This past weekend I drove over to Vernal for the sixth running of the Dinoland Triathlon. It's a small local Utah race---that's part of it's charm---but it SHOULD be a much bigger race. And here are the Top Ten Reasons why:
10. A great host hotel in a prime location.
9. Free Subway meal!
8. Friendly volunteers who are THRILLED to be out on the course.
7. The fun, challenging race course with distinctive pterodactyl signage.
6. A passionate race director who announces every single athlete across the line.
5. Ice-cream and a party atmosphere at the finish line.
4. Location location location! Vernal is growing, and it's a stone's throw away from real live (okay, used-to-be-live) Dinosaur tracks, Steinaker State Park, Red Fleet State Park, and Flaming Gorge. It's a great place to play.
3. Finishing the race with a lap on the track is a very cool thing.
2. Cash and rocks for prizes---who could ask for more?!
And the Number One reason to do the Dino Tri is....
1. The race director will give you a FREE pre-race haircut. Who DOESN'T want a mowhawk?
See you there next year!
Special thanks to: Mark Mason for the hospitality and for organizing another great event; Tyler Cloward at Fezzari Bicycles; Matt Howard and the crew at The Bike Shoppe for getting my bike in tip-top shape; and my sponsors REV3, Pearl Izumi, Powerbar, Recovery Pump, Blueseventy, Rudy Project, and Maxxis for the continued support.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sweet Redemption
So my little science experiment of racing half-iron races six days apart was an odd mixture of success and failure. The success side of the story is that I had a great performance in Boise, particularly on the run, which completely redeemed my abysmal run from Quassy the previous Sunday. The failure side was due to the weather, which obviously was completely out of my control. I'm sure most people who are tuned into triathlon have heard by now about the wacky conditions on race day---the rain, the cold, the winds, and the snow in the foothills. It was WILD, so wild in fact that the race organizers made the call to shorten the bike segment from 56 miles to 15 miles because of concerns of hypothermia. That is a rather significant amount to put it lightly; it equates roughly to 2 hours less of racing in an event that for the ladies is in the four-and-a-half-hour range. So technically I failed to complete my science experiment, but I'm okay with that because what I learned from yesterday's outing was likely much more valuable than what I would have gained from completing the intended "dirty double". But let me backtrack a little to give you the whole story.
I have to admit it was a crazy turnaround from doing Quassy and visiting my relatives back east, what with the travel, the time change, working a couple of days, then packing up the gear and driving to Boise EARLY in the morning Friday to make the mandatory 10am pro meeting. In mulling things over during the week I became progressively disgusted with my Quassy performance and when Friday rolled around I wasn't exactly in the most upbeat mood. (If you read the post below recapping the Quassy race you might detect a bit of that displeasure.) The fact that the race was in driving distance from home also contributed to a more low-key (read: less excited) feeling about racing...and then there were the weather reports! I hadn't really thought too much about it before the race meeting but afterwards I began to get a little nervous about what the conditions on race day would be. But I kept telling myself that we have no control over the weather so it's no use worrying about it and that everyone has to deal with the same thing. So just deal with it!
Race morning was cold and wet as predicted. Boise 70.3 is unique in that it has an afternoon start time rather than the usual butt-crack-of-dawn send off. Usually I would revel in having a more casual morning, but on this day the prolonged wait for go-time just allowed the sinking feeling in my stomach to drop all the way down to my toes. The rain was not letting up and it seemed to be getting colder by the minute. Luckily Albert and the doggies came along to play sherpa for me so I was able to steal some extra time staying warm in the car before having to set out on the half-mile trek up the dirt road to T1 with my bike and gear bags in the steady rain. Everything was a sodden mess and there were (smart!) people who had worn their wetsuits to the transition area in order to stay warm. It was the most hectic pre-race set-up I have ever experienced, very much like the nightmares I sometimes have about rushing around last minute and discovering that I'm missing a vital piece of triathlon gear---like my bike or my wetsuit. Luckily I had all my gear, but the trick was to keep things as dry as possible for as long as possible, while staying as warm as possible. I did a bit of a run warm-up, visited a my secret bathroom, then it was time to put on the wetsuit. Sometime during this time frame the call was made to shorten the bike from the original 56 miles to a straight shot into town, roughly 15 miles or so. So we would be doing a 1.2 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. Hmm. It was when this announcement was made that the seriousness of the weather conditions really hit me and I began to realize that the day was going to be less about racing and more about surviving.
The Swim
I was not a happy camper in the water. I started off well but then my goggles almost immediately fogged up and I had no idea of where I was going. It would have been ridiculous for me to try swimming blindly, so I paused to clear them out and almost got run over from behind. I got going again and then found myself in the exact situation that I was in the previous weekend, stuck in a side-by-side stalemate with another swimmer. I HATE that, especially when I'm on the right, so I took the initiative this time to cut across behind the other girl and get a little bit of space. Ah, that's better! But then my goggles fogged up again. I think it must have been the differences in air, water, and my body temperature that caused this because I'd only worn the goggles once before. I actually stopped to clear them out two more times throughout the swim. Irritating, but not a deal breaker in this sort of "survival" race. The swim itself got choppier further out from shore and the back stretch was really pretty horrendous. I think I drank about half of the reservoir on that middle leg, and I swear the buoys kept moving. I kept telling myself that if I was having that tough of a time in the water that the weaker swimmers must really be hating life, so I should just "suck it up, princess"! By this point my extremities were reaching the numbing point, and I was really happy to round the final buoy and head back towards shore. I hit the ramp in 2nd place with 3rd right on my tail, and about 2:30 behind super-swimmer Jodie Swallow.
The Bike
Before the swim start some of the guys had been debating whether or not to wear their wetsuits on the bike. It was THAT cold, and apparently a good number of them did it. I really wasn't sure what I would end up doing until I got close to the end of the swim, when I knew that my core temperature was going to be just fine on the bike. It was my hands and feet that were numb, which made the transition into helmet, arm-warmers, and bike shoes rather clumsy. In retrospect I could have done without the arm warmers but I don't think that the time spent putting them on really impacted the end result. I started the bike very tentatively right behind the girl who came out of the water with me, then passed her once we had made it down the big hill from the dam. From that point there was just the one tricky section on the bike path under the bridge, then it was pretty clean sailing into town. The roads were wet but the rain stopped and the sun started peeking through the clouds. I couldn't feel my feet at all and my hands felt like they were frozen to my aerobars (I hadn't bothered with gloves because I realized in transition that I lacked the dexterity to pull them on) but at least I was able to shift and control my brakes when needed. The best strategy seemed to be to just push really hard on the bike to get warmed up, and because the distance was so short that a hard effort would still leave plenty in the tank for the run. By the time I hit the neighborhoods going into town I was actually enjoying myself and had a big smile plastered on my face.
The Run
The overwhelming sensation I had during T2 was the complete LACK of sensation in my feet. Somehow I managed to guide my feet into my running shoes and I took off in pursuit of the leader. It felt like I was running on pegs for the first three miles, and then I wondered for the next two miles if I had accidentally left a sock bunched up in the bottom of my left shoe. Finally after about 5 miles my feet thawed out. The run was two flat loops on a bike path along the river, with a nice out-and-back section at one end where you could get a good look at where everyone was. I felt great and was pleasantly surprised to see that my lead over 3rd place just about matched the lead that first place had over me. I've learned to never count anybody out though---including myself---so I focused on maintaining my rhythm and pushing hard to keep away from the pursuers and to try to whittle down the leader's advantage. The run was great for spectators and it was AWESOME to see so many familiar faces and have so many people cheer for me by name (& pronouncing it correctly!). Lap #1 flew by, and by the time I started Lap #2 there were tons of age-groupers out on the course which also helped to give my feet wings. It was when I hit the out-and-back section for the second time and got a look at my advantage over 3rd pace that I knew I could do it. The finishing chute was bliss, and as you can see from the pictures I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
The Lesson
Finishing 2nd was a pretty awesome feeling, but even better was the feeling of validation in my running ability. I've worked hard at becoming a better runner this year but while it has shown in open running events, I have struggled to pull it together in a triathlon. My run split was twelve minutes faster than what I ran last weekend, it was the 3rd fastest of the day in a field of strong runners, and I set my own personal half-marathon record in the process. Granted, the course was less hilly than Quassy and the shortened bike made for fresher running legs, but there is a key lesson to be learned from that. If I can learn to swallow my pride and tone it down on the bike somewhat, then I can conserve energy for the run and be competitive with the top girls. A little more training and the courage to take that leap of faith should do the trick.
Thanks...
...go to my sponsors, to Albert and the doggies for sharing the trip, the race organizers for making a good call to keep us safe while still allowing the show to go on, the volunteers for standing out in the cold rain, Kevin Robson for inspiring me to commit to the race, Miriam and her girls for making the trip up to cheer, and to all the other friends/acquaintances/athletes/random spectators who cheered me on my way to the finish line. It was an epic day!
I have to admit it was a crazy turnaround from doing Quassy and visiting my relatives back east, what with the travel, the time change, working a couple of days, then packing up the gear and driving to Boise EARLY in the morning Friday to make the mandatory 10am pro meeting. In mulling things over during the week I became progressively disgusted with my Quassy performance and when Friday rolled around I wasn't exactly in the most upbeat mood. (If you read the post below recapping the Quassy race you might detect a bit of that displeasure.) The fact that the race was in driving distance from home also contributed to a more low-key (read: less excited) feeling about racing...and then there were the weather reports! I hadn't really thought too much about it before the race meeting but afterwards I began to get a little nervous about what the conditions on race day would be. But I kept telling myself that we have no control over the weather so it's no use worrying about it and that everyone has to deal with the same thing. So just deal with it!
Race morning was cold and wet as predicted. Boise 70.3 is unique in that it has an afternoon start time rather than the usual butt-crack-of-dawn send off. Usually I would revel in having a more casual morning, but on this day the prolonged wait for go-time just allowed the sinking feeling in my stomach to drop all the way down to my toes. The rain was not letting up and it seemed to be getting colder by the minute. Luckily Albert and the doggies came along to play sherpa for me so I was able to steal some extra time staying warm in the car before having to set out on the half-mile trek up the dirt road to T1 with my bike and gear bags in the steady rain. Everything was a sodden mess and there were (smart!) people who had worn their wetsuits to the transition area in order to stay warm. It was the most hectic pre-race set-up I have ever experienced, very much like the nightmares I sometimes have about rushing around last minute and discovering that I'm missing a vital piece of triathlon gear---like my bike or my wetsuit. Luckily I had all my gear, but the trick was to keep things as dry as possible for as long as possible, while staying as warm as possible. I did a bit of a run warm-up, visited a my secret bathroom, then it was time to put on the wetsuit. Sometime during this time frame the call was made to shorten the bike from the original 56 miles to a straight shot into town, roughly 15 miles or so. So we would be doing a 1.2 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. Hmm. It was when this announcement was made that the seriousness of the weather conditions really hit me and I began to realize that the day was going to be less about racing and more about surviving.
The Swim
I was not a happy camper in the water. I started off well but then my goggles almost immediately fogged up and I had no idea of where I was going. It would have been ridiculous for me to try swimming blindly, so I paused to clear them out and almost got run over from behind. I got going again and then found myself in the exact situation that I was in the previous weekend, stuck in a side-by-side stalemate with another swimmer. I HATE that, especially when I'm on the right, so I took the initiative this time to cut across behind the other girl and get a little bit of space. Ah, that's better! But then my goggles fogged up again. I think it must have been the differences in air, water, and my body temperature that caused this because I'd only worn the goggles once before. I actually stopped to clear them out two more times throughout the swim. Irritating, but not a deal breaker in this sort of "survival" race. The swim itself got choppier further out from shore and the back stretch was really pretty horrendous. I think I drank about half of the reservoir on that middle leg, and I swear the buoys kept moving. I kept telling myself that if I was having that tough of a time in the water that the weaker swimmers must really be hating life, so I should just "suck it up, princess"! By this point my extremities were reaching the numbing point, and I was really happy to round the final buoy and head back towards shore. I hit the ramp in 2nd place with 3rd right on my tail, and about 2:30 behind super-swimmer Jodie Swallow.
The Bike
Before the swim start some of the guys had been debating whether or not to wear their wetsuits on the bike. It was THAT cold, and apparently a good number of them did it. I really wasn't sure what I would end up doing until I got close to the end of the swim, when I knew that my core temperature was going to be just fine on the bike. It was my hands and feet that were numb, which made the transition into helmet, arm-warmers, and bike shoes rather clumsy. In retrospect I could have done without the arm warmers but I don't think that the time spent putting them on really impacted the end result. I started the bike very tentatively right behind the girl who came out of the water with me, then passed her once we had made it down the big hill from the dam. From that point there was just the one tricky section on the bike path under the bridge, then it was pretty clean sailing into town. The roads were wet but the rain stopped and the sun started peeking through the clouds. I couldn't feel my feet at all and my hands felt like they were frozen to my aerobars (I hadn't bothered with gloves because I realized in transition that I lacked the dexterity to pull them on) but at least I was able to shift and control my brakes when needed. The best strategy seemed to be to just push really hard on the bike to get warmed up, and because the distance was so short that a hard effort would still leave plenty in the tank for the run. By the time I hit the neighborhoods going into town I was actually enjoying myself and had a big smile plastered on my face.
The Run
The overwhelming sensation I had during T2 was the complete LACK of sensation in my feet. Somehow I managed to guide my feet into my running shoes and I took off in pursuit of the leader. It felt like I was running on pegs for the first three miles, and then I wondered for the next two miles if I had accidentally left a sock bunched up in the bottom of my left shoe. Finally after about 5 miles my feet thawed out. The run was two flat loops on a bike path along the river, with a nice out-and-back section at one end where you could get a good look at where everyone was. I felt great and was pleasantly surprised to see that my lead over 3rd place just about matched the lead that first place had over me. I've learned to never count anybody out though---including myself---so I focused on maintaining my rhythm and pushing hard to keep away from the pursuers and to try to whittle down the leader's advantage. The run was great for spectators and it was AWESOME to see so many familiar faces and have so many people cheer for me by name (& pronouncing it correctly!). Lap #1 flew by, and by the time I started Lap #2 there were tons of age-groupers out on the course which also helped to give my feet wings. It was when I hit the out-and-back section for the second time and got a look at my advantage over 3rd pace that I knew I could do it. The finishing chute was bliss, and as you can see from the pictures I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.
The Lesson
Finishing 2nd was a pretty awesome feeling, but even better was the feeling of validation in my running ability. I've worked hard at becoming a better runner this year but while it has shown in open running events, I have struggled to pull it together in a triathlon. My run split was twelve minutes faster than what I ran last weekend, it was the 3rd fastest of the day in a field of strong runners, and I set my own personal half-marathon record in the process. Granted, the course was less hilly than Quassy and the shortened bike made for fresher running legs, but there is a key lesson to be learned from that. If I can learn to swallow my pride and tone it down on the bike somewhat, then I can conserve energy for the run and be competitive with the top girls. A little more training and the courage to take that leap of faith should do the trick.
Thanks...
...go to my sponsors, to Albert and the doggies for sharing the trip, the race organizers for making a good call to keep us safe while still allowing the show to go on, the volunteers for standing out in the cold rain, Kevin Robson for inspiring me to commit to the race, Miriam and her girls for making the trip up to cheer, and to all the other friends/acquaintances/athletes/random spectators who cheered me on my way to the finish line. It was an epic day!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Quassy Pics
Enjoy the shots from Quassy! The "thumbs up" photo is thanks to Eric Wynn/Rev3, the rest are courtesy of my wonderful hostess Kim DuBord. She cut 13 minutes off her time from last year in the Quassy Olympic (in horrific conditions too!)...we're chalking part of it up to the fact that she wore the Recovery Pump Boots the night before. :)
Quassy Redux
With a few days to consider the 2012 edition of REV3 Quassy from the rear view mirror, I've realized that I basically recreated a mirror image performance to what I did at this event last year. The funny thing is that the events of the past year have completely altered my perspective. In 2011, I was over the moon with coming off the bike in second place---it was at the time "hands-down the most thrilling moment of my triathlon career"---and landing in 8th place at the end of the day in a race that has been informally dubbed the "June World Championships". This time around I took 9th place in an almost identical time, with remarkably similar splits, and quite frankly I'm not too pleased with the result. On one hand, it's reassuring to know I'm on track compared to last year because I was able to achieve some pretty big mid- and late-season breakthroughs in 2011; it's an indication of good things to come in the long run. However, with greater success comes a higher level of expectation. I do not want an exact repeat of last season, I'm looking for an improvement upon it. Armed with a little more experience and confidence this season, along with some improvements to my training, I simply expect better of myself. I came into Quassy prepared to be competitive but I simply didn't execute. The good news is that I can learn from the mental and tactical errors that I made. The even better news is that I have a shot at redemption very soon---this weekend in fact! Yep, that's right. I'm performing my own personal science experiment on racing and recovery by doing two half-iron events 6 days apart. Wish me luck! But first, a quick breakdown of what happened at Quassy:
The Swim
It was a non-wetsuit swim in Lake Quassapaug for the pro field which suits me just fine. I figure that as a "bigger" girl a colder swim in cool air temperatures is better for me because it bothers me less than some of the smaller ladies. I got off well in my Blueseventy swim skin with some quick dolphin dives, but then found myself stuck in a stalemate with another swimmer which essentially blocked me from catching the feet of the leaders. We were swimming side-by-side at the same pace which doesn't do either swimmer any favors and try as I might I just could not break out of this vortex. We continued in this maddening fashion until finally the other swimmer must have gotten tired of it too and she cut behind me. From then on it was clear water but the lead pack was gone. I exited the water in 5th place about 1 minute down from the leaders. Not insurmountable by any means, but definitely not the smartest swim I've ever done.
The Bike
My mission once out of the water was to get to the lead of the race as soon as possible. In retrospect this was probably a mistake but I just couldn't help myself, I was having so much FUN. I flew through the transition, mounted my Fezzari T5 and strapped my feet into my Pearl Izumi shoes, then settled down to work. The first pack came back to me pretty quickly and by Mile 3 I had overtaken them. However, my lead was short-lived as Heather Wurtele came motoring by soon after. I tried to key off her for as long as I could but she just kept inching away. Somewhere (Mile 30 perhaps?) bad news came zooming by in the form of Angela Naeth. Last year Naeth did not catch me until about 4 miles into the run so the sight of her Pearl Izumi kit this early in the ride was not especially welcome. Either I was stinking it up out there or she was having an unbelievable ride! At the single out-and-back section of the course I realized that Mirinda Carfrae was right on my tail. I tried to shake her but she was determined and we ended up arriving at T2 within seconds of each other.
The Run
A much as I love the bike course at Quassy, it was the run that I was most looking forward to this time around. I've put a lot of work into my running this spring and I was excited to have a second stab at conquering the legendary hills. The first three miles felt GREAT (as is evidenced by the goofy photo of me smiling with my thumb up and tongue sticking out) and I was able to find a good rhythm. Then the hills started coming and the doubts crept in. A little out-and-back section around Mile 5 gave me a good look at who was coming up behind me and it was at this point that my focus shifted from up the road to down the road. Not good! I could say that the hills kicked my butt, but really it was my own brain that did me in. It was some consolation that I was able to pull it together at Mile 9 and run well over the last four miles but the damage was done.
The Trip
Despite being disappointed in my performance, the thing to do is to learn from it and move on. I've had time to process what went well and what could be improved, and I'm determined to be stronger next time around. One of these years I will conquer that course! I had a great time, I love racing, and REV3 always puts on a good show. I was lucky to have good friends and family cheering and supporting me throughout the weekend. And it was nice to have a couple days afterwards to decompress and spend with my relatives who I don't get to see very often. Overall it was a successful trip and I'm looking forward to the next one! Special thanks to Aunt Candy for whooping, Kim & Sheri for hosting, Rudy & Lucy for making the trip up from NYC; as well as REV3, Powerbar, Pearl Izumi, Recovery Pump, Blueseventy, Fezzari, Rudy Project, Maxxis, and The Bike Shoppe for the continued support.
The Swim
It was a non-wetsuit swim in Lake Quassapaug for the pro field which suits me just fine. I figure that as a "bigger" girl a colder swim in cool air temperatures is better for me because it bothers me less than some of the smaller ladies. I got off well in my Blueseventy swim skin with some quick dolphin dives, but then found myself stuck in a stalemate with another swimmer which essentially blocked me from catching the feet of the leaders. We were swimming side-by-side at the same pace which doesn't do either swimmer any favors and try as I might I just could not break out of this vortex. We continued in this maddening fashion until finally the other swimmer must have gotten tired of it too and she cut behind me. From then on it was clear water but the lead pack was gone. I exited the water in 5th place about 1 minute down from the leaders. Not insurmountable by any means, but definitely not the smartest swim I've ever done.
The Bike
My mission once out of the water was to get to the lead of the race as soon as possible. In retrospect this was probably a mistake but I just couldn't help myself, I was having so much FUN. I flew through the transition, mounted my Fezzari T5 and strapped my feet into my Pearl Izumi shoes, then settled down to work. The first pack came back to me pretty quickly and by Mile 3 I had overtaken them. However, my lead was short-lived as Heather Wurtele came motoring by soon after. I tried to key off her for as long as I could but she just kept inching away. Somewhere (Mile 30 perhaps?) bad news came zooming by in the form of Angela Naeth. Last year Naeth did not catch me until about 4 miles into the run so the sight of her Pearl Izumi kit this early in the ride was not especially welcome. Either I was stinking it up out there or she was having an unbelievable ride! At the single out-and-back section of the course I realized that Mirinda Carfrae was right on my tail. I tried to shake her but she was determined and we ended up arriving at T2 within seconds of each other.
The Run
A much as I love the bike course at Quassy, it was the run that I was most looking forward to this time around. I've put a lot of work into my running this spring and I was excited to have a second stab at conquering the legendary hills. The first three miles felt GREAT (as is evidenced by the goofy photo of me smiling with my thumb up and tongue sticking out) and I was able to find a good rhythm. Then the hills started coming and the doubts crept in. A little out-and-back section around Mile 5 gave me a good look at who was coming up behind me and it was at this point that my focus shifted from up the road to down the road. Not good! I could say that the hills kicked my butt, but really it was my own brain that did me in. It was some consolation that I was able to pull it together at Mile 9 and run well over the last four miles but the damage was done.
The Trip
Despite being disappointed in my performance, the thing to do is to learn from it and move on. I've had time to process what went well and what could be improved, and I'm determined to be stronger next time around. One of these years I will conquer that course! I had a great time, I love racing, and REV3 always puts on a good show. I was lucky to have good friends and family cheering and supporting me throughout the weekend. And it was nice to have a couple days afterwards to decompress and spend with my relatives who I don't get to see very often. Overall it was a successful trip and I'm looking forward to the next one! Special thanks to Aunt Candy for whooping, Kim & Sheri for hosting, Rudy & Lucy for making the trip up from NYC; as well as REV3, Powerbar, Pearl Izumi, Recovery Pump, Blueseventy, Fezzari, Rudy Project, Maxxis, and The Bike Shoppe for the continued support.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Eye Candy
This was taken somewhere on the bike leg of REV3 Knoxville a few weeks ago. Photo credit goes to Eric Wynn.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
REV3 Knoxville Recap
Last weekend I traveled to Tennessee for round #2 in the REV3 Triathlon Series. This was my second visit to Knoxville in as many years, and I enjoyed it as much as the first time around. Knoxville doesn't necessarily jump out in your mind as being a hotbed for triathlon, but once you get there and scope out the course you realize what a perfect venue it is. As per usual, REV3 puts on a classy event with a challenging course; a river swim under multiple bridges, continuous rolling hills and technical curves on the bike, and some rollers along the Greenway path on the run. Early in the week it looked like we were in for some exciting thunderstorms, but once race day actually rolled around we were greeted with perfect racing conditions. The field was stacked and I was anxious to go out and test myself against some real speedsters, as well as testing out my new Blueseventy Helix wetsuit and Fezzari T5 bicycle in competition! I was lucky to stay with the same wonderful host family as last year, the Toons, and their friends Trish and Todd from the Carolinas. The Toons have two very funny "hot-dog" dogs and this year they also had the surprise addition of a new cat and her four kittens. The only one missing from the crew was "Doc" Carin VanderKlok who has joined the Army Reserves and was at boot camp. We missed you Doc! It was a great thing for my nerves to stay with people who are like family to me now, and to be familiar with the course from last year; I went into the race relaxed and looking forward to tackling the Tennessee countryside.
There were a couple of unique changes to the course this year, one being that the transition area was in a parking garage (because a building was being built where the old transition was held). This reminded me a bit of the old Monster Triathlon in Boston where the transition area was inside the World Trade Center and you swam around 3 sides of the building then ran through it to dive in again for the second lap. I was a bit worried that the parking garage surface would be very slippery coming out of the swim but it ended up being just fine. The swim leg of the race went extremely well for me, thanks to some extra time in the pool this year and my speedy new Helix! Contrary to my usual custom, I chose a spot front and center along the starting line and I fully expected a good thrashing for the first several hundred meters. To my surprise I found completely clear water on my right; apparently all the speedier swimmers congregated together on the left side of the start line, and the washing machine action seemed to be entirely on my left. I got a little tangled up for a few strokes and could only use my right arm because it felt like someone was pinning my left arm behind my back (yes, it can get nasty out there) but suddenly my left arm came back to life and I was able to find a nice steady rhythm. Once we rounded the turn I had a better view of where I was; there were one or two swimmers out in front, a lone swimmer about 10 meters to my right, then a pack maybe 15 meters to my left. For whatever reason it seemed that people were either swinging way wide or way narrow, which gave me a nice clear path of uncontested water. And a bonus: there wasn't anyone right behind me, nailing my feet with every stroke! That's pretty rare in a field of that caliber but I wasn't about to complain. I stuck to my line and kept my turnover up, and managed to hit the dock in 3rd place with a pack of quick swimmers hot on my heels.
The run out to T1 was longer than last year due to the logistical changes and it was a little weird (but at the same time cool) going into a parking garage. The Helix slid off like butter, I buckled up my Rudy Project Wingspan helmet, grabbed my new Fezzari speed machine and headed out onto the bike course. A funny thing about my new bike: the drop in height between the seat and the handlebars is considerably larger than on my old bike, so at first I was scared to do a flying mount because I was sure there was no way I could jump high enough to land on the saddle. However, once I lined the two bikes up side-by-side and realized that the saddles are actually the exact same height then I was fine and back to doing flying mounts again like they were going out of style. Once on the bike I quickly slipped my feet into my Pearl Izumi Tri-Fly Carbon shoes (they are LOUD!) and settled down to work. I love this bike course, and one day would love to have it all to myself to really let loose and fly up and down those hills and around the turns. I don't think I'll get that wish though until I can swim as fast as Sara McLarty and get out onto the course solo and way out in front; it certainly wasn't granted on Sunday as I soon realized that I had the company of four other girls, and the dynamic would not allow for an all-out hammer-of-a-ride. I knew there were some fast runners in the group, and even more not far behind, so I would have liked to have made a break and build a bit of a cushion going into the run. I did end up hitting T2 in 2nd place (leading that pack) and with the second fastest bike split of the day, but I wasn't able to build any kind of a gap. So it was going to be a real foot race!
I've been running really well in open road races lately and expected some of that strength to translate to this race. However, it became painfully clear over the course of the run that I need to make a couple of changes in my training to really be competitive over such a relatively "short" distance. I started the run in 2nd place, was quickly passed by two speedsters (who ended up 1-2 on the day) and then eventually was passed by two more ladies before we even hit the Greenway. Once on the path I managed to maintain contact with 5th place and even began reeling her back in; just as I was about to catch her around mile 4 two other girls came zooming by, and then another soon after. So I was in 8th place with 9th breathing down my neck, and then my hamstring started talking to me. Not good. I'm not known for having the most flexible hamstrings ever, but they've never given me problems while running. I had been pretty sure I could throw down a good kick if it came down to a sprint finish, but with my hammy screaming at me the tables turned and I went into damage control mode. No sense in pulling anything this early in the season. The girl behind me must have sensed my weakness and she put in a final push to overtake me with about 600 meters to go. So I ended up in 9th place, which is not where I wanted to be but was still an honest effort in a very strong field. Now it's back to the drawing board and 4 weeks of solid work until REV3 Quassy!
Congrats to Kelly on a great win and for making Indiana proud, and to all the competitors out there. It was a real barn-burner of a race and thrilling to be a part of it! Well done to my teammates Jessica Meyers and Richie Cunningham for both cracking into the top-10, and to the entire REV3 Racing Team for representing on the day. Congrats also go to Kellie and Trish for their performances, and a standing ovation to Todd who suffered a concussion the day before and could not race, but was out there cheering and directing bike traffic nonetheless. Thanks go to: REV3 for their supreme organization, friendly staff and support; Pearl Izumi for the awesome shoes and kit; Powerbar for giving me the power to push; Blueseventy for the wicked fast wetsuit; Fezzari for the equally wickedly fast bike; Matt at The Bike Shoppe for fitting me on that wickedly fast bike and keeping it running right; Recovery Pump for being my main squeeze; and to Rudy Project for keeping my noggin and eyeballs protected. I am so fortunate to be able to "play" for a living, and it would not be possible without your support!
There were a couple of unique changes to the course this year, one being that the transition area was in a parking garage (because a building was being built where the old transition was held). This reminded me a bit of the old Monster Triathlon in Boston where the transition area was inside the World Trade Center and you swam around 3 sides of the building then ran through it to dive in again for the second lap. I was a bit worried that the parking garage surface would be very slippery coming out of the swim but it ended up being just fine. The swim leg of the race went extremely well for me, thanks to some extra time in the pool this year and my speedy new Helix! Contrary to my usual custom, I chose a spot front and center along the starting line and I fully expected a good thrashing for the first several hundred meters. To my surprise I found completely clear water on my right; apparently all the speedier swimmers congregated together on the left side of the start line, and the washing machine action seemed to be entirely on my left. I got a little tangled up for a few strokes and could only use my right arm because it felt like someone was pinning my left arm behind my back (yes, it can get nasty out there) but suddenly my left arm came back to life and I was able to find a nice steady rhythm. Once we rounded the turn I had a better view of where I was; there were one or two swimmers out in front, a lone swimmer about 10 meters to my right, then a pack maybe 15 meters to my left. For whatever reason it seemed that people were either swinging way wide or way narrow, which gave me a nice clear path of uncontested water. And a bonus: there wasn't anyone right behind me, nailing my feet with every stroke! That's pretty rare in a field of that caliber but I wasn't about to complain. I stuck to my line and kept my turnover up, and managed to hit the dock in 3rd place with a pack of quick swimmers hot on my heels.
The run out to T1 was longer than last year due to the logistical changes and it was a little weird (but at the same time cool) going into a parking garage. The Helix slid off like butter, I buckled up my Rudy Project Wingspan helmet, grabbed my new Fezzari speed machine and headed out onto the bike course. A funny thing about my new bike: the drop in height between the seat and the handlebars is considerably larger than on my old bike, so at first I was scared to do a flying mount because I was sure there was no way I could jump high enough to land on the saddle. However, once I lined the two bikes up side-by-side and realized that the saddles are actually the exact same height then I was fine and back to doing flying mounts again like they were going out of style. Once on the bike I quickly slipped my feet into my Pearl Izumi Tri-Fly Carbon shoes (they are LOUD!) and settled down to work. I love this bike course, and one day would love to have it all to myself to really let loose and fly up and down those hills and around the turns. I don't think I'll get that wish though until I can swim as fast as Sara McLarty and get out onto the course solo and way out in front; it certainly wasn't granted on Sunday as I soon realized that I had the company of four other girls, and the dynamic would not allow for an all-out hammer-of-a-ride. I knew there were some fast runners in the group, and even more not far behind, so I would have liked to have made a break and build a bit of a cushion going into the run. I did end up hitting T2 in 2nd place (leading that pack) and with the second fastest bike split of the day, but I wasn't able to build any kind of a gap. So it was going to be a real foot race!
I've been running really well in open road races lately and expected some of that strength to translate to this race. However, it became painfully clear over the course of the run that I need to make a couple of changes in my training to really be competitive over such a relatively "short" distance. I started the run in 2nd place, was quickly passed by two speedsters (who ended up 1-2 on the day) and then eventually was passed by two more ladies before we even hit the Greenway. Once on the path I managed to maintain contact with 5th place and even began reeling her back in; just as I was about to catch her around mile 4 two other girls came zooming by, and then another soon after. So I was in 8th place with 9th breathing down my neck, and then my hamstring started talking to me. Not good. I'm not known for having the most flexible hamstrings ever, but they've never given me problems while running. I had been pretty sure I could throw down a good kick if it came down to a sprint finish, but with my hammy screaming at me the tables turned and I went into damage control mode. No sense in pulling anything this early in the season. The girl behind me must have sensed my weakness and she put in a final push to overtake me with about 600 meters to go. So I ended up in 9th place, which is not where I wanted to be but was still an honest effort in a very strong field. Now it's back to the drawing board and 4 weeks of solid work until REV3 Quassy!
Congrats to Kelly on a great win and for making Indiana proud, and to all the competitors out there. It was a real barn-burner of a race and thrilling to be a part of it! Well done to my teammates Jessica Meyers and Richie Cunningham for both cracking into the top-10, and to the entire REV3 Racing Team for representing on the day. Congrats also go to Kellie and Trish for their performances, and a standing ovation to Todd who suffered a concussion the day before and could not race, but was out there cheering and directing bike traffic nonetheless. Thanks go to: REV3 for their supreme organization, friendly staff and support; Pearl Izumi for the awesome shoes and kit; Powerbar for giving me the power to push; Blueseventy for the wicked fast wetsuit; Fezzari for the equally wickedly fast bike; Matt at The Bike Shoppe for fitting me on that wickedly fast bike and keeping it running right; Recovery Pump for being my main squeeze; and to Rudy Project for keeping my noggin and eyeballs protected. I am so fortunate to be able to "play" for a living, and it would not be possible without your support!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wrapping It Up
Yesterday's 30K wrapped up the 2012 Striders Winter Running Circuit in Ogden. It was another gorgeous day for a run---sunny, perfect temperatures, snow-capped mountains in the vista. I was a bit unsure how my body was going to respond after last weekend's hard effort and the effects of an allergy flare-up this week, but once I started warming up I knew it was going to be fine. The goal was to run a controlled effort and not let the other ladies who were in contention for the overall title get too much of a gap. I had a minute and forty-odd seconds to play with so I figured the best strategy was to simply stalk the other girls and let them do the pacing work. So that's what I did and it ended up working pretty well. I felt strong for most of the run, with just a bit of tightening up in the last two miles, and held on for 3rd place on the day in a time comparable to my 30K run split at the ITU World Champs last November. It was good enough to earn the overall cumulative series title, which is a nice validation of the hard work and progress I've made in running over the past year or so. Most rewarding, and I hope a sign of good things to come!
Some highlights of the day:
---The relaxed yet highly organized atmosphere of a Striders race; they know how to do it right!!
---Chatting with some of the other ladies in the middle of the race, miles 6-9.
---Running alongside the "wild" horses at Stink Corner...both human and equine athletes seemed to enjoy it.
---Hot drinks at the finish line; nothing beats a hot chocoloffe!
---Pausing just before the start to watch a hot air balloon drift by.
---Soaking up the post-race atmosphere with friends old and new.
This week's round of thanks go to Albert for motivating me to get out the door and run, Powerbar for keeping my energy stores stocked, Pearl Izumi for the cool AND functional footwear and gear, and Recovery Pump for keeping my legs fresh.
Next up: REV3 Knoxville next weekend! Can't wait to break out the new Fezzari speed machine!
Some highlights of the day:
---The relaxed yet highly organized atmosphere of a Striders race; they know how to do it right!!
---Chatting with some of the other ladies in the middle of the race, miles 6-9.
---Running alongside the "wild" horses at Stink Corner...both human and equine athletes seemed to enjoy it.
---Hot drinks at the finish line; nothing beats a hot chocoloffe!
---Pausing just before the start to watch a hot air balloon drift by.
---Soaking up the post-race atmosphere with friends old and new.
This week's round of thanks go to Albert for motivating me to get out the door and run, Powerbar for keeping my energy stores stocked, Pearl Izumi for the cool AND functional footwear and gear, and Recovery Pump for keeping my legs fresh.
Next up: REV3 Knoxville next weekend! Can't wait to break out the new Fezzari speed machine!
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