The plan yesterday? Run 18km (11.2mi). The weather? Rain. Ranging from steady to downpour.
I decided that it was as good an opportunity as any to test out my new shoes. Since it's a different size then my last pair, I wanted to run inside with them so that I could return them if need be. While I'm perfectly willing to run in the rain, if I'm going to do an indoor run anyways, I'm not going to do it on a day where the weather is beautiful.
Having said that, 18 km is a long ways to run at the track. Previous experience has taught me that track running gives me aches that I don't get otherwise. So, I figured I'd do 10 or so at the track and then finish off outside in the rain.
This meant a trip to the track to run in circles. Now, I don't usually listen to music when I run. For one, I don't need it, and for another, it's not allowed in triathlons. May as well train how I'm going to race. Having said that, the one place where I do use music is at the track, when I'm running alone.
So, I put on my shiny new shoes and turned on my ipod. I walked a lap to warm up a bit and then started running. Feeling good. My toes felt like they had lots of room in these shoes, but they didn't feel too loose. Actually, they were a bit tight across the top, where I tend to have problems. I stopped after a couple laps to loosen them. No problems after that, which is highly unusual for me. I have almost always had at least mild pain across the top of my right foot no matter how loose I have my laces.
At first I just ran. I turned up the volume on my music. I wonder if I was one of those obnoxious people who had the music so loud everyone could hear it? I was using my garmin to count laps, since I would be useless at keeping track in my head. After a few laps, I started doing the math to figure out how many I needed to do. It was 4.3 laps per km, so I figured every 13 laps was 3 kms. (I somehow forgot about the 0.1 km I'd be losing every 3 km). I figured I could do either 39 laps for 9 km or 52 laps for 12 km.
Fortunately, at my track, the direction changes every half hour. So, just at the point where some of muscles started protesting against the continual turns, I'd be turning the other way instead. I glanced down at my garmin after finishing a lap and realized that I was at 41 laps. Oops! Not paying attention. Oh well, the rain was currently in a hard serious downpour state. Maybe just as well if I stay inside a little longer.
Truthfully, it didn't become a true battle until I was nearing the end. I remember looking at my garmin, seeing 47 laps and inwardly groaning that there was still more then a km. Then when I hit 48, it meant I only had 4 laps left to go. When I got to the final lap, I gave a bit of a push, and ran it in 59 seconds. I've never been able to run a lap there in less then a minute, and I wasn't even full out sprinting, so that made me feel good.
I wasn't done yet though. Time to hit the rain.
I drove home so I had a bit of a break. (Since I'd be wet, I figured it was better to be at home at the end of the run so that I could shower right away.) When I got home, I changed my shirt to a long sleeved one, ditched my ipod and went back out. (I'd already changed shoes at the track.) I started running right away, since I was warmed up there was no need to walk.
It was raining pretty steadily, but no longer the kind of downpour where the rain drops can actually hurt. I find that I don't mind it as long as I wear my cap since the brim keeps the water off my face. I headed straight for the river pathway.
Sometimes, it can be hard to get out in the rain, but I've never struggled with a rainy run once out. Once warmed up, it feels good and yesterday was no exception. I could definitely tell that my legs were not fresh, but I wouldn't expect them to be after already running 12 km. I had a good rhythm going and was a bit faster then I usually am for long runs. Sadly, no view of the mountains with how cloudy it was, but I was happy with my river, hills, and trees.
The 6 km (3.7mi) I had left went by quickly. I was running strong and feeling great. Even though the race I am really looking forward to is my Oly tri, I thought a bit about my next half marathon. I am going to kill it. I'm going to be well trained and really comfortable with the distance by the time I get there.
As I was nearing the end of my run, I passed the town's water treatment plant. There was a guy outside, having a smoke break, who commented "that's what I call dedication". It may have looked hard, because I know water was pouring off of me, but I didn't really think it was. When I run in 30c (86f) weather, I think that's dedication. Or when I run in -30c (-22f), yeah, I've got to be serious. Running in the rain? Meh, not so bad.
I picked it up for the home stretch and finished strong. I still felt great even after running 18 km. Heck, I probably could have done another 3.1...
So, what about you? Are you a fair weather runner, or do you get out in anything? Would you rather do the track (or treadmill) or run in the rain?
I have to say, rain all the way for me. I actually really enjoy the sensation, and will reserve the track for truly bad weather - or for testing new shoes.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
My weekend summed up
Yes, I realize today is Tuesday, so yesterday wasn't really part of the weekend. However, my husband took yesterday off work so that we could have a long weekend and do a short camping trip on Sunday/Monday.
I have lots of things I could blog about, but just to get myself up to date, I'm going to do this in point form.
1. Saturday, a friend (Caroline) and I went white water rafting. It was very cool.
2. We had to drive to Golden, BC to do it - a bit more then 3 hours (if you do the speed limit.) Caroline doesn't do the speed limit in Alberta, but does in BC. Apparently there is a warrant out for her arrest in BC, so she has to tow the line over there...
3. Prior to white water rafting, we went and found a couple geocaches. Very neat! A bit tricky to find one of them, but that's part of the fun of it.
4. The white water rafting was awesome, but not quite as thrilling as I expected. There were a lot of class 4 rapids, but they didn't last that long. No pictures. We got the trip on a good deal by buying a groupon, and the cd with the pictures would have cost more then the trip itself.
5. On the way back, we stopped off to use the bathroom. There was a super long line up for the women's bathroom and none for the men's. So, I used the men's bathroom. Caroline was shocked. Really? She's the one that could get arrested if caught in BC and she's shocked that I'm skipping a line up?
6. My kids are fish. They both did a swim lesson last week. The last class was Saturday, so hubby took them. They loved it, though Sweetpea is a fish that only puts her head under water when she feels like it, so she's going to do the first level again.
7. Sunday morning, I did a long ride before we headed out camping. 60 km. Now, if I start getting pre-race jitters in the next couple weeks, and worry that I can't complete 40, somebody please smack me upside the head.
8. I then proceeded to be useless in the camping preparations while my husband got everything ready to go. I love that guy.
9. We camped at Two Jack Lake, which is also the location of my Olympic triathlon in two weeks.
10. Spud kept declaring "it's really fun to go camping." It was nice to see him in his element. Made me sad that we didn't manage to get out any other time this summer.
11. We didn't bring a single toy and there was no playground at the campground, yet the kids had a blast.
12. I waded into the lake, and it was cold, but no colder then the river I swam in at my uncle's. I think I can handle it with a wetsuit - even though it will get colder in the next couple weeks.
13. We drove around the bike loop - in the wrong direction! I kept seeing cyclists and joking that they were going the wrong way. When we got home, I checked the race map, and it was us going the wrong way. Good thing I got that straightened out before the race.
15. I wasn't the only one to buy running shoes! Somebody else in my house is now taking up running!
16. I've gone up half a shoe size. While running, I've always had trouble with pain across the top of my foot. Different lacing techniques have helped, but not solved it. I also have perpetually sore toes, and a partially black toenail. The staff at the store agreed with my suspicion that my shoes were too small. I'm hoping the bigger shoe makes a difference.
17. It appears that hubby is a naturally faster runner then me. I'm going to have to do some speed work so I can delay him beating me too soon. I've got a headstart on endurance though! (I'm not competitive.)
18. Despite my competitive side, the part I really like about him running is that I can now share it with him.
19. The day of my triathlon can now be seen in the 14 day weather trend. Enter obsessive weather checking. Right now, the forecast is for a sunny day with a high of 17c (63f) and a low of 8c (46f). It's a bit of a late start (10:00), so if that ends up being the air temperatures, I should be good. Now the question is, how cold will the water be? Last year it was about 12c (54f).
20. The weather here this week looks to be a bit dismal. We've gone from sun and heat to rain and dreary-ness. Really though, as long as the temperatures stay above freezing, I can't complain. (But it's still August!)
Alright, that's it for now. If you've made it all the way through, congrats!
Have you ever used the opposite gender's bathroom? Would you? Ever discover you're wearing the wrong size shoes? Is running (or tri-ing) something you share with your spouse/partner?
*Disclaimer: Caroline only thinks she *might* have a warrant for her arrest because of an unpaid traffic ticket. I'm not hanging out with a really hardcore criminal.
I have lots of things I could blog about, but just to get myself up to date, I'm going to do this in point form.
1. Saturday, a friend (Caroline) and I went white water rafting. It was very cool.
2. We had to drive to Golden, BC to do it - a bit more then 3 hours (if you do the speed limit.) Caroline doesn't do the speed limit in Alberta, but does in BC. Apparently there is a warrant out for her arrest in BC, so she has to tow the line over there...
3. Prior to white water rafting, we went and found a couple geocaches. Very neat! A bit tricky to find one of them, but that's part of the fun of it.
4. The white water rafting was awesome, but not quite as thrilling as I expected. There were a lot of class 4 rapids, but they didn't last that long. No pictures. We got the trip on a good deal by buying a groupon, and the cd with the pictures would have cost more then the trip itself.
5. On the way back, we stopped off to use the bathroom. There was a super long line up for the women's bathroom and none for the men's. So, I used the men's bathroom. Caroline was shocked. Really? She's the one that could get arrested if caught in BC and she's shocked that I'm skipping a line up?
6. My kids are fish. They both did a swim lesson last week. The last class was Saturday, so hubby took them. They loved it, though Sweetpea is a fish that only puts her head under water when she feels like it, so she's going to do the first level again.
7. Sunday morning, I did a long ride before we headed out camping. 60 km. Now, if I start getting pre-race jitters in the next couple weeks, and worry that I can't complete 40, somebody please smack me upside the head.
8. I then proceeded to be useless in the camping preparations while my husband got everything ready to go. I love that guy.
9. We camped at Two Jack Lake, which is also the location of my Olympic triathlon in two weeks.
10. Spud kept declaring "it's really fun to go camping." It was nice to see him in his element. Made me sad that we didn't manage to get out any other time this summer.
11. We didn't bring a single toy and there was no playground at the campground, yet the kids had a blast.
12. I waded into the lake, and it was cold, but no colder then the river I swam in at my uncle's. I think I can handle it with a wetsuit - even though it will get colder in the next couple weeks.
13. We drove around the bike loop - in the wrong direction! I kept seeing cyclists and joking that they were going the wrong way. When we got home, I checked the race map, and it was us going the wrong way. Good thing I got that straightened out before the race.
14. There's new shoes in our house! There was a twenty percent off coupon for running room last week, and I was due for new shoes soon anyways.
15. I wasn't the only one to buy running shoes! Somebody else in my house is now taking up running!
 |
| My old shoes are dirty! Is it bad that I'm jealous of how colourful hubby's shoes are? |
17. It appears that hubby is a naturally faster runner then me. I'm going to have to do some speed work so I can delay him beating me too soon. I've got a headstart on endurance though! (I'm not competitive.)
18. Despite my competitive side, the part I really like about him running is that I can now share it with him.
19. The day of my triathlon can now be seen in the 14 day weather trend. Enter obsessive weather checking. Right now, the forecast is for a sunny day with a high of 17c (63f) and a low of 8c (46f). It's a bit of a late start (10:00), so if that ends up being the air temperatures, I should be good. Now the question is, how cold will the water be? Last year it was about 12c (54f).
20. The weather here this week looks to be a bit dismal. We've gone from sun and heat to rain and dreary-ness. Really though, as long as the temperatures stay above freezing, I can't complain. (But it's still August!)
Alright, that's it for now. If you've made it all the way through, congrats!
Have you ever used the opposite gender's bathroom? Would you? Ever discover you're wearing the wrong size shoes? Is running (or tri-ing) something you share with your spouse/partner?
*Disclaimer: Caroline only thinks she *might* have a warrant for her arrest because of an unpaid traffic ticket. I'm not hanging out with a really hardcore criminal.
Friday, August 26, 2011
The perfect swim
Last night I was at the pool. I was doing an interval swim and working on a fast 100. All of the sudden it happened.
All of a sudden I was just gliding through the water. I could feel it all around me and instinctively knew the perfect way to grab it. I was rolling from the hips instead of trying to use my kick to aid the roll. Suddenly I got what Angie meant when she'd talk about using your core. I knew it before, but I hadn't got it.
It seemed effortless, but I could feel I was going faster, and I was. It was like my body just knew what to do and was doing it, perfectly, effortlessly. Stroke, glide, stroke, glide...
I wonder if I will ever get that feeling back again? I have a feeling it's like a runner's high. Now that I know it exists, I'll always look for it, but it will only be there on the very rare occasion.
All of a sudden I was just gliding through the water. I could feel it all around me and instinctively knew the perfect way to grab it. I was rolling from the hips instead of trying to use my kick to aid the roll. Suddenly I got what Angie meant when she'd talk about using your core. I knew it before, but I hadn't got it.
It seemed effortless, but I could feel I was going faster, and I was. It was like my body just knew what to do and was doing it, perfectly, effortlessly. Stroke, glide, stroke, glide...
I wonder if I will ever get that feeling back again? I have a feeling it's like a runner's high. Now that I know it exists, I'll always look for it, but it will only be there on the very rare occasion.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Three things Thursday
1. This morning when my 5:00 am alarm went off, the lyrics that came blasting out from the radio were: "run! as fast as you can..." Kind of cool considering that alarm was to wake me up for a run. You CAN'T go back to sleep when you get a sign like that.
2. Has anyone else been having trouble with your blog updating on blogrolls and in readers? Lately, I've noticed a lot my posts haven't been showing up, and when they do it's a good half day later. I actually first noticed it when I was on someone's blog and thought they'd taken me off their blog roll. They hadn't; I was just way down the list because it wasn't showing my last post.
3. I think I may have started the pre-race crazies for my Oly tri and it's still 2.5 weeks away. Yesterday, I was freaking out that I'm undertrained and can't do the distance - which is baloney. I've done more mileage then a lot of Oly plans call for. I'll be fine. I just need to remember that and hold it together for the last couple weeks of training.
2. Has anyone else been having trouble with your blog updating on blogrolls and in readers? Lately, I've noticed a lot my posts haven't been showing up, and when they do it's a good half day later. I actually first noticed it when I was on someone's blog and thought they'd taken me off their blog roll. They hadn't; I was just way down the list because it wasn't showing my last post.
3. I think I may have started the pre-race crazies for my Oly tri and it's still 2.5 weeks away. Yesterday, I was freaking out that I'm undertrained and can't do the distance - which is baloney. I've done more mileage then a lot of Oly plans call for. I'll be fine. I just need to remember that and hold it together for the last couple weeks of training.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
255
My first couple races, I tried to find meaning in my race numbers. Now, some of you are really good at that. Me? Not so much. I would try to come up with something, and then after the first couple races decided that the number is just that, a number for the organizers to identify and keep track of me.
When I picked up my package for this race though, the number was 255. Immediately, my mind went: "that means something". I couldn't figure it out though. Was it a number that actually had meaning to me, or was it just my mind trying to find meaning in the number again, even though I gave up that hobby? I tried to brush it off, but whenever I thought about my number, or glanced at my bib, my mind kept reminding me that there was meaning there.
It wasn't until after I finished the race that it came to me. I was sitting with my family, refueling in the shade when my husband mentioned "it's neat that your number is 255, because that's the maximum number of bytes you can have." (I'm probably not getting the quote right, but it was some dorky computer thing.)
Then it hit me. I knew exactly what 255 was. And no, it had nothing to do with bytes or computers.
255 is the highest number of pounds I have ever weighed (excluding pregnancy and a couple weeks following). I can even tell you the month that I hit that weight: June of 2006.
I'd had a rough year and I was at one of my lowest points ever. I had worked 2 jobs to put my husband through school. I was coming to the realization that my "dream job" was a nightmare. In 10 months I went from 190 pounds to 255. Serving tables combined with obesity had taken a toll on me and I had some injuries that wouldn't go away. I conceived and lost my first baby.
And, somehow in that haze of sadness and depression came a light. A new job. Another positive pregnancy test. Entry into a new phase of my life in which I changed and grew. And 255 defined me no more.
On Sunday, I carried 255. I now weigh almost 60 pounds less then that. I'm in another phase of my life filled with change and growth. I'm finding myself and figuring out who I am. Does 255 define me? Well, it did. For a few hours. As a way for the race organizers to identify and keep track of me.
When I picked up my package for this race though, the number was 255. Immediately, my mind went: "that means something". I couldn't figure it out though. Was it a number that actually had meaning to me, or was it just my mind trying to find meaning in the number again, even though I gave up that hobby? I tried to brush it off, but whenever I thought about my number, or glanced at my bib, my mind kept reminding me that there was meaning there.
It wasn't until after I finished the race that it came to me. I was sitting with my family, refueling in the shade when my husband mentioned "it's neat that your number is 255, because that's the maximum number of bytes you can have." (I'm probably not getting the quote right, but it was some dorky computer thing.)
Then it hit me. I knew exactly what 255 was. And no, it had nothing to do with bytes or computers.
255 is the highest number of pounds I have ever weighed (excluding pregnancy and a couple weeks following). I can even tell you the month that I hit that weight: June of 2006.
I'd had a rough year and I was at one of my lowest points ever. I had worked 2 jobs to put my husband through school. I was coming to the realization that my "dream job" was a nightmare. In 10 months I went from 190 pounds to 255. Serving tables combined with obesity had taken a toll on me and I had some injuries that wouldn't go away. I conceived and lost my first baby.
And, somehow in that haze of sadness and depression came a light. A new job. Another positive pregnancy test. Entry into a new phase of my life in which I changed and grew. And 255 defined me no more.
On Sunday, I carried 255. I now weigh almost 60 pounds less then that. I'm in another phase of my life filled with change and growth. I'm finding myself and figuring out who I am. Does 255 define me? Well, it did. For a few hours. As a way for the race organizers to identify and keep track of me.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Some observations and lessons learned from my last triathlon
So, even though I didn't set goals for my Strathmore tri, I did learn some things from it. In no particular order:
1. I need to set goals when I race. Otherwise, I may as well save the entry fee and just train. Goals don't have to be time oriented, but having them gives me extra motivation and purpose for the day.
2. I need to approach my swim training differently. I've promised a separate post on why I felt my swim was weak, and I'll get to it. However, I will say now that I think the main problem is related to how I trained.
3. I think I may have found the sweet spot for how hard to go on the bike. I pushed myself on the bike, and definitely worked my legs. I still had a decent amount left for the run - even if I didn't fully deliver on it.
4. Never underestimate your mental state. I went into this race thinking it was going to be really hot and that would make the run really challenging. Guess what? It was really hot and it made the run a challenge. Perhaps, I should have gone in with a plan for the heat and seen what I could do with it. Methinks I sort of psyched myself out on this one.
5. I think I actually prefer races with open water swims. Yeah, the only race I've done with an open water swim was the one I panicked on, but let's forget about that for a minute. The thing is, when everyone starts together, it feels more like a race. I like when it feels like a race. I like pinpointing someone ahead of me and making an effort to pass them. Now, I certainly get passed myself, but I even like that. When the field is completely spread out (like in a pool swim), it just doesn't feel as much like a competition. And, even if I don't expect to place, I still want to compete.
6. I can run faster. I just didn't. Again, mental.
7. None of the (3) races of done so far have body marked the age group. What's up with that?
8. I like medals.
1. I need to set goals when I race. Otherwise, I may as well save the entry fee and just train. Goals don't have to be time oriented, but having them gives me extra motivation and purpose for the day.
2. I need to approach my swim training differently. I've promised a separate post on why I felt my swim was weak, and I'll get to it. However, I will say now that I think the main problem is related to how I trained.
3. I think I may have found the sweet spot for how hard to go on the bike. I pushed myself on the bike, and definitely worked my legs. I still had a decent amount left for the run - even if I didn't fully deliver on it.
4. Never underestimate your mental state. I went into this race thinking it was going to be really hot and that would make the run really challenging. Guess what? It was really hot and it made the run a challenge. Perhaps, I should have gone in with a plan for the heat and seen what I could do with it. Methinks I sort of psyched myself out on this one.
5. I think I actually prefer races with open water swims. Yeah, the only race I've done with an open water swim was the one I panicked on, but let's forget about that for a minute. The thing is, when everyone starts together, it feels more like a race. I like when it feels like a race. I like pinpointing someone ahead of me and making an effort to pass them. Now, I certainly get passed myself, but I even like that. When the field is completely spread out (like in a pool swim), it just doesn't feel as much like a competition. And, even if I don't expect to place, I still want to compete.
6. I can run faster. I just didn't. Again, mental.
7. None of the (3) races of done so far have body marked the age group. What's up with that?
8. I like medals.
Strathmore women's triathlon race report
Alright, where to start...
This race was my third triathlon and a sprint distance. When I signed up for it, I was really excited. It had a reputation for being a really fun race, and I love racing. It meant that I got one race each month from June - Sept, which was pretty cool.
In the weeks leading up to it, the excitement waned somewhat. As I get closer to my Banff Olympic triathlon, I'm realizing just how crucial it is to keep up with my training, specifically the long runs and rides. It was going to make it tough to get those in on a race weekend, and tapering? No way. Only three weeks out from my "a" race, I can't afford to taper for another one.
Having said all that, I think my biggest mistake going into this triathlon was not setting goals. I don't mean time goals, as I think it can be good to set goals that are not time related. I didn't even do that. I didn't set a goal to have fun, or to nail the swim, push on the run. None of that. Heck, even a goal of looking good for pictures might have helped.
The race day started nice and early. I like to get snag a good spot in transition. Close to the bike exit. That way I minimize the time running in my bike shoes. I know it means I'm on the far end from the run exit, but running shoes are designed to run in. Bike shoes, not so much.
There was a pre-race meeting at 8:00, which was supposed to be mandatory. Deanna (the race organizer) went over some basic guidelines and rules. She also let us know that there was fresh roadkill (a coyote) on the bike course which would hopefully be cleaned up before we got there.
Then, it was time to wait. My heat wasn't supposed to be until 11:00, so I had some time to kill. My husband and kids were coming later in the second car, which makes all our lives much easier.
I went over and watched the first couple heats. The relay swimmers went first, and some of them were FAST. Not surprising, since I would assume, if they are doing the relay, they would pick their strengths. The next swimmers were the 20 minute plus swimmers (500 metres). There was a huge mix of strokes going on. I watched for a bit, and then headed outside.
It turned out they were running ahead of time, and they were calling for my heat at around 10:30. I headed in right away. I wanted to line up near the front, since I expected to be one of the slower ones of the heat. The heat was for 10-12 minute swimmers, and I have done 500 metres in about 11:45 quite a few times in training.
I quickly observed that where I lined up would make little difference. With 6 lanes, and a continuous feed system, you were going to be swimming with people the heat ahead of you, and by the time you finished people from the heat behind would probably be sharing your lane. I was pretty much on with that assessment.
The Swim
When I got to the front of the line, I headed over to my lane, then jumped in, right behind someone else. (The time starts when you cross the timing mat, so no point in waiting.) I pushed off, and caught up with her immediately. I had to slow right down, then when I was about halfway down the length, both of the other swimmers in the lane (there were four per lane) had passed, so I was able to move over safely and pass her.
Then I tried to concentrate on getting into my rhythm and totally missed the boat. Somehow, I just wasn't feeling the water. I probably had 3 laps where there was nobody around me, so I had no excuse. I just wasn't there, and I felt awkward and clumsy in the water.
Soon after that, faster swimmers seemed to join the lane. I was being regularly passed. I made one attempt to draft, but they were too much faster then me for it to be a possibility so I just went back to trying to get back into my rhythm. (not too successfully)
Before long (because even when you feel clumsy, 500 metres isn't that long a swim), the lap counter put in the flutterboard to signal I had one lap left (amazingly I'd managed to count correctly this time, so already knew it). I went there and back, and got out.
Swim time: 13:17 - even including 30 or so seconds to walk to my lane and walk out of the pool building, it's a good minute over the time I could have posted. I have some thoughts on reasons, but that will be a whole other post...
T1
I headed out the doors to transition and jogged down the carpeted area, then to my spot in transition. Unlike my first two triathlons, I wasn't feeling too dizzy or disoriented from the swim, so I had no trouble finding my spot. I was relatively efficient, though I felt like it took way too long to put my garmin on. I'm hoping to have a bike mount before my next tri, so that should make it quicker, and I can secure it to my actual wrist while running out of T2.
Time: Messed up my garmin a bit, but have an accurate bike split on it. T1 and T2 combined were 3:15, about 2:20 I would say was T1.
The Bike
The bike was the part that I felt really good about. The course was a perfect one for someone like me - lacking confidence in taking corners and downhills quickly. (For the record, I'm not so bad as to be a hazard, but I give up a lot of free speed in those situations.) It was a bit of a mentally difficult course, since it was a gradual downhill most of the way out, with some steeper sections (though nothing I was tempted to brake on). That means on the way back, it was a gradual uphill most of the way, with some steeper sections. I prefer to get hills out of the way early in a ride, and have an easier time on the way back. ;)
I pushed myself fairly hard. I haven't yet been able to burn myself out on the bike. I knew I ran the risk of it affecting my run, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to see how hard I could go. On the way out, I was going close to 40 km/h for a good part of the time. I passed 2 people early on, but then the road was clear and I didn't see anyone ahead of me. When I reached the turn around, I could see why. The next closest person was about 2km ahead of me.
I decided I wanted to try to pass that person so I pushed on the way back. (not really fair, since she was on a mountain bike, and I was riding Bella). I wasn't going nearly as fast since I was now going uphill, but I knew the course would effect everyone the same way, so I wasn't worried. Truly, even if I didn't catch up, I wasn't worried; it just gave me something to push for.
I didn't get passed at all before the turn around, but did get passed three times on the way back. (not surprising, since the people starting after me were all faster swimmers, so some of them would obviously be faster cyclists as well. One of the people that passed me was also from Cochrane and we had a 10 second conversation while she passed.
With about 2 km to go, I caught up to the woman on the mountain bike. She looked like she was in way too high a gear and was struggling. I was glad for her sake that the bike was almost done.
Then, I was in the home stretch, and thankfully, the home stretch was not uphill. I rode in, dismounted and headed into transition. I'd pushed hard, but still felt good.
Bike time: 41:37 (official time was 44:52, including both transitions).
T2
T2 was quick and efficient. I wasted a tiny bit of time by dumping my second bike bottle over my head. It was a HOT day, so I figured a few seconds to cool down would help a bit.
Time: a bit under a minute. Could have racked my bike a bit faster, but overall, a good time.
The Run
The run part of this race was a challenge, and a good reminder to respect the distance, even when it's "short".
Right off the bat, I felt like walking. Seriously. I was less then a kilometer in, and my mind said: "this is hard. It would feel good to walk. There's lots of people walking."
It's true. There were a lot of people walking. That was about the point where my bike bottle cool down was wearing off and it was HOT. I didn't walk though. Don't get me wrong, it's fine to walk if you need to. I didn't need to.
The run had a similar quality to the bike, gradual downhill on the way out, gradual uphill on the way back. This time, I didn't mind though. I was in kind of rough shape starting off the run, but by the time I was really going up, it was the final push.
There was one water station, but since it was an out and back, you hit it twice. This was the one point in the course where I did walk. Most races have paper cups that you can kind of pinch to make them easier to drink. These ones were plastic and I couldn't manage to drink out of them while running. In hindsight, I had hydrated well on the bike, so I probably could have gone without drinking on the run and just dumped them over my head instead.
Just before the turn around was a house with a hose. Man that felt good! Too bad it wore off quick. My pace wasn't as good as I would have liked. I didn't feel like I was working that hard, but my breathing was really heavy. I just wanted some shade, or some breeze, or rainstorm.
Before long, I was getting close to the end. The runners coming the other way were all looking very strong (and some of them probably were the strongest runners of the day because of how the heats worked.) As I passed one of them, she said "the faster you run, the faster you're done". That gave me an extra push and I picked up the pace a bit. As I approached the finish line, I started my sprint and then saw my family. I tried to give high fives on the way past, but my kids are 3 and 4, not the most coordinated, so I actually ended up coming to a near stop - 50 metres from the finish line (doh!).
After that brief stop, I had renewed energy and finished strong.
Run time: 30:01. Yes, that's right. 1 second above sub-thirty. Plenty of ways I could have gotten that second...
Overall time: 1:28:08 20/50 in my age group, and 61/250 overall. A good bike split, but otherwise nothing too impressive, nothing too bad.
Some lessons learned from this race, but since this report has ended up long, they'll be saved for tomorrow. :)
This race was my third triathlon and a sprint distance. When I signed up for it, I was really excited. It had a reputation for being a really fun race, and I love racing. It meant that I got one race each month from June - Sept, which was pretty cool.
In the weeks leading up to it, the excitement waned somewhat. As I get closer to my Banff Olympic triathlon, I'm realizing just how crucial it is to keep up with my training, specifically the long runs and rides. It was going to make it tough to get those in on a race weekend, and tapering? No way. Only three weeks out from my "a" race, I can't afford to taper for another one.
Having said all that, I think my biggest mistake going into this triathlon was not setting goals. I don't mean time goals, as I think it can be good to set goals that are not time related. I didn't even do that. I didn't set a goal to have fun, or to nail the swim, push on the run. None of that. Heck, even a goal of looking good for pictures might have helped.
The race day started nice and early. I like to get snag a good spot in transition. Close to the bike exit. That way I minimize the time running in my bike shoes. I know it means I'm on the far end from the run exit, but running shoes are designed to run in. Bike shoes, not so much.
There was a pre-race meeting at 8:00, which was supposed to be mandatory. Deanna (the race organizer) went over some basic guidelines and rules. She also let us know that there was fresh roadkill (a coyote) on the bike course which would hopefully be cleaned up before we got there.
Then, it was time to wait. My heat wasn't supposed to be until 11:00, so I had some time to kill. My husband and kids were coming later in the second car, which makes all our lives much easier.
I went over and watched the first couple heats. The relay swimmers went first, and some of them were FAST. Not surprising, since I would assume, if they are doing the relay, they would pick their strengths. The next swimmers were the 20 minute plus swimmers (500 metres). There was a huge mix of strokes going on. I watched for a bit, and then headed outside.
It turned out they were running ahead of time, and they were calling for my heat at around 10:30. I headed in right away. I wanted to line up near the front, since I expected to be one of the slower ones of the heat. The heat was for 10-12 minute swimmers, and I have done 500 metres in about 11:45 quite a few times in training.
I quickly observed that where I lined up would make little difference. With 6 lanes, and a continuous feed system, you were going to be swimming with people the heat ahead of you, and by the time you finished people from the heat behind would probably be sharing your lane. I was pretty much on with that assessment.
The Swim
When I got to the front of the line, I headed over to my lane, then jumped in, right behind someone else. (The time starts when you cross the timing mat, so no point in waiting.) I pushed off, and caught up with her immediately. I had to slow right down, then when I was about halfway down the length, both of the other swimmers in the lane (there were four per lane) had passed, so I was able to move over safely and pass her.
Then I tried to concentrate on getting into my rhythm and totally missed the boat. Somehow, I just wasn't feeling the water. I probably had 3 laps where there was nobody around me, so I had no excuse. I just wasn't there, and I felt awkward and clumsy in the water.
Soon after that, faster swimmers seemed to join the lane. I was being regularly passed. I made one attempt to draft, but they were too much faster then me for it to be a possibility so I just went back to trying to get back into my rhythm. (not too successfully)
Before long (because even when you feel clumsy, 500 metres isn't that long a swim), the lap counter put in the flutterboard to signal I had one lap left (amazingly I'd managed to count correctly this time, so already knew it). I went there and back, and got out.
Swim time: 13:17 - even including 30 or so seconds to walk to my lane and walk out of the pool building, it's a good minute over the time I could have posted. I have some thoughts on reasons, but that will be a whole other post...
T1
I headed out the doors to transition and jogged down the carpeted area, then to my spot in transition. Unlike my first two triathlons, I wasn't feeling too dizzy or disoriented from the swim, so I had no trouble finding my spot. I was relatively efficient, though I felt like it took way too long to put my garmin on. I'm hoping to have a bike mount before my next tri, so that should make it quicker, and I can secure it to my actual wrist while running out of T2.
Time: Messed up my garmin a bit, but have an accurate bike split on it. T1 and T2 combined were 3:15, about 2:20 I would say was T1.
The Bike
The bike was the part that I felt really good about. The course was a perfect one for someone like me - lacking confidence in taking corners and downhills quickly. (For the record, I'm not so bad as to be a hazard, but I give up a lot of free speed in those situations.) It was a bit of a mentally difficult course, since it was a gradual downhill most of the way out, with some steeper sections (though nothing I was tempted to brake on). That means on the way back, it was a gradual uphill most of the way, with some steeper sections. I prefer to get hills out of the way early in a ride, and have an easier time on the way back. ;)
I pushed myself fairly hard. I haven't yet been able to burn myself out on the bike. I knew I ran the risk of it affecting my run, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to see how hard I could go. On the way out, I was going close to 40 km/h for a good part of the time. I passed 2 people early on, but then the road was clear and I didn't see anyone ahead of me. When I reached the turn around, I could see why. The next closest person was about 2km ahead of me.
I decided I wanted to try to pass that person so I pushed on the way back. (not really fair, since she was on a mountain bike, and I was riding Bella). I wasn't going nearly as fast since I was now going uphill, but I knew the course would effect everyone the same way, so I wasn't worried. Truly, even if I didn't catch up, I wasn't worried; it just gave me something to push for.
I didn't get passed at all before the turn around, but did get passed three times on the way back. (not surprising, since the people starting after me were all faster swimmers, so some of them would obviously be faster cyclists as well. One of the people that passed me was also from Cochrane and we had a 10 second conversation while she passed.
With about 2 km to go, I caught up to the woman on the mountain bike. She looked like she was in way too high a gear and was struggling. I was glad for her sake that the bike was almost done.
Then, I was in the home stretch, and thankfully, the home stretch was not uphill. I rode in, dismounted and headed into transition. I'd pushed hard, but still felt good.
Bike time: 41:37 (official time was 44:52, including both transitions).
T2
T2 was quick and efficient. I wasted a tiny bit of time by dumping my second bike bottle over my head. It was a HOT day, so I figured a few seconds to cool down would help a bit.
Time: a bit under a minute. Could have racked my bike a bit faster, but overall, a good time.
The Run
The run part of this race was a challenge, and a good reminder to respect the distance, even when it's "short".
Right off the bat, I felt like walking. Seriously. I was less then a kilometer in, and my mind said: "this is hard. It would feel good to walk. There's lots of people walking."
It's true. There were a lot of people walking. That was about the point where my bike bottle cool down was wearing off and it was HOT. I didn't walk though. Don't get me wrong, it's fine to walk if you need to. I didn't need to.
The run had a similar quality to the bike, gradual downhill on the way out, gradual uphill on the way back. This time, I didn't mind though. I was in kind of rough shape starting off the run, but by the time I was really going up, it was the final push.
There was one water station, but since it was an out and back, you hit it twice. This was the one point in the course where I did walk. Most races have paper cups that you can kind of pinch to make them easier to drink. These ones were plastic and I couldn't manage to drink out of them while running. In hindsight, I had hydrated well on the bike, so I probably could have gone without drinking on the run and just dumped them over my head instead.
Just before the turn around was a house with a hose. Man that felt good! Too bad it wore off quick. My pace wasn't as good as I would have liked. I didn't feel like I was working that hard, but my breathing was really heavy. I just wanted some shade, or some breeze, or rainstorm.
Before long, I was getting close to the end. The runners coming the other way were all looking very strong (and some of them probably were the strongest runners of the day because of how the heats worked.) As I passed one of them, she said "the faster you run, the faster you're done". That gave me an extra push and I picked up the pace a bit. As I approached the finish line, I started my sprint and then saw my family. I tried to give high fives on the way past, but my kids are 3 and 4, not the most coordinated, so I actually ended up coming to a near stop - 50 metres from the finish line (doh!).
After that brief stop, I had renewed energy and finished strong.
Run time: 30:01. Yes, that's right. 1 second above sub-thirty. Plenty of ways I could have gotten that second...
Overall time: 1:28:08 20/50 in my age group, and 61/250 overall. A good bike split, but otherwise nothing too impressive, nothing too bad.
Some lessons learned from this race, but since this report has ended up long, they'll be saved for tomorrow. :)
Post race, found some shade and about to munch on a bagel
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