Adventures with Thelma: The Season Finale

LKN Triathlon 2014

I swam.  I biked.  I ran.

I had previously laid out my new strategy I decided to implement for the last tri of my season.  Goal #1 was to throw caution to the wind, go all out and leave nothing left and see what happened.  Trial by fire so to speak.  Goal #2 was to do better than last year.

Mission Accomplished.

With a hectic night before and a later-than-I-wanted bedtime, I was thankfully able to get a good night sleep and woke up ready to go....and hungry!  I made a line directly to the kitchen to whip up some vittles.  I've made a few changes in my eating habits and have been testing some new things for my pre-race breakfast for Chicago.  It seems to be working, at least it has on my last couple of long training runs, but this was the perfect opportunity to test it out in an actual race albeit a short one.  After breakfast, loading the car and taking care of my fluffy sons, it was time for me to get my tail in gear and head to the race site down the road.

With plenty of time to set up my transition area and to settle in, I was able to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. I ran into Mr. van Voo on my way to get my timing chip and we headed over to get our numbers marked. After a little chit chat we went about our individual pre-race rituals.  Me?  I donned on my ear buds to go for a quick and easy warm-up jog. I have to say, THEE most perfect song came up on the shuffle.  One that made me close my eyes, shut out the world and let the electricity and energy take over.  I just let my legs turn over however they wanted and lost myself in the song. I don't recall ever having a moment quite like that before!  Best warm-up EVER.  I've been debating on if I should share it as a Song for the Week or not.  I dunno...I might be selfish and keep that moment to myself...

Time to head back to transition and make all the final preparations to make the trek to the lake.  Cool thing about my transition area?  I got to rack next to one of my most favoritest couples EVER!  Made for such a fun pre and post-race, not to mention all the photo ops!  Mr. van Voo's area was far far away, but he made sure to stop by the fun side of the island for this gem of a pic...

Whole 'lotta trouble right there...

Ready to race!

Making new friends!

Enough of that.  Time to get racing!

Swim: 

My wave was all women 39 and under.  That's a lot of women.  And don't let the pink caps fool you....they were brutal!  I don't think I've ever had as much contact in the water as I did at that start.  Good news, it didn't really phase me.  I kept my head down and plowed forward regardless of what was in front of me, swimming over, kicking and hitting as I went.  It's okay though...because I apologized to everyone before the horn blew just in case!  And if anyone tries to tell you that triathlon is not a contact sport, they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.  Now, I don't know if I quite made the lake my bitch, but I did shave a lot of time off from last year.  Still, lots of room for improvement, but I knew that going in.

18:39  (last year:  23:03)

T1:

I am not known for my fantastic transition times.  But this day, I did run as promised...so fast that I was a blur.....  Now, I'm not going to share my T times, because, well, they are embarrassing.  

All you need to know that each transition was faster than last year!  

Bike:

So, the bike.  It felt great!  I passed more people than I got passed, so that's good.  It's hard to compare to last year though because they changed the course a bit and came up shorter than yesteryear.  All I know is I was able to attack the hills like I wanted to, use the downhills to my advantage and concentrated on my efficiency on the flats.  I'm good on flats!

58:54 - 17.3mph  (last year: 1:03:27 - 16.8mph)

T2:

Angry.  Dude next to me decided to use his area AND my area and I had to dig through all his bike crap, shoes included, to get to my stuff.  Yes, I threw it ALL.  And used some very colorful language as well.  

Run:

It didn't beat my stand alone 5K PR, but it might have beat my PR for a 5K in a tri.  I don't have much memory of the run, maybe because I was oxygen deprived, but my best memory was seeing a woman in my AG a bit ahead of me, locking her in my sights and methodically reigning her in and passing her well before the finish line.  This might have been my best run in a tri to date.  The absolute BEST memory?  Seeing my peeps when I crested the hill right before the finish!  Definitely gave me what I needed to keep pushing through!

25:15 - 8:08  (last year: 27:07)

that poor hat.

this is what a freight train looks like

too bad I can't punch people with
my quads...

And then we were done.  Endorphin highs for all!  

I FINALLY finished a sprint triathlon in under 2 hrs, it's only taken me two freaking years.

1:47:52 put me mid AG, which is better than my second to the last finish last year with a 2:00:06.

Yup, 12 minute PR folks.  I'll take it.

Go big or go home!

or...

Go big and head to T3

I do love T3

It wouldn't be right if we didn't do this

Callin' all the ladies!!!

JACK!!!!!

What can I say...
I'm in demand.

Go Big or Go Home - LKN Triathlon 2014 Preview

This is it.  This weekend will be my last tri of the season.  Thelma is just beside herself; almost inconsolable.  I know, I know, but do your best to hold back your tears...

Enough of that.  Now to task.
If you will allow me, I'm just going to speak quite frankly.

Last year, I pretty much sucked.  Yes.  That is the truth and do not argue with me.  In most of the triathlons I've done, I've played it safe; slow and steady and had my eyes only on finishing.

Do you know what I say to that right now?
Screw that.

I'm employing a new race strategy.
Instead of safe, we're going balls to the wall.  Well, figuratively speaking since I am female.....

Balls to the wall, people.

Swim:
Grab the water.  High elbows.  Use the water for all it's worth and make that lake my bitch.

T1: 
Run, even if snot is coming out of my nose.  No happy celebratory I-survived-the-swim pictures.  Ain't got time for that.

Bike:
Watch out....Thelma's hungry.

T2:
Get the hell out of Dodge.

Run:
I can breathe when I'm done.

I'm not quite sure how it's all going to shake out, but at least I will know I will have left everything I had out there.  And that, my friends, is my goal.
To give it everything I've got.

Game face engaged.

Go big or go home.

Adventures with Thelma: Episode 6

I was just reminded of what a lucky girl I am to be surrounded by such amazing, kind-hearted and wonderful people.  I've been so focused on keeping things calm and relaxed that I haven't been able to get excited about what's about to happen.  Until now.

I have received many "good luck" wishes and gestures but I don't think they all quite registered until just this moment; and I truly am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement!

Tomorrow I will hop in a car to travel with one of my closest friends and training partner, meet up with 4 more of my closest friends and some of my family that are able to make the trip, to an unknown land of wind, heat and maybe jellyfish to complete the final leg of this 70.3 adventure.

It took a village to get me here, no doubt!  And though I know I will have to take the final steps on my own, everyone will be there to finish with me.

Coach Sarah, "Coach Lolo" and I have come up with some reasonable times to shoot for, but because I perform better without getting all caught up in the pressure of time goals, so I will keep those to myself if that's alright.

Right now, I want to focus on these goals I have made for myself:

Pre-Race:
- Relax and get as much rest/sleep as possible.
- Eat clean and hydrate well.
- Enjoy the atmosphere, allow myself to feel the excitement...after all, you only experience your first Ironman    event once!

Swim:
- Stay calm and swim on (I know, I know...so overdone right now, but dammit if it's not perfectly applicable).
- Don't get into the chaos of the massive swim start.
- Go off easy and find my rhythm.
- Site often.
- Things (or people) will touch me, people (or things) will swim over me.  Ignore all of it and keep my head down and keep moving forward.
- I may be slow, but get me into an easy consistent stroke and I can swim all day.  Use this to my advantage and come out of the Choptank primed for a great bike segment.

T1:
- Stay relaxed, keep heart rate down.
- Don't rush, but be efficient.

Bike:
- Ease into it.
- Get into a good, comfortable and sustainable effort. Work it, but don't push it.  Blow out the bike and you blow up on the run.
- Remember to EAT and DRINK!  I have a good fuel plan in place, I want to be sure to follow it.
- All this will set me up nicely for the 3rd segment.

T2:
- Get heart rate down.
- Grab watch head off the bike!

Run:
- Start out EASY. Starting off too quickly will break me.
- Take the first 3 miles easy, settle into a good comfortable pace miles 4-9, then try to pick it up for the final 3.
- Again, fueling and hydration is key to a good run.
- Give it all I got.
- Finish this journey with no regrets.

I guess that just about covers it.  From now until then I will be packing and prepping.  So, this is me.
Signing off until after Sunday.

Feel free. Be strong.
Be your own kind of awesome.

Adventures with Thelma: Episode 5

Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the fu-ture.....

Damn skippy it does!

What a weekend, folks!  What. A. Weekend.
Action packed with swimming, biking, running, margarita drinking, pool side sunning, outside cooking, sherpa-ing and napping...

But since you read the title, I know that you're not interested in me going on about how fantastic my leisure time was (it was freaking fantastic by the way...) and are instead expecting a recap of an outing with Thelma; and Thelma would be devastated if I let down her fans.  So without further ado.....

I keep getting asked if I'm in taper mode.  There is a taper in marathon, but I'm beginning to wonder if there is such a thing in the triathlon universe.  The big day is just around the corner, and though I had one long training day, as I think about it, I did have 2 36-48 hour stretches where I didn't have to do anything. Coach Sarah gave me each disciplines' workout in a single day for me this week where mileage decreased slightly with a period of rest on either side.  Saturday was my swim bike run funday.  It was still a full day to say the least, starting at 7 with a 1 mile swim, followed by a 45 mile ride and then an 8 mile run in the sun and heat.  Good practice for what I'll encounter in the coming weeks...er...I mean days.  (how in the hell did we go from weeks to simply days?  Time.  It's a crazy thing.)

We had a good group doing the multi-sport deal.  Great company, lots of laughs.  Where there is more people, the more opportunity for pictures, mishaps and blog-worthy moments.....

Pre-swim
JH throwin' down the selfie skills!

OWS: Mission Complete

This is the area I call
The View.
No.  No tv cameras or scripts.
What this group did have were iPhones and
natural comedic tendencies

Me, messing up the best photo op ever.

Long rides are FUN!  See?  Everyone smiles :)

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED

My first Snot Rocket!
execution = perfect
good range, no after burn...

NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE

And not pictured?  The two times I fell over at stop lights.  Hey, it takes talent and we know I'm full of it.....

There was also a buffalo sighting, a pee incident (no, I was not the involved party, and I'm just as thankful as you are that there are no photos) and a few near misses with angry drivers.

And the finale
Post-run/Proof of Life
The guy in the orange visor?
He's mean.....makes you run lots of hills....
;)

And that's a wrap.

12 days.

(WTF)

Adventures with Thelma: Episode 4

(to be sung to the Happy Birthday tune, pitch accuracy is optional)

Happy anniversary to me.  

Happy anniversary to me.

Happy anniversary to meeeeee.....

Happy

anniversary

toooooooooooooooooooo

meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  (this should be the highest note the human ear can hear....)

Anniversary you ask?  Yes folks, my triathlon anniversary!

On May 11, 2013, Thelma and I made our debut at the Jetton Park Triathlon.   

Tomorrow, Thelma and I will return to where it started.  I have a lot of feelings and emotions surrounding this event.  It's a little surreal to see everything come full circle.  To see how much things have changed, how I have changed, and yet remained the same..... (insert thoughtful, pondering, philosophical look here) 

Last year was strictly about survival the experience.  This year I find myself thinking that just surviving isn't good enough this time.

Nope.  Not at all.

I want to kill it.

This tri is a 750m swim, 12.4  mile bike and a 5k run.  Up until about a week ago, I have been putting in some decent training hours.  40+ mile rides, brick sessions, 2000m swim sessions in the pool.  Tempo runs, intervals....I've seen some serious improvement in my run.  Bottom line....I've put some good work in and tomorrow's distance doesn't equal half of what I do in one day's training. There is absolutely no reason for me not to do well.  The only thing that can stop me?  

My head.

Where I'm at:

• I've had some knee issues that we think a slight saddle adjustments we made will resolve.  Unfortunately, we haven't really been able to test this theory.  I chose to stay off the bike to get the inflammation under control.  This makes me nervous.  REALLY hoping it's just an adjustment that was needed and all will be ready for EagleMan.  
• I seemed to have picked up some extra weight since last weekend.  I may have celebrated Lori's AG win and ICE Racing's stellar day at the Carolina Half/International a little too much.  Over celebrating + a light training week + eating like you're training hard = a little more padding than normal 
• Open Water.  'nuff said.

Where I'm trying to get to:

• To put the knee issue out of my mind.  We made the adjustments.  Fingers crossed it works.  If it doesn't, then we make more adjustments.  Keep rpms high, keep a good effort on hills but no need to crush them.  Keep the attack in check and live to ride another day.
• Weight.  It is what it is.  Can't do anything about it now.  I know that it will come back off.  Training ramps back up this Sunday with a 50 mile ride.
• Open Water.  I need to keep calm and slow my strokes down.  Reach, glide, relax, and try to sight without breaking stroke.  Goal:  to swim as much as this course as possible.  To not worry about speed or anything.  Just feel the water, feel the stroke, feel relaxed and have a good swim.  This will put me in good spirits and ultimately set me up to have a fun ride and a killer run.

Tomorrow's goals:

• PR - kinda goes without saying, but I said it anyway
• Keep Calm and Tri On
• meaning - get the hell out of my own head, have faith in my training and my ability
• #STFU, #HTFU, #GTJD

Race face engaged.

Adventures with Thelma: Episode 3

Thelma thought that with two long rides in the books with her new digs that I should post an update on our progress.

Last weekend marked our longest ride EVER.  We made a pretty substantial jump in mileage, one that I don't really advise, from 35 miles up to 53.  A good time to test out the new fit, saddle and aero bars!  I'm happy to report that even after 53 miles, I had no pain in the unmentionable area!  This is huge, people.  This is a game changer, seriously.  If you find yourself uncomfortable after 20-30 miles, try a new saddle.  It is TOTALLY worth the investment.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the cojones to get into my aero bars.  I didn't realize how different the front end would feel with the added weight!  Oh well, live to try another day...

This past weekend we had another long ride to do.  I'm still a novice rider and do not feel comfortable battling the roads on my own.  I hooked up with a local shop ride out of Cool Breeze Cyclery.  They have 3 groups, an "A", "B" and "C" group.  As and Bs are your faster groups and the "C" is my speed!  What a great group!  Thanks to Chris for keeping as all going and together!  I did have a little mishap and fell off my bike standing still.  Yes folks.  This takes skill.  Almost as much skill as the day I feel off while on my stationary trainer....thank goodness the couch was there.

I was able to get 34 miles in with the group and then headed to the Huntersville Business Park to finish out my ride.  The HBP is a 2 mile loop where many cyclists, runners and walkers go to get in their miles.  I feel safe here because even if something happens, I know there will always be someone to pass by.  That and there is a hospital right there!
Anyway, with a bruised knee plus some unrelated-to-fall knee cap pain, we had to cut it short a few miles. Good news?  I was able to try out my aero bars!!!!  Yes, I looked like a bad ass, even if I was only going like 10 mph...

Now I just need to figure out how not to veer off to the left and hit passing motorists and cyclists alike....

I guess that's about it.  Not too terribly exciting for most people, but for me, it's all part of the process!

Thelma and I are hitting the race circuit again on Saturday so I'm sure she'll want me to post a race preview.  Though, her and I need to have some words I think....she's getting a little full of herself since her new digs....

Adventures with Thelma: Episode 2

Thelma and I get along pretty well...for about 20 miles.  After 20 miles, we start bickering at each other.  By mile 25 I start cussing and then by the 30 mile mark I can't stand to be around her anymore.

She becomes a real pain in the ass.

Literally.

We did the best we could with what we had.  But I personally would like to keep all my bits and pieces functioning, meaning keeping the blood flow flowing....no numbness wanted in my little bits if you catch my drift.  

Plus, the way Thelma is set up doesn't allow me to be as efficient as I could be while exerting less energy than I need too.  That's the idea, right?  To go as fast as possible with minimal amount of effort and energy.   

With this 70.3 cloud over my head (44 days, but who's counting?), that includes a 56 mile bike ride on a flat course, I realized I needed a way to get low, get fast and find a way to make every pedal stroke count.  Clearly it was time for us to see a professional.

With Thelma loaded in the back, we ventured out of our 2-exit bubble and made it to the Queen City unharmed (and only a little lost) to see James Haycraft at Inside Out Sports.  In addition to being an absolute guru for all things cycling, James, a.k.a. "The Pro", is also part of ICE Racing.  Simply said, the dude knows his shit.

I'm just guessing here,
 but I think James is wondering how in the hell
I've been riding on this seat and still  be able to function after.

After he performed his once over on Thelma, he had me hop on to see what kind of magic he'd have to work.  This is how Thelma and I usually ride.  Upright and sitting awkwardly to protect the lady parts.

Before

After some seat adjustments, I can now position myself on my sit bone instead of ....well....you know, and then some bar adjustments to position me low and forward will help with efficiency without putting forth too much effort.  Throw on a new split saddle, add some aero bars and now I look like an instant bad ass.  I may not know what I'm doing, but at least now I look like I do!

After

Let the awesomeness commence.

Thanks James!