Ironman 70.3 New Orleans 2014

I am officially registered for Ironman 70.3 New Orleans!

Dan (my fiance) put this idea in my head probably around February of this year.  He texted me and said, "It would be so cool to do the half-Ironman in Oceanside [California]."  Side note: Dan was in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.  I am from San Diego.  We met there.  Now we live in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Back to the story. I Googled what he was talking about.  I looked at all of the races and immediately knew I had to do at least a half-Ironman. Let me be real here for a minute, when I ran my first half marathon, I knew I would be signing up for a full marathon when I got to Mile 12 - in other words, before I was even finished I knew I would be running a full 26.2 marathon - which I am. So I know that when I do my half-Iron I will be thinking, "when can I do a full Ironman?" 

Dan, of course, was supportive and on board with this adventure. Looking at the half-Ironman calendar, I had only a couple months to pick from. Being in law school, knowing I would be in my third year, graduating, and studying for the Bar Exam, and running the NYC Marathon in November, so the best months for me were: January, February, March, and April.  One of my life goals is to do a race (half-marathon or greater for running and/or Olympic triathlon or greater for triathlons) in every state.  New Orleans seemed perfect for me!  I knew the Camp Pendleton hills would be the death of me for my first half-Iron (and I have done a half-marathon in San Diego and doing the Disneyland Half in August). I have never been to New Orleans and honestly, what better way to see New Orleans than to see 70.3 miles of it?

I am seriously so excited.  I also joined a triathlon training group at the Y.  Training starts today.  The target race is a sprint tri in August. 

The Story of Pegasus

It’s been awhile.  Sorry about that.  In addition to running and tri-ing, I am also a full-time law student and I do the Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant thing too.  Anyways, I completed my first triathlon! It was put on by Ramblin Rose.  A bunch of women from my running group were doing it so, I signed up. A full race report to come! 

For months I had known that I had this triathlon coming up and I trained.  The bike and I have this love-hate-relationship going on.  I really want to love the bike but then I hate it.  And it hates me right back - equally.  Originally, I just bought a stupid cheap mountain bike at Walmart.  I pretty much hated that thing.  Then a week before the race, Dan and I went to all the different bike stores in Charlotte and I got to try out all the different road bikes.  I have never in my life ridden a *road bike* before.  I told Dan this and he just kind of made at me. Lucky for him I know his facial expressions, heh.  

Our next door neighbor is a big-time huge cyclist and as I have been training for my tris he has been super helpful.  My Cyclist Neighbor John had told me to go to Bicycle Sport and said they would help with all of my cycling needs.  My Cyclist Neighbor John also said to try other bike stores, named a few, but that Bicycle Sport would be the best for me.  

I went to another bike store first that was by my school and tried a bike there.  It was sweet!  Mostly because it had pink handle bars.  Dan went to another place by our house that sold Scott brand bikes.  One of my absolute favorite things about Dan (and no, I am not just saying this because we are getting married in less than three months) is that he always takes an interest in my interests and fully supports everything I do and gets involved, but he never over does it.  

I came home from studying (this was during finals time for me) and Dan and I went to Bicycle Sport first.  They sell Trek and Cannondal bikes. The nicest most patient person helped us, Chris.  We told him the bike was for me and I am starting my journey in the triathlon world, doing a half-Ironman in the next year, and I needed a road bike.  We walked over to the women's bikes, he asked how tall I was, then pulled out a beautiful Trek bike.  I loved it pretty much instantly.  But I knew that I should try out other bikes. 

We went to another store, nothing too special happened there.  Then we went to another bike store.  I did not realize how many different bike stores are located near us until that day.  At this bike store we had a very interesting-bad experience.  The sales guy did not ask at all what I would be using the bike for.  He tried selling us on a steel road bike.  I am pretty sure that was the only road bike he had that would be the right size for me.  This is the conversation:
Us: Do you have any non-steel frame bikes?
Sales guy: A steel bike is what you need.  You know for riding around town.
Me: I am going to be using my bike for triathlons. So a lighter bike would be best for me.
Sales guy: No, a steel bike would work best.  Triathlons, it is a short distance on the bike and for you riding around town.
Me: Well the triathlons aren't really a short distance.  A half-Ironman isn't that short.
Sales guy: Yes it is.  It is a sprint.
Us:  Thank you. 

We then went to the store that sells Scott bikes.  I liked them.  Super light weight and the store was awesome.  In all truthiness, I wasn't a fan of how to shift gears on the bike.  Seems petty, I know, but hey I get to be the one shifting the gears, might as well get something I like. 

The next day we back to Bicycle Sport and we bought me Pegasus.  They totally hooked me and Pegasus up!  For example, Chris, the Bicycle Sport guy, made my handle bars pink for me.  He put water bottle things on my bike and toe-jail things on my pedals for me.  And when I am ready for big girl bike-toe-clip-pedal-things they will put on the pedals for me and teach me how to do the whole "clipping in and out" thing.  But here is the best part! Any tune up that Pegasus needs or repairs is free!  Free meaning if I need a new part I pay for the part but they do all the heavy lifting.  But they do so much more than that too.  I was putting air in my tires before a morning ride and I completely snapped the air valve in my tire in half.  They sort of showed me how to change a tube but I did not have the confidence to do it all by myself.  Bicycle Sport was closed that day (Sunday, everything is closed on Sunday or has really limited hours).  I took Pegasus in the next day and they walked me how to change the tube in my tire. 

Bicycle Sport is amazing! 

And the name "Pegasus" seemed appropriate for my bike.  Pegasus delivered Zeus' lightning bolts.  Or if you go with the Disney version, Pegasus was Hercules' horse.  Win-win either way!

My Brick Day

Two weekends ago, Dan (my almost husband) and I did a "brick" session.  I use the quotes because well by brick, what I really mean is that I would have rather gotten beaten by bricks than do what I did. 

Seriously though, I am not a cyclist.  At. All.  I love the water.  I even like running (when I can get out of my own head - more on that in a later post).  But, cycling is the worst.  So why do I want to do triathlons?  Truthfully, because I believe I can do it. 

Ok to the brick session.  We mapped out ONLY TWO miles by our house to ride our bikes then we would come home and run a mile.  My bike isn't anything special.  I just got a bike from *gasp* Wal-Mart because our thinking was it's cheap and if I really enjoy this then we can spend the money and get a real bike after I've done some tris.  We do our ride.  I make Dan go ahead because, honestly, I felt insecure about me being on a bike because I am really that awful and he is awesome on a bike.  We met at home then went on a run. 

Here is what I learned:
1)  Courtney - you need to learn how to use your damn gears
2)  Courtney - you should run more
3)  Courtney - you should do speed work (especially since your first tri is only a 2 mile run)
4)  Courtney - get over your issues about the bike
5)  Train hard so you can trust your training
6)  And seriously Dan is the most patient tolerating human being ever.  Oh and he totally believes more in you than you do of yourself.

First One

The dreaded first blog post.  I have so much to write about but where do I start.  Let's see.  I played sports when I was much younger.  I never enjoyed running.  I have no balance and am super awkward on a bike.  I used to swim, play water polo, coach and teach swim lessons, so I like the water.

Initially, I decided to run a half marathon for one reason:  to go to Walt Disney World.  That decision was made about a year ago.  I did the Disney Princess Half Marathon (more on that later) but I have done other races.  I fell in love with it.  So much so that I am running the NYC Marathon.  I am fundraising for the USO so I can run.  Donate here!  http://www.teamuso.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1062854&lis=1&kntae1062854=4EFD8E84868B42038188826B930BFD3B&supId=375073038

Also, I am doing my first triathlon in May, right before my birthday.  I am pretty excited about this.  I want to do a half Ironman.