Great Floridian Race Report
This past weekend I returned to the site where my Ironman career began, Clermont Florida, to compete in the Great Floridian. I was excited, as I have always enjoyed racing in Clermont-the only non-flat area in Florida!
My recovery from Rev3 South Carolina went well, and I was feeling even stronger for GFT. I continued to stay inside as much as possible to steer clear of fall pollens. In the past 6 weeks the only time I was outside on my bike was the race in SC. I headed to FL on Wednesday with the race being Saturday. Traveling alone this time I knew I would have plenty of time for R&R and just “chilling” pre-race.
The cold front that hit GA hit Florida too, sadly, with record low temps and very high winds. Thankfully I packed warm cycling clothes at the last minute which were much needed for my ride Thursday. Sleeping in, naps, and eating were pretty much my day.
Friday I did a little morning jog at the race site, and then hit the USAT training center for a short swim in their gorgeous outdoor pool. Friday night I went over my nutrition plan with Michael as I was determined not to get in the dehydrated state that hurt me in Louisville. I was ready to roll.
Up at 4:30 Friday morning, drinking my First Endurance Ultragen and eating breakfast I was nice and relaxed. I headed…
Categories: Triathlons
Rev3 Anderson
I had been really looking forward to racing the Rev3 Half Ironman in South Carolina! And equally excited to see-and meet Trakkers teammates. My teammate Kiersten was flying to Atlanta and we would make the easy drive to Anderson together Friday afternoon.
My recovery from Ironman Louisville went very well. I bounced back quickly and was able to get in a solid block of training, and was really feeling better than before IMKY. My biggest obstacle-as always-allergies. For that reason (since they suck all of my energy), for the past month I did ALL of my cycling inside. It was more important to get strong workouts than enjoy the sunny weather. I was still feeling the negative effects of the beautiful ragweed running, but hoped it wouldn’t do too much damage. As race week approached though, the allergies worsened.
Then, another big stress hit. My husband’s mother, who had been ill, became gravely ill a week prior to the race and we learned she would not get better. Needless to say it was not the best week, and my focus was not on racing. Cris insisted I still go to SC with Kiersten, as he planned his trip to New Mexico.
Kiersten arrived Friday morning and we hung out at my house for a few hours before hitting the road. During the drive she began to experience the true joy of the south as she began to experience an allergic…
Categories: Triathlons
Race Report: OrangeMan
OrangMan Half Iron Triathlon Date: 9.25.11
Location: Dana Point (that is in Orange County)
This event was fairly local, a two hour drive north of San Diego, so it was a no brainer race to do. The timing fit pretty good with my schedule, giving me two weeks rest after my Rev3 Cedar Point iron distance triathlon (10:32). The two week recovery consisted of about 5 hours of training which included a hard work out as part of the November TCSD Club race. I did the full swim (approx 700 meters), five hard miles of the12 mile bike, and a fast 2 miles of the 4 mile run. Everything felt good, seemed to be fully recovered from the iron race and ready to race OrangeMan.
I have to thank the guys at Finishline Multisport/3rd Transition for their assistance with race entry. The event promoters ended up offering a 50% off coupon on groupon.com to attract more athletes. Besides the triathlon, they offered an aquabike and swim only divisions. The more people the merrier. OrangeMan promoted itself to be a fairly challenging course. The bike course had 10 mile of rollers and then another 15 or so of consistent climbing before the turn around and heading back. I did review the run map on line and it seemed to be pretty typical.
Driving up to the expo the day before hand was very easy, missed out on the traffic. I was kinda…
Categories: Race Reports
A New Use For Double Runs
Double run days are an excellent way to add some run mileage safely. I recently discovered another great use for them. Let me set the stage….
You’re at mile 4 of an Ironman, and every muscle in both legs cramps due to severe dehydration, and you spend the next 15 miles running (and I use that term loosely) in crisis mode. At mile 19 you can no longer lift your legs and you’re forced to walk-a slow painful walk. As you near the finish you know with absolute certainty that you do not want to walk across the finish line, and you use all the strength to muster up some semblance of a run
THIS is the point that all of those 2nd runs comes into play. You recall the physical feeling of starting a 2nd run, the stiffness in your legs for the first few (or few hundred) steps. But you also know that if you stick with it, the legs will keep moving and loosen enough to run. Granted, at this point of IM Louisville it was far worse, but it was similar enough to be psychologically useful.
Thinking back to this was the one thing that assured me I could “run” across the finish. Now, the next step is to find a new and improved use for the 2nd run for the Great Floridian Ironman in 5 weeks. Today’s 2nd run was the start. Stay tuned…..
Categories: Triathlons
Ironman Wisconsin 2011 – the race that (almost) never was
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, so I’ll give a quick update. I took the entire month of July off from racing to prepare for Ironman Wisconsin. I reluctantly signed up for Steelhead in the middle of August and had a good race, despite the fact that the swim was cancelled. And then it all started.
Two days after Steelhead, I was out on a very leisurely bike ride on a trail and took a hard fall when my front wheel hit a thick branch that was hidden between the shade and leaves on the trail. I first thought it was my elbow that was going to give me problems, but on the drive home from that ride, I knew my shoulder took the brunt of the fall. I went to the emergency room where they confirmed nothing was broken. I was told I needed to be in a sling for 2 weeks with no activity. I was able to ride indoors the next day and pushed my luck in the pool two days later. It was extremely painful but I figured I’d have time to work it out before Wisconsin.
That weekend, I had 100 mile ride on the schedule. My elbow was still really chewed up and I had a hard time in the aerobars between the road rash on the elbow and the pain in my shoulder with any pressure. I was able to finish the…
Categories: Events, Race Reports, Racing, Triathlons
IMKY Sponsors
Huge shout out to my amazing Sponsors for whom I am so grateful and helped me get through Ironman Louisville!!!
Kestrel-best bike ever!!! I had such a smooth slick and comfy ride in Louisville
TYR: The Torque rules, and the Orion goggles are the perfect open water race goggles!
SBR Sports: Stuff keeps me “chaffe-free”. Did discover new places to use it-note for next time
First Endurance: Hands down, best nutrition products I have ever used: before, during and after
All3 Sports: Fit me perfectly on my Kestrel and always take care of any race/training needs, and though I didn’t have the perfect run I had the perfect run hat from All3!
Recovery Pump: can’t say enough about my boots! Every nap in LOU was in my boots and my legs were so fresh race day
Last, the people who have become my extended family-my Trakkers/Rev3 teammates. I am so honored to be a part of this team, and the support I receive each and every day-through every up and down, can never be put into words. Thank you all
Categories: Triathlons
Ironman Louisville
Not really sure where to begin here…this was my third trip to Ironman Louisville. I love the course, the climate, the people-it has all the good elements for my strengths, and I have been looking forward to coming back since 2009. In this crazy season of missed races and many illnesses I was going in with as open of a mind as I could have, and no expectations other than to enjoy the ride.
We headed to Louisville a day earlier than normal, on Wednesday, to get away from the stresses at home and have more time for me to sleep and relax pre-race. We chose to stay right at the finish line (one of the reason I love IMKY is that everything is so convenient). And come to find out when booking rooms, the Hyatt has “hypo-allergenic” rooms! It was perfect.
Thursday morning Cris and I went to a nearby pool for a swim. I purposefully do not get in the Ohio River before the race. In fact, I don’t even go near the river-with my allergy magnetic body who knows what would jump out of the river and land inside me! The pool was perfect and after the swim we did a 30 min run around the reservoir right there. Next we drove to the middle loop part of the bike course where I rode an easy 50 minutes. Back to shower, eat and to the expo to…
Categories: Triathlons
Miracle Worker
I have written in previous posts about Synergy Release Sports, and Dr Hatrak-or whom I call a “Miracle Worker”. He was the one who (after multiple failed attempts with other providers) made a correct diagnosis of my injury last year, and got me running again after a 6 month layoff.
I know I have been a biomechanical mess for years. One of the key issues was a significant leg length discrepancy, which has required me to wear a lift in my left shoes, orthotics for run shoes, and shims in cleats on cycling shoes, for the past 12 years. Another key issue was my back and pelvis, and after months under his care, these areas are better than they have ever been. My massage therapist-who has known me for years, affirmed she has never seen my back in better shape.
These changes have made a world of difference in my health, training, and comfort. But the CLINCHER, the true sign for me that he works miracles, is that now, after 12 years, I no longer require any lift in any shoes-casual, dress, running, or cycling. I am EVEN! I don’t think I have ever been called “even” in my life!!
I tell you this all of this to “share the wealth”. If you are in the Atlanta area, or are willing to travel in seek of resolution to frustrating problems, come to Synergy Release Sports! Dr Hatrak has developed his…
Categories: Triathlons
Toughin it out. No UltraGen, heat, humidity, and flood support!
An interesting two weeks (or how to stick with in on flood duty)
While I love triathlons, I am by no means a professional, which means my real job does have a way of making my training much more difficult. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. I just completed an eleven day trek on the road, but it was a lot harder that a simple 11 days to stay on track. First off, I mistimed ordering my UltraGen and Optigen HP, so I had no UltraGen and ranout of Optigen during the trip.
Part I of my journey was up in Wilkes Barre, PA. I was covering for the residents at the plant up there. Got up to the plant and it was already steamy hot. Susquehanna is a very cool place for me since I have access to a locker room and showers and more importantly, I are three measured “trails” inside the fence which is very nice since going through the security train when you are sweating like a pig. So for the first day I did 3 outside loops, but the heat was pretty tough. After work I found a nice bike in the health center and rode a tough hour. The second day was similar, but then after my workout, I got a call from the plant and had to go watch a test. That really messed with my sleeping schedule. Day 3…
Categories: Triathlons
Race Report: Rev3 Portland
Date: July 10, 2011
Location: Portland (actually Blue Lake Park and local communities)
Did my preflight bike check and prepared nutritional needs a couple of days ago.
Now it get ready time…. pack, travel, race and recover
Pack….
check.
Grabbed the SuperShuttle to the airport nice and early Friday am and arrive in Portland by 11am. Pick up the rental car and head to Vancouver for lunch at Subway and hit Walmart for some food supplies. New trick on not purchasing a foam cooler… Bring or purchase quality outdoor trash bags and a bag of ice. The quality bags are water proof and big enough to hold your supply of perishables such as yogurt, water, orange juice. It’s my newest travel cost saver. Also the Walmart parking lot is a great place to but the bike back together.
Portland airport (PDX) to Vancouver via the 205 is a quick 15 minute drive then over to the race venue at Blue Lake Park another 15 minutes. Total drive millage for this trip was only 35 miles or so. One of the shortest and easiest race logistics ever.
Since I was planning (and did) volunteer at race registration on Saturday, I had a volunteer/staff parking pass so I was able to park very close to the expo site. The remainder of the day was utilized to check out sections of the bike and run course…
Categories: Triathlons
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Aw, Ryan, I'm so sorry to hear this. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way. I could share so many stories about my "babies" - and people without pets have no idea how much they can mean. Please keep me posted. -MJ...