I am such a bad blogger. I started this post over a month ago. Our local Tri group Chucktown Triathletes is asking my husband and I to blog our Tri journey's so guess I better get this habit going.
Well, here goes….
Parris Island 2013 I started the race very nervous, very excited, and very quiet. This year not quite as nervous because I knew I was going to slay this race. I was very excited because this was my husbands first tri. Still quiet because that is my nature.
We woke up early and refreshed and we met our friend Hank Hanna (www.thebusinessoflosingweight.com) and drove down. Good conversations on the way…one question that came up was "Why am I doing this??". I found it was hard to 'work out'. I could not find a reason to continue with any ritualistic plan. I would start a DVD set and quit or start going to the gym and quit.
I am happy with me…until I look in the mirror.
Then it hit me.
I needed a reason. So I stopped 'working out' and started TRAINING. I started with the running bit with Couch 2 5k and worked myself up to a 5K August of 2012. Then started training for a half marathon the following January 2013.
I still skip days because I am lazy but I found I could TRAIN for something. Once I found Triathlons I was in love. I decided on Triathlons because I looked back into what I loved about activity.
Way back when…1995ish…I met my husband and we would love to watch the ECO Challenges and planned on doing one someday. We were in the Army and both loved challenge and activity. Enter kids, discharge, life and the activity went out the window.
Over the years we lost sight of our dream and put on the pounds. The summer of 2012 we went on a little hike and kayaking trip with our Boy Scout Troop. That spring I realized, hey I need to get into some type of shape, so I started Couch 2 5K.
Needless to say the 25 mile hike on the AT and 25 mile kayak down the French Broad River had me disgusted with myself. I needed something more. So when we returned from that trip I had a little talk with myself (yes the crazies do talk back). I remembered what my original goal was and did an internet search.
ECO Challenges don't happen as often (and aren't big television events anymore) so I searched for the next best thing…IRONMAN. Sure, Why Not. So I set a goal.
I WANT TO DO A FULL IRONMAN BY THE TIME I AM 40.
Sure, Why Not. Now the plan.
Now I can't wait until I am 40 and jump into this so I worked backwards and started out with this...
August 2012 First 5K
January 2013 First Half Marathon.
February 2013 Got a Tri Coach (www.swimbikemom.com)
March 2013 First Sprint Triathlon
September 2013 First Half Ironman
My current goal is to do my first full Ironman in 2015, the year before I turn 40. Hopefully Florida (it's flat there right??). I had planned on 2 Half's this year but Try Charleston intimidated me as a half (my finish time for Augusta was almost an hour and a half after the slowest finisher from Try Charleston 2013)…so maybe Beach to Battleship??
Anyways, back to the other story so this post isn't too long.
Parris Island 2013 vs. 2014.
2013 is copied from my race report to my coach.
The Swim
2013: Watching the fast people zoom across the lanes, noticed a lot of people changed strokes about half way through. Had to pee. Didn’t have to pee when the race started but I didn’t get into the water for an hour due to my seeded spot.
Swim was good for first two laps but then felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. It’s all good and well when practicing by myself in the nice calm water but choppy water is a whole ‘nother thing. Ended up passing two or three people and only a few passed me. Did a lot of back stroke. At the very end a young fit guy passed me on the very last lap, him backstroke and I decided to do front stroke and I passed him getting out of the water, little victory.
2014: All last season I struggled with keeping my face in the water during a race. I could swim for hours during practice but for the life of me couldn't maintain a front stroke during a race. I NAILED IT this year. THE ENTIRE WAY. This swim was worth the whole race. I didn't care how the rest of the race ended because I accomplished that. I was passed, I passed people, but I didn't care because my face was in the water.
500m swim
2013: 15:56
2014: 14:14
 |
| 2013 Swim Exit |
 |
| 2014 Swim Exit |
I have to say the swim exit at this race SUCKS!!! The gravel in transition SUCKS!!! My bike was farther away then last year is all I can say but T1 times sucked both years.
T1
2013: 2:19
2014: 2:17
The Bike
2013:
Very cold because of the windy day. Thank goodness I brought a light jacket, think the extra time in T1 was from the gravelly road we had to jog across and wiping down my arms to put on the jacket. Not too disoriented. I (blush) had not practiced transitions except in my mind.
Bike bad. Couldn’t catch my breath. Bad head wind in the beginning. Feet went numb quickly. Outside edges of queen area hurt, maybe instead of plain bike shorts under tri suit wear my extra padded cycling shorts? (Gotta wear something under the suit because I didn't know it was see through when I bought it). Or build up that area and remember to put on aquaphor. Need to learn to use gears better. Need to get cycling shoes and pedals. Still have to pee. Thought about it a few times about going in the seat like Chrissie but couldn’t bring myself to it.
2014:
New Bike. Tri Bike. I love my Baby Blue/Jillian. The Dark blue was the Blue Devil and now my husbands bike. It was too big for me. I decided to wear socks because it was a bit chilly and my toes will turn white if I am cold. I purposefully did not wear aquaphor this year because, after all, it was ONLY 10 miles. No real excitement or ephiphanies on the ride except I ROCKED IT!!
10 miles
2013: 52:15
2014: 41:57
 |
| 2013 Bike |
 |
| 2014 Bike |
T2
2013: 1:11
2014: 1:26
The Run
2013: Run. Balls of feet and toes still numb from the bike. Ran two poles walked one. Ran one walked two. At the end of run some people were getting into their car cheering me on (because I was the only one running for like miles) and a girl said oh, swim bike mom, cool (visor). They called someone else's name as I crossed the finish line (boo hoo). I said that’s not me and they shrugged shoulders (I felt so insignificant…ya I was almost last but I deserve a name calling too). I made sure my race number was visible. I should have made a bigger deal but then this guy was reaching down taking off my timing chip and I was like woah! Okay, move on. All I wanted was something to drink and I couldn’t find it and got caught in the food gaggle and the people wouldn’t let me out. So I told them ‘just let me out’, the parting of the waves, I was kind of disoriented. And then….Ahhhh, found some lemonade. Found a porta potty. All in all I survived.
2014: Still did some run/walking but not as much. I could have done better. I wasn't hurting, no blisters, lungs felt fine, no pukey feeling. Regret not pushing myself more on the run this year.
5K
2013: 38:34
2014: 36:14
 |
| 2013 Run |
 |
| 2014 Run |
Overall
2013: 1:50:13
2014: 1:36:06
Yes, I rocked 2014 by shaving almost 16 minutes off my time. Newbie vs. 2nd season. It can only get better.
Oh, and I beat my husband by 2 minutes…I shouldn't gloat as this was his first and he did awesome but I am competitive and all.
2014: 1:36:06
Yes, I rocked 2014 by shaving almost 16 minutes off my time. Newbie vs. 2nd season. It can only get better.
Oh, and I beat my husband by 2 minutes…I shouldn't gloat as this was his first and he did awesome but I am competitive and all.
