How Hard Can It Be? Year 2

**Veronica** · 07-12-2009, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Veronica

I weigh 154 right now. The Vineman people cut off Athena at 145. While i can certainly picture where I could take off ten pounds, I don't see THAT happening.

This cracked me up as I rereading what I've written the last few months to try to get myself inspired.

I'm at 144 now.

Miracles do happen.

Veronica

**fatbottomedgurl** · 07-12-2009, 02:59 PM

Yay Veronica. 10 pounds- that's a big bag of potatoes!

**colby** · 07-12-2009, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Veronica

This cracked me up as I rereading what I've written the last few months to try to get myself inspired.

I'm at 144 now.

Miracles do happen.

Veronica

Awesome.

145 seems light for Athena, considering the discussions we've had about 150. I saw an ad in Triathlete for Team Clydesdale and the guy in the picture is absolutely ripped. That seems unfair, just like the Athena equivalent. They also call the female version "Lady Clydesdales".... personally I prefer Athena thank you very much

Great work, V - the impossible is apparently possible

**Veronica** · 07-28-2009, 10:52 AM

I was finally well enough Week 18 to start running again. I started off pretty easy with just a two mile run on Monday and three miles on Wednesday. Thursday night that week we flew to Boston to spend ten days in New England, visiting family in Maine and riding the Gaps in Vermont. I got in another run during Week 18 on Saturday - 4.6 miles. I also met twice with my trainer for legs on Monday and upper body on Wednesday.

Week 19 was spent mainly in Vermont. I got in a hilly run on Tuesday and a flat run on Thursday in between cycling. On Saturday I did an interval run. My race is this upcoming Saturday - just 4 days away and I have not built up to a long run. Of course I will do my best on race day. It’s a race; I always do the best that I can. That doesn’t mean I won’t be disappointed if my best is not what I had hoped for in this race. I’ve felt great on the 4 mile runs I’ve done. But I’ll be tripling that distance on Saturday.

I am pretty pleased with the cycling we did in Vermont. We rode 108 miles over the three days with about 7600 feet total climb. We were tourists and I did not ride it hard and that’s actually what I’m so pleased about. The last day we climbed Appalachian Gap which has a 20% grade for the last 1000 Meters. That’s pretty steep! Yeah, I was grinding up it with a really slow cadence, but my heart rate peaked at only 167 beats per minute. For comparison before I started working with my trainer, a similar grade, but shorter distance would have pushed my HR to above 180, which puts me solidly into the feeling super crummy zone.

This week is taper week. That means still working out, but not hard. I have to put my bike back together and I’ll do a short ride to make sure everything is right. I’ll meet with my trainer twice. I also plan on doing a short run in the heat of the day to at least have an idea of what running when it’s hot is like. During last year’s race it got up to 97 degrees during the run. Today they are predicting a high of 82 for Saturday. It sure would be nice if that came true.

**katluvr** · 07-28-2009, 12:58 PM

4 days away....GOOD LUCK!

Have a great race! I'll be watching for the race report.

**Veronica** · 07-30-2009, 01:14 PM

There will be athlete tracking for my race on Saturday.

http://www.vineman.com/latestnews/Fu...nd_Updates.htm

It's been awhile since I've swum so I'm hoping for a time of 40 minutes or less. Last year's time was 34:34. I'd like to best my bike and run times from last year of 3:37 and 3:07 respectively. Ideally, I'd like a finishing time of less than 7 hours this year. Considering my summer, just finishing will be good. Last year was 7:28

Took my bike out today for about 19 miles. Everything seems to be okay after I reassembled it from our trip. Except I can't get my stupid Polar to pick up speed when it is attached to the bike. It works fine on my wrist, but it's hard to see it on my wrist.

Weather forecast still looks good for Saturday. I hope that didn't just jinx it.

Veronica

**maillotpois** · 07-31-2009, 07:02 PM

good luck and (more important) have fun!

**Veronica** · 07-31-2009, 07:08 PM

Thanks! I'm sitting in bed in the hotel room, hoping I sleep well.

I'm bib 1511.

Veronica

**divingbiker** · 07-31-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by maillotpois

good luck and (more important) have fun!

What she said!

**crazycanuck** · 08-01-2009, 03:50 AM

Good luck V! Race hard & have fun!

**Selkie** · 08-01-2009, 05:18 AM

If you log in before you go, GOOD LUCK!!! I was sending you karma this morning, during my long swim!

Can't wait to read your race report.

**divingbiker** · 08-01-2009, 01:01 PM

Wish I knew how to look Veronica up in the athlete tracker...

**Blueberry** · 08-01-2009, 02:01 PM

No results up yet...

CA

**jobob** · 08-01-2009, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Veronica

Considering my summer, just finishing will be good.

woo-hoo!

Results are up, and Veronica finished at precisely 200th place overall, and she did 20 minutes better than her time last year!

Kudos, V!

**Blueberry** · 08-01-2009, 03:23 PM

Yipee!!!! That's fabulous!!

CA

Thread: How Hard Can It Be? Year 2

Thread Tools

Display

Weeks 18 & 19 - Back on the Road

cool

Posting Permissions