I grabbed my bike and hopped on hearing a few cheers for me on the way out, those little moments where you know your friends and family are watching and cheering for you are sooooo super great.  I was thinking to myself, “Ok, you’re on the bike get your head together, focus on nutrition and hydration, watch your heart rate, and have FUN!”.  I could NOT get out of my head that I swam a 1:17. I started doing every math equation possible to see if sub-12 was even still an option.  Had I even factored in a bad swim?! Damn it.  It took me a good 30 to 50 miles to quit analyzing the swim and move on.  I was kind of obsessed with how poorly I had done. I really don’t know what happened out there.

The way out of town along Coeur d’Alene lake is sooooo fun and beautiful, there are a couple hills to get your legs warmed up for the real climbs around Hayden Lake, but it is mostly flat and fast.  This section is about 18 miles out and back so I was able to cheer for all my buddies out there on this first section. After the turn around we head back into town, I got to see my family and hear some cheers that lifted my spirits again. I was feeling great, my average speed was looking good and I was cruising with my heart rate right where it was supposed to be.  All those long difficult rides and cycling drills (ugh) were going to pay off today I could feel it.  Riding out of town, I was happy knowing Team Katy Moe was now heading out for their hard earned breakfast before driving around to iron-spectate all day.  I was SO happy and feeling so loved by my support crew.  Knowing I wouldn’t see them for a while I tried to just get the swim out of my head and get going on my ride.  Once you ride out of town you hit the real hillies.

I tend to call huge hills, hillies because it makes them sound small and cute.  I’ll say things in my head like, “ok, heading out to my favorite hillies”. It’s all just a game, if I say funny positive things before I let my brain think the ugly negative things sometimes I never get around to thinking the negative.  The bike was chock full of these tricky positive thoughts especially early on trying to distract myself from dwelling on my sucky swim. I pulled them out  again at the end when I was hot and tired. I remember thinking around mile 85, “I’m not really in the mood to do those last couple of climbs”.  The hillies are tough, and climbing them always makes me a little nervous about having legs to run with, but just like riding here locally the bigger the climb the better the VIEW!  Some of the views from this course are spectacular, they kept a smile on my face the whole time.

One of my favorite hillies, over looks Hayden Lake and on the first loop with the early sun shining on the glassy (maybe we can move the swim to Hayden??) water was chill inducing.  I always try and chit-chat with people on the bike especially on the slow climbs but most people don’t feel like talking while climbing.  One guy almost fell over while I was pointing out the beautiful day to him. Oops.  After the hilly section, it’s flat and fast back into town we hit the first out and back section again and that’s where we pick up our special needs bags. I was really looking forward to my bagel and my redbull!  Just before the aid station,  the girl in front of me stood up on her bike and before I knew what was happening, I was being sprinkled with her urine.  I mean this girl HAD to pee.  It was disgusting!  My arms, legs, and a couple drops on my face (yes, my face) we sprinkled with PEE!  Shouldn’t  there be a  pee warning sign or something?  Like stand up and yell, “PEEING”.  I don’t know, and we were RIGHT by the port-o too!  I mean, I get it if you are winning, or you are 1st in your AG, or something……but peeing on your fellow competitors when your riding with me?  Doesn’t seem worth it.  The whole race I really wanted to tell her she peed on me and just couldn’t do it.   :)  The rest of the race when anyone stood up in front of me I would panic!  Who get’s peed on twice in a race, not me!

I had a little trouble getting my PB & honey bagel down, I saved it for a nice flat spot, and I felt really hungry,

it’s just so hard to chew, breathe, pedal, drink, steer, not draft, chew, breathe, smile, turn…. Phew. I got about 3/4 of it down, but it was right before those darn hillies again, and I found myself struggling to keep it down while I was climbing.  Everything  else was going well, my 1/2 way splits on the bike were right on for my goal of riding a 6:30, I was hydrating & peeing (in the port-o), my legs felt good, my only worry was how warm the day was getting. It was perfect weather for a nice long ride, but a little hot for a nice long run after. I tried to stay focused on drinking, eating, and pedaling, but I couldn’t shake the idea of a hot  hot run.  I took a bathroom break around mile 80, it felt good to get off the bike stretch get sunscreened with a little neck massage!  The volunteers at this event always go above and beyond.  I hit mile 85 and got to see the support crew out there again, apparently they had just woken up from their nap to come see me at mile 85 then it was time to head out to the run course for all of us.

Pulling into transition I couldn’t believe the race was almost over. I was excited to run, as this is my favorite part. I always tell myself, “YES! you get to run now”. I was super happy with my bike split and I knew all I had to do was run like I had been running in training.  The plan was to  run smart and run tough and finish this thing in less than 12 hours.  I got into transition, (this part is always so exciting because there are TONs of people around cheering just for you!) found my transition bag and started changing into my run outfit.  This may sounds silly, but just pulling that pink run dress out of my bag got me pretty excited to do this run.  ** Looking back, I’ve never actually had a great run in this dress so maybe it needs to be retired??** I slipped on my compression socks with ease (thanks to my tutorial from Scotty-B.) and I was off!  Well, first a quick visit to the port-o but then I was off and running.

It just doesn’t happen that way. It seems that I’m usually still really really tired, my workouts are kinda flat, some are even bad, and I’m preoccupied with the planning for the trip etc.  so I don’t even feel like I have a ton more time.

My last long brick was a couple of weekends ago.  It was HOT.  We started our ride around 7 am, it was supposed to be a 2.5 hour ride with a 8 mile run.  It turned into a 3 hour ride and a 7 mile run. I probably started my run around 10:45 or 11:00, and I don’t know how hot it was when I started, but I was BAKING about 3 miles in.  I hadn’t really planned out my 8 mile loop back to the car, but knew I had some shorter and some longer options….and I was NOT willing to go for the longer ones.

I definitely some down moments on this run, with lots of self doubt.  These are the times where you question all of your training, and evil little thoughts start flying through your head.  ”…if I feel like this now, how am I going to feel in my marathon?!?” & “if it’s hot in CDA I’m screwed”  & “what if it’s raining and windy?!?…” This way of thinking can quickly spiral into a deep dark depressed slow sufferfest if you don’t get it in check.  So, I made myself start thinking of all the things I was thankful for. The first thing I thought was, ” well, I am NOT thankful for this heat”….not quite right.  That’s how much of a brat I am that I even make snotty remarks to myself when I’m trying to get myself out of a funk. Idiot. Sooner than later  I got on the right track.  It started with my legs, I’m thankful for my strong legs that I’m running on right now, I’m thankful for my heart who LOVEs to run, I’m thankful for my family who taught me to enjoy being active, I’m thankful for my mom, brother, and Brett for going all the way to CDA to watch me pull together 9 months of training and pack it all into 11 hours and 55 minutes *wink*…..the list went on and on and on and on…..but I totally perked up and felt pretty good my last couple of miles. It’s amazing what a good attitude on a run can do.

This past week I feel like I’ve been on survival mode a little bit.  Working, cleaning, organizing, packing, planning, list-making, cleaning, chore assigning, vitamining, hydrating, can I carbo-load yet? I’m kind of an over achiever when it comes to that. Mmmmm, food.

I have a few pics to post that I hope you’ll enjoy (I’ll post them in a new post)….the thumbnail is from my final brick…and I was thankful for the beautiful view!

My friend Katie had recommended a 4 hour ride she had just done with some friends, and it was something I hadn’t done so I set out for that adventure.  The first stop was Millerton Lake via Sky Harbor road.  The last time I was on this road with tons of HUGE hills, I was running it so it was a nice change of pace to ride it again.  It’s about 10or 12 miles (round trip) out to the lake and back and I’m pretty sure there re NO flat sections, you are either going up or down.  I got to the end of Sky Habor road, and there’s a little picnic area so I used the restroom, filled my water bottles, ate some bars, and took some pictures.

I headed back to Friant road, from the lake.  It was so refreshing to do a ride I hadn’t done in over a year, I was starting to get excited about my day. I was also getting excited to run Sky Harbor again soon.  It’s all I could think about on the way back. That’s definitely on the to-do list for after IM CDA.  Friant Rd. took me back to Auberry Rd. where I headed up to Prather.

Prather is a frequent stop for me. I think they know me in the gas station now. I almost always fill my waters in the store, and usually buy something.  This day, I bought a mountain dew and some cookies.  It wasn’t even hot, and I had lots of bars/gels/blocks to eat, but I just felt like something different. I sat outside eating, and came across this little guy.

He was running around, sprinting into the store, sprinting out of the store, chasing bugs, sprinting in and out, chasing any paper that moved, any thing that moved really.  He was constantly moving and chasing and attacking.  It was so entertaining!

He even checked out the Orbea.

Of course my camera wasn’t ready when he poked his head through my spokes and looked up at me.  After my mini-lunch break, (with entertainment) I headed down Hwy 168 back towards home, I don’t usually descend 168, because it doesn’t have a great shoulder for riding in, but there wasn’t a lot of traffic, and again it was fun doing things a little differently since I seemed to be missing a large chunk of motivation for the day.

Since the day was already in the record books for Most Breaks Taken, & Longest Breaks Taken During a 4 Hour Ride, I just couldn’t pass by these cute cows without taking their picture.  I actually even, rode past them and had to turn around to get their pics.  I mean come on, they are totally cute right?

And that my friends is how you turn a  four hour ride, into a six hour ride!

Today was supposed to be a long ride day with some hilly’s.  Sounds like my cup-o-tea.  Anything long make me happy, and hills make me happy too.  There were a few things that went wrong with today though starting last week.  First of all, this weekend totally snuck up on me, and I didn’t have a great plan of attack for it.  I’m kind of a planner, and if I don’t have a firm plan things either don’t get done at all, or they just don’t get done well.

I know it sounds moderately crazy to you non-planners, and my planning at times does dip into crazy town I can admit that.  I thrive on it, not the crazy, just the organization and especially the planning of things. So, back to the story.

I hadn’t made a set plan for the weekend. I had on my calendar a 3.5 hour ride with a 45 minute run Saturday, and a 4 hour ride Sunday.  Sounds fun.  Friday night I was SUPER tired after a long awful day at work so I just went to bed,  because thinking about what I needed to get ready for the weekend was even too much to think about.  I Did my brick Saturday, felt pretty good, minus some minor bonking towards the end of my run.  Got home fueled up, drank water all day, had dinner with my mom.  Overall it was a great day. I decided that Sunday (today) I would do one of my favorite rides with lots of hills.  I’d start early (8ish) so I’d be home early with lots of day left.

This morning I rolled out of bed around 9:30. :/  Sat on the couch eating, interneting, procrastinating. This was already not looking too good. I was in NO hurry to get out there on my bike.  hmmm.  Finally around 11am I started getting things organized.  Drove out to Copper and Willow, dang-it I’m already hungry again I thought.  Good thing I brought a banana.  I thought it would hold me over until my first stop at Humphrey’s Station.

About 50 minutes into my ride I was STARVING! I was about 20 minutes away from Humphrey’s so I decided to wait to eat my bar (dumb).  Got to Humphrey’s, filled the water bottles and chowed down.  I brought more food with me than usual, and considered eating another bar, but decided to wait until the top of Wildcat to have a snack break.  I headed out towards my next big climb, about half way up the steep climb, my stomach was GROWLING….I was feeling exhausted, totally bonking. Dang-it.  Those of you who don’t know what “bonking” is, it’s when you just completely run out of steam and have NOTHING left to give.  I finally made it to the top of Wildcat, SUPER excited to eat and drink.  I ate a huge bar with tons of calories and nutrients, and thought I’d be good.  Had a nice decent to let the calories sink in, started back up towards Tollhouse on Burrough Valley Rd.  Probably 2 miles into this climb I felt hungry again! ugh! Dang-it. I didn’t have a lot of food left and I had a good 30 miles left to go. I ate a gel, and some cliff blocks, hoping they’d get in my system quick, about 20 minutes later I gave in and finished off my last bar hoping all of that would boost me to Prather where I could buy more food.

I made it up to Sierra Elementary School, and started to feel little better.  I also knew most of my climbing was done and I just had to make it to Prather to get some calories. I toyed with the idea of stopping in Tollhouse for some food, but thought I felt so much better I’d make it to Prather no problem.  About 10 minutes later, about 1/2 way between Tollhouse and Prather I was re-thinking my decision. I have never been SO depleted on a ride before, this was ridiculous. I mean I’ve bonked a lot, don’t get me wrong, but never over and over like this.  At this point, I literally thought to myself, in my whiniest voice, *sigh* I just want to stop pedaling, maybe I’ll just stop pedaling. I slowed my pedaling and quickly realized I would NEVER get to food if I stopped. dang-it.

Ok, suck it up let’s go.  These are definitely the days where you are picturing race day, and wondering if that’s how you are going to feel on race day. These are also the days that on race day you think back on and realize you got through something really tough.  Even if it’s tough because you didn’t prepare well, it doesn’t matter.  Fact is, it was tough and you did it.  But at this point I hadn’t done it….I was in the middle of it and I was miserable, dang-it. I made it to Prather.  I wanted a HUGE sandwich or plate of spaghetti.  Instead I got a red bull and a snickers.  They were AMAZING!

I was a new woman in a couple of minutes. I hate buying water so I stopped at Brett’s parent’s house to fill up.  They also had SCONES left over from breakfast (thanks Tom!) so I sat and ate two scones.  At this point in my day I felt like my ride was already unsuccessful. Who cares if I sit and eat……I barely even made it there.  I realize this all sounds very dramatic, but when you don’t have enough calories in your body…..and you still have to pedal yourself 25 miles home you feel pretty hopeless.

I hopped back on my bike with ice cold water, and a belly full of treats. The last 20 miles were a breeze!  Another cyclist on the opposite side of the road gave me a fist-pump as I rode by. Not just a wave, a fist pump. I felt like he knew how long my day was or something.  He was celebrating for me. I really was feeling great, I felt like I could just keep going! Dang-it.  Clearly my biggest adversary today was my lack of preparation/nutrition. I probably needed to eat more yesterday after my long ride/run.  I probably needed to eat more before I went out the door today, and I probably needed to bring more on my ride with me.

On the bright side, I did it. I made it. I learned from it.  It’s in the bank for when I need it.  Time to EAT!

Katie and I got up at 5am, strapped the bikes on the car and headed south to Solvang.  When we arrived there were already cyclists out on the road.  We found parking, admired the cute little town, decided to stay in town next time, checked in at registration, and started the challenging part of the day, deciding what to wear.  People were wearing everything you could imagine from shorts and a jersey,  to pants with  full shoe-covers, hats, and jackets.   We finally decided on knickers, arm-warmers, toe warmers, and vests, and we were OFF!

It was a little cold starting out, but the sun was out so I knew it would warm up, and I HATE carrying extra stuff if I don’t need it.  I was little nervous about how I would feel on the ride. My training rides leading up to Solvang were only about 40 to 60 miles.  I was really worried I’d get to mile 80 and want to die.

The morning was really fun, HUGE packs of cyclists would fly by us and Katie and would just hop in and FLY with them as long as we could. Effortlessly cruising at speeds of sometimes 27 mph. FUN!  We would typically hit a hill and be dropped like we weren’t even pedaling. It was always fun while it lasted.  We made sure to “get our money’s worth” at all the rest stops by eating as much as we could. We would randomly find some big dudes to ride behind, as the winds were ridiculous.  We were happy to pull as well, but lots of dudes couldn’t handle girls being in their groups and would drop us just because they were stupid.  We would usually just pass those groups when we’d find another group willing to work with us.  Dummies.  I guess being pulled by a girl makes you feel like less of a man?Katie and I got a huge kick out of this guy.  It was a tandom set up for a kid on the back (see those little legs!).  The dad was riding with his young son on the back!  Whoa. In the picture Katie is up talking with him to his right.  He rode with his son on the back for the first half, and then traded kids and rode with his daughter the second half.  Too cute!

Here’s the climb graph of the century.  I said earlier I was a little nervous about how I’d feel after mile 80.  Well, I never looked at the graphs or the map or anything (if it’s not a race sometimes I like to be surprised so I don’t worry about things that are out of my control).  I’m not sure if you can see the numbers or not, but basically that HUGE climb at the end…that starts right around mile 80.Needless to say not knowing how long I was climbing (and it was relatively gradual) I was not feeling great at mile 80.  I was actually feeling pretty bad. I was wondering how I was going to make it to mile 100…..moving at about 8 mph.  UGH torture.  Luckily for me around mile 87 or 90 we started our decent…..and other than a few minor bumps in the road….the decent carried us all the way back to the finish! It was so fun and fast, every ride should end like that!

This is one of my favorite rides to do, especially during the spring!  All the wildflowers are blooming!  The water is calm and beautiful.  There are rolling fun hills all around the lake, and challenging hills up to and out of the lake.

The first climb out from the lake is a doosey.  It’s only about 1 mile long, but it is very very steep.  The last time I was riding up this hill, I was going about 6 mph, I passed some cows just sitting on the side of the road, I scared a baby cow and the momma took a few steps towards me!  I panicked, what if she charged me!? I was going 6 mph….I felt like I was standing still! Katie and I laughed about this story the whole way up.  When we stopped at the Forrest Service Station at the top we saw this.

He was basking in the sun!  Katie and I cracked up thinking of the possibilities of him charging us.  Then I made Katie ride by again so I could get pictures of her!

Our final climb of the day was up the back of Wildcat.  Wildcat is a well known difficult climb in this area (the front not the back).  We stopped for some fuel, fluid, and photos.