Angie’s Ironman Canada Prep Camp 2010
So I am full of emotions right now, but I thought since I was in a quiet house, with no workouts to do, that I would write down how I felt about IMC prep camp!
First of all, after much debate and inability to make any kind of decision, Kelly and I decided to start our trek to Penticton on Wednesday night after the girls were in bed. Well that was good in theory except the girls were up late and not asleep when Kelly came to pick me up. After lots of hugs and kisses (since Andrew and the girls were leaving that Friday for 2 ½ weeks), Sydney was at the top of the stairs crying “don’t go to ’Panticon’, don’t go to ‘Panticon’”. However we finally made it out of the house and we were on our way. We stopped in Golden and stayed overnight with Leana, so that we could make it to Penticton early enough to get settled and ready for our workout that evening. After checking into Kelly’s hotel, we decided to take a little stroll. I had never been to Penticton, so Kelly took me down to the peach, showed me where the swim start was and showed me the IMC start/finish sign (very exciting - I got butterflies and almost cried, which for me would be a recurring theme for the weekend). We then met Ally, JoZ, Nola and Leana at Salty’s for lunch. After a great lunch, we checked into our hotel we went to the grocery store to get supplies for the weekend. After Leana and I went back to our hotel, Kelly took off to get organized for our shake down ride and swim. Shortly after, Leana received a call from Kelly – she accidently hit her bike which was on top of the car. Her seat and bottle cages were destroyed. She quickly headed to the bike barn where she got new seat and bottle cage.
We met the team at Skaha beach for an intro to the camp and a shake-down ride and swim. Angie talked about IMC and what we should expect on the weekend. I got all teary and emotional. I started to cry. I really couldn’t stop. Got laughed at J (in good fun I know). After that, I got a hug from Angie and we headed out on our bikes. The plan was to head out of town, do MacLean Creek loop, and then head out to OK falls. Unfortunately there was a fire on McLean creek drive and the roads were closed. We therefore went out to MacLean creek, turned and headed back to the parking lot, and then went out again. I was really trying to stay focused, but I must admit there were quite a few tears on this ride. I’m still not really sure why. I think I was just really anxious about the weekend and whether or not I could handle all the workouts. We arrived back at the beach and got ready for a quick swim at Skaha Beach. We did a quick warm up and then some drills. We got some instructions from Angie, and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for our big ride on Friday. At the hotel (which I shared with Leana, Ally and Tanya), it took about an hour for us to get all organized with our nutrition and bikes etc. After that, lights out to try for some sleep (which for me didn’t happen very easily).
We got up bright and early and headed out to Skaha beach again for our big ride. Leana, Kelly and I decided to head out with the first (read slow) group. I was getting my bike organized and pumping tires, when the presta valve broke on the rear wheel. Crap – what a way to start the ride. So I changed the tube and started pumping it up. Crap – I broke the valve again. Changed the tube AGAIN (thanks Kelly for the extra tubes you gave me for the ride). I asked Leana to help me pump my tires since it was her pump and clearly I was screwing something up. All set to go. I gave Hope all my extra nutrition. She and Angie were going to be support for our ride, and Hope was going to be in charge of our group. So we headed out. The goad was “easy cheesy”. This was going to be my mantra for the day. As many of you might know, I’m not really intro mantra’s per se, but I really wanted to take it easy so I could make it through the course. I was really nervous – what if I couldn’t make it up Richters? What if I couldn’t get up Yellow Lake? What if I bonked? What if I really couldn’t to this? Okay, I let myself have that for about 30 seconds. Then I decided it was a beautiful day for a ride and I was with some great friends and teammates (okay Angie, for the record I’m crying as I write this J). Let’s get going! We started out and headed out for MacLean Creek Road. Angie gave us the advice of breaking the course down in sections, and checking each portion off when they were finished. The first, was MacLean Creek, then Richters, then the out and back and then Yellowlake. So, we were on to our first check. Kelly and I settled into a nice rhythm together. We have been training alot together, so we were really comfortable riding with each other, and we ride at the same pace. Angie had warned us that the hill on MacLean creek was the biggest incline that we would encounter for the entire ride. So, onward and upward. We made it through MacLean Creek – CHECK! However our sadistic coach thought it would be a good idea to do MacLean Creek twice. So we headed back for a repeat. Second time didn’t seem as bad as the first. So MacLean creek again – CHECK! Then it was onto Oliver and Osoyoos. It was a pretty flat ride out to Osoyoos. We really tried to keep it “easy cheesy”. Then I had to hit a bathroom. Luckily there was a campsite so Kelly and I had a quick stop. We kept riding through a nasty mud puddle and kept going onto the Husky and the Canadian flag. We met up with John, Trish, Paddy and Tanya at the Husky station. We took another quick pee break and tried to clean up as much as possible. Now was the first test – Richter’s pass. Angie told up it was 11Km, had 4 distinct “benches” and would take us between 25-40 minutes to climb. Okay – let’s go. I started Richter’s – easy cheesy – I wasn’t even halfway through the ride. So I counted the “benches” and watched my time and distance. After the third bench, there seemed to be a downhill – had I counted wrong? I was a bit confused since I knew I wasn’t at the top. I saw Paddy and asked her “one more climb?” And her response was “yes, but it’s a short one” LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the final climb...........Angie was waiting at the top with the truck taking pictures (for the record I’m all teary again – do these count in the pool?). I was so glad she was there. Richter’s Pass – CHECK. Moments after I got the top, Kelly arrived. We did a bit of a happy dance at the top of Richter’s, refocused and headed downhill. I knew that the 7 dwarfs (I prefer that to the 7 bitches as it seems less daunting and I was planning on naming each of them) were after Richter’s, but I didn’t realized they were right after. After a couple of “hills” I’m thinking – are these the rollers? YEP, they were. The distance between Km 100 and 110 were the longest of the ride. I felt like I wasn’t even moving. There was a headwind and these were hard. I had planned to take a honey stinger bar at the top of Richter’s, but I was so excited I forgot. I wasn’t bonking by any means, but I wanted some food. However, we make it through the rollers and shortly after that, we saw Hope in the truck. I had my power stinger bar and felt much better. Kelly and I then headed out towards the out and back. I want to preface this part by saying that both Kelly and I thought an out and back was really an out and back. I also have to digress and point out that one of our goals (or more accurately unrealistic hopes) was to not be passed by anyone in the group that started 45 minutes after us – UNCHECK. Sarah passed us before the out and back. We started the out and back and then Sarah passed us again – OOPS, we missed Dali drive. We headed to the end (or past the so I had to redo the hill) and headed to Beck Road. Since we missed Dali drive on the way out, we did Beck drive out and back again. The out and Back - CHECK! Then we headed toward Keremeos. We saw Angie and she yelled “what are you guys doing here”. My response was, “aren’t we supposed to be here?” NO, we weren’t supposed to turn at Beck road. Angie said we could continue on and still get the same distance (plus we had just climbed a hill) or she would show us where we were supposed to be. Kelly and I both agreed to go back as we wanted to do the route. So back we went. We got back on track, and then – YELLOW LAKE. Angie kept telling us it wasn’t that bad. In retrospect I have few words for Angie on this and quite frankly they aren’t very nice so I will just get on with it.......I started climbing. The one thing about Richters was I knew how far I had to go. When I started climbing Yellowlake I had no idea. I now know that I like to know the end point. And for the record – it is about 18K. So I climbed, I climbed and I climbed some more. At one point all I could say to myself was “just keep spinning, just move forward” I really wish I had counted how many times I said that to myself. My feet were burning. My legs were tired, but at least my mind was focused – just make it to Hope. I saw Cathy and Shannon on hill and they were moving forward. And then finally I saw the truck. I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see anyone in my entire life. Just after I got to the top I saw Angie – Yellowlake – CHECK! Then the most bizarre thing happened –about 2 minutes after I got to the top, I forgot just how sucky the climb was – kinda like childbirth. Lots of people were at the top offering tonnes of encouragement –thanks to Paddy, Trish and JoZ. Kelly arrived shortly after that and we did another happy dance at the top of yellow lake. We refuelled and began our “easy” descent back into town. Alfred was catching us, so we had to leave so he didn’t pass us! The descent back into town was harder than I anticipated. I’m not the best at downhills to begin with, and there was a headwind. So I was pedalling downhill and felt like I was bearly moving. Also, the traffic on the road made me nervous. The shoulder was all gravel so we couldn’t ride on it. At one point a yellow car forced me off the road and forced me onto the gravel. Luckily I recovered and Kelly helped me regroup. We kept going and got passed by Alfred and Angie. We headed back into town. At Km 173 my Garmin died. So really don’t know the entire distance I did or my time, however, at least I got most of the data. We headed back into town and to Skaha beach. The IMC bike course completed – CHECK! Wow, I did it - the IMC bike course. Total time I was gone was 8 hours and 8 minutes. I’m not sure what my ride time was, since I didn’t have my garmin, but I think it was around 7 hours 15 minutes based on Kelly’s info. It was slower than I thought it would be. However, at least I know this now, so hopefully I won’t be too disappointed on race day. Kelly took off for her brick run, and I waited for Leana to get back since my running shoes were in her car. When Leana got back, I quickly grabbed my shoes and visor and headed out for my brick. I was supposed to do 30 minutes, but only did 25 minutes. Angie said that was okay. After Leana and Nola got back from their brick we headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and then off to yoga. Then we had dinner with the team at “Saltys”. After dinner Kelly, Mitch and I went for ice cream and then off to bed for our swim and bike the next day.
The next morning, we headed down to Okanagan Lake for a 4Km swim. I expressed to Angie that I would prefer to do the bike ride again rather than a 4K swim. But a swim it was, so we go on our wetsuits and we were off. As you know, swimming is not my strong suit. But Angie gave us great advice – one buoy at a time. The plan was to swim to the Sycamous and back, twice. Total – 4K. So I started swimming. At first I could only breathe on one side. My shoulder was hurting when I was only breathing on one side. I calmed down at about 500m and could bilateral breath. And then, I felt someone on my feet. My first thought was “who is stupid enough to draft off of me?” I would later realize that it was Alfred J. I hit the Sycamous and then turned around. I had a really hard time sighting on the way back – good lesson since this is the same time of day that we will be swimming. I got back to the shore – 42:39!!!!!!! Back for lap 2. I sighted better the second time. By the last 750m or so I was tired. I just kept thinking, long and slow, long and slow – made it back for a second time – second lap – 43:43, (a bit slower but I will take it) and then another 1:22 to get back to shore. Total swim 1:27:45. I WAS THRILLED. When I signed up for the race, my goal was a 2 hour swim. Maybe, just maybe I can get in a bit under that! I told Angie my time and her comment was that she wasn’t surprised. She told me that one of things she liked about me was that I always underestimated myself and I always over performed. I’m taking that as a good think. 4Km swim done – CHECK.
We then went for coffee and breakfast as a team. We then got ready for our “recovery ride” and I use that term loosely – THE WALL. So we started towards OK falls on the marathon route and once we regrouped at the beach, we headed for the climb. It is a total climb of about 3K, with the last 1Km having grades of as much as 9%. But I started out slow and steady. As we began climbing, Scott was making fun of mine and Kent’s socks – Kent had red polka dot king of the hill socks, and I had socks with pink flowers. I pushed up the hill. I did have to use my granny gear and stand at times, but I made it to the top. We went a bit further after the hill to spin out our legs and then came back to regroup with the team. The original plan was a 55K ride with a decent from Yellowlake. However it was really warm with some significant wind, so Angie had a change of plans. We rode back to OK falls to get more water and fuel (thanks Cathy for driving support). Some people were just heading back to Skaha Lake, but some others were going to ride MacLean Creek Backwards. It was mostly the speedy boys adding on, but I was feeling good at already had mentally prepared for a 55K ride, so I decided to join them. I knew I would be dropped, but I still had some energy to ride more. So I headed out and had a great ride. I didn’t realize how “bad” the MacLean Creek Hill was until I rode down it! After we got back to Skaha lake, I went out for a quick 10 minute brick and then some recovery food and a quick dip in the lake. We headed back to the hotel to shower and off to another yoga class. After yoga, we went to Earls for dinner with the team and after dinner we headed down to the peach for a tour of the transition area the start/finish line. Angie was telling us what to expect on race day and as per usual Tara style, I got all teary and started to cry. Not just once, but a few times. I don’t really know what my problem is, I just find this all very emotional and overwhelming. Angie suggested that the team starts taking bets as to how many times I will cry the week before IMC J. Following the tour, we went for some ice-cream and then home to bed to be rested for our long run. As it turns out my mind was in overdrive from the transition chat and I hardly got any sleep at all.
Sunday...........On the schedule was a long run 2 ½ - 3 hours depending on how we were feeling. Angie wanted us to go all the way to OK falls along the marathon route. If we were there before 1 ½ hours, we were to go on, but if it was longer than that to get to OK falls head out there anyway and turn around and that the truck would pick us up at the 3 hour mark. She really wanted us to get a feel for the entire first half of the marathon course. We had strict instructions to run based on how we feel. Not by pace and to take HR with a huge grain of salt – it may be low because we were fatigued, but on the other hand it could be high because of the heat. So I set off, with my garmin showing only HR, and set it to beep every 15 minutes to remind me to eat and drink regularly. I started ez, with a loose goal of making it to OK falls and back in the 3 hours. I ran with my iPod since I wasn’t sure if I would find anyone to run with. I felt great. Slow and steady. I watched my HR and tried to keep it in check. I was feeling good. The hills weren’t as bad as I had feared and soon I was running towards OK falls. I had been running for just under 1 hour 20 minutes. Our instructions if we hit OK falls before 1 ½ hours was to run past that point and turn around at 1 ½ hours. I kept running and saw Nate, and Sarah just ahead of me. Then Angie ran past me going the other way. The comment she gave me as she passed really made my entire weekend – she said “you are F****NG awesome”. That put a huge smile on my face. I got to the end of the road and I was only at 1:29:00 – CRAP – so I ran out and back a bit to get to 1:30:00 and then I headed back towards OK falls. I got there, made a quick trip to the bathroom to pee and fill my water bottle, and was on my way back. I picked up the pace a bit on the way back. I passed Kelvin and Angie – don’t get too excited – they were walking back to the truck after they had finished their run, and Angie asked me why I looked so happy. My immediate response, without even thinking was “because I’m running”. I was bopping to my music and really enjoying myself. I continued to stop every 15 minutes to make sure I was drinking and took a gel everyone 45 minutes (except I skipped the last one since I was almost done and wasn’t sure I needed/wanted one). I got to MacLean creek road and was shocked. I missed this hill I was anticipating – I obviously ran it, but clearly it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I headed back into town feeling strong. By the time I got back to the parking lot I was at 2:57:XX – so I ran around for just over 2 mintues until 3:00:01 – I added on the 1 second so I would get 30Km. I negative split my run by about 3 minutes and ended feeling really happy with me effort. Long run done – CHECK! We had some post-run food and another quick dip in the water and then Angie did a quick wrap up since a bunch of the team had to head out of town.....
Thoughts on the weekend.......
I have so many feelings I don’t even know where to begin. First of all, the weekend was far more emotional than I anticipated. I was prepared for the physical aspects of the workouts, but not the emotional/mental aspects of the camp. I realized that I’m pretty good at getting the job done, but not so good at anticipating it, thinking about it, or analyzing it. I was really pleased with all my long workouts – the swim, the bike and the run, but the bike was a lot harder and slower than I had hoped. But I’m really glad I figured that out this weekend and not on race day. I just have to readjust my expectations accordingly. Easy cheesy will take me far farther than trying to go faster on the bike. I really do believe that. Even though the bike was harder and slower than I had expected, my nutrition was good and I was still able to do my brick run afterwards. I think that this will take me far on Aug 29. I just have to remind myself this throughout the ride. Richter and Yellowlake are hard – suck it up and get it done. I did it on Friday and I will do it on race day. Remember to eat some solid food at the top of Richter’s before the 7 dwarfs. Other thoughts - I can swim. I never really thought I would be able to say that. It may not be pretty and it may not be fast, but I can do 4Km in open water in well under the cut off time. I can run even on really tired legs. On race day, I have to remind myself how much I love the run.
Goals for race day – get through the swim – slow and steady, one buoy at time – in order to get on the bike. Get through the bike – easy cheesy – check off MacLean Creek Drive, Richter, the rollers, the out and back and Yellowlake. Get off the bike and run a marathon – one aide station at time. Keep smiling. Stay positive. Finish the race in less than 17 hours (okay my real goal is less than 15 hours).
Angie’s Ironman Canada Prep Camp 2010 – Check!
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