Triathlon #1 Complete!

Yesterday was my first triathlon of the season. I'm jealous of all you triathletes who live in warm climates and are able to race sooner! Looks like next year I'll have to do Lavaman in Hawaii in March!

Anyway, yesterdays race was really fun! I woke up at 4:30 left the house by 5:30 and made it to set up my bike and transition gear and was down by the lake before transition closed at 6:45. Did I mention it was incredibly foggy? Thankfully we have had some hot days this past week and the water was a warm 71 degrees, the fog must have kept in the warmth!

The swim was not very good :( It was foggy and I already race without prescription goggles so it was very difficult to see the buoys and other people in front of me. I have done this race two times before and was able to swim it in a little over 12 minutes. This time I did it in a little over 14 minutes. I was so disoriented by the time I got out I almost tipped over. Thankfully they had a guard rail set up or I would have fallen back into the lake. It was kind of funny :)

The bike: I was really surprised that I didn't do the bike very fast :( but I felt VERY good. I can't figure it out. I guess I just have to try harder next time! I finished 12 hilly miles in 48 minutes.

The run: Was really hilly and we had to do the course two times. I ran four miles in 41 minutes. Not impressed with my time at all. But I was passing people on the hills, which NEVER happens! I guess hill training helps!!

I was 6th in my age group and 35th overall! I am happy with the results, but just thought I would do much better! Onto bigger and better things next weekend!

Things I have learned while training for a 1/2 Ironman

1. It's hard training on your own. Yes, I had a training plan, a good one it seemed, but it would have been so much easier training with a group for all three events. Next year I am joining a local team. They have planned workouts and have an awesome coach that I have talked with before.

2. Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition. Triathlons fourth event! I started thinking that what I was doing on my own was not working. So I talked to a tri coach and he fed my mind with way too much information three weeks before my race, and I am hoping to god that my not so thought through nutrition plan will work.

3. Wetsuits: We have had one cold spring. Not enough warm temps. to warm up the lake. Lake temp. as of last week was 62. I reserved my wetsuit for race day weekend, but I have never swam in one during a race. I guess that is what race day is for...practice ;)

4.Bike: I LOVE my bike and I LOVE biking! I have actually been able to ride my bike much more than I ever have and I have so much fun, every single time! I went out on my last long ride on Wednesday, it may have been a little slow thanks to a headwind but I loved it!

5. The Run: I am really starting to feel very confident in my running! Yay! However, I have never run 13.1 miles after a 56 mile bike ride, that scares me. And I have to confess, I have only done one brick workout (see what I mean, I need a team and a coach!). But, I do have a sprint tri this weekend and that is where I will get to squeeze in a second brick!!

6. I feel great! I have made it through training with:
Zero injuries!
One cold
Hives and an epi-pen
A brand new speedy, awesome bike!
Very little swimming
LOTS AND LOTS of running!
A skinnier me!
A Smaller bra size!
A huge sense of accomplishment!
Knowing I can do anything...even without a team or coach!

7 days and counting until race day! I am nervous but I can't wait to get it done once and for all!

Your Advice, Happy Thoughts and Words of Wisdom Needed!

I am about to embark on my first half-ironman! (7/17) Wooo! Hooo! I can safely say that I am ready! I won't be coming in first and I swear I won't come in last! Either way though it's an automatic PR. But, I need your help! I am very negative sometimes, especially as race day comes closer and closer. Negative self-talk can cause havoc on race day. Whether it be "Everyone looks faster than me." "They have a better bike than me!" "That girl next to me must be a better runner than me" "I'm not ready, so I'll take it easy" "I've never done this before, so that gives me an excuse to walk more than run" and on and on!

I need your help! I need your words of advice, happy thoughts and words of wisdom. I don't care if you have done a 70.3, a full ironman, or just completed your first 5k. Your words WILL inspire me! So bring them on and feel free to pass on my blog post to anyone who you think will give some great advice!! I appreciate it very much!!

My New Workout Buddy

I have a new workout buddy and he's a lifesaver!

Lately, after my long bike rides and long runs I have been experiencing hives. The first time it happened I was running with my mom and started itching my legs like crazy. After we were done they went away pretty quickly. They came back again on a long bike ride. This time on my face and legs. Again, they went away pretty quickly. I wasn't too worried about it although I thought it was strange. But, my mom gets this on occasion as well.

My last long bike ride of 50 miles it happened again. I had hives on the back of my legs, arms, lips and chin. My face was incredibly blotchy. I started getting itchy while I was riding and then when I was done I was like an itch factory!

I put in an email to my doctor explaining what was happening. That it only happens after long runs and rides, never really has happened before, no new exotic foods, same detergent etc. She emailed me back pretty quickly saying it could be two things. 1. Exercise induced uticaria, which happens when one gets hot from exercise, showers, hot-tubs, weather etc. Usually you would see small hives, very itchy etc. or 2. Exercise induced anaphylaxis. Which causes hives and then anaphylactic shock; trouble breathing, headache, nausea etc. The two can be very difficult to tell apart. Here is an interesting article I found on EIA (Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis). So, my doctor prescribed me a daily dose of Claritin and an Epi-Pen to carry with me when I workout, just in case. Thankfully, I have only experienced hives and that will be it, but I am glad that she thought it was necessary for the epi-pen to be prescribed because who knows what will happen next time.

Sooooo, where do I carry this puppy when I am running and on my bike? It's huge! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

We're on the Board!!

My friend and I went to a small event at our local running shop to get a discount on race registration and with that a ticket for a raffle drawing. Back where we signed up for the race there is a big white board that lists people's races that are coming up. I asked how we get on the board and the owner came over and added our names and races, I feel so special!!

Words of Wisdom from Dad

In honor of Father's day I impart upon you the wise words of my father.

"Did you have fun?" My dad would always say after a swimming a race, after dancing in a recital or just trying something new. I would always say an emphatic "YES!!!" Even today after I tell him about a race he will always ask if I had fun. His number one concern during all of those long swim meets and rehearsals and performances was that I was having fun! It wasn't whether I won or lost or just did OK, he wanted to make sure I still was enjoying all of those activities and if I wasn't maybe it was time to try something new or just take a break for awhile.

I still live by these words today. Why would I do something over and over again if I didn't have fun? Sometimes in the moment a workout or a race isn't fun (my first marathon wasn't fun) but usually afterwards I say "wow that wasn't so bad, I should do that again!"

Again, in honor of father's day ask yourself after a workout or a race if you had fun. If not time to reevaluate your workout or goals!

Thanks Dad and Happy Father's Day!

Happy Training!

Running Group and Sickness... Oh My!!!

On Friday I started getting a sore throat and I knew that a cold would soon be around the corner. My new running friend and I met at the track and did a small speed workout. She is pretty new to running so we kept it short. We did a one mile easy warm-up and 4 x400 each and then a mile cool down. We timed each other and I ended up doing my broken mile in 6:23!! I was really shocked! Granted I did get to rest between each 400 but to me that is really fast, even with a sore throat! We ended with a one mile easy cool down. It was a fun track workout especially with a buddy!

On Sunday my mom and I met up with a new running group. They just formed Memorial Day weekend. They were started by a new running store in my area, West Seattle Runner. On Sunday they offer a 3, 6 or 10 mile run. We were both set to run the 10 miles and I still was feeling not so great, but didn't have a full on cold yet. It was a beautiful day for running, warm and sunny! We started out really fast because it seemed like everyone there is faster than me (I guess that could be a good thing!). We weren't exactly sure where to go for the 10 mile route and someone accidentally pointed us to the 6 mile route. It was ok with me, I was not feeling good at all! I think 10 miles would have been way too much for me. It was really fun to run with a large group and I am definitely going back. On Wednesday the Mizuno bus is coming to hand out free goodies and size shoes plus the running group will be going on a three or six mile run. It should be a fun Wednesday for running!.

Monday I felt terrible. I really wanted to go to my Zumba class but I really needed a rest! I am feeling much better today and I am ready for a running workout.I have a new route planned. I have no idea how many miles it will be I just know there will be some steep hills involved.

Happy Training!