Back at training for the winter! There are defintely some cold days and far too much darkness. Training in the winter just seems so cumbersome, so many layers and gear. And don't forget countless hours of trainer rides. Ok, winter training isn't all that bad (yet) and I'm hoping to get some cross country skiing in sometime. But I would welcome summer tomorrow if wanted to come :)
Next year the plan is to race at the St. Croix 70.3 to try qualifying for Kona. This was a very hard decision to make, and I'm still wondering if it's really the direction I want to go. All my option are good, it is just hard to pick the best one. Maybe I will have some big revelation and then I will have clear direction.
Well, I'm going to go bundle up and head outside! Early MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Clearwater World Championships
Clearwater!! Last race of the season. We shipped our bikes Fedex to try and save money. Turned out to be about as much to ship them down there (because we waited too long so we needed to ship a bit faster) as to fly, but we saved a bit on the way back. I packed all the rest of my stuff on a carry on. Matt had to check a bag. I pride myself knowing that I (the female) was able to pack light. Notice the bag size difference in the picture below.
Once we finally arrived in Cleatwater it was beautiful. A bit breezy, but highs around 80 and sunny! 
Friday I did the normal day-before-the-race routine. Was feeling really good and getting really excited.
Friday night we ate at Olive Garden. It was an interesting meal. I think it took us about 2 hours. We had a waiter and a waitress that did not communicate one bit, but between the two we still couldn't seem to get more drinks or breadsticks, or anything for that matter. Then Matt got a kids meal, I got only a dollop of sauce with a mountain of pasta, the bills got messed up, you get the idea. It was all good though, at the end of the meal we got the little mints!
Once we finally arrived in Cleatwater it was beautiful. A bit breezy, but highs around 80 and sunny! 
Friday I did the normal day-before-the-race routine. Was feeling really good and getting really excited.
Friday night we ate at Olive Garden. It was an interesting meal. I think it took us about 2 hours. We had a waiter and a waitress that did not communicate one bit, but between the two we still couldn't seem to get more drinks or breadsticks, or anything for that matter. Then Matt got a kids meal, I got only a dollop of sauce with a mountain of pasta, the bills got messed up, you get the idea. It was all good though, at the end of the meal we got the little mints!
Race morning finally came! Even though it was Florida, I was SOOO cold. I stole my dad's jacket muhahaha.
I was in wave 15 of 17. Pros started at 6:45am, I started at 7:50.
Started in the front of the wave. One girl, who must have been 7 feet tall, was out in front right away. Right behind I was in a pack of about 6-8 girls. Dropped that group about half way out. Ran into the prior wave about here too. It got pretty wavy as we got out there! Swimming in the ocean was crazy! You have to time your sighting, if you sight while you are at the bottom of the wave, you won't see anything but water! And salt water makes my mouth taste like vomit. Fun times! I thought maybe I would catch less people on the swim, being a world championship and all. But I don't think there was much difference compared to the other 70.3s I have done.
I was in wave 15 of 17. Pros started at 6:45am, I started at 7:50.
Started in the front of the wave. One girl, who must have been 7 feet tall, was out in front right away. Right behind I was in a pack of about 6-8 girls. Dropped that group about half way out. Ran into the prior wave about here too. It got pretty wavy as we got out there! Swimming in the ocean was crazy! You have to time your sighting, if you sight while you are at the bottom of the wave, you won't see anything but water! And salt water makes my mouth taste like vomit. Fun times! I thought maybe I would catch less people on the swim, being a world championship and all. But I don't think there was much difference compared to the other 70.3s I have done.
Came out 2nd in my wave in 25:38 or so.
The bike was, well, a draftfest. Big surprise I know. Some drafting is unavoidable due to the shear number of people on the coarse. But there was tons of blatant drafting. I only saw one penalty given out. I had to pee really bad on the bike but couldn't. I slowed down a couple times to try, but no success. So into T2, grabbed my bag, switched gear, and headed straight to the port-o-potty. It was a struggle to get to the potty from the tent because I was in so much pain-I had to pee that bad. I really need to figure out something different for next season so I don't waste time on the bike or in T2. Bike split was 2:25 or so.
The bike was, well, a draftfest. Big surprise I know. Some drafting is unavoidable due to the shear number of people on the coarse. But there was tons of blatant drafting. I only saw one penalty given out. I had to pee really bad on the bike but couldn't. I slowed down a couple times to try, but no success. So into T2, grabbed my bag, switched gear, and headed straight to the port-o-potty. It was a struggle to get to the potty from the tent because I was in so much pain-I had to pee that bad. I really need to figure out something different for next season so I don't waste time on the bike or in T2. Bike split was 2:25 or so.
The run was pretty disappointing. I felt so sick. I felt like I ate Thanksgiving dinner followed immediately by Christmas dinner, then tried to a half marathon. Not cool. Had a few puke burps. Then I had shoe issues. Had to stop to fix it 3 times. Just a frustrating run. For the last 3 miles or so I could see a girl in my age group a little ways up. I really made a move to catch her in the last quarter mile or so. With about 100-150 yards to go I started sprinting (I mean seriously sprinting like I've never done at the end of a race before). Then I passed her with about 25-50 yards to go. Yay! But she saw me, sprinted herself, and crossed 1 second before me. Boo.
Here is where I pass her.
Sorry, no photo of the counter pass.
Sunshine=one of my favorite things!
Apparently dogs do the driving in Clearwater.
Gut rot...yes please!!!
Here is where I pass her.
Sorry, no photo of the counter pass.
Run split was 1:32ish. Right around where I have been. I know in perfect conditions (not feeling sick and no shoe issues) that I can do better, but given the circumstances, I was okay with my run and total time (4:29:29).
Ended up 6th in my age group and 10th overall. Not like I have a tough age group or anything!
It was a little disappointing to finish up the season like this, but I know I've had a pretty good season. Both performance wise and pretty free of incident (crashes, cramps, etc). But I think this will also help keep me that much more motivated for next season!
The beach after!
The beach after!
Sunshine=one of my favorite things!
Apparently dogs do the driving in Clearwater.
Gut rot...yes please!!!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Branson 70.3 Race Report
Last weekend I raced Branson 70.3. I believe it is one of my top 3 favorite races now! But don't ask me what my other 2 are, I would have to think hard about that. I'm just pretty sure this one makes the top 3. Above is the Chateau (host hotel) and the beach were the swim was. Water was great, though I'm not sure how it ended up being wetsuit legal, but oh well. Swim went well. The waves were only 3 minutes apart and the two waves in front of me were, ummm, those with more life experience than me :) So I started passing people just a few minutes in and continued passing them for almost the entire swim. The last 700 yards are so I was all alone and it was great. Came out in 25 or 26 minutes and up the little hill to T1. T1 went okay, then off into the FOG. The hills started right away and it was very foggy for the first 5 miles. My sunglasses were sitting on the end of my nose so I could see. I probably looked like a librarian. A librarian on a bike. So, maybe not a librarian. Had to slow down on some of the downhills because the fog made it hard to see too far in front of you. If the road turned and I didn't....
Above: View from the Chateau
Some pictures of the bike course. This course was flat, so flat. Or, the hilliest bike I have ever done-race or training. It was like an endurance and strength workout in one. It was challenging, yet sooo beautiful and fun. Part of the fun was the downhills. I hit a new record-45mph! I love that feeling. Too bad there isn't a picture of me on the downhills, I would have had the biggest smile on my face. The uphills were tough, but I also like those. Weird, I know, but I never claimed to be normal.
Ok, back to the race. I was the first girl out of the water. One girl passed me just a few miles into the bike. I wasn't too worried, I knew I still had at least 4 hours of race to go, no need to bust my butt yet. Part of the course was loops. I saw her on these loops, after the first loop, I don't think she really gained too much more time on me. Another girl passed me a ways into the race, so I was 3rd coming into T2. Below is me coming into T2.
The run. Hot and humid. And after a difficult bike. For many, it was not actually a run. I think I hit my nutrition plan right, so that helped a lot. I passed one girl before mile 1 I think. Run was pretty good for the first 4 miles. Then it got a little tough. It was so hot and humid again like pigman, and it was almost impossible to drink enough. I managed though. The other girl that was in front me, she dropped out, but I did see her out on the first loop of the run. I think she came out of T2 about 6 minutes ahead of me, and when I saw her at mile 2 or 3, she was about 3 minutes in front of me. She dropped about before the finish of the first loop though (about 4 miles). So, if you did your math correctly, that would put me in 1st.
Matt and I with our awards. It was a belt buckle. I will wear it with my boots and line dance. Maybe round up some cattle, who knows! However, in the mean time, I will be nursing my feet back to health. I didn't post the post-race feet pictures on here, but I have them in you want them.
Above, the Landing, where the finish line was. This fountain also doubled as an ice bath after the race. It was great. A bit goose poopy, but great (as long as you didn't try to drink it). These is the fountain's normal function. These shows go along to music, which you obviously can't see in a picture.
Possibly my favorite picture of the trip. Did I say it was a beautiful place?
Some pictures of the bike course. This course was flat, so flat. Or, the hilliest bike I have ever done-race or training. It was like an endurance and strength workout in one. It was challenging, yet sooo beautiful and fun. Part of the fun was the downhills. I hit a new record-45mph! I love that feeling. Too bad there isn't a picture of me on the downhills, I would have had the biggest smile on my face. The uphills were tough, but I also like those. Weird, I know, but I never claimed to be normal.
Ok, back to the race. I was the first girl out of the water. One girl passed me just a few miles into the bike. I wasn't too worried, I knew I still had at least 4 hours of race to go, no need to bust my butt yet. Part of the course was loops. I saw her on these loops, after the first loop, I don't think she really gained too much more time on me. Another girl passed me a ways into the race, so I was 3rd coming into T2. Below is me coming into T2.
The run. Hot and humid. And after a difficult bike. For many, it was not actually a run. I think I hit my nutrition plan right, so that helped a lot. I passed one girl before mile 1 I think. Run was pretty good for the first 4 miles. Then it got a little tough. It was so hot and humid again like pigman, and it was almost impossible to drink enough. I managed though. The other girl that was in front me, she dropped out, but I did see her out on the first loop of the run. I think she came out of T2 about 6 minutes ahead of me, and when I saw her at mile 2 or 3, she was about 3 minutes in front of me. She dropped about before the finish of the first loop though (about 4 miles). So, if you did your math correctly, that would put me in 1st.
Matt and I with our awards. It was a belt buckle. I will wear it with my boots and line dance. Maybe round up some cattle, who knows! However, in the mean time, I will be nursing my feet back to health. I didn't post the post-race feet pictures on here, but I have them in you want them.
Above, the Landing, where the finish line was. This fountain also doubled as an ice bath after the race. It was great. A bit goose poopy, but great (as long as you didn't try to drink it). These is the fountain's normal function. These shows go along to music, which you obviously can't see in a picture.
Possibly my favorite picture of the trip. Did I say it was a beautiful place?
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