I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Blackridge is on the horizon. Saturday. Sprint Tri. Ugh. They are like 5K's but that last for 75+ minutes. So, since I can I rode the course this morning. Rode up to Blackridge and then rode the full course. It is a bugger. It took me a lot longer than I wanted it to. Let's hope for some race day magic, shall we? 

Avg speed for the ride was 16.0mph and cadence only 62. It gets a lot lower on hill courses, I'm really good at grinding the gears thanks to spin classes :)

On the ride Lauren called me and said that Lucy had gotten out and run off. She decided it was better to stay with her little brother than chase the dog - smart girl! So, I had to chase the dog down when I got home and it didn't leave a lot of time to get my run in. There was a group meeting at Blackridge to do openwater swim and even though I would've liked to swim having my 3 year old means either Lauren or I have to watch him. She took shift while I rode, so it was her turn.

She swam with the ladies (1200yds or so) and I put Adam in the jogger and ran around the reservoir. He hated the bumpy gravel part I hated pushing the jogger through the deep gravel and into the head wind and it was just a lot of slow going. I could only keep him happy for 3 miles (okay, it was an excuse, but still) so after our 3 miles of loops I let him go play on the playground he had patiently passed 9 times before.

AP: 9:44 splits: 10:11, 9:48, 9:24, 8:54 - last .2

Lauren finished her swim and we took off for home. Everyone ready for a shower and a rest. Only good part for me was the heat training with the run and the eventual cloud cover the last mile :)

I really like Kelli off of school...well, her kids :) It is nice to have another girl to run with. I'm sure I annoy the crap out of her, because she'd rather be running with someone who has some speed in their legs, but I enjoy the company! 

Newton's Tuesday Ten. Chad, Dave, George, Scott, Kelli and I all met for the regular route. I sucked it up on the uphills. I'm serious! I don't know what is wrong with my legs, but I can NOT run uphill. I've lost it I guess...just plain lost it. My quads just burn and feel tight and like they are going to snap if I push them anymore. I'm not injured, nothing hurts, I just am super fatigued...and don't know why! 

When we got to the top of the course @ 4 miles I stopped to grab a drink and a breath. We took off and 50 yds later my stomach had had enough. Yup. I just had to stop and puke. I hadn't eaten anything so there wasn't much, but man alive. I think this is a first for me. Puking on a training run I'm not even running hard!! SO embarrassing. Everyone waiting for me as I clear my gut. I felt fine before and after. I just don't know what happened.

The downhill was nice after that and I was able to start running a half decent pace. The last mile-ish I finally felt like I was ready to push it. I pulled maybe 10 feet in front of Kelli and just knew that any second she would pull back up right to my side and push me. So, I was running scared trying not to look over my shoulder at speedy putting me to shame. Just pushed what I could. I felt strong, but exhausted at the end.

AP: 8:49 splits: 9:01, 8:49, 9:14, 9:30, 8:12, 8:30, 8:13, 8:02, 7:52, 7:30, 7:06 - last .1

It was a great morning! I loved chatting with Kelli and the push she unknowingly gave me from behind at the finish. A nice chat sent us all home happy.

When I got home my plan was to take Lauren out for a ride, but I got boys off to school and I was just feeling BLECH! Head and gut hurt and I was tired and exhausted. So, I climbed back into bed and my lovely daughter entertained my little one as I slept until nearly noon! Crazy, crazy, crazy. Woke up feeling a bit better, but dragged the rest of the day. I just felt off.

Sometimes plans with others are good...sometimes they are bad. I wanted to do more this morning, but due to my lazy sleeping in and thinking that we could get off on the ride on time and at a good pace set me up for failure. I should know better. 

16 miles with Kristy on the bike. I would push and then wait for her, but kept time running since we both wanted to get back in time for institute. It looks like my Average speed without the stops would've been closer to 18mph, but I don't know for my cadence. The average with the stops is 60. Low, but I know it is taking into consideration the stops, so I don't judge myself too much on that. 

Then when I got home Lauren didn't want to run, it was hot and late. So, I called it a day. Feeling lazy, but with how I felt yesterday, it might be a good thing for a little recovery day.

A good run with the Newtons. Without them I don't think I'd even be out and running this week. Seriously. I'm struggling, I don't know why. I have some guesses, but nothing substantial or that I can seem to fix. Meh...whatever.

I actually kept up with George on the uphills. I was impressed with myself. I'd like to know what the mile splits were, but I was an idiot and my garmin was on bike mode. All I know is overall time/pace and the last couple miles thanks to Chad. 

I walked the first big dirt hill on Sharose, but other than that I ran the whole way. I lost George due to my walk break, but caught up with him before the gate. The only other excitement was I got to take my dry-heave break again around mile 3-4. I'm loving that I barf (or nearly do) every run lately, loving it.

Stopped at the gate for a drink, then took off with the guys. George didn't stop, but I again caught and passed him by the last big hill. I again took a short breather and enjoyed the view and George continued on. Chad told me Tuesday I needed another good "chase George" run...I guess this was it. Because I made it my goal to catch him for a third time.

The last 2 miles were 7:34 and 7:30. I was able to catch George, but he turned it on the last 1/4 mile and I couldn't pass him until the last 40 feet...when he stopped and I didn't :)

Total time was 1:10:14 running time, which is a minute and a half faster than last week. Good push for walking a hill as well. 8:37 AP. I really need to put some speed back in my legs so that this isn't a good speed pace for me...really.

Exhausted, tired and not feeling really well afterwards, but I had some water and fuel and went to bed for an hour until I needed to wake my boys up for school.

Once they were off Lauren and I went on a short ride. She is starting to do really well and getting shifting for hills and cadence down well. I'm starting to have a hard time keeping up with her on my Mtn bike with Adam on the back. 8.25 miles in 30ish minutes, not too bad for my new little biker :)

Now to try and eat healthy today. I think my lack of eating is screwing me up. I need more GOOD calories. Calories altogether, but eating a chocolate donut and corn-nuts at 10:00 at night isn't the best course of action.

tired...lazy...nothing. Call it a rest day for the race tomorrow.

I love my hometown triathalon! Escape from Blackridge. On Thursday I got a call from the RD asking if I'd be the rabbit. I'd get a 1 minute head start and then ALL the women (except the 2 elite that started 10 min earlier with the elite wave) would be chasing me. If you catch the rabbit you get a special prize. Okay, a carrot and bragging rights with a picture. All the same, I don't think this RD knows me well enough. I have my pride...and that is about all :) 

If you've ever been to a racetri event you know the race briefing speeches are the best. Here I am during the speech with Jared, the male rabbit being introduced to the crowd...target on my back! I should mention Jared got a 13+ min head start...I got ONE!

I started right after the men 45+ and Clydes. Ugh. Swimming is my worst. The cold took my breath away. Should've swam before the start...don't know when I'll learn. Took me 20-30 feet to get it all under control, but then I started passing men. Felt strong on the swim, but still sucked it up big time. 9:14 on the swim...blech. This did include probably a .25 mile run up to the transition area, but still. As I was getting out I could see women around me. What the crap! I knew if people caught me it would be mostly in the water. I was a drowned rabbit already :) 

The monster wabbit emerges from the water....

I passed 2 ladies on the run up to the transition, but I could see others in the transition area and since I had a sweet spot at the front, I saw a couple leave before me. Shoot. Gotta get out!!! I took off and passed another couple women on the bike and I could see one in a blue shirt just ahead. I would pull her in a bit, but then she'd take off. On the "false flat" (UPHILL) of Main St she all but wasted me. I hoped she was the only one in front of me and that I could pull off a good run and catch her back. 

The bike was great, they changed the course and that is why my time was longer than last year and I'm sticking to that story! (47:06 - 19+MPH) An extra mile and an extra minute...makes sense, right? I have a love/hate relationship with this course and the cross/head wind the last half was all too pleasant. I dropped my water bottle on the bike with about 5-6 miles to go, but recovered it later in the day. YAY homefield advantage! I also took a gu along 11800 S - with caffeine. Hopefully in enough time to fuel the run.

T2 was slower than last year and I had a good spot. I guess I just lost my touch. Oh well. I got out quickly and had a water bottle (disposable) in my hand which was heaven sent the first mile with the nasty big hill. When I was at the bottom, I could see the lady in blue ahead of me. But, the uphill sucked it all out of my legs and I couldn't push faster up and then I lost sight of her from there on out. I passed lots of people, but hung on the heels of one guy that tried to pass me back. It was great to just push hard to pass him, but hang on his heels and know that I wasn't losing ground at least. Run ended up at 23:15 - 7:30AP. I can do better than that, but obviously not this year.

It was great to finish and know that only one woman had caught me! I was breathing hard and excited to see that my family surprised me and showed up to cheer me in. Fun times, I love being at home :)

Ended up seeing results @ 1:19:24. I was stoked! I wanted to break 1:20 and I'd done it!! I took 4th overall and 1st in my AG - no Athena for me...yet :) Didn't win the "Harry-(wo)man" contest for the longest hair. A lady came in with hair a good 6+ inches longer than mine. It wasn't even worth taking my braids out. The other women there competing I could've put up a fight with, but not her. Pictures as the rabbit and on the podium then some watermelon and a ride home on the bike. Perfect morning!

(The rabbit picture! The lady next to me in blue was the one I was chasing and the other 2 ladies were elites. They had a head start to begin with.)

When you put the amazon on the highest pedestal....

Then, I saw the splits online that had just posted (only overall was posted at the race). My swim time was the fastest! HA! No one with a brain would believe that. Especially all the women that beat me out of the water. I contacted the timing co and the RD. Luckily, they acknowledged the problem and I was only 2:30 back, which amazingly enough didn't change any placement/awards. Whew! I don't want a first place medal I didn't earn. Nuh uh. No way. Bad Karma! So, it all turned out okay, except that I didn't break 1:20...poo. Well, there is always next year!