Back to the Long Run

I got up early this morning, drove across to the city, and parked at the Art Museum loop.  By 7:10am, I started my run.  I kept the first loop (8.5mi) easy, and as I started the second loop, I picked up the pace.  5 miles into the second loop, I turned around and ran those 5 back. 

18 miles done.  It felt great to get back to the longer running. 

I definitely have lost some of my longer endurance at a faster pace, but the run was solid.  I may not be ready to go after a marathon time I was chasing in my last 26.2, but the HIM training was worth it.  I haven't decided on any goals for this race yet.  It's too soon.  I have a bunch more long runs to go, and I'm looking forward to all of them :) 


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Cindi (and Mindi!) - I registered for the Philly Marathon well before I committed to the half iron distance tri this summer.  As of now, I'm training to run it, but I'm not sure I'll have the solid training in (it's 8 weeks away) to go after a time I've chased in the past...  My sister and I should have a guaranteed entry to the NYC marathon for next November. 

Unbalanced

I tried to be really patient and smart about letting the legs/body recoup from the 70.3, but now I've gotten into the marathon training swing pretty solidly this past week.  After a good long run last weekend, I got 4 days of strong running done Monday thru today.  While I definitely don't have an optimal base of miles at this point in the training calendar, I do feel happy that the running is feeling good.

Problem is, I'm sorting of missing the biking and, even more, the swimming.  Now that I'm back to work, it's tough to get 2 workouts done in a day like I was able to do all summer.  I want to feel strong going into the 26.2, so I know that the running needs to be my focus, but...

I'm feeling unbalanced. 

Who would've thought I'd actually miss the tri training?! 

Shoreman 70.3 triathlon (part 2)

The first 30 minutes on the bike were uneventful. I had a pretty good idea of the course, because my friend M and I had ridden it (the original one) three weeks ago. Even at the one hour mark, things were still just rolling along, but I noticed the new course wasn't as friendly as the original. 

I loved that it was cloudy and cool for most of the bike, but I just wasn't getting comfortable.  I did know that I was riding slightly faster than I thought I might, but I was SLOW compared to everyone else out there.  While I've improved my swimming this year, I recognize that my biking speed and skills are lacking.  I've avoided getting a coach to help me simply because I feel like doing that means I'm now taking the tri's seriously.  If I do that, I may lose the "It's for fun" mindset, and I don't want to do that. 

Anyway, back out on the course, I was fighting to get comfortable but finally made it to the turnaround for the second loop.  I stopped for about 30 seconds, refilled my perpetuem and water bottles (actually, the cute volunteer did) and off I went.  I felt better for about the first 10 miles of that second loop, but then hit the back stretch of the course where the discomfort and hard work of the legs set in again.  I wasn't hating the bike leg, and I kept my positive attitude about the day, but I was ready to get off the bike.

As I came into transition, I joked with the volunteers -- as I'd been doing, as well as thanking each of them, all day -- and I waved and yelled to my mom. 

I wasn't slow in my transitions, but I did take my time to make sure I had and did what I needed so I was comfortable on the next leg.  When I got off the bike, I realized it was a lot hotter than I'd felt it was on the bike, and the sun was now shining.  Solarpowered though I am, the heat/full sun/humidity KILLS my running.  I scooped a bunch of ice I'd brought into my bra, zipped up my top to keep it in, and headed out on the run. 

Within the first two miles, though I kept my pace slow and easy, I knew the heat was doing me in.  Knowing the forecast for the day, I'd planned on walking through the water stops so that I could finish feeling good, and now, out on the course, I knew that's what I'd have to do.  That was frustrating, because I'm a better runner than that -- but I couldn't lose sight of my two important goals.  Keep smiling and having fun, and finish under 7 hours.  I drank, I walked through the stops, but I kept moving forward.  I took in some fuel, and as I made the turn to head back to the transition area to start the second loop, I passed my friend R (he was on his second loop).  He side-fived me and told me to keep it up, and that gave me a boost.  When I passed my parents at the transition area, I told them this would be my slowest half marathon ever.  They said "SO WHAT?!" and I agreed.  So what!  This race was a new challenge for me.  A new distance.  I wanted to look back on the day and be happy about it.  That's something I don't have with the marathon, and I wanted this race to be different. 

I passed the volunteers at the run out and asked, "Are you having as much fun as I am?" and they all looked at me, smiled, and cheered, "Yep!"  I thanked all the boy scouts at the water stops, the volunteers on the run course, and cheered on most of the other competitors I passed by.  One volunteer said, "You're looking great, Ironwoman!" and I laughed and replied, "Half Ironwoman!  But thanks, this is my first one!"  She smiled and said, "GO Girl!" 

It was hot, I wasn't happy with my run, but as I made my way up the last half mile stretch of road to the finish, I was smiling.  I knew my time overall was better than I thought I'd do, and I was about to finish a 70.3 (ok, yes, more like 72) mile triathlon.  Something I never thought I'd do.  I waved to my parents, made the turn to the finish (it was downhill!  Yeah!) and then I was done. 

I did it!  A 70.3 triathlon!  Me!  Whoa!

I talked with my parents and some friends a bit, got tons of water and some fruit, and then I made my way to transition to gather my stuff.  Before I headed to the finish to wait for M to come in,  I took off my running shoes and threw on my new socks.

Badass. 

In the grand scheme of things, I know my performance at this tri was not Badass.  The official results list me as 112/210ish. My swim was 34:47 (34th fastest swim!), bike was 3:23:29 (ugh!), and the run was a ridiculous 2:16:10 (though I'm not sure how this is; my garmin showed a mid 2:15xx.  Whatev.).  The winners do it in 4+ hours, and I was a half hour slower than the 5th person in my AG.  

But, my 6:21:35 is mine. And on that day, I sort of felt like a Badass for completing it.   Just like I never imagined I'd run a marathon, I really never thought I'd do a tri longer than a sprint.  But I did.  And I was standing, and I can look back on the day and feel good about my race. 

I might even do another one next year. 

Shoreman 70.3 triathlon (part 1)

Finish with a smile on my face, have fun on the day, and come in under 7 hours.  Those were my goals for this half-iron distance race -- one I didn't ever think I'd actually attempt.  I fake the tri thing -- I couldn't even imagine swimming 1.2 miles, then riding 56, then running 13.1.  Too much! 

But last fall, when my calf was jacked up, and I was swimming and biking more and more, I figured if I'm ever going to attempt one of these things, this is the year to do it.  I didn't really tell anyone or advertise the fact that I was training for this race -- I was doing it for me, and when people know, they ask how you're feeling and how your training is going and all that stuff.  That makes me nervous.  I do tri's for fun -- no pressure -- and wanted to keep it that way.  This was MY challenge, and one that I didn't even really admit to committing to until the beginning of August.  (It was a local event, and it was the inaugural one -- 2 reasons to do this 70.3!) I made up my own training plan based on some I found online, and I had no idea if it was going to be adequate.  I enlisted Maggs' help a little (thank you SO much!), and I started to feel like maybe I could actually do this. Fast forward to race day:

My mom decided she was going to go to the race with me, and though I told her she didn't have to do that, it was great to have her there.  We arrived at the race site by 5:30am and I got my transition spot set up in the dark. It was quiet and peaceful, but I was a little unsettled until it got light out.  My friend M found me in transition and set her spot next to mine, and another friend, R, was nearby.  It was calming to have friends around me.  Soon enough we were getting wetsuits on and heading to the water. 

M and I talked about our swim strategy, and after a few delayed minutes, we were the 3rd and final wave to start -- all the women together.  I'll admit to nerves as we stood on that beach.  I refused to look at how long the swim was, and I just kept telling myself, "This is just 4 loops of the lagoon."  I knew I could cover the distance -- I've done LOTS of open water swimming this summer -- and so I just needed to stay calm around all those swimmers.  I positioned myself in the front, but off to the right.

(Tough to see, but I'm the 2nd white cap from the left at the top of the pic)

Within the first 100 yards -- a straight shot to our first left turn before we swam a long straight to the turn around -- I started to feel comfortable. I stayed a little wide, kept my breathing in control, and only had a few instances of people running into me. Halfway to the turn around, I was almost giggling in my head about how smooth I felt and strong I was swimming. Big victory. The swim has always been the weak link for me, but this summer I've turned that around. As I swam to the bridge, and around that bubble, I knew I'd come out of the swim feeling accomplished already. I had one blip of getting squeezed between two people around that buoy, and that was the only time in the whole swim that I had to break stroke for a second, move aside, and then continue on my way. As I got closer to the point to turn to the beach, I couldn't see the small buoys -- so I ended up swimming out of my way a little. Not much, and once I could see that turn, I was headed to the beach. I knew I passed a lot of people, but it wasn't until I was running up the beach and past my mom that I realized how strong my swim was.

"35 minutes!" she yelled. Cool!

(As an aside, why does ALL triathlon stuff make me look huge?  I look big in that wetsuit, the tri shorts make my legs look big, etc.  ugh!)

I headed to my transition spot, got out of my wetsuit and got my bike ready to go. With a yell to my mom, I set off for the 57+ mile ride. So far, so good!

The bike, though, would prove to be a challenge for me.  For some reason, I could not get comfortable.  My butt wasn't comfortable, it felt like my legs weren't strong, and I felt like I couldn't get my bike to go as fast as everyone else.  Frustrating.  I had killed the swim, and now I was getting crushed on the bike.  It was going to be a long few hours...

What am I thinking???!!!

Right now*, at 7:06am, I am entering the water for a 1.2 mile swim.

I'm going to then ride my bike for over 57** miles,

and follow that with a 13.1 mile run. 

WHAT AM I THINKING???

I guess I should stop saying I fake the triathlon thing.  I've done some solid training this summer.  Who knows if I trained well.  Or did the right stuff to be prepared.  But I know I can cover the distances.  The big variable will be the heat and humidity.  It's supposed to be bad.  Full sun, 82* and 100-90% humidity during race hours. 

But this is just for fun.  I can't take the tri stuff too seriously -- I won't.  I'm not strong enough to place, and this is a new distance for me -- so I can't be nervous.  Nerves not allowed.  I'm ready.  I can do this.  I can finish, and I will.  My goal is to do just that with a smile on my face.  Dive in. 


* I scheduled this post to go online just at the time my wave was set to start...
**Because of the hurricane damage to two bridges on the original course, the bike route was changed to a 2 loop course, which ends up being just over 57 miles.  No 70.3 for me -- more like ~72mi. 

Cannonball!

I ended my summer vacation with some late afternoon pool time with my nephews and sister.  Since it was the last day to swim here, we left in style -- after a series of cannonballs. 

Today, I jumped right into my new school year.  LOTS of changes -- tough ones -- to deal with, and challenges started right away.  But I made it through the day, and so far the kids/classes seem ok (with a couple of nudges already showing their colors).  Back into it tomorrow!

I'm in taper mode this week, so while I'm itching to get sweaty, today is a rest day on the schedule.  Works out well, actually, because it's pouring out, my feet are worked from an onmyfeetallday day, and I'm pretty exhausted.  Yep, I'll rest today. 

Gotta get ready to throw myself into a big race this Saturday.  A new challenge.  Cannonball!