2014 Year in Review

1. Sometimes it’s about the journey and not your race time.  Just take a look back at my Ironman Texas race report.  I was coming off possibly my best race ever, Ironman Texas 70.3 in Galveston, and I was primed and ready to ROCK Ironman Texas.  Well, it didn’t turn out the way I anticipated but I’m so proud of my performance.  During the race all my pacing goals went out the window and I had the time of my life!

2. There is no such thing as a bad race or a bad workout.  Even though at times my performance fell short of my expectations there was a reason why.  Again, look at my Ironman Texas race.  I’ve analyzed all the events that took place before and during the race and I’ve some to the conclusion that my overall nutrition was lacking.  Therefore, this year I’m concentrating on nutrition throughout my training.   In another instance, I completed a short sprint tri about a month after Ironman Texas and I had to walk twice during the 5k run.  Holy cow, I was an Ironman and I was reduced to walking in a sprint tri!  I immediately emailed my coach and she told me this was completely normal.  This episode kicked off a summer full of speed work.  Now, I’m stronger than ever!

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  I need to improve on my nutrition and in the back of my mind I knew this last year.  I don’t know why, but I just didn’t ask for help.  This year I have already asked for help.  I’m getting more advice about hydration and nutrition.  I can’t wait to see the results of my new hydration/nutrition plan!

So here’s to a better, faster, stronger 2015!

Addicted?

Hi, I’m Summer and I think I may be addicted to working out. 

The days are getting shorter and we have been out of town the past few weekends.  I will also be out of town next weekend, the 10 days after Christmas, and the next weekend.  I’m finding it difficult to get in long workouts and I’m stressing out.  IMTX is only 155 days away!

This past week I missed a swim workout and 2 run workouts.  I didn’t workout Thur., Fri., or Sat.  I felt like crap and I was stressed.  Granted, I was at the deer camp and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I will probably write a post about how much I enjoy it.  But for some reason this past weekend I just felt yucky.  I did get in a 1 hour 20 minute bike ride and 2 mile brick run on Sunday afternoon.  I immediately felt better.  This got me to questioning myself, “Am I addicted to exercise?”

Yes, there are more serious addictions than exercising but just being addicted to anything does not seem healthy.  So this week I’ve really examined my workout habits and state of mind.  Of course I feel better when I exercise but I’ve decided that there’s more to it than that.  I have no problem setting long term goals, making a plan of attack, and working hard to achieve my goal.  Actually, this is exactly how I roll.  I have a goal (Ironman Texas) and a plan (thanks Becky).  That plan includes a tough off-season.  This time last year I was blissfully awaiting the beginning of ironman training in Jan.  I just wanted to finish and become an Ironman.  This year I’m more determined to rock IMTX (my goal).  The plan is to push myself harder.   To most this wouldn’t seem to blissful, but to me it is like heaven on Earth.  I know that the hard work will pay off! 

I become stressed when I miss several scheduled workouts during a week.  These workouts are the building blocks that will help me reach my goal.  So you see, I’m not addicted to exercise, I’m addicted to meeting or surpassing my goal. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not an exercise addict, I’m a disciplinarian.  I’ve always been my toughest critic and I hate to face myself when I miss a workout without a good reason.  One of my favorite quotes is, “The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret.” 

Currently, I’m analyzing my strengths and weaknesses and determining which workouts are absolutely necessary.   I’m working on being more flexible in my planning.  Hopefully, this self-analysis and flexible planning will cut down on the stress levels!

My 1st Professional Bike Fit

I’ve always known that I needed to get a professional bike fit but I’ve just never got around to it.  In September while I was at the Rose City Tri in Tyler I happened upon Tri Shop’s booth.  I was really intrigued by the Retul method and I decided to set up an appointment for Thanksgiving Break.  Tri Shop is located in Plano, TX so I knew this would be a day long trip.  My grandmother’s cousin lives nearby so she decided to tag along to shop and visit.

 We arrived about 30 minutes before my 12:00 p.m. appointment but they were ready to get started.  I was shocked that Trent, the bike fitter was from Mt. Enterprise and we knew some of the same people!  We started by testing my flexibility and core strength.  Then, he looked at my feet and he looked at me while I walked.  I discovered I walked slightly pigeon toed on my right side because I have Morton’s toe (my 2^nd toe is longer than my big tow) on my right foot.  This explains a lot (I have been concentrating on running straight).

My main concerns going in were:  upper body comfort and getting faster.  I felt hunched over and when I got off the bike to run my chest felt constricted.  Trent also assessed my cleat position on my bike shoes.  My cleats had to be moved all the way back. 

Next, I hopped on the bike and warmed up for 8-10 minutes.  Trent assumed that I had gotten a fit before based on my saddle height and position.  He was surprised when I told him that I had looked at the pros and tinkered with my seat height and saddle position myself.  Although I thought I had my saddle position down pretty good I still felt like I was hunched over.  Well, I was right but I had no clue how to fix it.  Trent changed my stem (part that holds the handle bars on the bike) to a longer one and lowered by aerobars by 3 cm.  After these adjustments I felt instant relief, my chest opened up and my shoulders were relaxed. 

Overall, I was very impressed with Tri Shop’s knowledge and skills.  I’m looking forward to going back this spring when I buy a new bike (hopefully)!

Before picture

After picture

More pics

 

East Texas Half Marathon Race Report

I’ve ran several half-marathons since setting my PR in 2013 at Cowtown, but I’ve always ran those while training for another race.  Therefore, those half-marathons were more like long runs with no taper before the race.  So I put a lot of pressure eon myself to set a new PR at this race.

All through training I’ve had very consistent workouts and I was running great.  I decided about a week and a half before the race that my shoes were worn out.  So I quickly ordered a new pair of Brooks Ghosts.  I usually can just start running in a pair of shoes straight out of the box, but the new Ghosts felt clunky and my left foot hurt.  I decided to finish up the season in my old Ghosts that I wore for Ironman TX. 

Weather

I LOVE running in the cold weather, heck I don’t even mind a little misty rain.  It’s never been too cold for me to run.  So the forecasted temperatures didn’t bother me but I’m not a fan of running in the pouring rain.  I decided to run in tights, a long sleeve tech-shirt, an ear warmer/headband, Nike tech gloves, and my NET visor (visors/hats are great for running in the rain).  My choice of clothing was perfect; I was warm but not overheating.

Race Morning

John and I had decided to meet Christina in Center at 5:45 a.m.  We planned to pick up our packet and go back to the truck to keep warm.  About 7:00 a.m.  We headed to the porta-potties and the starting line.  Once we finally decided where we were starting I went to the front of the pack.

Race

My goal was  o average an 8:00 min/mile pace.  I felt great the 1^st mile and I completed it in 7:55.  The 2^nd and 3^rd  miles were more of a struggle but I didn’t worry because it usually takes me a while to get warmed up.  By mile 4 I was really struggling, my left foot went completely numb.  It was tough to run on wet pavement with one foot numb!  My pace slowed to about 8:20.  I had to make myself calm down; really the weather conditions and wet pavement weren’t ideal conditions.  I started smiling and waving at spectators.  The course seemed flat but I think we were going up a long, gentle hill.  Miles 4-7 were tough but I stayed focused and concentrated on my form.  Somewhere during mile 7 I started to feel really really good!  I got the feeling back in my foot and I was cruising.  My pace dropped to the 7’s!  I had to hold back to ensure I had enough left in the tank to finish.  Miles 7-12 were great and I knew I was ahead of my goal pace.  It began to mist rain around mile 12 and the pavement became slippery.  It was difficult for me to push off and it felt like I had to take lots of steps.  I focused on good form and not falling.  Breaking my PR was not as important as staying safe.  Finally, I made it back to Pecan Park and I finished with a time of 1:42:26.  My friends Anna and Greg were there to put my medal around my neck and I gave Anna a big hug.  It was so nice to a familiar face at the finish line.  It was emotional but I was too cold to show it! I had finished four minutes under my PR!  My average pace was 7:49 min/mile.  I was 2^nd (30 seconds from 1^st) out of 70 in my age group, the 15^th female out of 351, and 52nd out of 541 overall.  That’s in the top 10% overall and the top 5% of females.  I’m so pleased with my results but I’m over the moon because my husband also ran the race.  It was his 1^st half marathon and the longest distance he has ever ran! 

Post Race

We headed back to Center and had lunch with my grandmother and cousin.  Then, we went home showered and spent the rest of the afternoon by a nice warm fire.

Later on my friend’s Facebook page, I saw this sign:

“At mile 10, I thought I was dead.

At mile 11, I wished I was dead.
At mile 12, I knew I was dead.

At mile 13, I realized that I had become too tough to kill!”

 

 

  

Ironman Florida Inspiration

Here's my teammate/friend's Ironman Florida Race Report.  Be prepared to be inspired!   Congrats Julie!


I'm looking forward to many more inspirational blog posts!


http://pineywoodsrunnergirl.blogspot.com/

The Dreadmill

For the past couple of days I have been in Baton Rouge at a conference.  I have been about to go crazy sitting all day so this afternoon I decided to get in a run on the dreadmill (aka treadmill).   I ran 6 miles and I feel so much better.  I can only remember completing dreadmill workouts maybe 3 other times.  So believe it or not I have probably only completed about 10 dreadmill workouts.  I’m a big fan of Bill Bowerman (famous Oregon track coach) and I love his quote, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.”  This sums up how I feel about running outdoors.  Cold, wind, rain, sleet, snow, mud, hot, humid, bring it!  Adverse conditions only build character and it makes me feel tough!

Look what I found! Cowtown Half Marathon Race Report

I set my current PR at this race!  Enjoy the race report I wrote after the race!

Cowtown Half-Marathon Race Report

2-24-13

Run fast, take chances

Pre-Race

Well, let me just start off by saying that for some reason I was dreading this race.  My previous half marathon PR was 1:55:36 and my goal for this race was 1:45 – 1:50.  The week before the race my hamstrings felt tight and I just felt tired.  I also had felt very nauseous on the days leading up to the race.  But overall I felt like my training had went very well.  I especially loved the speed sessions with long intervals. 

I got an email for the Cowtown organizers that included my bib # and Corral #.  I really had no clue what the Corral #1 meant and I didn’t give it another thought.  When we went to eat dinner the night before the race everyone started commenting about Corral #1 and about me being, “the fast one.”  Even though I wanted to break my PR I hadn’t been nervous.  However, after dinner I was super nervous and I was actually dreading the race.  To run 13 miles at a 8:20 – 8:30 min/mile pace seemed daunting.

So we live in the country where it is peaceful and quiet at night.  Well, downtown Fort Worth on a Saturday night is anything but quiet and peaceful.  There was traffic noise, sirens going off multiple times, people talking in the hall, and people screaming outside at all times of the night!  The alarm went off at 5:00 a.m. and I felt like I had just gone to bed.  Luckily, I had gotten everything organized the night before.  All I had to do was get up and go, no thinking.  So my husband and I left the hotel room at 5:20 a.m. with coffee and a granola bar in hand to head for the shuttle.  We only had to walk about a block and had to wait about 5 minutes.  

Thankfully, we got to wait for the race to start inside, it was only around 34 degrees outside! We chatted and I sipped on Gatorade.  I tried not to think about the race.  My motto is, “Autopilot.”  I was prepared to race, just go do it, no thinking.  Finally, at 6:45 a.m. we headed for the Starting Line and the infamous Corral #1.  It seemed like a blur, but I was on Autopilot. 

The Race

It takes me a long time to warm up so miles 1 and 2 seemed a little difficult but not too taxing.  Somewhere during the 2^nd mile I found the 1:50 pacer, he was a short guy from the Fort Worth Running Club.  Bingo, I decided to stay with him or if I felt good to try to get ahead of him.  On mile 3 my hair came down!  I have really long hair and I wear it in a bun but I got it back up without stopping and I almost forgot to eat a few Honeystinger Chews.  Between mile 3 and 4 my ankle stared to hurt and it never hurts.  This didn’t really worry me at the time, I was on Autopilot.  I checked my mile split and overall time every mile on my trusty Garmin (which has totally changed my life, thanks honey!).  To keep my mind occupied I did mental calculations to try to figure out if I was ahead or behind pace.

At mile 7 I got more Honeystinger Chews.  I was preparing for the huge mile 9 hill.  Around mile 7 my legs, especially my quads, started to get tired.  In training I had been able to run about 7 miles in 1 hour, during the race I ran about 7.5 miles in 1 hour.  I was really excited, but didn’t dwell on this, Autopilot.  Then, I could see it looming in the distance, the HILL!  Yes, a hill that was a mile long.  Autopilot, no thinking, just run up the hill.  However, about ¾  the way up the hill one strange thought popped into my head, “Man, I wish I was swimming!”  Now I’m certainly not a swimmer and it’s not my favorite or even in my top 10 favorite things to do.  So, it had to be THE HILL, I couldn’t wait to tell Becky!

So after the huge hill the spectators kept yelling, “It’s all downhill from here!”  Well, that was a lie.  There were several more hills and at the top of each one I heard, “Good job, it’s all downhill from now.”  I finally stopped believing them; I needed to get back on Autopilot.

In some races in the past I have felt like I have had too much left in the tank.  I can honestly say that I was totally done when I finished this race.  Even by husband, who is my toughest critic, said that I looked tired when I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:46:22.  I was 31st out of 628 in my age group (top 5%) and 666th out of 6870 overall (top 10%). 

My Race Strategy

Put it on Autopilot, run fast, take chances.  This strategy might seem gutsy but it works for me.  I adopted the strategy back in the summer.  My new strategy along with Becky’s fabulous training (Nacogdoches Endurance Training) has helped me break my PR in the 5K by over 1 minute, the 10K by over 5 minutes, and the half-marathon by over 9 minutes in just 9 months and I took 1 month off after my Dec. 1, 2012 marathon!

A big “Thank you” is in order for my supportive husband, Becky (Nacogdoches Endurance Training), and Andrea (my patient workout partner)!

 

Back to Swimming and Ahead of the Game!

I’ve taken over a month off from swimming.  I have a 45 minute drive one-way to the pool and I’ve been focusing on running.  I decided to start swimming again because Ironman Texas scares me!  Last year we got extremely lucky and the swim was wet suite legal (wetsuits make the swim much easier because of added buoyancy).  I’m not counting on the fickle Texas weather to allow another wetsuit legal swim, so back to the pool I go.

My first real swim workout was an 1800 yard swim.  I felt strong the entire time and I was bragging to my Dad about the fact that I couldn’t even swim one 25 yard length down the pool when I started.  He replied, “But yeah, look how long you’ve been swimming.  Hasn’t it been 2.5 years!”  Yes, that’s my point exactly! 

When I first started triathlon I HATED swimming, sorta liked cycling, and LOVED running.  But I stuck with the swimming.  I’ve endured swimming next to the children’s swim team and having them zoom past me, finishing at the back of my age group multiple times, and sputtering and gasping for air more times than I can count.  I HATED swimming, it was only a means to an end.  But I didn’t quit, even though I was extremely frustrated at times.  Now, I like all parts of triathlon equally and I’ve been looking forward to swimming!  Swimming 2.4 miles in a lake and 1.2 miles in the ocean with huge swells and wind are some of my biggest accomplishments.  I still may not be the fastest swimmer but I’m still improving.  I’m starting ahead of the where I was last year, so Ironman Texas here I come!

Having an official NET swim cap with my last name makes me feel like a fantastic swimmer!

Back to the Basics: One Foot in Front of the Other

Because I’m running the East Texas Half Marathon on Nov. 16 I’ve been focusing more on the run and I started to notice that my right knee has been hurting (it’s usually the left that hurts) especially when I’m pushing off.  On one hill workout I couldn’t even accelerate up the hill but I felt fine when running on the track.  I was starting to get a little worried; I am signed up for Ironman Texas 2015!  Before I could go into full blown panic mode, I noticed that my form was getting sloppy and I sometimes turned my toes slightly outward.  I guess this caused some type of pressure on my knee.  So lately I’ve been really focusing on my form and literally putting one foot in front of the other (toes in) and my knee has felt better.  I’m glad that I noticed before I became injured and stressed!

My 1st Half Marathon

I’m running the East Texas Half Marathon in November and I can’t help but reminisce about my first half- marathon.  I believe I ran my first half marathon in the fall of 2008.  I picked the Louisiana Trials Half-Marathon because it was close to home, I could drive myself and not have to bother my family.  I thought that because I ran on dirt roads that I was ready for the challenge.  Boy, was I shocked about half way through, I could barely run.  I was freaking out, what had I gotten myself into?  I found out the hard way that true trial runs are a different kind of beast.  I hadn’t ever even ran 13.1 miles especially not up and down creeks and through the forest.  Initially my goal was to run the entire time but I quickly realized that there was something more important that running the whole time.  My new goal was to not trip on a tree root and to finish this experience unscathed.  Mission accomplished, I finally finished!  Then, I had to drive home and I was tired and starting to get stiff.  By that night, I couldn’t even walk! 

I vowed to give up long distance running forever!  The next year I ran the same race again and then in the spring of 2010 I ran regular half-marathon.  I ran the Davy Crockett Bear Chase Half Marathon in Groveton, TX and it was a walk in the park compared to my first 2 half marathons.  I believe that having a terribly difficult and shocking first long distance running experience helped make me tough.  I have gone back to those trails a few times to run shorter distances and I do enjoy it but it is still a shock to the system.  Overall, my trail running experience has been a success; I’ve only tripped and fallen once.  Luckily, it was cold and I had on pants and I came out unharmed. 

Here’s a pic from my first half marathon.  Needless to say it was taken at the beginning of the race, I still look fresh.  Trust me, I did not look like at the finish.  The fall foliage was beautiful!

Do you need a coach?

Do you need a running or triathlon coach?  Well, that depends on your goals.  I needed more and thus I have done well with a coach.  I have run for years and completed several half-marathons on my own.  But I couldn’t get to the next step, the marathon.  Several times I had started training for a marathon but decided to run the half-marathon instead.  I had also toyed with the idea of completing a triathlon for years.  I had bought books and attempted to train on my own.  I was just overwhelmed and couldn’t do it by myself.  Then in the spring of 2012 I kept seeing a friend’s posts on Facebook (thanks Andrea!).  She was posting about training for a triathlon, I was instantly JEALOUS (in a good way).  Then I found out that she trained with Nacogdoches Endurance Training (NET) and they were going to hold a speed series training in Center.  The rest is history, I’ve been training with NET ever since.  After borrowing a road bike and taking swimming lessons at the age of 30, I finally completed my first triathlon in Sept. 2012.  Although I was a somewhat successful runner before training with NET, I have accomplished more that I could ever imagine possible since I began with NET. 

 Here’s what I’ve accomplished:

·        Completed the following triathlon distances:  sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman, Ironman

·        Completed marathon

·        Set PRs in 5K, 10K, and half marathon

Yes, I know that I always had the potential, my Coach unlocked the door.  I needed a coach to help push me over the edge.  I needed someone to bounce ideas off of, I needed a shoulder to cry on, and I needed reassurance that I was doing great and to keep pushing. 

Itis an extra expense but worth it.  We try to budget by not eating out and not buying stuff we don’t need.  But I did need coaching and looking back it was worth every penny.  I feel like I have made a physical and mental investment in myself, and that’s priceless!

 

It's Dreaming Season (Training Peaks Blog Post)

I couldn’t help but repost this!  I love it!  Big dreams + hard work = sweet rewards

It's Dreaming Season

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 | By TrainingPeaks61

 

 

Tweet

The smile at the end of the finish line- the one of satisfaction, the reward of a job well done. That smile doesn’t just happen. The athlete shining that smile has set a plan in place, followed that plan, worked hard, and achieved their goal. But before that, before the planning and work began there was something else. A dream.

Dreams are where the journey starts. They set you down the path towards achieving something you may not have believed you could accomplish. They are what drive you to fit workouts into hectic schedules and push you when you want to quit. They put you on a journey towards something greater than the reward itself. Following through on your dreams takes commitment and sacrifice, which only add to the sweetness of the reward. The best part about dreams is that they never have to stop. When one dream is realized it simply inspires you to dream again. And dream bigger.
As the Dreaming Season begins for 2015, we encourage you to dream bigger than ever. Believe in your true potential and set a goal for this year that will challenge you in new ways. It may be to go faster, it may be to try a new event, but whatever your dream is, now is the time to start taking action. Plan your season now by putting your events on the calendar. Look for a training plan to keep you fit through the winter. Find a coach that will dial in your workouts to your exact needs. All of these steps can help turn that big dream into the result of a lifetime.

Take all that you accomplished this year and build on it. Don’t be afraid to take that next step, put it all out there and see just how far you really can go.

Nacogdoches Endurance Training Coach

Yeah!  I have been hired by NET to be a coach!  I was hired along with Kelly Davis.  I’m excited that NET is growing!  Here’s the link to our website:  http://nacendurance.com/. 

 

Here’s the link to New Athlete Registration:  http://nacendurance.com/triathlon-training/2014-triathlon-training-registration/

 

 

Get Over It, Go Run!

I was tired yesterday; I did NOT want to run.  Even though I was off work last week I was just plain tired.  I cleaned out closets and my cousin and I had a garage sale on Friday and Saturday.  We had a late night at the football game Friday and Saturday night at the deer camp.  Then I got up early to provide support for my run group.  I was so tired that I feel asleep after lunch while reading (I never nap).  For some reason my feet and legs ached.  Finally, I thought, “ENOUGH, no more excuses!  Just go run!”  That’s exactly what I did.  I hopped up, changed clothes, got water and nutrition together, and ran.  Yes, I felt sluggish but I pushed on.  I was tired after the run but my legs weren’t achy and I was in a much better mood.  Lesson:  You don’t have to feel good or ready to run.  If it’s on your schedule and you are not deathly ill, just go run!

Me before the run.  I agreed to carry water and nutrition for my husband too, the things we do for love! J

New Horizons

I have been off from work this week, yeah!  I’ve been hired for an additional job that I’m going to love (more details to come).  This required me to get internet at home, yes this Rustic Runner broke down and got WiFi at home!  I also decided to finish my Ironman shadow box and spiff up my desk area to help provide me with extra motivation and inspiration.  I’m loving the results, here’s to new opportunities on the horizon!

The Poultry Festival Run Race Report

My goals for the early fall included breaking my PR at the Spirit of Hope 5K and winning the Poultry Festival Run.  Well, I didn't accomplish the PR but I did win the Poultry Festival Run.  This race was only 2.81 miles and my pace was slow for me.  My legs were heavy and I was tired.  It did seem like a lot of the faster runners didn't show up but you can only race those who showed up!  It feels good to accomplish my goal, now time to focus on the East Texas Half Marathon!

The Spirit of Hope 5K Race Report

I've been working hard on my speed and I had high hopes for this 5K.  But come race day my legs were just heavy.  I ran a 22:56 and my goal was 22:30.  I had to work really hard to keep my cadence high.  I was disappointed but I did run faster than last year.  Now it's time to move on to the next race, the CASA 5K this weekend in Center, TX!

Don’t Panic….it’s just the niggles

Well, I have a big year planned for next year, not to mention I want to break my half-marathon PR in Nov.  For the past couple of weeks I have been focusing on the run and I’ve only gotten in 2 bike rides.  I had a great speed workout at the track last week and a good steady 7 mile run, but now my left knee is hurting.  It is also bothering me mentally.  But I have to remember that I’m stressing my body it’s normal to have these little aches and pains which I like to refer to as a “niggle.”  I closely monitor my niggles and take a day off and rest if needed.  However, I can’t help but feel a little panicked when I develop a new niggle!

Gulp….I Took the Plunge

After contemplating over this for over a month I finally took the plunge and signed up for Ironman Texas 2015!  When I signed up for IMTX 2014 I got a sick, nervous feeling afterwards but I wasn’t expecting this to happen this year.  But again I immediately broke out into a cold sweat and felt nauseated after I immediately received the confirmation email.  Ha, and that’s only registration! 

 

 

I’m very excited and I’m grateful for my wonderful husband.  When we were discussing my possible participation in IMTX 2015 I told him, “But I want your support” and he replied, “you know you’ve always got it.”  What more could girl ask for?!

Running Refocus

Now that my official triathlon season is completed I’m looking forward to refocusing my efforts on my first love, RUNNING!  Since I’ve traditionally been a strong runner I have been focusing on swimming and cycling. The hard work has paid off because I’ve gotten stronger and faster in both areas; however, my running has stalled out.  It’s not that I haven’t been working hard and making gains, the improvement just hasn’t been as pronounced as my swimming and cycling gains.  Mentally running has not been my main focus.  Since I completed Ironman Texas in May I know my engine is stronger but I’ve just got to get it fine-tuned and revved up.  Overall, I feel that I’m strong and I can recover faster.  I’m hoping to break my half-marathon PR of 1:46:22 that I ran in 2013 at the Cowtown Half-Marathon.  Hey, it doesn’t hurt to work hard and dream big!

Rose City Triathlon Race Report

This was my last triathlon for the 2014 season and I had been working hard to get faster (especially on the run) so I had really been anticipating this race.  I have also been very busy at work and I was looking forward to going out of town with my friend, Andrea.  We are total opposites, I have an over organized Type A personality and she is a laid back Type B, it works out great! 

I took off work early Friday and had lunch with my husband, mother, grandmother, and Andrea at my aunt’s sandwich shop.  The trip was already starting off great!  Afterwards, Andrea and I drove to Tyler and stopped at Racket and Jog before chinking into the Sleep Inn.  The Sleep Inn staff was so nice and they had hot cookies at the front desk (always a plus for hungry triathletes)!  In previous years packet pick-up was at the hotel but this year it was at the race location in Whitehouse.  Since it was a new venue I was glad that we drove out that afternoon.  Packet pick-up was organized and efficient but it was raining and a little on the chilly side.  We got a nice ladies tech shirt, which was better than previous years where we all got a men’s size shirt.  I’m very petite and a men’s size small hung to my knees.  Next, we drove back to Tyler and ate at Jason’s Deli in honor of our Coach, Becky McMorries.  We made a quick stop at the grocery store before heading back to the hotel.

Race Day

I woke up at 5:00 am and turned on the coffee pot.  Then I got ready and we headed down to the car at 5:30 am.  Because our bikes were in our hotel room we had to make 2 trips.  Then we headed out to the lake.  The parking was very organized but once we got out of the car I realized they had parked me where someone had burned garbage and there was broken glass everywhere.  We very carefully un-racked the bikes, aired up our tires, and headed to transition.  Sitting up in transition was uneventful but as race time neared I could tell that it was getting colder.  I think it was around 62 degrees and for the first time ever I couldn’t wait to get in the water.  The water temperature was a warm 82 degrees and my age group was the last to start.

Swim: 16:31(2:32/M)

I wasn’t nervous at all.  I was just ready to get started.  Overall, my swim was good.  The wind was blowing pretty hard and I got off course a few times but the buoys were close together and easy to sight.  Others complained about the conditions but it was nothing compared to the Half Ironman in Galveston last April.  I finished the swim strong and ran to transition.  I’m finding that I’m not really that disoriented after the swim anymore.  I’m calm and focused on transition.

T1: 1:04

Bike:  41:31 (17.3mph)

I have made a lot of gains on the bike this year so I was looking forward to going fast!  The course was hilly but definitely faster than the old course.  I caught several people on the bike and I felt great!

T2: :41

Run: 25:37 (8:16) 

Ok, this is where I was looking to improve from my other races this year.   I felt great coming out of T2 but we had to run toward the lake and the wind had really picked up.  The course was OK but we kept having to run sown these cul-de-sacs which was really annoying.  I felt like I could really stretch out and run the last mile.

Overall, I placed 4^th in my age group, which is an improvement from my 5^th place finish last year.  With more hard work I plan to be on the podium next year.  Our NET team had a lot of racers and I enjoyed visiting with everyone.  Overall, it was a wonderful weekend.