Spring Fling Triathlon Race Recap

Wow what a weekend!  Lots to do, fun packed, and exhausting but the good kind even if it means you're not quite ready to go Monday morning!  Ok about this Spring Fling Race Recap here we go.  Let's start with the good!  This was a very well ran race that was well organized in my opinion.  I didn't see anything missing (except for maybe some post race fuel but I didn't look that hard either).  The course was fun we ran through the campus and biked out towards the snake heads which meant there were a couple of nice hills and it ended in the olympic pool.  We usually have to do reverse tris when there is a lack of open water.  This usually works in my favor since running is was my weakest sport and it's good for me to start with that while I'm fresh, more on that later.  I was super excited to do this race because it was going to be my first one since last Mother's day and before that I hadn't done one since Dec. 2012.  So you can see it's been a rocky two plus years getting back into the sport since my son was conceived.  I have been doing lots of running races in between there because it's usually the easiest to train for since I can take the stroller when needed.  Wow did that show during the race.  Usually I just get by on the run and really make up time and get my place during the bike then maintain during the swim. This time the only good part of the triathlon was the run!  I was toast for the rest of the race I don't know what happened!!  I was so not ready for this feeling. My son captured my feelings pretty well in these photos:

Pre race - excited, a little nervous but let's do this

Mid race - Huh? What's going on here?

Post race: whaaaaa!  That did not go as expected at all!!!!!

Me in the blue cap, yes letting someone pass me I'm pretty sure doing breast stroke!!

Packing the night before a triathlon when you are taking a toddler a) pack your gear b) pack enough stuff for your son to stay fed and entertained c) tell your husband you love him and love the fact that he's taking your son to cheer for his mom but that he's on his own for breakfast that morning (he handled it all like a champ I really appreciate that he went to support me)






So I learned a few things from this race and it turns out it's a good thing I did this early season race as a wake up call I learned what I've been doing right and what I've been doing wrong. 
1.) The extra running I've been doing is paying off and I can get faster with some extra interval training.
2.) I way overestimated my fitness level and I'm no where near recovered from having a baby even though I feel like I am and should be.
3.) I need to get on the actual road for my bike training at least once a week being on the trainer is no where near the same as being on the road and hills and it showed in my bike time which if I would have been where I'm use to being I could have placed I totally messed up on this leg of the race
4.) I was toast on the swim I'm usually somewhere around 8 mins. this one took me almost 11 min. I could not feel my feet or arms for almost half of the swim, part was due to me being a little cold from the bike ride and part was because I'm not use to feeling this toasted by the end of the race
5.) I have awesome friends and family that support me my husband was amazing during and after this race, he had my son clapping for me every time I ran by, he kept my son happy and entertained during, and he put up with my foul mood after the triathlon
6.) I need to find more time to train and train more intensely during the time I do have to train!
7.) I still love this sport and it's good to get my butt kicked every once in a while to get me back on track.
8.) There were a great group of athletes out there that did awesome and I was so happy to see some good triathlon friends out there again and I'm so thankful for being part of this community
9.) I need to stay on top of my nutrition and shed a few more pounds off that I let creep back up and I was so dehydrated it wasn't even funny, trying to hydrate just the day before is not enough!
10.) I did leave it all out there I pushed as hard as I could I just didn't have any more in me! I felt like I was going to puke twice out there...

Afterwards we went to a fundraiser for some lunch and live music and my son danced his little booty off!

Happy Training!!