Last Minute Tinkering...

Four more days until Texas Road Rash, and I'm doing my last minute tinkering... First of all, I got a set of MPC Road War wheels - I was hoping to try out the new Bont Mayhem wheels, but they haven't arrived yet. I went with the Road Wars on a recommendation and I hope they are comparable to my beloved Street Fights.  Second - with all due respect to you bare-foot skaters out there - I simply cannot do it. My feet sweat too much... I don't get that 'toe grip' that you guys seem to rave about; my feet are too busy sliding around making some really disgusting squidgy noises. I can't deal with it... I ordered a set of ultra thin ezeefit booties and got a pair of hyper thin Drymax running socks. My boots have stretched enough that I think this combination will work as far as comfort, moisture wicking, and blister protection. I'll give this set-up a try tomorrow. (My last skate prior to Texas.)

I've been taking this taper week thing very seriously... In that I don't feel like doing anything at all... I worked out on Monday - elliptical/weights; but then yesterday I didn't feel like skating (I have been having some tendon discomfort in the backs of my knees that's kind of been nagging me) so I didn't do anything. Today I also did nothing. I plan on a short, intense skate tomorrow; then nothing Friday and Saturday... I know I've been over-training a bit and my body is letting me know it's okay to chill. I'll get back to the hardcore training next week. Still eating super clean and looking forward to some Texas BBQ!!

I'm also still trying to make Apostle work: I have a friend who is willing to make the drive from Minneapolis to Ashland, so I just gotta work airfare/hotel into the budget. I REALLY want to go, so I hope I can make it work. That would get me to 4 races this year... That would make me super happy!!!

My next blog should be a recap of road rash. Hope it's not literal! I am REALLY excited to meet more of my online inline skater friends - especially the Texas Flyers! A few of them (Tom & Chris in particular) mentored me a lot last year and I can't wait to finally meet them!!

Clearing out some head clutter...

I had a dream about the road rash the other night; I kept leaving the course to go do stuff - I went and ate some lunch, went shopping, went to the bathroom; it took me three hours to complete the race and I finished dead last. I obviously have some serious clutter in my head...

It's no secret that I am completely obsessed with skating. I can think of worse things to be obsessed with - at least my addiction has some really amazing side effects (like a thinner waist and endorphine highs) and it has given me a new level of confidence that has carried over into all other aspects of my life. I intend to skate until I can't skate anymore because it is the ONE thing in my life that I actually feel good at.

So lets get back to the clutter. I know that the road rash is the first race of the season and it's early in the season for most skaters, so I've been hearing that a lot of them treat it as a training skate. It was implied that I too, treat it as a training skate. Problem is, I feel like I've been training FOR this skate. I want to skate hard. I want to skate fast. I want to WIN. That doesn't feel like a training skate to me, it feels like a competition. Am I approaching it the wrong way? Or is it okay to want to go balls out and kick some ass?? I know I'm not at my peak yet; and I've got a long way to go to hit the goals I have for NSIM - but I am also not at the rusty, carrying 10 extra pounds of winter blubber beginning of the season either. I've already got over 300 miles under my belt for 2012. And a few of those were some pretty hard miles. I feel strong considering that it's only April. On the flip side of that is the ever present whisper of doubt. When I'm skating with my friends at Wash Park and I feel super winded while they seem fine; I feel doubt. When I'm clipping along at what I think is a reasonable pace then look at my GPS to see that I've 'only' gone 14 miles and I'm already almost an hour out; I feel doubt. When my feet don't do what I want them to do because I'm still learning how to skate on the Bonts; I feel doubt. It can be a struggle at times to ignore the doubt and focus on feeling confident.

I know overall I am probably at a disadvantage. I don't have a skate coach. I'm not part of a team. I don't do drills, or go to practice; I don't time my intervals, and I don't have a skate-specific workout regime. I'm a trail skater. I skate when the weather lets me. I sometimes skate sloppy. I bob my shoulders. I toe push. I cry when the wind is gusting in my face. But I also love skating, love being outside, and love going fast. I feel like I have something to prove - I want to get out there and show everyone exactly what this sloppy trail skater is capable of!

2 More Weeks until the Texas Road Rash!

Wow, Texas is coming up quick!! I'm feeling pretty good about my progress, so I think I'll do okay!! This week was almost a wash, we had snow earlier in the week; I didn't get to skate until Thursday, but I got a chance to skate with a couple of speed skaters out at Wash Park. That was a LOT of fun!!! I worked on some drafting (I am still not comfortable being RIGHT up against the person in front of me) - and got a critique of my form/technique (except for some bobbing of my shoulders and needing to use my hips more, everything is looking solid!!!) Got some pointers for some hip abductor moves to work into my weight routine and generally felt pretty good about everything. It's always so much fun to skate with those guys too. Although I prefer to skate solo (I think of skating as my 'me' time) I really do enjoy skating with other skaters. Especially speed skaters. Especially when we're tearing around the course passing everyone.... Sweeeet.

I had my husband spot heat mold some areas on my skates; I think he got the part on the skates that were pressing down on my bunions/big toes (especially on the right foot) to ease up a bit because I was pretty comfortable today. I did not experience any pain/pressure in those areas today. That made me really happy because that was starting to bother me quite a bit! The balls of my feet got a little tingly, but nothing like it had been. I skated 28 miles yesterday, and 22 today. I think I may have them stretched enough to start wearing socks too... I was kinda grossed out today by the sound my foot made each time I pushed off... *squeeesh* -- ugh... I hope I can get the socks to work...

My only question now is what training should I be doing the week prior to the race? I'm on a pretty hard core workout routine right now, so I am not sure if I should scale it back or keep doing what I'm doing, and maybe scale it back 2-3 days before the race? I put it out on the skatelog forum so hopefully I'll get some advice that applies.

Inline Warehouse shipped out my skinsuit, I'll have it in plenty of time to represent them at Road Rash. I'm pretty stoked about that!!! I feel proud to be wearing their logo and surprised that they asked me to. I think it's more my personality rather than my skating ability but hey - sell what you got, right? I am by nature a networking fool and I love being a part of the skater network.

This is by far and away one of the most exciting periods in my life! I know I'm a late bloomer - here I am at 41 - in the best shape of my life and gearing up for an intense year of competition. These are really awesome times indeed...

There's No Love Like Wheel Love

My MPC Street Fights are like a loyal lover, waiting patiently for me to sow my wild wheelie oats and return to them. They know that I love them, they are just waiting for me to realize it... And so I have.

I have tried a few different types of wheels, including the Bont HRR's. I honestly thought that they would win my heart. But they didn't. I skated a few times on them and did not feel the spark. The street fights are smooth and fast - and neon green. What's not to love?? I put them back on this morning, and knocked out 32.83 glorious miles... They are my absolute favorite wheels, so why keep looking?

My skate today was fantastic; I had a south westerly wind, so I knew it would be in my face on the way home - but I didn't care. I needed to get a distance skate under my belt. My original plan was 28 but when I hit that bridge, I just could not get myself to turn around. Not when downtown was sooo close... When I got to confluence park, I took off my skates for a few minutes. The balls of my feet weren't bothering me too much but I figured it couldn't hurt to give my feet some air and a good stretch. I was right about the wind, but I just didn't care. I have a 'summertime' playlist on my iPod that has about 400 songs on it - spanning from 1979 to 1989. I had that on random so my mind was very busy playing road trip through the past. I ignored the wind and the swarms of mosquitoes and just enjoyed myself.

My feet and calves were good until about the last 1.5 miles; and even then it wasn't too bad. Just a little burning in the balls of my feet. I think I might know what is causing it; my boots are pressing down on my big toes - to the point of wearing through the nails. I also have some hot spots on the sides of them (where my ginormous bunions are.) So I'm going to use a heat gun to spot mold that area and the area above my left inner ankle bone (I have a constant bruise there - no blisters or anything.) The spots on my heels haven't been an issue in a while so I must have corrected whatever was tearing them up.

I feel really great today! I've been eating really clean, and working out consistently: weight training and cardio. Next week is an active recovery week (no weights) and I'm looking forward to some variation. (Yoga, swimming; stuff like that.) If I can keep this up, I should be pretty lean and mean by Duluth...

So far I'm at 225 miles skated for the year; my best marathon time so far  is 1:44, half marathon is 48:38. I think that's pretty darn good for only being 3 months into the year... I don't have high expectations of myself for Texas - I hope to complete the marathon in 1:45 or less. I have 21 more days left to get ready for it!!!

Blow by Blow of a Tuesday Skate



Yes, the pun is intended. It's March, and it's windy every time I go out. I've decided to name the wind Olga. I visualize her as a huge Russian weight lifter who intends to whip me into shape, no matter how much it hurts. She shows no mercy. She ignores my anger and my frustration; and only howls louder when I feel like giving up. She relentlessly makes me work for every mile. I hate her when she's screaming in my face, but love her when she's got my back.

I did not feel like skating yesterday. I was tired and cranky. All I wanted to do after work was go home, put on some comfy sweats, grab some junk food; and watch a movie. (I was thinking 'Aliens'.) But - it was Tuesday, and as long as it's not raining, snowing, gale force winds or colder than 45 degrees; I skate on Tuesday. The weather was nice enough, upper 60's, a little overcast, and according to the weather dude - 'breezy'.

Parked my car, suited up (reluctantly - I'm still contemplating going back home to watch Aliens) - and hit the trail... Ooooh yeah. WIND. WIND WIND WIND. Right in my face. Olga was not going to let me sneak in a nice, easy skate - she was going to make me work for it. I wanted to get 10-15 miles but every time my GPS let me know a mile had passed, I resisted the urge to turn around... Below is a summary of my experience:

"I hate this! I hate my skates. I hate this season. I hate the wind. I am not having fun. I HATE THIS"

*swarm of gnats*

"I wish gnats had different flavors. Like Nerds"

*pass a bike*

"Sweet! I passed a bike!" *Granted, the rider was like a hundred and going about 2 mph... Grumble grumble*

*come up on a swarm of Grackles who circle my head angrily* - duck and skate through them.

"That was weird..."

Get passed by a pack of bikes who didn't even bother to give me a heads up - "On Your Left, you idiots!" I yell. They can't hear me though, because of the

*WIND WIND WIND WIND WIIIIIIIIIND*

"OMFG I hate this wind! I hate this day! If I were at home watching Aliens, I'd be at the part where Hudson whines 'game over man, game over!'...."

Pass two inline skaters. Happy to see more skaters, sad to see that their form is crap: but also feel envy because of their big, comfy cushy skates....
-- I swear at some point a jogger passed me ---- 

*another giant swarm of gnats*--

I can make it to the bridge. That puts me at about 11 miles round trip... I can make it... *come around the corner and see The Bridge*... Feel a tug of relief, my ride is half over.

Cross the bridge - Olga is now at my back. On the other side of the river is a brand new section of trail. It's wide, it's smooth, and it's pretty flat. I suddenly feel a burst of energy, I crank it up, I get low - and I feel like I'm flying. Now, I don't care about the stupid wind, or the pain in my feet and legs, or the fact that I'm tired and whiny. I get a huge smile on my face - big mistake *swarm of gnats* (I seriously wish they were fruit flavored.)

The ride back was awesome. There was a goose laying in the middle of the trail; I passed her so fast that she didn't even react. (Either that or she was laying an egg - I couldn't really tell...) I passed more bikes, and the bikes who passed me had to work for it, and they let me know it.

"Awesome skating" says one dude.

"Great Cadence!" says another dude

"I've been trying to catch you for a mile!!" says yet another.

And then there were a couple who never caught up to me... I wonder what they were thinking...

End of ride, check my GPS. I tracked 11.45 miles in 48 mins/32 seconds. My mph average was 14.2, I felt pretty happy with that.

I wanted to high five Olga. She's like that personal trainer you hate but can't stop going back to. Eventually she won't be a factor, but I'm hoping that skating in the wind is making me stronger... (Feels like it's doing SOMETHING because nothing wears me out faster!!) I can't wait until she's gone though - because when there is no wind, I am definitely faster... (and Fast = Fun...)

Tomorrow is Thursday... and as long as it's not raining, snowing, gale force winds or colder than 45 degrees; I skate on Thursdays... (Here we go again...)

Trial and Error [Mostly Error]

The weather has been semi-cooperative lately, so I managed to skate 62.77 miles last week (putting me at about 162 for the year so far.) They have not all been happy miles. In fact, most of them have been agonizing. My brain is having a really hard time with this - skating is usually something fun, and chill, and playful. My brain likes playtime. The pain part is new, and my brain does not like it one bit!

After my painful skate on Friday night, (I deduced that I had my skates laced too tight. Took about 2 hours for feeling to fully return to my feet.) I tweaked my frames out a little, put on some new wheels (I got a set of the Bont HRR 100mm wheels - light blue) with a new set of bearings; I laced them a little looser, and set out to try to get at LEAST 25 miles under my belt. The first 24 miles were fine. I had the wind in my face on the way out, but it wasn't gusty so I didn't mind it. I turned around just before hitting the 15 mile point and started back. I felt really great - aside from the usual weird muscle awareness in muscles I was previously not aware of. (Like that weird fish fillet one on the side of the calf.)

With about 5 miles left to go, suddenly the balls of my feet felt like they were on fire. It about took my breath away. I leaned back - yes, I do hear you guys in my head, telling me things like 'don't toe push, lean back on your heels, push with your heels, bend your knees,' and so on and so forth. It's like I have a head full of coaches but I can't really SEE if I'm actually doing these things!! Leaning back relieved the pain a bit - but it remained with me until I pried my sweaty boots off and stuck my feet in ice. (I'll skate with my buddy James here soon so he can actually see if my feet are doing what my brain thinks they're doing...)

Overall though, I felt a sense of triump. I skated almost 30 miles with minimal discomfort (until the end.) This to me is progress - because I am going further and further before the foot pain starts. I keep reminding myself that this is JUST the beginning of the season, I have plenty of time to learn and grow. I am also completely over any lingering fear from my fall - so no more extreme hesitation when I cross bridges or come upon unfamiliar obstacles in the trail.

And I'll tell you what, those stretches of trail where I can get myself to go all out and fly as fast as I can are what make all of this worth it. For a few precious moments I forget about how much my feet hurt, or how much that weird fish fillet muscle is screaming, or how tight my left hamstring is; or the fact that I have gnats plastered to every sweaty exposed piece of flesh. For a few precious moments I am no longer earth bound. And I live for those moments.

In Full On Training Mode!

I love this picture. I don't know how many times during a workout I've felt like I was going to barf, pass out, or DIE. But I didn't. And I kept going. Like Tuesday for example. It was too cold to skate so I half-heartedly headed to the gym for a boring treadmill workout. I wasn't into it at all. I told myself I would do 'at least' 15 minutes. I tried to run but only made it about half a mile so decided to walk... Then I kicked it on random to at least give me some hills to trudge up... When I hit 15 minutes, I decided I could go another 5 minutes... At 20 minutes I figured what the hell - lets go to 30... At 30 minutes I figured I could manage another 15... and at 45 minutes I suddenly felt the urge to run; so I ran for 15 more minutes. And that is how a 15 minute workout turned into an hour. And I felt worlds better at the end of it.

I am happy to report that I have finally found my groove. My winter blues are GONE and I am fully into my routine. (Hallelujah, I was beginning to worry!) The week after my crash I took it easy; but I did some form of cardio every single day. Then I started hitting the weights. 3 days a week - Mon/Wed/Fri: those are my weight training days, no matter what. We have a decent gym here at work, so I go workout for an hour, and if the weather is nice I skate after work too! (I just make sure to pack enough food to support that much activity.) I call those days 'twofers' and I did one yesterday.

My workouts usually start w/ 20-30 minutes of running on the treadmill. (I used to just do a 5 minute treadmill warm up.) Afterwards it's 25-30 minutes of weights. I try to skate Tue/Thur/Sat and/or Sun; but like I said, if the weather dictates I skate on a weight day; then I just do a twofer. The ideal is to skate 3-4 times a week but it's springtime in the rockies - which means unpredictable weather and lots and lots of wind... I'm really trying to change my relationship to the wind - to view it as a training tool but I really, really hate it. I can't tell you how many times I've found myself skating full on into 25 mph wind with tears streaming down my face and swear words streaming out of my mouth because I feel like I'm not even moving!! But I know in the end it will make me a stronger skater.

I've been out skating about 5 times since my crash, and the trepidation has passed! I am not feeling anxiety or fear anymore when I go out. This is a HUGE relief - there is no room for fear in speed skating. (A healthy dose of vigilance perhaps; but not fear.) I made a deal with myself to do 2 weeks of 'short' skate outings (15 miles or less; preferably less) building up to the longer outings. I am hoping to get a nice 25 + mile skate in this weekend. The Texas Road Rash is exactly ONE MONTH from today, and I still have a lot of work to do. I am still set to skate that one in the pro master's division so I need to make sure I at least show up for it!!!

I'm doing pretty good with nutrition - and that's usually the hardest part of it for me! But I have a good meal plan that works with what I do every day, and I always make sure to provide my body with recovery fluids after a workout. (It really does make a difference as far as muscle soreness.) I do not fear food and I know on days when I'm doing a twofer that I'm going to blast through some serious calories, so it's okay to add a couple more snacks and an extra carb in there. Food = fuel. Need it to succeed.

So that's where I am right now. Prepping for my first race and absolutely stoked for the 2012 skate season!