The mileage is really starting to increase now for my long training runs that I do with the TEAM on the weekend. Today I completed 8 miles! Whoo! It's been well over a year and a half since I ran that far. It felt pretty good today and I had some great running buddies who kept me going. I am adjusting to changes though, and running is a little different than it was before. I'm getting use to accepting that I'm not as fast as I was pre-baby. My body is not the same and I huff and puff more. I just keep reminding myself that's OK, though. The important part is that I finish the race, both with my running and my fundraising.
A couple of weeks ago I went up to work with a friend who works in the children's oncology section of one of the hospitals in the area. We went up there after just completing 6 miles. And, while we thought we had accomplished a great feat that day, visiting the hospital really put things in perspective and reminded me why I'm doing this. Those children, who are such fighters, really inspire me to keep on running for them. Their spirits are high and they are determined. I realized my six miles was nothing! They are the real marathoners and I'm going to keep raising money and run for them so that they can win the fight and no longer have to worry about the next round of chemo but only about what they are going to bring to their next show and tell at school.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Road to Denver: Week 3
This Saturday was the third official TEAM training for my road to the Denver marathon. I'm finding training much more difficult than in seasons past. Having a young baby and trying to fit in marathon training is not the easiest thing by any means. Add onto that the "baby weight" that I'm trying to shed and my speed is certainly not what it was last year. That's OK though. The cause is plenty to keep me motivated. Every Saturday morning, before we head out for our run, we do something called a "Mission Moment". It's usually led by someone who is telling their story about their battle with cancer, or perhaps that of a close friend or family members. Hearing about the struggles of battling such a horrible disease really puts the run ahead of me into perspective. I mean, I've got the easy part. The brave individuals who are battling their illness day in and day out are what I call the real marathoners. One of my favorite sayings that I've heard during a mission moment and seen on a few TNT t-shirts now is "Think a marathon is hard? Try chemo". And, that, my friends is all I need to remember that I can do this. I can do the training and the fundraising because it's not as hard as what some friends and family members of my own have had to deal with in battling a blood cancer.
Just keep on keepin' on.
Taylor
Just keep on keepin' on.
Taylor
Friday, April 22, 2011
Back in Action
I'm back in action, training for a marathon in Team in Training. Check out April's training update below. Sign up to receive blog updates through email. Just enter your email address in the box to the right and click submit.
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Monday, September 6, 2010
Where'd that come from?
When you're at the grocery store doing your regular shopping or swinging by to pick up some fresh produce, do you ever stop to think "Where did this come from?" A simple way to make a positive impact on the environment is by buying items that were made or grown closer to home. You really CAN make a difference by buying locally grown items over those shipped from miles and miles away.
One of the easiest ways to begin doing this is by paying attention to where your produce comes from. This is important for a couple of reasons. Not only will it impact the health of the environment by supporting operations that expend less energy, it also impacts your own health. If an item is grown locally or close to home, chances are you are buying that item at its peak of freshness. This means you also get it when it is at its peak in terms of nutritious value. Items that are shipped from thousands of miles away are more likely to be picked too early. And, oftentimes, undergo chemical processes that make the item appear "ripe", fresh and in their prime. But, this unfortunately is oftentimes an illusion, and in fact, much of the produce we buy is not really in season. Sure, that kumquat might be in season in Brazil at the time but is it in season where you live or close to where you live?
Personally, I like shopping at Central Market for produce. They make this information very readily available by placing the location of where the item came from on the item's sign. Right under "BANANAS", the sign may say "Mexico" for example. Or under 'TOMATOES", it may say "Texas". It makes it quite simple to buy items that I know were grown closer to home, thus minimizing environmental impacts and optimizing nutritional intake.
You may also be interested in checking out your local farmers market. I recently took a trip to my local farmers market for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised by the produce. It was a bit more expensive than Central Market, but I will say that the produce was certainly at its peak. The oranges were juicy and the peaches nice and ripe. There was no need for them to sit on the windowsill for a couple of days like they often need when buying from the regular grocery. The produce at the farmers market was picked and delivered at the optimal time by local farmers.
If environmental impacts and nutritional value aren't of great interest to you, think about the added monetary cost of buying products that were shipped from thousands of miles away. There are a lot of operational costs that go into getting that kumquat from Brazil to you. Who pays for that? You do! Lately, as I've been paying more attention to where my produce is coming from, I've noticed that locally grown items and items grown in the USA often tend to be less expensive than the items coming from far-off lands.
The point is that you can take a very simple step to getting the most bang for your buck just by paying attention to where your food is coming from. In buying produce that is grown close to home, you can affect the well-being of our planet, your health and your wallet. It also keeps things interesting. Buying produce that is in season will bring about greater variety to your life and diet throughout the year.
Most importantly, remember to have fun with it when you shop! Try new things, make a Saturday out of going to the farmers market and feel good about supporting farmers in your area.
Personally, I like shopping at Central Market for produce. They make this information very readily available by placing the location of where the item came from on the item's sign. Right under "BANANAS", the sign may say "Mexico" for example. Or under 'TOMATOES", it may say "Texas". It makes it quite simple to buy items that I know were grown closer to home, thus minimizing environmental impacts and optimizing nutritional intake.
You may also be interested in checking out your local farmers market. I recently took a trip to my local farmers market for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised by the produce. It was a bit more expensive than Central Market, but I will say that the produce was certainly at its peak. The oranges were juicy and the peaches nice and ripe. There was no need for them to sit on the windowsill for a couple of days like they often need when buying from the regular grocery. The produce at the farmers market was picked and delivered at the optimal time by local farmers.If environmental impacts and nutritional value aren't of great interest to you, think about the added monetary cost of buying products that were shipped from thousands of miles away. There are a lot of operational costs that go into getting that kumquat from Brazil to you. Who pays for that? You do! Lately, as I've been paying more attention to where my produce is coming from, I've noticed that locally grown items and items grown in the USA often tend to be less expensive than the items coming from far-off lands.
The point is that you can take a very simple step to getting the most bang for your buck just by paying attention to where your food is coming from. In buying produce that is grown close to home, you can affect the well-being of our planet, your health and your wallet. It also keeps things interesting. Buying produce that is in season will bring about greater variety to your life and diet throughout the year.
Most importantly, remember to have fun with it when you shop! Try new things, make a Saturday out of going to the farmers market and feel good about supporting farmers in your area.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sustainable YOU: Sharing. What's that?
Friends who know me well may recall my pack rat days. Let's be honest; they really weren't that long ago. Over the past few months, though, I've been working diligently on removing the clutter from my life and my home. I've realized it is extra noise that simply is not necessary to living a full life.
It was a few months ago that I read a very interesting article on clutter (I wish I could find it) which reaffirmed how I'd been feeling. The article was written by a woman who talked about how she had uncluttered her life and moved more toward a model of sharing. The main point of the article was: "Why don't we share more things?". If my next-door neighbor has a wheelbarrow and I have a shovel, why would I need to go out and buy a wheelbarrow. And, why would he need to go by a shovel? Can't we just share those things? Seriously, we live next door to each other! Let's let him keep the wheelbarrow in his shed, I'll keep the shovel in mine and we can simply borrow each others' items when we want to do a little yard work on the weekends. Why is it that for some reason we as human beings just feel better about it if we own that wheelbarrow ourselves?
"Stuff" gives us a false sense of security. In truth, we do not need all the "stuff" that we accumulate. We think we do. Perhaps, when other things are lacking in our lives. We buy things to fill the void or simply out of boredom.
My clutter used to fill my void, I guess. I'd look at that old pair of shoes in my closet, which I had not worn in over a year, and think "I may wear them with that dress some day. I don't want to give them away or sell them because I may want them one day five years from now." (I hadn't worn the dress in over a year, either). And, even with a closet full of too many shoes, I'd go shopping for more when I was bored. It was something to do. Something that made me feel empowered. I could buy shoes and it made me feel good. Really, it was silly.
As I have been removing the clutter, I've been thinking more about how that pair of shoes could be donated to someone who does not have any shoes. I've found that I actually feel more full now. And, less stressed. When I open my closet door, things don't come crashing down anymore. I have what I need (probably, still a little more than I need) but have gotten rid of the excess.
I used to laugh at my father because when he used to take me shopping as a kid, for anything, he would always ask "Do you really need that?" before he would let me buy something. It became a joke in the family, and because of it I preferred my mother to take me shopping. But, I get it now. So much of what we buy is really quite wasteful. And, just think...where is all of that stuff going to go when we're said and done? A landfill.
If you are looking for ways to unclutter your life and take some simple steps to eliminating waste and helping our planet, ask yourself these questions when you are at the checkout:
1. Do I really need this?
2. Is this something that I could purchase and then share with a friend, family member, or neighbor? Could I, then, borrow something of theirs in return for sharing this item?
3. Where will this end up in a year?
4. Can I donate or sell this when I no longer have a need for it?
5. Can I put half of the cost of this item into my savings account?
Now, of course, there are things you really need. Obviously. I'm not saying that you should never go shopping again or that you should share everything. That would be a little silly to assume or propose. I'm just asking you to stop and think a little more about frivolous purchases. If you are feeling bored one day and want to go shopping just for the hell of it, take a walk first, go for a run, play with your dog, read a chapter of a book. Are you still bored? Or, did you find that partaking in another, healthier activity left you feeling well.
Are you giving back to the earth and others what you are taking from them? Together, let's take a pledge to share a little more, give a little more and take a little less.
I think we'll find we feel less empty.
It was a few months ago that I read a very interesting article on clutter (I wish I could find it) which reaffirmed how I'd been feeling. The article was written by a woman who talked about how she had uncluttered her life and moved more toward a model of sharing. The main point of the article was: "Why don't we share more things?". If my next-door neighbor has a wheelbarrow and I have a shovel, why would I need to go out and buy a wheelbarrow. And, why would he need to go by a shovel? Can't we just share those things? Seriously, we live next door to each other! Let's let him keep the wheelbarrow in his shed, I'll keep the shovel in mine and we can simply borrow each others' items when we want to do a little yard work on the weekends. Why is it that for some reason we as human beings just feel better about it if we own that wheelbarrow ourselves?
My clutter used to fill my void, I guess. I'd look at that old pair of shoes in my closet, which I had not worn in over a year, and think "I may wear them with that dress some day. I don't want to give them away or sell them because I may want them one day five years from now." (I hadn't worn the dress in over a year, either). And, even with a closet full of too many shoes, I'd go shopping for more when I was bored. It was something to do. Something that made me feel empowered. I could buy shoes and it made me feel good. Really, it was silly.
As I have been removing the clutter, I've been thinking more about how that pair of shoes could be donated to someone who does not have any shoes. I've found that I actually feel more full now. And, less stressed. When I open my closet door, things don't come crashing down anymore. I have what I need (probably, still a little more than I need) but have gotten rid of the excess.
I used to laugh at my father because when he used to take me shopping as a kid, for anything, he would always ask "Do you really need that?" before he would let me buy something. It became a joke in the family, and because of it I preferred my mother to take me shopping. But, I get it now. So much of what we buy is really quite wasteful. And, just think...where is all of that stuff going to go when we're said and done? A landfill.
If you are looking for ways to unclutter your life and take some simple steps to eliminating waste and helping our planet, ask yourself these questions when you are at the checkout:
1. Do I really need this?
2. Is this something that I could purchase and then share with a friend, family member, or neighbor? Could I, then, borrow something of theirs in return for sharing this item?
3. Where will this end up in a year?
4. Can I donate or sell this when I no longer have a need for it?
5. Can I put half of the cost of this item into my savings account?
Now, of course, there are things you really need. Obviously. I'm not saying that you should never go shopping again or that you should share everything. That would be a little silly to assume or propose. I'm just asking you to stop and think a little more about frivolous purchases. If you are feeling bored one day and want to go shopping just for the hell of it, take a walk first, go for a run, play with your dog, read a chapter of a book. Are you still bored? Or, did you find that partaking in another, healthier activity left you feeling well.
Are you giving back to the earth and others what you are taking from them? Together, let's take a pledge to share a little more, give a little more and take a little less.
I think we'll find we feel less empty.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sustainable Sense
(First, I'll start with...Wow, blog...you've been neglected lately. Hello again. Hello world!)
A lot of life has been happening since my last post. Is it really July? I've done a couple of big events in the earlier half of the year, having run my first half marathon and also competing in my first Olympic tri. The CowTown half marathon was a great event! The weather was perfect, it was well supported and the route was great. The triathlon that kicked off in 50 degree water in Lake Pflugerville, not as much fun, but I learned a lot from the event:
1. Swimming in freezing cold water in a wetsuit that chokes you is not a good time.
2. Yes, there is now a lake in Pflugerville. Who knew?
3. Do not underestimate the Olympic distance.
The training has slowed down quite a bit since those events. I guess this whole "there's a human growing in my stomach" thing has that effect. It's made it a little harder to do things like run and go aero on the bike. Been doing a lot of walking, though, and a lot of thinking. And, that time is good, too.
With less training hours and extra time to sit back, relax a little and think has opened up my eyes to health in a different way. It is not only about fitness and exercise. While those things are great, important and still a part of my life, I've also started focusing more on creating a healthy environment and eating healthily. I've known how to eat healthy before, and am aware of what is good and bad in terms of diet. But, I'm talking about "healthy" in a little bit of a different way than I thought about it before. It's not necessarily about what is low in calories. Sure, a diet soda has no calories and I'm not going to wreck my diet from it. But, is it really healthy to be injecting that into our bodies? Chemicals? My focus lately has been on eating more naturally, getting back to the basics.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we humans can get back to the basics, in an effort to save our planet and ourselves. There's just so much engineering in every facet of our lives these days. Now, I don't want to sound like a bleeding heart. I'm not bringing this up because of some "liberal agenda". I'm actually pretty politically apathetic these days. The thing is that it is not a political issue like so many make it out to be. It's a common sense issue. We simply cannot keep pumping our atmosphere and our bodies with all of these pollutants and expect to go on without any massive consequences.
Maybe it is the new mother in me, but I feel compelled especially lately to start doing something about environmental and health issues. I do not want to see our kids growing up in a world composed of plastic and soot. It's time to get back to the basics. So, here is my start to that, to a new era. I'll still be writing about cycling and fun stuff. But, I'm also going to be adding some new things to this blog. I'll be doing a bit more investigating into our systems (food, eco, etc.) and will be providing helpful tips on how you can make a change.
The point is, that you can make a difference by starting with simple things at home and by setting an example. The changes can start small. It would be unrealistic to think that we're going to go back to horse-and-buggy days. And, I'm not suggesting that at all. But, we need to wake up a bit and start practicing more sustainable habits. It's common sense. It's sustainable sense. It's about a sustainable you, and me and we.
Stay tuned.
TK
A lot of life has been happening since my last post. Is it really July? I've done a couple of big events in the earlier half of the year, having run my first half marathon and also competing in my first Olympic tri. The CowTown half marathon was a great event! The weather was perfect, it was well supported and the route was great. The triathlon that kicked off in 50 degree water in Lake Pflugerville, not as much fun, but I learned a lot from the event:
1. Swimming in freezing cold water in a wetsuit that chokes you is not a good time.
2. Yes, there is now a lake in Pflugerville. Who knew?
3. Do not underestimate the Olympic distance.
The training has slowed down quite a bit since those events. I guess this whole "there's a human growing in my stomach" thing has that effect. It's made it a little harder to do things like run and go aero on the bike. Been doing a lot of walking, though, and a lot of thinking. And, that time is good, too.
With less training hours and extra time to sit back, relax a little and think has opened up my eyes to health in a different way. It is not only about fitness and exercise. While those things are great, important and still a part of my life, I've also started focusing more on creating a healthy environment and eating healthily. I've known how to eat healthy before, and am aware of what is good and bad in terms of diet. But, I'm talking about "healthy" in a little bit of a different way than I thought about it before. It's not necessarily about what is low in calories. Sure, a diet soda has no calories and I'm not going to wreck my diet from it. But, is it really healthy to be injecting that into our bodies? Chemicals? My focus lately has been on eating more naturally, getting back to the basics.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we humans can get back to the basics, in an effort to save our planet and ourselves. There's just so much engineering in every facet of our lives these days. Now, I don't want to sound like a bleeding heart. I'm not bringing this up because of some "liberal agenda". I'm actually pretty politically apathetic these days. The thing is that it is not a political issue like so many make it out to be. It's a common sense issue. We simply cannot keep pumping our atmosphere and our bodies with all of these pollutants and expect to go on without any massive consequences.
Maybe it is the new mother in me, but I feel compelled especially lately to start doing something about environmental and health issues. I do not want to see our kids growing up in a world composed of plastic and soot. It's time to get back to the basics. So, here is my start to that, to a new era. I'll still be writing about cycling and fun stuff. But, I'm also going to be adding some new things to this blog. I'll be doing a bit more investigating into our systems (food, eco, etc.) and will be providing helpful tips on how you can make a change.
The point is, that you can make a difference by starting with simple things at home and by setting an example. The changes can start small. It would be unrealistic to think that we're going to go back to horse-and-buggy days. And, I'm not suggesting that at all. But, we need to wake up a bit and start practicing more sustainable habits. It's common sense. It's sustainable sense. It's about a sustainable you, and me and we.
Stay tuned.
TK
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Moving bricks
This morning we had our first official brick workout of the season out at Texas Motor Speedway. As our training is ramping up in the new year, we will be doing more and more workouts that simulate a triathlon. A brick workout is when you ride and then run immediately following. The reason it is called a brick is because after transitioning from the bike to the run your legs literally feel like bricks. It's an odd feeling; you know you're body is going forward because you pass things on the road but it does not feel like your legs are moving because they are so heavy. It is almost as if they are filled with sandbags or cement.
Today we rode 15 miles and ran three miles. And while it felt like my legs were hardly moving at all on the run, my watch was good indicator that I still kept a 9:30 pace. As we continue our training, the bricks will get longer and longer in preparation for the 56 mi ride/13 mi run we'll be doing in Galveston come April.
This weekends workouts have proven to be intense. Gearing up for the CowTown half marathon, I ran 9 miles Saturday morning and followed it with our team's swim workout. In the pool we were timed for a 300m race swim and I was pretty happy with my results, finishing under 5 minutes at 4:49 two times in a row. That swim time is an improvement over my October tri, where I did the 300 in about 5:30. I guess I'm doing something right and my work is paying off! Seeing such time improvements motivates me to continue the hard work and keeping aiming high.
Today we rode 15 miles and ran three miles. And while it felt like my legs were hardly moving at all on the run, my watch was good indicator that I still kept a 9:30 pace. As we continue our training, the bricks will get longer and longer in preparation for the 56 mi ride/13 mi run we'll be doing in Galveston come April.
This weekends workouts have proven to be intense. Gearing up for the CowTown half marathon, I ran 9 miles Saturday morning and followed it with our team's swim workout. In the pool we were timed for a 300m race swim and I was pretty happy with my results, finishing under 5 minutes at 4:49 two times in a row. That swim time is an improvement over my October tri, where I did the 300 in about 5:30. I guess I'm doing something right and my work is paying off! Seeing such time improvements motivates me to continue the hard work and keeping aiming high.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Fighting the winter blues
I did something this afternoon that I haven't done much of lately. I rode my bike. With all the cold weather we've had and the short winter days, my poor bike has worked more as a dust collector than a training tool. I've also been focusing a lot of my winter training on running and am gearing up to run my first half marathon at the end of February. I realize my event is fast approaching, however, and I don't want to let my cycling muscles go into atrophe. So this afternoon I decided to get in a ride before dark.
It was great - just me and the wind. Just like old times. It brought back memories of my afternoon rides that I took often in the summer, the ones where I had no one on my tail telling me to slow down and no one in front telling me to go faster. I love my solo rides. They are a great time to focus on speed work and building my base all while being able to just enjoy the smell of crisp air, the sound of silence and forget about any of the days worries.
Training in the winter has proven itself to be more challenging than I suspected. It is hard to get out in the cold and additionally it is hard to avoid all of the holiday goodies and good times. But with my Half Ironman just four months away and all of the Christmas treats eaten, I have re-focused and am ready to get back to business. The challenge that I'm finding with triathlon versus cycling is finding the time to get in all of the training. Focusing on one sport is much easier than trying to be good at three. However, the training is also more fun because of the variety. I find myself getting less bored which makes it easier to push myself to get in my workouts. I have a couple of events that I'll be participating in before the Half Ironman - the Cowtown Half Marathon and the St. Patty's Day tri. With more work, a few more solo rides and a little less chocolate I'm determined to make it across the finish line.
Why am I doing all of this? I'm raising money to fight cancer for those who cannot. Make a donation today and make a positive difference in someone's life.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Building a base
There is nothing quite like speeding down a hill at 40+ mph, going aero with the sun reflecting off of your sunscreen and sweat-licked face while breathing in the fresh air and smell of evergreens. There is also no feeling similar to the leg fatigue one feels after an eight mile climb up a mountain. The descent makes it all worth it, though.
How do you build up a base strong enough to make those climbs that lead to such glorious descents? A couple things are key in endurance sports like cycling or running: strong leg muscles and a high lactate threshold (LT).
When training for an event your workouts can be divided into categories - interval and endurance, i.e. weekdays and weekends. Busy schedules during the week usually leave us with less time to workout, but it is still important to get in workouts during the week. The good news is you can get in extremely beneficial workouts in a little time during the week by doing interval training and weight training. Keep your long rides and runs for the weekend, and during the week go to the track and work on speed intervals, find your favorite hill and do hill repeats or hit the gym and work on your squat and deadlift. This will increase your LT and make your long weekend workouts easier by easing the burning that you feel from the lactic acid build up. Use the weekdays to build up a tolerance and everything will fall into place on the weekends. It will also boost your performance come race day. That is the day that you can breath it all in and remember why you worked so hard.
How do you build up a base strong enough to make those climbs that lead to such glorious descents? A couple things are key in endurance sports like cycling or running: strong leg muscles and a high lactate threshold (LT).
When training for an event your workouts can be divided into categories - interval and endurance, i.e. weekdays and weekends. Busy schedules during the week usually leave us with less time to workout, but it is still important to get in workouts during the week. The good news is you can get in extremely beneficial workouts in a little time during the week by doing interval training and weight training. Keep your long rides and runs for the weekend, and during the week go to the track and work on speed intervals, find your favorite hill and do hill repeats or hit the gym and work on your squat and deadlift. This will increase your LT and make your long weekend workouts easier by easing the burning that you feel from the lactic acid build up. Use the weekdays to build up a tolerance and everything will fall into place on the weekends. It will also boost your performance come race day. That is the day that you can breath it all in and remember why you worked so hard.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Racing in Rain
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Off. 6:00am was when I woke to the sound of rain and a chill. Fall is here. What a great time for a race. This would be my first triathlon, and the nerves and excitement were all fusing together to form a knot in my stomach. I jumped out of bed pretty quickly and started prepping for the event. I had gotten together most of my things the night before, so that I would not stress out in the morning. But, there was still a pre-race check that I needed to do. Helmet - check. Cycle shoes - check. Running shoes - check. Pump bike tires with air - check. Eat - check. Energy gels - check. Race bib - check. Husband awake - check.
Although I had ridden in several bike rallies, the idea that this was a race got my nerves going more than usual. The rain wasn't helping. It was starting to downpour as I loaded my bike into the car and we headed on our way. It was still dark when we arrived and the water was flooding the parking lot. I checked in, got my timing chip, placed my items in the transition area and got my swim gear out. In the transition area I ran into a friend that I did not know would also be competing. I saw some other familiar faces there, which was fun and reassuring. And, I had my fans on the sidelines. Daniel was there to get all of the photo ops and some of our friends from the bike shop were there to cheer me on as well.
At 7:45 the participants gathered for the pre-race meeting to get all of the course details and rules from the event director. He explained that unfortunately the bike portion was cut in half because the low water crossings on the course were flooded. But, I'm glad they didn't toss out the bike altogether. He finished going over the race details and it was time to start lining up for the swim. I was in the second group, so I had a few minutes to figure out where in line I needed to be.
And, then, it was go-time. I started my stopwatch, stepped over the timing mat, jumped in and off I went. I got through the first two laps without having to pass anyone, but then started catching up to people. I was ready to make my first pass in the pool. All clear. I went. Then, I got behind a few more people, made sure the pass was clear and went for it. I passed a couple more people going into the final lap, got to the ladder and jumped out quickly. I exited the pool and made my way to my first transition. It was bike time and that was good. I knew the first two events were my strongest and that I'd be able to make up some time by getting ahead on those. I geared up, made my way to the transition area exit, crossed over the timing mat and mounted my bike. The bike portion was only six miles that consisted of one loop which was to be completed two times. I made my way through the first loop pretty quickly, keeping a consistent 20mph pace. I decided to lay off a little on the second loop and catch my breath for the run. I had sprinted in the pool and on the first bike lap, so I wanted to make sure I had my breathing under control before the run. I completed the second loop feeling very good, dismounted my bike and ran it back into the transition area.
My second transition felt a little faster than the first. The first time, I sat down to put my cycle shoes on. That was a mistake. For the run transition, I remained standing while changing my shoes. My socks were soaked and I thought they would be more likely to give me blisters in that condition, so I lost the socks and quickly put on my running kicks. I threw my helmet off, quickly pulled off my gloves and started running toward the transition area exit to the run course. Over the timing mat I went and I was on my way for the last leg of the race. The run would be the most challenging and my slowest time. Luckily, my legs felt strong and fresh. My stomach was a little sloshy because I had not had much time to digest the fluids that I took in on the bike, due to the short distance of the ride. I just kept telling myself "Don't stop running."
There were four legs of the run; the longest took us to a dead-end by the lake and it was very nice and peaceful. I chatted with a few of the other ladies on the run and it was nice to hear other people's tri stories. As I made my way up the final leg of the run, back uphill toward the finish line, I decided to pick up the pace. My stomach was feeling better and I was ready to finish with a good time. I quit my talking and sped ahead of the women that I had met. Then, it started raining again. While I was glad that I was almost done with the race when the rain hit, it did feel nice. It was cooling and also gave me a sense of pride to have still gotten out there and done this race in suck yucky weather. I crossed over the top of the hill and into the parking lot. This is where I made my final sprint to the finish. I saw another participant up in front of me and I thought she would also speed up to cross the finish. But, she actually slowed down and I almost ran right into her. I darted off to the left of her to cross over the line and hit the final timing mat. I had done it in under an hour (54:21): 300m swim, 6 mile bike and a 5k run.
I am now a triathlete and my road to the Half Ironman feels real. Best of all, it was fun!
Check out the video of the finish line:
Although I had ridden in several bike rallies, the idea that this was a race got my nerves going more than usual. The rain wasn't helping. It was starting to downpour as I loaded my bike into the car and we headed on our way. It was still dark when we arrived and the water was flooding the parking lot. I checked in, got my timing chip, placed my items in the transition area and got my swim gear out. In the transition area I ran into a friend that I did not know would also be competing. I saw some other familiar faces there, which was fun and reassuring. And, I had my fans on the sidelines. Daniel was there to get all of the photo ops and some of our friends from the bike shop were there to cheer me on as well.
At 7:45 the participants gathered for the pre-race meeting to get all of the course details and rules from the event director. He explained that unfortunately the bike portion was cut in half because the low water crossings on the course were flooded. But, I'm glad they didn't toss out the bike altogether. He finished going over the race details and it was time to start lining up for the swim. I was in the second group, so I had a few minutes to figure out where in line I needed to be.
And, then, it was go-time. I started my stopwatch, stepped over the timing mat, jumped in and off I went. I got through the first two laps without having to pass anyone, but then started catching up to people. I was ready to make my first pass in the pool. All clear. I went. Then, I got behind a few more people, made sure the pass was clear and went for it. I passed a couple more people going into the final lap, got to the ladder and jumped out quickly. I exited the pool and made my way to my first transition. It was bike time and that was good. I knew the first two events were my strongest and that I'd be able to make up some time by getting ahead on those. I geared up, made my way to the transition area exit, crossed over the timing mat and mounted my bike. The bike portion was only six miles that consisted of one loop which was to be completed two times. I made my way through the first loop pretty quickly, keeping a consistent 20mph pace. I decided to lay off a little on the second loop and catch my breath for the run. I had sprinted in the pool and on the first bike lap, so I wanted to make sure I had my breathing under control before the run. I completed the second loop feeling very good, dismounted my bike and ran it back into the transition area.
My second transition felt a little faster than the first. The first time, I sat down to put my cycle shoes on. That was a mistake. For the run transition, I remained standing while changing my shoes. My socks were soaked and I thought they would be more likely to give me blisters in that condition, so I lost the socks and quickly put on my running kicks. I threw my helmet off, quickly pulled off my gloves and started running toward the transition area exit to the run course. Over the timing mat I went and I was on my way for the last leg of the race. The run would be the most challenging and my slowest time. Luckily, my legs felt strong and fresh. My stomach was a little sloshy because I had not had much time to digest the fluids that I took in on the bike, due to the short distance of the ride. I just kept telling myself "Don't stop running."
There were four legs of the run; the longest took us to a dead-end by the lake and it was very nice and peaceful. I chatted with a few of the other ladies on the run and it was nice to hear other people's tri stories. As I made my way up the final leg of the run, back uphill toward the finish line, I decided to pick up the pace. My stomach was feeling better and I was ready to finish with a good time. I quit my talking and sped ahead of the women that I had met. Then, it started raining again. While I was glad that I was almost done with the race when the rain hit, it did feel nice. It was cooling and also gave me a sense of pride to have still gotten out there and done this race in suck yucky weather. I crossed over the top of the hill and into the parking lot. This is where I made my final sprint to the finish. I saw another participant up in front of me and I thought she would also speed up to cross the finish. But, she actually slowed down and I almost ran right into her. I darted off to the left of her to cross over the line and hit the final timing mat. I had done it in under an hour (54:21): 300m swim, 6 mile bike and a 5k run.
I am now a triathlete and my road to the Half Ironman feels real. Best of all, it was fun!
Check out the video of the finish line:
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