It Has Been Awhile... I ended 2014 with a BANG!! BOOM!!! BAMM!!!

2014 Season Ends with a Bang! Boom! Bamm!

Well it has been awhile.  Let me start with a brief review of what's happened since my last post.

September I did a Reverse Sprint and came in 5th in my age group.  I was super stoked and ready for my A Race at Silverman 70.3 Lake Mead.  I had trained all year for THIS RACE!  There was a lot of emotions going on.  I had to overcome my fear AGAIN! This time of swimming without a wetsuit (or at least I thought.)  Race day morning the water temp dropped for a wetsuit legal race.  Still not sure how that happened.  Swim was on target for me.   I was at mile 45 on the bike when I started vomiting, shaking and freezing.  Instead of pushing through, I stopped and had medics come.  I had over heated before at a race and never want to push my body to that limit of stroking or killing an organ just for a race.  So it was my 2nd DNF of the year and this one was my body versus heat.  Heat WON!

Now it was time to mentally get over this DNF.  Two weeks later I ran the Nike's Women Half Marathon in San Francisco.  I had a great run and would have PR'd if I didn't stop for that 10 minute potty line.  Official record says 2:52.  I will take that especially if you include all those dang hills in that city.  It wasn't flat like Surf City or Long Beach and my time was faster than those two races.  Yeah... this training is paying off.  Although I still wasn't together mentally.

Then it was off to Florida for 12 days.  I had a great time visiting family.  I ran or walked every morning, drank and ate like it was my new job, came back weighing more than when I left and still not out of the DNF funk.

I was home for four days and off to RV Camping at Pismo Beach.  I rode my bike everyday there and was starting to get my focus back, until I tried a bike/swim workout and realized my shoulder hates lots of movement and pressure.  The funk was back.

The "Funk" never stopped me but it didn't help.  Talk about the battle of the mind.  Visiting family, having my family here, having a wonderful husband, nothing was helping UNTIL this past weekend.  I have my euphoria of "I WILL BE AN IRONMAN back!"

Race day morning

Last race of the season.  I haven't swam since Silverman on October 4.  I've been traveling, visiting and thank goodness not overeating turkey.  My Coach has had me on an base training schedule doing 1 hour of something everyday and 3 bricks before this last race.  I was heading to LaQuinta for Hits Triathlon Olympic Distance.  I was bringing my cousin, Susie.  It was her first for camping, rving, and seeing a race plus volunteering with me.  (Not going to lie, it is fun to watch the reactions of people watching a triathlon for the first time).   I had talked to my coach and gave her my goals so I didn't feel any pressure at this race.  I knew I had the endurance and support to finish.  I didn't know how good my swim was going to be but Coach told me to practice form and technique (which is what I did).

Sunday morning I got to transition smiling, happy and trying to find my friends.  I got my hug from Jamie, John, Marilee, April, Theresa and her hubby.  I was ready.  Yes the water was cold and my first thought was... forget this, I already have brain freeze.  But, I knew I couldn't give up.  I had my cousin watching.  What kind of example would that be??  So, I lathered up with vasoline and got back in that water, peed and was ready.

With Jaymi, my rabbit

With Boog's Aunt April who I like to think I helped pushed her over the Tri Edge

A Beautiful Tough Chik Teammate and her hubby

Marilee... speedy and sweet

Our favorite time... in wetsuits

My swim was my "normal" time.  I finished in 36:29 and it was a long run to transition.  I quickly decided I didn't need any arm warmers or another shirt since I could feel the heat.  I was still a bit slower than normal in T1 but made it on the bike after 4:41.

Get me out of this thing...

I'm Swimming

The bike I just love.  Nothing better than feeling that wind and flying by yelling "Passing on your left."  It is such a high.  I finished my 25 mile bike in 1:21:52.  I did slow down for 1 mile to take in some fluids and fuel to prepare for that lovely run coming next.

My T2 was 2:16 after changing my shoes and getting my belt etc.  

Now off  for a glorious 6.2 mile run.   I have to say my runs have been getting better each and every day.  I know when I can keep a good pace and when I have to slow down.  I also stick with my 5 minute run/1 minute walk as well as always walking through the Aid stations.  My Coach put me on this plan in May and it is working well.    1:14:27 later I was crossing the finish line feeling strong and hearing the cheers.  

I finished Strong

A kiss and congrats from the Race Director, Mark Wilson..

1st place in Athena Division

Total time was 3:19:47.  A new PR for this flat OLY course and FIRST place!  Yes!!!

To top off the day, as I was packing up in Transition, there were Bighorn Sheep visiting us.  It truly was a great race day.

2014 was a GREAT Return for Bionic Barbie.  Every race/event I did I improved.  I ended up with first place for Grand Junction 70.3; Santa Barbara Long Course and Hits OLY.  I got 3rd place in my  Age Group at June Lake and a 2nd Place at LA Tri Series.  I have never had such a great year. 

I know that 2015 will be even better as I work my way toward my dream of hearing those words, "Barbara Weber You Are An Ironman!"  I get excited every time I think about it.  I'm even more honored and humbled to know so many family and friends are working out ways to be there to help me cross that finish line.  That means more to me than I will every be able to type!

My race schedule for 2015 is set.  If anyone wants to come join, train or camp with me(us) and keep Pat company, it is and always will be an open invitation.

January 2015 = Shadow Tour Century Ride - Ocitillo, CA  100 miles time trial with 5,000' climbing

February 1 = Surf City Half Marathon - Huntington Beach, CA
February 12-15 = 100 miler through Death Valley, CA
February 28 = Race on Base in Los Alamitos, CA

March 7 = Bayshore 70.3 Triathlon (Long Beach)
March 14 = Solvang Century Ride

April 11 = Hits Napa Valley 70.3

May 9 = LA Tri Series at Bonelli

June 28 - Ironman Couer d'alene, Idaho... AHHHH

December 6 = OLY Hits Triathlon

I have others I want to do but need to get through June before I commit. I just couldn't pass up the great deal HITS offered so close to home.

I want to give a special thank you to Coach Kandi from Train-n-Tri.  Coach, you are so amazing and wonderful.  I can never express how much it means to me to get that text or email or both the night before every race/event and after every race/event.  I enjoy all our training days and talks we have about anything and everything.  I love the stalking on Facebook  and next thing I know, there is a message on my phone.  I love that you care so much and tell me NO when I need to hear it!  I love the faith you have in me.  I love that we not only have a Coach/Athlete relationship but a friendship that means so much to me.  Thanks for opening doors for me, for working around my traveling and family schedules and for making sure I didn't over train.  I finished my first year back without any new injuries and worse injuries.  I'm a tough one with all my aches, pains and you did it!  We did it!  I can't wait for 2015.

And a Big Thank you to my Husband, Pat.  My support, my rock, my biggest fan, my foundation!  Without you, I would not be doing this.  You have and always will be my light and love.  Thanks for driving me around, setting up camp, getting people to cheer for me, having Ginger ale at the finish line and helping to make this Ironman dream come true.  I love you to the moon and back 1000+ times.

To everyone else.. thanks for all your support in 2014.  Thank you even more for your encouragement and support in 2015.  You have know idea how much it means to me to have you there in spirit, body and mind.  Loves and Hugs.

Thanks to my sponsors.. SwirlGear, Tough Chik Team, Energy Bits and Ryno Power.  I not only looked good (most of the time) but I had energy and power... :)

Cheers to 2015.. Keep Moving, Living, Loving and Triing!!