Clemson Sprint Tri Race Report

I have been SUPER busy this week and really don't have the time to do this now, but I will try.



Yes, that's aero bars on my bike. David put them on the night before the tri, and I tried them out on Saturday. Yeah, I know the rules of don't try things for the first time in an event, but I don't listen very well. Check out my pic ---> Yeah, I'm in aero (sort of). I need to work on this some. :-)

We headed out quite early, 5:30ish A.M to get to Clemson, about an hr away. We brought my training partner with us. It was early, and I didn't get nervous at all until Denine and I went to the port o johns and saw the lake. It was huge and the buoy's looked SOOOO far out there. I got butterflies, as I suppose I should since this was my first lake swim tri. I kept thinking that since our wave wasn't that huge, at least one of those kayak peeps would save me if I started to drown. As eminem was playing in the background, I was wishing David's team mates and friends good luck, then Denine and I started to do the rap wave, knowing we looked like fools. I tell ya, the music and how loud it is, and the bullhorn is a great combo to take the nervous shakes away. An inspired feeling brushed across me, thinking back to a year ago, Robin and I standing there watching David start. I think I told her "I wouldn't do that swim". Here I was... and I was STOKED!

Swim:
David's wave went off right before us female age-groupers. As soon as they were off, we got in the C-O-L-D water. As I mentioned in a previous post, my strategy was to get to the outside (far left), and just try to stay there. As soon as I got in the water, I had that panic feeling from the cold, taking my breathe away. I think we had 3 minutes before our start. I thought that that was enough time, but it took me a a few times of putting my face in the water trying to breathe under water. It was so cold, I couldn't blow out the first few times. I was like "this ain't happening, I gotta breathe under water". So, after a few more times, I was all set. After the horn blew, I really think it took me about 1 min before I got into a good pace for myself. I just hung onto it, and pretty much stayed in my left lane of the lake without much hassle from the other ladies. I didn't site much neither. I breathe right so every stroke of breathe, I could see the others and as long as I stayed somewhat a few feet from them I knew I was on course. I rounded the buoy still feeling strong and kept going. I think I drifted out further than I should have. When I rounded the 2nd and final buoy, I had 1/3 of the 750m to go, and I could tell the next wave was catching up with me, which is fine. It just caught me off guard, and we encountered some choppy waters too all the way in. After I got out of the water, it was a long climb up the hill, and around the corner, into transition in the back. I'd say that added quite a few minutes.

T1 was 1:17, easy. The wetsuit came off rather nicely, and I took off. I took my gel as I headed out on the course.

Bike:
I think overall I had a decent bike ride. It was VERY hilly and they weren't joking when they said there was a steep climb at mile 3. I just kept shifting until I could climb it. At mile 5, I must have messed with my gears too much, because I dropped the chain. I stopped, got off my bike, fixed it and was off. I had grease ALL over my hands, and legs. Don't ask me how.... Anyway, I enjoyed the ride and didn't stress too much over going fast. I knew I had a run to do, and with how my right leg has been giving me crap lately, I took it fairly easy on the ride.

T2 was the EXACT same as T1: 1:17, and easy.

Run:
I couldn't believe when I saw "mile 1" marked on the road. I thought for sure we were at the half way point already. You've got to be kidding me. Then, Jeremy (race director) made us climb a wall, aka VERY steep hill and out onto a narrow piece of land surrounded by water. This was our turn around point, and I was heading back. I did Okay on the run, but not great. I had to just shuffle because of my left shin pain (it's on the inside of my leg). We had a 3/4 mile gradual uphill climb then a left to the finish line. When I came into site, I could see David smiling at me. I was thrilled to be done with it, and had that feeling of "I want more".

That feeling lasted until I saw the results. I'm quite disappointed in the final results, not because of anyone else but because of me. But, It's something I'm going to improve on, if I continue with the sport. I know what I need to do, to do well (for me) at Irongirl. It's just 6 1/2 wks away. Then after that, who knows?

Results: Swim 750m (20:23) - includes the long trek to transition
Bike 11 miles (43:02)
Run 5K (33:27)



After the race, we went to Wild Wings for some munchies with friends Chris and Janice, Denine, and spectator friend Margaret. It was a fun time, with lots of laughs, food, adult beverages and fun. We had a great weekend spending it with family. I didn't do the Virtual 10K because I'm giving my leg a whole week of no running, and icing it nightly. Since my plan calls for several runs this week, I'm substituting elliptical for the running until next week.

Last night I got in a 2000yd swim of mixed drills, with a main set (1x1000) and some cool down yardage. It went alrighty! The plan also called for 40min of running, that I switched to elliptical right after the swim.

Today for lunch was 30 min of elliptical, and tonight I'm spinning my bike while watching Dora with Grace for an hr. Blah.... dislike the trainer.

David is in Boston for a few days, then he returns and heads to Sunny SoCal (again) for a few days. Total looser... ;-)
So, I have to be creative with my workouts this week. :-)

I know I say this A LOT, but I'm super busy. But, get this? It will be WAY better next week. This is my last week in class, and I have super duper reserves this weekend, and then I hope to slow down some, increase my mileage on the bike, and start running again next week. With that said, I'll try to read blogs at some point this week. It's just me and the little lady, so I can't promise anything.

TGIF

I still feel a bit awful with the congestion, snot thingy going on. Uckk... But, I think I'm getting better. I'll be happy when I'm not drinking Nyquil at night. That stuff tastes horrible!

Yesterday David and I received our confirmation letters for PFChangs. My race # is lucky number 34207. That's a lot of freakin' people. Anyhoo, I'm in corral 14, predicted finish time is 2:20:00 - NOT. I guess I put that down when registering. My predicted finish time is actually when Lisa, Marcy, Lori and I finish! Anyway, haven't went through all the other paperwork yet.

So, I'm at work for the last time this year and it's been a very busy day, trying to think of anything that needs to be completed before I'm absent. I will be in a CISSP next week and my brain will be in overdrive. I expect to have no brain cells left in the evenings while attending this class.

While thinking about Half-Marathons (after receiving my confirmation), I decided today would be the day to sign up for Myrtle Beach Half and did so just minutes ago. So, that's official now! The Half always fills up fast, so I'm glad we made the 3000 deadline cutoff. So far, there are 8-10 of us going, and I just found out my Brother and his new girlfriend will be going to. He won't be running it, she will.

Thursday - Cross-training - Elliptical
Last night was a scheduled non-running evening, so instead of going home and sitting around, I decided to put my butt on the elliptical at the Y. Boring stats.
5.48 miles
47:38
500 cal burned

This weekend is full of Christmas shopping, house projects, and a little bit o' wine! My crazy cousin and I are hitting the town tonight. Although, definitely not the way we used to hit the town. :-) We're married with munckins now. I don't get to see her as often as I'd like, or used to (since she's moved to VA), so it will be nice to catchup with each other's lives and relax with an adult beverage.

Oh BTW - David and Neese are doing our local 5K at Furman tomorrow. Wish them luck on it! I'll be the cheering squad again.

Have a great weekend folks!!

A little bodyglide? maybe....

Yesterday during our cold and rainy late afternoon, I chose to go to the gym for my scheduled cross-training. I didn't swim, like I had hoped, but I did get in some time on the elliptical and got some reading done at the same time. Great multitasking workout.

Monday - Elliptical 40 min/3.19 miles/352 cal

Tuesday - Run 3 miles Today for lunch, I had 3 miles scheduled. I have to do this run at lunch, because we have our Church small group get together on Tuesday nights. David decided to run as well, and we had 10mph winds against us on the way to our normal loop route. Half way through the run, I noticed some burning on my inner thighs and you guessed it, I was chafed - bad. I didn't break skin like I did the last time I chafed, but it's very red, sore, and burning when I walk. I guess the cold wind, and my short shorts were the right combination to bring the pain. Anyway, I just hope it's better by Thursday, as I have 7 miles to run. Even with the wind, and chafed area - I had a faster run than my 3 miler last week.

I'll use the bodyglide next time.

Heavy Legs

Yesterday was an unplanned "rest" day for me. David and I went to the gym on Wednesday, which I hope becomes our strength training day, to do legs. We got there a bit too early to drop off the little one, so he hung with her while I warmed up on the elliptical. I haven't done leg workouts in quite a while and it showed as I had the wimpiest weight on the machines while David had triple what I had. Oh well. So, yesterday I could feel the workout while walking around, but especially up the stairs at work/home. Today they feel much better and hopefully ready for a 4 mile run this afternoon. Boring workout as follows:

Elliptical - 30 min / 2.73 miles

Smithsquat - 4x10 (135lbs)
Seated single leg curl - 4x10 (15lbs)
single leg ext - 4x10 (15lbs)
DB Deadlift - 4x10 (20lbs)
seated calf ext - 4x10 (100lbs)
legpress - 4x10 (100lbs)

In better news! We booked flights/hotel last night for PF Changs RnR in Phoenix and are extremely excited to go run this race with so many blogger friends!

mudder

Apparently my new name from the snot. It went from Ma-ma - Mommy - to Mom (Yeah, I didn't like this). Now, mudder, aka Mother, of course. She's southern. :-)

Slacking on the blogging lately. Just been super busy with the job, family, Halloween, and I just finished my drill weekend as well. It was only 3 wks between drills - not long enough. Too much... So, just got all caught up on everyone's blogs last night.

Our anniversary weekend was wonderful! On a last minute whim last Friday, we decided to ride up to Pretty Place where we were married and to show Grace. A few of you asked about where those pictures were taken so thought I'd share a little. We are in the upstate of SC, where I was born and raised. When I was showing David around the upstate before moving up here (from Charleston), I took him up to Pretty Place and he seemed to like it. So much so, on a visit up there later on he proposed to me. It's a YMCA camp, Camp Greenville and the chapel is called Symmes Chapel. Obviously, it's in G'ville county, but about an 1.5 hrs from our house, through my old stomping ground and on up the mountain. It's just gorgeous up there, very quiet, tranquil and breathtaking. You can see all the surrounding NC and SC mountains. It's also very spiritual. More pics of Pretty Place here. The only downside to going up there is the sick feeling in my tummy from the mountains and usually only happens on the return. Blah....

Halloween was fun. Grace actually understood more about it this year and really enjoyed it. She was running to the doors yelling "trick or treat". Here's my purple care bear.

My favorite - After the long evening, Grace ironically checking out her Care Bear movie.


Ya'll, my shins are killing me. I didn't do much exercise/running this week.

Tues - Run 2.4 miles - okay run, still feeling slow.

On my day off to get projects done around the house, friday, I attempted my run on the dreaded treadmill at the Y because winds were like 18mph. For a scheduled 5 miles, I had to stop at 1.8 miles in due to shin splints again. I seem to get them everytime I start running/training again. I didn't take that much time off, to go through this again. I hopped off and onto the elliptical and 12 minutes in, I really was aching to get back on the treadmill to finish my 5. I did so, only to get off again after 5 minutes. I just couldn't handle it. It hurt so much that sat morning when I got up, my first step out of bed - I felt the pain. After I got off, I was on my way out the door feeling disappointed not knowing when I could make it up, wondering if I should just attempt the outdoors that maybe it would be better. I saw that they were starting the spinning class and joined in. :-) I love the way spinning makes my legs feel strong, whereas running (lately anyhow) makes my legs feel weak.

Run 1.8 miles
Elliptical 12:00 .97 miles
Spinning 60 min

Tomorrow, I will be buying new running shoes, hopefully. :-)

Thank goodness Drill is done and not another one for 4 more weeks. They just exhaust me. I have a busy week at work this week with some specific projects, and some reviews I have to write up. Time to turn in for me, and it's only 9:17... Night night, and hope you all had a great weekend!

Out of the rut

Finally, I think I'm getting out of the rut of not caring about working out. I'm not doing the amount of exercise I was before, but I feel like that time's finally come. A training plan may start really soon and it will push me back into running, and I'm sure after a few runs, I'll be enjoying it again. I'll deal with my leg issue as it comes and may be investing in some massage therapy, etc.

We had a fantastic weekend! Church today was great! For the 2nd week, I've ran into an great old high school friend, and she's as sweet as she was many, many years ago. Plus friends that own our local coffee shop showed up too! Neat. We went to our Friends's son's baseball tournament, but unfortunately caught the end of it, then we all went to eat. We always have a great time with them! After a few errands, we took Grace to a park and she rode the train, got on her bike, played in the park.

I know this is boring. I'm exhausted, can't you tell? blah... blah...

Friday:
Upright Bike 15:00
Elliptical 15:00

Sat:
Bike (trainer) 30:00, 8.17 miles, 16.2mph

Sun:
Pilates





Tomorrow, I'm jumping in the pool for some laps. Miss it! Off to turn in. My eyes are practically closed and it's only 10:00.

Congrats to JavaMom for competing in her first triathlon! Woo hoo! You did awesome!

I'm here

Yea, I know - it's been quite a while since an update. Thanks for asking about me, ladies.... My life is super busy right now, but that's just an excuse, right? I've barely been able to get online to read everyone's blogs, as work has been busy, and in the evenings, it's been crazy. I'm buying another car right now, and that's been stressful, as it always is when you're spending that kind of money.

I also have my drill weekend this weekend, and with every October drill, comes the Navy Ball. David and I have been the last 3 years, and I will be picking up tickets today for Saturday night. Should be fun. However, the last 3 years I was on the planning committee and knew just about every detail. Whereas, this year I know nothing - and actually like not having last minute stress on me with it. Also, the last 3 years, I bought my dress in the week of the Ball, and I bought it last week. So, I'm on the ball (hehe - pun intended). Anyhoo... some of the best part of the Ball is the after party we make at a local club. Last year, David met George Hincapie there after the Greenville Cycling Classic. I'm sure he's hoping for a repeat....

So, David will have the last triathlon of the series this Saturday at Hickory Knobb Triathlon, then head on back to meet me to go out. I won't be going to it, because I have to be at the reserve center. I hope he does well! So, wish him luck. Mom with have the munchkin all weekend.

Been trying to get back in the habit of working out, and did go to the gym Monday after work, but last night we were at the dealership all evening, so that was a washout.

Mon:
Elliptical 30min
Swimming 500yds - 12:55

Hope to get a workout in today after work. We'll see. David and I have decided to do the Myrtle Beach half marathon in Feb. I did it this year, and loved it. But, when training starts - it will be to PR MB. I'll take cold-running training any day over the heat. So, I'm looking forward to getting back on a plan next month. Jess, and Tiffany, here's a flat half for ya.... :-)

As far as Chicago Marathon goes, I feel so bad for those that had terrible experiences doing it and I hope everyone is better now!

Here's some pictures of Grace...



At Church


She LOVES statues


and here she is, checking out his nose. What a nut?


Daddy's little girl


Ta-Ta - on to work, and catch up on blogs! Hope you all out there are doing fantastic!

lost focus

Time for me to focus, and really get my mind and act together to shed some unwanted and extra despised weight. I hate pictures of me, and there were a few taken on my trip that disgusted me. I didn't gain any weight while gone, thankfully, but I didn't loose any. Really, it was hard to shed weight the way we ate out and was catered to at lunchtime. So it's time. I weight myself yesterday, and just in a few days put on a few pounds. We didn't care what we ate over the weekend and it shows (literally) now. My birthday is Monday and as I'm getting older, it's harder to focus on weight loss, and I seem to loose the drive really quickly these days.

The truth hurts. It's hard when everyone around you is fit, toned, and the right size (weight), when I used to be that way. I was in great shape while serving in the Service. I was as fit as anyone I hung out with, or went through my Navy career with. I could hang with the guys on our PT. I was (many years) the girl that ran the most at her command, the girl that could party all hrs of the night then get up for a decent mileage run, the girl that was toned with a nice stomach, the girl that didn't see how fit I was - until now. Now, I'm on the opposite end of the scale and it hurts me.

Wed: 30 min - Elliptical
I went to the gym yesterday and did a boring workout as Marcy would say. :-) I don't have a specific plan right now, but will probably do what David suggests, which is to get a beginner's triathlon program and just work off of that plan, just to have one. I am still planning on doing the Greenville half-mary, but not 100% sure yet. My enjoyment of running has slid some, because of my leg and I don't want to do a Half if my heart isn't into it. That's hard to admit, but I want to be honest with you all. I've ran for years, all the way back to enlistment. I think I just want to do a variety of cardio workouts, not just running. So, I'll figure out my plan, post it and see what you all think.

Today (lunch) - Pilates

Niki - if you read this - I feel your pain girl, and feel that I'm right there with you. I'm in a pity party too, and I hope we both come out of it soon! ((here's to raised glasses))

Enough of the pity party junk! This morning as I was getting all my stuff together to take to work (briefcase, purse, and my gym bag), I said something like gonna put my junk in the trunk, so we started singing the black eyed peas song, then after getting to work, David sent me this video of Alanis, which btw, I've always liked - such a tough chic. I think it's funny. I've never seen it or even heard it until now.



BEP's video - Boy is Fergie toned!