Week Thirty-Four

So, I was wrong last week. I thought that the triple brick workout was the point at which taper began. My coach corrected me, and in fact, taper starts this upcoming week. So this past week, while not my hardest workouts, was definitely not part of the taper phase.

The weekdays of this week were pretty much par for the course. I did my 60 minute run on Friday at Fall Creek with my dog Saphira. She made it very entertaining, playing hide and seek behind the trees and popping out onto the trail when I'd least expect her. I did feel really tired during this run, and I didn't realize why until I woke up the next morning.

I didn't have enough warning that this was coming: I woke up at 6:30 on Saturday morning with a cold. It's not a big cold, but enough to make you feel crummy: headache, sore throat, and a little fever. I decided that since I was going to ride on my own anyway that I should sleep in for as long as I could before heading out to ride. I slept until 9:30, twelve hours after I had gone to bed. I must have really needed it! I didn't feel that much better when I got up, but I didn't want to miss the ride because it was my last chance to get in a long ride before the race.

I left the house and the ride started an immediate climb up Empire Grade Rd. I liked the climb: it wasn't too steep, but it was fairly long. I was quickly alternating between way too hot and way too cold, which I think was probably more from the fever than anything else. At the top, I turned right on Felton Empire. The was the only road I was nervous about because there are no bike lanes, and cars whip around the corner very fast. I was lucky, though, because a very patient car followed behind me without trying to pass, keeping me protected all the way down. I turned left on Highway 9 and rode through Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Boulder Creek. I turned left on Big Basin Hwy, which I'd never been on before.

Big Basin Hwy was the best part of the ride. It goes right through Big Basin State Park, and there are huge redwood trees that come right up to the road on either side. It was also really shady, which wasn't good on this day, but I thought would be great for a hot day in the future. Once I passed the main gates for the state park, the road climbed for quite some time. It was one of those climbs where you get to the top, and it dips back down only to make you get back up there again (3 or 4 times). It comes back to Hwy 9, which I took to Bear Creek Rd.

Bear Creek Rd. was also a pretty big climb. I was feeling really wiped out by this point, and took it very slowly. When I got to the top (35), I knew I was almost there. According to my bike computer, I had about 10 miles left to go, and I had just enough water and perpetuem to get me through. But, somehow, mapmyride.com was wrong, and my ride wasn't 70 miles, but almost 85. I ran out of water before I got back (and couldn't find a place to refill until I was just a few miles from my home), and was definitely hitting the wall because of dehydration (and probably from low calorie intake as well).

When I got home, I pretty much just collapsed on the floor. I didn't do the 30 minute run I was supposed to do afterwards; I could barely even walk into the kitchen to get my recovery food. I was really feeling sick, and the last 15 miles without calories or water just really hit me hard.

I drank about 4 glasses of water plus my recovery drink, had 2 tamales, and crawled into bed.

***

The next morning, I was scheduled to do my 4,000 yard open water swim and a 15 mile run. I woke up at 6:15 and took my temperature. 99.2. There was a voice in the back of my head telling me that an ocean swim with fever is a bad idea, but I had never yet swum 4,000 yards, and it was really important to me to get it in before taper. Since the rest of the team was swimming 3,000, I needed to start about 20 minutes earlier to get in my extra 1,000. I was very thankful for Bo who volunteered to swim with me, so that I didn't have to do an open water swim alone.

I expected the water to be not too cold, as it is now June, and the water has had some time to warm up. Not so. It was colder than the last time I swam in it. We started swimming, and I just couldn't warm up. I felt my body shaking even though I had my wetsuit on. Little things that normally take no effort, like straightening my arm in front of me, I just couldn't do. Every time I tried to lift my elbow out of the water, my arm just ached. To add insult to injury, there were also a lot of waves and a very strong current, so it felt like I just wasn't getting anywhere. Eventually, the team got in the water, too. I made it back to the first buoy after swimming about an hour (I circled the second and third buoys twice first). Coach Dan was there. When he asked if I was okay, all I could do was shake my head "no" because if I started talking I knew I'd just start crying. He convinced me to go back to shore, and he escorted me back.

To say that I was bummed to not get in my 4,000 would be a huge understatement. I later learned that the coaches told the team to not be in the water more than an hour because it was too cold, and it turns out that I did just that. But, still, that number 4,000 wouldn't clear my mind. Coach Dan said that I could probably swim my 4,000 next week in warmer water, and that lifted my spirits a bit.

The 15 mile run that followed the swim was actually much better than I had hoped. I ran with Christina D, Christina K, Afi, and Trista on the way out. On the way back, I stayed with Christina K and Trista, and Donna joined us as well. It was really nice to do a long run with teammates, because I had been doing so many solo trainings. We kept up an 11 minute mile pace for the 15 miles, and that was with a 4/1 run/walk interval. (Note: a bite of powerbar every 15 - 20 minutes worked really well for me.)

When we got back, Coach Mike said, "Now you start your taper!" I told him that technically, I wasn't starting my taper because I still had to swim 4,000 yards. Turns out, I'm not allowed to: I have to follow the taper calendar exactly, says Mike. He hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I'll listen. :-)

After the run, a bunch of us soaked in the freezing cold ocean for 10 minutes to speed up our recovery, then I was given a surprise: The team planned a surprise send-off party for me. Christina D. had made me think that she and I were going to do something after the workout to make sure I was available. Sneaky! We had a BBQ at Afi's beautiful home in Aptos. My mentor Donna said some very kind words, and it was just great to hang out with everyone. I'm really appreciative of being a part of this group that is so supportive of others - it's awesome!

So, now I'm at home, and my fever is 99.6. I don't feel that great, but I'll definitely be going to bed happy. Happy from being given that great surprise send-off, from being on a team filled with awesome people, and from BEING DONE WITH RACE PHASE!!!!!!!!

THIS WEEK'S SUMMARY
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 90 minute spin, 30 minute run
Wednesday: Swim 3200. We were supposed to swim 3500, but the pool guy kicked us out before we finished the workout.
Thursday: 90 minute spin. Got home too late to bike outside.
Friday: 60 minute run
Saturday: Bike 85 miles
Sunday: Swim (2000, if that?) Run 15

BODY CHECK: Well I'm just sick and tired, really. My left hip didn't hurt too bad at all, thanks to Trevor at Midline Massage. I'm sore in a lot of places, but not injured.

NUTRITIONAL NOTE: I think I like powerbars during the run. I think I'd like to use that until my stomach says no more, and then switch to gels.