Tuesday, September 30, 2008

monday

it's always a little tough to get up on monday morning and get to that morning workout...but i rolled out of bed at 4.45 and was on my way to barton springs to survey the damage from ACL fest over the weekend...and get in my 4000m swim...only a few other in the pool...i had a w/o of 1x400 warm-up 3x600 3x400 and 3x200 negative splitting all...as i was feeling rather like not doing any of it i was going to give it my best shot...and not beat my self up if i didn't negative spilt...was on 600 #2 when i realized i was heading right for the spill over (that shoots water down stream) eek! so i scooted over to my right a bit...not seeing that there was a swimmer near there...well he was a total jerk...he swam OVER me (dude...it's b4 6am at barton springs...what's the point) and gave me a watch where you are going when we got to the end of the pool...sorry dude...it's dark...you have dark hair...and no swim cap on...so i couldn't see you mr. grumpy pants...so anyway didn't make me feel like completing my w/o but kept going...and finished...my times were fine...with the second one always faster...but the third the same as the first...hey...i finished the workout and i didn't give up...

then school from 11-5pm...had a test in nutrition lab...and got to play with emulsions...ie salad dressing...it was weird...we made one with a cooked cornstarch base...weird...

then off to barton springs again for a run workout....we did 900m repeats....6x900 negative splitting if possible...
4.51
4.40
4.30
4.27
4.21
4.03
Nice! ran hard at the end...but felt good...it is nice to blow off steam after a long day at school...home for dinner and in bed by 8.45 with some light chemistry reading to put me to sleep :D

Sunday, September 28, 2008

last 20

today was the last 20 miler on the schedule for IMAZ training...wow...hard to believe...but i am stoked that i had a really good one this time around...long runs...it is hard to anticipate what is going to happen...how you are going to feel coming in to the double digit miles...is your head in the game...did you fuel and hydrate the days before....did you sleep well...are you thinking about the run or things in the future...it is really just all up in the air...

i woke up feeling good...got to sleep a little longer than usual (i opted for sleep over starting the run early)...my legs were feeling ok from yesterday's ride...ate...had coffee then met up with he group at the rock at 7.30...ended up taking off by myself to do the 7 mile loop the 3 mile loop then a 10 mile loop out on the road...coming back down lamar to the trail hitting a tiny bit of it to finish...

parts of the run were tough...but parts were really good...i was out there on my own..and i drew strength from that...sometimes it can be disheartening but this time it was empowering...coach chrissie said to try and pick it up coming back down lamar...that is usually the point where my body starts to tell my mind that it is tired...and wants to stop...i heard it today but just decided not to listen and picked it up...at least i picked it up in my head...i think i really did...but it is hard to tell...worked on getting my feet off the ground...a little less like a shuffle...and you know it felt really good...i came bounding down lamar....usually that part seems really long...but today it wasn't that bad...and got to 12th street before i knew it...hit the light...darn...

my legs were not happy when i started again...but i was so close to the end i pushed through and finished strong...picking it up again as i hit the trail...and heard ACL starting up for the day...as i got back to the water there was a group of T3 folks out there...who cheered for me when i came in...thanks guys!...that was awesome...it was a fitting end to my run...i did finish a little faster than the last 20 miler...and that felt good...

the rest of the day was eating, resting, ice bath, homework, interview sis-in-law for an anthropology project (thanks a million!!!) more food...more studies and now....there is a chicken in the oven...smells great...okra from the farm...and roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic....i love sunday dinner :D

75 Ride

met the team out near the veloway for a 75 miler on saturday...the longhorn group (which is big) is tapering and there ride was three loops on south mopac...then call it a day...wow...i remember those rides...it seems like a long time ago...

we did two and a half loops then down escarpment to william cannon...southwest parkway...out to fitzhugh road just to 12 then back to southwest parkway...to 71 to bee caves finishing up on 360-mopac-southwest parkway back to the veloway...ended up about 78 miles...and felt really amazing...i rode alone (as usual) but did see the group out there...always nice to know (they average like 20 out there...there is no way i could keep up with that!) there are others out there riding....felt really good...got a little lost in my own head coming back on fitzhugh...but pulled it back together again for the rest of the ride...and was able to finish strong...and happy...i think it is important to end rides happy...

home to eat (a lot), ice my knee, study and rest...j and i made pizza for dinner and watched into the wild i totally recommend this movie...i thought it was really great...and beautiful and directed by sean penn

Friday, September 26, 2008

NO WAY!

just got my Chem test back...i got an 80.65%

the class average is a 63%

no curve yet...

i am so excited...i thought i totally failed...wOOt

thursday surprise

am spin class...woke up about half way through the second set...we only did three sets...but they were like 20 minutes long...good solid spin...

home to finish chem homework, study for a quiz and get ready for school...actually finished the homework and got a 96! so it's not like i don't get this stuff...i really think that he made the test super hard...still no grade on that...we will see...

went over acid and base stuff...and started on salts...think i did really well on the quiz so that is good too...maybe i can make up my points that way...

pm swim workout...3300...with lots of pulling then swimming...a huge warm-up set with lots of drills...i felt like i hadn't been in the pool for a while...and i guess it had been a week...i asked chrissie for a workout...so that i could do it on my own on friday after class...and i could still sleep in...she gave me one...then after practice she said...just rest...don't worry about the swim...sweet!...off day here we come...

feeling good physically...my knee seems to have mellowed out...will ice this weekend for sure to make sure it doesn't do anything weird...tired...but that is to be expected...

Thursday, September 25, 2008

back to

normal schedule today...yeah...so am core workout with coach chrissie...man...she really worked us...calves...ouch...several other odd sore spots...but i really like those Wednesday mornings...

gave myself a few hours off from school work...as a little break...and got laundry done instead....i know...not really a treat but hey...things still need to get done...

school...three classes today...nothing super exciting...we watched a video on distilleries in food science...that was cool...

got some reading done in the afternoon for anthropology...but then couldn't keep my eyes open so it was a 10 minute power nap with the cats...then some more reading (it's a long one)

off to running...we did a fartleck on the trail...2easy 1 hard 2 easy 2 hard up to 5 hard and back down...and it felt good...hard but good...about 5 minutes into the workout...coach logan ran back to me and we ran together...it was good to have him there pushing me on the parts where it got hard...and reminding me to drop the arms...did the 5 mile loop on the trail and finished before we had come down our ladder that we were doing...an improvement from doing this workout some time ago...

had a little soreness in my right knee today...i actually noticed it riding my bike to school...iced before and after practice...didn't feel it on the run...when i felt it in the day it seemed like a bruise type feeling...i'll keep an eye on it...ice...and do more tp work...

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

:(

i just took the hardest test...it made me cry...(it was really that hard)...

i would have rather been working out...ah well...maybe next time

keep your fingers crossed for a curve :D

negative split day

am was a barton springs swim....1x600 warm up...4x800 negative splitting each...200 cool down...i started in the dark and ended in daylight...but was able to successfully negative split each 800...i was happy about that...and happy about completing a 4000 swim...sweet

home to scarf some breakfast and pack a lunch and several bags for the rest of a long...long day...was on campus for the 9.30am flag lowering for jordan...it was touching...i only knew one other person...but it was ok...it was something that i wanted to do...and was glad i did...

then off to study for an hour...chem again...i know..the test is coming and i promise i will stop talking about it at least for a day...then classes back to back from 11-5...got out of my lab at 5.15 ught...i did get to bake cake though...got to my car at 5.30 and actually made it to practice...and changed...before warm-up started... :)

it was a small group...i thought everyone was tired from running in the relays...then i looked around and most of the people that were there...ran the relay...then i found out why...it was wilke repeat night...nice...so run to wilke (oh for those of you not is austin...it is a huge hill...long and steep) 6x all the way up...down and pick it up around the corner repeats...effort was "just get up the hill" picking up the pace and cadence when the bottom leveled out a bit...was working on picking up my knees to help me get some more distance coming down....and a bit on my cadence...but was super excited to have negative split the set...woot!...run back to barton springs...then home...

j cooked dinner...yum...it was really nice to not have to worry about cooking...there was just too much going on...much appreciated...love him!...then early to bed for me...so i can early rise...and do it again...

Monday, September 22, 2008

off-ride-run

friday was an off day that i was looking forward to...it was a good one...had school...got groceries...studied...and got prepared for my saturday ride...packed up everything the night before as if for a race...some how i felt a little different getting ready for the longest ride...

saturday....met jeremiah at 6.30...wheels down by seven...we rode from the veloway area...out slaughter...to old san antonio to the gas station in kyle...then back turning on 1626 to hit 35...taking 35 to san marcos (the aquarena springs exit) looping back to 1626...x3 then back to the gas station in kyle...back to austin...finishing with a loop on mopac...total time 7h....total ride time 6.5h...and i got off the bike with a smile on my face...i was very excited to have done those miles...on my way home...i was so hungry i had to stop at whole foods...get some sushi...and eat it on the way to pick up the farm share...then home to eat more...i was trying to study...and couldn't keep my eyes open so i took a power nap of 20 minutes...got to study again...then called it enough around 7...treated my self to some pf. changs...and was in bed by 9

sunday was the marathon relay...we resurrected team fast as crepe...from last year....me, ed jeremiah and mr. john brown...it is amazing that when we did the race a year ago...we had really just met...and had just started training for the marathon with the amazing coach amy...wow...we met up at 7.15...and set up next to the t3 team...near the start...and got ready for a nice day...all we really wanted to do was beat our time from last year...jeremiah was up first in the 10k then ed on an 11.1k then me with an 11.1 and a 5k then john with a 5k...

i had a good race...just took it as it came...wasn't shooting for too fast since i was doing 16.1k...kept it steady...ran about 8.30's so that was nice...slowed down a bit on the last part of the first leg...but picked it up again on the 5k...it was hot...and i could have used some gatorade...but it was all good in the end...we beat our time by 8 minutes...yeah us!

spent the rest of the day with j..freshly back from chi town...finally got that chai tea i had been craving...and the chem is going pretty well...a great weekend (as chuck would say :D )

Saturday, September 20, 2008

115!

i just finished my first ride over 100 miles...did 115 today and am actually feeling ok :) more on that later...now is shower then study...

Thursday, September 18, 2008

i'm lame

it's kind of sad when i jump up and down and yell "yes!" in my empty (besides the cats) home office because i solved a quadratic equation correctly on my chem homework...it's the little things :)

tue-wed-thurs

workouts this week have been out of routine due to the fact that i went from ~17.5h of training to 13.5 this week...so it has been fun to mix it up a bit...and not worry with my monday blunder...

tuesday was pretty regular with a swim in the am and a spin in the evening...it was cool day and loved putting on my hoodie after swimming...and having a hot breakfast when i got home...why does swimming make me starving...i don't have a clue..but it totally does...spin class was hard...did some core before...and worked a lot on one legged drills...and really just pushed it on the bike...good times...

wednesday i decided to do my barton springs swim in the am...it was 3600...my longest swim yet...400 warm up then 2x1600 negative split on the 1600's...i was able to do that...by about a minute...made me happy...not too many people when i first started...(5.45am) but more when i got out at around 7...i like getting done when the crowd is starting...also there is something kind of magical about swimming in the dark...i used to hate it...but now...i think it's great...pm was "track" workout...since we are on the dirt these days...there is more to think about...pushing the pace while not falling down...i think it is doing good things for my stability in the ankles and feet...and it's helping me get a little lift to the knees...but still not enough...did 4x800 then 4x400 all at 5k pace...was pretty steady with my pacing...so that was good...i was beat when it was all over...and my brain hurt from frustrating chem homework...and some other school work that i had been doing in the afternoon...i was happy to be done...and it was j's night for dinner...he got greek food...soo goood...

thursday...am spin...and that is it for the day...yeah...off tonight and all day tomorrow...looking forward to sleeping in...and resting up for the 115miles on saturday and the marathon relay on sunday...i'm running 2 legs...11k and a 5k...give me my miles for the day...and it lets mr. brown off the hook with his nagging hip issues...anything to help out a team mate...maybe they will quiz me with chem questions while i wait for my leg of the race :)

school later...then office hours...then hopefully some time to relax...but the chem exam coming up tuesday is making me scared so it looks like more chem later too...chem chem chem....ught.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

monday issue...

so yeah...messed up the alarm for waking up to swim monday...so i took the morning off to do school stuff....then my first class of the day got cancelled...my prof is ill...but she sent slides anyway...so i went though them just like it was class...but was able to do some other work too...so that was good...then to campus...for marathon day...

three classes in a row (usually 4) with no break...and the last class being a 3 hour lab...we actually got to do some measuring in the lab today...but nothing really fun yet...unless you consider measuring Crisco using the water displacement method fun...

then it was specialty run time...doing 400m repeats from the Barton springs parking lot...one lap composed of 2x400...IM distance did a total of 6 of these...so 12x400...wow....i just realized i did 12 400s last night...hmm...anyway...they were to be run at hard effort...with coach telling me to not focus on my time...just push the effort...try to drop my arms...and pick up my knees on the up hills...they ranged from 1.35-1.50...but the majority of the longer ones in the beginning and middle of the set...i felt good...like i was pushing it...but feeling strong at the same time...one lap cool down...foot drills etc in the parking lot and i was home by 7.40...oh yeah!

Monday, September 15, 2008

recovery 14

it is amazing to me that a 14 mile run is recovery...but yeah...it was...started about 7.45 from the rock doing two 7 loops on the trail...ran the first loop with amit (from cap tex...now with T3) good to chat...the second loop on my own...

second lap was counter clockwise from the rock so i ended up going up the little hill on riverside...uhm it felt huge...could feel the legs were tired...it is strange to have that feeling...my aerobic system can go all day but the legs were like lead blocks...got back around to the north side of the trail...and ticked off the bridges...one by one...and decided to pick it up a bit after the pedestrian bridge...felt good to pick it up...though i knew that my legs weren't going to cooperate for long...slowed back down for a bit...then picked it up from the rowing center back in...ended up with about a 9.40min/mile average...i was pleased with that...

home for homework, breakfast tacos, more homework, more food, a 20 minute nap...then j came home from his trip to phoenix...yeah! so nice to have him back even if it is just for a few days...more homework...then we made dinner together...watched an episode of the wire...(season 2) and off to bed...

and you wonder why i am blogging at 6ish in the am when i should be working out...well i set the alarm...but did the am/pm switcheroo...so instead of rushing to get my barton springs swim in...i took the extra hour sleep as a good thing...and am taking the morning off...i can swim on friday...i might even have two cups of coffee... :O

Sunday, September 14, 2008

going nowhere

saturday's ride went nowhere but accomplished some mental toughness and some homework and a movie and the Kona IM from a few years ago...yes that is right...due to weather issues (that never materalized....seriously...nothing but wind) the team was inside on trainers for our long ride...so i did 4.5h...read two chapters of nutrition through the life cycles...did a 2h workout that was circulating...and caught some bits of some funny movies...and sniffled through the IM video...good times...then came the run...

everyone had enjoyed the breakfast foods that folks brought to share...while i packed everything back in the car...and headed out for an hour run...i ran from the training center...down oltorf to s. 5th...to barton springs rd...through that newish park...to the water under first...then almost out to trails end by the newspaper building...and back again...i had a good run...it felt good....my legs were springy...as i was coming back i was feeling the need for fuel but my run was only an hour...and i knew i had recovery drink waiting for me...

back at the car i grabbed my phone and recovery drink and cooled down in the parking lot...called my mom to let her know that i was ok...no weather to speak of...then headed to p/u the farm share...two lil watermelons...yeah!...plus other good stuff....like we have basil again...and tomatoes...i love these weird texas growing seasons...we get a second crop of summer...

when i got home i ate half of a watermelon...omg so good...ate some regular food...and settled in for some homework...finished most of my reading by ~6.30...made dinner...relaxed...good training and fueling day...

Friday, September 12, 2008

poor kitty

am up for spin class with Mo...i like this one..it's a smaller group and i feel like we get done fast because i am really half asleep until about halfway through our main sets...was feeling really good this morning and was able to stay on cadence and gear all the way through...did some pretty big spin stuff and one legged drills...i have improved greatly...

home to study for my chem quiz...got that down pretty well and was working on getting the tools etc that have been scattered around the backyard into the shed before we get hurricane winds and rain here this weekend...(we will see...they seem to be really bad a predicting weather in central texas) and under the fence was a cat...

he looked very skinny...and i was worried that he was undernourished and ill...but then he moved to get out of the sun...and i could tell he was dragging his leg...definitely broken...i called my vet...a bunch of animal rescue type places and my husband to figure out what to do...no one really recommended that i try and get it my self since it was hissing when i got near it...i needed to be at class in less than an hour...so i called 311 to see if someone could come and get him before i left...they told me to call back when i got home...i was hoping he was still alive when that happened...

i did well on my quiz...and found the cat had moved to the front yard...still hiding...and now in a position to see that it was not in good shape...i made a last ditch attempt to the cat lady to see if it was her cat...she was home and came to see...no not one of hers...so i called 311 and they sent someone over to get the poor thing...they were going to take it to town lake animal shelter to see if they could do anything...the guy who came to get him was really nice and very gentle...and was able to get the cat in a carrier in under 5 minutes...he looked at me as he was leaving...and said...his pelvis is broken....poor kitty....it broke my heart...i went inside and hugged my two and told them i was very happy that they didn't have to be street cats anymore...

was rather subdued for the rest of the afternoon...and went to pm swim practice at lost creek...had a good practice...swim down 3200...good training day for sure...i'll call town lake tomorrow and see how kitty is...i doubt they could do much for him...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

off track?

Wednesday morning core workout...i like it...we did a lot of squatting and some of those crazy lunge jump things that chrissie likes so much...ouch...good solid hour...

j was still asleep when i got home...he was heading to az for a conference and had the day off so we got to hang out a little before he left :)

did some homework, packed up my 800 snacks for 3 hours of class...and was off...nothing major happening today...but we watched a video in anthropology...so we have had two weeks of class and three of the classes we have watched movies...

home work on that last chem problem...i never did get how to work it out but was able to eliminate 3 of the 5 answer choices...and guessed the right one...i know...i know...it's not learning...but no one...i mean no one...who i have talked to in my class has any clue how to do it...so it was the best i could do...

pm was "track workout" but we have a new location...we are now meeting under mopac in the field on the south side...we did a two mile out and back on the trail...then it was off road mile repeats....since it is recovery...the IM group only did two...our course was two times around the very outer perimeter of the field...that was one mile...being on dirt and grass was weird...there is more that goes into it...anyway...i was shooting for ~8minutes...first one was 8.10...then coach logan pulled me aside and said that we were going to work on me getting my knees up...since i don't do that really at all...and this was the perfect place to do that...so the second mile i was just focusing on that...i wasn't thinking about time...and much to my surprise i cam in at 7.58 with out perceptively picking up the effort from the first one...so...this is the beginning of correcting my running form...we will see how it goes...

happy to be done relatively quickly...was feeling tired...but just generally tired...sleep was calling

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

swim swim spin spin

tuesday morning swim i got booted out of my usual lane and ended up in a lane with michelle and erin!...yeah! girls lane...with a T-2 workout in hand...it was a good swim...sometimes i feel like swim practice is sooo long...but i have been feeling better about them lately...there was end in sight...did about 3100...

then it was all chem all day...ught...working on homework then class then an hour and a half of office hours with about a dozen other folks...it is nice to go to these and realize that a)i'm not as lost as some people b)others are struggling with the same problems that i am and c)people are willing to help each other and look over your work and not just copy answers...my brain was fried after that session...i only have one problem left...and when i left no one was any closer to figuring it out...we will see how i do later today...

pm spin class...i had some reading to get done so i skipped core and just opted to easy spin and get some work done...it worked out really well actually...besides most of my team making fun of me for spinning and studying...i got a lot done...and was good and warmed up for the workout...it was good one...short intense sets...i liked...and i was able to really just crank it through the whole workout...guess all of my stars (nutrition, hydration, mental attitude, muscles etc) were aligned..

then home for tacos and an episode of the wire...a nice end to a nice day :)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

i can still run!?

monday was right back to it...swam 3200 at barton springs...it felt like it took a long time...and it did...about and hour and some...nice to swim though...

school all day from 10-5 then right to practice back at barton springs parking lot...

did circuit training...running the loop from the bottom lot up around past the christmas tree and then back to the pool area...i couldn't believe that i actually felt fine running...the warm up lap my knees were protesting...but after that they were fine...i mean i couldn't have run forever or anything...i just wasn't hobbling and that was good...

short workout...recovering a little this week...i guess if you can count 100 mile long bike recovery :P

Sunday, September 7, 2008

th-sun

again...smashing several days in one post...sorry...

since the race on monday counted towards total hours for the week i had a surprise free afternoon...so i went to the thursday morning swim class and was the done with workouts for the day at 7am...not bad...guess i have progressed to t2...though i think it is because of IM distance not because i have improved that much...i have improved some...so 3200 at 5.45am doesn't seem quite as impossible as it used to...

thursday afternoon off...and all of friday :) woo woo...though i did bike to and from campus...and didn't just lay in bed...school work is beginning to pile up and i am beginning to feel it...but j has been pitching in around the house...it is amazingly helpful and stress relieving when he does stuff even with out being asked...

saturday T3 set up practiceman...out at decker lake...there was a 500m swim course...that we could do as many loops as we wanted....then we were out on the longhorn bike course for 56 then the IM kids were back out for the couples tri loop for a total of just under 70...then we were all going to hangout for a bbq after....i did 1500 on the swim and the full bike...with little to no issues....launched a bottle after i hit an unexpected bump in the road....but that was about it...road about 1/2 mile behind jim and was able to follow him for the turns until the bottle issue...then i pulled out the map and made it back to the park and out onto the last loop...saw some folks out running...(they had an option to run off the bike)...that was nice too...fun to cheer each other on...hung out for a while and had a beer and boca burger...then home for homework...

sunday was super long run day...22 to be exact...took me 3h50m...a long run....mentally i had a good run and that was helpful...also good nutrition too...my knees didn't want to bend towards the end...and my feet kind of wanted to fall off...but i pushed through and got it done...it was great to see team mates and friends out along the trail...i got a lot of words or encouragement and that is so helpful...it is hard to describe how great that is...got a good soak in with jeremiah and the dogs...and now...lots of eating and chemistry left to do before school on monday...and hopefully some harry potter too... :)

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

tues/wed

sorry the blogging has been kind of hit or miss since school is back...haven't really had a normal week yet...so nothing is really routine yet...getting there...

after racing monday i decided that i would just get back into it...and went to my regular tuesday workout morning swim...did the T-2 group...my legs were tired...really my body was tired but the swim was a really good way to start my week and get the blood moving to all those parts that raced the day before...ended up swimming 3200...coach chrissie said that the race counted in the schedule as 1h run 1h bike and a 30 minute open water swim... :) sweet...so i get an extra afternoon off this week...delightful...

chem class between workouts was actually much better than day one...i think i am going to be able to survive it...he had power point slides and actually put together some coherent notes up there so that was good...much less intimidating than day one...still i did study before and after class...quiz thursday so we will see where i am...

tuesday pm was core/spin...class was a little lighter than it had been but not by much...had a good workout...needed to drop a gear at the last part of practice...maybe the last 10 minutes...but other than that kept up well with the cadence/gear work...

had turkey pot roast that had been cooking pretty much all day in the crock pot for dinner...totally yummy...j and i ate it all...as i said to him i guess that is ok since it is from a cook book called crock pot recipes for two...i'll make that again...

wednesday am core class...also pretty packed...good solid core workout...

three classes today...all generally good...had a pop quiz! in nutrition 307 (food science) i think i got them all right...i hope that she counts my slight miss on the HACCP question...i put hazard assessment critical control point instead of hazard analysis critical control point....i wonder...close...so far...a lot of this class is a combo of stuff i learned while working in kitchens and stuff that i have figured out from kitchen work...

then some life cycle nutrition...then some anthropology...we started a video about a gold prospector that had the first contact with tribes in the highlands of new guinea...very neat...

pm track workout...a 2.5 mile run before practice a warm up...drills...strides...1mile repeat...4x400 repeats...another mile...then 2 laps cool down...my mile times were sad...nothing like that one 7 min one...worked hard for a 7.50 mile...the second one we were aloud 10 seconds slower than the first...i was happy for that...i made it...but just made it...i am looking forward to thursday pm off and a whole friday off...almost there...

austin tri race report

woke up feeling tired but pretty rested...had breakfast...grabbed my new transition bag...and was off to town lake...parked easily at one texas center though it was 7$ to park in my usually free spot...oh well...i had exactly 7$ so that seemed like a good sign...and walked towards where transition was...

got body marked and started to set up my stuff...the day before jackie (from cap tex group...i think she spells it differently but i don't know how) and i set up next to each other and i was glad to see that our bikes were both where they should be...i set up and was ready to go so i got myself out of the mayhem and up to the t3 tent...it was still empty but i was able to put my stuff down...and close my eyes and breathe for a few minutes...helped set up chairs in the tent...hit the port o potty and then down to the water for pre race meeting/wiggle into wetsuit...i was going to hop in the water but just as i was getting ready to do that they were calling everyone out of the water...oh well...ate my gummy things and sipped on some water...

standing on the trail with a bunch of other triathletes waiting to jump in the water is usually the part that makes me nervous...or at least that is when i notice my nerves and start getting freaked...but that just wasn't happening...i was happy about that...my wave was up...and walked out on to the dock...and hopped in...got a spot up towards the front....there were maybe 45 girls in my wave so pretty light...i was on the buoy line...and we were off...no bumping at all....just swimming...really not much to say there...caught a swimmer and was on her toes...but felt slow so i went around...we were right next to each other...and i thought ok i will slow down and drop back on her toes...but every time i thought that...she did the same thing...so i just said screw it and sped up...didn't feel any toe touching so i guess she didn't hop on...started catching up to the tail end of the group ahead of me...then started catching up to another color cap...hmm...that usually doesn't happen...i was feeling good...but i also was feeling like i was pushing myself harder than i usually do on the swim...it was a comfortable hard...then i was done...what? cool...swim felt _much_ better than cap tex and much shorter...got yanked out of the water by some t3ers (it was really hard to see where to step) finally took a step or two on my own...looked down at my watch and saw a 28 (!) wow! i was happy....looked up and saw husband! even happier...then i was off into transition...

put the bike shoes on and ran for what seemed like forever to get to the mount line...and got on no problem...it wasn't very crowded around me...so it all was pretty smooth...and was out onto south congress in no time...my legs were tired since there had been no taper leading up to this race...so i could feel the lactic acid building up as i hit the hill on soco...but i knew coming back down i could spin it out...up to the capitol then out on to cesear chavez...took my first gel...saw chuck and amynotcoach! yeah!...and was feeling good...the next two loops were just the same...no gel on loop two but one on loop three...and then i was getting onto the 1st street bridge and off the bike...flying dismount...and a long run to the other side of transition to rack my bike...shoes on hat in hand and a little water bottle...

in my head i wanted to take the first run loop easy...just feel it out and get a rhythm going...got my legs together about a mile into the course and just kept it steady...it was getting hot and lots of people were walking already...i was actually feeling really good...so i was thinking about things like keeping my arms relaxed and where i was going to pick it up for the second loop...and what flavor pure sport was going to be at the water stop...got back around to the transition area and just decided to pick it up there...and just kept going...saw j :) on the little off road part of the course and kicked it in...finishing really strong on the out and back from congress...shake and bake as coach logan says...finishing in a 2h and 39 minutes...7th in my age group and about 20 minutes faster than cap tex...

all in all it was a really good day...i hoped to finish the race 5 minutes faster than cap tex but was pleased with where i was...i was also hoping to break the 2.20m per 100m pace on the swim...i ended up with something like a 1.54...so accomplishing both of those things was great...lots of great cheering out there...by j and friends and teammates and coaches...a good race...

Monday, September 1, 2008

austin tri!

2.39.19

7th in my age group...and a pr of like 20 minutes...a good race...more later :)