When I look back at the past week, I feel as though I need
to sit down and hang on to something sturdy. One week ago today, my parents and
I flew down to Colorado Springs to watch my brother, Ian, graduate from the Air
Force Academy. To say we felt “proud” is an incredible understatement,
especially when we thought of all the times we prayed for his success in the
face of difficult tests and physical measures. Heck, if he wasn't flying them, he was jumping out of
airplanes!
Over 1,000 graduates in this year's class. It was pretty overwhelming to watch them all march out onto the field. |
In the midst of all the pomp and circumstance that surrounded
Ian’s graduation, I couldn’t help but feel slightly uncomfortable with leaving
the predictable and structured life of Spokane I’ve come to adopt in the face
of an impending Ironman that now stands less than 20 days away. Leaving for
Colorado during the biggest weak of my training—my peak week—made me wonder if
the “balance” people have encouraged me to incorporate in my life was really
the best idea at this time. Yet being the pre-planner than I am, I managed to lie
out a 20-hour training week that included daily runs with my dad and multiple
trips to a nearby YMCA to use their pool and spin bikes.
A sampling of my mom's planning. Ever seen a training plan like this? |
Mom helped me by writing out an itinerary of the trip. She
broke up each day into 1-hour increments, filling in the details with regard to
when we needed to leave the hotel for certain activities on the base, when we’d
likely be back, when we needed to meet family and friends for dinner, and
(bless her) when holes in our schedule would allow for a quick hour of
training.
Dad and I ran early in the mornings before most of the crew
had even woken up; he drove me to the YMCA so I could fit in swims and time on
the spin bike later in the afternoons. If trying to juggle family time with
training wasn’t fatiguing enough, then training at 7400 feet of elevation certainly
left me gasping for air! I didn’t notice it as much during our runs, but I soon
realized more frequent breaks after shorter meter intervals in the pool would
be necessary.
Least to say, finishing what I set out to accomplish down in
Colorado felt incredibly rewarding. I did well balancing time with family and
friends, celebrating Ian’s graduation, and maintaining a consistent training
schedule with the help of my mom and dad. I may not have had enough time to
reap the benefits of training at altitude, but judging by the way my long
training days this past weekend went, I think mentally—if not physically—those
four training days made me stronger.
I arrived home Thursday afternoon and, upon returning home,
took my overly excited pup, Maci, for a much-appreciated run. We both enjoyed
the cool, crisp evening air and warm sunshine as we ran through the woods of
Riverside State Park. Friday morning, Bryan joined us for another run that
instead, was laced with early morning bird chatter and the fresh smells of morning
that only trees, flowering shrubs, and grass could create.
My greatest companion. She will go anywhere and do anything with me. She may run 18 miles through the rain, but she would much prefer to soak in the sunshine while laying on my lap. |
To round out my longest training week to date, Bryan and me
rode the Ironman CDA course on a mild, slightly overcast Saturday that left me
incredibly happy with the way my body performed and responded to the nutrition
plan I have come to adopt. Let’s just say I would be incredibly happy if race
day could feel as good as Saturday felt. I rode my new Quintana Roo Cdo.1 Race
bike; a fast, slick race horse that I’ve been getting to know for the past
three weeks. Thanks to Bryan’s help adjusting the rear derailleur, it shifted
and performed without a single hitch (as did I).
Finally, yesterday we drove out to run three loops of part
of the 24-hour mountain bike course. I still tell Bryan: if we’d only started
an hour earlier, we likely would have missed the extraordinary deluge that left
all three of us—Bryan, Maci, and me—completely soaked to the skin. Out of the
three of us, Maci looked the least bit happy. She couldn’t figure out why us
idiots would go out for another loop when the car sat in the parking lot,
offering refuge from the rain. Being the loyal pup that she is, though, she
trailed behind and worked hard to “enjoy” yet another romp through the woods.
Eighteen miles, a load of soaking, dirty, smelly, running
clothes later, we headed home to take warm showers (Maci included), eat a
filling meal of steak and eggs, peppers and onions, and potatoes before heading
out for one last training bout: four loops around Bear Lake.
We cajoled a fisherman to let us by his lines when he told
us swimming wasn’t allowed on his side of the lake. We slipped into water that
felt colder than last time. We busted out four loops around the lake even as
dark clouds threatened us from the north. After just over an hour, my 20-hour
week was finished.
When all is said and done, the “hay is in the barn.” I have
nothing left to give. What is shall be. Now, to finish my internship this week,
to graduate with my Doctorate degree the following week, and to feel fully recovered
the week after that. So THIS is the
life of an Ironman. Just give me a second...
More pictures from an eventful time down in Colorado. Again, I couldn't be more proud of everything Ian has accomplished.
Ian is left-most in the front row. |
Graduation day, marching out onto the field. |
Ian and Jessica Bower, his beautiful girlfriend. |
With Aunt Tamara and Uncle Bill. |
Family. |
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