with this headwind. Lisa had plans to take her son to a Birthday party.
Family comes first and we didn't want her son missing a Birthday party, so we called Chris and he saved the day by picking us up! I think I was done at that point. I had been feeling not the best, slightly nauseous. I later found out I suffered a two inch gash from my bike incident so that may have had something to do with it! However we had only packed one gel and didn't bring any other liquid nutrition besides water, so that had a lot to do with it as well. Once depleted it's very difficult to make up for it.
Chris found Lisa and I sprawled out on the pavement of a church parking lot in the country, exhausted and laughing at ourselves.
It's early in the season and it was a reminder that we truly FORGET all that's involved when riding.
The weather conditions, packing proper nutrition, fuelling properly beforehand, building mileage slowly, all of that and more needs to be taken into account when heading out to ride.
We will get it together eventually!
Another lesson learned.
Keep it safe and keep it fun!
This was the view earlier in the week so we were glad to have the snow gone and get out and ride! |
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
I was going through some video footage of Jen's Ironman race from 2011 and completely forgot that I videotaped the end of the race at midnight. It was an amazing experience seeing that it was still completely packed and incredibly loud even though all the pros and top athletes had finished several hours ago.
With about a minute left before the midnight deadline an athlete struggled to stay on his feet about 50m from the finish line. His legs, body and mind seemed as if he was done, nothing left to give, but with the help of Mike Reilly the announcer, and the cheering supporters he found the strength within him to finish and become an Ironman with just 18 seconds left.
I love watching this clip...turn up the volume and "Don't Stop Believin'!!"
C.
With about a minute left before the midnight deadline an athlete struggled to stay on his feet about 50m from the finish line. His legs, body and mind seemed as if he was done, nothing left to give, but with the help of Mike Reilly the announcer, and the cheering supporters he found the strength within him to finish and become an Ironman with just 18 seconds left.
I love watching this clip...turn up the volume and "Don't Stop Believin'!!"
C.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
After coming back from driving my kids around all morning it was my turn to go out for a ride. Jen and Lisa had a great morning run and I was looking forward to getting out for a 60-80km ride on a beautiful sunny day.
The ride started out great and I was feeling good, I kept thinking to myself that I should have brought some money just in case. I had stopped at my favourite nutrition store to grab some gels earlier in the day but they no longer carried them so I only had 1 bottle of water and a bottle of eload sports drink. I think I was just too excited to get out and ride that I packed a little light.
I basically ran out of fluids at the 40km mark and kept about 2 sips left just in case...but I was still feeling good and headed over to my favourite flat stretch where I love to go hard! Maybe not a good idea, it's a 6km stretch where you can average out 40-50km/hr and today it was around 45, feeling good, so I thought.
My wife told me before I went out today "don't go all Ricky Racer today," lol, she knows me too well!
I cycled back into Wellesley and started feeling "off" and knew I pretty much "bonked," not a good feeling especially since the next 15km home is a lot of hills. I hit the first hill and seriously felt like walking up the hill but pushed myself thru it since there was a horse and buggy in front of me with 2 kids watching me cycle up the hill, didn't want to look weak, lol!
I knew I was done once I hit the top of that hill and that I would probably have to call my wife to come out and pick me up, I tried to push out a couple more km's and at least make it to Bamberg.
My body was weak and I was getting dizzy so I pulled over and brought out my pink iPhone (my wife's phone) and called 911(my wife).
I was dreading this call because I knew my wife would bring the camera and take pics of me suffering, and she did! As she pulled up she rolled down the window and drove by taking pics of me.
Thank you honey, but right now all I need is food and fluids, which she did bring me.
Well what can I tell you, not all posts are going to be about great training days but it's these days that you learn from and make sure it never happens on race day!!!
There's a lot involved in training for an Ironman...training in swimming, cycling, and running but one of the most important aspects is fuelling your body!! Nutrition is key!!
The distance wasn't a problem, as soon as a got a little fluids in me I was good to go, but going hard for 2 hours without proper nutrition is a problem. Shortly after I refuelled I headed out and picked up some gels and sports drinks for my next ride, always be prepared!!!
Thank you for coming and picking me up hun, LOL!! Atleast I got my 60km ride in.
Chris
aka "Ricky the Racer"
.jpg)
The ride started out great and I was feeling good, I kept thinking to myself that I should have brought some money just in case. I had stopped at my favourite nutrition store to grab some gels earlier in the day but they no longer carried them so I only had 1 bottle of water and a bottle of eload sports drink. I think I was just too excited to get out and ride that I packed a little light.
I basically ran out of fluids at the 40km mark and kept about 2 sips left just in case...but I was still feeling good and headed over to my favourite flat stretch where I love to go hard! Maybe not a good idea, it's a 6km stretch where you can average out 40-50km/hr and today it was around 45, feeling good, so I thought.
My wife told me before I went out today "don't go all Ricky Racer today," lol, she knows me too well!
I cycled back into Wellesley and started feeling "off" and knew I pretty much "bonked," not a good feeling especially since the next 15km home is a lot of hills. I hit the first hill and seriously felt like walking up the hill but pushed myself thru it since there was a horse and buggy in front of me with 2 kids watching me cycle up the hill, didn't want to look weak, lol!
I knew I was done once I hit the top of that hill and that I would probably have to call my wife to come out and pick me up, I tried to push out a couple more km's and at least make it to Bamberg.
My body was weak and I was getting dizzy so I pulled over and brought out my pink iPhone (my wife's phone) and called 911(my wife).
I was dreading this call because I knew my wife would bring the camera and take pics of me suffering, and she did! As she pulled up she rolled down the window and drove by taking pics of me.
Thank you honey, but right now all I need is food and fluids, which she did bring me.
Well what can I tell you, not all posts are going to be about great training days but it's these days that you learn from and make sure it never happens on race day!!!
There's a lot involved in training for an Ironman...training in swimming, cycling, and running but one of the most important aspects is fuelling your body!! Nutrition is key!!
The distance wasn't a problem, as soon as a got a little fluids in me I was good to go, but going hard for 2 hours without proper nutrition is a problem. Shortly after I refuelled I headed out and picked up some gels and sports drinks for my next ride, always be prepared!!!
Thank you for coming and picking me up hun, LOL!! Atleast I got my 60km ride in.
Chris
aka "Ricky the Racer"
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Lots of training to squeeze in today so I was up with the birds at 5:45am.
The plan was to do a long swim yesterday morning, however I had a kink in my neck from the windy bike ride the other day. It must have been from the death grip on the bike because my training partner Lisa had the same thing!
The water felt great and I put in a solid 1 hour swim. I felt like a fish in the water today. ( a fish with a sore neck :)
Next up a 1.5 hour run with Lisa. The weather was a gorgeous 16 degrees.
We are finally starting to come out of the deep freeze here in Canada and nothing was going to stop us from getting out on the trails!! Sometimes you just have to break the rules!
J.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
When Lisa and I headed out for a ride today we had no idea what we were in for. The wind started picking up, it was CRAZY!! We later found out we were cycling through 75km wind gusts!! That would explain why we were fighting to stay upright as we cycled through the most intense crosswind.
We broke up the 65km ride by stopping for breakfast in good ol' Milverton. Just what we needed before heading back out to fight the crosswinds. Barb's Family Restaurant is the best!
We both have never experienced wind this intense while riding except for back in 2011 on a training ride. At that time the wind suddenly picked up and trees were bent at a 90 degree angle, later when we got home we found out that there was a tornado warning. Yikes!!
J.
Lisa and I braved the freezing cold dressed in about 10 layers and headed out for our first ride together of the season.
I believe it was around 2-5 degrees out and it seemed like an odd sight cycling next to huge snow drifts in April! Heading out on the bike the wind was at our back so it didn't feel too bad, but heading home I thought I might lose my fingers to frost bite! Still it was nice to put in a 30km ride outdoors rather than on the indoor trainer!
J.
I believe it was around 2-5 degrees out and it seemed like an odd sight cycling next to huge snow drifts in April! Heading out on the bike the wind was at our back so it didn't feel too bad, but heading home I thought I might lose my fingers to frost bite! Still it was nice to put in a 30km ride outdoors rather than on the indoor trainer!
J.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Finally, a day we can get out on the bike without freezing our butts off!!
We both had the day off, our kids are in school and the weather was starting to look promising, plus 9 for the day. So we brought up the bikes from the basement, gave them a quick little tune up and we were out on the road enjoying our first ride.
It turned out to be a beautiful spring day, a little bundled up but we were happy to be back out on the road! There is only so much indoor riding you can do without getting bored out of your mind, same thing goes for running on a treadmill.
It was our usual 30km Bamberg short ride but we enjoyed every minute of it with 6 ft snowbanks still on the side of the road, nothing beats that first ride back on the bike after a long cold winter.
Hopefully this weather stays but it looks like we could be in for some more snow by the looks of the forecast for the rest of the week, but for now I am just so happy to get back outside and ride with Jen, nothing beats training with my wife!!
Spring weather...please stay, we missed you and it makes it very difficult and boring to train indoors with this ridiculously long and cold winter.
C.
We both had the day off, our kids are in school and the weather was starting to look promising, plus 9 for the day. So we brought up the bikes from the basement, gave them a quick little tune up and we were out on the road enjoying our first ride.
It turned out to be a beautiful spring day, a little bundled up but we were happy to be back out on the road! There is only so much indoor riding you can do without getting bored out of your mind, same thing goes for running on a treadmill.
It was our usual 30km Bamberg short ride but we enjoyed every minute of it with 6 ft snowbanks still on the side of the road, nothing beats that first ride back on the bike after a long cold winter.
Hopefully this weather stays but it looks like we could be in for some more snow by the looks of the forecast for the rest of the week, but for now I am just so happy to get back outside and ride with Jen, nothing beats training with my wife!!
Spring weather...please stay, we missed you and it makes it very difficult and boring to train indoors with this ridiculously long and cold winter.
C.