Friday, June 14, 2013

IRONMAN Florida, Here I Come (For Real)

I am as surprised as you are. It seems I’ve got exactly 140 days to whip my ass into Ironman shape. That’s one day for each mile I will cover on the Ironman course on November 2nd. Hold on while I go freak the eff out.

2.4 miles of swim + 112 miles of bike + 26.2 miles of running = holy shit

I knew I’d do an Ironman before I died, but since I’m not supposed to kick the bucket until I’m 86.6 years old (see where I figured my life expectancy HERE) – I figured I had a few more years before I took on the FCIMC (F$cking Crazy Ironman Challenge).

But…remember I told you about that little opportunity I applied for to be sponsored by X²Performance?

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Seems they took me on their team! Found out today. Couldn’t wait to tell you.

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Who is coming to Panama Beach, Florida in November to cheer me on? No one? Ok. Maybe I can talk my family into ringing a cowbell and throwing me some toilet paper and Ibuprofen. I wish Heidi could be there. Did you know that November 2nd is actually her birthday? I know this from her microchip. How coincidental is that?

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Seriously, I am out of my mind excited and terrified all at once. I have no doubt in my mind I can do this thing, hell yes I can. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have those WTF moments when I question my own sanity and abilities. As my mom said today, “I had no clue when you were born you’d do this kind of stuff.” Me neither, mom. 

So, for the next few months this blog will be heavy on the training stories, many of which I’m sure will be humbling and funny (hey! I farted in the pool!) and sometimes inspiring. Please hang with me on this journey. I know I’m going to need your support more than ever.

SUAR

PS: Since I am a girl I already calculated if I will have my period on November 2nd. I will not. Let the celebrating begin.

PPS: Anyone know of a good 18 week beginner’s Ironman training plan? I need to get going on this thing.

82 comments:

  1. I'm doing it too! How scary and exciting!!!

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  2. Awesome! Trying to convince my girlfriend to do Miami 70.3 since Augusta filled up. If she was up to the full distance yet I'd convince her to do Florida so i could cheer you both on!

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  3. Website beginner triathlete must have one

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  4. Exciting stuff! Hm, your mother sounds a little like mine. Today I told her of a friend running a 100 miler this weekend and she said, "Don't even think about it..." to which I responded, "Too late.." :) Happy training!!

    P.S. Man, I love that Heidi!!!!

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  5. I rarely ever say this, but OMG! Looking forward reading about your journey.

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  6. Looking forward to following your training. I am training for my first half Ironman at the beginning of September. Good for you!

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  7. Congratulations! I am so excited for you and I am looking forward to following your training journey and race!

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  8. Holy Shitballs you crazy woman!! Amazing!!! I cannot WAIT to read about your adventures!! Hours and hours on the bike is going to make you even funnier, I'm sure of it. I happen to have an old IM training plan if you want it. It's not 18 weeks mind you but I'm sure you could alter it. :)

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  9. Wow! 140.6! I look forward to reading about your journey. One of my friends did Wisconsin Ironman a few years ago, and I still brag about how I am friends with an Ironman/woman. Will you get a tattoo after? I never considered getting one, but if I did an Ironman, hell yeah, I'd ink!

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  10. Several months reader but first time commenter. I am so crazy excited for you, I could burst which I even find weird as we have never met, but I am at the very very beginning stages of getting into shape, and reading your blog keeps me motivated so.... I am excited for you, and wish you all the best. Look forward to reading all about your training.

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  11. Woo-Hoo!!!! Looking forward to hearing all about it. I am in Boulder and marathon training all summer so if you need long running buddy support in this heat, look me up!

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  12. That's fantastic Beth!!! What s that saying, do one thing every day that scares you? Signing up for an Ironman certainly fits the bill!

    I know you'll kick ass. Looking forward to following your journey.

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  13. Oh my gosh! I'm so flippin' excited for you! My first sprint tri is in August- and while that's a FAR, FAR cry from an IronMan- I'm looking at it like my starting point. IronMan is DEFINITELY on my radar in the next few years. I just need to get to that point. A friend told me "It's ALL training, baby!" ---and I know she was right! I'll work my ass off until the moment I toe that finish line some day...

    You GOT THIS! With you all the way! Go get em, Beth!

    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

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  14. That is so exciting. I can't wait to follow your training!

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  15. I like this one:

    http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/

    and this one:

    http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=441

    Aren't you friends with Page? Just have her send you hers.. ha!

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  16. You're insane in the best possible ways. Good luck and I look forward to the training stories and your ultimate success.

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  17. Congratulations - so exciting, I look forward to the training stories!

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  18. Wooooohooooo!!! I'm going to be there -- as a spectator this time. I'm coaching someone doing her first Ironman and I will be there to support. I'll definitely look for you. I'm really hoping you won't be the one with poop down her leg ;-) Looking forward to reading about your training in the weeks and months to come.

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  19. Oh man, Beth, that is SUPER exciting!! I have no doubt you can do it!!!

    I have a client doing it, too.

    You'll have to contact Craig now ;).

    xoxo

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  20. Can't wait to read your posts. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who looks at tri dates to see if it coincides with Flo's monthly visit or not!

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  22. New to your blog! Huge congrats on your Ironman acceptance...is that proper terminolgy?

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  23. Amazing!! Can't wait to hear all about your training adventures!! (I am reading Chrissie Wellington's "A Life Without Limits" right now - awesome & inpsiring! I would encourage you to read it to excite yourself, but I am sure you are more than excited enough - and when will you have time?!?!?
    Congrats!! So amazing!

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  24. Read everything you can written by Rich Strauss of Endurance Nation, he lays out the Ironman execution like no one else. To paraphrase him "Ironman is not about who goes the fastest, it's who slows down the least", so pacingpacingpacing...:)
    Also, do as much open water swimming as you can, especially with other people. While I have had anxiety in triathlons, my Ironman swims have all been pretty smooth, considering I was swimming with 2-3k other people...:)
    Wish I could be there but it's a little far for this Pacific Northwest girl! Will be following your progress!

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  25. I'm so excited for you Beth. Truly awesome! I'm looking forward to following your training.

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  26. You go girl!!! That is so stupidly exciting! I look forward to reading the journey.

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  27. Congratulations, I'll be following you and cheering you on! If your back starts to hurt please take a pregnancy test right away!

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  28. Girl, that is awesome! I am so excited for you.

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  29. Congratulations!! So exciting! Looking forward to following your training. I'd like to attempt a Half Ironman someday. Guess I should learn to swim...lol.

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  30. Congrats!! That is sooo exciting. I would be bouncing off the walls, yet very scared too. Doing an Ironman is definitely on my bucket list!

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  31. I'm so excited for you! What an amazing opportunity! I am really looking forward to hearing all about your training. I admire your confidence!

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  32. Congrats! I'm excited for you, and would love to be cheering you on! It's almost tempting to drive the 300 or so miles :)
    I love your PS!! I have all my projected periods mapped out on my calender app. Too bad middle age keeps screwing with my schedule! (ha!)
    Good Luck!

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  33. Holy poop! (not literally, I hope)

    This is exciting, awesome, and scary, all at once. But really - given your recent marathon, and the fact that you aren't a stranger to the cycle - this is amazing timing. Plus, you only have 18 weeks to obsess over it! I'm not in the best position to offer advice or training plans - but good luck!

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  35. Holy cow. I'm really looking forward to reading your training posts. You always inspire me to take a rest day and then hit it hard again. I do read a blog 'frayedlacesracing' that is great for ironman inspiration. Good luck!

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  36. That's so exciting! And frickin' NUTS! Go you!

    After my first (and so far only) half marathon, my mom said, "I can't say I ever thought to myself, 'Hm, maybe I should run 13 miles?'" To which I said, "Thirteen POINT ONE!" :)

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  37. Congrats on getting started and taking the plunge into Ironman training! We can commiserate about training pains and successes I have just over 100 days until Ironman Lake Tahoe. Excited to follow your journey.

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  38. My husband and I are doing it as well....If you haven't gotten your place to stay do it NOW....we booked back in Dec and it was already crazy hard THEN to find a condo!! Happy Training....I've already needed IVs b/c of the heat!! woo-hoo!! This stuff ROCKS!

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  39. Wow - that's exciting news! Have to admit, my favorite part of your post = “I had no clue when you were born you’d do this kind of stuff.”

    I only run 5ks, and have run one 10k, and my dad is still in a bit of disbelief. I didn't like to sweat/get dirty when I was a kid. Now I run, we take camping vacations (a week in the woods - yippee!), and go on the occasional hike. Love it all.

    Can't wait to hear how your training progresses!

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  40. You are one brave lady! Can't wait to hear all about training!

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  41. You're coming to my town! I started reading your blog last year, I felt a "connection", because I grew up in Denver, plus, you're just stinkin' hilarious! So, now you're going to be in Panama City...I' ll have to come out and cheer for you! Let me know if you have any problems with finding a place to stay, I have a couple "connections" ;) While you're training for your first Iron Man, I'll be training for my first marathon! Can't wait to hear about your journey!

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  42. Congratulations! That is amazing. If you had come to Arizona, I would have rung a cowbell for you at every lap.

    The Kidless Kronicles

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  43. Can any training program for an Ironman truly be called "beginner"? But seriously, I'm impressed. I've watched my husband do three IM's and it's a huge commitment. You go girl!

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  44. OMG that is totally crazy and totally exciting! Congratulations on being selected for the team! Now you can be called SUASBR!

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  45. Check out Meredith Atwood a.k.a SwimBikeMom ( at .com or on Facebook) Can't wait to watch you kick this race's Ironman ass!

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  46. Congrats and good luck! 13.1 is my max distance... or my knees will never let me go again! Only 6 hours from me in this race, plan for heat even though it's November!

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  47. So weird that in order to promote their races/brands/clothing/ etc. they resort to having people enter for team slots. IM sure ain't what it used to be- getting to a race in prime shape to actually compete. But yeah-have fun. Shut up and TRI? oh gawd.

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    Replies
    1. You are SO right - since I have a slot on a team I am definitely NOT going to get into prime shape to compete. I think I'll just lay around until Nov 2nd and hope for the best. Nice try bursting my bubble. Not gonna happen.

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    2. Nice return Beth! I'm stoked for yu AND for me because I can't wait to read about your training and the awesome race I know you'll have.

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    3. Hi Everyone! My name is Cheryl- have done 114 tris- two IMs 6 half IMs- over a dozen marathons and a few ultras and don't "get" the team in triathlon thing. It's different than when I started in the 80s and is going downhill fast as most would not have even entered an IM or half if they didn't finish in less than 13/6 hours. So I present an opinion and am a "jerk"- at least I don't name call. And I don't have a BLAHg anymore 'cause I choose to focus on and help other people in real life and not brag about myself. (except for now of course! ha!)

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    4. Sounds like you have nothing else to do but read blogs and be a little bitch. It's too bad you need to be an ass to people to make your sorry self feel better.

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  48. That is fantastic. IMFlorida is one hot ticket. Here a whole group of folks will trek up to PC to volunteer so that they can sign up for the next year. Happy training and good luck. I'm tackling my first IM in 9 days. I went with a coach but there is a good book full of detailed plans by a guy named Matt Fitzgerald. Triathlete Magazine's essential week-by-week training plans is the name I think.

    Oh and while I haven't done the race if I can give you one piece of advice it is that you can expect surf in the swim at IM Florida. We're not known for our surf down here so it catches people by surprise every year. But you could have to swim out through small breakers and then swim through rollers for the race. So try to be ready for that :-)

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    1. Great advice. I did read on the IMFL website that the water has "chop" - I have no clue how I am going to train for a swim like that out here in CO. Haven't figured that one out yet.

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    2. Try swimming laps in the small wave pool at Water World. It has "chop".....

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    3. Hahaha! That is exactly what my son said! That's probably the only chop in Colorado.

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  49. Best of luck, kick some ass and leave no doubt that you can do this! Looking forward to reading about your training.

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  50. Omg....how frickin' exciting!!!!! If anyone can pull this off it's YOU!!!! Congrats to you on being selected and I can wait to embark on this journey with you! U da bomb!

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  51. Also? Another vote for you to check out Swim Bike Mom. She's doing IMCDA next Sunday. Lots of good stuff in her blog.

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  52. This is terrific news Beth. I'm so excited for you but also looking forward to reading about all the training. I know you'll be posting some of those posts when the going gets tough and you talk yourself through it. Those are inspiring and valuable to all of us endurance enthusiasts.
    Wish I had it in me to do a triathlon but I think I'll stick to just running end enjoying being a spectator for all you Iron-Athletes. Good luck! :) :) :)

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  53. Panama City Beach, Florida...the swim must be in the Gulf of Mexico there...watch out for sharks!

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  54. This is AMAZING! Can't wait to follow this adventure. Maybe will get me to try a sprint.....

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  55. I used this book http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1934030627 for my first Ironman and the race was a breeze! Well, as easy as a 140 miles can be ;-) But I had a great experience. I think it would be easy to jump in at 18 week to go mark since you e a good base build up and this training plan is easy to modify.
    Good luck!! This will be the most amazing finish line experience of your life! There is nothing like the Ironman finish line!

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  56. Amazing!! I am so excited to follow along with your training. I kind of want to do an ironman someday too. Good luck with your training.

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  57. how exciting! i can't wait to follow along!

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  58. I second the Endurance Nation suggestion. My husband and a bunch of his buddies use Rich's training plans and have done pretty well. Beware of those who say that Florida is easy; it's still 140.6 miles. Yes, the bike course is mostly flat, but because you're not doing a ton of shifting, you're riding in the same position for a long time which can be pretty tedious and painful. Additionally, there aren't as many spectators out there as other races so the mental game is critical if you tend to draw support from the crowd.

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  59. Hey Beth, my boyfriend did the half ironman in Orlando, and he says this book is the bible - http://www.amazon.com/Be-Iron-Fit-Time-Efficient-Training-Ultimate/dp/B001LNOOL6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371476068&sr=8-2&keywords=be+iron+fit
    Good luck!

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  60. The tri group I train with has about 20 people doing IMFL this year, so I will be there cheering people on. No advice on training plans as we have a coach. Good luck!

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  61. Good luck with the training, sounds like an adventure!

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  62. You are amazing!! How exiting and terrifying but so do-able!!! Can't wait to hear all the stories as the training is the best part. Good luck!

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  63. Oh.My.Heck! You are... so many different adjectives that I'm having a hard time narrowing it down.

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  64. Wow, this post is fastidious, my sister is analyzing these
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  65. Congratulations! I'll be cheering you on from my computer. You can do it. You are one tough woman!

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  66. That is so cool! Congratulations and good luck!

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  67. This is amazing! I'm really looking forward to learning your training process and the things that do and don't work. I was thinking about entering a mini triathalon in a few months, and even that sounds scary!

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  68. Congratulations! It's Panama CITY Beach, BTW. :) We just returned today from a week of vacation and the water was beautiful. Early November weather should be great with very low humidity. Good Luck!

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  69. Hi Beth! I found your blog on the X2Performance FB page. I'm also on their IM Florida team. Can't wait!

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  70. See you on the starting line! It's going to be a great race and you've still got plenty of time!

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