Monday: Brekkie with the family and IT, TH, and CB. DH was impressed that I could eat a normal brekkie! Then a drive home. I went from tired to awake, hot to cold, uncomfortable to uncomfortable, anxious to relaxed. It was sure hard to get out of the car when we stopped! But I was doing pretty good overall. No major soreness or pains. Just stiff and tired.
Tuesday: Pick up the dog, get groceries, more rest. Another aura.
Wednesday: What did I do Wednesday...? I wanted to swim, but the Y pool was closed for a 2 week shutdown. And so was Carondelet. And so was MidCounty. Dammit! DH joked that even the Y is saying I should be resting!
Thursday: BIKE 1hr 17-18 miles. We went to FP to catch the end of the Thursday run group, and caught them at the end of 4 miles. LC was tired too :) DH, the doggie, and I walked the park a bit, something I've always wanted to do! Hey this time off thing ain't so bad! That afternoon, I did a 1 hr trainer ride just to get my blood moving.
Friday: BIKE 30 mins and 8.5 miles. What did I do Friday? Haha, I really like this! I was meeting RM for a social dinner that night, so right before I left I squeezed in 30 mins on the trainer. I had 'energy to burn', but it was more a case of I just wanted to MOVE. I just wanted to feel normal again. Dinner was great, RM had some great advice for B2B training: Have fun! Just like we discussed months ago on that MCT ride we did together when the whole MiTi and B2B planning was ongoing. MiTi was supposed to be my A race, and B2B my fun race. So now it's time to have fun! RM's advice was that if I wake up with a 6 hr ride in the plan, and I only felt like doing 4, then do 4! He's right, all I need to do is maintain fitness the next two months.
Saturday: What did I do Saturday... While DH was a the Caron Y I went to schnucks and did our grocery run. Then at home I worked on a few recipes. Then we got a coat of primer on that 3rd floor wall. Seems like an odd thing to report on, but damn that's been a loooonng to-do list thing stuck on the list because I was too busy or too tired every previous weekend. Or that's my excuse anyway!
Sunday: RUN 4 miles in 39 mins. I ran!! It felt all uphill, I thought my lungs might hurt at one point, but this is what I do -- this is Me. I'm on my way to feeling normal again! But the rest of the day I was wiped out and tired. Did the 4 miles run me down? Don't think so, I think I'm just recovering from recover. Got the first coat of paint on the wall. Remember way back the Sunday after IMWI when I fell down the steps? DH was there holding the ladder for me so it didn't happen again :)
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
MiTi Race Report: The Run
RUN 26.2 miles in 4:22:03, huge PR!
First loop recorded as 9:39 pace, second loop not individually reported.
1st of 4 in my AG, 4th out of 18 females.
Two out-n-back course with a spur up a hill.
Coming out of transition I was a gear mess. I'd realized at one point during the bike ride that I'd messed something up with my EFS flasks this morning. I'd only packed 3 refills and 1 new one. During set up this morning, I thought I was missing one so I moved the 3rd to my T2 bag. So instead of a flask in the T2 and another in my Special Needs bag, I had both in the T2 bag. Nuts. So I tucked the refill in my shorts (something I thankfully practiced last weekend!) and kept the new on in hand. I also had my arm coolers to put on, but didn't feel like wearing them. Then I had my Garmin and my Camelbak handheld. My hands were so full I couldn't put the Garmin or the coolers on without stopping to set things down! I tucked the coolers in the left leg of my shorts, managed to get the Garmin on while running, and finally got situated about a mile in.
Run goals? Stay at a pace I can maintain, don't blow up late in the run. Eat EFS shot every 30 mins. Dump water on shirt for cooling. Fast walk 15-30s at every mile in the first half, and as needed after that.
LAP 1: I was feeling great aside from pain in both feet. I knew this would come and go throughout the run so I ignored it. I was seeing many friends in this first mile, both at the tent and as they were finishing their half marathon. This was such a boost!
The course turned off to a shaded road and I started looking for the mileage signs. It took some time for me to decide if I was going to walk when the Garmin beeped a mile or at the signs. After a few miles I picked the signs. Sometimes I didn't need to walk but did anyway even if just 15 seconds. I was happy to see that my mile splits were between 9:30 and 10. Yeah, I know, I wasn't going to look at the Garmin this race. But really I only looked at the mile splits after a beep, that's it.
I seemed to be moving fast, passing a lot of people but I felt OK. I decided that if it felt good I should do it! Finally saw G, then TH. She said she was the 3rd OA female and I needed to catch her. I yelled out a whoop then realized I really should have said "don't let me catch you!". Were we really that far ahead in the field? This was a mostly out-n-back course but the spur at miles 5-9 or so would prevent us from seeing everyone. Wow...really...? This got my heart rate up, but soon enough I got it back under control. Don't blow up! The loop ended well, still good energy and no major problems.
LAP 2: I hit the turnaround and looked forward to my SN bag. It had my bee costume! Pulled on the tutu and the head band, grabbed a caffeinated gel, and took off. It wasn't long at all before I was getting happy comments on the costume, which is why I wear it. They get a smile, I get to smile back, and everyone wins.
By now my Garmin was off-distance pretty bad, but I knew after it beeped that I could start looking for the mileage signs. Due to 2nd loop, there was a full distance mile marker followed by a full & half sign maybe 0.1 miles afterwards. In the first loop I walked at the combined sign. So I was also happy when I first realized that instead of having to wait for the second mileage sign, I got to walk at the first one! It's the little things. And speaking of little things, my SN bag had my Sport Beans. I awarded myself 2 at every walk break.
Also in the first loop I did my best to not look at the 2nd loops signs, looking away and promising I'd be back later to see them. Finally I got to enjoy them. I was also enjoying the fact that I was still running and passing a lot of people Early on I passed G, and luckily there was a photographer who ran ahead of us to get our pictures. He wanted the costume and I wanted G in my pict!
In these miles I started doing more race math to keep me entertained. 15 mile sign...how many miles is 2.4+112+15? This was easier to do in the first lap! I found TH somewhere in mile 16, she had been sick around mile 10 but still moving. 16 then 17 (and a snake along the road!), up the hill to 18. I was moving steady, refilling the handheld at every aid station (forgot to mention that in the first loop I emptied it between stations because I wasn't refilling! DUMB!), pouring more and more water on me. More hill and finally the turn around at the top. It was around here that the race started getting tougher.
Soon enough it was mile 23, only a 5K distance to go! All along I'd been cheering on other runners, now I started pulling out RM's pre-race cheer of Relentless Forward Motion for both myself and the other runners around me. Keep It Forward, I'd say. I was one of the only people still running, so it probably seemed easy for me to say that.
5K to go, and by now in my head I knew that I was only chasing my PR. I'd still walk on the mile marks, just 30-45 seconds, but the finish line was so close!! 24, 25, then I could see the red flags at the finish!! All those weeks, months!, of training, all the work and doubt and effort was all coming down to these moments. I felt like I might tear up a bit, but I didn't. I pushed it in to the finish with my DH, family, and friends cheering me on!! WHOOP!!! #4 is DONE with a 41 min PR!!!
After a few dazed minutes coming back to earth, and after having the med tent get something out of my eye, I went back to the end of the course to cheer in TH (she had a DLF!!), G, and IT. My voice was shot by the end :) Then more pictures, our awards, podium pictures, then retrieving Frea and the gear. Then some ice cream with peanut butter on the way home to help my throat and get some sugar in the body. I threw most of it away, but it was good! I stayed up kinda late with M&D visiting, eating, and drinking. Hard to believe I was still awake!
There's so much I want to remember! I'll keep thinking of things and add them in I guess. But overall, it was like a perfect race day. I'm so lucky!
First loop recorded as 9:39 pace, second loop not individually reported.
1st of 4 in my AG, 4th out of 18 females.
Two out-n-back course with a spur up a hill.
Coming out of transition I was a gear mess. I'd realized at one point during the bike ride that I'd messed something up with my EFS flasks this morning. I'd only packed 3 refills and 1 new one. During set up this morning, I thought I was missing one so I moved the 3rd to my T2 bag. So instead of a flask in the T2 and another in my Special Needs bag, I had both in the T2 bag. Nuts. So I tucked the refill in my shorts (something I thankfully practiced last weekend!) and kept the new on in hand. I also had my arm coolers to put on, but didn't feel like wearing them. Then I had my Garmin and my Camelbak handheld. My hands were so full I couldn't put the Garmin or the coolers on without stopping to set things down! I tucked the coolers in the left leg of my shorts, managed to get the Garmin on while running, and finally got situated about a mile in.
Run goals? Stay at a pace I can maintain, don't blow up late in the run. Eat EFS shot every 30 mins. Dump water on shirt for cooling. Fast walk 15-30s at every mile in the first half, and as needed after that.
LAP 1: I was feeling great aside from pain in both feet. I knew this would come and go throughout the run so I ignored it. I was seeing many friends in this first mile, both at the tent and as they were finishing their half marathon. This was such a boost!
The course turned off to a shaded road and I started looking for the mileage signs. It took some time for me to decide if I was going to walk when the Garmin beeped a mile or at the signs. After a few miles I picked the signs. Sometimes I didn't need to walk but did anyway even if just 15 seconds. I was happy to see that my mile splits were between 9:30 and 10. Yeah, I know, I wasn't going to look at the Garmin this race. But really I only looked at the mile splits after a beep, that's it.
I seemed to be moving fast, passing a lot of people but I felt OK. I decided that if it felt good I should do it! Finally saw G, then TH. She said she was the 3rd OA female and I needed to catch her. I yelled out a whoop then realized I really should have said "don't let me catch you!". Were we really that far ahead in the field? This was a mostly out-n-back course but the spur at miles 5-9 or so would prevent us from seeing everyone. Wow...really...? This got my heart rate up, but soon enough I got it back under control. Don't blow up! The loop ended well, still good energy and no major problems.
LAP 2: I hit the turnaround and looked forward to my SN bag. It had my bee costume! Pulled on the tutu and the head band, grabbed a caffeinated gel, and took off. It wasn't long at all before I was getting happy comments on the costume, which is why I wear it. They get a smile, I get to smile back, and everyone wins.
By now my Garmin was off-distance pretty bad, but I knew after it beeped that I could start looking for the mileage signs. Due to 2nd loop, there was a full distance mile marker followed by a full & half sign maybe 0.1 miles afterwards. In the first loop I walked at the combined sign. So I was also happy when I first realized that instead of having to wait for the second mileage sign, I got to walk at the first one! It's the little things. And speaking of little things, my SN bag had my Sport Beans. I awarded myself 2 at every walk break.
Also in the first loop I did my best to not look at the 2nd loops signs, looking away and promising I'd be back later to see them. Finally I got to enjoy them. I was also enjoying the fact that I was still running and passing a lot of people Early on I passed G, and luckily there was a photographer who ran ahead of us to get our pictures. He wanted the costume and I wanted G in my pict!
In these miles I started doing more race math to keep me entertained. 15 mile sign...how many miles is 2.4+112+15? This was easier to do in the first lap! I found TH somewhere in mile 16, she had been sick around mile 10 but still moving. 16 then 17 (and a snake along the road!), up the hill to 18. I was moving steady, refilling the handheld at every aid station (forgot to mention that in the first loop I emptied it between stations because I wasn't refilling! DUMB!), pouring more and more water on me. More hill and finally the turn around at the top. It was around here that the race started getting tougher.
Soon enough it was mile 23, only a 5K distance to go! All along I'd been cheering on other runners, now I started pulling out RM's pre-race cheer of Relentless Forward Motion for both myself and the other runners around me. Keep It Forward, I'd say. I was one of the only people still running, so it probably seemed easy for me to say that.
5K to go, and by now in my head I knew that I was only chasing my PR. I'd still walk on the mile marks, just 30-45 seconds, but the finish line was so close!! 24, 25, then I could see the red flags at the finish!! All those weeks, months!, of training, all the work and doubt and effort was all coming down to these moments. I felt like I might tear up a bit, but I didn't. I pushed it in to the finish with my DH, family, and friends cheering me on!! WHOOP!!! #4 is DONE with a 41 min PR!!!
After a few dazed minutes coming back to earth, and after having the med tent get something out of my eye, I went back to the end of the course to cheer in TH (she had a DLF!!), G, and IT. My voice was shot by the end :) Then more pictures, our awards, podium pictures, then retrieving Frea and the gear. Then some ice cream with peanut butter on the way home to help my throat and get some sugar in the body. I threw most of it away, but it was good! I stayed up kinda late with M&D visiting, eating, and drinking. Hard to believe I was still awake!
There's so much I want to remember! I'll keep thinking of things and add them in I guess. But overall, it was like a perfect race day. I'm so lucky!
MiTi Race Report: The Bike and T2
BIKE 112 miles in 6:31:51, ave speed of 17.1 mph
Two loop course with many hills, bumpy roads in places, but overall fair and fun. Very pretty rural roads.
Another PR! 1 out of 4 in my AG, 5 out of 18 females.
I felt great getting on the bike. Not too much of the just-swam dizziness or stomach upset. My only complaint would be my right calf, it was still tight and mildly pained. It's hard to write up something so long like this and capture everything!
I came up with my mantra words quickly into the ride: Steady, Smart, and Strong. I chanted them when needed. Be steady and don't interval. Stay smart with decisions about effort and nutrition. And be strong when needed, but not on hills!
LAP 1: From our course preview, I knew the first hill was a doozy and early in the ride. Sure enough, it was biggie! Had to stand on the pedals! Once done with that, there was a long stretch on Belding where I found a headwind. Not a strong one, but enough. I did my best to not look at the Garmin, it would been depressing. LC passed by me like a shot somewhere in the first 10 miles - whooooooo she was flying! I was jealous, but stayed focused on my race. This was hard to do with the half athletes going by.
My nutrition plan was simple: every 30 mins a shot of EFS or a third of a Powerbar. I brought the PB&J and Nutty Berry bars because they broke up easier and weren't sticky. I stuck to this plan whether or not I felt like eating, and if I needed more I took it (although in the end I didn't).
Lots of little things happened or crossed my mind. Somewhere between 10-20 miles two male half athletes plagued me. They seemed to be friends, one would shoot ahead then wait at a corner, or they'd ride side by side (until I yelled move over! and passed them). I'd pass, then they'd pass, then I'd pass...ugh. At one point I yelled again at one for weaving and riding the middle of the road. It's like it was there first ever bike ride!? The faster one had 2 gatorade bottles in his rear rack, so he became Double Gatorade Guy. The other one was just Idiot. At another point I got stuck on a hill behind a guy who had just passed me then slowed. The road was in poor shape and when I stood the rear tire slipped. Of course a course ref moto rides by at that point...left me wondering the rest of the day if I had a penalty or not.
My right calf was still stiff and sore at least up to mile 20-30. The top of my right ankle where my shoe touches hurt a bit. My butt was just staring to hurt too. But otherwise good energy and mental function. Was singing a lot of Katy Perry Roar :)
At least the first half of the loop was south and east, into SSE headwinds. So I was happy to turn north! But found more headwind!? There was a short out-n-back for full athletes (in which DGG and Idiot passed me again...grrrrr!) The westward portion of the course seemed soooooo long, maybe because I don't remember seeing a 40 mile sign? Near the end of my loop the full athletes were on their 2nd loop already, and before we got back on Belding one of the weaved left and took out another full athlete just seconds behind me. I was literally seconds away from that crash! At this point I started looking for my 3 full distance team mates, and saw all but IT. Down the big hills to the round about and start the 2nd loop. I did the first loop - not sure if exactly 56 miles or not - in 2:15.
LAP 2: At the top of the hills was the Special Needs stop. Potty break, refill all bottles (didn't take any water from the course), grab nutrition from the SN bag. This was a refreshing stop! I needed it, and enjoyed it.
This lap felt better than the first one to my surprise, even at the end. I was wondering about IT, not sure if I missed him going by or if something had happened to him. He should be ahead of me, and he was! I saw him around mile 70 or so and it took a long time to catch him. I wanted to speed up, but knew it wasn't good for me. It was exciting to see him and know I was going to get to talk briefly to him and ask how his only century ride this year was going. And good to know he was OK. Turns out he had a flat.
The roads were much emptier this time around. I knew my landmarks now, knew about hills and obstacles, knew to look for the blue mail box post that inspired some odd thought about a blue mailbox blog in the first loop. Didn't see the christmas tree farm on either loop, that we saw on the preview and sang christmas songs too. I thought I'd be lonely at this point, I could see other riders but it was just me in my head most of the lap. My arms and back were getting tired, my neck hurt when I looked over my shoulder. My calf and ankle were doing kinda OK, and I occasionally had some right hip muscle pain. I figured it was all connected to the cramps, I was compensating or the tight muscles were pulling wrong on another.
Riding down the long hills to the TA felt great, like a reward. Still surprised at how good I felt (the tailwind the last few miles helped, seeing 23+ mph was a boost!) at the end of a long day.
Overall, this was a great bike. Overcast skies for the first loop really helped, and the sun wasn't unbearable when it finally did come out. Aside from a hillier-than-expected course and a headwind-from-everywhere I nailed it. Perfect hydration and nutrition, a plan to keep in place: just water in the bottles supplemented with EFS and powerbars. Another bonus was that my feet didn't hurt like they almost always do in long rides or headwinds.
T2: 4:47 Another smooth, calm transition. You'd think I'd been doing this all year and not for only the 2nd time! I wasn't hurting, no pained feet like Wisconsin. A volunteer helped with sunscreen, otherwise I was on my own. When she sprayed me I felt my wetsuit hickie on my neck, ouch! Potty break and out the door!
Two loop course with many hills, bumpy roads in places, but overall fair and fun. Very pretty rural roads.
Another PR! 1 out of 4 in my AG, 5 out of 18 females.
I felt great getting on the bike. Not too much of the just-swam dizziness or stomach upset. My only complaint would be my right calf, it was still tight and mildly pained. It's hard to write up something so long like this and capture everything!
I came up with my mantra words quickly into the ride: Steady, Smart, and Strong. I chanted them when needed. Be steady and don't interval. Stay smart with decisions about effort and nutrition. And be strong when needed, but not on hills!
LAP 1: From our course preview, I knew the first hill was a doozy and early in the ride. Sure enough, it was biggie! Had to stand on the pedals! Once done with that, there was a long stretch on Belding where I found a headwind. Not a strong one, but enough. I did my best to not look at the Garmin, it would been depressing. LC passed by me like a shot somewhere in the first 10 miles - whooooooo she was flying! I was jealous, but stayed focused on my race. This was hard to do with the half athletes going by.
My nutrition plan was simple: every 30 mins a shot of EFS or a third of a Powerbar. I brought the PB&J and Nutty Berry bars because they broke up easier and weren't sticky. I stuck to this plan whether or not I felt like eating, and if I needed more I took it (although in the end I didn't).
Lots of little things happened or crossed my mind. Somewhere between 10-20 miles two male half athletes plagued me. They seemed to be friends, one would shoot ahead then wait at a corner, or they'd ride side by side (until I yelled move over! and passed them). I'd pass, then they'd pass, then I'd pass...ugh. At one point I yelled again at one for weaving and riding the middle of the road. It's like it was there first ever bike ride!? The faster one had 2 gatorade bottles in his rear rack, so he became Double Gatorade Guy. The other one was just Idiot. At another point I got stuck on a hill behind a guy who had just passed me then slowed. The road was in poor shape and when I stood the rear tire slipped. Of course a course ref moto rides by at that point...left me wondering the rest of the day if I had a penalty or not.
My right calf was still stiff and sore at least up to mile 20-30. The top of my right ankle where my shoe touches hurt a bit. My butt was just staring to hurt too. But otherwise good energy and mental function. Was singing a lot of Katy Perry Roar :)
At least the first half of the loop was south and east, into SSE headwinds. So I was happy to turn north! But found more headwind!? There was a short out-n-back for full athletes (in which DGG and Idiot passed me again...grrrrr!) The westward portion of the course seemed soooooo long, maybe because I don't remember seeing a 40 mile sign? Near the end of my loop the full athletes were on their 2nd loop already, and before we got back on Belding one of the weaved left and took out another full athlete just seconds behind me. I was literally seconds away from that crash! At this point I started looking for my 3 full distance team mates, and saw all but IT. Down the big hills to the round about and start the 2nd loop. I did the first loop - not sure if exactly 56 miles or not - in 2:15.
LAP 2: At the top of the hills was the Special Needs stop. Potty break, refill all bottles (didn't take any water from the course), grab nutrition from the SN bag. This was a refreshing stop! I needed it, and enjoyed it.
This lap felt better than the first one to my surprise, even at the end. I was wondering about IT, not sure if I missed him going by or if something had happened to him. He should be ahead of me, and he was! I saw him around mile 70 or so and it took a long time to catch him. I wanted to speed up, but knew it wasn't good for me. It was exciting to see him and know I was going to get to talk briefly to him and ask how his only century ride this year was going. And good to know he was OK. Turns out he had a flat.
The roads were much emptier this time around. I knew my landmarks now, knew about hills and obstacles, knew to look for the blue mail box post that inspired some odd thought about a blue mailbox blog in the first loop. Didn't see the christmas tree farm on either loop, that we saw on the preview and sang christmas songs too. I thought I'd be lonely at this point, I could see other riders but it was just me in my head most of the lap. My arms and back were getting tired, my neck hurt when I looked over my shoulder. My calf and ankle were doing kinda OK, and I occasionally had some right hip muscle pain. I figured it was all connected to the cramps, I was compensating or the tight muscles were pulling wrong on another.
Riding down the long hills to the TA felt great, like a reward. Still surprised at how good I felt (the tailwind the last few miles helped, seeing 23+ mph was a boost!) at the end of a long day.
Overall, this was a great bike. Overcast skies for the first loop really helped, and the sun wasn't unbearable when it finally did come out. Aside from a hillier-than-expected course and a headwind-from-everywhere I nailed it. Perfect hydration and nutrition, a plan to keep in place: just water in the bottles supplemented with EFS and powerbars. Another bonus was that my feet didn't hurt like they almost always do in long rides or headwinds.
T2: 4:47 Another smooth, calm transition. You'd think I'd been doing this all year and not for only the 2nd time! I wasn't hurting, no pained feet like Wisconsin. A volunteer helped with sunscreen, otherwise I was on my own. When she sprayed me I felt my wetsuit hickie on my neck, ouch! Potty break and out the door!
MiTi Race Report: PreRace, Swim, T1
Woke up at 4am and immediately started on my prerace meal: sweet potato, protein powder, quinoa flakes, with maple syrup and salts. I made this and my other puree meals Weds before we left town, this was a good idea to keep in mind. Also coffee, some internet reading to stay distracted. Then the timing chip, something I always focus on doing asap race morning. I felt oddly calm. No nerves?! But I felt clear headed and ready.
With the two wetsuits and 5 gear bags I had a lot to carry. I happily remembered to grab the EFS bottles from the fridge. I gathered my race bags into a black garbage bag (brought in case of rain) and started to head out, but not before DH asked if I had my shoes. Oh damn, now I need to check... lol... race morning OCD.
It was still dark out, but such a quiet and clear morning. The temps were perfect, I was only slightly cool in shorts and t-shirt. The site was also calm, being such a small race there wasn't a lot of people. No loud music, no big crowd, so my mind stayed on task. Loaded the bottles on Frea, hung my T1 and T2 bags on the wooden racks, set my SN bags under the tree...looked into the changing tents, talked to my group, munched half a powerbar. Soon enough it was time to suit up and head to the beach!
At the beach I we had a final meeting, I took a gel, and we had a chance to warm up a bit. The suit felt perfect and comfy. The sky was overcast and there was a light misty fog over the lake so my smoked goggles obscured my view a bit. A drone flew overhead and took pictures. TH, G, IT, and I group high-5'd. I moved off the front of the small group of swimmers. And then we were off!!
SWIM 2.4 miles in 1:36:44 (PR!) in a two loop swim, mass start, triangle counterclockwise course.
12th out of 18 females, and 3rd out of 4 in my AG. Dammit I need to swim faster!
My goals for an OWS are usually the same: survive, stay calm. I don't push the pace so as to avoid making me feel panicked or causing me to inhale water. The calmer, the better. So that's the goal here.
Out to the first buoy it seemed I was in constant contact with other swimmers. How can such a small field of less than 100 have so much congestion!? And was it the congestion or the lake causing the light chop washing over my face? After the first turn, it cleared up. The far off buoys were hard for me to see and I had brief flashback to my DNF swim in June. Nope, that's not today. I'm good. Keep going, settle in. I was feeling pretty good and thought about trying to speed up. That ended soon enough after I inhaled some water. Second and last turn before the turnaround and another flashback -- I couldn't clearly see the next buoys and I kept swimming to the left. Remember the practice swim -- there was a light push from the current! I started correcting to the right, but was still going left, correct right, moving left, correct right....oh man this was getting into my head. I felt like I was swimming in circles...going right but not going right. Calm down. It's all good, just sight more often! It was around this time I first felt the wetsuit chafing at my neck. Finally turned at the turn-around, and overheard the pre-race meeting for the half distance athletes. They were starting 1 hr after we did, so I figured it was about 45 mins into my swim? I had to get going so they didn't run me over!
Turns out there was some chop out to the first buoy. Turned there and CRAMP in the right calf. I didn't stop for it, just kept going and was thankful for all the ankle bank training I did. It wasn't much, OK maybe only a few laps, but it was the same feeling here. I knew the cramp would work out. It did, but returned! Worked out, then returned again! All along this stretch to the 2nd buoy is was cramps, so bad at one point that I could feel my foot locked into a club-foot like position! Rounded the last buoy, determined to not get off course from the current.
Second time in this leg I stayed on course, and the half athletes were starting to pass me. And I think they helped me stay on course as I had more to see and sight along. This last leg went great, still having cramps though and I could only hope that they resolved by the time I needed to stand at the beach. In the end, I was OK enough to stand up and start up the beach. And check my watch: 1:36 is a PR!! OK not by much though :)
Overall, the swim was conservative but great. I stayed calm, fixed minor problems, dealt well with cramps, and was glad I picked the full sleeve suit.
T1: 5:56 Up the sandy beach, past the stippers (worried they'd pop an ankle on me), past DH, and pulled off the suit easy enough at the bike racks. Another benefit of being slimmer -- the suit slides off better. Volunteers grabbed my T1 bag, I had an organized transition. My tent volunteer was Deb, I chatted with her while she rubbed sunscreen on me. I kept thanking her, so wonderful to have this help! Potty break, then off to Frea!
With the two wetsuits and 5 gear bags I had a lot to carry. I happily remembered to grab the EFS bottles from the fridge. I gathered my race bags into a black garbage bag (brought in case of rain) and started to head out, but not before DH asked if I had my shoes. Oh damn, now I need to check... lol... race morning OCD.
It was still dark out, but such a quiet and clear morning. The temps were perfect, I was only slightly cool in shorts and t-shirt. The site was also calm, being such a small race there wasn't a lot of people. No loud music, no big crowd, so my mind stayed on task. Loaded the bottles on Frea, hung my T1 and T2 bags on the wooden racks, set my SN bags under the tree...looked into the changing tents, talked to my group, munched half a powerbar. Soon enough it was time to suit up and head to the beach!
At the beach I we had a final meeting, I took a gel, and we had a chance to warm up a bit. The suit felt perfect and comfy. The sky was overcast and there was a light misty fog over the lake so my smoked goggles obscured my view a bit. A drone flew overhead and took pictures. TH, G, IT, and I group high-5'd. I moved off the front of the small group of swimmers. And then we were off!!
SWIM 2.4 miles in 1:36:44 (PR!) in a two loop swim, mass start, triangle counterclockwise course.
12th out of 18 females, and 3rd out of 4 in my AG. Dammit I need to swim faster!
My goals for an OWS are usually the same: survive, stay calm. I don't push the pace so as to avoid making me feel panicked or causing me to inhale water. The calmer, the better. So that's the goal here.
Out to the first buoy it seemed I was in constant contact with other swimmers. How can such a small field of less than 100 have so much congestion!? And was it the congestion or the lake causing the light chop washing over my face? After the first turn, it cleared up. The far off buoys were hard for me to see and I had brief flashback to my DNF swim in June. Nope, that's not today. I'm good. Keep going, settle in. I was feeling pretty good and thought about trying to speed up. That ended soon enough after I inhaled some water. Second and last turn before the turnaround and another flashback -- I couldn't clearly see the next buoys and I kept swimming to the left. Remember the practice swim -- there was a light push from the current! I started correcting to the right, but was still going left, correct right, moving left, correct right....oh man this was getting into my head. I felt like I was swimming in circles...going right but not going right. Calm down. It's all good, just sight more often! It was around this time I first felt the wetsuit chafing at my neck. Finally turned at the turn-around, and overheard the pre-race meeting for the half distance athletes. They were starting 1 hr after we did, so I figured it was about 45 mins into my swim? I had to get going so they didn't run me over!
Turns out there was some chop out to the first buoy. Turned there and CRAMP in the right calf. I didn't stop for it, just kept going and was thankful for all the ankle bank training I did. It wasn't much, OK maybe only a few laps, but it was the same feeling here. I knew the cramp would work out. It did, but returned! Worked out, then returned again! All along this stretch to the 2nd buoy is was cramps, so bad at one point that I could feel my foot locked into a club-foot like position! Rounded the last buoy, determined to not get off course from the current.
Second time in this leg I stayed on course, and the half athletes were starting to pass me. And I think they helped me stay on course as I had more to see and sight along. This last leg went great, still having cramps though and I could only hope that they resolved by the time I needed to stand at the beach. In the end, I was OK enough to stand up and start up the beach. And check my watch: 1:36 is a PR!! OK not by much though :)
Overall, the swim was conservative but great. I stayed calm, fixed minor problems, dealt well with cramps, and was glad I picked the full sleeve suit.
T1: 5:56 Up the sandy beach, past the stippers (worried they'd pop an ankle on me), past DH, and pulled off the suit easy enough at the bike racks. Another benefit of being slimmer -- the suit slides off better. Volunteers grabbed my T1 bag, I had an organized transition. My tent volunteer was Deb, I chatted with her while she rubbed sunscreen on me. I kept thanking her, so wonderful to have this help! Potty break, then off to Frea!
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Day before MiTi
SWIM a few minutes, a few yards?
CB and I swam out towards the first buoy together. I think she said about 10 mins out?
We didn't swim the direction used for the race, so no practice for sighting. Just a feel for the water, test of the sleeveless suit, and a few discoveries about potential current. The water temp was 75 and comfy enough that I could go full or sleeveless, I chose sleeveless because it's the better fitting suit, and there seemed to be a current that pushed me left as I swam towards the exit ramps. That last point is something to take into race day!
We had a Club group lunch after the swim (brought my own lunch of chicken, egg, potato, carrot, berries) then a pre-meeting and packet pickup. During the packet pickup it finally set in that the race is TOMORROW. For the first time I felt that stomach twinge, the nerves, the anxiety. Oh my, it's tomorrow. I've been preparing since late December for this! TOMORROW!
It didn't last long, soon enough I was back to normal. :)
We dropped off our bikes, noted it was getting hot out. TH and I got anxious to get back to the hotel rooms to get our feet up. We also had gear bags to pack. I laid the 5 of them out on the bed and started making piles. I kept getting distracted, put the Guide channel on the TV, kept munching food. I wasn't terribly clear headed here! But I was getting there, found if I warmed up my EFS it was easier to pour. How many gels should I pack into each bag? I sorted them by caffeine, then used that to plan. Decided to bring both wetsuits as extra insurance. Another distraction was that DH was delayed in coming back to town by traffic, and M&D were delayed by heavy rain. I wanted to wait to eat with them, but in the end needed to leave the room with TH to eat and get away from it a few minutes.
My sleep was OK, like the past few weeks I'd wake up in the middle of the night and wake up earlier than my alarm. But I was rested.
My pre-race routine was planned and quiet. We had a suite room with a small kitchenette, so I pretty much had all my food with me. I don't think I ate a purchased meal at all. Chicken breasts, poached eggs, clementines, almond butter, zucchini frittata, bananas, rice balls. Also packed some canned fish and veg that I didn't use. For a brief moment in a groceries trip on Fridat I had some mild panic about what I was going to eat today. For the rest of the group (TH, IT, and CB), it seemed so easy! This, that, carbs, fuel, whatever they wanted. But I felt lost and out of my element. I came up with some frozen carrots, fresh zucchini, and yukon gold potatoes. That worked!
CB and I swam out towards the first buoy together. I think she said about 10 mins out?
We didn't swim the direction used for the race, so no practice for sighting. Just a feel for the water, test of the sleeveless suit, and a few discoveries about potential current. The water temp was 75 and comfy enough that I could go full or sleeveless, I chose sleeveless because it's the better fitting suit, and there seemed to be a current that pushed me left as I swam towards the exit ramps. That last point is something to take into race day!
We had a Club group lunch after the swim (brought my own lunch of chicken, egg, potato, carrot, berries) then a pre-meeting and packet pickup. During the packet pickup it finally set in that the race is TOMORROW. For the first time I felt that stomach twinge, the nerves, the anxiety. Oh my, it's tomorrow. I've been preparing since late December for this! TOMORROW!
It didn't last long, soon enough I was back to normal. :)
We dropped off our bikes, noted it was getting hot out. TH and I got anxious to get back to the hotel rooms to get our feet up. We also had gear bags to pack. I laid the 5 of them out on the bed and started making piles. I kept getting distracted, put the Guide channel on the TV, kept munching food. I wasn't terribly clear headed here! But I was getting there, found if I warmed up my EFS it was easier to pour. How many gels should I pack into each bag? I sorted them by caffeine, then used that to plan. Decided to bring both wetsuits as extra insurance. Another distraction was that DH was delayed in coming back to town by traffic, and M&D were delayed by heavy rain. I wanted to wait to eat with them, but in the end needed to leave the room with TH to eat and get away from it a few minutes.
My sleep was OK, like the past few weeks I'd wake up in the middle of the night and wake up earlier than my alarm. But I was rested.
My pre-race routine was planned and quiet. We had a suite room with a small kitchenette, so I pretty much had all my food with me. I don't think I ate a purchased meal at all. Chicken breasts, poached eggs, clementines, almond butter, zucchini frittata, bananas, rice balls. Also packed some canned fish and veg that I didn't use. For a brief moment in a groceries trip on Fridat I had some mild panic about what I was going to eat today. For the rest of the group (TH, IT, and CB), it seemed so easy! This, that, carbs, fuel, whatever they wanted. But I felt lost and out of my element. I came up with some frozen carrots, fresh zucchini, and yukon gold potatoes. That worked!
Friday, August 22, 2014
MiTi Preweek and final taper
Monday SWIM 1900y in about 45-50 mins
RUN 3.2 miles in 30 mins
Tuesday BIKE 18 miles in just over an hour, indoors
Since we were traveling to MiTi on Thursday, this was a pretty light week! I was still feeling tired, the brain fog was clearing but the fatigue but still lingering. It caused some doubt, but not terribly much. In the mornings, I would feel that zippy weeeee I'm tapering!!!! feeling, but it really faded by the end of the day.
Monday's swim was with Evolve, and since most of us there were racing on Sunday, it was an easy workout. Only a few of us came, so I shared the first lane with JZ. She was super nervous and excited for her first upcoming IM! It wasn't my best swim, I didn't feel fast or like I had good form.
The run was an errand to return the wrong applesauce I'd purchased the day prior. I bought the version with HFCS! Cardio brain!
Tuesday's bike was kept indoors due to light rain, no need to crash now. Wednesday was taking the doggie to the vet (she's OK to board!), final packing, and meal prep. Oh and a slow ADT guy who kinda took waaaay to long to not fix anything.
Wednesday nothing, Thursday a drive to MiTi, Friday a course preview. Packing seemed so easy, not as nervous as I used to get. Probably because I was using my tried-and-true IMCDA checklist? :) But I wasn't terribly streamlined. I brought both wetsuits as well as a regular and aero helmet. Gonna have to be more streamlined for B2B!
Thursday we drove up, not an early departure having to drop the doggie for boarding. I ate my own meals all day, we stopped enough during the drive and I slept a lot.
Friday was course preview and my first aura in a long time. I ended up with a headache, but not a migraine. CB had the bacon and sausage stuffed pancake at lunch, many pancake jokes followed! TH had mentioned yesterday that she couldn't find her massage golf ball. We joked that we'd stop by a golf course for her to find one. Better yet, CB saw a home near the golf balls selling them for 25 cents. She bought a ball for all of us -- mine was yellow and black!
RUN 3.2 miles in 30 mins
Tuesday BIKE 18 miles in just over an hour, indoors
Since we were traveling to MiTi on Thursday, this was a pretty light week! I was still feeling tired, the brain fog was clearing but the fatigue but still lingering. It caused some doubt, but not terribly much. In the mornings, I would feel that zippy weeeee I'm tapering!!!! feeling, but it really faded by the end of the day.
Monday's swim was with Evolve, and since most of us there were racing on Sunday, it was an easy workout. Only a few of us came, so I shared the first lane with JZ. She was super nervous and excited for her first upcoming IM! It wasn't my best swim, I didn't feel fast or like I had good form.
The run was an errand to return the wrong applesauce I'd purchased the day prior. I bought the version with HFCS! Cardio brain!
Tuesday's bike was kept indoors due to light rain, no need to crash now. Wednesday was taking the doggie to the vet (she's OK to board!), final packing, and meal prep. Oh and a slow ADT guy who kinda took waaaay to long to not fix anything.
Wednesday nothing, Thursday a drive to MiTi, Friday a course preview. Packing seemed so easy, not as nervous as I used to get. Probably because I was using my tried-and-true IMCDA checklist? :) But I wasn't terribly streamlined. I brought both wetsuits as well as a regular and aero helmet. Gonna have to be more streamlined for B2B!
Thursday we drove up, not an early departure having to drop the doggie for boarding. I ate my own meals all day, we stopped enough during the drive and I slept a lot.
Friday was course preview and my first aura in a long time. I ended up with a headache, but not a migraine. CB had the bacon and sausage stuffed pancake at lunch, many pancake jokes followed! TH had mentioned yesterday that she couldn't find her massage golf ball. We joked that we'd stop by a golf course for her to find one. Better yet, CB saw a home near the golf balls selling them for 25 cents. She bought a ball for all of us -- mine was yellow and black!
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Sticking to plan, it's working today
RUN 58 mins and 6.25 miles, 2x15' at 75%
BIKE a weird 1hr and 16 miles
After the last two days of upset stomach and bad fueling, I decided today would be per plan. If I don't feel sick, I'll not only eat more but also feel better in workouts and recovery! Just do it!
I stuck to plan and didn't wait hours before training after my preWO. I was hungry, I did wait a bit too long dallying around with my to-do list, but I was OK. Off to TGP with the goal of just running something different than I did yesterday. That mission accomplished, also the 2x15 mins at a higher gear. I was sluggish and bored, though.
If I thought the run was getting boring, then wait for the bike! I thought it would be a good idea to combine some nearby errands at the same time. But I wasn't really focused and I was feeling lazy. I took off to Fields, that only took 8 mins! So I wandered around the neighborhood, bored bored bored. The half hour alarm went off and it was depressing. Anyone who would have looked at my face might have seen pain from boredom.
So I went to Fields around the halfway point, enjoyed the break but was a bit stupid in the store because my bright idea of getting applesauce to test reintroduction failed when I got the original HFCS version...cardiobrainFAIL.
The food I bought was unexpected heavy and I realized I shouldn't do another half hour with the pack on my back. So I headed home to decide if I should drop the pack and do a loop of TGP to finish...or go upstairs to the Bird. I knew the overnight rain left leaves all over the park, is that safe? Or an excuse.
Whatever!!! OH GEEZ JUST DO IT!! I did! Indoors :) I was sooooo hungry afterwards, but it's done!
13:12 hours in taper week.
SWIM 10150 yards in 4 hours
BIKE 82 miles in 5:20
RUN 26.25 in 3:50 (marathon pace?!)
BIKE COMMUTE 21.2 miles
BIKE a weird 1hr and 16 miles
After the last two days of upset stomach and bad fueling, I decided today would be per plan. If I don't feel sick, I'll not only eat more but also feel better in workouts and recovery! Just do it!
I stuck to plan and didn't wait hours before training after my preWO. I was hungry, I did wait a bit too long dallying around with my to-do list, but I was OK. Off to TGP with the goal of just running something different than I did yesterday. That mission accomplished, also the 2x15 mins at a higher gear. I was sluggish and bored, though.
If I thought the run was getting boring, then wait for the bike! I thought it would be a good idea to combine some nearby errands at the same time. But I wasn't really focused and I was feeling lazy. I took off to Fields, that only took 8 mins! So I wandered around the neighborhood, bored bored bored. The half hour alarm went off and it was depressing. Anyone who would have looked at my face might have seen pain from boredom.
So I went to Fields around the halfway point, enjoyed the break but was a bit stupid in the store because my bright idea of getting applesauce to test reintroduction failed when I got the original HFCS version...cardiobrainFAIL.
The food I bought was unexpected heavy and I realized I shouldn't do another half hour with the pack on my back. So I headed home to decide if I should drop the pack and do a loop of TGP to finish...or go upstairs to the Bird. I knew the overnight rain left leaves all over the park, is that safe? Or an excuse.
Whatever!!! OH GEEZ JUST DO IT!! I did! Indoors :) I was sooooo hungry afterwards, but it's done!
13:12 hours in taper week.
SWIM 10150 yards in 4 hours
BIKE 82 miles in 5:20
RUN 26.25 in 3:50 (marathon pace?!)
BIKE COMMUTE 21.2 miles
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