This Stuff Makes me Feel So GOOD!

I am not bragging here, but today was a bit special, in that I received 3 unsolicited compliments, 1 from a complete stranger. As I keep saying, I'm enjoying the training--I absolutely love it!

1. Older gentleman at the pool--last Friday he brought his granddaughter (I'm old enough to be her grandma) to the pool, and made a point to introduce her to me. Apparently, he had told her all about my exploits (he calls me "Marathon Woman"). I said hello to the young lady, and told her to swim strong and fast. Today, her grandfather (whose real name I still do not know), tells me she was so impressed by me. I didn't do anything! I was just there doing my thing. He told me she was so awed by the shape that I am in. I just smiled and bowed my head and said, "Thanks." And then I told him to tell her I could be her grandma! I have made a promise to bring some of my race swim caps for him to give to her.
2. Young guy (hottie) at the pool--he is a good swimmer (Shawn), but doesn't swim the long sets like I do. About a week ago, I noticed he had dropped a little weight (he was already a hottie, now he looks even better). Today as he got on deck, he made a comment to me about my nice tan, to which I replied in a smart-assed sort of way, "Yeah, ya know, I gotta work on my tan!" Later on when I was taking a brief rest, we chatted a bit, and I told him I had been out in the sun for a long while on Sunday biking over 100 miles and he asked what I was training for. I said, "Nothing, really. I just like riding my bike." He told me I'm in phenomenal shape and it really shows. One of these days I will tell him he's a hottie himself. I am sure he will blush. Heck, I wouldn't mind doing the wild thang with him!
3. So I'm running home and it's like 98 today. I'm going by some utility truck and the guy is doing something by the back end. He sees me and I can tell he's staring a little bit, and I see him give me a thumbs up, so I turn off the tunes and he says, "It's worth it. You look great!" He had to know that it was difficult to run in the heat, and wow, that was just the boost I needed to push on towards home. Now this man wasn't exactly in great shape, but still he could appreciate that the way I look is related to the exercise and that I was getting it done even in adverse conditions.
4. This was yesterday, but I'll still mention it--I was on my usual circle doing my bike intervals and a guy yells "excuse me?" just as I crested this short but steep hill. I'm a little out of breath, but it was so hot (100+) that I figured, well, I'm always riding here, I should be social and talk to this man, as he probably wonders what the heck I'm doing out here. So the man, Rich, asks if I'm training for anything, and we talked about that and he told me where I could go ride a figure 8 loop that had some hills, and I thanked him, but then we talked about riding with power and how it didn't really matter whether I rode hills so much or not, and we just had a nice conversation. He rides, too, but not as much as I do, and I told him about some rides, and said maybe I'd see him out there. Maybe I'll just see him next week when I'm doing intervals again!

I like thinking I'm an ambassador for not just triathlon, but for each of the sports I do. I like knowing that I usually look pretty happy while I'm doing them (even though I'm usually working hard), and I'm more than happy to wave at complete strangers, and when I'm not too pressed for time (meaning I'm not in a hurry to get back home and get to work which is all that will stop me from stopping), I am happy to chat, answer questions of the curious, offer advice if it's requested, and just show people how good this stuff makes me feel. I like thinking there are a bunch of people in cars who have seen me many, many times on the streets near where I live and wonder, "who is that woman who is always running or biking, and why does she always look so happy?" It's me!

July Training Totals!

Weights: 4.56 hours
Swim: 15.49 hours, 45,115 yards, 25 miles
Bike: 33.64 hours, approx. 613 miles
Run: 21.82 hours, approx. 142 miles
Total Hours: 75.51 (which is average of 17 hours per week; the month had 4 weeks and 3 days)
Total Miles: 780 (includes 1 sprint and 1 Half Ironman race)

Someone on an email list wanted to know why I was swimming so much--was I training for some really long distance swim race? She should have asked the obvious question, "Why am I training so much?" I told her that I swim a lot because it helps me recover from the other stuff and also because I am not that good at it.

As long as I am feeling good, I am thoroughly enjoying training right now. Even though it's stinking hot. On Monday, I started my run when it reached 99. Yesterday, I started my ride when it reached 100. Today, I'm going to run, but it's "only" 95. The heat wave is supposed to break tonight. THANK GOODNESS! Even though I'm heat acclimated, I do notice that other than my training, I am pretty lethargic, and do not want to be outdoors at all. On the flip side, though, I have a fantastic tan, care of all those running and biking hours outdoors!

Weekly Workout Totals 07/24/2006-07/30/2006: Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

First, some pictures. The first is of me and my Dad before the sprint race in Schaumburg 3 weeks ago. I guess I look just like him! It was awesome to me to have him there. The second picture is of me and a guy named Les that I met some years ago, and who I run into occasionally at races. He's the one who asked me why I wear socks in a sprint!

On Saturday, since I only had to run 1:30, I went out with my Dad for lunch and an early movie. We at at the Cheesecake Factory. Neither of us could eat more than 1/2 of our lunch--I finished mine later that day as dinner. We went to see Pirates of the Caribbean. I think this was the first movie I had been to in 2 years! The movie was OK, but a little long in the tooth in the middle. Still, it was enjoyable, and it was nice to spend some time with Dad. He had taken the above pictures with a disposable camera and gave me prints.

I'm not going to report the training details for last week--15.53 hours total, not bad for a comeback week after a 1/2 Ironman. I'm pretty tired today, as I rode 106 miles and ran about 3 yesterday.

A couple of items of note:

• I will be officiating at Ironman Wisconsin 2006 on the bike course! I will be on the back of a motorcycle driven by my coach. It should be fun, and the experience will round out my roster of roles played in an Ironman: athlete, spectator, volunteer, official.
• While riding yesterday, I had the honor of meeting Bob McKeague, currently the record holder as oldest Ironman Hawaii finisher in 16:21:55, as of last year at the age of 80. My dad is 80 and very fit for his age, but I don't see him doing an Ironman! Bob is such a gentleman! We chatted for a bit, he estimated the cost of my bike, and I told him of my plans to get in a lot of cycling in August. He asked me what I was trying to prove. I said nothing, just trying to become a better cyclist. I would be tickled to be 1/2 as active as Bob when I reach the age of 80!
• 100 miles is still a long way to ride a bike (it's a long way to drive a car, too). It is also a great way to get to know someone, even better when you can take turns pulling with them.
• I'll be riding the Ironman Wisconsin course this Saturday, starting around 8AM. Usually by this time I have been on that course 3-4 times, but this is my first time in 2006. I get to "show" the course to Pattie, who will be doing the race (just the swim and bike; she has an injury that has stopped her from running) this fall. The heat wave is supposed to break on Wednesday, so hopefully it will "only" be in the 80's on Saturday. I am sure I will see other people I know out there. Everyone ride safe!
• I am still enjoying training hard but not training for an Ironman!