Becoming real

By last Wednesday I had had enough of the grey and rain in Vancouver and with very little planning, packed my things and headed to Penticton in search of heat, training and sun. I've found all three.

Thanks to a great friend that lives here, I've got super stellar accommodations right in Penticton. I arrived Thursday by noon and by 12:35 I was in the lake for my first swim in OK Lake. The water was a bit cold and I got the heebie-jeebies swimming alone once I couldn't see the bottom of the lake. I normally do fine in open water, but something spooks me about being out there alone. I guess I figure if OgoPogo or the OK Lake Creepy Crawlies are going to swoop in and have me for brunch, if I was with a group of people, then being a part of a sea monster buffet was just my fate. However, swimming alone is just setting yourself up for disaster - far less selection. Plus, my Mom told me never to swim alone.

Anyhow, after lunch I headed out for a nice and easy 1:35min run. Since I had never actually seen the Ironman run course after it leaves downtown Penticton, I was SO excited to finally be running it (or part of it anyway).

This whole "awesome" approach to training has been incredible. Since redirecting my focus from performance to attitude, my entire experience has changed. I feel better, I train better and even though I haven't done any number crunching, I wouldn't be surprised to see that I'm getting faster.

Being here in Penticton has a completely different feeling for me this year. It's really real now and in a few short months I'll be running these streets and calling myself an Ironman. Unbelievable. I was thinking about that as I ran along side beautiful Skaha Lake and the smile on my face was ear to ear. Anyone passing me must have thought I was crazy. For approximately 16km's I was grinning so huge that at some points I was laughing. I'm just so proud and happy to be here.

Today I went out for an epic bike ride in the valley. Last year I was so impressed with British Columbia when I rode out in Osoyoos for the first time. The desert and mountains and lakes are amazing. Today though, I rode some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. Not just in BC or in Canada - ever, anywhere. I left from Pentiction and past Skaha Lake into OK Falls and took a somewhat backroad (paved obviously) and rode up and over the mountain pass into the valley. Wineries, ranches, desert and beautiful, incredible, postcard perfect emerald green and turquoise lakes. The day was perfect - blue bird sky and 28 degrees. Awesome.

While it was a pretty ride scenery wise, I certainly worked for it. There are very little flats in the Okanagan. Seems your almost always either going up or coming down. After 4 hours of riding, I was toast. I definitely deserved that funky-monkey booster juice and the nap on the beach afterwards.

Tomorrow, another swim and an equally epic 2:30 run coming my way. Can't wait.

I brought my camera but it died before I could take the first photo. This shot from my blackberry as I cruised down a mountain road will have to do for now. It does no justice.

The Book of Awesome

What an amazing week. Following last weeks stellar training performances, I spent a bit of time crusin' through a bunch of different blogs that I like to follow. Through one of these, I found a link to an inspiring post-race, race report from an obviously talented long course triathlete. Seeing as my theme of the day was "feeling awesome" this guys report was both timely and relevant.

He mentions early in his post that when it came to his training, choosing his mental state was not enough, he was going to have to practice it. This made a whole lot of sense too me, especially after my promise to celebrate every success with myself. So that's what I did this week - I practiced feeling awesome.

It started with simple things, like keeping a big hardy grin on my face as I walk to and from the pool. Then it turned into a skip in my step and a bounce during my run, but on Thursday, my practising awesomeness kicked into high gear.

It's been raining and basically crap weather in Vancouver for God knows how long now and although Kierstie and I had planned a rain-or-shine training ride, we still bailed out due to the torrential downpour we were experiencing downtown. I mean, it was raining puddles. So instead we opted for the much dryer (and far more rare) trip to the gym. Gasp! I know... the gym (I hate the gym). I took advantage of the machines and free weights that were available on this one time guest pass opportunity I was granted and we worked our upper bodies like there would never be another chance to do another Lat Pull Down... ever. Well wouldn't you know it, but before our workout was over, the rain stopped. So, not missing any opportunity, I ditched the free weights and ran home to jump on my bike. I was headed out for the 60km ride I had originally planned for.

Ok - so after 45km's of hills on the North Shore, I was starting to feel that gym workout. Plus, in all my excitement of clear skies I forgot to eat after the gym. Time to start practising awesome. Ever heard that phrase "fake it 'till ya make it"?

I was riding like I was dragging a spare tire behind me. I had almost made it home but there was still one very large obstacle in my way. That damn Lions Gate Bridge is my nemesis. It's always a bitch to get over, especially at the end of a hard (or what feels like hard) ride. Any how, up I went. Head down I imagined a giant magnet on the back of the guy who was in front of me. I pictured my legs attached to a pulley system that with each spin of my pedals, pulled me closer to the top. And finally, my mind was roaring. Screaming! BOOMING like a machine - I FEEL AWWWWWESOMMMME!

Well it worked. The guy in front of me never dropped me and I moved up and over that stupid bridge 3km's /hr faster than on my best of days.

So maybe practise will make perfect. I figure if I want to race feeling awesome, I should train that way to.

If that wasn't enough, this weekend while shopping around my fav wholesale membership club chain warehouse for a years supply of toilet paper and toothpaste, from out of the corner of my eye I see a book staring me down. I kid you not - The Book of AWESOME.

A totally different kind of awesome. Like high-fiving babies, putting on underwear right out of the dryer and remembering that movie that that guy is from. That kind of awesome. Any how, since it was my theme of the week, I figured I can't pass up such an obvious sign from the universe and I made my whole sale purchase. Now have an book to bring to the beach and something new to share with all of you. See side bar for Sarah's Fav Awesome Things.

Finally, I'll end on letting everyone know that Powered By Noie has raised over $6,100 for this years Ride To Conquer Cancer. That's so incredible. Kierstie and I are so ready for this ride and we are so grateful for all the support we've received. Thank you all so very much. The ride is in less than two weeks and we can't wait.

Happy training everyone! Train happy, train healthy!