First Tri!

Well, its done. I conquered my first triathlon, and I have to say it was a blast!! I mean, I like running...but add some biking before that and a swim before that and you have a good time! :)

Today's race report I'll make short and sweet since I'm tired and need to go to bed. Anyhow, my first tri was a sprint...maybe technically a super sprint as it was a 400 yd swim, 11 mile bike and 5k run. It was the Women's Only Triathlon in Sylvania OH and is geared towards beginners who want to try out a tri, or women who are intimidated by larger co-ed races. This was a perfect race for me!

Today started at 3:30 a.m. The race started at 7:30 a.m. but we needed to get there by 6 a.m. for packet pickup (didn't do it the night before since it was an hr. drive). I needed time to get up, have my coffee, banana, yogurt and get ready to roll. Then I picked up my gal pals Ruth and Krystin and we were on our way! Oh yeah, it was also COLD! 50 degrees actually this morning. no good! Seriously...is it July!? So, I wore my warm-ups over my outfit as we were milling about getting our packets and set up in transition.

So, we made it just before 6 a.m. and had lots of time to spare which is good for me mentally so I could check out how things looked on my path from the swim and from bike to run, so I know what to look for to find my spot. Also of note, they had random bike racking, only by age group. So, I grabbed a spot on the end and faced my bike toward the bike out. I heard somewhere the end spots are the easiest to access....'they' were right. :)

At about 7:15 we were told to line up near the swim start. You start on this terrace and are seeded by time you think you'll finish the swim in. I was hoping for a 10 min....so seeded myself appropriately. It was also a time trial start. So, everyone started at 4 second intervals. That was nice as I was freaked out by the prospect of swimming with lots of people at the beginning. Before I knew it, people were in the water and my turn was up! I took off ( albeit slowly). Then I mentally messed up. I got close to some swimmers who were faster and didn't have 'space', so I tried to find some and instead ended up killing my rhythm and that was that. The rest of my swim was long.....and slow....and well, not 10 min. :( Ended up being 14:30. Ouch! OH well, as soon as I had my land legs back I bounded up the quarry stairs(yes there were steep concrete stairs coming out, did I mention? And my body was tired! But, I shook it off and focused on T1. I passed a bunch of ladies on my way into transition, so that felt good. :) I did the first transition in 1:08. No wet suit, but I'll take it! I found my bike easily and did my change(though I forgot to dry my feet and my bike shoes are now wet) and ran my bike outta there!

On to the bike! This is the fun part! I love riding bikes! :) I picked up some speed and started passing lots of people. I 'caught' a lot of the faster swimmers which felt good, and even some of the dri tri-ers. I'm still not sure about this drafting thing, so I tried to keep my distance until I was sure I could stay in front of someone. The ride was FLAT! It was basically a huge square around cornfields. So much fun! I only had 2 complaints about the ride. 1 was it was really windy going 1 direction...so I struggled to maintain a decent speed. 2, was that at 1 intersection, one of the traffic directors motioned for me to stop, as they were stopping a vehicle, but then said to go! I was so annoyed, I lost a bunch of momentum and had to get it back. Sigh. On the up side I found a new hammer gel flavor I love. Raspberry! I had just 1 on the bike to hopefully stave off the stupid side cramps I've been getting as of late on the run after I bike(thinking electrolyte issue with the heat maybe?). Oh well, it was over before I knew it and I was on to T2. I managed a decent time in that one 45 seconds....and I was off.

Ugh! I hate that first mile running after the bike. My legs feel like lead, but I just kept them going....1st mile was slow, but then I got my rhythm and pace back and started to look for signs of other age groupers I might actually be running with. Didn't see many (none actually). So, I figured I was way behind. As I was passing the final water stop, I heard someone shout "you can catch her!"....I realized it was one of the volunteers telling me.....there was someone just in front of me that was my group. And yes, I was on her heels. With only a mile or less to go, I thought I had enough in reserve to pick it up a little. So, I did. And I passed her. Then I kept going at that slightly increased pace....then I came up on another one in my group...and passed her. That was kind of a fun game, but I figured they'd catch back up at some point....but never did. Before I knew it I saw the end and my family and friend cheering. I saw that last 100M and gave the rest of what I had. It was awesome! I finished strong and I cannot wait to do another!

I finished in 1:18...I was hoping for 1:14..which would've happened had it not been for my horrible swim. Well, I guess I know what I need to work on for next time. I hope to find 1 more to squeeze in this year sometime. :)

I definitely am hooked!

Cheers!
Jess

Tri Jitters

I really don't know what's wrong with me. I've been training for this tri on Sunday for a while, I know how to swim(mostly), know how to bike (decently), and I can run ok. So, why can I not shake this feeling of anxiety? I am normally pretty relaxed before a race. But this started like Monday this week. I can literally feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins any time I think about the darn race. Maybe its the swim doing it to me, since that's my biggest unknown....I'm doing my final swim tonight hoping to just calm my nerves a little.

I think maybe its because in the back of my mind, I'd really love to do well (like top 5 AG) for my first one. I know that's probably unlikely, but still. How cool would it be to do good first time out? So, there's that. Maybe if I let go of that I'll calm down. But, I have a hard time not thinking about a race as competitive. I mean that's why they call it a race right? Sigh. Everyone tells me a 1/2 marathon is harder than a sprint tri....somehow I feel like that's not true.

Well, hopefully I'll find a healthy way to shake these nerves before Sunday.

Cheers,
J

Early Riser

While its still February and most people probably aren't even thinking about summer yet, I on the other hand am, since I have several summer races planned this year as my 'get back into shape' program after having baby #2 last summer. As such, I have a 1/2 marathon, my first actual tri (hopefully), a couple 5K's for fun and a du all planned for the spring/summer time frame. So I've had to get my derriere in gear NOW.

 My challenge is getting back into decent running shape while its still cold before 'real' training begins. I've run now and then since Sawyer was born, but nothing consistent like I used to since I can never seem to find the time or energy once the boys are both in bed....well sometimes I do, but I'd also like to use that time to spend with the hubs or get ready for the next day, etc.

So, I decided in order to get my exercise on during the week, I needed to get up at (gasp), 4:30 a.m.! Ugh! I already get up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for work and get the boys up and ready for daycare to be out the door by 7 a.m. I really thought I would NEVER get up an extra hour earlier than that! That's crazy! BUT, I did it 2 times 2 weeks ago, a couple times last week and so far once this week(but also plan on Friday). Then at least I can get in 2 runs during the week in the am and 1 some other time during the weekend at a minimum.

My plan is to stick to this and once I'm at a month consistently, I'll reevaluate and fit in another run and or other cross training. Its a start anyway. I also gave myself an out. If the baby gets up in the night and I have a 4:30 workout planned, I get to skip it and do it that night or try again the next morning. I can't be too tired to go to work and function, nor is that safe. So, trying to program some structure while being flexible into my schedule to reach my fitness goals this year. Let see how it goes.

I'm excited to get back to it! Also, of note I am competing with some friends and family in a weight loss challenge...which I'm definitely not winning, but I have lost 1 lb. a week average for the last 6 weeks, so it could be worse. I am just 1 lb, away from pre-baby weight! woot! Next up, toning this mess up! :)

Cheers!
Jess

Ode to a Treadmill

After just having completed yet another treadmill workout while its freezing outside, I'm once again reminded of my love hate relationship with my treadmill. On the one hand, yes I know I'm VERY fortunate to even have this piece of equipment IN MY HOUSE no less, so I CAN run when I'm too wimpy to brave the cold, or its just too dark. On the other hand, I can hardly stand being on it...its SO BOOOORING!

I've tried music, I've tried movies,but generally the treadmill is too loud to hear anything from the tv in the basement unless I turn it up to hearing loss levels, but yet I still find it mentally difficult not only to actually do a treadmill workout, but to PUSH myself on it. I always seem to fall into...well as long as I get the mileage in, that's ok right? No speed intervals, no hills, just flat, monotonous running...

So, I guess I need to make a plan to get more out of my workouts. I do want to actually improve my running speed, so I need to start on that. Now to just find a training plan to do that.....its seems like everything I find is "couch to 5k", "how to run your 1st 5k", not "how do I kill a 5K"? I guess that's my own challenge I need to work through. I almost wish I had run in my younger days so I would have some coaching info to draw from, but alas, its just me and the Internet I fear. Maybe the local running store geeks can help come to think of it.....

Happy running!

Competition

Competition is healthy right? Well, in my case, I need some to get my butt back in gear this year.
After September's Warrior Dash, I have not done 1 single solitary race and only a handful of actual workout runs.

Why? Well, turns out going back to work full time with 2 kids to get out the door to daycare in the morning is more than a lot of work. To make it more complicated, add in trying to get dinner on the table, both kids happy, and the house somewhat in order each night makes it exceedingly difficult to find any time for me to actually exercise.

BUT, there is hope. I do feel like now that the holidays are over, that I am getting into a good routine...with that and Sawyer now about done nursing, I can actually separate from him once in a while which adds up to.....me getting in some solid treadmill time! Well, that plus an awesome husband who will put our 3 yr. old down after I get the baby to bed so I can do so about 3 times a week.

In addition, the hubs came up with a little friendly FB friend competition to get us all back to ideal training weight sooner rather than later. We've all pitched in about 50 bucks and between now and May, whoever loses the most %-wise takes the pot. Woot! And yes, I am looking forward to winning and getting an awesome new post-baby running wardrobe this spring. :) That is until I saw my sis rocking her weight loss this week. Nothing like a little competition to kick it into high gear for me! cannot wait to get the last few baby lbs. off along with some extra so I have no extra on me going into the running season.

I would LOVE to actually RACE a race this year rather than just complete a race. I've been middle of the pack generally speaking, so I'm excited to earn my new physique and put the hurt on the racing competition. Hmmm....that sounded a little mean and braggy...well, we'll see what actually happens. But I would love
to take home some AG medals this year. No time like to present to set my goals right?

Now, to just find some training plans to get back in shape and FAST at the same time.

Here's to a new year and a new, hopefully faster ME!