Another Mentally Tough Workout.... But It WILL Pay off

 A Mental Workout is the Best Workout!

Today was my long workout.  I will be gone this weekend so had to move it to Wednesday.   I knew it was going to be hard so I posted it on Facebook hoping someone would want to join me.  Well, that didn't happen.  

This morning I woke up and had already decided to postpone my start time by 30 minutes.  Then my hubby asked if I would wait another hour so he could make a call while I answered the company phone.  I said yes right away.  That wasn't hard at all.    I mean it was a bit chilly, the wind was blowing and I had to climb 3900 ft or so in the first 13 miles of my ride.  I haven't done this particular ride in two years.

Well by 9 a.m. it was time.  Time for me to get on that bike and ride.  Mentally I didn't want to do it.  Physically, I knew I could do it and there was nothing (pains, aches, etc) stopping me.  So, off I went.

Me, myself and I.  My trusted shadow is always there

It was me, myself and I.  We ride together all the time.  I don't use an ipod or any type of music.  Why you may be asking?  Well, they are not allowed in an Ironman event so why train with one?  I need to train my mind to keep going for 140.6 miles and although there will be others around, I will be solo.   So, this is how I train. I really don't mind training alone except on long hard workouts.

2 miles into the ride hoping it would start warming up.

The long 7 mile climb that would lead to another long 6 mile climb

 
Boy it was windy and chilly.  I had 3 layers on but I didn't wear any warmers on my shoes for my toes.  I should have brought another vest, another set of gloves, another set of ear warmers, a cup of hot tea, well you get the idea.  Who would have thought that climbing from 3563 ft to almost 7,000 ft it would be cold.  Come on, the high today is 65???  And I AM climbing!  That should warm the body up.  I knew if I was cold climbing I was going to FREEZE going down.

This is at Mile High where I usually turn right.  Today it was left.  This climb is almost 7 miles with a 1683 ft elevation gain with the last 1/2 mile a gain of 466 ft.

I kept playing it out in my head.  I will get to Jackson Lake and turn around and finish on my trainer.  Once at Jackson Lake I said, "you are only 3 miles from Mountain High, just go!"

6,872 ft .. It was all downhill from here (or flat)

The good news was I made the climb 3563 ft to 6872 ft (13 miles) in 2 1/2 hours.  One half hour less than my project time of 3 hours.  Bad news was I was a popsicle.  I had no choice, either way I went to get home (back or forward) I was going to get colder.  It made more sense to go through Wrightwood.  At least there were businesses I could stop in to thaw out.  So I said, "just get to the Grizzly Cafe and get some tea and soup."   But, once I went by, I made another goal to Mountain Top Cafe, then another goal to Rick's Cafe.  I kept thinking that once I hit the desert and dropped past 4,000 ft it would get warmer.   Well it did but not much.  It wasn't until I arrived at the aqueduct for the last 7 miles that it warmed up.  Nice and flat with the wind at my back.  I flew home.

I got to my car at 3:30.  My plan called for 3:45.  So, I went up my road again for 15 minutes which added 2 1/2 more miles and brought me to 39 miles instead of 36.30 miles. 

Coming down for the last mile! 

A pretty view of the desert after being in the Forest and Mountains

I felt great and was able to do my quick transition into a slow 15 minute walk/run.

There is my best training buddy again. Thumbs up, we did it!

 So, today was a Mentally challenging training day.  I had to remind myself I have no control of race day weather.  I reminded myself of how cold it was in Boise Half Ironman where people where getting hypothermia before the race even started, and people kept their wetsuits on for the bike ride to stay warm.  I thought of all the Ironmans who raced in Tahoe in frigid cold temps and winds.  I prayed a lot, mediated with my pedal strokes and thank God I was able to do this! 

I will be an Ironman!!!!  I can do this!!