Race Report: Tri for the Cure year 3!

I have to say from year to year I forget just how crazy and inspiring the Tri for the Cure is! To see that many women out there is just.... WOW! Incredible. Packet pick up was great, very smooth, they always say to expect lines but in the 3 years I've been going (and I got there around 10) I've never had to wait at all. Straight in to get your chip, chip check, pick up swim cap and over to get your shirt, (soon to be another favorite I can tell) and just that quick your done. Of course then you have to do a little shopping. Picked up a Bondi band this year, but I'm not sure I'll ever have the nerve to wear it...me thinks it looks a little funny on me. But who knows, seeing as how I spend a large part of my life in spandex (and not the same type of spandex I wore in the 80's) its obvious I'm not to worried about how I look. :)

Race day dawns early.....way to early...especially according to my 2 teenage boys that I decided would attend this event with me. I rarely make them go to any of my races as I know it's not that much fun for them, however occasionally I decide they need to see just how I'm spending the weekends they are at there dad's. As well as why I spend so much time training. And to tell the truth there was not a complaint out of them all morning. My oldest son took all the photos and they did a great job being able to see me start and end each of the three disciplines. No easy task when you have all those people out there. The only time I saw them was when I started the run. So any way back to the race report, my alarm went off at about 4:10, this after being awake for awhile at 2, not good, I crawled out of bed dressed and finished gathering stuff up. I made a PB&J sandwich to eat but could only managed about 3/4 of it on the drive out to Cherry Creek. Left the house by shortly after 5 for the 30ish minute drive out to the lake. Got to transition and unpacked, funny how some people think they are going to have several feet instead of several inches. Got body marked and it wasn't long before I got my wetsuit on and headed down to get in line.

This pic came from the Tri for the Cure Website, Transition is huge!!!!

See the arrow pointing me out, click picture to make it bigger.

I was wave 8 which went a little before 7:30 I think. Saw the elites and survivor waves take off and some of them exiting the swim, man they are fast! My swim felt good, I just put my head down and started swimming. Got kicked a few times but nothing major. Sighting was easy, between all the people, and I believe they have more buoys, I had no problems at all. It was a great swim. I didn't really push it, just went nice and steady. I can't believe how easy the swim seems to be for me this year. I feel much more confident and I'm sure the wetsuit doesn't hurt!

Not the best swim exit pics, but I've had much much worse!

Swim time 17:51 rank 784 out of 2704

T1 5:21

T1 well as you would imagine when you have 3000 people competing transition areas are huge! See above photo. So it's quite a run up the boat dock to your bike and then this year there was a bit of a change to allow people to leave as soon as they were done competing, so it was quite a walk to the bike exit also. I felt like I was moving pretty good, could have gone faster but considering the distances, and in bare feet and bike shoes, I'm not to unhappy with my time.

Once on the bike I felt I was passing many people, a few passed me but I felt pretty good. It's a little difficult to pass sometimes when there are so many people too. Drafting is often not something you can even control. And I do find that I often end up behind someone thinking I can't get passed them and spend to much time just cruising along before I realize that I'm not working as hard as I should be. The course is pretty rough, not to bad for 11 miles but won't be much fun next weekend for 22 miles! It was good to be able to ride parts of the course and be a little more prepared for next weekend. I took one Gu on the bike with water and finished feeling like I had worked hard but left enough to keep going.

Bike time 39:49 17.1mph 757 out of 2704
T2 5:04

Nothing much in T2 quick change of shoes, bathroom stop and out to run.

I was fooling around with the Garmin as I left T2 couldn't get it to work right. Although I set it for multi sport I hadn't used it this year and forgot how it worked, then I couldn't get it to do anything. While I was fooling around almost missed seeing my boys as they yelled at me and snapped a pic.

You can tell I was happy to see them! Funny story about the lady you can just barley see. I had told the boys I would wear orange so that I would stand out from all the pink, black and white, well this lady seemed to look just like me and ended up in several of our pics! By the way I guess in the sunlight orange can look alot like pink anyway!

Finally I got the darn Garmin to start and started on my 2 minute run/1 minute walk. Kept that up through the first 2 1/2ish miles or so and felt pretty good. It was hot but could have been much worse. The last part of the run is all downhill so I just ran it in and felt so happy at the finish line. I believe I had a big smile and it's the first time I've ever heard them announce my name and I cheered as I crossed, maybe a good finisher photo? Probably not. :) I carried a bottle of coconut water/water mix. I've found that I really like the taste of it better then Gatorade and it seems to be working with keeping me hydrated and the electrolytes good. I also took a couple of Hammer Endurolytes during the race.

Coming up to the finish line!

Obviously my weakest point!
Running time 36:37 pace 11:48 rank 1558 out of 2704

Total time 1:44:53
1074 out of 2704

And that my friends is 10 minutes faster then last years time of 1:54! I'm very pleased with that. I'm sure the almost 20 lbs I've lost over the last 15 weeks plays a part in that as well as moving from the hybrid bike to the road bike.

Happy very happy about today's performance.

I just have to say that Downing Events does a fantastic job organizing that many women! Everything seems to go very smoothly. The thing I just love is no matter how old you are, what size you are or how athletic you are, Tri for the Cure gives every female a chance to become a triathlete!

Now I don't know if it was the race, the lack of sleep, or the training I've been doing over the last few weeks, but after returning home and showering, I just died. I was so tired. I layed down and took an hour and 1/2 nap and I can't tell you how long it's been since I took a nap, even a short one. It felt fantastic!

It's official.....

Dear JULIE ,

Congratulations! You are officially registered for the Triathlon Individual Intermediate during the Creek Streak, which will take place on 08/07/2010. We look forward to seeing you on race day.

I guess I'm going to do it. At least now I feel confident that I can do it...it will just take me awhile!

It's been a pretty good week of workouts. I came up one swim short but otherwise got all my training in. Did my long run, 7 miles this morning and I can not believe how good I felt! I did a 30 mile bike ride on Saturday and a 19 on Friday as well as a 6 mile run on Thursday, so I was thinking, that I just might not make 7 miles...especially fairly hilly miles. After the first mile I felt really good. Now it wasn't that speedy of a run, I believe my pace ended up just over 13, but that included hills the first 5 miles, 1 potty stop, several short stop lights, one reallllllyyyyyyy long stop light and sitting down to get rocks out of my shoes. All in all one great run! Really restored my faith in myself.

So my Schedule for August.....

1st Tri for the Cure

7th Creek Streak

21st Holy Cow 10k (not sure about this one. I've wanted to do it for years the last time I signed up it got canceled due to crazy rains and flooding of the paths)

28th Iron Girl Sprint

Looks like a busy month! I'm still playing with the idea of Crescent Moon in September. Or possibly some other sprint. I really enjoyed the Crescent Moon last year though and love the sweatshirt! Any other good fall races that you Colorado folks like?

Sportin' the Tri for the Cure

Now back to our regular schedule.....


Sweaty Betty-----Nice----------->

I have a long weekend! After the concert I knew I wasn't going to want to work Thursday so I took the day off...and who wants to go back to work on Friday, so I took another day! After only about 5 hours sleep, (since I didn't get to bed until about 1 a.m. and can't ever sleep in!) I went out to do my planned 6 mile run.....as my previous post was titled I felt like I was flying...not that I was going that fast but I sure felt light on my feet for some reason. Even after a few Sweaty Betty's last night, very good stuff by the way! The first 3 miles were most enjoyable...after that it got a little more difficult and the last mile not so much fun, but all in all a very good run. I spent some time thinking about what I have coming up in the next month or so. Tri for the Cure is next weekend already! And then there is something every weekend after that for the month of August....well that's if I sign up for the Creek Streak Olympic, which I'm planning on. So I have 3 tri's and I'm thinking of a 10k....does that sound like to much for one month? Yes kind of. I will need to be careful not to overdo it and get hurt but I don't think that will be a problem. I will use Tri for the Cure and the 10k as training. So any way part the reason I started thinking about all of this is that I was sportin' all the Tri for the Cure stuff today.Which by the way I love! This is the shirt from 2008 race. My first tri, not only do I love it because of that, but I love the fit. And or course I rarely run without my fav Tri for the Cure cap!


Sweaty Julie---not so nice------ :)

Time for me to fly!

I had the most fabulous night last night reliving some of my younger years! I spent the most beautiful evening at Red Rocks listening to REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar rock, and yes they still can! REO had more energy then you can imagine considering...well there advanced ages... :) And I got to spend some time with one of my oldest and dearest friends to boot!

I forgot how truly beautiful it is up there!

You could not have asked for better weather! It was truly a perfect Colorado evening!

She has still got it!!! Amazing voice!

All I can say is if you haven't been to concert at Red Rocks ever or in a long time...it's time to do it again! And if you want to test your fitness....go run or even walk those stairs! :)

2nd baby step....I may be ready to walk!

I'm really pleased that I managed to go the distance!

I was unfortunatly awake at 3:00 am...not sure what that's about I wasn't really nervous eventually got up and then sat around for awhile and then you know how that goes your almost late leaving. I was surprised by how small the turnout was. I'm sure there were not 100 people. I got the feeling that things are not great at CWW this year, or maybe they just have a lot of changes to make since Yoli and it appears many of the other coaches left.

I'm not sure of my exact time. I didn't time my transitions but I didn't spend any time sitting around either so I imagine they weren't to long. I was again very pleased with my swim. Started just a little after 7:00 am 1500m 33 minutes, sighting was easier, I used the sun and on the beach there were no people to speak of so it's easier to see the buoys. We did two triangle loops without having to go to the beach. Nice. I'm amazed by how far my swimming has come. I just get in a pretty good grove and go not to fast but just steady and never feel the need to take a break although I do sometimes have to stop a little to get my bearings. Up the beach into transition pull the wet suit off bike shoes on and we're off. Bike is part of the ride I did a few weeks ago. The first five miles (including a sucky hill that you hit right after you leave the rez) and the first 6ish miles is that gradual uphill then a few rollers and then a fantastic down hill...then back to a gradual uphill for 7ish miles. According to the Garmin 28.66 miles 1:47 16.02 mph...not to bad, I was so ready to get off the bike though...I made some adjustments to my seat and while the knees now felt great, definitely some tender parts in the seat area....Transition 2 uneventful, bathroom break change to shoes and head out. I should say that the temps were in the 85-90 degree range...in other words HOT AS HELL! I drank 2 bottles on the bike one with water and one with coconut water mixed with water, ate a package of the chomps..Gu Cliff I don't remember, also took a some of the electro something pills through out the day. The run......walk....well it was pretty sucky..hot, hot, hot...no shade on a gravel road out and back. "Gentle" rolling type hills..dumping water on my self at every aid station and I carried Gatorade. Did I say it was hot? First 2 miles really weren't bad, but it was all "downhill" so to speak from there. 12:33 and 12:58 then 14:00 13:21 16:26 and last 14:28...I went from doing 2/1 run/walks to 1/1 to what the heck I'll just walk! But I finished! And again according to the garmin 6.07 miles 1:24 13:58 average pace. So all in all the thing took me about 3:44 not including transitions. I was done D-O-N-E done! A little bit stiff but not to bad....today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. :) The boys and I went to a movie this afternoon as I said it's hot here...really hot and we don't have A/C so it was nice to sit in the theater and cool down. After going to eat some fantastic tacos! Those of you in Denver have you ever been to Tacos & Salsa...yummy!!! I was hungry although didn't eat as much as I thought I would, or even as much as usual. And because I burned a load of calories...I'm planning on some ice cream a little later! So there you have it, baby step number 2! And before anyone asks, yes I think I will sign up for the race, I think it will be an easier course and I'm pretty sure the bike is a little shorter.

1st step!

Can I just say I'm thrilled, yes thrilled with my first 1500m open water swim! I was pretty nervous before starting, as I usually seem to be, until I get in the water and then my nerves ease. We set off on the first lap I started in the back of the wave, it was not that big maybe 50-60 women doing the 1500m. I felt really good staying with part of the group for quite a while and soon the next wave was catching us, men 750m, but it was never to crazy crowded. I just kept swimming and it seemed like the sighting was going well. Around the first buoy and a short distance across and then turn to head back in...and then some of the trouble begins...the goggles are a little fogged, I have issues with my distance vision any way and of course we are swimming in to the sun,and those of you that have been out at Boulder know there isn't much on the shore to use, but still I feel pretty good. Hit the sand and run...ok not really run....jog down the beach to get back in. There were about 3 or 4 people just ahead of me and I see at least one running on the beach but not sure how many behind. Still feeling pretty strong I don't think I ever had to switch to a resting stroke but I did have to get my bearings a couple of time. So as I'm heading back out to the 1st buoy again, I feel like I'm never going to get there, looks like it is right there but never seems to get any closer, finally I'm turning and turning again and heading back in! Still feeling pretty strong and feeling like I'm giving it a little more effort as I know I've got it now. Sighting seems easier but it seems that every time I look up I need to correct, I keep getting off, I don't know if it was just my crazy swimming or what. Finished still feeling pretty strong and amazingly good. I could see there were still people behind me so I was happy about that! You know those people in Boulder are crazy fast! So even though I felt I was giving it more in the 2nd lap it was slower, but it does include the jog down the beach, either way I'm pretty thrilled with my time!

Lap 1 16:59
Lap 2 18:47
Total 35:45

Yes thrilled! I think I may have to give it another go in a couple of weeks and maybe even do the run too. Anyone else think it's harder to go from swimming to running then it is to go from swimming to riding?

2nd step coming up!

Perks and no Pain

Volunteer! What a great time I had volunteering at the finish line of the Boulder Peak Tri this past weekend, and you end up with a goody bag and a t-shirt. (I kind of like this one too! Pretty blue!) It is so much fun to see the reactions of everyone when they finish. I loved that almost everyone finished looking strong and happy. Somewhat unlike the finish line of a marathon. I saw lots of pain on many of those faces. If you've never volunteered I highly recommend it. It's fun! And best of all I got to see Kathleen from Dare To Dream finish. If you haven't read her race report hop on over and read it. She did a fabulous job in overcoming some pretty major obstacles that were trying to get in her way.

Baby steps. So this week is the week I plan to test the waters and see if I can actually do that Olympic distance tri I've been thinking/training for. Creek Streak Tri . My plan is to start with a 1500m swim tomorrow at the Stroke & Stride . I'm skipping the run part because I know I'm slow and don't want to be last. :) Ok that's only part of the reason. I also have a long run I need to do Friday and don't want to mess that up. And then my next baby step, I'm assuming here that the swim goes well. I've signed up to do an oly rehearsal with CWW on Sunday. Now if all goes well I will go ahead and sign up. I for the Creek Streak. There are not a lot of choices for oly tri's especially in August so I picked this one because I just don't feel confident in my abilities to do Rattlesnake and the only other one I saw was in Boulder but it's the evening/afternoon one and I wasn't sure that's what I wanted to do. So that leaves Creek Streak. While the course is not that exciting it is known. I'll be doing Tri for the Cure out there the weekend before as I've done the last 2 years as well as Crescent moon last year. Baby steps that's what I'm taking.