Tri bike first Impressions...

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Hey there Denise!

Ya know... I don't even know where Canyon Country is!? I think deciding if I can come watch will be a last minute thing; I'm really pushing my luck w/DH and being gone for so many events this year. I gave him a list of about 10-12 events I wanted to do, several of which involve more than one day due to travel time. Believe me, if it turns out I can make it, you'll be the first one to know! Or, if I decide to drag the boys with me, then its a non-issue. BUT, if I did that it would seriously limit how long I could watch because they are almost 5 and almost 7 and not too patient!

Either way, I will definately come and bug you sometime - you are just too cool a 'chick' not to come and meet!

Mommelisa, I bet it will be so hard to wait for your new bike! What made you choose IMFL? I didn't catch whether you were going to go watch any of the IMAZ??? I'm going to do a sprint tri in the fall (mainly because I'm concentrating on getting back into biking shape between now and then); probably one in Palm Springs with a lake swim... I have a whole plan in my head but getting your opinions on that is a whole other post!

Okay, I am SO blabbing...

Trac'

[mommelisa]

[QUOTE=tprevost]Mommelisa, I bet it will be so hard to wait for your new bike! What made you choose IMFL? I didn't catch whether you were going to go watch any of the IMAZ??? I'm going to do a sprint tri in the fall (mainly because I'm concentrating on getting back into biking shape between now and then); probably one in Palm Springs with a lake swim... I have a whole plan in my head but getting your opinions on that is a whole other post!/QUOTE]

Hey, Tracy! There were really two reasons I picked IMFL. IMAZ was full and I wasn't sure I'd be ready after Soma (10/31/05) and because its pancake FLAT! (see previous post... I am a poor climber!) It took me a long time to sell the idea to my dh who thinks above all that I'm nuts and have OCD about all this stuff, but he's finally on board, thank goodness!

I'll definitely head down to IMAZ. I have a number of friends competing this year and its such a GREAT motivator! You should come, bring your little ones, there are lots of kids around and its good for them to feel the excitement too. Especially if tris are something you continue to do!

Bring it on about your plans! I'd love to hear and I'm just opinionated enough to give you feedback if you like! lol! I'm sure Denise would too!

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I'm going to drag my little ones so I'm going to chose two "sets" of times to be there (I'd like to watch some of the transition from bike-run and also the finish - gotta be there when Denise crosses!) Anyway, the hotel is about 1.75miles away so I'm trying to decide whether to take a cab or get a wagon w/umbrella (am leaning towards this one!) so they can bring snacks/drinks and have a place to sit if necessary. Suggestions????

I'll have to figure out all the logistics later but Denise, I'm assuming you will be completely immersed the day before, so I'll have to get with you on figuring out how the heck to find you so I can CHEER!!!!!

Anyway, barring anything major coming up, I'm committed! Yippeee!!!

T~

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Mommelisa,

You are too funny about the "flat" thing! How is the AZ course? I would imagine it to be relatively flat too... unless the bike course goes into the mtns somewhere??? But heck, Florida sounds pretty sweet! Great job getting the hubby's thumbs up! I'm not a good hill person either but that is the second thing I'm working on when I can start riding again; after some base mileage build up!

So, I was wondering about how both you and Denise decided to do the IM distance... what was the catalyst? AND, how much time each week do you each spend training?

What is the Soma? Sorry, newbie here! I have agood friend who's done the IMHI a couple of times but I'm not familiar with all of the various events!!

Well, gotta go track down the chickletts... too quiet here...

Tracy

[Running Mommy]

hey Tracy, I'll be down at the race site Saturday afternoon for the race meeting and bike check in and all that, so if you get there Sat afternoon I'll def. plan on meeting up with you. Also my husband and 8 yr old son will be there along w/ my cousin and 7 yr old son. So I'll def have to hook you guys up. We are also zoo members, and the zoo is really close to the race site so maybe you can all go while I'm out toiling away on the bike course. I have a bunch of free tickets. I love our zoo out here because you can ride your bikes in it! During the summer when it's super hot and everyone is hibernating my son and I get up early and take our bikes to the zoo. The zoo opens at 7:00 am during the summer! go figure?!
Anyway, yes- BRING THE KIDS!! There is alot to keep them busy, and the transition and finish area are in a park by the lake so they can run around. When it gets closer we can coordinate our plans.
Ok.. to answer the other questions... SOMA is a big 1/2 Iron distance race that takes place every fall out here. Usually right on- or around halloween. I've always wanted to do it, but it never worked out. It's a popular race and always sells out. It also pretty much follows the IMAZ course.

As for why I chose to do an IM?? Hmmm... I guess it's just all these years of watching my friends on Ironmanlive.com come over the finish line and thinking how cool it would be to do it myself. I'm also the poster child for chubby endurance athletes. I can't tell you how many times I've stood at the start line and heard husbands comment to their wives "look honey, if SHE can do it- so can you"...
I've always battled my body image and never truely been comfortable in my skin- as sad as that is. So I think that by doing these crazy things it's my way of saying "yeah I may be fat, but I can run a marathon, or I can do an IM or whatever". Because people have always looked down on me like "If she TRIED she could lose weight"... Well damn I HAVE tried! But I have to starve myself to lose an ounce, and I simply refuse to do that. I eat healthy, train ALOT, and yes- I do enjoy my sweet treats every once in awhile. I think my life is balanced... It's my fat cells that need to get on the program!
Last weekend in nor cal the wives of my husbands friends were all giving me "the look" when I mentioned that I was 7 weeks out from the race. One even looked me up and down and said "really? YOUR doing Ironman? Why? What are you trying to prove"....sigh... Jealous I guess?!
Ok, enough of that! rant off!
IMAZ's course is pretty flat. The only real hill is more of a false flat that goes on for 5-10 miles ( I think) up the beeline hwy. It's also notoriously windy.
IMFL is pancake flat, but has an ocean swim. Before IMAZ came into existance I was going to do IMFL. Because like mommelisa I'm a hill WEENIE! But I also had a friend get stung inside her mouth by a jelly fish at FL a couple of years ago. She managed to complete the race but she looked like a mutant in her race photo! Her cheek was all swollen. YIKES! Plus I used to surf, but I'm not sure how I'd do in an ocean swim. The one good thing though would be the bouyancy!
Anyhoo... I guess that's it. When do you get your bike Mommelisa? Sounds like your getting a total custom job! SWEET!! I'm sooo jealous!! Are you a member of the phoenix tri club? I just joined so I could get 15% off my bike at trisports, but I don't know anyone in the club.

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RM,

I can totally relate to the whole body image thing. All my life I've yo-yo'd and let my scale determine my moods... ICK! YOU are healthy and fit so I am SO hoping that women like you will rub off on me! Part of the reason I have begun reincorporating the biking and a tri into my life is that it gives me what I need to keep striving to improve and continue my fitness routine and training etc. I can't wait to cheer you on!!!!!

Thank you so much for the offer of the zoo tickets! I lived in scottsdale in my early 20's and went to the zoo way back then; I love that zoo! I had no idea they let you ride bikes there! Holy Cow! ... but its pretty clear why they open so early in the summer We are staying over on east apache so we aren't too far from the start/transition area. My kids are pretty young still (and sometimes have a tendency to run off) so I know that I'll have a limit as to how much time I can spend at the course... I'll coordinate w/you as to the best approximate timing.

Anyway, I can't believe that your dh's friend's wife actually said that to you! She clearly has issues of her own... that's all I'm gonna say.

Thank you so much for letting me join in on your cheering squad! I bet your family is SO proud of you!

Mommelisa, I hope that you can come at the same time! Its too bad I can't convince my DH that we need to do some cheering in FL as well!!!! do you have any pictures of you doing the SOMA?

Well, I'm going go get ready to watch the Amgen coverage! Gotta get encouraged for the whoppin' 12 mile bike ride Sunday! The cast comes off Tuesday; but I think I'll be babying the arm for a while - the cast makes me feel safe; kinda scary to get it off, even though its driving me crazy!

Have a great evening!

Trac'

[mommelisa]

G'morning ladies! Denise - you're probably on some epic ride this morning, I can't wait to hear! :-)

I ran about 12 or so with my running partner this morning and I thought how dang lucky we are to be in AZ right now, where I'm running in a short sleeve shirt and shorts! What a great day!

SOMA was a great race. I had extreme fear about swimming in Tempe Town Lake (RM - have you done any training in there?) but you know, this year for IMAZ, since the weather has been so mild, it should be really nice. Prior to SOMA, I'd done one swim in TTL and ended up sick for about a month afterwards. I had a parasite and could NOT keep food IN, if you know what I mean... ugh! But for SOMA it didn't end up being so bad. Maybe you both could do it this year!! I'll cheer you on just before I leave for Panama City - I think it ends up falling the week just before IMFL! Here're my pics, if you want to see:
http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_e...D=8017&BIB=753

As for why I started thinking about IM... hm. I think its mostly a mental game. I started out doing marathons first. My mom was sick (cancer) and I think I was kind of mad that she wasn't "fighting" harder - that her body broke down because she wasn't really active before she got sick, so she had nothing to fall back on. Does that make sense? I figured if I could do things like marathons, I would be healthy and if something like cancer happened to me, I'd be strong enough to fight it. (wishful thinking, I know, my mom had brain cancer, no amount of fighting could cure it...) I did a couple of marathons and then I needed a new challenge. Triathlons seemed the next step. I didn't even own a bike when I signed up to do my first tri... lol! My first was an olympic distance and for me, it just wasn't long enough. So I tried a 1/2. That was amazing, but I still needed a challenge. IM is the next logical step for me. I believe that anyone can do it - all you have to do is get your MIND to believe that you can and you can accomplish anything!

Trac - I'll definitely coordinate with you for IMFL. I'll be down there most of the day so we'll meet up. We can exchange phone numbers closer to the date.

-Melisa