tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83987281132534473642024-03-05T12:58:08.873-08:00That Girl Who Sang the AnthemSingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-772950404458375452013-01-03T09:05:00.000-08:002013-01-03T09:06:45.248-08:00Off season highs and lowsWell as off-seasons go, this has not been my most productive. I have been doing a lot of lifting, but my cardio has all but fallen by the wayside. This has largely been due to a persistent, nagging ankle injury sustained the weekend after my last race of the season (dancing barefoot is to blame. Go figure.)<br />
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There has been some excellent news, however. I received my first of three emails from USA Triathlon regarding my performance at Nation's Triathlon. I then received two more emails concerning SheROX Philly and Waterman's Half. I have qualified for age group Nationals at the Olympic distance (thrice)!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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So, I know absolutely nothing about my 2013 season yet, except that I will be racing in Milwaukee in August at Age Group Nationals!!!!!!<br />
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I've been too bummed out about my ankle and now a raging cold to do much else towards this season. I did just spend 10 days scuba diving in Honduras (YAY!) so maybe my swim fitness is magically up? Unlikely. Once I can breathe again I'll worry about planning a season. And once I can run again I'll actually believe it's happening.<br />
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<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-9042259147532519462012-10-23T14:05:00.003-07:002012-10-23T14:08:37.633-07:00Waterman's Half Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greatest Support Team</td></tr>
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As usual, I am long overdue for a race report. I think I've been in a bit of denial that the season is actually over. In some ways it is a cause for celebration, and in others it's kind of sad. But Waterman's Half was an excellent way to end the season! The race course and weather conditions were both really tough, but I raced well and had a blast anyway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJo8bbUZgNbQiAgcLTyUOd4WCeC_szrQwdHx-HTu11R0glq3X2s8fezfHul09H5HF1eiiWk1c7tWVdGCcHqxGtPQn8aQlUgrxurO7cclVB-hoeBr9zjtQ90C5-fe3ilf1Bt3c-6IW-Vg/s1600/IMG_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJo8bbUZgNbQiAgcLTyUOd4WCeC_szrQwdHx-HTu11R0glq3X2s8fezfHul09H5HF1eiiWk1c7tWVdGCcHqxGtPQn8aQlUgrxurO7cclVB-hoeBr9zjtQ90C5-fe3ilf1Bt3c-6IW-Vg/s320/IMG_5749.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gillian!!</td></tr>
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One of my best childhood friends, Gillian, came with me to the race site on Friday afternoon. My wife Erin got there later in the evening (just before I had to go to sleep). In addition, my cousin and her boyfriend decided to sign up to be the runners on two relay teams in order to also participate at the race and cheer. They're both training for the Marine Corps Marathon, so it was a great way for them spectate and participate. I was excited to have athletic supporters, as always. After Gilly and I went to packet pickup and scoped out the site, we ran some errands and hit up a Carraba's for my traditional pre-race meal. Side-note: I have never been to a Carraba's before but I plan on going to one before every race I can, now. SO much better than Olive Garden. <br />
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Back at the hotel, Gillian watched with great interest as I set up and checked all my gear. I felt like a pro might while being interviewed by Triathlete Magazine, like my opinions and rituals were actually fascinating to someone. She's my new favorite spectator. Erin eventually got to the hotel around 8:30 pm, and took Gilly out for some normal person fun while I went to sleep.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzwOIwII1dm6VYKqxUW3Ngz-fblK88RUs-8qnLhbY4Cce0PMKjbTQHgRvc1K7HTeuZTn1HkcvQr8Opu5mudILOMGOxVimGFALIfanUTjiPgvqdmh9pLiHlDa3GpkbWUmsT-UQkStUcdA/s1600/IMG_5657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzwOIwII1dm6VYKqxUW3Ngz-fblK88RUs-8qnLhbY4Cce0PMKjbTQHgRvc1K7HTeuZTn1HkcvQr8Opu5mudILOMGOxVimGFALIfanUTjiPgvqdmh9pLiHlDa3GpkbWUmsT-UQkStUcdA/s320/IMG_5657.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne attempts to keep me warm before the race start</td></tr>
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When I arrived at the race site on race morning it was 34 degrees outside and the water temp was 60. I stayed bundled up like an eskimo for as long as possible, and went back to the car to sit in the heat for a while after I set up transition. I had expected a slightly larger turn out for the race, but I think they had many no-shows due to the frigid temperatures. My cousin Anne, is a member of Team Z, and they are the partner team for this event. She took me to the team tent, bundled me in blankets and have me hot water to help thaw out my insides. I was incredibly grateful, but was still shaking like a leaf.<br />
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I did run to warm up before the start (fully bundled) and I kept my sweatshirt, socks and gloves on until I walked down the dock for my swim wave. (Special thank you to Anne and David for picking up after me when I hurriedly stripped 1 minute before my wave) All of the women in the race were in the second swim wave, which made it pretty easy to figure out where one stood overall throughout the race. The start was supposed to be in-water, but many of the women chose to sit on the edge of the dock until the horn went off. I decided to get in because I wanted to get the brain-freeze feeling over with before attempting to swim. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUM5KWve2YBxmWcl7pNduNSgFU1ov7EytFkkeZ6-yxwb8NKhuP35zqjmqs2k3qwVNwM_E-jwk_MbVpPNfEe45C9g0CsusAkNF89jxz0cqG7iHmTMAAa-oQB6oHzLt8jThvcX2iFDd_eU/s1600/IMG_5545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUM5KWve2YBxmWcl7pNduNSgFU1ov7EytFkkeZ6-yxwb8NKhuP35zqjmqs2k3qwVNwM_E-jwk_MbVpPNfEe45C9g0CsusAkNF89jxz0cqG7iHmTMAAa-oQB6oHzLt8jThvcX2iFDd_eU/s320/IMG_5545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid- lake grass removal</td></tr>
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When we started, I was lined up at the front of the pack, and was the first woman to the first turn buoy. It was a 2 loop swim course, and although it was plenty cold in the water, I felt fine once everything went numb. I wasn't in first for much longer, but I didn't get passed by many women either as far as I could tell. At some point I did try to move my thumb across my palm to make sure my wedding ring was still in place, or to get rid of pesky lake grass (which was abundant) and I realized I couldn't move my thumb at all. My hands were frozen into paddles, luckily still effective for swimming.<br />
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Unfortunately, although my full results were up on the board after the race, the online results don't list all of my splits. Just my run and overall time. Everyone elses results are fully split. Apparently I am special...My spectators tell me I was the 3rd of 4th woman out of the water. The woman on the results with the fourth fastest swim split, not counting mine, swam a 36:11, so I think that means my time was faster than that. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F4E9mholqtnIvAy-ZN4cHLNWAheAbeqNrroK3BW0a8YDFXSPBQWWs_GvMu1XQu3sQLkakIdvUPrKf2iP489Zy0obWmn4ndtiFtoa8eOuLkaQvgx6nhNcyur7gLIsi-zxiXjLBa0tG3U/s1600/IMG_5554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F4E9mholqtnIvAy-ZN4cHLNWAheAbeqNrroK3BW0a8YDFXSPBQWWs_GvMu1XQu3sQLkakIdvUPrKf2iP489Zy0obWmn4ndtiFtoa8eOuLkaQvgx6nhNcyur7gLIsi-zxiXjLBa0tG3U/s320/IMG_5554.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome sign #1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE-AMLieqMsdhTLl9eWEAptTfkbTAtAHvWOBwEqBAHpX4kGS4DISliIklpYnLTXIpag6pGmi5kX4eMDOgtNtOuY9kKaiDhz-UnkdD0s00_f-FFTETXfZRbWMSf3i_kOngf4L12Xa3Bjo/s1600/IMG_5573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE-AMLieqMsdhTLl9eWEAptTfkbTAtAHvWOBwEqBAHpX4kGS4DISliIklpYnLTXIpag6pGmi5kX4eMDOgtNtOuY9kKaiDhz-UnkdD0s00_f-FFTETXfZRbWMSf3i_kOngf4L12Xa3Bjo/s320/IMG_5573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Numb hands make dressing extremely difficult</td></tr>
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Once I was out of the water I immediately realized that I had basically no use of my hands or feet. And the air was around 40 degrees. After a relatively short, uphill, paved run to transition (ouch), I was in transition itself I got my wetsuit off pretty well considering my hands were useless. But then I tried to pull on a long sleeved jersey for the bike. I ended up fumbling with both hands stuck in the sleeves for what felt like several minutes, yelling in frustration until all I could do was laugh and paw at my sleeves. I have no idea how long my transition was, again because my splits aren't up there. (I've emailed them, but so far they haven't fixed it...). It was long enough that Erin was yelling "Move your butt!" at me. I felt even more silly because Gilly had told me earlier how excited she was to witness transitions, an aspect of triathlon she found fascinating. I'm afraid I set a very poor example.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-fIu7Sdd61AUfB7rr_2xwHWt3F3gFyX2Tj3S8pV-WjJM1T2rqxERlSwBc9phodN8mXIhHwSla_k1iGN57MkQdtHR6c5aXsx-vSdaqAMkqtTAs4iNkMleTWYDREJOmdEixG1uLef-wQw/s1600/IMG_5594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-fIu7Sdd61AUfB7rr_2xwHWt3F3gFyX2Tj3S8pV-WjJM1T2rqxERlSwBc9phodN8mXIhHwSla_k1iGN57MkQdtHR6c5aXsx-vSdaqAMkqtTAs4iNkMleTWYDREJOmdEixG1uLef-wQw/s320/IMG_5594.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gilly wins the "best dressed" award, and holds another excellent sign</td></tr>
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I wanted to pull on gloves too but there was no way to get my fingers in in their current state, so I scratched it. I immediately regretted not having them. Within minutes my hands were in excruciating pain, and I was barely able to shift. The course was beautiful but very tough and hilly. All of the "flats" were false and there were many long, slow climbs, and even a few steep ones. I couldn't stand on the pedals because my feet were so numb I didn't trust them. <br />
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I don't know how my hands came back, but eventually they did. Not before I dropped my chain though, fumbling to shift. I had to get off to fix it, halfway up a hill. I think I saw three women on the bike course and one was on a relay team. One caught me right after I dropped my chain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p5nygPzkO0xzn0jhLIK0WTrn5c7WmXKzHkgfBEBXB6TGyz3y4NSpmvB23W6qGJJYHQsd2HtLMvZjw17bMzPcRzCd1xz-hxM0sOhrxbsCSYnANRe6l2fSH5arfaQUfk5nKl4EjZK51_Y/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p5nygPzkO0xzn0jhLIK0WTrn5c7WmXKzHkgfBEBXB6TGyz3y4NSpmvB23W6qGJJYHQsd2HtLMvZjw17bMzPcRzCd1xz-hxM0sOhrxbsCSYnANRe6l2fSH5arfaQUfk5nKl4EjZK51_Y/s320/IMG_5646.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin's camera skills have improved significantly over the season</td></tr>
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I had one boomerang buddy, a guy with whom I traded passes at several points during the ride. There were few to no spectators anywhere on the course and frequently he was the only other person I saw for many miles on end. At some point, not knowing the officials had pulled up behind us on a scooter, I rode next to him for a quick chat, mid-pass. We were just commenting on how we couldn't feel our feet. It wasn't a long conversation, but I wasn't counting seconds either. After I completed the pass, the officials pulled up next to me and I watched them write down my number. Crap. I knew right away what had happened and why. Silly mistake. That's what I get for being talkative I guess.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V26rHOX9L1EO4yCwjK2xtHIdjUWZUA34ZKrNic_9qH_n0Co3RrwLi5mQx3OG2pLDhDOzkntaAW6aHlb4K3Kgg0GHwTCfbpHfxUuEHNys_lsRSsVcZ304XaJHDh6dRus7uhxkRz2YzRk/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V26rHOX9L1EO4yCwjK2xtHIdjUWZUA34ZKrNic_9qH_n0Co3RrwLi5mQx3OG2pLDhDOzkntaAW6aHlb4K3Kgg0GHwTCfbpHfxUuEHNys_lsRSsVcZ304XaJHDh6dRus7uhxkRz2YzRk/s320/IMG_5672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumbling out of T2</td></tr>
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As I have stated before, I think I need a different saddle. My long rides, and this one was no exception, get pretty darn uncomfortable. When the ride was finally over, I was excited to be off the bike. I wasn't sure what my split was. I started my bike computer late, and again the bike split isn't listed in my results. I know it was over 3 hours, and I had really wanted to ride under. There were points during the ride that were just darn slow, but the course was tough. Still, I was motivated by my slow bike to put in a solid run. My hands were almost back to normal in T2 but my feet were still blocks of ice. I fumbled around a bit again, but I am sure I was much more efficient than in T1. I was complaining outloud about the lack of feeling in my feet, and Erin yelled at me to "talk less, transition more." Geez. Gilly told that I was in 6th overall coming off the bike and as I left T2 I was excited to try to crack the top five.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrqUm1CQnTU0lb_yfkCRV8ib2W8am6PXRXsrrU2xyYrRLVH9Qyo2c1l1PNWnaHKMGGwQVGsP6O_IlKcK_yaB6a9jqbaB3ZlS8I8YVX_tiMNbaPBZ-WyhCqvPyCkQXGj6mQJsZEw9SDZE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-17+at+9.33.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrqUm1CQnTU0lb_yfkCRV8ib2W8am6PXRXsrrU2xyYrRLVH9Qyo2c1l1PNWnaHKMGGwQVGsP6O_IlKcK_yaB6a9jqbaB3ZlS8I8YVX_tiMNbaPBZ-WyhCqvPyCkQXGj6mQJsZEw9SDZE/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-10-17+at+9.33.04+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still feelin' good out there</td></tr>
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Just like Nations, I got my nutrition right to set myself up for a good run. The aid stations weren't exactly where I expected them, so I had to get a little creative with my calorie intake timing, but it was a two loop run, so after the first loop I knew when and where things would happen for the second. I had thought it was supposed to be a flat run (the course description called it "fast") but it was not. Huge, long hills with an out and back followed by a loop through the park. After the first time around, they gave us wrist bands for the second lap (On the swim they had just said that world record times would be suspect). The hills were tough, but I felt so much better than I have in either of my other two halves. My foot didn't bother me at all, but I was pretty sore everywhere by the end. The out and back gave me a pretty clear view of who was ahead of me. I kept a steady pace and good cadence and noticed the girl in 5th was struggling. It took me until the end of the second out and back, but I finally picked her off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ddMZThohka3QN72P1noKboKwrdTMVp5Qlh_UnqrsvfFTvbXJbuwZSjefDPi9f5tqfmm2WV2Q945_cGtnRbkBEiJDilKAQ4G4BxXe6CobJh4I8ShjfBwOkb7xPulWUuY3XO79crSr7FI/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ddMZThohka3QN72P1noKboKwrdTMVp5Qlh_UnqrsvfFTvbXJbuwZSjefDPi9f5tqfmm2WV2Q945_cGtnRbkBEiJDilKAQ4G4BxXe6CobJh4I8ShjfBwOkb7xPulWUuY3XO79crSr7FI/s320/IMG_5705.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear this was supposed to be a smile...</td></tr>
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The pictures of me nearing the finish are hilarious. I thought I was grinning but the look on my face just reads PAIN. I was really happy with my run performance, given the course. I ran 1:59:35. My finish time was 5:58:48, but with the 4 minute penalty my official time was 6:02:48. I'm gonna ignore that in stating my PR, cause I know I didn't get a 4 minute advantage by chatting to that guy. If anything my loud mouth slowed me down. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3-oekaImonMj4j4gSJrzesKG2e8HXo8sMN098iLnOderyPlBwKH1fOQ3c7sUSVddJ6WGGLu1yn2Gc3ocbFp-FUFTlNDkyiSkiph9MCI8UvimK8rZ7XvpQmmhamuHG3OiqYI4NuE-rzs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-17+at+9.35.12+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3-oekaImonMj4j4gSJrzesKG2e8HXo8sMN098iLnOderyPlBwKH1fOQ3c7sUSVddJ6WGGLu1yn2Gc3ocbFp-FUFTlNDkyiSkiph9MCI8UvimK8rZ7XvpQmmhamuHG3OiqYI4NuE-rzs/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-10-17+at+9.35.12+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish line relief</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimJ2lwtFBmx0NohINiItpsahfwk4em8d2-7p-p6XvWFFST8Us6LqssBoiu5H6JCOMgeusIhnPEuXbPrTrFRrVTrn4KjKRtFOjuFQ-UhBdpL-1SE_C9kSzUXiu3XJtSfZyMxFbVDZvg_s/s1600/IMG_5725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimJ2lwtFBmx0NohINiItpsahfwk4em8d2-7p-p6XvWFFST8Us6LqssBoiu5H6JCOMgeusIhnPEuXbPrTrFRrVTrn4KjKRtFOjuFQ-UhBdpL-1SE_C9kSzUXiu3XJtSfZyMxFbVDZvg_s/s320/IMG_5725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the podium with the second place finisher</td></tr>
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Once I was across the line I was excited to chat with my fans, who had made me some wonderful, Halloween-themed signs. I wasn't even planning to check the score board for a while, but Gilly was over there quickly and returned saying that she didn't quite know how to read the results, but she thought maybe I had won my age group. I hobbled over to check, and darn it if she wasn't right! The penalty put me in 6th overall, behind the "girl" I passed at the end of the run (who turned out to be the masters winner, definitively a woman, not a "girl"), but I was out in front of my age group! It was a small race and none of the fast, local girls from my age group showed up to race this one, but I was still pleased to win it. I got my first plaque! Hopefully the start of a collection! :)<br />
<br />
My legs were sore almost instantly after the finish and I went to the post-race massage tent after a slice of pizza and plenty of fluids. During the awards ceremony it became clear I was not the only one feeling the race almost instantaneously. Watching people struggle to get up onto the (high) podium blocks was amusing. I used a two step approach by first climbing up onto third... And when it was all over I got to eat apple cider doughnuts, courtesy of my wonderful athletic support team.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrwnVBQK9fdCYmc2_tNuzw0DXUO4WDm6WEqpxueuWbEItef5JzqYJRDKeqRjXaArqqSotgMfYux9GsddbfAhYae5zRYVbEAlAd6I6x1TX-QvZkyIuUHQI-gqBg7myWiZjpbDD56dl-uE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-22+at+6.04.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrwnVBQK9fdCYmc2_tNuzw0DXUO4WDm6WEqpxueuWbEItef5JzqYJRDKeqRjXaArqqSotgMfYux9GsddbfAhYae5zRYVbEAlAd6I6x1TX-QvZkyIuUHQI-gqBg7myWiZjpbDD56dl-uE/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-10-22+at+6.04.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the third place finisher, Lauren, whom I know from my old bike shop</td></tr>
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For three days after the race I was extremely sore. The Monday after the race was my birthday and I was at my parents, so my mother had a masseuse come to the house for me as a present. THANK YOU MOTHER. I felt much better after the massage. I know the scientific jury is still out, but I am a believer. I spent last week doing easy swims and rides. I went on one easy run and struggled pretty hard. This past weekend I danced at a wedding and woke up the next morning with a swollen ankle. It's still swollen and difficult to walk, so much of my cardio has been on hold. I have started a lifting program though. I see my off season as a time to do all the athletic things I either didn't have time for or didn't want to do for fear of soreness during the season. That means once my ankle goes back to normal I will be doing yoga, rock climbing, lifting, crossfit etc. Maybe some horseback riding at my parents'. And plenty of trail running!<br />
<br />
I was planning on running some races this fall, but now I think my legs might need a break after this unexplained injury popped up. We shall see. I may still get in a 5 or 10k but the half or full marathon plan is on hold for now. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1IQFQHhMSQ/UIcCPvEzP_I/AAAAAAAABDM/gYNEV42MSKE/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1IQFQHhMSQ/UIcCPvEzP_I/AAAAAAAABDM/gYNEV42MSKE/s320/IMG_5772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Anne both ran the half marathon as relay team members (Dave, Me, Anne and Erin)</td></tr>
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Don't worry (I know you are) I will have plenty more to tell you in the off-season. :)
SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-57350237650029409332012-10-07T11:21:00.002-07:002012-10-07T11:22:45.404-07:00October Heartbreak: When a season ends, some old flames get left behind...One of my favorite, high-calorie, post-long ride snacks is a peanut butter, nutella and banana sandwich on whole grain bread. When I've been on my bike for more than 3 hours (or 4..or more...) I allow myself this delicacy. Calorically I probably deserve it, but there is a mental and emotional side to this too: when I've put my bum and undercarriage through hell, my mouth and tastebuds deserve a bit of heaven as a reward.<br />
<br />
I'm sharing all of this because Thursday was likely my last 3+ hour ride of the season. Which means that the delicious sandwich I consumed that evening was maybe the second to last (the last being after my race next weekend!) I deserve in 2012. Maybe I'll do something for which I allow myself that kind of reward, but it definitely won't be as regular of a treat as it has been for the past few months.<br />
<br />
This realization was almost enough to make me vow to complete some sort of crazy cycling endurance event over the winter.<br />
<br />
Almost.<br />
<br />
Right now I am actually in a love/hate relationship with my bike. Once again I've found that the saddle I thought maybe I could learn to love has turned into an instrument of torture. Sitting on it for more than an hour at a time is more uncomfortable than it should be. At the end of a long ride it's damn near excruciating. I hate that thing. So maybe the vow will be to save up enough money for a new fit and saddle. And I'll just have to forgo those sandwiches till next season winds up...<br />
<br />
But I am getting so far ahead of myself!<br />
<br />
In less than a week I will be out on the half-iron battlefield, trying to capture a new PR and finally nail this distance to the wall. The previous two half distance races I've done have not been stellar performances, the first due to nutritional mistakes and the second due to serious heat and humidity. Having figured out the nutrition, and having scheduled a half in October, I am hoping that I can pull together everything I have learned through this season of triathlon (complete with coaching!) and put out one great performance!<br />
<br />
This is also a make or break performance for the half distance race itself. The distance has to treat me better this time, or else I might break up with it. Having two other, not-so-enjoyable experiences under my belt with this distance, I am contemplating leaving it out of my repertoire. I love sprints. The Olympic distance has been courting me for some time and has finally won me over. But the half? The half has yet to prove we're meant for each other. <br />
<br />
I am ready to put it all out there and see what I come up with. And if it doesn't go well, I'm ready to cut my losses and specialize in the shorter distances. This year I basically sacrificed podium finishes in the shorter distances in order to set myself up for two halves. I want some hard wear people! And if halves won't do it for me, I'll move back down!<br />
<br />
All that being said, I am really excited to race. I love racing and I want to see what I can really do. So keep your fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
Great run today, btw. Even if it was rainy. I love the fall. SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-4354818363661874192012-10-02T14:33:00.000-07:002012-10-02T14:33:23.273-07:00Double Whammy Part 2: Dewey Beach Triathlon Race ReportSo much to write and so little time! I guess it wasn't very fair of me to call the last post "Part 1" of a "Double Whammy" and then wait several weeks to write "Part 2." My mother called me yesterday to give me a hard time about the non-existence of a race report for the Dewey Beach Triathlon. Sorry Mom, this is what I was doing instead:<br />
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<br />
But I have decided to take a quick break from my dissertation and give you that long-awaited race report.<br />
<br />
As I explained in "Part 1," Dewey Beach Triathlon was not originally on my race calendar. My mother and two of her friends were supposed to race Dewey Beach as a relay team, with my mother as the swimmer, her friend Starr as the cyclist and her college roommate Debbie as the runner. Life had other plans, however, and both my mother and Debbie were unable to participate in the race. My mother was ill and Debbie could not make it down from Massachusetts, which left Starr without a team. Of course when my mother asked me to participate, I jumped in happily. I always love another opportunity to race, even as two thirds of a relay team.<br />
<br />
Race weekend I was coming off the high of a great race at Nations. I drove up to my parents' place and then over to Dewey. At packet pickup my mother and I had to spend some time explaining the situation, but eventually we got the registration all sorted out and picked up our nice long sleeve tech t-shirts and packets. The race was held in the state part at Tower Road, which is less than a mile from my family beach house, making for a very convenient race morning. Starr arrived later in the evening on Friday, with son and dog in tow, and we talked about our "race strategy" some (I swim. She takes the timing chip. She bikes. I take the timing chip. I run). Then, as usual, we all hit the hay early to be ready for the pre-dawn transition opening.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning it was a little chilly out, but the ocean was as flat as glass when we first arrived at the race site. The transition area was much larger than I had expected, as was the race itself. Over 1000 participants were there, and there were 13 waves of swimmers, including a wave designated for first-time triathletes. My swim wave, for relay swimmers and Clydesdales, was 10th (in navy caps). As the morning drew on and race announcements were made, the race director started to issue reassurances that although the wind was picking up in one direction, the current was actually going the other direction and the course, meant to be down-current, was set up correctly. These reassurances became more and more frequent as the wind gusts picked up speed and racers grew restless.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3JS_uoyvN_ac_L8ZXDXcvC7-3r8GR_FsgFGw2PAzuqXcE9LIA7sOTCddiUOzlnK1f-hgtYDs7NCwGKbjf-TK99hXK_IB-XdY2ZTIJiqwV_eMyG6EgftV8N-E8aHIinwOkPrCxrnJYZE/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3JS_uoyvN_ac_L8ZXDXcvC7-3r8GR_FsgFGw2PAzuqXcE9LIA7sOTCddiUOzlnK1f-hgtYDs7NCwGKbjf-TK99hXK_IB-XdY2ZTIJiqwV_eMyG6EgftV8N-E8aHIinwOkPrCxrnJYZE/s320/Picture+5.png" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starr fights the ridiculous head wind</td></tr>
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Now, I am an extremely comfortable ocean swimmer. I've been swimming in the ocean since I was small. Waves don't scare me. Currents don't scare me. The fishies and the sharkies and whatever else don't scare me. I was in fact, a picture of calm. I laughed at the people fretting over the current and the growing waves (needless to say, the ocean was far from glass at this point). I found the race director and volunteered to sing the anthem. Apparently my mother arrived before I started to sing and was out on the beach waiting for me to come over the dunes for the swim. She heard my voice over the loud speaker, said "Shit, that's my daughter!" and ran all the way back to transition to catch the last few lines of the anthem. When I found her she was coughing and laughing, not only at her antics, but also (like me) at all the racers grumbling about the swim. "You've never heard so much whining!" she was saying. We had a good laugh together.<br />
<br />
If you can't tell, I am setting something up here about the swim.<br />
<br />
Out over the dunes and onto the beach we went, many many wetsuit-clad triathletes in various colored swim caps. The ferocity of the wind was increasing with each swim wave. Looking around me at my fellow navy-capped athletes, I told my mother I was far less concerned about the waves and tide and far more concerned about the Clydesdales I would be swimming with. Some of these guys were very large and very serious-looking. I'm talking guys who just missed the NFL and have decided triathlon is their new calling. Big dudes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starr killin' that bike</td></tr>
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Turns out I should have been worried about both. As our horn sounded and my wave sprinted into the water, I tried to jockey myself out ahead of these gorilla-men and almost immediately was kicked in the face. I quickly got my goggles back into place and went to work on the waves. And now we were talking serious waves, rolling almost perpendicular to the shore. This means you would swim up one, and then FALL down the other side. If you looked up to site at the wrong time (which was basically all the time) all you would see was a wall of water in front of you. At first I still felt pretty good, like I was moving fast despite the craziness. But I was having a horrible time staying in a straight line, given the aforementioned siting dilemma. And then things got worse. About halfway through the swim, I could basically feel the current change. Suddenly I felt like I was fighting to swim in one place rather than swim backward. It became the most epic 800m I have ever swam. It took me almost as long to finish as a full mile. By the time I got out of the water I was pretty sure I was going to puke, either from the rough seas or swallowing too much salt water or both.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out for the run, trying to keep my seawater down</td></tr>
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<br />
Most difficult swim of my life.<br />
<br />
I ran up the beach and into the parking lot of transition area, found Starr, and handed off my timing chip. My parents had somehow managed to sneak into transition and were there to hear me rant and rave about how crazy that swim had been. I took stock of the other relay teams, however, and saw that almost all of the bikers were still there waiting for their swimmers. I wasn't the last! Actually, it turns out I was probably the 4th, and the 2nd female. As each swimmer staggered in, new tales of horror were told. No one had a good time out there. And as the bikers finally trickled in, we all learned that the wind had been just as influential on the flat, out and back course on highway one. "30 mph on the way out, 12 on the way back!" people kept saying.<br />
<br />
I felt really bad for that wave of first time triathletes. They had been the 12th wave.<br />
<br />
When Starr came in, she was the third female biker and she was only a minute behind the second. I knew that if I hadn't miscounted, we had a really good shot of making the podium. Once I was out on the run (going into that headwind) my legs felt great. I zoomed by the girl in second and kept up a nice clip for the entire 3.5 mile (3.5?! random...) course. I came in feeling happy and good, although still thinking I might puke up seawater.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLc7rD-0Z_hZO6dLNI18Q5nMsyS4u-werNonEPOyxvKc4lWSV79eYr1gMTXREwPuXxGGvxbsS2GEMBC1j2qviDTqHLlVJiddEl-wk8grt60feo9cXs0AsO_P-KJBSwih87YR4GmYFunc/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLc7rD-0Z_hZO6dLNI18Q5nMsyS4u-werNonEPOyxvKc4lWSV79eYr1gMTXREwPuXxGGvxbsS2GEMBC1j2qviDTqHLlVJiddEl-wk8grt60feo9cXs0AsO_P-KJBSwih87YR4GmYFunc/s320/Picture+4.png" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SPRINT FACE!</td></tr>
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Starr and I hung around and got massages while waiting for the awards ceremony. Ours was the very last category announced, and our relay results hadn't been posted on the board, so we had no indication of where we stood other than my counting. I seriously hoped I had counted correctly and hadn't made Starr wait around (for hours) for nothing. But my hopes were not dashed! Starr and I got second place in female relay teams! Go team "Tri-Tri Again!"<br />
<br />
Overall, we of course had a complete blast. But that swim. Wow.<br />
<br />
So now, here we are, several weeks later and I am two weeks out from my last big race of the season. I'm in the beginning of my two-week taper, and as you readers know, I hate the taper. It just makes me feel like I'm not accomplishing anything. Luckily I have a lot to accomplish with my dissertation, so I am keeping myself distracted (or relatively distracted...).<br />
<br />
I will do my best to make sure I get a race report, and maybe some pre-race stuff, up here in a reasonable time-frame...<br />
<br />
Happy, Mom? :)SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-65752780106567657392012-09-18T16:01:00.002-07:002012-09-18T16:18:55.497-07:00Double Wammy Pt 1: Nation's Triathlon Race ReportWow. Back-to-back race weekends means that I am pretty darn tired, and also very far behind in my race reports!<br />
<br />
This wasn't my original plan, by the way. I was planning on racing Nation's Triathlon on the 9th and then on the 15th going to Dewey Beach to watch my mother and her relay team race. Athletic support. Maybe I would have even volunteered! But then things changed. Due to unforseen circumstances and a generally rough summer for my mother's set, two of the three team members (including my mother herself) had to back out of the race, which left the team in need of a swimmer and a runner. Of course I am always happy for another race, so I headed down there and signed the release forms to be 2/3 of the "Tri Tri Again" relay team.<br />
<br />
So now I have two race reports to write, and half the time to do it (don't ask me how that math works, I don't know). This means you lovely readers get a DOUBLE WAMMY (in two parts...)!<br />
<br />
<b>NATION'S TRIATHLON</b><br />
<br />
Nation's is a huge race. There were about 5000 registered participants before the start. The expo and race are a who's who of the DC Tri club, and the Mid-Atlantic triathlon community. It was fun and exciting to be a part of, and although I had a less than stellar experience with it's sister race, the now-defunct Washington DC Triathlon last summer, this race was relatively well run. There were a few minor things I would have liked done differently, but that was mostly due to the ridiculous number of participants in a crammed, urban setting.<br />
<br />
My cousin Anne was supposed to race Nation's with me, but a few days before the race she crashed her bike and ended up with a concussion and a broken nose. She couldn't race, but her boyfriend was still in, and she was going to come watch, as were Erin and some of her hockey friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A transition sea</td></tr>
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Nations is one of those races that makes you rack your bike the day before the race. It also just so happened that the night before the race there was an epic wind/rain/hail/possible tornado storm while everyone's bikes were on the rack. In the MASSIVE transition area, I covered my bike<b> </b>with a poncho and several trashbags and just hoped that it would end up ok.<br />
<br />
It was weird going through my usual pre-race rituals in my own apartment. I am used to setting up my gear in a hotel room, finding a local italian place for dinner and sleeping on an uncomfortable hotel bed. Instead I made my own pasta with meat sauce, crashed as early as possible and essentially told Erin that she had better not wake me up or she risked a horrible fate. I should have been more comfortable with this situation, given that I was at home, but it stifled the excitement to some extent.<br />
<br />
Apparently several bikes flew off the racks during the storm, and there was some damage, but when I arrived on race morning my baby was unscathed and still sheathed in plastic. Nation's Triathlon is affiliated with Team in Training (TnT, a charity group that raises money for research on blood diseases and also trains up triathletes and runners), and there were several first-time-triathletes with TnT surrounding me in transition. The girl girl next to me shyly asked a question or two and it was soon clear that she was in need of assistance in setting up her bike rack and transition area. We chatted (her name was Annette) and I helped guide her through effective transition technique. Soon all of her TnT friends were swarming around us, asking a million questions and calling me to their bikes to examine their transition area set up. Of particular difficulty for these ladies, and likely many first-timers, was the concept of directional bike racking. Rack your bike on YOUR side of the rack, so when you come up, you put on your shoes and helmet, and then pull the bike off the rack, towards you. You don't want to have to run around the bike rack to get your bike, or try to pull the bike under the rack, knocking over your neighbors' bikes and possibly the entire rack in the process.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTlfxlFQq4OqV-OVD5HGhYL052FRCaUPpAdg9FJoajLlSq1YAIsuq6lsIlq9r3bnZ538An1yo2n2RNtW6BNE1PgzNdqpUFmQ4WcAZtcauyHu_tiHFT5W42O_7L3fUl2G0WaJ2HAYBcEk/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTlfxlFQq4OqV-OVD5HGhYL052FRCaUPpAdg9FJoajLlSq1YAIsuq6lsIlq9r3bnZ538An1yo2n2RNtW6BNE1PgzNdqpUFmQ4WcAZtcauyHu_tiHFT5W42O_7L3fUl2G0WaJ2HAYBcEk/s320/IMG_5506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the best photo Erin managed to get of me. I'm the one fist pumping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway! I did manage to get my own transition set up, and to get in a warm-up run. Before they closed transition I found Anne's boyfriend, David, and we headed out. Nation's, again due to the huge number of participants, does a time-trial swim start. The swim is broken up into waves, as is done traditionally, but you don't mass start with the wave. Instead the waves are systematically ushered down to the water (through a tunnel of corrals that makes you feel distinctly like cattle) and six athletes are sent onto a tiny dock at a time. Every eight seconds another 6 athletes jumps into the water. Your timing chip is punched in to start by a race official when you jump. I was in the 31st (I think? I can't remember now) wave. The first 6 athletes entered the water 1.5 hours before I did. The air temp was 62 degrees, but the water was 82, so we were not standing around in our wetsuits. Instead we were all wearing our skimpy little trisuits, tri tops and tri shorts. Barefoot on the pavement. Pre-sunrise. I realize that it shouldn't have seemed that cold at 62, but everyone around me was shivering and had goosebumps and I was no exception.<br />
<br />
Somehow during all of this, friends picked out my profile in the sea of pink and turquoise caps, and I heard familiar voices calling my name. Christa (hockey player on Erin's team) and Jake (fiance of said hockey player and my score-keeping buddy) had come to see me off! I was so excited to have fans at the race! Later, Erin showed up with two other hockey players, Morgan and Andi. A cheering section!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjfSzmdkmjpg-TaHNhkmam1xGrexZw5ySuK3cbcqQhGEZJWNmlO0ld0VfZZ1V_Q2f6stjOye_yibEiNaDck_LkKWGyoiC8_pn4WvL21qF97bKSOKbWfy48MarDMsW3pBtg3rsTRqrEAM/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjfSzmdkmjpg-TaHNhkmam1xGrexZw5ySuK3cbcqQhGEZJWNmlO0ld0VfZZ1V_Q2f6stjOye_yibEiNaDck_LkKWGyoiC8_pn4WvL21qF97bKSOKbWfy48MarDMsW3pBtg3rsTRqrEAM/s320/Picture+1.png" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finishing sprint face we all know and love</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Eventually my wave ended up in the corrals, and heading down the chute to our swim destiny. This next part may come as a surprise, but I like swimming in the Potomac. It makes Erin crazy, she seems to think I will emerge with a third arm or an eye in the back of my head, but the water is relatively clear (although murkier than last summer because of the recent storm) and it's not salty or full of strange algae (as are the ocean and most lakes, respectively). We swam up under a bridge, turned around and swam back under another arch of the bridge. The course was in the shape of the Washington Monument (pointed out to us several times by the announcers), with the in and out about a quarter of the way up one long side. So we swam upstream, turned around three buoys at the point of "monument", came back down a long side down stream, turned around two buoys at the base of the "monument" and swam back up stream for a bit before exiting. Strange course, but well marked with the actual distance traveled painted on each buoy. I put together a decent swim of 30:29. I wanted to go under 30, but really it was pretty on the money.<br />
<br />
Run out of the water, up a bank, across a road, over some more grass...OK NOW I'm in T1. Another race without a wetsuit and without socks on the bike = another fast T1. 46 seconds. Boom! And that includes running a LONG way in my bike shoes to get out of the grand, muddy transition area. And by muddy, I mean swampy. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2RWAheQiDM/UFj7pcEbJ-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/cfdtemmuPes/s1600/IMG_5521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2RWAheQiDM/UFj7pcEbJ-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/cfdtemmuPes/s320/IMG_5521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you athletic supporters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Off on the bike I go (I'm noticing a pattern in how these races work...teehee). I expected a flat course, but was actually surprised with the number of small climbs and false flats. They were generally, and interestingly, highway on ramps. The use of big roads meant that although it was still a crowded course (it would have been impossible to hand out any drafting penalties) it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the Washington DC Tri had been last year. I did have to stop twice on course though, once for a serious crash ahead of me, and again to let the ambulance turn onto the course to attend to those crash victims. I had two "boomerang buddies", as I like to call them, on the course. In case the name isn't self-explanatory, a "boomerang buddy" is the guy or gal on the bike who passes you, and then whom you pass a few minutes later. You then proceed to take turns passing one another for the rest of the bike leg, and if you're me, you usually end up chatting with that person and giving each other a friendly verbal jab with every pass. My boomerang is inevitably either 1. a guy who is a decent cyclist but a slow swimmer, or 2. a gal who is a strong cyclist, battled her way up to me from a later swim wave, is really giving me a run for my money on the bike, usually leaves me in the dust after a few boomerangs, and then usually comes back to me on the run because she's really a cycling specialist. Anyway, at this race I had one of each. We all were chatting and exchanging friendly trash talk. Eventually the other girl and I left the guy behind, and at the end of the bike she left me behind too. I was happy with my split, although I always wish I went faster. 1:16:50 for an average of just over 19 mph. <br />
<br />
T2 was not as fast as T1, with those pesky socks to pull on. Next year I will learn to go without them.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R1oWr9cE2_RfaS0QIK9j6RTXmiBon6lHWhf1BFcoNSheHmq31_nZDTglRurB1fwz7Pogd2yUhxSB3chydG2f8prM4FnkJD5mq-_JWIy019WuOP0iY3LXedqO9OWQjoJY6cjgIaozUZY/s1600/IMG_5522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R1oWr9cE2_RfaS0QIK9j6RTXmiBon6lHWhf1BFcoNSheHmq31_nZDTglRurB1fwz7Pogd2yUhxSB3chydG2f8prM4FnkJD5mq-_JWIy019WuOP0iY3LXedqO9OWQjoJY6cjgIaozUZY/s320/IMG_5522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cousin Anne, complete with black eye and broken nose!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Onto the run, and quickly past my female boomerang, with a few encouraging words. I think her name was Bridgette, but now I am having trouble remembering...Also of note on the run course was the segway crash I witnessed as a tour group attempted to speed across the crosswalk between runners. Hilarious.<br />
<br />
Ok, so I settled into a nice pace on the run. You may or may not remember my revelation concerning my nutrition and my general mood/performance during the run, but I suddenly realized (duh) how directly correlated these two things were after my last half. Specifically, I realized that keeping a steady flow of Gu or other carbs/sugar into my system, starting just before the run and at short intervals thereafter kept my mood high and my performance on track. So about 4.5 miles from the end of the bike I had a pack of Stinger Chews (in addition, of course, to my usual Infinit Drink mix). I had Gus at miles 1 and 4, both BEFORE my mood and performance began to crash. Voila! A chipper runner Jo! Amazing! From start to finish, I felt fine! I mean, I was still running hard and tired, but the peaks and valleys of my previous performances were gone. I ran 51:50 and was happy the entire time.<br />
<br />
Putting it all together, I had an olympic distance PR with 2:41:22. I placed 17th in my age group of 239 athletes. When I figured that out, I was pretty darn pumped. I was 83rd out of 1126 women and 595th out of 3138 finishers. Not a podium, but hey, this was a huge race and a PR to boot. So I am happy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PLUS I did end up on the podium the very next weekend... But that story will have to wait for Part 2...SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-64003445445234039282012-08-14T13:23:00.002-07:002012-08-14T13:23:58.483-07:00SheROX Philly Race Report: Becky takes on the UNIVERSE<style>
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<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well,
another race down and another race report to write! SheROX Philadelphia was an
awesome race, and I had a great day, but I think the real story was about the
perserverance of my friend Becky through the events leading up to the race. She
went through a few obstacles to get through the starting line that would have
had me completely losing my mind! So, I'll be interspersing the story of her
race with the story of mine. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
is my friend Becky:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgL-5MF6RHuNhWeHX8rse2tmXmJql5Dhm2-c5J-n6-EbIVc4J75Xl4H3Ri72RFYckvxBZy8MFjihRh9dcIlNiLsfXwqDyMcz45d6HZk6N6GOLGDDIJRvUc79CP50D4-RXrwCCx5xkP2I/s1600/photo(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgL-5MF6RHuNhWeHX8rse2tmXmJql5Dhm2-c5J-n6-EbIVc4J75Xl4H3Ri72RFYckvxBZy8MFjihRh9dcIlNiLsfXwqDyMcz45d6HZk6N6GOLGDDIJRvUc79CP50D4-RXrwCCx5xkP2I/s320/photo(25).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A
few years ago I convinced her to sign up for a race with me in Delaware. She's
been doing several running races since then, and is known for getting ambitious
when signing up and then slightly less ambitious with the consistancy of her
training... :) Anyway, I signed up for the SheROX Philly race because Becky
said she was going to race it and wanted me to do it with her. I waited to sign
up and made her promise that she would actually race. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
didn't realize how hard she would have to work to keep that promise.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
timing of the race fit perfectly into the rest of my schedule for the season,
setting me up for Nation's olympic distance in September and Waterman's half in
October. I was really excited to sprint again. With each race I complete it
becomes more and more clear to me that I am likely strongest at these shorter,
faster races. This season has been aimed at half iron distance races, so I
haven't done much speed work, but I think after this year that will change.
Even without the speedwork, I was excited to see if I could effectively dose
out my effort over this short race. Philly SheROX is a little longer than most
sprint races, though. The swim was 600m, the bike was 15.5 miles and the run
was the only standard, at 5k. A 15.5 mile bike meant that my time would likely
be nowhere near the sprint I did earlier in the season with an 11.5 mile
bike. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
went up to the Philly area and spent some time with my family before heading
into the city itself to stay with Becky on Saturday night. A few weeks before
the race, however, Becky, who is a nurse, had found out that she was scheduled
to work during the race. As of two days before the race, she still hadn't found
anyone to cover for her and was sure she wasn't going to get to race. At 3pm
Friday, she found someone to switch shifts with her, and she ended up working a
12 hr shift Saturday so that she could join me at the race Sunday
morning. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Packet
pick-up was during her shift on Saturday, so when I went to get my goodie bag
and numbers, I found out that she had to be at the race site at 4:30 am to get
her packet in the morning. The expo was great, and when I went out to take a
ride and spin my legs out, I was fortunate enough to meet another cyclist who
showed me a route on closed off streets. At Becky's I took a little run, made
pasta for dinner, and watched the olympics while waiting for Becky to come
home...</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then
she called me to tell me that her bike, which she had ridden to work, had been
stolen.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Luckily
she had another bike locked up downstairs at her apartment building. By the
time she got home after 8 she was laughing and saying the universe really
didn't want her to race. Little did she know, her ordeal wasn't over.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
were up super early on Sunday, and I had my usual oatmeal and coffee. Becky
planned to ride her other bike to the race site to get her packet. As I got
ready for my pre-race shower and to pack up my gear, Becky called me again. She
had snapped the key in her bike lock. Now she had no bike. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No
matter, she was tenacious. She called a friend and asked to borrow a bike.
Maybe most amazing is that her friend was awake at 5am. She and I ended up at
the race site around the same time, where she managed to get her packet, and
then went back across the city to pick up her borrowed bike. We got there
around 5:45. Transition closed at 6:45. Our swim wave was at 7:24. She had her
work cut out for her.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
set up my transition and sized up the competition. The a few of the girls in my
age group looked seriously competitive. I knew I had a tough race ahead of me,
and I told myself that I had to push myself and run my race. I couldn't worry
about that girl over there who looked like she should be an elite. I got in my
run warm up and volunteered to sing the anthem, but they already had a singer.
They also told me we couldn't get into the water before the race, which I found
a bit disappointing. All the while I was listening to the announcer count down
the time left before we had to leave transition. I had some of Becky's stuff in
transition with me, so I set it up for her. At 15 minutes till the closing of
transition, I started to think she really wasn't going to make it. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then
with 5 minutes left, I saw her bob into transition with her friend's bike!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
set up her gear as quickly as we could, and hustled out to the swim start. The
water temperature was 82, definitely not wetsuit legal. We were the 8th wave of
swimmers, and when we waded in I was surprised by how large our age group was.
106 athletes in the Women's 25-29. Wow. We lunged from our in-water start at
the horn and I settled in well. I felt great and swam well, but was soon
climbing over ladies from the wave before ours. My swim was pretty quick, 12:28
for 600 meters. I came out of the water feeling good. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Enter
the fastest T1 of my life. First we didn’t have to strip off wetsuits, so that
of course made things speedier. I’ve also been working on riding in my new tri
bike shoes without socks, so I was able to slip those on much more quickly than
I normally would when wrestling with wet feet and sandy socks. I got in and out
in 1:04. Zoom! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Onto
the bike and right into a massive traffic jam. The mount line was in a narrow
chute, and the lovely ladies from the wave ahead of mine had all stopped, maybe
6 of them or so, right in the chute. I wanted to run by them, but they were
clogging it up and acting confused and water-addled. Bah! When I finally got
out onto the course I basically spent the entire ride passing people from the
earlier wave. I knew that when I came out of the swim there were maybe 8 girls
from my wave (of 106!) ahead of me, but for the most part I didn’t see them. I
passed I think two and one caught me, but otherwise everyone I saw was in an
older age group. The course was pretty nice, with one significant hill and
several false flats. It was a two-loop course, so all of that happened twice.
Wasn’t my fastest time, and the course was a bit crowded. I had 51:16 for 15.5
miles. (Long bike course for a sprint made for a long overall sprint time…)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Out
on the bike course I passed Becky at one of the turnarounds. I was happy to see
that the universe hadn’t taken her out yet. She was still racing! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My
T2 was not as fast as T1, but it was still respectable. I had to pull socks on
for the run, so it was 1:24. I felt great going out on the run and kept up a
good pace and cadence. Looking back I always feel like I could have pushed it
more than I did, but at the time I felt like it was a really good effort. I ran
the 5k in 25:12 and was happy the whole time, chatting up my neighbors. They
had ice-cold wet towels out on the course, which were a welcome treat at the
turnaround. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
finished in 1:31:26. As always with a sprint, it's hard to compare that time
with any other because the distances are so variable. Looking at my splits, I
could have gone a bit faster on the bike, but overall I'm pretty happy with my
efforts. I was 31st out of 636 women, which I'm proud of. The fastest non-elite
time was 1:17 and the girl who won my age group and got 3rd overall was went in
1:23. My age group was super competitive though (again, as usual), and I ended
up in 7th. I still want to end up on the podium, but I definitely feel like I
did well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After
the race I didn’t feel too spent (another indicator that maybe I should have
raced harder?). I waited for Becky, who I had seen going out on the run when I
was near the end. I screamed her in to the finish line. Becky:1, Universe: 0!
We were all done before 9:30 am, but for Becky it felt like she had already had
quite a day. We celebrated our races with Mediterranean take out and watched
the Olympics. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
am super excited for my next race. Bring on September! Unfortunately, I might
not end up with any pictures of this race since we had no spectators with
cameras and the official pictures are harder to steal from this race…But if I get
some, they’ll get posted! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Currently
I am at a self-imposed training camp in Minnesota. Expect a blog post about my
adventures soon!</span></div>
<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-75758785064314192822012-07-11T07:25:00.003-07:002012-07-11T07:31:25.216-07:00Training through Wedding Season<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gyj3QN7_vhc/T_2LDV9yvaI/AAAAAAAAA9g/Aso2V7l8aPQ/s1600/Picture+20.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gyj3QN7_vhc/T_2LDV9yvaI/AAAAAAAAA9g/Aso2V7l8aPQ/s320/Picture+20.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my cousin Sarah (bride), and Erin<br />
in the photobooth and Sarah's LA wedding </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I post novels, don't I? I mean seriously, reading my blog is an undertaking! I don't post that often, but when I do you better have a good chunk of time set aside to wade through it!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I promise to be a bit more brief this time around. And while I am at it, I may try to be a bit more frequent. It's just that I am so busy with training and racing and writing my dissertation...oh yeah and with weddings.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh43PoWPUUKS5tknTo0Zjdc7Aj_pzPl0wZt6blzWaz_i8fvh1tq97oB8TXe-gOTFihDQY58ytXjrSLOcFTj3JRsvklXeRXaUAPNgN7C6tvn-GStwZlLoVRdb5w9AR_Si8oBenOKDzlq6o/s1600/IMG_4550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh43PoWPUUKS5tknTo0Zjdc7Aj_pzPl0wZt6blzWaz_i8fvh1tq97oB8TXe-gOTFihDQY58ytXjrSLOcFTj3JRsvklXeRXaUAPNgN7C6tvn-GStwZlLoVRdb5w9AR_Si8oBenOKDzlq6o/s320/IMG_4550.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bachelorette party in Atlantic City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is full on wedding season, and I am at the right age for everyone I know to either be getting hitched or popping out babies. I'm not complaining, I got hitched two summers ago, but this year in particular seems to be the go-to wedding year. I've been to two already this year, and there are at least two more on the way. Two weekends ago I was in LA for my cousin's (gorgeous!) wedding. This weekend I will be wrapped in fuchsia as a bridesmaid for one of my dearest high school friends.<br />
<br />
I intentionally planned these weddings into my racing season. I knew that I would be out in LA without my bike or a pool for several days, and I also knew that the bachelorette weekend and wedding weekend for this coming celebration would take up several days of my time with limited moments for training (and limited motivation to wake up at the crack of dawn). I'm not really a drinker anymore. I rarely even have glass of wine these days. But I don't want to be a party pooper, so I try to stay up with everyone and drive people home safely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvLUQFzXjQE1rt4lPpgaxFNUvHSDg0M2tFHSkW7UN5N8Llu_y2UKE2KEFd7mjzesiPCOUKbB6CmR2kScIdMK3z2sqWSmfbCoOHiaPYcfng1cx3hCiNl84i2OWdHmZWvl0LXfSMLYOTw/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvLUQFzXjQE1rt4lPpgaxFNUvHSDg0M2tFHSkW7UN5N8Llu_y2UKE2KEFd7mjzesiPCOUKbB6CmR2kScIdMK3z2sqWSmfbCoOHiaPYcfng1cx3hCiNl84i2OWdHmZWvl0LXfSMLYOTw/s320/IMG_5055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of a very tough run in LA</td></tr>
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I have been less successful at avoiding the food and cake these events usually entail... Might be needing this article soon:<br />
<a href="http://trainright.com/triathlon-training-avoiding-mid-season-weight-gain/">Triathlon Training: Avoiding Mid-Season Weight Gain</a><br />
<br />
Knowing all this would happen starting the weekend after Eagleman (bachelorette party in AC), my next race isn't scheduled until August 5th. This doesn't mean I haven't been up to some great training though! In LA I did many miles of running, including a slightly ill-planned trail run at the foothills of the mountains (desert. mid-day. altitude. Was definitely over ambitious). I ran on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ with fellow bridesmaids. I've been out in extreme weather, both seriously hot and ridiculously rainy (see photo below). This weekend I'll be taking my bike and squeezing in miles before squeezing into a dress...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0GdwsUMTzbvY_DGtkfO3Pncub82-ZT3l2xVXUzVryN13qJ6DnaluWfpHgngr9AMat5j1TDDZULFaNL-x8m6qMo0pIS5qL3fCaYFNR2YFVgu5TpWmAEoFIc8m1_jCAp58643XVdfZz-w/s1600/photo(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0GdwsUMTzbvY_DGtkfO3Pncub82-ZT3l2xVXUzVryN13qJ6DnaluWfpHgngr9AMat5j1TDDZULFaNL-x8m6qMo0pIS5qL3fCaYFNR2YFVgu5TpWmAEoFIc8m1_jCAp58643XVdfZz-w/s320/photo(24).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flash downpour, mid-run yesterday! SOGGY! I have a similar picture from a few days earlier, but I'm that soaked in sweat, not rain. HOT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway, the bulk of the wedding stuff will be over this weekend (until the fall weddings start...) so I'm excited to have a great time and then get back to racing!!SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-39714721785720611292012-06-13T19:46:00.001-07:002012-06-21T06:54:36.113-07:00Official Race Photos! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUiceSMXu-1lMMvZNzTBKC5ACSJYzN-k_oTB30ibll-G9oj8lYUmSy6fL7IsVNte0OIPtmRwEVWkDu2hDtD5EyBeE-d2B3hgkZ1uCWN7Sx1hQHqgRLysL5oujh_GLwT9r3Fiw5XC3EUI/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUiceSMXu-1lMMvZNzTBKC5ACSJYzN-k_oTB30ibll-G9oj8lYUmSy6fL7IsVNte0OIPtmRwEVWkDu2hDtD5EyBeE-d2B3hgkZ1uCWN7Sx1hQHqgRLysL5oujh_GLwT9r3Fiw5XC3EUI/s320/Picture+4.png" width="214" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuhHnymE9KlrQ59DZ7L_0Zqp9gbwWRDgMIt-VTE85MuUDzYwMsstLOYFVq4AIow99DtelPIXjyYxHei9IYBE7acB7V2CkH-8HPjQjQal4151d8WyAAYVWLwT10iFNFkTVYh7AEoHarfw/s1600/photo(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuhHnymE9KlrQ59DZ7L_0Zqp9gbwWRDgMIt-VTE85MuUDzYwMsstLOYFVq4AIow99DtelPIXjyYxHei9IYBE7acB7V2CkH-8HPjQjQal4151d8WyAAYVWLwT10iFNFkTVYh7AEoHarfw/s320/photo(23).JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXG9ma49Ctg2xNq253Cqu_LbseRHIhBTFzJUK3sUibtLwuFnQ5kqJhPQhuzp1u8gGLyRYB6hLuSAij-sbKdqyve1LiP0sHwrmjbDWNb-wAsiBaKjdmPESJGt7UEmKoas4jACBCFwXL-s/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXG9ma49Ctg2xNq253Cqu_LbseRHIhBTFzJUK3sUibtLwuFnQ5kqJhPQhuzp1u8gGLyRYB6hLuSAij-sbKdqyve1LiP0sHwrmjbDWNb-wAsiBaKjdmPESJGt7UEmKoas4jACBCFwXL-s/s320/Picture+3.png" width="215" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj_bqKcGb2sZ9VycmKvqBpBOHip5scY2DvoriF5F1gDF2sYmGp5bgjJ-luERlM6NBUFE8YBhbbIA4ONZ2oP8cUEgZjJI5x0Gu-3AJ9Qgo2w6mO4j9CieUwieSEOAXBEy0vi-a-_HmliU/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj_bqKcGb2sZ9VycmKvqBpBOHip5scY2DvoriF5F1gDF2sYmGp5bgjJ-luERlM6NBUFE8YBhbbIA4ONZ2oP8cUEgZjJI5x0Gu-3AJ9Qgo2w6mO4j9CieUwieSEOAXBEy0vi-a-_HmliU/s320/Picture+5.png" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-49569969875974135972012-06-12T14:13:00.001-07:002012-06-12T16:36:51.769-07:00Eagleman 70.3 Race Report: Hot, Slow, and Successful!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglegRA2d8FGMLf7XB_7vb4tAUfla2zBIcRTYjM0e6jA6zF7Sl4pUbMC98Npzkq9qtFLsi9JI54e72M8urLjRJ8BpeY1LtBUyXVHAu2fpOaouVbOBLDMpBjwByyTEUmK4mF5HXTHIzNNbE/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglegRA2d8FGMLf7XB_7vb4tAUfla2zBIcRTYjM0e6jA6zF7Sl4pUbMC98Npzkq9qtFLsi9JI54e72M8urLjRJ8BpeY1LtBUyXVHAu2fpOaouVbOBLDMpBjwByyTEUmK4mF5HXTHIzNNbE/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" title="Mirinda Carfrae: She's one tiny powerhouse, and she's nice too!" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met Mirinda "Rinny" Carfrae! She's a tiny powerhouse! Photo Cred: Ryan</td></tr>
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Ladies and Gentlemen, I survived another half-ironman. And this time, no hospital and no IVs for me!! Given the conditions, I think that in and of itself was an awesome accomplishment...<br />
<br />
First let me say that Ironman Eagleman 70.3 is an extremely well run race with great staff and volunteers. Now let me say that I think anyone who does that race more than once is out of their flipping mind. Holy hotness! This year was apparently a "mild" one for Eagleman, but in my book it was VERY EXTREME!!!<br />
<br />
So as we all may recall (some more than others...), after my last half iron distance event, in relatively ideal race conditions, I ended up in a hospital bed with two liters of fluids pumping through my veins, unable to stand due to severe leg cramping.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI2yYwXCCBL_hxGHCD643PLK1SJNl1LLk6qYqAslEREurlmu2V_BLHOCkAjw9tYMmrRJktgokNBOJ1nBlvC2B5voR5wA6noOP0q0aZSkU_qCYEzNAbGTuWeiT9UqbQO8orTCEbgBs5Ks/s1600/IMG_4930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI2yYwXCCBL_hxGHCD643PLK1SJNl1LLk6qYqAslEREurlmu2V_BLHOCkAjw9tYMmrRJktgokNBOJ1nBlvC2B5voR5wA6noOP0q0aZSkU_qCYEzNAbGTuWeiT9UqbQO8orTCEbgBs5Ks/s320/IMG_4930.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan and I are ready to roll: Those bikes make that car look good! </td></tr>
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My family probably didn't love the idea that I was going to try again, but I have my heart set on all of this triathlete craziness, and I just had to promise not to repeat my first "tie up". I chose Eagleman because it was relatively close to home and because the course was flat. Somehow the idea of early June also seemed like a safe bet for not-too-extreme weather. It wasn't till after my race fee was paid and I was committed did I find out that Eagleman is actually well known for it's inferno-like conditions. Whoops. And the weather this year did not disappoint! Despite several beautiful, 70-73 degree days before the race, race day itself was slated to be 90 degrees in the shade. And the run course, btw, is NOT in the shade. Ever.<br />
<br />
Anyway, my friend Ryan and I drove down to Cambridge, MD together the day before the race. Erin had a hockey tournament, so she came down Sat afternoon (with our awesome friend Matt), after her last game. I made Ryan leave kinda early because I was really excited for the pro-forum and wanted to meet Craig Alexander and Mirinda Carfrae. We packed up Ryan's car, put the bikes on the roof rack, and headed over the Bay Bridge.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn2Z07vpiXVh88lK6FhrFlkK3ABYjomN5mOOZtMc_LAS_v-AtFNLyf1i57GfwW7VWQYvyRHLcuLw63pMzPgvdXC6L0b1yu2BiC1muMNjXHsatzlhXtA71IgOQ9PQ9cl9OAja_7GrbxPI/s1600/IMG_4931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn2Z07vpiXVh88lK6FhrFlkK3ABYjomN5mOOZtMc_LAS_v-AtFNLyf1i57GfwW7VWQYvyRHLcuLw63pMzPgvdXC6L0b1yu2BiC1muMNjXHsatzlhXtA71IgOQ9PQ9cl9OAja_7GrbxPI/s320/IMG_4931.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the bridge ends...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMKEJp91jslWwD6mIC11qNoVwi6uJodwAHsa79HpxE-_4iT2QJx9o5GNsK2VWFCDORkvK1F9veef2KgWhyWeYo7gycFGQi25FMf5IRSAabYZdFJs5xDt0IwXhagyM-gAqDzLouE1_nGc/s1600/IMG_4933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMKEJp91jslWwD6mIC11qNoVwi6uJodwAHsa79HpxE-_4iT2QJx9o5GNsK2VWFCDORkvK1F9veef2KgWhyWeYo7gycFGQi25FMf5IRSAabYZdFJs5xDt0IwXhagyM-gAqDzLouE1_nGc/s320/IMG_4933.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out for a spin</td></tr>
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Once in Cambridge we got through packet pickup and toured the town a little on our bikes to spin out our legs. Once it was time for the pro-forum I was like a little kid. I was so freaking excited to see these legends in person. I am a serious nerd about triathlon, so I've read and seen basically everything there is to see and read about these pros. I brought two triathlete magazines with me to have signed. And suddenly there they were, milling about in the crowd, heading onstage, looking like SUPER FIT human beings. Rinny's legs are so jacked! And she's so tiny!! And Crowie looks a bit stunned most of the time, but very happy. Meredith Kessler and TJ Tollakson were also on the panel, and they both seem incredibly down to earth. They were all well-spoken and funny. After the question and answer was over, I basically sprinted to the front of the line to go onstage and made Ryan take my picture with them. They were so so nice and wished me luck at the race. Rinny and I chatted about my camera. Meredith (who went on to win the race, Rinny dropped out on the bike due to illness) was so accommodating and sweet. It was awesome. I could go on, but I wont.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyqYpvKWtws6b3bJx6P7ULKV_H1Qkse8wrIn5Ifv0iMhD3a-XfbJi0rm_IMskpWYH4b7EGZgMUXaOGsNGE9eFEy0w3qXmS1LH813RKX6aKmeD0loeq1SCvD2JeeCe3lGlAGY9L7Z8WfE/s1600/IMG_1514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyqYpvKWtws6b3bJx6P7ULKV_H1Qkse8wrIn5Ifv0iMhD3a-XfbJi0rm_IMskpWYH4b7EGZgMUXaOGsNGE9eFEy0w3qXmS1LH813RKX6aKmeD0loeq1SCvD2JeeCe3lGlAGY9L7Z8WfE/s320/IMG_1514.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Crowie! Craig Alexander: Reigning Ironman World Champion</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRexwM8Pm9eM34y5lKOQ6amTKK1tRiDkykNTKiQ5rspFeg9lIQxO2pH0_K0Utijaf8_VJH-yCZ7TCPaDj1v7LHON928hvnV2_o3JuNtCzorVxh-AZIkzT7tdLNOnoqBVVx9mA2sEhJXGQ/s1600/IMG_1516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRexwM8Pm9eM34y5lKOQ6amTKK1tRiDkykNTKiQ5rspFeg9lIQxO2pH0_K0Utijaf8_VJH-yCZ7TCPaDj1v7LHON928hvnV2_o3JuNtCzorVxh-AZIkzT7tdLNOnoqBVVx9mA2sEhJXGQ/s320/IMG_1516.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meredith Kessler is super sweet! Photo cred, these two: Ryan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway, once I got over being starstruck and ridiculous, Ryan and I headed over to transition to rack our bikes and check out the water. I was immediately excited about the swim once we got in. The water was murky but very pleasant and only slightly brackish. It was also very quiet and sighting was a piece of cake. I was hoping that the water would be warm enough on race morning that wetsuits would not be legal, because I knew that as a strong swimmer that would give me an advantage. After splashing around for a bit, Ryan and I scooped up another triathlete, Marc, and we all headed out in search of an Italian restaurant for dinner. That turned out to be more challenging than it should have been, but we got lucky and found good one on the way to my hotel.<br />
<br />
My pre-race meal of choice: Spaghetti with red sauce and chicken. Sometimes mushrooms too. Yummm.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPBT8Vn3MeGeT9r1PHAfmLWHkxmUC542Ed0ZDeJabqXoFCA_9Y5agw1Jhv7_6d9FlPqzalBZVPFqgSNFQvORFoxpqUxzTcFqjsU5SC0cxrjmiOwudC4dfhVbGDmzYcJ7ZdVQrOLfUiUo/s1600/IMG_4304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPBT8Vn3MeGeT9r1PHAfmLWHkxmUC542Ed0ZDeJabqXoFCA_9Y5agw1Jhv7_6d9FlPqzalBZVPFqgSNFQvORFoxpqUxzTcFqjsU5SC0cxrjmiOwudC4dfhVbGDmzYcJ7ZdVQrOLfUiUo/s320/IMG_4304.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go...wait for 2 hours... Photo Cred: Erin</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After dinner the boys dropped me at my hotel and I got my stuff all ready for race day whilst attempting to ignore the screaming children (and parents) in my adjoining room. Thank goodness for earplugs. I was in bed on time and feeling good, earplugs in place and Triathlete magazine to lull me to sleep. I didn't even notice when Erin and Matt got there. I did, however, wake up on my own a few minutes before my alarm went off at 3:30 am.<br />
<br />
My new-this-season pre-race rituals have served me well, so I am sticking to them. Hot shower. Oatmeal with banana. Cup of coffee. Gatorade. Given the 45 minute drive to the race site, the fact that my bike was already racked and the fact that this was a half-ironman, I wasn't planning on too much warm up for this one. The longer the race, the shorter the warm up. Unfortunately, despite transition closing at 6:45, my swim wave wasn't scheduled to start until 8:20. That meant that I would be sitting around for a whiiiile and that my race was going to go into the hottest part of the day. The week before the race I was extremely diligent about my electrolyte consumption. I took Endurolytes (electrolyte pills) every day the week before, and that morning.<br />
<br />
Erin and Matt rolled out of bed and we headed to the race site. They dropped me off at transition and went to Denny's for breakfast while I set up my stuff. I had a great transition location, really easy to find at the end of a rack, which was a blessing because the transition area was a HUGE SEA of bicycles. By the time I had everything set up I was feeling pretty good, albeit nervous. It was already getting hot by 6 am and I knew it was going to be a scorcher. The race announcers told us the swim was still wetsuit legal (75.6 degrees I think?) but that the high for the day was about 93. Yay.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VFBzA4YPXho/T9esi4eHyPI/AAAAAAAAA6g/w3yGy0fnO7o/s1600/IMG_4308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VFBzA4YPXho/T9esi4eHyPI/AAAAAAAAA6g/w3yGy0fnO7o/s320/IMG_4308.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My support crew are the best ever (Matt, Me and Erin)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I was happy to see some DC Tri Club friends, as well as Sara, a friend of mine from the bike shop. I was also really really glad Erin and Matt were there to cheer me on. My parents were also en route, scheduled to arrive around when I would be entering T2. Now all I had to do was stay out of trouble. Haha. <br />
<br />
After waiting around for a while and fretting over the fact that I felt like I needed a second breakfast, my swim wave time finally arrived. I waded in with my fellow red-caps, swam around a bit, and lined up for the start. After we bobbed around like corks in our wetsuits for a few minutes, the horn blew and we were off. I felt great in the water and easily found a good pace. One thing I have yet to master is effectively drafting off of the lead swimmers, and that would have been particularly difficult given the murkiness of the water, so I just settled into my own path and forged ahead. The buoys came quickly and I really did feel great. I had been very worried about the foot and leg cramps that I have been experiencing while swimming, and I didn't have a problem until the very last buoy. A girl bumped into my left leg and suddenly my big toe and foot cramped up and I had to keep that foot flexed for the last few hundred meters of the swim. It wasn't the most efficient stroke, but it wasn't for every long either. I came out in a good position from the swim, at 35:05 and felt probably the best I have coming into transition and onto the bike.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqPIYGsF4p9u_bZ5K6jKPjIYBBMjMrRRXIpU6vj9b3zdn8xY3rKPn_bF4-AhMOAaJ3q7zE1Sf6kgcOr6y4lyCqNss-iLnYCgVsFnEJpjsRhrHHfEw8FGeqjhJi4Hwj1-GiUHvBCcNMC0/s1600/IMG_4316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqPIYGsF4p9u_bZ5K6jKPjIYBBMjMrRRXIpU6vj9b3zdn8xY3rKPn_bF4-AhMOAaJ3q7zE1Sf6kgcOr6y4lyCqNss-iLnYCgVsFnEJpjsRhrHHfEw8FGeqjhJi4Hwj1-GiUHvBCcNMC0/s320/IMG_4316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walkin' into the water, second from the right, not counting the girl out in front</td></tr>
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I went into T1 ready to rock, but had another really slow transition. I swear, I'm going to practice transitions for hours on end. T1 was 2:20. Then I was off, and running out to the bike course with JoMama.<br />
<br />
The first part of the course I was going pretty hard and I felt good. I was likely averaging over 20 mph for the first 1/4 to 1/3 of the course. Still, several girls from my age group were passing me, which made me realize that I must have come out pretty high up in the swim.<br />
<br />
Then the headwinds hit. As I was pushing hard against them, struggling for 17 or 18 mph, I realized that I needed to be sure I didn't blow myself out in the bike. I just kept telling myself to save something for the run, because the heat was rising and I knew it would be really tough. I also kept a steady eye on the clock, making sure I fueled up every 10 minutes with my Inifinit custom formula and water. I had a pack of Stinger Chews half way through, and two Endurolyte pills. The headwind didn't really let up, but I was able to push a bit harder on the last third of the course. I had to freewheel and stretch out more frequently than I wanted to. Flat courses sound great, but it can be really hard on the body to stay in the same position for 56 miles. Hills give you a chance to shift your position and stretch out a bit, but on this course you had to do that yourself. I honestly just was not as aggressive on the bike as I normally am, but I really wanted to be careful. By the time I was coming in from the bike I was no longer in the wind and I could tell the temperature had soared. I had biked 3:03:54 which was an average of 18.3 mph. Conservative, but probably smart.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ew2OCgDQPR3CQWUyOD8kuYPYpt4m_cpZzMW-OPdSyBRSrqAr8ccls4zZMPHLlBS19EBl-VWQ0Qh0ImwLEmEIf91oBEIRiViOK-gtbwMZxmfUy5bHq2grHQHC7z5dMJAB_X-oZrleQps/s1600/IMG_4319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ew2OCgDQPR3CQWUyOD8kuYPYpt4m_cpZzMW-OPdSyBRSrqAr8ccls4zZMPHLlBS19EBl-VWQ0Qh0ImwLEmEIf91oBEIRiViOK-gtbwMZxmfUy5bHq2grHQHC7z5dMJAB_X-oZrleQps/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red caps bobbing. Photo Cred: Erin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Coming into T2 I saw both of my parents, as well as Erin and Matt. I was super psyched my support crew was there. Dad yelled something to me about the heat, but I have no idea what it was. T2 was also pretty darn slow (2:24) but I had my head in the game and felt good.<br />
<br />
Once I started running, though, I knew it was going to be a slow afternoon. My legs just wouldn't go quickly and I was instantly overheated. I had taken my mother's advice and brought crack-and-cool "ice packs". They felt awesome for about 1 minute and then they were useless. Darn things! (As an experiment I cracked open my extra one yesterday and it stayed cold for at least half an hour. No idea if it was just too hot for them to work, or if I was too hot to feel it). Anyway, one mile in and I was already feeling like complete crap. I could see heat rising off the pavement in waves. At the first aid station I walked, got water, got ice, and poured water all over my head and shoulders. I assessed how I felt and made a deal with myself: If I ran to every aid station, and picked up my cadence once the station is in sight, I was allowed to walk/stop and get myself cooled off at every one.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tIFunS8A3pNm0KB6RowF4s3R7mkqJ-OUWF7Obt2c2QuWfJHq32qxU3GiJ7ovLNo3LwGRLuvAv1K0IqI_-642XnYQPOduCAS54M_-qpqnOWKpo-dzPTyjQQyFYADQbL1BzKTW6MdGrRQ/s1600/560030_4186130738192_318803961_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tIFunS8A3pNm0KB6RowF4s3R7mkqJ-OUWF7Obt2c2QuWfJHq32qxU3GiJ7ovLNo3LwGRLuvAv1K0IqI_-642XnYQPOduCAS54M_-qpqnOWKpo-dzPTyjQQyFYADQbL1BzKTW6MdGrRQ/s320/560030_4186130738192_318803961_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim exit! Photo Cred: Sara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And I stuck to that deal.<br />
<br />
I just took the run aid station by aid station. I'm not going to lie, the first 6-7 miles were pretty darn awful. I considered what excuses I would tell my family and friends if I decided to quit. I told myself I was never doing this again. I stopped to stand in a sprinkler. I watched the rising heat blur out everything on the horizon. I swerved to run through the tiniest patch of shade.<br />
Then I would see the next aid station and pick up my pace. A deal is a deal, after all. At each station I put ice down my top, ice in my hat, ice in my shorts even. Poured several cups of water all over. Drank gatorade and water. I had absolutely no interest in the Gus I brought with me, but I made myself choke one down around mile 4. The next mile or so after that was probably the worst I felt all day. And then suddenly the carbs kicked in and I felt like I was on cloud nine. At the aid station right before the turn around I figured out that I could scrunch up the top of a cup full of ice and carry that with me so that I had a cold hand and little drops of melted water to pour over myself until the next mile. From the turn around to about mile 9 I felt amazing. I ran faster, I talked to people, I cheered others on. Then at mile 9 I hated myself again. The last two miles were almost impossible. We could see the finish across the water front at the last mile marker, and somehow it looked so incredibly far away. The woman next to me said she would have rather swam that last mile and I totally agreed. Then I passed her. At the last bend I saw my parents and gave them both a thumbs up, yelling "I'm OK!" because even though I was totally exhausted I knew that I was a hell of a lot better than last time. I wasn't going to need an IV! Yay! Mission accomplished!!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEniahaqWk8QcRprf_X5oYXFujvJewcPRbd96_IEVcWr2R0wa7tMyLGhUqJliwI6nTvDTUTnsiqs_P7_B_lYRAuPx7MXdPqMN91WaER_-IAaw4558VwwmBILdbsvjDBjPTV517vM2jnk/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEniahaqWk8QcRprf_X5oYXFujvJewcPRbd96_IEVcWr2R0wa7tMyLGhUqJliwI6nTvDTUTnsiqs_P7_B_lYRAuPx7MXdPqMN91WaER_-IAaw4558VwwmBILdbsvjDBjPTV517vM2jnk/s320/IMG_4401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WOOO I'M ALIVE! Photo Cred: Erin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Going down the finish chute at an Ironman event really is pretty awesome. I know it would be even more amazing at a full Ironman, but this was still great. I ran along the edge of the chute and high-fived every person and child with their hand out. Honestly I felt like I needed to suck up a little energy from each of them to convince myself to keep going. With the finishing arch in sight I put in a bit of a kick, but I didn't have much. Just before the finish line I saw that Matt and Erin had made signs for me and I hope the finish line camera caught my huge grin. My run time was 2:23:02, my second slowest half-marathon ever.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCdVXDFDiFAghhKyZ_LcFIWxplCToSJkdRSFx4oRDFwD2IubyxHSQiZTBzMlYlEmUOvkM6RM6LFiYJA4I-2oq0G2o2ecRzM4zqbhyzZhreAJ40GbZnWwKTCrR33may2GoyHZoc4lM6Yg/s1600/IMG_4405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCdVXDFDiFAghhKyZ_LcFIWxplCToSJkdRSFx4oRDFwD2IubyxHSQiZTBzMlYlEmUOvkM6RM6LFiYJA4I-2oq0G2o2ecRzM4zqbhyzZhreAJ40GbZnWwKTCrR33may2GoyHZoc4lM6Yg/s320/IMG_4405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving Matt the thumbs up, Photo Cred: Erin</td></tr>
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I finished in 6:06:07. That's only 2 minutes faster than I finished last year when I went to the hospital. Still, my number one goal was not to go to the hospital, and that was accomplished. My number two goal was sub-6 hours, but given the heat and course conditions, I am actually very proud of myself. On the run I told myself I wasn't doing another half, but I think I owe it to myself to try one more. The first one I had my nutrition all wrong. The second one was too hot. I want to give myself one shot in better conditions and with better nutrition. Given how fast I can swim, my bike time at my first race (significantly faster) and my ability to run a sub-2 hour half marathon, I think that on a good day I could finish a half ironman around 5:30. In a smaller race, that might even be podium territory, or at least close!<br />
<br />
So my next half iron- distance race is in October. And when I am out on the run course telling myself "I am never ever doing this again!" maybe I'll listen.<br />
<br />
Maybe. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_EdiEL4301jLd6dCKNnhlKQZQf4rLHy1euzTbMk63y_gugJ53AnsiU2Be6An7z23ecAE_aZWw_VC4EWf1oVdp9hbFPq4-jLHfUW9czKa0mgxqPaF4MNBKcDqfADyIyhPT1gwO_GHyPw/s1600/IMG_4961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_EdiEL4301jLd6dCKNnhlKQZQf4rLHy1euzTbMk63y_gugJ53AnsiU2Be6An7z23ecAE_aZWw_VC4EWf1oVdp9hbFPq4-jLHfUW9czKa0mgxqPaF4MNBKcDqfADyIyhPT1gwO_GHyPw/s320/IMG_4961.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compare this to the pic of me in the hospital last year. Lookin' much better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Craig Alexander won the men's race. Rinny dropped out during the bike and Meredith Kessler won the women's race. My friend Ben won the Aquavelo and my training buddy Ryan came in 8th in his age group (2nd out of the water!!).<br />
<br />
<br />
Today, two days later, I can barely walk. But I sure am happy :)<br />
<br />
<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-62507034629452551652012-06-07T10:30:00.000-07:002012-06-07T10:30:49.536-07:00Race prep and Ironman World ChampsI meant to start this post by telling you yet again how much trouble I have with tapering. But then I sat down to my lunch and this awesome salad I just made and now I want to talk about that!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKS1eZ9Dk37UNLzkgxAWuhPaMDeVsUG7r9gG1mzh3iM6EcVMsXP-4nJSIGXQm5SFSkdQg3nPyYelrOoYYqHc9bBGVT3ZYI0EClWuPXfcTlonhNUOyJkRCg_mRkOKIKeMZW_rq-6jhLrM/s1600/photo(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKS1eZ9Dk37UNLzkgxAWuhPaMDeVsUG7r9gG1mzh3iM6EcVMsXP-4nJSIGXQm5SFSkdQg3nPyYelrOoYYqHc9bBGVT3ZYI0EClWuPXfcTlonhNUOyJkRCg_mRkOKIKeMZW_rq-6jhLrM/s320/photo(22).JPG" width="320" /></a>-Large bowl of organic spring greens and baby spinach, 1 chopped orange bell pepper, healthy sprinkling of goat cheese, leftover quinoa from last night's dinner (cooked in chicken broth), raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds), a light drizzle of grapeseed oil (my coach says I need more healthy fats) and a drizzle of Newman's Own Lite Italian. I am a Salad Genius!!<br />
<br />
Anyway! Now onto my original topic. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the week before the race is really tough for me. I go through all of the previous weeks of tough training telling myself "Just wait till race week, when you'll know you've put the work in and you can sit back and do a few easy workouts and just be ready to go" but when that week comes it is nowhere near as glorious and relaxing as it sounds during a 4 hour training session several weeks before. I've come to this race week having followed a proper taper as outlined by my coach. This means my longest ride was almost a month ago! A few weeks ago I did a huge brick, but since then they've been much shorter (albeit with faster paces) and that just feels scary.<br />
<br />
I know, I know, I just have to put my trust in my training. Going through this whole coaching process I have worked harder and felt fitter than ever before. But sitting on my tush for a week (you know you've reached a new level of sick when hour runs and 2 hour rides feel like sitting on your tush) just makes me feel...well terrified! And rest days?!? I don't DO rest days. You trained them out of me months ago! Now I'm supposed to take 3 in as many weeks? WHAT??<br />
<br />
So besides spending my extra down time working on my dissertation (oh yeah, that old thing!), I've been trying to mentally prepare myself, and physically prepare all of my equipment. Yesterday my bike got a good shining and I lubed up my chain. Today I took her into the shop and got race wheels installed (going with the same Zipp404s I raced in last September at the Delaware Diamondman half). I'm visualizing lightening fast transitions (HA!) and how to quickly and calmly fix a flat (which of course I'm now having nightmares about. Awesome.). I'm also visualizing how I'm going to have veins of ice water even in the 90+ degree heat on a run course with no shade. This probably will have no effect whatsoever on my actual ability to withstand heat, but it can't hurt to try, right?<br />
<br />
Considering the nutrition/hydration disaster I got myself into for the last half, I've been spending considerable mental energy working out how I'm going to avoid the same mistake. In training I have weaned myself completely off of products containing caffeine and so far in my racing and training this season my heart has not been an issue. My coach recommended a new sports drink made by Infinit Nutrition which was custom designed based on a phone interview to be the best product for me and my training needs. I've been using this religiously in my training and have worked out what I hope is the best strategy for consumption. I'm paying special attention to my electrolyte levels in this last week before the race, hoping to avoid the swim-induced leg and foot cramps that have been plaguing me for years now.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDpLvKFWwDr5BjoILP80-nvAfBHGvo11ujK64kt3FdLdMEx2_qiQ0Nq9OogGO48hsVwL1K9ITbetaNs7Dll-4v_Q0-YM5rW_LRKgyF5CRQbWX0Qy9c6iR9Sc8FKJ93HajH2l1Om-HDCU/s1600/photo(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDpLvKFWwDr5BjoILP80-nvAfBHGvo11ujK64kt3FdLdMEx2_qiQ0Nq9OogGO48hsVwL1K9ITbetaNs7Dll-4v_Q0-YM5rW_LRKgyF5CRQbWX0Qy9c6iR9Sc8FKJ93HajH2l1Om-HDCU/s320/photo(21).JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
I've been reading a lot about "topping off my glycogen stores" in this last week as well, which sounds to me a lot like pigging out. I don't know where that fine line is of eating enough to be ready and over-eating because you're not training as hard right now. Gotta work on that one.<br />
<br />
I think I may have crossed another fine line between thinking about this enough to be ready and over-thinking everything because I'm internally freaking out. Or externally.<br />
<br />
Hey, in other news, Mirinda Carfrae and Craig Alexander are racing Eagleman, too! I can't wait to go to the pro forum and get autographs! As you can see from my picture, I have my triathlete magazines with their faces gracing the covers, all ready for their signatures! (I KNEW there was a reason I hoard old magazines! HA, MOM! :) ) For those of you who don't know who those two Pros are, Mirinda Carfrae was the Ironman World Champion in 2010, the year that Chrissie Wellington scratched due to illness, and she came in second last year. She holds the Kona marathon world record and runs like the wind. Craig Alexander is the reigning Ironman World Champion and is just an amazing athlete and competitor. He also just seems like a really cool dude. Yay!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Ok, off to change the tubes out in my flat kit and then to take my newly-Zipped bike out for a 1.25 hour "easy/steady" ride. <br />
<br />
You'll be hearing from me again soon, the race is days away!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-84234887086941455592012-05-21T06:31:00.003-07:002012-05-21T06:36:11.061-07:00ITU San Diego Race Report!It's been a little over a week. That's not too bad of a turn around, right? :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMXeQW9vfDc/T7pC3csPHXI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/rO98AKqTuvI/s1600/IMG_1317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMXeQW9vfDc/T7pC3csPHXI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/rO98AKqTuvI/s320/IMG_1317.jpg" width="240" /></a>First of all, we had an awesome time in San Diego. The weather was perfect, we got to hang out with the DC Tri Club and make new friends, we did a bit of the touristy thing and went to the zoo. I have cousins in CA who were awesome enough to drive down the San Diego and play with us after my race. The whole thing was great. It must have been fun for me to have an entirely positive attitude, even after sunburns, a mountain and a wasp bite!<br />
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Erin and I got to SD late on Thursday night. The airport is so close to everything, it didn't take us long to get our car and get to our hotel (literally 5 minutes away). We crashed hard, but even managed to sleep in to an (almost) normal hour on Friday. Packet pick up and bike racking, as well as the expo were on Friday, so we headed over to the race site to get all that started.<br />
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Highlight #1: My bike had arrived in San Diego on a truck full of other DC bikes and was waiting for me at the race site. Sing it with me: HALLELUIAH! <br />
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Picked up my bike, which was no worse for the wear, and headed out for a little ride before heading to packet pick up and then taking it into transition. ITU packet pickup means a sweet shirt and lots of goodies in the bag. Woot! Also met a friend in line, a CA guy named Morgan. Once I was through the line and had racked my bike, we explored the expo and found the DC Tri tent where we ate free food and made new friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbReeUPIIQM_0jgew5-z-NAEFMkNMGQ3RREFMHScjd8SMzkg8dsI_EpZHKpmRjgeKWjWCa6J1CXuDCRo9dW9-iNFdHZM-I3V_y_Twfo6sM7brwV1pqQjcOjq1FRRumGM5dOKwA6ERhK_A/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbReeUPIIQM_0jgew5-z-NAEFMkNMGQ3RREFMHScjd8SMzkg8dsI_EpZHKpmRjgeKWjWCa6J1CXuDCRo9dW9-iNFdHZM-I3V_y_Twfo6sM7brwV1pqQjcOjq1FRRumGM5dOKwA6ERhK_A/s320/IMG_1282.JPG" width="320" /></a>Highlight #2: The women's pro race was AWESOME to watch. The Tri Club all watched together, running around to see transition, the bike course and the run. The multi-loop course made it easy to see what was happening, and you were right next to these people as they ran by. Superheroes, arms length away from you. Apparently Erin even met Sarah Haskins the next day while I was racing. GRRARR!<br />
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I have lots of photos of the women's race, but I'll save most of them for another post. I'll just summarize by saying how awesome it was to see Laura Bennett qualify for the Olympic team.<br />
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After a quick jog around to see the run course a bit, Erin and I headed home to get ready for dinner and deal with the sunburn she had endured. I burnt my forehead and part of my hair (Now I know where I miss with my sunscreen...) but Erin <i>roasted</i> her arms and was pretty upset with herself for it. We then headed out to dinner with the DC Tri Club to a place called Luigi's at the Beach.<br />
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Highlight #3: Meeting awesome DC Tri Club people. I know they all live right here, but it's been hard for me to get to club events, so I really didn't know anyone going in. Now I know about 43! YAY!<br />
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Luigi's new we were coming, and gave us a patio to ourselves, but they had a hard time with our volume once we arrived...Anyway Erin and I were smart and got cash, so once we were finished we left our money and went home to go to bed. I can be a bit of a diva about my food and my sleep, especially on race weekend, so Erin averted disaster by getting me home early. <br />
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Saturday morning arrived at 3:45 am and I began the pre-race routine prescribed by my coach. Hot shower, and breakfast first. Note to self: make sure your hotel room has a microwave before buying the non-instant oatmeal at the local grocery store. Pouring hot water from the coffee maker in only sort of works for the regular oats... Once I got Erin up we headed over to the race site. There was a remote parking lot and a shuttle bus to the site, but the whole thing took very little time. Still, I had Erin drop me off at the race site and then go back for the parking etc. Our hotel was super convenient to the site. Most of the Tri Club actually stayed at the hotel on the race site, but it was too expensive for us, so I'm glad ours worked out so well. Anyway, I set up my transition area on a very tight bike rack and scoped out my competition who were all racked right next to me. I'm a little confused about how it all went down, but I think because the pros were there there was non-pro elite wave? I think the elites were racing in age group? Question marks? Either way, the girl next to me was wearing a team USA suit with her name on it, and she looked pretty darn elite to me. If she becomes famous one day I can say she loaned me her pump :)<br />
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After a warm up run I got my wetsuit and headed down to the beach. The venue was so amazing, btw. We were on Mission Bay, and the swim was in Ventura Cove. We had a beach start into calm, bay water. The water and the air were a little bit cold, but I tried to time it right and get a swim warm up in without having to stand around too long afterward before my wave started. I'm glad I did, too, because otherwise the long, stringy kelp-like seaweed hitting my arms and face would have been a big surprise! Erin found me in the sea of wetsuits on the beach just before I started, looking like a class-A race sherpa (complete with long sleeves to avoid more sunburn).<br />
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I went with my sleeveless wetsuit, by the way, instead of renting a long sleeve suit. I was very happy in it. The water temp was 64 or 65.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBKCze7zw8YwMVUwbuiGUGCd3aWICX7Q0zkEdBVX2QEWcfdQaQDWiw46sD3KGQfqM18rBc8bzeZI5tUv0AnVuM-hchI-L4HYtUlZB_FX_7D5PqozEUWMsoMuOSwXOV5eWDKZVLj7rZ4g/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBKCze7zw8YwMVUwbuiGUGCd3aWICX7Q0zkEdBVX2QEWcfdQaQDWiw46sD3KGQfqM18rBc8bzeZI5tUv0AnVuM-hchI-L4HYtUlZB_FX_7D5PqozEUWMsoMuOSwXOV5eWDKZVLj7rZ4g/s320/Picture+8.png" width="211" /></a>The little horn went off for my wave and we sprinted down the beach and into the bay, or into the seaweed I should say. The swim course was a large, backwards, upside down L with a left hand buoy turn followed by three right hand buoy turns. I honestly felt great in the water. My breathing was even, I was excited but not too amped up, and I never had that "omg I might not make it" feeling. My time ended up being slower than I thought, but my coach said not to sweat it because all courses and conditions are different. I thought maybe I was too comfy, maybe I should have pushed harder, but then again I came out of the water feeling good and not too spent, so maybe that's a good thing?<br />
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<b>Theme for the season: MY TRANSITIONS NEED WORK</b>. T1 was horrifically slow. I swear, I do not know what I do in there that takes so much time. Usually Erin is outside transition, watching me and kind of saying "Um, hurry it up Babe!" haha. But I got out onto the bike course and started mentally preparing myself for...dun dun duuuuunnn...the MOUNTAIN!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAFRLqO_jBFQ6JSe690irxuyqiFLr7vwkIqFfIPKr6WX5YXPFNxMzoC_dWELVEwRLhbLEOHO3U6mPKU7866jRQmls_BUlWJRItatmgs8qQ1T7OlmmdTRpKUOxkTz8mDi8rJgxAnGHnU8/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAFRLqO_jBFQ6JSe690irxuyqiFLr7vwkIqFfIPKr6WX5YXPFNxMzoC_dWELVEwRLhbLEOHO3U6mPKU7866jRQmls_BUlWJRItatmgs8qQ1T7OlmmdTRpKUOxkTz8mDi8rJgxAnGHnU8/s320/Picture+7.png" width="215" /></a>As a side note, the Mt. Solidad was not the only significant obstacle on the bike course. The road quality on the course was...well quite poor. They warned us to look out for potholes etc and they were not kidding. They were everywhere, and they were huge. I was weaving around the first few miles of the first loop like I was drunk. Once we got to the mountain, I just buckled down. Everyone around me was going slowly. Very. Slowly. So slowly you would be riding next to someone for many many minutes, just grunting it out together. It was a long, steep climb at at least 10-12% grade for more than a mile. Half way up was a dude in a pop tent yelling at us through a megaphone to hammer. He kept saying "Another Kilometer to climb at 18% grade! Hammer till it hurts and then hammer some more!" We all grumbled to eachother about wanting to kill him. And then we kept climbing. Those of us grinding up the hill passed several people off their bikes, walking. After the race one of my friends from the DC Tri Club said that she thought about walking, but she was going so slowly that if she tried to unclip and get off the bike she would just fall over.<br />
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I've never gone so slowly, for so long in a race before. Ever. I hope I never do again.<br />
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Finally at the top, just before the long, crazy descent, I turned to my neighbor and said "Let's do that again!" You know why? Because we were going to climb it again.<br />
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The descent had more potholes. Just what you want to encounter going over 30 mph. After winding around the rest of the first loop at a much more respectable race pace, I headed back towards the start of Mt. Solidad again for round 2. This time I knew what was ahead and how far I really had left to go. I <i>may</i> have screamed at the guy with the megaphone to "Shut the hell up!!" as I passed him the second time. More walkers this time up, but I actually felt better because I knew I didn't have to save my energy to go up again. I did wonder how my legs would feel on the run though, given the screaming they were doing on the bike course. I also don't remember ANYTHING from the scenery around the course. I had my eyes glued to the road, looking for the hole or crack that would end my race day or at least send me to the side to fix a flat.<br />
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Meanwhile a evil little creature, likely a wasp, managed to land on my stomach while I was riding. I have no idea how long he was there, but near the end of the bike I felt a horrific stinging sensation. I attacked the area with my hand and biked on. After a while I had totally forgotten about it. In fact I didn't remember the sting again until the next day when I found a HUGE, very itchy welt on my abdomen. That lil' sucker may have had a shocking and upsetting ride on my belly, but he managed to upset my sleep for several nights after so I hope he thinks he got his revenge.<br />
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Good thing I never saw him though. I can imagine seeing a wasp land on me and freaking out and crashing. Just like a shot, it's not the sting itself so much as the anticipation of the sting that is the worst part. I managed to avoid anything serious and finished the bike course (after being out there for much longer than 40k ever had a right to take).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4HgbEWzm_-0Rv3klaUYqwYhLn8Bo9a-aYbgkaVZ_6BFUriTS-XxrpIz558ApZfoOospOi0v_KgyOuWuT6CW6SU2PvXavR9WvEVLAoifrPhrtUCiTzM2HkGBgE1I3UKgS6kV-dOEvXmU/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4HgbEWzm_-0Rv3klaUYqwYhLn8Bo9a-aYbgkaVZ_6BFUriTS-XxrpIz558ApZfoOospOi0v_KgyOuWuT6CW6SU2PvXavR9WvEVLAoifrPhrtUCiTzM2HkGBgE1I3UKgS6kV-dOEvXmU/s320/Picture+2.png" width="210" /></a>T2? Slow again. I even was yelling to Erin about how insane the bike had been. She told me to cut it out and hurry up. Once on the two-loop run I took an inventory. I didn't feel anywhere near as bad as I thought I would. The first 5k loop went by without a hitch. At one of the aid stations a volunteer dropped the cup she was handing to the guy in front of me, so I drank half of mine and gave him the rest. I had a Gu. I felt good. Once the second loop started I decided it was time to pick it up, and I started really cranking the miles out. I was passing people and my form felt fantastic. The course was along the paved "boardwalk" and there was beach on one side of us and back patios on the other. People were on their decks drinking mimosas and I chatted them up a bit as I blazed past. I was on fire. At mile 5 I finally felt like maybe I was loosing steam, but I willed myself to keep the pace up and even managed a nice sprint to the finish line. My 10k time was a PR by far, although it was only my second official 10k.<br />
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I finished 11th in my age group (just out of the running for extra team points) out of 32 and 108 in women out of 331. My overall time was NOT a PR at 2:57:01 but that was likely because of a slow slow bike time (1:30). My takeaways from the race?<br />
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1. WORK ON MY FREAKING TRANSITIONS<br />
2. Having conquered that mountain twice and then having been able to pull out a good run, my training has set me up to be pretty darn strong<br />
3. Not totally wiping myself out on the swim and bike sets me up to run really well. This is a super-super good lesson to take into my half-ironman, especially given that last year I killed the bike but then totally bonked/tied up on the run. hmmm.<br />
4. I race just fine without caffeine in my race-day nutrition and my heart thanks me afterward. <br />
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Just like all lessons, it doesn't matter how many times someone else tells me these things, I have to experience them myself before it ever sinks in. <br />
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Overall I had hoped I would be faster and I had hoped to be top 10 in my age group. It was serious competition though, and I think that there were elites racing in my category, in which case I can forgive myself. I had a blast and I feel good about my fitness. I'm excited to do another Olympic distance race later this season, though (without a mountain...) to see how quickly I can go...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH0DTbbsLTiQubW3hNOtHffIjWYqVmSAVps3A6ziLLno043467JM0gn7ZrKjhxUE79-flUS-5_gUonQmzq2RUodIkP5hrFk8FU2jLG4yzjFIe145Mre17leR1WymYOqHClGqeM7ZmmLE/s1600/IMG_1403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH0DTbbsLTiQubW3hNOtHffIjWYqVmSAVps3A6ziLLno043467JM0gn7ZrKjhxUE79-flUS-5_gUonQmzq2RUodIkP5hrFk8FU2jLG4yzjFIe145Mre17leR1WymYOqHClGqeM7ZmmLE/s320/IMG_1403.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Post race celebration? The San Diego Zoo with my cousins Sarah and Mary, their fiance and boyfriend respectively, and Erin. Then dinner with Sarah's fiance's uncle at an authentic Mexican place. A weekend very well spent in SD.SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-86245353407299681062012-05-15T07:16:00.002-07:002012-05-15T07:16:22.000-07:00Race Report TEASER<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXeuMJhdVh-OgLucN8FcBRJkD5yDRCLbCeaqkkr1a0AWcmh3l4KSrEkt3DvgM_rSA0xMBRevLLJ1qAV0u1S6Xr4rqgB1y0k7hAa98zC650NFJD2h18okHV4ip3Uymdwnhqx-MnJZGRj4/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXeuMJhdVh-OgLucN8FcBRJkD5yDRCLbCeaqkkr1a0AWcmh3l4KSrEkt3DvgM_rSA0xMBRevLLJ1qAV0u1S6Xr4rqgB1y0k7hAa98zC650NFJD2h18okHV4ip3Uymdwnhqx-MnJZGRj4/s320/Picture+2.png" width="210" /></a>I'm still settling back in and haven't had time to write up a good race report (besides the one I sent to my coach, which isn't nearly as witty as what I'd like to write for you all!). Here are some teasers/spoilers though, to get you through:<br />
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- Bays on the West Coast have LOTS of seaweed<br />
- There was, in fact, a mountain on the bike course. Which I successfully climbed. Twice.<br />
- Wasp bites/stings suffered while cycling can continue to itch for several days. Especially when you're trying to sleep<br />
- The DC Tri Club is a great bunch of folks! <br />
- San Diego is pretty darn cool<br />
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That's all for now. Expect a novel in a few days :)SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-60791587953538525622012-05-10T05:51:00.003-07:002012-05-10T05:52:32.690-07:00There's a mountain on the bike course...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOSkLei0SXl3BgNTmdxBrKXZ-xfDMzumra_b7jsFII7I6qsV6ZpdBOR5CWwSS4qsOfNJZokFOkBS5BpSgmpafGC6-uQw5aGAzXAnB3pmsMEPLkh3gW-ig6d6945e2_1r8kWK4_49KvBE/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOSkLei0SXl3BgNTmdxBrKXZ-xfDMzumra_b7jsFII7I6qsV6ZpdBOR5CWwSS4qsOfNJZokFOkBS5BpSgmpafGC6-uQw5aGAzXAnB3pmsMEPLkh3gW-ig6d6945e2_1r8kWK4_49KvBE/s320/Picture+1.png" width="235" /></a>Or that's what they're calling it. Mount Solidad or something. In La Jolla. I mean I heard there was a climb in La Jolla, but a MOUNTAIN!? WHAT??!? Did the rest of the DC Tri Club know this and not tell me? Mountains are not easy to come by around here for training. There is apparently also a steep, fast descent after said climb (that is how mountains work, after all) which is followed by a sharp left turn. It's almost like they're trying to kill us. <br />
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I'm watching the pre-race webinar which includes an overview of the courses, and this is how I have come by this information. Another thing they've said to us? "Watch out for disgruntled drivers". Hahaha. Now that is something for which I've trained! <br />
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To be fair, it is likely I could have prepared myself with this knowledge further in advance, but I've been studying for, writing, worrying about, and obsessing over my PhD qualifying exams for the past few weeks (I passed!!!). I've also been fighting off a cold (I've had enough Zicam, fluids and Vitamin C that I should never get sick again for the rest of my life) and have been dealing with some very strange, middle school drama from some friends (or attempting to avoid the drama because my plate is way too full. As my mother always says, "Step away from the crazy"). So reviewing the course has been pushed to the wayside until this morning...<br />
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And there's a mountain. SURPRISE!!<br />
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I will not panic. I will make a molehill out of this mountain with my legs of steal and my lungs of gold (seriously they should be coated with the gold leaf of Zicam and Vitamin C). I may just pretend I don't know about this mountain until I am defeating it. Twice. Because my bike course is a two looper, hittin' that damn mountain on repeat. YAY!<br />
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I hope this repeated climb is not like lasik eye surgery. Once I got one eye finished, I really didn't want to let them do the other one because the first had been so scary.<br />
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NO! I WILL THINK POSITIVE, MOUNTAIN-SLAYING THOUGHTS!! (I am currently flexing my muscles in order to psych myself up. You are a beast, Huxster! You got this!)<br />
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Ok enough of all that. Today Erin and I fly out to San Diego! As stated in my previous post, my bike is already on its long journey to the race site. I believe it arrives this morning, long before I've even left for the airport. The truck carrying 55 DC bikes stopped in Denver and picked up another load before heading towards San Diego. I've been keeping in touch with the drivers via twitter (whom I assume are NOT tweeting and driving) which has been quite fun. If you tweet, you should follow them (@kanebicycles). Anyway, we fly for many hours back in time and somehow arrive there this evening. Tomorrow we pick up my bike, check in to transition, packet pickup, do the expo thing AND watch the pro women's race. SO excited for that, btw. I am hoping to be able to keep the blogs coming while in San Diego because this is probably the most exciting and biggest race I've participated in. I mean come on, MACCA WILL BE THERE.<br />
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There is a service called Sportstats on facebook through which you should theoretically be able to actually track my progress throughout the race. It can send alerts to your facebook, phone, etc. I've tried signing up with my last name but it's not working, so once I have my bib number I will let everyone know how to get it working. <br />
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Alright, I am off to drink more coffee and contemplate how to fit my wetsuit into my luggage without creasing it too much. I am fully prepared to keep you more fully posted ;-) <br />
<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-51443521403710244592012-05-07T14:16:00.001-07:002012-05-09T06:32:49.675-07:00San Diego or Bust: my bike is on its way!!On Thursday of this week I am hopping a plane to San Diego (with my wife of course) to race at ITU San Diego. The main reason I was able to afford this race was that DC Tri Club is shipping our bikes for free with the awesome service detailed on this blog: <br />
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<a href="http://sandiegoorbust2012.blogspot.com/2012/05/we-couldnt-go-if-it-werent-for-this.html?spref=bl">San Diego or Bust: “We Couldn’t Go if it Weren’t for this Service”</a>: Welcome everyone! The San Diego or Bust drive across America has officially begun. Here’s what has happened thus far: 53 Washington...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVx5LOzsZM5dd5vxCuncp7glcakVDETl4gCYZZVPbbeFYS7s3Ad2VKItBXy1YrDMPF6FdRQzFGgXH2UUpq2VcCSy4jL0W0CoBj9pVWOUd3jMnZh9eEIIVlrOCZRIGZBIjJh8-WzymTjQ/s1600/AsYWbLeCQAALqK1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVx5LOzsZM5dd5vxCuncp7glcakVDETl4gCYZZVPbbeFYS7s3Ad2VKItBXy1YrDMPF6FdRQzFGgXH2UUpq2VcCSy4jL0W0CoBj9pVWOUd3jMnZh9eEIIVlrOCZRIGZBIjJh8-WzymTjQ/s320/AsYWbLeCQAALqK1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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See that picture of all the bikes in bubble wrap inside that huge truck? My baby is in there somewhere!!!! Ack!<br />
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Today is my rest day and the taper week has begun. I am feeling a bit under the weather so I hope I can fight off whatever bug I may have gotten before the weekend! I'm sleeping and drinking lots of fluids, don't worry. :)<br />
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Anyway, check out the blog and follow my bike across the country! Also, I will soon have athlete tracker information, which will mean you can actually track my progress during the race online or on your phone. Ooooo!SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-79235973656018637252012-04-19T18:34:00.003-07:002012-04-19T18:40:38.921-07:00Stolen race pics!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ytVB5aerUhhK74cmGr7zlHCHq6roCgMLV1X2PWyJbM0UdAsSLknNk-LRCKcZ91v4KP7M58Bujepw-lw6sKl8_1MnQereTgUPUEyLDpxWhpcEEBGNqBPUcHxAaXvLP53UFb2EfC0jpzs/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ytVB5aerUhhK74cmGr7zlHCHq6roCgMLV1X2PWyJbM0UdAsSLknNk-LRCKcZ91v4KP7M58Bujepw-lw6sKl8_1MnQereTgUPUEyLDpxWhpcEEBGNqBPUcHxAaXvLP53UFb2EfC0jpzs/s320/Picture+1.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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Anyone want to buy the hi-res versions for me? :) They're probably some of the best race pics taken of me...and probably some of the most expensive...<br />
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<a href="https://birdseyeview.net/cgi-local/ImageFolio42/imageFolio.cgi?search=277&cat=Triathlons%2F20120415_RBS&bool=and">tricycle studios - bib 277</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gxwmhgghMjtjG6eHAwRoYc7-hcaY3Q5vVL4dpeMHpEVVcV5mNJJ03k-qh7-ln51Iws4nZYEdd6Oc6M-aqZhYPZhcKiZjAIQgfSv4OdaJcZnSEK4AQ3-j-1fr1YoivNqqsyfpwpjYqsY/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gxwmhgghMjtjG6eHAwRoYc7-hcaY3Q5vVL4dpeMHpEVVcV5mNJJ03k-qh7-ln51Iws4nZYEdd6Oc6M-aqZhYPZhcKiZjAIQgfSv4OdaJcZnSEK4AQ3-j-1fr1YoivNqqsyfpwpjYqsY/s320/Picture+2.png" width="210" /></a></div>
Oh and when I say they're the best, I'm only talking about these two. The other two are HIDEOUS! hahahahaSingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-32392358261851916342012-04-17T17:50:00.000-07:002012-04-17T17:50:34.491-07:00Rumpass in Bumpass Race Report! 1st Race of the Season!So it's 10 am and I have already gotten in an hour and a half of studying today (My PhD qualifying exam is this week!) so I think I'll take a bit of a study break and work on my Rumpass in Bumpass 2012 Race Report! The first race and first race report of the 2012 season! Yaayy!!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NF1ApZcnbQQ/T415DVQ4aJI/AAAAAAAAAyg/RqW0lVJpKFE/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NF1ApZcnbQQ/T415DVQ4aJI/AAAAAAAAAyg/RqW0lVJpKFE/s320/IMG_4435.JPG" width="320" /></a>The professional race photos are not up yet, but they are also not going to be free, so you're going to have to make do with the ones that Erin and I took. It was Erin's first time with my new, fancy camera and she did an admirable job. Understandably, it is difficult to take shots of a single, specific cyclist. You have to watch each one and decide whether or not that's your racer, then you have to get the camera ready and focused, all while the cyclist is barreling towards you at 22 mph. So the swim and run shots are a bit better. :) Thanks Erin!<br />
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Not only was this my first race of the season, but my cousin Anne was also racing the Rumpass for her very first triathlon! She had an awesome day out there, and I'm a very proud tri-momma/cousin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxe9iphyphenhyphen5-QedAp-sJNclrZcIuB_dcrDLBT66rdNSmwBxRzMacJZ9B2DqwPHmco3eoXnMQIG7q1tVZr4P9_3WNtRVBDOF9hMavOjyKTt48QrGDxY1JN7PVejX-YkO0Mphzq9zN5ujps/s1600/IMG_4434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaxe9iphyphenhyphen5-QedAp-sJNclrZcIuB_dcrDLBT66rdNSmwBxRzMacJZ9B2DqwPHmco3eoXnMQIG7q1tVZr4P9_3WNtRVBDOF9hMavOjyKTt48QrGDxY1JN7PVejX-YkO0Mphzq9zN5ujps/s320/IMG_4434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqBm9F5c_kE/T416q8_apXI/AAAAAAAAAyw/0P3H3qmMpM0/s1600/IMG_4433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqBm9F5c_kE/T416q8_apXI/AAAAAAAAAyw/0P3H3qmMpM0/s320/IMG_4433.JPG" width="320" /></a> So our race weekend started with a long drive down to Bumpass, VA on Saturday. Turns out that place is seriously in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Wasn't the most amazing drive with traffic and then small, strange roads and although we had planned to be there before the end of the olympic distance race being held Saturday, we were quite a bit late. It all turned out fine though, as Anne, who is a member of Team Z, was still hanging out with her teammates in their post-race tent. She had seen most of the Saturday race and had gathered a lot of useful information about the course, transition, etc. We wandered around and checked out the area and the course. Lake Anna is really beautiful, once you get passed being in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. And I am qualified to make that judgement, btw, given that I grew up on a horse farm, off a dirt road in PA. Anyway, I'm straying from the story. We went down to the lake and waded into the water. The air temp was pretty nice Saturday, low 70s I guess? By 3 pm the water felt really nice too. We looked over the swim course, which was pretty neat. It started and ended at different places, with the exit leading almost directly into transition. No long run in bare feet! YAY! Anne and I then took a nice 40 minute bike ride on part of the course to get our blood moving and make sure our bikes had survived transport unscathed. We then proceeded to packet pick up (great shirt AND socks! featuring Wild Things...get it? Rumpass?) (Also, thanks to Anne for not letting us drive too far before remembering about packet pick up) and then headed an hour back NE to Fredericksburg where our lovely hotel was located.<br />
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On the way to the hotel I noticed that my bike was missing an end cap on the handlebar. Many of you know that this is against USAT rules. They call it the "Core Sample Rule." You fall, your handlebar takes a plug of skin and muscle out of you (or worse, internal organs!). Anyway, special shout out to the guys at Olde Town Bicycles in Fredericksburg for hooking me up with 3 extra endcaps, after store hours. And thanks to my mother for teaching me how to talk really sweetly to people on the phone. <br />
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We checked in and then Erin and I made our way to Applebees for dinner. I've never done a pre-race meal at Applebees before and I was a bit nervous, but I found something really simple on the menu and went with that. The good thing was that Applebees had TVs and they put playoff hockey on the TV above our table. Erin had hockey, she was happy. I had food, I was happy. Post-dinner we headed back to the hotel and I helped Anne go through all of her stuff to be sure she didn't forget anything. She packed admirably (with several extras) so we were all able to head off to bed.<br />
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I slept like CRAP!<br />
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The race started at 10am, which is by far the latest start time I've seen. I think they wanted to start late to give us warmer weather, but as it turned out the high for the day was in the mid 80s! Anyway, we rose bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6:15 am. My coach had emailed me a detailed outline of how I should proceed on race morning, and I have to admit that I didn't follow his plan exactly. First of all there was an hour commute to contend with. Second, he wanted me to spend way more time warming up than I would racing! I mean, I bet this is what the really good folks do, but I've never done all that before so I decided to break myself in nice and easy. Drank lots of water, took a hot shower before we left (at his suggestion...shower <i>before</i> working out??) and had my race day breakfast. I've changed it up a bit this season because believe it or not, bananas seem to give me heart burn. So I just had a small bowl of my 5 grain hot cereal (basically fancy oatmeal) with a little bit of Nutella mixed in and a few small pieces of banana (can't <i>completely</i> change it up), half a whole wheat bagel and some peanut butter. And a little coffee. And more water.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR0ipb9ebOUjMJfSnFImOVueBJbHkzdvorKhBPhL8wooJ6flyohH8BndI9pofqdQAyrFAc4M8p6p_C6AM0dQOnfY5rbnXmEsAIB8Z6EtpjJB9doPe26wLgsEe-1za54KVr5EBnmYGWHE/s1600/IMG_4437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR0ipb9ebOUjMJfSnFImOVueBJbHkzdvorKhBPhL8wooJ6flyohH8BndI9pofqdQAyrFAc4M8p6p_C6AM0dQOnfY5rbnXmEsAIB8Z6EtpjJB9doPe26wLgsEe-1za54KVr5EBnmYGWHE/s320/IMG_4437.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
After an hour on the road (Thank you Erin for driving everywhere!! You are saving my back from a lifetime of misery!) we parked and I made the decision based on the time and on the amount of traffic on the roadway to skip the warm up bike ride my coach had suggested and just do a run and swim warm up. Got my timing chip, got body marked and set up my lovely transition area. Now, this was my first Setup Event and overall I have very few complaints about the organization of the Rumpass. It was a lovely race. But the bike racks are my first small complaint. I LOVED that they were actually tall enough for my bike seat to fit under and easily rack, but they lacked numbers. Instead, each section of the rack was assigned 6 numbers and you had to mark out your own territory. I was there early and didn't have a real problem, but the 6th person into our section had to move everyone's stuff around to fit in. On top of that, people weren't racking their bikes on the same side as their stuff and I imagine some people had a really tough time in transition because of that. I was spared and had relatively intelligent/experienced people around me but I know others weren't so lucky. ANYWAY!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCeIa-H21T-BetWeraC82l5OX8im2DY8K_efoQsrZdoqxOuDjU1xFrcrcaag_H1lrkaOX3YPv-EK1g-MSo3MaVxorK6cdPHXJXSLOgXaTL7dkg1a0msNSlB_Ixo4TDK2OVbm6-6rSCoA/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCeIa-H21T-BetWeraC82l5OX8im2DY8K_efoQsrZdoqxOuDjU1xFrcrcaag_H1lrkaOX3YPv-EK1g-MSo3MaVxorK6cdPHXJXSLOgXaTL7dkg1a0msNSlB_Ixo4TDK2OVbm6-6rSCoA/s320/IMG_4185.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_FT5HOJLm8qdn3HCDdnChDuJm1KYsxo3zOfAD_lgSKFx_vv8baz2LeuynzzcJgy-5sEMeTzpjxmX9F_lkNu0i1YTt_sokRGZmOhmU10JO381WhQRauEIqbf1oFkwHcs5u_eujJ_MADg/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <br />
After helping Anne set up her transition area, I headed out for my warm up run. Coach indicated he wanted me to run for 20-30 minutes. I decided to just do it be feel and check out parts of the course that I had heard people talking about before the race. There were two long gravel sections, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Turns out the gravel was very very large and deep, and therefore it actually moved under foot kind of like sand. Not very pleasant. I checked that section out and the run around the outside of a field and probably did a 15-20 minute warm up. With 30 minutes left till the start I headed down to the water and donned my wetsuit. The water was much chillier than it had been the day before, but it wasn't too bad once I got going. I was really glad I did the warm up and got back into the feeling of my wetsuit. It seemed to erase almost all of my pre-swim jitters. Anne and I were in the same swim wave, so we got to hang out for a bit and tread water together before our horn went off to start the race.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLzLn9DAIZysLjSC7pOw9APY3tjmGCJlZ4u9_JHZ6Q6kU94q7nJBHAI8A3-c2vXNbvKitix0JFfXZYV3OVUletsNqHhzPQw48rnYqqo1u8Z6l8nIEkGva_h6NpNb69WtJ70GCmMY2cJA/s1600/IMG_4194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLzLn9DAIZysLjSC7pOw9APY3tjmGCJlZ4u9_JHZ6Q6kU94q7nJBHAI8A3-c2vXNbvKitix0JFfXZYV3OVUletsNqHhzPQw48rnYqqo1u8Z6l8nIEkGva_h6NpNb69WtJ70GCmMY2cJA/s320/IMG_4194.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Once we were underway I lost track of Anne pretty quickly. The water was not very clear, although I was often able to make out the legs of other swimmers. I did a pretty good job drafting off of someone until we caught up with the stragglers from the men's wave before us, at which point we all got pretty strung out. The swim was pretty pleasant though, and I never felt like I was going to puke from exertion. Part of me thinks that is a good thing, another part thinks maybe I should have pushed harder. Only had one little entanglement when I accidentally swam between two guys from the previous wave who were going shoulder to shoulder. Got a bit pummeled, but ended up ahead of them and free. The course had a long straightaway and ended in a different place than it began, with a run right into transition. I guess I got a little cocky when I got out, because as I entered transition I heard the announcer say that the first 5 women had just gotten on course and I thought that might mean I was in the top 10 out of the water. Erin later informed me that after 8 women she stopped counting so I was likely a bit further down. Plus there was another wave of women behind me. My swim time was 14:33 for 750 meters.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBORhvpmJU_mCUBdigUZWBBdXH_6owhn6DQk5S8aQIoRGjQ-33cBR3uhDEw2XI3I1q7MCgpEj-sIES-8lhwc9TygIdcoQJ7iirQABSy9gGLA1rB39yuNx0LoSToyMDL_37_nlYVEVE06c/s1600/IMG_4217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBORhvpmJU_mCUBdigUZWBBdXH_6owhn6DQk5S8aQIoRGjQ-33cBR3uhDEw2XI3I1q7MCgpEj-sIES-8lhwc9TygIdcoQJ7iirQABSy9gGLA1rB39yuNx0LoSToyMDL_37_nlYVEVE06c/s320/IMG_4217.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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Then came T1. I am not sure what exactly I did to take up 2 minutes, but I sure did it! I know I struggled hard with my socks. I need to learn to bike without them and to put them on when my feet are more dry in T2. I didn't have too much trouble with my wetsuit, although I did fight with my helmet strap a bit. Once out of T1 there was a steep uphill run to the road and I was stuck behind a lady who ended up being my slingshot buddy for the ride (I passed her, she passed me, I passed her, she passed me...you get it). She wasn't in my age group, and I also had a pretty good feeling I could outrun her, but it was good motivation to try to keep up with her because she was clearly a cyclist and she was gunning it. She wasn't too pleased with me I don't think. Anyway, the bike course wasn't totally flat, but there weren't any huge climbs. There were some rollers and false flats, but also just a lot of plain flats. It was a relatively fast course and I averaged 19 mph over 11.5 miles. I didn't have many women pass me, or many men for that matter. A few came up behind on their super aero TT machines with disk wheels sounding more like I was getting passed by a car or even a small jet plane than a cyclist. I didn't see any women from my age group on the bike. I finished at 36:14. Last year I averaged 19.5 mph over 56 miles, so I think I should have been pushing harder. We did, however, had a pretty strong headwind for half of the course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rHxehWHjUu_-AMNHAJ3N8T9yjWWDZ4w9GUr3WGlh0Kyki2kwhydN9_hgdlqpST5S-XulD-7MLWlW1nCe54yyz4eTezF4cR6FLIPRDMNrAD0uOKNFfoQ63NqhUdK83r5Uvug7TgPnrnw/s1600/IMG_4270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rHxehWHjUu_-AMNHAJ3N8T9yjWWDZ4w9GUr3WGlh0Kyki2kwhydN9_hgdlqpST5S-XulD-7MLWlW1nCe54yyz4eTezF4cR6FLIPRDMNrAD0uOKNFfoQ63NqhUdK83r5Uvug7TgPnrnw/s320/IMG_4270.JPG" width="223" /></a>T2 went relatively smoothly. I didn't go down the wrong aisle, thanks to a particularly loud towel I draped over my bike rack. I did get the back of my shoe stuck in when I stomped my foot in and had to curse at it for a few seconds. Otherwise I got out unscathed and began what turned out to be an entirely off-road run. There was not one, single paved section. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like trail running, but that wasn't what we signed up for. The gravel was just as squishy as I remembered, and there was a long, second gravel section I hadn't been on before. Still, with the two out and backs there was plenty of time to scope out the competition and see who was ahead and behind you. I also got to see Anne on the run as I was coming back in towards the finish. (I have no pictures of me running from the front yet. Apparently I surprised Erin, who was at a corner trying to photograph Anne on the bike course). In the last mile of the run, a woman passed me and I saw she was in my age group. She was trucking and I just couldn't keep pace with her. As I saw her fading into the distance it occurred to me that she was probably in third now, but it was too late. I was pretty hot at that point and had been pouring water on myself. I pulled out a final kick for a sprint finish and was very happy for my finishers medal and my bottle of water. I finished in 1:19:32. I was 4th in my age group, and 22nd in women overall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB3ZHxmBn-eMCrhYzbfGIPw4DN9AWlv5P7uzScwRbnhLlhmG2Kc66X6S6cG5PZldgkewyouT_2b7U8DlYkL76BODDiauPuyNQRS-U8uAgp9jiDEkRNPxP3NDh7plMoWP2wKkUYPqnWE0/s1600/IMG_4293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB3ZHxmBn-eMCrhYzbfGIPw4DN9AWlv5P7uzScwRbnhLlhmG2Kc66X6S6cG5PZldgkewyouT_2b7U8DlYkL76BODDiauPuyNQRS-U8uAgp9jiDEkRNPxP3NDh7plMoWP2wKkUYPqnWE0/s320/IMG_4293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I felt pretty good after the race, not too worked over. I found Erin and we took a sign we made and the camera back out to the last turn of the run course to watch Anne and cheer to the final stretch. She came in looking great and smiled for the camera as we cheered her on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4uVuU6m7JWDYmdxML_2WSUiGEurnQKHUgkl3MhP6QjhlvSShPOaChBxPkkgdMJeO7vskNGiBv46_cfzfG5Ai7FmVqbP1lGCxPfR_dpQz6E1ePTMh0R7dSgnccpjYPY14WzohMCqZxDo/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4uVuU6m7JWDYmdxML_2WSUiGEurnQKHUgkl3MhP6QjhlvSShPOaChBxPkkgdMJeO7vskNGiBv46_cfzfG5Ai7FmVqbP1lGCxPfR_dpQz6E1ePTMh0R7dSgnccpjYPY14WzohMCqZxDo/s320/IMG_4294.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYYwDoOuBCH_lteHoy3vwOaQRStg7WcwboKRNYQLqwjb65tAmsXyctefeUzibJ2Fs5HkaJz9N-xpbMC2prtPjXjnIylALSA5zQ-HTQWginruswQGhCvRxTzprl2QR42jb1fqjdbEjPSA/s1600/IMG_4297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYYwDoOuBCH_lteHoy3vwOaQRStg7WcwboKRNYQLqwjb65tAmsXyctefeUzibJ2Fs5HkaJz9N-xpbMC2prtPjXjnIylALSA5zQ-HTQWginruswQGhCvRxTzprl2QR42jb1fqjdbEjPSA/s320/IMG_4297.jpg" width="213" /></a>Anne finished really well, especially for her very first triathlon. We hung out with her team some post race and just unwound from the excitement of race day. Overall it was a great day for a race. I still wish I had pushed harder, or had just a little bit more in the tank, but I might be being too hard on myself. Technically it was a sprint distance PR for me, but it's really hard to compare sprint distance races because the swim and bike lengths aren't consistent from race to race. But as always, I loved racing. Can't wait for the next one!!SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-24482991186339364752012-04-11T11:00:00.001-07:002012-04-11T11:01:43.282-07:00A funny movie to tide you over!How Clif bar sees the swim start: <br /> <br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r3S0wu4Zbfk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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My first race of the season is this weekend! Unfortunately, I am also studying for my PhD qualifying exam, so I am pretty darn busy. Should have a pre-race update coming very soon, but this video was too funny not to share immediately.SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-86052498013097954172012-03-23T06:03:00.005-07:002012-03-23T06:03:53.479-07:00Animals on the lose! Tons (literally) of steel! Dara Torres!Very soon I will be regaling you all with tales of running with a lab puppy, meeting a bald eagle, and how a deer tried to put me through the passenger window of a passing truck, but I have too much to do today!<br />
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Instead I have two things for you. The first is a correction my Thunder Puppy update below, "Why I Hate Cyclists." What makes this story more interesting and ridiculous, and what I had forgotten in my first retelling, is that my mother wasn't just driving a car. She was driving a massive pickup attached to an even more massive horse trailer. She was basically several tons of steel, being told to 'go on by', up a blind hill, by a little lady cyclist. Also important? She chose not to pass, and it was a good thing because as luck would have it, ANOTHER truck and horse trailer came barreling over the top seconds later (very common in my parents' part of PA).<br />
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This only highlights exactly how addled, or stupid, or both, the cyclist on the hill was. In this instance, when stopped on a hill she couldn't climb, and faced with careening tons of steel from both sides, the cyclist needed to get off the road. Just a thought.<br />
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The second thing I have for you is parts 1 and 2 of triathletemag.com's Training Day videos. They are with Dara Torres. Besides how cool it is to watch her training day, I WANT HER ABS. <br />
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I think she even admits to being a genetic freak, though, so I probably am S.O.L.<br />
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Here is 1 and 2, check out triathletemag.com for the rest of the videos when they come out:<br />
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Part1: <br />
<a href="http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/03/video/a-day-with-dara-torres-part-one_49355">http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/03/video/a-day-with-dara-torres-part-one_49355</a><br />
Part 2:<br />
<a href="http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/03/features/a-day-with-dara-torres-part-two_49821">http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/03/features/a-day-with-dara-torres-part-two_49821 </a>SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-31657581344746579482012-03-16T07:02:00.001-07:002012-03-16T07:02:56.921-07:00Alpha Thunder Puppy Update: "Why I Hate Cyclists"First of all, for those who do not know, the Alpha Thunder Puppy is my mother. She gave herself that name last year when we were racing together in Bermuda. She actually called herself the Alpha Bitch Thunder Puppy, but I really don't think it's wise to refer to one's mother as the B word, regardless of her alpha status. I was dubbed Beta, by the way.<br />
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Anyway, Alpha called me a few days ago saying that she had an update for my blog. She wanted me to tell everyone why she hates cyclists. Of course I instantly knew something great was going to come from this phone conversation, so I asked her to please elaborate. I was not disappointed with her story.<br />
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The fact that she seemed to think that my blog would change cyclists everywhere, however, is a bit of a gap in her logic. But I will let that pass for now.<br />
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My mother works on the planning commission of her township (in addition to being a veterinarian and a writer...oh the very large family shoes I have to fill...). As an official on this commission, she has on occasion had to deal with dust ups between local cycling groups and drivers. These meetings can get rather lively, it seems, with drivers cursing the pelotons, which cost them valuable time, and cyclists cursing the drivers' lack of manners and loud car horns. You can imagine how it goes down. But on this day my mother had specific, personal experience she would like me to share, in hopes that something can be learned and peace can be achieved. Or something like that.<br />
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It was one of the first truly beautiful days in March, and on her drive that day Alpha Momma encountered three cyclists on the relatively quiet roads in her neck of PA. The first was a gentleman who had decided that an intersection was a really great place to wolf down his mid-ride Powerbar. He had apparently stopped right in the turning radius of cars attempting to use the intersection for its intended purpose (read: turning, not stopping) and was happily chomping away, ignoring his impending doom.<br />
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After successfully navigating around this very stupid man, my mother headed up a hill and met his girlfriend. She had attempted to climb this hill, and had failed. As a result, she was stopped on the road, standing over her bike, and waiving my mother by her. Unfortunately, Alpha Momma could not see over the top of this hill, and therefore did not know whether or not drivers were coming down towards her. So, she was reluctant to drive around the exhausted woman. The woman must have been rather frustrated, because she continued to wave my mother on, giving her dirty, "What is your problem?", looks.<br />
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This situation amuses me, and here is why: I can imagine exactly what happened here. Of course I might not be right, but this is my lovely version of what went down with this couple:<br />
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They're out on their ride together. The dude thinks he is hot shit (as evidenced by his believing that the roads belong to him and therefore he can choose to dine at whatever inconvenient spot he wishes). The girlfriend probably is tired of his "hot shit" attitude. Dude stops to eat his feast and says to Girlfriend "You go get a head start on that hill, hunny, that way I don't drop you." Girlfriend thinks "Oh yeah, hot shot? I'm gonna kill that hill and drop YOU!" And then she is on the hill going "Shit, this thing is no joke." And then she's halfway up the hill thinking "Damn it, I can't finish this friggin hill, and there is a car behind me, and I can't believe I'm going to have to deal with Dude's attitude over this...Go around me stupid car! Leave me to wallow in my embarrassment and humiliation alone! Go, for the love of Pete!"<br />
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Meanwhile Alpha Momma is saying "For God's sake woman, get your butt off the road! I sympathize with you, I wouldn't make it up this hill either. But if I was stupid enough to try, I would at least be smart enough to step my bike off the road when I failed!"<br />
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Although I feel Girlfriend's pain, I have to side with Alpha Momma on this one. Get off the road. Oh, and tell your numbskull boyfriend to take his snack break on a real shoulder and not in the turning radius of an intersection. Or better yet, if he's such hot shit, why isn't he doing like the rest of us and eating something that takes one or no hands? Gu? Chews at an red light? Calories in his drink?<br />
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OK SO, Dude and Girlfriend need to pull over to a real shoulder. They need to put aside their pride and be smart so that they stay safe and drivers stay sane. Lesson #1 learned.<br />
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My mothers' day of cyclist encounters was not over, however. She happened upon cyclist number three later in her journey. According to Alpha Momma, she was being very respectful of him. She was behind him, not rushing him, plenty of space, etc...<br />
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And then the guy decided to blow through two stop signs.<br />
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In my experiences with drivers, and being one myself at times, a cyclist disobeying traffic signs and lights is a huge pet peeve. The driver thinks that if he or she is supposed to treat a cyclist with the same respect as he would another vehicle, that the cyclist should (and is legally obligated to, by the way) obey the same traffic rules.<br />
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Now, as a cyclist I also know what may have happened here. The guy may well have just been cocky and running signs and not thinking about it. At the same time, he may have actually thought he was doing the driver behind him a favor by not slowing him down. Coming to a complete stop at a sign and then restarting can take a bit longer for a cyclist than it does for a car, and I know many/most cyclists avoid stopping at a clear 4 way for instance, in order to avoid unclipping and starting from a stand still. When I approach an intersection, I am surveying oncoming and perpendicular traffic as I approach. If no one is close and I have a clear line of sight, I slow to as much of a stop as I can manage without unclipping, and then roll cautiously through. At a completely clear intersection, my feet do not leave my pedals, but I do stop for a brief moment. (The rules change for blind intersections. Always come to a complete stop and unclip because you never know).<br />
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Here is part of the problem: Cyclists already know that they are a burden to drivers. Drivers already know that cyclists break the rules. They expect this behavior from one another. Sometimes I arrive at a 4 way intersection and am the 2nd or 3rd person there. I stop, unclip, wait for the car to go, and they don't. They expected me to blow through it. Some are nice and flash their lights, or smart and realize they should go. Others honk at me, yell at me, or just sit there and wait till I go before they start to go too and then it's just friggin' awkward.<br />
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When I am following 100% of the rules, I still get yelled at. Literally, people open their windows and scream at me, honk their horns, tell me to get on the sidewalk, etc.<br />
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The solution in my mind is that EVERYONE follow and know the law. This means cyclists AND drivers. Cyclists should all know that they have to obey the same traffic signals as drivers. Cyclists should try when possible to make eye contact with drivers at intersections and should ALWAYS signal their intentions (hand signals people. USE THEM). Cyclists should ride with traffic, not against it. Etc.<br />
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Drivers should know the rules too, however. Do not yell at me to get on the sidewalk. In many places, it is ILLEGAL for me to ride on the sidewalk. I'm following the law. In addition, drivers are required by law down here (don't know about everywhere) to give a cyclist 3 feet of room from the cyclist's left elbow when passing. Buzzing me while honking is not only illegal, it will really slow you down when you clip me and have to deal with the legal ramifications of killing or maiming me. You're not saving time by being an asshole.<br />
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NOW I know in many instances I am preaching to the choir. Many cyclists follow the law. Many drivers are extremely courteous. Just remember, those of you who break the laws, however innocent your intentions, you are giving cyclists (or motorists) everywhere a bad name and are increasing the risk that someone gets seriously injured.<br />
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ON THAT NOTE: I saw my first bad crash yesterday. I would like to state that there was no driver error involved and that several drivers pulled over to help.<br />
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My shop's group ride was out and one of the riders in the peloton hit a hole hard and was then hit from behind by another cyclist. He went face-first into the pavement, smashing his eye and forehead into the ground and taking a sizable chunk out of his helmet. Besides being knocked out cold for a bit and then coming-to with memory loss, he had some bad road rash but it appeared to us nothing was broken. We had a first responder in the ride and the second car to the scene held an EMT. Other kind citizens stopped and directed traffic around the accident. Once the ambulance was on its way, the rest of the group ride had to go back to the shop before it got dark and I stayed with the first responder and the EMT until the ambulance arrived. The guy will be fine, although his bike is completely wrecked. They back-boarded him etc but didn't think he really had a spinal injury. He got lucky, all in all. Many thanks to the no-nonsense woman in full floral directing traffic, and Kyle the EMT who happened to be at the right place at the right time.<br />
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Anyway, please follow the rules everyone. We all want to get home safely and have a great time on our bikes. Love, Beta Bitch Thunder Puppy (And, by proxy, Alpha Momma)<br />
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<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-42212126901401978392012-03-06T08:06:00.001-08:002012-03-06T08:15:02.514-08:00Experimenting on Myself: Stop the Cramping!I just found this video about the two causes of muscle cramping on the triathlete magazine website. I can't figure out how to imbed the darn thing (oy I need to increase my html skillz) so here is the link:<br />
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<a href="http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/03/training/med-tent-why-are-my-muscles-cramping-2_49120">Why are my muscles cramping?</a><br />
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For those of you who have followed my short race history, muscle cramping was an issue for me last season in my half iron distance race. Besides that experience, in which I cramped up on both the swim and the run, I have only really had serious cramping issues while swimming. (Of course, the scariest time to get a cramp is out in the deep part of open water...). I've actually had cramping while swimming since I was a kid and have frequently had issues with cramping in the arches of my feet. If I don't stop and fix those cramps, they tend to creep up my leg and attack my lower leg muscles. If I STILL swim through (because for instance I am in the middle of a race with no way or desire to stop) then they sometimes go all the way up to my quads. This is basically debilitating.<br />
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The video talks about muscle cramping due to muscle weakness and/or tightness and muscle cramping due to nutrition. I think I might have to work on both of theses areas. I know that the problems I have had in the past with my arch probably have something to do with tightness and weakness in my foot. I have started using a lacrosse ball on my arches and feet, as recommended by the very wonderful massage therapist I saw last week (gift certificate from Erin and my friend Matt for xmas that I just cashed in on. AMAZING! Nicole Allen Massage in Bethesda. GO!)<br />
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Anyway, I have also started including electrolyte tablets (Nuun) in my water while I swim in an effort to make sure my salt/electrolyte levels stay balanced. I'm trying to be more diligent about my electrolyte intake in general as well, since I know it may have been a serious factor in my race last season that ended with paralyzing cramping and a hospital visit. So, I guess I am experimenting on myself, as we triathletes are known to do. This of course isn't following a very sound scientific method, given that I am altering two variables at once (muscle/tendon tightness and electrolyte intake) and won't definitively be able to say which change made a difference, but all I really want is a change. I don't mind continuing to do both things forever if it means the cramping is less of an issue.<br />
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Oh yeah, training? Going pretty well. I've now run and cycled with my coach and will be swimming with him for the first time this week. I am really excited to hear what he has to say about my swimming, given that it is my favorite, and arguably my strongest, of the three disciplines. I just hope he doesn't tell me that I am doing it all wrong and have to rebuild my swimming from the ground up. That would be a serious ego blow.<br />
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Last week he told me that my cycling fitness was in need of some work. This wasn't actually a surprise, but the reality check was a bit jarring. Good for me, but still jarring. He's now upping the number of rides I do a week to 5 instead of 3 (Hence that little 35 minute ride yesterday. Drills on the trainer to increase my strength. Real ride today...). Woo!! Lucky me, more saddle sores!! Time to stock up on HooHa Ride Glide!!<br />
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<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-2773276411974019122012-02-26T13:17:00.000-08:002012-02-26T13:17:29.158-08:00'Ey Coach!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySS8C_T0P2PK0dr0e4FdO0rQKX9rosTAkwNy5tTlkPm4VwGn37P1L87yPJyuLsqp55k-rMdn4LMtN8RJmvQ-nIwNf-JsSIMb1zfQoIB3aGM0vAIWCk0RSFwhRy7zXV3D1XgeEwkolUx0/s1600/photo(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySS8C_T0P2PK0dr0e4FdO0rQKX9rosTAkwNy5tTlkPm4VwGn37P1L87yPJyuLsqp55k-rMdn4LMtN8RJmvQ-nIwNf-JsSIMb1zfQoIB3aGM0vAIWCk0RSFwhRy7zXV3D1XgeEwkolUx0/s320/photo(17).jpg" width="320" /></a> Erin took this pic of me on her phone. She woke up in the morning to find me chugging away on my "hamster wheel" as she calls it and thought it was amusing. I like to call it the "pain cave". Much more impressive and tough sounding...<br />
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Well my friends, I have finally gotten a coach! That is to say, I am trying out coaching for a month or two and seeing where it gets me. I have a feeling, though, given what we've already done and how hard I am working in the first week that this will be very good for me! Besides generally trying to do better, put down better times, stay out of injury, etc, the point of this coaching is to be sure that I don't end up "tied up" and in the hospital after my next half in June... So we'll see how it goes!<br />
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So far he has already totally overhauled the way that I run. Well that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the one change that he has made to my form is to increase (significantly) my cadence and just that one change has made running into an entirely different animal. First of all, I have to think about my run almost constantly while I am adjusting to the change. But secondly, my legs don't feel as pounded as they normally do after and during a run. I feel like my footsteps are lighter. I really hope this helps with injury prevention, which it logically seems like it might.<br />
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Next week I will be going for a ride with him. I am actually kind of nervous about this. My biking has been pretty slow so far this season, and on top of that I just have relatively poor handling skills. I am ready for him to make me start over from the ground up. Time to learn how to ride a bike all over again!<br />
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In terms of hospital prevention, I think we're going to be working on my nutrition and particularly my race day nutrition plan. Anyone have any experience with Infinit Nutrition, btw? Apparently you can customize your own drink formula? This is the direction I believe we'll be going.<br />
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Awesome brick workout today, although I had to do it quite early in the AM so it was too chilly outside for my ride. I got outside for the run though, and it has turned out to be a lovely day. I worked myself pretty well, and am already a bit sore from the strength training my coach has added. Yay! I haven't been sore in quite a while, honestly, so it's sort of refreshing!<br />
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Alright, time to EATSingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-34820053761124755002012-02-08T07:59:00.000-08:002012-02-08T08:00:32.276-08:00The Swing of Things<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG4o8vqIsNaUIC17XVD9wG0GdHLkDSf3OVc82r1O2csTXhP62Z-_JqW7xXlCqW924Xlpbzt3iLw2bFkkNCWTETcdgw04WwXEgylqc5qie_xoTh7eyVbxkyRooo6ebKxXU-8mJkaQhZPE/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG4o8vqIsNaUIC17XVD9wG0GdHLkDSf3OVc82r1O2csTXhP62Z-_JqW7xXlCqW924Xlpbzt3iLw2bFkkNCWTETcdgw04WwXEgylqc5qie_xoTh7eyVbxkyRooo6ebKxXU-8mJkaQhZPE/s320/IMG_2366.JPG" width="320" /></a>Although I am catching back on to how to balance my life with my training, as I need to remember how to do at the beginning of each season, I have clearly not figured out how to keep up with my blogging on top of that. This will come back to me, I'm sure. It's likely to be a multi-step process. One thing at a time here people! I am also writing a doctoral dissertation...<br />
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Anyway! I think that most of us can agree that with every new season one has to purchase several new items. The upswing of training correlates nicely with the upswing of money spent on triathlon gear upkeep. Gotta get that bike tuned up, gotta replace the gloves and socks with holes, gotta get new running shoes cause last year's have 400-500 miles on them etc. My season started off with a nice monetary dent because I didn't own adequate cold weather riding gear. I went into my fav bike shop (Shout out to FreshBikes!) and purchased some booties and gloves with the help of my wonderful friend Dave:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin667nTI5LqhWIGNonSmxZ4qz19LIDH7fdauPYbWRSx8yIwWMYmVhIGFpGhEF2oUPz5tMbBlaEvVjS2dbDfAZcQ_RFAJ-32B9rNcly4-D-OqwbvLvfaTR_l8DnRrXxjm9c-d1hl41KPCs/s1600/photo(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin667nTI5LqhWIGNonSmxZ4qz19LIDH7fdauPYbWRSx8yIwWMYmVhIGFpGhEF2oUPz5tMbBlaEvVjS2dbDfAZcQ_RFAJ-32B9rNcly4-D-OqwbvLvfaTR_l8DnRrXxjm9c-d1hl41KPCs/s320/photo(17).JPG" width="320" /></a>Cannondale booties and Specialized three season gloves. They've gone on a few rides now and I absolutely love them. It's been a really warm winter so far, so I haven't needed anything heavier. I even did my first brick of the season outdoors. In early February. Unheard of...<br />
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I also just replaced my running shoes yesterday. I had literally beaten my last pair to shreds. At the shop I was greatly surprised when I wasn't comfortable in the newest version of my Nikes. I started from scratch and ended up with an unfortunately pink pair of Brooks. I hate the look, but I love the feel (so far). They go on their first real test run today (on the treadmill so as not to get them dirty in case they need to be returned) so we shall see if they feel as magical as they did in the store. I certainly hope they feel like magic because they're hideous. <br />
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I bet you're wondering about that picture at the top of my post! :) That's my new cross-training! Well, maybe not really, although I would like to find a team near me. Last weekend I went with my wife to a hockey tournament in Albany (where her team won the tourney!!) and there was an exhibition game with the local sled hockey team for whom the tournament was a fundraiser. They let players and spectators from the tournament borrow equipment and put us on the ice to play! (Sled hockey is a form of hockey designed for people with lower body disabilities, but can be played by anyone) The real sled hockey players of course whipped our butts, (7-1) but we had a blast!! I seriously would play again if I could find a way! Great core and upper body workout, too!<br />
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Alright, I am sitting here in my bathingsuit, so I better head off to the Y to swim and run with my new kicks. Train on, folks!SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-12247463536565242972012-01-24T09:36:00.000-08:002012-01-24T09:36:42.790-08:00And so it begins...Right now I am eating mushrooms and kale. Dessert will be one, big, plain sweet potato. One week ago this would have been enough for lunch (or at least to hold me over for two hours), but given the fact that I am on my second heaping helping of steamed greens and fungi and I am still feeling famished, I have a feeling that it's already kicking it. You know, the unbelievable hunger that you can only really dampen for a bit before it comes back in full, angry force?<br />
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That's right, folks! It's training time again!!! Welcome to the 2012 season!! Now I have laps to swim, miles to run, and road tires to burn through! Well really right now I have hours upon hours to freeze my butt off...but hey, I just got myself some new three season cycling gloves and booties for my lil' tootsies in my bike shoes. Woo!<br />
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This season's race schedule is mostly lined up. I am especially sure of how the first half of the season will run, but am much less sure about how I'll be doing the second half. See, I've signed up for another half-ironman but like I've said in previous posts, I'm not sold on whether or not I'll be attempting the full this season. On the one hand, I just might not me ready. On the other, I don't know if I'll have time to train like this again next season. Soooo, what to do? And can I make that decision before Chesapeakeman fills up? Questions, questions.<br />
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One new development in my season is that this year I am avoiding Piranha Sports events. I normally compete in a few of their races a season as they were my first race and I have done well with them. Unfortunately, it was a Piranha event at which I had my blowup last season and I (and particularly my family) wasn't too thrilled with how the emergency medical help was set up. Basically there were few medical people there and there was no ambulance. I also found out that had I collapsed at an aid station (which almost happened) that no one would have been able to get help to me there. The volunteers had no way to communicate back to the base.<br />
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This is not to say that I am boycotting them forever. I have really had a fantastic time at their events and loved the atmosphere in the past. But I can't risk that kind of medical inattention. If I do decide to do one of their sprint events for some fun at the end of the season, you can bet I'll be calling them and asking about their preparedness beforehand. There were some complaints made about the situation last year, so who knows, maybe they're boycotting me!! hehe.<br />
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Blacklisted! Like an outlaw! Alright giving myself way too much street cred there.<br />
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Anyway, yesterday was my first two-a-day. Traveling up to DE for school stuff and then again on the weekends for my wife's hockey tournaments puts some interesting twists into my scheduling. Luckily I will likely spend most of this spring working down here with a different University, so the mid-week twists will calm down. The weekend traveling though? That will probably continue at the current pace for a while.<br />
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Off to eat my sweet potato and head to the pool. Lots to do today! Time to figure out how to fit it all in again...<br />
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<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-88119561292599339362011-12-16T12:25:00.000-08:002011-12-16T12:28:27.979-08:00CATCH UP TIME: Strength Season, Race Report and Triathlete Gift ListAlright folks, I know that I've been slacking. It's been pointed out to me on several occasions, in fact.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LxhlQVUBt-vgzAkxP1xj8rOvkwGgGnWG0usE3U_AcDhd6caQv6Vu8WWGPoj9hwb4G6ajudCRzkXjoTHIIEbaxZobpsUMdz_7rVmisxcn8FNODXzS-Bs0W7gmSJ6Lt4yAsvZDVHftsGs/s1600/389416_10100297519091206_5501501_49257013_350902268_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LxhlQVUBt-vgzAkxP1xj8rOvkwGgGnWG0usE3U_AcDhd6caQv6Vu8WWGPoj9hwb4G6ajudCRzkXjoTHIIEbaxZobpsUMdz_7rVmisxcn8FNODXzS-Bs0W7gmSJ6Lt4yAsvZDVHftsGs/s320/389416_10100297519091206_5501501_49257013_350902268_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>The thing is, after that last race of the season (an excellent half-marathon, photos from which pepper this post), I decided to take the off-season seriously for a little while. Or at least I tried to. I have not been in the pool or on my bike since early November. I took a little over a week off from running after the half marathon to give my legs a bit of a break. And I also thought that if I didn't feel like writing a blog post for a while, that was OK too.<br />
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That isn't to say, however, that I've been sitting on my off-season-sized tushy. Erin and I took up rock climbing a few months ago, and I've been going 1-2 times/week since then. I've also been heavily invested in my weekly yoga classes and have begun to do at-home crossfit workouts that my friend Matt turned me on to. This is all part of a gradual plan to turn the "off-season" into "strength season". For the rest of this month, until Erin and I leave with my family for 10 days in the tropics for the holidays (I know, we're pretty damn lucky), climbing, yoga and crossfit, with a bit of running on the side, is the plan. I've been taking 1 or 2 scenic trail runs every week, just for 3 or so miles, and then on Sundays I run with my friend Matt who's trying to jump back on the running wagon. Once January rolls around and we're settled back in, I will be continuing to climb and go to yoga, but will also get into some more serious lifting for a bit. For the four weeks before I start my first training block (undecided when that begins, but probably late February?) I will be following Matt Fitzgerald's "Quick Start" program to gain base fitness and lose the off-season weight. And then I will begin the training program, hopefully stronger, leaner and meaner than last year.<br />
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Looking ahead to the season, though, I need to start considering what races I am planning on attempting. I know that I am doing Eagleman 70.3 for sure (race entry is already in!) but I am still struggling with the decision to attempt a full ironman. I have to weigh several factors including the fact that this may be the last season I have time to do the training justice, but also the disaster that was my last half-ironman and the fact that I'll likely have to pay to enter the race before I will get to test my training at Eagleman. Oh and did I mention the race fee? yeah. NO IDEA how I will afford that.<br />
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I also need to see if I can somehow make coaching happen. I can't afford it, but I really think I will need it.<br />
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Speaking of my blown-up half last September, I went to the cardiologist this week. The good news is he doesn't think I should stop training and triathlons. There wasn't really much bad news, unless I continue to have problems when I ramp my training up in the Spring. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_eyADJRel0TmXn5-LoMjwEN5isAKbSDfP1qg5hyphenhyphenayfqq0dA-L4gFbWzzhNI5nmdBu6rDQ_y59grp9NOP3_0v3tP2h-irKapLwm0K0dW9kV_YoAO5rBodLP8AsX_-HpD6yvfMuHcHFxU/s1600/383999_10100297518018356_5501501_49257003_124023083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_eyADJRel0TmXn5-LoMjwEN5isAKbSDfP1qg5hyphenhyphenayfqq0dA-L4gFbWzzhNI5nmdBu6rDQ_y59grp9NOP3_0v3tP2h-irKapLwm0K0dW9kV_YoAO5rBodLP8AsX_-HpD6yvfMuHcHFxU/s320/383999_10100297518018356_5501501_49257003_124023083_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfzjelIBCuQdX2G6e5F3TydzhQWW8Wvw4Ypq9WhSV3KDAMrF88w80Im-ZEExp72qH6fXxWaGPCU-VB6TcoVQ24XQOUc8GawjIvwqjp2iKQE76sOs-8JsBpKXxh1VlHUyAmaA5OZ6CCf4/s1600/389978_10100297519610166_5501501_49257020_409248550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfzjelIBCuQdX2G6e5F3TydzhQWW8Wvw4Ypq9WhSV3KDAMrF88w80Im-ZEExp72qH6fXxWaGPCU-VB6TcoVQ24XQOUc8GawjIvwqjp2iKQE76sOs-8JsBpKXxh1VlHUyAmaA5OZ6CCf4/s320/389978_10100297519610166_5501501_49257020_409248550_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96mw3hMF63LCrogZcA-C24TzzUjRe2u67XawyuluMzWzO4UrWYe4fGmhfJ9nAoywF6T0Wlv6vXdy7dTMFgcHY-pZ94aFzmuTwnADWqVkaeJKplut0v50PpdlFAFZV3vUQLjptmpalKLI/s1600/383335_10100297519924536_5501501_49257024_588724652_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96mw3hMF63LCrogZcA-C24TzzUjRe2u67XawyuluMzWzO4UrWYe4fGmhfJ9nAoywF6T0Wlv6vXdy7dTMFgcHY-pZ94aFzmuTwnADWqVkaeJKplut0v50PpdlFAFZV3vUQLjptmpalKLI/s320/383335_10100297519924536_5501501_49257024_588724652_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Backing up to my last race this season, which was a half marathon in Annapolis MD, I set a new PR on the innaugural course. My best friend from childhood and her roommate came down to race as well. The short version of the story is that because of traffic and poor planning on both our part and that of the race organizers, we ended up starting the race 45 minutes after the gun went off. Thank goodness for timing chips! We had the course nearly to ourselves for large parts of the race. Unfortunately I caught up with the slower pace groups just as I hit a very narrow bike path section of the course and had to dodge considerable, two-way traffic. Again, it was this race's first year and there were some improvements needed. There were not enough water stations, there were no mile markers and the parking situation left a lot to be desired. However, the two-way heavy traffic of 2,000 runners on a narrow bike path in the woods was definitely the worst-planned element. Still, we had a great time and there was free beer after the race (even if they did run out of post-race water...).<br />
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NOW for the Triathlete Gift List!! I was going to just type up my wish list (and for those of you who are curious about my triathlon needs, arm warmers, knee warmers, bike shoe booties, a bike headlight, a new running case for my iphone, and a winter riding jersey are all good bets!) but triathletemag.com has an awesome list of adorable goodies for those who still need presents for their favorite triathletes. Check it out here:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1635904299"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://triathlon.competitor.com/2011/12/gear-tech/last-minute-gift-ideas-for-the-triathlete-in-your-life_44843/1">Triathlete Magazine Gift Ideas</a><br />
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Now I will leave you with my jock xmas picture of the year. Here is our "Christmas Tree." There is no room in our apartment for a real one...<br />
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<br />SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398728113253447364.post-38212959654437789552011-11-15T16:03:00.001-08:002011-11-16T07:52:41.082-08:00Last Race Week of the Year (and a bonus video clip!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRMPksWg1iQ_qdhGZ_iei3mCYaW2x2LOmkOacMI7GjqEAobC3fMe13nKFzTBPtYZXrTiNfRNad2_YuFrgcJ83PQXANZQNKRO4B9i9AF9q4vW8kLfUAt2ngjB464ibvrs2tTcIsxPcMRE/s1600/photo%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRMPksWg1iQ_qdhGZ_iei3mCYaW2x2LOmkOacMI7GjqEAobC3fMe13nKFzTBPtYZXrTiNfRNad2_YuFrgcJ83PQXANZQNKRO4B9i9AF9q4vW8kLfUAt2ngjB464ibvrs2tTcIsxPcMRE/s320/photo%252816%2529.JPG" width="271" /></a>Ahhh and we're back with another taper week! My last race of the season, a half marathon with my best friend from home, is on Saturday. My week consists of a handful of 2 mile runs, a few gradual progressions and some tempo intervals thrown in for good measure. Other then that, I have to make due with stretching and yoga. And as always, it's enough to make me a lil' crazy.<br />
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Oh and I am of course grungry. That's the taper week curse, I think. <br />
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But I am finished complaining now! This is the inaugural running of this race, so when I went to a local running shop to pick up my packet, I got a sweet windbreaker instead of a normal, boring race t-shirt! I'm really excited to run and to see my bestie and her roommate (both are staying with me for race weekend! partay!) I've been planning out a meal plan for the weekend! hehe. Nevermind the study that says women don't really benefit from carbo-loading. I have a whole pasta meal planned. Although if we decide we want to believe the science, I have probably three backup plans, haha.<br />
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Anyway, REALLY excited for this weekend!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhzKNgh9d35a1aIeW-QZGtG7304BuZLQRHlDUv58t8X43Wx-NR-4XNKSaEba-sYILprrBqn1kKqem6X3ZnXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>P.S. Here's a (very brief) lil' movie of my sprint finish at the SheROX Bermuda Triathlon, courtesy of my father (whose face you get to see as he tries to turn the camera on at the beginning)SingingJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02185417043318788330noreply@blogger.com1