Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. -- William Arthur Ward
Happy Post-Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas extended stretch of over-eating, over-drinking, and under-training...at least that's what it usually is. But this year, I've decided to exercise a different plan. I will follow my training plan (starting tomorrow, because this morning I woke up with my normal snot-nose headache that a friend told me could be seasonal allergies and I'm beginning to believe that's a real possibility). I will eat carefully, except at holiday parties. I will drink less during the week. :) I will make it to Christmas weighing the same, if not less, than I weigh this morning. Because then New Years won't be a shock to my system, but a continuation of positive behaviors.
What's up with this? What kind of idiot makes a pre-Christmas resolution? The kind of idiot that looked at a picture of herself at this year's Turkey Trot and nearly cried. I had a turkey belly BEFORE gorging on turkey and I had a waddle under my chin that would make any turkey jealous. (And if you could see my arms, you'd see the old-lady chicken wing thing I got going on.) All in all, it was a wake-up call that I never wanted. Girl, you're getting too big. This has to stop. And so, the pre-Christmas resolution. I don't think I'm setting myself up to fail, because I'm not being militant. Just sensible. Careful. And I know I have some holiday parties over the next few weeks where I'll want to eat and drink (including tomorrow at lunch). And I will. But on non-holiday party days, which is the bulk of them, I will be careful. No more turkey pictures for me!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Eyes on the Prize
Contentment consists not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire. -- Thomas Fuller
Hearing about other people racing used to make me very jealous. It didn't matter if I had just raced or if I was unprepared to race or if I was hurt or anything - I wanted to be the one racing. But this past weekend, the marathon/half marathon/8K was going on in town and, oddly enough, I didn't feel the least bit jealous. And I think it's because I am content. There's no reason to add more fuel; instead I'm taking away some fire and focusing on my goals for 2016. No more, no less.
I have two primary goals: run a marathon PR (and ideally under 5 hours) and finish IM Louisville.
I'm working with my coach to meet these goals, and this week is when the fun starts...speedwork running, back on the bike, and even a 2-a-day workout (bike and run) this weekend. I've started weight training to get stronger. And I joined a "don't gain weight over the holidays" contest at the YMCA. Now is when my 2016 season starts and I will keep my eyes on the prize.
Hearing about other people racing used to make me very jealous. It didn't matter if I had just raced or if I was unprepared to race or if I was hurt or anything - I wanted to be the one racing. But this past weekend, the marathon/half marathon/8K was going on in town and, oddly enough, I didn't feel the least bit jealous. And I think it's because I am content. There's no reason to add more fuel; instead I'm taking away some fire and focusing on my goals for 2016. No more, no less.
I have two primary goals: run a marathon PR (and ideally under 5 hours) and finish IM Louisville.
I'm working with my coach to meet these goals, and this week is when the fun starts...speedwork running, back on the bike, and even a 2-a-day workout (bike and run) this weekend. I've started weight training to get stronger. And I joined a "don't gain weight over the holidays" contest at the YMCA. Now is when my 2016 season starts and I will keep my eyes on the prize.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Sometimes the Finish Line isn't the Best Goal
But for each of us, isn't life about determining your own finish line? -- Diana Nyad
This past weekend I didn't finish the OBX Marathon. I waited for a sag wagon at mile 15. And you know what? I won the marathon. That's not a typo. I won on Sunday.
I signed up to run the OBX Marathon in 2014, thinking that after IM Louisville, I'd have the fitness to get my sub-5 marathon on the mostly flat course. But then IMLOU ended with a stress fracture in my foot so I deferred OBX.
This fall, the question was to run, or not to run...and I wavered about eight million times about what to do. I was going to run it, because I was fit from training for the IMMD-that-wasn't. I wasn't going to run, because I'd taken enough hits (mentally & physically) this year. I was going to run, because it was already paid for. I wasn't going to run, because my coach didn't want me to. I was going to run, because I'd rather do that than go to a soccer tournament with Elder Daughter. (oops - that wasn't supposed to be part of the calculus) I wasn't going to run, because it was going to be rainy. One time, I had made my mind up to definitely not run - only to be talked back into it by Iron Sherpa.
So. Ultimately I decided to run it. But I would stop as soon as anything got painful. As soon as my mind went to a dark place. As soon as anything happened that would otherwise derail 2016 as being my year. I promised Iron Sherpa. I promised my coach. And I promised myself.
It was a crappy day on Saturday as I drove the 3-ish hours to the OBX. Rainy, windy. I hate driving over long bridges, especially in the rain and wind. I hate driving through tunnels. So it was just not a good thing. But I listened to TED talks and got pumped up. (Yeah, I know - it's weird.) When I pulled into the parking lot at the race expo...the sun came out. It turned out to be a really nice afternoon. I enjoyed the race expo -- I mean, who doesn't like shopping for running stuff. (oops - well, I did buy IronSherpa some socks, so he can't be too upset that I shopped) I took some pictures around town. I went to a local restaurant and had a nice lunch and a craft beer. And then I went to the grocery store, bought some breakfast and wine (not for breakfast) and bubbly water and checked into my hotel. And then I hunkered down - I watched college football, did some work, ordered pizza to eat with my wine, and watched crappy TV until I went to bed. It was incredibly relaxing.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I slept terribly. It happens. And then Sunday morning I woke up and got ready for the race. I will say, OBX SE (Outer Banks Sporting Events) puts on a good show. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end - more than I can say for most things I've done. I relaxed at the start line - there was no pressure. I had 7+ hours to finish. I knew I was going to walk. I knew I could stop if I had to. This wasn't my A race or even a B race. It was a long walk on a pretty fall Sunday morning.
I started the race with a very strict run-walk schedule 2:30/1:00. And I did that for 8 miles and it worked awesome. Even with stopping at a portapotty, I was holding about 12 minute miles. Not fast, but perfectly acceptable given that it was a training walk. :) When I hit mile 8, we were at the Wright Brothers National Memorial...and now I know why they picked that spot. The wind was insane! I was nearly blown sideways. So I started walking without the run interval, and that was fine. I was walking ~15-16 minutes/mile and kept that up through the half-marathon mark. And that was challenging, since from about mile 10 to the halfway mark was a walk in the woods...some on a fire road, but a good portion on a path over an enormous sand dune. (Whoever said OBX was flat except for the bridge at the end totally lied. The hills through Jockey Ridge suck.)
After I got out of the woods...appropriately at the half mark, my knee felt a little tweaky. But I had done the half mary in about 3 hours. Not terrible. Hell - I had a very bad standalone half-mary that took me more than 3 hours...but I'm not proud of that one. Anyway - I was worried about the tweaky, but I also had 4+ hours to finish the second half. So I knew I could walk it and be fine. And I am tired of DNFs. But that little tweak was a worrisome.
I called IronSherpa while I was walking - yes, I carried my phone, because I knew stopping was a possibility - and talked through the conundrum with him. To stop or not to stop. Well, I just kept walking past the med station at 13...but I slowed way down. And then I slowed down even more. And then I sat down and waited for the sweep wagon. It took a while, but eventually it came by and I caught a ride to the finish line.
So, I didn't finish. I went 8 good miles. I am happy with 13 miles. I did 2 miles beyond that that I maybe shouldn't have. But I'm OK. I'm actually happy - because I made the right decision. Eyes on the prize...2016 will be my year. I'm hoping for a sub-5 marathon at Tobacco Road in March. I will be happy with a PR (sub-5:12). And I will be an Ironman at Louisville in October. That's the finish line. The finish line at OBX wasn't about crossing the timing mat at 26.2...it was about making a smart decision with the proper goals in mind. That's my finish line...and I crossed it with my hands held high.
This past weekend I didn't finish the OBX Marathon. I waited for a sag wagon at mile 15. And you know what? I won the marathon. That's not a typo. I won on Sunday.
I signed up to run the OBX Marathon in 2014, thinking that after IM Louisville, I'd have the fitness to get my sub-5 marathon on the mostly flat course. But then IMLOU ended with a stress fracture in my foot so I deferred OBX.
This fall, the question was to run, or not to run...and I wavered about eight million times about what to do. I was going to run it, because I was fit from training for the IMMD-that-wasn't. I wasn't going to run, because I'd taken enough hits (mentally & physically) this year. I was going to run, because it was already paid for. I wasn't going to run, because my coach didn't want me to. I was going to run, because I'd rather do that than go to a soccer tournament with Elder Daughter. (oops - that wasn't supposed to be part of the calculus) I wasn't going to run, because it was going to be rainy. One time, I had made my mind up to definitely not run - only to be talked back into it by Iron Sherpa.
So. Ultimately I decided to run it. But I would stop as soon as anything got painful. As soon as my mind went to a dark place. As soon as anything happened that would otherwise derail 2016 as being my year. I promised Iron Sherpa. I promised my coach. And I promised myself.
It was a crappy day on Saturday as I drove the 3-ish hours to the OBX. Rainy, windy. I hate driving over long bridges, especially in the rain and wind. I hate driving through tunnels. So it was just not a good thing. But I listened to TED talks and got pumped up. (Yeah, I know - it's weird.) When I pulled into the parking lot at the race expo...the sun came out. It turned out to be a really nice afternoon. I enjoyed the race expo -- I mean, who doesn't like shopping for running stuff. (oops - well, I did buy IronSherpa some socks, so he can't be too upset that I shopped) I took some pictures around town. I went to a local restaurant and had a nice lunch and a craft beer. And then I went to the grocery store, bought some breakfast and wine (not for breakfast) and bubbly water and checked into my hotel. And then I hunkered down - I watched college football, did some work, ordered pizza to eat with my wine, and watched crappy TV until I went to bed. It was incredibly relaxing.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I slept terribly. It happens. And then Sunday morning I woke up and got ready for the race. I will say, OBX SE (Outer Banks Sporting Events) puts on a good show. Everything went smoothly from beginning to end - more than I can say for most things I've done. I relaxed at the start line - there was no pressure. I had 7+ hours to finish. I knew I was going to walk. I knew I could stop if I had to. This wasn't my A race or even a B race. It was a long walk on a pretty fall Sunday morning.
I started the race with a very strict run-walk schedule 2:30/1:00. And I did that for 8 miles and it worked awesome. Even with stopping at a portapotty, I was holding about 12 minute miles. Not fast, but perfectly acceptable given that it was a training walk. :) When I hit mile 8, we were at the Wright Brothers National Memorial...and now I know why they picked that spot. The wind was insane! I was nearly blown sideways. So I started walking without the run interval, and that was fine. I was walking ~15-16 minutes/mile and kept that up through the half-marathon mark. And that was challenging, since from about mile 10 to the halfway mark was a walk in the woods...some on a fire road, but a good portion on a path over an enormous sand dune. (Whoever said OBX was flat except for the bridge at the end totally lied. The hills through Jockey Ridge suck.)
After I got out of the woods...appropriately at the half mark, my knee felt a little tweaky. But I had done the half mary in about 3 hours. Not terrible. Hell - I had a very bad standalone half-mary that took me more than 3 hours...but I'm not proud of that one. Anyway - I was worried about the tweaky, but I also had 4+ hours to finish the second half. So I knew I could walk it and be fine. And I am tired of DNFs. But that little tweak was a worrisome.
I called IronSherpa while I was walking - yes, I carried my phone, because I knew stopping was a possibility - and talked through the conundrum with him. To stop or not to stop. Well, I just kept walking past the med station at 13...but I slowed way down. And then I slowed down even more. And then I sat down and waited for the sweep wagon. It took a while, but eventually it came by and I caught a ride to the finish line.
So, I didn't finish. I went 8 good miles. I am happy with 13 miles. I did 2 miles beyond that that I maybe shouldn't have. But I'm OK. I'm actually happy - because I made the right decision. Eyes on the prize...2016 will be my year. I'm hoping for a sub-5 marathon at Tobacco Road in March. I will be happy with a PR (sub-5:12). And I will be an Ironman at Louisville in October. That's the finish line. The finish line at OBX wasn't about crossing the timing mat at 26.2...it was about making a smart decision with the proper goals in mind. That's my finish line...and I crossed it with my hands held high.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Anxiety Eating
Food is a lot of people's therapy - when we say comfort food, we really mean that. It's releasing dopamine and serotonin in your brain that makes you feel good. -- Brett Hoebel
The only break I ever took was to eat. That's all I did. Work, and then quickly eat something. It became my main pleasure, having access to my comfort food. -- John Prescott
I will admit that I'm a little stressed and overwhelmed right now -- not about training and racing, because oddly that's at a pretty good place right now. No, my to-do lists are too long, my time is too short, and anytime I knock off one or two tasks, three or more grow back in their place. It's like the Hydra. On steroids.
Anyway, in trying to get my work done, I'm always looking for somewhere that I can work without interruption. Sometimes my office will do, but there always seems to be someone around. Sometimes home -- but then I have to be sure not to get bogged down in housework, which is not on my to-do lists but always needs to be done. Sometimes a coffee shop. The real problem with most places is that they allow me to eat food, encourage me even to eat food that is probably not the best stuff. Today, working from home, you would be surprised at how persuasive the kids' Halloween candy was. Insane.
And I know it's because my mind is working so hard to focus on the task at hand that it doesn't have the energy left to make good choices on other fronts. I've read the psychology stuff, I get it. Other than working in a cave with no food (appealing, but no Internet) - I'm not sure how to solve this problem. But I'll keep looking...
The only break I ever took was to eat. That's all I did. Work, and then quickly eat something. It became my main pleasure, having access to my comfort food. -- John Prescott
I will admit that I'm a little stressed and overwhelmed right now -- not about training and racing, because oddly that's at a pretty good place right now. No, my to-do lists are too long, my time is too short, and anytime I knock off one or two tasks, three or more grow back in their place. It's like the Hydra. On steroids.
Anyway, in trying to get my work done, I'm always looking for somewhere that I can work without interruption. Sometimes my office will do, but there always seems to be someone around. Sometimes home -- but then I have to be sure not to get bogged down in housework, which is not on my to-do lists but always needs to be done. Sometimes a coffee shop. The real problem with most places is that they allow me to eat food, encourage me even to eat food that is probably not the best stuff. Today, working from home, you would be surprised at how persuasive the kids' Halloween candy was. Insane.
And I know it's because my mind is working so hard to focus on the task at hand that it doesn't have the energy left to make good choices on other fronts. I've read the psychology stuff, I get it. Other than working in a cave with no food (appealing, but no Internet) - I'm not sure how to solve this problem. But I'll keep looking...
Monday, October 26, 2015
New Directions!
The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination. -- Carl Rogers
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. -- Dr. Seuss
It feels good to have a direction. I feel a lot better knowing where the next year is going to take me. I'm still working with IronSherpa and my coach to plan out the whole year, but I know that the culmination of 2016 is going to be back at Louisville, where the downward spiral started. And I'm excited. Rather than being nervous to return to the scene of the crime, I instead view it as an opportunity to fight back. To slay the dragon. To earn the IM that I was meant to have in 2014. And that is honestly a good feeling.
I was hoping that IM Louisville was going to be an option for the IMMD discount. And that it wouldn't sell out before then. In talking with IronSherpa, we were looking at Louisville, Chattanooga, and Maryland -- all driveable. And then Chattanooga sold out. Waiting, waiting, waiting. On Friday morning, the email came in and the choice was easy. I wanted to go back to Louisville and I get to. And a wonderful peace has come over me. Weird, huh?
To be sure, there will be ups, downs, highs, lows, and probably a few meltdowns along the way, but I can't imagine a better place to make my comeback. Besides, who doesn't love "Call to Post"?
2016 will be my year. Louisville will be my IM. And the best is yet to come!
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. -- Dr. Seuss
IRONMAN LOUISVILLE 2016
It feels good to have a direction. I feel a lot better knowing where the next year is going to take me. I'm still working with IronSherpa and my coach to plan out the whole year, but I know that the culmination of 2016 is going to be back at Louisville, where the downward spiral started. And I'm excited. Rather than being nervous to return to the scene of the crime, I instead view it as an opportunity to fight back. To slay the dragon. To earn the IM that I was meant to have in 2014. And that is honestly a good feeling.
I was hoping that IM Louisville was going to be an option for the IMMD discount. And that it wouldn't sell out before then. In talking with IronSherpa, we were looking at Louisville, Chattanooga, and Maryland -- all driveable. And then Chattanooga sold out. Waiting, waiting, waiting. On Friday morning, the email came in and the choice was easy. I wanted to go back to Louisville and I get to. And a wonderful peace has come over me. Weird, huh?
To be sure, there will be ups, downs, highs, lows, and probably a few meltdowns along the way, but I can't imagine a better place to make my comeback. Besides, who doesn't love "Call to Post"?
2016 will be my year. Louisville will be my IM. And the best is yet to come!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Wishin' and Hopin' and Thinkin' and Prayin'
A certain amount of impatience may be useful to stimulate and motivate us to action. However, I believe that a lack of patience is a major cause of difficulties and unhappiness in the world today. -- Joseph B. Wirthlin
Patience has never been a virtue that I have had an excess amount of. In fact, I have been blessed with much more impatience than patience. And so it's really tough right now to wait to hear what IM races might be available for me next year. It's made all the more aggravating when I hear what races all of the folks in town and in my tri club are doing...I want to be able to add my name to that list of people who know what their next year will be focused on. I'm trying not to dwell, but it is testing all of my patience as I wait...wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' and planin' and dreamin'...
I think my priorities, if we do an IM-branded race, would be first IMLOU (gotta get 'er done), IMChoo (although that's likely to fill up before we get the go-ahead to discount register), and then IMMD (although I'm not sure how excited I am about it...). Otherwise, it will probably be B2B - which is cool, but a lot smaller.
No matter what, I'm waiting for the next leap forward - looking to have a great 2016.
(Look at me - a two song day! Hopefully Billy Bragg will get Dusty Springfield out of your head. ;) )
Patience has never been a virtue that I have had an excess amount of. In fact, I have been blessed with much more impatience than patience. And so it's really tough right now to wait to hear what IM races might be available for me next year. It's made all the more aggravating when I hear what races all of the folks in town and in my tri club are doing...I want to be able to add my name to that list of people who know what their next year will be focused on. I'm trying not to dwell, but it is testing all of my patience as I wait...wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' and planin' and dreamin'...
I think my priorities, if we do an IM-branded race, would be first IMLOU (gotta get 'er done), IMChoo (although that's likely to fill up before we get the go-ahead to discount register), and then IMMD (although I'm not sure how excited I am about it...). Otherwise, it will probably be B2B - which is cool, but a lot smaller.
No matter what, I'm waiting for the next leap forward - looking to have a great 2016.
(Look at me - a two song day! Hopefully Billy Bragg will get Dusty Springfield out of your head. ;) )
Monday, October 19, 2015
Congratulations, Iron Sherpa! (or the ups-and-downs of being an Iron Spouse)
Emotional roller coasters tend to emphasize the lows, tend to be more affected bythe low, by the dip in the emotional roller coaster than when you are at the peak. -- Rush Limbaugh
Congratulations to IronSherpa - he finished his first Ironman race and did a really awesome job. I'm super proud of him. That being said, I'm not so proud of me. I've been on kind of a roller coaster this weekend, and the lows have won out on more occasions.
I wasn't planning on going to Maryland to watch Sherpa. I wasn't. I was going to stay home with the IronKids and stalk him on the Internet. But then, halfway up to DC for a soccer game, I got it in my head that I could handle being at the race and cheering for IronSherpa in person. And so we did the unthinkable (for me) - we spontaneously, with no equipment (save for the blankets we brought for soccer) and no plans, we left after the soccer game and went to IM MD. We found the shuttle, figured out he was still on the bike course, and went out to spectate. Unfortunately, the IM tracking website had a few issues, so we actually missed him coming in on the bike and leaving on the run...well, we didn't actually miss him - we were sitting RIGHT THERE and didn't see him. I forgot what he was wearing and because the website was off, we didn't know when to expect him, so he rode right past us and we didn't notice. Ooops. But we were there. And probably a good thing we didn't yell at him when he was on his bike, since he wasn't expecting us, at all, and that may have just made him crash. So we'll call it a good thing. But we were there.
We figured out finally he was on the run, so we went out to cheer for him there and actually caught him on the first of 3 loops (and then subsequent loops and the finish) so that was awesome. He was surprised and we were excited to have surprised him. We watched him finish, I cried, we got him warmed up (it was really freaking cold and windy), and then we went to the village to get him food. And then I got sad. I got sad because it wasn't me. I got sad because I wanted to be an Ironman too. And then I got mad, because -- despite every wonderful thing that I could say about IM Maryland and its organizers, especially with the reschedule -- the food situation for spectators was abysmal. The restaurants in town were over-jammed and the "food truck" for purchasing food in IM village was a joke. An absolute joke. (Stay away from Two Chicks catering & food truck. Dis.Ass.Ter.) I was starving. And cold. And sad. And that's just not a good combination for me. So I was not the best IronWife I could have been...and I do feel bad about that.
Also, there's this whole "I'm not good at spontaneous" thing. I had planned to be home on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, not in Maryland and/or driving home Sunday morning in time to make another IronKid soccer game. I had my whole day planned out...and then I changed plans...but I forgot to get my head wrapped around it. I'm not good with changing plans. I'm not good with logistics. And here I managed to screw up my own plans and do so with no thought to logistics. Yeah me. Again, not my best IronWife moment, because I then freaked out about all the un-done stuff at home, etc.
Anyway. Point is. I did something awesome and took IronKids to cheer for IronSherpa. And then I was sad. And mad. And not a very pleasant person - because no matter how high the highs are on the emotional roller coaster -- and I was super high for IronSherpa's finish...the lows are worse.
And so now I'm back in the Death Valley of waiting...and waiting...and waiting. Today we're supposed to hear something about what is available to folks who couldn't make the IMMD reschedule date - but I'm not sure, even at the end of today, if I'll know what lies ahead for me. I know, listening to IronSherpa's story, that IMMD is not really the best option for me at this point..because the course plays to all of my weaknesses (no coasting, lots of wind, potential cold) and none of my strengths (I'm not sure what these even are, but I'm fairly certain a windy, cold, flat course isn't among them). But who knows what the available options will be and when they will become available. I'm ready to schedule for next year, but I have to wait for the details and it's kind of killing me. I'm ready to be an Ironman - and I know I have to wait a year...and that's OK...I want to be in kick-ass shape and 40 pounds lighter, which is totally doable...but I need to have something to look forward to other than an e-mail at the end of today.
In the meantime, I'm going to try to ride IronSherpa's high. He looks pretty awesome in his IM Finisher gear - even if the jacket is ugly this year. :)
Congratulations to IronSherpa - he finished his first Ironman race and did a really awesome job. I'm super proud of him. That being said, I'm not so proud of me. I've been on kind of a roller coaster this weekend, and the lows have won out on more occasions.
I wasn't planning on going to Maryland to watch Sherpa. I wasn't. I was going to stay home with the IronKids and stalk him on the Internet. But then, halfway up to DC for a soccer game, I got it in my head that I could handle being at the race and cheering for IronSherpa in person. And so we did the unthinkable (for me) - we spontaneously, with no equipment (save for the blankets we brought for soccer) and no plans, we left after the soccer game and went to IM MD. We found the shuttle, figured out he was still on the bike course, and went out to spectate. Unfortunately, the IM tracking website had a few issues, so we actually missed him coming in on the bike and leaving on the run...well, we didn't actually miss him - we were sitting RIGHT THERE and didn't see him. I forgot what he was wearing and because the website was off, we didn't know when to expect him, so he rode right past us and we didn't notice. Ooops. But we were there. And probably a good thing we didn't yell at him when he was on his bike, since he wasn't expecting us, at all, and that may have just made him crash. So we'll call it a good thing. But we were there.
We figured out finally he was on the run, so we went out to cheer for him there and actually caught him on the first of 3 loops (and then subsequent loops and the finish) so that was awesome. He was surprised and we were excited to have surprised him. We watched him finish, I cried, we got him warmed up (it was really freaking cold and windy), and then we went to the village to get him food. And then I got sad. I got sad because it wasn't me. I got sad because I wanted to be an Ironman too. And then I got mad, because -- despite every wonderful thing that I could say about IM Maryland and its organizers, especially with the reschedule -- the food situation for spectators was abysmal. The restaurants in town were over-jammed and the "food truck" for purchasing food in IM village was a joke. An absolute joke. (Stay away from Two Chicks catering & food truck. Dis.Ass.Ter.) I was starving. And cold. And sad. And that's just not a good combination for me. So I was not the best IronWife I could have been...and I do feel bad about that.
Also, there's this whole "I'm not good at spontaneous" thing. I had planned to be home on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, not in Maryland and/or driving home Sunday morning in time to make another IronKid soccer game. I had my whole day planned out...and then I changed plans...but I forgot to get my head wrapped around it. I'm not good with changing plans. I'm not good with logistics. And here I managed to screw up my own plans and do so with no thought to logistics. Yeah me. Again, not my best IronWife moment, because I then freaked out about all the un-done stuff at home, etc.
Anyway. Point is. I did something awesome and took IronKids to cheer for IronSherpa. And then I was sad. And mad. And not a very pleasant person - because no matter how high the highs are on the emotional roller coaster -- and I was super high for IronSherpa's finish...the lows are worse.
And so now I'm back in the Death Valley of waiting...and waiting...and waiting. Today we're supposed to hear something about what is available to folks who couldn't make the IMMD reschedule date - but I'm not sure, even at the end of today, if I'll know what lies ahead for me. I know, listening to IronSherpa's story, that IMMD is not really the best option for me at this point..because the course plays to all of my weaknesses (no coasting, lots of wind, potential cold) and none of my strengths (I'm not sure what these even are, but I'm fairly certain a windy, cold, flat course isn't among them). But who knows what the available options will be and when they will become available. I'm ready to schedule for next year, but I have to wait for the details and it's kind of killing me. I'm ready to be an Ironman - and I know I have to wait a year...and that's OK...I want to be in kick-ass shape and 40 pounds lighter, which is totally doable...but I need to have something to look forward to other than an e-mail at the end of today.
In the meantime, I'm going to try to ride IronSherpa's high. He looks pretty awesome in his IM Finisher gear - even if the jacket is ugly this year. :)
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