REV3 Half Ironman Portland

Its official there is going to be a Half Ironman race in Portland put on by REV3. I had been planing on doing my first half Ironman triathlon in 2011 but the closet one was about a 4 hour drive away so thank you REV3 for this wonderful gift.

I have found a training plan that I will use I really do not know what to expect but I am thinking it will take me about 6.5 to 7 hours I am not sure how long the course is open for. I looked at the bike map and it looks like it is going to be a pretty challenging course with a fair amount of hills. The bike portion is making me a bit nervous as I do not feel like my bike is up to par, time to start practicing!

As of now my training is focusing on the 2011 Beaver Freezer and the Eugene Half Marathon but my official start date for the 70.3 starts on February 26! This is exciting I hope I am able to finish!

customized girl review

To all triathletes and endurance athletes out there do NOT order anything from www.customizedgirl.com . I recently recieved a present that wqas bought from their company a nice tech shirt with a "triathlon" logo on the front and my name on the back. When I opened the package I was really excited but when I looked at the logo up close I realized that the order was swim run bike. Oh no I thought what happened here, the person that bought it for me must of put each piece in and made a mistake.

I went onto the website www.customizedgirl.com to see what came up when I put in triathlon and to my surprise to logos came up one that was swim run bike and one that was Swim bike run. Unfortunately my brother who does not participate in triathlon, chose the one that they had uploaded in the WRONG order into their system.

I called to try and explain to Customized Girl that the logo they had on their website was out of order. The customer service supervisor told me me that that is triathlon and it is not listed under triathlon but endurance sports so its not their fault. They were willing to offer me the opportunity to re-order this expensive gift with a 30% discount.

I tried to explain to her that she was wroing and it was misleading to call that triathlon, she said he should of done more research and noticed and that is a triathlon. I said well what if you put in a search for marathon and the shirt says 26.1 instead of 26.2? Her response well, that could be a marathon these are just suggestions.

Anyway I got poor customer service from Customized Girl (www.customizedgirl.com) instead of just admitting that they had a mistake on their page they told me they could not do anything for me. Very very bad company let your friends know!

here is a screenshot of their page:

To bike or not to bike?

I last night I was thinking about how I have to get my cycling under control, which basically means stop being so lazy and actually do it. I rode my bike yesterday it was cold with some drizzle but it was fine so I figured I would cycling today before I headed out to the pool to have a nice well rounded triathlon workout.

I woke up around 7:30 today, that is when we get our first glimpse of "light" around here saw how foggy it was, saw how wet the ground was, felt how cold it was and now instead of riddingI am making coffee and writing this. I need to toughen up and need some motivation to get on my bike, I think I am going to force myself o go later after I am done with swimming I really want to do well in triathlon in 2011 which means I have to get on the bike!

I Have to Stay Fit!

It has been a couple of weeks since I started regular training after taking a break after completing the Portland Marathon and I am slowly getting back into the swing of things. In the past couple of weeks I have run 4 miles a few times, run 5 and six miles a couple of times, as well as I have gone swimming. I have also been doing my strength exercises. What I have not been doing however is riding my bike. For triathlon training this is a problem.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, it rains here, it rains a lot and it is just something that one must deal with but for some problem I am having some trouble gearing up and going for a ride. I also have rollers but for some reason I really don't want to ride those either. I want to do well in the 2011 Beaver Freezer so I am going to have to get over this. On todays workout schedule is a running 4 miles and then ride for 1 hour, I am going to force myself to run my bike no matter what. I am looking out the window right now and there is lots of rain, please rain give me a break!

Training Again

I have taken about 5 weeks off from training since I did the Portland Marathon and today was my first day back doing some training. On the triathlon training menu for today was a 4 mile run plus 40 minutes of some strength training, I figured I would go into it easy.

I was a little worried that my knee was going to bother me on the run and at mile 3.5 that is exactly what happened my knee started to hurt so instead of making the problem worse I just walked the last half a mile home. The strength training went well I will probably be sore tomorrow as I haven't done a lot of these exercises in a long time. It feels good to be training again tomorrow is bike ride and swim. I am a little worried about my knee though I would have thought that a 5 week rest would be enough rest for it but I am not so sure now......

I'm still here!

I know I have not been on for a couple of weeks to write about running or triathlon but I am taking a break to recover from the marathon and traveling a nit so access to Internet and computers is very very limited. My break has been good although I miss training very much I will still be traveling for another couple of weeks so I will not be able to train properly until then I am not sure I can handle it!

Thank you to everyone for the nice
marathon coments. Ok o will right again soon if there are any typos sorry it's because I am using my iPod to write this. More posts soon as long as I can find an Internet conection!

Portland Marathon Finisher!

Today is Monday yesterday was Sunday October 10th 2010 the day of the Portland Marathon. The weather was typical Portland weather, POURING rain. I woke up around 4:30 am to get downtown and be able to park without having to worry too much. Everything went according to plan.

Once I was downtown I had a little more food and got into my nice pre race outfit, the garbage bag, to try and keep me warm and dry. I waited around for the race to start and there were gusts of wind and lots of rain! Then at 7am the first wave went, I was in the 3rd wave and off we went a few minutes later.

I ran and ran in the rain there was a drum line at the start that was great, and at mile five I started encountering problems. I had to stop stretch and take some Advil. Then at mile 12 or 12.5 I had to stop and stretch again. This was the story for the rest of the marathon. Go a mile walk a little stop stretch out the IT band and run again.

I did not get discouraged. Once I trekked up to the St. John's bridge (mile 17) I knew I was going to make it, in pain but I was going to make it.

I ran some more, stretched some more and finished in 4 hours 34 minutes. I was aiming for 4 hours but hey it took me 30 minutes longer nothing to be ashemed of, it was a great day!

Two days until the Portland Marathon

The 2010 Portland Marathon is 2 days away! Yes only 2 days away! I am nervous and also worried about my knee I am icing right now due to last minute ITBS problems I have not been running properly in about 2 weeks. Have I lost my fitness level I wonder no I don't think so but I am still nervous and do not know what to expect.

I did go to the Expo today and it was lots of fun and we got some great stuff in the goody bag. A short sleeve training shirt, a finishers coin, a pendant, a poster, all sorts off good stuff and we are still getting more when we cross the finish line!

After the race (I hope I finish) I will give you guys an update.

Bad News Bad News

The 2010 Portland Marathon is 1 week away. I have been training for this for months it will be my first marathon. The training had been going well even with all my triathlon commitments and last week I got struck with some knee pain caused by my IT band. I ran 10 miles las Saturday and when I was done my knee really hurt I aced and stretched and hoped for the best.

On Wednesday the training schedule said I should run 5 miles at race pace which I skipped as my knee was still bothering me. On the training schedule for today was an 8 mile run. I started off ok about 1 mile into it both of my knees started to hurt a little. I stoped and stretched my IT band on both legs and continued to run my left knee which almost never gives me problems stopped hurting but my right knee was still bothering me. At 2 miles I decided to turn around and come home I am currently icing. I can't believe this so close to the Portland Marathon and now I have these It band and knee problems I am not sure what to do! I guess the best option is to ice, stretch, rest, and do the best I can on race day.....

IT Band Troubles

The taper for the Portland Marathon started last week and unfortunately I have encountered some problems. On the marathon training menu I had a 10 mile run on Saturday. I was not too worried about running 10 miles yes it is a long distance but totally doable. The bad news came after 1 mile of running, my knee started to hurt. Sometimes after I warm up a bit the pain goes away but it just kept getting worse and worse with every mile until I decided to head home.

I ended up running 9 miles my knee hurt it is my IT band I am sure of it. I have been icing and stretching but it is still hurting me when I go up the stairs. On the training menu for tomorrow I have a 5 mile run at race pace and then a 8 mile run on Saturday. I am not sure if I will be able to do these. The Portland Marathon is a week and a half away and I am worried my IT band flaring up is not going to be helpful at all I hope I don't have to walk the whole marathon.....

I am very very worried.

Am I Lazy?

Today is Thursday. Last Saturday I ran 20 miles in preparation for the Portland Marathon. The training program had me going for a 30 minute jog on Wednesday which I did not due and then a 10 mile run on Saturday, yes I am into the taper. On Wednesday however I did not go for my 30 minute recovery jog I just did not feel up to it I figured I would do it today Thursday but I am not feeling up to it today either. Since I ran 20 miles on Saturday I have not been running I have gone for about 4 miles walks every day though am I being lazy?

I guess I am just tired from running and want my legs to recover for my next long run then my next long run and then the Portland Marathon. I know its important to keep the legs moving thats why I am walking but is it really important to run even though I don't really feel up to it?

What do you guys think?

20 Mile run! For the Portland Marathon!

On Saturday I did my last "long" run before the Portland Marathon, the dreaded 20 mile run. I woke up in the morning got my breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries, one cup of coffee, and a small bagel with peanut butter ready the whole time hoping I would be able to complete the distance. I am currently away from home so my 20 mile training run would have to be in a place that I have been before but that I am not that familiar with for running and this was making me a little nervous.

Anyway once I had digested my breakfast, I grabed my Ipod, Garmin Forerunner, Nathan Fuel belt (which I just purchased) my honey Stinger Gels, and my Endurolytes Capsules and set off on a very very long run.

It was about 60 degrees humid but no rain when I started running I got into a good pace, I was going a little fast so I slowed down. I also took my Honey Stingers and Endurolytes every 5 miles. The running was going fine when I got to about 10 miles I was a little bored as I was running in large circles but it was going fine until mile 16. I really started to feel the pain then, and I cramped up a little and it was a little harder to breath. I kept going and at mile 17.5 there was a large hill so I decided to walk up it. From that point opn it was walk/run for the next 2.5 miles.

I think that my nutrition is a bit off.... Maybe I need more sodium and maybe I need to consume my honey stingers every 4 miles instead of 5 miles which would be about every 35 to 40 minutes. I feel like I will be able to finish the Portland Marathon but I just wish I would of been able to run for longer. Also when I stopped running I cramped up really really bad which again makes me feel like my nutrition was a little off. I hope I can do this! I hope I can also figure out the nutrition aspect ofthe Marathon before the actual event!

Honey Stinger Gels

I have been doing triathlons for many years and I have always had problems with my nutrition. I put Nuun in my water but when it comes to Cliff Shots or GU I just am never able to stomach it. All these products make ma gag. I am currently training for the Portland Marathon so I really needed to find some nutrition that I could stomach. First I tried Sport Beans by Jelly Belly they were fine but after about 10 miles I wanted nothing to do with them. When I was at a store a few weeks ago getting ready to buy some sport beans I decided to look at the GUs and check them out again. That is when I came across Honey Stinger.

The packaging said that the Gold Honey Stinger tasted like honey so I decided to give it a try. I went for a 16 mile run a few days ago and tried the Gold Honey Stinger and I love it! It is great! It tastes good and has good consistency it is easy to swallow and it does not make me feel like I want to vomit. It is great! So if you have the same issues that I have encountered I highly recommend trying Honey Stinger Gold Gel. They also sell bars and chews check them out!

Run Run Run

As I said before now that triathlon season is over I am focusing on running in order to achieve my goal of running my first marathon, the Portland Marathon on October 10 2010. I have never really been a runner, I would just run my 5ks and 10ks for triathlons and leave it at that but slowly over the last couple of years I thought it would be a good idea to do some half marathons and a marathon, I am not sure what I was thinking.....

On Sunday as part of my Portland Marathon training I ran 16 miles at a 9:39 pace which in theory is about a minute slower than my race pace if I wan't to complete my time goal for the Portland Marathon. I am not going to lie I feel like it went well but it was also PAINFUL! Tomorrow I have to run an 8 mile tempo run and on Saturday I have to run 20 miles, my last "long" distance before the marathon in a few weeks.

I have started to come to the realization that I probably will not be able to complete the marathon in my time goal, I am not being negative just realistic, I am not sure I can maintain that sort of pace for 26.2 miles. Under no circumstance do I want to be disappointed when I cross the finish line as that is a huge accomplishment so I am really trying to not worry about the time. Anyway training for a marathon is HARD! I knew it would be and I am looking forward to just doing the marathon.

Eugen Women's Half Marathon Complete!

Yesterday was the inaugural Womens Eugen Half Marathon and I had a great time. The race was well organized especially for a first time race. The day was sunny so I little hot for me but not extremely hot. I did well It was my fastest time in a half marathon, I took 2 minutes off of my previous time! I finished in 1:53:14 that means I placed 154 out of 1,555 so I feel like I am moving in the right direction for the Portland Marathon. It was a great race I recommend trying it out next year. The finishers pendants we got at the end were really nice as well!