Well tomorrow I will officially be done moving. It's about time, I feel like I have been doing this forever- and I haven't been able to work out in days. I really don't count 12-14 hours a day packing, cleaning and carrying heavy things up and down stairs a real workout. Also not a fan of one meal and some snacks a day. Now I can take some time organizing all my stuff that is in the shed and maybe get rid of some junk! Yay!!!
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8/31/09
8/27/09
70.3
The days leading up to LS 70.3 were less than spectacular. I’ve been in kind of fog. However, this seemed to work to my benefit. I wasn’t stressing out about things like I normally would. Where’s my bike pump. What am I going to eat? I don’t like this water bottle. I hate spandex. Ugh, my wetsuit chokes me… and so on.
Except, when I went to the Expo and required Athlete meeting with my mom and roommate, I got nervous that I wasn’t getting nervous. I was way too calm for something like this. I even slept pretty well the night before- except for waking up at 3am and then starting to panic and not be able to eat.
Mom and I left for the course early so we could find parking and get to Transition. Piece of cake, we scored total Rock Star parking. I put all my stuff in Transition and wandered around hitting the porta-potties a couple times. Of course, the last time I had already put my wetsuit on…. Do you know how hard it is to pee with a wetsuit halfway on? Squeezing your legs together, trying to not let the arms touch the disgusting ground?
Anyway, they had to delay the start a little bit because of the amount of fog on the lake. Seriously, you couldn’t even see the little buoys that are supposed to lead you along! So, at 6:56 we jumped into the water and cheered each other on, and at 6:57 the horn blew and women 29 and under took off.
I’m a terrible swimmer. Mainly because I don’t swim straight. I swim right. And on this course, you keep the buoys on your left… so naturally I veer waaaay off course. I knew my swim wouldn’t be great, but it was basically the goal to make it through without killing my shoulder. About 42 minutes later I emerged and felt awesome. I raced through T1, but also took my time, and headed out on the grueling, hilly bike course.
I love this bike course. It’s not flat by any means, but it’s got some great climbs and some fast descents. But I loooove this bike course. It’s gorgeous. Green canopies keep you pretty well shaded and the turns keep it interesting. However, coming up to the end of the second loop I thought they were going to bring us back to town one way… I was wrong. And somehow I had change my bike computer to the second setting and thought I was four miles ahead of myself. Oops. I stopped eating a drinking a little too early. Oh well.
As I came up to Transition I heard a few people yell my name and others just cheering in general. I love that feeling! A slow T2 and I decided that since the porta-potty was open this was my best opportunity. I definitely stayed hydrated on the bike. Has anyone else ever noticed how hard it is to pee fast, when you REALLY want to pee fast??
Running out of T2 I felt pretty good. Muscles were firing, back felt good, the weather was great. The only thing that killed was the bottom of my feet- which was strange because they were pretty numb.
My half marathon time was 2:12 and change. Not too shabby since I starting walking some about three miles in when my quads started to burn. Like on fire. I saw one woman pull out of the race not even two miles into the run and I almost started crying for her. She looked so sad and in so much pain. It was all I could do but to hug her. But I kept going. Chatting with people here, cheering for people there, thanking volunteers who gave me cup after cup of Gatorade and water. And finally, I turned the corner and could see the finish line.
And of course, I thought to myself….. “Katie, this one is for you!” And I cruised across the finish line with a smile on my face and headed to find some pizza. Because really, what else is better after being in motion for 6:11:16 than a greasy slice of pizza???
Except, when I went to the Expo and required Athlete meeting with my mom and roommate, I got nervous that I wasn’t getting nervous. I was way too calm for something like this. I even slept pretty well the night before- except for waking up at 3am and then starting to panic and not be able to eat.
Mom and I left for the course early so we could find parking and get to Transition. Piece of cake, we scored total Rock Star parking. I put all my stuff in Transition and wandered around hitting the porta-potties a couple times. Of course, the last time I had already put my wetsuit on…. Do you know how hard it is to pee with a wetsuit halfway on? Squeezing your legs together, trying to not let the arms touch the disgusting ground?
Anyway, they had to delay the start a little bit because of the amount of fog on the lake. Seriously, you couldn’t even see the little buoys that are supposed to lead you along! So, at 6:56 we jumped into the water and cheered each other on, and at 6:57 the horn blew and women 29 and under took off.
I’m a terrible swimmer. Mainly because I don’t swim straight. I swim right. And on this course, you keep the buoys on your left… so naturally I veer waaaay off course. I knew my swim wouldn’t be great, but it was basically the goal to make it through without killing my shoulder. About 42 minutes later I emerged and felt awesome. I raced through T1, but also took my time, and headed out on the grueling, hilly bike course.
I love this bike course. It’s not flat by any means, but it’s got some great climbs and some fast descents. But I loooove this bike course. It’s gorgeous. Green canopies keep you pretty well shaded and the turns keep it interesting. However, coming up to the end of the second loop I thought they were going to bring us back to town one way… I was wrong. And somehow I had change my bike computer to the second setting and thought I was four miles ahead of myself. Oops. I stopped eating a drinking a little too early. Oh well.
As I came up to Transition I heard a few people yell my name and others just cheering in general. I love that feeling! A slow T2 and I decided that since the porta-potty was open this was my best opportunity. I definitely stayed hydrated on the bike. Has anyone else ever noticed how hard it is to pee fast, when you REALLY want to pee fast??
Running out of T2 I felt pretty good. Muscles were firing, back felt good, the weather was great. The only thing that killed was the bottom of my feet- which was strange because they were pretty numb.
My half marathon time was 2:12 and change. Not too shabby since I starting walking some about three miles in when my quads started to burn. Like on fire. I saw one woman pull out of the race not even two miles into the run and I almost started crying for her. She looked so sad and in so much pain. It was all I could do but to hug her. But I kept going. Chatting with people here, cheering for people there, thanking volunteers who gave me cup after cup of Gatorade and water. And finally, I turned the corner and could see the finish line.
And of course, I thought to myself….. “Katie, this one is for you!” And I cruised across the finish line with a smile on my face and headed to find some pizza. Because really, what else is better after being in motion for 6:11:16 than a greasy slice of pizza???
8/21/09
Taking time
The half ironman this past weekend went amazingly well. I will definitely blog about it this weekend. Right now I've been enjoying some down time (and cake) packing and moving some stuff and trying not to think about certain things. Do I have one more race in me this season? I hope so. Maybe an Olympic- the unconquered distance.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
8/15/09
Tomorrow
Well, tomorrow is the half ironman. When I signed up to do this race in December I had these lofty goals of finishing the bike in three hours flat, taking a couple minutes off the swim and posting one of my better half marathon times. The other night I decided "who cares?" So what if I wind up being completely last? As long as I'm in under 8 hours. I need to just enjoy it. I love this sport and even the pain that comes with it as much as the blanket approval to eat nonstop from March to September. I know I'll finish tomorrow and I know it will likely hurt like hell at many times. My biggest concern is actually getting through the swim. Always my most fearful part- but with my shoulder bothering me a good deal during pool workouts and the number of times I've been in open water this year totalling 4, a decent time isn't promising. I can't complain though. I'm still able to do the race. So many people I know haven't been able to race due to injury or illness. This one's for you Katie.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
8/12/09
4 days and counting!
Okay, so Half Ironman is now 4 days away. Am I still thinking that I'm unprepared?? Totally. Am I questioning if it's sane to even start the race on Sunday? Totally. Am I still sick with a terrible cough? Totally. Ugh.
What to do, what to do? If I hadn't missed two races earlier this year for weather related reasons (one toooo cold and one waaaay too hot) it'd be much easier to say no to this weekend. If I hadn't spent $200 on the entry, or been looking forward to this weekend since December, it'd also be easier to say no.
But really, how does one say no? If I don't race, I'll be in a big funk and all depressed all day and for weeks after. But if I do, I become such a nervous wreck (probably starting Friday) that I'm no fun to be around. (And btw, I don't actually race a Half Ironman, pretty much just "do").
What to do?
What to do, what to do? If I hadn't missed two races earlier this year for weather related reasons (one toooo cold and one waaaay too hot) it'd be much easier to say no to this weekend. If I hadn't spent $200 on the entry, or been looking forward to this weekend since December, it'd also be easier to say no.
But really, how does one say no? If I don't race, I'll be in a big funk and all depressed all day and for weeks after. But if I do, I become such a nervous wreck (probably starting Friday) that I'm no fun to be around. (And btw, I don't actually race a Half Ironman, pretty much just "do").
What to do?
8/6/09
8/5/09
ohmigoodness
Ok, so Half Ironman is less than two weeks away. And what's that.... Bri is sick?? Yes! I had a fever over the weekend. However, that was short lived- and I spent much time sleeping. I don't know if I'll be able to make it through this one. Honestly. Between being out of shape, having super hot Seattle weather for weeks and just having other things going on outside my triathlon self, I've been slacking.
I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm regretting signing up for IM CDA next summer. I much rather enjoy the sprints. And would love to maybe try an Olympic. I love having a life! Reading books. Seeing friends. Sleeping in. Beer. It's all so wonderful!
I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm regretting signing up for IM CDA next summer. I much rather enjoy the sprints. And would love to maybe try an Olympic. I love having a life! Reading books. Seeing friends. Sleeping in. Beer. It's all so wonderful!
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