Apple Du 5/26/2012 (sub 20min 5K PR!)

Highlights of the race: Long drive, race is in Sartell. Really well run with the volunteers. Nice bike route but flat. I took Osc to the race because Gabe couldn't make it, and my friend Kim was going to meet me to come watch. I warmed up with Oscar which was fun for him and he got to say hi to all of his fans =) It was fun starting with the super super fast girl in the Elite Wave, I didn't do too bad coming in 4th after the first run. Then lost my 4th place to Tina a really talented triathlete, held steady for 5th overall. My goal was to break 20min in the 5K this race which I did, the bike I felt alright much better after the first 10miles. The course was super flat with a few rolling hills. It started to pour about half way into the bike, and that wasn't fun because my arms and hands froze completely. Into T2 I couldn't undue my helmet, so the time there wasn't too great, once I got on the second run I was feeling off, cold, numb, uncomfortable. My second run was horrible, almost 2min slower than the first run. Not sure if it was the conditions or I just lost focus, but I wasn't too pleased with my time off the bike. Overall it was a great race and I am looking at the positive of breaking 20min in the 5K and also setting forth some goals to maybe focus more on the bricks.

Next up is Liberty first tri of the season! Results 5th Overall Woman 5K, 19:28 (6:16 pace) 33K bike 58:25 21.1 5K run 21:52 7:03 Total time 1:41.46

Season Opener 2012, Oakdale Duathlon...5/12/2012

The day was beautiful, sunny skies and 60's. Unlike last year for sure. I was really excited to race, but was feeling a little off with my stomach after eating some "abnormal" food the night before. I say abnormal because we've been trying to eat more meat and veggies, more of a Paleo style diet. After eating spaghetti and bread (although some of the spaghetti was gluten free) I was sort of feeling bloated by the end of the night and into the morning. The stomach didn't bother me though much once the race started. Highlights of the race: First time using race wheels, awesome!! First run felt great, 5:48 first mile eeek... Bike didn't feel good at all. Just couldn't get the rhythm down and my legs had that burning sensation the whole time, like I couldn't flush the lactate out... Second run was pretty good. At first I was struggling with my hammys being sore but then a few minutes in it wasn't all that bad. I finished in 4th, 3min PR from last year. 1:14:36 3mile run 19:12 (6:24) 0:40 T1 14mile bike 37:19 (22.5) 0:41 T2 2.8 run 16:47 (6:43) 1:14:37 Total Time Key Takeaways: Pay attention when your wave goes off, I missed the elite wave and had to start in the second wave with the men. Maybe that's why I ran that first mile so fast.

Little Osc...running 20miles Saturday April 28th, no problem!

This post is dedicated to remember that Little Oscar ran 20mile with me on Saturday. It was rainy and cold, which probably helped him, since he doesn't do well in the heat. We started from home ran to the lakes where I met Kim (CO) visiting for a friends wedding, and Kim from URBAN aka Kurban (inside joke), they ran with me to the River Road where we watched the Get in Gear and ran some more. Then they stopped due to some foot issues both of them were having, and Osc and I ran the rest of the time (close to another 50min) while watching the race. The last mile I saw Gabe and cheered him on to the finish. He ran the half marathon and PR'd by 3min, 2:07!!! The 20miler was not as brutal as I was thinking it would be. And most of all I was soooo proud of Oscar!!!! He didn't even drink any water even though I tried to give him some. He's a BEAST! These last three weeks have beeen tough with training (lost of intensity, volume 50mile running), but I've been feeling pretty good all in all. Happy to focus on the bike a bit more and not do a longer run until most likely July when I don't have as many races.

Trail Mix 25K April 21th

Highlights of the race: I got a PR, not sure how, but I did. 15min PR from last year, and over a min PR from 2009 where I did the best in this race. Time was just under 2hrs 1:59.9. This race was no joke. Most likely beacuse I hadn't run ANY trails or hills since who knows how long. So I was in some major pain pretty much at the start of the run. I've felt pain before, but this was totally brutal. I'd say 8 out of 10 on the pain threshold. I tried to really focus on my stride and not worry too much about my screaming hammys, calves, and butt. I think that's what got my through, but after finishing I was really happy with how I did. I took a nice ice bath later in the day which worked wonders. I even cooled down somehow after the race with some Run N Fun girls who are super fast! Got some good total miles for the day, and some bragging and whinning rights! All in all it was a good day, and the pain was well worth the PR effort (even if it wasn't a HUGE PR). Next up Oakdale Du May 12th! Total Time: 1:59.9 Division Place 4th, Overall Place for women 14th

Unexpected Recognitions...

I found something in the mail Friday morning and it caught be by surprise big time. It was an Honorable Mention Certificate. When I first opened it I had no idea what this was. I had been doing tri's for three years and had never known that anyone was keeping track. After reading over everything I found out based on my races last year I was ranked among the top in my age group and got the Honorable Mention All American Award along with others in my age group. To get All American you had to be in the top 70, I was 105th, so I have a bit to go, but I earned 89 and some points and the person in 70th place had 91 points. I think the coolest part about it all is that I didn't even know that being apart of USAT Triathlon means you get ranked in races, so now that I do, I can try even harded!!! =) I guess I was trying in 2011, my focus was just IM WI. We'll see what 2012 season has to bring with the addition of a new interest of mine, CF.

A lil bit of this and that

Second post of year and probably a short one. Just got back from Thailand which was absoluetely amazing. Good thing I kept a journal and wrote what we did each day. Also particiapated in the CF Open which was really fun and super competitive. I think next year or at least this is what I am thinking now I'd really like to focus some energy on CF and actually get better. Right now I'm still in the tri mode and it's just too hard to balance all the activities. I did learn that there are ALOT of super strong and talented women in the CF world, which is just so awesome and inspiring for me! Got my bike all tuned up and race wheels ready at Urban Tri this past weekend. I had been really out of it since getting back on Tuesday from Thailand. Have never had such bad jet leg. But I'm glad I found the time to get my bike all ready to go for the season. First race of the season is Oakdale Du May 12th, eeeek! Good thing it's not a tri, need to get into the open water soon! Also ran a 5K a weekend leaving for Thailand the Human Race, did a 20:21 not too bad, 2nd place. I ran hard, but wasn't tapered at all. It was a really good strong effort but I'm hoping I can better that time as I get closer to the season or at least by the end of the season as I keep getting into better shape. Did the 8K after which was sort of a joke not really a race, more trying to get my miles in for that day. It was a really good training run though, so I'm still glad I did it. Excited to get back into training and feel normal after the long vacation!

CF, throwdowns, Thailand, PR's and new opportunites! 2/17/2012

I haven't blogged in a long long time. A lot of new things have happened when it comes to my training...I joined CF, got a sponsorship from Kiwami, got some sweet race wheels, and am working with a coach (more focused on running). Oh and last but for sure not least, I'm going to Thailand March 21st to April 3rd. I am feeling pretty blessed right about now.

CF has been really awesome. I love the workouts and I really feel that they have helped me running and fitness immensely. The workouts are also very humbling. I also tried my hand in something different, doing a CF style competition, they call the throwdown. I've done some Olympic Lifting back in my high school days, so it's been really fun to get back into a competition style which involves some Olympic Lifts as well as some stuff I have never done before (handstand walk). Next feat is to learn some of the movements in CF, such as, double unders in a row (I can do like 20 now as of last Saturday), muscle ups...many more I can't even think of.

I am also feeling very lucky when it comes to getting a sponsorship I received from Kiwami. The director seems very nice and I think the opportunity will be an awesome one for 2012. I started off last year, and this year a bit worried and unsure about what I was doing when it comes to races, but I think I'm finally feeling better about training, and just my goals in general for 2012. For me it has been hard to narrow stuff down since last year I had a major goal of finishing Ironman. After completing this feat it was a bit different because there was really no one single race in mind. After going back and forth a few times (or maybe 10) I finally think I have a schedule down. Another really fortunate thing for me is, I was able to hook up with a running coach, who is also a triathlete (but an amazing running first), and she has already helped me a ton when it comes to organizing my training. I think my major thing was doing too much too soon and burning out before the season was to start. I have only stared working with her, but I am feeling way better, and not overdoing it.

I also set an unofficial PR during a workout with MN red a running group I joined a few months ago. It was at the dome and it was a 3mile or 5K time trail. I did a 19:12 for 3miles. So that's unofficially breaking 20min which is a huge feat for me. I just really hope I have all this energy and strength when the season comes.

Lastly, I'm going on a trip to Thailand in one months. Should be an amazing experience. I am going with a friend from work, Erica, and two of her friends. I'm super pumped and can't really believe I'm going to such an exotic place. I think the trip will be a nice way to get away and relax for me, hopefully! =)

I think that's it for now. Hopefully I'll be blogging more often to come.

PS: I bought some race wheels, disk HED Jet and 60 on the front, used, but I'm super pumped for that also!!!
Also working with a swim coach off and on to improve the stroke.