Wildflower 2015: Learning to RACE HARD!

Every once in a while, you do a race that gives you new perspective... for me, this race was the Wildflower Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday, May 3, 2015.

Here's a recap of race weekend and the amazing adventure that is Wildflower!

Wildflower: Learning to RACE HARD!

Champions of Wildflower! Inspiring stairs!

Wildflower is a really special race that every triathlete should experience.  It has a long history that goes back to 1983 and is known by many as the "Woodstock of triathlon."  There are multiple distance (mountain bike, olympic, half iron) races for all to enjoy, and it hosts an incredible festival lasting all weekend. 

I've always wanted to race Wildflower, but it never worked with my schedule... until this year!  Since I raced the HITS Napa half earlier in the same month, I opted for the Olympic distance race.  Due to the extreme drought in CA over the past few years, the olympic distance course format was: 1500m swim, 2.2mi run, 24.8mi bike ride, 4mi run.  Many people seem to be avoiding the race in its newest format (swim - run - bike - run), but I genuinely think this adds to the amazing adventure, and is not to be missed!

 

 

Race Report Summary:

parking lot scenery

This was an incredible experience for me!  I enjoyed every moment of the weekend from making new, inspiring friends before the race, to digging deep to charge up (most of) those beautiful hills on race day, and finishing just off my (really deep, 5-person) age group podium.  I learned how to truly RACE HARD, and am eager to get back out there and tri again! 

Race report...long edition:

Pre-race notes:

I opted out of the camping this time and stayed close by in King City.  The drive to and from the race site from this location took about 50 minutes on scenic back roads.  The day before the race, I checked my bike and run gear in T1b/T2 to make race morning easier.  I also wanted to check out the general race site since this was my first trip to Wildflower.  Next time I'd skip this trip, but it did make me feel more relaxed for this first Wildflower adventure.  One challenge to leaving gear the day before the race was figuring out how to weigh it down (it was really windy!) and also how to keep bottles filled with sports drink from getting funky.  I decided to leave the bottles in bags with frozen cooler packs and that seemed to work (but added a little transition time during the race).   I also left most of my other gear in a bag as well so I wouldn't lose any of it.

Another bonus for checking into the event the day prior to the race, was that I met some great folks out there.  I met Heidi from Love to Move Productions (Mermaid Series events previously).  She's an inspiring athlete who rocked the Wildflower Mountain bike race and had just finished a 105mi run to raise funds for her Mini Mermaid Running Club for girls.  I have raced a few Mermaid events and always thought they were incredibly well organized and encouraging for athletes of all levels.  I said a quick hello and congrats, thanked her for all she does, and got back to race prep!  

I also chatted with a few of the challenged athlete foundation racers on my 2 mile hike (literally) back to the parking area after race check in.  These athletes were super cool, and one of them, Mary, was featured in the event program!  I cheered extra loudly when I saw her racing hard on the bike course the next day! 

After a few snacks in the car, I headed back to the hotel for the pasta dinner that I packed.  Then off to bed early so I could dream of cruising up all those hills!!!

Swim: 28:25

It was really chilly on race morning (around 40 degrees F) so when I arrived at the race day parking area, I bundled up in all my RED gear (shirt, jacket, plus hoodie!) and boarded one of the later shuttles down to the swim start.  The shuttles ran until 8:30am but my swim start was at 9:55am... so I was trying to get on the latest shuttle I could!  The shuttle ride was quick and the athletes were friendly, so it was a nice ride down to T1a!

There was a pretty hilarious commentary from folks getting off the shuttle and heading down to T1a... Everyone took a look at where/how they wanted us to set up our transition bags (to transport our gear after swim) and were saying how much of a mess it looked like and how insane the hill looked coming out of the water.  I also had so much time there, I made friends with the other folks in the later swim waves who were also patiently waiting to begin their race.  I met some really nice athletes from the Golden Gate Tri Club and appreciated their company!  It was also really cold (40F for shuttle ride) at the start for the early waves but the fog lifted by the time I got in the water, and I was sweating in my wetsuit after walking about 100m down to the swim start!

Note to self:  wait until the very last minute to zip up your wetsuit if it is getting warmer!  I waited a while but ended up in the full suit for about 10min prior to the start, and that was way too long!
  
We had 5 minutes to warm up after the prior wave started, and I was excited to get into the water!  I found a good starting position in the front/center and went hard from the start.  Unfortunately, as I tried to keep on feet of front few gals the two ladies next to me decided to simultaneously swim into me, and then I couldn't catch the leaders since I had to completely stop and swim behind/around my new sidekicks.  No worries - I probably couldn't have kept up with the first swimmer as she swam like a dolphin!  The kayakers were really great at keeping us on track as we navigated the busy course.  I swam a little wide on the return trip by accident (rectangular course, diagonal from shore) as I was sighting off the exit buoy rather than the line of intermediate buoys.  I also somehow swam through a bunch of tree branches, twice?  I am still not sure how there was a tree underwater or why the paddleboard dude didn't warn anyone (since he was right there?).  The first shrubbery/tree I was able to navigate through, but the second forced me to stop and go around.  Will have a better strategy next time and will hold a tighter line to buoys!  (we were the last wave before relays so it was interesting out there by the time we hit the water... So many people all over the place!)  I definitely need to go for a few more open water swims to work on sighting/navigating.

View from the hike back to the car from the expo... Lake is out there somewhere! We need rain here in CA!!!

T1: 8:23 

T1 consisted of a T1a, where we scaled a long hill / boat ramp and packed up our wetsuit/swim gear to be transported to finish, and T1b where we got all our bike gear.  This transition time wasn't too bad for running up a huge ramp and packing all swim gear plus unpacking my bike bottles/bike gear I dropped the night before at T1b.  

Run 1: 2.2mi between T1a & T1b

This was a somewhat conservatively paced run on sandy trails... I actually had not seen this part of the course yet, and figured it would have been flatter than it was, but it was a nice challenging warmup for the bike!  Always great to run up two different steep boat ramps in one run!!!

Bike: 24.8mi,  1:34:30

After getting on my bike, I did ok at maintaining good pace throughout using Coach Jim's technique of rocking out to some heavy metal/rock in my head!  I passed a ton of people (which was new for me!) and no one in my AG passed me.  I even made it up some of the less steep inclines in the big chain ring without realizing it until the top, so at least I was trying to push the pace as much as possible.  The course was super crowded at this point and passing was actually really difficult in a few sections which also slowed me down (can't believe I am even saying this - I am not complaining, but just an observation, as I was apparently on a mission out there!!!).  Why don't people ride to the right!?!  This was actually driving me nuts for a while, but then I really didn't want to be the jerk yelling on the bike at such a low key event.  Seriously though, I have never seen so many people riding in the center/left of the lane... slowly... with oncoming traffic/racers in the other lane!!!  AAAAHHHH! :)  I am assuming they didn't realize the older gals were coming through to destroy the old guys up those hills! :)  Kidding...  Next race I'm sure I'll get put in my place even verbalizing that here!  I also learned here that it is really easy to just follow everyone else riding casually through the course at that time.  Caught myself a few times starting to sit back more comfortably since everyone else seemed to be doing the same since it was a pretty tough ride... but then I snapped out of it quickly!  This bike portion provided excellent mental training! 

T2: uneventful, 2:30

 

Run 2:

This second run was not terrible, but also not great.  I started off ok... I was moving past people, but I think I was starting to feel the heat pretty early into this run.  I also realized I should have taken in more salts earlier in the race.  I ran/walked intervals up the big hill and realized that if I am walking, I can still walk/hike with purpose!  FYI: The race officials weren't kidding about the run being hilly - some stairs out of transition to set the tone and a mile long hill toward the beginning!?!  Awesome!  I took a few walk breaks throughout the run course to drink more sports drink, which I managed to add to my bottle this time :) and finally took off like a crazy person down long Lynch Hill toward the finish.  If I wiped out doing this it would have been spectacular, but ugly!!!  Luckily I managed to keep my feet under me the entire time! 

I also saw some really interesting stuff out there on the run course: good running costumes, a full moon at one station, a beer bong at an unofficial aid station...and witnessed 2 college guys actually visit this station while on course, which was hilarious.  Much more tame than stories from previous years, but still very entertaining!

Total run time:  56:13

Rockin the new RPM tri jersey!

Finish time: 3:10:01 (6th AG, 37th female) 

I don't usually write about my place/how I did overall, but this might be my best finish (ever) at a bigger event, so I felt I needed to write it down for encouragement for future racing!  

Not too bad for my 4th olympic distance race ever!  I shouldn't be surprised that I still have so much to learn when looking at my race history... I apparently used to just enter random races that sounded interesting without really paying much attention to what I was doing at any of them.  This is totally great for having fun experiences and getting to know the sport, but it might be a tough way to learn how to race hard!  The only other olympic distance tris I've done are NYC in '08 (really unique event!), Mermaid Santa Cruz '13 which was pretty challenging 2 weeks after my Tahoe DNF (felt like I needed to finish a race!), and then the Desert Tri last year ('14) with the RED team.  All really different races, but great experiences!

Here are a few random side notes:

Notes on Transitions...

* I shouldn't have racked the bike the night before if I wanted to save T1/2 time...I had to leave most of the gear in my bag for the most part because it was super windy, so that meant unpacking/sorting for T1b/T2.  Even 2 min saved in transition would have made a big difference in the racing side of things... I didn't expect to be that close to the leading gals in my AG.  Now I know better!  :)

packed a donut as a post race treat!

Notes on Race Nutrition...

* This could still use some work! I had my usual oatmeal breakfast (w/ almond butter, craisins), and some snacks while waiting for the swim (banana, few bites of rice cake).  Out of the water, I ate a Honey Stinger gel and a few gulps of sports drink to fuel the 2mi run.  On the bike I had 2 bottles of Scratch Labs lemons & limes, a picky bar, 2 gels, and 2/3 sleeve of shot blocks.  This was too much as it was heavy in my stomach during the run.  Next time I may stick to gels/blocks and avoid solids for this distance race. On the run I drank Scratch Labs Orange (in my run bottle) and had 1 gel (about 20min into the run).

 

 

Notes on the Event...


* I am really glad I experienced Wildflower - such a cool event!  Incredibly well organized for what I can only imagine is one big logistical nightmare. 

* It was good to get a slight lay of the land on Saturday, and I met some great folks during that excursion.  

* Most people I met were really cool at this event!  It was so great to be at an event with a lot of good athletes (many folks rockin Kona gear / racing fast) but very few DBs (most of the DBs probably aren't tough enough to handle the ego crushing course or the crazy encouraging college kids everywhere).

* This course has the best volunteers!!! Hands down, the most enthusiastic I have ever seen!  Many of them college students who were super thrilled to be out there for the weekend.  Thanks so much to all of you for the cheers, the help on course, and the "splash" on the run course (they ask, and then throw much appreciated cups of water at you as you run by).

 
* Thanks Coach Jim, for dealing with my ridiculousness and helping me learn a ton each race!  I am really proud to be able to race these tough events and finish strong!  After this race, I am definitely eager to get out there and have another go at pushing the pace, all race!  


Ready to RACE HARD! 

Let's Get RED! 

Ready to RACE HARD - My Favorite Race Day Tips!

Amateur Hour: Things I learned by listening to the best... or the hard way, by making countless race-day mistakes!


It's race week again, woohoo!!!  
To celebrate the awesome occassion of a few friends racing their first tri ever (Go Bri!) or first Olympic-distance tri (Go Amanda! Go Matt!)... I wanted to share a few things to help make race day more fun.  I approach each new experience as an opportunity to learn something, and I've gathered some tips that I use to help me tri to RACE HARD each time I toe the line.
Please note: my blog is titled Lost in Transition... and I am an everyday AG athlete... Use these tips with caution! :)

always have smileys on your swim cap :)

MENTAL PREP: TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

• Think positive thoughts!  Before IM CdA last year, I tweeted something positive every day starting one month before race day.  I also tried to train / race with a few mantras.  There are actually quite a few pros who use these techniques as well.  An excellent article about the power of positivity and training your brain is Chrissie Wellington's article for CNN.  (See some more great examples and tips on her blog and her 220 Triathlon article).  For a great article on using mantras, check out Jesse Thomas' Triathlife column on Mantra Power.  Having a positive attitude and drawing up on positive memories from training / life definitely keep you moving forward no matter how your race day unfolds.

Aero HC water bottle all marked up & ready to race!

• Add positive messages & smileys to your gear!  I always mark up my swim cap, write on my water bottle, as well as rock a smiley on my calf when I race (if they do calf body-marking), because it helps to have something close by to make me smile and keep me motivated out there on the course!  Plus, these things give you perspective and can be a great reminder to not take yourself too seriously (even if you are trying to be the best at exercising!).

• Draw strength from successful past workouts when times get tough during a race.  This goes along with the positive thoughts mentioned above / mantras.  There are probably some workouts that stand out in your head because they were rough, but they marked a turning point, a new milestone, or just a day where you survived a tough workout.  One workout I drew upon last year was my longest run heading into IMCdA... I was feeling aweful from something I ate.  So bad I had to run home to use the restroom, ate some pretzels to settle my stomach, and then headed out to finish the workout.  Knowing I could rally past feeling so terrible told me I was ready! (and hoped not to revisit that feeling)  I can still remember the song playing on my playlist when I reached the end of that tough workout and it was about a year ago now! 

Surviving the frigid swim at my first iron-distance race (IM Tahoe) was a huge victory after a complete mid-water melt down. (I later DNF'd after missing a bike cutoff, but that swim is still the toughest I've completed to date!)

Blazeman roll across the IMCdA finish line

• Be inspired by others.  Find people who inspire you and focus on them while training or racing.  Thinking about my new tri friends and my teammates from camp keep me moving on tough training days.  I can hear them cheering from afar on race day!  I also try to support great causes whenever I can.  Consider becoming a charity racer for a cause you hold dear at a big race - this gives you additional motivation to push yourself and cross that finish line!  If you have never watched the IMWC coverage of John Blais racing in 2005 or the first Blazeman Warrior, Brian Breen, racing in 2006, you should check both out and Blazeman roll over your next finish line!  

GEAR PREP:

  See full-size, triathlon race day packing lists below!

 

• Make a packing list...& check it twice!  Lists help you make sure you bring any/all gear you might need... Be creative on this one and consider all types of weather depending on the time of year / location.  In CA, our weather changes all the time and each area has really distinct weather patterns.  You may need to plan for fog, cooler temps in the morning (jacket/sweatshirt) but hot sun in the afternoon (tank top/sunscreen).  Bring a headlamp if it will be dark in transition.  Be sure all your gear is ready to go and in good working order before traveling to the race site.  Use the USA Triathlon app so you don't have to remember your card!

Pack a post race donut! (these were for WF)

• Bring familiar foods to snack on during all your registration / check in craziness, race day breakfast, and even pre-race dinner!  You may also want to pack a special post-race treat! 

Hiking back to the car after WF check in

• Be early for packet pickup / race gear drop off.  If you plan to go early, then you'll still have plenty of time if something comes up or travel takes longer than planned.  Take your time and stay relaxed during check in as best you can.  Bring snacks and sports drink to stay fueled - at some races, check in may involve a hike or spending a long time in the sun!  Be sure to check out the course and all entrances/exits from transition.

RACE DAY:

• Swim: don't focus on how far the course looks in open water!  You've swam that distance in training (or close to it) and are fit enough to make it through no problem!  Also: the swim portion is a full-contact sport.  Don't freak out if you get hit / pushed under the water / swum over.  Usually this happens by accident because triathletes tend to not always swim in straight lines and don't always have the best control over their limbs in water.  If this happens, take a moment to catch your breath, get your bearings and get back to your race!  Harness the awesome power of Dory, and "just keep swimming!" 

HITS Napa Valley Full/Half swim course

focusing on the bike...

• Bike: Sing a heavy metal song to yourself to keep moving fast!  I tried this last race...and it worked!  Thanks for the tip, Coach Jim.   :)  Rock on!

• Have a plan & stick to it!  It always helps to plan ahead.  If you took the time to train be sure to spend some time making a race day plan: What are your goals for the day? What are your goals for each part of the race?  Also, have some ideas of what to do if your race doesn't go according to the original plan... Being prepared will help you stay calm no matter what happens.  For example, think about your race day nutrition...What if you have GI distress or even start puking?  (see Coach Jim's IM Cabo race report)  What food can you eat to settle your stomach?  What if that first choice isn't available?  (side note: if you do have an upset stomach... try bananas or pretzels - they both help!) 

• Don't be a DB (or Aero A-hole).   I don't like to sound negative, but this is really the only thing you should NOT do on race day (other than cheat, because cheaters never win). There is no reason to act like a jerk!  These races are for fun, and unless you are pro, winning isn't your job, so calm the heck down and try encouraging others to play your sport rather than intimidating them.  If you meet a DB out there, ignore them (see below) and be sure to remind them that second place is first loser.  If that doesn't shut them up, then remind them that they can have ice cream after the race but they don't get any sprinkles, because sprinkles are for winners.

• Ignore the unfriendly folks & don't let anyone's muscles, fancy gear, or bragging about past events get to you.  You worked hard, so trust your training and race your own race!  Don't hang out at any race registration too long if hearing people brag about post races gets you down.  Also know that all you need to race a tri is a swimsuit, goggles, helmet, bike, sneakers, shirt / shorts, and your heart.  Fancy gear doesn't make you race well - YOU make you race well!  Stick to your plan and kick butt on the course!

Thanks Coach Jim! (thanks Megan for the photo!)

• Believe in yourself & believe in your coach!  Trust your training!  On race day, keep your goals realistic (and don't be afraid to adjust them as needed - anything can happen out there!).  Stay focused, have fun, and celebrate your training with a great day out on the course!  For some great advice on believing in yourself and your coach, check out the latest RPM blog post by Coach Jim.

• Race with what you've got!  You may have also heard the saying: train your weakness, race your strength.  Keep in mind this awesome quote from Laurel Wassner:  "It's about using what you have - doing the best you can do with what you possess. Not worrying about what others have or what could be better... and do it with a smile!" (from @athletestyle instagram) (Laurel and Rebecca Wassner are 2 of my favorite athletes!).  Also see Rinny's inspiring Kona performance from 2014 when she broke her marathon course record and won despite starting the run 14 minutes behind the leader!  

Try your best to smile at the end of every race & thank all those who helped you!

• Race with gratitude!  You don't have to race; you get to race, so please be grateful to those who helped you get there and who are helping you on race day!  Say thanks to the volunteers whenever possible!

• Be proud of finishing & smile regardless of how the day goes!

Remember to have fun out there & always RACE HARD!

swim gear packing list

bike gear packing list

run gear packing list

First Race of 2015: HITS Napa Valley Half

I'm really excited about racing this season with the Red Performance Multisport team!  I've already had some fun days out on the course making new friends and seeing new places... now it's time to catch up on race reports! 

After starting the year off with a Hawaiian vacation (which led to every Friday being Aloha Friday!) and a team triathlon training camp (which resulted in some great new friends and great motivation to work hard), it seemed fitting to kick off the race season with a half iron distance triathlon... in early April... 

Here is recap of my (somewhat) recent adventure in wine country!  
(next race report coming soon: Wildflower Olympic !)

HITS Napa Valley Half Race Report

Lake Berryessa, CA - HITS Napa Valley Half, April 11, 2015 (Most photo credits go to Larry)

One month ago... I raced the HITS Napa Valley half iron distance triathlon and volunteered at the sprint / olympic race.  I had an incredible time racing and helping out at this excellent series!  Racing was fun, but some of the greatest highlights of the weekend for me included: having Larry there for early morning support (so awesome!), being able to cheer for my pal, Amanda, as she and her husband raced Sunday, and meeting a social media friend, Cathryn, in person for the first time!  Such amazing, sporty gals with wonderful families!

Chilly morning, but all smiles!

 

If you haven't raced a HITS event yet, I highly recommend them!  Such a cool series with a low key, grassroots vibe.  The event organizing team is excellent, and they go out of their way to provide a wonderful racing experience for all athletes.

The short edition of the race report: the race went ok!  It was a really interesting day across a really hilly course with a dramatic swing in temperature (45F at swim start/finish and close to maybe 80F on the run?).  It was really fun to get out there, shake off the cobwebs, and run back into race mode at an event with a supportive, community vibe.

Keep reading for a much longer, ridiculously detailed race report! 

 

 

Waving to the camera (look over left shoulder of the gal in wetsuit with red back!)

Swim  37:19

Before the swim start, I found my #1 supporter, Larry, and got all my gear (somewhat) set up.  While wrestling my wetsuit on outside transition, I was really excited that I ran into Cathryn and her family!  It was so great to meet them, and it was fun to hang out for a little while we waited for the swim start!

I was eagerly awaiting the swim because it was a mass start!  This was actually the first time I experienced one of these, because all other events either had rolling starts (aka, organized mass start) or wave starts.  The mass start was fun, except I was not in the best spot when it was go time... (see photo above)

After entering the water, I swam the first 20m or so with my head out of the water to find some space and to stay on a straight path toward the first buoy.  Once I had some space to swim, I put my head down and started swimming at a consistent pace.  I looked for someone to draft off, but no one near me was swimming straight toward that first buoy, so I harnessed my inner Dory and just kept swimming! (- Finding Nemo)

The course was sort of a triangle, and I managed to sight properly and swim a pretty tight line toward the first three buoys.  After rounding the final buoy, I decided to push myself a little harder because my pace felt really comfortable up to this point.  Unfortunately, it was somewhat difficult to sight the swim exit from this buoy and the curvy shoreline was not helping... so I proceeded to kick it into a higher swim gear... in the wrong direction!  Luckily, I looked up to sight after some dude swam diagonally across my line.  I seriously thought to myself... wow, he's totally swimming the wrong way!?!  Then I paused to look for the swim exit...and realized I was the one swimming off course! Oops!!  Thank you, random swimmer dude, for redirecting me!   

Note to self: be sure to sight more frequently, especially when excited!

Upon exiting the water, I climbed the steep hill up to T1 and saw Larry cheering, which was awesome!  The water was relatively chilly (mid-high 50s, maybe?) and my feet were numb by the end of the swim, so I decided to walk up half the wall toward transition (genuinely worried about tripping over my big cold feet).  So nice of the race organizers to lay down some carpet to keep our frozen feet happy!

Positive swim note:  I was surprised to feel like I could have kept swimming that pace for another loop!  This is a positive sign for another full-distance attempt!    

T1

The HITS transition area was incredible - so much space, everyone had a seat, and the racks had bins to keep extra gear out of the way!  By far the most organized, athlete-friendly transition area I have ever seen! 

The swim exit ramp was definitely steeper than it appears here!

 

Bike  3:35

This course was interesting, with some long climbs to test your endurance as well as many fun, rolling hills.  The scenery was beautiful and definitely different from most of the typical Napa vineyard landscapes you experience on your wine tasting visits.  I drove the course the day before the race, and it appeared to be a lot hillier and more remote than I expected.  I knew this part of the race was going to be an adventure - and a potentially lonely one as there were a small number of competitors heading out there.
 

My goal for the bike ride was to be consistent and stay within the heart rate (HR) zones Coach Jim set for me.  Mission accomplished on this one (for the most part)!  

I did not do as well with my nutrition... I managed to drink about a bottle of scratch labs an hour (which was good for me) and ate a bunch of somewhat random stuff (2 picky bars, 2 gels, snack bag of pretzels, pack of shot blocks, & packet of maple almond butter).  I thought I forgot my second bar, so I went for the emergency almond butter packet in my bento box instead.  I will not make this substitution in the future, for sure!  That almond butter ended up mostly all over me / my face / my gear, and then sat like a nutty rock in my belly.  Not the best choice, but at least I properly field tested this fuel source in race mode now!  Overall, this wasn't terrible in terms of calorie intake, but I may cut back on the variety next time!  

Bundled up for the ride!

I also had 2 quick stops on the bike relating to nutrition.  One was around mile 15 to unlock the cap on a water bottle handed to me by volunteer (rockstar volunteer manning aid station solo at a turnaround that got really busy as I rode through & my bottle opening skills on the fly are not great).  The second quick pit-stop  was around mile 45 (bladder couldn't handle the cold temps and bumpy road anymore).

I also realized that I need to get a little tougher in terms of temperature tolerance.  It was pretty chilly out (somewhere around 45F at the start?) but not freezing, however, my fingers and feet were numb for almost the entire ride.    

Note to self: always come prepared with full finger gloves at early season races or races in locations where it may randomly snow (a ridiculous, but legitimate, concern from a previous race)!

Overall, I rode at a reasonable pace where I wasn't flying up any of the hills by any means, but I made it through the bike feeling like I could run hard for a few miles, which was good progress!

Positive bike note: I consistently rode up all the hills feeling pretty good physically and mentally.  I definitely feel stronger than I was last year at this time in the season!  Thanks, Coach Jim!  

Run course had lake views and bridge crossing!

T2

Overall transition was fairly uneventful & I was finally warming up!  I took another pit stop (which added a bunch of time here) and then headed out on the run!

Run  2:13 

I ran out of T2 feeling strong!  I was well inside my target HR zone and was running a quick pace (for me) until the hill around mile marker 1... where pace dropped, but my HR was still within the goal zone.  At this point I also realized I made a complete knucklehead mistake... and my water bottle was filled with water**... not Scratch labs mix!?!  I am an idiot.  I know how well I do without salt... but thought that maybe I'll be fine after loading up on the bike... and knowing they have aid stations every 1.5 mile...  

First mistake: not adding mix to my run bottle.  Second mistake (almost worse): attempting to drink their electrolyte drink which may have been HEED?  More like heave...  (no offense Hammer - the drink just disagreed with my belly every time I've had it).  It was bad, and of course I drank some at 2 aid stations... and then my stomach revolted (around mile 4-5ish).  My legs were starting to feel tired from the day of hills, but they were still moving pretty well.  Unfortunately, my gut was also moving...and I was forced to slow down dramatically (actually to a complete stop a few times).  I did manage to eat a Honey Stinger gel every 20min, and was able to add a few pretzels, water, and even a little coke after the halfway turnaround. 

Note to self: always take a sip out of each bottle before the race starts...to make sure there is sports drink in there!!!

Entrance/Exit for run course

 

I ran up as much and as many of the hills as I could with the stomach issues and tired legs.  I can handle puking on a course, but this type of issue would require a costume change if things got really bad, and I guess that's where I draw the line. (Yes, it was that bad!)  I did feel better after a few walking breaks, but there was no way to really push the pace on the second half of the run as I had hoped to.  By this time of the day, it was getting pretty warm out (in the 80s?), so my new ice-cold sponge friends (from aid station) were also helping make everything feel better!

Positive Run Note: I can force myself through a long run while having serious gut issues, if I have to (and still consume gels and water).  This was also the hilliest half marathon I have ever attempted on roads!    

Volunteering and Cheering at Sunday's Race:

 
The next morning, I happily woke up early and returned to the venue to volunteer for the sprint and olympic distance races.  I was super excited to cheer for my friends, Amanda and Matt, who were racing their first tri!!!  It was great catching up with them while carbo-loading earlier in the week, and I was thrilled to be there supporting their first tri!  It always makes me really happy to play it forward whenever I can!  They are great athletes, and I knew this was going to be an excellent day for them!

Sunrise over transition at the oly/sprint races

 

I planned on volunteering for just a few hours at the start, but ended up staying for most of the race, as I was having a good time helping out with everything from body marking to monitoring the bike mount/dismount line for the entire race. 

My body-marking skills do need a little work... sorry to the one dude who's number I messed up!  Don't worry - mine got messed up at the next race as payback!  This was a really fun job, and I was happy to be able to help a lot of first time racers in transition.  I joked around with one athlete when he was surprised we weren't marking ages on calves.  I told him that he will just have to beat everyone... and he did!  Awesome!  I also got a few smiley requests, and drew a star and even a fun little fish for my friend!   

It was great to be there to see my friends race through transition and have such huge smiles at the end of the race!  Many congrats to the triathletes, Amanda and Matt, for diving head first into this new sport!  I look forward to racing, training, and carbo-loading with you both!
 

Sunday transition area

 

  

Fond Memories!

Overall, this was a great weekend I'll always remember!  I'll definitely draw upon these positive memories for motivation at my upcoming races!  Thank you to everyone who cheered for me on and off the course, especially Larry.  Thank you, Coach Jim, for all the great training, support, and encouragement always.  Thank you Cathryn and Amanda for the inspiration to be a strong, sporty gal like you! 

Other random HITS event / venue notes:

This area is beautiful, but somewhat tough to get to (at least 45 minutes to 1 hour on winding back roads to the next city with lodging in any direction).  The road surface was a bit rough in spots, so if you ride up here, be sure to tighten all bike bolts!  I was really impressed with the event organization and helpful volunteers.  HITS knows what they are doing, and they definitely make everyone feel welcome at their events!