The great thing about the Boulder half is all the transitions are at the reservoir. It is very convenient to set up your transitions for the race! Also there are great bike lanes around Boulder. The race turned out better than I thought, considering the anxiety I had about my experience of crashing before the full ironman in St. George, and flatting during the race in St George...My hips were feeling tight and legs a little tired, even though I had been tapering for a few weeks. My hopes of performing well aslo increased my anxiety.
Race morning I woke up at 4 am to eat my pb, honey and banana sandwich. Then I was off to find a good place in transition, to set up my bike. We were set off in waves, so I started about an hour after the pros. Trying to remain calm, I watched the beautiful scenery, and warmed up in the Boulder Reservoir. The water was the warmest water I have swam in this season. The gun went off, for my age group, and we were off...Swimming in open water is weird for me, because I have a hard time knowing how far I am into the race. Near the end of the swim I started to heat up in my full length wet suit. Also sometimes, my hips hurt in open water. This open water swim they only ached a few times. The hip pain was relieved by kicking less. I think training with paddles helped out my swim. Turns out I had a PR swim 32:56.
The bike was fast with only a few false flat sections....The first loop, my bike seat was very uncomfortable. I saw two athletes in my age group pass me on the first loop, which was a little discouraging, but I knew I was biking fast for me. So I just raced my race. I realized I had only had one gu and a honey stinger waffle for the first loop, so I started taking in more nutrition. The second loop, I felt like I was in the zone. Ended up with a PR bike 2:33.
On the run, I saw another athlete in my age group pass my and I stuck with her until the first hill. Hills are not my strength. But my friend Jen always tells me think, "I rock at hills"..The run was on rolling hills on mostly dirt, which was nice for the joints. Felt pretty solid for most of the run. The last mile it was really windy and made a feeble attempt to draft off a male runner. My Run 1:41, 2 minutes slower than the Boise half..
Went to the med tent again with high respiratory rate. Ended up getting an IV, the nurse had to poke me four times. After a few liters I felt renewed. I knew there were at least three athletes who beat me. Missed the awards ceremony, but as soon as I was through at the medical tent went over and found I came in 4th in my age group. Luckily there were four slots for my age group for the World Championships! I was eighth overall. World Championships here I come.
I was thrilled to be under 5 hours, for my second time. (My first time under 5 hours was this year in Boise) My total time 4:52:25....So now I am training for the world championships in Vegas on September 11. I did the Silverman last year, and know how challenging the course is with wind and hills...I am excited to be racing with so many awesome athletes...Thanks to all my friends, family and the support of my coach Wes Johnson.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Scofield Triathlon, July 16, 2011
Love this race! Because of all the snow this year, the vegetation around the reservoir was still green. The swim was point to point, they transported us out 1.75 miles to an island on boats. Thanks to my friend Rick I made it on the boat. The swim was nice, because there were not a ton of people. Sighting was hard because I couldn't see any buoys and the ridge line was hard to pick out anything. I was zigzagging all over the place. Final time was 51:56. My feet are not really tough so I walked up the gravel road, to my bike, one female athlete passed me as I was walking to my bike, so I was hoping to catch her on the bike.
The bike was about 38 miles, and climbs 1500 feet in 4 miles to the highest point 9,415 feet. Near the end of the bike I finally caught up with the girl that passed me in transition. We helped push each other to transition. My bike time was 2:02
In transition I saw the first place girl, and got excited. Started out the run too fast, trying to stay up with her, but she was cruising on the run and I changed my goal to keep her in sight. The run was a fairly flat 10 mile run along the reservoir, but it felt harder than the Boise half. It was windy in a few section, with a few false flats. My inner quads were sore for the first few miles after the run. I managed to stay in second. My run time was 1:19:58, about an 8 min mile pace. Which at first was a little discouraging, but considering the elevation gain on the bike, I am okay with the time.
The bike was about 38 miles, and climbs 1500 feet in 4 miles to the highest point 9,415 feet. Near the end of the bike I finally caught up with the girl that passed me in transition. We helped push each other to transition. My bike time was 2:02
In transition I saw the first place girl, and got excited. Started out the run too fast, trying to stay up with her, but she was cruising on the run and I changed my goal to keep her in sight. The run was a fairly flat 10 mile run along the reservoir, but it felt harder than the Boise half. It was windy in a few section, with a few false flats. My inner quads were sore for the first few miles after the run. I managed to stay in second. My run time was 1:19:58, about an 8 min mile pace. Which at first was a little discouraging, but considering the elevation gain on the bike, I am okay with the time.
Boise Half Ironman, June 11 2011
After the Saint George Ironman, my motivation went downhill. I took a few weeks recovery, went on a climbing trip to Moab, and then started training for Boise, determined to have a better race than St George. I felt like Saint George there was some force out to defeat me, but that couldn't happen for two races in a row. Went to a great day camp in Boise put on by Wes Johnson and with some of my triathalon friends. I felt strong on the bike and run. Race day I was not anxious like at Saint George. Other than freezing cold water, the swim went smooth. Oh yeah I also struggled removing my wetsuit. It was hilarious, my hands were both stuck in the sleeves and I had the cap and goggles in my mouth, the wet suit strippers even had a hard time removing the suit.... I loved the bike, a few hills and some wind. The wind was nothing like last years wind. The run was flat and beautiful, running by a creek. I set a PR in the bike, swim and run. Swim split 34:05, bike split 2:38, run split 1:39. My overall time was 4:57. (My last years time was 5:09) Thanks to my Coach Wes Johnson and to all my friends. After the race I went to the medical tent, again, with high respiratory rate, which resolved fairly quickly. I was thrilled to be under five hours! Fourth in my age group, and sixth overall but I didn't qualify for the Half Ironman World Championships, because there were only three slots in my age group. So I set my eyes on the Boulder Half Ironman.
Saint George Ironman 2011, May 7
Saint George was my fifth ironman. I raced Saint George Ironman last year, but froze in the water, and had a really slow bike time I trained hard over the winter and was excited, and hoped I might qualify for Kona. I went to two excellent triathlon camps in St. George and in Henderson. I did a half ironman, Showdown at Sunset, a few months prior to the race. The swim was cancelled and I didn't have the best race, so I was a little discouraged. However, I had an awesome salt lake half marathon 1:28. Also, the week before the race I did the spring sprint tri, and came in first which renewed some confidence, for the ironman. Little did I know that I was headed to one of the most stressful races, I have ever raced in so far.
Two days prior to the race I was at the expo, I lost my keys. After about an hour of stressing, I found my keys and needed to relax. I called my friend Chris to see if he would join me for an easy swim and bike ride. The swim went well in Sand Hollow Reservoir, even though open water swimming is not my strength. The water was so much warmer than last year! Then Chris and I jumped onto our bikes. Just as I was exiting the park I think I hit a speed bump wrong, and had my first bike crash. Lying on the ground I was in shock, not sure what happened, and my nose was bleeding. Chris realized I wasn't behind him and turned back to find me on the ground. Chris was my good Samaritan that day, making sure I was allright physically and being supportive with all my emotions, and logistics with my bike. I finally got up onto my bike and realized I had no seat. I also had road rash on my upper back, left hip and leg. My first concern was my bike. So Chris took me to the bike store, and they could not put the seat on my bike. I didn't know what to do, I loved my ISM seat, and didn't want the seats that they had in the Saint George shop. So I made some phone calls. Luckily my dear friend Liz was driving up from Salt Lake City and picked up an ISM seat at Millcreek Cyclery. Which helped my anxiety. So Chris and I went to the athletes meeting, and met up with our GT friends. The road rash was painful. Thanks to some suggestions, Jen and I went to WallGreens and bought some tegaderm. Jen, tried scrubbing some of the road rash, but it was pretty painful, so that didn't last long. Then she helped my apply tegaderm all over my back. Good thing I brought two helmets, because the helmet I wanted to use was busted...
The next morning, thought I would try swimming, it was painful putting a wetsuit on. But the tegaderm helped, and made it possible. Then I went to the bike store and they put on my seat. It was crooked, and they told me I would need a new stem. I tried riding my bike around the parking lot and thought it would work, but I didn't get in the aero position. So I headed to transition to turn in my bike for the race. During the test ride in aero position I realized it would be extremely painful to ride, with a crooked seat. What to do? I made some phone calls, and my friend Liz knew Suzanne coming up from Salt Lake who was able to retrieve a bike stem from Millcreek Cyclery. Talking on the phone with the bike store they were telling me that I would need a hacksaw for the bike stem and they would give me directions to install the stem. My friend Moka's parents found somebody to borrow a hacksaw to fix my bike stem. That night I was a wreck emotionally, and not able to sleep because of the road rash.
RACE MORNING
I woke up early 4:15 and Moka's Mom (My GT mom), made me the best french toast ever! Probably the highlight of my day. Anyway, made the 5 o'clock bus and headed to the race start with a hacksaw and bike stem in my hand. I went to the bike technicians with apprehension, and anxiety. Thankfully they fixed my bike seat, without much trouble. The preparation felt rushed, between port-o-potties and air pumps, sunscreen, body glide, and painfully pulling on my wetsuit over my road rashed body
THE SWIM
I was kind of far back as we funneled together, and I saw my friend Chris which was very comforting, and I started to get excited, with the music pumping....I was nervous about somebody kicking me, because my ribs were bruised, so I tried swimming on the outskirts. The swim was pretty miserable with the road rash, I tried to swim steady. I was excited for the painful swim to be over...1:09:19 (About the same time as last year 1:09:17)
THE BIKE
Happy to be out of the water, I transitioned quickly, maybe a little too quickly. Forgot to take the Imodium and ibuprofen...I was hoping to take about an hour of my bike time from last year. Things started out smoothly...Then at mile 15, I realized I had a flat. No way, the first flat that I have had in a race! I cried, and wanted to quit, was anything going to go right...I watched all envious of all the bikers zooming past me, and my heart sunk...Unfortunately I had put my cartridge and my pump in the bottom of my organized bento box. Because I am not skilled at opening gus and biking simultaneously I open all my gus prior to the race. Therefore, as I was trying to get the cartridges, I got gu all over my hands. My electrolytes spread everywhere in my bento box. Good thing I had a spare tire, in case I had another flat...I probably took longer than I should have to change my tire, and prayed that I wouldn't pinch the new tube. Finally I was ready to rock and roll, I kept reinforcing myself that the race was not over and I could still get a good time. My bike computer stopped working, and my garmin was destroyed by the swim, and so I had no idea how fast I was going. The first loop I was feeling good, the second loop I was tired, but still able to keep a pretty good pace...6:13:47 (Beat my time from last year by about an hour 7:16:40)
THE RUN
My mantra on the run was light on my feet, quick turnover, fast like a cheetah..Not sure that any amount of wisdom and positive mantras can prepared me to deal with the mental and physical difficulty of running out of gas during the run in 90+ degrees...I rushed in the transition and forgot some vital things-sunscreen, my visor, Imodium and ibuprofen. I think I was rushed because I was excited about my bike and was too anxious to start running a marathon. I realized I had forgotten all these things at mile one with the sun beating down on my tired body. My hip was killing me to run. I had to use the bathroom the first 3 aid stations. Why had I forgotten the immodium? Dehydrated at every aide station I quickly scarfed gus, coke, and water trying to regain my energy. However, I knew I was running slow. Thankfully in my half way bag, I had some ibuprofen, Imodium and a visor; which helped a ton. Felt way better on the second loop, I only had to use the bathroom once and my hip was not as painful. However, I knew I was nowhere near my goal of 4 hours...My run ended up being 4:27 (slower than the previous year 4:11) I had finally crossed the finish line in 11:56:51 (last years time was 12:46:01)-I was an Ironman for the fifth time, it was no fluke. I had pushed my mental and physical limits. I had finished one of the hardest ironman courses in the world on a hot day, under 12 hours.
Went to the medical tent, I had burns over my road rash and yellow gu, seeping from all the tegaderm, and my respiratory rate was out of control (which happens at most of my longer races). After recovering grabbed some food, and realized how much pain I was in...It was hardest race mentally, I was discouraged that I hadn't don better, I was hoping to be at 11:30. I was thankful for all the support from my GT friends, GT mom, and coach Wes Johnson!! Not sure if I would have finished the race without all their support. I haven't decided whether I'll be going back next year. After two hard races at Saint George, it makes it hard to be excited to do the race again. I know they have made the run easier. I think I learn from every race, especially the hard races. Sometimes experience is the best teacher.
I like this quote by a 13 year old in in a tri magazine, "They call us triathletes. But we are more. It takes far more than just a swim lesson, a bike stroll, and a jog. To swim, bike and run is an understatement. As triathletes we must work hard to strengthen our minds and bodies. So that when race day comes we will be prepared for the journey of growth awaiting us. To be a triathlete you must be able to focus on the futue. Not dwelling on the past problems. But to be able to stand up to our fears and humble ourselves so that we may perform our best."
Two days prior to the race I was at the expo, I lost my keys. After about an hour of stressing, I found my keys and needed to relax. I called my friend Chris to see if he would join me for an easy swim and bike ride. The swim went well in Sand Hollow Reservoir, even though open water swimming is not my strength. The water was so much warmer than last year! Then Chris and I jumped onto our bikes. Just as I was exiting the park I think I hit a speed bump wrong, and had my first bike crash. Lying on the ground I was in shock, not sure what happened, and my nose was bleeding. Chris realized I wasn't behind him and turned back to find me on the ground. Chris was my good Samaritan that day, making sure I was allright physically and being supportive with all my emotions, and logistics with my bike. I finally got up onto my bike and realized I had no seat. I also had road rash on my upper back, left hip and leg. My first concern was my bike. So Chris took me to the bike store, and they could not put the seat on my bike. I didn't know what to do, I loved my ISM seat, and didn't want the seats that they had in the Saint George shop. So I made some phone calls. Luckily my dear friend Liz was driving up from Salt Lake City and picked up an ISM seat at Millcreek Cyclery. Which helped my anxiety. So Chris and I went to the athletes meeting, and met up with our GT friends. The road rash was painful. Thanks to some suggestions, Jen and I went to WallGreens and bought some tegaderm. Jen, tried scrubbing some of the road rash, but it was pretty painful, so that didn't last long. Then she helped my apply tegaderm all over my back. Good thing I brought two helmets, because the helmet I wanted to use was busted...
The next morning, thought I would try swimming, it was painful putting a wetsuit on. But the tegaderm helped, and made it possible. Then I went to the bike store and they put on my seat. It was crooked, and they told me I would need a new stem. I tried riding my bike around the parking lot and thought it would work, but I didn't get in the aero position. So I headed to transition to turn in my bike for the race. During the test ride in aero position I realized it would be extremely painful to ride, with a crooked seat. What to do? I made some phone calls, and my friend Liz knew Suzanne coming up from Salt Lake who was able to retrieve a bike stem from Millcreek Cyclery. Talking on the phone with the bike store they were telling me that I would need a hacksaw for the bike stem and they would give me directions to install the stem. My friend Moka's parents found somebody to borrow a hacksaw to fix my bike stem. That night I was a wreck emotionally, and not able to sleep because of the road rash.
RACE MORNING
I woke up early 4:15 and Moka's Mom (My GT mom), made me the best french toast ever! Probably the highlight of my day. Anyway, made the 5 o'clock bus and headed to the race start with a hacksaw and bike stem in my hand. I went to the bike technicians with apprehension, and anxiety. Thankfully they fixed my bike seat, without much trouble. The preparation felt rushed, between port-o-potties and air pumps, sunscreen, body glide, and painfully pulling on my wetsuit over my road rashed body
THE SWIM
I was kind of far back as we funneled together, and I saw my friend Chris which was very comforting, and I started to get excited, with the music pumping....I was nervous about somebody kicking me, because my ribs were bruised, so I tried swimming on the outskirts. The swim was pretty miserable with the road rash, I tried to swim steady. I was excited for the painful swim to be over...1:09:19 (About the same time as last year 1:09:17)
THE BIKE
Happy to be out of the water, I transitioned quickly, maybe a little too quickly. Forgot to take the Imodium and ibuprofen...I was hoping to take about an hour of my bike time from last year. Things started out smoothly...Then at mile 15, I realized I had a flat. No way, the first flat that I have had in a race! I cried, and wanted to quit, was anything going to go right...I watched all envious of all the bikers zooming past me, and my heart sunk...Unfortunately I had put my cartridge and my pump in the bottom of my organized bento box. Because I am not skilled at opening gus and biking simultaneously I open all my gus prior to the race. Therefore, as I was trying to get the cartridges, I got gu all over my hands. My electrolytes spread everywhere in my bento box. Good thing I had a spare tire, in case I had another flat...I probably took longer than I should have to change my tire, and prayed that I wouldn't pinch the new tube. Finally I was ready to rock and roll, I kept reinforcing myself that the race was not over and I could still get a good time. My bike computer stopped working, and my garmin was destroyed by the swim, and so I had no idea how fast I was going. The first loop I was feeling good, the second loop I was tired, but still able to keep a pretty good pace...6:13:47 (Beat my time from last year by about an hour 7:16:40)
THE RUN
My mantra on the run was light on my feet, quick turnover, fast like a cheetah..Not sure that any amount of wisdom and positive mantras can prepared me to deal with the mental and physical difficulty of running out of gas during the run in 90+ degrees...I rushed in the transition and forgot some vital things-sunscreen, my visor, Imodium and ibuprofen. I think I was rushed because I was excited about my bike and was too anxious to start running a marathon. I realized I had forgotten all these things at mile one with the sun beating down on my tired body. My hip was killing me to run. I had to use the bathroom the first 3 aid stations. Why had I forgotten the immodium? Dehydrated at every aide station I quickly scarfed gus, coke, and water trying to regain my energy. However, I knew I was running slow. Thankfully in my half way bag, I had some ibuprofen, Imodium and a visor; which helped a ton. Felt way better on the second loop, I only had to use the bathroom once and my hip was not as painful. However, I knew I was nowhere near my goal of 4 hours...My run ended up being 4:27 (slower than the previous year 4:11) I had finally crossed the finish line in 11:56:51 (last years time was 12:46:01)-I was an Ironman for the fifth time, it was no fluke. I had pushed my mental and physical limits. I had finished one of the hardest ironman courses in the world on a hot day, under 12 hours.
Went to the medical tent, I had burns over my road rash and yellow gu, seeping from all the tegaderm, and my respiratory rate was out of control (which happens at most of my longer races). After recovering grabbed some food, and realized how much pain I was in...It was hardest race mentally, I was discouraged that I hadn't don better, I was hoping to be at 11:30. I was thankful for all the support from my GT friends, GT mom, and coach Wes Johnson!! Not sure if I would have finished the race without all their support. I haven't decided whether I'll be going back next year. After two hard races at Saint George, it makes it hard to be excited to do the race again. I know they have made the run easier. I think I learn from every race, especially the hard races. Sometimes experience is the best teacher.
I like this quote by a 13 year old in in a tri magazine, "They call us triathletes. But we are more. It takes far more than just a swim lesson, a bike stroll, and a jog. To swim, bike and run is an understatement. As triathletes we must work hard to strengthen our minds and bodies. So that when race day comes we will be prepared for the journey of growth awaiting us. To be a triathlete you must be able to focus on the futue. Not dwelling on the past problems. But to be able to stand up to our fears and humble ourselves so that we may perform our best."
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