Well I've been slacking off on my bloggings since last last January apparently. Well I'm going to try and start up again! Just at the end of 3rd year of medicine..ready for 4th year to start and for the whole CARMS process to be done! Signed up for IM Cali 70.3 and IM France next year! More to come!

New Year on the top of a Volcano and the lowdown for 2011

Well I was up at 2:50am this morning to catch a bus to the Haleakala volcano crater to watch the sunrise...thing is...I don't think I fell asleep, despite the best intentions, until 1am because of a party in the condo below us...so ya..haha.

Meh...NBD. Got to the crater to see this:

View from the top of Haleakala--9740ft.

Then once daylight hit we started to kind of mess around:

My brother and I spelling AB--YA ALBERTA!!(Can you see it?? haha)


Jumping off a wall at 10023ft!

Then we biked down the volcano:


My aunts, uncle, mom and brother and I posing on the way down


Me, posing with the super hefty duty bikes that felt more like motorcycles


Alien helmet face off

So we descended relatively slowly with monster bikes that you didn't really ever need to pedal. I felt like I was on a motorbike rather than a bike. Haha. Those alien helmets were pretty awesome though I must say! Haha.

So that was a good way to start off the year! Kind of just napped for the rest of the day though...

SO 2011...tri season...officially started in December and now moving forward...Only 3 more days in Maui before I head back to Edmonton. Can we say trainer time?? I'm going to need to stock up on some good music/DVD's/TV series for the next 4 months of indoor riding. Boo. Oh well.

2011: The Race Plans
Jan 23--Carlsbad HM
Feb--Maybe hypothermic half marathon
March--Campus Rec indoor tri
May--St. Albert HM, UofA Spring Thaw Sprint, Coronation Sprint
June--Chinook HIM
July--IRONMAN LAKE PLACID

I'm just going to go to there for now. Anything past that is a bit up in the air. As far as goals. IMLP is my big ticket event...Minimally I would like to place in my AG there, maximally I would like to KQ. The KQ is really up in the air and how training goes...It's going to need a fast time--11-12hrs at least. We will see how the improvement/injury-free curve goes.

Further more specific goals as the year progresses!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :)

A 3.5hr swim/bike/run day with a sighting of a star to finish off the year!

Well...I'm tired. Haha.

Year in review (sort of)
First HM (1:59:31), first HIM (5:58:06), first Marathon (4:25:36)...lots of firsts..Med school...stuff..I was happy with my season and am excited that my IMLP training plan has officially started and is going well so far. 7 more months!

Finished off the year with a 16.3km run, 3000m swim and a 1 hr 25km easy recovery ride. On my run I was coming back along the boardwalk in Kaanapali and I saw JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT! Haha. I actually just saw her in Runner's World this month about her 3:09 marathon finish! So cool!

Need to head to bed early today to wake up tomorrow morning at 3AM!! AH!! BIKING DOWN HALEAKALA VOLCANO!! WOOP WOOP! :)

December...Updates

Well December is almost over...

I guess I should start about 3 weeks ago. The swim meet went okay. Well better than okay in reference to the previous year but not okay compared to 5 years ago? Haha. No finals, man the meet was fast. I guess it is to be expected that I wouldn't be as fast as I was back in the day.

This is what I wrote for the last day of the meet on my training blog:
"Well 3 days of JP Fiset done. Not used to 3 day meets anymore. I'm pretty beat--not really sure how that is possible, but I guess my body is just not used to high energy/max effort system use anymore. Swam 7 events...I'm kind of midway between A and B level standards now...I'd say on par with how I was swimming in 2002-2003 ish. Back in the day it would have been classified as a "really bad day in the office"...

You know what else you forget: how much it hurts. Tri is a bit different...there is never really a point, in the swim/bike anyways, where you are going balls out (for lack of a better term) and everything just kind of gets culminated in the run hurting at the end but you are so glad that you are done that you don't seem to notice and the resistance of the water just breaks you...Epitomy of pain for the weekend--200back...just wow...I realise my lactic tolerance is not what it used to be for swimming...but the last 75m of that race just burned to a point where it didn't really feel like I was moving my limbs properly anymore. It was a tad difficult to lift myself out of the water after. It hurt back in the day and it still hurts now. Haha.

Short course meters.

200fr--2:26.39
50bk--36.34--had an oopsie start...didn't slip, but didn't really push off? Ended up negative splitting a 50...ya...
200bk--2:44.67
200IM--2:44:05
100bk--1:16.54
50fr--30.76
50fly--34.10

At least I have real times now? Woohoo! I should probably break out the 400/800/1500fr next year..."

So that is that. After the meet I started running a bit more...then the snow came...and I was alone and I spent a lot of time shovelling snow and took a week off from regimented training to get a rest before IMLP training started on Dec 20.

Dec 20--IN MAUI!!! YAY!! Started IMLP training. I have rented a bike...so far everything is going smoothly...except for the fact that I am a bit sick with sore throat and headache.

Few more days till the New Year!!!

Swim Meet Weekend!

Well I'm getting ready to swim fast this weekend. Just fixed up my googles and going to put everything together. I got these Finis Swedes back when I went to San Fran a few months ago. They are "stealth pink"...hahaha.

Early night tonight!

Fri-200fr/50bk
Sat-200bk/200IM
Sun-100bk/50fly/50fr

December is a core challenge month. Minimum of 10min of core per day. Going to be smokin for the beach in a few weeks. Haha.

November closes

Well all done! Now I have to get back into training...

Ended up swimming 43.3km this month, but bike/run were scarce. Time to pick it up.

Swim meet starts on Fri, once that is over I need to focus on running to prep for the HM in Jan.

Just under 3 weeks till MAUI!!!

Getting back on the running bandwagon...

I was sitting around this morning debating if I wanted to go run or not...then decided that it was probably a good decision to get my legs back in business given the fact that I have a HM in like 7 weeks...maybe? You know, just putting it out there.

Ran 8.5km or so...didn't feel half bad and it wasn't freezing outside!! Yay! Swim meet this upcoming weekend so I won't be really starting back up until that is done...Got to get that mileage up! Haha.

3 weeks till I leave for Maui!

Picture I took while running...Ya...I'm pretty much the world's greatest photographer...

Another winter run...I promise I won't keep on titling things a "another, another winter run".

Well...another one bites the dust. I attempted to make a video of a portion and failed miserabley...haha...I will have to try again another time!

-15C/6F...boooo

A winter run

Well I got all dressed up for the first time...double socks, double pants, double jacket..gloves, ninjaclava...the whole shebang.

I'm glad I bought trail runners in October in San Fran. Even the military trails wern't really plowed..so there were some areas of about 10cm of snow.

It was -19C. Brrr...This is my awkward post run picture! Haha

Inner Ear Infection: GONE!!! Woo!

Well I was back in the water today! Felt a bit off not being in the water for over a week, but what are you going to do.

Did a police ride along on Sat night-It was AWESOME! But I was pretty beat all yesterday and didn't end up getting a good sleep at the end of it all because my Dad decided to move furnature and vaccuum at 9am after I didn't get home until 4am due to the ride along...thanks Dad. Last night I just couldn't fall asleep and then stressed myself out about not sleeping...so ya...

Selected meet events for JP Fiset in a few weeks here in Edmonton. 50fr, 50bk, 50fly, 100bk, 200IM, 200fr, 200back...yaaa...we will see how this goes...haha

I cleaned up my room in my attempt to become super duper time management prostar...started the bike room, but that was a bit to much to do in one day...so that got bumped to next weekend. Bike room/office organisation...

Got most of my IM planning done...still a bit to go and then a final read over...it's a bit scary to think about 5hr rides and crazy runs...and just the whole IM thing in general...haha.

Well that is my random update.

First run since the marathon...and other select adventures of Nov 2010.

So I went for a run yesterday...looks like I only actually gave it 3 weeks...vs. the original 6 weeks I was planning...*sigh...why am I such a tri-hard? I actually couldn't take it anymore and not be running...ok...well that's not completely true...Story time:

So last Sunday...I was studying (replace studying with...IM planning) and I started to feel funny...kind of spaced out. Well...by suppertime I was nauseated and the world was spinning. Yay inner ear infection...so for the past week I haven't been able to walk and turn my head side to side without getting dizzy...so I decided to scratch myself from the swim meet this weekend because I haven't swam all week and probably shouldn't race given that circumstance. So yesterday I was feeling like a SUPER LAZY BLOB and decided to try a short run. It was 7C out and I couldn't pass that up...right?

Ran just over 5km with a pretty decent pace. No bum hurting...no real pain. So I'm going to take it "easy" over the next 2 weeks and build up slowly into HM restart training plan for Jan 23. So I have to integrate that into my IM planning...it will eventually get done...

What else am I up to...I'm making a dress for Fall Ball. Well I am altering a dress for Fall Ball and make a belt...because I am talented...

So far I don't think any other adventures have occurred this month...I'm sure some will though.

November November!

Well first supra 4k swim workout in the bag. Pretty tired.

Finished a bike lactate threshold test yesterday. Bike LT=164

Tonight's swim:
400s, 300k, 200pull, 100scull
10x100 @ 130 holding 124-125
200ez
10x75k w fins @ 130, 50k/25UW-25UW/50k
5x200 @ 3 holding 254-255
100ez

Ya...Going to try and get an outdoor ride in tomorrow depending on what the weather is like. Its supposed to be 11C outside!

October: Complete

Well the month of the marathon is just about completed. Took about a week off after the marathon (I swam once...) and then this week jumped back on the swimming and started some "injury prevention" strength training. I was pretty sore after Monday, but my body has adapted somewhat quickly to squats and stuff.

November will be filled up with swim, bike and strength. I might slowly start to inch my way into some running after Remembrance Day to get ready for the HM in Carlsbad.

Nike Women's Marathon: Race Report

I FINISHED THE MARATHON!! 42.2KM! AHHHHH!!!!

Took me 4:25:16. I am not particularly impressed with the time, but hey...its a marathon...definately one of those situations where all you can do is all you can do. I remember being in pain...I remember talking to myself in my head to just keep going...haha.

Woke up at about 4:50 to down a bagel that I brought with me and some GU Brew. Sat in bed awhile and then proceeded to get dressed in my gear and do a final checklist to make sure I had everything. Went downstairs to meet the other girls and we took some pictures before heading down to the race start...All I can say about this is wow...get a bunch of med girls together and it is apparently guarenteed that we will be talking about how awesome or unawesome our gastrocolic reflex was...mine awesome...some other girls...not so awesome. Haha. Yay for gastrocolic reflex non-fail!!! Haha.

Once we had checked our bags we headed to our selected race pace spots. I decided on 9-9:59min/mile. I was with one of the other girls and we did the group stretch and chilled out together until the race start went. It was CRAZY! 25000 runners! They started both the full and half marathons at the same time! AHH!! Haha. The first few km's were as they normally are with the walkers seeding themselves at the front and then having everyone behind them trying to deek them out to get into a solid position on the road. I was feeling pretty good. Ran down by Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiredelli Square then towards Golden Gate Bridge. It was definately an awesome way to see some of the main touristy spots in San Fran. Then the hills started...sure enough like the race elevation map said...hello 6miles...hello hills...I didn't find them too bad and was still moving along at a decent pace...about 9:30/mile. There was this one hill that was never ending...up-plateau-up-plateau-up-plateau-up...on and on. Haha. We hit a long downhill at around 15km and I tweaked my glut injury and proceeded to run a little bit run-hop style for the remaining 27km of the race...ya...haha.

It was also around that point that I really started to become a tad unaware of my surroundings..apparently we ran through Golden Gate Park? Haha. The full and half separated from one another in the park and we did a loop of the park and then came back together just before the finish line when the full turned off and went down and back the New Highway for 10miles. It was so desolate almost when the full and half separated from one another. It was really weird. It went from a huge packed group of people to almost being staggered. Lots of room to run I guess, but it kind of felt lonely. I was starting to feel it a bit by 17miles...then I heard EYE OF THE TIGER!! They had these Nike Powersongs along the route. I was so psyched...I almost started crying..just ridiculous. So that got me through a good .5mile before a new song distracted me from my Eye of the Tiger awesomeness. 18miles...19miles...20miles...Wow it got quiet...people were sort of having side conversations up until that point and then just nothing...no more talking...silence. It was a bit erie to tell you the truth. It was raining by that point and the wind was up a bit. Cold and silence...and the pain. Every step was murder to my feet, knees, hips, glut and low back. I walked 3 aide stations to take in enough water because I was feeling a bit woozy and decided I needed to stop doing that because it hurt far too much to stop and start. I couldn't even focus long enough to calculate what pace I was on per/km from miles anymore....I somehow totally missed the chocolate mile because I was concentrating so hard on moving forward. 22miles...4miles to go...seriously doubting myself at this point but I just forced myself to not think about it...to move one foot after the other in some semblance of a hop-run because my glut was done and my left hamstring was cramping. 23miles--OMG that means there is only 5km left...move it...max a half hr left. 24miles...40km...25miles...1 more mile to go...I just put my angry, pain face on and tried to pick it up to get to the finish line faster. Saw the finish line and guess what? Started crying...the medic came over and told me to sit down in the wheelchair he had and I sat there until I could cohesively put a sentence together to say I was fine and could get up and move. Made it through the assembly line of hawt firemen to get my necklace (which is awesome), finish t-shirt (also awesome), food (gone now...but at the time was awesome)...etc. (I must say it was extemely well organised) Then I heard some of the girls who stayed behind in the rain to meet everyone who finished. And started crying again...I need to get a handle on this. haha.

Race Number and Thermal Plastic wrap thing:


Tiffany Blue Box and Finisher's "medal":



I'm really happy I finished and at least I have a marathon under my belt in prep for IMLP next summer! Need some more miles on the legs, but first I am taking a solid 6 weeks off running to heal and strengthen my glut.

Woke up this morning fairly sore but able to move at least. Wore the compression pants all night and day. Got some new tri gear (why don't we have stores like Sports Basement in Canada?? Honestly...). So all in all a good day! Last night in San Fran! Going to see Alcatraz tomorrow and then hopping on the plane back to Edmonton!

Thanks to everyone who helps and supports me on the marathon/IMLP crazy train! :) You guys are all awesome!

AH!! NWM: 4 days!

Well its only 4 days away!!!! AHHH!!! :)

Got my speedwork strides in today and a swim. Bit achy, but that's how it goes for me with taper. I get to sleep in tomorrow. 1 swim/1 run until SAN FRAN!!!

1 WEEK TILL NWM: Getting pumped!

So I have been immersing myself in inspirational propagnda for a past 2 days...well yesterday was pretty much soley Kona...today I was youtubing select inspirational commercials...like my fav Versus commercial from the summer...

"It's you vs them"--haha. Yes...this is the one from July...Bad ass coach dude..."It's you vs can't...it's you vs NO...excuses..." etc etc etc. Haha.

I thrive on this...I have also been listening to some saweet "Eye of the Tiger"...Maybe I should just watch Rocky IV and get that out of the way? Hmmm?

Anyways. Went for a 6km run today...felt pretty decent. Didn't do the 20km as was originally set out in my training plan due to the twinging pain during a 15km hill run on Thursday. Took a few days to make sure I hadn't completely re-injured myself and to stretch out my glutes. My ass isn't bothering me too much right now. My knees were feeling a little bit grindy. I'm so glad there is only really one week left in this season. Hahaha. I want to do some Zumba and strength and decompress before starting the IM build (and rest my legs, of course).

My current NWM race plan: conservative conservative conservative. Since I have never done one before, the first half is going to be pretty chill, focusing on getting into a good rhythm and easy stride. I'm going to really try to focus on having a solid 10km from 25-35km and then bringing the last 7km home with whatever I have left. Smart fueling (I bought all my Carb-boom gus and my GU Brew the other day).

NWM week plan: I'm going to get an easy 10km in tomorrow, a 5km of strides in on Wed, an easy 5km on Fri. Sat is my travel day with my MAGIC PANTS...and then Sunday is the big day! Sleep, sleep, sleep...carbo load on Thurs/Fri night. Hydrate...all that good stuff! :)

Just have to trust that I have done all I can do in prep for this marathon, given the ass injury and long season. Get in there and giv'er!

It's ON!

KONA! and the beginning of future plans!

Macca was something else today!! Kudos to him for pulling that last 3km out! My favourite part was him saying "I'm just glad I finished without the sponges!" Hahaha. Awesome. Just awesome.

I've been sitting here pondering my own IM year. Starting to plan out my training plan for the next 9 months. I have the weekend free because I finished my GI exam yesterday, so I figure I'll get it started? Haha.

NEXT WEEKEND: NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON--I am so excited to go down with my fellow Bonesaw ladies to San Fran!! Woop woop! 7 more days!!! :)

Post next weekend: Just swimming, strength and some Zumba until Dec 19. Why Dec 19 you ask? Well its the day I head out to Hawaii for my Christmas vacation...and I figure...why not start the IM journey out there? (trying to keep all my intentions about the Big K on the DL for the moment being...but it feels slightly fitting to start where I would ideally, in a perfect world of my mind will end?) So Dec 19 it is.

I'm working on my strength plan for Oct 20-Jan 31ish. I'll prob try to lift 3-4x weekly, plus swimming 4x week, plus Zumba for kicks 1-2x week. Start bike/run on Dec 19. Stop swimming club at the end of Feb. Full onset of IM training: March 1. I realise this might be a bit confusing...but I've got it covered...for the moment. I'll get opinions on my plan when I have figured it all out and inputed, etc. So yaaa.

Well. I'm calling it a night! Awesome race this year at Kona with Macca and Carfrae! I guess it is fitting to start off my IM planning at the cumulative end of one IM season? :)

IRONMAN!

Study break...NWM=9 days

GI final tomorrow. I'm currently taking a break from my Disney movie marathon study adventure of today.

Currently watching Hercules and I think Beauty and the Beast is next on the list. Then I have to get a 15km hill run in. ONLY 9 MORE DAYS TILL THE NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Scary.

Right now I'm a bit freaked out with my preparation and taper...but I guess that is normal. I'm forcing myself to try and stick to my original taper plan.

Today-15km hills
Sat-20km flat
Sun--5km flat
Mon--10km rolling
Wed--5km strides
Fri--5km
SUN--RACE DAY!!!

Need to go shopping to gather up some more lytes and gels for the race. The course won't have any gels and I'm debating wearing my H20 belt or not...I'll take it with me for sure and decide when I get to San Fran.

Ok...back to studying time..

Race Results and a Gluten Free Diet Experiment

Well its October...I guess I should update the two races I did at the end of September.

Trail Half Marathon: 2:40:51 5/8 AG, 39/65 OA

Heartbeat Run 10km: 52:16 12/30 AG, 68/144 OA

So pretty dec.

I'm also conducting a gluten free diet experiment to see if I will feel better GI wise and fatigue wise. We will see if it is effective. I'm heading into day 3 tomorrow. I'm sure I will be super craving bread and pasta in about 3-4 more days..haha.

One weekend, Two Race Reports: 5 Peaks Trail Half Marathon and Heartbeat Run

Well...my weekend is over...(well not really over but I'm done)...I have just finished a numbing ice bath and am now watching a movie in front of the TV with my legs elevated while my compression (aka. magic) pants are being washed. Can't wait to put on the magic pants...Anyways, race reports:

5 Peaks Trail Half Marathon: 21.something km
Well...what can I say about a trail half marathon other than it is difficult, grueling, hard, painful, (every other word that describes hard). Three laps of a up, up, up, up, down, down, up, up...you get the picture. There were probably some ridiculous 25%+ grades in there...well it seemed like they were that steep. The first lap of the course set the stage for pain--there were these 2 bridges that were bouncy and would start to double bounce you by the end. When I was passing for the second loop I heard the announcer guy talking over the intercom thingy about how this was the hardest marathon most people would have ever done. Great...I only have 2 laps left...finished the second lap...its starting to hurt now...my legs are kind of wanting to give out on some of the climbs and some of the double bounce bridges...but I finished...gave it for the last 2km and was pretty done at the end. I finished in 2:40ish (results not available yet) and went immediately to my car to lie down. Then had some awesome BBQ food and called it a day.

Edmonton Heartbeat Run: 10km

Well I woke up this morning and was in pain...just pain...quads, hamstrings, ITB, gluts, calves, ankles, etc. Thank you trail half marathon. Walking was tolerable after walking for awhile but stairs...nu uh...Had some cereal for bfast and drove to the race start and hung out with my Bonesaw friends Justin and Anna! I was debating what was going to happen during the run/if I was going to be able to run...but the race started and after 500m of pain the adrenaline kicked in and the pain was minimal. The race started off slow and eventually I got into a rhythm. It was fairly flat with a few rolling sections and short, steep hills...but after yesterday's hills they wern't really all that impressive...haha. Finished strong somewhere between 50-54 min...which I am super happy with given my impaired mobility and tired legs! Woohoo! :) Went for post race bfast and now I am chilling out!

3 more weeks until the Nike Women's Marathon!