I’ve written 3 blogs in the last few months – in my mind. Unfortunately none have made it from there to the page. I need to clear these topics from my mental “to do” list before I can write the blog about my time in Sedona, which is currently in gestation phase.
Here are the 3 topics I will address quickly and efficiently (in case you are bored by one of them, you can simply move to the next); 1. My decision to pull out of IM New York at mile 16; 2. My observations at Ironman Canada; and 3. My gluten intolerance and how it changed everything.
Blog 1: Ironman New York Race Report
My goal this year was to race at the World Championships in Kona and in July/early August I still needed more points so I planned a 3-week trip that included Calgary 70.3, 10 days in Ontario at my Dad’s and Ironman New York. At the time I was 26th in the pro ranking and thus expected to be leading the fight for the final 5 spots. Five days before Ironman NY, I got the news that someone had turned down her spot and I was in. I was going to Kona.
A huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I was happy and relieved. But it left me in this weird situation in which I had traveled across the country, acclimatized, was tapered and ready for an Ironman race that I no longer needed to do. I contemplated simply changing my flights and coming home, but in the end, Clint and I decided that since I had 9 weeks in between New York and Kona it would be enough to rest and rebuild. So I went to New York.
Long story short, it turned out to be the hot, humid race that we expected and during the run I started to hear a nagging voice telling me that I should pull the plug. It was more an instinct than anything else. My heart wasn’t in it, I wasn’t doing very well and I didn’t want to destroy myself. I could have kept running, but I simply didn’t have the base fitness to have a great Ironman race. Before crossing the Washington Bridge to what I knew would be the hottest part of the course, I pulled the plug. I walked back down to the ferry and went back to my homestay.
The decision was really, really hard on me. At first I thought I had done the wrong thing. I wished I’d had support out there to help me problem solve. I wasn’t sure. But, it only took a couple days for me to come around, to know that listening to my instincts is always the right thing to do. Regardless of what happens in the rest of the season, I feel like I couldn’t have done more than that.
Blog 2: Observations from Ironman Canada
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| David McColm caught me searching for my athletes on the IMC run course! |
I have been working with Bob Palmer at Sportexcel for almost 2 years. Bob’s work revolves around a system that aims to get athletes into “the Zone” and keep them there, during races, training, and everyday life. I have really learned a lot from Bob. I would say that working with him has been life-changing in that I simply enjoy my life more.
I have tried to bring this experience to the athletes I coach as well. Not in a deliberate way, but just by making an effort to be in “the Zone” when I am around them so I can get the best out of them as well.
At Ironman Canada this year, I was biking around the run course looking for my girls and I was struck by how many people were absolutely NOT in the Zone. In fact, most people were in the antithesis to the Zone. They were in the anti-zone. They were complaining, making excuses, walking. Heads were hung low. Defeated already and still so much to go!
But not my girls… well, mostly ;) Michelle struggled a little, was in and out of her zone for sure, but definitely had some moments there. Her 30min-PB is testament to that. Julie was shining like a light compared to the others around her. She kept herself centered and focused and earned herself a PB by 47mins!! Tessa also kept her composure, stayed in her Zone and executed a great race and a new PB for her as well.
It truly is amazing what a little focus and a positive attitude can do for an athlete in an Ironman race. I was so proud that my girls didn’t get caught up in the carnage around them. I can remember saying to Tessa (who, believe me, was suffering as much as the next girl) that if she kept focused and strong she would overtake hundredsof people before the finish line (I knew this to be true, because I had seen the state of those hundreds!) I don’t think she believed me at first. She later told me that she stopped counting after 138.
Congrats to my Iron-girls.
Blog 3: How being gluten-free has changed everything.
Ok, so here’s the story. I’ve been working with a Naturopathic Doctor called Kim McQueen, mostly in an attempt to get myself leaner for the big race in Kona. We looked at my diet, she gave me some simple advice (reduce fats, eat quality carbs..), all good stuff. As an aside, she told me that since I feel bloated after eating pasta I likely have at least some minor sensitivity to gluten, and that maybe, until we can test things properly, I should consider going gluten free, just until Kona. No problem. I can do that. I was already half way there anyway.
Five days later, I was warming up with our morning swim group and I thought, ‘I’ve never felt so good during a warm up before!’ It seemed kinda odd since I had also been training harder, longer and more than I have in many years. I felt so good, that I spent the entire warm up wondering what it could be… what have I changed? And then I knew. Gluten. It’s the gluten.
I am not even exaggerating when I say that changing to a gluten free diet has effected everything. My energy levels have increased. I’ve lost weight. I don’t bonk as easily on long bike rides and am thus stronger after 4, 5, 6 hours than ever before. I look forward to every training session because I am simply not dragging my ass out the door like I used to. I am feeling stronger.
If this was someone else’s blog and I was reading it, I don’t think I would believe it. I am not a “magical potions” kind of person. I believe in working hard and chipping away at things and looking for change in the bigger picture, not expecting miracles etc etc… Even my work with Bob that I described as “life-changing” took a year to ingrain, and I still work at it! But this, this was like someone sprinkling fairy dust on me or finding a magic bean. And for my next trick I will fly with the pigs then climb my bean stalk to the clouds.
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