Race #3 of the Season: Brineman Triathlon

... did I train for this race? Marginally. Was it better than last year? Eh. Is it still fun? Yes.

We had a lot of travel prior to this race (literally flew back home from Boston on Thursday, getting in early that afternoon like five hours before packet pickup started ... and that trip was a day or so after getting back from a different trip), but hey, we roll with it. And it's nice that it's around the corner so it was an easy peasy ride on the gravels over to packet pickup.

And an easy peasy roll out of bed that morning to drop our stuff off in transition.

However, I did stress out HORRIBLY going back to transition after coming back home for breakfast since B was racing and was a lot less worried about the timing of things.

(he also rolled back out of transition like 5-10 minutes after it closed. not for me ...)

I mean, I partially get it since we get kicked out at 8a and then the sprint doesn't go off for like 75 minutes, BUT STILL.

Getting into the wetsuit wasn't quite as bad since we actually did a tiny open water in them up at B's parents' cabin the week prior ... but I don't know if my nail luck finally gave out or if it's because the neoprene was old (... wetsuit was purchased in ... 2017? 2019?), but some chunks came out. Same with B. So I guess a new wetsuit gets to be purchased next year. Hooray?

Anyway, teeny tiny practice swim, back out, line up, go.

The Swim:

... the swim actually felt a LOT better than last year. Granted, the swim numbers have still been abysmal, but my sighting was a LOT better (even the Garmin map said so). The first bit around the little island seemed like it didn't take long at all and the worst part was the final stretch back ... but that was mostly due to the sun and not being able to see a damn thing.

But I didn't almost run into a dock this year, so there's that.

I definitely didn't run as much to transition like last year, but things were a lot quicker, which was awesome.

Time: 20:10.48

T1:

... I don't know if it was a less advantageous spot or what, but this was a bit worse this year. I dunno. I didn't like being on the other side, though - not as easy to help get the wetsuit dry.

Time: 2:10.36

The Bike: 

... when I looked at the times from this year as opposed to last year, I was a bit surprised to see that my bike was actually slower. They might have had us go a bit further onto the causeway, but not a full 1:30 further.

Although, to be fair, I think the headwind coming back was a lot worse. And the stupid winds that can be around our neighborhood can make quite the difference on the bike.

And apparently they did this year.

Who knows.

Time: 34:36.19

T2:

... this was ABYSMAL. I NEVER have transition times this bad anymore. I didn't even BodyGlide the toes (which I probably should have). Part of it was one of my socks somehow got tangled up in my race belt skirt (how it exited my shoe I DO NOT KNOW) and so I was freaking out trying to find it. Eventually, I did.

Eventually, I got moving.

But sheesh. Terrible.

Time: 4:11.53

The Run:

So. The run still isn't a 5K (or 3.2 mi - I forget what they advertise), but it IS actually closer to it now. It's more like 3.3 miles as opposed to the 3.5 it WAS.

We were thinking I would catch B on the run since he injured himself playing hockey about a month ago and running for him really hasn't been a thing (since we know he would get out of the swim before me).

Honestly, it was going pretty well - I neg split the first two miles - but did spend some time walking with B once I caught up with him because why not. I also shared with him my last two maple candies in case he wanted them (he did).

The reason the run course got closer to the actual distance is due to changes off the road - there's now a fire station - so we can detour off to get to the nature park more efficiently than before ... and it cuts off a decent chunk.

Time: 36:41.82

Overall Stats:
Time: 1:38:30.4
4/8 division (F40-44)
50/112 gender
159/277 overall

Eight overall seconds slower than last year. I blame that terrible T2.

I finished and waited for B to cross the line ... which he did, hobbling, and collapsing right after. Apparently he took a bad step soon after he entered the nature park and re-tweaked something. Thankfully he's fine, but it was a bit scary.

Done.

Sadly not a comically large oversized brine shrimp this year.

Local pro Skye Moench was doing the long course as a Kona tune-up and we saw her walking back home.

I would say I'd return to this race next year ... but the date changed to like two weeks later so it might interfere with us going to/being in Germany for Oktoberfest (since we're probably going to do that hockey tournament again). So ... maybe?

Anyway, always a good time to race so close to home - in more ways than one.

August Round Up

August was ... better in some ways. Worse in others. Read on.

Swimming: 4397.51m (2.73 mi)
Cycling: 52.99 mi
Running: 13.8 mi
Lifting: eight sessions (2:35)
Other: one hike (:22), one session hockey (1:29), five walks (2:37)

Definitely the most I've swum all year. And the numbers got weird because I attempted an open water swim up at B's parents' cabin and ... yeah. Attempt is the right way to phrase that.

Cycling was also fairly decent which is nice. Because it needed to be.

Running ... ugh. Let's not talk about that. Or lifting. Because I am mad at myself for that being so terrible. And we all know summer kills my walking numbers.

September is going to be interesting (has been interesting) for the first two weeks since I am insanely busy ... but afterward, I seriously need to focus. I plan mostly on surviving the month and then writing out a loose plan for the rest of the year in order to start gaining some consistency in terms of swim/bike/run as well as prioritizing strength work and ideally speed work before the true Roth plan starts in January. 

July Round Up

So, July. We have positives? We have fear? Read on ...

Swimming: 1300m (.81 mi)
Cycling: 28.08 mi
Running: 19.89 mi
Lifting: 19 sessions (4:36)
Other: one hike (:53), two sessions hockey (2:32), 11 walks (3:47), one session yoga (:25)

So. Some progress made. I swam twice! I cycled more often! (I think that was three rides). Running ... is still not long, but I'm doing it! I actually hiked! I DID YOGA!

All good things. 

But there's a reason for me trying like hell to focus on triathlon-specific things again and NOT just because I signed up for Brineman sprint again (because I did that, too).

It's because next year, on my birthday, I'm doing Challenge Roth.

If you don't know it, Challenge Roth is a full distance (140.6) mile race that is iconic and has been around for over 40 years. It takes place in Germany. Almost all - if not all - the speed records set at the distance have been at that race. There's a hill - Solarer Berg - that you climb single-file due to the Tour de France-style crowds (look it up on the 'gram). 

It also has a shorter time cut.

Most Ironman races are 17 hours with a few notable exceptions (Chattanooga being one at 16 or 16:30). 

Roth? Used to be at 15:30. Now? 15 hours.

I have never done a 140.6 race in 15 hours.

If you combine my fastest times across all disciplines (including transitions), I still have never completed 140.6 miles in 15 hours.

Am I terrified? Yes. Do I think I can do it? ... yes. I have to say yes. There's no other answer. I have to believe I can do it or there's no point. I've already paid my money. I'm going.

So wish me luck. And maybe more importantly ...

... wish me speed.

June Round Up

... you can probably guess by now.

Swimming: 0m (0 mi)

Cycling: 12.6 mi

Running: 17.74 mi

Lifting: 6 sessions (2:25)

Other: four sessions hockey (4:00), 19 walks (8:11)

I keep meaning to call VASA to see if their stupid pool is open (... I swear it's always closed when I try to go), but then I don't. And I don't swim.

I rode ... I think once for global cycling day and then again when I got my oil changed (will ride home and then back to pick up my car). But do I need/want to ride more? Of course. Do I? Obviously not.

And running ... is hit or miss. And mostly miss. And short. 

Lifting was the biggest frustration this month. I fucking know better, and yet.

At least July is off to a decent start ...

Race #2 of the Season: Jurassic Run 5K

We were supposed to run this race last year.

We found it, saw "oh hey, dinosaurs," signed up. Then bought tickets for "How to Train Your Dragon" in concert (symphony plays to the movie) that night. Realized the race was an evening race and ... oooops. Thankfully, the race allowed us to defer a year so we got to run it this year.

The race takes place partially inside (but mostly outside) the Ogden Dinosaur Park so you know, right up our alley. Downside is that it's an evening race in late June, so it's also hot. Thankfully not as hot as last year would have been, but still.

Photographer got us walking around pre-race.

We got there relatively early - mostly for parking purposes - and then just hung out walking around and stretching before we were set to start at 7p.

Sign.

Like I wasn't wearing my T. rex (T. flex) shorts for this race.

Neither of us have been running a lot this year (you know I haven't and it's been a lot less for B), so we had zero expectations for this race. Well, that's not entirely true: since B doesn't do well in heat, the goal for him was to not die.

We ran together - what I didn't know is that the little park you do an out-and-back in nearby has a MONSTER hill. Yeah, we mostly walked that. 

But other than that, we were running fairly well early on, but the lack of any training for either of us, plus the fact that, y'know, balls, meant that we crumpled some in the back half. Eh. It was expected.

Final bit was actually in and around the dino park, as evidenced by the official race photo.

Weeeeee!

Wasn't much to the finish after this and though I crossed the line first ... B beat me by .1 second. Grumble.

Overall Stats:
Time: 33:13.5
7/30 division (F40-45)
40/211 gender
101/368 overall

What I DIDN'T know going in is that we got medals.

... and this picture made me realize that there were several different medals and that the third option was way cooler than mine. So obviously I swapped.

Regrets, I have zero.

Ultimately, fun race, we enjoyed it. Would it have been better had we trained? Yes. Would it also be better in the morning prior to the park opening as opposed as to at the end of the day? Also probably, but I get why it's in the evening.

Still, fun, small, local race. May do again. Probably. 

(because dinosaurs.)

May Round Up

Another month down. 

Swimming: 0m (0mi)
Cycling: 31.68 mi
Running: 20.69 mi
Lifting: 13 sessions (4:16)
Other: one hike (:55), three sessions hockey (3:46), 22 walks (11:37), one session yoga (:13)

Swimming ... is a struggle. To be transparent, I did try to go ... and the pool at my regular gym was closed. Because of course it was. Because this happens to me all the time. 

Most of the cycling miles were in one giant 20 mile ride I did with B and one of his friends ... and it went pretty well despite me having no miles in my legs, but that's how the bike tends to go.

Running is about par for the course for me right now. I do have a 5K at the end of June that was deferred from last year, but I have zero goals except have fun at it since it's through a dinosaur park and I know I'm going to want to take pictures. So there's that.

Lifting wasn't terrible but DEFINITELY needs to be more consistent. I'm proud I did some yoga, but I really need to do a lot more bodywork. Because I can tell that I'm in my damn 40s. 

As for June? I know I can do better, so let's hope that I actually do for a change.

April Round Up

Well, in some ways, April was an improvement. Read on ...

Swimming: 800m (.5 mi)
Cycling: 7.87 mi
Running: 22.02 mi
Lifting: 12 sessions (4:54)
Other: one hike (1:37), three sessions hockey (3:58), 22 walks (12:01)

Can you believe that first one? I actually got back into the pool. Crazy, I know. Hoping to do it again here shortly. 

Only got on the bike once, which I'm not happy with, but given my general spring bike anxiety ... I'm also not surprised.

Running was decently consistent even though I'm not yet really upping any mileage. But I'll take the consistency. Same with strength training - I think I only missed two or three scheduled lift days, which is DELIGHTFUL.

Still managing hockey even though my season's over and got out for a hike while in Tucson. And I'm logging every walk I do this year, which is why that's so crazy. But I'm not mad about it. Steps are good.

Hoping to keep building for May ...