Lise's Pleasant Prairie Report (long, of course )

[Running Mommy]

well I already talked to you on the phone- but you deserve another big ol CONGRATS!!
This morning when I was out riding I saw some people walking 2 doxies and I immediately thought of you!! Of course then I tried to calculate just exactly where you were on the race course...

Oh- and funny thing, I am also a LEFT BREATHER!!! In fact this afternoon I went to the pool and drilled bilateral breathing. UGH!! I swear my balance SUCKS! When I breathe to the right I lift my head and my hips sink like stones!!
But I'm working on it!! Going to pay the big bucks this week to sign up with a swim coach. There is hope yet... I think???

Anyhoo- glad you got some protein in you. Very important. But really you should have eaten like a power bar or something as soon as you finished. There is a short window in which your body will absorb those key nutrients like a sponge. Personally I hate powerbars, but I make myself choke one down after I go long. Usually while I'm icing my legs- another key to good recovery...

[DebW]

Congratulations!

[Bicyclette]

Congratulations!

[Nanci]

Great report Lise!

Nanci

[crazycanuck]

Hey Lise,

Good to hear you didn't quit & said to yourself "I Can". I too have been one of the last people out of the water but I didn't give up!

Good luck in your training for the next tri!

c

[Lise]

Thanks guys, for all your encouraging words! As I came around the bend for the last 1.25 miles of the run (walking mostly at this point), I said to myself,
"That's one thing about midwife-triathletes. We-don't-quit." I kept saying, "We don't quit" for the rest of the run.

Our cars were parked in a big open lot, about 1/2 mile away from the race venue. There were shuttle busses for spectators, and the athletes rode their bikes back. At one point I cut around some folks with bikes and strollers, and someone behind me yelled, "There's a shuttle coming!" I zipped back into my lane, and said to the gal next to me, "Wouldn't that be a drag, finish the race, get squashed by a bus?" She laughed and agreed. Then I said, "Oh, but it would be worse to be squashed at, say, mile 5 of the run. A DNF and DOA!" You know how goofy you are after a race--we laughed our heads off about that one.

At breakfast, my Mom said, "Do you get that medal just for entering?" I replied, "No, Mom, you get that medal for finishing." I know even the greats have DNFs in their past. I hope to finish every race I start.

[Lise]

Anyhoo- glad you got some protein in you. Very important. But really you should have eaten like a power bar or something as soon as you finished. There is a short window in which your body will absorb those key nutrients like a sponge. Personally I hate powerbars, but I make myself choke one down after I go long. Usually while I'm icing my legs- another key to good recovery...

Yep, I agree, that was a goof on my part. I ate a banana and drank water at the finish (thoroughly sick of Gatorade at that point). Didn't eat protein until about an hour later. Eating on the course made a HUGE difference this time. Previous Int'l distance tris I've been just wasted afterwards. I've blamed it on the heat/sun, which was less of a factor yesterday. It was sunny, but not too hot. But I actually had a strategy for eating and drinking on the course, and it worked. The Accelerade Gu I was eating has some protein in it. Next time, I'll either carry something with me for after, or make sure a friend has it on them for me at the finish line. I don't like powerbars, and have a hard time eating right after a big effort, but I could give it a shot. If Peter Reid can do it...

[maillotpois]

Wow what a great report, Lise! How very cool for you that you were able to make up some time/placing on the bike. I completely get it about being last out of the water - that's how I generally am running (last) and I am purely a survival swimmer so wouldn't do a tri. But you took a somewhat demoralizing situation and really turned it around for yourself. I am so impressed with you!! Yay for you!

[KSH]

WOW! Fabulous report!

Good job on keeping your "head up" even though you came out of the water last. You didn't let that affect the rest of your race. Perfect!

I got the wind at my back, and actually began to see some riders ahead of me. My new mantra: If I can see you, I can pass you. It's true! I passed 9 people, and then saw no one ahead of me for the rest of the race

AWESOME! I love that mantra! Watch out, I might have to use that in my next race!

Well, great job on the race... and I cried just reading the report... I can imagine how you cried when you finished!

[chickwhorips]

CONGRATS!

great report and map. makes me want to get out and do one!!!!

[Eden]

Next time, I'll either carry something with me for after, or make sure a friend has it on them for me at the finish line. I don't like powerbars, and have a hard time eating right after a big effort, but I could give it a shot. If Peter Reid can do it...

mmm yeah - a bar would be hard to get down I think, but I like PowerBar Recovery drink pretty well. It tastes OK and its usually not a chore to drink something after a race - in fact I usually want something to drink so it goes down pretty fast and easy (granted I don't do tri's, but I'm guessing its not too different).

[lawyergirl]

Wow!!! Congrats to you! I can't even imagine going that far all in one day! You rock!

[tprevost]

What a great report and great job!!! It was so inspiring to read your report; I just loved it!

I hope you will have some pics to share, the pictures from your last tri were so great!

Congrats also on the big improvements on your bike and run times; the swimming will come... that's a hard one for me too!

When is your next one?

Tracy

[colby]

Howdy, TE campers!

I did it, I'm home, the dirt, sweat, and tears (no blood, I'm glad to report) are showered off, I smell of Icy-Hot, and I'm here to tell you all about it.

...

I thought of things I've read on here many times. To cheer myself up in the swim, I thought, "It could be worse. It could be bog snorkling." On the run, I thought of Running Mommy at her Ironman, saying, "If you have to walk, walk with purpose." I thought of KnottedYet, doing her first tri, and being so nervous beforehand.

THANK YOU AGAIN, WOMEN OF TE! Knowing you for the past 9 months made this a wonderful triathlon experience. L.

Lise, you rock. You came back from being so discouraged and FINISHED! Nothing can compare to that feeling when your chip goes BEEEEEEEEEP and you cross that finish line, no matter how you place. It feels so good to finish -- not just for the fact that you can stop going , but for the accomplishment. I am not surprised at all that you burst into tears... somehow I manage to stay sane when I finish, but when I watch other people finish or read race reports and imagine you finishing in my head, it really makes me teary to think of the sense of accomplishment and success. Just, wow.

CONGRATS! What a victory! :cheers: (those are my imaginary champagne glasses!)

[mtbdarby]

Lise,
Congrats on your race! I love reading your reports. Give me a heads up next time you're in WI and I'll come cheer you on - no kidding!

Love the new mantra as well. Permission to use at any given time? Love the map - I laughed out loud at the red lines. Way to go and not give up!