Happy Holidays!

Oh it's the little things.

Quick and Dirty - World Championships 70.3 2010

Swim 29:42
T1 3:06
Bike: 2:31:01 (22.25 mph)
T2: 2:30
Run 2:05:55 (9:36/mile)

Total Time: 5:12:14

Clearwater was an amazing learning experience, teaching me so much about myself, about racing, about my limits and also my ultimate goals in the sport. It was also a fabulous celebration and end to a wonderful season with teammates, coaches, friends and family.

The quick and dirty race plan was to swim with the top girls as long as I could, bike as hard as I could for the entire ride and see what happened on the run. I had nothing to lose- the race plan in my last 70.3 was to manage the race and secure a slot to the World Champs. There was nothing left to manage- this was it, now or never.

The swim was TOUGH - pretty strong current, choppy and blinding sunrise. I lost the lead pack almost right away, found some feet and swam 29:--. I think I was realistically in shape for a 26-27 swim, but the conditions were not ideal and I am happy and proud of my swim.

I biked like I have never biked before. With a 1080 and a disc generously borrowed from a teammate, I hung on to my aerobars, gritted my teeth and never let up. I am very proud of myself for riding as legally and safely as possible- the ride deserves a post of its own, but there were times were I was legitimately scared while being swallowed by packs of 50+ riders. I can say with all honesty that I biked my own race and after the first 10 miles, I do not recall anyone in my age group passed me riding solo. With no bike computer, I was left doing mental math and realized with 11 miles left, I was going to come into T2 at around 3:00-3:05 total race time. Yes, that equates to a 2:31 bike ride. I tried not to freak out and be confident in my fitness.

Unfortunately, my nutritional plan is based on a 2:45-3:00 HIM bike split, so 200-300 calories were left in my aero drink as I dismounted and threw my bike to a volunteer. This, plus a lack of water pre-race and during the bike, would come to haunt me.

The first 3 miles of the run were under control. Not quite as easy and effortless as I had hoped, but the pace was steady and I knew my sub-5 hour goal was not only in sight, but the potential for a much bigger PR was in my grasp. I had a Gu at Mile 3, popped 2 Excedrin, and the wheels fell off.

Mile 6.5ish

I am not sure if it was the lack of water pre-race, the salt water ingested during a rough ocean swim, the lack of calories on the bike, the higher effort on the ride, or Excedrin on an already taxed system, (mostly like a combination of all of the above) but around mile 4, I started having bloating/cramping/pain my stomach like I have never felt before. It was not gastro-distress, I have experienced this before and a stop or two could have taken care of it. It was upper stomach, below my rib cage, and up my back. I was able to push through it for the next few miles, still holding on to 8:30ish pace until Mile 7, where I finally gave in and walked, and I let the pain take over.

I hobbled/walked/dry heaved the last 5 miles, slowly watching my time goal slip away, but knowing there was absolutely NOTHING I could do. I had started to take Coke at Mile 5, but the thought of taking the Gu that was in my hand made me gag. My only nutrition the entire run was a Gu at mile 3.

I crossed the finish line in 5:12, forced a smile on my face, and all I wanted to do was sit down. The smarter thing to do would have been to go straight to the med tent, as my insides continue to ache.

I am not dissapointed in my race. In fact, it was probably the best learning lesson I could have had, in so many ways. Biking outside of my comfort zone has showed me what is possible, and with more attention to the details and figuring out the nutrition at this higher effort, I am excited for what is in store.

For the next month, I will rest, recover, mull over my goals and take a long overdue work trip back to Zambia.

End of a long day and a wonderful season!

LOVE

LOVE LOVE LOVE Everything about this. Except the prices.

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Gym Love.

Usually I just wait until there is a free space, avoiding the circle swimming-hell that comes with a 20 yard pool. But today, there was a class at 10am and I had a work-out to get in.

The response I got when I asked a guy if we could circle swim?

"Sure, but you better swim my speed; if you get too close, I will kick you."

He then proceeded to swim 4 more laps and got out.

Really?

Then a guy got in and proceeded to do underwater breaststroke beneath me and cork-screw. Awesome.

Weekend in Pictures

This weekend is best told through pictures.

After my last long brick on Saturday, I finally was able to use a gift certificate for a massage I have been saving up. While it was heaven, and I plan to go back Wednesday before hopping on a plane down to Tampa, I'm not sure she believed me when I told her I had sensitive skin...


After laying around for a bit , I motivated to do me some baking. Cake Balls for the boy. Sounds easy, right?



Well, I would not say these were a TOTAL disaster, but they were close (as you can maybe tell from the finished product). I learned a few lessons:

1. If a recipe calls for 1 box of cake mix + 1 can of frosting, eating chunks of said cake will mess up the ratio.

2. Cake Balls should be bite size. I got about 30 balls, when I was supposed to make 50+. I guess my bite-size is larger than most?

3. Too large cake balls (see #2), result in longer than necessary cooling time prior to the chocolate dip.

So I ended up with about 12 'usable' Cake Balls after an utter disaster of a dipping process. And even the ones that were presentable weren't the tasty treats I was hoping. I think I will just need to play with the amount of frosting to perfect this recipe, and learn to be more patient (however, I've been working on that for 27 years).

Sunday called for one last run and then some major cheering, celebrating and overall loving of NYC on Marathon Sunday.

OCD, commence.

Yes, I know it's 8 days away. But can this pleeeeease hold true??

A little boot love on this rainy day.

Oh man, oh man. I want them all.

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shhh, these are on their way to me now!

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These babies are probably finding their way to my feet verrrry soon (as in, now, oops.)

OMG

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Genius. Cupcake + marshmallow + warm oven = perfection.

Daily (walking to work) Inspiration

Choices.

I have two weeks left to make the right choices between now and Clearwater.

[Well, I HAD two weeks, but then it was Halloween weekend and boy was here and it was my best friend's engagement party and then the Redskins played (well, tried to play but sucked it up royally) and the only way to make that better was beers+wings+candy...]

As I was saying, I have 10 days to make good choices. I loaded up on groceries last night, am only coaching for 1 hour next week and am committed to rest, recovery and shedding the last few pounds over these next 10 days.

And I just need to keep telling myself...."Carrots are as good as chips...carrots are as good as chips..."

..yea, right. Damn I want my Doritos...

Marathon Maddness

The electricity of marathon week is officially in town. From the finish line bleachers under construction at 6am this morning, to the groups of international runners taking group photos at the Reservoir yesterday morning - it's the best time of year in the park. There is an energy that you can feel and carries you through your runs.

Although I have missed the training over the past few months, I have no regrets to not be participating in this year - for the first time ever I actually get to be a spectator and am REALLY excited. My first two years living in NYC I was out of town for work marathon weekend, and I ran the past two years, so I am really looking forward to taking my camera and parking my butt somewhere on 5th or behind the Met and cheering on the masses.

My favorite sign I have seen so far :

On the training front, for the first time in a while, I actually feel like I'm training again with my head in the game. I'm in the water every day this week and my swim feels great, and I hit some 800s at a pace I didn't know was in me this morning, so things are looking up. Now I just need to get out of the freezing, dark mornings and to the Florida sun!!