and just like that it's over.....

my triathlon season that is.  This has been quite the race season, I have learned a lot about myself this season!  Before I started the season when I made the choice to sign up for my half IM distance in May I thought to myself this will be my comeback year!  Well it wasn't my comeback year in the sense of seeing my best finish times or placing overall etc but it was my comeback year as far as my first full season of triathlons in about 3 years (since my son was born) and really pushing through some tough barriers and proving to myself that I'm tougher than I think I am.  Every race this season was a struggle but every race this season I proved to myself that I have more in me than I give myself credit for.  Thanks to my Team LC I was given the encouragement that I needed to keep going even when I wanted to quit.  When I barely came in 10 minutes before cut off at my half I thought my season was over then and there.  But then I got the fateful em
ail that I was picked to be an ambassador for the team and I kept going.

This last race was Atomic Man duathlon 5k run, 40k bike, 10k run.  It was super hilly and at elevation.  The race director kept emphasizing the technical downhills to be careful of and there was one downhill they announced would be a no pass zone because it was too dangerous!  It was 37 degrees when I first pull up to the race and there I was in my tri suit not wanting to get out of the car. I was under trained, tired and fearful.  They were going to let me drop down to the sprint distance that morning but when they said there was no hard cutoff for the long course I decided to just go for it!  Boy am I glad I did!!!  I did way better than I could have hoped for.  There were only 18 people total signed up for that one so it was a lonely course and I finished near the end but I challenged myself and loved it!  I got my nutrition and hydration right and for the first time this season didn't get dizzy on the bike or dry heave on the run!  I felt really good other than tired of course but tired I know how to push through.  My knees hurt when I got off the bike, I suspect because of the hills, but I still kept moving forward and am happy to say I didn't walk once on the second run even when the hills were enough to make it seem like I was walking :-)   I am sad that a lot of the local triathlons I grew up with seem to be phasing out and there isn't a lot of participation in them.  I really hope we don't lose all of them!  I went to this race by myself and I really used that time to process a lot of stuff in my head!

On the bike ride the way out after quite a few steep up and downs we came to a steady uphill about 5 mile climb that I lost myself in.  I was enjoying my race since I knew I wasn't going to win but the danger in that is that I get so lost in my thoughts I forget to keep pedaling :-)  I remember thinking look at the pretty flowers, look at the fields and the evergreens, maybe my new job that I haven't even started will let me be based out of here (it reminded me of the little mountain town I grew up in) and my son can go to what they claim is the best schools in the state, then I saw a sign that read "Do not trespass be careful explosives" oh maybe we won't move here, is that a hunter?  No it's not the season and they're wearing bright orange, oh crap that's a photographer and I'm in a race, pedal faster!  At the turn around I realized that the gel I had put in my sports bra had dripped all over me and was gross and sticky, at least I now smelled like coconut, but I just got a new gel at the turn around and threw that one out.  Then the glorious turn around came and those downhill miles were the funnest ride I've done in a REALLY long time!  The views were AMAZING and I literally yelled WEEEEEE as I went down and I started singing I ride my bike with no underwear, no underwear! ;-)  Haaa!  Ok it sounded funnier at the time...  I needed a ride like that.  It was so hard and really challenged me but I had so much fun!

I finished in about 3:21 and was the only one in my age group so....  my son was happy to have another medal to wear.  When I told him I did that race just for him so I could give him another medal he proceeded to tell me "when I swim, bike, run then run some more I will give you my medal mom!  Thanks!"  :-)  Oh don't tease me son...  dare I say he's getting the bug?

On the drive back I was so tired and hungry I started to feel myself nod off so I stopped for some soda and chips YES I did!  But whatever it took to stay awake, right?!?!!  I won't even tell you everything else I ate that day.  MUST EAT ALL THE FOODS!!!

So with that awesome test of fortitude I close off the season and am relieved yet sad.  I worked hard when I could and there were a lot of missed training days due to life but I'm already looking for a winter half marathon to keep me training through the cold months.  Yes, it is in our blood we just don't know how to quit.  Triathletes are a weird bunch and I'm proud to call myself one!  My son is already asking is the snow coming?  Ahhh that's my boy!  We are already practicing with his ski boots and skis as I pull him across the carpet.  We will be hitting the double blacks in no time! Right?


HAPPY TRAINING!!

Patriot Triathlon Recap

I haven't been on here lately.  I can't even explain why.  Just a plain and simple no desire to write, recap, or ruminate. I didn't even recap my last race (Socorro Chile Harvest Sprint) I KNOW a triathlete not wanting to talk about their triathlons and how they should shave 10 seconds off their transition and how their calf was tight on the run if not they totally could have done better!!!!  Call the doctor right?!?!!

Well, rest assured I am still boring people with my tales of triathlon just in different ways.  I do find myself stopping and not going into too much detail, not really sure why.  But here I am again.  Last weekend I did the Patriot Sprint Triathlon in Rio Rancho and had a blast!  My parents graciously watched my son and we didn't even make him go along this time so that he could go have some fun at the trampoline and bumper boats!  It was a windy night and I had very little sleep with my dog running in and out all night fighting off the attack leaves in the back yard and barking at the wind!!  But thankfully the wind started to settle down as the sun came up.  The swim was a down and back in each pool lane seeded swim start for 400.  It was crowded in the time I put down as usual.  But I'm happy to say I still finished in the time I had put down (8 mins) even though the guy in front of me said oh yeah the last two races I finished in 10 and 12 mins, then why the HECK did you put down 8!!!!!!!!!!   There was a lot of congestion due to this but I managed to get through it without elbowing or kicking anyone.  There was an 11 year old girl behind me that seemed a little nervous and this was her first race and she was doing the swim portion for a team.  She was very polite and eager and I was excited for her.  I talked her through her nerves as we waited our turn to start and told her it'd just be a matter of time before she was doing the whole thing.  She said but I'm slow I'm only at 8 mins.  I said look around you we're all slow then because we all put that down.  You are young you will gain experience and training and you will soon blow us all away!!!  I explained how I started at her age and didn't even think I liked triathlon.  But look at me now I can't get enough of it no matter how "slow" I may be.

The bike was hilly and some head winds but I had fun!  I felt good during the entire bike leg.  The only thing was there was more traffic than I like to see on a bike course but there's not much you can do about that.  There was one round about where I asked where do I go and the volunteer yelled RIGHT but there was a car blocking me!  So it was either go straight and run into the car in front of me, go right and run into the car blocking my path, or turn right a little later and shared the same exit that the other bikes still going out towards the turn around were using.  So I did the last and luckily didn't cause any issues with the other cyclists.  Sheesh people are you really in that big of a hurry that you'd rather be stuck in the middle of a group of cyclist than just wait for an opening?

The run was HILLY and partly on dirt.  Again though I had fun!  I was slow but felt like I gave it a good push.  I kept my head down and just kept going.  I managed to sprint the hardest I've ever sprinted at the end of a race all to pass someone in my age group at the last minute but then remember we had different start times so it didn't really matter.

I managed to get 1st in my AG again I realize it all depends on who's out there that day.  I think I was 56 OA M&F out of just over 200.   But it sure does feel good to show up with the medal and have my son ask me can I wear it?  I even had time to get a quick complimentary massage and man was I tight after that race so this felt really good!  Saw lots of friendly faces out there and as always was happy just to get to participate in a sport I love and for a team that truly supports me!  Team LC

Some cool new gear to help me stay hydrated on the bike thanks to another great sponsor TACX!!