Iron Girl triathlon low-down

3 words, people! Had. A. Blast....

Great race venue, fun time with awesome people. Isn't that what it's all about?

No matter what my pace was, or how slow I was - it was a fun time and that trumps it all! I realize more and more about myself the more I do these.

Lots of pictures - David (my cameraman did fantastic at taking tons of pics), so apologize up front about the loads of pics, but I just had to share.

David, friend Denine, and I headed out fairly early to Lake Lanier on Sat AM, not so much to get to the race site early but to do more important things - like SHOPPING at the outlet, specifically Nike. So, after only 3 stores we scoured and walked out with less in all of our wallets - we were off. We thought we had plenty of time to get there to get our race packets by cutoff at 4PM, and we did - it was 3:55 when we arrived! Yowza.... We also dropped bikes off at transition.



...and checked out the hill we had to run up to transition after the swim. Complete suckage.


After packet pickup and hotel check-in, we had a lovely dinner with great company at an Italian place. Wes and Dee Dee, Lauren, Kevin and Cathy, Scott, Robin, and Jackie, and us with our friend Denine. It was nice to unwind and since I've done my previous triathlons with no beer the night before, I thought it wouldn't hurt to go the other route this time. Yum-O.


(from left side of table)-Jackie, Robin, Scott, Dee Dee, Wes, Lauren, Cathy, Kevin, Denine, Me, and David)


Girl power!

Morning came really early, 5:15 to be exact. We were out the door by 5:30. By the time we arrived, parked and walked the 10 min walk to transition, we were only 15 min from when they were closing transition. I quickly got my junk organized, body marked and left no time for a bathroom break - Ohhh me. I had to pee from the time we got there til WAY after the race when we had lunch. But, we had time for a photo-op at the Aflac duckie...




No way am I really this serious about this race....

See?


This pic is for Lisa, Marcy, Lori, and Karen!


Swim start:


Lauren and I - red'to'go!


Swim went okay for me. First time I had some really bad congestion in the water, but once I got out off to the left, it wasn't as bad until this one chic kept doing back stroke and running (so to speak) into me. It wasn't "HER" lake... anyhoo. It was so short, and congested that you couldn't quite get into your groove as much as a longer swim. My time (including long climb up the beach and hill) to transition was 14:38.

Swim finish (I'm back right)


T1 just sucked. I used a different helmet and didn't practice buckling it that much, and it took me a while to get it all figured out. Longest transition to date: 2:59.

Bike: (I'm in the middle of the pic) I put on a grey shirt during T1.


The 18 mile bike was, by far, my favorite event today. I'm just really enjoying riding regardless of how fast/slow I go. I'm comfortable shifting, climbing, doing downhills without braking :-), and even getting aero. It was a very nice course, albeit EXTREMELY hilly. There was a hill at about mile 8.5 that was steep, and the majority of the women around me were walking their bikes up. I stayed on mine, even though I was probably going the same speed as they were. We had issues with congested road at about mile 15-16.5 where we got stuck behind a line of cars. That, of course sucked some time out of us.

T2: Better than T1 - First time I didn't put socks on in T2. 1:45, time still not my best. The long way in/out of transition has a lot to do with this as well.



Run: Everytime here lately I get off my bike and run, my lower back is killing me. Today, I didn't have shin splint pains, but back pain. I'm dealing with it, and am going to start rolling my back or just do some consistent stretching. The course was pretty, in the Lake Lanier resort area but again - hilly. I did a run/walk and although I'm disappointed (again), I did what I can. 33:40.

Finally - done!




After some socializing, shopping at the IronGirl tent, and some mimosa and snacks - we were off to get Denine's new bike. She bought a used bike that was up for sale by owner on Sat afternoon. We think she got a great deal on it. We left, and as quickly as we could, we found a place for lunch and had a nice relaxing time out on the balcony.

My idea for unwinding... aka carb re-loading


Big thanks to our chaeffeur, photographer, and race groupie!


We got back to my Mother's house to get Grace and I'd say she was excited to see us.


Looks like we have a future triathlete on our hands...


My buddy, Denine and I train together, especially our rides/runs. We have become good friends and have such a wonderful friendship that I hope continues to grow. I'm glad to have found her. We started off in different waves (she was 5 min ahead of me), and we had a very similar finishing time - about 1 min apart. I wish we could have started together - we would have done the entire tri side-by-side.

Thanks Lisa, for the call, chica! You are such a dear friend!

It's so easy to look at the negative in any race, and look back and say "Why didn't I do this/that?", what if? and have regrets either about training or racing but, it's all a learning experience and no matter how much I seem to complain about this/that, I enjoy what I'm doing. However, I am learning from my mistakes and lack of training. One of the best things about it is that fact that I can just do this - I'm healthy, and I'm setting a good example for my daughter. But, the BEST thing about these sports is the people I've met. I can honestly tell you that everyone of you that I've met has been great and I've enjoyed your company.

I'm blessed.

(off to read your blogs - soooooo far behind).

32 comments:

An Athlete In Training said...

Congratz on the great/fun race!

Kevin said...

It was great to finally meet you. Congrats on a great race. I am looking forward to being in your neck of the woods for the SC 1/2 IM.

Unknown said...

Great job with the race. Awesome! Great job to David on his documentory skills.

J~Mom said...

Love your attitude!!! Congratulations on a great race!! You look awesome in all of the pics! I cracked up at the David pic. He is a nut!

Nancy said...

Hey you - great attitude you are sporting there and great pics too. That looked and sounded like a blast. I just love that pic at the start of you turned around giving the eye through the crowd. Adorable!

Nice work and congrats.

Christie said...

Congrats on the race!! Great race report.

Marcy said...

WHOOOOO HOOOOO!! CONGRATS CHICA!! Looks like such a fun time. Totally jealous! Lots of peeps to hang with.

LMAO @ David and his TRC shirt. I'm thinking to myself "Why does that shirt remind me of me?" DOH! Maybe because you're wearing it as you type. Moron.

Gotta Run..... said...

That event ROCKED!!!! It will be hard for any other tri to compare. Lvoed it all!! I plan on being back for more in 2009. That one will make it on the list for sure.

GIRL POWER!!

Neese said...

WAHOO! Congrats on having a fun and great race, you IRON GIRL!! I love the "swim start" photo, you look great!

Lauren Starks said...

it was so great to meet you! great job on your race!

Wes said...

That's awesome. I could tell at the end of the race that you had had a good time! It was great to get to see you guys again. I think I'd a rather had lunch with you guys ;-)

Our paths will cross again soon, right? Still doing Lake Logan and the David the half??

Eric said...

Congratulations! Great job! You ARE way blessed! See y'all soon!

Ashley said...

YEAH! Yippee, awesome, GREAT job!!!! I love the pre-race group shots... fantastic race pics as well. Mendy, you did amazing.

Also - see my blog.
I TAG you.

Nick said...

Great job in the race! Sounds like Grace is getting some serious cycling genes. Y'all have good taste in carbo-reloading adult post race recovery beverages ~ my favorite.

P.O.M. said...

You're such an inspiration. You make those crazy races look like fun. Although you would never get me to one! ha ha.

Lily on the Road said...

I'm so excited that you had so much fun!! way to go Mendy!! You make me want to get over my fear of the Tri and do it anyway!!

Love the pictionary...thanks!!

teacherwoman said...

Nice job, Mendy! You totally rocked that race! Sounds like it was a lot of fun... not just the race but meeting up with others! Cool beans.

Steve Stenzel said...

NICE JOB!!! I love the pics! (especially the carbo-reloading...)

And we all have that occasional overly-serious photo from the start!!

Jess said...

Great report -- and nice job!

Unknown said...

It seems to me that you had an awesome time at the race - based on the smiles in the photos and the enthusiasm in the words. To me, that is what matters most. Good job!!

Viv said...

Mendy, next one I want a pic of you giving the thumbs up chickie! I had a blast tells me all I need to know and that you crossed that finish line smiling. I think the run was a 5K so what is shabby with that time...gettouttahere! The pics were great, loved it all. The cutie pic is Grace running to you though. Even though the thumbs down one you look super cute too
:-) congratulations!!

Laura said...

Congratulations! You did an awesome job, and I'm especially proud of you for the alcohol-as-carb-reloading. A woman after my own heart! :)

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

Had. A. Blast....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nice!! All this TRI stuff going on makes me ummm (whew) I was almost going to say get a bike but.... ummm ya know...stick closer to the ground :-)

COngrats Mendy love the pics by ur Groupie...and BEER looks very Tasty!! also Grace looks like she has some good speed ....I see a little 5k 'errrr action soon --haha

RunnerGirl said...

Awesome job!

Chris said...

Great race report Mendy. It sounds like you guy(actually girls) had a great race and had a ton of fun. I'm jealous of any racing at this point. Travelling and work sucks! :-(

You have come a long way and it seems that you have built a TON of confidence in your natural abilities!

rxervin said...

Good for you for even doing this, Mendy! You are the woman!

Love you!

Jason The Running Man said...

Great job Mendy! Love th pics! Congrats!

Erin Leigh said...

It sounded like a great race!!! You are lucky to have met such great people!!!

Another Guinness girl, YAY!!!

Michelle said...

Sorry I'm late to the party.

Great job on that race, Mendy! You should have no regrets. Every race is a stepping stone to the next one, and you'll improve. I'm so proud of you!

sunshine said...

Looks like such a great race -- super fun! Congrats on a job well done. And... it goes without saying, Grace looks so cute in her little "in-training" shirt. :)

The 311 Boys Mom said...

DISNEY--NO CHILD IS TOO YOUNG!!

my 4 hr nap a day parer slept for 30-120 minutes a day & it was fine.

Brandon went every 12-18 months from the time he was 9months old---he don't remember, but we do & those are some of my favorite memories.

I'd be happy to help you plan it...its all in when you go. (I do get a little OCD doing it)

Pokey said...

I am SOOO late reading/commenting on this....but I just LOVE this post Mendy!!! The race report is GREAT and the pictures are just FANTASTIC!!! (literally LOL at the self-group portrait of your dear hubby!!!) ;)

You are doing AWESOME!!!!!!