Sahuarita Lake tri race report

[knapplaura]

Yesterday did my first tri since IM AZ (I did a USCF bike race last weekend but that had no swimming so not real worrisome).

This race is weird distances: 1000m swim, 25K (15.5mile) bike, and 5K run.

The swim was in a lake and I wore the wetsuit, which was dumb b/c it was not really cold. I just could not get coordinated on the swim and felt like i was in the water forever (turned out to be a horrible 27:40).

The bike is my strength and I was stoke w/the course...not a typical flat tri, this one had a 2+ mile hill before the turn-around. Going to the hill a guy passed me saying, nice job, looking good.....i chased him down going up the hill and passed him with about 400m to go...told him 'nice job too!' That was motivating! Going downhill I was totally spinning out of my hardest gear, 53-11. Total bike time approx 50 minutes, so I was pretty pleased.

The run was much harder than expected. I took time to pull on running shorts, and wished i had one of those TRIX skirts instead! I tried out the Newton running shoes for the first 'hard run' and they worked great! After all the IM-training I forgot what it feels like to run in oxygen debt for 3 miles...it feels really hard! I think my run was just under 25 minutes.
At the very end, some dude sprinted to pass me so hard I thought he was going to collapse! That was funny.

Overall time 1:43. I am happy w/the result for where I am so far...I really took time off to recover the last 6 weeks and it was necessary, but it is time to start hitting it again...starting w/the swim. I am trying lessons in "total immersion' technique so we'll see if that helps!

Thanks for reading,
Laura

[colby]

Great job, Laura. It must be interesting to swing from IM all the way back to a closer to sprint distance.

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on a GREAT race, Laura!!!! Sounds like you had an incredible race for only being 6 weeks out from IMAZ. Nice showing out there!!! Kudos to you for getting back into it so quickly- your body will be soooo glad you did!

Congrats again- and thanks for posting about your race!!!!

P.S. I'm sooo impressed that you raced so soon! You've come back a lot sooner than I did after an IM (getting ready to do my first sprint since my IM last September ).

[rocknrollgirl]

Hmmmm, I often wondered what you IM girls do for "fun" after your big race. And thanks so much for recognizing the pain of racing in oxygen debt.
I often think about you IM guys when I am training saying things to myself like...Holy cow, could I run a marathon after that ride?
The difference is, at least in off road stuff, and I imagine sprint tri's too, that you never get to settle into a zone. So it makes me feel worlds better to have you say that the run was hard.

Congrats, and thanks for the report!!!!!!


Ruth

[HeatherErin]

Colby stated just what I was thinking - how strange that must feel going from and IM to a sprint distance. Great job and thanks for the report!

[HappyAnika]

Great job! Thanks for posting the report. Ditto the others- I was wondering how a sprint must feel after an IM, but it sounds like its a lot different strategy.

DH and I have been learning the total immersion technique on our own through the book and DVD. I like it a lot, but I never really swam before, so I don't have much to compare it to. Although when I started trying to swim on my own my legs would sink like bricks every time I tried to breathe. The TI technique is all about balance in the water which I found tremendously helpful. Good luck!

[eclectic]

Thanks for posting and Great job!

The TI program is great. I love the comment about the laser beam emitting from the top of your head that never moves off the target. Just that little sentance helps me keep my head down and my body aligned

[Running Mommy]

Good times! I love that race. We were going to do it, but opted to go see Brandi and do the vegas thing instead.
How were the RR tracks? Did they cover them this year? Those are the nastiest tracks I've ever seen! I think they could eat my entire wheel!
Anyway, isn't it fun dropping the silly boys on the hill? I dropped a young'en one year and apparently he spent the entire rest of the ride back trying to catch me. He caught me on the run and thanked me for inspiring him to push or something... I just remember thinking "must suck to get smoked by a fat chick"...
Of course HE smoked me on the run, but thats ok.
Sounds like you had fun. The last hoorah before the move?? Or do you have some other local races on the calendar?

[knapplaura]

They did not cover the RR tracks this year, but that was not a problem since we have them everywhere out here too.

It was fun, but my 'big race' is this weekend....the infamous Fort Huachcua 2-10-2! It is a duathlon, and since there is no swimming...I am going for the win! Last year I got second and the girl that beat me has moved out of town. So I just have to sprint 2 miles at the end like mad!

That will be my last race before the big move. It is gonna be so tough to go!

Good luck in your races this summer too! I did a session w/Ann Wilson of Camelback Coaching on swimming and would highly recommend her. I have another session in 2 weeks....if it is worth me driving up from Sierra Vista then you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Laura

[Running Mommy]

That is exactly who I am going to see about my swimming "issues". She is about an hours drive for me,so not too bad. I so badly need to get to her though!!
Right now it's a matter of $$. I'm trying to pay some things off, so I've been trying to limit my tri related expenses. But I really really need to get over to her!!
Have fun this weekend and kick some booty!! Run like the wind baby, run like the WIND!!!