Another New Bike

Just after IM 70.3 Augusta, I took the only 1 year old "New Bike" in to get a small adjustment. Somehow I ended up walking out with this new beauty. Here is to new records and stronger bike times.

Ice Blocks

The start of the race, Ocala Hits Triathlon, was delayed to wait for the sun to rise; not sure if they wanted the sun for the light it would provide or for the potential heat it would provide.  Waiting on the shore that morning, the air was 52 degrees and the water was 64, I noted that doing a triathlon in March may be too early in the season...even in Florida.  This was the first race of the season and the kick off for my official "Road to Augusta 70.3."  I was, as usual, nervous.  Super nervous in fact.  I always doubt myself when it comes to the swim. And even with a few open water swims for the season (at Lucky's Lake), I was still nervous about the 750 meter swim.  Most sprints are only 400 meters.

Pre-race nerves setting in. Trying not to freeze, cry, or quit.

Coach Tammy giving me a prep talk.  Still dying inside here.

And we are off!  Yes, I am one of the people still running at that point.  I am always confused to when the right time to start swimming is, when the water is barely waist deep.  But eventually I had to start swimming.  And that I did.  When it comes to open water, I am hesitant to just "swim." I know that sounds strange, but I constantly check my watch, stop to breath "extra," and worry about people around me.  So my goal was to worry little about time and focus on only looking up to site.  I did stop a few times, but my swim felt good...

But when I saw my time, I was mad...I was really mad.  This is me stomping and pouting my way out of the water cause I was 3 minutes slower than what I wanted.  For a brief moment, I was questioning why I even wanted to do a tri. I spend several hours a week in the gym, I give up some social time, I give up sleep, I give up my weekends...for what?  To get up at 4am on a Saturday, drive to another city, freeze my booty off, stand among people thought to be crazy by their friends, and swim a crappy time after all that hard work...EEERRRRRR.

But, I would at least finish.  Let's be honest, the race shirt was pretty cool; and you can't wear it unless you finish.  So get it together; run through transition, strip the wet suit, grab the helmet, and hop on the bike is exactly what I did. I wasn't much happier on the bike for the first mile or two.  I was wet and cold and pissed...really pissed.  But then, that anger turned into something glorious, strength.  I reminded myself, that just because my swim was weak, didn't mean that my bike or run had to be weak; strong mind = strong legs.  I repeated that mantra in my head over and over and over.  All of a sudden, I was having fun again.  Hauling butt out there and taking names.  Before I knew it, I was back at transition and ready to rock the run.

The combination of wet feet and then the cool breeze created on the bike, made for an interesting run.  I hadn't noticed on the bike, but once I hopped off, I realized my feet were ice blocks. And every s-i-n-g-l-e step HURT.  Or maybe it burned.  Either way, I didn't like it.  But since my attitude had changed so dramatically, I didn't care.  I just thought, "the faster I run, the faster my feet thaw." So I went hard and fast and tried to make up those 3 minutes from the water.

Doing work and pushing hard AKA huffing and puffing my way to the finish line.

What could have easily halted my training for triathlons turned into an amazing race with great lessons and hunger for more.  I say all the time that there are completors and competors that show up to these races. I've always considered myself to be the completor.  There for the race, but more importantly the experience.  But this race help me to realize that even though I am not winning these things, I am winning against myself (I know corny...but true). And every time I wake up earlier, go further, push harder; I get stronger both mentally and phsically.  That is winning in my book.



And by some strange happening, I place that day too.  I took second place in my age group. Tammy totally rocked in the OLY taking second in her age group as well.  Here is us celebrating the win for the day and the kick off to an amazing season ahead and the Road to Augusta 70.3.

A year to celebrate...

...leads to a year to work harder.

Over the last year, I found my inner athlete and took my running to another level, I discovered my drive to get faster, I found more inspiration and dedication to working out, and I finished 8 races including 4 triathlons and a tough mudder. I really couldn't have asked for a better race year.

2013 Race Results and Division Place:
(11/28/2012) The Annual Swenson 10K Super Run World Cup 56:41 (3)
(11/02/2013) Tough Mudder (12 Miles w/Obstacles)
(10/27/2013) Cooter Triathlon (.25/12/3.1) 1:39:55 (4/4)
(06/02/2013) Pinappleman Triathlon (.34/15.4/3.34) (1:56:18) (20/26)
(05/05/2013) Rocketman Triathlon (.25/34/3.1) 3:35:33 (27/35)
(04/11/2013) IOA Corporate 5K Finished
(04/14/2013) Cocoa Beach Triathlon (.25/12.5/3.1) 1:38:31 (8/10)
(01/13/2013) Color Run 5K Finished

The next big thing...

Something happened; my dad says I drank the cool-aid, others say I'm crazy.  But after reflecting on my first season of doing triathlons and finally becoming a triathlete, I wanted to do more.  Next step for me...a half Ironman!  That is right, I am excited to announce that I am officially registered for Augusta 70.3 IM.  There's no turning back. Let the journey begin. #RoadToAugusta703

Cooterfest Triathlon

When Josh decided to do his first triathlon, I was excited for one last opportunity this season to finish another triathlon.  His only stipulation...we do the Cooterfest Triathlon and we do it in costumes.  What I thought was a crazy idea, ended up being a crazy awesome idea.

There wasn't a lot of time to train, but there was plenty of time to find costumes when we registered just three weeks before the tri.  Cooters are fresh water turtles, so naturally we needed to go as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Josh also recruited Beth (her first tri too) and Itsky to join the costume tri fun; so we were all set with the whole turtle gang.

This tri was so fun, that only photos will do it justice.

 

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo were ready for the race, bright and early that morning.

The swim was a little brutal.  I've never swam in a completely black lake and was happy to just finish this part.

The ride had several rolling hills but still a very fun ride.

Hamming it up.

Check out those karate action moves across the finish line.

Post Race Photo.  Good job Josh and Beth (they both killed it)!

Pinappleman Triathlon

Pinappleman was the triathlon that I was signed up for last year and didn't actually compete in it. So what better way to redeem myself, than get out there and finish it this year.

Tammy and I heading out to the start of the swim.  Team Extremeist gear and all.

First swim without the wetsuit (so real possibility of drowning) and it went pretty good.  This was a slightly further distance swim than the previous two races.

I have not mastered looking cool on the bike...but out there doing it.

All smiles on the run again.  I think I really love this part of the race.  Or maybe it is the fact that I am near the finish by this point. ?

Finish line celebration (it was raining...and on this hot day, the rain was welcomed).

Another finish line photo.

Team Extremeist post race photo with Tammy and Dave.

Rocketman Triathlon

Rocketman Triathlon was suppose to be my first tri, but since I got a practice run in with the Cocoa Beach Tri, I was feeling really ready for this one.  And this one was going to be a family event.  When I was back home in late 2013, registration opened for the first ever triathlon that would have you biking through Kennedy Space Center.  I figured this might be the only chance this would actually be allowed, so jumped on the opportunity. Both my Mom and Dad did as well.

The day before the race, the three of us headed over to Titusville to check out the course, pick up our packets, drop off the bikes, and get marked for the following morning. And while we were there...might as well take a dip in the water.  Since the previous race, I hadn't had any more open water time, so this would be a good way to get out the pre-swim jitters.  Surprisingly, I did fine. Didn't panic and felt really comfortable out there. I'm sure it helped having my experience tri dad there (I'm pretty sure he wouldn't let me drown...pretty sure) and the fact that there weren't 100 other triathletes competing to be out front.  But still, a successful swim helped calm my nerves and get my head right.

Even though my nerves were calmed the night before, I still woke up feeling anxious for the race (I don't actually think that feeling will ever go away).  Quick change, double bag check, triple bag check, chug morning smoothies...and we were off to the race.

Swim was great!  I really felt like I killed it and was all smiles coming out of the water.

What a cool bike ride. The course took us 38 miles (that is what I calculated) across the beautiful water and on and around Kennedy Space Center.  

The run was very hot that day (despite the photos, there was actually very little shade), but how could you not be happy after surviving the swim and bike.

Finish line!

Triathlete!

Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote about trying a tri; not getting though the swim, struggling with the bike and then not living up to actually doing a triathlon later in the year.  Fast forward one year, I now get to write about actually finishing a tri!

In September, I signed up for a triathlon at the beginning of May.  That would give me plenty of time to get through my Marathon, take a quick break (which ended up being almost a full 4 weeks off...and it was nice), and change gears to biking and swimming; with maybe a little running along the way.  So mid January hits and I get back in training mode.  I got lucky that early in my training I met another triathlete (and a super successful one at that) at the pool who introduced me to some improved stroke techniques, a near-by (and pretty car-less) 11 mile bike loop and some other triathletes working towards a half iron-man a little later in the year.  That is just what I needed; some pros at this sport that were nice enough to teach me the tricks of the trade and keep me accountable for time in the water and on the road.  And thanks to them, I finally over came my fear of biking.  There had been few and far between rides after the "accident" that happened in September of 2011.

With some solid training behind me, I was getting anxious for the big day.  Literally couldn't wait and decided to do a race before the "first" race.  Cocoa Beach Triathlon was the chosen winner!

Pre-race prep photo.  I honestly had no idea what I was doing.  Just tried to copy everyone around me, keep the nerves low, and the excitement high. Luckily I had my very own cheerleader with me that morning.  Josh did a good job keeping from looking inexperience and crazy; all while pumping me up.

Check me out center of photo with the pink cap.  Fake smile much?  I was definitely getting very nervous at this point.  Ready to hit the water.

As I entered the water, reality set in.  I was swimming in open water for the first time.  I was swimming with other competitors for the first time (nothing like taking a foot to the face for the first time). And I was swimming in a wetsuit for the first time.  Yes, I panicked.   I got out there and immediately didn't know how to swim or breathe.  It was actually very scary.  Even though I knew that I would not sink in a wetsuit, something told me I was going to die.  When I heard the whistle for the next wave, I tried to get myself together.  All of a sudden, the next whistle went off.  Who knows where my head was...but it wasn't there.  I did some doggy paddling, some breast stroking, some frog kicking and a bunch of other things to move in the water that were not free style swimming; like I practiced.  Finally to the end and feeling defeated, I exited the water.  Actually the yellow caps started 2 waves after me...leaving Josh a little concerned how many people got out and I didn't.

As I entered transition, defeated and upset, I decided to do what any 3 year old would do.  Throw a tantrum and whine.  Yup sat there for nearly 5 minutes saying things like: "This is stupid," "Why would I even want to do a tri," "I almost died," "ERRR." But I'm here and I ain't quitting.  So on to the bike I went.

Something happened on the bike.  Something really good.

I found myself realizing why I wanted to do a triathlon.  Not to win the race, but to win for myself.  Finally being able to say I can swim; finally being able to say I got back on the bike; and finally being able to say "I am a triathlete!"

It was nice to get my head right...and at that moment all was good in the world and I was happy to be there.

The Run!  I love the run.  I'm not fast, but I run it. It was a great day for a run and I couldn't be happier at that point.  As I turned the corner and saw the finish line, I had to restrain myself from crying.  I sprinted forward and finished with all I had.

Finished!  I AM A TRIATHLETE.

Trying a Tri

This past weekend, I attempted my first trial run of a triathlon.  That's right...I tried a tri.  And what an awesome try (or tri) it was! 

It is no secret that I didn't grow up around water and well, my swimming is less than good.  I decided to take swimming lessons about 4 weeks ago and they have been great help getting me to where I am...but I still have a long way to go.  I am still building my cardio in the water.  It is a very different kind of cardio verse the bike or the run.  And swimming in the ocean is very different than swimming in the pool.  So when I got out there Saturday morning...I panicked.  Thanks to Josh and Suomi I didn't drown but I definitely had to turn back only about 50-75 meters out.  Although I didn't make it the 800 meter distance, I still feel like it was a triumph.  I may have turned back, but I didn't get out of the water.  I ended up doing laps in the area I felt comfortable in.  Out of the water and on to the bike...

Another non-secret is the fact that I have not taken the bike onto a road with cars since my accident in September.  My knee still doesn't seem to be fully healed and neither is my brain.  All the boys took off far ahead of me.  I just didn't want the pressure of trying to keep up while I was trying not to freak out any worse than I did in the water.  But when I finally made it out there to the main road, it felt good and my spirits began to raise.  I only went out for a slow 11 mile ride, but I think it was exactly what I needed to feel good back on the bike.  And then there was running...

By the time we all got back to the meeting point, it was already at least 85 degrees and super sunny.  But the run was only 3.4 miles. I averaged 8:30 minute miles even with the heat.  So after a small workout in the water, 11 miles on the bike and on to a run - that isn't too bad for me.  With some work, I definitely would like to make the swim, speed up the bike and cut the run down till about 8 minute miles.  Can't wait for the real deal in June.

Below is our little "trying a tri" group.  The 9 year pictured totally kicked my butt!