I graduated from college twenty years ago today, May 11th, 2001. I have so many fond memories of that day, sharing with my parents how I streaked through Norlin Library with my friends during finals my junior year, listening to Neil Diamond serenade all of the CU graduates with his steely rendition of God Bless America during the ceremony, but the most pronounced memory is that my Dad sprung for a pony keg of my favorite beer, Easy Street Wheat for our graduation party. It was delicious. And I appreciated every gulp, err, sip. A lot has changed over the last two decades, but I did have another occasion to celebrate with my Dad this past Saturday, however instead of chugging a tasty micro-brew, I chugged a couple bottles of NUUN Hydration Recovery mix.
A few months ago I dreamed up an EPIC training day that included 4,500 yards of swimming, 100+ miles of riding, and 21-22 miles of hilly running. At the time, Ironman Coeur D’ Alene was a COVID mirage, and there were no team camps on the schedule, so I thought it would serve as a really challenging training day without crossing the threshold of a true “iron” distance. However, as the weeks passed IM Coeur D’ Alene inched toward a reality, and Hillary did add a training camp over Memorial Day weekend, so I thought I should trim back the epic portion of the plan, but still keep it on the books as a long, adventurous training day.
POV from my run up the Palos Verdes switchbacks.
Therefore, the revised plan was to kick off the day with an open water swim in the ocean, then ride three hours, including 5x repeats of the famous Palos Verdes switchbacks, (two-mile ascent), and finally run the incredibly challenging and beautiful Palos Verdes loop, 22 miles starting and ending at my Dad’s house on Rocky Point Rd.
Just before driving to the beach with a VERY excited, "BIG Red" and repaired Jeep on Saturday morning.
I have only been in the ocean twice in the last fifteen months, and neither of those occasions had any surf to contend with, but the surf was rough on Saturday, and it knocked me around more than I hoped, so I swam for only about 20-25min., and then clawed my way back to shore to transition to the ride.
I definitely need to spend more time in the ocean this Summer.
Charging in to the raging waves. Photo courtesy of Bryan Mineo.
I didn’t expect to have any company all day, but thankfully my friend, TeamSFQ teammate, and super-cyclist, Jill, offered to ride with me earlier in the week, and it was wonderful to share a gnarly morning of climbing with her. In fact, she earned a Gold Star because not only did she best her previous count of the Switchbacks, 3x to 5x, but she got stung by a bee on her first trip up, and soldiered on the rest of the ride without missing a beat. Amazing.
Jill and I after cresting our fifth 2-mi. switchback repeat.
I had close to a thirty minute transition from the bike to the run, because I drove from Redondo Beach to my Dad’s house in Palos Verdes, changed into my run gear, chatted with my Dad and Step Mom, Sally, while filling up my hydration bladder with water and NUUN tablets, and stuffing my pockets with GU gels and Clif Bloks, and then at 1:26P I set off for my run around Palos Verdes.
This was the part of my original plan for this epic training day that did not budge at all. It was a chance to explore how my body would handle running so many miles after a swim and bike ride, and since this route is very hard to run on fresh legs, (I ran it for the first time on my birthday last September), I was curious how it would go? I assumed I would delve into similar territory that we do during an Ironman marathon, a mental and physical ache that is unique and difficult to recreate within any training session, but I thought if any workout could lend a similar flavor, it would be this run.
I was prepared to run alone, but I wasn’t. Along mile four or five, just as I was passing St. Peter’s By The Sea Presbyterian church along Palos Verdes Dr., I looked out at the ocean, and felt my friend Mary running right next to me. Mary would’ve loved a day like this. A day that was meant to hurt and enjoy. And when those moments of hurt did show up, I pictured her smile, and made sure to enjoy them.
Moments after finishing my final run with Mary Knott last July on Washington Island, WI.
The last few miles were along the same route as my DIY Iron(WO)man marathon course which not only brought back awesome memories, but also provided an opportunity to slip into that “Ironman marathon-esque” Twilight Zone I was hoping to tap into when I set out that morning, except I felt better than I thought I would.
After finishing the 22 mile run.
I am incredibly grateful to have experienced a training day like that, one that was exhilarating, challenging, and my kind of fun, but even though there were no pony kegs present, my favorite part of the day was relaxing and catching up with my parents after I finished. When you are one of eight children, quality one-on-one time is priceless.
Post run/pre-shower photo op with my stepmom, Sally, my Dad, and their puppy, Dolly.
I’m not sure if either one of us thought I’d love spending seven+ hours on a Saturday swimming, biking, and running twenty years ago, but I’m certain we all know that is how I want to spend them for the next twenty, and beyond.
The song and video choice is a wonderful tune from the artist Banners, Someone To You.