Sunday, October 30, 2011
Three Weeks
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Racing in paradise, tales from the Hawaii Ironman
10:06:14. Shut. The. Front. Door!!! Long story short? I raced for my second time in Hawaii this past Saturday and with the time listed above finished 8th in my AG, 16th amateur female and 36th female overall...including the pros. Can I get a whoop whoop!!! Picture me doing my hands in the air dance right about now. I also dropped 48 minutes off my last year time along the way, having the race that I KNEW I was capable of. Read on for the blow by blow of race day.
PRE-RACE
Friday night and it's time to sleep. I managed to sleep better than usual, with only about two middle of the night wake ups. 4:30 and it's time to get up. Time to eat a massive bowl of peanut butter Puffins (I need sponsorship from Barbara's Bakery), a banana and a packet of Justin's honey almond butter. Yum-o! Combine it with a huge Gatorade and I hit my targeted 1000 kcal breakfast. Sunscreen and braid it up and its time to get to T1 to find my team gals and get the bike prepped and my swim gear on. We were lucky enough to get a pic with legendary 81 years young Lew Hollander...nothing says inspiration like this man!
SWIM: 1:05:21
Faster than last year but not by much. I got into the water with the Mark Renshaw of swimming, Kebby! Kebby was only going to swim and vowed to knock over loads of men and clear a path for me in the beginning of the swim. We decided to start next to the floating car which is far left and where I started last year. Last year I remember having really clear water from the get go. This year was MUCH different. From the beginning we were in the thick of it. We should have sensed this was coming from the massive number of men around us and how close they were getting...nothing like a little pre race action to get you pumped to swim! By the time the first bouy appeared we had gone from far left to right along the bouy line. Good for swimming, bad for body contact. My least favorite thing during an ironman swim is while taking a breath catching a glimpse of the chaos behind you. It's an indescribable image, hundreds of people swimming towards you in a very selfish mindset trying to propel themselves to the swim finish as fast as possible. I hit the turn around and glanced at my watch and saw :31, and thought to myself, yes this is going to be a 1:02 ish swim as we had already rounded the boat and were headed straight for home. And I even tried to push the way home after thinking I had taken the first half out way too easy...saw the clock on the way out with a 1:05 and said OK, let's get on and ride that bike!
BIKE 5:21:48
RUN 3:33:14, 8:08 pace/mile
I have to say it. My major goal for this race was to hit 3:30 on the marathon. I wanted to improve in all disciplines, but I am no fool. I know that my run is the biggest weak link for me and to do what I want to do, it must get faster. My run here last year was a 3:46. Starting the run I felt pretty poopy, but who doesn't? Then my garmin beeps at me and tells me my first mile was a 7:22...ok well if that's what poopy feels like, bring it on! The plan for nutrition was to eat a gel every 2 miles and to get ice down the chest each mile and grab a few cups of water. And then salt tabs every hour. Thank god the aid stations are every mile, sometimes they couldn't come soon enough! The first 10 miles were at an 8min/mile pace and I was very comfortable, but the heat along Alii was crazy, no breeze and just HOT! Starting the climb up Palani, Mark is telling me to use my power to get up the hill. My"power" only allowed me to walk up Palani. When the watch said 8:45 for that first mile I knew it was still ok, as the next 7 miles out to the Energy Lab are a steady uphill. I wasn't getting passed at this point and was feeling pretty good. Mark had told me that I was likely in the top 15 for amateur women and I was thinking, seriously?!!! This is good news. In the energy lab I passed another gal in my AG and knew that there was only 6 more miles to go. With 2 miles to go, I allowed myself to really look at the garmin and see that I was on pace for a 3:3x marathon. I was really going to do it.
Coming down Alii is one of the best feelings in Ironman, you know that your day is almost over and the amount of high fiving is awesome. Everyone is cheering so loudly and you realize that all of your training and sacrifices throughout the year have indeed been worth it. I hit the line in 10:06 and busted into the top 10 in Kona. This is the real deal and I couldn't be happier. Of course I am already planning how I WILL get faster next year, but for now I am taking some time on the beach soaking up some sun eating some delish food and not caring about the calories, Dairy Queen anyone and enjoying some down time.
It's funny how I always tell Mark how I see other girls doing SO much volume and not as much tapering as I do and he always tells me to trust in our plan. And I do, but man alive did the plan work out this year. I think Mark has always known what I am capable of and I am only just starting to see it. Thanks babe! I also have to give a big Mahalo to my mom. She has always believed in me and told me that I can do whatever I want. She doesn't always think this for herself and sometimes thinks that I am a bit crazy, but her confidence in me is unwavering. Not everyone can say that and I am truly blessed. And how many other moms come swimming with their daughter into the Pacific for a recovery swim?!!
My other thanks go out to my unbelievable sponsors. Their help has made me faster and I hope to keep providing them with an excuse to sponsor me! TYR keeps me in the fastest and most comfortable swim products, arriving in Kona was like arriving to Christmas with TYR! The team keeps me looking good and keeps me comfortable all day long in their awesome kits...did you see us during the underpants run?!! Gray wheels make my bike splits even faster and nuun keeps me hydrated along the way. THANK YOU!!!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
80 degree water, 95 degree day, 50 degree racing
This past Sunday, the BEST of the BEST gathered just outside LasVegas, in beautiful Henderson, NV. Beautiful might not be exactly the right word, but it was indeed an epic event. I arrived on Friday and was staying with my fellow teammate Jess and a few other friends. Friday saw us very busy, registering, building bikes, catching up and talking about the course. We woke up early Saturday morning as there was only going to be one practice swim. Jess, Sarah and I got there just in the nick of time to sprint to the swim start and get in a nice 10 minutes in lake Las Vegas. 10 minutes was all we needed to get a feel for the warm temperature (def no wetsuit allowed) and see how the buoys were set up. After we got out, we quickly saw fellow age group star Beth and of course had to stop and catch up. What fun would racing triathlon be without gabbing with your girls?!!
The 30-34 gals, Sarah, Beth, Me, Jess (current world champ tiara holder)
After the swim/gab session, Jess and I met up with our fellow ambassadors and headed over to Hotel Holden where Kebby and Reg, AKA super sherpa (who all of our husbands will be taking classes from in Kona) had whipped up an AMAZING gluten free breakfast...I ate more than my fair share of muffins, strada and fruit. Pre-race fueling? DOUBLE check! WE had a great time meeting the other team beauties...and did I mention these women are fast? 2 AG world champs among us (out of 6 team mates). Note to self...step up run game next year so I too can be badass!
Team ladies hamming it up for photog Reg!
OK, so enough of the fun stuff right? Wrong! All Saturday I got to hang with Kebby and Reg talking about all things NOT triathlon, UFC and our mutual love of GSP, tennis- there was a marathon of the US Open on that day and I kept thinking to myself how I love to watch tennis as you can totally see the mental attitude and strength of each athlete, and sometimes you can see when they are mentally loosing there stuff. Gotta love Hi Def TV. Lots of eating ensued as is my pre race tradition. Like clock work, the day before a race, I can pack it in like a linebacker. Truth be told this may be one of the reasons that I will always have to be an endurance athlete, I LOVE to eat. Later in the day after prepping our bags, Kebby and I headed down to T1 to drop off our gear. This time always makes me giddy, you get to parade your bike (at world champ races) in front of the industry reps and show 'em what you got. Argon 18 on a FAST set of Gray Wheels baby...mark it down!
Kebby and I looking hot!
Onto the race. See how much I have been avoiding talking about it? Sheesh lady, get onto the goods! Going into this race, I have had one of the best seasons a girl can have. I had qualified for both world championships and landed myself on the podium at each race I had entered (save for one where Jess and I took a 7 mile detour add on to the bike course). My times kept getting faster and things were going smashingly. So one can reason that this race was bound to happen and all have said better at Vegas than in Kona next month. I take this all to heart but definitely am disappointed with my performance last Sunday. I KNOW that I could have been at least in the to 10 of the age group and had that expectation for myself.
So, what went wrong you may ask? Absolutely nothing. I can't tell you that X happened or I had a massive mechanical on the bike or that my nutrition sucked. Nope, all of these things were in check. I hydrated properly, got in my usual amount of calories and had a super pre race breakfast of Puffins!! My bike was in great shape and I had put it together myself, making Mark a very proud coach in the process. No excuses for the day that happened, I just didn't have the magic that was needed to mix it up with the best of the best on the day. I ended up with a time of 5:06 and finished 18th in the age group and was the 11th American...almost a top 10. No pity party for me, I know this could be a dream race for some and I truly am grateful for what I have achieved...I just always want more...just ask Mark ;) This is part of what keeps me loving triathlon, there is always more to do.
After the race, I found a kindred spirit in Jess as she also loves Chipotle and Dairy Queen! We hit both up after our post race massage and made sure to properly replace ALL of the calories we had just burned...it isn't easy to do, but we managed to get down a blizzard in the name of recovery.
Jess enjoying her DQ...a MUST post race treat!
The course was pretty phenomenal though, the ride and run were in one word: unrelenting. It was either up or down, there was absolutely ZERO flat. And you needed to WORK those downhills, so there was no letting up. It was a perfect training day for Kona and with less than a month to go and the day light shrinking every day, I can tell the end of the season is near. So onward and upward I go.
I am SO looking forward to going to Hawaii, for the race for sure, but maybe even more so to connect with all of the amazing people that I have met along this journey. It will be a fun time for sure and the race is guaranteed to be epic. I feel a USA domination coming for the W30-34...so those other gals had better run like they stole it.
THE best sponsors a girl could ask for:
A HUGE thank you to all of my supporters, for making the most comfortable kits that keep us looking better than all the other girls on course, Gray wheels for making my ride fly like the wind, nuun for making me WANT to drink all day long with the delicious strawberry lemonade flavor, TYR for keeping me as fast as possible in the water, and to ALL of my friends and family for always being there for me and being my biggest fans.
See you all in Hawaii!!
The 30-34 gals, Sarah, Beth, Me, Jess (current world champ tiara holder)
After the swim/gab session, Jess and I met up with our fellow ambassadors and headed over to Hotel Holden where Kebby and Reg, AKA super sherpa (who all of our husbands will be taking classes from in Kona) had whipped up an AMAZING gluten free breakfast...I ate more than my fair share of muffins, strada and fruit. Pre-race fueling? DOUBLE check! WE had a great time meeting the other team beauties...and did I mention these women are fast? 2 AG world champs among us (out of 6 team mates). Note to self...step up run game next year so I too can be badass!
Team ladies hamming it up for photog Reg!
OK, so enough of the fun stuff right? Wrong! All Saturday I got to hang with Kebby and Reg talking about all things NOT triathlon, UFC and our mutual love of GSP, tennis- there was a marathon of the US Open on that day and I kept thinking to myself how I love to watch tennis as you can totally see the mental attitude and strength of each athlete, and sometimes you can see when they are mentally loosing there stuff. Gotta love Hi Def TV. Lots of eating ensued as is my pre race tradition. Like clock work, the day before a race, I can pack it in like a linebacker. Truth be told this may be one of the reasons that I will always have to be an endurance athlete, I LOVE to eat. Later in the day after prepping our bags, Kebby and I headed down to T1 to drop off our gear. This time always makes me giddy, you get to parade your bike (at world champ races) in front of the industry reps and show 'em what you got. Argon 18 on a FAST set of Gray Wheels baby...mark it down!
Kebby and I looking hot!
Onto the race. See how much I have been avoiding talking about it? Sheesh lady, get onto the goods! Going into this race, I have had one of the best seasons a girl can have. I had qualified for both world championships and landed myself on the podium at each race I had entered (save for one where Jess and I took a 7 mile detour add on to the bike course). My times kept getting faster and things were going smashingly. So one can reason that this race was bound to happen and all have said better at Vegas than in Kona next month. I take this all to heart but definitely am disappointed with my performance last Sunday. I KNOW that I could have been at least in the to 10 of the age group and had that expectation for myself.
So, what went wrong you may ask? Absolutely nothing. I can't tell you that X happened or I had a massive mechanical on the bike or that my nutrition sucked. Nope, all of these things were in check. I hydrated properly, got in my usual amount of calories and had a super pre race breakfast of Puffins!! My bike was in great shape and I had put it together myself, making Mark a very proud coach in the process. No excuses for the day that happened, I just didn't have the magic that was needed to mix it up with the best of the best on the day. I ended up with a time of 5:06 and finished 18th in the age group and was the 11th American...almost a top 10. No pity party for me, I know this could be a dream race for some and I truly am grateful for what I have achieved...I just always want more...just ask Mark ;) This is part of what keeps me loving triathlon, there is always more to do.
After the race, I found a kindred spirit in Jess as she also loves Chipotle and Dairy Queen! We hit both up after our post race massage and made sure to properly replace ALL of the calories we had just burned...it isn't easy to do, but we managed to get down a blizzard in the name of recovery.
Jess enjoying her DQ...a MUST post race treat!
The course was pretty phenomenal though, the ride and run were in one word: unrelenting. It was either up or down, there was absolutely ZERO flat. And you needed to WORK those downhills, so there was no letting up. It was a perfect training day for Kona and with less than a month to go and the day light shrinking every day, I can tell the end of the season is near. So onward and upward I go.
I am SO looking forward to going to Hawaii, for the race for sure, but maybe even more so to connect with all of the amazing people that I have met along this journey. It will be a fun time for sure and the race is guaranteed to be epic. I feel a USA domination coming for the W30-34...so those other gals had better run like they stole it.
THE best sponsors a girl could ask for:
A HUGE thank you to all of my supporters, for making the most comfortable kits that keep us looking better than all the other girls on course, Gray wheels for making my ride fly like the wind, nuun for making me WANT to drink all day long with the delicious strawberry lemonade flavor, TYR for keeping me as fast as possible in the water, and to ALL of my friends and family for always being there for me and being my biggest fans.
See you all in Hawaii!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
What Happens In Vegas...Triathlon Style
This airplane is full of the usual Vegas crowd, girls wearing birthday girl tiaras, boys getting ready for a raging bachelor party weekend and then you see it: a sprinkling of your not so typical Vegas crew...the compression wearing, fit triathlete.
This year the 70.3 World Championships have moved from Clearwater Beach to Las Vegas. It's also a month earlier than Kona instead of a month after making it the perfect prep for those of us also headed to the Big Dance next month. It's been 100+ for the past week and is now "cooling" down to the 90's. Making it another perfect prep race for Kona. We get to get out in the desert on a potentially windy, hot course. I'm excited!
My co-workers keep asking me if it's really healthy to be out in this kind of weather pushing myself so hard. I tell them my sodium load started already and I should be OK :). I hope to be by the hotel pool alternating nuun and mojitos before Sunday afternoon is up.
I'm also excited to hang with my crew of team mates. These ladies are some of the toughest in the field and all possess an amazing attitude to boot! Who could ask for a better team? As I keep on in triathlon, it seems to keep getting better and better by the year. Not only my results, but I keep meeting more amazing women and these events become so much fun. Not just the race, which is always awesome, but the before and after. Meeting up in Vegas this weekend and in Hawaii next month seeing all of my ladies will be two of the highlights of the year.
I'll be staying with two of the BEST athletes in the 30-34 division Jess S. and Sarah P. I've been training with Jess and am pumped to meet Sarah. I know that these ladies, along with a few other buddies, will push me to new limits come this Sunday and I couldn't be more excited to see the results.
I had a fantastic day at Vineman in July, mentally having a breakthrough. I told myself that I deserved to be at the front and that I needed to do everything possible to stay there. That'll be my mantra for this Sunday's race as well. The season is almost over and for now as all the work is mostly done, I will look back on the seasons successes, all the training that I have put into the bank and get rallied for Sunday!
I have plenty of Nuun to keep me perfectly hydrated for the weekend as well as my speedy speed suit from TYR. The team kit is ready to rock, perfectly matching my trusty steed with it's beautiful and FAST Gray wheels...who said color coordination was't important out on the course? You can take the girl out of fashion, but not the fashion out of the girl (says the gal wearing full compression tights)!
So as the rest of the 6:30AM flight is sipping on cocktails, I will sip my nuun and get ready to rock!
This year the 70.3 World Championships have moved from Clearwater Beach to Las Vegas. It's also a month earlier than Kona instead of a month after making it the perfect prep for those of us also headed to the Big Dance next month. It's been 100+ for the past week and is now "cooling" down to the 90's. Making it another perfect prep race for Kona. We get to get out in the desert on a potentially windy, hot course. I'm excited!
My co-workers keep asking me if it's really healthy to be out in this kind of weather pushing myself so hard. I tell them my sodium load started already and I should be OK :). I hope to be by the hotel pool alternating nuun and mojitos before Sunday afternoon is up.
I'm also excited to hang with my crew of team mates. These ladies are some of the toughest in the field and all possess an amazing attitude to boot! Who could ask for a better team? As I keep on in triathlon, it seems to keep getting better and better by the year. Not only my results, but I keep meeting more amazing women and these events become so much fun. Not just the race, which is always awesome, but the before and after. Meeting up in Vegas this weekend and in Hawaii next month seeing all of my ladies will be two of the highlights of the year.
I'll be staying with two of the BEST athletes in the 30-34 division Jess S. and Sarah P. I've been training with Jess and am pumped to meet Sarah. I know that these ladies, along with a few other buddies, will push me to new limits come this Sunday and I couldn't be more excited to see the results.
I had a fantastic day at Vineman in July, mentally having a breakthrough. I told myself that I deserved to be at the front and that I needed to do everything possible to stay there. That'll be my mantra for this Sunday's race as well. The season is almost over and for now as all the work is mostly done, I will look back on the seasons successes, all the training that I have put into the bank and get rallied for Sunday!
I have plenty of Nuun to keep me perfectly hydrated for the weekend as well as my speedy speed suit from TYR. The team kit is ready to rock, perfectly matching my trusty steed with it's beautiful and FAST Gray wheels...who said color coordination was't important out on the course? You can take the girl out of fashion, but not the fashion out of the girl (says the gal wearing full compression tights)!
So as the rest of the 6:30AM flight is sipping on cocktails, I will sip my nuun and get ready to rock!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Only 2 Races to go...How'd That Happen?
Only two races to go. Not just any two races, but THE two biggest races of the season are the only ones left on the calendar. And I still feel like I haven't gotten a proper summer! I'm sitting here on the sofa wondering just how the season has passed by so quickly. There have been countless laps done in the pool, around the track and miles logged on the bike. Is it really almost time to hang it up for the year? ALMOST, but not quite yet! There are only 7 weeks until Kona, and Vegas is even closer just a week and a half away. A girl had better start working :)
I am SO excited for these two races though, Vegas is going to be a girls weekend out, as I'm staying with some super FAST gal pals Jess, Sarah and Mimi. Nothing like sharing the house with some of the biggest competition out there! I am looking froward to meeting Sarah P and the after party that I am SURE to drag the rest of the house too. Is it bad that I'm really looking forward to the after party? I mean it's VEGAS! Better save up some energy...I can see the headline on Slowtwitch now, "1800 triathletes and they all go to bed by 10PM"...Vegas won't get it's monies worth. OK, so back to the focus. I know Mark will read this and think, of course my wife is more focused on the party than the race. Not so I will tell him. I am pumped to race against some of the baddest girls around town and to rip it up in the heat prepping for Kona. Vegas is going to be a great indicator for us all on how we will do in the heat, humidity and pressure of Kona. Then we'll have 5 more weeks to plan for the big dance!
Fast Girl Jess and I in training
So in between now and the middle of October, I am starting to shape up and fly right, as my Grandpa would say. I am cutting back (out will come after Vegas...duh!) the alcohol, focusing on what Mark and I have dubbed "operation sleep". The goal here is for us to get at LEAST 8 hours of sleep per night. I used to be a great slave to this process and somewhere this season have gotten off track. Oh yeah, that's right...there is SO much going on in life and I am having SO much fun that sleep has taken a back seat. Not for the next 7 weeks or so. Just call me Boring Manning. I'm sure this is a large club right about now and I am not alone. I just try to tell my "regular" friends that I'm not that crazy...and that they'll see me again soon. I am also focusing on getting Mark and I the right nutrients at the right time. This can be a bit challenging for someone whose husband would rather eat potatoes and white bread than swiss chard. Just sayin. But we make it work!
Future swimmer in training, niece Fiona
I am also really looking forward to seeing even more family and friends in Kona this year. one of my besties from high school is coming to watch in Kona and my mom and her hubby are making this a part of their annual vacation rotation. Not really a bad place to vacation right? Mark and I plan to go up the coast after and do some serious beach time.
I am SO excited for these two races though, Vegas is going to be a girls weekend out, as I'm staying with some super FAST gal pals Jess, Sarah and Mimi. Nothing like sharing the house with some of the biggest competition out there! I am looking froward to meeting Sarah P and the after party that I am SURE to drag the rest of the house too. Is it bad that I'm really looking forward to the after party? I mean it's VEGAS! Better save up some energy...I can see the headline on Slowtwitch now, "1800 triathletes and they all go to bed by 10PM"...Vegas won't get it's monies worth. OK, so back to the focus. I know Mark will read this and think, of course my wife is more focused on the party than the race. Not so I will tell him. I am pumped to race against some of the baddest girls around town and to rip it up in the heat prepping for Kona. Vegas is going to be a great indicator for us all on how we will do in the heat, humidity and pressure of Kona. Then we'll have 5 more weeks to plan for the big dance!
Fast Girl Jess and I in training
So in between now and the middle of October, I am starting to shape up and fly right, as my Grandpa would say. I am cutting back (out will come after Vegas...duh!) the alcohol, focusing on what Mark and I have dubbed "operation sleep". The goal here is for us to get at LEAST 8 hours of sleep per night. I used to be a great slave to this process and somewhere this season have gotten off track. Oh yeah, that's right...there is SO much going on in life and I am having SO much fun that sleep has taken a back seat. Not for the next 7 weeks or so. Just call me Boring Manning. I'm sure this is a large club right about now and I am not alone. I just try to tell my "regular" friends that I'm not that crazy...and that they'll see me again soon. I am also focusing on getting Mark and I the right nutrients at the right time. This can be a bit challenging for someone whose husband would rather eat potatoes and white bread than swiss chard. Just sayin. But we make it work!
Future swimmer in training, niece Fiona
I am also really looking forward to seeing even more family and friends in Kona this year. one of my besties from high school is coming to watch in Kona and my mom and her hubby are making this a part of their annual vacation rotation. Not really a bad place to vacation right? Mark and I plan to go up the coast after and do some serious beach time.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Racing and Training....Kona is a comin'
This past week we began my final push to both 70.3 and the Ironman World Championships. I started off the week with an Olympic on Sunday and have been plugging along all week with a short (red line effort) splash ‘n dash at the local reservoir. After the Olympic, I noticed that I biked the bike course at Vineman 70.3 FASTER, yes faster than I did this Olympic that was a bit flatter than Vineman. Was I more excited for Vineman and had more riding on it (I had given myself only one opportunity this year to qualify to both Kona and Vegas)? Yes. But did I feel like I was trying SO hard on Sunday and going no where? Absolutely. With this information, coach Mark informed me that I should def be able to go faster in an Olympic than a half, but I think he has a pretty clear understanding of my body and that it is made to go long. Did someone say Ultraman?
So I went to the splash ‘n dash armed with a HR monitor. I haven’t raced with one ever. So it was going to be cool to see if I was actually pushing it. Again, coach seems to think that I don’t usually put myself into pain and that I am WAY too fresh looking coming across the line. Mission accomplished. My HR had a max of 199 and an average for the first mile which was slightly downhill of 181. This may have had something to do with trying to keep up with the top girls in the water, one of whom has been first out of the water in Kona and the other is a Cal stud(ette). I was able to get 3rd in the “open” category AKA women from 18-40 and won the series title for being there consistently at all 3 races and landing on the podium at each. Won a nice gift certificate for a dinner out in Los Gatos and some Cyto Sport product. All in all, a good Thursday night.
You may ask? Aren’t you training for an Ironman? The answer is yes, and the long runs and rides are on deck for this weekend. I will be searching out hot weather to train in and keep hitting the South Bay hills to mimic the immense climbing that is rumored to be in Vegas. Today saw a 20 mile run after work...pesky job gets in the way of all my FUN training. I was able to keep up well below IM hopeful pace until mile 17 when the wheels came off. I am left with 2 huge blisters...my feet seem to be incapable of going longer than 15 miles without blowing up like a sausage in a microwave. Tonight I compress like a queen and we shall see how fun tomorrow's ride is after the 20 mile sufferfest of today. Thank goodness it'll be on my own...it might be one of those days where suffering is best done alone.
Just a quick update 8 weeks from Kona. On Monday Mark's parents will be visiting us for a week of fun! It's Mark's turn to race and then it's off to have some fun with the rents!
So I went to the splash ‘n dash armed with a HR monitor. I haven’t raced with one ever. So it was going to be cool to see if I was actually pushing it. Again, coach seems to think that I don’t usually put myself into pain and that I am WAY too fresh looking coming across the line. Mission accomplished. My HR had a max of 199 and an average for the first mile which was slightly downhill of 181. This may have had something to do with trying to keep up with the top girls in the water, one of whom has been first out of the water in Kona and the other is a Cal stud(ette). I was able to get 3rd in the “open” category AKA women from 18-40 and won the series title for being there consistently at all 3 races and landing on the podium at each. Won a nice gift certificate for a dinner out in Los Gatos and some Cyto Sport product. All in all, a good Thursday night.
You may ask? Aren’t you training for an Ironman? The answer is yes, and the long runs and rides are on deck for this weekend. I will be searching out hot weather to train in and keep hitting the South Bay hills to mimic the immense climbing that is rumored to be in Vegas. Today saw a 20 mile run after work...pesky job gets in the way of all my FUN training. I was able to keep up well below IM hopeful pace until mile 17 when the wheels came off. I am left with 2 huge blisters...my feet seem to be incapable of going longer than 15 miles without blowing up like a sausage in a microwave. Tonight I compress like a queen and we shall see how fun tomorrow's ride is after the 20 mile sufferfest of today. Thank goodness it'll be on my own...it might be one of those days where suffering is best done alone.
Just a quick update 8 weeks from Kona. On Monday Mark's parents will be visiting us for a week of fun! It's Mark's turn to race and then it's off to have some fun with the rents!
Monday, July 18, 2011
I've Found My Tribe: A race report from the Vines
I know that I love triathlon and the life of an athlete, but do you ever have one of those days (in life)-whether you're a triathlete or not- where you look around and think to yourself, "man, this is what I was born to do and this is where I am at my happiest!"? This past Sunday at Vineman, and the whole weekend for that matter, was one of those days. From start to finish, it was a great weekend with friends and my super star supporter Mark gave me the royal treatment all weekend (even washed my wetsuit). On that note, ever have one of those moments with your significant other, where you think, "man, I'm so glad I found this person!!? I do, and sometimes I have them so often, Mark might gag a bit. But that's OK, I just rub it in then. Again, this weekend was one of those days.
Vineman is my FAVORITE race, always has been, and most likely always will be. I'm always one of this first to sign up, and I don't miss it. It's just that great. It's close to home, I always have lots of friends there, you can go wine tasting after, and it's usually guaranteed (this weekend being excluded) to be a scorcher. What's not to like?
Mark and I headed up after his long ride on Saturday, a morning I spent dallying around the house keeping so busy with small chores that I couldn't think about the race. Clue number one I was excited and pre race nerves were a comin'. After registration we headed back to old faithful, the North Bay Inn, chosen for its proximity to my favorite Santa Rosa Taqueria and smoothie bar. My pre race meal dwarfed Marks taco plate. I can rival most men when packing in the kcal's the day before a race and this tamale platter hit the spot! Perfect pre race meal done and off to the hotel to number the bike and catch up on the Tour before bed time.
I knew it was going to be a good day as I kept waking up excited to race, not thinking that I wasn't getting my rest but thinking...come on, isn't it time to go yet!!! Maybe I should mail my parents some nickles...my sister and I used to have to give them a nickle every time we asked "are we there yet?" on car trips.
Right, 4:30 alarm. Sunscreen on, hair braided, team kit looking SO good, massive bowl of puffins, check. Off to the start to get this show on the road. The usually foggy Johnson's beach was clear, crisp and not too cool. Great I think, gonna be a hot one. Perfect. My wave was the 2nd wave after the pros. This was a much different experience, lots of clean water and not too much swimming over the guys. Already off to a good start. I kept with some gals for the entire swim and had the motto that I was going to get in under 30 and break my dirty 30 spell. 28:35 later and I hit the shores ready to get my bike. In what seemed like a year, I got my wetsuit into it's bag so I was sure to get it back at the end of the race. I am so attached to my TYR Hurricane that I took the most care I ever have making sure it would find its way back to me.
I had a goal to hit 2:30 on the bike. I really wanted to average 22MPH. I went 2:36 on this course in '09 and this weekend would only see me hit 2:37 or 21.2MPH. It was not sunny, but instead very wet and actually rainy in parts and windy. SO, I will take it, especially after looking at the pro times. I am most happy with my mental attitude at this race. I KNEW that I had to push on the bike and would have to maintain the pressure ALL day as the field here was HUGE, and if I wanted to do well, it had to happen before I hit the run. I got off the bike just behind 2nd place and was able to pass her on my way out of T2...another teammate, Christine from CA who I would meet later! Mark got some awesome pics for the crew and I can't wait to share them!
Out of T2 I went, very happy with my decision to have one final gel right before the bike ended. The more I race, the more I try to stuff into my face over the day and the better I get. Luck? I think not. More calories, makes for a happier, negative spaces come much less frequently Hailey. First mile done in just over 7 minutes. This is GOOD I think to myself, you can do this...However, it ain't over till the fat lady sings...don't get cocky. I saw Mark for the first time and Christine and I were still running neck and neck. Keep going girls he says, you are going so strong! I kept running through the aid stations which is good, if I start walking the aid stations, I know it costs me valuable time, and man oh man, did I know who was coming. We entered into La Crema and while trying not to think about how nice a glass of wine would be, I thought, now you just have to run home. NO problem. Keep it going. I run out of the winery and Mark tells me the inevitable is happening. Mighty Beth is running her booty off and coming for me. The catch comes around mile 9 and exactly as I envisioned it, she tells me to "come with her". Did I mention this gal ran a 3:10 in Kona? Fierce is this girls name. So with her I went...for exactly 30 seconds. But then I did my best to keep her in my sights. Around mile 11 I could feel the slow down coming on. I grabbed another gel, and said to myself, now is not the time to relax, you must focus. Two miles to go. PUSH! Mark had told me that I had 3rd covered with both Beth's in front of me. Final run time was 1:36 averaging 7:20's the entire way. Total PR for me on the run by 3 minutes...and the 1:39 came t Clearwater...flat, not rolling like Vineman.
Across the line in 4:47 and a 10 minute PR for this course. Good enough for a slot to Las Vegas 70.3 World Champs in Vegas. The race is 3 weeks before Kona, so really perfect timing for me and my race plans. And who wouldn't want the opportunity to go to a pool party at the Wynn after? Maybe my girls will come meet me after....
Highlights of the day had to be getting a photo with Chris Lieto, getting interviewed by 3GO magazine as a "top age grouper", seeing friends all day long RIPPING it up and the awards ceremony where so many accepted their slots to Vegas. We picked up a shipment from Williamson Winery (hello birthday weekend) and ended our day with dinner at the Russian River Brewing Company with a large crew of awesome athletes and friends.
BIG thanks as always to my FANTASTIC supporters for their amazing products: TYR Sports for the best wetsuit/goggle combo on the planet, Gray Wheels for the fastest wheels out there, nuun for keeping me perfectly hydrated, the team for keeping me looking good while keeping me comfy ALL day long, and Mark and my entire family for cheering and coaching me each and every day.
Next up, training for the big dance in October and a birthday this Sunday. I live a good life.
Vineman is my FAVORITE race, always has been, and most likely always will be. I'm always one of this first to sign up, and I don't miss it. It's just that great. It's close to home, I always have lots of friends there, you can go wine tasting after, and it's usually guaranteed (this weekend being excluded) to be a scorcher. What's not to like?
Mark and I headed up after his long ride on Saturday, a morning I spent dallying around the house keeping so busy with small chores that I couldn't think about the race. Clue number one I was excited and pre race nerves were a comin'. After registration we headed back to old faithful, the North Bay Inn, chosen for its proximity to my favorite Santa Rosa Taqueria and smoothie bar. My pre race meal dwarfed Marks taco plate. I can rival most men when packing in the kcal's the day before a race and this tamale platter hit the spot! Perfect pre race meal done and off to the hotel to number the bike and catch up on the Tour before bed time.
I knew it was going to be a good day as I kept waking up excited to race, not thinking that I wasn't getting my rest but thinking...come on, isn't it time to go yet!!! Maybe I should mail my parents some nickles...my sister and I used to have to give them a nickle every time we asked "are we there yet?" on car trips.
Right, 4:30 alarm. Sunscreen on, hair braided, team kit looking SO good, massive bowl of puffins, check. Off to the start to get this show on the road. The usually foggy Johnson's beach was clear, crisp and not too cool. Great I think, gonna be a hot one. Perfect. My wave was the 2nd wave after the pros. This was a much different experience, lots of clean water and not too much swimming over the guys. Already off to a good start. I kept with some gals for the entire swim and had the motto that I was going to get in under 30 and break my dirty 30 spell. 28:35 later and I hit the shores ready to get my bike. In what seemed like a year, I got my wetsuit into it's bag so I was sure to get it back at the end of the race. I am so attached to my TYR Hurricane that I took the most care I ever have making sure it would find its way back to me.
I had a goal to hit 2:30 on the bike. I really wanted to average 22MPH. I went 2:36 on this course in '09 and this weekend would only see me hit 2:37 or 21.2MPH. It was not sunny, but instead very wet and actually rainy in parts and windy. SO, I will take it, especially after looking at the pro times. I am most happy with my mental attitude at this race. I KNEW that I had to push on the bike and would have to maintain the pressure ALL day as the field here was HUGE, and if I wanted to do well, it had to happen before I hit the run. I got off the bike just behind 2nd place and was able to pass her on my way out of T2...another teammate, Christine from CA who I would meet later! Mark got some awesome pics for the crew and I can't wait to share them!
Out of T2 I went, very happy with my decision to have one final gel right before the bike ended. The more I race, the more I try to stuff into my face over the day and the better I get. Luck? I think not. More calories, makes for a happier, negative spaces come much less frequently Hailey. First mile done in just over 7 minutes. This is GOOD I think to myself, you can do this...However, it ain't over till the fat lady sings...don't get cocky. I saw Mark for the first time and Christine and I were still running neck and neck. Keep going girls he says, you are going so strong! I kept running through the aid stations which is good, if I start walking the aid stations, I know it costs me valuable time, and man oh man, did I know who was coming. We entered into La Crema and while trying not to think about how nice a glass of wine would be, I thought, now you just have to run home. NO problem. Keep it going. I run out of the winery and Mark tells me the inevitable is happening. Mighty Beth is running her booty off and coming for me. The catch comes around mile 9 and exactly as I envisioned it, she tells me to "come with her". Did I mention this gal ran a 3:10 in Kona? Fierce is this girls name. So with her I went...for exactly 30 seconds. But then I did my best to keep her in my sights. Around mile 11 I could feel the slow down coming on. I grabbed another gel, and said to myself, now is not the time to relax, you must focus. Two miles to go. PUSH! Mark had told me that I had 3rd covered with both Beth's in front of me. Final run time was 1:36 averaging 7:20's the entire way. Total PR for me on the run by 3 minutes...and the 1:39 came t Clearwater...flat, not rolling like Vineman.
Across the line in 4:47 and a 10 minute PR for this course. Good enough for a slot to Las Vegas 70.3 World Champs in Vegas. The race is 3 weeks before Kona, so really perfect timing for me and my race plans. And who wouldn't want the opportunity to go to a pool party at the Wynn after? Maybe my girls will come meet me after....
Highlights of the day had to be getting a photo with Chris Lieto, getting interviewed by 3GO magazine as a "top age grouper", seeing friends all day long RIPPING it up and the awards ceremony where so many accepted their slots to Vegas. We picked up a shipment from Williamson Winery (hello birthday weekend) and ended our day with dinner at the Russian River Brewing Company with a large crew of awesome athletes and friends.
BIG thanks as always to my FANTASTIC supporters for their amazing products: TYR Sports for the best wetsuit/goggle combo on the planet, Gray Wheels for the fastest wheels out there, nuun for keeping me perfectly hydrated, the team for keeping me looking good while keeping me comfy ALL day long, and Mark and my entire family for cheering and coaching me each and every day.
Next up, training for the big dance in October and a birthday this Sunday. I live a good life.
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