Rattlesnake Triathlon Crazy Back 2 Back - Day One

This was another one of those races that I signed up for back in January or so when I was still flying high from the finish of my 70.3. Feeling strong and ready to conquer it all. This was the Crazy Back 2 Back which consisted of an Olympic distance on Saturday and a Sprint on Sunday. My training has been less then stellar but I figured I could make it though the oly. Even though I hadn't swam much my biggest worry was the run. I hadn't done much of that either and the longest run I had done in some time was 4 miles. Well I know there would be much walking.  The day started early as the alarm went off at 4. I headed out by 4:45 to make the 45 minute drive. I think I may have dozed off as I drove as somehow I managed to pass the exit but luckily it wasn't much of a problem and only added a little time to my drive. When I got there I was lucky enough to meet up with Katie of Will Race for Carbs Katie has been somewhat absent from blogging but hopefully will start to blog a little more. She is a riot and I loved getting to meet her! (She  did a fantastic job at her first olympic distance! This girl is fast!) Also doing the race were my friends and training partners from last year Kathleen, Sarah and Paul, as well as a few other people I knew.

Me (looking pretty dorky in my glasses) Katie.

Swim 36:15

The air temp was pretty chilly, around 65 I think so I was ready to get started. When they played the National Anthem I started to tear up..oh who am I kidding I was crying.  They had someone playing the trumpet and the thoughts of my son were right there on the surface. I got a grip pretty quick though as I knew swimming and crying would not mix well.   The water didn't feel to bad since it was around 70. This race has a couple things that are different from any race I've done. First off it starts with a time trial start...I've never done this and to tell the truth the first day I was not actually ready to go when it was my turn...I didn't quite get that I was going right then, didn't take me long to figure it out though. Because of the fact that we were doing the B2B we got to go first on the swim both days.  The course was a little different also as you can see above by the blue line you go straight out make a u-turn come back run around a buoy and swim back out then you turn wide and head to the finish. This is both nice and strange.  There is a yellow guide rope that keeps you from running into people going the other way and it also let's you swim without really having to do any sighting if you stay near the rope..that was AWESOME! It was however strange to look up and see someone that appeared to be swimming right at you. It also seemed to make the water a little choppier and I swallowed a bit of water but through the whole swim I felt pretty good. I just took it easy and finished feeling good about it. There is a pretty long run to transition and that along with the wet suit strippers is all added into the swim time.

T1 2:35- uneventful, I am never going to be fast at this. I just don't have the balance to stand and put my socks and shoes on. 

Bike - 1:49

Felt pretty good on the bike. It is a rolling course...there are not many flats to speak of you are pretty much always going up or down. The above elevation profile is from the race site (I was trying to download my Garmin but gave up when because of the multi sport thing I kept getting the run instead. I know I figured this out one time, but I'm tired to night and have no patience for it.) So anyway given that it is an out and back course I'm not sure where that flatish downhill comes from and I would say the first 12 miles is pretty accurate.   I actually was feeling pretty good at the turn around....not fast but feeling pretty good. At one part I rode past a snake and thank goodness it was dead, but I was still grossed out and later they posted a picture of this "beauty" on Facebook...he/she/it  was seen at the bike turn around. ...uhhhhh gross... 

I guess we know why the call it the Rattlesnake Tri huh?

So then comes the turn around and you know it...right into a head wind so yea you  had to work  hard even going downhill. And while at the turn around I was showing an average pace of 15.? mph it ended up being 13.7 thanks to the wind. But it seemed like it went fast. I was passed a lot but I knew I would be since I started the swim as one of the first few people. All in all though I felt pretty good about my bike. 

T2 1:54
The "run" 1:26....

Yep you read that right took me 1:26 minutes do a 10k.... what can I say. The first 3 miles were going pretty good. I started chatting with a girl on the course and we were working on 2 minute run and then walk. I could tell a few of my issues were coming on. The butt/sciatic was bothering me some, my ankle/achilles felt a little tender and I was most concerned about messing that up and then it wasn't long before the numb toes/front of foot started in and was causing much pain. At the turn around I convinced my new friend to go ahead as I was only slowing her down and from there on out it was much more walking than running. For the most pat though I just didn't care. I had said all along that it wasn't a race I was just "doing the distance" and that's what I did.

Total time 3:57

What remained to be seen...could I actually do the sprint on Sunday....to be continued.

Cougar, Cheetah or Perv?

As you may remember I decided to bail on the Boulder 70.3 this year. My lack of training as well as my stress level and what seems like one small injury/sickness after another left me feeling very unprepared. I was not really sure how I would feel when the day rolled around..and you know what I felt really good about my decision. It didn't bother me at all to get up a little later and head on up there to cheer on my friends and volunteer. I was told upon check in that I would be doing sunscreen at "run out". Ok I can do that. It's not a bad job for the most part. It was amazing to be right next to the pro rack and watch them come rolling in drop their bikes and run out..AMAZING! how fast they are...This was the first time that I've really gotten to watch any of the pros. It was pretty fun. There was just one other guy and I doing sunscreen and as you would expect none of the first people through were interested in hanging out for sunscreen. But we soon became pretty busy. Arms, shoulder, heads, necks, ears, and even some legs. All shapes and sizes, male and female, some hairy, some sweaty, but hey I'm a triathlete too so what's a little gross stuff between friends and strangers huh? So as things are slowing down there is much more standing around waiting, while I'm standing there pro Ben Hoffman tells me thank you for volunteering, Matty Reed asks if they can get their bikes out and this guy below  Marcus Fernandes from Brazil asks in cute little accent if he can have some sunscreen.

 Sure I say and proceed to put some his back and shoulders...and then...he turns AROUND! Yes he wants it some on his chest too!!! What is a girl to do? I of course did his chest and his abs...OH MY GOD!!! I have never felt such a hard body... incredible! Ok I'm going to stop there...this is a "family blog"  The next day I couldn't help but wonder if that's what he really wanted when he turned around...my brain got a little mushy...so  while I was telling the story of the highlight of my weekend.....he was probably telling the story of the pervy old lady. But hey I'm still smiling so it's all good. 

Wordless Wednesday

Anybody use these? 

Evergreen Sprint Tri race report

This is a little fuzzy but I do want to get it down so  I'll do the best I can...just like I did at the tri. :) It also contains some of the worst pictures I've ever seen...but well what's a blog post with no pictures? :)

The alarm went off early...way early. I was a little worried about parking since it was pretty limited . It was a small tri 215 finishers, but also only one way in and one way out...so with a 45 minute drive and a 5:00 transition opening I was up around 3:45. I tried to choke down a peanut butter and banana sandwich but was feeling pretty sick to my stomach. Nerves.  I arrived and got the closest parking I have ever had for a tri. I was literally parked right next to the transition area. It was great. It was a very cool morning. I met up with Aimee and Kathleen and we got all set up.

Me, Aimee and Kathleen

With out a doubt one of the worst pics of me I've ever seen...we were all cold and barley awake

After getting our transition areas set up we went and sat in my car to keep warm. Lucky for us due to some very warm temps around Colorado the water was actually around 67 I think..almost unheard of for Evergreen.

The swim: 18:27
We were all in the last wave. I've finally managed to find a pair of goggles that don't fog and don't leak and what a difference it makes for sighting! On the other hand because I could see I think I was it the middle of things more and never seemed to find clear water until the very end. And because of this I also never seemed to be able to find a groove. I'm sure that this had nothing to do with the fact that my swimming has been sorely lacking. The water was very murky and pretty weedy. The mud at the exit was crazy...sucking you in...I swam until I couldn't any more just to avoid it. This is the first race I've ever done that had wet suit strippers. I used them but don't know if it helped and because we had to go through so much gravel the mat we laid on was just covered and then of course so was I.

I borrowed some pictures... :)

T1 2:24..uneventful...slow

Bike 1:04

You may remember this from the pre ride

The pictures from this race were...not good. :) It really hit home just how much weight I had put back on.

I knew this was going to be hard. It's quite a bit of climbing and I knew that I had a hard time during the pre ride. I was passed by a few people all though there just weren't that many behind me after the swim I passed a few also. I just tried to stick to a fairly easy pace and do what I could. around mile 5 I saw  bike off to the side but know one around. It was turned upside down so I don't know if the problems or just gave up. I kept trucking and was doing pretty good until I hit the last hill. It's just after the 7th mile and probably the steepest one. I just couldn't do it again...I had to walk. There was another lady walking with me. Shortly after getting back on the bike one of the motorcycles went by with a girl on the back. For what ever reason she must have called it a day. Finally at this point it is almost all downhill...and it's nice, all though parts of it are so steep that you ride your breaks and still are moving at good speed.

T2 1:44
The "run" 40:38
This run starts uphill...at first it's not so bad but I was not really doing much running but you just keep going up and up and then you get to the steep part. :) I think its about the first 3/4 of mile before you finally hit a down hill. While challenging all of this course is quite beautiful. The run goes through  a bit of a mountain neighborhood and along the golf course for this part. After a nice downhill you run by the lake before you get to the end and find some stairs to go down...run a little more and then go up the stairs.

What can I say, awful...but at least I look like I'm running....slogging..or something. 

 Here I found one of the most fabulous volunteers I've ever encountered. She was running up and down the stairs with everyone...well maybe just us at the end but she was fantastic! As I started up she was finishing with another lady and she says..I'm coming doing to run up these with you and there she was just encouraging and being so very nice. It was awesome. From there it was all flat to the finish and I just ran and walked as needed. It was slow but I was ok with it and just happy to be finishing.
Total time 2:08

Slowest sprint ever....most challenging sprint ever...biggest accomplishment...first sprint ever not to have to stop to use the restroom during the race. :)

Thursday three...Things I know Part 2

1.   I know that I finished the Evergreen Sprint...and I know it was the hardest sprint I’ve ever done....I also know I haven’t written a race report...not sure if I will get one done as it already seems pretty much of a blur, but here are a few pictures.

The goodies...truth be told I signed up because I liked the picture on the glass...I wish it had been on the shirt..but the shirt is nice too. 

This elk was hanging out right by transition. Not real happy with all of intruding either. 

The lake house

The lake. :)

Transition before it filled up. See that row of cars...I was parked right there...never been that close to transition before it was great!!! We got to sit in the car and stay warm while we waited. 

2.   I know that my training is only so-so...I’ve been getting some of it done. Swimming..I have a hard time getting to the pool. I’m sure that it is going to be one miserable weekend doing that crazy back to back...but I still have 3 weeks to work on it.

3.   I know my focus is not on triathlon. In fact right now I have little to no interest in most things tri.... I don't get to read blogs like should and obviously I"m not blogging. :) My focus is all things Marine...especially all things Marine boot camp. In fact that is a big reason I haven’t blogged much...most of my writing time is spent writing letters to my son (or tracking all the other Delta Company recruits on a Facebook group....) I’m certain he will regret having asked us to “write frequently if we can. “ My favorite quote from one of his recent letters.

"I am doing pretty good here, there are times it sucks but also times its not so bad (but not good). " That's my boy! He hasn't lost his sense of humor!

Thursday Three- Things I know

1. First tri of the year this weekend. Evergreen....you know the one...I talked about it in my last post the one with the cold water, hills and stairs. I'm excited yet nervous. I know it will be challenging and I know I will be slow, I know there is every chance that I will be one of the last finishers, but I also know that I will finish.

2. First letter from my son Josh in boot camp..... "Food is good, sleep is minimal, exercise is abundant" I know this is tougher on him then it is on me. :) I also know that during above tri I will be thinking of him and giving it everything I've got.

3. I know you will enjoy this.

Good luck to everyone who is racing this weekend!

Nothing like a reminder...

...of how much your training has sucked this year....and just when I was feeling a little better about things.

This morning I headed up to Evergreen which in just a couple of short weeks I will do my first tri of the season (It's the first year they have done a tri up there since the 90's) and well last year when I was feeling pretty good about things (and may not have fully appreciated the course profile (did they post it?)  it seemed like a good idea.

Me, Aimee and Kathleen before the ride

 I met Aimee and Kathleen who would be joining me in this journey both today and during the tri.  I knew going in that both of the ladies are much stronger riders than I but I hoped not to hold them up to much, of course I did. I really had not taken in to account the fact that the ride started at 7100' and went up about 900' to 8000'. Even though Denver is at 5200' it is still a difference.

Doesn't really look that bad does it?

Holy I can't breath. Add to the fact that I'm not a great climber and still coughing, especially when exercising and I may just die when I attempt this again......providing I survive the swim.

The view after we started our descent.

One of the last hills...I had thought we were done with the hills.

The final descent is crazy fast...we literally all had our brakes on as hard as we could and were still  moving crazy fast! Pathetically even though I hit some pretty good speeds at the end, my average speed was just over 10...and that of course does not include all of the breaks I had...Did I say I'm really excited to do this again?

Aimee and Kathleen getting ready to run...ok walk the course.

After we finished the bike we wondered around trying to figure out the run portion. We encountered something that I've never had happen before and thankfully we were warned by someone. There was a mama elk guarding her baby and was chasing after people. She was chasing a lady who had a stroller and a dog and Aimee being fearless was yelling at the elk and distracting her. Yea Aimee! Kathleen and I stayed back a bit but Aimee she was as tough as that Momma elk.  I think we ultimately figured out most of it (with many wrong turns) and it should be pretty tough too. Basically we had a nice little walk. The altitude difference seemed very evident on the run portion. I have little doubt I will be one of the final finishers of this event.

 I can't decide if I ignored the course description or just didn't read it when I signed up,  as it contains sentences such as these

"the lake will be chilly"
" the challenging 12 mile bike course"
" includes the stairs down and up the dam, reminiscent of the Escape from Alcatraz tri."

Stay tuned.....