Can an Average Runner Become an IRONMAN?

Oh. My. Goodness… This. Is. Expensive.

October 28, 2015 by Amy Riley 1 Comment

Holy moley. I went cycle equipment shopping today. I’m overwhelmed about these little CO2 canisters and tubes I have (good gravy, how does that work?) and about how I spent over $300 and didn’t even get everything on my list!! And I’m not going with the high-end options, I’m going with the good-enough options.

I came home and started tallying it up for my husband… “You know how much it costs to do an Ironman?? Get me a calculator. I’ll tell you…”

Then I went off, my voice getting louder and louder as I outlined it all.

“Let’s just estimate. What? $736 to register. $90 for insurance. $200 for the photo option and for USAT day memberships. Something like $250 to register for Racine Half Ironman. $900 in hotel reservations. Go up and bike with Madison VQ a few times, that’s $70, I think. Register for Capital View Triathlon, $69, I’m estimating. Bought a bike this year, that was $2,000. Bought 2 pairs of swim goggles = $40. I still need a trainer, that’s $160. I still need a snack pouch, let’s say $24. I’ll need a wetsuit, no idea. $200? I just bought 2 new pairs of running shoes (got a great deal on these, they had just gotten in the newer versions). $150. I had been feeling some twinges in my knee, what if they come back I want to get them checked out at the chiropractor? That’s $55 to start. I’ll want some more cycling clothes and a more sporty swimsuit. Let’s budget $250. I want new pedals for my bike. We’ll go with $40. I’ll need some more swim lessons, let’s say $150. Do I need to pay extra to attend masters swim classes? At some point, God willing, I’ll be ready for those. I’m not sure…$30 a month for 4 months? $120. I might want some adhoc coaching sessions with a coach that’s done Ironman Wisconsin. At least $75.” I was punching away on the calculator, watching the numbers add up.

“That’s over $5,500!!”

Over $5,500!! I’m freaking out. Now, of course, I’m already in this – so I’ll just be throwing…what? Good money after good money. But, goodness gracious!!

Some of my estimates are horribly off, I’m sure. But, I’m thinking a number of them are probably horribly off on the low end. Yikes.

I’m suffering from post-shopping stress syndrome.

How many trips to Madison? that will fit into the schedule, that will get me ready, that won’t piss off the hubby…

October 25, 2015 by Amy Riley 1 Comment

I’m looking at the training schedule; at the opportunities in Madison to bike the bike course, swim the swim course, and do a triathlon; at already scheduled events; and at my husband to try to figure out how often I’m going to go up to Madison to prep for this thing.

Bike the bike course – Madison VQ offers 4 dates in which you can bike part of the Ironman Wisconsin bike course. Either 44 or 88 miles. Ideally, it’d be great to go up (I’m in Chicago) twice and bike 44 and then 88.

Swim the swim course – Found out from one of my cycling instructors (and Ironman Wisconsin finisher – I handed him a cola when I was up there volunteering last month) that there’s an opportunity about a month before the Ironman to swim the swim course, and that many afterwards bike the bike course and do about an hour run. I don’t know that I’ll be up for all that, but given my intense (and completely justified!) concerns about the swim, I think it’d be great to get up there and do that swim with a few hundred others.

Do a triathlon – I’ve participated in the Capital View event that takes place in June in Madison. Once I did the run portion of an Olympic relay team. And this year I did the duathlon. I like this event. I’m comfortable with it, and there wouldn’t be many logistics to figure out. And, it’s time for me to do the TRIathlon, don’t you think??

Already scheduled – I registered for the Racine, WI Half Ironman on July 17.

Talked with the hubby – I talked through the various dates and the reasons why I might want to participate in each with my husband, Kevin. He wants me to feel confident and well-prepared going into the big event. He doesn’t love all the dates away. It was adding up to more than either of us originally thought. In the end, we decided that one trip a month could work.

Here’s the line up…

*What*	*When*	*Considerations*
Bike the bike course	May 7	Training plan only has a 2 hour bike ride on the schedule; Could I bike the 44 miles and scale back on some other stuff in the days leading up to it?
Bike the bike course	June 11	Training plan calls for B 180, R 60 on Saturday and R 60, B60 on Sunday.
Olympic Triathlon	June 12	Seems good to do an Olympic tri before doing a Half Ironman!
Half Ironman	July 17	Already registered. In Racine, WI.
Bike the bike course	July 23	Week after the Half Ironman. Plan calls for 4.2 hours of biking.
Bike the bike course	Aug 13	Day after our wedding anniversary. Same day as the opportunity to do the swim course.
Swim the swim course	Aug 13	Day after our wedding anniversary. Want to go up and gain comfort with the swim course.

Looking at inserting about one trip a month, I’m thinking 44 miles on May 17, Triathlon on June 12, Half Ironman on July 17 and Swimming on August 13 (maybe followed up by some miles on the bike course?).

I’ll talk it over with my Coach…

And my friends, the Kennedys, who live in Madison!!

6th week in – It was a “lighter” week, but didn’t feel that way

October 25, 2015 by Amy Riley Leave a Comment

This week, I started a 4-week plan to prepare for a 10 mile (running) race on November 14 (my birthday!). So… a little more focus on running this week, which is bringing the overall volume down. Even though volume was down, this week did NOT feel easier. Here’s why…

Sunday – Half hour swim. I’m trying to take less of a breather at the end of each length of the pool. Sometimes I even get to the end of the pool and immediately take off for the other end!! (You really don’t have to readjust your goggles at the end of each pool length…) These “more full” half hours tire me out more – mentally and physically. I’m embarrassed to admit, yet this is the reality right now. I’m looking forward to my swim endurance “breakthrough”! I’d like to push myself in coming weeks to complete really full half hours. = 30 minutes

Monday – Pieced it together. Did a 4 mile run easy, then jumped in on the second half of a strength class. Then the 15-minute ab class. Finally went upstairs to do about 15 minutes of stretching and foam rolling. = 100 minutes

Tuesday – Cycling class. Did a 45-minute class with a 25-minute hill, it was an endurance-building class, and I felt this. Stayed after for some additional easy cycling minutes. – 60 minutes

Wednesday – Off.

Thursday – 4 mile run fast. Since I’ve registered for Ironman, I’ve been running at marathon pace – so fast today was average 9:22. Half hour swim in the evening. Just tried to focus on one thing at a time. I can’t seem to do my legs “right” without getting panicky with my breathing, so I decided that I’d focus on practicing my legs when I’m on my back. I did 2 lengths of the pool (not consecutively!) in which I breathed every 5th stroke! = 70 minutes

Friday – Was going to go on a bike ride with my friend Betsy. Then we saw a forecast with 25 mph gusts of wind. We were planning a lakefront ride, so that can get dicey with waves lapping up on the path – so we skipped it. Instead I fit in a 4 mile run for fun. Didn’t pay attention to pace and ended up averaging 9:28. = 40 minutes

Saturday – Cycling class: Another endurance-building class! In the 60-minute class, we did a 45-minute climb. Phew! I’m feeling this in my legs. I’ve even got sore shins. Also did some stretching. = 80 minutes

TOTAL = 380 minutes (6.3 hours)

Swimming – 1 hour
Biking – 1 hour, 10 minutes
Running – 2 hours
Strength/Stretching – 2 hours, 10 minutes

Uuuuugh, why can’t this be run, bike, run??!

October 20, 2015 by Amy Riley 3 Comments

Did my swim session yesterday. Ugh. I felt worried during most of it.

The truth is, I probably did just fine physically, for me, for where I’m at. It was probably just fine. But it didn’t feel fine in my head.

I was fixated on how tired and winded I felt after one length of the pool. (yeah, 64 lengths = 1 mile. and I just did the math – which I shouldn’t have done! – 2.4 miles = 153.6 lengths). That scares the Sh%^t out of me!

I can’t get it all right for even a half a length of the pool. If I focus on my kick, my breathing goes out of whack. It’s like I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. If my feet are going faster and in good form, then I don’t keep my steady, easy breathing going. If I focus on my arms, then I notice that I’m tilting my head up too much. I can’t seem to get arms, legs, and breathing all in good form at once. And…I know my swim instructor hasn’t even addressed probably half of the issues going on.

I was really getting myself worked up.

I finally gave myself a shake, realized that I wasn’t making progress with this thinking, and for the last lengths of the pool, I focused on one thing at a time. I think I can do everything I’ve been taught!!! Just not all at the same time… and not for long…