Ready for Madison

I have literally been off and on packing for two whole days and printing guides, nutrition plan, emails to friends at where we will be. I even started putting together my special needs bags in April. While riding on my long rides I would think of something else I might like...electrical tape, zip ties, bio freeze, rain poncho, pepto, advil, lip balm - you name it, I have it in my special needs bag, especially the bike one.

I have my car loaded with my bike, a box of t-shirts, hats and clappers for fans, a box of food, a bag of nutrition and drinks, my tri bag with swim stuff in it, a small cooler to bring some food to Lynn and Gregs for the non IM people, a suitcase with clothes/shoes for IM (rain, hot, cold) and my planned on outfits, a duffel bag of a few clothes for the weekend, my foam roller, basketball, red soft ball. Hopefully there will be room for Olaf! Lynn and Greg's eyes will pop out when they see all the gear I have with. : ) Watch out, I'm moving in!

My nerves are better today. Erin sent me a nice email telling me "I can handle this". I will keep saying that in my head because really, anything that the day brings I have been been through before. I have been kicked, pulled under, put in the sleeper hold, freaked out in the water; had flat tires, rode in driving cold rain, windy terrible days, hot days; ran a marathon with strep throat, in driving rain, on the hottest day ever. Even if this is the worst conditions ever I have handled it and I can get through this. Thanks Erin!

Who I will be Sharing the Course With?

Yes - I'm convinced that these people are a bit crazy. Here are some of the occupations of the people participating this year. I wasn't as creative. I just put IT.


Animal Lovers
HOUSE-CAT TAMER
DOG SWIM INSTRUCTOR
DONKEY HERDER
COMPETITIVE DOG PADDLE INSTRUCTOR
MOUSE TAMER
GOAT ROPER
PROFESSIONAL CAT HERDER
SNAKE CHARMER
COW TIPPER

Professionals
UNEMPLOYED MISCREANT
SKIRT CHASER
NUKE OPERATOR
REALITY SHOW HOPEFUL
JAKE OF ALL TRADES - he's named Jake
JACK OF SOME TRADES
CIRCUS TRAPEZE PEFORME
CUBICLE JOCKEY
SLUM LORD
MONKEY
AVID ADVENTURER
SOCIAL CAPITALIST
MONKEY DOCTOR
PLANET ALIGNER

Probably on Match.com
ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY
ROMANTIC
ALL AROUND NICE GUY

Drunks
GUINNESS CONNOISSEUR
BEER DRINKING UW ALUM
GUINNESS GUZZLER
PROFESSIONAL BEER TASTER
PROFESSIONAL CHEESE SPREADER


Celebrities
BRAD PITT'S WIFE
COOKIE MONSTER
PAPA SMURF
SUPERMAN
JESSE'S GIRL
BODY DOUBLE FOR THE ROCK
CHUCK NORRIS' STUNT DOUBLE
ADULT FILM STAR (RETIRED)
SHREK

Other...
YARD GNOME
SCHMOOPIE - not sure what that is
UNDERWATER FIREFIGHTER -he's probably a good swimmer?
CRACKHEAD
VAGRANT
UNDERWEAR MODEL
SPEED RACER
KEPT MAN
CHEESE CURD FRYER

This Sums it Up

"In an entire lifetime, there will not be many days like Sunday. Sunday is not the end, but the celebration of a journey, and a celebration of living life to its fullest. We will see plenty of family, friends, loved ones and thousands of strangers cheering us on. We are the lucky ones.
We get to experience this day, from our side of the white line. We get to find out what these wonderful machines we have been blessed with are really capable of. Most people never take advantage of an opportunity, to try to answer the question we are all curious about. What actually would happen, if we were brave enough to push the accelerator all the way to the floor? Everyone comes from the factory with numbers on the speedometer go that high, but should we dare? If we really tried, and pushed ourselves to the limit, what are we actually capable of? Some will make stupid comments like “I wouldn’t do that if a bear was chasing me”. To that we say to ourselves, “Really? You would just stand there and let it eat you? Without even taking a step? Not me!” Sunday will be like every other day, in that we don’t really know how it will end, or where it will take us. We have hopes and dreams, but not knowledge of its conclusion. What we do have, is the courage to get in the water for the start. We do not and will not do this in a reckless manner. We’ve all methodically prepared for this day for a very long time, and it’s been a long journey. It’s been hard on our bodies, our schedules, our families, and we lost a dear friend along the way. To have the gift of ability that we have, and not take full advantage of it, at least for one day, is to be disrespectful to the gift. Let’s enjoy our celebration of the gift."

Taper Time!

I had Thursday and Friday off from work to get in my last LONG training. I biked about 70 miles on Thursday. I was so excited to ride my 'normal' route for the last time. I like seeing the same routines in everyone's life when I bike. I always find a older man reading the newpaper in Headwater Parkway, his dog always barks at me and he waves, I go past Neal Hennings and the horses are getting fed on my way out, I bike past my the Kelly Land and Cattle Co. and it's quiet in the morning, head down to the Gateway Trail to use the porta-potty and cut across to Lake Elmo the long way. ERRR - today the Gateway Trail was closed with machinery all over and trees down. I was really bummed. I turned and headed north to Big Marine. I stopped at the Park Reserve and it has an awesome beach and went up to the little store in Big Marine and bought my final Snickers Ice Cream bar. I headed back home and it was back to the regular sights, now Neal was out riding, saw Dan the local farmer with his semi and giant haybales always making the turn at 170th Street, saw Don out cutting hay who thinks I bike to Milwaukee weekly. I got home and realized I won't be biking that route again for a long time. My next 'long' ride is only 30 miles and the it's the IM. I felt a little indifferent about the ride.

On Saturday I had a 13.1 mile run. It was a virtual half marathon - the Sprit of Columbus. I have never heard of a virtual half marathon, but you have to register for it and map out your run. The day of it you wear a Garmin or heart rate monitor. When you are done you upload your results and you are ranked. You are sent a finisher medal, shirt, etc. Kind of different but that is why I did it. I think this was the first virtual half marathon ever. I took it easy since I was wearing new shoes. I had only worn them 2 miles prior. It was a nice run but a little windy. I went south to Millers on Main and headed West on Main Street until I hit the 7 mile mark and turned around and headed home. My feet felt good when I was done - no blisters either. That is what I needed for a longer run to give me a confidence boost.

17 Days!

I just picked up my bike from Penn Cycle. They did a little tune up on it. I'll have to take it out tonight and see how it is. I put new tubes and tires on it on Sunday so I think I'm ready now for IM.

I haven't swam since Saturday. Sunday I thought that I was strong enough to pick up my huge honey extractor and put it on a wagon to rinse out. I did but that night my shoulder woke me up hurting. It's pretty sore so no swimming for me. I even thought I shouldn't be picking it up on my own and thought I should get Olaf to help just to be safe. At least I got in some really good long swims last week. I have Thursday and Friday off for more training. I have another 80 mile bike ride with a run and then a 13.1 mile virtual half marathon on Saturday. It should be nice and cool for my run. Fun fun. After this weekend it's all downhill till IM!!

DNF DLD

Olaf and I left on Friday about 2:00 to get to Dodgeville for Diaryland Dare. It was 280 miles one way. I rec'd my race packet on Friday night, we had dinner at Pizza Hut and went to bed early at the Super 8. I was up by 5:30 to get ready for my 100K ride. I had downgraded from my injuries. The first few hills going up my chain jammed. My pedals wouldn't move at all and I thought I was going down. Somehow I got unclipped in time. Someone stopped to help me with it. She said I should get grease at the first rest stop. She also asked if I was biking along and I said Yes. She said this is way too grueling to do alone. Great I thought. Everything else was going OK. The downhills were scary but I was just trusting that I wouldn't get a flat. Then I hit pea gravel. There's no way I'm biking down a hill on pea gravel or up a hill. I couldn't believe how much of it there was. About mile 13 I was going up a hill and a lot of people were walking. I thought I would bike as much as I can and get off. Well, getting off at 3 MPH going uphill is a little hard. I couldn't unclip in time and fell to my left. I was just bruised, but fine. I walked up the hill almost in tears. I just wanted this to end. I really wasn't having any fun at all. I biked a little more and hit more pea gravel. I saw a SAG wagon so I flagged it down and called Olaf. He met me at mile 20 rest stop. It was really hard to give up but I was afraid I would get seriously injured and it wasn't worth it to do this ride and risk it all so close to IM. That was my first and hopefully last DNF. Dairyland Dare is something I 100 percent don't want to ever attempt again.

We hit the road back home about 10:30 and took our time. We stopped at some Amish stores. We even stopped at a Amish house that had donuts for sale. We went inside their kitchen and bought a pie, bread and two donuts. They have really nice houses with of course nice woodwork. She had a cast iron oven almost in the middle of her kitchen. That was the highlight of our trip. We also stopped at a farmers market in Virquoa because we saw a bunch of buggies in the town square. We bought a utensil basket from some more Amish people.

Three Weeks Left of Hard Training

I had yesterday off to put in another 80 mile ride. It was supposed to have been 115 but I did 110 a few weeks back. I cut it short because of my achilles and right hip. I'm still trying to be nice and rest them. I also have Dairyland Dare on Saturday. I think I'm going to do the 60 mile ride. I still wish there was a 100 mile ride in there.

I can't believe I have about three weeks left until taper time. Time has gone so quickly during this training.