OK, I am jealous. I'm not at Coeur d'Alene right now racing an Ironman. Its raining here, and lightening, so no bike ride today - Maybe I can squeak in a long run. As much as I love sitting here and watching ironman live, its not going to get the job done.
I had a PR on Wednesday at a great local race. Summer Solstice 14K put on by the Shawangunks Runners. Check out their link on the right. (its a little longer than a 14K) but I cut off 7 minutes and the course is very hilly. The first 3.6 miles are all up to Castle Point where you get a cup of water...then its all pounding downhills on rocks and babyheads with switchbacks to mile 5.3 where you get another cup of water. Then its flat all the way home until the last 200 yards that are like 12% grade climb on gravel. OUCH.
The post race spread is always nice with lots of fruit and cookies. I ended up winning 2nd in my AG! I never win anything so this was really awesome. The DH was very proud of me even though he missed me getting my name called in front of everyone. The problem is I don't like the bread. I wish I could have picked out my own flavor. I guess winners can't be choosers! ha ha.
Minnewaska Distance Swimming is open and the water has been really nice. I have been cranking out some great times for my training up there. 35 minutes for 2200 yards is nice and fast for me. Hopefully the water will warm up enough for me to wear my skinsuit instead of the wetsuit.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
update, its been a while...Mooseman RR
ok, I know its been like 6 months (or more) since I have blogged. I've been busy looking for a job. I've been busy training and racing. I just got back from Mooseman Half Iron in Bristol, NH.
Race Report - I was planning on just using the race as a training day. The weather was unseasonably hot. Like 95-98 degrees and the water was also warm (as the locals tell me. It was 56, people, 56 is not warm!) The swim was great, a little cold, but felt really good. The swim waves were small and the water was very calm and clear. I had no trouble sighting and could draft off people in my wave. I moved out to the side when I saw we were getting lapped by the group behind us. I hit the beach in my fastest time ever, 34 minutes! I was so under trained for the swim its not even funny how this happened. I literally just put my head down and swam...no stopping the entire time. I know that is what you are supposed to do, but this is the first time it seems to have actually happened.
OK, so i get to T1 and i can't get my wetsuit off....I almost fall over trying to get it off. So that ate up a lot of time. Then I get my act together and get out on to the bike course. First of all, the roads were crappy - just really torn up with lots of potholes and patches. Winter in new Hampshire is tough on roads. Lap 1 was good. I hit the hills in good condition and felt great. My nutrition was going well. My helmet kept falling off from every bump in the road, but hey you can;t have everything. i kept cool by pouring water on me and it really helped. I will do that next time too!
Bike Lap 2 - my nutrition started to fight back in my stomach. I started to bloat a lot and couldn't ride in the aerobars. Ugh. Burp. Water. Nutrition.....burp...burp. So the last 10 miles (who am I kidding, more like 15) I didn't eat anything. Big mistake, I know. What is worse, being under fueled or puking? So I finally pull into T2...(so happy to get off that freaking bike) Missed my desired split by 15 minutes....
Off to the run. Did I say it was hot? Like 96? Some people said 98? My car said 101! I shuffled to the first aid station...orange slices...gel...sponges....water. Shuffle up the big hill....see my friends all ahead of me! They all started in the wave 10 minutes ahead of me, because they are old! Ha ha! Its nce to have rabbits to chase....
They had music on the hill, and every time I went by it played the same song! That was pretty wierd. The Presidents of the United States, "LUMP" is apparently my new song.
I finally felt the gel kick in and then had another one. I was feeling better and running faster. My splits were getting faster. I needed ice and found it at a few aid stations. I would put it in my shirt, under my hat and in my hand to cool off. I also drank a lot more water than I ususally do and that seemed to help too. The volunteers were great. They had to work in that sweltering heat too. There were people who had garden hoses and were spraying us, which felt sooo nice. I wanted them to follow me the whole 13 miles. I saw Keith Jordan the RD at the turn around as I was swearing up a storm....great race Keith, sorry for the f-bomb.
So the second lap was better than the first, but not by much. i ended up not catching any of my friends out on the run, but beat 1 of them in overall time. I missed a PR by 4 minutes! Not bad for being undertrained and really hot out.
Things I learned - I needed to get my act together earlier on the bike. I had gels sitting there, just staring at me. I was afraid to take them, but they work so well for me. I love the PowerBar gels with 2x caffiene and sodium. I didn't take any extra electrolytes. I drank Accelerade mixed with CarboPro for the bike course (which is what was giving me trouble at mile 40.)
Race Report - I was planning on just using the race as a training day. The weather was unseasonably hot. Like 95-98 degrees and the water was also warm (as the locals tell me. It was 56, people, 56 is not warm!) The swim was great, a little cold, but felt really good. The swim waves were small and the water was very calm and clear. I had no trouble sighting and could draft off people in my wave. I moved out to the side when I saw we were getting lapped by the group behind us. I hit the beach in my fastest time ever, 34 minutes! I was so under trained for the swim its not even funny how this happened. I literally just put my head down and swam...no stopping the entire time. I know that is what you are supposed to do, but this is the first time it seems to have actually happened.
OK, so i get to T1 and i can't get my wetsuit off....I almost fall over trying to get it off. So that ate up a lot of time. Then I get my act together and get out on to the bike course. First of all, the roads were crappy - just really torn up with lots of potholes and patches. Winter in new Hampshire is tough on roads. Lap 1 was good. I hit the hills in good condition and felt great. My nutrition was going well. My helmet kept falling off from every bump in the road, but hey you can;t have everything. i kept cool by pouring water on me and it really helped. I will do that next time too!
Bike Lap 2 - my nutrition started to fight back in my stomach. I started to bloat a lot and couldn't ride in the aerobars. Ugh. Burp. Water. Nutrition.....burp...burp. So the last 10 miles (who am I kidding, more like 15) I didn't eat anything. Big mistake, I know. What is worse, being under fueled or puking? So I finally pull into T2...(so happy to get off that freaking bike) Missed my desired split by 15 minutes....
Off to the run. Did I say it was hot? Like 96? Some people said 98? My car said 101! I shuffled to the first aid station...orange slices...gel...sponges....water. Shuffle up the big hill....see my friends all ahead of me! They all started in the wave 10 minutes ahead of me, because they are old! Ha ha! Its nce to have rabbits to chase....
They had music on the hill, and every time I went by it played the same song! That was pretty wierd. The Presidents of the United States, "LUMP" is apparently my new song.
I finally felt the gel kick in and then had another one. I was feeling better and running faster. My splits were getting faster. I needed ice and found it at a few aid stations. I would put it in my shirt, under my hat and in my hand to cool off. I also drank a lot more water than I ususally do and that seemed to help too. The volunteers were great. They had to work in that sweltering heat too. There were people who had garden hoses and were spraying us, which felt sooo nice. I wanted them to follow me the whole 13 miles. I saw Keith Jordan the RD at the turn around as I was swearing up a storm....great race Keith, sorry for the f-bomb.
So the second lap was better than the first, but not by much. i ended up not catching any of my friends out on the run, but beat 1 of them in overall time. I missed a PR by 4 minutes! Not bad for being undertrained and really hot out.
Things I learned - I needed to get my act together earlier on the bike. I had gels sitting there, just staring at me. I was afraid to take them, but they work so well for me. I love the PowerBar gels with 2x caffiene and sodium. I didn't take any extra electrolytes. I drank Accelerade mixed with CarboPro for the bike course (which is what was giving me trouble at mile 40.)
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