How Hard Can It Be? Round 4

[Veronica]

This is the year of the "smart" race. Typing it out helps me focus.

Swim - just get in and do it. Time on the swim really does not matter. Really, really... it does NOT matter. You can go hard and probably do a 34 min. swim or you can go easy and do a 40 min.swim. GO EASY. Yeah, the wetsuit feels weird. Just deal with it.

T1 - just do what you need to do, don't rush.

Bike - once you're out of town, start eating. Eat and drink every 15 minutes. The ride is essentially flat. Don't kid yourself - rollers and two small hills. Stay in the drops and stay just below lactate thresh hold. It's okay to go harder on the first hill. The route south sucks because of the headwind. Don't let it get to you. Stay strong, stay in the drops. Take it easier on Chalk Hill. Don't stop eating here, you have 10 miles to go. Once you're over the highway, dial it back 2 miles an hour. Cruise into the finish, it really is flat here. Keep eating, you should be done with the blocks and working on the Hammer Gel. This is not the place to hammer to get that certain bike split that you REALLY want. Either you've already done the work to get it, or you haven't.

T2 - same as T1. Take the time to get your shoes right.

Run - Stay within your zone. I know it feels slow, but you have a long way to go. Eat your gels as you approach miles 2, 4 and 6. I don't care if you don't feel hungry. Just do it! It's okay to walk while you eat, just be quick. Smile, be the cheery person who encourages others. Don't drink too much water.

Stay smart, don't go too hard, have fun.

[colby]

Good plan. Stick to it. Reach for your goal, but stay safe and smart. Finish strong!!

Got the tracking page up and ready!

[Adventure Girl]

Have a great race. Have a great time. Here is my advice to you:

Stay smart, don't go too hard, have fun.

[jobob]

Have a fabulous day, V!

[colby]

These were V's goals:

Goals - I'll be happy if I can do a 40 minute swim, 3:15 bike and 2:50 run, plus 10 minutes of overall transition, that will give me a 6:55 total time.

She's out of the water in 37:07, T1 was 5:46, and waiting for the 29mi bike time to come in. Gotta be happy with that swim, as long as she stuck with the plan to relax

Resume cheering!

[colby]

The online results never updated, but Twitter reports she's onto the run at 12:37... almost there!

[colby]

37:07 swim, 3:28:14 bike, and Twitter says she finished @ 3:30. Congratulations, V! Can't wait for the post-race analysis. Enjoy some much deserved rest.

[Veronica]

The swim was freakin' awesome. That was my relaxed pace. The rest didn't go as I had hoped, but was a blast. More tomorrow.

Veronica