Day of the Tread

I was a little hesitant to do this since I would be alone with my son and sometimes the logistics can be overwhelming when you're trying to handle a bike and a son that likes to try and run away from you.  But when I saw that they added a 12 mile family ride where you rode out the 12 miles then caught the train back downtown I knew my son would love that and went for it.  I had done this ride pre kiddo when they had first started doing Day of the Tread and I'm happy to say they've come a long ways.  They were a lot more organized this time around!  My son had a blast and I got a good workout in!  I could say it's the best day we've had in a while but that's probably just because the day before was a tough one and we spent most of it in a standoff of wills. 

Riding the clunky commuter bike with the heavy child's seat on the bike is becoming quite the challenge now that my son is nearing the 40lb mark.  My legs were surprisingly sore so I was happy to get a good workout in and have some fun doing it!  On the way there I was scared my little bike rack wasn't going to stay on my car as the added weight from the bike seat kept making it rise up on that side.  We made it and I realized I had forgotten our bib number, which you needed in order to get on the train on the way back, and sunscreen for my kiddo's face.  Luckily the race organizers took care of us on both!  Thank you!!!   Then we saw the 26 mile ride take off in front of us and all the costumes.  My son fell in love with the Roadrunner Mascot and it was so cute seeing him dance with him and imitate his dance moves then fall to the ground in laughter.  He was seriously giddy with him.  He was a little scared when the "devil" tried to say hi to him. 

We stopped to hear the Mariachis play around mile 2 and I had the song stuck in my head for the rest of the ride.  They had an aid station at mile 4 so we stopped for a break and ate some snacks.  We had to do a couple of potty breaks for my son and have a talk about why he has to leave his helmet on and he fell asleep around mile 8 and poor little guys head kept falling forward and hitting my back or he'd be double over with his head practically in his lap.  They helped us get our bikes on the train and we went up and road in the top car.  Once we got off the train we had police escort back to the finish.  A good day with great weather(although unseasonably warm for this time of year) and a lot of helpful volunteers and nice riders!  I'm glad I take these risks and get out there because in the end it is always worth it. 

Happy Training!

Sisters Relay Duke City Marathon

I had never ran an official relay before and I was excited to get to do one!  A few years back a crazy friend had convinced me to do one at midnight and I had sworn I'd never do one again but that was obviously the tired talking.  I had so much fun during this relay and really needed a distraction with a fun group of ladies that new how to make me laugh and didn't even care when I messed up the hand off!! 

The day started with my son sleeping in for the first time ever so I cringed at having to  make noise at 6 am so that he would get up but the hand off went smoothly all things considered and I even managed to remember my breakfast, pb & honey sandwich, and my Accelerade drink!  When I first signed up to do this relay I thought I'd have to take my own car go do my leg with my son in the car seat and someone else driving only to have to leave right away.  But I got to stay for the whole thing and ride along with all the rest!  Then I get to our meet up parking lot and it's full!!! We all manage to find spots and somehow find each other!  Our fearless leader somehow found our chip just in time!  This race seems a little disorganized but we made it! 

The first leg our team mate killed it!  The second leg I ran 6.2 miles and I was pretty cold so all my muscles were tight and I felt like I was going pretty slow.  I tried to wave at a fellow Sole Sister that was there cheering and my hand wouldn't open.  Once I warmed up I tried to push myself to make up for some lost time.  I was able to do a sub hour 10k which made me happy considering the lack of training going into this!  But here's the kicker.  I get to the hand off and it is so congested and I'm staring straight into the sun.  I hear my teammates yell what I thought was "She's at the top!" so I ran past them to the top of the hill and yelled her name as I twirled around.  Then the cop started yelling at me to cross the street because he was holding up a line of cars for me so race brain and panic kicked in and I kept

running!!!  I missed the hand off!!  What they had yelled is "She's on the pot!"  Apparently the porta potty line was horrendous!  Anyway I saw her at my turn around and we ran back together!  In the end crisis avoided and we got to talk while we ran and I got to know a teammate better!  My 6 mile run turned into an unplanned 11 mile run but I felt surprisingly good even with the couple of little hills.

The day started getting really hot after that so I'm super proud of the next two ladies finishing it off for us!  One of which also ran a second leg because one of our mates had to step out last minute due to illness.  We managed to do sub 4 hour marathon as a team and best of all I made some new friends, great memories, and I made it back in time to take my son for a swim and add a new pin to his medals!  Sometimes you just need a good run and good company to get you out of a rut.  Sisterhood at it's best!  My half marathon training starts next week so I figure this was a good start to it.

Happy Training!!

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!!

"Mom, why are you racing?"

EDIT:  Was checking the results online and I'm a little embarrassed it turns out I got 2nd in my AG not 1st even though that's what they announced at the awards ceremony.  I've emailed the race director and hope to get the trophy to the rightful owner. 

That was the question I got when I spoke to my son minutes before transition closed.  He is use to being with me at these races and all those other times racing didn't seem to cause him to stop and question.  But this time it meant I wasn't with him so he asked, "Mom, why are you racing?" Son:  YOU ARE MY WHY!!  He of course doesn't realize that just the night before I was sitting on the floor of my garage crying over that same freakin' question!  Because it was his first night away from home without me and while I know he needs it because all children if in a safe environment deserve to spend time with both parents.  But I felt like my heart was missing and because of that felt like I had no heart for this race.  Without heart what's the point right?  Alas there is a happy ending to this

Old Blue

story.

Friday Night:
1. Ate a HUGE burrito as my "carb loading" New Mexico style
2. Met with a contractor because my son walked up to me earlier that week with a chunk of the stucco in his hand asking "what is this mom?" so I decided it was finally time to give in and break the bank getting the house re - stuccoed.
3. Finally got around to putting my race wheels on my bike.
4. Struggled switching the breaks out but finally got them only to realize the back break wasn't working and I thought I broke it!  I couldn't get the cable to reattach!!!!
5. Texted people in a panic just to vent!  My dad was 3 flights and 2 days away, my brother was at the dojo and wouldn't be out until past my bedtime.  The friend I new was an expert on my type of bike turns out I never hit SEND on that message.  The friend who offered to help I refused to let help me because at this point it wasn't about the bike!  It was about me being angry at myself for waiting until the night before to do this, about not being able to do it on my own or figure it out on my own, about my heart being broken because my son wasn't in the garage with me asking me the millions of questions he loves to ask like why are you changing the wheels mom, how do the breaks work, why are they broken.
6.  Cops came over to the neighbors house and I'm their emergency contact in case their alarm goes off but I didn't remember where I put their password so even though I had been in the garage the whole evening and knew no one was in their house I couldn't tell them not to send the cops without the password.
7. Dog ran out the door while I was speaking to the cops.
8. Recovered my dog.
9. Switched my bike seat to my old bike "Old BLUE" and decided to race on my old bike and just keep fingers crossed that it held up.
10. Packed my tri gear. exhausted went straight to bed.  Fell asleep 1 hour later. Nightmares about my brakes failing on the course all night.
11.  Woke up bright and early and car pooled with a friend to the race.  Forget he had his dog in the backseat and left my bagel on the seat when we ran into the gas station so back in I went to buy a granola bar since my breakfast had been eaten.
12. At this point I was laughing at the hilarity of the entire situation.
13.  Remembered my WHY!  Son you will never see your mom give up!  Even if I fail I will fail trying.

So the race.  Super small race which makes me a little sad as it was getting to be a decent sized race for NM standards anyway.  I've been doing this race for over 10 years on and off.  I don't want to see all the races I grew up with fade away so I hope this one sticks around even after switching who runs it.
About the race: Socorro Chile Harvest Triathlon
1. Seeded swim start.
2. Actually stuck to the time I put down.  Had to fight a few crowds in the lane due to those who didn't stick to the time they put down.
3. Bike switched the bike course this year which added a few bumps and a little hill on the course but over all was super happy with it, I mean it was 12 miles so my plan was simple just go all out and worry about the snot and slobber after wards. Averaged 19.43 mph on good old BLUE!!  My trusty bike held up.  I only missed my new bike on the downhill.
4. I could feel it getting a little hot and I was slightly dehydrated since I'm not smart and usually don't drink or eat during any sprint.
5. Sipped some Gatorade and poured water on my head for the run.
6. Transitions were super slow this time! over 1 min. each
7.  Pretty flat run some on dirt.  Found someone to talk and run with the last mile and a half and we pushed each other.
8. Finished strong and happy.

I managed to pull off first in my AG which doesn't really mean much in the sense of triathlon racing because it was a small race and the fast women I am use to seeing in my AG weren't there.  BUT I will take what I can get.  What made me the happiest is I had a trophy to take home to my son as it helps for him to have something tangible to see and understand that I did do a race.  I gave him my trophy and told him this is for you, I won this for you, so you know your mom is strong even when she doesn't want to be.  He was only interested in the fact that the trophy was shiny and he could make faces in it which made him laugh! :-)

Post race dinner with my favorite guy!

My new trisuit was so COMFY I loved it.  Not to mention I got lots of comments on how it looked people love the design.  Thanks Team LC!!!! and Santini!!!

Oh and the bike, easy fix, thanks to my friend for pointing this out when he saw the bike.  Obviously I wasn't thinking straight the night before!  So note to self: prep bike at least a week before race next time and NO PANICKING!!!  Must remain calm!

HAPPY TRAINING!!!