After being lazy for a week, I came back to the High Peaks Cyclery's Mini Triathlon series that are held every Monday night during the summer at Mirror Lake. This was my first mini-tri of the season. I wasn't sure what to expect as I had been lazy last week and all I really wanted to do was have fun. Boy did I!!! I was expecting to go out and take it easy but once I started, I felt great and just kept pushing. Here is the race overview:
Swim - 400 yards - 9:37.94
T1 - 1:35.23
Bike - 12.5 miles - 45:21.61
T2- 1:10:42
Run - 3 miles - 30:32.93
Total time: 1:28.18
I PRed!!! My fastest time up until yesterday was a 1:30. The swim felt short and fast even though it isn't my best swim ever. The bike I pushed on the whole time and averaged around 16 mph which is great for me. The hills even felt easy on the bike yesterday. The run felt slow. I just didn't have much left. Plus, I knew I had to run a 32 min 3 miles in order to PR. I had a great day.
Today, who knows what I will do. Make chicken noodle soup for my husband who is not feeling well. The weather is nasty out (hot and humid) so today may be an off day and then back into it tomorrow. I do have to do an hour run on Thursday. That is my only set workout of the week.
I am excited to have finished the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Lake Placid Ironman, 2016 Ironman Mont Tremblant, the New Jersey Marathon, Rock n Roll Arizona and San Antonio Marathons, ING NYC Marathon, Mohawk Hudson Marathon, and the Vermont City Marathon. I have also run lots of other running races and several 70.3 races. I love racing and triathlons. This is a blog about training and racing!
About Me
- Kelly
- I am a biology teacher by day but a crazy triathlete and runner at all other times.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Happy, Fat, and Lazy
It has been a week since the Tinman. I have done very little in the past week. It has been really hard to get myself motivated to do anything this week. I got out for a bike ride on the 4th and just didn't feel like going very far and my legs just felt tired. I went for an easy swim on Saturday and basically played in the water for the entire time. I haven't been sore from the race but tired and a little bit under the weather. Hopefully this will end soon.
In the 10 weeks before the Tinman, I stopped eating desserts, candy, ice cream, etc. I have spent the past 7 days eating cake, cookies, ice cream after dinner every night. I have to stop that now. So, starting today, I am going back to my old habits. It is better for my stomach that way. I may go for the next few weeks leading up to training for the marathon to ice cream once a week though - ice cream is good!!!
Tonight will be my first real workout since Tinman, Mini-triathlon in Lake Placid. Next on the agenda is the Utica Boilermaker on Sunday, July 13th, which could be great as we have a group of people who are going to run it this year instead of just me and Joe. After that is Ironman weekend where I am working registration and an aide station and then signing up for next years Ironman!!! Then, Race the Train in August. Then in November, my third marathon - Rock N Roll San Antonio!!!
I will give a race report on the mini-tri later this week. Hopefully, I will break out of my slump soon.
Overall though, the summer is really nice!!! I have been reading a lot. I finished Lipstick Jungle right before we left and then I read Nights in Rodanthe which was a good, easy read. I am currently reading The Secret Lives of Overachievers. It is an interesting analysis of high achieving students and their families. It is good for me to read as I teach these kids in my AP class. I frolicked in the water with Lila, Kaelah, and Sierra yesterday which was a ball as Lila likes to race you down the river now and Kaelah loves being in the water. Sierra is tentative in the water but loves to play as long as she doesn't get water in her face. Joe and I have had fantastic meals at the Great Range, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, and Cedar Run. The fireworks at the Ausable club were very nice this year. The weather has also been fantastic.
Well, that is enough of an update for now. I will post again later this week. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as I am.
In the 10 weeks before the Tinman, I stopped eating desserts, candy, ice cream, etc. I have spent the past 7 days eating cake, cookies, ice cream after dinner every night. I have to stop that now. So, starting today, I am going back to my old habits. It is better for my stomach that way. I may go for the next few weeks leading up to training for the marathon to ice cream once a week though - ice cream is good!!!
Tonight will be my first real workout since Tinman, Mini-triathlon in Lake Placid. Next on the agenda is the Utica Boilermaker on Sunday, July 13th, which could be great as we have a group of people who are going to run it this year instead of just me and Joe. After that is Ironman weekend where I am working registration and an aide station and then signing up for next years Ironman!!! Then, Race the Train in August. Then in November, my third marathon - Rock N Roll San Antonio!!!
I will give a race report on the mini-tri later this week. Hopefully, I will break out of my slump soon.
Overall though, the summer is really nice!!! I have been reading a lot. I finished Lipstick Jungle right before we left and then I read Nights in Rodanthe which was a good, easy read. I am currently reading The Secret Lives of Overachievers. It is an interesting analysis of high achieving students and their families. It is good for me to read as I teach these kids in my AP class. I frolicked in the water with Lila, Kaelah, and Sierra yesterday which was a ball as Lila likes to race you down the river now and Kaelah loves being in the water. Sierra is tentative in the water but loves to play as long as she doesn't get water in her face. Joe and I have had fantastic meals at the Great Range, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, and Cedar Run. The fireworks at the Ausable club were very nice this year. The weather has also been fantastic.
Well, that is enough of an update for now. I will post again later this week. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as I am.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Tinman Recap
I can't believe it is over. What a wonderful day! Let's just get down to details.
The day began with an interesting weather forecast: showers and thunderstorms with highs in the 70's. There were clouds but no rain when we got to the site. We assembled our bikes, picked up our chips, hit the porta poties, got body marked, and were ready to go to transition. I went to get into the transition area and the volunteer yelled at me that I couldn't go in without my bike number on my bike. As I was already a little uneasy as I had 70.3 miles ahead of me, I was a little thrown by this angry woman. I still don't understand why people who are angry, volunteer. Your job is to help and make me feel like I am being eased into a crazy day not to make me more nervous. I went to the side and put on my number and then went back into line and into transition. Set up of my transition zone went really well except that I forgot my sunglasses in the car. So, I set out to find my dad and get into the car. That went easily and I left transition with plenty of time and feeling confident about the day ahead. The obligatory pictures of me and Joe before the race were fairly painless even though we look a little weary of what was to follow.
Getting ready for the swim start, I put on my wetsuit without much issues and help from my mom and Alynn. I said goodbye to my parents, Melinda, Alynn, and Melinda's parents and went into my start section with Joe. The good thing about this race was that Joe and I were starting in the same wave so we got to stand together waiting for the sprinters to go off and then it was our turn. While we were waiting in the water, I figured out where I wanted to be in the start and just kept thinking how I just needed to get out of the water and then I would be fine. I am a decent swimmer but it is really different in open water in a race situation. I have gotten hit too many times to make this a fun experience. The siren went off, and my day began. I was in the back of my wave to avoid people and when I looked up to sight for the next buoy, there was a boat in my way. I was thinking "Great, I am off course already" but I wasn't. There was a person on that kayak, that person was Joe. From what I now know Joe got hit and swallowed a lot of water and got to the boat so he could burp and readjust his goggles and then took off. I said hi and asked if he was ok and then went on with my swim. (Is that bad that his wife didn't wait for him?? Oh, well, I think he would have left me, it is a race after all.) I got tossed around a little while I was out there. I felt slow. I got a little disoriented. I started sighting the wrong buoy and the official wanted me to go back and do part of the loop again. I didn't though. This volunteer told him that I was just sighting incorrectly and I had done the loop and the official and her got into an argument but instead of waiting to see what the outcome was, I just kept swimming. Oh, well. The cloud cover allowed for no sun glare which was great for sighting the rest of the way in to the beach. I got out of the water in about 51 minutes. I was aiming for between 50 and 1 hour so this was great.
Transition was painless and fast. I was ready to get out on the bike.
The bike was great. I rocked that course. I had some pedal issues initially and thought I was going to have to bike the entire 56 miles without my left foot clipped into my speedplays. I almost cried. The worst thing that could happen is to have a mechanical problem and not be able to ride. I finally got in and vowed never to get out until the end. The first 15 miles were all hills which meant that the last 15 miles were all hills but the 26 miles that weren't hills were great. The volunteers were fantastic. I had a great time out there. The people were really nice too. I was so happy that the bike wasn't too hard today as the bike is not necessarily my strong part of the race. I did happen to get a drafting penalty though. I was disappointed that out of all of the people out there drafting, I was the one who got it even though I wasn't drafting. If I had known I would have gotten that penalty, I would have tried to draft. So, I came back in smiling to my family and Alynn and was happy that the bike went so well. My goal was under 4hours and I actually biked it in 3 hours 57 minutes. This is fantastic!!!
Transition again went smoothly. I talked to my mom, dad, and Alynn while I was getting ready. I forgot to take off my bike shorts though. I left quickly and knowing that I am 2/3rds of the way done!!
I started the run and realized I should have used the porta-potties before I left. My legs just didn't feel fantastic and I needed to find some real estate to pee. I got to an area that was protected enough for me to use the "facilities" and realized that I hadn't taken my bike shorts off. So, after I peed in the woods, I took my bike shorts off and left them next to a utility pole so that I could get them later. I left there feeling relieved and ready to run. The run went really well. At this point, the sun had come out and it was really hot. I kept putting water over my head to cool down but I knew I was burning. The volunteers at the aid stations were fantastic again. I had PRed in the half marathon two weeks ago in a 2hour 23 min so I was ready for this distance. I wanted to cover it in under 3 hours today. After having power walked some of the bigger hills and walking through the aid stations to get the nutrition that I needed. I ran a 2hour 41 minute half. I was so excited about this.
So, in the end. I finished in 7 hours 36 minutes (7 hours 40 minutes with the drafting penalty). I am so excited about the Ironman. Two days later, other than looking like a lobster, I feel great and excited. I accomplished something I didn't know that I could do and can't wait to train for more of these events. What an amazing experience this was. I am so happy that I could have accomplished this with the help of all of the volunteers, friends, and family members. I am so glad that my husband, Joe, is so supportive because he did this as well and understands the training that goes into it and doesn't feel neglected by me while we are doing this.
Joe did really well too. See www.sullysjourney.blogspot.com to see his race recap. Also, look below for some really great pictures. (Thanks Alynn and Dad!!)
Next up though, San Antonio Marathon in November. So, now you get to read about the trials and tribulations of marathon training.
The day began with an interesting weather forecast: showers and thunderstorms with highs in the 70's. There were clouds but no rain when we got to the site. We assembled our bikes, picked up our chips, hit the porta poties, got body marked, and were ready to go to transition. I went to get into the transition area and the volunteer yelled at me that I couldn't go in without my bike number on my bike. As I was already a little uneasy as I had 70.3 miles ahead of me, I was a little thrown by this angry woman. I still don't understand why people who are angry, volunteer. Your job is to help and make me feel like I am being eased into a crazy day not to make me more nervous. I went to the side and put on my number and then went back into line and into transition. Set up of my transition zone went really well except that I forgot my sunglasses in the car. So, I set out to find my dad and get into the car. That went easily and I left transition with plenty of time and feeling confident about the day ahead. The obligatory pictures of me and Joe before the race were fairly painless even though we look a little weary of what was to follow.
Getting ready for the swim start, I put on my wetsuit without much issues and help from my mom and Alynn. I said goodbye to my parents, Melinda, Alynn, and Melinda's parents and went into my start section with Joe. The good thing about this race was that Joe and I were starting in the same wave so we got to stand together waiting for the sprinters to go off and then it was our turn. While we were waiting in the water, I figured out where I wanted to be in the start and just kept thinking how I just needed to get out of the water and then I would be fine. I am a decent swimmer but it is really different in open water in a race situation. I have gotten hit too many times to make this a fun experience. The siren went off, and my day began. I was in the back of my wave to avoid people and when I looked up to sight for the next buoy, there was a boat in my way. I was thinking "Great, I am off course already" but I wasn't. There was a person on that kayak, that person was Joe. From what I now know Joe got hit and swallowed a lot of water and got to the boat so he could burp and readjust his goggles and then took off. I said hi and asked if he was ok and then went on with my swim. (Is that bad that his wife didn't wait for him?? Oh, well, I think he would have left me, it is a race after all.) I got tossed around a little while I was out there. I felt slow. I got a little disoriented. I started sighting the wrong buoy and the official wanted me to go back and do part of the loop again. I didn't though. This volunteer told him that I was just sighting incorrectly and I had done the loop and the official and her got into an argument but instead of waiting to see what the outcome was, I just kept swimming. Oh, well. The cloud cover allowed for no sun glare which was great for sighting the rest of the way in to the beach. I got out of the water in about 51 minutes. I was aiming for between 50 and 1 hour so this was great.
Transition was painless and fast. I was ready to get out on the bike.
The bike was great. I rocked that course. I had some pedal issues initially and thought I was going to have to bike the entire 56 miles without my left foot clipped into my speedplays. I almost cried. The worst thing that could happen is to have a mechanical problem and not be able to ride. I finally got in and vowed never to get out until the end. The first 15 miles were all hills which meant that the last 15 miles were all hills but the 26 miles that weren't hills were great. The volunteers were fantastic. I had a great time out there. The people were really nice too. I was so happy that the bike wasn't too hard today as the bike is not necessarily my strong part of the race. I did happen to get a drafting penalty though. I was disappointed that out of all of the people out there drafting, I was the one who got it even though I wasn't drafting. If I had known I would have gotten that penalty, I would have tried to draft. So, I came back in smiling to my family and Alynn and was happy that the bike went so well. My goal was under 4hours and I actually biked it in 3 hours 57 minutes. This is fantastic!!!
Transition again went smoothly. I talked to my mom, dad, and Alynn while I was getting ready. I forgot to take off my bike shorts though. I left quickly and knowing that I am 2/3rds of the way done!!
I started the run and realized I should have used the porta-potties before I left. My legs just didn't feel fantastic and I needed to find some real estate to pee. I got to an area that was protected enough for me to use the "facilities" and realized that I hadn't taken my bike shorts off. So, after I peed in the woods, I took my bike shorts off and left them next to a utility pole so that I could get them later. I left there feeling relieved and ready to run. The run went really well. At this point, the sun had come out and it was really hot. I kept putting water over my head to cool down but I knew I was burning. The volunteers at the aid stations were fantastic again. I had PRed in the half marathon two weeks ago in a 2hour 23 min so I was ready for this distance. I wanted to cover it in under 3 hours today. After having power walked some of the bigger hills and walking through the aid stations to get the nutrition that I needed. I ran a 2hour 41 minute half. I was so excited about this.
So, in the end. I finished in 7 hours 36 minutes (7 hours 40 minutes with the drafting penalty). I am so excited about the Ironman. Two days later, other than looking like a lobster, I feel great and excited. I accomplished something I didn't know that I could do and can't wait to train for more of these events. What an amazing experience this was. I am so happy that I could have accomplished this with the help of all of the volunteers, friends, and family members. I am so glad that my husband, Joe, is so supportive because he did this as well and understands the training that goes into it and doesn't feel neglected by me while we are doing this.
Joe did really well too. See www.sullysjourney.blogspot.com to see his race recap. Also, look below for some really great pictures. (Thanks Alynn and Dad!!)
Next up though, San Antonio Marathon in November. So, now you get to read about the trials and tribulations of marathon training.
Friday, June 27, 2008
2 days to go
I did a loosening up run and swim today. All felt good. I feel ready. While I was running today, I was thinking about what I would think about on Sunday to get me through the day, weather and all. Here is a list of what I came up with:
1. When Carissa, Zach, Cooper, Lila, Kaelah, and Sierra (my nieces and nephews) get older, they may look at what Joe and I have accomplished and feel that if we could do that, then they can do anything they put their hearts and minds into. And maybe, just maybe, they will want to do it as well.
2. What my friend Kim said to me the night before my first marathon (and the thought that helped me through both of my marathons: Picturing Al running after me wearing a pink boa and a pink undergarment. HeHeHe!!
3. Not hitting any cows, bears, or having deer run into me.
4. This is a stepping stone to Ironman Lake Placid 2009 - Here I come!
5. How excited and proud I am of myself for working so hard and going after what I never dreamed possible.
6. My parents and Alynn will be expecting me back at some point
7. Joey will be waiting for me at the finish line.
8. Kim being one of my biggest cheerleaders. I know that Kim understands and appreciates all that goes into training and enjoys hearing of my progress. I can't wait for Ironman because Kim will be there and be the one that helps me push through the pain and emotions and get me through to the end. Alynn and my parents will be cheering me on that day. They are fantastic as well.
9. How many of my friends, family, and coworkers who will not be there but are thinking of me and wishing me luck while I am out there for 8 hours whether they understand or not.
10. How pround of me my dad, mom, and husband will be.
2 days until the big day. I am so excited! With all of the support I have, it has to be a good day. 70.3 here I come!
1. When Carissa, Zach, Cooper, Lila, Kaelah, and Sierra (my nieces and nephews) get older, they may look at what Joe and I have accomplished and feel that if we could do that, then they can do anything they put their hearts and minds into. And maybe, just maybe, they will want to do it as well.
2. What my friend Kim said to me the night before my first marathon (and the thought that helped me through both of my marathons: Picturing Al running after me wearing a pink boa and a pink undergarment. HeHeHe!!
3. Not hitting any cows, bears, or having deer run into me.
4. This is a stepping stone to Ironman Lake Placid 2009 - Here I come!
5. How excited and proud I am of myself for working so hard and going after what I never dreamed possible.
6. My parents and Alynn will be expecting me back at some point
7. Joey will be waiting for me at the finish line.
8. Kim being one of my biggest cheerleaders. I know that Kim understands and appreciates all that goes into training and enjoys hearing of my progress. I can't wait for Ironman because Kim will be there and be the one that helps me push through the pain and emotions and get me through to the end. Alynn and my parents will be cheering me on that day. They are fantastic as well.
9. How many of my friends, family, and coworkers who will not be there but are thinking of me and wishing me luck while I am out there for 8 hours whether they understand or not.
10. How pround of me my dad, mom, and husband will be.
2 days until the big day. I am so excited! With all of the support I have, it has to be a good day. 70.3 here I come!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Almost time
The day is almost here. I am so excited. I finally had a mental breakthrough yesterday while looking at the Tupper Lake Tinman website. Because of my fueling issues, I was worried about the bike and run. I was reading about the support at the aid stations on the bike and got really excited. They have oranges, bananas, and pretzels at the aid stations. This is fantastic news. I am so excited. I CAN DO THIS!!! I CAN DO THIS!!!
Now, the weather report leaves less to be desired (rain showers, thunderstorms, and 70's) but I have PRed in the rain and it won't be too hot which is always a concern for me.
At this point, I am happy. I am excited. I am thrilled to be attempting to accomplish something that I never thought I could ever do but now I feel confident that I can do it.
3 days!!
Now, the weather report leaves less to be desired (rain showers, thunderstorms, and 70's) but I have PRed in the rain and it won't be too hot which is always a concern for me.
At this point, I am happy. I am excited. I am thrilled to be attempting to accomplish something that I never thought I could ever do but now I feel confident that I can do it.
3 days!!
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