Kim Loeffler Racing

9 More Days!

9 more days until I head to Tucson for my winter training camp! It’s been a really brutal month.  Every year, my cold tolerance gets lower and shorter.  2 years ago, I trained for Ironman New Zealand all indoors with the except of 1 race in Pucon and 1 week in Tucson.  I sucked it up for 5 hour computrainer sessions, 3 hour sub 10 degree F runs in yax tracks on icey snowy roads.  My mantra was what doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger.  This year my mantra is F*** this! After 7 years of training through Vermont winters, I am done with it! Last week was exceptionally miserable. We had about 4 days in a row where the temps barely hit 5 degrees.  As much as I hate running in the cold, I hate the treadmill even more. So, last Wednesday when it was -10F out in the morning, I opted for a second cup of coffee and watched the weather channel waiting for it to hit double digits (10 degrees use to be my threshold) .  Well, by 10 am it was warming up to a balmy 5 degrees, I still had a swim and a bike session to do so I couldn’t wait any longer.  I put on my  base layer, my fleece, my fleece lined jacket, capri tights, windstopper tights, ski gloves, ski hat, wool socks, gortex wind stopper socks and my fleece face gator. I was tempted to put on my ski goggles ( I swear this is typical running gear up here, seriously don’t laugh, it’s that bad!) but I passed on it.  An hour later, I made it home and survived the run.  I had so many layers on I could barely move, but in case you didn’t get the theme of this blog, I HATE  the cold!  After more coffee (to warm up!) and lunch, I hopped on the trainer for a 3 hour session.  I actually don’t mind CT indoor sessions.  I really believe they make you sooooo strong and my coach Cliff is very good at making them challenging and interesting that 3 hours really does go by fast.  You might be wondering now why a girl who hates the cold lives in Vermont.  Well you see I am married, my husband won’t leave and I don’t want a divorce! So, I suck it up when I can and he supports me when I am at my breaking point and NEED to get away.  It all works out!

 So, 9 days and counting!  Next Thursday, I head out to Boulder to meet up with Kelly and help her and the kids (her 2 labs) pack up.  Saturday we will drive down to Tucson where the adventure really begins.  Kelly and I are attempting once again to race an Ironman together, Ironman China!  After 2008, where we both incurred stress fractures training together, we promised ourselves we wouldn’t train for an Ironman  together again.  We tend to get a little crazy.  Well, considering that we will be living together for 3 months in Tucson, we figured what the hell , we’ll give it a shot!!  The past few training cycles I spent in Boulder, she did most of my runs with me and even a few swims, but I couldn’t entice her into a 6 hour ride! I’m so loooking forward to riding with her and putting the hurt on her in the bike after all those painful long runs with her last year. Kel, pay backs a bitch!! hehehehhe. uh oh, it’s starting already!

ok, now i have procrastinated long enough, gotta get on the trainer for a nice little 3.5 hour indoor session! Check out the pics below, sorry they are minuscule, I am trying to figure out this blogging thing!

Brian Thunder and I cutting down our Christmas tree

The sistas (memba I’m a New Yorker!) at Christmas:

Thunder playing in the corner. Not caring that is -10 out!