Steelhead 70.3 Recap

I will start out by saying that Benton Harbor Michigan is one of the most beautiful places I have been in the midwest. Catherine Lacrosse and I drove to the race on Friday afternoon and a short 3 hour later I was breath taken by the beauty of Lake Michigan. I felt like I was at the ocean, except for the sharks, jelly fish and salt water!
This was the most stress free race I have done this year and Catherine was awesome to travel with. We got lucky with a hotel room (thanks to Greg Retter and Vern) and everything just seemed to fall in place.
The water looked beautiful as I walked to the swim start. It was a 1.2 mile walk down the beach and it was extremely relaxing to watch the waves roll in. My group was #8 and I toed the start line of my 3rd 70.3 race this summer! I felt like I was having a solid swim. My stroke felt long and I was swimming on course. I really enjoyed swimming in Lake Michigan and came out of the water in a decent time. I took my time getting to the timing mat (walking through the sand) so that I didn't aggravate my glutes for the bike. One of the common factors of my cramping issues is a swim that requires a sand run back into transition. I did some squats and other random exercises in the transition area to ensure that my glutes would not lock up on the bike and then took off. My transition was a bit long but I didn't cramp up at all when I got on bike.
My ride started off great and I was making good progress until the course headed back in (with about 20 miles to go). The head and cross winds were so bad that I had to hold on and balance my bike as to not get caught off guard by a gust. This girl in front of me got hit by one of those crosswinds and it knocked her wheels right out from under her. It was crazy! My average went from about 22 miles an hour to 15 and then there went my hopes of a PR and a great bike time.
I came in on the bike way a little discouraged by the winds, but very eager to run. I took off on the run and my legs felt great. I felt in control of my nutrition and my breathing and I just worked my way from aid station to aid station staying hydrated and cool. I felt like I could have probably ran harder if I had to and I was a little bummed about my run time. I thought I would have been a bit faster, but in the end I am glad that i felt solid and that gave me some confidence for Ironman Louisville.
So, my day didn't turn out great, but it was an average day out there. I know what I need to work on and I have a few new goals for 2010. All in all, I had a great weekend and got to experience a race venue like none other in the midwest. I got to spend some time with great people and I got in one more long training day before Ironman Louisville.
I have a few more long rides and runs left and I am excited for the big race on August 30th! My best friend, Lindsey, is flying in to watch and can't wait to share this experience with her. Maybe she'll sign up for one in a few years!!!!!!

Rhode Island 70.3 Recap and Steelhead 70.3 Preview

I recently got back from the Rhode Island 70.3 race in Providence and I can't say that I would go back to do it again. The course was okay (challenging to say the least), but you definitely have to rent a vehicle to get your bikes to the bike drop off. We ended up renting a U-haul...long story, but the start of a stressful weekend.

I had a decent race...a great swim despite the fact that there were huge waves knocking me around, an okay bike and a great run. My bike would have been a bit better, but I had some weird but familiar cramps in my glutes that forced me to get off the bike for a few minutes. Yep, I was that girl on the side of the rode doing jumping jacks and high knees to get the blood to flow in my butt!

I was stoked about my run while I was racing because I was for sure that I had ran a low 1:40. Nope! I guess the 2 huge hills we had to run up slowed me down a bit because I clocked in at a 1:48. So, I ended up with a 5:16 which is about what I am used to. I know I have it in me to go low 5hrs and on a great day a hair sub 4, but not yet this year.

Steelhead 70.3 is next weekend, so I have one more shot for a good race before Ironman Louisville. My first goal is that I don't cramp up on the bike again. It happens within the first few minutes so hopefully I don't have to jump off and do my little routine to make it stop. Second goal is to attack the bike and hold just enough back that I can run 1:40-1:45.

I am in a huge distance block in preparation for Ironman so I will be hitting this race on the tired side. I am lacking snap in the legs, but I've been really consistent in nailing my long runs so hopefully a few days rest will be enough to make me feel fresh before the steelhead race. I am looking forward to the next few weeks of long rides, runs and swims and I think it is CRAZY that it is almost August!

Kansas 70.3 (1 down 2 to go)

Me and Chrissie Wellington! Sooooooo Cooooooool

Jason and I headed west to Lawrence Kansas friday afternoon. We were psyched for the race and had a really nice trip down. Despite the fact that he deprived me of icecream (my own damn fault), it was a fairly relaxing drive. We got lucky and found a hotel close to the race site and settled in for the night.

We had a relaxing morning and headed out to find breakfast. With 2 yummy pancakes in my belly I was ready to tackle race registration and bike check in. We got to the race site and hung out for a while. I felt very prepared and tried to just enjoy the scene. I love the way that Ironman organizes their races. It is so nice to show up to a race and know exactly what to expect. I guess they have that whole "branding" thing down pat.

We had a fabulous italian dinner and a relaxing evening. It was so nice to just put my feet up and relax.

To say the least, I had a solid race. I didn't suprise myself in any way, shape or form; but I held up nutritionally and I enjoyed myself. I had a mediocre swim. I felt strong, but like always, I didn't go very fast. Ugggggghhhh! Oh well, one day...just maybe. I came out of the water without any idea how many girls were in front of me. I knew that 1st place would have been about 10 minutes in front of me and without an extremley superior bike ride, I would never catch them.

Again, I had a mediocre bike ride. I thought I was moving, but power data suggested otherwise. I was about 15 watts average below where I know that I should have been riding. I felt good though. The course was oddly hilly, but I felt strong on the hills. I think more bike time is much needed.

My run started off stellar! I was hitting 7:20s for the first few miles and then something happened. I started to have these weird crampy feelings in my shins. The sun had come out and I was struggling. I had about 5 miles of not so hot running. My time slowed down to about 8:30s for a good portion, but then my legs came back at the start of the second loop. I started passing tons of people and I picked the pace back up to 7:45s. I was bummed that I had lost so much time, but I was happy that stuck with it and kept pushing.

My overall time was 5:15. This was nothing for me to brag about and I was happy that it was solid, but sad that I didn't hit my goal time of 4:59. I just want to break that 5 hour mark! It's just a few minutes here, a few mintues there and totally doable. I need to work a little harder and race a bit harder as well. I know that the speed is there, I just need to find it on race day.

I do love this distance and I am signed up for Rhode Island 70.3 in July and Steelhead in August.

I am taking a break from the sprint triathlons this season. I might do 1 or 2, but I am planning on just training hard and long on the weekends to get me ready for the more important races.

The best part of the race was that I got to get my pic taken with Chrissie Wellington, 2 time Ironman World Champion! So cool and I was so star struck:)

This Crazy Life I Live

I must say that the sport of triathlon has taught me a lot about myself. I am most definitely a competitor, I thrive off of routine, I love to set and achieve goals and I HATE, I MEAN HATE when I disappoint myself. There is always a huge part of me that is extremely aware at how blessed and lucky i am to have a healthy body that is capable of moving at semi-fast speeds in the sports of swimming, biking and running. But, there is another part of me that wants to move at wicked-fast speeds and I get really frustrated when I hit a plateau, when I don't feel like I am racing at my potential, etc...

After a winter full of training and doing single sport races to get in shape for the triathlon season, I was faced with the Terre Haute Triathlon this past weekend. Here is what I learned: at this point in the season, I am not any damn faster than I was last year at the same time. That sucks!!!! I worked so hard and it just sucks when that first race basically kicks your ass instead of giving you confidence for the season to come. My swim is the exact same as it has always been, my bike is probably a little better, and I am running the same as last year if not a little slower.

So, what do I do? Well, I guess I just put my head down and dig a little deeper, run a little faster, swim a little more and bike a little harder. Oh, and sleep a lot lot more! This is ironic to me--it is so strange that most of us just don't give up. We don't say "hey, I suck and I quit!" Instead, we extend all means to take us where we want to go. That, in essence, is awesome within it's own right.

I am doing a bike race on Saturday (65 mile road race) and hoping to get in lots of bike miles on Sunday as well (maybe a trip to Louisville to ride the course?????) Then, next Sunday (the 14), is Kansas 70.3. Jason and I are road tripping it to Kansas for the first 1/2 ironman of the year. I'm really stoked about this race and can't wait for the challenge.

Mission 18 Hour Adventure Race (Finaly)!

Last weekend I raced the Mission 18 hour adventure race presented by DINO (http://www.dinoseries.com/). This was a qualifier for nationals and one more chance to try to accomplish our goal of beating the remarkable Missouri team Alpine Shop. I won't bother writing a full race report because Mike Garrison already did, but I will post the link to his blog and you can check out all the technical details there. http://www.indyrootstock.com/v6/2009/05/2009-mission-18-hr-ar.shtml
Our team was comprised of Matthew Jourdan, Mike Garrison and myself. We knew we had the talent and navigation skills to give Alpine Shop a run for their money, but luck would have to also play into this game. Fortunately, we all felt great for most of the race and we pressed hard finishing in just over 17 hours. We cleared the course and finished about 50 minutes in front of Alpine Shop. We have been trying for 3 years to beat them and FINALLY--with lots of focus, patience and determination; we pulled it off.
I found myself in a very dark place the last few hours of that race. It is ironic how I don't remember the pain of that final 10 mile run/trek to the last check point, but believe me it existed. It would not have been so bad if we weren't pressing hard to keep our lead. The pain from each step got worse and worse with each stride. I don't know what hurt worse, my quads or my feet!
With this race under my belt, I am ready to focus on the triathlon season for the rest of the summer. I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish and the first one of them being Kansas 70.3 (http://www.ironman.com/) on June 14. In a concentrated effort to qualify for Clearwater, I am going to hit the 70.3 circuit in full force and try to get myself one of those world championship slots. I will have Jason in tow as he continues to try to get his pro card. ROAD TRIP!
I still have lots of work to do in the pool and the Terra Haute race this weekend should give me a great benchmark on my current fitness level. My power is all over the place. I set a new personal best power output for the monrovia time trial a few weeks ago, but I'm struggling to replicate that in my workouts. Now that I have a power meter in my Zipp 808, I should be able to document all of my races and that information will be incredibly valuable.
I am totally 100% focused right now and I am looking forward to the season ahead. I have lots of fun races on the calendar with the grand finale being Ironman Louisville! Of course I hope that the 70.3 and/or the ironman world championships find their way into my fall schedule:)

Ready to Race

I have been busy, but not busy enough! I did the mini marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday and redeemed myself from the past two years. I did not train specifically for the mini, but I had been running well and managed to get in a few long runs. Unfortunately, I didn't register so I had to race with my friend Greg's number. It was so nice of him to give me his number, so I tried myself to give him a good time:)
The race started out really well. I held back in the beginning (I've blown up near the end the past few years). I had a really slow mile 1 with all of the traffic, but made up for it on miles 2-5 averaging a 7:10-7:20 pace. I slowed down a little on 6-8, but regained my momentum all the way back in.
At the time, I was really excited about my time, but now I am kind of mad at myself because I should be a lot faster. It's time to focus on Kansas 70.3 on June 13. Until then, I have a few adventure races to keep me alive!

PLANET ADVENTURE SPRINT RACE

I was originally going to do the XTERRA MEMPHIS race, but there was severe thunderstorms there and it was an 8 hour drive so when I got the email from Mike, from Indy Rootstock Adventure Racing, I decided to race with them at the Planet Adventure Sprint Race. I have always wondered what it would be like racing with Mike, and it completely lived up to my expectation. 2 of the guys from Citgo raced as a 2 man team, but I am pretty sure they were in need of some male bonding so they didn't mind me racing with the competition.

The bike course SUCKED! It was gnarley, unridable and I pushed my bike more than I rode. I hate that. But, everyone was in the same situation...I just had to remind my calves of that every time I pushed up a slippery uphill on a slope. In addition, we all ran out of water about 2 ours into the race so we finished up fairly dehydrated. I actually drank creek water for the first time in my life and you know what...it wasn't that bad. Next time, I'll pack some iodine tabs to sanitize it, but I'm extremely greatful to mother nature for giving me noncontaminated water to drink.

We ended up winning the coed division and came in close behind the Citgo 2 man team.
So, I won some new trail shoes and a gift certificate to Nurpu River and Mountain Supply http://www.nurpurivermountainsupply.com/ I love winning gear! I spend so much money on this sport, that every little bit helps!

Planet Adventure put on a great race, like always, and I'm looking forward to the Planet Adventure 24 hour race on June 6th!