My sister-in-law is an Aggie and she pointed out this race to me. The timing coincided with when my husband got a new bike and the idea for a relay was born. SIL and I went back and forth for months about who would swim and who would run, she finally decided to take the swim about a month ago. She also got one of her friends to let us spend the night at their home in College Station, saving us a long morning drive or hotel money, yay!
We paid extra for race day packet pick-up and arrived right at 6 when that was supposed to open. There was already quite a line and it was moving at a snail's pace to the extent that we were becoming worried that we'd miss the mandatory 6:45 relay team meeting. We almost did because they changed the announced location at the last minute (to somewhere way louder, no idea why) and no volunteers seemed to know where we should be. The whole thing only took a few minutes though and essentially was to tell us to stay out of the way and who would wear what body markings.
The swim took place in A&M's natatorium, which is NIIIIIICE. It was pretty neat because we were able to go into the spectator seats to watch the invitational racers swim. Then SIL headed down for the swim. They did a snake course through 8 lanes for 400 m, starting one swimmer every 10 seconds.
I will say this: they asked for your anticipated swim time when you signed up, but honestly, this is a very beginner friendly tri, and I don't think it is reasonable to ask that question of most beginners who probably have no clue. And that was very apparent with the differing speeds in the water. The good news is that passing seemed to go well.
My SIL struggled with the swim. It was her first tri experience and talking to her afterwards, she had a classic tri panic attack. She is a good swimmer, and has been a lifeguard for YEARS. I am proud of her because she demonstrated excellent judgment by choosing to switch first to breaststroke to keep her head out of the water and finally to swimming on her back to stay safe. She was upset at how slow she went and that it happened at all, but she demonstrated and modeled excellent judgment! I told her never to feel bad about that - I honestly panic a little at every triathlon I do during the swim start - there is something that is just very different about it than regular swimming. Next time (and I hope there IS a next time) she'll know to expect it and be able to handle it better.
It took her about 15 minutes but she made it through and then she was out to transition to hand off the chip to Preston!
I didn't get to see him start because I stayed to see her finish and then texted the family to look out for her. Then I headed by the lovely indoor restroom and then outside, where I hung out with everyone while waiting for Preston to bike. I kept track of him on Find My iPhone, so when I guesstimated he had about 10 minutes left, I headed into transition.
I felt kind of goofy standing around transition while everyone came and went around me, but it was what it was. I finally saw him and he came slogging towards me and when he was close I knelt down and transferred the chip from his ankle to mine and I was off!
I must say it was nice to start the run on a tri NOT feeling the bike bricks in my legs! But it was HOT hot. It was pretty evident even from the beginning that it was going to be a survival style run. It was a two loop course. I really liked that because on the second loop I had a really good feel for good landmarks to run to/walk to because that was how I was doing it - run to that tree, walk to that corner, etc. They had a bridge you had to run under and there were kids down there who would shoot you with water cannons to cool you down - LOVED IT! With all the heat and the walking, I ended up being quite pleased with the 32:52 run that I turned in.
Finally came into the finish and collected my medal AND my water bottle AND my finisher's shirt. GREAT SWAG!! Nice finish party too with beer and snow cones. We ended up being the 7th relay team out of 8, but hey, we had a great time!
All in all, great race other than the heat and the swim start! Would totally do it again! And good first (tri) relay experience. I'll do that again too!
Showing posts with label Triathlon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Triathlon. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Tejas Triathlon Race Report
Yesterday I did my second triathlon in May.
This is a funny one because I was feeling pretty pleased with myself until I looked at my splits this morning!
Let's talk it out.
Left the house at 4:50, transition was closing at 6:45 but the race was about an hour away. Did a brilliant thing and stopped at a gas station about 5 miles from the race so I could take care of some business without a line and with a real toilet and more calm, given my wardrobe issues at the CB&I. I should always do this.
Got to the parking lot, and the race packet said it was a .5 mile walk but it must have been at least a mile because it took forEVER to get there.
Got to transition, walked in and almost immediately realized I had forgotten my running shoes in the car. Sent P back for them but it was going to be a near thing for him to get back before transition closed.
While I waited I set up my transition area, which was complicated because the chick next to me had like 10 people gathered around her talking, so I couldn't get through to my spot, then she had her bike racked in the wrong direction, but I wasn't 100% sure whether it was her or the chick on the other side - just knew someone was wrong, so had to find a ref, blah blah. Anyways, got my spot all set up other than shoes, then headed for the bathroom (again). Luckily there was a real one, and I was willing to stand in the line. Did my business and managed to re-suit myself, then went to grab the camp chairs and pick a nice spot for P. He made it back with LITERALLY 3 minutes to spare, and I got my shoes onto my towel and got out of transition.
I haven't yet mentioned the mud. It was soooooo wet and muddy. Houston has had flooding rains over the past week, and this tri was in a hard hit area. I was actually checking the website on the morning of to confirm it was still happening, the rains were so severe in that area.
So once again my wave was second to last, so after transition closed, I ate a granola bar, applied sunscreen, got my swim cap on, and generally hung out a bit. Watched several waves start and begin to finish, then headed over to line up.
The water temperature was nice. I was excited about the swim course because it was a long out, then a right turn. Bouys would be on the right, which is to my advantage. I lined up right beside the bouys, but about 4 ladies back (which was essentially the back row other than the ladies who decided to stand on the shore til the gun went off). It was a freaking madhouse this time. Lots of bodies all in the way. Lots of contact. I felt like it took forEVER for me to get some clear water. I felt pretty good though, like I was holding my own. I began passing ladies in the previous wave, and when I got near the turn it didn't look like I was too far behind the leaders of my wave. That was weird because that was also when I got passed by the fasties of the following wave. But I didn't freak out on that because that was the wave that included relay teams, and the people passing me were men. I realize now that some of this was misleading because my wave included my age group, plus the 35-39 age group, and apparently they were the ones that I was pacing, now that I look at the very disappointing results. I have GOT to figure out what is going so wrong on the swims that I am so much slower in open water than in the pool.
Swim: 16:45 for 2:48/100y
Transition, omg transition. I was actually surprised when I saw this number because I was veeeerry disappointed with this transition. Ran to area, was happy about all the bikes still there, stood on towel. Put on run belt, arm sweatband gets stuck going on because of all the wetness, lost seconds here. Put on sunglasses. Put on helmet, sunglasses fogged. Take off sunglasses, wipe with towel, put back on. Try to dry feet/clean some of the insane amount of grass/mud off them. Put on socks, put on shoes (I switched to Yankz, good move!). Sunglasses have filled with water dripping off face, take off, say out loud, "Slowest transition EVER!", clean with towel, put back on again, grab bike, head out. On the way realize that sunglasses are over helmet straps, take off again, put on correctly.
T1: 1:38 (Seriously, shockingly fast given all that!)
Head to bike mount line, 5 women spread all over road in front, have to wait a bit, but get some clear and get mounted. Had mud all up in shoes so took a while to get feet positioned comfortably on the pedal grips.
Got going and was really pleased, maintaining a nice 17-18mph speed. It was an out and back course and when we hit the first few hills I was excited about coming back because I'd get to go down them. When I hit the turnaround, duuuuuude. So disappointing. I realized that I had had BOTH a tailwind AND a downhill false flat for most of the way out. Speed dropped to a struggling 14mph. Blarg. Eventually I hit one of the turns and was able to pick it back up again. And I must say I LOVE the 12 mile bikes. Somehow that seems soooo much shorter than a 15! By the time I was back in transition I was feeling very good about the bike despite my low point on course.
Bike: 43:13 for 16.7mph
Transition was no big deal. Helmet off, grabbed a quick swig of water. Struggled to place bike on rack because of how the other ladies had racked theirs, but managed it with a little finagling.
T2: 1:06
Ran out, was pleased to find almost immediate Gatorade. There were a lot of people around, so even though my normal strategy is to walk to calm my heart rate and breathing before running, I kind of felt like I needed to run. So I ran past Preston and people, and stopped to walk where it was calmer. I had grabbed my phone, so started RunKeeper, stowed it in race belt, and adjusted hair. Then began running with a 4:1 goal, that ended up being closer to a 3.5:1.5, which I was really pretty pleased with. I'm aware that I need to work on some speed. I also think maybe getting the old garmin out would help because I feel like some of my issues are mental out on the run. It just feels like it kind of goes on forever! With a garmin on I can use the numbers to encourage myself.
Run: 35:59 for 12:00min/mi.
Total: 1:38.42
Post race: I was very very very disappointed with the post race food. They had run out of pizza completely. They had raisen and plain bagels. There were cookies which were quite good. I also got watermelon (nice), grapes (sour), and literally the most disgusting banana that I have ever eaten in my entire life. It was like the starch hadn't turned to sugar. I actually had to spit it out, it was so sick and wrong.
Then there was the looooong walk back to the car, followed by the quest for food (Taco C and Starbucks, yum!).
Ok, so the long view. I had better T1, Bike, and T2. My run was about the same, meh. My swim, blarg, so disappointing. All in all, I was really happy with my time, which is funny. Based on the differences in distances from the CB&I, I was hoping for a sub-1:40, which I totally accomplished! I just didn't get the time back where I expected it, which has me shaking my head.
Take-aways: Still need speed. SPEEEEEED! Garmin for the run, RunKeeper isn't good enough because I can't see it easily.
This is a funny one because I was feeling pretty pleased with myself until I looked at my splits this morning!
Let's talk it out.
Left the house at 4:50, transition was closing at 6:45 but the race was about an hour away. Did a brilliant thing and stopped at a gas station about 5 miles from the race so I could take care of some business without a line and with a real toilet and more calm, given my wardrobe issues at the CB&I. I should always do this.
Got to the parking lot, and the race packet said it was a .5 mile walk but it must have been at least a mile because it took forEVER to get there.
Got to transition, walked in and almost immediately realized I had forgotten my running shoes in the car. Sent P back for them but it was going to be a near thing for him to get back before transition closed.
While I waited I set up my transition area, which was complicated because the chick next to me had like 10 people gathered around her talking, so I couldn't get through to my spot, then she had her bike racked in the wrong direction, but I wasn't 100% sure whether it was her or the chick on the other side - just knew someone was wrong, so had to find a ref, blah blah. Anyways, got my spot all set up other than shoes, then headed for the bathroom (again). Luckily there was a real one, and I was willing to stand in the line. Did my business and managed to re-suit myself, then went to grab the camp chairs and pick a nice spot for P. He made it back with LITERALLY 3 minutes to spare, and I got my shoes onto my towel and got out of transition.
I haven't yet mentioned the mud. It was soooooo wet and muddy. Houston has had flooding rains over the past week, and this tri was in a hard hit area. I was actually checking the website on the morning of to confirm it was still happening, the rains were so severe in that area.
So once again my wave was second to last, so after transition closed, I ate a granola bar, applied sunscreen, got my swim cap on, and generally hung out a bit. Watched several waves start and begin to finish, then headed over to line up.
The water temperature was nice. I was excited about the swim course because it was a long out, then a right turn. Bouys would be on the right, which is to my advantage. I lined up right beside the bouys, but about 4 ladies back (which was essentially the back row other than the ladies who decided to stand on the shore til the gun went off). It was a freaking madhouse this time. Lots of bodies all in the way. Lots of contact. I felt like it took forEVER for me to get some clear water. I felt pretty good though, like I was holding my own. I began passing ladies in the previous wave, and when I got near the turn it didn't look like I was too far behind the leaders of my wave. That was weird because that was also when I got passed by the fasties of the following wave. But I didn't freak out on that because that was the wave that included relay teams, and the people passing me were men. I realize now that some of this was misleading because my wave included my age group, plus the 35-39 age group, and apparently they were the ones that I was pacing, now that I look at the very disappointing results. I have GOT to figure out what is going so wrong on the swims that I am so much slower in open water than in the pool.
Swim: 16:45 for 2:48/100y
Transition, omg transition. I was actually surprised when I saw this number because I was veeeerry disappointed with this transition. Ran to area, was happy about all the bikes still there, stood on towel. Put on run belt, arm sweatband gets stuck going on because of all the wetness, lost seconds here. Put on sunglasses. Put on helmet, sunglasses fogged. Take off sunglasses, wipe with towel, put back on. Try to dry feet/clean some of the insane amount of grass/mud off them. Put on socks, put on shoes (I switched to Yankz, good move!). Sunglasses have filled with water dripping off face, take off, say out loud, "Slowest transition EVER!", clean with towel, put back on again, grab bike, head out. On the way realize that sunglasses are over helmet straps, take off again, put on correctly.
T1: 1:38 (Seriously, shockingly fast given all that!)
Head to bike mount line, 5 women spread all over road in front, have to wait a bit, but get some clear and get mounted. Had mud all up in shoes so took a while to get feet positioned comfortably on the pedal grips.
Got going and was really pleased, maintaining a nice 17-18mph speed. It was an out and back course and when we hit the first few hills I was excited about coming back because I'd get to go down them. When I hit the turnaround, duuuuuude. So disappointing. I realized that I had had BOTH a tailwind AND a downhill false flat for most of the way out. Speed dropped to a struggling 14mph. Blarg. Eventually I hit one of the turns and was able to pick it back up again. And I must say I LOVE the 12 mile bikes. Somehow that seems soooo much shorter than a 15! By the time I was back in transition I was feeling very good about the bike despite my low point on course.
Bike: 43:13 for 16.7mph
Transition was no big deal. Helmet off, grabbed a quick swig of water. Struggled to place bike on rack because of how the other ladies had racked theirs, but managed it with a little finagling.
T2: 1:06
Ran out, was pleased to find almost immediate Gatorade. There were a lot of people around, so even though my normal strategy is to walk to calm my heart rate and breathing before running, I kind of felt like I needed to run. So I ran past Preston and people, and stopped to walk where it was calmer. I had grabbed my phone, so started RunKeeper, stowed it in race belt, and adjusted hair. Then began running with a 4:1 goal, that ended up being closer to a 3.5:1.5, which I was really pretty pleased with. I'm aware that I need to work on some speed. I also think maybe getting the old garmin out would help because I feel like some of my issues are mental out on the run. It just feels like it kind of goes on forever! With a garmin on I can use the numbers to encourage myself.
Run: 35:59 for 12:00min/mi.
Total: 1:38.42
Post race: I was very very very disappointed with the post race food. They had run out of pizza completely. They had raisen and plain bagels. There were cookies which were quite good. I also got watermelon (nice), grapes (sour), and literally the most disgusting banana that I have ever eaten in my entire life. It was like the starch hadn't turned to sugar. I actually had to spit it out, it was so sick and wrong.
Then there was the looooong walk back to the car, followed by the quest for food (Taco C and Starbucks, yum!).
Ok, so the long view. I had better T1, Bike, and T2. My run was about the same, meh. My swim, blarg, so disappointing. All in all, I was really happy with my time, which is funny. Based on the differences in distances from the CB&I, I was hoping for a sub-1:40, which I totally accomplished! I just didn't get the time back where I expected it, which has me shaking my head.
Take-aways: Still need speed. SPEEEEEED! Garmin for the run, RunKeeper isn't good enough because I can't see it easily.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
CB&I Triathlon Race Report
I trained for a triathlon after I had the kid, but I got super sick the night before and never ran it. Then I got distracted by other things - the crazy half marathon (series of) incident(s), the MS150, etc. This triathlon, ironically, kind of happened on a whim, and because of the MS150. You see, there is this lady at ex-work who is a great biker. One day I was chatting with her and I was expressing my worry over completing the MS150 and she was telling me she figured I'd be fine because I'm a triathlete. (This is a misconception, as we all know. One kind of athletic fitness does not necessarily translate into another. PLUS I hadn't done a tri in something like 5 years!) And then she told me she had signed up for an Ironman. I used to want to do an Ironman. I started this blog all those years ago because of all those triathlon, and specifically Ironman training blogs. I've never done one, obviously, and I'm at the point where I no longer think I will. But I am so grateful to the community for getting me started on triathlons because I love them! So I got super excited and asked her a few questions: have you run a marathon? No. Can you swim? No. WOW. Ok, well then, might I suggest a little sprint triathlon that I love called the CB&I so you can get your feet wet? She said she'd do it if I did it. So I did.
Fast forward to a week ago. One of the reasons I've always loved the CB&I is they do an open water swim the week before which in hugely valuable to not freaking out on race day. This year it got cancelled due to weather, so that was a total bummer.
Fast forward to Friday night. ANOTHER reason I love the CB&I is they let you do a bike drop off the night before, which I love because it makes race morning that much easier. So Friday night I picked up my packet, got body marked (the nice marker offered to put my number on Z's arm, and what a great idea! She felt included, she was supporting me, but it also would have been a great tool if she had gotten lost), and played with the ducks a bit. I had a STELLAR spot in transition, by the way. Really great! Then I went to the Astros game (9 game winning streak, y'all, and the tickets were free!! I couldn't turn it down even though it was the night before my first tri in 5 years and I should have been sleeping.).
Saturday morning we woke up at 5, were in the car by 5:35 and out of Shipleys by 5:45. This was PERFECT timing, so I want to put it here for posterity. Freaking perfect. By the time we got there and got parked and made it to transition, I only had about 15 minutes to set up my gear. Which I did. Then I stood in line for the real bathroom, totally worth it. And omg my new tri suit! I totally love it but it is a freaking NIGHTMARE in the restroom. It is sooooo hard to put on without getting the sports bra all twisted. I messed up bigtime in the bathroom and ended up hiding in the woods with my boobs out trying to fix it, no lie.
Then I sat on the side of the lake for 45 minutes and watched the MILLION waves that were before mine go off. (Seriously - that is my one complaint this year. Don't announce the course cut offs a mere week before the race, and if you do, let your slower athletes go first. Literally, the man who won the race was FINISHING while I was in the water.)
Got in line with my wave, saw the ex-work chick who was freaking out. It was actually kinda nice - I get way more freaky for triathlons than I do for runs or rides, but I was totally zen in the face of her freak-out. Got in the 75 degree water (lots of peeps in wetsuits, but I just don't get it for a sprint), lost my breath, lined up to the far outside but in the first row, and off we went!
I always forget how freaky open water feels. It is weird to say that because I always intellectually remember. I remember that I will be freaked and that it will be impossible to see and hard to breathe, but even though I remember it, the feeling always shocks me.
I put my face down in the water and started swimming and lost my breath and fought to keep it under control. Breathing twice as often, self-soothe, try to find a smooth stroke, look up and sight, omg it is cold, arg I'm scared I'm off my line, sight, ack people everywhere, screw it just try to swim straight, keep breathing it will get easier, etc. Basically all the way to the first turn bouy, where the number of people thinned out and I was freaking out less. Sighting really jacks with me. I am swimming the whole time afraid that I'm off course, and the mental questioning takes me away from focusing on the swimming. It is so weird. It is so different than normal swimming, which is massively peaceful for me!
Swim time: 13:09 for 2:37/100 (This was disappointing - I was expecting 11ish from my pool swimming.)
Ran in, grabbed water, slowed to a walk, 5 rows to bike, stand on towel, put on shades, helmet, run belt, dry feet, put on shoes, and done. Loooooong run out of transition to the bike mount.
T1: 2:50
Saw two people go down trying to mount and was infinitely pleased at how much better I am at biking. I got on and it felt like an old friend at this point. Just 15 miles? Easy, not even a training ride.
BUT, need to make that cutoff. Checked the time, knew I would make it, but set a goal to hammer anyways. This is the best trained I've ever been on a bike, let's see how fast I can do a timed trial.
It turns out not that fast. (I'll come back to this.) 58:53 for 15.3mph
For memory's sake, the course was mostly flat with some very mild uphill in the beginning, mild downhill at the end. There was a headwind on the way out. There are several several turns. If you divided the course into 4 parts, for me it was slow, fast, slow, fast.
T2: 1:15
I'm actually not even sure why this is so long, except the awkward running with bike bit. Literally all I had to do was rack the thing and take off the helmet and I was done. I actually stood there stupidly for maybe 5 seconds thinking surely I forgot something because that was too easy. And then out I ran.
Oooooh, the running. No bricks yet this year. No bricks in maybe 4 years? Almost forgot the crazy noodley feeling in my quads off the bike. Ran to the water stop, just to try to shake it out. Then walked up a hill. Then starting running again with a goal of running 4 minutes, then walking til I felt like I wasn't going to die, and repeating ad infinitum.
That was actually working pretty well for me. When I was running I wasn't displeased with my speed. When I was walking I was focusing on slowing my breathing and heart rate and just making it to the finish.
I started going back and forth with this woman. She was running slow, so I'd pass her running, then she would pass me walking. After a few times, she asked if we were going to keep playing tag and I said it looked like it. So the next time, I asked her her name, told her mine, etc. The next time I looked at her left calf and OMG y'all, she was 13 years old. THIRTEEN. What an AMAZING kid! I struck up a convo with her and actually chatting with her got me running a bit more than I was planning on. She does lots of triathlons and is a part of a team and knows kids as young as 10 doing it. When we rounded the corner on the way back, she saw her people and I told her to go be awesome. She finished about 100 yards ahead of me and waited for me to cross the line. It was a total honor to get to run with such a determined young athlete.
35:20 for 11:19mph
I collected my well-earned medal and went in search of food and family. Frankly, I was wandering around rather aimlessly in transition trying to figure out how to get to the food. Finally made it and went through the line, getting one of everything, and still had no idea where family was. I was guessing the playground, and while I didn't see them, I did see the camp chairs (BRILLIANT idea, btw), and collapsed and let them find me. Sat around for quite a while listening to music and the awards and eating and watching Z play, then headed home.
Takeaways: Bring camp chairs for family, get better at using tri-suit, being well-trained for long distances doesn't make me speedy - time to get shorter and speedier, need hand-held hydration for the run, always get Z body-marked with my number, try a faster tempo with swim stroke, bring the Garmin for the run, I LOVE TRIATHLON!!
Fast forward to a week ago. One of the reasons I've always loved the CB&I is they do an open water swim the week before which in hugely valuable to not freaking out on race day. This year it got cancelled due to weather, so that was a total bummer.
Fast forward to Friday night. ANOTHER reason I love the CB&I is they let you do a bike drop off the night before, which I love because it makes race morning that much easier. So Friday night I picked up my packet, got body marked (the nice marker offered to put my number on Z's arm, and what a great idea! She felt included, she was supporting me, but it also would have been a great tool if she had gotten lost), and played with the ducks a bit. I had a STELLAR spot in transition, by the way. Really great! Then I went to the Astros game (9 game winning streak, y'all, and the tickets were free!! I couldn't turn it down even though it was the night before my first tri in 5 years and I should have been sleeping.).Saturday morning we woke up at 5, were in the car by 5:35 and out of Shipleys by 5:45. This was PERFECT timing, so I want to put it here for posterity. Freaking perfect. By the time we got there and got parked and made it to transition, I only had about 15 minutes to set up my gear. Which I did. Then I stood in line for the real bathroom, totally worth it. And omg my new tri suit! I totally love it but it is a freaking NIGHTMARE in the restroom. It is sooooo hard to put on without getting the sports bra all twisted. I messed up bigtime in the bathroom and ended up hiding in the woods with my boobs out trying to fix it, no lie.
Then I sat on the side of the lake for 45 minutes and watched the MILLION waves that were before mine go off. (Seriously - that is my one complaint this year. Don't announce the course cut offs a mere week before the race, and if you do, let your slower athletes go first. Literally, the man who won the race was FINISHING while I was in the water.)
I always forget how freaky open water feels. It is weird to say that because I always intellectually remember. I remember that I will be freaked and that it will be impossible to see and hard to breathe, but even though I remember it, the feeling always shocks me.I put my face down in the water and started swimming and lost my breath and fought to keep it under control. Breathing twice as often, self-soothe, try to find a smooth stroke, look up and sight, omg it is cold, arg I'm scared I'm off my line, sight, ack people everywhere, screw it just try to swim straight, keep breathing it will get easier, etc. Basically all the way to the first turn bouy, where the number of people thinned out and I was freaking out less. Sighting really jacks with me. I am swimming the whole time afraid that I'm off course, and the mental questioning takes me away from focusing on the swimming. It is so weird. It is so different than normal swimming, which is massively peaceful for me!
Swim time: 13:09 for 2:37/100 (This was disappointing - I was expecting 11ish from my pool swimming.)
Ran in, grabbed water, slowed to a walk, 5 rows to bike, stand on towel, put on shades, helmet, run belt, dry feet, put on shoes, and done. Loooooong run out of transition to the bike mount.
T1: 2:50
Saw two people go down trying to mount and was infinitely pleased at how much better I am at biking. I got on and it felt like an old friend at this point. Just 15 miles? Easy, not even a training ride.
BUT, need to make that cutoff. Checked the time, knew I would make it, but set a goal to hammer anyways. This is the best trained I've ever been on a bike, let's see how fast I can do a timed trial.
It turns out not that fast. (I'll come back to this.) 58:53 for 15.3mph
T2: 1:15
I'm actually not even sure why this is so long, except the awkward running with bike bit. Literally all I had to do was rack the thing and take off the helmet and I was done. I actually stood there stupidly for maybe 5 seconds thinking surely I forgot something because that was too easy. And then out I ran.
Oooooh, the running. No bricks yet this year. No bricks in maybe 4 years? Almost forgot the crazy noodley feeling in my quads off the bike. Ran to the water stop, just to try to shake it out. Then walked up a hill. Then starting running again with a goal of running 4 minutes, then walking til I felt like I wasn't going to die, and repeating ad infinitum.
That was actually working pretty well for me. When I was running I wasn't displeased with my speed. When I was walking I was focusing on slowing my breathing and heart rate and just making it to the finish.
I started going back and forth with this woman. She was running slow, so I'd pass her running, then she would pass me walking. After a few times, she asked if we were going to keep playing tag and I said it looked like it. So the next time, I asked her her name, told her mine, etc. The next time I looked at her left calf and OMG y'all, she was 13 years old. THIRTEEN. What an AMAZING kid! I struck up a convo with her and actually chatting with her got me running a bit more than I was planning on. She does lots of triathlons and is a part of a team and knows kids as young as 10 doing it. When we rounded the corner on the way back, she saw her people and I told her to go be awesome. She finished about 100 yards ahead of me and waited for me to cross the line. It was a total honor to get to run with such a determined young athlete.
35:20 for 11:19mph
I collected my well-earned medal and went in search of food and family. Frankly, I was wandering around rather aimlessly in transition trying to figure out how to get to the food. Finally made it and went through the line, getting one of everything, and still had no idea where family was. I was guessing the playground, and while I didn't see them, I did see the camp chairs (BRILLIANT idea, btw), and collapsed and let them find me. Sat around for quite a while listening to music and the awards and eating and watching Z play, then headed home.
Takeaways: Bring camp chairs for family, get better at using tri-suit, being well-trained for long distances doesn't make me speedy - time to get shorter and speedier, need hand-held hydration for the run, always get Z body-marked with my number, try a faster tempo with swim stroke, bring the Garmin for the run, I LOVE TRIATHLON!!Friday, March 20, 2015
Tri Training
In the fear of the MS150, it has kind of been lost in my mind that in a fit of insanity, I signed up for a triathlon at the beginning of May.
Up until I went for that first swim, I was most worried about the swim leg, just due to general rustiness. But I swam again yesterday, and really, the swim is going to be no problem at all. I swam 500 straight, twice, the first time in 11 minutes and the second time in 10 minutes. That is basically race pace for me when I'm fully trained. I must reiterate how absolutely stunning it is to find myself in good swim shape after such a long lay off, but there it is, I'm going to try not to look the gift horse in the mouth.
So that leaves me with 2 concerns. The first is the bike. I am not at all worried about the distance. Not. At. All. However, I need to be a bit faster. Now I think I can be. What I remember of the course is quite flat, and I am hoping that if I use my philosophy that won me my 5K PR all those years ago - if I use up 75 miles of biking energy in 15 miles, surely I'll be faster than when I'm riding to go far. But I will not be clipping in this year, for the first time in a tri, so that is also a factor, since I know clipping makes me faster. What I would really love is to find a short course somewhere where I could actually try to ride a short fast ride and gauge where I am. Perhaps if the R2R ride gets cancelled tomorrow, I can make that happen on Sunday.
The second concern is the run. Once again I'm not worried about the distance. After all these years, it is amazing to say, 5K doesn't phase me. It is hard to be scared any longer of a distance when I know the worst that happens is I walk it. But I don't want to walk it, and I'm not well trained on the run right now. This morning I think I averaged 14 min/mi? Running and walking. Sooo... I have what, 6 weeks? And we know that a lot of that, in terms of weekends, will remain tied up in MS150 training. However I will have a tune up 5K on April 16, BUT I need to not blow my legs for MS150 since it is only 2 days before, so I'll be running that conservatively. What if I did two runs per week for the next few weeks, one in which I don't go 5K but I try to go faster, and the other in which I do go 5K and I try to minimize walking? Part of the problem is I'm not getting my ass out of bed fast enough in the mornings. I need probably 40 minutes to be comfortable with 5K... I'll work on that. I'm not trying to go crazy here - but if I could get a 30ish minute 5K time for the tri, that would make me really happy.
So, ok, the tentative plan for the next 3 weeks (before conference and MS get thrown into the mix):
M: Run 5K
T: Swim
W: Run for speed
R: Swim
F: Run easy
S: Bike FAR
S: Off or Yoga
I can always do a morning bike on the trainer on swim days, too, since I'm swimming in the afternoon, but I don't want to lock that in - I still am wanting to be mentally flexible and am trying to be careful not to ask too much of myself.
Up until I went for that first swim, I was most worried about the swim leg, just due to general rustiness. But I swam again yesterday, and really, the swim is going to be no problem at all. I swam 500 straight, twice, the first time in 11 minutes and the second time in 10 minutes. That is basically race pace for me when I'm fully trained. I must reiterate how absolutely stunning it is to find myself in good swim shape after such a long lay off, but there it is, I'm going to try not to look the gift horse in the mouth.
So that leaves me with 2 concerns. The first is the bike. I am not at all worried about the distance. Not. At. All. However, I need to be a bit faster. Now I think I can be. What I remember of the course is quite flat, and I am hoping that if I use my philosophy that won me my 5K PR all those years ago - if I use up 75 miles of biking energy in 15 miles, surely I'll be faster than when I'm riding to go far. But I will not be clipping in this year, for the first time in a tri, so that is also a factor, since I know clipping makes me faster. What I would really love is to find a short course somewhere where I could actually try to ride a short fast ride and gauge where I am. Perhaps if the R2R ride gets cancelled tomorrow, I can make that happen on Sunday.
The second concern is the run. Once again I'm not worried about the distance. After all these years, it is amazing to say, 5K doesn't phase me. It is hard to be scared any longer of a distance when I know the worst that happens is I walk it. But I don't want to walk it, and I'm not well trained on the run right now. This morning I think I averaged 14 min/mi? Running and walking. Sooo... I have what, 6 weeks? And we know that a lot of that, in terms of weekends, will remain tied up in MS150 training. However I will have a tune up 5K on April 16, BUT I need to not blow my legs for MS150 since it is only 2 days before, so I'll be running that conservatively. What if I did two runs per week for the next few weeks, one in which I don't go 5K but I try to go faster, and the other in which I do go 5K and I try to minimize walking? Part of the problem is I'm not getting my ass out of bed fast enough in the mornings. I need probably 40 minutes to be comfortable with 5K... I'll work on that. I'm not trying to go crazy here - but if I could get a 30ish minute 5K time for the tri, that would make me really happy.
So, ok, the tentative plan for the next 3 weeks (before conference and MS get thrown into the mix):
M: Run 5K
T: Swim
W: Run for speed
R: Swim
F: Run easy
S: Bike FAR
S: Off or Yoga
I can always do a morning bike on the trainer on swim days, too, since I'm swimming in the afternoon, but I don't want to lock that in - I still am wanting to be mentally flexible and am trying to be careful not to ask too much of myself.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
On the Tat
I got asked recently if I ever did an Ironman, would I get the tattoo.
My answer was yes. Yes, I would. But I want to explain why.
Triathlon has changed the way I view my body. My body is a machine. My body is a tool that can be built, improved, honed. That has translated to a sort of biomechanical concept in my head. I once saw a biomechanical foot tattoo that I just thought was the coolest thing ever for a runner. I saved it for reference, because it is that idea, that imagery dominates my thoughts when I think about the components of my body.
When I think of completing a triathlon, let alone an Ironman, I think of the journey. Months of preparation, workouts, obstacles to overcome just to get to race day. Then race morning, the nerves, even fear, before you even go into the water. And the water, into the fray. Arms flailing, getting kicked, beaten, and having to carve your own path through the fear and the chaos to come out the other side. Then coming out, dizzy, trying to find your running legs, but just for a minute before you hop on the bike. On the bike, for me, more fear. More fear because I'm a total spazz and always in danger of a crash. Fear to overcome. The struggle to stay in my head and pedal my own race as everyone and their dog passes me. Then finally to the run. Body, legs weighted down by bricks. Tired. But out I go and start reeling people in. Running is always a struggle for me. Pace myself. Try not to give in to the urge to walk. And finally the finish. I don't go out to participate in triathlons because they are easy. I go out to prove to myself that I can. Both physically, but more importantly, mentally.
For me, triathlon is about proving my strength. It is obviously a physical test, but for me, it has always been more of a mental test. I am not trying to prove anything to anyone else - I mean, I'm never going to win anything - I'm trying to prove something to my own self. That I can train through adversity. That I can perform. That I can keep going when every cell in my body and mind is telling me to stop, because I know I can. It is about trusting myself. Trusting my training. Trusting my body and mind. And there is strength in that.
When I think of strength, I think of the spine. I'm not sure why, but I think of a long, straight spine. And in my head, I've always associated the metal iron with that. "Iron spine" in my head is strength.
So, with all that said, if I ever complete an Ironman, if I ever become an Ironman, I will get the tattoo. But it will be a biomechanical tattoo located on my upper back, and the m-dot will be just one component worked into the whole. Because completing an Ironman would only be one piece, one evidence of my strength. The tattoo would not be to tell the world about my Ironman. Or my strength. The tattoo would be a personal celebration of that journey, that strength. A beautiful reminder every day of what my body and mind are capable of. And sometimes, when my back is exposed, yes sometimes, maybe a story to tell people as well.
My answer was yes. Yes, I would. But I want to explain why.
Triathlon has changed the way I view my body. My body is a machine. My body is a tool that can be built, improved, honed. That has translated to a sort of biomechanical concept in my head. I once saw a biomechanical foot tattoo that I just thought was the coolest thing ever for a runner. I saved it for reference, because it is that idea, that imagery dominates my thoughts when I think about the components of my body.
When I think of completing a triathlon, let alone an Ironman, I think of the journey. Months of preparation, workouts, obstacles to overcome just to get to race day. Then race morning, the nerves, even fear, before you even go into the water. And the water, into the fray. Arms flailing, getting kicked, beaten, and having to carve your own path through the fear and the chaos to come out the other side. Then coming out, dizzy, trying to find your running legs, but just for a minute before you hop on the bike. On the bike, for me, more fear. More fear because I'm a total spazz and always in danger of a crash. Fear to overcome. The struggle to stay in my head and pedal my own race as everyone and their dog passes me. Then finally to the run. Body, legs weighted down by bricks. Tired. But out I go and start reeling people in. Running is always a struggle for me. Pace myself. Try not to give in to the urge to walk. And finally the finish. I don't go out to participate in triathlons because they are easy. I go out to prove to myself that I can. Both physically, but more importantly, mentally.
For me, triathlon is about proving my strength. It is obviously a physical test, but for me, it has always been more of a mental test. I am not trying to prove anything to anyone else - I mean, I'm never going to win anything - I'm trying to prove something to my own self. That I can train through adversity. That I can perform. That I can keep going when every cell in my body and mind is telling me to stop, because I know I can. It is about trusting myself. Trusting my training. Trusting my body and mind. And there is strength in that.
When I think of strength, I think of the spine. I'm not sure why, but I think of a long, straight spine. And in my head, I've always associated the metal iron with that. "Iron spine" in my head is strength.
So, with all that said, if I ever complete an Ironman, if I ever become an Ironman, I will get the tattoo. But it will be a biomechanical tattoo located on my upper back, and the m-dot will be just one component worked into the whole. Because completing an Ironman would only be one piece, one evidence of my strength. The tattoo would not be to tell the world about my Ironman. Or my strength. The tattoo would be a personal celebration of that journey, that strength. A beautiful reminder every day of what my body and mind are capable of. And sometimes, when my back is exposed, yes sometimes, maybe a story to tell people as well.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Post-Sick Working Out
I took all of last week off from running - I was just trying to get my feet back under me after that terrible sickness!
Thursday I managed to work a full 10 hour day at work, so I figured Friday it was time to get back at it, but gently so as not to undo all my healing progress. I rode the trainer at an "easy" effort for about 30 minutes, and man, it is tough knowing that only a week before I had been throwing down an hour's hard effort easily and now 30 minutes easy was a stretch! But I was glad to get it done and be back in the saddle again.
Saturday morning Preston had to work, so I decided to take Z to the park after breakfast. I wasn't planning on running, just a nice brisk 1 mile each direction walk. But as I was walking along I was struck by a strong desire to run - I felt great, bouncy, ready to go - and so I did some little run intervals, usually to the next stop sign from wherever I felt the running bug. And I did the same on the way back. I was really excited about this! For me it is really something to be out on a walk and to just *want* to run. I was really feeling the love.
Sunday we went to the pool, but I wasn't feeling it, and I've officially missed triathlon season, so I just played with the baby and didn't do any laps. And I'm ok with that.
This morning I went back out for my first "structured" run since the sickness. I walked a warm-up, then ran 4 minutes, walked, 5 minutes, walked, 6 minutes, walked, and then 7 minutes, walked. I intended on doing a hard 3 minutes to close out an even 30 minutes of run/walking, but when I went to do that last interval, my left knee was PISSED. I'm not sure what was going on. It didn't hurt at the end of the 7 minutes, nor did it hurt during the walking. It only hurt when I tried to pick up the pace again. I walked some more and tried 3 more times, each time immediately quitting because it was so obviously tweaking. I'm not too worried yet. I'll take some Ibuprofen and go easy on it until I run again on Wednesday. It is probably just me trying to come back from the sickness to soon or something. *crosses fingers*
So now that my triathlon season is over (without ever completing a tri, sigh), I'm wanting to focus on running and fun workouts. I think the spontaneous interval session was a great start, and I think I'm going to throw down some P90X in the morning "for fun". I'll do an arm focused one so as to lay off the knee. Bring it!
Thursday I managed to work a full 10 hour day at work, so I figured Friday it was time to get back at it, but gently so as not to undo all my healing progress. I rode the trainer at an "easy" effort for about 30 minutes, and man, it is tough knowing that only a week before I had been throwing down an hour's hard effort easily and now 30 minutes easy was a stretch! But I was glad to get it done and be back in the saddle again.
Saturday morning Preston had to work, so I decided to take Z to the park after breakfast. I wasn't planning on running, just a nice brisk 1 mile each direction walk. But as I was walking along I was struck by a strong desire to run - I felt great, bouncy, ready to go - and so I did some little run intervals, usually to the next stop sign from wherever I felt the running bug. And I did the same on the way back. I was really excited about this! For me it is really something to be out on a walk and to just *want* to run. I was really feeling the love.
Sunday we went to the pool, but I wasn't feeling it, and I've officially missed triathlon season, so I just played with the baby and didn't do any laps. And I'm ok with that.
This morning I went back out for my first "structured" run since the sickness. I walked a warm-up, then ran 4 minutes, walked, 5 minutes, walked, 6 minutes, walked, and then 7 minutes, walked. I intended on doing a hard 3 minutes to close out an even 30 minutes of run/walking, but when I went to do that last interval, my left knee was PISSED. I'm not sure what was going on. It didn't hurt at the end of the 7 minutes, nor did it hurt during the walking. It only hurt when I tried to pick up the pace again. I walked some more and tried 3 more times, each time immediately quitting because it was so obviously tweaking. I'm not too worried yet. I'll take some Ibuprofen and go easy on it until I run again on Wednesday. It is probably just me trying to come back from the sickness to soon or something. *crosses fingers*
So now that my triathlon season is over (without ever completing a tri, sigh), I'm wanting to focus on running and fun workouts. I think the spontaneous interval session was a great start, and I think I'm going to throw down some P90X in the morning "for fun". I'll do an arm focused one so as to lay off the knee. Bring it!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Triathlon this Weekend!
Me: Maybe I should quit doing triathlons for a while. They are so stressful for me.
P: But you're so good at swimming!
Me: Thanks! And how am I at biking? And which comprises the majority of the tri?
(I don't really think I'll quit. I'm just in panic mode a bit. Scheduling a tri 10 days after you return to the country from a European vacation is.... ambitious.)
P: But you're so good at swimming!
Me: Thanks! And how am I at biking? And which comprises the majority of the tri?
(I don't really think I'll quit. I'm just in panic mode a bit. Scheduling a tri 10 days after you return to the country from a European vacation is.... ambitious.)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
My Email = Evil Temptress
So I'm thinking of doing a triathlon this summer. I think it has been 3 years since I've tri'd? OMG, yes, almost 4 years!
Screw it, I just left this screen and signed up.
What I was going to say is that 2 days ago I got an email that the Bridgeland Triathlon is open for registration. It is a sprint: 500m swim, 14 mi bike, 3.65 mi run. And they give tech t's and medals. The complication? It is right on the heels of my vacation, and I don't intend on training during my vacation. Oh, and I haven't ridden my bike since I found out I was pregnant in 20-freaking-10. And I haven't hit the pool since last summer, since I no longer have a gym membership. Nice.
But, but it is only a 500m swim. My local pool will open in June, so I could swim a few times a week while P and Z splash around in the other end, and that'd get me to non-drowning capability. (Actually, I've been swimming all my life, and I'm pretty confident I could do a 500m swim right now and not drown, but it'd suck pretty hard.)
And I haven't been riding my bike, but I have been stationary cycling. It wouldn't be too hard to switch over to the trainer, and in a few months hit the road. I think I have a good start on the fitness for an hour long ride - this morning I rode for 40 minutes - I just need some practice on not falling off the bike. I can do that in 4 months. Totally.
And I have been running. I could do the run now. Slowly, but I'm sure of it.
So, really, if you think about it, this will allow me to continue focusing on my run base - short, but hopefully speeding up. My cross training just needs to pick up a few sessions a week on a real bike instead of the stationary, and after a month or 2, move it outside. And pick up some swimming when it gets warm, which I would totally do anyways - I love to swim!
And the vacation - I'll be ok. It is the best timing for a tri, because August is when half marathon training begins. I'll have a nice aerobic base built up for the tri, and then I'll just need to start converting it to running long.
I'm going to be a triathlete again!
Updated to add: I couldn't get over that it had been since August 2008 since I had done a tri, and I was right, it was actually May 2009. Still, that'll be more than 3 years when Bridgeland rolls around. It is time.
Screw it, I just left this screen and signed up.
What I was going to say is that 2 days ago I got an email that the Bridgeland Triathlon is open for registration. It is a sprint: 500m swim, 14 mi bike, 3.65 mi run. And they give tech t's and medals. The complication? It is right on the heels of my vacation, and I don't intend on training during my vacation. Oh, and I haven't ridden my bike since I found out I was pregnant in 20-freaking-10. And I haven't hit the pool since last summer, since I no longer have a gym membership. Nice.
But, but it is only a 500m swim. My local pool will open in June, so I could swim a few times a week while P and Z splash around in the other end, and that'd get me to non-drowning capability. (Actually, I've been swimming all my life, and I'm pretty confident I could do a 500m swim right now and not drown, but it'd suck pretty hard.)
And I haven't been riding my bike, but I have been stationary cycling. It wouldn't be too hard to switch over to the trainer, and in a few months hit the road. I think I have a good start on the fitness for an hour long ride - this morning I rode for 40 minutes - I just need some practice on not falling off the bike. I can do that in 4 months. Totally.
And I have been running. I could do the run now. Slowly, but I'm sure of it.
So, really, if you think about it, this will allow me to continue focusing on my run base - short, but hopefully speeding up. My cross training just needs to pick up a few sessions a week on a real bike instead of the stationary, and after a month or 2, move it outside. And pick up some swimming when it gets warm, which I would totally do anyways - I love to swim!
And the vacation - I'll be ok. It is the best timing for a tri, because August is when half marathon training begins. I'll have a nice aerobic base built up for the tri, and then I'll just need to start converting it to running long.
I'm going to be a triathlete again!
Updated to add: I couldn't get over that it had been since August 2008 since I had done a tri, and I was right, it was actually May 2009. Still, that'll be more than 3 years when Bridgeland rolls around. It is time.
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Winter Plan
Seems strange to be thinking of the winter plan just when the heat of summer is really setting in in Texas, but last year I had started the winter plan more than a year in advance - when I signed up for the Rock 'n Roll Half in San Antonio, so I guess 6ish months is really pretty reasonable in comparison.
I've been noodling on this for more than a month. Some of it is still variable - the triathlon parts, to be specific. But I'm really excited about the running plan, so it is seeming more solid.
Here it is: I want to do a boatload of half marathons this winter, starting in October, and with the goal of getting faster at that distance. I think this is the perfect plan for improving my distance stamina and my overall speed. I would like to do another marathon, but I think if I take a winter to focus on this plan, I'd have a better chance of succeeding at the marathon distance. I'll also throw in some shorter races for fun. Here is the plan in detail:
October 25: Houston Half
November 15: San Antonio Half
December 13: Dallas White Rock Half
January 17: Aramco Houston Half
February 1?: Mardi Gras Half in New Orleans
February 14: Austin Half
I'd also like to run the Ten for Texas, the Run Thru the Woods 5 Miler on Thanksgiving, the Mardi Gras Beach 10K in Galveston, and some of the HARRA Spring Series. I think focusing on the Half distance will make it easier for me to do some of the shorter races that are so fun for me (and so good for my speed!).
Triathlon-wise, I'm entertaining a theory for the remainder of the season, and for the beginning of next season. I'm thinking about trying to get in two Olympic distance tris to end out this tri season. I had really hoped to get more in, but there just hasn't been much in the area that seems interesting to me. So I'm thinking of the Clearlake Int'l Triathlon on August 22 (this one could possible be the sprint or the relay with Preston...), and then the Austin Triathlon, which is on Labor Day (September 7th). These are still just thoughts... and then I'm thinking maybe of the Lone Star Half Iron in Galveston in late April... it seems like I'd be well-trained for the run after that winter schedule... and the swim is not a problem... the question is really the bike and running off the bike...
We'll see. But that run plan is solid. It is on.
I've been noodling on this for more than a month. Some of it is still variable - the triathlon parts, to be specific. But I'm really excited about the running plan, so it is seeming more solid.
Here it is: I want to do a boatload of half marathons this winter, starting in October, and with the goal of getting faster at that distance. I think this is the perfect plan for improving my distance stamina and my overall speed. I would like to do another marathon, but I think if I take a winter to focus on this plan, I'd have a better chance of succeeding at the marathon distance. I'll also throw in some shorter races for fun. Here is the plan in detail:
October 25: Houston Half
November 15: San Antonio Half
December 13: Dallas White Rock Half
January 17: Aramco Houston Half
February 1?: Mardi Gras Half in New Orleans
February 14: Austin Half
I'd also like to run the Ten for Texas, the Run Thru the Woods 5 Miler on Thanksgiving, the Mardi Gras Beach 10K in Galveston, and some of the HARRA Spring Series. I think focusing on the Half distance will make it easier for me to do some of the shorter races that are so fun for me (and so good for my speed!).
Triathlon-wise, I'm entertaining a theory for the remainder of the season, and for the beginning of next season. I'm thinking about trying to get in two Olympic distance tris to end out this tri season. I had really hoped to get more in, but there just hasn't been much in the area that seems interesting to me. So I'm thinking of the Clearlake Int'l Triathlon on August 22 (this one could possible be the sprint or the relay with Preston...), and then the Austin Triathlon, which is on Labor Day (September 7th). These are still just thoughts... and then I'm thinking maybe of the Lone Star Half Iron in Galveston in late April... it seems like I'd be well-trained for the run after that winter schedule... and the swim is not a problem... the question is really the bike and running off the bike...
We'll see. But that run plan is solid. It is on.
Monday, May 4, 2009
CB&I Triathlon Race Report
Or yes, I am still training/racing even though I'm not blogging. I'm not blogging because my husband had a vertebral artery dissection, was in the hospital for 3 days, and is now at a high risk for stroke for the next 3 months. Ok, so I wasn't training while that went on. But I'm trying for back to normal, here. (PSA re: VAD to follow, I hope!)
So, around New Year's I convinced my 'rents to come into town to spectate at their first tri, my first tri of the season, the CB&I.
4am on race morning came early, as always. I managed to empty my belly 4 times before we left the house, and another two after we got to the race. We left the house at 5:15, arrived to transition with plenty of time for me to set up, find the bathroom, set up some more, bathroom again, talk to P and Mom and Dad, and wait some. I brought my bike to check-in the night before, where the lovely dude from Bikeland fixed the grumpy shifting that wasn't wanting to go from the middle to the large chain ring, and where I was asked, as always, "Have you crashed this thing?" YES, people. I am a total spaz. The bike has scratched paint, a missing shifter-cover, and is slightly bent because I crashed it. Moving on. Thanks to the dude for fixing my girl!
Anyways, my wave wasn't taking off til 7:24, so we wandered down to the water to watch everyone else's. I hung out with the family until about 7:15 when I lined up. I had swum at the practice swim the weekend before, so I knew the water was cold, and remembered how not to freak out, etc. Good thing. It was srsly cold.
I lined up about 3 people back as close to the bouy line as I could. I took a good line, and I was glad for it. I felt like I was only passing people. I wasn't passed except by the fastest people in the wave following. I don't know why the swims always seem to take so long... Out of the water in 11:07. Faster than last year, but not in the 10's as I had hoped.
Out of the water and into transition. Tried something new this time: put a hand towel at the end of my towel. Used it to quickly wipe my face, then bent over and used it on the tops of my feet. Was really pretty effective. Put on my Drymax socks (I definitely like these better than my Asics for triathlons), bike shoes, helmet, skipped the sunglasses because it was so overcast, and I was off!
Ran to the mount line, then wasted probably 30-45 seconds trying to get on my bike. Even though I had set the pedals before the race, they were moved, so I was shaking, trying to edge forward, trying to clip in... (total spaz). Finally I took a deep breath, consciously told myself to calm down, managed to clip in, and then caught my biker ass-pad on my seat. Rode out of transition with my bike seat-nose up my butt, telling myself if I could just get my left foot clipped in, then I could stand up and get my ass on the seat. I was seriously graceful. Not humiliating at all.
Anyways, once I was finally aboard my bike, it actually went shockingly well. I was passing people this year!! Not a lot, but, still! I averaged over 17 mph. It was pretty windy, but I just tried to spin it out when I felt bad. My arms still bothered me a bit - I get stiff, my shoulders ride up and I have to remember to relax them, etc, but I'm working on it. The bike really seemed pretty much a non-event. I rolled in just under 53 minutes later, knowing I beat last year's time. What more could I really ask for?
Ah, I could ask that they not make the bike-in run any longer. I am astonished that my T2 time is faster than last year's. It is really a tribute to the Yankz, because I had so much farther to run with my bike to rack it I figured I'd have lost any gains I made...
And out I ran. Couldn't get my Garmin going right - whatever, didn't care. Just keep the legs moving. And the legs didn't want to move. I felt pretty terrible. Pretty quickly fell into the "just keep running, only walk the water stops" routine. Which was successful for me. I did only walk the water stops. But I didn't feel nearly as good as I wanted, nor did I run as fast as last year. It is ok, and I'm not beating myself up over it, but it wasn't what I wanted. I think there were a few factors in play: 1) I have decreased running speed this year. That is no secret. I am not as fit for speed as I was. 2) I have decreased running fitness this year. I've been lucky to run 3 times per week since the marathon. I've been working on my bike, etc. 3) It was pretty warm, and super humid. I am NOT acclimated to that yet. It didn't hurt my swim or bike, but I really felt it on the run. And finally, 4) I think I mentally checked-out there a bit at the end. That is my own fault. I didn't have fight in me.
Overall, I'm pleased with this race. I went faster than last year. I went faster in 4 of the 5 split times over last year. I'm not thrilled with my fitness, but that is my own fault, and I still need to get a little of my mojo back. I'm working on it. I was hoping that this would help me solidify my Fall racing plans, but I'm still pretty up in the air. I'd definitely like to get a few Oly's under my belt this season, though. And I'm starting to think that maybe the fall running season should focus on doing half marathons faster, and then start looking at maybe the half iron down at the Lone Star Tri festival??
I'll publish the official splits and compare them to last year in the next post, when the results website is working!
So, around New Year's I convinced my 'rents to come into town to spectate at their first tri, my first tri of the season, the CB&I.
4am on race morning came early, as always. I managed to empty my belly 4 times before we left the house, and another two after we got to the race. We left the house at 5:15, arrived to transition with plenty of time for me to set up, find the bathroom, set up some more, bathroom again, talk to P and Mom and Dad, and wait some. I brought my bike to check-in the night before, where the lovely dude from Bikeland fixed the grumpy shifting that wasn't wanting to go from the middle to the large chain ring, and where I was asked, as always, "Have you crashed this thing?" YES, people. I am a total spaz. The bike has scratched paint, a missing shifter-cover, and is slightly bent because I crashed it. Moving on. Thanks to the dude for fixing my girl!
Anyways, my wave wasn't taking off til 7:24, so we wandered down to the water to watch everyone else's. I hung out with the family until about 7:15 when I lined up. I had swum at the practice swim the weekend before, so I knew the water was cold, and remembered how not to freak out, etc. Good thing. It was srsly cold.
I lined up about 3 people back as close to the bouy line as I could. I took a good line, and I was glad for it. I felt like I was only passing people. I wasn't passed except by the fastest people in the wave following. I don't know why the swims always seem to take so long... Out of the water in 11:07. Faster than last year, but not in the 10's as I had hoped.
Out of the water and into transition. Tried something new this time: put a hand towel at the end of my towel. Used it to quickly wipe my face, then bent over and used it on the tops of my feet. Was really pretty effective. Put on my Drymax socks (I definitely like these better than my Asics for triathlons), bike shoes, helmet, skipped the sunglasses because it was so overcast, and I was off!
Ran to the mount line, then wasted probably 30-45 seconds trying to get on my bike. Even though I had set the pedals before the race, they were moved, so I was shaking, trying to edge forward, trying to clip in... (total spaz). Finally I took a deep breath, consciously told myself to calm down, managed to clip in, and then caught my biker ass-pad on my seat. Rode out of transition with my bike seat-nose up my butt, telling myself if I could just get my left foot clipped in, then I could stand up and get my ass on the seat. I was seriously graceful. Not humiliating at all.
Anyways, once I was finally aboard my bike, it actually went shockingly well. I was passing people this year!! Not a lot, but, still! I averaged over 17 mph. It was pretty windy, but I just tried to spin it out when I felt bad. My arms still bothered me a bit - I get stiff, my shoulders ride up and I have to remember to relax them, etc, but I'm working on it. The bike really seemed pretty much a non-event. I rolled in just under 53 minutes later, knowing I beat last year's time. What more could I really ask for?
Ah, I could ask that they not make the bike-in run any longer. I am astonished that my T2 time is faster than last year's. It is really a tribute to the Yankz, because I had so much farther to run with my bike to rack it I figured I'd have lost any gains I made...
And out I ran. Couldn't get my Garmin going right - whatever, didn't care. Just keep the legs moving. And the legs didn't want to move. I felt pretty terrible. Pretty quickly fell into the "just keep running, only walk the water stops" routine. Which was successful for me. I did only walk the water stops. But I didn't feel nearly as good as I wanted, nor did I run as fast as last year. It is ok, and I'm not beating myself up over it, but it wasn't what I wanted. I think there were a few factors in play: 1) I have decreased running speed this year. That is no secret. I am not as fit for speed as I was. 2) I have decreased running fitness this year. I've been lucky to run 3 times per week since the marathon. I've been working on my bike, etc. 3) It was pretty warm, and super humid. I am NOT acclimated to that yet. It didn't hurt my swim or bike, but I really felt it on the run. And finally, 4) I think I mentally checked-out there a bit at the end. That is my own fault. I didn't have fight in me.
Overall, I'm pleased with this race. I went faster than last year. I went faster in 4 of the 5 split times over last year. I'm not thrilled with my fitness, but that is my own fault, and I still need to get a little of my mojo back. I'm working on it. I was hoping that this would help me solidify my Fall racing plans, but I'm still pretty up in the air. I'd definitely like to get a few Oly's under my belt this season, though. And I'm starting to think that maybe the fall running season should focus on doing half marathons faster, and then start looking at maybe the half iron down at the Lone Star Tri festival??
I'll publish the official splits and compare them to last year in the next post, when the results website is working!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Is this thing still on???
Ok, I'm back. At least I think I am back. I hope I am back.
I DNS'd the Trolley Run last weekend. I had also planned on running the TLA Hetherington Fun Run the Thursday before. Not a DNS because I had never signed up, but definitely also a mental DNS. The reason? Sickness. I woke up sick on Thursday morning, not too shocking since Preston had been sick earlier in the week, but a little surprising because I haven't been sick in so long. I had to go to work on Thursday and Friday (TLA and speaking at TLA), and so I still felt crappy on Saturday. My entire focus for the Spring, blown in 3 days. And my first ever official DNS.
I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be. I really need a re-arrange on my priorities, and the fact that the CB&I Triathlon is a month out, and I have no more only running races planned means I can stop feeling like I always have to run (and like I'm cheating on running if I swim/bike/lift) and can just try and focus on getting my mojo back.
So, this week went really well. I was still a little tired from all the sick on Monday, but I didn't let it stop me. 5 miles run and 1900 yards swam. Tuesday I was exhausted because I had gone to the Astros Opening Day (YAAAAAY BASEBALL IS BACK!!!!) the night before, but I still got on the trainer for an hour. Wednesday another hour on the trainer. Thursday 4.25 miles run and 2700 yards swam. Gonne lift/core today, and want to brick tomorrow with Sunday off.
Swimming right now is going really really well. For the past several weeks, every time I've gotten in the water I've felt really good, and I've been going faster too. Less stress on my aerobic system, less need for rest on the wall, more yards, and faster. I couldn't ask for anything more. Every time I get out of the pool I feel emotionally lifted. It is awesome!!
Running and biking are a slightly different story. The run on Monday was great, but Thursday blew, and I think that that is because I'm not used to running on dead legs any longer. Gotta do some bricks. Gotta suffer through this period of adjustment.
Biking is ok. I'm really focusing on it, and I am pleased with the amount of time I am able to spend in the saddle (up to 90 minute sessions so far), and I am seeing improvements in my speed, too. Biking will never be my favorite, and improvements are coming slow, but I keep reminding myself that they are coming, and for that I should be happy.
Been neglecting my lifting and core a bit, but that was to be expected when I started tri training again. That was why I focused so much on it at the end of the marathon training... actually I'm taking an aerobic-free day today, but I do plan on lifting and coring when I get done with this...
I'm really trying here. Trying to be back in the saddle, and trying to get my head inthe game. I'd like to try to neglect this blog a bit less too. Just the other day I was trying to remember some stuff, and I came back here to look at my race reports. And I got all the info I need. Sometimes I feel like I lose sight of what this blog was for. I started this thing for me, and its purpose continues to be to help me. I need to use it more. Everything else is a by-product.
Ok, I'm off to the gym!
I DNS'd the Trolley Run last weekend. I had also planned on running the TLA Hetherington Fun Run the Thursday before. Not a DNS because I had never signed up, but definitely also a mental DNS. The reason? Sickness. I woke up sick on Thursday morning, not too shocking since Preston had been sick earlier in the week, but a little surprising because I haven't been sick in so long. I had to go to work on Thursday and Friday (TLA and speaking at TLA), and so I still felt crappy on Saturday. My entire focus for the Spring, blown in 3 days. And my first ever official DNS.
I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be. I really need a re-arrange on my priorities, and the fact that the CB&I Triathlon is a month out, and I have no more only running races planned means I can stop feeling like I always have to run (and like I'm cheating on running if I swim/bike/lift) and can just try and focus on getting my mojo back.
So, this week went really well. I was still a little tired from all the sick on Monday, but I didn't let it stop me. 5 miles run and 1900 yards swam. Tuesday I was exhausted because I had gone to the Astros Opening Day (YAAAAAY BASEBALL IS BACK!!!!) the night before, but I still got on the trainer for an hour. Wednesday another hour on the trainer. Thursday 4.25 miles run and 2700 yards swam. Gonne lift/core today, and want to brick tomorrow with Sunday off.
Swimming right now is going really really well. For the past several weeks, every time I've gotten in the water I've felt really good, and I've been going faster too. Less stress on my aerobic system, less need for rest on the wall, more yards, and faster. I couldn't ask for anything more. Every time I get out of the pool I feel emotionally lifted. It is awesome!!
Running and biking are a slightly different story. The run on Monday was great, but Thursday blew, and I think that that is because I'm not used to running on dead legs any longer. Gotta do some bricks. Gotta suffer through this period of adjustment.
Biking is ok. I'm really focusing on it, and I am pleased with the amount of time I am able to spend in the saddle (up to 90 minute sessions so far), and I am seeing improvements in my speed, too. Biking will never be my favorite, and improvements are coming slow, but I keep reminding myself that they are coming, and for that I should be happy.
Been neglecting my lifting and core a bit, but that was to be expected when I started tri training again. That was why I focused so much on it at the end of the marathon training... actually I'm taking an aerobic-free day today, but I do plan on lifting and coring when I get done with this...
I'm really trying here. Trying to be back in the saddle, and trying to get my head inthe game. I'd like to try to neglect this blog a bit less too. Just the other day I was trying to remember some stuff, and I came back here to look at my race reports. And I got all the info I need. Sometimes I feel like I lose sight of what this blog was for. I started this thing for me, and its purpose continues to be to help me. I need to use it more. Everything else is a by-product.
Ok, I'm off to the gym!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Belated Clearlake Int'l Tri Race Report
Or: My First Bonk
So, I took a nice relaxing day on Friday, complete with setting up all my tri stuff on the step in the entryway of my house and obsessing over whether or not I was forgetting something. Good times. With everything all packed in my official race day Astros bag, I crashed into an early sleep.
Alarm went off at 3-something. Ate a marathon bar, a banana, and had coffee to get the system moving. As usual on a race morning, boy, did things ever move. The bike was already loaded in the Menace, so it was just a matter of grabbing my bag, my water bottles and nuun that had been in the fridge overnight, and going.
It was a long, quiet drive down to Clearlake, with zero panic until the construction at the end forced us to re-route. (Which ended up being fine.) Got a stellar parking spot with our early arrival, so I started sunscreening up while Preston pumped my bike tires. I was seriously considering making another run for a bathroom when I heard the unmistakable sound of a tire deflating. Crap.
Preston asked me what I was going to do. I didn't have a spare tube or anything with me. I told him let's go over to transition and see if there is bike support around, otherwise, maybe I'll just swim and then DNF. Luckily, when we got to transition, Webster Bicycle was there. They fixed me up pretty quick, and were totally cool. When I offered to pay them, they didn't even take my money! Thanks, Webster Bicycle!!!
After that episode, my stomach wasn't too happy, but nicely, the site had public toilets instead of port-a-johns. Took care of business, set up my transition area (remembered to take the covers off my bike shoes this time - also brought my nice pair of watersocks for the transition area and pre-race, and really liked that too), and was ready to go. I was to be in the last wave starting, so I headed down to the start only about 5 minutes before they closed transition.
The swim was basically 3 sides of a rectangle, with the 4th side being the shoreline. The bouys were set up a little funny, though. From the start, it actually looked like you could get a better line on the swim by staying wide left of the bouys and just swimming straight at the turn bouy. I talked about it with Preston, and that's what I decided to do.
This was totally the right tactic, but so much of the swim is a mental game, and it totally psyched me out!! I was basically the only person in my wave trying to take the short line, and it totally freaked me out. I know (now that I'm out of the water) that it wasn't logical, I actually think I knew at the time that it wasn't logical, but I was bothered anyways, because I was swimming out there totally alone and on my own. It took basically the entire first leg for me to get my heartrate down and breathing down to something resembling normal. I had joined the others in my wave at the turn, and the second wave was fine. I was swimming with everyone else, passing people, and generally hitting my stride. Then came the third leg. I got around the turn bouy, and again the bouys seemed to be lined up really strangely. I decided to swim straight for the exit instead of zigzaging bouy to bouy. Again, it was totally the right strategy, but again I was questioning myself as I swam. What if I wasn't aiming at the actual finish? What if I was totally off course, etc. I wasn't. I came out of the water 5th in my age group.
Swim Time: 1000 meters in 24:34.
Got pulled out of the water, ran up the grassy knoll and into the transition parking lot. At that point I sat down, took a little nap... not really, but I really need to work on my transitions. I tried to dry my feet, got my socks and bike shoes on, tossed on my helmet and sunglasses, and, new for this race, my camelback. (which I also loved, btw. Being such a spaz on the bike, it is waaaaay easier for me to reach down, grab the mouthpiece, stick it in, and then drink while holding onto the bike with both hands, than to grab a waterbottle and drink all one handed.) I had totally discounted the little hill out of the parking lot, so I was in too hard of a gear and Preston says that I looked a little goofy as I was starting off, but I was up it quickly and on the road.
T1: 2:20 (15th in age group (of 17))
For the first 10 minutes or so, I just focused on spinning and trying to get my breathing and heartrate under control. Then, oh my gosh, I turned the corner and there was the Kemah Bridge. I had never seen it before, so I had No. Idea. when I signed up for the race how big it was. It looked like the freaking Galveston Bridge!! (Though it is actually smaller than that.) I cursed out loud, and immediately shifted onto my middle chainring. By the time I got to the top (which I totally had to talk myself through), I was only going 8mph. I didn't brake going down the other side, though, and hit 35mph, and that was way fun!!
For the first half of the bike, I just wanted the number to be over 17 every time I looked down to see how fast I was going. I wasn't struggling too hard to make that happen. Some time relatively soon after the bridge, though, I lowered my standards significantly, accepting 15 and struggling for 16. I hit an emotional low when I saw a lovely horse that reminded me of Lady, who just passed away. I fought my way back out of it, though I never really regained any speed. I was surprised when I was pulling into transition in just over an hour. The course was supposed to be 18.6 miles, and that'd be seriously fast for me! Found out after the race that the course was shortened to 16.4.
Bike Time: 16.4 miles in 1:01:07 (16.1mph avg). Dead last in my age group.
I was so freaking happy to be off the bike that I was grinning through transition. I was still slow, though. There is no excuse, other than I was just flat out feeling it. The only thing I did differently was to grab my hand-held amphipod full of nuun for the run.
T2: 2:14
I started out pretty strong. My Garmin took a bit to find me, so I didn't know exactly how strong, but I felt pretty good to be running. Unfortunately, the feeling quickly passed. Did you know that hot nuun is really gross? Me either. I love the stuff, but, damn, it always needs to be cold!! So I quickly realized that dragging my nuun bottle around me was going to be a waste of energy, but I wasn't about to put it down, so that sucked. I started run-walking pretty quickly. My initial plan was to run everything, but walk the aid stations. Well, we had to run up this mild bridge hill thing, and I decided I deserved to walk a bit. And it went like that, on and on and on, a terrible slogfest where as soon as I started running I started to plan walking. By the middle I was running 3 and walking 2, and by the end I was running to one streetlight and walking to the next.
Looking back on it, I think there were two things in play, here. One is that I was overheating. I was really hot. It was probably 90 degrees by this point, and super humid. When I'd pour water over my head, I'd get this strange shiver, feel like I was going to throw up, and then go right back to being hot. It was hot!! The second factor, I think, is that I was bonking. I hadn't practiced with any nutrition, and I was afraid to try anything new on race day, even though I knew at an anticipated 2.5+ hours I was going to need it. This was a mistake. Big mistake. I just had nothing left after about half of the bike.
Many thanks to the "Hooter's" guys aid station (at the turnaround). I think maybe the station had originally been manned by Hooters girls, but those of us in the back of the pack didn't get to see them because they needed to serve food at the post party. But the boys at that station were freaking hilarious! Gave me a good laugh, which I sorely needed at that point.
By the end my feet were getting hot spots and I was just ready to be done.
Run Time: 1:11:14, 15th in my age group.
Overall: 2:41:31.1, 15 of 17 in my age group, and 241 of 273 finishers.
Afterward, I ate a protein bar and a banana, drank a nice cold bottle of nuun and another bottle of water and headed home, stopping along the way to throw it all up again. Another sign of me overheating.
So, what did I learn? Yes to the watersocks, learning not to freak out when I choose my own line on the swim, Webster Bicycle (and learning to change my own flat some time soon!), and the Camelback on the bike. No to no nutrition, warm nuun, and overheating. Yes to more biking!! The bike is truly my limiter. I was *thrilled* with my swim place, and had I had the run I'm capable of, I'd have been in the top 10 of my age group in the run. That last place on the bike was really honestly the best I could do on that day, and it is really what I need to work on the most.
This'll be my last tri of the 2008 season, but I'm already vaguely planning next season... I know now that I can do an Olympic distance event...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Almost time to tri again
Not much time to post, lately. Sorry for that.
Doing the Clearlake Int'l Tri this Saturday. A bit nervous. When I signed up about a month and a half ago, the decision was difficult for me. I know I can do each of the distances seperately, no problem. 1k swim. I do that every time I hit the water, at least twice per week. 30k bike. That'll be the hardest, but it is only about 3 miles farther than CB&I, so I know it is doable. 10k run. I'm already up over that in FIT, so obviously doable, even in the heat.
With all of that said, my real goal is just to finish. This will be my first foray into anything longer than a sprint (though I know that this isn't even as long as an olympic tri!), and certainly my first endurance event over 90ish minutes.
Of course, I do have some times in mind. Anything less than 3 hours should be totally doable, even if I blow up. Based on my times at the CB&I, if I can just keep the pace up, I should be able to pull a 2:45 (12 min swim doubles to 24, 55 min bike plus 15 min for 3 more slow miles, and 60 minutes for the run, plus 4 minutes for slow transitions), and if my day is truely stellar, then 2:30 would be my out-of-this-world amazed goal.
I'm nervous, but we'll see how she goes. Just going to try to forget all of these numbers, have fun, and finish upright. Oh, and learn from my CB&I mistakes, and learn from any new ones I make, which I'm sure I'll do....
Doing the Clearlake Int'l Tri this Saturday. A bit nervous. When I signed up about a month and a half ago, the decision was difficult for me. I know I can do each of the distances seperately, no problem. 1k swim. I do that every time I hit the water, at least twice per week. 30k bike. That'll be the hardest, but it is only about 3 miles farther than CB&I, so I know it is doable. 10k run. I'm already up over that in FIT, so obviously doable, even in the heat.
With all of that said, my real goal is just to finish. This will be my first foray into anything longer than a sprint (though I know that this isn't even as long as an olympic tri!), and certainly my first endurance event over 90ish minutes.
Of course, I do have some times in mind. Anything less than 3 hours should be totally doable, even if I blow up. Based on my times at the CB&I, if I can just keep the pace up, I should be able to pull a 2:45 (12 min swim doubles to 24, 55 min bike plus 15 min for 3 more slow miles, and 60 minutes for the run, plus 4 minutes for slow transitions), and if my day is truely stellar, then 2:30 would be my out-of-this-world amazed goal.
I'm nervous, but we'll see how she goes. Just going to try to forget all of these numbers, have fun, and finish upright. Oh, and learn from my CB&I mistakes, and learn from any new ones I make, which I'm sure I'll do....
Monday, May 5, 2008
CB&I Triathlon Race Report
The long verson: 
It seemed then that things began to happen more quickly. I got in line, then soon we were being herded over the timing mat and into the (cold) water. I made my first mistake here: I chose to line up in the very back of my wave, but along the bouy line to hopefully avoid the beatdown at the start. This logic would have been fine if I were a slower swimmer, but it seems I've managed to claw my way up to middle-of-the-pack since February, and therefore I was having to pass breast-strokers. Not.Fun. And slowed me down. Anyways, lesson learned. Next time I'm thinking middle of the pack in depth, but perhaps off the bouy line a bit. We'll see how that goes.
Anyways, before I knew it I was up and out of the water and running to transition where I discovered my second mistake: I forgot to take the plastic protector thingies off my bike shoes and I fumbled around with that for too long. Otherwise it was pretty smooth, though way too slow. I managed to mount my bike without falling down, and so the ride began.
When the alarm went off at 4am, I woke up feeling *terrible*, just awful. I had a head-splitting headache, one of the worst I could remember in years! My stomach was also rebeling: I had diahrrea 4 times before leaving the house, and twice more at the race. On the way up to the Woodlands, I almost had to get Preston to pull over so I could vomit! I've had pre-race jitters before, but this was the worst!
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I woke up feeling all crappy, but immediately downed some of my Bolthouse Farms Moccha Cappuccino to get things moving, if you will. I ate an English muffin with the intention of chasing it with a Snickers marathon bar, but it was all I could do to choke the muffin down, so I threw the bar in my transition bag.
I had checked my bike in the night before and packed my transition bag, so as soon as I thought my stomach was reasonably empty, we headed up to the Woodlands.
We parked in the spectator lot and walked along the peaceful waters to transition. The ducks/geese were sleeping, and the lights were mobbed by bugs, which at that hour seemed eerily beautiful.
I settled Preston in where he could see me tooling around in transition, got body marked, and went in. My bicicleta was fine, the rain hadn't come the night before, so I removed her plastic bags and she was ready to go. I unrolled the towel that I brought with me, really appropriately, it has a rainbow and a smiley face and says "Have a happy day!". I think it will be my official tri towel from now on. I set up my bike shoes, helmet, running shoes, everything on it.
Then I discovered the joys of a one-piece tri-suit in a dark porta-potty. (Body markings marked it up real good, too.)
Then I hung out with Preston again, used the porta-john again, grabbed my goggles and swimcap and headed over for the festivities to begin. I was practically dancing around with nervous energy as the first wave of men took to the water, waited for the gun, and were off! The sun was just peeking over the horizon as the race started. The water temp, by the way, was 76 degrees, wetsuit legal, but there weren't many wetsuits, probably because most didn't expect the temperature to go down a few degrees from last week, and also because an e-mail went out a few days before from race directors that there would be no wetsuit stripper volunteers even if wetsuits were legal. I watched the next two waves start, then moved over to watch the transitions begin before I got in line with my wave - the first wave of women.
It seemed then that things began to happen more quickly. I got in line, then soon we were being herded over the timing mat and into the (cold) water. I made my first mistake here: I chose to line up in the very back of my wave, but along the bouy line to hopefully avoid the beatdown at the start. This logic would have been fine if I were a slower swimmer, but it seems I've managed to claw my way up to middle-of-the-pack since February, and therefore I was having to pass breast-strokers. Not.Fun. And slowed me down. Anyways, lesson learned. Next time I'm thinking middle of the pack in depth, but perhaps off the bouy line a bit. We'll see how that goes.
Anyways, before I knew it I was up and out of the water and running to transition where I discovered my second mistake: I forgot to take the plastic protector thingies off my bike shoes and I fumbled around with that for too long. Otherwise it was pretty smooth, though way too slow. I managed to mount my bike without falling down, and so the ride began.
The ride was uneventful, but waaaaaaay too slow. I got passed by everyone and her mother out on the bike course. I kept fighting to up my pace, but I just didn't have anything more in my legs. I felt like almost the entire ride was a false flat with a fierce headwind - just struggling to even go slow! I also struggled with knowing how far 3 bike lengths is to avoid drafting. I am sure I erred on the side of being way too far off the wheel in front of me, and I do think that worrying if I was far enough back and trying to be "overtaken" properly hurt my speed. All of this is stuff that I can improve on, though, and I made my goal of finishing the bike in under one
hour, so I was really pleased even though I'm already looking at how to get better. I really think a trainer will help: the other thing I noticed is that there was no place in the race where I wanted to stop pedaling and just coast for a second like I do when I'm biking in the neighborhood. I think time on a trainer will increase my "don't stop" stamina. I need to look into some gloves, or something, because my hands kept falling asleep, and I need to look into my fit and practice proper positioning, because every time I thought about it I realized that my shoulders were trying to climb on top of my head... Oh, and the other thing is that I need more time on a bike in my tri suit because my rear end got seriously sore! Lots to work on here as the bike was by far my weakest leg and the one where I could gain the most time with improvements.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, I finished the bike leg, gratefully and not-so-gracefully dismounted, and ran into transition. No real mistakes here, just too much slowness, and off to the run.
hour, so I was really pleased even though I'm already looking at how to get better. I really think a trainer will help: the other thing I noticed is that there was no place in the race where I wanted to stop pedaling and just coast for a second like I do when I'm biking in the neighborhood. I think time on a trainer will increase my "don't stop" stamina. I need to look into some gloves, or something, because my hands kept falling asleep, and I need to look into my fit and practice proper positioning, because every time I thought about it I realized that my shoulders were trying to climb on top of my head... Oh, and the other thing is that I need more time on a bike in my tri suit because my rear end got seriously sore! Lots to work on here as the bike was by far my weakest leg and the one where I could gain the most time with improvements.Finally, after what seemed like forever, I finished the bike leg, gratefully and not-so-gracefully dismounted, and ran into transition. No real mistakes here, just too much slowness, and off to the run.
The run was by far my strongest leg! I started running right out of 
transition, not trying to be fast, but just to run the mike legs off. I *immediately* started passing lots of people, which was really cool after the mental beatdown that being passed so much on the bike was. I decided to walk through all 3 aid stations to get some water, but otherwise I was committed to running the whole thing. I'd just pick out a target and pass them. The one frustrating thing was that the multisport setting on my Garmin doesn't show pace, so it wasn't until the first mile that I realized that I was actually booking it: 8:11 on the first mile! I can't even describe how cool a feeling that was. I actually had to look at the Garmin about 3 times to confirm that I wasn't delirious! After that, it was all just about holding the pace to the end. Second mile was just a tad slower, but still in the 8's. In the third mile the wheels were starting to come off, and rightfully so. 9:05. I could totally care less at that point, though, because I could see the finish line, and I knew at that point that I was going to easily break 1:45 - which was really secretly my goal #3. I could not wipe the smile off my face.
transition, not trying to be fast, but just to run the mike legs off. I *immediately* started passing lots of people, which was really cool after the mental beatdown that being passed so much on the bike was. I decided to walk through all 3 aid stations to get some water, but otherwise I was committed to running the whole thing. I'd just pick out a target and pass them. The one frustrating thing was that the multisport setting on my Garmin doesn't show pace, so it wasn't until the first mile that I realized that I was actually booking it: 8:11 on the first mile! I can't even describe how cool a feeling that was. I actually had to look at the Garmin about 3 times to confirm that I wasn't delirious! After that, it was all just about holding the pace to the end. Second mile was just a tad slower, but still in the 8's. In the third mile the wheels were starting to come off, and rightfully so. 9:05. I could totally care less at that point, though, because I could see the finish line, and I knew at that point that I was going to easily break 1:45 - which was really secretly my goal #3. I could not wipe the smile off my face.So, for the numbers:
Swim: 11:59.9 (27/51 age)
Pace: 2:24
T1: 2:19.4
Bike: 54:08.5 (32/51 age)
Pace: 16.6 mph
T2: 1:55.0
Run: 26:54.4 (21/51 age)
Pace: 8:37 min/mi
Total: 1:37:17.3 (25/51 age)
Pace: 2:24
T1: 2:19.4
Bike: 54:08.5 (32/51 age)
Pace: 16.6 mph
T2: 1:55.0
Run: 26:54.4 (21/51 age)
Pace: 8:37 min/mi
Total: 1:37:17.3 (25/51 age)
The race itself was well run, the volunteers were awesome, the food was yummy, the night before bike check-in was really convenient... can't say enough positive things about the race.
For my first tri, this was awesome. I was thrilled with the race and I am thrilled with the results. I've already updated my side bar with a whole bunch of other races I'd like to do this year - I'm totally hooked!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Nerves
First tri tomorrow.
Freaking out.
Bike all checked in, chip obtained. Alarm set, bag packed. Checked, rechecked. Nervous.
Must go to sleep: goals first.
1. Finish.
2. Finish in under 2 hours.
That's it. First time, after all.
Must sleep. Quiet, restless mind....
Freaking out.
Bike all checked in, chip obtained. Alarm set, bag packed. Checked, rechecked. Nervous.
Must go to sleep: goals first.
1. Finish.
2. Finish in under 2 hours.
That's it. First time, after all.
Must sleep. Quiet, restless mind....
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Open Waters
Well, I had my first open water swims this past weekend.
I signed up for a First Timers Tri clinic thingy at the race site on Saturday. It was nice: a little info on simple stuff that has been driving me nuts worrying about - how to rack the bike, where stuff will be, a few tips and tricks. Then we all went down to the water and joined up with another clinic and did a practice mass start. Not. Cool. I treaded water near the back and started a few seconds after everyone and still got beat up by the people who decided to start on the beach and swim the tangent. Grr. But I'm really glad we did it, because I swam through some panic, and I know now that I can do it. Sighting was sort of a beast too... I couldn't see past my elbows in the murky lake.
After all of that, I decided that I should go back the next day and swim the course twice more. The first time my goggles fogged up really badly (water is only 78 degrees), and between that and the sun I went a little off course, even though I really do swim straighter than I expected. But I still finished in 11:56, faster than I expected! I debated needing to go in again, but decided that I really should, as the foggy goggles had frustrated me, and I wanted a good vibe on the course before the tri. On the second swim, everything really went pretty perfectly. I felt fast in the water, and better at sighting. I was surprised to see a slower time of 12:26 when I got out, because I felt so much better, but I can easily chalk that up to not starting the watch in exactly the same place...
So, some concerns about this coming weekend have been addressed, though I'm still really nervous... as of Sunday I've stopped counting the calories, but am eating only good-for-me stuff. I'm tapering off on the workouts a little bit leading up to a day completely off on Friday before the tri (as I normally do with my run races). Trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. In short, just trying to set myself up as best as I possibly can.
I'll follow-up with a post on my goals later in the week...
I signed up for a First Timers Tri clinic thingy at the race site on Saturday. It was nice: a little info on simple stuff that has been driving me nuts worrying about - how to rack the bike, where stuff will be, a few tips and tricks. Then we all went down to the water and joined up with another clinic and did a practice mass start. Not. Cool. I treaded water near the back and started a few seconds after everyone and still got beat up by the people who decided to start on the beach and swim the tangent. Grr. But I'm really glad we did it, because I swam through some panic, and I know now that I can do it. Sighting was sort of a beast too... I couldn't see past my elbows in the murky lake.
After all of that, I decided that I should go back the next day and swim the course twice more. The first time my goggles fogged up really badly (water is only 78 degrees), and between that and the sun I went a little off course, even though I really do swim straighter than I expected. But I still finished in 11:56, faster than I expected! I debated needing to go in again, but decided that I really should, as the foggy goggles had frustrated me, and I wanted a good vibe on the course before the tri. On the second swim, everything really went pretty perfectly. I felt fast in the water, and better at sighting. I was surprised to see a slower time of 12:26 when I got out, because I felt so much better, but I can easily chalk that up to not starting the watch in exactly the same place...
So, some concerns about this coming weekend have been addressed, though I'm still really nervous... as of Sunday I've stopped counting the calories, but am eating only good-for-me stuff. I'm tapering off on the workouts a little bit leading up to a day completely off on Friday before the tri (as I normally do with my run races). Trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. In short, just trying to set myself up as best as I possibly can.
I'll follow-up with a post on my goals later in the week...
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