Finish What You Start

Aloha!

Sometimes, no correct that, MOST of the time, life just doesn't go as planned. This reminds me of a joke I once heard. Wanna make God laugh? Tell him/her your plans!

I first have to laugh about this blog. With good intentions I planned to write a new post about every five to seven days. However, once I hit the road I ran into serious road blocks. Not to bore you with the details, but since my Ipad is an older version and does not support Blogger, I was reduced to composing a new entry on my iphone. My eyes are not that good, so that idea went out the proverbial window.

So, now it is time to play catch up.

My month-long six state Aquatic Edge clinic tour started with food poisoning! Actually, I got sick here in Kona, most likely from eating a medium rare hamburger. I was so sick for two days that I had to change my ticket and arrived just two days before I planned to run the Santa Rosa half marathon.  The last time I ran a race of this distance was 14 years ago when I did the inaugural Silver Strand half marathon in San Diego. I wanted to run one again and this worked out perfectly for my schedule.

I only had six weeks to train and I knew that I didn't have the expertise to come up with a training program to prepare me for this event. So I did something that many people might find unusual. I hired my ex-husband Eric Neilsen of "Train Smart Race Fast" to coach me! Eric is an exceptional coach whether it be for swimming, running or triathlon, so I knew I would be in capable hands. I also knew he would not overtrain me as I had been doing only minimal running averaging about three runs a week for about 15 miles total. I contacted Eric in Fort Collins, Colorado and pretty soon a workout program for the next two weeks was set up on Training Peaks. I was on my way...and so was a check to Eric.

Since I had just competed in an Olympic distance triathlon in Hilo (placing 2nd woman overall), the first week of training was mostly recovery. I cruised through the workouts and thought to myself...piece of cake. However, in the next few weeks the mileage bumped up to 25 miles per week and so did the intensity. My TEMPO pace was about 7:20 per mile and darned if I couldn't even get close to that. Maybe 7:40 miles on a good day...with rest! Okay, yeah Kona is hot, and humid, and the sun can be unforgiving. However, I was feeling like a failure and mad at myself for not hitting my paces. Of course, I also wanted to please my coach...even if he was my EX-HUSBAND. You might surmise by this post that Eric and I had an amicable split (in 2009) and you would be right. To this day I still have the utmost respect for him both as a person and as a coach. I would not be the athlete I am today if it were not for Eric.

Even though I was frustrated, I kept trying my hardest at every workout and was left feeling completely wrung out and humbled after each one. My ego was taking a beating. I often thought that perhaps I should just go back to the comfort zone of the pool and do what I know best, but my heart kept whispering...just show up and try. That is all you can do.

After some oh-so-important coach/athlete feedback, Eric also modified my workouts and we shifted from mile tempo paces to half-miles. That helped. He would also remind me that running in Northern Cal was going to be a lot cooler making it easier to run fast. I trusted his guidance and hoped for the best.

First and second place for Mana 10-mile run. Sylvia is amazing!

I did have some encouraging results two weeks prior to the half marathon. I was the second woman overall in Mana Road 10-mile race up in Waimea. On a crystal clear day with stunning Mauna Kea looking over us, we started at an elevation of 3,000 feet and chugged up about up to about 1,000 feet on a mostly dirt road for five miles, then hauled ass down! My time was 1:18 with an average of 7:50. I also finished a mere 11 seconds behind ultra-athlete Sylvia Ravaglia. I was happy with second place, my time and my effort. It was a real confidence booster.

Then I got an ear infection and couldn't swim. Five days later I came down with food poisoning. My "plan" was falling apart.

On Friday, just two days before the race, I landed in Sacramento groggy from lack of sleep on the overnight flight. I immediately drove to Menlo Park where I hosted a really fun Faster Freestyle clinic with Tim Sheeper from Menlo Masters. Tim is an Ultra-man, an Ironman and one amazing coach. I have had the pleasure of doing at least seven clinics with him over the past six years...I am grateful that an accomplished coach like Tim keeps asking me back. After the clinic I was bone tired but also wired from the energy of the group so I drove to Santa Rosa and did not get to bed well until after 1 AM. One long day.

Menlo Masters jump for joy with a Faster Freestyle!

The next day I woke up and instead of running, I felt like I wanted to swim. So I did! I felt better after getting wet, but I was really bummed about my "taper." No running, no time to acclimate to a three hour time change, dehydrated and with no appetite...but what could I do? Doubt and uncertainty set in. I really wanted to run a good race and now the odds were stacked against it. I seriously thought about not even showing up. After all...I WANTED TO REACH MY GOAL. Then I realized WTF??? It's just a stupid race...one of many in my lifetime. No biggie. Besides, if I don't show up I will never know what COULD have happened.

On Sunday morning I pushed FEAR of "failure" out of my thoughts and just ran. And guess what? I had a GREAT race. I stuck to Eric's plan: an easy paced 3-miles at 7:45 or so, a steady 7-miles at race pace (7:15-7:20), and then a final 3-mile "if you feel good go for it, and pass some people while you are at it" pace. That is just what I did and the whole time I felt great...it was even easy! It seems that those hot, humid Kona runs paid off huge dividends in the cool 60-degree weather...just like Eric said.

3rd place!

Fourteen years ago at the age of 38 I ran a 1:36. In Santa Rosa at the age of 52 I placed third in my age group and ran a 1:38. I also made a new friend! I met JJ Liston from Los Gatos right before the start of the race and immediately had a feeling that he was an "angel" sent to help me. I was right! We ran together for the first 5-miles chatting the whole time, then he took off to follow his own race plan. We reunited just before the finish line, crossed together and then spent the rest of the day talking like we had known each other for years. I would not have had the race I did if it were not for JJ!

JJ and I post race and post pancakes. Yum!

While I am really pleased with my time, I am even more pleased with MYSELF. I stepped outside my comfort zone and did not let fear hold me back from having one of the best experiences of my life. Like Nike says...sometimes you just have to DO IT.

Hawaii...I love you.

Aloha from Kona!

In just three short days I will hop on my American Airlines "commuter" flight 246 and head to the mainland to begin an Aquatic Edge clinic tour. My travels will take me from San Francisco, through Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe, Fallon, Salt Lake City and on up through the Tetons and Yellowstone with a final destination of Bozeman, Montana. It is a one-way, month long road trip with 14 clinics scheduled and a lot of driving. Interspersed with my "work" I do plan to spend plenty of time sightseeing, running, hiking, swimming and exploring as well as to spend time with good friends like Maggie Schwindt Roepke, Merry Finch, Lo Knapp and my little sister Kerri Pipes Evans.

While I love to travel and am super excited for the experience that lies ahead, there is also some sadness. I love this island. I love the people here. I love the diversity of the land. I love the ENERGY I feel. I love this life that I am blessed to live. I love HAWAII.

I know...who could NOT love Hawaii? Well, over the years there have been plenty of people that have moved here only to leave. Maybe it was too expensive...and sure, it can be. Just take a look at my $300 electric bill! (BTW we have no AC, use propane to cook and to dry clothes, and have solar water).

However, if you can do without the rat race, shopping malls, congested freeways, and inexpensive milk (can be $8 a gallon here) and you like to experience mother nature and a real sense of community, then THIS is what the Big Island of Hawaii is all about...and it is absolutely FREE.

How about a hike in the rain forest or across a lava field? Or, perhaps a swim in our crystal clear ocean with tropical fish and a good friend sounds like your idea of a good time (mine, too!). What about a free hula lesson on the grounds of a royal palace, hanging out at the pier meeting up with your like-minded friends, or just simply sitting at the beach at the end of the day watching the sun set into the ocean? I am in for ALL of that...and more!

If you are a swimmer/runner/triathlete/whatever and like to race, we are blessed that Sean "PEAMAN" Pagett volunteers his time and energy and to date has hosted over 300+ no-cost biathlons (swim/run) geared for everyone regardless of age or fitness level. The only rule? Just show up and have fun. Keep in mind that these events can also be pretty competitive as you just never know when an Ironman world champion will show up. The point is that every single one of these activities is FREE and costs NOTHING, yet for people like me, these are priceless. 

I think that one of the reasons that people leave Hawaii is that they don't feel IT. What is this IT I refer to? Hard to explain, but our island is ALIVE and growing everyday. The volcano is erupting and has been since 1983 making it the longest continuous eruption ever recorded. So what does that mean? That the goddess of volcano's, Madame Pele, is giving birth. Yup...we live on a pregnant island! As Madame Pele expands our land mass she also creates palatable healing, maternal and nurturing energy that if you tune in into it, you REALLY can feel it. IT is in your heart, in your breath, in your soul and reaches way deep down inside of you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. IT speaks the truth and whispers encouragingly for you to follow your dreams...where ever they may lead.

In Hawaii, IT is everywhere... in the land, in the water, in the air...but mostly IT is in the hearts of the people that love it here...like I do. Locals or visitors...if you get IT, you feel it and you know it. What a gift!

Some call it aloha, some call it love, I just call it home. And no matter where I travel in the world this AMAZING feeling resides in my heart as big as life itself. I am grateful and blessed to know that both my heart and my home are in the very same place. Hawaii...I love you.

Awesome 6k swim with an amazing pod if people and a playful pod of dolphins. Saw a shark, too.

After a hot and hard run, this counts as salt replacement, right?

Hawaii I Love You!

It rained in Hilo for the triathlon...what a surprise!

Run, Run, Run

The first week of half-marathon training with Coach Eric Neilsen was GREAT. I am thinking...piece of cake. The I realized it was a "recovery" week for the Hilo Triathlon. Now I am in week two and I truly suffered today in the heat and humidity on my first longer TEMPO run. "Failing" at something is good for me.#kickedmyokole Thanks coach! http://www.coachericneilsen.com/