Tucson Tri Race Report

My very first race report, Yea! (Sorry, this is very long)

About four months ago, I signed up for this tri. I started training with swimming in mid-December, running in February, and did a couple of bike rides here and there. It all had to come together on Sunday morning.

One of the greatest parts of this event was my Friday night suprise. After work, I went to a happy hour with my old school in celebration of our friend's life. Shortly after arriving, my husband arrived to meet me. When I turned around to say hi, my brother and sister-in-law were standing there. They had flown in from Seattle to cheer me on. It was a bit of a suprise, and I cried..... but just a little.

After a very fun (too much happy hour) Friday and a very busy Saturday, I put together my gear bag and double checked my list (okay, I checked it like five times). Mary made me my carbo dinner of a nummy pasta, salad, bread, and a little ice cream for dessert. It was perfect. Going to sleep though, not so perfect.

I tossed and turned all night. During my panic stricken attempt to sleep, I realized that even with my list and the checking it five times, I had forgotten to put on my race numbers. Wouldn't that have been great? I quick grabbed them and threw them in my bag and continued the near panic-attack.

When I got up and got ready, I tried to eat some breakfast, but I could only choke down a banana and a quarter of a bagel. When we got to the race, I set up my transition area and went into the pool area. After some convincing from my cheer squad, I got in the pool for some warm-up. After I warmed up, I realized that I didn't have a timing chip. I started looking around and noticing that no one had timing chips. I ran into Cheryl right before I got in the pool for the swim. I asked her about the chip and she said they didn't chip time. She stood by the pool took pictures and cheered me on. I couldn't ask for a better person to get support and knowledge from. Thanks Cheryl!

I have NO idea how I made it through that swim without losing the little breakfast that I had, but I did. After about 200 yards, I calmed down and realized that I was doing it, and I didn't need to fret over it anymore. I swam the whole 825 yrds without stopping at a very slow but steady pace. I have to remind myself that 8 weeks ago, I couldn't swim 75 yrds without stopping and gasping for breath. My swim time: 26:02. It was close to three minutes faster than my last test, so I'm making progress.

Then there was the transition. I so understand the need to drop a whole bunch of weight after this. Not only for my health and because it will help with this whole moving your body thing, but because I need to be able to get into tri shorts or a tri suit or something. Putting on tight fitting clothes when you are wet.... what a pain! But, I made it through and rode away.

I hate biking. I love the idea and hope that I will soon come to love the bike, but really, I hate biking. I have to ride with a camelback because I can't balance and reach down for a water bottle all while pedaling and not running into things. It is a little scary. I haven't mustered the courage to put my pedals on my bike, so I ride in running shoes. My bike is heavy and too big. Oh, the excuses. It really boils down to - I didn't really train for the bike, and boy did it show! Bike time (including transitions): 1:24:36 - I told you - NO Good on the bike.

Transition to run went a little smoother, mainly because I was done with the bike, but I also realized that I was almost there. Three little miles to go. I had planned on walking the whole run. I did my first brick last week, and my legs were no good for running after this. I started walking out of the transition area, and this lady asked me if it was okay for her to run or if she had to walk. I smiled and told her she could go ahead and run. Her first tri, too?

The run was two nice, flat loops around the mall at the U of A. I walked the first one and by the time I got closer the the start of my second loop, I realized that my legs were feeling pretty good, and decided to run a little. Plus, the extrememly annoying support person at the corner by Old Main gave me so much motivation. Not from her cheers themselves, but in trying to go faster to get away from her ridiculous yelling. I did five or six intervals of two minutes running and one minute walking before heading into the finish. As I approached the finish, I realized that I was feeling pretty good, so I ran it in and smiled for the pic. Run time 58:55 - almost three minutes faster than my last 5k (walking).



Total Time - 2:49:33 - Gotta start somewhere



Hope it turns out good. As I finished, I turned to see that Cheryl was just heading out for her run (she is a fast swimmer, so she gets to swim MUCH later than me. She's fast on the bike and run too).

I got my t-shirt found Aaron, Eric, and Mary and went to watch the last wave of swimmers (super fast). When I was there, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a friend of mine form school, and two other friends were with her. Plus, the other fifth grade teacher at my school, showed up early, at 6:30 in the morning to watch me swim and bike. I work with a great bunch of people.



After seeing my friends, we all headed down to the finish line to wait for Cheryl and cheer other people on. It was really cool to watch some incredible athletes come in to the finish.




After going home and trying to sleep, we all got cleaned up and headed out to meet Cheryl and her hubby and Jenn and her hubby. Jenn is the best massage therapist in the world, and she ran the Arizona Distance Classic that morning (I think her first 1/2 Marathon).

Thank You to Jenn, Cheryl, Aaron, Eric, Mary, Rochelle, Cass, Tracy, and Bri! It was so great to have your support! Oh, and for the pictures :)

What's Next? A 5K in April, another sprint in May (?), the Moses Lake Tri in June, the Seattle Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon in June, another sprint in July (?), and the Tinfoilman in October. We'll have to see what else comes up. That should help with the whole getting into a trisuit.

And, I almost forgot, I'M A TRIATHLETE!

Oh, Yes! The Bike?

This last week has been pretty good. I start my week on Sunday, not Monday. I like to start the week with a day off of work and end it that way as well.

I started last week with my first trail run in like 15 years. The last time I ran on a trail was probably when I was 16 or 17 and in high school. We would trail run in the woods in Snohomish. These were fun runs and didn't even seem like work.

When hubby got home from his mountain bike ride last Saturday, he told me about his ride on the Arizona Trail. This trail is 800 miles long and extends from Mexico to Utah. Part of the trail runs through the desert and mountains not too far from our house. As he was telling me about it, I was thinking it would be fun to run on. We went out the next day and spent an hour or so run/walking, okay walk/jogging.

The trail was beautiful and it was a perfect day for running.... 70 degrees or so and slightly overcast. It reminded me of those high school days running in the woods or out to pick apples to turn into cider to sell at football games. Even though the Saguaro and Cedar tree provide completely different scenery, running away from everything was so peaceful.

I completed another run with my group on Tuesday and hit the pool on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Saturday, I had another personal best, swimming 500 continuous meters. It takes me a while, but I'm getting there.

I'm feeling pretty good about my training and getting in workouts about 5 days a week. The only problem is.........

The BIKE!

I have completely forgotten about the bike aside from a few little rides. When I first started training, I was blown away by my lack of swimming ability and have focused most of my time on the swim. I have recently started putting in run time, and now I have to put in the bike. Finding a balance in training has proven to be interesting if not somewhat overwhelming.

On the good side, I am gaining muscle. I visited my massage therapist last week, and she was finding muscles that I didn't have three weeks ago. Yes, I know I had the muscles, I just didn't know I had them at the time. I haven't lost any weight yet, but I think that has to do with the constant eating I do. Training makes me hungry. I do need to make better food choices though.

Woo Hoo!

I had a major swimming breakthrough today......

I was able to swim 250 meters continuously. To many triathletes and swimmers, I know this is not much, but to me it is a major milestone. And I'm not a triathlete. Yet!

Four weeks ago, I was sputtering and sidestroking through 75 meters, and that was an accomplishment at the time.

Tonight, I met with my coach, Geoff, at the UofA. Last week, I swam a 150 for him with my fins, so my workouts for the week included 150's with fins and 100's without fins. Yesterday was the first time I swam a 100 without my fins. As a matter of fact, I swam seven of them. Geoff decided that he wanted me to swim 125 or 150, it was up to me and how I felt at the end of 125. When I got to the wall at the end of my 125, I came up for air and dropped down to kick off the wall (no flip turns, yet). When I reached the wall at 150, Geoff quickly asked if I could do more.

I dropped down for another kickoff without missing a beat, came back for 200, and went again. When I reached the wall for 250, I was going to go for 300. But, he stopped me to check my heart rate. I was only at around 144. Not bad at all.

Geoff knew I would push it tonight, but I think I surprised him. I surprised my self a little. Maybe it was all that sugar floating around the classroom today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Running

Last week, Hubby and I started running with a 5k training group. The first week sucked, but I have NO idea why. I was the last in the group on every run interval (A position I'm used to). My legs hurt to even walk and the running was pathetic. It was a 1 minute run interval followed by a 4 minute walk interval. We did this seven times with a 5 minute walking warm-up and cool down. I had been running this interval for a couple weeks before and had no problems.

The day after the run, my legs felt like they were going to explode. By my legs I mean the tips of my toes to the top of my butt. They had never felt like that before. It took four days for them to recover. To say the least, I was not excited about going back this week.

This week's run interval was a 5 minute warm-up walk with a 1 minute run interval followed by a 3 minute walk interval. Repeat 10 times with a 5 minute walk cool-down. No worries. I was in the back of the group again. This time though, I was joined by a girl for a few intervals. She was always a step or two away, but not far. And, to top it all off. Today, I have very little pain. Only some soreness atop the the base of my toes (I'm sure that area has a name, but I don't know what it is).

Hopefully, the rest of this week and next week's group run goes as well.

Tomorrow night is Happy Hour after work. I am going to run from my school to the bar, have some water (maybe another beverage) and run back to my school before driving home. I told you I had a little crazy in me.

Accomplishements, Challenges, and Changes

Oh, I so sound like a teacher with that title, but here goes.

I seem to be having more challenges than anything lately, but some of them have turned into accomplishments (I think).

Today, I only swam 500 yards. It was a challenge, but it shouldn't have been. 500 isn't much and I swim them in sets of 50; however, looking back, I did swim the entire 500 without fins. This is the first time I've done that. So, I guess a bit of an accomplishment.

The running is soooooooooo a challenge. I started my 5k program with Fleet Feet this week. It was hard. Harder than usual, and my feet and legs were killing me. The feet have been causing me problems for some time now. I met with the pedorthist that Cheryl recommended yesterday. Basically, he told me I was all jacked up. My right leg is shorter, and not just a little bit, than the left, and my hips are uneven. The right one is dropped lower than the left. The left foot over pronates in order to compensate for its length. The right foot pronates a little, but........ It also twists and goes flying off to the outside. He is making me special inserts so that my feet are somewhat normal. I'm hoping for magic on this one. I know running will still be hard, but I just hope my feet don't hurt as bad. So running, a huge challenge.

On the good side though, hubby is doing the 5k group with me. He smoked all the other people. He was the lead of the pack, I was bringin up the rear. Hopefully, he enjoys doing this and keeps at it. I know he would rather be mountain biking and racket balling.

The biggest challenge lately has been my energy. I have no energy at all. I hate getting up in the morning, so my workouts take place in the afternoon. I come home from work exhausted and take a short break. By the time I get ready, its a wonder I even make it out the door. I'm trying to go with the idea that if I can just get going, my energy will return. Not so much. I'm sure it has something to do with diet. But, I need help on this one. How do I get some more energy?

I have a few changes to make to try and help. I am going to start bringing my gym bag to work with me and head out straight from work to the pool, or bike, or run. I'm hoping that if I stay away from the house, I won't get as tired. I will also start doing some morning stuff. Maybe a few days a week at first.

So, please send me any ideas that you have for energy and such.

Getting Personal!

Sorry, but it is time. And by but, I really mean butt. In like, mine hurts.

My friend Bridget likes to claim that she is gifted at "making a short story long." Well, I also posses this gift, at times.

So, here goes. I have just started running again, and I remember now why I hate the first few runs after some time off. The tush, it hurts. All the chaffing..........

And when I ride my bike. Besides all the chaffing, the sits bones, they hurt.

Now, what about the swimming? I don't think my butt actually hurts from swimming. Except for maybe in this way. The chlorine may possibly dry out the skin, and well then, I'll leave it at that.

So, what to do about my butt? I will keep running because the chaffing will become less (and I have to, or I'll get yelled out. See if I ever honestly post about being lazy again). I will keep biking because apparently more time in the saddle will help with that whole issue. And, I will keep swimming because I like being in the water, and I don't want to drown early on in any event. One thing I will try though is this:

When my nieces were babies (They are currently the ripe, old age of 4, 4, and 2), my sister and sister-in-law used this lovely diaper rash cream on their little, tiny tushies. It seemed to help them.

When I was discussing this problem at my sister's baby shower (oh, yeah, I hold nothin back, except for the curse words. What if one of my students gets their hands on this? Just the thought gives me giant goose bumps), Anyway, the girls' Phrama C told me that when she is training, she breaks out he Boudreaux's. So, on my next trip to the store, I'll pick some up and try it out.

I warned you - Short story long! (I may have to make this my new signature)

LAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I have found my old, lazy self. It seems that the prospect of having one day off from work last week sent me into lazy overload. I biked a little and swam a little last Thursday, and then, NOTHING, until Tuesday. I did a little strength workout and more nothing.

Today, though, was the day to come back around and get off my big, fat butt and move. After nearly falling asleep in a meeting, I came home from work and did a strength workout. I toyed around with the idea spending the rest of the night curled up on the couch with the excuse of rain outside. But...... I let my conscious get the best of me and headed for the gym where I put in a little over two miles on the treadmill in walk/jog intervals. I'm hoping it was enough to motivate me to get back on track. Now, a little beauty sleep awaits.