RACE REPORT: 2012 Blue Lake Olympic Triathlon

[Veronica]

How much have you improved as a runner since you started doing tris? It seems I remember some posts where you talked about doing 11 or 12 minute miles. And that swim time was pretty decent.

It is so easy to focus on the negative. Just cut it out! Why do you compete? Isn't it really about you and your improvement and your fitness? Does it really matter what kind of splits other people are doing? You can't control them. All you can do is make yourself the best you can be. It seems to me you're doing that.


Veronica

[chatnoire]

Sounds like an awesome day. Kudos to you, because I can't run OR swim in any sort of numbers near that. I only bike (also not that fast.)

Muscle Milk sponsored an event I did a week ago. I had some of the light stuff. Not bad is right. I'm not about to go buy some, but a free one wasn't the worst thing ever.

Thanks for sharing the report, and good for you!!!!

[Susan Otcenas]

How much have you improved as a runner since you started doing tris? It seems I remember some posts where you talked about doing 11 or 12 minute miles. And that swim time was pretty decent.

It is so easy to focus on the negative. Just cut it out! Why do you compete? Isn't it really about you and your improvement and your fitness? Does it really matter what kind of splits other people are doing? You can't control them. All you can do is make yourself the best you can be. It seems to me you're doing that.


Veronica

I do my LSD runs at 11:00 to 11:30. When racing, I usually end up a little sub 10:00 in a sprint and right around 10:00 or a little more in an Oly. I was actually almost 3 minutes slower yesterday on the run than on the same course two years ago. Weight does have something to do with it. I'm 7-8 pounds heavier.

I know that I can't control who else shows up. I can only control how *i* show up.

Of course it's about my fitness and how it changes over time. But I'd be disingenuous if I said I didn't also care about how I stack up against other women my age. But it's not really about winning or losing against them. It's more about what is and isn't possible for ME (which, rightly or wrongly, I benchmark by looking at what other women my age can do.) There's such a huge disparity between what I'm capable of on my bike and what I manage to eek out on the run. I find it very frustrating. I put in the time and feel like I should be improving. Perhaps I'm just not prepared to admit that running is simply not a talent I possess.

[OakLeaf]

Very nice Susan!

V is right, just quit beating yourself up over your running. All told, an awesome race!

[lovelygamer]

I don't compete but your report is interesting. You sound really strong and like your doing pretty well. Your very aware of your abilities and fitness level, that's great!

Also, I like Muscle Milk also..occasionally. And, as I sit here this morning preparing to dose for the first half of the day (Allegra d, benedryl, sinus pills, and inhaler) I know exactly how extreme allergies affect life events. It is so frustrating and annoying because yes, the medicines affect you in other ways and half the time they don't even solve the real issue at hand.

[Catrin]

Very nice Susan! I can't swim (and am not about to learn), can't run very far either so am in awe of you and the other triathletes here at TE.

I like chocolate Muscle Milk - typically I only use it after a brutal cross-training/circuit gym session and I've forgotten to bring other things with me. Nice that they provided it free!

[Veronica]

There's such a huge disparity between what I'm capable of on my bike and what I manage to eek out on the run. I find it very frustrating. I put in the time and feel like I should be improving. Perhaps I'm just not prepared to admit that running is simply not a talent I possess.

I could have written this myself. I find myself giving up on the run (Every freakin' race!) and walking and I'm not sure why. I've endured much worse in training.

My last race I was racked next to a woman with Ironman and Leadville tattoos on her legs. I asked her about each and found out she had done lots of IM and Leadville a few times and Western Sates which is a wicked long running thing! I was happy she was turning 50 this year, so not in my age group! We were in the same swim wave though and I'll admit I was pleased to see her bike still racked when I came to T1 and she didn't pass me on the bike until we were almost to the turnaround, so 11 miles in or so. I never saw her again and she was all packed up and gone when I collected my stuff from transition.

Someday I'll make a point here... which is... we're good at what we're good at. You're making improvements in the things you're not so good at. This was not your "A" race. Maybe you take from this that you want to lose a little more weight to improve your run. But you also need to revel in your awesome bike ride, where you weren't even working. And put your swimming in perspective - you have come so far as a swimmer. Plus, you've got some incredible mental tenacity to hang tough.

I'll agree though, it does suck not being a great runner.

Veronica