Training Camp

After a quick couple of days in Kamloops Max and I packed the truck up again, picked my sister from the airport and headed down to Penticton. I was white nuckling the drive the whole way there because it was pouring rain and it was so windy...a little scary...I like to drive on perfectly dry roads really slowly :-)

As it was raining our first training night was altered...instead of an easy ride and open water swim we headed to the pool. Coach and I had a good laugh because my swimming has improved so dramatically in the last couple of years...I'm still not even close to being fast but at least I'm not going backwards anymore.

Friday was the long the long ride day. Max had just cut a tooth, and for the last couple of weeks had not been sleeping well, and friday night was no exception. He was up at least 5 times and I felt like I got no sleep. We headed over to our starting point at 6:15...it was raining and cloudy. But we started out and the rain quickly disappeared which was handy because I got 2 flat tires in first 10km. Thank goodness for UBER tire changer - Jay who was coming up behind me...he had my tires changed in 5 minutes flat. Unfortunately he hurt his back while doing, and left me feeling guilty all weekend. Sarah, who I was riding with and who is totally fun to chat with, and I continued on. When we made the turn up to head up Richter the head wind started and the wind did not let up the rest of the day. It was the toughest wind I've ever had to bike in. But Sarah and I maintained a good pace the whole way and we were really happy with how hard we biked. It did teach me that I can't bike that hard and still run afterwards. All in all it was a good day...learned that I need to stay within myself for the bike, race day can only get easier with the winds we fought that day, and that IMC is definitely the prettiest course I've ever road!

I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with Max and my sister...I was missing them on the ride.

Saturday we did the 4km open water swim. The water was perfect...so still and warm! And I think I was a touch faster than 2 years ago...yeah!! Then we did a 60km recovery ride. Again it was a beautiful ride! We went up the Green Mountain Road...they call the climb the wall...and it is totally steep but not that long! And the rest of the ride is scenic and rolling. It was a little bit of a slow ride and I was anxious to get back to Max and hang out with him because I had spent the previous day away. As soon as we got back to the hotel it started to pour...sideways rain because of the intense winds.

Sunday was long run day. I ran with three team mates. Two years ago when I did this run we ran a leisurely 30km...it felt great...we chatted the whole time and I really enjoyed it. This year I still enjoyed it, but there was definitely less chatting because we were cruising...we were running faster kilometer splits than my stand alone marathon time...so we ran 30km 24 minutes faster than the last time I did that run. I was done when we got back! But after some soaking in Lake Skaha my spirits picked up! I need my three team mates with me the next time I do a marathon...I'll definitely break my PB.

And yesterday, glorious yesterday, was a rest day...filled with attempts to fill my hunger and a massage!

We're Here!!

We've arrived in Kamloops! The first 3 hours were while Max was sleeping, so they were a breeze and went by quite quickly. We stayed the night in Golden and then packed up the next morning and headed out again....what usually would be a 3 1/2 hour drive took us about 6 1/2 hours! We stopped threes times to eat, rest, take a little walk, etc...and then a fourth stop because of an accident. But we made it! Max and I were both a little wiped to say the least...he went to bed at 5:15 and I went to bed at 8:15!

I got a short hill workout in and 45 minute run before the weather turned hot...smoking hot...saunter slowly hot! My little guy is not exactly tanning material either so I was constantly slathering sunscreen on him when we went outside which was only long enough for a short walk this morning and then a short walk to and from the pool this afternoon!

Easy couple of days because then it's time to pack the truck up again and head to Penticton for camp!

Finally!!

Max's sleeping habits had been getting worse and worse...he was waking up around 5 times in the middle of the night, and he needed me to help him back to sleep. Last week I decided that we would stay at my parent's house (because I live in a condo and cannot do that to my neighbours) and let the little dude cry it out. It did not work...he cried, and I was on the verge of tears listening to him cry...so I tried it two nights and two nights I picked him up to cuddle him back to sleep. So needless to say I have not been getting any sleep lately and my training hours are getting longer and longer!

Yesterday was a big day...I think I got three hours of sleep and then did a 180km ride with a brick run...I felt like I was 25 and had spent the night at the club partying it up. Thank goodness I perked up after about 50km (with a little help from my coach and her husband as they rode really hard back into Cochrane and I was trying to keep up). It was a beautiful day for a ride (the first one in weeks) and the date square in Bragg Creek helped me push the last half of the ride!

And then at night Max woke up 3 times between 8 and 9 which is even a lot for him! So I thought we were in for a bad night...but it turns out he just needed a little food and then he slept all the way until 3am! I couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock at 2am and he still hadn't woken up...I actually got up to make sure he was ok...and of course he was...he probably just knew his mama needed some sleep! I felt like a new person this morning!! My goodness what a little sleep does for my mood!

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this becomes the new pattern!

I'm Getting a Little Sleepy!

Trainig last week was great...we had great weather, I did a race and fit all the other stuff in that I had to, so I shouldn't be complaining...but boy, would I like to sleep through the night! The little dude gets up around midnight to eat and once and a while he needs to eat around the 4:30 mark, but that doesn't mean he sleeps in between those times. He likes to wake up crying...which usually means "Mom, come hold me and put me back to sleep." So I decided for my own sanity that he needs to get himself back to sleep during the times he doesn't need to eat (not to mention that he would be getting a better sleep too)! So off to my parent's house we went so I could let him cry it out during those times he's not hungry. I live in a condo and I can't bare to do that to my neighbours.

Well, he woke up at about 10:30...and I didn't go to him...he cried really really, make a mother cry herself, hard...but then he slept better! He woke up at midnight and 4:30 to eat, which sucks but is easier to handle when I don't get to get up 2 other times to soothe him. And hopefully it helped him sleep better.

The bonus was I got to run with my mom this morning. We ran over to the one hill in Chestermere (it's not very long but does the trick) and we ran some hills before heading home! It was the perfect day to run...20 degrees with some light cloud cover...can't get any better and it was a good thing we got it in because it is now pouring rain!! Good ole' Calgary...rains during the stampede!!

Turner Valley Race Report

Being back to racing after having a baby and then recovering from a stress fracture I wanted to do another race...as always, just for another fun experience. There was a spring tri out in Turner Valley (inaugural event) and my coach and I both signed up. Couldn't have asked for a better day...the weather was a perfect 20 degrees and I have my little man (and my wonderful sister who is babysitter extradinaire) with me!

The swim was in a outdoor pool which is so fun. The lanes were quite narrow, so the whole way I kept thinking I was going to get a fist to the head!! But it was all good, no injuries and then it was off to the bike. The website said the course was rolling...it should have said climb the hill and cruise back to town! And much like all the races around here the bike was very scenic! So after a nice cruise into town it was off on to the run...again, the website said flat and fast...I'm not sure if the person who wrote that had even looked at the course because there was nothing, and I mean nothing flat about it! But it was on a really nice trail so it was a great run!

The whole day was so fun...I just love being out a races...finishing with Max's smiling face and then chatting with everyone. That's the great thing about triathlon...we can all do it...all shapes, sizes, speeds...because at the end of the day it's just about having a fun day and getting some fitness in!