I'm a "I Can"

“There are really only two types of people. Those that say ‘I Can’t’ and those that say ‘I Can’.”

I have mentally committed to 1 year of dedication to prepare for 17 hours of pure torture.

First Open Water Swim

Let's just say, I was nervous as hell not because I didn't have the confidence in my abilities to swim .4 miles across the lake and another .4 miles back but what or if I would encounter an animal of some sorts in the water. Yeah, I'm a ninny. I'll scream. Freak out. Maybe even cry. But if I splash around would THEY run away? God I hope so.

As I tugged on the wetsuit for the first time feeling like I was a sea lion pulling on it's skin, I felt like it was my first day of school. My friend's good friend came with, while she was sitting on the beach after she told me I had my suit on backwards and I was struggling to get it on the right way (zipper in the back - good thing because it was choking me) I looked over to her and said "I wish I had my camera so you could take a picture of me." Something I would look back on just to remember the first day.

Before I got into the water I notified them my mom's phone number was in my cell phone and to call her if anything happens. You got to love a mom that's a direct, independent lady that many times the comments she says she doesn't mean in the way it comes out. She said "What the hell would I have done if something would have happened?" As in, don't call me - I can't do anything! Oh mom... :)

We started off and I seemed to get into a grove right away. I was moving along slowly but moving. I was in LOVE with the wetsuit and was instantly sold on my new discovery. I could've swam all day - until...I lost my nose piece. Yeah, my one last crutch to swimming - I can't seem to get past the water jetting up my nose no matter what I do so I have this small piece that will pinch my nose closed.

It slipped off and fell down the drink. Ugh! It was gone.

I was about 2/3 of the way and had to turn back. There was no way I could continue with the feeling of drinking the water though my nose so I flipped over and headed back doing a backstroke the entire way. Good lord - It was a long way back. My friend kept yelling at me "Madonna, your going the wrong way!" Two seconds later, "Madonna, your going in circles." I instantly started to laugh. My manager, an amputee, made a joke one time saying he couldn't go swimming because he would just be going in circles. It was one of those "did you just say what I heard you say" kind of moments.

After we made it back and I peeled the wetsuit off I thought "That was fun. With a little more training - who am I kidding I'll need a lot - I could do an Ironman.

My friend's response was "You shocked me. You weren't scared at all. If you wouldn't have lost that damn nose piece you would have made it back no problem." We made plans to come back the next weekend.

I can't wait.

Should I do the 2011 Wisconsin Ironman?

That has been the question that has been going through my head for the past couple of years and is now what is screaming inside of me.

I don’t know where this came from because 5 years ago I heard the name “Ironman” but didn’t know what it was until I got into cycling and a friend did one – then I found out the distance and thought, “Who would even want to do such a thing…that’s crazy.” but I’ve been going to the Wisconsin Ironman for the past 3 years to cheer on some friends while they complete the most difficult event they have ever done (again) and have learned it’s not only about competition it’s endurance. And endurance is my thing.

Everytime I go to watch I get a little emotional during the start and the end of the race. When the gun goes off and they start the swim the first thing that goes though my mind every year is “This is a huge moment in their lives. They have been putting themselves though mental and physical pain for the past 365 days for this moment.” And many hours later when they cross the finish line I think, “They just spent x hours beating themselves up but this has got to be one of the biggest moments of their lives and I was hear to witness it.”

What I’ve been thinking about is: I want to have that moment. I want to have all my friends there cheering me on while I cross the finish line with the loud dance music and the announcer saying “MADONNA, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” The thought of that moment is overwhelming.

Here is the deal; I know I have the drive. I know I have the dedication to train. But, I don’t have the experience of a tri.

I tossed together a few points of argument.

• I’ve done a Du-athlon (run-bike-run) and enjoyed the event. I can honestly say after it was complete I would do anther one.
• The bike will not be an issue - I do long distance now.
• The run will be hard but I’ve done a marathon. Before and after the event was done I said I would do another one, but honestly it was my test to see if I could do a marathon and enjoyed it, would I be willing to do a Ironman.
• The swim is my downfall. I just learned how to swim this past fall. I figured I would train hard in this area, get more comfortable in the water for a longer period of time and I heard the wetsuit will be a big plus and help keep me be buoyant. Or so what I’ve heard—I’ve never used one before or have swam in open waters with 2,000 other people.

I’ve asked a number of people “Should I” and I get the same response. 1. Yes, you have the endurance to do this type of event. 2. Why don’t you take 2011 and do short tri’s first before you jump into this (valid point). 3. Why the hell would you want to do one – that is not for me.

And if you know me you would be thinking something either long those lines but I’ve never been a rational person in participating in events. Once I get my mind set on something and I know I can do it there is no stopping me. For example, my first bike race was 100 miles, my first official running event was a marathon…why not have my first tri be an Ironman?

I’ve read the chapter “Can I do it” in “Going Long” by Joe Friel and he states:

Anyone can do the distance if they want it badly enough…One is never “ready” for an ironman-distance race. The event is far too big for that. However, we firmly believe that anyone (and we mean anyone) can complete the distance so long as they have one ingredient: will. The will to train and, most important of all, the will to finish. You have to be doing this for yourself. You have to want to finish, badly…To race to your true potential, you have to gamble. You have to believe in yourself. You have to go beyond what you think is possible.

Many athletes wait until they have the confidence that they can race the full distance the way they want to before committing to a race. Others arrive at the start line with little experience and have a positive experience—regardless of their finishing time. There are even people who finish at the front of the pack and don’t have a positive experience.

So how do you know you are ready to go long? You don’t. You commit, train and pray.

After reading that section, I thought…I might not be ready today but I have the drive and the will to train hard and to finish the event.

Now do I have the courage to register?

No, No, I’m still here…

It feels like I did it again. Dropped off the face of the earth (or blogging) and went on my own merry way. I didn’t. I’m still here. The reason for my lack of blogging is due to lack of time. For example, yesterday I ran 3 miles and immediately attended Matt’s spin class all before 6:30am. Rushed to work. Sat in a 3 hour conference call with the client talking about every minutia detail of a half a million dollar website. Found out at 5pm, on a Friday, that a number of us have to work this weekend. Came home at 7pm and was passed out on the couch by 9pm. At midnight, I thought it was pointless and didn’t move from the couch. That pretty much sums up what I’ve been doing since I’m not blogging.

All that said, I’m still in the honeymoon of “I’m so glad I have a job” that the long days haven’t bothered me too much…so far. Plus, I love the fact that everyone appreciates each others hard work and makes sure you know that it’s not going un-noticed.

If I haven’t mentioned it, I’ve started my 16-week marathon training. I’m finishing week two today, but I’m still trying to find the balance between my new job and this new type of training. Giving up cycling is not an option—for those out there as crazy and I, it’s the thing that makes you happy. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday’s are still my morning spin days with Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s as my running days. Right now the miles seem to be reasonable but as the weeks go on my “long run” will be adding a mile per week until I hit 20 which then it will come down for 2 weeks before the “Big Day!”

I’m pleasantly surprised on my progress to progressively increase my speed. I’m also impressed that my legs feel strong it’s just that my mind feels tired. I know what you’re thinking I’m doing too much. That could be true but I know there is this hump I need to get over.

Now it’s time to find my warm clothes and get my long Saturday run in so I can spend quality time sleeping on the couch.

Warp Speed

While I was out of work, one day felt like 4. Now 4 hours feel like 1. I LOVE IT!

Update on the job front: I was officially given the written "we want you" request and I said “WHOOT WHOOT!!! I’m on board.” We work hard but we have fun. The other day I was hazed into the company. They opened a new can of spam dug out the middle and had me do a shot of tequila. Hormel/Spam is one of the clients. The tequila took out the taste of the Spam and the Spam took the bite off the tequila.

I love the craziness of life. I love to be doing something each moment of the day and when it feel like it’s not enough—I add more. It’s almost like spinning. After a couple of minutes you get used to the speed and add more resistance. Every few minutes you add more and more resistance until you look down and see the knob is a full turn and you’re still feeling strong.

I’m getting used to this resistance (i.e. my new job) and will add more once it feels like I can handle more. I’ve been asked to do freelance work for two companies and there is the ever looming marathon training that still seems ridiculous. I start on Tuesday and this idea of completing a marathon already doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Last Sunday Joe and I did a 3 hour class. ½ hour warm-up, 1 hour with Chris, ½ hour recovery, 1 hour with Angie. In both classes I burned a 1000 calories!!! Although, when I came home I ate at 3000.

Monday and Wednesday I made it to spin. Since I had a work party on Thursday night I missed Matt’s class.

Saturday I skipped the gym entirely because I got an iPhone and spent the entire day playing with the damn thing.

Today I went to Matt’s 2 hour class. I ran for a while before class. First hour was Alpe d'Huez—21 switch backs of pure climbing with no left turn of the resistance. Second hour was Firehouse 50. Each class as a stand alone is hard enough, but when you put them together you end up in the fetal position on the couch for the rest of the day.

Which reminds me my iphone and couch are calling me.

It's a girl!

oooooohhh....Madone has a girllllfrieeennddd....Her name is Kilo.

She's young only 250 miles but the wheels have seen the world.

The bike was Diamond Dave’s and the wheels were Jay's RAAM race wheels from '08. I have high expectations for this race year! I spotted rockets in the back detailer. Dave, your the best!!

Vacation is over

I’m going to break one of my blogging rules and talk about work for just a second. After 6 months to the date I finally landed myself a job (sort-of). It’s contract for a couple weeks and then hopefully I get hired on fulltime. Think of it as a test run. It’s one of those dream jobs. Mine has always been to work for a big ad agency. You know the type where you see the commercials on national TV and say "I worked on that one." Although, I won't be working on any commercials. I'll be strictly an Interactive Project Manager (all things web related). Which now a days is where a lot of companies are putting their marketing budget.

The reason why I bring this up is because everything cycling and fitness related has been at a stand still. Since I'm not sponsored, shocking I know, all of my needs (i.e. new shoes, tires, shorts, bike) have been on hold. Now I can relax a bit and start chipping at that need list again.

After 24 hours on the job they moved me to the “Penthouse” (36th floor). I still can’t get over the view! I even stayed late one day to see the city in lights...AMAZING!

That's the metrodomn at night.

You got to love a job that has a sign that greets me each time you come into my cube that says: "Last Call Martini Bar" Along with 4 assorted bottles of liquor and a bottle opener.

The downside is getting back onto a schedule and missing the mid-day spin classes. The new gig is downtown so taking the bus has been an adventure alone. I'm taking the week off from the gym until I can recalibrate my body to this new schedule. Next week I'll be back to my morning spin classes and evening runs. Believe it or not, I'm excited to have a full schedule again. I feel like I have purpose.

I received my training marathon schedule the other day. There is only one word to describe it: Intense. There are no 2-3 miles runs twice a week. First day (Feb 2nd) says: "Training Day Starts Today! 6 miles w/ 5 min @ tempo pace" What the hell does that mean? 6 miles on the first training day? You should see April and May's schedule. I'm going to have to have a chat with my friend that put the schedule together...a girl has to be on her bike sometime! And when I mean “sometime” I mean at least 3-4 days a week!!

His comment to me before I saw the schedule was: "We’re going to make you a runner." My response: "That's like trying to make a miracle happen."