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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How Do You Know If You Can Do It? You Find Out.: Ironman Lake Placid, July 22, 2012


How can I describe a moment that I imagined over and over in my head for an entire year?  So many months of wondering how I would feel mentally, physically and emotionally at that finish line finally culminated in one amazing trip around the olympic oval and Mike Reilly at last announcing, “Polly Jansen, Happy Birthday – YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”  Now that it’s done, I can’t stop reliving this moment…this fantastic finish to the hardest, most amazing day of my life.
I have endless images of highs and lows:  The body-marking volunteer writing “38 today!” on my leg, giving Chris a hug and kiss before the start and reassuring him that we were going to do this, the calm that came over me waiting for the cannon as U2’s “Beautiful Day,” played in the background, the “washing-machine effect” swim, giving Mike Reilly a “high-five” after the first swim lap, waving to my family on the way to T1, hearing “Happy Birthday!” throughout the day, Chris passing me on the bike course yelling, “Nice Ass!,” my slow-leak flat tire that a gracious volunteer changed for me at an aid station, coming into town and seeing my family and friends cheering wildly (awesome cowbell!), the slow, arduous second climbs on Rte. 86, the wonderful volunteer in T2 who pulled my bike gloves off for me, feeling amazing on the run for about 6 miles, giving my nephews “high-fives” on the first run loop, feeling not-so-amazing for the second loop, Randy “Iron Fan” Latza telling me I looked better from the back anyway, walking through the aid stations and telling myself, “Run when you get to the end.  You didn’t do all this training to crap-out now!,” cramps in the legs, burning stomach, Gu tastes bad, mountains are pretty, spectator yelling, “You know how to do this!” just when I needed to hear those words, Chris asking if I wanted him to wait for me as we neared the end.  “No, you go have your moment.”  Then, the roar of the crowd, the oval, faces of my friends and family, Mike’s voice, Chris hugging me as I crossed the line, tears, “We did it!  We did it!” over and over. 
This is but a snapshot of a day that I cannot ever adequately put into words.  I can’t thank my family and friends enough for their love, encouragement, advice, support and sacrifices to be there with us for this incredible event.  Above all, I thank Chris – the love of my life, my best friend and training partner.  Although we crossed the finish line 6 minutes apart, we were together all the way and I couldn’t have done it without you. 
Before doing Ironman, several friends gave me this advice:  “Just enjoy your day.  For your first Ironman, just have fun.”  I am pleased to say that I did this.  I learned a lot about myself, what worked and what didn’t and yes, I can see another Ironman in my future…maybe not the NEAR future!  Here is the breakdown of Chris’ and my results: 

Polly:
Swim: 1:08:45; T1: 6:37; Bike: 6:36:56; T2: 4:42; Run: 3:45:53; Total time: 11:42:53
Age Group Place: 9th; Gender Place: 44th; Overall Place: 349th out of 2,277 finishers
Chris:
Swim: 1:10:41; T1: 6:54; Bike: 6:04:05; T2: 5:24; Run: 4:09:53; Total time: 11:36:57
Age Group Place: 60th; Gender Place: 263rd; Overall Place: 304th out of 2,277 finishers

July's Training...It's Go Time!!

Final Ironman prep and race day!  Ready or not!:

Sunday July 1 - Wednesday August 1 
DateWorkoutPlannedActual
WorkoutActivityTimeDistancePaceTimeDistancePace
Sun, Jul 1RunningSteady Run02:09:0015 Miles00:08:3602:09:0015 Miles  00:08:36
Mon, Jul 2CyclingCycling00:25:007 Miles00:03:3400:25:007 Miles  00:03:34
Tue, Jul 3        
Wed, Jul 4SwimmingMain Set01:20:002.4 Miles 01:20:002.4 Miles   
RunningSteady Run00:20:002.5 Miles00:08:0000:20:002.5 Miles  00:08:00
Thu, Jul 5CyclingCycling06:30:00114 Miles00:03:2506:30:00114 Miles  00:03:25
Fri, Jul 6RunningSteady Run02:48:0020 Miles00:08:2402:48:0020 Miles  00:08:24
Sat, Jul 7SwimmingMain Set00:25:001600 Meters 00:25:001600 Meters   
Sun, Jul 8        
Mon, Jul 9CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
SwimmingMain Set00:35:001.2 Miles 00:35:001.2 Miles   
Tue, Jul 10CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningConversation Pace00:28:003.4 Miles00:08:1400:28:003.4 Miles  00:08:14
Wed, Jul 11CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
CyclingCycling00:50:0013 Miles00:03:5100:50:0013 Miles  00:03:51
Thu, Jul 12CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningSteady Run00:51:005 Miles00:10:1200:51:005 Miles  00:10:12
Fri, Jul 13CyclingCycling00:50:0012 Miles00:04:1000:50:0012 Miles  00:04:10
SwimmingMain Set 1200 Meters  1200 Meters   
Sat, Jul 14CyclingCycling00:45:0012 Miles00:03:4500:45:0012 Miles  00:03:45
Sun, Jul 15CyclingCycling02:00:0032 Miles00:03:4502:00:0032 Miles  00:03:45
Mon, Jul 16RunningSteady Run00:30:004 Miles00:07:3000:30:004 Miles  00:07:30
Tue, Jul 17RunningConversation Pace00:27:003.2 Miles00:08:2600:27:003.2 Miles  00:08:26
Wed, Jul 18CyclingCycling00:50:0013 Miles00:03:5100:50:0013 Miles  00:03:51
Thu, Jul 19SwimmingMain Set 0.8 Miles  0.8 Miles   
Fri, Jul 20CyclingCycling01:00:0017 Miles00:03:3201:00:0017 Miles  00:03:32
Sat, Jul 21SwimmingMain Set 0.6 Miles  0.6 Miles   
RunningConversation Pace00:16:002 Miles00:08:0000:16:002 Miles  00:08:00
Sun, Jul 22BrickSwim01:08:452.4 Miles00:28:3901:08:452.4 Miles  00:28:39
Bike06:36:56112 Miles00:03:3306:36:56112 Miles  00:03:33
Run03:45:5326.2 Miles00:08:3703:45:5326.2 Miles  00:08:37
Mon, Jul 23        
Tue, Jul 24        
Wed, Jul 25        
Thu, Jul 26        
Fri, Jul 27        
Sat, Jul 28        
Sun, Jul 29        
Mon, Jul 30        
Tue, Jul 31        
Totals:38:30:34478.44 Miles38:30:34478.44 Miles

June's Training...Ramping It Up!

June was filled with 2 tri's, a century ride and ramped-up training with Ironman on the horizon!  Here's the play-by play:

Friday June 1 - Sunday July 1 
DateWorkoutPlannedActual
WorkoutActivityTimeDistancePaceTimeDistancePace
Fri, Jun 1CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
Sat, Jun 2        
Sun, Jun 3BrickSwim00:21:501500 Meters00:00:0100:21:501500 Meters  00:00:01
Bike01:20:4924 Miles00:03:2201:20:4924 Miles  00:03:22
Run00:43:596.2 Miles00:07:0600:43:596.2 Miles  00:07:06
Mon, Jun 4CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
Tue, Jun 5CyclingCycling00:50:0012 Miles00:04:1000:50:0012 Miles  00:04:10
SwimmingMain Set 1900 Meters  1900 Meters   
Wed, Jun 6CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningSteady Run02:05:0015 Miles00:08:2002:05:0015 Miles  00:08:20
Thu, Jun 7RunningConversation Pace00:46:004.7 Miles00:09:4700:46:004.7 Miles  00:09:47
Fri, Jun 8CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
Sat, Jun 9SwimmingMain Set 2 Miles  2 Miles   
RunningConversation Pace02:30:0015.5 Miles00:09:4102:30:0015.5 Miles  00:09:41
Sun, Jun 10CyclingCycling06:19:00100 Miles00:03:4706:19:00100 Miles  00:03:47
Mon, Jun 11CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
Tue, Jun 12CyclingCycling00:25:007 Miles00:03:3400:25:007 Miles  00:03:34
Wed, Jun 13CyclingCycling01:00:0015 Miles00:04:0001:00:0015 Miles  00:04:00
SwimmingMain Set 2000 Meters  2000 Meters   
RunningSteady Run00:27:003.6 Miles00:07:3000:27:003.6 Miles  00:07:30
Thu, Jun 14CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningSteady Run00:34:004.8 Miles00:07:0500:34:004.8 Miles  00:07:05
Fri, Jun 15CyclingCycling00:25:007 Miles00:03:3400:25:007 Miles  00:03:34
Sat, Jun 16RunningSteady Run02:35:0018 Miles00:08:3702:35:0018 Miles  00:08:37
Sun, Jun 17BrickBike02:45:0048 Miles00:03:2602:45:0048 Miles  00:03:26
Run00:46:006 Miles00:07:4000:46:006 Miles  00:07:40
Mon, Jun 18SwimmingMain Set01:00:002 Miles 01:00:002 Miles   
Tue, Jun 19CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningSteady Run00:47:006 Miles00:07:5000:47:006 Miles  00:07:50
Wed, Jun 20CyclingCycling00:25:007 Miles00:03:3400:25:007 Miles  00:03:34
Thu, Jun 21CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningConversation Pace00:50:005 Miles00:10:0000:50:005 Miles  00:10:00
Fri, Jun 22        
Sat, Jun 23CyclingCycling00:30:008 Miles00:03:4500:30:008 Miles  00:03:45
Sun, Jun 24CyclingCycling00:30:008 Miles00:03:4500:30:008 Miles  00:03:45
BrickSwim00:26:470.9 Miles00:29:4600:26:470.9 Miles  00:29:46
Bike01:14:3224.8 Miles00:03:0001:14:3224.8 Miles  00:03:00
Run00:43:366.2 Miles00:07:0200:43:366.2 Miles  00:07:02
Mon, Jun 25CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningConversation Pace00:29:003.4 Miles00:08:3200:29:003.4 Miles  00:08:32
Tue, Jun 26CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
SwimmingMain Set00:50:001.6 Miles 00:50:001.6 Miles   
Wed, Jun 27CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
Thu, Jun 28CyclingCycling00:55:0014 Miles00:03:5600:55:0014 Miles  00:03:56
RunningSteady Run00:29:004 Miles00:07:1500:29:004 Miles  00:07:15
RunningSteady Run00:55:006 Miles00:09:1000:55:006 Miles  00:09:10
Fri, Jun 29CyclingCycling00:25:007 Miles00:03:3400:25:007 Miles  00:03:34
SwimmingMain Set 800 Meters  800 Meters   
Sat, Jun 30CyclingCycling06:08:0099 Miles00:03:4306:08:0099 Miles  00:03:43
Totals:50:36:33649.55 Miles50:36:33649.55 Miles