PR at Pleasant Prairie & Leon's Triathlon

The season is going by quick! I started off with a great team event with Endure It at Leon's triathlon in Hammond, IN.   We had a great showing with 3 teams.  The race is fast and very competitive.  I finished with 2:28.  It was fun being with everyone we trained all winter inside with. 

Today I woke up at 4am to head to Pleasant Prairie, WI for their triathlon.  They announced how the bike would be shorter than usual at 21 miles vs. 24.   Going in the swim was nice, it's a very clean and pretty clear, almost like swimming in a quarry.   I got out right away at 24 mins and then headed into transition...got on the bike and away.  But after I finished my 2nd loop, i asked the volunteer which way to go and he said "international that way" which I should have realized why people were heading straight.   Turns out a couple miles later I asked a biker women that I was close with on the last loop where the turn out was and she was on mile 12!  I thought she was on 21 like me....so quickly I turned around.   The good part about turning around was meeting Julie from Endure It Willowbrook.  We chatted after the race that she's also doing Ironman WI as her first Ironman, I'll see her up at the Madison camp.   

With the race turning into an official Olympic distance tri (since I added to make it 24miles)  I cut off 2 minutes from Leon's.  That's great news for a PR, my run is stronger and faster....thanks to Jenny's running workouts!

Ironman Wisconsin Prep

(email written June 14)  Race Date:   September 9, 2012 Madison, WI

I am 12 weeks away from the start of my Ironman Wisconsin race!   This past weekend I went out there and did the two loop bike course which equals 80 miles.  The total bike is 112 miles.  The course is absolutely beautiful; you go thru the town of Verona (on the near West side of Madison) and into the country side of steep climbs and fast downhills.  There are 3 large hills that people generally flock to cheer from and hang out.    During the ride my friend said he has already been in touch with his cheerleading squad (friend and family) so this is my first reach out to you.   I wanted to start the dialog if you want to car pool with friends in the area.   And if you were planning on getting a hotel the time is now to secure that too.   If you come the night before we can all get a big reservation for a pasta place. 

 No worries if you are unable to make it.  You can also track online.

 For those of you that are able to make it please let me know…I plan on making everyone matching T-shirts with logos, ect….What doesn’t kills ya makes you stronger.   From your email responses I will create a spate email for those traveling up there.

 The start of the race is Lake Mendota, downtown Madison at 7am.   This swim will be no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes.  From there people generally go up to Old Sauk Hill or Timber Lane for the bike.   The bike should take between 6 ½ -7 ½ hours.   The marathon is a two loop course downtown Madison around Capital Square.  There are lots of places to sit and have a bite to eat or drink downtown.  The town is really fun…I have really enjoyed watching for the last two years.   I am extremely nervous but want this to be a fun experience.   Thank you all for your support and help, I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of my husband and parents.   With Jenny’s coaching I am enjoying very detailed workouts.   This experience has also lead me to meet some new friends, Lynn, Chris, Tim, Beth and Karen.  And I have to thank Betsy for always joining me for my long run…Saturday mornings at 5:15am J

 PS   I will have a very detailed email closer to the event with times and locations.   Please don’t feel you need to stay for the whole event, do what’s best for you schedule, it is a trek up there.   Thanks in advance!!!

 Love,

Diana

Times are good!

Times are good!   I have my first race coming up next weekend...Leon's Olympic distance tri on June 3rd.  I've never raced it but my tri club Endure It! races as a team.  I'm excited to see what this race and team is all about.    Over the weekend was my oldest daughter's recital.  She's into dance which as a kid I never tried, but it's cute for the little ones. 

Last week was my first week using Jennifer Garrison coaching.  I successfully did a 70 mile bike ride and a 14 mile run the following day.   It was a breath of fresh air to have work outs listed on training peaks with great detail for everyday.  Ironman is a huge obstacle to tackle and I know Jenny can get me there.  She also understands the way I need to train with having work, family and life in general.   And just seeing the difference in the running workouts is incredible.   I feel much more confident now.     I'll be posting after Leon's....have a great Memorial Day weekend. 

Monster Swim

Today was the Naperville Waves Monster Swim. The swim for me was 50 x 100s on the 1:40 and then I did 17 x 75 which was 6,275 yards in two hours. I was nervious about the swim, not knowing if that would be enough rest but it was. We averaged 1:25 per 100. This was an event that I would do again. Sue Welker had it full of prizes, organization & music. My husband and kids came for the last half hour. It was cute to see them moving their shoulders to the music & excitment on their face to see all the people swimming. Annabelle came up to me and said "How did you do that flip in the water?" Elizabeth said, "I want to learn that?" It was their first time seeing flip turns, which there were many many turns today.

The other reason I wanted to do the swim today was to make the Ironman swim distance swim no problem. That distance is 2.4miles around 4,000 yards.

My running partner & I had a very long run last week, 11.25 miles. I think that will be my longest for awhile. I really don't want to get injured and there have already been a few bumps along the way. We are lucky to have had such a mild winter. It will be nice to run tomorrow in 48 degrees and sun.

Living Well Bridge Walk

This morning my family attended the Living Well Pancake kick-off for the 5K Bridge Walk. First I should tell you about Living Well cancer resource center. For me Living Well was a place I could turn to for many reasons. Before I went into the complete "survivor phase" I decided to discuss different feelings I might go through. I also did nutritional seminars to learn about the super foods and good recipes to take home. I also did yoga to learn how my lumpectomy can effect my arm and how to stretch through exercise. As a triathlete yoga was a new form of exercise for me and also brought an element of spirituality to my journey.

Lastly, the great thing about Living Well is they offer all the services free of charge, such as:

*Weekly support groups for people affeted by cancer and their families

*One-on-one and family counseling

*Eduational seminars and presentations

*Mind, body and fitness programs

*Nutitional classes held in the demonstration kitchen

*Stress, pain and fatigue management through massage, art and other workshops

To conclude my family and possibly yours could join us at the 5K Bridge Walk in Geneva, IL on May 19th. Contact me for the registration form or go to www.livingwellcrc.org

The team I'll be walking under is called Rockstars 2012 lead by team captain Kaitie Hauser. Please join me in supporting this very important and worthwhile organization by mailing me a tax-deductible donation (please make checks payable to LivingWell Cancer Resource Center), or make a donation on- line by going to www.livingwellcrc.org

click on the Bridge Walk logo, select “Sponsor Walker”, and follow the Bridge
Walk donation instructions. My team’s name is Rockstars 2012.

"Now I only have two kinds of days...good days and great days." Lance Armstrong

Hope you had a great holiday season. As we start in our 2012 routines I thought I would share thoughts from a book called. In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan

This book mostly goes over how we should eat plant based foods. You might already know most of the things on this list, but with the new year I thought it would fun to post. I won't get into great detail on the list, if it interests you I'm sure you can find this book.

Avoid Food Products containing ingredients that are A) Unfamiliar B) Unpronounceable C)More than Five in number D) High-Fructose Corn Syrup.

Avoid food products that make claims.

Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle (essentially we need to be in the middle for survival bread, soups, condiments, ect)

Eat mostly plants, especially leaves (we are not vegetarians in our house, but I agree it's a good idea for lots of veggies)

You are what your Eat eats too.

Eat well-grown food from healthy soils.

Eat wild foods when you can.

Be the kind of person who takes supplements.

Eat more like the French, or the Italians, or the Japanese or Greeks.

Don't get your fuel from the same place your car does.

Eat slowly.

Cook and if you can plant a garden

In conjunction with my training we are always trying to learn more on how to eat better. These are some things that we are already doing and want to add. Adam plans to expand our garden this year with foods we enjoy daily.

Thanks Saucony! I have been a fan of Saucony Pro Grid ride shoes and yesterday this package came in the mail from them. I didn't get a sponsorship, but instead they sent me Sacu-Fit Power Grid pink and black shoes which are amazing. Then I got a 2nd package that has 2 jackets (one winter, one spring) running shorts and two tops. This so generious and nice!

Today I ran in the new Sauc-Fit 4mm shoes. They really felt great! They will also be good on a hot day with the big vents in the outside of the shoe. See all the products at www.saucony.com

My running partner and I got in 6.7 miles today, in 19 degree weather. The only thing cold was my face. I need to get a face/chin protector to stay warm on days like this.

This week I signed up for Leon's olympic distrance tri June 3rd in Hammond, IN. Endure it races this as a team.

Happy Holidays to your family!