Race Report - Heart of the Lakes!

Sunday July 18th was the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon. I did this race in 2009, and it was actually my first triathlon that was longer than a sprint distance, so this one will always hold a special place in my heart. :) The distances of this race are 1/2 mile swim, 21 mile bike, and a 5.3 mile run. Kind of interesting distances, but I am liking these shorter races! OK, I like the shorter runs is the honest truth. If only the swim were a tad longer it'd be perfect.

Weather-wise, it was a nice day. It turned out slightly windy and cloudy, but overall it was close to ideal. This race is so well organized and the volunteers are so helpful and friendly. It'll be one I come back to every year that's for sure. This year was also the 25th anniversary of the HOLT!

My race was decent. I felt pretty tired, but I improved my time from last year by about 2.5 minutes, so I can't be too disappointed. I was 7th in my age group and 36th woman overall in a time of 2:02:40. We had to add on some running and biking after this race, which was tough. I ran an additional hour on the course, then biked for an hour. That made it a 4+ hour day. Coach had on the training schedule to make it a 5.5 hour day, but since we went WAY over in training hours the week before with our long ride and run, we called it good.

Next on tap is the Chisago Lakes Half Ironman which is the race I really need to focus on. It's the last big one before Ironman. I need to make sure and get the nutrition down and be prepared for some heat. A Half Ironman smack-dab at the end of July is almost guaranteeing 90 degree temps!

Two century rides DOWN!

Century rides are an intregal part of Ironman training. You should get a few in before the big day just so you know what that 112 mile bike is going to feel like. Sure by the time one of these rides is all said and done, you've been out there as long as an average work day, but it feels so good to get these under your belt!

I did my first century on June 20th. The course we picked was supposedly the toughest (hillest) 100 mile ride in the state. My training pal found it in a book of century rides she has. (Yes, they make such a book and people actually buy it!) Since Madison is a very hilly course, I thought this would be a good course to ride for my first one. I felt good through most of it, around mile 80 I wanted to be done, but that phase quickly passed, and I was fine again through the finish.

Here's the map of where we went on that ride... all around the entire metro area!

Last Sunday was my second century ride. Actually, we rode 112 miles! This time we picked a much flatter course, and I have to say this ride went so much better than the first, which is encouraging. There are quite a few reasons I think this one went better. I certainly wasn't as prepared when I did my first one. I didn't have a 2nd water bottle holder yet, I didn't wear enough sunscreen, the cleats on my cycling shoes were too far up (close to my toes). The first ride was SO hilly, and I just plain and simple didn't yet know how far 100 miles on a bike really was, or what it felt like. My farthest ride prior had been about 80 miles. Doing two now has given me a feel for it, and I am actually looking forward to the next one.

Our next 100+ mile ride will be in Madison ON the race course. This trip is coming up in two weeks. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I cannot wait to see what the course has to offer! I know it's brutal, but I am ready for it. I better be... we are down to 56 days and counting!! *GULP*

Race Report - MinneMan!

The MinneMan sprint triathlon was last Saturday, and it was indeed "Minne"! The distances were a 1/3 mile swim, 13 mile bike, and a 3 mile run. The 1/3 mile swim turned out to be more like a 1/4 mile. I hardly got into my groove and we were heading out of the water. I know a majority of the field didn't mind a short swim, but with that being my strongest event, I always want more swim! Overall, it was a great race. It was well organized, had a flat and fast course, had great volunteers, great door prizes, and great medals!

Signing up for MinneMan was somewhat of an impulse buy. I had heard great things about this race, but when I found out a good friend of mine, M, was going to do MinneMan as her first Tri EVER, I had to be there for it. I had just been planning to cheer for her, but thought I might as well sign up once I saw that registration was still open. She ended up doing awesome; she won her age group in the novice division!

I placed 1st in my age group and ended up being 19th woman overall. This was my first age group win ever. I know that would have made my dad proud. :)

Here we are with our gold medals.

This was my first race wearing my Aquaphor gear so that was cool. I had a few people cheer "Go Aquaphor!" It's kind of fun to be labeled when it gets people cheering for you.

This next weekend is going to be a big training one. Century ride number two of the season with a long run afterwards. This weekend's workouts will be drastically different from last weekend's one hour (plus) race! Not too much longer and we'll be starting our taper. It's nearing the two month mark until the big day!

Congrats again to M on her amazing 'rookie' finish!!

SPONSORED!

I signed up a couple of months ago for a sponsorship with Team Aquaphor. I'm way excited that I made the team for 2010! They choose 200 athletes from around the US to represent their brand, and I just received my welcome kit yesterday.

Who doesn't love free stuff?? I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my kit; excited to get my new duds to train and race in. I LOVE the Tri outfit! They also sent a jacket, tech tee, running top, running shorts, headsweats hat, and TONS of other goodies. I tried to fit all the goods into one shot:

They require you to race in their gear for 6 races out of the year and hand out samples to friends and fellow racers. Should be a piece of cake and something fun to be a part of! :)

Thanks Bonnie, for your words of reassurance.

Race Report - Liberty Half Ironman!

Well, I did it. I finished my 2nd Half Ironman! (If it needs clarification the distances are a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run.) Overall, it was a good day weather-wise in Maple Plain where the race took place last Saturday. It was in the 60's and it didn't rain until we were out on the run, which felt kind of good actually.

I have only done one other Half Ironman, and that was last August. That was a horrible day... we had to deal with wind, rain, and hail on the bike... it was scary to say the least. I finished that day in 6 hours and 15 minutes. On Saturday I finished in 5 hours and 53 minutes. That's a 22 minute improvement and a PR (personal record). I'll take it!

I was 4th in my age group this time, and 27th woman overall. I was happy with the race and how I felt throughout it. I also think my nutrition went well. Half Ironman races are great 'tests' for the FULL Ironman. It's a great way to figure out what you can eat and drink through the day to fuel yourself. I was pleased with how that all went, and had NO tummy issues like I've dealt with in the past, so that made me happy.

There were some bloopers this race. I fell coming out of the water. We had to run up a set of stairs, and I hadn't taken my goggles off yet. I started right in on trying to unzip my wetsuit, so as I tried to put my foot on the first step, I biffed it. It was pretty funny too as the crowd was cheering, then when I went down, there was a big "oohhhhh". I felt like such a dork, but it didn't hurt, my wetsuit acted as a protective shield.

After the fall, I couldn't get my wetsuit unzipped. I was in such a hurry coming out of the water, and getting up and getting out of there after the fall, that I just could not get the zipper down. I eventually had to stop running, take a deep breath, find the zipper, and get it unzipped. It was only my second race wearing a wetsuit so I knew there would be some trial and error in knowing exactly how to get it off in one swoop.

I found some of the photos Minnefota Moments took on race day. One on the bike and one with my "strong finish".
I'm sure the lady right behind me in the finishing picture thinks I'm a b***h as I blew by her in the last 60 yards. That's somewhat a race etiquette 'no no', at least if you are not finishing with the win. I just felt so good to be done, I had to sprint the last little bit. Sorry lady, I just couldn't help it. :)

I am looking forward to having a few weeks off of racing to get back onto the training bandwagon. I am hoping to get a century ride in this weekend. I hope it's decent weather for my first 100 mile bike!