Stroke n Strut #2

After yesterday's much needed rest day - and let's face it, haven't taken one in way too long, I was feeling pretty refreshed for tonight's Stroke n Stride. Wasn't exactly psyched up to run but was definitely looking forward to the swim. I think someone has stolen my brain and switched it with a swimmer's. Seriously... looking forward to the SNS swim? Wow.

Met up with BJ and Jess and had to start the swim alone. Jess was swimming the relay so she started with Wave 1 - which was the men's 1500 meters. She is somewhat of a safety blanket for me but she won't be with me at Wisconsin so now was a good time to try something new. I went to the FRONT of the women's wave start, about 2 rows back and stuck to the inside. When the race started, I swam hard and tried to get past the girls that were in front of me and get into a rhythm, eventually slowing down my stroke but not stopping. and. it. worked! I felt extremely confident and had no nerves bumping into these women. I am telling you, NLP WORKS! Thanks Will!!!!

I didn't stop at all, total first for me and felt like I was swimming great. 2nd loop felt even stronger. The water was choppy but I have so much fun in those kinds of waves. I passed a ton more people on the back half of the second loop and when I got out, looked at my watch with diappointment. I think I was a minute slower than last week. However, BJ pointed out that the distances are different every week and it's not 100% accurate at 1500 meters. That made me feel better because I really did think I swam stronger. No matter what, I have made peace with the water and for that, I am so grateful.

Took the run slow...I mean, silly slow. A little after mile 1, I saw Suzy and said screw it, turned around and ran with her for a bit before I stopped altogether and walked, or strutted more like. I joked to another athlete that I was just practicing my Ironman pace- for some reason, he found this really funny. and it wasn't that I was sore or tired, it was just that I really wasn't into it and I wanted to save everything for Sunday and more importantly, this isn't about anything other than September 13th. I have to look at the big picture, Ironman Wisconsin.

Another bike fit and ANOTHER new saddle

This morning I went to the BCSM to get my TT bike fit again with Jason. Since my last fit, I got the Terry Damselfly but was still having discomfort and numbness and still experiencing soreness in my shoulder blades. I wanted to figure this out before the Peak.

Spent about an hour and we made all the necessary adjustments to get me COMFY on Veruca. Also, a suggestion was to get a wider seat so I am going to try out the Specialized Ruby 143mm. The Ruby should give my booty the extra support it needs and eliminate the numbness and saddle sores plus what girl wouldn't want to ride a saddle named after a precious gem! I can't wait to try it out, for the Peak of course, because who else would try something BRAND NEW before race day besides the Average Skirt and Me??

Stabilizer/Race Week

Lots of rest. Loads of salt and water. Not much working out. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday & Sunday

Legs weren't sore from Friday's ride but my spirit had been defeated somewhat. Saturday, I took Mike and my parents to the pool where we swam about 4K. Soaked up the sun, evened out the tan lines and ditched the 35 mile tempo ride. Needed to rest my legs for Sunday's 16.5 mile run.

Celebrated the 4th of July with an old college friend - in fact, we weren't really friends back then but thanks to Facebook and triathlon, we are going to become very good "old" friends.

Woke up this morning and was ready for my run. Felt good - weather was perfect and legs were working. Ran 16.5m in just under 2:39. Not fabulous but not too shabby either. I am really psyched for stabilizer/race week. Boulder Peak in 1 week. Woohoo!! Finished off the weekend with a free concert at Red Rocks - the Denver Symphony Orchestra. It was awesome!

What Ditch the Tiara Means..

In the past few months, I have been asked a few times what Ditch the Tiara means so if you want to know or be reminded, here it is...

What it all Means

to hell (at 12,000+ feet) and back

4:20am came and went as I either a)snoozed the alarm or b)snoozed setting it. Either way, when we woke up at 5:20am (departure time), heart rates raced and we scrambled to get our stuff ready. We were supposed to meet Wicked Pissah at his house at 6am but had to forego that plan and meet at the corner of 75th and Hwy 66 at 6:30am with the rest of the riders. Mike was NOT happy with me. I didn't sleep well and quite honestly, knew there was a reason I needed that extra hour of zzzz's. It would come in handy later on.

Met up with about 12 or so other riders and the weather looked OK. It was cloudy but we were hopeful. The guys (and 1 girl) were really fast. Had a really hard time keeping up and totally clung to the back of the pack - was holding on for dear life and my little legs were really pedaling fast. Somewhere around mile 15 we fell off and just rode our own pace. I was much happier with that as we hadn't even gotten to Big Thompson Canyon yet. And when we did, disaster stuck! About mile 20, Mike rode over a sharp rock and it slashed both his tire and tube. Now, between us, we had 2 spare tubes but an extra tire? Yeah... not so much. Called my parents (they are visiting) and rushed them out of the house to drive out a tire from my TT bike so Mike could make the switch. We waited for 2 hours (thanks Mom and Dad!!!) However, I was BORED within 2 minutes. We befriended a big horned sheep who gave us a little entertainment and Mike created a new superhero, "Beanie Man."

Being set back 2 hours was a total DRAG!!! Thankfully, it wasn't raining otherwise we would have been screwed. Made our way up the Canyon to our next destination, Estes Park. Unfortunately, it started to pour. We piled on the clothes (jacket, leg warmers, booties) and kept climbing. It was tough but we finally got to Estes - had ridden 44 miles and I had a total meltdown. The rain was really getting to me and when I looked towards Rocky Mountain National Park, the black, ominous skies, well, I got pissed. and I cried. a lot. Mike had to slap some sense in to me and told me we would keep going. I just wanted to ride back to the car. Screw Trail Ridge. but I sucked it up, or more appropriately, I HTFU'd but man, was it hard to get my head back in the game.

We shed our warm clothing when the sun came out. Paid our $20 to get into the park and the ranger told us we had about 3500 more feet of climbing to do over 22 miles. Piece of cake I thought...as long as there's no more rain. BUZZKILL. about 45 minutes later, started raining again. WTF. On went the clothes. Got to the top of the road that would then lead us to Trail Ridge and I totally debated calling it a day when my parents stopped. Mike and I sat in the car, mulling over the situation when the rain stopped. Crap. Shed the warm clothes. Off we went.

One direction the skies were blue and in the other, black. Mother Nature could not make up her mind today. We saw the Wilson's somewhere around mile 55 or so. They explained what was ahead - and I thought we were in the clear - literally, it looked like the weather had finally broke. Got to the observation deck and hooked to the left, where we were riding into what I can only describe as HELL. It was black, it was pouring rain and it was windy. I guess the temperature was somewhere around 44 degrees. No amount of clothing would protect us at this point.

At approximately mile 62, I called it a day. I stopped and huddled behind a parked car for about 20 minutes until someone finally stopped to help me. If I could have gone fetal and sucked my thumb, I would have...Ricidulous! I have no idea how Mike had the will to go on, I had almost been blown off my bike at 12,000+ feet. It was the scariest moment of my entire life and I thought no ride is worth risking death. We finally met up with parents as they had come back to get Mike too. I learned a lot about myself today. I can wear pink, cry like a little girl, almost get blown off the side of a clifee and still ride my bike up 9,000+ feet of roads in the pouring rain. I am one bad-ass little Tiara Ditcher...boom boom POW!

My First Stroke n Stride of the Year

We headed to Boulder rez tonight for our first Stroke n Stride of the year (1500 meter open water swim/5k run.) Normally, I dread this but tonight was really excited. It's quite a hassle/ordeal getting home from work, taking care of the dogs and getting to the rez all by 5:30pm. It's always worth it in the end but I hate rushing like that (story of our life though...the Freisem's are ALWAYS late!)

Mike and I met up with the Average Skirt and bjames. The weather was perfect (no rain OR lightning) and we actually had enough time to get down to the water to warm-up. Something I have never done in the past but will ALWAYS do in the future. I felt really good and not a nerve in sight. Things are really shaping up on the swim for me. FINALLY! Did I mention how freaking HARD I work on the swim? Just want to make sure you knew that. ha!

Jess had me start on the inside - no point in swimming farther if I don't have to and this is something I am also always going to do in the future. I "heart" the inside - not many people swim there and it makes for a short(er) swim. I stopped in the beginning for about 30 seconds - was feeling really winded but put my head back in the water and just swam. I had a great second loop and was about exactly 5 minutes faster than last year 33:09 vs 38:09... All the hard work is paying off and I am going to keep bustin' my ass to get faster. The run was a struggle for me. Legs and body were tired so I muddled through. I dont' like running fast with a ridiculously high HR but had to suck it up for the measley 5k.

Afterwards, headed to Proto's for pizza and beer. Tomorrow's a huge day - riding to the top of Trail Ridge Rd in Rocky Mountain National Park. Close to 10,000 feet of climbing - can't wait! Hope the weather holds... forecast was not in our favor.