Ironman Chattanooga Part I: The Devil Went Down To Georgia

I knew as soon as Ironman Maryland was over that I wanted to do a second one and within a few weeks I was signed up for Ironman Chattanooga.  I missed the training in the off season and was ready to get back to it when we started up at again at the end of May.  I am good at training and I'm a geek for the whole "process" thing and the weeks flew by fairly quickly until the last few - at that time I was ready to just race already...time to get the show on the road.

As Erik, Baha, and I headed to Chattanooga, we learned that the swim had been cancelled due to high and swift moving water on the Tennessee River (not to mention elevated levels of E coli).  I was bummed to hear the news because I started working on swimming on January 1 and I had made some good improvements.  I was also looking forward to the swim because I have heard that it is just downright fun with its downstream current.  I didn't fret about it long though because I knew that the day would be long and hard enough already.  The swim is such a small fraction of the experience.  Not to mention that this race would still be 142.2 miles - two miles longer than the standard Ironman due to 4 additional miles on the bike course.

No swimming in this very flooded and swift Tennessee River

Along with the bad news, we also got the very good news and that our friend Goat would be coming to spectate.  Goat is a very special fellow to all of us, a multi-time Ironman and one of the nicest guys that you will ever meet.  He was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 but that hasn't stopped him from chasing some goals of his own and from supporting his friends.  

We arrived in Chattanooga on Thursday afternoon and had plenty of time to settle in, explore a bit, and to give all of our bikes and gear a final test before race day.  I'd never been to Chattanooga before and I was surprised at what a cool place it was with so many small shops and restaurants all in walking distance.  And did I mention the race was sponsored by Little Debbie? All of the snacks that I cared to eat were available in the Ironman Village.  Those oatmeal cream pies and nutty bars were a taste of my childhood!  

We drove the bike course on Saturday afternoon and that is when I got really excited.  The course was beautiful with rolling hills, lots of farms, and a few small towns with many small churches.  The route crossed into Georgia early on and remained there for the majority of the ride. I didn't know how my ride would go, but I knew that I would enjoy the scenery.

Race morning had a much more laid back feel since there was no swim.  They were starting us on the bike in a time trail start with 2 cyclists starting every 5 seconds.  We started in order of bib number and since my bib was the lowest of Erik and Jason I got to start first.  They hung out with me at my rack until it was time for me to roll out.  Just like at Ironman Maryland, I got all teary eyed at the beginning of the race.  It isn't fear or sadness, but realization that I am about to embark on something huge and that everything I worked for the last 4 months was about to come to fruition.  It is one of those moments that is larger than life.

I have never started a race in time trial fashion before and I gotta tell you, it was pretty fun! I was worried that the roads heading out would be congested, but it wasn't a problem at all.  Wouldn't you know it, the last person I saw as I rolled out of the start area was Goat.  I gave him my biggest smile and right then I knew that I was going to race my heart out on my bike.  Goat is a helluva cyclist and I wanted to make him proud on this day.

While I am bummed that we didn't get to swim, I am thankful that I got to experience this type of start.  For the first 20 miles or more, it was all women who are in my age group.  I've never been in a more positive and supportive race environment before with everyone working together to help each other pass and sharing good thoughts for the day.  A real women's bike race! I may never experience anything like this again, it was just the coolest thing.

I was watching my power numbers and my speed and I could tell early on that this was going to be a strong ride for me.  I wanted to keep everything steady and strong for as long as I possibly could.  As expected, the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.  I made sure to thank every officer and volunteer that I could along the way, I'm not sure I've ever felt more grateful on a ride before.  About 40 miles in, I decided that I was going to do my best to stay on my bike the entire 116 miles.  I did not do that in Maryland and I took a break at the halfway mark and I also stood for a bit at a couple of aide stations in the second loop.  I have been thinking about and working on taking more risks and I was prepared to do that one the bike today. I had aches and pains here and there, but they came and went throughout the ride.  

Towards the end of the first loop we passed through the town of Chickamauga, Georgia.  There were crowds lining the streets to cheer and it made me feel like a pro - what a great scene!  Speaking of pros, a few of them passed me on the first loop and it was a little bit terrifying as it felt like they were only inches away from me and my bike.  I've never seen anything like it before, those guys are simply amazing.

I was happy to start the second loop, but forgot some of the early climbs - must have blocked those out when I was all pumped and excited at the start.  My power and my speed were holding strong and consistent and I just kept pushing.  I think that I did a good job with eating and drinking too and I felt so pro taking water bottle hand-ups from the volunteers at the aide stations.  It was a really great feeling to make that right turn at the end of the second loop and head back towards Chattanooga. I noticed the time as I got closer to town and hoped I could pull off a sub-6 hour finish. I knew that I was on the cusp of a huge bike PR, even with the four extra miles, and I was so happy.  That was the most fun I have ever had on my bike! I completed 116 miles and rolled into transition in 6:01:45 - an average of 19.2 mph.

As I unclipped from my pedals and the valet whisked my bike away, my knees nearly buckled and I felt like a baby deer standing on wobbly legs.  I had every intention of running through transition to grab my gear bag, but I found that I could barely shuffle along.  Did I make a big mistake and bike too hard? How in the world was I going to run a marathon on these shaky legs?  This was my first sign that I was in for the hardest run of my life.

Ironman Maryland Part II: There's a Girl in the Heart of Maryland

Welcome to Part Two of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed Part One you can catch up here - don't worry, I will wait for you!

Bike
Preparation pays off again and I was thankful that we had driven the bike course on Thursday afternoon.  It sure helped me to be able to visualize what would be coming at me that day.  I was very excited about the course because it covered some beautiful territory and the roads were simply divine - all asphalt without as much as an inch of chip seal.  A rare treat for a Texas cyclist! This course was also two loops and was as flat as flat could be.  There are positives and negatives to this - no rolling hills to climb, but also no coasting.  I knew that if I stopped pedaling, my bike would stop moving.  There was one "hill" on the course, which they had jokingly marked with tape, because if they didn't then we might have just missed it! I don't even think that there was even a false flat on this entire ride.  I do love getting in aero and cranking out some big gear miles on a straight flat road and there were some long stretches of road that begged me to do just that.

There were several turns in the beginning as it took us a little bit to get out of Cambridge.  I worked on just settling in and getting comfortable on the ride during all of this.  This year I added a new dimension to my cycling by training and riding with a power meter.  It helped me so much during this race because all I had to think about was staying in my range.  I'm not one to "blow up" on the bike, but I do tend to ride a little more conservatively and the power meter helps to prevent me from getting lazy.  "Ride to power" because my frequent mantra.  I ended up on the low end of my power range and that tells me that I can and will push a little harder in the future.

One of the "perks" of being a slower swimmer is that I always pass tons of people on the ride.  It is always fun to zoom by people and then work hard not to let them repass me on down the road.  It was a beautiful morning out there on that first loop - beautiful skies and plenty of sunshine.  The wind was in our faces at times, but nothing that I really noticed until I made a right turn that put the wind at my back.  My main focus was getting to the halfway mark around mile 56, as I got closer I decided that I wanted to take a restroom break mostly just to get off my bike for a minute and take a break from that constant pedaling in the aero position.  Again, I was surprised to hear my name and see Karen there.  Turns out, Erin was on the other side and I didn't actually see her face....but I knew that she had to be there.  I had packed some "emergency" Pop Tarts in my special needs bag in case I needed something different nutritionally, but I didn't need that bag at all. I got in and out of there as fast as I could and started out on the second loop.

Ooops....didn't see Erin over there

As I began the second loop I could tell that the winds had picked up quite a bit.  I remembered that right turn later in the course and just put my head down and got to work knowing that it would get better eventually.  I heard a familiar voice right about then and saw Mr K ride up beside me. It was a relief to see him because I'd been wondering how his day was going.  He said that he had a very enjoyable swim, but he had been stung by a bee on the ride.  We chatted a little bit longer before he slipped away.  He is such a strong cyclist, I knew that I would not see him again until the run.  The second time through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was not quite as enjoyable as the first because there was nothing to block the winds.

I focused on eating and drinking and knocking off the miles.  My fueling plan of Shot Blocks, Honey Stinger Waffles, EFS drink, and water worked very well for me.  I stopped at aide stations a couple of times just to take a break and put my feet on the ground for a minute or two, I just felt so much stronger after taking the quickest break like that.  I picked up a bottle of Gatorade Endurance, but I did not drink very much of it as I prefer water when I am riding or running.  The cross winds were a bit scary at times on the back half of that second loop and I found myself holding on for dear life a few times.  The road was beautiful, fresh asphalt but the row of rumble strips paired with those cross winds made passing tricky at times.  Did I trust my bike skills enough to negotiate the short gap in the rumble strip paired with the strong wind? Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't.

Eventually I made it to mile 100 and then I got to make the turn towards town instead of going straight for another loop.  It was a happy moment, but I had to remind myself to be patient because those last twelve miles would feel like they took forever. When you sign up for an Ironman, you'd better be okay with spending a lot of time with yourself because you are going to do a lot of it during the swim and bike. My contacts tend to get dry when I am riding and especially when I'm riding into the wind and because of this I packed a spare pair of contacts in my transition bag.  It was a good thing that I did because somewhere after mile 100, my right contact blew out of my eye and stuck to the inside of my sunglasses.  Thankfully my vision is barely corrected and having only one contact did not cause me very much trouble.  As I pedaled towards transition, Erin and Karen popped up one more time.  Those girls are everywhere! I smiled super big because I knew that I'd made it.  I racked my bike with a huge sigh of relief as I always worry about the random fluke mechanical issue, flat tire, or crash that can ruin a day.  I gave her a pat and thanked her for the solid miles and I headed off to transition.

Almost done and happy to see Karen & Erin

Official time: 6:13:42
18.54 mph

T2
It felt like a long way from the bike racks until the back of the transition area where my bag would be waiting.  I will admit that I kind of sauntered through there a bit, using the time to gather myself and prepare mentally for the run.  I hit the restroom again before heading into the tent to see if they happened to have a mirror so that I could put in my new contact.  The sweetest volunteer ever came over to help, she did not have a mirror but she put her phone in selfie mode so that I could see to put my contact in.  She also helped me change my socks (Body Glide and toe socks are a must because my feet are so blister prone) and get ready to head out for the run.  I had no idea that I would see her later on in the evening.  I felt really satisfied heading into the run because I knew that I was two thirds done and I trusted my abilities as a runner to carry me the rest of the way to the finish line.

Kerrville 70.3 Bike: And She Rides

(Welcome to Part 3 of my Kerrville 70.3 story - be sure to catch up with the Prelude and Swim - I'll wait here!)

The energy coming out of the swim and T1 was incredibly good.  I noticed that the winds had picked up, but there was no rain yet and that was a good thing.  Time to take Vivace and go for a little spin!   The bike course was one giant loop that we rode twice.  We headed southeast along a highway for the first dozen or so miles before turning onto a beautiful country road for the next 8-10 miles then we headed back towards Kerrville on another small stretch of highway.  Once again, I focused on settling in and getting a good, steady pace.  My plan for the day was to not go out to fast on anything, but to get a good solid start.  Coach Frank backed up my thinking when he said these same things at the team dinner the night before.

I passed several people on the first five to ten miles of the bike, while I am a slow swimmer I am not so slow on the bike.  This was a little bit nerve wracking as we were riding on the shoulder of the highway at this point.  There wasn't a ton of traffic, but the surface was rough at times and there was some chip seal too.  Things really settled in for me once we made the turn onto River Road.  I wish that we could have ridden the whole thing on that stretch of road because it was really quite beautiful. We passed through a tiny town, but other than that there weren't many cars or people around.

The roads were wet by then and I could tell that it had rained in some spots, I was extra cautious on the turns and the downhills because this was no time for a crash.  The puddles only got worse as the ride went on, and I got rained on a couple of times.  It sounds like I got pretty lucky though because Mr K said he rode in a driving rain at points.  The last part of the first loop began to wear on me a little bit because I was so ready to see the end of it and be on the second loop.  I knew that this restless feeling might be even worse the second time around and I tried to prepare myself for it.

It was a bit of a boost to ride by the race site and start the second loop - halfway done!  I wasn't sure of my average speed, but I knew that my five mile splits were coming in consistently and at a good clip.  My heartrate was also staying nice and controlled and I knew that would serve me well over the course of the day.  I was eating and drinking on schedule and I felt pretty good, other than starting to get that "I've been on my bike a while" feeling.  My right hip was getting a bit stiff but I was able to deal with it by changing positions on the bike on occasion.

The first part of the second loop was even more treacherous this time because the wind had picked up.  The crosswind was so scary at times that I had to get out of aero just to feel more secure on the bike.  This also happened to be the section where the road was a little bit rough and where some of the faster guys were passing me so it was a bit of a white knuckle ride.  I was very ready to make that turn towards River Road.  I had a huge "heck yes!" moment during this part of the ride when I grabbed a water bottle from a volunteer at the aide station and jammed it into my aero bottle without stopping.  Seriously, that just makes one feel a bit like a badass and it is only the second time I have ever done it.

Now for some honest talk:  triathletes always talk about peeing on their bikes.  It seems to be a little bit of a badge of honor, for some odd reason.  I'd never given it much thought until I was on the backside of the course with no aide station in sight.  I kinda needed to go....could I wait for the next stop....did I want to get off my bike?  I decided just to let it go...and I laughed to myself about it for the rest of the day.  Who have I become?

There was a random guy out cheering on a small out-and-back section and seeing him the second time really lifted my spirits - especially when he pointed out that I had ridden nearly 50 miles!  I was so ready for this ride to be over, but I hadn't really realized that I was less than 10 miles from the end of it.  I saw several people on the side of the road with flat tires and I just triple crossed my fingers that I would make it into T2 without any drama.

I had set some very broad time goals for myself on the bike and on the run.  The bike was the bright spot in my 1st 70.3, which started with a dramatic swim and ended with a tough run.  That ride is still one of my best ever and I rode that one in 3:16.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to top that here, and still have good legs for the run, but I decided that I would be happy to match that time.  Spoiler alert: I beat my previous time by about 5 minutes.

T2 was waiting for us! I still know where my bag is!

I have grown and improved so much as an athlete in the past year, and I think that my biggest area of improvement has been on the bike.  I worked hard and made a lot of gains last summer and I was determined to keep my bike fitness during the off season.  I was fortunate to have discovered the Shawnee Trail Cycling Club and we join the Thursday night rides almost every week.  Riding with that group not only helped me maintain my skills, but increase them as I even moved up a pace group during the off season.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention my new bike in all of this, Vivace is one fast ride!

I had all of these things in mind as I rode back into Kerrville and towards the transition area.  I was having a great day swimming and riding my bike and now it was time for my most favorite of all - the run!

Bike: 3:11:05 (56 miles - 17.6 mph)
4th AG
5:24 T2

St Paddy's Day Tri: Not A Rookie Anymore

Last March I became a triathlete when I finished the St Paddy's Day Triathlon.  I am not sure that I ever had that much fun on a race course and I was officially hooked on triathlons. I had some great success in my "rookie" year with two podium finishes and completing my first half iron distance tri.  I grew so much in my half iron training and I worked hard to keep that base in the offseason.  I couldn't wait to tri again and I was super fired up to kickoff the season at this year's St Paddy's Day Tri.  My expectations for myself had changed quite a bit in a year.  Last year, I was most concerned about finishing and having a good time.  Mission Accomplished.  However, I also noticed that I finished seventh in my age group last year and I made it a goal to improve upon that this year.  I wasn't sure if I could make the podium, but I sure wanted to give it my best.

Race peeps: Marci, Fred, me, Mr K, Keith, Nikki (Pic: Mary)

Last year, I was lucky to have Mr K there to cheer me on.  This year, he raced with me and he was cool enough to let me borrow his tri bike (trusty Blue) so we could have one last race together.  We would have many friends racing alongside us that day too: Keith, Nikki, Marci, and Fred - to name a few.  While I didn't have quite the entourage that I had last year, we still had a good group of friends there to cheer us on.  Hard to ask for a better day!

It is always a good day when Byron shows up!

Swim 300m
I never know how to seed myself in a pool swim.  Seed myself too high and I worry that I'll be "that girl" who is slowing everyone down because she clearly seeded herself too high.  But on the other hand, seed myself too low and then not feel the "urgency" to push from those around me. I think that I did okay this time because I ended up starting after Keith and Erik and in front of Fred and Marci.  I I certainly felt more comfortable knowing all of the swimmers around me.  It took forever before it was our turn, but we had fun talking and cutting up poolside.  My goal for the swim was to get through it smoothly and without any drama (see Redman 70.3).  Fred and I went back and forth for a while - he would catch me, I would get away from him, he would catch me, etc. I got out of the pool in 7:27 - smoothly and without drama.  Of course, looking back on it now I think that I could have pushed a little bit more, but I will chalk it up as experience.

Made it out of the pool (Pic: Mary)

Bike 13.5 miles
It is always a little disorienting coming out of the water and I was a bit surprised to hear people I know yelling my name as I ran into T1.  How fun is that though?  Gives me a burst of energy!  I got in and out of T1 in 1:26, which I feel pretty good about.  I am always trying to make my transition times better as I know that races are won and lost here.  I was happy to be on the bike as I feel it is an area in which I have made huge progress in over the last year.  Last year the bike course was 2 loops of a big square-ish area with the back "leg" of the square being hilly.  This year, it was 3 loops of one leg of the square - you guessed it - the hilly leg.  It was challenging, but repeating it that many times allowed me to become super familiar with the proper gearing.  Blue and I had a blast and I was grateful for Mr K for allowing us to have one final swan song together before I returned it to him permanently.  I love tucking down in aero and going fast!  Mary was the ultimate photographer/cheerleader for all of us and it was great to see her face on one of the loops. I rode the course in 45:14 (18 mph according to my watch).  I felt very pleased with my ride - faster than last year on a tougher course.

Blue and Me in our swan song (Pic: Mary)

Run 5K 
I rolled my bike into T2 and searched for my spot.  The transition area always looks so different with all of the bikes and people gone.  I spotted a bag that looked just like mine and I ran towards it...only to discover that it wasn't my bag.  This is not a common bag either, in fact, I have never seen another one like it!  I was thrown for a loop and stood still and frantically searched for my bag.  Of course, my eyes kept falling on the wrong bag.  It felt like I was standing there forever! I finally located it and tried to hurry to make up for lost time.  I got out of T2 in 2:15.  I have to work on that one next time, haha.  Running is my favorite and it was time to tango!  My buddy, Stude (The Encourager - remember him?) had "warned" me that he would be waiting for me on the run so I expected to see him.  What I didn't expect to see was Stude dressed in his infamous gorilla outfit.  I might have laughed a little longer if I didn't feel so out of breath from running hard.  The run course is an out and back and it was pretty hilarious to see the expressions on the other runners' faces as they ran towards us and spotted a gorilla running.  Eventually told me to keep on running hard and he peeled off to go and harass support other runners.  I spotted Mary, who had a bird's eye view, up on a bridge.  She told me that Erik was not too far ahead of me - I tried like heck, but I never did catch him.  I was so thankful to see the turn around and I was ready to head on back to the finish line.  I had one more encounter with my gorilla friend before the final push to the finish.  Last one, fast one is always my goal, and I pulled it off as my last mile was my fastest.  I finished the run in 24:09.  According to my watch, the run course was 3 miles even (instead of 3.1) so my run pace is not quite as impressive as it looks when calculated as 3.1 miles, but I'll take an 8:06 average pace any day!

Finally a picture where I look like I'm running! (Pic: Mary)

Total time 1:20:33
My total race time nearly three minutes faster than last year - my 2016 PR steak lives on!  Even better than that, it was good enough to earn me 2nd place in my age group and a coveted spot on the podium.  Man, I love it when that happens!  And just like that, I am a rookie no more.  I learned so much during my first season of triathlon and this race gave me some good ideas of what to focus on in the coming season.  I love that there are always new challenges to be found and new goals to be set.

(Pic: Mary)

The best part of racing is being able hang out with my buddies before and after the race.  It seems like everyone comes out to cheer for St Paddy's Tri as it is the unofficial kick-off of the racing season.  I got such a boost of energy from seeing everyone, I am so glad that I decided to give tri a try last year. I can't wait to see what my second season holds!

Redman 70.3 Act II: The Ride of My Life

Welcome to Act II of my Redman 70.3 story!  We pick up here right after the worst swim ever (okay, maybe not the *worst* since I am alive to tell the tale...but I digress).  If you missed it, click here.

Bike -  3:16:01 -  17.1 mph
I was still shaking my head a little bit as I came out of the water, but there was no time to dwell on what had happened there.  I had a long way to go still and was looking forward to getting on my bike. After the most awkward wetsuit stripping ever, I stuffed my pockets full of food and gels and hit the open road.  I spotted Mr K and the gang and knew that he must have been worried because that swim took much longer than expected.  It is always a boost to see "your people" out on the course!  I also spotted a hot dog and a shark and it took me a second to realize I KNOW THEM!  TPG and Robert always bring the smiles with their clever costumes.  It was a nice shot of energy as I headed out for my ride.

Team Hot Dog - Shark were awesome (Photo: Drum)

I can't remember a ton of specific details about the bike course itself.  There were no monster climbs or super rough roads - just a fast course on some country roads.  I passed a few people in the early miles and then settled in, focusing on my eating plan and keeping an eye on my heart rate.  I had heard so many stories of people ruining their race by going too hard on the bike and I wanted to make sure that didn't happen to me.  I'd also heard many stories of people bonking because they didn't eat on the bike....also did not want that to happen to me.  I did not have the speed displayed on my watch screen, just time and heart rate - although I could get a feel for it as my watch chimed every five miles.  This chime was also my signal to eat and I alternated between Honey Stinger waffles and Shot Blocks.  I tried to drink like it was my job, but I'm thinking that I could have done even more of that.

My face when I saw Team Hot Dog - Shark (Photo: TPG)

I had a yucky "burpy" feel that I've never had before, and I assumed that it was a result of my wild swim.  I've never done any swim to bike bricks and that might be something that I want to consider in future training.  It made eating and drinking a little less desirable, but I powered through. The bike course was mostly an out-and-back and early on I started to see people on their way back.  Some of these people were fellow 70.3 athletes who were finishing up their ride and some of them were doing the 140.6 or the full aquabike and would be starting their second loop soon.  I had an eye out for my friends who were also racing, but I didn't see anyone until I saw Debby heading back out as I finished my ride.

I've probably never ridden more than about 25 miles without getting off my bike and taking a break and I wondered if I would be able to make the whole ride on race day.  I made it my goal to go as long as I could go without stopping, but knew that I might need a minute to refill my bottles or stretch my body.  My right hip started to feel tired and a little tight, like nothing I have felt before.  It wasn't that bad, just annoying and I decided to pedal through it.

The volunteers at the aide stations were so friendly and welcoming, I tried to say thank you to all of them as I rode by.  Somewhere before the halfway point I grabbed a bottle of water as I passed a volunteer and I filled up my aero bottle while pedaling....and this made me smile SO BIG!!!  I FILLED MY BOTTLE WITHOUT STOPPING!! This was a good day, indeed!!

I got such a boost at the turn around part - halfway done and I'd already seen most of the course.  I was having one of my best bike rides ever!  I worked very hard on my cycling during training as I knew that I needed to make huge improvements.  I've ridden a bike for several years now, but I've never really "trained" on the bike like I did this summer.  Bike was always something that I did for recovery or for fun so I was able to make big improvements when I started doing the work.  I could tell that I was having a strong ride while keeping my heart rate in a good working range.

The more positive energy I put out there, the more I could feel it coming back to me.  I tried to thank all of the police officers who were helping with traffic and most of them had a positive word for me in return.  The volunteers on the course were so overwhelmingly positive and I tried to thank all of them.  I also made an effort to say a positive word to the other athletes when I passed them and most all of them had a positive word in return.  I love that about races!

Sometime in the last 15 or 20 miles I found myself stuck behind an 18-wheeler.  Two other cyclists and I were back there for a few minutes, hoping that the truck would turn or speed up.  The truck was "stuck" too as there were bikes before and after him.  We joked about drafting and patiently waited until we were safely able to pass him.  Another first for me!

It was so easy to wish those final 10 miles away, I was growing impatient and my body was tired of being on this bike for approaching 3 hours.  It was then that I attempted to focus and be grateful for the strongest bike ride of my life.  I could hardly believe that I'd done the whole thing without stopping and I was doubly thankful that I had no mechanical issues.

Finally I found myself back on the dam and pedaling towards the transition area.  I marveled at those who were headed out for a second loop, I couldn't imagine doing the whole thing again.  Regardless of what happened on the swim or what was about to happen on the run, I knew that I could be really proud of this ride.  I have improved so much and have so much more confidence on the bike then I did when training started in June.  As a runner, I would have guessed going in that the run would be my favorite part of the day...but I'm certain that the bike was my favorite.

Baylor Tom Landry Tri: Time to Tri Again

I had an absolute blast at the St Paddy's Day Tri, my first triathlon, on March 15.  I really enjoyed the new challenge that it presented and I jumped at the opportunity to try it again, this time at the Baylor Tom Landry Tri presented by our friends at Tri-Now Endurance on April 19.  The swim and bike were both a little bit longer than the St Paddy's Day race and I thought it was a great chance to bump up those distances.  We also love supporting Coach Frank and Debra and looked forward to participating at one of their events instead of volunteering.

Mary: Finish Line Coordinator Extraordinaire

Swim
Last year Mr K, Keith, Becky, and James all trained together for their spring goal races (Ironman Texas 70.3 for Mr K, Keith, and Becky and Ironman Texas for James).  They seemed to have the most fun together training and racing and I was finally able to be a part of their little club as we waited together for the swim to start.  The swim was 400 meters (100 meters longer than the St Paddy's swim), but I was a little relieved to see that the lanes were 25 meters instead of 50 meters. Those 50 meter lanes felt so loooonnnnng!!  Of course, 25 meter lanes meant 2-way swimming in the lanes and therefore more traffic.  The first swimmers hit the pool in a frenzy!  So fast!  It was a little bit nerve-wracking watching them go as there were so many near collisions!  Thankfully, the pace slowed as more and more swimmers entered the pool.  I watched James, Keith, Mr K, and Becky take off and then it was my turn.  My swim during my 1st tri wasn't bad, but I wanted to feel even better about it during my 2nd attempt.  As I got to the end of each lane, I squared up and got a good start at the next length - thinking only of one lap at a time.  Sometime during the 2nd or 3rd lap I noticed that my timing chip felt pretty loose on my ankle.  I was not about to lose my timing chip in the bottom of the pool and I stopped at the end of one of the lanes and attempted to re-affix it.  This happened one other time during the swim and a couple of lane later I stopped and tightened it as much as I could.  The other people swimming around me did not bother me, but I was pleased to find myself in a "pocket" of low traffic for the second half of the swim.  I was happy to see the last lane and gave it my best shot to add some speed to my closing lap.  My time ended at 11:26, certainly nothing to write home about - but I felt good about the swim and that was the goal for the day.

Hanging with Coach Frank and the Tri-Now Gang

Bike
The distance from the pool to the transition area seemed fairly long, but much of it was on grass which beats running barefoot on pavement.  It felt like I was there forever, trying to get my bolero on wet arms and tying my shoes - but my total time was 3:01.  I'm looking forward to those transitions getting speedier with practice.  The beginning of the bike course took us over some of the famous Dallas potholes, but that didn't last too long.  I am still learning how hard I can go on the bike, so I gave it my best.  It is a good feeling to pass people and I didn't get passed until near the end.  The bike course was 16 miles and an out-and-back so I was able to prepare for what would be coming my way on the return.  It was also fun to look for my friends as they headed back to T2.  We rode into the wind on the outbound trip and there were hills both ways.  I'm not really in bike shape right now and I'm certainly not in hill shape so I was okay with my time of 55:47 (17.2 mph).

Run
I felt like my T2 time was faster than T1, and it was at 2:30.  The girl next to me came in as I was tying my shoes and was out of there just ahead of me.  She would end up winning our age group and her transition time was a blazing 48 seconds!  I have so much to learn and practice! I passed her in the first quarter mile of the run and she cheered "yay 40 year old!"  I love being able to see what age group people are in by looking at the back of their leg - tells me who my competition is!  Running off the bike is never easy, but I try to go into it with an open mind.  I am usually surprised to see that I am running faster than I feel like I am.  The run course was also an out-and-back and it is such a mental boost to hit the turn around - home stretch, baby!  I saw Keith, Mr K, and Becky out there and that also gave me a huge boost.  The final half mile or so was on a beautiful, winding track in a garden-type area.  It took us past the finish line where I saw Mary (finish line coordinator extraordinaire) and the rest of the gang waiting for me.  That last little bit felt like it took forever and I focused on passing anyone who was in my path.  Finally, finally the finish line was in sight and I ran as hard as I could towards it for a 5K time of 25:39 - a full minute faster than my run at St Paddy's Day Tri.  I was so proud of my run, it was not that far off of my 5K PR and it was the fastest in my age group by 2 minutes!  I received my medal from Mary and felt quite grateful to be done.  We had a great time taking pictures with the Dallas BIG letters (I am a sucker for these things - well done, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau) and chowing down on burgers and chips.

I was curious about the final results as this race had a smaller field and I did not notice anyone else in my age group ahead of me (unless they were wayyyyy ahead of me!).  Imagine my surprise when I found that I was 2nd place in my age group!  The cool thing about triathlons is that you get to stand on a real podium when you receive your award!  I was over the moon with excitement!  A podium finish in my second triathlon!

To say that this was a confidence boost would be an understatement.  I have so much to learn and practice, but I feel really good about my beginnings in the world of triathlon.  I am so looking forward to extending my distances and fine tuning my training.  I can't wait to do it again!

St Paddy's Day Tri: I am hooked.

I suppose it happens to many a runner eventually....running is so much fun, but then you get a bike. Cycling is really a blast...but no triathlon because I don't swim.  Oh, it is really hot outside - maybe I'll check this swimming thing out.  Wow - swimming is really fun!  I wonder if I could do all three (swim, bike, run) together?  And before you know it, you are signed up for your first sprint triathlon.  Funny how that happens.

Pre-race with Mr K, James, and Nikki

I signed up for my first triathlon, the St Paddy's Day Tri, in December when it was "on sale" and I was so excited when race day finally rolled around.  The race was a 300 meter swim, 12.6 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run - all distances that I can cover in my sleep, but have never attempted consecutively before.  I found that I was most worried about the transitions between the three as I had never really practiced that part before.  After attending a transition clinic at packet pick-up, I realized that I had nothing to worry about.  This was going to be such a fun day!

Swim
Mr K and I arrived early and I set-up my bike in the transition area then we headed off to the pool to get my timing chip and meet up with our friends.  I am pretty sure that I had the biggest and loudest cheering section at the race - I'm a lucky girl! Tri-Now friends Nikki and James were also doing this race and it was nice to have someone to talk to while we waited for our turn to get into the pool.  It took nearly an hour from the start of the race until it was finally my turn to swim and my friends made sure that I was entertained as they told the race announcer where to find me.  I'm sure that people were wondering just who this MK girl was and why she was getting all of the attention.  When you sign up for a triathlon with a pool swim you list you estimated swim time and they "seed" you in that order.  I was fairly conservative as I signed up so far in advance and had no idea how I would be swimming by this point.  I also did not want to be caught up with people who were faster than me, but in hindsight I realized that I could have put a little faster time down as I got caught behind some traffic in the swim lane.  Just before it was my turn to go in the girl in front of me told me her time was based on a triathlon that she did with the help of a "lazy river" current.

Shenanigans (Pic: Mama C)

I am not used to jumping into a 12 foot pool and swimming right away, so that was a bit of an adjustment as were the 50 meter lanes (my gym pool is about half that distance), but I tried to relax and settle into a good swim rhythm.  I am used to bilateral breathing, but I just could not get it going so I let that go.  I remember wondering where the heck that wall was - that 50 meter pool felt so loooonnnnnngggggg!!  After the first turn I became aware of something in front of me and realized it was feet.  I tried to look ahead to see if I could pass, but it looked like the lane was blocked by several swimmers.  It seemed like I was treading water for a bit while trying to figure out what to do.  I could hear a lot of yelling and I was pretty sure that it was my cheer squad.  The traffic cleared up a bit and the girl in front of me let me pass when we got to the end of the lane.  I was feeling a bit frantic, but kept trying to relax and settle in.  At one point I remember thinking "why are you kicking so much?" - nervous energy, I suppose! Things got better after I got past the traffic and I think that I managed to pass a few people.  Finally, in the very last lane I was able to settle into some nice bilateral breathing and I felt like my form was starting to improve.  It felt like that was one of the sloppiest swims I've ever done, but I got it done.

Making my way through the water (Pic: Stude)

Bike
I felt as if my swim to bike transition took forever, but we will never really know as my chip malfunctioned and combined my swim and transition time.  I had so much heckling positive support from my cheer section that even the transition volunteers were laughing.  After what felt like the most awkward bike mount ever, I was on my way.  It felt good to be on to something that I felt more comfortable with.

He thought my hecklers supporters were funny (Pic: Mama C)

I was not sure how hard to go on the bike, but I knew that it was a short ride so I made the most of it.  The course was two loops, which was nice because I knew how to use the hills to my advantage on the second time around and also because I got to see Mr K and the cheer peeps twice.  The weather was terrific - cool with little wind and clouds and I was having the most fun ever.  I passed people when I could and I was passed a time or two myself - darn it.  Officially I averaged 16.6 mph,  but if you go with their advertised distance of 12.6 miles and my watch then I averaged 17.3 mph.  Either way I am beyond happy with it as I have not been on my bike much at all this year.

All smiles on the bike (Pic: Mama C)

Run
Now for the thing that I know the best, running.  I was dreading the dead leg feeling of running off to the bike, and it wasn't easy at first, but it was not as bad as I was expecting.  I got a great send off from the cheer squad and then talked to my legs a little bit. I tried not to look at my watch too much and just let my legs do what they would do.  It was an out-and-back course and I was really happy to see the turn around near mile 1.5.  It is amazing what a mental boost that gives me - just knowing that I am running towards the finish line instead of away from it.

Home stretch! (Pic: Stude)

 I really started to feel like things were clicking in mile 2 and I saw Byron, Stude, and Jessica again about a half mile from the end.  Stude jumped in and reminded me that if I could still talk I wasn't sprinting and that was just the kick in the pants that I needed to bring home the negative split.  Huge smiles as I saw my cheer squad and hit the finish line. I heard the announcer call my name and say that it was my first triathlon!  I had done it!  I finished the run in 26:42 for an average pace of 8:36 - I might be the most proud of this part of the race!

Victory! (Pic: Mama C)

I finished in 1:23:51 - well under my estimated time of 1:30 - good enough for 7th place in my age group.  But even more importantly, I had the most fun!  I loved how fast paced it was and how just when you get tired of doing one thing it is time to change to the next.  I learned some good lessons too and I have some ideas on what to work on and what to try to do better in the next one.  Yep, the next one - I can't wait until I can give this another shot.  I am hooked.

Best Cheer Squad Ever (Pic: Stude)

I can't thank Mr K and the cheer squad - Tibs, Mama C, Drum, Stude, Cherry, Rick, Abby (ruff!), 6E, Goat, Jessica, and Marci enough.  Not only did they make me a star on the course, but they made it even more fun with their cheers and support.  They played a huge part in all of those big smiles you see in the pictures and I wish that they could be at all of my races!  It is going to be hard to top this one!

Tour de Pepper: Be a Pepper Too!

Last week I revealed that I had recently got myself a shiny blue bike and signed up for my very first bike rally--Tour de Pepper--a 34 mile ride out in Dublin, Texas.  Mr K, Mama C, and myself would be tackling this new experience together and we were fortunate enough to be guided by That Pink Girl.  Dublin is about two hours southwest of here and the alarm clock rang at a ridiculously early hour on Saturday morning.  We had packed up the bikes and our gear the night before (note: cycling requires WAY more gear than running) and headed towards the designated meet up place with Mama C and TPG.

As dawn broke we found ourselves surrounded by beautiful countryside, there really is nothing like a small town Texas at sunrise on a summer morning.  We arrived at Dublin High School and began to assemble our bikes, pin bibs on our backs (a change of pace), apply copious amounts of sunscreen, and pose for picture (you should not be surprised!).  I was pleased and surprised to hear that thanks to generous sponsor support, 100% of our entry fee went to the race charity (Kids Across Cultures). After a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, performed on trumpet by the school's band director, we were off and rolling.  I was pretty nervous in the beginning as I didn't want to be the clumsy rider that crashed into someone else, blocked traffic, or caused any incident.  It took me a little bit to settle in and feel comfortable and I could see the rest of our little party up ahead of me.

Wait...bibs go on the back? Weird!

I learned pretty quickly that the downhills scared me a bit and I would get passed by other riders, but I would make up time on the climbs and leapfrog the people who passed me.  Mama C flew by me on one downhill shouting "Gravity assssiiiisstttttt!" as she passed.  Just as I was starting to settle in a bit we came to the first rest stop.  It was a sugar lover's paradise with Dublin Dr Pepper (the GOOD stuff with real sugar), bags of homemade cookies, and fruit.  We posed for more pictures and talked about our experiences thus far.  Mr K is a riding machine and quickly disappeared from sight once we were on our way again.  I had a great time talking and riding with TPG and Mama C.  It was clear that we were not in any big hurry, just enjoying being on a bike in the countryside.

Mmm....real Dr Pepper

The second rest stop came just before mile 20 and we found Mr K waiting for us there.  More Dr Pepper and cookies were consumed while we chatted a bit.  I was feeling really good, legs felt like I was working but nothing that I couldn't handle.  We decided to stay together on the next leg and set off for the next leg of our journey.  Mama C and TPG were on the lookout for cows and we stopped for pictures when we finally found some.  Again, taking a fairly leisurely pace--enjoying the scenery and the company.

Rest stop #2....more Dr Pepper.....

One more rest stop around mile 28 and we thought that we were home free!  Mr K and Mama C were riding in front of us when TPG noticed something amiss with her front tire.  We hollered for our pack leaders to stop, but they were engrossed in conversation and did not hear our shouts.  TPG was making steady progress with her tire when an assist by the SAG wagon resulted in a lost nut...alas no more front tire for TPG.  I was saddened to see my buddy load her bike and get into the SAG wagon and head back to her car.  I was off to face the last 6 miles on my own.  And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I turned and started pedaling I found my self face-to-face with 3 friendly donkeys.  Me....the one person in the riding party who did not have a phone/camera...darn the luck!  I said hello to the donkeys, who were looking at me quite curiously, and turned my face towards Dublin.  The road was pretty lonely by this point, but I did take pleasure in passing several small groups on my way into town....can't keep that competitor in me quiet for long!  However, my triumph did not last for long as the 70 mile riders joined rejoined the course for the last mile or so....and those guys looked STRONG!  They didn't keep me from giving myself a little cheer as I closed in on the finish....this was a new accomplishment!

Finish Line!

 After downing another Dublin Dr Pepper and meeting up with Mr K and Mama C we made the mile ride back to this high school where we found TPG.  I had a blast and found out that bike rallies are something that I really enjoy.  I also learned that my approach to cycling is completely opposite from my philosophy on running.  Riding my bike is about having FUN--I paid little attention to the clock or even my speed during this ride.  I lingered at rest stations, talked with friends, and posed for pictures....all things that I would NEVER do while running a race.  Running is all about going faster and father---lots of goals and lots of focus.  I think that this balance is going to be really good for me and I'm looking forward to more adventures on wheels.

Mama C, That Pink Girl, Mr K, and Me

Thanks to Mama C for the pictures that bring this story to life.  And thanks to That Pink Girl for taking a pack of new cyclists out for an adventure!

Runner Girl on Wheels

For some time now I would watch a number of my runner friends meet up on their shiny bikes for long rides throughout the country side where they encountered donkeys, llamas, and other assorted farm animals.  I was quite jealous and desperately longed to join them, but the time just wasn't right.  Too much going on with running, training for races, work, yada, yada.....

Mr K had a birthday over Memorial Day weekend and while out looking for something to do we found ourselves in a bike shop.  We were just "looking" and "gathering information" we told the salesman....until he wandered over to the used section and pulled a beautiful blue Specialized Dolce in my perfect size off of the rack.  It was love at first sight....but we were just looking....so Mr K and I went on our way, but soon found ourselves back at the shop to purchase the bike.  Yes, that's right...Mr K got me a bike for his birthday.  What a guy!

Introducing Breeze

My first few trips around the block were rather wobbly as I had not been on a bike in many years, but I soon got the hang of it.  I stayed on the streets near my house for a while just to get completely comfortable before heading out onto the open road. 

Will ride for tacos?

The first day of summer vacation I loaded up my shiny blue bike (the name is Breeze, by the way) and headed over to Mary's side of town with Erin in tow for my first "long" ride.  Mary has a route along some beautiful country roads with nice rolling hills.  We saw donkeys, mini horses, and a goat!  I am pretty sure that I smiled the whole time and had alot of laughs as I tried to figure out how all of those fancy gears worked.  At times my feet were spinning madly as I was barely moving and shifting gears like crazy trying to find the right one.  Mary and Erin were so patient and helpful with me as I was no doubt slowing them down.  Ah....so much to learn! 

Myself, Mary, and Erin after a fun ride!

I began to explore my little 'burb and found that there is a bicycle route that picks up near my house and goes all the way to a park on the other side of town.  It is the perfect length for a ride and can be made longer with more loops around the lake park.  I am sure that I will grow weary of this route soon, but I am enjoying the newness of it for now.

I am jumping into the cycling world pretty quickly as I have signed up for my first big bike rally, the Tour de Pepper, this Saturday.  I am going to take Breeze out for a 34 mile ride--exactly double my longest ride to date.  Frunner and cyclist extraordinaire, That Pink Girl (TPG), has offered to take Mama C, Mr K, and myself--a bunch of total noobs--along for the ride.  The promise of a day spent with friends and all the Dublin Dr Pepper that I can drink was just too tempting to pass up! 

And in case you were curious, after an extensive search Mr K did stumble upon a shiny bike for himself. The fun has just begun!