Week 8-9

Half Ironman week!  Wow.  That went by really fast!  Training so far has been absolutely amazing.  I've spent more hours on the bike trainer than I would like to confess to and, before this journey is over, I may wear out my third treadmill. 

Sunday is the day.  I feel really great going into this race.  Mentally, I'm going to hold back and enjoy the entire thing.  I never thought I would actually say that I'm using a 1/2 IM as a training experience.  Sounds crazy. 

I know that my little hero will carry me through.  She is having another MRI next week.  All I have to think about is how brave she is when the doctor puts the mask over her face.  How she bruises afterwards from the IV and never complains.  How she takes her medication every night without any complaints, even when it results in throwing up afterwards.  She makes my journey so much easier and well worth it. 

Please help support me and my hero along the way...

http://ctf.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1034366&lis=1&kntae1034366=23D0BAE3CCA9427287C98F3D0FDC63E2&supId=358283427

Week 7

 (I wrote this on the airplane last Sunday when I was heading back to Dallas.  I forgot to post it-so here it is!)

 

Kylie update: The MRI couldn't be scheduled with her EUA next month so she won't have the EUA until July. This means she will get her new eye this summer. It should be right before Ironman.

 

Spring Break made things much easier for me in regards to training. I was able to get in my workouts early in the week and still enjoy time with the girls. I will have to say that it would be so nice if this was always the routine. It's seems to be much less stressful...yeah, back to reality tomorrow.

 

To start off the break, my family and I got to share Kylie's journey for Texas NF. She will be the Jr. Chef at their Dining in Dallas event next month. I was actually really nervous on camera and just hope that they're able to edit all of our hiccups in the interview. Ugh and umm wont sound so well!  There are so many little heroes that they could've chosen and it is such an honor to have our Kylie as the Jr. chef. I can't wait to share the experience with everybody!

 

On Thursday, I flew to New York City and started an amazing weekend! Coach adjusted my training because of the trip and it helped ease the stress of missing workouts. Actually arriving at the hotel was an adventure. My shuttle driver's favorite word was the f bomb...I guess he was just an angry New Yorker. As I was on the shuttle thinking "holy cow just get me to my hotel." Part of me was laughing. F bomb this f bomb that. Hey-you do this for a living. Chill. There are bigger fish to fry.

 

Friday, I got to experience a NYC swim at one of the local clubs. We went during an"off time" so it was less crowded than normal. Less crowded meant that everybody had to share lanes with several other people. The definition of crowded varies from city to city. Of course, at my pool, there are times when I swim that I have most of it to myself. Regardless, the ladies in my lane were very pleasant and didn't have any problems sharing. That definitely made up for the shuttle driver the day before.

 

On Saturday, I got to experience a run in Central Park. It was really nice. I was definitely thankful that my friend joined me for the first part of it. It was nice and early so it was still dark outside. I would've had to hit the dreadmill if it wasn't for her!

 

We had a Team Summit over the weekend with the Children's Tumor Foundation and I'm walking away with a little bit more spring in my step. I finally got to meet several people face to face that I've spoken to over the course of time. Even better, I met many new faces. To be surrounded by so many people that share the same passion is priceless. All of the people there have such wonderful stories and have decided to take the high road on what life has thrown at them. They all want to make a difference and CTF has empowered all of us with the tools to make things happen. I am so honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

 

I know this is a long post, but there is so much to share about the journey and NF this week. Up next...a 3 hour ride on Saturday and a 13 mile run on Sunday. This doesn't include my workouts during the week. I have a 1/2 Ironman in 3 weeks. Moving along one workout at a time.

 

This is a video of one of the inspiring athletes that I have the honor of knowing. Watch it. It's worth every second of your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SIZ-xFn2ww

Week 6

Week 6

 I must admit, I struggled getting in my workouts this week.  I didn't realize how guilty I would feel until I actually missed one.  In the back of my mind, I knew that I was counting on myself to constantly do my best throughout this journey and it just wasn't humanly possible for me to get in the workout.  Today's run was, by far, the hardest.  The wind just blasted me.  I got to see my "friend" along the way.  I stopped to video him baying at me, but the wind prevented it.  I captured a photo instead.

My "friend".  He follows me along the fence line baying and bucking.  Just waiting for me to pet him. 

In the end, Kylie carried me through the run.  Last night, we went out for hubby's and Kylie's birthday dinner.  When we got home, she took her meds.  As I was laying down in bed, she calls for me.  Next thing I know, I'm holding her hair back so she doesn't get throw up in it.  This is my simple reminder of why I'm doing what I'm doing.  It doesn't take much for me to stop in my tracks and refocus.

Our hero turned 7!!!! She's ready to ride her new bike to school.  

Week 4 and 5

I didn't blog last week because it was just as normal as can be.  Went through my workouts without any hiccups.  That's been the case, for the most part, so far.  I've been extremely busy with just life in general.  Many different things have been on my mind and those continue to carry me through all of the challenges that I face as a mom, wife, and teacher.

I got a phone call from an appointment from Kylie's ocularist sometime last week or this week.  I don't remember which. It seems like my days have been slipping into the next.  Anyway, in a nutshell, he informs me that she needs a new prosthetic eye.  Apparently, she is supposed to get one every couple of years.  Well, this is a new ocularist, a second opinion.  He informed me that if she doesn't get a new one every so often, then she will become even more asymmetrical that she already is.  The bones and muscles around her eye socket need to be stimulated for growth. Ugh...good to know.  Ya see, she's had a "fake" eye since she was three years old. Furthermore, because she had a debulking last year on her tumor, she should have had an exam under anesthesia afterwards.  How frustrating!  So, needless to say, next month while she is put under for her MRI, for the upteenth time, she will also get a plaster type material inserted into her eye socket so she can be fitted correctly for her prosthetic.

Now,  all of this being said... DO I NEED ANY OTHER REASON TO DO IRONMAN????

Motivation baby.

We need a CURE.

Week 3

Week 3-done.  There isn't anything too exciting to report this week.  The only thing that comes to mind are my thoughts during my ride today.  They were all over the place.  Although, two things dawned on me today.  1.  I still hate the Texas wind.  2.  Texas trucks are bigger than my bike, so get the heck out of the way.  Rednecks are clueless.  Forget the idea of sharing the road.  Not going to happen.

I was deep in thought throughout my ride and really just enjoying myself.  I've noticed over the years that my thoughts go from one thing to the next and for no rhyme or reason.  It reminds me of the movie,  Up, the dog in the movie always hollers "Squirrel" and gets side tracked.  Yup, that's me.  At one point I noticed all of the trash along the road.  Even thought about organizing the community to pick up trash one day.  Great idea.  Unrealistic.  Why in the world am I thinking about that?!!!  So, as I'm riding along, I'm wondering...do all athletes think like this when they are in the moment?  I was speaking to a friend yesterday and she told me that some of her best ideas come to her while she is out there.  I can honestly say that I feel the same way.  Great ideas, but who carries a sheet of paper to write it down, or stops their workout to log it?  It's like something happens chemically in the brain when we are out there.  But, once the workout is finished, the ideas are lost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAIGLkSMls

Week 2

Yesterday wrapped up my second week of training. The overall feeling this week was, well, overwhelming. I keep thinking about how much equipment it takes to do all of this. Granted, I have a fabulous bike, shoes, helmet, etc. but then my brain goes to the rest of the stuff. I need a bike computer to measure cadence and my heart rate, a wetsuit, new running shoes after mine get burned out, tubes, registration fees for Galveston, flights, hotel, travel expenses. Did i also mention that we have two kids at home as well? We all know the cost in that! Ha! All of this on top of training. Training. Thank goodness that I have such a supportive husband. He's constantly telling me, don't worry about it, we got this. Stop worrying! Now that's something that I'm great at!

I'm literally sitting in the waiting room while Kylie is having a neuropsychology exam. All day. Once again, something she has to do because of NF. Oncologist on Friday. Neuropsychologist on Monday. How fun is that for a six year old? Earlier in the morning, they asked me how long Kylie will be on Gleevac. I couldn't give them a honest answer. I don't know.  How sad is that? I don't know how long my daughter will have to take pills that is doing, Lord knows what, to the inside on her body.  I wonder if most people who take any type of chemo know how long it will last. Does it help if they can say "5 down and 10 to go"? It makes me put all of this Ironman business into perspective and the hard truth reminds me why I'm doing what I'm doing. Why I will be sacrificing so much over the next several months.

On the bright side, we are so blessed. Above all, love... 1 Peter 4:8. We definitely have a remarkable support system and can honestly say that we are loved. We feel it everyday. From each other, family, and friends.

So back to training. This past week was another success. I managed to stick to my program and even got two days off! I was able to rest up before my 15k race on Saturday and I felt like I pushed myself the whole way. Reflecting on the race, I must've done pretty well with pacing because, even with some intense hills, I had a couple negative splits at the end. Honestly, I'd rather not run too many races over the next several months and focus more on the mileage than trying to beat myself. It's the silent competitor in me. I race against myself all of the time. Even though I'm not incredibly fast, I still want to PR.

After I found my hubby after the race, I asked him, jokingly "did I look fast"? Ha! Like a gazelle! Actually, I pictured one of those pictures that have circulated on the Internet...

2/4/13

Well, it's been a week since I officially started training.  It went by without a hitch.  After my quick run today, it will be day eight without any time off.  I really can't believe that I've done eight workouts in seven days.  I think what makes it pretty easy is alternating activities.  The other thing is actually knowing that I have eyes on me (my coach) and I know that I have to complete the workout.  As time goes on, the workouts will continue to get much more intense, but for now, it's working.  There was one evening that my crazy life didn't allow me to start pedaling until 7:45 at night, but I did it and I was glad I did.  I thought I would be sore from working out so much, but I'm not at all.  Wednesday is my first day off and I will be looking forward to it!  I have noticed that I'm more energized and I wake up much earlier.  (I'm wondering if I have my mom and dad's insomnia genes.)

When I was actually outside riding my bike I noticed that I kept worrying about falling and hurting myself.  I'm hoping it's a typical worry.  The last thing I want is to be knocked out of the game due to an injury.  I've decided that I'm going to listen to my body.  I've done that for years and it's always paid off in the end.

Gary and I decided that we are going to go to Galveston in April so I can do another 70.3 for training.  Now this scares me.  Ocean swim.  Sharks, sting rays, sea creatures.  UGH!  Gary insists that I will be ok and that nothing is going to happen.  Last summer, when I was in Florida, I looked and looked at that ocean and thought about doing a swim, but I couldn't do it.  I'll have to face my fears eventually on this one.

 "I can't believe I'm going to do an Ironman."