Getting to the race isn't always easy, but often more easy than finishing. I had a lot of help out there and I want to give credit where credit is due.
Infinit Nutrition
Laurie at Infinit Nutrition has been working with me very carefully over the last six months to dial in my Ironman nutrition. She's been very patient with my Type A ways. When I found Infinit, I was skeptical at first, but training and eventually racing with it gave me confidence. On the bike I used a custom blend for cycling, mixed for my weight, how much I sweat, and how hot the race is likely to be. It took a bit longer to get this dialed in than the run nutrition, but I didn't have any nutrition issues with Ironman Texas. I saw a lot of people that had gotten sick - not an issue for me. I used the new Napalm for the marathon to reduce how much nutrition I needed to carry and to eliminate a special needs bag on the run. Great choice. I picked up water from the aide stations, and once again, Infinit proved it's worth. I did my Ironman on entirely liquid nutrition and water.
Duro Tire
Sweet racing tires, Dude! So they're light, but sticky enough to be maneuverable on corners. I'd been on a pair of heavier tires, so getting these on the bike was a D R E A M! Fast and reliable (I got caught in a freak thunderstorm with HUGE puddles on the road during training once) I was a bit nervous taking lighter tires than I was used to out for the Ironman. And, the course proved pretty brutal - flats and broken spokes everywhere. But my Duro Slicksters held up to what I considered a beating. My bike split was sub 6 hours, so I'll be sticking to my Slicksters.
FlexRSports
Where do I begin? The system is similar enough to many of the aero bottles and remote drink systems available on the market today. But look again. The bottles don't spill when tilted (like so many other aero systems) and you aren't limited to a specific size bottle or a specific location on the bike. It's as flexible as you need it, and customer service ROCKS! So my FlexR Ironman went like this: Get on the bike, drink nutrition as necessary, refill at special needs stop (it took less than a minute), get back on the bike and ride, drinking nutrition as necessary.
Rudy
HEY RUDY! Nice sunglasses! I'm pretty pleased with the sunglasses and helmet. Enough airflow in the Slinger helmet kept me cool, and it's light enough that my neck didn't hurt because of the helmet. I purchased the Rydon sunglasses at the race expo to replace my Hypermasks, and was pretty pleased with my purchase. They stayed put, stayed clear, sweat didn't drip onto them, and were light enough where I didn't even have to think about them.
Voluteers
Now - I want to really give props to the volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't have a race. At all. These guys and gals gave us the ability to really think about our race, while they worried about us, and worried about making sure the course was safe, we were safe, etc. Most importantly, they kept us going. It's a hard day for sure to do an Ironman, but to keep a bunch of people motivated who (not all the racers) are running out of any desire to be on the race course anymore takes some really amazing and dedicated people. Thank you. From the bottom of my running shoes. You guys helped me fly.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Ironman Texas 2012 Race Report
All
that training, all that buildup. I thought the race was the whole point.
I was wrong. In retrospect, the race still seems like a very long,
very hot training day that just happened to be supported and very
crowded. I wonder if that will ever change...
Results
Total time 11:47:58
Swim: 1:20:12
T1: 6:49
Bike: 5:59:30
T2: 5:59
Results
Total time 11:47:58
Swim: 1:20:12
T1: 6:49
Bike: 5:59:30
T2: 5:59
Run:4:15:38
Finishing Rank 19/97 in my age group, 80/485 in women, 458/2016 overall
I should add that I met or exceeded all time goals that I had for the race.
Finishing Rank 19/97 in my age group, 80/485 in women, 458/2016 overall
I should add that I met or exceeded all time goals that I had for the race.
Prerace
In the days
immediately preceding the race, there was a lot to do. Athlete
registration/packet pickup was on Thursday. I drove in, parked the car
and went to the Ironman
Village. Always a
fun part of the Ironman branded races, this is where you go to get your packet,
and then do any shopping for race souvenirs that you may want or things you may
have forgotten. This year's Ironman came with a really nice tri bag
embroidered with the race logo. Packet pickup went smoothly,
and then I took some time in the Village, looking around.
Next up was the athlete dinner. Wow. So many inspiring stories of the journey to the Ironman. The slogan is "Anything is Possible." It's appropriate. Such an emotional event. And the food was pretty good. For my part, I enjoyed meeting the gang from iamtri.com and getting to know them a bit better. They're a fun group of people - and they've been very supportive for the entire year we've been getting ready for this race.
Next up was the athlete dinner. Wow. So many inspiring stories of the journey to the Ironman. The slogan is "Anything is Possible." It's appropriate. Such an emotional event. And the food was pretty good. For my part, I enjoyed meeting the gang from iamtri.com and getting to know them a bit better. They're a fun group of people - and they've been very supportive for the entire year we've been getting ready for this race.
Then off to bed - most who race know to try and get a good night's rest two nights before the race - so that was my goal. Friday morning was beautiful. I went to get a short swim in at the gym. There was an optional open water swim in Lake Woodlands, but I'd heard about how gross the water was, and didn't want to chance getting sick before the race. After that, (and a quick detour courtesy of my gps) it was back to The Woodlands for a quick ride to familiarize myself with where the swim start and transition areas were. Then I got my bike, bike gear bag, and run gear bag checked in, and went back to the Ironman Village to see Chrissie Wellington who was there to sign books. They were sold out of books, so I got a pretty cool poster signed instead.
She is way taller than I expected!
Finally to the hotel to cool off and relax for a bit. A dinner of pizza (yay pizza!) and a quick trip to the store for more sunscreen for the race. I managed to get the last two spray cans of Coppertone in the entire store. Then, back to the hotel for race prep.
Now this is when I usually get organized. But having to already have turned in my run and bike gear backs threw me off and created a bit of stress for me. So I did the best I could, preparing my nutrition, getting gear ready for the next morning, and so on. Race morning was also beautiful. The stress I felt the night before was gone, and I only felt excitement. Up and dressed, ate a pop tart and out the door. Body marking, dropped off the sunscreen for my run and bike gear bags, and set up the nutrition on my bike, and then walked over to the swim start. Sunscreen, then into the water for the race!
Ironman Texas
Swim
Well, eww. We crowded down into the water, and many of us tread water for five to ten minutes. It was really crowded and felt like this:
I knew how long I wanted the swim to take, but I resisted ever looking at my watch, because all it would tell me is how long I've been swimming since I started my watch. In the meantime, I must have drunk quite a bit of the lake. Finally, the canal came into sight, then the very welcome sight of the swim exit. Thank heaven for the volunteer that grabbed my hand and helped me out of the water. Without her, I might have fallen over (I very nearly did).
Transition 1
Interesting, to say the least. I ran through, grabbed my bike gear bag and went to the changing tent. Socks! Shoes! Helmet! Sunscreen! Sunglasses! Race belt! Only I took it a bit slow, made sure to wipe the grime, dirt and grass off my feet thoroughly, and covered myself well with sunscreen. Out to the bike! I handed off my bag to a volunteer and ran off to the bike, grabbed it and out to the bike start.Bike
What a beautiful course. It's a loop, starting north, turning west for a short bit at the northern end of the loop before coming back south. The start of the ride was cool, scenic, and we had a tailwind. For most of the morning, we also had shade. A lot of the ride looked similar to this:
But I knew that ride back wouldn't be as nice. So here's where I need to add a bit of a side bar. About two months ago, I upgraded my wheels and added a powermeter. I'd been making full use of TrainerRoad (those guys have built one hell of a program) and working on increasing my power. I hadn't planned on using power to guide my race, because I'm not as familiar with it as I should be in order to use it right. But I wound up doing it anyway. For those who know power, I kept my power about 110 on the way out, and just cruised. I got passed quite a bit on the way north, and did a few passes myself. But this was my race - I was only competing with myself - and I didn't want to cook my legs on the way out.
We made the turn to the west, and found the special needs stop. I refilled my bottles, and I was off again!
THIS, however, was what I'd been training for. Almost as soon as we left the special needs area, we turned back south. And into the wind. I'd spent the spring riding into wind that would slow me down to embarrassing speeds, and hand me my rear. The next 50 miles were amazing. I powered up and kept my watts around 130 for the back half of the ride. And all of a sudden I was passing people. It was incredible. I kept passing people, remaining strong, into the bike finish.
There were some pretty unpleasant things going on out there, though. At mile 37, I saw someone a few bikes in front of me dip for half a second, then the bike behind him just ran into him. The course would prove rough for a lot of people. Aggressive cycling took one woman out (Someone passed her, then got in front of her too quickly. He didn't stop after he caused her to wreck, possibly break her arm and definitely her bike. Shame on you, if you're reading this.) There were a lot of flats, a lot of broken spokes, and tons of ejected water bottles. The mouthpiece to my water bottle got caught in my wheel at mile 60, and was ripped off (my own fault for not securing it properly) so I had to hold it for the next hour and a half. Mile 80 is where I started suffering. My neck, back and left calf hurt. And my saddle suddenly wasn't comfortable anymore. At mile 80 something, I caught someone drafting off me, less than a few inches from my back wheel. I told him to get off my back wheel, and he powered ahead of me. Less than five miles later, I saw him doing the same thing to another woman. (Dude, I know your race number, and your name. If I catch you drafting off me again, I will report you to officials.)
Transition 2
A volunteer took my bike from me and racked it, and I took off to grab my run gear bag. Thank you to the three beautiful young ladies that helped me in the changing tent. I wish I knew your names. They helped me change socks, shoes, put stuff back in my bag, clean my grubby sunglasses and sprayed me down with sunscreen. Then off to the run!Run
The marathon was tough.
I heard later that heat was in the low 90's and I saw a lot of people who were suffering because of it. As soon as I started running, I got a stitch in my side that made it hard to breathe. I asked a volunteer for a bottle of water, and focused on getting hydrated. A couple miles into the run it went away. I still needed to adjust my pace for the heat, and slowed down a bit after the first lap. Water in me, on me, and ice down my tri top helped me stay cool enough to keep going.
I saw my family on my second lap, and this was the only point where I nearly cried. My kids were so excited to see me! I kissed them both, but needed to keep going. I finally finished what seemed like an eternity later.
 |
| Me around mile 20 something... |
Post Race
There are volunteers at the end of the race whose only job is to help you, so you can get everything done (swag, pictures) and then safely off - they take you to the med tent if you need it, but each finisher gets a "catcher" that stays with them for 10 minutes or more to make sure they're okay.I met up with my family, got pictures with the kids putting my medal on (kind of a tradition at the races they're at), and headed off to the shower. When I got there, and debris from the swim in Lake Woodlands fell out of my tri top, I was pretty grossed out. I'd had a minnow in there the entire race! And I wasn't the only one who'd had that happen! EWWWWWWWWWW!
Taking stock revealed that I had chafing in a few places, but zero sunburn. Actually, I don’t even have any new tan, either. And what I thought was blisters turned out to just be pruny painful skin on my feet from having soaked socks most of the marathon.
Most of what hurt on Saturday night was my knees, and somewhat in my upper legs.
The next two days were a different story though. Sunday was an adventure in muscle pain and stiffness. My right leg repeatedly gave out beneath me if I stood the wrong way (but never enough to send me crashing to the ground). Too much activity produced nausea on Sunday and Monday, and I'm sure it had to do with the amount of lactic acid and muscle breakdown that was going on. It took 24 hours for my hydration to catch up - I was drinking, but not peeing until Sunday night. Monday I went for a swim, and even that made me queasy, but the movement felt good, and reduced the stiffness in my legs. The visit to the hot tub at the gym helped, too.
In retrospect, it still doesn't seem real. It seems more like a really crappy, well supported, very crowded training day. I think about the journey to the Ironman, and it seems like that is what the Ironman is all about. I've met some really amazing, inspiring people, and watched their journey as well.
The journey to the Ironman is not an easy one. For me it was a struggle to balance life, kids, marriage, work and training. And the training load, even though exhausting and relentless at times didn't leave me feeling prepared for race day. And sometimes I wasn't successful balancing everything. But I learned a lot about myself in the process, and I learned a lot about the people around me. I got a better perspective on some of the important things in life, and learned not to worry so much about the unimportant things. I'm in better physical shape than I've ever been in my entire life, and my view on what a healthy person (specifically a healthy woman) looks like is substantially different. At some point I had to start worrying more about eating enough calories, and stopped chasing a ridiculous number on a scale that only represented what society thinks is beautiful. Today I am healthy, fit, and comfortable in my skin with the way I look.
The Ironman is about the journey, and who you find on the way, not the race itself. The race is a celebration of your journey.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ironman Thoughts
Less than four days to go. I signed up for this race a year ago. I can remember sitting in front of the computer, waiting for registration to open, and as soon as it did, rushing through in order to make sure I had a spot.
I remember setting up my countdown clock. When it started, I had 140 days.
Then 99 days.
Then it was 30 days.
Now, in five days, I'll be nursing sore muscles, blisters (and in all likelihood, the worst sunburn I've ever gotten). But I'll be an Ironman.
I remember seeing the picture on his office desk of my chief finishing the Canadian Ironman when he was my age. I saw the picture for the first time in 2006. I remember thinking, "I could do that."
It started with training for a marathon, and my love of endurance sports was born.
The road getting here has been difficult. Mornings up early, evenings up late. Training in 110 degree heat and 40 degree cold. Hours spent inside on a trainer or treadmill. Not. Going. Anywhere. Taking in the enormous library of knowledge that is triathlon, and finding out that much of it is highly individual. Desperately trying to figure out how to get in the seemingly endless hours of training while figuring out how to take care of two kids, a marriage and a job. Trying to rehab various injuries while keeping up the bulk of the training. Learning what I can and can't eat during racing and training. Gaining weight, losing weight. And learning about myself during the process.
I go out Saturday with one real goal in mind. I'm going to finish. I have a few time goals in mind that I'd like to make, but I don't have any expectations because this is my first Ironman.
I've met some great people along the way. I've learned something from all of them. Most of them have been inspiring. Some of them have trained and gone to their Ironman races and not finished, but they remain inspiring role models for us all. They help those of us less experienced get to our goals. Some of the people I've met have been newer in the sport, but no less inspiring as they achieve their own goals. I've learned that triathlon is more a team sport than many others, even while we compete against each other.
I'd like to add one final thought - I found a portion of the quote below from someone else, then added to it to make my own.
Ironmen are not created at the finish line. They are forged... One mile at a time... One meter at a time... Through hard work and tenacity. Before they ever reach the starting line. The race is only one hard final test that affirms: "I have done it. I have learned to persevere through whatever has come, and I have learned to not give up until the goal is reached. I have been tested and been found stronger than whatever was laid before me."
I remember setting up my countdown clock. When it started, I had 140 days.
Then 99 days.
Then it was 30 days.
Now, in five days, I'll be nursing sore muscles, blisters (and in all likelihood, the worst sunburn I've ever gotten). But I'll be an Ironman.
I remember seeing the picture on his office desk of my chief finishing the Canadian Ironman when he was my age. I saw the picture for the first time in 2006. I remember thinking, "I could do that."
It started with training for a marathon, and my love of endurance sports was born.
The road getting here has been difficult. Mornings up early, evenings up late. Training in 110 degree heat and 40 degree cold. Hours spent inside on a trainer or treadmill. Not. Going. Anywhere. Taking in the enormous library of knowledge that is triathlon, and finding out that much of it is highly individual. Desperately trying to figure out how to get in the seemingly endless hours of training while figuring out how to take care of two kids, a marriage and a job. Trying to rehab various injuries while keeping up the bulk of the training. Learning what I can and can't eat during racing and training. Gaining weight, losing weight. And learning about myself during the process.
I go out Saturday with one real goal in mind. I'm going to finish. I have a few time goals in mind that I'd like to make, but I don't have any expectations because this is my first Ironman.
I've met some great people along the way. I've learned something from all of them. Most of them have been inspiring. Some of them have trained and gone to their Ironman races and not finished, but they remain inspiring role models for us all. They help those of us less experienced get to our goals. Some of the people I've met have been newer in the sport, but no less inspiring as they achieve their own goals. I've learned that triathlon is more a team sport than many others, even while we compete against each other.
I'd like to add one final thought - I found a portion of the quote below from someone else, then added to it to make my own.
Ironmen are not created at the finish line. They are forged... One mile at a time... One meter at a time... Through hard work and tenacity. Before they ever reach the starting line. The race is only one hard final test that affirms: "I have done it. I have learned to persevere through whatever has come, and I have learned to not give up until the goal is reached. I have been tested and been found stronger than whatever was laid before me."
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Hello Internet Troll
Paul Newman said "If you don't have enemies, you don't have character."
In response to a few inflammatory blog comments, I've decided to respond to the trolls/flamers that would post on here for no other reason than to get attention, or... Whatever.
So first I did this:
HAH. Just kidding. Seriously? I run a blog, it kinda goes with the territory. So, since trolls/flamers just want attention, here's your fifteen minutes, guys. Enjoy it while we laugh at... I mean, WITH you..
You sir/ma'am win the golden troll award (don't forget to print it out, I mean, you really accomplished something here - Oh, and I left it large so you wouldn't be upset about a tiny trophy):
I found an image for your avatar (you should wear it proudly):
So let's look at the troll flow chart:
Link to a blog post about trolling : HERE
Then, internet troll anatomy (they didn't mention pasty skin, hmmm):
Next, rules for the troll (it's okay, you don't have to worry about feeding them after a certain time, or getting them wet):
Sad realization:
Some troll repellent (we'll see if it works, but not likely):
And just in case you need an informational poster for your office, home, or wherever you get on the internet:
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I got some good laughs out of it, as did others. There's some pretty funny stuff out there about trolls.
In response to a few inflammatory blog comments, I've decided to respond to the trolls/flamers that would post on here for no other reason than to get attention, or... Whatever.
So first I did this:
HAH. Just kidding. Seriously? I run a blog, it kinda goes with the territory. So, since trolls/flamers just want attention, here's your fifteen minutes, guys. Enjoy it while we laugh at... I mean, WITH you..
You sir/ma'am win the golden troll award (don't forget to print it out, I mean, you really accomplished something here - Oh, and I left it large so you wouldn't be upset about a tiny trophy):
I found an image for your avatar (you should wear it proudly):
So let's look at the troll flow chart:
Link to a blog post about trolling : HERE
Then, internet troll anatomy (they didn't mention pasty skin, hmmm):
Next, rules for the troll (it's okay, you don't have to worry about feeding them after a certain time, or getting them wet):
Sad realization:
Some troll repellent (we'll see if it works, but not likely):
And just in case you need an informational poster for your office, home, or wherever you get on the internet:
Well, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I got some good laughs out of it, as did others. There's some pretty funny stuff out there about trolls.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
You know you're a parent and an endurance athlete if...
Sleep is a thing of the past.
You rarely see your significant other because when you finish your workout, they're off for theirs. Someone has to stay with the kids!
You've ever gone to the gym at a certain time so your kids could see thier friends (who were also at the gym at a certain time so they could see their friends).
You've ever asked which stroller has the least rolling resistance.
You've ever chosen a gym based on child care.
You've ever cleaned children's toys out of the bathtub so you can get in, fully clothed, after that long ride or run in the rain.
You've ever hired a babysitter so you can workout.
You've ever fed the kids dinner in their stroller,while you trained. Or you ran with the stroller over to a local restaurant and picked up food for the kids, then had them eat while you ran back.
You don't buy sippy cups. The kids get all they need in bottles in the shwag bags from races.
You've ever worn a macaroni necklace during your workout, or anything similar.
The "Mom Song" is one of your favorite workout songs.
You've ever evaluated a bicycle for it's ability to pull a trailer.
Your expensive race bike is stored next a a pink bike with training wheels or a spiderman bike.
Working out IS your quiet time.
You have to check your workout shoes for action figures, toy cars, and barbie accessories.
You look forward to a workout because you might actually get to pee by yourself.
You've ever used the wii fit while holding a newborn.
You finally get out the door for your workout and you realize you're wearing your child's breakfast.
You know exactly how much time you'll get during nap time.
You've ever planned your workout around Spongebob or Sesame Street.
You've ever put the kid(s) to bed late so you don't have to get up as early for the morning workout.
You've ever used the stroller or trailer to get gear somewhere during a workout. Without kids.
You can expertly combine workout time for you and play time for the kid(s).
You know which trainer to buy to minimize the risk to little fingers. Or toes. Or tongues.
You've ever had to explain that, no, an ironman is not Tony Stark.
You've ever put a bike with training wheels on your trainer to appease a kid.
You've ever had to explain that the medal you came home with meant you finished, not that you won.
You've ever had to schedule your races or training around play dates.
You've ever wondered how old the kids have to be before you can start entering them in races.
You've ever run out of people to watch the kids.
You know you can use baby wipes to clean countless workout accessories, and you'll probably still stock the wipes when you no longer need them for the kids.
You've ever stored your workout nutrition in leftover milk storage bags.
You let your kids drink your leftover workout drink so it doesn't get wasted (without caffeine, of course!).
You brag more about your five year old running her first 1k last month than the 5k you just won this morning.
When your child climbs up the bike that you've spent an exhaustive amount of time and money on, and kept it meticulously clean, and all you do is take pictures.
The only thing you eat after a hard workout is whatever is leftover from the kids' breakfast or lunch.
Your two year old son wears a swim cap and your five year old daughter can expertly put it on him, then another on herself.
You've ever used, or considered using a sippy cup for your nutrition needs during racing or training.
You've ever had to skip songs on the mp3 player while you were working out because they were from your kid's playlist.
You note on your workout logs where you had to slow or stop your workout to help your child with homework. (If you use TrainerRoad, you note it in the notes section that your power dropped because you were helping/dealing with a kid.)
You've ever used kids as an excuse to get out of a workout.
You've ever stored any of your workout supplies in a lopsided clay pot.
There are diapers and wipes in your triathlon bag.
You've got to scroll through the cartoons on your dvr to get to the stuff you wanted to watch while you were on your trainer.
You've ever used nipple cream to prevent chafing anywhere. Including your nipples.
You've ever extensively researched just how much exercise you could do when you were pregnant, then got told you were doing too much. (Moms)
You've ever stood in front of a mirror and lined up "the girls" before walking outside of your bedroom in a tri suit. (Moms)
You've ever run with a jogging stroller, or trailered the kids behind your bike and called it "training."
My favorites:
Your child wants to do a race like mommy or daddy does.
Your child understands the importance of starting and finishing. And that winning isn't crucial to a good race.
You rarely see your significant other because when you finish your workout, they're off for theirs. Someone has to stay with the kids!
You've ever gone to the gym at a certain time so your kids could see thier friends (who were also at the gym at a certain time so they could see their friends).
You've ever asked which stroller has the least rolling resistance.
You've ever chosen a gym based on child care.
You've ever cleaned children's toys out of the bathtub so you can get in, fully clothed, after that long ride or run in the rain.
You've ever hired a babysitter so you can workout.
You've ever fed the kids dinner in their stroller,while you trained. Or you ran with the stroller over to a local restaurant and picked up food for the kids, then had them eat while you ran back.
You don't buy sippy cups. The kids get all they need in bottles in the shwag bags from races.
You've ever worn a macaroni necklace during your workout, or anything similar.
The "Mom Song" is one of your favorite workout songs.
You've ever evaluated a bicycle for it's ability to pull a trailer.
Your expensive race bike is stored next a a pink bike with training wheels or a spiderman bike.
Working out IS your quiet time.
You have to check your workout shoes for action figures, toy cars, and barbie accessories.
You look forward to a workout because you might actually get to pee by yourself.
You've ever used the wii fit while holding a newborn.
You finally get out the door for your workout and you realize you're wearing your child's breakfast.
You know exactly how much time you'll get during nap time.
You've ever planned your workout around Spongebob or Sesame Street.
You've ever put the kid(s) to bed late so you don't have to get up as early for the morning workout.
You've ever used the stroller or trailer to get gear somewhere during a workout. Without kids.
You can expertly combine workout time for you and play time for the kid(s).
You know which trainer to buy to minimize the risk to little fingers. Or toes. Or tongues.
You've ever had to explain that, no, an ironman is not Tony Stark.
You've ever put a bike with training wheels on your trainer to appease a kid.
You've ever had to explain that the medal you came home with meant you finished, not that you won.
You've ever had to schedule your races or training around play dates.
You've ever wondered how old the kids have to be before you can start entering them in races.
You've ever run out of people to watch the kids.
You know you can use baby wipes to clean countless workout accessories, and you'll probably still stock the wipes when you no longer need them for the kids.
You've ever stored your workout nutrition in leftover milk storage bags.
You let your kids drink your leftover workout drink so it doesn't get wasted (without caffeine, of course!).
You brag more about your five year old running her first 1k last month than the 5k you just won this morning.
When your child climbs up the bike that you've spent an exhaustive amount of time and money on, and kept it meticulously clean, and all you do is take pictures.
The only thing you eat after a hard workout is whatever is leftover from the kids' breakfast or lunch.
Your two year old son wears a swim cap and your five year old daughter can expertly put it on him, then another on herself.
You've ever used, or considered using a sippy cup for your nutrition needs during racing or training.
You've ever had to skip songs on the mp3 player while you were working out because they were from your kid's playlist.
You note on your workout logs where you had to slow or stop your workout to help your child with homework. (If you use TrainerRoad, you note it in the notes section that your power dropped because you were helping/dealing with a kid.)
You've ever used kids as an excuse to get out of a workout.
You've ever stored any of your workout supplies in a lopsided clay pot.
There are diapers and wipes in your triathlon bag.
You've got to scroll through the cartoons on your dvr to get to the stuff you wanted to watch while you were on your trainer.
You've ever used nipple cream to prevent chafing anywhere. Including your nipples.
You've ever extensively researched just how much exercise you could do when you were pregnant, then got told you were doing too much. (Moms)
You've ever stood in front of a mirror and lined up "the girls" before walking outside of your bedroom in a tri suit. (Moms)
You've ever run with a jogging stroller, or trailered the kids behind your bike and called it "training."
My favorites:
Your child wants to do a race like mommy or daddy does.
Your child understands the importance of starting and finishing. And that winning isn't crucial to a good race.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tri Tip Tuesday
So sometimes, triathletes resort to unusual methods to accomplish a task neccesary for the sport. In this case, I've got one for you that definitely qualifies as unusual. Are ya ready for it?
So you're out on a long ride and you're chafing. AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH! A handy fix is to stop at the closest grocery store or market, and pick up some nipple cream. That's right, I said nipple cream. You'll find it in the baby supplies aisle, near the bottles and formula. It's made from pure lanolin, and you can get a tube small enough to fit in a bento box, jersey pocket, or flat kit bag. Better yet, that market or grocery store will have a bathroom that you can use to apply that lanolin to legs, arms, and clothing seams; wherever or whatever is chafing. It tends to be expensive, so this is best used as an emergency "I'm going to have scars when this ride is over" fix, but it will get you to your destination without too much more pain.
Otherwise, get enough lube before you ride or run! What's your favorite chafing solution?
So you're out on a long ride and you're chafing. AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH! A handy fix is to stop at the closest grocery store or market, and pick up some nipple cream. That's right, I said nipple cream. You'll find it in the baby supplies aisle, near the bottles and formula. It's made from pure lanolin, and you can get a tube small enough to fit in a bento box, jersey pocket, or flat kit bag. Better yet, that market or grocery store will have a bathroom that you can use to apply that lanolin to legs, arms, and clothing seams; wherever or whatever is chafing. It tends to be expensive, so this is best used as an emergency "I'm going to have scars when this ride is over" fix, but it will get you to your destination without too much more pain.
Otherwise, get enough lube before you ride or run! What's your favorite chafing solution?
Friday, April 20, 2012
Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 2012 Race Report
WOW, what a day! I went out with some ideas of what I wanted to accomplish, but no real expectation of what would happen. If you read last year's race report, you know I had a few problems in 2011. Switching races, the Austin half iron is a pretty different race in terms of terrain, weather, and who you race against. So preparing for Galveston race day still held some mysteries for me.
About two weeks before the race, I'd been part of a century ride on the Ironman Texas course. At mile 3 of 100, I'd hit a small ledge the wrong way and gotten asphalt sandwich for breakfast. This left me with a few injuries in addition to the adductor sprain I'd sustained during the marathon in February. So injuries included a AC (shoulder joint) sprain, badly bruised right femur head, sprained adductor, and small patches of road rash on my shoulder, chin, and knee. The majority of the injuries had healed by race day, with a few shiny new patches of pink skin, with the exception of a still sore femur, and an adductor that still acts up at about four miles. The biggest impact these injuries had was on my training. Swimming didn't get any attention for a full two and a half weeks, and running was slow and easy for about the same time. The only thing that got any real attention was my bike training. Some of this was obvious on race day.
This year my wave went at 7:30 instead of nearly 9 am. Yay! Walking into transition the day before and leaving my bike was an entirely different experience this year. I knew what to expect, I knew what to do, and I felt a lot more comfortable with my gear this year. Getting up early the next morning to get to transition was also much more relaxed than the previous year. Once again, I knew what to expect. I walked my gear in, set up transition, and looked around. One of my favorite things about Galveston is that there is only one transition, and it keeps it simple for me. Then a funny thing happened. Somebody asked my advice. It was the greatest compliment I've gotten in this sport.
Grabbed sunscreen, goggles, wetsuit and cap and wandered out of transition, and over to see the pros start their race.
The next thirty minutes went quick, and soon my wave was jumping in the water to start. The swim went well. About the same as last year, with the exception that we weren't swimming diagonally this year. A kick to the face here (with pause to put my goggles back on), a scratch to the face there, an ankle grab (are we having fun yet?) and it was pretty much business as usual. Rounding the last corner buoy, something strange happened. I'd gotten into a large pack of swimmers, and all of a sudden, I could feel a bit of a pull! I'd heard of this happening, but never really experienced it. It only lasted a few seconds, but was pretty cool when it happened.
Out of the water and into transition. With a quick stop by the strippers (wink wink). I looked for the biggest guys available and ran to them. RRIIPP! Wetsuit OFF! The rest of transition went so fast for me that at one point, I stood up, looked down and though, "Okay, what am I forgetting?" Out of transition to the bike.
This may forever be my favorite course. It's very nearly a straight line out and back on the sea wall. Both years I've done this race, we had a head wind going out, and a tailwind coming in. There are few hills, and the roads are in great condition. I do have a sneaking suspicion that the bike segment is a little bit longer than 56 miles, but as long as they don't change the bike course, I'm fine with it (so I can continue to see myself improve). You'll notice on the sidebar of my blog the logo for FLEXR Sports. This was the first race that I got to put their bottles to the test. I have a bottle on my seat tube, and a torpedo mount on my aero bars. Perfect amount of nutrition and water for 3 hours. I picked up some water from the aid stations, but did not need to keep the bottles with me. I held back on the bike some, and didn't go all out, so I could pace the whole race better. It turned out to be a good plan.
Back into transition. Expecting the wind, I took both feet out of the pedals, preparing for dismount and didn't fall this year! Yay! Run with the bike to my spot, shoes changed, helmet off, hat on, water belt (my nutrition) on. And. GO!
And... The run. This year's course was different. Three loops, including a section on the airport tarmac. I. Don't. Like. I DO like the three laps vs the four, but the four laps had more shade and was more family friendly. And less wind affecting the course. But. Great run overall. I was pretty happy with it. Spectators, you guys rocked it! You shouted out bib numbers of anyone and everyone to encourage and keep us going. Thanks. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the run.
So that just leaves a few things to mention.
Nutrition:
Overall pretty good. I need to tweak my bike nutrition just a bit, but once I got off the bike and started running, things were great. The FLEXR Sports system really impressed me. I'll post a review of the setup, but I'll also be upgrading bottles to handle the increased demands for Ironman Texas. I do want to add that the setup accommodates those using Infinit Nutrition's custom mixes quite well.
Shades and helmet:
I've been reviewing the Rudy Hypermask sunglasses, and this was the last bit of my review process. I'm happy with them. I also had to replace my helmet after my wreck in mid March. I chose the Rudy Slinger. Great helmet, light and with lots of airflow.
This is my second half iron distance race with a sub six hour time, and I PR'd by almost five minutes. My transitions were faster, and my run was much stronger. My swim left something to be desired. I had a slower swim by less than twenty seconds. I was disappointed a bit by this because I'm a stronger swimmer this year, and it wasn't as difficult as last year. But truthfully, I left something out there. I was trying to pace myself better, and didn't really do a great job of it on the swim. And I'm sure that the limited swim training following my bike wreck had a small bit to do with not knowing how to pace myself that well. My bike was also a bit slower. Once again, pacing. But, I'm really not too upset because I ran much stronger, and finished with very little left in the tank. So, much better overall pacing for a strong bike leg and a good swim leg, and a great run.
By the numbers:
2012
Overall 5:52:50 (PR)
Swim 39:59
T1 4:11 (PR)
Bike 3:02:08
T2 3:12 (PR)
Run 2:03:20 (PR)
About two weeks before the race, I'd been part of a century ride on the Ironman Texas course. At mile 3 of 100, I'd hit a small ledge the wrong way and gotten asphalt sandwich for breakfast. This left me with a few injuries in addition to the adductor sprain I'd sustained during the marathon in February. So injuries included a AC (shoulder joint) sprain, badly bruised right femur head, sprained adductor, and small patches of road rash on my shoulder, chin, and knee. The majority of the injuries had healed by race day, with a few shiny new patches of pink skin, with the exception of a still sore femur, and an adductor that still acts up at about four miles. The biggest impact these injuries had was on my training. Swimming didn't get any attention for a full two and a half weeks, and running was slow and easy for about the same time. The only thing that got any real attention was my bike training. Some of this was obvious on race day.
This year my wave went at 7:30 instead of nearly 9 am. Yay! Walking into transition the day before and leaving my bike was an entirely different experience this year. I knew what to expect, I knew what to do, and I felt a lot more comfortable with my gear this year. Getting up early the next morning to get to transition was also much more relaxed than the previous year. Once again, I knew what to expect. I walked my gear in, set up transition, and looked around. One of my favorite things about Galveston is that there is only one transition, and it keeps it simple for me. Then a funny thing happened. Somebody asked my advice. It was the greatest compliment I've gotten in this sport.
Grabbed sunscreen, goggles, wetsuit and cap and wandered out of transition, and over to see the pros start their race.
The next thirty minutes went quick, and soon my wave was jumping in the water to start. The swim went well. About the same as last year, with the exception that we weren't swimming diagonally this year. A kick to the face here (with pause to put my goggles back on), a scratch to the face there, an ankle grab (are we having fun yet?) and it was pretty much business as usual. Rounding the last corner buoy, something strange happened. I'd gotten into a large pack of swimmers, and all of a sudden, I could feel a bit of a pull! I'd heard of this happening, but never really experienced it. It only lasted a few seconds, but was pretty cool when it happened.
Out of the water and into transition. With a quick stop by the strippers (wink wink). I looked for the biggest guys available and ran to them. RRIIPP! Wetsuit OFF! The rest of transition went so fast for me that at one point, I stood up, looked down and though, "Okay, what am I forgetting?" Out of transition to the bike.
This may forever be my favorite course. It's very nearly a straight line out and back on the sea wall. Both years I've done this race, we had a head wind going out, and a tailwind coming in. There are few hills, and the roads are in great condition. I do have a sneaking suspicion that the bike segment is a little bit longer than 56 miles, but as long as they don't change the bike course, I'm fine with it (so I can continue to see myself improve). You'll notice on the sidebar of my blog the logo for FLEXR Sports. This was the first race that I got to put their bottles to the test. I have a bottle on my seat tube, and a torpedo mount on my aero bars. Perfect amount of nutrition and water for 3 hours. I picked up some water from the aid stations, but did not need to keep the bottles with me. I held back on the bike some, and didn't go all out, so I could pace the whole race better. It turned out to be a good plan.
Back into transition. Expecting the wind, I took both feet out of the pedals, preparing for dismount and didn't fall this year! Yay! Run with the bike to my spot, shoes changed, helmet off, hat on, water belt (my nutrition) on. And. GO!
And... The run. This year's course was different. Three loops, including a section on the airport tarmac. I. Don't. Like. I DO like the three laps vs the four, but the four laps had more shade and was more family friendly. And less wind affecting the course. But. Great run overall. I was pretty happy with it. Spectators, you guys rocked it! You shouted out bib numbers of anyone and everyone to encourage and keep us going. Thanks. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the run.
So that just leaves a few things to mention.
Nutrition:
Overall pretty good. I need to tweak my bike nutrition just a bit, but once I got off the bike and started running, things were great. The FLEXR Sports system really impressed me. I'll post a review of the setup, but I'll also be upgrading bottles to handle the increased demands for Ironman Texas. I do want to add that the setup accommodates those using Infinit Nutrition's custom mixes quite well.
Shades and helmet:
I've been reviewing the Rudy Hypermask sunglasses, and this was the last bit of my review process. I'm happy with them. I also had to replace my helmet after my wreck in mid March. I chose the Rudy Slinger. Great helmet, light and with lots of airflow.
This is my second half iron distance race with a sub six hour time, and I PR'd by almost five minutes. My transitions were faster, and my run was much stronger. My swim left something to be desired. I had a slower swim by less than twenty seconds. I was disappointed a bit by this because I'm a stronger swimmer this year, and it wasn't as difficult as last year. But truthfully, I left something out there. I was trying to pace myself better, and didn't really do a great job of it on the swim. And I'm sure that the limited swim training following my bike wreck had a small bit to do with not knowing how to pace myself that well. My bike was also a bit slower. Once again, pacing. But, I'm really not too upset because I ran much stronger, and finished with very little left in the tank. So, much better overall pacing for a strong bike leg and a good swim leg, and a great run.
By the numbers:
2012
Overall 5:52:50 (PR)
Swim 39:59
T1 4:11 (PR)
Bike 3:02:08
T2 3:12 (PR)
Run 2:03:20 (PR)
2011 (for comparison)
Overall 7:11:30
Swim 39:41
T1 6:11
Bike 4:08:35 (roughly 45 minutes worth of flat tires)
T2 3:28
Run 2:23:35
Previous PR 5:57:30 Austin 70.3, 2011
One thing I want to add to my race report is the fact that Lance Armstrong raced this race. Going into Galveston, I had mixed feelings, and I wasn't alone. I respect him, his ability, and what he does for cancer. But I wasn't looking forward to media issues, security issues, and any other looky loos that we might have to deal with that were only out there for Lance sightings. Compared to last year, all three of what I mentioned were a little more amped up than, and money was definitely being made off of his racing. But there was a moment of clarity for me that made this a race I will remember forever. I was heading out on the bike, and I wanted to see how far I could get before I started seeing people coming back the other direction. I think I was at about the 20 mile mark when the cyclist I was passing pointed out the media train coming back the other direction. Sure enough it was Lance Armstrong himself. Mr. Yellow Jersey. I realized in that moment, as we cheered for him, that he swam the same bayou that I did, he was riding the same course I was, and he was about to run the same roads I would be. I'm not sure what other sport in the world puts the pros on the same course as the age groupers, but I hope this doesn't change. Afterward, I heard some funny stories that made him seem even more human, with the same race nerves and nutrition issues that ALL triathletes have to work through.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Galveston: My favorite part of the race
With Galveston in the books, I've had two days to really think about things. And before I post my race report, I want to tell you about my favorite part of the whole day. The course is beautiful, and a top contender for my favorite (tied with Kerrville) and I had a great race. But that wasn't what made my day so great.
Tanya, Marium, Angela, and Brad accomplished something amazing.
Tanya has nearly a dozen triathlons under her belt, and this was her first half ironman. She and I had been corresponding about nutrition prior to the race, but I hadn't met her yet. I got the chance to meet her after the mandatory athlete meeting. She'd come down with her sister and her eldest child to participate. Tanya has three kids and is a very busy mom, so fitting in training and racing is hard, but somehow she makes it work! I learned a lot from her about Eleanor Rocks, uniforms, and endurance. Fast forward to race day, Tanya had her chain come off the bike near the end of the bike segment, and had a minor wreck. She got right back on and finished the race. I saw her after she finished, and she was still trying to cool off from the race. But, wow! Tanya, you did an amazing job. You reminded me of why I race, and as a mom and a triathlete, you are an amazing example for other moms around you. Thanks for making my race so great!
Marium went out to better her time from last year. 2011 was a hard year for many triathletes, and 2012 was no exception. But I looked for Marium's results because I knew she had been working hard to improve, and she's training for Ironman Texas. She improved her half ironman time by 43 minutes. That is an amazing amount of time, and not easily done. Angela was also trying to improve her time from last year, and met her goal by a full 20 minutes. And when it comes to transitions, Angela just smoked through them like she's a pro. Marium and Angela have full lives outside of triathlon, and sometimes find it difficult to meet all the demands of triathlon and their other responsibilities. But they did it, and absolutely smashed last year's times. I wish I could have caught up with you guys after the race. You two did such an amazing job out there!
And last, but not least, Brad. This guys is relentless. Also in training for Ironman Texas, this was a tuneup for him. But his last half ironman didn't go so well. He'd had a stomach virus the week before, and wasn't able to have the race he wanted to. This time was different. He went out there, and rocked the course, putting in a respectable time. He completely rewrote his own half ironman race standards. He's given me a new cycling challenge!
The best part of my race was seeing these four people reach their goals and make some amazing accomplishments. I take the sport of triathlon for granted sometimes, forgetting how few of the general population participate. It's easy to dismiss major accomplishments when your perspective doesn't match reality. When you're surrounded by people who excel at such an awesome leveln(aka: eat triathlon for breakfast) it doesn't take long before perception and reality don't match.
Tanya, Angela, Marium, and Brad did an amazing job on Sunday, and while I know more than one of them expressed disappointment, they stepped up to the starting line. The courage to start requires more than finishing because sometimes things happen, and finishing the race might become impossible.
True courage is starting down a path, knowing what lies ahead may take more than you have to give.
Tanya, Marium, Angela, and Brad accomplished something amazing.
Tanya has nearly a dozen triathlons under her belt, and this was her first half ironman. She and I had been corresponding about nutrition prior to the race, but I hadn't met her yet. I got the chance to meet her after the mandatory athlete meeting. She'd come down with her sister and her eldest child to participate. Tanya has three kids and is a very busy mom, so fitting in training and racing is hard, but somehow she makes it work! I learned a lot from her about Eleanor Rocks, uniforms, and endurance. Fast forward to race day, Tanya had her chain come off the bike near the end of the bike segment, and had a minor wreck. She got right back on and finished the race. I saw her after she finished, and she was still trying to cool off from the race. But, wow! Tanya, you did an amazing job. You reminded me of why I race, and as a mom and a triathlete, you are an amazing example for other moms around you. Thanks for making my race so great!
Marium went out to better her time from last year. 2011 was a hard year for many triathletes, and 2012 was no exception. But I looked for Marium's results because I knew she had been working hard to improve, and she's training for Ironman Texas. She improved her half ironman time by 43 minutes. That is an amazing amount of time, and not easily done. Angela was also trying to improve her time from last year, and met her goal by a full 20 minutes. And when it comes to transitions, Angela just smoked through them like she's a pro. Marium and Angela have full lives outside of triathlon, and sometimes find it difficult to meet all the demands of triathlon and their other responsibilities. But they did it, and absolutely smashed last year's times. I wish I could have caught up with you guys after the race. You two did such an amazing job out there!
And last, but not least, Brad. This guys is relentless. Also in training for Ironman Texas, this was a tuneup for him. But his last half ironman didn't go so well. He'd had a stomach virus the week before, and wasn't able to have the race he wanted to. This time was different. He went out there, and rocked the course, putting in a respectable time. He completely rewrote his own half ironman race standards. He's given me a new cycling challenge!
The best part of my race was seeing these four people reach their goals and make some amazing accomplishments. I take the sport of triathlon for granted sometimes, forgetting how few of the general population participate. It's easy to dismiss major accomplishments when your perspective doesn't match reality. When you're surrounded by people who excel at such an awesome leveln(aka: eat triathlon for breakfast) it doesn't take long before perception and reality don't match.
Tanya, Angela, Marium, and Brad did an amazing job on Sunday, and while I know more than one of them expressed disappointment, they stepped up to the starting line. The courage to start requires more than finishing because sometimes things happen, and finishing the race might become impossible.
True courage is starting down a path, knowing what lies ahead may take more than you have to give.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Nutrition Plan - Half Iron Distance
Breakfast - cherry pop tarts, coffee
About 15 minutres before start - One serving of Infinit cycling mix in water
Swim - no nutrition
Transition 1 - No nutrition
Bike - Two 21 ounce bottles with 1.5 servings of Infinit Cycling Mix each, baggie with an extra serving of mix in my pocket, take water off the course
Transition 2 - No nutrition
Run - Two flasks, one with Infinit Napalm (@400 calories worth), the other plain water, water off the course if needed
About 15 minutres before start - One serving of Infinit cycling mix in water
Swim - no nutrition
Transition 1 - No nutrition
Bike - Two 21 ounce bottles with 1.5 servings of Infinit Cycling Mix each, baggie with an extra serving of mix in my pocket, take water off the course
Transition 2 - No nutrition
Run - Two flasks, one with Infinit Napalm (@400 calories worth), the other plain water, water off the course if needed
Galveston - Expectations
Whenever anyone asks me "What should I expect for this race?" I usually tell them not to have expectations. A lot can go wrong, and frequently does. In preparation for this year's Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3, I went back and reviewed last year's results. Ouch.
So what should I expect for this race?
I want to go out there on Sunday and swim faster than I did last year. I remember the wind and water were rough, but I'm a stronger swimmer than I was last year.
I want to ride faster. As mentioned in my previous blog post, I had five flats and I'd like to avoid that entirely. I had a good split in the Longhorn 70.3 last October, and I'd like to do better than that.
I'd like to run faster than I did last year. I messed up my nutrition by not carrying enough to handle the extra hour I spent changing tubes. This hurt my run split.
And I want faster transitions.
But what should I expect?
I don't really hold any expectations. I've learned through experience that anything can and does happen. I know what I want, and I usually go out to a race with three goals in mind. One time goal that I'd be satisfied with, another that I'd be very pleased about, and one that I would probably do cartwheels after finishing the race if I met the goal.
I have learned quite a bit since the last time. I've learned about training, I've learned about equipment, I've learned about racing...
And I've learned about me.
But I don't hold expectations. Except to expect the unexpected, and to pray that the Tri Gods smile.
So what should I expect for this race?
I want to go out there on Sunday and swim faster than I did last year. I remember the wind and water were rough, but I'm a stronger swimmer than I was last year.
I want to ride faster. As mentioned in my previous blog post, I had five flats and I'd like to avoid that entirely. I had a good split in the Longhorn 70.3 last October, and I'd like to do better than that.
I'd like to run faster than I did last year. I messed up my nutrition by not carrying enough to handle the extra hour I spent changing tubes. This hurt my run split.
And I want faster transitions.
But what should I expect?
I don't really hold any expectations. I've learned through experience that anything can and does happen. I know what I want, and I usually go out to a race with three goals in mind. One time goal that I'd be satisfied with, another that I'd be very pleased about, and one that I would probably do cartwheels after finishing the race if I met the goal.
I have learned quite a bit since the last time. I've learned about training, I've learned about equipment, I've learned about racing...
And I've learned about me.
But I don't hold expectations. Except to expect the unexpected, and to pray that the Tri Gods smile.
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