How Hard Can It Be? Year 3

[Veronica]

I signed up for a Sprint Tri midway between my two Half Ironmen so that I could race and not suffer. 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. 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. 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

[colby]

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.

[salsabike]

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?

[Veronica]

Barb's race is July 31 - so about four more weeks.

Veronica

[kacie tri-ing]

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!!!!!!!!!!!

[salsabike]

Barb's race is July 31 - so about four more weeks.

Veronica

How much are you running, now that school's out?

[Veronica]

How much are you running, now that school's out?

Not much. For four weeks after WTH my right quad was too painful to run on. I couldn't really ride either - had to bag a planned hilly metric and a mountain bike ride.

Last week was the first week I could run w/o any pain in the muscle. It's like I have a giant charley horse. Stretching, icing and rolling it help.

I just got back from 2.25 miles. It's already 90 degrees here, at 8:40. I'll do what I can with what I have.

Oh... and apple pie for breakfast, before you run - not a good choice. It sat like a rock.

Veronica

[salsabike]

Not much. For four weeks after WTH my right quad was too painful to run on. I couldn't really ride either - had to bag a planned hilly metric and a mountain bike ride.

Last week was the first week I could run w/o any pain in the muscle. It's like I have a giant charley horse. Stretching, icing and rolling it help.

I just got back from 2.25 miles. It's already 90 degrees here, at 8:40. I'll do what I can with what I have.

Oh... and apple pie for breakfast, before you run - not a good choice. It sat like a rock.

Veronica

Agh. 90 degrees at 8:40. I would have a hard time with that.

I consider running a perpetual work in progress...small increments of improvement, I love!

Will this be the 3rd Barb's Race for you?

[GLC1968]

Great job V! I also wish I had your swim skill. I'm determined to get it eventually....but it'll be years, of course!


Your comment about apple pie brought to mind my first tri. I downed an apple flavored hammer gel right before the swim and proceeded to burp it up the whole time I was in the water! Ick! I don't think I'll ever eat that flavor again.