Hey, it's not a fashion show. ;) Just be awesome. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
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Hey, it's not a fashion show. ;) Just be awesome. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Indeed!Quote:
Originally Posted by colby
Have a great race V!!
Good luck!!!
Have a great race!!!
Thanks for telling me about this. I've decided to go with my shorts instead and I'll pull on some wool tights after the swim.Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
Veronica
Hi Veronica!
Thanks for your kind reply to my pm, and my apologies for not responding earlier. I've been rethinking about buying a new bike with a racing geometry as a novice after thinking about what you said. I might be a little too excited and ambitious for my own good to buy a race bike:) I'm in a pretty good shape as I workout quite a bit, but I do have an old knee injury from skiing...and also live in a hilly area. I've been looking for a used less aggressive triple or compact (along the lines of Specialized Ruby, Trek Madone, Orbea, etc.), but it has not been easy to find a small bike, in a good condition, and at the right price. And the competition on Ebay and Craigslist is fierce! It's a frustrating experience, but I'm glad I decided to take my time as I'm learning a lot through the process. Hopefully, I will find a bike that's right for me soon! Thanks again for your thoughts on the Cervelo, Veronica. I hope you had an awesome Tri!!!!!
:)
(tap tap tap) Hi, is this thing on?
How'd it go V?
I think this HIM was harder than any of the double centuries I did. But I finished!
I'll have a full post on our blog later.
Veronica
Can't wait to hear it! Congrats!:D
Hooray!! Congrats! :D Looking forward to the report.
Yay, congratulations, V! Can't wait to read more! :)
Well done!
The results are posted. I wasn't quite DFL in my age group - next to last and 234 out of 243 overall.
Considering that I wanted to DNS after the mandatory swim warm up, I'm happy with that.
Veronica
Good job V!
You should be---it takes major guts to do something like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
When I started doing triathlons in 2008 I came across this race. With a name like that, I immediately knew I would have to do it. In late 2009, I decided this would be the year.
They really were not kidding when they named this race as it is extremely tough. I think it was harder than any of the double centuries I did.
Swim: Usually the swim is my best event and I finish in the top third for my age group. But I had a horrible swim for this race. The air temperature was 39 degrees; the water temp was 64 degrees. Historically, both the air and the water have been much warmer at this time of year. I have a sleeveless wetsuit and I have been picking races that I thought would be warm enough for that. But we have had a cold spring. During the mandatory warm up period, I was freezing. I considered just getting out of the water right then. But quitting without even trying just doesn’t sit well with me. The gun went off and I took off with about 100 other swimmers. There was the usual jockeying and what not. I tend to try to stay away from others and not get caught up in the race, so I don’t get kicked or hit too much. But I was cold and right off my chest starting feeling really tight. My wetsuit felt incredibly constrictive and I just wanted out. I forced myself to stay calm and keep swimming. I couldn’t really see the bright orange buoys because of the fog coming off the water, so I just tried to follow along with the other swimmers, hoping they were going in the right direction. It took me about 750 meters to finally feel okay in the water, although my lower back was bothering me. As we started the second lap, the sun had come up and that made sighting difficult because the sun was right in my face on the way out. I ended up with a 40 minute swim for the 1.2 miles. I am capable of doing that in 35 minutes.
Bike: I knew the bike would be tough with about 6,000 feet of climbing in the 56 miles. I was cold when I came out of the water and we had a long run up to the transition area, which I walked. My transition time was really long. There were no wet suit pullers and I had a hard time with one leg of my suit. I dried myself off more than normal before I put on my wool jersey. I was looking at what the other racers had opted to wear for the bike portion and decided to not pull on my wool tights. This was a good call because my legs never felt super cold. Again, I just considered ending it right there. I was cold, I knew the bike route was wicked hard and it just didn’t seem like it was going to be fun. I know this sounds odd, but really I do this because it’s fun – usually. My transition took almost seven minutes between walking up and all the futzing around I did.
It took about ten miles for me to feel half way decent on the bike. There is a long climb up out of the lake and it didn’t feel good at all. My lower back was really beginning to hurt. When we pre-rode the course I had stayed in the drops for much of the ride with no problem. But I couldn’t do that on race day, until about mile 25. I think maybe the cold caused my muscles to just seize up. This ride is basically a lollipop with a very long stick. The out bound portion is mainly tilted up and into a headwind. We had ridden this twice so I knew what to expect. The lollipop was a circle with a lovely, twisty descent about a mile and a half long, followed by a climb back to the stick. I really had fun on the lollipop. The descent was awesome, twisty, but nice pavement, no traffic. I caught up to the guy in front of me. He left me in the dust when we started climbing again… The climb was fun too, probably a 5 – 7 percent average grade. By this time the day had warmed up nicely and the climb was shaded just the right amount. I didn’t get too cold or too hot. I was listening to the birds and the nearby river, thinking, “What a pleasant day for a bike ride.”
The return to Auburn was generally good – except for this cruel out and back portion along the highway at about mile 40. We had to ride out about two and a half miles, turn around and go back in order to get the mileage for a Half Ironman. This road had what I think of as kerchunk pavement because that’s the sound your bike makes as it rolls over cracks every 15 – 20 feet. In addition, it was basically up and into a headwind on the way out. CRUEL, just plain cruel. Once I turned around, it was great fun. :rolleyes:
I was long enough on the bike that the traffic enforcement for the two lights into Auburn was no longer there and I ended up stopping at both lights. As I went through the ‘burbs to T2 at Railhead Park I saw a fox. That was pretty cool. I was feeling pretty fried when I got to T2 and again thought, “Why?” The bike had taken twenty-five minutes longer than I had expected and I finished it in 4:40.
Run: I again walked through the transition area, changed my shoes, took off my jersey, grabbed my gels and ate one as I walked towards the timing mat. This transition was a little too long as well at 5 minutes. The run course has a short little hill to get up to a flat trail along the canal. Thom was waiting for me at the top of this hill with spray on sunscreen. This was good and I ended up with no burn anywhere for a change. The canal trail was shaded but with lots of rocks and roots and pretty much single track. I walked some, ran some, mostly walked. Then there was a long, slight downhill on asphalt, which I had hoped to be able to run. But on the first lap, the muscle on my left shin was really tight and hurt like a bear every time I ran. This asphalt section then turned right for an out and back run that was kind of bowl shaped and with a steeper grade. The lap finished with more uphill back to the park.
My second lap I was feeling better and ran more of the canal trail and downhill portions. I still walked most of the uphill stuff. By my third lap the course was pretty empty. I started running on the canal trail and nearly bit the dust when I tripped over something. I walked a little bit after that, then started to run again and promptly twisted my ankle. It didn’t hurt, but I decided that was enough running on the canal trail. I knew I was really close to doing what I wanted to on the run, but I figured it was better to not get hurt. I ended up finishing the run in 3:01.
Thom asked me in the car why I do this since it doesn’t seem like fun. And he’s right, it’s not exactly fun. But the sense of accomplishment is huge. I would like to have a little more fun in my next race, instead of being grimly determined to just finish. I am taking this week easy and getting back into my training cycle next Monday. I haven’t set any goals for Barb’s Race yet, other than hoping to shave some time off how I did last year. I’ve got ten weeks to get in better shape and work out some of the kinks from this race.
I'll have pictures later.
Veronica
Wow, V, you're tough. :D Way to hang in there and finish. 3 laps of the same running course sounds like torture when you are ready to be done!
Too bad about the water temperature. I'm not sure it's worth the $ to own a fullsuit for that "once in a while" race that you need it - like you said, you generally try to avoid them. Maybe a neoprene cap would have helped keep some of the warmth in? Maybe these arm-parts, like arm warmers - they would leave a gap, but maybe keep in some of the warmth, too?: http://www.trisports.com/quintana-ro...edsleeves.html. Having said that, when I wore my sleeveless at 56 degrees or whatever freaking cold temperature I wore it at, I felt like my armpits were just shedding body heat. I guess it's hard to say where the insulating factor would have come from best.
Bottom line, only 241 other people finished (presuming they all did), which puts you in pretty limited company. Congratulations! :D
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...2010/WTT-7.jpg
I'm missing about the first 3.75 miles of the bike and about 400 feet of climbing. The darker portion is the run course profile.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...2010/WTT-4.jpg
Just a little fog coming off the water.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...2010/WTT-5.jpg
Heading in to T2.
http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...2010/WTT-6.jpg
The start of the run.
There are a few more photos here.
Veronica
That is one brutal course! Congrats on hanging in there and doing it!
That photo of the fog coming off the water is incredible.
Kinda like you, V. I'm so impressed with your perseverence!!
Wow, V...what a story! I'm very impressed with your determination (as usual!). Great job.
And gorgeous photos! Can you ship Thom up here in September to take photos of me at my Oly? ;)
He took those with our tiny point and shoot. He volunteered at T1 so we could park at the start, very limited parking down there and he didn't want to fuss with his good camera and lenses. It always amazes me what great shots he gets. Just remember we only keep the good ones though. He took oodles more shots that just didn't make the cut.
Veronica
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Evidence that taking good photos is only partially about having good equipment. It's also having the eye. Thom clearly has it.
I'll have to make sure that my husband knows how to use the rapid fire setting on our cameras and just go nuts. Maybe we'll get lucky! :p
Congrats, that sounds really hard. Good job sticking it out.
V, awesome, truly amazing. You are a tough cookie!
K
My swim pictures crack me up. To me, it's obvious I'm struggling with my wetsuit.
http://www.photocrazy.com/perl/view....ts=0303&bibno=
Start with the lower right photo and go on to the next page. Maybe I was dancing? :p
Veronica
My overuse injury from 2007 has returned. I'd like to blame it on my body just being genetically wrong - hammer toes and bunions, hugely overpronated...
But really, it's my lack of training. It was the same thing in 2007. Sure I can do a double century when my longest ride in the last 3 months was fifty miles...
I do mental toughness during the event very well. In the months leading up to it... not so much. Being incredibly introspective, too much so sometimes, I wonder, "What's the deal?"
I know I can blame some of it on not wanting to train in the wind, rain and cold. That stuff I can make myself suck up and just do. I've got the clothes and really it's not so bad once you're out doing it.
But how many days have I come home just mentally and emotionally drained from work? Why do I let the kids who just want to be lumps get to me so much? How many days did I just go home and sleep because I was worn out from the frustration. Even now as I look around my room at the kids who should be silently reading and aren't, I wonder why do I care so much. Why do I get so emotionally invested that I lose sight of what I want to do, what my personal priorities are?
I wonder how the other teachers who training for even bigger races stay focused?
The mental toughness I need to cultivate is to not get so involved, to not carry that frustration around with me all day, to not let it sap all the life out of me.
Okay, back to work.
Veronica
Hey V,
I have been teaching HS for 22 years, and I used to be in the same exact boat. Then about 6 years ago, I got very ill and required emergency surgery about 1 month prior to the AP Bio exam. I was completely freaked out and rushed to try and get back to school. In the end, the kids that were destined to do well did well, and the slackers...well they did not.
I learned from this experience, that my students need to be actively engaged in their education too. I still give them 110% while I am in the building, from
6:30 am to 3pm, but I carry less of their "stuff" home with me. That is not to say that I do not have days where I am in tears after a parent phone call, or frustrated beyond belief. I have just gotten better at compartmentalizing.
Now I leave and go train at the end of the day and vent it out that way.
I am not sure how long you have been teaching, but it may get better. The weird thing is, as I let go, I think I am actually more compassionate and caring than I was before. Old age I guess.
Thanks RnR! I've been teaching 19 years.
Veronica
Just speaking here as a mom first and as your friend second: thank you for caring enough to internalize your worries and concerns about your class BUT you can't take care of your class if you don't first and foremost take care of yourself and listen to your needs and your limits. So worry about you first and them second.
I can tell from your posts that you teach younger students, I am sure that makes it harder to separate yourself from them. They are lucky to have you, but you do need to save some time to refill your cup.Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Just like on an airplane, put your own mask on first and THEN help those around you.:D
I've been taking it pretty easy since May 23, trying to let my muscles and ligaments around my right knee heal up again.
We had planned on doing a hard 72 mile ride this past Sunday - the Mendocino Monster. The ride started with a 2,000 foot climb with a four mile section of ten percent. My right leg just couldn't handle it. We got to the top of the first climb, looked at the rest of the route profile and turned around and went back down. I'm glad we did because even riding the flat section back to the starting point hurt.
We did have a lovely weekend in Ukiah, however, with dinner at a nice restaurant. And it is beautiful country up there. We're going to put it on our calendar again for next year.
Yesterday's training session with Shawna was pretty tough. Upper body always hurts so much. The really killer set was the first one. First I did chest press, then shoulder press then. That wasn't so bad. It was the push ups. I only had to do three - but in between each one I had to hold myself off the floor, about an inch, for twenty seconds and then press up. It's amazing how long twenty seconds is! And that press up - OH BOY!!!!
I've been busy planning out our trip the the North Rim of the Grand Canyon - menu planning mostly. In our household, camping does not mean roughing it. We're going to have Bananas Foster French Toast, Rum Baked Peaches, Maple Caramel Baked Apples, Bourbon Glazed Chicken...
We're taking a shower, a PET toilet and a frig. We even bought a new tent - one you can stand up in it. Definitely not roughing it. :D
I'm hoping the time I've taken off has been enough so that I can ride and run the Rainbow Rim Trail. As long as there are no ten percent grades I think I'll be okay. I'm taking my yoga mat too.
Veronica
Hey V - the cabins weren't available at the North Rim? Granted it's been many many moons since I've stayed there. But it was nice to come back to real beds, and indoor plumbing after a day of hiking around. Your menu sounds really good, dutch oven cooking?Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Enjoy your trip!
We're camping outside the park in the National Forest. We're hoping to go days without seeing anyone.
Veronica
I signed up for a Sprint Tri midway between my two Half Ironmen so that I could race and not suffer. :p This race was perfect for that.
The Trek Tri series is for women only. It is a great way to get started in triathlon, with a very supportive atmosphere. This race had advertised distances of 1/2 mile swim, 11 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run. My main goal for the race was to go and just have some fun. My secondary goal was to kick butt on the bike portion and not really worry about how that would affect my run. I think I achieved both goals.
The Swim:
Not surprisingly, I have not swum at all since the Auburn Tri on May 23. My plan was to swim this race at a comfortable pace and get out of the water ready to rock the bike. I brought my wetsuit but decided the water was plenty warm enough to not bother with it. At only 1/2 mile swim I'm not convinced that I'll get any time benefit from the wet suit, considering how long it takes me to get it off. :rolleyes: Somewhere along the way I did manage to pick up some pond life when I found myself swimming with a bit of freshwater kelp or something strung over my right shoulder. Alas, it disappeared before I got out of the water, so no pictures. I finished the swim in 17:10, not a blistering pace - more like a brisk warm up.
Results: AG 13/50, Overall 66/268
The Bike:
Yeah, I rocked the bike! I'm really happy with my bike split time and how I felt overall. I was pushing it, but nowhere near my red zone. I think I could have ridden at this level of effort for quite a while longer. That's good because Barb's Race is 56 miles long and I want to take 20 - 25 minutes off my bike time from last year. That will give me an average pace of about 18 mph. I'll be ecstatic if I can do that! It will be a stretch but given my performance today, not out of the realm of possibility. Usually I get passed by a few riders, but not today. Not one person passed me on the bike. I'm thrilled to see that all my hard work in the gym is paying off. My bike time was 32:03
Results: AG 12/50, Overall 55/268
The Run:
This is my Achilles Heel - figuratively. For the record, my heels do not hurt. Running is just so hard for me. I enjoy it when it's going well, but it's like playing the lottery. I never know when I head out to train if it's going to be good or torture; if I'm going to win or lose. Although my results are somewhat better than the lottery's. The soft tissue injury to my upper right leg comes and goes and can be pretty painful. Icing it and lots of stretching generally make it better. Still, I don't like having excuses. And to be honest, the desire to get better at the run is what keeps me going to the races. It irritates me that the run is so far below what I'm capable of in the other two parts. Well I don't know that I will ever be as good a runner as I am a swimmer and biker, I want them closer. This desire is really just a wish. I have not made it a true goal and actually put forth the needed effort to get there. That annoys me. Nothing is worse than a whiner, with a bunch of excuses, who wishes they could do ... whatever. :D Less whining and more running is definitely called for. Run time was 37:42.
Results: AG 36/50, Overall: 202/268
Final Placement: AG 27/50 Overall 124/268
This was a really well put together race. I love racing at Shadowcliffs; it's close to home and is a pretty little park in the middle of suburbia.
Pictures can be seen here.
Veronica
Nice job, Veronica. I did the Trek triathlon in Seattle last year and really enjoyed it also. Womens only triathlons always make me feel bad for running people over in the swim, though. ;)
I share some empathy for your running woes, I basically end up the same way. I'm hoping to see some improvement this year. Conditions often get the better of me on the run in ways they never do on the swim or bike.
Another race report I really liked reading. I like analytical race reports, like learning from them. Would love to have that kind of bike strength, and nice to just have fun, isn't it? How long till Barb's Race?
Barb's race is July 31 - so about four more weeks. :eek:
Veronica
Nice work. You are a killer swimmer. I would love to not have to swim for a month and come out on top like you do!
Way to go! 4 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!