Barb's Race

I suppose a benefit of waiting four weeks to write about the race is that you get a more condensed version of it!  So sorry it took me so long.

My goals:  Less than 6 1/2 hours total; Under 45 minutes for the swim, 3 1/2 for the bike, and 2 hours for the run, and then whatever transitions would take.

The drive was longer than I remembered, but it was a beautiful day in Sonoma County.  When Ken and I arrived at the race headquarters (a high school) we ate the lunch I packed and took in the sights.  There was an informational race video I was required to watch before I could pick up my packet, which was a nice cool, dark room that made me very sleepy.  I resisted though, and once it was done went to get my packet, my shirt and another water bottle.  The bike-to-run transition area was there at the school, and we had to leave our stuff there.  I found the rack for my race and age group, and found what I hoped to be the easiest to get to during the race.  I simulated coming in and finding my spot, just to engrave it in my memory.  Once I felt comfortable with that Ken and I drove the bike course, which turned into an additional two hours in the car.  Yikes.  I was so grateful to have done it though, and was super excited to know the course was going to be easier than I thought! 

We checked into our hotel and then began to scope out a place to have a decent pre-race dinner.  Alas, the only restaurant we could find was Denny's.  However, they serve breakfast all day, so I totally scored a stack of pancakes...Carbohydrates, anyone???

That night was the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics, allowing for something great to watch and be inspired by.  It didn't quite work that way, as first it turned kind of weird and then unwatchable, so I was able to get plenty of sleep.

After a breakfast of a Frappacino, some orange juice, a bagel with cream cheese and jelly and a couple Ironman cookies, I was ready to go.  I double checked to make sure I had everything, and away we went.  Twenty miles to the swim start!

I was able to get a pretty good spot in transition, and began to scope out the other ladies.  And of course that includes their gear (hee hee).  As time to race drew near, our rack soon became very crowded with some late arrivals and we had to squeeze two more bikes onto an already crowded rack.  Oh well. 

Breath mint anyone? Ok, so my sense of smell is probably a bit sensitive, but seriously.  The smell of bad breath (from others, not my own) was hovering throughout the transition area as well as during the swim.  It made breathing difficult in some cases. 


Here I am before the swim...so pretty, right?  Ha!  I am so glad I cut my hair shorter.



The swim was slow-going for the first half, and there were a lot of people in my way.  Or, was I in their way?  I didn't have a good start anyway, and it took me awhile to feel like I wasn't gasping for air and wanting to breath every stroke.  At one point I had to stand up and walk to deeper water because it was too shallow for me to get a good stroke in!  I couldn't believe I had already reached the turn-around point when I did, and gave myself a very stern talking to:  "Get with it, Kerry!!!  Reach, rotate, BREATHE!  Over half-way there, now it's downstream. Go!"

And I did.  In 40:05 to be exact.

Maybe it took 7 minutes in transition because I walked?  I figured I had plenty of time to run later...

My bike was at the almost farthest point away from where I got out of the swim.  I did take advantage of the wetsuit strippers though.  A little weird, seeing as they took off my top pair of shorts with my wetsuit, but I guess it saved me time?  It was a dusty transition area, so if nothing else, it kept me from having to sit in the dirt to get it off.

Anyway...

My first transition clocked in as a whopping 7 minutes, 9 seconds.  Part of that I would like to blame on the fact that the Barb's Race participants' bike racks were all the way at the end of the area.  However, the rest of it can be blamed on the fact that I would trade a few minutes to make sure I was ready (aka washing off the mud from my feet, get my sleeves on, check my brakes, etc.).  And so off I went on my bike for the most nerve-racking part of the triathlon for me.  



I decided on going blue this time.  Orange will be for IMAZ.

The bike ride was BEAUTIFUL.  No flats, no mechanical problems, no "people" issues, just fantastic rolling hills, friendly ladies, and great volunteers.  The only scary part was being on a narrow road with a Wine Tour Bus hurdling around corners.  But some polite, "BUS BACK!" calls will get you a long way, and we all looked out for each other.  I stopped at the mile 28ish aid station for the potty and to refill my water bottle.  I stayed on top of fueling, lost track of how far halfway is in a 56 mile ride, which made it go by even faster!  I tried to keep checking my output, that it was fast enough, but not too fast to kill the run.

Around the point of being about three hours into the race (50 minutes from the swim, about 2 hours into the ride) I realized I was going to do much better than I thought.  I was going to be done with the bike and able to start the run by the four hour race mark, which meant there was a chance I could get under six hours.   Internal voice came back: "Oh, Kerry Sue, you've got to really try to do that!  You will be so happy if you do!  Under six hours, could you imagine?"  Alright, self.  Totally, let's go, legs! 

I cruised into the transition area (again the racks for our race were near the back) racked my bike, changed shoes and jersey, put on the visor, the race number belt, swallowed the contents of my Gatorade pouch and took off on the run.  I saw an acquaintance from my swim group, so I chatted with her while we made our way to the course.  Ken was there with his cow bell, ringing and shouting away, making me run a little faster!

I did not have fond memories of this run course.  It surprised me two years ago with the amount of hills it contained!  There were other factors to be sure- starting a marathon at an estimated time rather than a specific start time means nutrition can be off.  I had also started running at about 5:15pm and finished just after 9:00pm, beginning in heat, ending in the cold dark.  This time would be different.

The course seemed, um, shorter?  Yes, yes, I know I was only running half the distance (one and a half loops instead of three full), but the loop went by so fast, it was thrilling.  I was going to just "experiment" with walking the aid stations and not actually take anything every time, but the heat was cranking up, so at the very least I took two water cups- one to drink, the other to dump on my head.  I also acquired an affection for flattened cola.  That just may be my new favorite endurance beverage (a little sarcastic, but only a little).  There were some residents along the course who offered their hoses to spray you on your way if you wanted ("Yes, please!" was my usual answer, followed by turning around in a circle so I could get evenly wet).  It made the hot run a little more cool and comfortable. 

Around mile ten, I think I lost my smile.  Up to that point I was just so happy to be out there!  I had kept my mile pace very comfortable and steady.  I was even running faster than I thought I was.  I thought of all the long runs I had put in to be ready.  I knew I could keep walking the aid stations, and to do so became a necessity.  I was so thirsty all the time!  Finishing the half marathon under two hours would be a reality, as would finishing the total race under six hours.  But I was beginning to feel really uncomfortable.  I could feel chafing happening on my sides from my sleeves, my knee was aching, my feet felt hot, and I wanted to be done.  Just keep doing what you're doing, I told myself.  Not that far left to go.

I was going to bypass the aid station at mile 12 and just push it in to the finish line, but the thought of a cup with ice water in it won over, and I ended up stopping and really enjoying it.  Then off on my way, I had a race to finish!  I cruised in the last mile, found my smile again and relished in the accomplishment of the day.  I realized I had never been passed on the run by another female.  That made me super excited!  I knew I gave it all I had left in the run.  And as I powered in to the finish line, there was this little thought that went through my mind about finishing the 70.3 mile race...

"Is that all?"

Training works.  It's like making deposits in your bank account along the way, and then able to make a withdrawal and have plenty to spare.

I'm going to be ready for IMAZ.  My account is open and active.

My splits:
Swim: 40:05
T1: 7:09
Bike: 3:09
T2: 4:41
Run: 1:48:56
Total: 5:50:15

Week in Review 8/20-8/26

First week of school, so able to stick to a routine and get almost everything in the manual done.

Monday-
Swim, 1 hour

Tuesday-
Tempo Run: 6 miles; 1 warm-up, 4 @ tempo, 1 cool down
Ride: 1:20 tempo ride

Wednesday-
Ride: Moderate 1:30 exploring which roads still had road construction.
Swim: 1 hour

Thursday-
Track workout: 1.25 mile warm-up; 2 x 2400m; 1.25 mile cool down

Friday-
Rest Day (But I was still on my feet all day cleaning!)

Saturday-
Triple Day (aka A Free, Made-Up Triathlon with Pat and Burt):
Swim: 4 x 400m
Ride: 60 miles
Run: 5.5 miles
We swam in Pat's community pool; then did two loops on the bike, starting at his house to Sheri's and back; ran two loops to get to 50 minutes.  The guys were running slow. ;)

Sunday-
Long run, 14.5 miles/2:10 (4x 10 minutes @ 75%, 20 minutes at 60%; plus warm-up and cool down)
I wasn't able to get the cool down ride in afterwards.  I woke up at 3:30am to eat, then was going to wake up at 4:30 to start.  That changed to 5:00...so no bike.  I always seem to run out of time Sunday mornings!

A Quick Recap of August

It's been a month?  Woops.

To fill you in on all the "exciting" happenings of the last month, here is a quick recap:

• Barb's was FANTASTIC- A total confidence booster and fun experience.  I'll keep working on the details.
• I cut off my hair- Not too short, still long enough for a ponytail, but so much better and lighter!
• The number of days to IMAZ has fallen to double digits- Surreal, and I know it's going to be here before I know it.
• Kids went back to school this week which means some very lovely time to train and a regular routine is back in order.  I like order and routine.  They are my friends.
• I went on a thousand mile road trip and was still able to get all my training in, as well as some very fun cousin time!
• Speaking of family, I am all the more inspired to be grateful for a healthy body.  With some beloved family members having health issues, I cannot help but to want to do this Ironman thing on their behalf.
• I am trying to soak up every moment of training and the Ironman experience as I go, because I know it will be over before I know it, with no hope of being able to repeat it for a long, long time.  Much thanks to the husband for having house & family without me on Saturday mornings for almost eight months now!
• Last night my friend offered to let me use one of their tri bikes for the Ironman.  I am going on Tuesday to see which one will fit better.  I am so very grateful for the generosity!

Being a Triathlete Reminds Me of Something...

The stuff.  Oh my goodness, the stuff you accumulate as a triathlete.  Getting ready for the race I'm doing this weekend, well, you know what it reminds me of?  Having a baby.  No, not the actual laboring of having a baby, but all the stuff you "have to have" when a baby comes along and you have to go somewhere with said baby.  You spend an hour preparing and packing for it.  Here are my comparisons:

The Toys:
Sure, you can get the uber-expensive, top-of-the-line goodies, but what fun is that?  The bouncer, the excer-saucer, the fancy stroller, swing, teething toys, books, etc.  They practically take care of the baby themselves!  When it comes to triathlons, you have to have a bike.  The baby stuff may be optional (but  don't tell any "good" parent that!), but a bike is mandatory.  I experience bike-envy quite often, just as I would experience stroller-envy back in the day.  But Silver, my bike, does the job for me just like my little Graco stroller did the job for my kids.

So, here is Silver, ready to go this weekend.  Also necessary are the towels for the swim-to-bike transition, and the pump.  Reminds me of the burp clothes and other pump I would take with me in the diaper bag....

The Bag:  (aka: The Diaper Bag vs. The Tri Bag)
Every parent knows the sickening feeling when you forget to restock the diaper bag; whether it be the diapers, the wipes, the spare outfit, snacks, bottles, formula...the list goes on and on.  I used to have a doosey of a diaper bag.  I thought it better to over-prepare than to get stuck without something, so I had all sorts of stuff in there.  I even had snacks for myself in there.  And depending on how long we would be from home, I might even throw in an extra shirt for me (c'mon...if you've ever nursed or had a baby with a runny nose, you know...). 
Triathlons really aren't that different.  Fortunately my brother bought a very nice Tri-specific bag for me, full of special pockets and zippers.  It totally reminds me of a grown-up's diaper bag.  Because let's face it, triathletes can be really big babies sometimes.

The Food:
As a mother, I learned to never be without food or drink for my baby and/or toddler.  In particular were those outings when we would actually have to be around people and I wanted them all to think I had the most angelic child ever, and that I was a super mom.  Ok, that sounds awful, but honest.  I would have goldfish, graham crackers, those special little fluffy toddler snacks; as babies there would always be a spare bottle and formula; sippy cups with water and/or juice.  Nowadays I have scaled back to just a water bottle for short trips, because I am pretty sure everyone knows my children are as angelic as their mother is.  Which is, not very.
I was having flashbacks to the baby/toddler days as I was getting my "fuel" together.  This is just the stuff for during the race:

This is what is being packed for race-day breakfast:  (The PopTarts are for Ken, honest!)
And yes, I am bringing my own toaster!!!

You better believe I wouldn't forget the BOTTLES:

So, there you have it.  And in case you were in doubt as to whether or not I was a bag-toting mama, here is a flashback of me with my two oldest kids on an outing ten years ago.  They are now 13 and 11 years old!

Thank you for reading my snarky commentary. ;)  I'll be sure to let you know how the race goes, and if I forgot anything!

Week in Review 7/16-7/22

I almost didn't even do this week's review.  I didn't write down what I did along the way, and it's, well, a bit boring!  I am slightly tapering for Barb's, but trying not to too much. 

Monday- Swim practice; The arms felt super tired afterwards, so I knew it was a good one.  I fit in two sets of the workout and still had time to cool down.  (2200m)

Tuesday- Run: 2 miles warm up, 3 miles at 7:30/average mile pace, 1 mile cool down.

Wednesday- Short, fast ride; 24 miles.

Thursday-
Run: Track workout: 5 x 1000m, 400m rest in between
Swim: Open lake swim with the Matts; a great mile of swimming!

Friday- Rest day, but rode my bike with the kids to run an errand.

Saturday-
Ride on Auberry Road to 168 and back to Pat's house (42 miles); then a quick 3 mile run.  Felt tired until the run, and then I felt better.  Hopefully the run will be the saving leg at Barb's, too!

Sunday-
Easy 8 mile run, felt great!

Totals:
Swim- 2.25 miles
Bike- 67 miles
Run- 23.5 miles

Week in Review 7/9 - 7/15

Counting down to Barb's...the half ironman/long course triathlon on July 28th.  I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm feeling ready!  Except for this week.  No bueno.

Monday-  Swim: Started doing a 100, 200, 300, 400 and back down ladder, but Rich stopped me halfway during my second 300.  He told me to get out and follow him.  Dang, I felt like I was being sent to the Principal's office!  He walked me to a lane that had mirrors placed on the bottom.  I was supposed to swim and watch myself and see how I am still bringing my hands too far in on entry.  It was really enjoyable, really; the mirrors were like the kind at the circus where they make you look tall and thin.  I wanted someone to take a picture so I could show everyone, I looked great!  hahaha
Total: About 2200m; I lost track once I moved to the other lane, but I think that's close!

Tuesday- Easy run: Really, really, easy, but it didn't feel easy.  I knew I was going slow, but I was so tired, probably from the long weekend with early mornings (and no naps either day!  What?!).  I averaged 8:48 mile pace for the 5 miles.  Really, really easy run!

Wednesday- Nada.  Just couldn't fit it in with the other duties.  Need I mention I was really cranky by nightfall?  Yep.  Poor Kenny.

Thursday-
Run:  Track workout of 3x: 1200m, 200m RI, 600m, 400m RI.  We started later than usual, and it was a scorcher kind of day!  But we did it, and flew, too!  Maybe it was from all the "rest" from the previous day (wink, wink).
Swim:  Open water swim with a few friends (Matt B., Jennifer and Stormy) at the lake.  We did three loops where we decided was the safest place to stay away from boats.  The only problem was feeling like a total slow-poke the entire time.  It was too hot to wear a wet suit.  By the third loop I was finally feeling strong and steady with strokes and breathing.  I decided that is a good thing for the race I have in two weeks, where the swim will be 1.2 miles!

Friday- Ride to make up for Wednesday.  Went 25 miles with all WOMEN...yes, you read that right!  I very rarely get to train with any chicas, but this day I was with three other fabulous females: Jennifer, Stormy and Tammy.  Stormy is my new swim group friend!  It was a fun ride!
Saturday- 50 mile ride.  It was supposed to be 58 miles that started/ended from my house, with some rollers.  But a family emergency cut the ride short and our riding group rushed back to my house.  The good news is my husband was bringing the kids to SAG (Support And Gear...basically provide an aid station for us in the middle of nowhere).  The bad news is our dog died in the process.  Kind of a long story.  I pulled up with the friends I was riding with (Pat, Jennifer and Tammy), to a yard of crying kids and husband.  It was a very sad day.

Sunday- 11.5 mile run; felt very tired and slow.  Not a good weekend, nor a good way to end a low week.  But I guess I can chalk it up as a kind of taper, right?  ;)

Any Given Laundry Day

Long, long ago, in a land far, far away, I was in high school.  I was given a locker to store my running clothes as part of being on the cross country and track teams.  There were a few options for changing shirts, shorts, sports bras, and socks.  One pair of trusty running shoes, a hairbrush and an extra rubber band for my hair.  Did I have deodorant?  I don't remember.  We girls could not comprehend how boys could shower in their locker room after every practice.  Girls are scared of other girls.  So there was no shower-taking in the girl's locker room.  (Scared as in intimidated to be naked in front of each other, not fearful of our safety)  Ok.  Have I made you all uncomfortable now?  So sorry.  I just had to properly set the stage.

I can clearly remember not bringing my clothes home very often to clean them.  I can also very clearly remember putting on dry, crusty socks.  Whoa!  That's gross, I know!  How did I do that?  These days I don't reuse any item of clothing.  After it's used, it goes straight to the hamper.  I try not to stink, whether or not I'm meeting anyone for a workout.  I try to do my part to make the world a better smelling place, honest! 

Which brings me to the picture I am sharing with you.  It is a typical laundry day.  More often than not, there are a couple of loads worth of my smelling training clothes.  Being the cheap-skate I am, I hang them to dry.  I have to take care of the clothes so I don't have to replace them, and I'm saving energy by not using the dryer.  So, there!

This is just half of what was in the laundry this morning (training clothes, that is).