Duluth Trailfest Weekend (September 25-27th)

What a fun yet extremely challenging weekend of racing on some of the prettiest trails in Duluth!

Friday: 5K Chest Bowl (start time 5pm)
This race I actually felt the strongest in...that is until I saw the hill which was the toughest hill I've ever had to run up. I actually couldn't even run up the hill, I was more on all fours climbing up! The rest of the trail run was tough but that hill/ski jump really did it. I thought the 5K was definitely a challenge, little did I know Saturday was going to prove to be even MORE challenging.

Saturday: 15K Lake Superior Trail Run (start time 11am)
I had no idea what this run would be all about, but once I got to the first part of the actual run on the trail I definitely knew this was not going to be an easy trail run. Wet rocks, sand, trees, were only a small part of this challenging trail. The up and down hills mixed with the terrain really added to the challenge, along with the 'puke hill' which was the caliber of the Chester Bowl hill, except much much longer and about 3/4 into the 15K, which made it even more difficult. One part of the race at the end we had to go up the stairs, I was so exhausted I couldn't even get up the stairs normally and had to be hunched over while trying to make it to the top. Aside from the challenge though, the trail was very beautiful!!! I ran with four others in a single file line, and we took turns leading. I actually whipped out at one point and one of the guys helped me up and waited to make sure I was okay. At the end, we all ran in together! This felt like more of very challenging run with your friends rather then a race, but the challenge wasn't so much how fast you were going, but instead how technical this course was. Going 10min miles on this trail was difficult both for the legs and HR was definitely up there.

Sunday: Park Point Beach Run 5K (start time 9:30am)
By this day, my legs were pretty beat up both from the wipe out I had and the pure fatigue of trail running. I would try to log about 4-5miles before each race and a 1-2mile cool down after each one, just to get miles in for the marathon. At least this race wasn't so technical and running on rocks was not an issue. Although sand running is just as difficult, which was about 30% of this run. The other part was on a more 'normal' trail that we're used to in the cities. The sand was also very difficult to run, and I'm not sure if it was because this was the third day in a row racing, or the sand, this was a HARD 5K. We ran right along the beach and to the right was Lake Superior. The site was absolutely gorgeous, and after the run we all jumped into the ice cold lake. Soooo cold, but very good for the aching muscles.

I ended up 1st woman the first race, 2nd Saturday, and 2nd on Sunday. I won the overall three day challenge (didn't really expect that) but this was a smaller race and first year, so I'm sure next year some of the really good people will be there to dominate! I'll take it though, it was fun to win overall, I got a hand made-pottery bowl, along with Salomon trail shoes, and lots of gels, bananas, Gatorade, and HEED! Those trail shoes will definitely come handy, since I really am liking the trail running!

This race weekend challenge was AWESOME, and a bit more challending then I had anticipated but defiently worth it. I'm so there next year!

St.Coix Valley Olympic Race Report

Today I was challenged both physically and mentally, unfortunately I didn't come out on top or at least how I wanted to come out...I knew I was tired coming into this, being my 10th race of the season, and my workouts the week leading up to the race should have been a warning. I still decided to sign up for this race to simply challenge and push myself further and gain more experience with the Olympic/longer distance. I was actually hoping to do another Half Ironman after doing Chisago at the end of July but didn't find any races in this distance in the cities area.

The swim went fairly well, I felt pretty good throughout the whole thing, and managed to get a 30:01 which was about a minute faster then St.Paul, which was the same distance.

The bike was where it all fell apart for me. As I like to say...I didn't have any legs left, even going straight/no hills, I was having difficulty keeping a 20mph pace, which normally would have been easy. Not today though. I did make it through, but I knew that my legs were done. The burning feeling in my legs was definitely that fatigue I was hoping to avoid in this race, but I wasn't able to fight through it today like I was able to in some of my earlier season races. After knowing that this was just NOT going to be my race, I just tried to keep positive and do my best (which was very difficult to do). After coming into the transition off a very tiring bike, I was in at 1:13.28, 20.3mph average. Knowing that this was my time, I knew I had overdone it...

The run was not as bad as the bike, and I really did try to have fun out there while trying to clear the lactic acid out of my legs after the bike. My run was once again not the best. After coming off a 6:34 pace for the St.Paul 10K, I ended up coming at a 7:04 pace, 43:44 time. My overall time was a 2:29.42 (6th overall woman, 3rd age group), which was about 10 minutes off my time from last week for an Olympic distance.

With that said, I will remember coming into transition and hearing Jerry O'Neil, the announcer saying, how uncomfortable I looked going out into the run. He was absolutely right, today's race was fun but very painful!

Key take away: good test on how one race could go so well while another race could go not so well. Once the body has had enough, there is really nothing you can do but fight, fight, fight through fatigue =) *OR 'just rest and not do as many races/training next season =)

St.Paul Olympic Triathlon Race Report

Geez...Live and learn! Third ever Olympic Triathlon.

Today was definitely a bit disappointing in some respect. Mostly because I know I could have gotten a time a lot better then I posted. The swim killed my time overall. I didn't think I was doing that bad, but I did notice that it was a lot tougher to get position, so I found myself going around people a lot compared to what I was used to. I'm not too experienced with drafting and am always afraid I'm going to get hit in the head, so I usually just try and stay away from the crowd. This time for some reason this was a lot more difficult to do...This could have contributed to my horrible 31 min swim, alot worse then my Timberman swim, which was the same distance and I posted a 26:30 swim time.

The bike went pretty well, my computer feel off due to my aero bottle sliding all over the place. I found it later all smashed. The bike course was somewhat bumpy but nothing too unusual. I felt pretty good, and even took a gel on the bike, which I've never done before. When the T2 came around I couldn't unclip so I had to bike a bit past the T2 in order to get my foot out...Sort of threw me off, but nothing too bad. My overall time for the bike was a 1:04.20 (22.7 mph), which was a bit slower then last year. But I wasn't surprised, my time last year on the bike was really fast! (23.84mph).

The run was better then last year, or at least I did feel alot better. The competition out there really made me push it to my limit today on the 10K, which was good because it gave me my best ever 10K time in a triathlon and in a 10K ever, a 40:47 (6:34 pace).

Overall time came out to 2:18.11 which was a 22 second PR compared to last year.

I came in 5th overall, 1st in age group. All in all, I am not too pleased with how I did today overall, I am not sure what happened to me in the swim, and it's a bit frustrating to know that I could have placed 1st or 2nd if I would have gotten a decent swim time, since I knew I could swim a 26:30...Live and learn I guess....

Key Take Away: Swimming, big disappointment, and possibly the biggest thing to get over when it came to my overall time.

I am glad I got to do this race though, I just wish I wasn't so competitive with myself! I had a blast out there, and I'm grateful I am able to do tri's day in and day out.

Gabe's sister said to me, you did great, you're such an inspiration! That really makes it all worth while no matter overall place or time. =)

YWCA Womens Triathlon Race Report

Well what can I say...This triathlon was like no other really...All the new triathletes getting the chance to experience what triathlons are all about and walk away so proud of themselves was something that separated this triathlon from others for sure. The competition coming in was not easy, even though the 'regulars' weren't there, this race still presented to be a challenge for me.

This was my second weekend in a row racing and I wasn't sure how good I'd feel. I tried to do a good job of not overdoing it during the week, but that alone is tough for me to do...This race had a bit of pressure for me coming in, I was favored to win, which was odd, since I'm so new to the sport and really don't see myself as being that good compared to the other veteran triathletes. But of course they weren't here, so I guess it was my time to step it up or at least try!!!

Swim went well, the run into the transition was EXTREMELY long, I was pretty tired by the time I got on my bike.

The bike course was very very hilly, and I lost my water bottle at about mile 4. So I had no water to drink, good thing this was a 15.5ish mile course...From the start I knew I wasn't feeling as strong as I wanted, but just tried to make the best of it. I felt okay about my time, and came in 1st into transition off the bike. The second place, beat me out of the transition and from there it was a battle on the run into the finish.

I literately ran my butt off, even though I didn't have much in me after the tough bike course I tried to tell myself to dig very deep, and somehow a bit before the turn around I saw that I was getting closer and close to the first girl, and finally I was able to pass her and pull away right around the turn around. After all set and done, I came in first place overall, what an amazing feeling but no course record, and I'm not surprised, I was pooped! 1:19 overall time, about a min off the course record. NEXT YEAR! =)

Overall this was a very tough race especially for first time triathletes. I wish I would have felt stronger, but that's what I get for racing so often, oh well guess a part of me loves the pain or else why would I be doing this anyways?

Next race, third weekend in a row, St.Paul Olympic. This will only be my third official Olympic distance race, I'll have to see how well I feel for this one. Have to take it easy this week! Did really well last year at this race, but no expectations coming in except to do my best.

Key Take Away: less training during the week, since so many races in a row. More hill repeats on the bike.

Very inspirational triathlon!

Turtleman "duathlon" Race Report

The day started out pretty normal and early. I was on my way to the race early since I knew the transition closed early and I wanted to make sure to get a good warm-up in, which for me is 30 min running!

First off, I've never done this race, and I really have to say this was one of the best race experiences I've ever had! The volunteers were amazing and the whole organization of the race was great. I epecially liked that body markings were right in the front and so was chip pick up, so you didn't have to walk and try to find all these things...Makes it alot less stressful =)

Then the clouds rolled in, and I heared the race is delayed. at least 15 minutes Then more clouds and lightning rolled in and I heard, 'kiddie swim start' in a time trial fashion? Didn't know what that was, but then found out this meant there would be NO swim! So I thought alright, well I guess this will be a brick work-out. I think the funniest thing about the 'kiddie start' is we actually ran in into the water and back out due to the chip timing. We all looked pretty ridiculous, but I bet it made for a good laugh for pictures and for the spectators.

I had been feeling pretty exhausted all week, not sure if I over did it, or just got a bit sick. But my whole body ached like never before. I could deal with sore muscles, but what I was feeling during the week was pure exhaustion more physically then mentally.

I was actually surprised at how good I felt coming into this race. The bike went well, it rained a bit and there were alot of turns. The course was pretty technical. I was pleased with how I did on the bike and how good my legs felt. I ended up with a 56:30, 22.3 MPH. When I got on the run I instantly felt strong and fast. Then it started to pour, and I mean pour heavy. I still felt really good so I tried to take advantage, and ended up with a 35:05 for 8K, which gave me about a 7:02 pace. I actually wasn't too pleased with my pace, but maybe the rain had something to do with it....I did feel great, so that's all that matters.

Since there was no swim, and some people had to be pulled off the run due to the horrible weather, the results were based only on the bike and the transition time from the swim to the bike. I ended up in first place for age group, with a 1:35 overall time, and 13th for all women.

Again, I'm always amazed at the talent in these races but today I was exceptionally amazed!

Next race: YWCA sprint next weekend, 8/16/2009.

Key Take Away: riding in the rain...

First Half Ironman (Chisago Race Report)

What a day...First Half Ironman finshed with alot of mixed feelings and emotions...

The day started at 415 am, and I was at Chisago City right around 6am. The transisition area was a bit hectic with lots of bikes piled one on top of the other. After getting my body marked I was barely able to get a good warm up in...I wasn't sure what to expect in this race and with other things going on last week I wasn't totally focused on the race, but I was excited to be there and see what I could do.

The swim was good, finished in 33 minutes with some change. Transisition was okay, this was the first time I decided to wear socks because I was afraid I would get blisters on the run, so that was a bit slower. The bike was really good, I felt good, but really had no idea what I was doing...I just remember the advice I got to always feel like I could go harder and no go out too fast. My goal was to keep my pace around 20mph, which I did, and ended up with a 2:33 bike, 21.7 average, I was happy with that. The run was BRUTAL, along with the heat and possibly not re-fueling right on the bike I felt absolutely horrible, or maybe that was what suffered with other things on the mind the previous week. Either way, the run is what made the Half Ironman, extremely hard. By far the toughest and the worse I could remember feeling...But I did make it though, no walking, with a 1:41 time, which I wasn't too upset with. My overall time was 4:50.47, 12th overall for women . I was very pleased with how I did, just wish I would have felt better on the run, just a bit better would have been a nice memory for the first Half. Next time though, might have to make myself eat more. Only had three guls of prapetume and three shot blocks, probably not too smart. Nothing on the run except lots and lots of water and some gatorade.

I was amazed with all the talented athletes that I saw at this race. The competition among women (and men of course) the was there as always, and is definetly something to live up to!

Key take away: Experience and practice.

First Post!

I've never blogged before but think this will be a great way to keep track of my races, workouts, and such....Here is to first experiences, just hope I have time to update for my own sake!