I think I realized something key about my personality. I am in a state of perpetual New Year's Resolutions. Or rather, I have high aspirations for my future self. What does this mean? It means, I think that my future self will be this amazing together person, without taking into consideration the limitations of my present self.
Confused? Let me give you an example of something that happened just this morning.
While rushing out of the house to get to work, I only have my car key in my purse. The reason it is not on my regular key chain is because I took it off to keep with me during yesterday's Tour of Napa Bike Ride (more on that later). I couldn't for the life of me remember where my key chain with all my keys is. I searched my car, searched my purse, searched my triathlon bag---nothing. Just as I was about to lose it, the little light bulb went off-"Oh yeah!" I unzipped the front (mind you, rarely used) pocket of my tri bag and there they are. I distinctly remember thinking yesterday as I put them in that --rarely used--pocket, "I will DEFINITELY remember where I put these keys."
In my head, future self is much smarter than present self.
Another example would be the Tour of Napa ride which I registered back in June. I registered for the 100 mile option, thinking I would be nice and ready for it, because future self must be a bike training machine, right?
Not quite. Though I have biked pretty regularly in the last month, this year I have not topped over 30 miles. So, I decided to switch to the 65 mile option. I mean, I did 200 miles in one day last year, surely this will be cake for future self.
Um. Yeah. It was NOT cake. It was a big old slice of humble pie.
I woke up at 4:45 to drive to Napa yesterday. I met my friend at the start in Yountville and we were on the road by 7:30. We felt good. Our average mph was my goal mph and I was feeling strong the first 10 miles. And then she said, "What's that noise?"
"Oh yeah," I said acknowledging the rhythmic rrrrrring noise, "I hear that too. I don't know."
"Do you have a flat?"
"Nah, doesn't sound like a flat. I would know---uh oh, yeah we gotta pull over. I have a flat."
Twenties minutes and lots of grease everywhere, the flat was changed and we were back on the road.
And my spirit was slightly dampened.
We rode more. It was beautiful, taking us through wine country. The temperature was perfect, overcast but not super cold. One stretch of road was pretty tore up and a challenge to ride because of bumps and cracks. At mile 20 we had a slight climb. I read that there were two climbs on this ride.
We stopped at the rest stop at mile 34. I ate half a turkey sandwich and a fig newton. I was pretty beat already. My friend (whom I did Seattle to Portland with) and I were tripping over the fact that this was our first Century bike ride of the year. Last year, we were at this distance by March. And why was it so hard? So far, my theory on muscle memory is starting to lose its credibility.
We took off. It was hill time. At this point in the ride we got separated (she is faster than me). This hill was a bit of a beast. I would say it was about 4-5 miles of climbing. It was called Howell's hill and I thought it was an appropriate name considering some parts of my body were howling. The people on the ride were very friendly. Everyone LOVED pink bike. However, one guy passed me. On. the. Right. Um, hello? Oh, and another guy was riding slowly up the hill. As I passed him I looked over and saw him on his cell phone. Seriously?
Finally the hill was over and we went downhill a little. I stopped at the water stop to fill my bottle. My legs were thrashed. I got back on my bike and realized I was still in the easy granny gear and my wheels were spinning. I couldn't get a hold of my bike and gradually started to tip over almost falling into a group of hardcore cyclist who were standing around.
Smooth move.
I headed back out on the road. Now was time for the downhill. It was crazy. At one point to the right of me I could see the whole Napa Valley ( I tried to take a picture but my cell phone camera skills leave a lot to be desired). It was a long downhill, and I took it as easy as possible but at some points I was at 30 mph (for me that is fast!). There were some sharp turns and towards the end a really gnarly hairpin. There was a stop sign at the bottom of the hill and one guy looked to his buddy and said, "That was INTENSE."
Yup. It was.
The last 20 miles of the ride was pure torture. Every part of me was in pain from my shoulders to my feet. I hit some wind. Would this ride ever end? Never again, I thought to myself, will I wait until August to bike this far. Oh, and perhaps gradually I will get to this mileage. My future self will train much better.
I was at the finish and met up with my friend. We ate some food, and then headed on our separate way.
It was a great event in terms of scenery, support, and a minimal number of cars on the road. Not so great in terms of the reality of where I am at right now with my bike fitness. Next year will be a different story.
Right, future self?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Water Water Everywhere
I think I may have gotten a little delirious after the event high from last weekend's awesome Silicon Valley Open Water Swim. I made an impulsive decision to register for a Lake Tahoe Swim. It was this past Saturday. I convinced my friend (I think we may be event registration enablers) to sign up as well. We went back and forth. Do we drive up Friday, do the event Saturday and come back? Do we drive up Saturday, and drive back Sunday? We wanted to bike that weekend as well, but didn't want to deal with leaving our bikes out during the swim. The logistics were hurting our brains. So we decided that I would drive to Sacramento (where she lives) after work on Friday. We would wake up super duper early Saturday, do the swim and then drive back after.
Yes, we decided to go to Lake Tahoe and back in one day.
Um, yes. We are crazy.
We woke up at 3:30(!). We actually got to Lake Tahoe at 6. Not too bad. However, the event website wasn't the most user friendly and we weren't sure exactly where it was. Her GPS took us on a wild goose chase through a campground, but miraculously we found Day parking and a trail to the beach. Yay! Except when we got to the beach, it wasn't super obvious there was an event. We finally found registration. I gave the woman my USAT card and she asked me, "Wetsuit or non-wetsuit?" My friend and I exchanged enabling glances. See, I had brought my wetsuit but I didn't want to wear it. But everyone was telling me that the water was cold at Tahoe.
But, I saw the look in my friend's eyes and I knew my answer.
I sighed, "No wetsuit."
Um, yes. We are crazy.
She gave us markers to write our race numbers on our limbs. DIY body marking--gotta love a grass roots event.
We got to the shore and gingerly stepped into the water. I may have sworn a little. It was cold! Am I a total idiot for doing this? We swam around a little bit and then got out because it was still 40 minutes before the event started. We headed to the beach for the pre-race talk. The race director talked about the courses. They had 3 options: 1/2 mile, 1 mile, and 2 mile. We signed up for the two mile. Unlike last week's event--which was two one mile loops---this was an out and back event. Here is basically how the race director described the course:
"Ok, for the half mile swim you want to swim around that buoy, at the second buoy make a right and head to the finish."
Ok, the second buoy looked close. Not too bad.
"For the one miler you want to go past the first two buoys and turn around at the third buoy."
I squinted my eyes and finally was able to see the last buoy. Um, that looks far.
"Ok, for the 2 mile swim you want to go past that last buoy and turn around at the buoy further out."
Um, what buoy?
As if reading my mind, he said "You can't see it from here."
Gulp.
Um, yes. We are crazy.
The swim started. Brrrrrr! It was a long swim. It felt long because it took a long time until the turnaround buoy was visible. I kept expecting myself to get warm, but it remained consistently cold. Then I would hit warm parts and would freak out a little. I remembered one of my friends telling me that when you die from hypothermia you actually feel warm all over. (note: I have not researched this. Just repeating what someone told me).
So then I started thinking "OMG! DO I HAVE HYPOTHERMIA?"
Well, duh, of course I didn't have it. It was just the ridiculous mental freakout that is similar to when I am in the ocean and touch seaweed: "OMG! IS THAT A SHARK?"
There were only 20 of us doing the 2 mile option and I was definitely one of the slowest. So, basically I was swimming in Tahoe by myself. Except the size of the race meant that one of the volunteer kayakers was with me the whole time. THAT was awesome. At the final buoy I stopped and he said, "Just a straight shot to the finish."
"Am I last?" I asked him.
"No."
"It's fine if I am. Someone has to be last. I have no ego issues being THAT person..." Ok Jill, just shut up and swim.
And I did. AND I MADE IT AND DIDN'T GET HYPOTHERMIA. AND I WASN'T LAST. (I was second to last).
My friend was there cheering me on. She got 1st and I got 2nd in our age group. And yes, it was only the two of us. But I happily took my pint glass that read "BIG BLUE ADVENTURES 2nd."
In summary, an AMAZING swim. . The water was clear, beautiful and tranquil. I was actually worried about the elevation affecting my breathing, but it wasn't a problem at all. In fact, I checked results today and my swim was 3 minutes faster than last week's time. WHAHOO!
OK, so the only issue with all of these events I have done is only ONE was in the ocean. I probably should snap out of my denial and get in there at some point before Big Kahuna, right?
Right.
Yes, we decided to go to Lake Tahoe and back in one day.
Um, yes. We are crazy.
We woke up at 3:30(!). We actually got to Lake Tahoe at 6. Not too bad. However, the event website wasn't the most user friendly and we weren't sure exactly where it was. Her GPS took us on a wild goose chase through a campground, but miraculously we found Day parking and a trail to the beach. Yay! Except when we got to the beach, it wasn't super obvious there was an event. We finally found registration. I gave the woman my USAT card and she asked me, "Wetsuit or non-wetsuit?" My friend and I exchanged enabling glances. See, I had brought my wetsuit but I didn't want to wear it. But everyone was telling me that the water was cold at Tahoe.
But, I saw the look in my friend's eyes and I knew my answer.
I sighed, "No wetsuit."
Um, yes. We are crazy.
She gave us markers to write our race numbers on our limbs. DIY body marking--gotta love a grass roots event.
We got to the shore and gingerly stepped into the water. I may have sworn a little. It was cold! Am I a total idiot for doing this? We swam around a little bit and then got out because it was still 40 minutes before the event started. We headed to the beach for the pre-race talk. The race director talked about the courses. They had 3 options: 1/2 mile, 1 mile, and 2 mile. We signed up for the two mile. Unlike last week's event--which was two one mile loops---this was an out and back event. Here is basically how the race director described the course:
"Ok, for the half mile swim you want to swim around that buoy, at the second buoy make a right and head to the finish."
Ok, the second buoy looked close. Not too bad.
"For the one miler you want to go past the first two buoys and turn around at the third buoy."
I squinted my eyes and finally was able to see the last buoy. Um, that looks far.
"Ok, for the 2 mile swim you want to go past that last buoy and turn around at the buoy further out."
Um, what buoy?
As if reading my mind, he said "You can't see it from here."
Gulp.
Um, yes. We are crazy.
The swim started. Brrrrrr! It was a long swim. It felt long because it took a long time until the turnaround buoy was visible. I kept expecting myself to get warm, but it remained consistently cold. Then I would hit warm parts and would freak out a little. I remembered one of my friends telling me that when you die from hypothermia you actually feel warm all over. (note: I have not researched this. Just repeating what someone told me).
So then I started thinking "OMG! DO I HAVE HYPOTHERMIA?"
Well, duh, of course I didn't have it. It was just the ridiculous mental freakout that is similar to when I am in the ocean and touch seaweed: "OMG! IS THAT A SHARK?"
There were only 20 of us doing the 2 mile option and I was definitely one of the slowest. So, basically I was swimming in Tahoe by myself. Except the size of the race meant that one of the volunteer kayakers was with me the whole time. THAT was awesome. At the final buoy I stopped and he said, "Just a straight shot to the finish."
"Am I last?" I asked him.
"No."
"It's fine if I am. Someone has to be last. I have no ego issues being THAT person..." Ok Jill, just shut up and swim.
And I did. AND I MADE IT AND DIDN'T GET HYPOTHERMIA. AND I WASN'T LAST. (I was second to last).
My friend was there cheering me on. She got 1st and I got 2nd in our age group. And yes, it was only the two of us. But I happily took my pint glass that read "BIG BLUE ADVENTURES 2nd."
In summary, an AMAZING swim. . The water was clear, beautiful and tranquil. I was actually worried about the elevation affecting my breathing, but it wasn't a problem at all. In fact, I checked results today and my swim was 3 minutes faster than last week's time. WHAHOO!
OK, so the only issue with all of these events I have done is only ONE was in the ocean. I probably should snap out of my denial and get in there at some point before Big Kahuna, right?
Right.
Monday, August 8, 2011
That's Gonna Leave a Mark: Silicon Valley Open Water Swim Race Report
The key to get to the podium at events? Do events where there are only three people in your age group. Yup---at yesterday's SwimOutlet.com Open Water Swim I somehow managed to get 1st place for non-wetsuit females in my age group. ME? First place? At something related to swimming? Hilarious!
I giddily accepted the bottle of Two Buck Chuck wine as my prize (seriously, how awesome is that? I may have to put that in my wine cellar to commemorate this victory. Hah! Like I have a wine cellar). The woman who got 3rd place posed with me for a picture. She was super cute because she was just as surprised as I was for placing. Her eyes got all big as she said, "Oh my gosh I wasn't even going to swim today!"
Honestly though, I didn't sign up for non-wetsuit because I thought I would increase my odds of placing. I plan to do the Slam the Dam 3.6 mile swim in October without a wetsuit because the temperature is supposed to be pretty warm, so figured I should see what it is like. I was actually a little nervous about the swim since the longest I have swam in open water was probably 1.5 miles.
Swimming without a wetsuit was AMAZING! I just loved that each stroke felt natural, I could breathe normally, and I didn't have the sore shoulder issues I have been having in my wetsuit.
I was super scared of swimming without a wetsuit mainly because of the other swimmers. For some reason the wetsuit makes me feel like I have some protection. I have a fear of someone doing breaststroke and kicking me so my knee dislocates and then I will flail around and a lifeguard will come rescue me and then I will have to go to the ER.
In my head, the wetsuit would protect me from dislocations.
Fortunately, no injuries like that. However, I didn't anticipate scratching. In the open water it is pure aquatic Armageddon and everyone gets all up in your business. I literally felt someone scratch their claws in me as they were attempting to do a freestyle stroke. "Ow," I thought to myself, "That's going to leave a mark."
The swim was two loops in the Stevens Creek Reservoir. The first mile loop was ok. I still haven't figured out how to swim faster in the open water. About halfway through the second loop the strangest thing happened. I got totally disoriented. The reservoir is surrounded by trees and everything looks the same, and all of the sudden I had a, "Where the heck am I?" kind of feeling. I can't explain it. I can only compare it to those times where you are driving home and you can't remember driving to a certain point. Minds are weird.
Of course what makes these events so great is getting to do them with my peeps. Some of my workout buddies did it, along with one of my friends whom I did Seattle to Portland with last year. Her and I actually decided to do an easy ride after the race. I forgot how hardcore she is, so our definition of "easy" differed. To me, "easy" was a 5 mile ride. To her, "easy" was 25 or 30 miles. We did 22, and kicked up the pace the last half. It was awesome to be able to push one another.
It was great to have a successful event coming from the heels of another fun event (last week's International Triathlon). 2009 and 2010 were a little lackluster in terms of my enjoyment of events. I think I was trying desperately to get back that feeling I had the first couple of years of tris. But with anything in life, trying to replicate something in the past will only set you up for disappointment in the present. I think I was way hard on myself the past couple of years thinking that success was defined by a time. I may never do a half marathon in under two hours. Does that mean it isn't worth it to do these things? Last week was the slowest I have ever done that distance in, but it still felt fantastic. It feels great to know that I can move past literally crying on the track two weeks ago to having fun at events again.
So the goal for the rest of the year? Brace yourself because it is going to sound way hippie and new agey. I just want to, like, live in the moment man. Take the water in. See the world from the seat of a bicycle. Feel myself connecting with the trail.
Oh goodness gracious. Where did THAT come from? Did I mention I have been without cable tv for 6 weeks? Perhaps my lack of reality television viewing has chipped away some of my cynicism? If I start wearing Patchouli oil, please please please have an intervention. Yikes.
I giddily accepted the bottle of Two Buck Chuck wine as my prize (seriously, how awesome is that? I may have to put that in my wine cellar to commemorate this victory. Hah! Like I have a wine cellar). The woman who got 3rd place posed with me for a picture. She was super cute because she was just as surprised as I was for placing. Her eyes got all big as she said, "Oh my gosh I wasn't even going to swim today!"
Honestly though, I didn't sign up for non-wetsuit because I thought I would increase my odds of placing. I plan to do the Slam the Dam 3.6 mile swim in October without a wetsuit because the temperature is supposed to be pretty warm, so figured I should see what it is like. I was actually a little nervous about the swim since the longest I have swam in open water was probably 1.5 miles.
Swimming without a wetsuit was AMAZING! I just loved that each stroke felt natural, I could breathe normally, and I didn't have the sore shoulder issues I have been having in my wetsuit.
I was super scared of swimming without a wetsuit mainly because of the other swimmers. For some reason the wetsuit makes me feel like I have some protection. I have a fear of someone doing breaststroke and kicking me so my knee dislocates and then I will flail around and a lifeguard will come rescue me and then I will have to go to the ER.
In my head, the wetsuit would protect me from dislocations.
Fortunately, no injuries like that. However, I didn't anticipate scratching. In the open water it is pure aquatic Armageddon and everyone gets all up in your business. I literally felt someone scratch their claws in me as they were attempting to do a freestyle stroke. "Ow," I thought to myself, "That's going to leave a mark."
The swim was two loops in the Stevens Creek Reservoir. The first mile loop was ok. I still haven't figured out how to swim faster in the open water. About halfway through the second loop the strangest thing happened. I got totally disoriented. The reservoir is surrounded by trees and everything looks the same, and all of the sudden I had a, "Where the heck am I?" kind of feeling. I can't explain it. I can only compare it to those times where you are driving home and you can't remember driving to a certain point. Minds are weird.
Of course what makes these events so great is getting to do them with my peeps. Some of my workout buddies did it, along with one of my friends whom I did Seattle to Portland with last year. Her and I actually decided to do an easy ride after the race. I forgot how hardcore she is, so our definition of "easy" differed. To me, "easy" was a 5 mile ride. To her, "easy" was 25 or 30 miles. We did 22, and kicked up the pace the last half. It was awesome to be able to push one another.
It was great to have a successful event coming from the heels of another fun event (last week's International Triathlon). 2009 and 2010 were a little lackluster in terms of my enjoyment of events. I think I was trying desperately to get back that feeling I had the first couple of years of tris. But with anything in life, trying to replicate something in the past will only set you up for disappointment in the present. I think I was way hard on myself the past couple of years thinking that success was defined by a time. I may never do a half marathon in under two hours. Does that mean it isn't worth it to do these things? Last week was the slowest I have ever done that distance in, but it still felt fantastic. It feels great to know that I can move past literally crying on the track two weeks ago to having fun at events again.
So the goal for the rest of the year? Brace yourself because it is going to sound way hippie and new agey. I just want to, like, live in the moment man. Take the water in. See the world from the seat of a bicycle. Feel myself connecting with the trail.
Oh goodness gracious. Where did THAT come from? Did I mention I have been without cable tv for 6 weeks? Perhaps my lack of reality television viewing has chipped away some of my cynicism? If I start wearing Patchouli oil, please please please have an intervention. Yikes.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Pink Bike Blog
As posted on my FB status, today marks the three year anniversary of bike crash/mild concussion/awesome road rash for cred with bike shop dudes at my first attempt at a half-ironman at Barb's Race.
Rather than rehash those details, I am doing what hubby told me I should have done months ago.
Write about Pink Bike.
Last year after the grueling Seattle to Portland Bike Ride hubby decided I probably didn't want to look at my bike anymore and ordered a new PINK bike frame to build a road bike for me.
Awww, so cute, right? He must love me lots.
He does. But, I think he wanted an excuse to play bikes and have random bike parts strewn all across our living room and be all manly building something. He has jokingly referred to himself as OCT. He is not OCD. He just has Obsessive Compulsive Tendencies. Pink Bike Project gave him the opportunity to make a super matchy matchy bike with white accents (pink carbon frame? check. White bottle cage? Check? Pink Duct Tape? Check) and get all type A. I have to admit, the end product was pretty amazing. I love that my bike is super unique.
A couple of months ago as I was driving home from the Mermaid Alameda tri with pink bike on my rack, I did not realize hubby was behind me on the street before the turn to our townhouse. After we parked our cars and met each other in the driveway he said:
"That bike is really pink."
I said, "Uh yeah, I know. And you should too...you built it!"
He said, "Yeah, but when it is on your car bike rack in broad daylight...it is just...pink. Like, PINK pink."
And THAT is usually one of two reactions I get. It's either glee ("ohmagawdiluvyourpinkbikeitssewwwawesomeiwantone") or contained horror ("That is one pink bike.").
Either one works for me.
So in conclusion---YAY PINK BIKE! BOOO BIKE CRASHES!
Rather than rehash those details, I am doing what hubby told me I should have done months ago.
Write about Pink Bike.
Last year after the grueling Seattle to Portland Bike Ride hubby decided I probably didn't want to look at my bike anymore and ordered a new PINK bike frame to build a road bike for me.
Awww, so cute, right? He must love me lots.
He does. But, I think he wanted an excuse to play bikes and have random bike parts strewn all across our living room and be all manly building something. He has jokingly referred to himself as OCT. He is not OCD. He just has Obsessive Compulsive Tendencies. Pink Bike Project gave him the opportunity to make a super matchy matchy bike with white accents (pink carbon frame? check. White bottle cage? Check? Pink Duct Tape? Check) and get all type A. I have to admit, the end product was pretty amazing. I love that my bike is super unique.
A couple of months ago as I was driving home from the Mermaid Alameda tri with pink bike on my rack, I did not realize hubby was behind me on the street before the turn to our townhouse. After we parked our cars and met each other in the driveway he said:
"That bike is really pink."
I said, "Uh yeah, I know. And you should too...you built it!"
He said, "Yeah, but when it is on your car bike rack in broad daylight...it is just...pink. Like, PINK pink."
And THAT is usually one of two reactions I get. It's either glee ("ohmagawdiluvyourpinkbikeitssewwwawesomeiwantone") or contained horror ("That is one pink bike.").
Either one works for me.
So in conclusion---YAY PINK BIKE! BOOO BIKE CRASHES!
Monday, August 1, 2011
California International Triathlon - Race Report
Yesterday was the California International Triathlon in Pleasanotn and I survived! Yay!
This was my first time doing this distance since the Silicon Valley International Triathlon in June of 2008. Long story short, I did this one 30 minutes slower than that one. But, 3 years ago was a different Jill.
A couple friends and I decided to stay in Pleasanton the night before since it was a 7am start. We went to packet pick up, browsed some cool shops in downtown Pleasanton, and ate at a super yummy Italian restaurant. One of these days I will do a race with proper nutrition the night before. This...was not that race.
The hotel was nice, except for the swarms of little kids in town for some sort of soccer tournament. Our room faced the pool and at 10:15 at night there was cackling, and hooting, hollering and the sounds of teenagers having fun. Yuck. I got upset and said, "They are in the pool past pool hours. This is not ok." My friend Diane called the front desk, "Excuse me, what time does the pool close? oh...11pm. Thank you." So, I got off my high horse and waited patiently for 11pm.
I will skip all the boring stuff about waking up, setting up transition, blah blah blah. Let's get to the race.
Swim: 36 minutes the swim was ok. The water was warm. My shoulders seem sore during the swim and I am wondering if it is time to switch to a sleeveless wetsuit. There were parts of the swim that got congested. At one point I felt someone grab on to my middle toe and deliberately pull it hard. What the heck? I kicked hard as if saying, "Not cool bro. Not cool." Or would it be, "not cool sis?"
Bike:1:41 minutes The bike was a little chilly with only a sleeveless bike jersey. There was a long annoying hill, and some sketchy parts of the road with glass and other fun flat-tire causing debris. I kept playing the "you pass me, I pass you" game with this one annoying cyclist. At one point I yelled on your left and as I was shoulder to shoulder with him he hammered on his pedals to go faster. Not cool bro. So I backed off, put my hand out in front of me and barked at him, "FINE! GO THEN!" And then I may or may not have mumbled some swear words. Sometimes I think the men don't like being passed by a pink bike.
I think I could have done the bike faster. I think going forward I will only have a garmin during the bike portion (past few races I have been technology free) as I think I can maintain a faster MPH.
Run: 1:14 OK...a slow 10k. But, I am a little out of practice running 6 miles after 25 mile bike. The run was hard. There were some hills, it got hot, and they did not mark any miles except mile 1. But, for the first time in a long time on a run I was enjoying myself. I mean, I was in pain, definitely need new shoes, and was drooling over a massage I booked for the following night. But I felt good (ish).
Overall time was 3:37. I am totally fine with it considering I haven't been religiously training. And, I think I kinda have a crush on International distances. They are just more interesting than sprints.
This was my first time doing this distance since the Silicon Valley International Triathlon in June of 2008. Long story short, I did this one 30 minutes slower than that one. But, 3 years ago was a different Jill.
A couple friends and I decided to stay in Pleasanton the night before since it was a 7am start. We went to packet pick up, browsed some cool shops in downtown Pleasanton, and ate at a super yummy Italian restaurant. One of these days I will do a race with proper nutrition the night before. This...was not that race.
The hotel was nice, except for the swarms of little kids in town for some sort of soccer tournament. Our room faced the pool and at 10:15 at night there was cackling, and hooting, hollering and the sounds of teenagers having fun. Yuck. I got upset and said, "They are in the pool past pool hours. This is not ok." My friend Diane called the front desk, "Excuse me, what time does the pool close? oh...11pm. Thank you." So, I got off my high horse and waited patiently for 11pm.
I will skip all the boring stuff about waking up, setting up transition, blah blah blah. Let's get to the race.
Swim: 36 minutes the swim was ok. The water was warm. My shoulders seem sore during the swim and I am wondering if it is time to switch to a sleeveless wetsuit. There were parts of the swim that got congested. At one point I felt someone grab on to my middle toe and deliberately pull it hard. What the heck? I kicked hard as if saying, "Not cool bro. Not cool." Or would it be, "not cool sis?"
Bike:1:41 minutes The bike was a little chilly with only a sleeveless bike jersey. There was a long annoying hill, and some sketchy parts of the road with glass and other fun flat-tire causing debris. I kept playing the "you pass me, I pass you" game with this one annoying cyclist. At one point I yelled on your left and as I was shoulder to shoulder with him he hammered on his pedals to go faster. Not cool bro. So I backed off, put my hand out in front of me and barked at him, "FINE! GO THEN!" And then I may or may not have mumbled some swear words. Sometimes I think the men don't like being passed by a pink bike.
I think I could have done the bike faster. I think going forward I will only have a garmin during the bike portion (past few races I have been technology free) as I think I can maintain a faster MPH.
Run: 1:14 OK...a slow 10k. But, I am a little out of practice running 6 miles after 25 mile bike. The run was hard. There were some hills, it got hot, and they did not mark any miles except mile 1. But, for the first time in a long time on a run I was enjoying myself. I mean, I was in pain, definitely need new shoes, and was drooling over a massage I booked for the following night. But I felt good (ish).
Overall time was 3:37. I am totally fine with it considering I haven't been religiously training. And, I think I kinda have a crush on International distances. They are just more interesting than sprints.
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