What do you say when there's nothing to say? Or, maybe, it's because there's everything to say?
I don't know what happened this year. I had things I wanted to do, races I wanted to race ... but perhaps I didn't want it badly enough. I'm pretty sure I touched on this earlier this year, but it is entirely possible (quite probable) that after 100 or so races, the finish line didn't mean enough anymore.
A year or two ago, at the former Tuesday Evenings at Skirt Sports series, Siri Lindley spoke. Siri, if you don't know, is a former pro triathlete and current high-profile triathlon coach. She's coached Hillary Biscay; she currently coaches Mirinda Carfrae (and, if you're not a tri geek like me, you may have seen Brian Aubuchon's story around IM Boulder of a guy who kept trying and failing at the distance (though he finally finished IM Mont Tremblant)). A big thing she (and indeed, most of the world) mentioned was finding your why. Why you train. Why you race. You need to figure out your why because it is your why that keeps you going.
I have to admit; I struggled with this more than I possibly should have. At the time, I said I train because I like the race - that the finish line feels like no other. I race IRONMAN because I actually like the marathon part. I'm not competitive (except with myself) and I know deep within that if I can just get to the run, I will get to the finish line (and nothing is like an IRONMAN finish line. Nothing.). But ... if that's the finish line feeling I love ... and if I'm not always racing 140.6 miles at a pop ... why am I racing at all?
This personal existential crisis, combined with frustration about climbing weight and a run that kept getting shittier and shittier (seemingly) no matter what I did ... well, I guess it's no surprise that everything exploded this year.
I started the year just fine, like I usually do. I think. As far as I can remember. But looking back, I can tell the fire just wasn't there. I recall at one point in late May, I believe, trying to cram for my sprint tri (that I DNFed), that I just wondered what I was doing. I know I didn't have purpose and that I was trying to force it.
So, I quit. I decided to move if it felt good, ate whatever, went hiking a lot, tried playing hockey again.
And it was fine, for a little while.
But I know that eating whatever will cause me to gain weight and I am not happy with how squishy I am. How I'm thankful I pretty much live in athleisure (Skirt Sports for the win) because most of my regular clothes look like absolute shit on me. I thought I bottomed out in September, but as not much has changed, clearly not.
And then I wonder, what is wrong with me? No, seriously, what the fuck is wrong with me? I hate being slow, I hate being squishy ... but apparently not enough to want to change? Am I just going to have to learn to choke down green juices and kombucha and quinoa kale salads and beets and all the things that are super healthy for me but trigger my gag reflex when I try to consume them? I cannot tell you how many times I've made protein pancakes and tried to eat a whole serving before giving up and throwing them away because my throat revolted when I tried to make it swallow another bite.
Our bodies have a funny way of recognizing trauma, and I think mine remembers 2007. Back in 2007, I was working at 24 Hour Fitness and in general, feeling pretty shitty about myself compared to all my coworkers. My birthday gift to myself that year was the bodybugg (hey remember that?). That whole summer I remember being obsessed with hitting the numbers. Spending hours in the gym (partially training for my first triathlon which was a lone bright spot that summer). Obsessively tracking my food to make sure I ate enough protein and stayed within my fat range. As I (kind of) joke about it now, I lived on egg beaters, oatmeal, fish, and vegetables. I ate low-fat/fat-free cheese (which is an abomination) and turkey sausage. If I were to do anything like, god forbid, eat ice cream, I would either work out extra to compensate or go to the ColdStone a mile and a half from the house and walk there and back so that it would be okay.
I also remember not losing weight, no matter what I did. Not losing the inches. I remember being absolutely miserable around everyone. It is why, to this day, I hesitate tracking my food closely because I fear/believe it will send me straight back to crazy town.
But if I was miserable with my physical body then, and I'm miserable with my physical body now ... does it matter how I'm miserable? Should I just fight my gag reflex and my taste buds and forcefeed myself to stomach the aforementioned healthy foods because at least then I'll be healthy while I'm miserable?
How bad do I want it? How bad do you have to want it? How do you change it into a lifestyle? They say it takes 21 days to make a habit. I went two or three months without a day off from working out - that should in theory mean that working out is a habit, right? But then I got a little sick. I hopped back on the train when I was better, and that worked for a week or two ... but then I got the flu and right as I was maybe starting to get over that, we went on vacation. Since then, it has been damn near impossible to get back going again.
I have plans, big plans, for 2019. A half-marathon in April, a 70.3 in June ... and in September, I plan on returning to the 140.6 distance at IM Wisconsin. I also am planning on doing a 10,000m swim (okay, 10,100m) for my birthday (instead of a 100x100, I'm doing a monster pyramid of DEATH set because I love me my pyramid swims). I have all of my long run, swim, and bike distances planned out from the first week of January all through IMoo. I have my training weeks planned out through March.
And it all fucking terrifies me. 2019 is the first year in a long while where I look at my hopeful, proposed schedule and I feel nothing but trepidation and, if I'm being honest, a little excitement. That little excitement is what I'm going to cling to, desperately, to be able to survive.
*****
I'm not even sure if that was coherent, or if it had a point, or if it had a flow. I just know that I needed to get it out.
And if I had 2018 goals ... I know I probably missed every single one (except my sub-goal of riding outside every month. That one I hit. Proof on the Instagrams). And that right now, is okay. Because it has to be.
The fitness adventures of two Ironman triathletes
Friday, December 28, 2018
Friday, November 30, 2018
November Round Up
November was a down month unintentionally. Thanks, flu. You're the best. *rolls eyes*
Swimming: 5497.28m (3.42 mi)
Cycling: 44.48 mi
Running: 11.55 mi
Lifting: five sessions (1:52)
Other: one session sled hockey (1:15), three walks (5:00), one session yoga (:10)
The month started off just fine. I even managed well with some travel days and visiting Katie in Indiana (getting to swim in an amazing collegiate (yard*) pool). But the day coming back home turned into a giant shitshow, where I was supposed to go, simply, IND-MSP-DEN, back home by noon. Instead, it was IND-MSP-JFK-DEN, back home in bed well after 10pm. I managed to wake up early to do something I've wanted to for ages - sled hockey - but the rest of the day was rough. I cleaned the house and had to take an hour break in between dusting and vacuuming due to feeling weak.
I took a day or so off and then got back in the pool and the gym. And then ... it all came to a screeching halt. I texted a nurse friend my symptoms asking if it was the flu - yes it was the flu. Ironic as I had my flu shot scheduled for that week. I was praying and hoping I'd be better enough to try our scheduled trip over Thanksgiving to Belfast to see my college hockey team play in a tournament and, while still a mucusy mess (still), I felt strong enough to go. So we did. Although I brought workout clothes, I didn't manage to do anything but walk ... partially because Brandon got sick, too.
While I wasn't still in the thick of the flu, I definitely still wasn't well.
(though if you know Europe and restaurants you know that leafy greens aren't really the biggest thing even though it's kind of getting better but it's still a lot of dense heavy salt-filled foods that made me super bloated despite how much water I guzzled down.)
I still wouldn't consider myself 100%, but I did manage to get back at it yesterday. A swim and a lift then, a bike and a run today. I'm taking it easy, but I'm getting back at it. I have no idea whether I'll be able to hit the goals I was hoping for (100k swimming, 1000 mi cycling, 400 mi running) especially while walking the tightrope of trying not to get sick again, but I will certainly try.
* so in theory, the two main pools I swim at are 25m length as that's what the front desk people have said and as there's no signage anywhere (or a set length at 24 pools), I've gone with it. But the swim at IU made me think that maybe I've been swimming yards all this time. Who knows.
Swimming: 5497.28m (3.42 mi)
Cycling: 44.48 mi
Running: 11.55 mi
Lifting: five sessions (1:52)
Other: one session sled hockey (1:15), three walks (5:00), one session yoga (:10)
The month started off just fine. I even managed well with some travel days and visiting Katie in Indiana (getting to swim in an amazing collegiate (yard*) pool). But the day coming back home turned into a giant shitshow, where I was supposed to go, simply, IND-MSP-DEN, back home by noon. Instead, it was IND-MSP-JFK-DEN, back home in bed well after 10pm. I managed to wake up early to do something I've wanted to for ages - sled hockey - but the rest of the day was rough. I cleaned the house and had to take an hour break in between dusting and vacuuming due to feeling weak.
I took a day or so off and then got back in the pool and the gym. And then ... it all came to a screeching halt. I texted a nurse friend my symptoms asking if it was the flu - yes it was the flu. Ironic as I had my flu shot scheduled for that week. I was praying and hoping I'd be better enough to try our scheduled trip over Thanksgiving to Belfast to see my college hockey team play in a tournament and, while still a mucusy mess (still), I felt strong enough to go. So we did. Although I brought workout clothes, I didn't manage to do anything but walk ... partially because Brandon got sick, too.
While I wasn't still in the thick of the flu, I definitely still wasn't well.
(though if you know Europe and restaurants you know that leafy greens aren't really the biggest thing even though it's kind of getting better but it's still a lot of dense heavy salt-filled foods that made me super bloated despite how much water I guzzled down.)
I still wouldn't consider myself 100%, but I did manage to get back at it yesterday. A swim and a lift then, a bike and a run today. I'm taking it easy, but I'm getting back at it. I have no idea whether I'll be able to hit the goals I was hoping for (100k swimming, 1000 mi cycling, 400 mi running) especially while walking the tightrope of trying not to get sick again, but I will certainly try.
* so in theory, the two main pools I swim at are 25m length as that's what the front desk people have said and as there's no signage anywhere (or a set length at 24 pools), I've gone with it. But the swim at IU made me think that maybe I've been swimming yards all this time. Who knows.
Friday, November 2, 2018
October Round Up
Still not racing. Still apparently just doing these. Kind of wondering if it's even worth blogging.
Meh. Although I enjoy this if it's read, I really started this more for me, you know?
Maybe. Maybe that's another lie I keep telling myself.
Onward!
Swimming: 3800m (2.36 mi)
Cycling: 95.33 mi
Running: 40.65 mi
Lifting: 12 sessions (2:48)
Other: one hike (:30), one game hockey (1:00), one walk (:45), two yoga sessions (:32)
Did not even come close to hitting my swim goal. The pool has been a struggle and a half lately. I've even gone so far as to ask for accountability from the world of social media. So, if you follow me on the Instagrams (@tgeist23), and you haven't seen some picture of a pool in my stories in a few days and I am very clearly not traveling somewhere ... please please pleasepleasePLEASE yell at me. Kthx.
I for some reason thought my cycling goal was 150 mi (since I guess I changed it to 100 in my planner but couldn't tell). If I had remembered that it was 100 ... I totally would have forced myself on the trainer for a small ride to hit the stupid 100 miles.
Running ... it took until the last day, but I hit my 40 again.
Hiking really hasn't been a thing thanks to weather and life and ... whatever, but I did get a small one in. More importantly, we actually played an actual game (well, drop-in) of hockey for the first time in either 8 or 9 years! And we didn't die! And we'd in theory like to try it again!
******
I don't know why October got so rough. Or why it was so hard to hit the pool. The end of the month went downhill thanks to me getting sick - we babysat my niece and nephew and the little germ factories put me down for the count for a few days. I'd been successfully running every other day since ... mid-August, I think? ... and I actually missed two this month thanks to feeling like death.
I let myself take it easy, though, and take the mental break, hoping it'll help get me through the end of the year.
As I mentioned last month, I have no specific monthly mileage goals from here on out. All I want to do is hit 100k in the pool (~34k away), 1000 mi on the bike (~ 200 mi away), and, if possible, crack 400 running (~80 miles away). All are doable ... even with the planned travel we have in November. The first is probably the hardest to do, but it just requires some focus.
I may toss in a random 5K or two as well, but also maybe not. We'll see.
In the meantime, I'm also doing a lot of work planning for next year, since it's going to require quite a bit of it.
Hopefully see you here again before December but if not ... well, I'll be here to tell you how this month went.
Meh. Although I enjoy this if it's read, I really started this more for me, you know?
Maybe. Maybe that's another lie I keep telling myself.
Onward!
Swimming: 3800m (2.36 mi)
Cycling: 95.33 mi
Running: 40.65 mi
Lifting: 12 sessions (2:48)
Other: one hike (:30), one game hockey (1:00), one walk (:45), two yoga sessions (:32)
Did not even come close to hitting my swim goal. The pool has been a struggle and a half lately. I've even gone so far as to ask for accountability from the world of social media. So, if you follow me on the Instagrams (@tgeist23), and you haven't seen some picture of a pool in my stories in a few days and I am very clearly not traveling somewhere ... please please pleasepleasePLEASE yell at me. Kthx.
I for some reason thought my cycling goal was 150 mi (since I guess I changed it to 100 in my planner but couldn't tell). If I had remembered that it was 100 ... I totally would have forced myself on the trainer for a small ride to hit the stupid 100 miles.
Running ... it took until the last day, but I hit my 40 again.
Hiking really hasn't been a thing thanks to weather and life and ... whatever, but I did get a small one in. More importantly, we actually played an actual game (well, drop-in) of hockey for the first time in either 8 or 9 years! And we didn't die! And we'd in theory like to try it again!
******
I don't know why October got so rough. Or why it was so hard to hit the pool. The end of the month went downhill thanks to me getting sick - we babysat my niece and nephew and the little germ factories put me down for the count for a few days. I'd been successfully running every other day since ... mid-August, I think? ... and I actually missed two this month thanks to feeling like death.
I let myself take it easy, though, and take the mental break, hoping it'll help get me through the end of the year.
As I mentioned last month, I have no specific monthly mileage goals from here on out. All I want to do is hit 100k in the pool (~34k away), 1000 mi on the bike (~ 200 mi away), and, if possible, crack 400 running (~80 miles away). All are doable ... even with the planned travel we have in November. The first is probably the hardest to do, but it just requires some focus.
I may toss in a random 5K or two as well, but also maybe not. We'll see.
In the meantime, I'm also doing a lot of work planning for next year, since it's going to require quite a bit of it.
Hopefully see you here again before December but if not ... well, I'll be here to tell you how this month went.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
September Round-Up
I don't race, and it's crickets around here. Oops.
That being said, early plans and goals are starting to be formulated for next year, and I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself in the planning and trying to stick with the here and now (a notorious problem of mine). But. There are plans for next year. Big plans. Scary plans.
But those are for later. For now, we have numbers.
Swimming: 10000m (6.21 mi)
Cycling: 122.45 mi
Running: 41.05 mi
Lifting: 13 sessions (3:54)
Other: four hikes (3:45), two walks (1:25), four yoga sessions (1:04)
While I didn't end up publishing them here, I did make mileage goals for last month. 10km swimming (check), 200 mi riding (nope), and 40 mi running (check). I, for some reason, had it in my head the last few days that my cycling goal was 150 miles, and that I could totally get in another 28 miles ... but it just didn't happen and I was beating myself up about it. Ugh, that's seriously just one ride. Why???? Then I saw it was actually 200 miles and I immediately felt a bit better.
Strength has continued to be good and I'm also thankful that the hiking has kept up as well. We did actually plan for hockey, but that took a backseat thanks to timing changes AND unexpected costs. Such is life.
The good news is, if I pick up the swimming just a little bit, I should be able to hit 100km again on the year which would be AMAZING. I'll probably get close to 400 run miles which is a little insane and also something I would love. If I stick with the longer rides when I can, I can also put in another year of 1000 miles on the bike which I would also be super pleased about.
*****
So, October goals? Do I have them? Of course I do.
I'd like to keep hiking as long as I'm able (silly weather).
I'd like to try for hockey again.
I'd like to swim at least 12,000m.
I'd like to ride at least 100 mi.
I'd like to run at least 40 mi.
Obviously those last three are minimums and I would love to hit more than that. However, the weather is changing and I might be traveling (let's not kid ourselves I definitely will be traveling). The bike miles are intentionally staying kind of low in case I have to hit the trainer more ... and I have to build up my tolerance for Skippy again.
Here's to the fall (my favorite running season), here's to goals, and here's to dreams.
That being said, early plans and goals are starting to be formulated for next year, and I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself in the planning and trying to stick with the here and now (a notorious problem of mine). But. There are plans for next year. Big plans. Scary plans.
But those are for later. For now, we have numbers.
Swimming: 10000m (6.21 mi)
Cycling: 122.45 mi
Running: 41.05 mi
Lifting: 13 sessions (3:54)
Other: four hikes (3:45), two walks (1:25), four yoga sessions (1:04)
While I didn't end up publishing them here, I did make mileage goals for last month. 10km swimming (check), 200 mi riding (nope), and 40 mi running (check). I, for some reason, had it in my head the last few days that my cycling goal was 150 miles, and that I could totally get in another 28 miles ... but it just didn't happen and I was beating myself up about it. Ugh, that's seriously just one ride. Why???? Then I saw it was actually 200 miles and I immediately felt a bit better.
Strength has continued to be good and I'm also thankful that the hiking has kept up as well. We did actually plan for hockey, but that took a backseat thanks to timing changes AND unexpected costs. Such is life.
The good news is, if I pick up the swimming just a little bit, I should be able to hit 100km again on the year which would be AMAZING. I'll probably get close to 400 run miles which is a little insane and also something I would love. If I stick with the longer rides when I can, I can also put in another year of 1000 miles on the bike which I would also be super pleased about.
*****
So, October goals? Do I have them? Of course I do.
I'd like to keep hiking as long as I'm able (silly weather).
I'd like to try for hockey again.
I'd like to swim at least 12,000m.
I'd like to ride at least 100 mi.
I'd like to run at least 40 mi.
Obviously those last three are minimums and I would love to hit more than that. However, the weather is changing and I might be traveling (let's not kid ourselves I definitely will be traveling). The bike miles are intentionally staying kind of low in case I have to hit the trainer more ... and I have to build up my tolerance for Skippy again.
Here's to the fall (my favorite running season), here's to goals, and here's to dreams.
Friday, August 31, 2018
August Round-Up
Two blogs in one week whaaaaa? Crazy, I know. But I'm done working out for the day so I can do my monthly recap. Woo.
Swimming: 6000m (3.73 mi)
Cycling: 88.91 mi
Running: 25.27 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:15)
Other: two hikes (2:45), five walks (4:35), three yoga sessions (:48)
As you can see, I hit two of my three mileage goals - swimming and running (and that last one only barely). Cycling ... ugh. I like riding my bike, but apparently I'm not finding ways to ride my bike either enough or longer. Or both. Probably both.
Lifting has been pretty consistent which I'm happy with. We almost managed hockey this month - had it scheduled for this past Thursday, but Brandon either caught a summer cold or summer allergies, and it knocked him out for a day or two. We decided while an easy run or bike was okay, hockey, with its stops and starts, probably was not.
I didn't hike nearly as much as I would have liked, but I'm a little squeamish about hiking on my own sometimes (why, I don't know) and Brandon's schedule was such that we didn't really have the opportunity to go on his days off.
That being said, the best part of August is that I only had one true day off ... which, given me, is pretty dang impressive, especially considering I had one week where what I did was pretty pathetic (comparatively speaking) and almost one week of travel. I will take that.
I'm continuing the mileage goals into September, but I haven't quite thought of them just yet. The true exciting thing is that we may graduate from stick/puck sessions to an actual drop-in. Eek!
Swimming: 6000m (3.73 mi)
Cycling: 88.91 mi
Running: 25.27 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:15)
Other: two hikes (2:45), five walks (4:35), three yoga sessions (:48)
As you can see, I hit two of my three mileage goals - swimming and running (and that last one only barely). Cycling ... ugh. I like riding my bike, but apparently I'm not finding ways to ride my bike either enough or longer. Or both. Probably both.
Lifting has been pretty consistent which I'm happy with. We almost managed hockey this month - had it scheduled for this past Thursday, but Brandon either caught a summer cold or summer allergies, and it knocked him out for a day or two. We decided while an easy run or bike was okay, hockey, with its stops and starts, probably was not.
I didn't hike nearly as much as I would have liked, but I'm a little squeamish about hiking on my own sometimes (why, I don't know) and Brandon's schedule was such that we didn't really have the opportunity to go on his days off.
That being said, the best part of August is that I only had one true day off ... which, given me, is pretty dang impressive, especially considering I had one week where what I did was pretty pathetic (comparatively speaking) and almost one week of travel. I will take that.
I'm continuing the mileage goals into September, but I haven't quite thought of them just yet. The true exciting thing is that we may graduate from stick/puck sessions to an actual drop-in. Eek!
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Race #7 of the Season: Milk Run 5K
*taptaptap* This thing still on?
Especially because it means smaller bathroom lines for pre-race business. And selfies.
Race photo to share with Skirt Sports. You may have already seen it on Facebook. Love it? All of it is new THIS SEASON! 306TREX for 15% off.
Sign with the Big Wheel in the background.
Our true feelings in the corral.
The race itself was lollipop-shaped. Out, into the neighborhoods around the UofM campus (St. Paul side), and back. The first (and therefore last) stretch up into campus smelled like poop ... probably thanks to the sheep on the hill next to us. The course itself had quite a few rolling hills.
The worst part, though, was the humidity. Oh dear sweet jeebus give me dry air and altitude any day. The humidity ended up hurting here and it killed me by the end of the day walking around the fair. Midwesterners, I have NO IDEA how you run in soup all the damn time. I admire you for it.
As neither of us felt that great, we didn't take this that hard. We ran, but I wouldn't argue that we raced. The results speak to that, too.
Final Stats:
Time: 33:48
42/83 division (F35-39)
325/750 gender (if my math is correct)
655/1276 overall
We got our free breakfast sandwich (which was gross) and then got our hand stamps to head back to the car to "shower" with wipes and change a bit before heading back into actually enjoy the fair.
Different hat, different shirt, different socks, no race belt, added a purse.
As it looks now, that might be be my last race of the season unless I add some random fall or winter 5K, but I'm kind of thinking meh. We'll see ...
It's been an interesting summer ... year ... life ... and I will blog about it soon. Maybe. Hopefully.
In any case, we ran the Milk Run at the Minnesota State Fair this past Sunday. It went about as well as we thought it was going to (in ... not very).
The Milk Run has been a part of the fair for about 30 years now and Brandon has been talking about doing it for several years. We wanted to do it last year, but learned that it sold out stupid quick and never got the email for sign up last year. We figured that out and as soon as registration opened this spring, we signed up. If you ever want to do this race, do the same - it filled up in 12 hours.
We drove up to Minnesota to hang out for a few days prior, getting a quick run in at a rest stop on the way and riding our bikes a few days prior.
Race morning, we grabbed food at Starbucks just for calories, found (free) street parking a few blocks away, and made sure we knew where we were going in the fairgrounds (yes, we got there probably too early. Yes, this happens all the time thanks to our triathlon background. No, it's never bad.)
Especially because it means smaller bathroom lines for pre-race business. And selfies.
Race photo to share with Skirt Sports. You may have already seen it on Facebook. Love it? All of it is new THIS SEASON! 306TREX for 15% off.
Sign with the Big Wheel in the background.
Our true feelings in the corral.
The race itself was lollipop-shaped. Out, into the neighborhoods around the UofM campus (St. Paul side), and back. The first (and therefore last) stretch up into campus smelled like poop ... probably thanks to the sheep on the hill next to us. The course itself had quite a few rolling hills.
The worst part, though, was the humidity. Oh dear sweet jeebus give me dry air and altitude any day. The humidity ended up hurting here and it killed me by the end of the day walking around the fair. Midwesterners, I have NO IDEA how you run in soup all the damn time. I admire you for it.
As neither of us felt that great, we didn't take this that hard. We ran, but I wouldn't argue that we raced. The results speak to that, too.
Final Stats:
Time: 33:48
42/83 division (F35-39)
325/750 gender (if my math is correct)
655/1276 overall
We got our free breakfast sandwich (which was gross) and then got our hand stamps to head back to the car to "shower" with wipes and change a bit before heading back into actually enjoy the fair.
Different hat, different shirt, different socks, no race belt, added a purse.
As it looks now, that might be be my last race of the season unless I add some random fall or winter 5K, but I'm kind of thinking meh. We'll see ...
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
July Round-Up
Long time, no write ... but I haven't been racing, and that seems like the usual time I write in here (other than these monthly recaps, of course). Maybe I should find more time to write in here. Or maybe I should let it go. Who blogs anymore anyway?
Anyway, numbers.
Swimming: 2100m (1.3 mi)
Cycling: 46.61 mi
Running: 18.41 mi
Lifting: eight sessions (2:26)
Other: five hikes (8:10), two sessions hockey (2:00), one walk (:25), one yoga session (:10)
So if I haven't been doing the usual, what have I been doing? Clearly a lot of hiking. I am seriously enjoying that this summer (fell back in love with it last summer and COMMITTED to doing more of it this year). We're also dipping our toes back in the hockey waters. Those two hours weren't games - just take-a-shot sessions - but we're working our way back to drop-ins. We're thinking that hockey twice a month might be manageable with our lives.
While I have enjoyed my, well, essential "laziness," I think I've finally had enough. As a result, I actually have a few mileage goals for August, but they should (ha, famous last words) be manageable:
2500m swimming
150 mi riding
25 mi running
Should be easy peasy, but it's me. And it's me lately. Here's hoping ...
Anyway, numbers.
Swimming: 2100m (1.3 mi)
Cycling: 46.61 mi
Running: 18.41 mi
Lifting: eight sessions (2:26)
Other: five hikes (8:10), two sessions hockey (2:00), one walk (:25), one yoga session (:10)
So if I haven't been doing the usual, what have I been doing? Clearly a lot of hiking. I am seriously enjoying that this summer (fell back in love with it last summer and COMMITTED to doing more of it this year). We're also dipping our toes back in the hockey waters. Those two hours weren't games - just take-a-shot sessions - but we're working our way back to drop-ins. We're thinking that hockey twice a month might be manageable with our lives.
While I have enjoyed my, well, essential "laziness," I think I've finally had enough. As a result, I actually have a few mileage goals for August, but they should (ha, famous last words) be manageable:
2500m swimming
150 mi riding
25 mi running
Should be easy peasy, but it's me. And it's me lately. Here's hoping ...
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
June Round-Up
As I said in my last post, June kind of took a weird detour. So while I may have started out the month with some goals, they took a sharp left turn a little over halfway through. Still, I have numbers:
Swimming: 5500m (3.42 mi)
Cycling: 109.92 mi
Running: 27.24 mi
Lifting: 10 sessions (2:47)
Other: one session ice skating (:45), three hikes (3:50), one stint race volunteering (3:00), two yoga sessions (:46)
Clearly ... I didn't hit my goals (15k, 200mi, 50mi). Which I'm not upset about. Well, a little with swimming. That's fallen by the wayside some which I'm not terribly happy about.
I've done some longer rides and rides with friends (most of that mileage came on two rides) which I would love to continue on with as the summer goes on.
Running ... well ... I still like it so I'm still doing it, but I'm not doing much of it and I'm not running from the house. Because I kind of hate running from the house.
The best part of June was actually probably getting out on skates again. Hopefully by the end of the summer you'll actually see me play hockey once more. Hopefully.
As far as July goals go ... they are to:
- hike!
- try to get some more climbing in on the bike
- keep lifting
- try to swim at least once a week (and preferably open water)
- not run from the house if can be helped
I think those are quite manageable if I do say so myself ...
Swimming: 5500m (3.42 mi)
Cycling: 109.92 mi
Running: 27.24 mi
Lifting: 10 sessions (2:47)
Other: one session ice skating (:45), three hikes (3:50), one stint race volunteering (3:00), two yoga sessions (:46)
Clearly ... I didn't hit my goals (15k, 200mi, 50mi). Which I'm not upset about. Well, a little with swimming. That's fallen by the wayside some which I'm not terribly happy about.
I've done some longer rides and rides with friends (most of that mileage came on two rides) which I would love to continue on with as the summer goes on.
Running ... well ... I still like it so I'm still doing it, but I'm not doing much of it and I'm not running from the house. Because I kind of hate running from the house.
The best part of June was actually probably getting out on skates again. Hopefully by the end of the summer you'll actually see me play hockey once more. Hopefully.
As far as July goals go ... they are to:
- hike!
- try to get some more climbing in on the bike
- keep lifting
- try to swim at least once a week (and preferably open water)
- not run from the house if can be helped
I think those are quite manageable if I do say so myself ...
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Race #6 of the Season: Tri on the Plains
... a.k.a. one of the weirdest race experiences I've ever had.
Let's back up.
When I was considering my race season, I threw a whole bunch of random races I'd never done before. Let's go different, I thought. There were two different sprint tris I was looking at on June 24th - one was in Steamboat (Tri the Boat) and the other one was in Sterling (Tri on the Plains). I thought the one out east would be better and oh hey look, it's in a state park with another one on the way so I can hit two on the trip.* I registered for it right before the last price increase just so I actually did ... which was probably the first sign I shouldn't have registered in the first place.
I was attempting to put myself through a mini tri camp the weekend prior to the race. I scheduled everything and it was great. I had it go from Sunday through Wednesday ... and started it off with an almost 40 mile ride with a lot of climbing with friends on Saturday.
I slept in later than I wanted on Sunday (would have been so late had it been an *actual* tri camp), but I still went out for my run as planned. During said run ... which was later in the morning and therefore hotter ... and also fairly miserable because running just isn't where I want it to be ... I let my mind wander. I came to the conclusion that while I'm enjoying moving my body, I'm not enjoying actual, focused training. And part of that might be because I don't have a big, scary, purposeful goal on the horizon.
As a result, I would let myself just enjoy the rest of the summer. Go hike more. Not stress about everything I eat or do and OMG how am I going to fit in this run now when it's 100 degrees because I didn't wake up early enough to do so?. I in theory hoped to get through the rest of tri camp and the race and June ... but that didn't end up happening.
I knew I have enough base fitness to get through a sprint triathlon, so on the 23rd, we packed up and drove the few hours out to Sterling. I picked up my packet. I had my standard breakfast-for-dinner. I got decent sleep.
Sunday morning, we woke up a bit later than ideal, but still with plenty of time to get to North Sterling State Park, where the race was being held. I attempted to eat a breakfast sandwich from 7-11 pre-race ... but that didn't work. A Bobo's bar closer to race time worked much better.
This race may have been the smallest race I've ever done.
Quite possibly the smallest transition I've ever seen. Plus awesome clouds.
Pre-race smiley.
I think there were maybe 50 people competing ... and that includes all the relay competitors. And that might be generous.
Walking to the swim.
Water was about 70 degrees, so not bad ... but the last time I'd been in open water was Santa Cruz ... so it took me a minute to get used to it. This picture was probably taken right as the water hit my back. I had my usual anxiety with the cold and my lungs and the water, but I bobbed my head and did a few practice strokes and figured I'd be fine once the race started (I've been around this block a lot).
There wasn't a lot of time from when we got in the water and when the race started - I didn't even have time to get relaxed enough to pee! The race director was explaining the course and went right into, "are you ready to race? Okay, 3, 2, 1, go!"
I started swimming and while everything was physically fine ... mentally ... race brain just wasn't kicking in. I was working on avoiding not being punched in the head (harder than you'd think with so few people racing ...), got out a ways (100ish yds according to Garmin) ... and stopped. Ostensibly to breast stroke for a second and sight (and notice that oh yay, one of the last people), because I did start back up for a second.
And then I stopped again and treaded water for a moment. I wasn't particularly enjoying myself and didn't particularly want to be last out of the water and just didn't particularly want to race. I just was not feeling it. So I made the decision to turn it.
As soon as I did, I felt lighter.
I swam back to the dock/shore, assuring the volunteers that I was fine. I told Brandon that I just wasn't feeling it and didn't want to continue and race and be miserable. I turned in my chip to Darrin from Racing Underground (who was providing the timing and whom I chatted with a bit pre-race) and waited for most people to start the bike before removing my things from transition.
We exited the park on the bike course and I did kind of regret not being out there on the bike, but other than that, had no regrets about pulling out.
I felt like I should regret the decision; I think Brandon was surprised at how okay I was at DNFing (really more of a false start).
******
I'm going to enjoy my summer. I've weeded out some races on the sidebar and the only two races I'm 100% for sure going to keep are the Milk Run (because I've paid for it) and the Blerch half because dude, fun! The others will probably not happen, but never say never, right?
I think I realized that I need a true mental break from triathlon and training. I've been doing it for 11 years and, if we're being honest with ourselves, seriously for seven or eight. With no true break.
I still believe I do want to race IRONMAN Wisconsin next year, but with the state of my head right now, there's no way I'll be able to show up to the start line adequately prepared, and I am not going to disrespect the race distance like that.
* I have a goal of hitting all of Colorado's state parks this year. I'm just about halfway through.
Let's back up.
When I was considering my race season, I threw a whole bunch of random races I'd never done before. Let's go different, I thought. There were two different sprint tris I was looking at on June 24th - one was in Steamboat (Tri the Boat) and the other one was in Sterling (Tri on the Plains). I thought the one out east would be better and oh hey look, it's in a state park with another one on the way so I can hit two on the trip.* I registered for it right before the last price increase just so I actually did ... which was probably the first sign I shouldn't have registered in the first place.
I was attempting to put myself through a mini tri camp the weekend prior to the race. I scheduled everything and it was great. I had it go from Sunday through Wednesday ... and started it off with an almost 40 mile ride with a lot of climbing with friends on Saturday.
I slept in later than I wanted on Sunday (would have been so late had it been an *actual* tri camp), but I still went out for my run as planned. During said run ... which was later in the morning and therefore hotter ... and also fairly miserable because running just isn't where I want it to be ... I let my mind wander. I came to the conclusion that while I'm enjoying moving my body, I'm not enjoying actual, focused training. And part of that might be because I don't have a big, scary, purposeful goal on the horizon.
As a result, I would let myself just enjoy the rest of the summer. Go hike more. Not stress about everything I eat or do and OMG how am I going to fit in this run now when it's 100 degrees because I didn't wake up early enough to do so?. I in theory hoped to get through the rest of tri camp and the race and June ... but that didn't end up happening.
I knew I have enough base fitness to get through a sprint triathlon, so on the 23rd, we packed up and drove the few hours out to Sterling. I picked up my packet. I had my standard breakfast-for-dinner. I got decent sleep.
Sunday morning, we woke up a bit later than ideal, but still with plenty of time to get to North Sterling State Park, where the race was being held. I attempted to eat a breakfast sandwich from 7-11 pre-race ... but that didn't work. A Bobo's bar closer to race time worked much better.
This race may have been the smallest race I've ever done.
Quite possibly the smallest transition I've ever seen. Plus awesome clouds.
Pre-race smiley.
I think there were maybe 50 people competing ... and that includes all the relay competitors. And that might be generous.
Walking to the swim.
Water was about 70 degrees, so not bad ... but the last time I'd been in open water was Santa Cruz ... so it took me a minute to get used to it. This picture was probably taken right as the water hit my back. I had my usual anxiety with the cold and my lungs and the water, but I bobbed my head and did a few practice strokes and figured I'd be fine once the race started (I've been around this block a lot).
There wasn't a lot of time from when we got in the water and when the race started - I didn't even have time to get relaxed enough to pee! The race director was explaining the course and went right into, "are you ready to race? Okay, 3, 2, 1, go!"
I started swimming and while everything was physically fine ... mentally ... race brain just wasn't kicking in. I was working on avoiding not being punched in the head (harder than you'd think with so few people racing ...), got out a ways (100ish yds according to Garmin) ... and stopped. Ostensibly to breast stroke for a second and sight (and notice that oh yay, one of the last people), because I did start back up for a second.
And then I stopped again and treaded water for a moment. I wasn't particularly enjoying myself and didn't particularly want to be last out of the water and just didn't particularly want to race. I just was not feeling it. So I made the decision to turn it.
As soon as I did, I felt lighter.
I swam back to the dock/shore, assuring the volunteers that I was fine. I told Brandon that I just wasn't feeling it and didn't want to continue and race and be miserable. I turned in my chip to Darrin from Racing Underground (who was providing the timing and whom I chatted with a bit pre-race) and waited for most people to start the bike before removing my things from transition.
We exited the park on the bike course and I did kind of regret not being out there on the bike, but other than that, had no regrets about pulling out.
I felt like I should regret the decision; I think Brandon was surprised at how okay I was at DNFing (really more of a false start).
******
I'm going to enjoy my summer. I've weeded out some races on the sidebar and the only two races I'm 100% for sure going to keep are the Milk Run (because I've paid for it) and the Blerch half because dude, fun! The others will probably not happen, but never say never, right?
I think I realized that I need a true mental break from triathlon and training. I've been doing it for 11 years and, if we're being honest with ourselves, seriously for seven or eight. With no true break.
I still believe I do want to race IRONMAN Wisconsin next year, but with the state of my head right now, there's no way I'll be able to show up to the start line adequately prepared, and I am not going to disrespect the race distance like that.
* I have a goal of hitting all of Colorado's state parks this year. I'm just about halfway through.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Race #5 of the Season: Skirt Sports 5K
... also known as the end of the Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat, too.
My original plan with this race was to race it. I think in the beginning of the year I harbored hopes of PRing ... but I think my training made that unlikely and then the allergy disaster I went through a week or so ago made me question even racing it. Instead, I decided to pull a BolderBOULDER (and this race last year with the 10K) and find friends to run with instead and have fun.
So that is exactly what I did.
Pre-race selfie.
I started out with four other people - Erika, Jessi, Noelle, and Kristen - but soon realized we dropped Kristen. Well, no Skirt left behind, so I hung back (and actually went backward on the course) to wait for her to catch up.
Kristen found, we chatted and ran (and walked) the rest of the way.
Over-exaggerating my running stride for Jennifer taking pictures. Or skipping. But probably the former.
Since this race ended up being all about the #fun, I leaped my way across the finish line.
Finish line photos courtesy Jen Allen.
Final Stats:
Time: 46:18.5
27/34 division (F30-39)
79/131 overall
Definitely my slowest ever 5K, but like the BolderBOULDER this year, tops in terms of fun.
Afterward, it was time for photos and cake and helping with the 13er turnaround and then brunch.
Post-race selfie with my race buddy, Kristen.
With one of the many pieces of Kim and Jake's cake that I ate.
Selfie with Nicole.
Emily hula-hooping behind cheering Skirts.
Cheer tunnel we did for the BOP 13er finishers.
Such an amazing weekend and I can't wait for next year to be able to do it all again!
And maybe actually do the 13er ...
My original plan with this race was to race it. I think in the beginning of the year I harbored hopes of PRing ... but I think my training made that unlikely and then the allergy disaster I went through a week or so ago made me question even racing it. Instead, I decided to pull a BolderBOULDER (and this race last year with the 10K) and find friends to run with instead and have fun.
So that is exactly what I did.
Pre-race selfie.
I started out with four other people - Erika, Jessi, Noelle, and Kristen - but soon realized we dropped Kristen. Well, no Skirt left behind, so I hung back (and actually went backward on the course) to wait for her to catch up.
Kristen found, we chatted and ran (and walked) the rest of the way.
Over-exaggerating my running stride for Jennifer taking pictures. Or skipping. But probably the former.
Since this race ended up being all about the #fun, I leaped my way across the finish line.
Finish line photos courtesy Jen Allen.
Final Stats:
Time: 46:18.5
27/34 division (F30-39)
79/131 overall
Definitely my slowest ever 5K, but like the BolderBOULDER this year, tops in terms of fun.
Afterward, it was time for photos and cake and helping with the 13er turnaround and then brunch.
Post-race selfie with my race buddy, Kristen.
With one of the many pieces of Kim and Jake's cake that I ate.
Selfie with Nicole.
Emily hula-hooping behind cheering Skirts.
Cheer tunnel we did for the BOP 13er finishers.
Such an amazing weekend and I can't wait for next year to be able to do it all again!
And maybe actually do the 13er ...
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
2018 Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat
This past weekend was the annual Skirt Sports Ambassador retreat and it was bigger than ever. Mostly because we have way more ambassadors than usual, but seriously. 200 women came out and it was an amazing weekend.
Friday, as usual, was the cocktail reception at the store. With so many people, however, we actually had to use bracelets and get liquor licenses and take over a parking lot. Crazy, I know.
So much wine.
Eating all the food.
See? So many Skirts.
Looking the other way.
Friday night was mostly social, but we did have Nicole talk as well as Noelle. Noelle shared a beautiful thing from Lisa Young-Morrissey, a fellow ambassador who recently passed away from cancer.
Skirt did some awards - people who most represent the brand's core values as well as some other random things. We were also treated to a fashion show from the future (with Fall 2018 product as well as a super sneak peek into Spring 2019) to get us all excited for what's coming next (and it is good!). Mostly, it was a great time to drink and eat and reconnect with old friends and make a lot of new ones.
Shenanigans with one of the empty magnums.
Saturday, we took over an event center in Westminster. We had three amazing speakers - Kara Berryman Burns, a fellow ambassador with an amazing story (featured on Nicole's podcast as well!), Mirna Valerio, a.k.a. the Mirnavator (here on Run This World with Nicole DeBoom), and Colleen Cannon, former pro triathlete and founder of Women's Quest (and oh hey, also on the podcast). Since we like to move, there was also some yoga sprinkled in.
There was a hike afterward too, but I skipped it due to having so much crap going on at home. I regret it a lot, though.
Taking over.
You can take the girls out of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of the girls. Mirna on the left and Latoya on the right.
We finished everything up with the Skirt Sports 13er (and 10K and 5K) on Sunday as well as a post-race brunch, but I'll get to that in my race recap post.
******
I do want to give a shout out to all of the AMAZING companies that sponsored our retreat because it definitely would NOT have been possible without them!
- Kendall-Jackson and La Crema for the wine (and La Crema has one of my favorite Pinot noirs anyway ...).
- Ska Brewing for beer (which everyone else enjoyed immensely ...).
- The Tea Spot for tea Saturday morning as well as goody-bag stuff on Friday.
- Justin's Nut Butters for nut buttery goodness Saturday morning (and a goody bag insert).
- Noosa Yoghurt for helping to feed us Saturday morning.
- Kim and Jake's Cakes for ALL OF THE CAKE all weekend. I love Kim and Jake's. So much.
- Alpine Start Foods for providing us with coffee Saturday morning.
- MAD Greens for our delicious lunch on Saturday.
- Illegal Pete's for our taco bar dinner on Friday.
- Mychelle Dermaceuticals for the sunscreen in our goody bags.
- Boulder Clean for our mini detergent samples.
and, of course ...
- Skirt Sports for being so utterly fabulous of a company that I am so proud to represent.
Friday, as usual, was the cocktail reception at the store. With so many people, however, we actually had to use bracelets and get liquor licenses and take over a parking lot. Crazy, I know.
So much wine.
Eating all the food.
See? So many Skirts.
Looking the other way.
Friday night was mostly social, but we did have Nicole talk as well as Noelle. Noelle shared a beautiful thing from Lisa Young-Morrissey, a fellow ambassador who recently passed away from cancer.
Skirt did some awards - people who most represent the brand's core values as well as some other random things. We were also treated to a fashion show from the future (with Fall 2018 product as well as a super sneak peek into Spring 2019) to get us all excited for what's coming next (and it is good!). Mostly, it was a great time to drink and eat and reconnect with old friends and make a lot of new ones.
Shenanigans with one of the empty magnums.
Saturday, we took over an event center in Westminster. We had three amazing speakers - Kara Berryman Burns, a fellow ambassador with an amazing story (featured on Nicole's podcast as well!), Mirna Valerio, a.k.a. the Mirnavator (here on Run This World with Nicole DeBoom), and Colleen Cannon, former pro triathlete and founder of Women's Quest (and oh hey, also on the podcast). Since we like to move, there was also some yoga sprinkled in.
There was a hike afterward too, but I skipped it due to having so much crap going on at home. I regret it a lot, though.
Taking over.
You can take the girls out of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of the girls. Mirna on the left and Latoya on the right.
We finished everything up with the Skirt Sports 13er (and 10K and 5K) on Sunday as well as a post-race brunch, but I'll get to that in my race recap post.
******
I do want to give a shout out to all of the AMAZING companies that sponsored our retreat because it definitely would NOT have been possible without them!
- Kendall-Jackson and La Crema for the wine (and La Crema has one of my favorite Pinot noirs anyway ...).
- Ska Brewing for beer (which everyone else enjoyed immensely ...).
- The Tea Spot for tea Saturday morning as well as goody-bag stuff on Friday.
- Justin's Nut Butters for nut buttery goodness Saturday morning (and a goody bag insert).
- Noosa Yoghurt for helping to feed us Saturday morning.
- Kim and Jake's Cakes for ALL OF THE CAKE all weekend. I love Kim and Jake's. So much.
- Alpine Start Foods for providing us with coffee Saturday morning.
- MAD Greens for our delicious lunch on Saturday.
- Illegal Pete's for our taco bar dinner on Friday.
- Mychelle Dermaceuticals for the sunscreen in our goody bags.
- Boulder Clean for our mini detergent samples.
and, of course ...
- Skirt Sports for being so utterly fabulous of a company that I am so proud to represent.
Friday, June 1, 2018
May Round-Up
I set some fairly ambitious goals this month and, well ... I kind of got close. Kind of.
Swimming: 11700m (7.27 mi)
Cycling: 110.67 mi
Running: 48.19 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:22)
Other: five hikes (4:50), one session plyometrics (:16), one walk (2:00), two yoga sessions (:32)
I did hit my swim goal of 10000m. I should have surpassed it by a lot more, but I really didn't manage to swim much the last week and a half of May. Oops. It happens, I know, but still. Ugh.
I got halfway to my super ambitious 200 mile cycling goal. I didn't miss too many planned rides. However, when most of my rides are 10ish miles ... a big hairy goal gets a bit tricky.
I was so so so so sososososo close to hitting my 50 mile run goal and I even could have managed it one of the last two days in May, but we were in Las Vegas for a baby vacation and I really didn't want to stress about running and just wanted to enjoy vacation ... so that's what I did. Besides, if I hadn't have gotten sick (allergies?), I would have hit it no problem, so no point in dwelling on it.
Hiking season has clearly started, which I am super happy about.
June brings a few more races - Skirt Sports 5K this weekend, my first tri of the season later in the month - and hopefully a lot more miles. I'm going to up my swim goal to 15000m (should be easily doable) and try again for the bike (200 mi) and run (50 mi) goals. I was considering upping the run goal, but I was also doing a lot of longer runs in preparation for the BolderBOULDER ... and I'm not sure if I'm going to stay in the 7-8 mile range as a long run. We'll see I suppose ...
Swimming: 11700m (7.27 mi)
Cycling: 110.67 mi
Running: 48.19 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:22)
Other: five hikes (4:50), one session plyometrics (:16), one walk (2:00), two yoga sessions (:32)
I did hit my swim goal of 10000m. I should have surpassed it by a lot more, but I really didn't manage to swim much the last week and a half of May. Oops. It happens, I know, but still. Ugh.
I got halfway to my super ambitious 200 mile cycling goal. I didn't miss too many planned rides. However, when most of my rides are 10ish miles ... a big hairy goal gets a bit tricky.
I was so so so so sososososo close to hitting my 50 mile run goal and I even could have managed it one of the last two days in May, but we were in Las Vegas for a baby vacation and I really didn't want to stress about running and just wanted to enjoy vacation ... so that's what I did. Besides, if I hadn't have gotten sick (allergies?), I would have hit it no problem, so no point in dwelling on it.
Hiking season has clearly started, which I am super happy about.
June brings a few more races - Skirt Sports 5K this weekend, my first tri of the season later in the month - and hopefully a lot more miles. I'm going to up my swim goal to 15000m (should be easily doable) and try again for the bike (200 mi) and run (50 mi) goals. I was considering upping the run goal, but I was also doing a lot of longer runs in preparation for the BolderBOULDER ... and I'm not sure if I'm going to stay in the 7-8 mile range as a long run. We'll see I suppose ...
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Race #4 of the Season: BolderBOULDER 10K
I totally forgot to do a race goals post last Friday ... but come on, for the BolderBOULDER, I don't race it. My goals were as such:
- all the fun
- plus 1:30
- cupcake
I hit every single one. Score.
Thank jeebus it was a casual race, too, as race morning was a shitshow. We always like to get up to Boulder before the roads close down and ideally wanted to leave the house no later than 5:15am. Yeeeah, we woke up at 5:30am. Out the door five minutes later.
(I think 35 minutes is a new personal record from getting to our house from Boulder and I didn't even really speed. Much. Promise.)
We did manage to get parked at the 29th Street shopping center just fine and got some breakfast at Starbucks. We headed down prior to the first wave to ideally see our friend Nic before she went off, but unfortunately missed her.
I got a text from Katie as we were considering starting in my wave (had to go off in mine since B's wave was earlier and I didn't want to get DQed for starting ahead of my wave) and ended up waiting for them. All in all, it ended up being a crew of 11 (10) of us that started the race.
Our usual pre-race selfie ... with Russ photobombing us.
From then on ... it was all the shenanigans. Seriously. Beer and slip 'n' slides and dancing and watermelon and Doritos and Otter Pops and cupcakes and bacon and swings and all the laughs.
Beers after the first slip 'n' slide.
I was totally jealous of Katie and the swing last year so I had to get on it this year.
Saw Skirt buddy Deb so had to get a picture with her! And we're apparently both in the same Free Flow Tank ...
Full-size freeze pops whaaaaaaat?
Hitting up the second slip 'n' slide.
8 out of 10 of the crew. Most with cupcakes. Mmm cupcakes.
All in all ... I have run a few half-marathons faster than I "ran" this BolderBOULDER, but in terms of fun? Totally a new PR.
Final Stats:
Time: 2:15:47.75*
482/496 division (F34)
21918/22953 gender
42995/44757 overall (as best I can tell)
* I rounded up. Also, somehow, despite starting and finishing the same time as the husband, my finishing time is like a minute slower. What sense that makes, I don't know.
- all the fun
- plus 1:30
- cupcake
I hit every single one. Score.
Thank jeebus it was a casual race, too, as race morning was a shitshow. We always like to get up to Boulder before the roads close down and ideally wanted to leave the house no later than 5:15am. Yeeeah, we woke up at 5:30am. Out the door five minutes later.
(I think 35 minutes is a new personal record from getting to our house from Boulder and I didn't even really speed. Much. Promise.)
We did manage to get parked at the 29th Street shopping center just fine and got some breakfast at Starbucks. We headed down prior to the first wave to ideally see our friend Nic before she went off, but unfortunately missed her.
I got a text from Katie as we were considering starting in my wave (had to go off in mine since B's wave was earlier and I didn't want to get DQed for starting ahead of my wave) and ended up waiting for them. All in all, it ended up being a crew of 11 (10) of us that started the race.
Our usual pre-race selfie ... with Russ photobombing us.
From then on ... it was all the shenanigans. Seriously. Beer and slip 'n' slides and dancing and watermelon and Doritos and Otter Pops and cupcakes and bacon and swings and all the laughs.
Beers after the first slip 'n' slide.
I was totally jealous of Katie and the swing last year so I had to get on it this year.
Saw Skirt buddy Deb so had to get a picture with her! And we're apparently both in the same Free Flow Tank ...
Full-size freeze pops whaaaaaaat?
Hitting up the second slip 'n' slide.
8 out of 10 of the crew. Most with cupcakes. Mmm cupcakes.
All in all ... I have run a few half-marathons faster than I "ran" this BolderBOULDER, but in terms of fun? Totally a new PR.
Final Stats:
Time: 2:15:47.75*
482/496 division (F34)
21918/22953 gender
42995/44757 overall (as best I can tell)
* I rounded up. Also, somehow, despite starting and finishing the same time as the husband, my finishing time is like a minute slower. What sense that makes, I don't know.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Race #3 of the Season: Barkin' Dog Duathlon
... or aging up sucks.
As I turn 35 this summer, I'm now in a new AG ... and am probably officially going to be comparatively worse for the next 15 years or so (unless I really kick my own ass into gear which ... trying).
Or better people are starting to show up and race the short course at Barkin' Dog. That could also be a possibility.
I'm not entirely sure I actually slept the night before, but I woke up fairly exhausted but on time (hooray!) to leave the house and go race. We got routed to a different parking lot this year, so it was almost a good mile walk down to transition. Since I have the state parks pass ... I should have just driven into the park and parked in the boating area ... maybe next time ...
Got set up, grabbed my packet ... and ended up finding a few Skirt sisters in Samm and Cassie. It was Cassie's first ever duathlon, so we helped explain some stuff, give advice ... tell her not to worry about the hill of death in the middle of the bike course ... the usual.
After that, it was a lot of standing around and waiting as the short course women were the absolute last wave to go off, but go off we did.
Start. I'm with all the crazy lime, Samm is in the Runners Roost kit to my right (if looking at photo; actually off my left shoulder), and there's a sliver of Cassie in a Stargaze Happy Girl on the other side of me.
Run 1:
The fact that I had to walk a bit up the hill of the first 2K run told me it was going to be a rough day as I'm pretty sure I didn't have to do the last time I did this race back in 2016. Dangit.
I also swear we ran a bit further down the sidewalk than that year, but that could have been my own perception due to struggling lungs already. Great.
Rounding the corner back to transition.
Time: 11:18 (4th division, 23rd gender, 48th overall)
T1:
Fairly uneventful, as per usual.
Time: :58 (2nd, 9th, 23rd)
Bike:
I forget exactly when Samm passed me on the run, but pass me she did. However, I was able to pass her back a few miles into the bike course. I hadn't ridden outside much leading into the race, but I wanted to push it on the bike, so push it I did.
I was able to see where Samm was on the backside of the tower loop - she was going in as I was coming out, so I knew she wasn't too far behind. I saw Cassie just about to turn up the giant hill of death as I turned back onto the main part of the park road, so I knew she was doing okay as well.
Unfortunately for me, no fastest AG bike split ... and that's okay, as I did the best as I could have done on that day.
Like a boss. Also lopsided helmet due to the buff I was wearing underneath for my ears. Oops.
Time: 38:56 (3rd, 20th, 40th)
T2:
Once again, in, out, gone as best I could.
"High"-fiving a little girl leaving transition. Why not, right? Also I look really tall as a result ...
Time: 1:11 (2nd, 20th, 37th)
Run 2:
Run 2 was a struggle and a half. I was heading over to the hill when I saw Samm come into trans, so I knew it was probably only going to be a matter of time until she caught me. I was walking way more than I would have liked, too.
(clearly hit my race goal of "pace well." clearly.)
Racing Underground changed up the run course this year to avoid extra foot traffic on the main park road, turning it into a straight out-and-back on the trails. I'm not sure whether I liked this more or less or neither.
In any case, my first mile was pretty slow AF (12:something), mostly due to me not being able to breathe.
Samm caught me not too long after that, and we stuck together for most of the rest of the run. She told me she was having some struggles herself - not knowing if she'd actually be able to finish the race. So, we mutually helped each other out - I helped her just keep going in general, and she helped me to a killer neg split (mile 2 11:something, mile 3 10:something).
We were nearing the part where we needed to turn off the path and head up the road to the finish when she had it and I didn't quite, so we split up and she beat me by about 45 seconds (to take third in our AG).
Time: 34:35 (4th, 36th, 67th)
Overall Stats:
Time: 1:27:00
4/5 division (F35-39)
23/60 gender
48/107 overall
Post-race selfie. My thoughts exactly.
The real reason I race: Flippin' Flapjacks.
Samm and I hung out a bit afterward, eating our pancakes, and then we biked back up to our cars. I packed up and busted ass to drive back into the park, as I wanted to try to see Cassie finish. We saw her starting up the hill on the second run as we were running down to the finish, so I knew there'd be a chance.
Unfortunately, I saw her walking back to trans with her pancakes as I drove into the parking lot. I was able to chat with her a bit post-race, though, to see how it went and all of that. She tripped at one point on the second run, so she had a bit of road rash from that, and her bike got tipped over in trans so her derailleur was a bit screwed up, making shifting difficult, but she survived and is not totally done with multisport for good, so I'm calling it a win.
*********
And, since I've done this race thrice now, it's comparison time!
Time 2014: 1:27:28
Time 2016: 1:21:31
Time 2018: 1:27:00
Difference: quite a bit slower than 2016, but still faster than the first time. And the first time had arguably the easiest bike out of all of them. Not complaining since I totally wasn't really trained.
Run 1 2014: 10:14
Run 1 2016: 10:32
Run 1 2018: 11:18
Difference: so slow. I'M WORKING ON IT.
T1 2014: 1:10
T1 2016: 1:02
T1 2018: :58
Difference: well, I keep improving at something. Also, this might be my first ever sub-:60 transition time. Score!
Bike 2014: 42:56
Bike 2016: 38:10
Bike 2018: 38:56
Difference: wow, this is where I lost the least time. I'm kind of impressed, honestly. I think it's just a lot of accumulated bike miles in my legs. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
T2 2014: 1:09
T2 2016: 1:04
T2 2018: 1:11
Difference: ... and I lost time here. *shrugs*
Run 2 2014: 31:57
Run 2 2016: 30:41
Run 2 2018: 34:35
Difference: a lot. The other area where I bled a lot of time. Again, working on it.
I'm considering doing this race again next year (as I really do enjoy it), but as a relay with Samm. I guess she really wants one of the AG champion pint glasses (which I got in 2014), and they only go one deep for short course (unlike long course, where they go three deep). She would run and I would bike. I think we would crush it, so that's probably next year. Watch out for Team Skirt!
As I turn 35 this summer, I'm now in a new AG ... and am probably officially going to be comparatively worse for the next 15 years or so (unless I really kick my own ass into gear which ... trying).
Or better people are starting to show up and race the short course at Barkin' Dog. That could also be a possibility.
I'm not entirely sure I actually slept the night before, but I woke up fairly exhausted but on time (hooray!) to leave the house and go race. We got routed to a different parking lot this year, so it was almost a good mile walk down to transition. Since I have the state parks pass ... I should have just driven into the park and parked in the boating area ... maybe next time ...
Got set up, grabbed my packet ... and ended up finding a few Skirt sisters in Samm and Cassie. It was Cassie's first ever duathlon, so we helped explain some stuff, give advice ... tell her not to worry about the hill of death in the middle of the bike course ... the usual.
After that, it was a lot of standing around and waiting as the short course women were the absolute last wave to go off, but go off we did.
Start. I'm with all the crazy lime, Samm is in the Runners Roost kit to my right (if looking at photo; actually off my left shoulder), and there's a sliver of Cassie in a Stargaze Happy Girl on the other side of me.
Run 1:
The fact that I had to walk a bit up the hill of the first 2K run told me it was going to be a rough day as I'm pretty sure I didn't have to do the last time I did this race back in 2016. Dangit.
I also swear we ran a bit further down the sidewalk than that year, but that could have been my own perception due to struggling lungs already. Great.
Rounding the corner back to transition.
Time: 11:18 (4th division, 23rd gender, 48th overall)
T1:
Fairly uneventful, as per usual.
Time: :58 (2nd, 9th, 23rd)
Bike:
I forget exactly when Samm passed me on the run, but pass me she did. However, I was able to pass her back a few miles into the bike course. I hadn't ridden outside much leading into the race, but I wanted to push it on the bike, so push it I did.
I was able to see where Samm was on the backside of the tower loop - she was going in as I was coming out, so I knew she wasn't too far behind. I saw Cassie just about to turn up the giant hill of death as I turned back onto the main part of the park road, so I knew she was doing okay as well.
Unfortunately for me, no fastest AG bike split ... and that's okay, as I did the best as I could have done on that day.
Like a boss. Also lopsided helmet due to the buff I was wearing underneath for my ears. Oops.
Time: 38:56 (3rd, 20th, 40th)
T2:
Once again, in, out, gone as best I could.
"High"-fiving a little girl leaving transition. Why not, right? Also I look really tall as a result ...
Time: 1:11 (2nd, 20th, 37th)
Run 2:
Run 2 was a struggle and a half. I was heading over to the hill when I saw Samm come into trans, so I knew it was probably only going to be a matter of time until she caught me. I was walking way more than I would have liked, too.
(clearly hit my race goal of "pace well." clearly.)
Racing Underground changed up the run course this year to avoid extra foot traffic on the main park road, turning it into a straight out-and-back on the trails. I'm not sure whether I liked this more or less or neither.
In any case, my first mile was pretty slow AF (12:something), mostly due to me not being able to breathe.
Samm caught me not too long after that, and we stuck together for most of the rest of the run. She told me she was having some struggles herself - not knowing if she'd actually be able to finish the race. So, we mutually helped each other out - I helped her just keep going in general, and she helped me to a killer neg split (mile 2 11:something, mile 3 10:something).
We were nearing the part where we needed to turn off the path and head up the road to the finish when she had it and I didn't quite, so we split up and she beat me by about 45 seconds (to take third in our AG).
Time: 34:35 (4th, 36th, 67th)
Overall Stats:
Time: 1:27:00
4/5 division (F35-39)
23/60 gender
48/107 overall
Post-race selfie. My thoughts exactly.
The real reason I race: Flippin' Flapjacks.
Samm and I hung out a bit afterward, eating our pancakes, and then we biked back up to our cars. I packed up and busted ass to drive back into the park, as I wanted to try to see Cassie finish. We saw her starting up the hill on the second run as we were running down to the finish, so I knew there'd be a chance.
Unfortunately, I saw her walking back to trans with her pancakes as I drove into the parking lot. I was able to chat with her a bit post-race, though, to see how it went and all of that. She tripped at one point on the second run, so she had a bit of road rash from that, and her bike got tipped over in trans so her derailleur was a bit screwed up, making shifting difficult, but she survived and is not totally done with multisport for good, so I'm calling it a win.
*********
And, since I've done this race thrice now, it's comparison time!
Time 2014: 1:27:28
Time 2016: 1:21:31
Time 2018: 1:27:00
Difference: quite a bit slower than 2016, but still faster than the first time. And the first time had arguably the easiest bike out of all of them. Not complaining since I totally wasn't really trained.
Run 1 2014: 10:14
Run 1 2016: 10:32
Run 1 2018: 11:18
Difference: so slow. I'M WORKING ON IT.
T1 2014: 1:10
T1 2016: 1:02
T1 2018: :58
Difference: well, I keep improving at something. Also, this might be my first ever sub-:60 transition time. Score!
Bike 2014: 42:56
Bike 2016: 38:10
Bike 2018: 38:56
Difference: wow, this is where I lost the least time. I'm kind of impressed, honestly. I think it's just a lot of accumulated bike miles in my legs. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
T2 2014: 1:09
T2 2016: 1:04
T2 2018: 1:11
Difference: ... and I lost time here. *shrugs*
Run 2 2014: 31:57
Run 2 2016: 30:41
Run 2 2018: 34:35
Difference: a lot. The other area where I bled a lot of time. Again, working on it.
I'm considering doing this race again next year (as I really do enjoy it), but as a relay with Samm. I guess she really wants one of the AG champion pint glasses (which I got in 2014), and they only go one deep for short course (unlike long course, where they go three deep). She would run and I would bike. I think we would crush it, so that's probably next year. Watch out for Team Skirt!
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Race #2 of the Season: Rockies Home Run 5K
... the second race of my weekend double.
Unlike the Donut Dash the day before, I was actually hoping to race this race. I didn't think I'd come close to my course PR (28:something)(spoiler: I didn't), mostly because I took some time off running for Italy and I really haven't been doing any speed work.
Since both of us wanted to do pretty well, we also decided we would run separately.
I managed to hit most of my goals, too.
- have fun. Indeed, there is even fun in suffering. Also with pre-race selfies with Dinger, the Rockies' mascot.
Not the Dinger selfie, but one of the two of us.
- pace well. Ha, well, not so much ... keep reading.
The gun went off and Brandon was gone. I kept him in sight for most of the first mile, but as soon as I had to slow down to walk, I lost him. The first mile of this race is one of the quickest opening miles around the Denver race scene (imho), and mine was probably too fast for current sustainability, at an 8:57. Oops.
Mile 2 starts uphill, and I walked some, before running again. And then walking at the aid station halfway through the mile. And a bit again. And then up the other hills on course. Dropped to a 9:45 for that mile.
Mile 3 was a lot of pain. Ran when I could (and, according to the Garmin file, ran quite fast), but I had absolutely no lungs. AT ALL. Saw the finish, turned into the stadium to run around the warning track, ran around it, struggled up the mini hill leaving the stadium (evil), walked once more, and then gutted out sub-7 pace to the finish, trying to hit my final goal.
- sub-30. So ... dang ... close.
Final Stats:
Time: 30:20
44/287 AG (F30-34)
217/2140 gender
654/3965 overall
I left it all out there on the course. I got sub-10 per mile (which I'm THRILLED with) and came pretty close to the sub-30 I would have liked. I said in my pre-race goals post that sub-30 might take some pain. Well, I had pain and still couldn't get it, so that's okay. I know where I need to work before the next 5K I want to do well at in early June (Skirt Sports).
Unlike the Donut Dash the day before, I was actually hoping to race this race. I didn't think I'd come close to my course PR (28:something)(spoiler: I didn't), mostly because I took some time off running for Italy and I really haven't been doing any speed work.
Since both of us wanted to do pretty well, we also decided we would run separately.
I managed to hit most of my goals, too.
- have fun. Indeed, there is even fun in suffering. Also with pre-race selfies with Dinger, the Rockies' mascot.
Not the Dinger selfie, but one of the two of us.
- pace well. Ha, well, not so much ... keep reading.
The gun went off and Brandon was gone. I kept him in sight for most of the first mile, but as soon as I had to slow down to walk, I lost him. The first mile of this race is one of the quickest opening miles around the Denver race scene (imho), and mine was probably too fast for current sustainability, at an 8:57. Oops.
Mile 2 starts uphill, and I walked some, before running again. And then walking at the aid station halfway through the mile. And a bit again. And then up the other hills on course. Dropped to a 9:45 for that mile.
Mile 3 was a lot of pain. Ran when I could (and, according to the Garmin file, ran quite fast), but I had absolutely no lungs. AT ALL. Saw the finish, turned into the stadium to run around the warning track, ran around it, struggled up the mini hill leaving the stadium (evil), walked once more, and then gutted out sub-7 pace to the finish, trying to hit my final goal.
- sub-30. So ... dang ... close.
Final Stats:
Time: 30:20
44/287 AG (F30-34)
217/2140 gender
654/3965 overall
I left it all out there on the course. I got sub-10 per mile (which I'm THRILLED with) and came pretty close to the sub-30 I would have liked. I said in my pre-race goals post that sub-30 might take some pain. Well, I had pain and still couldn't get it, so that's okay. I know where I need to work before the next 5K I want to do well at in early June (Skirt Sports).
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