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.

[Veronica]

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

Yep! I'd like to do it in under 7 hours this year. Not sure where I'll get the ten minutes from, probably the bike. (Last year was 7:09:37.) It is a really nice, well run event. They give you a very nice tech t shirt too with women's sizing.

The tank top from the Trek Tri was also very nice. Women's tris do seem to have nicer t shirts.

Veronica

[Veronica]

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!

Thanks guys! I have to remind myself that I have been swimming probably for forty years, certainly for 35. I've been biking for twenty years and I've been running for two. There's a reason I suck at running. I figure by the time I'm 70 I'll be winning my age group.

40 - 44 is a hard group to be in. I'm looking forward to next year when I'll be moving up to 45 - 49. I'll be 44 when I'm racing in 2011 because it's based on calendar year and I'm a December baby. Yeah, that will give me an advantage, I'm sure of it.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I wish I didn't have a horrible fear of drowning, because I would like to do a tri. I mean, I can swim, but mostly easy breast stroke. I really don't like not being in water above my head, plus the fact I can't put my face in the water with my contacts. I have never found a pair of goggles that didn't leak or give me claustrophobia.
I admire everyone who has been posting their race reports. Keep up the good work!

[Veronica]

Just had an awesome run! It wasn't far - 4.6 miles or especially fast - but it was hilly. And it felt good. It's been a while since I've done a run that just felt good. I made it up every hill and kept going. It was fantastic!

Veronica

[Veronica]

I did an 8 mile run today. I was hoping to get in ten miles in two hours, but 8 miles in 1:43 is not bad. It's pathetically slow, but pain free so, I'll take it.

The first 6.3 miles were pretty good. My self talk has been really good lately. Last week's awesome run had really good self talk. Things like at the top of the 1/4 mile, 12% grade hill, "You don't need to stop, you're getting plenty of air!" as I crested the hill gasping, but continuing to run. At one point I was actually thinking, " I am a running bad a$$." Not really... but it made me keep running.

Today's notable self comment as my brain was asking for a breather. "What's tired? Nothing - then no, you can't stop." About the 5th time I had that conversation my body answered, "Well, the legs are kind of tired, you really need to eat that gel and you have to go to the bathroom." Fine, we'll stop at the park. That was at mile 6.3.

It's always hard for me to get moving again. Right after the park, I have a little climb and I managed to run up that. But then fizzled out and drank the last of my water. I really should have refilled my flask at the park, but didn't. I figured I could refill at the little park that's only 1/2 of a mile away. I seldom stop there, because there is no bathroom and you can imagine my dismay when I discovered that the city has cemented over the water fountain there.

That was enough to convince to turn for home instead of doing another half lap to get to 10 miles. It was 80 degrees out when I took off at 7:30 AM and I really didn't fancy doing two miles knowing that I was thirsty. My shirt was totally soaked and not because I had been dumping water on myself. I lost 4 pounds on the run and that was after drinking a bottle full of water when I got home. I sweat like a pig, so it's not surprising.

Considering that just two weeks ago I was turning for home after two miles, I am reasonably happy with my progress. I just need to keep my right leg healthy for two more weeks.

I'm starting to consider my goals for Barb's Race. I'd really like to finish in under 7 hours this year. Last year was 7:09. I'm not going to be able to take much off the swim as last year was a 37:04. Last year I averaged just under 16 mph on the bike. If I can bring that up to 17 mph, that will give me the time I need, since at this point, I don't think much will come off the run.

Maybe I'll surprise myself. I've been reading Lori-Ann Muenzer's book, One Gear No Breaks. I think that is where all my really good self talk is coming from. She really believed in herself and her ability to win a gold medal. I just gotta believe too... Oh and put in bucket loads of work I suppose.

Veronica

[roadie gal]

Good luck with the race! I'm glad your run was pain free yesterday.