She's Back....!

I'll admit it. It has been a ridiculously long time since I have entered a post, but I have had a multitude of good reasons. To be honest, the blog originally was set up in 2009 to document my journey to an official 70.3 finish. Two years and three attempts later, finally that happened. And then... well... I wasn't sure what to blog about anymore. I lost my focus, life began to intervene, and I wasn't sure if there was anything of interest I could offer to my readers, so I just stopped.

I'm not sure what my 'focus' will be as I try and pick back up my blogging. I do know that I missed the therapeutic benefit I got from doing it. I wanted to go back and blog about Santa Rosa training camp in August, my sprint races from the summer, and my experiences this summer with multi-sport, but I think it is going to be more realistic to just start fresh from where I am now and see where it leads to. So I will start with my race report from my end of the season triathlon, Santa Rosa:

Santa Rosa Training Camp Promo Video 2011

Time is running out! Register soon for Training Camp in Santa Rosa, Florida! This is great race preparation for the Santa Rosa Tri on October 1st, which just happens to fall on Coach Anne's birthday! (another reason to celebrate). Santa Rosa Triathlon consists of a 600 yard swim in the Gulf, an 18 mile bike along the beachfront, and a 3.1 mile run through some lovely neighborhoods. The swag is great, the food excellent, the setting serene, and the after party is, well... you have to see it to believe it.

Even if your season's goals do not include the Santa Rosa Tri, this camp will help build your base, teach you to swim in open water, improve your technique, and make your stomach hurt from laughing. If you've never experienced this kind of focused training, don't let it intimidate you. It is open to beginners and advanced athletes alike. Come challenge yourself, see how far you've come, and push beyond your perceived boundaries. There is no limit to what you can do!

For more information, or to register, contact Anne at 225.246.1731.

Vini, Vidi, Vici: 2011 Gulf Coast Triathlon 70.3

Panama City Beach

 SWIM 1.2 MILES - BIKE 56 MILES - RUN 13.1 MILES

I Came. I Saw. I Conquered.

There is nothing sweeter than setting a goal for yourself that seems so unobtainable you repeatedly fail at achieving it, but instead of quitting you keep plugging away at it, attacking it, trying to wrangle it... and then one day you actually accomplish it. That is the taste of success, and let me tell you ~ I have never experienced anything like it. The high that I am riding right now is indescribable. After two years of trying to get an official 70.3 distance triathlon under my belt, I finally did it. And I did it in a way that surprised even me.

The purpose of my original blog (December 2009) was to allow others to follow along on my journey from being a couch potato to becoming a Half-Ironman. After what I considered to be an Epic Fail at my first attempt to conquer New Orleans 70.3 (although it did have some good points and I did learn in the process), I jumped back on the band wagon of race redemption with goals of destroying New Orleans 70.3 this past April. When the event was turned into a 69.1 because of the weather, again my goal was shattered. Two years of training, and visualizing, and pursuing that race... gone with the wind. Literally.

As soon as the race was over, my Coach suggested I sign up for the Gulf Coast Triathlon three weeks later and try once again at completing the distance. My response? I am done. D-U-N, dun. Don't even talk to me about another race this distance anytime soon. It's not meant to be.  I am dun.

Obviously, my ability to rebound after a disappointing race has improved, as last year it took about two months before I could even consider doing the distance again. This time it only took a day. By the time I returned home from New Orleans, the decision was made. I just decided that I wasn't going to advertise it. I'll admit I was wavering outwardly, but inside I knew I was going to do it.  My approach however, was going to be different. This race was personal now. My inability to accomplish my goal had gone on too long. I was going to do the race, and I was going to race it alone. No support, no family, no friends, no distractions. No need to explain myself afterwards if once again the goal wasn't achieved. The less people who knew about it the better. The thought of going to Florida alone for such a huge race made me very uncomfortable, as it was putting me far outside of my usual mode of operation, and I questioned my decision many times leading up to it.

2011 New Orleans 70.3 Race Report (aka 69.1 Race Report)

It's a very simple relationship really. It's just taken me awhile to accept it. I am coming to terms with the fact that New Orleans 70.3 hates me... and I hate it. I don't mean to take any of its power away. It's a mighty beast of a race, and always seems to throw curve-balls, I just can't help but think it has it out for me personally.

The good news first? I finished officially! YAY! Main goal accomplished. The bad news is that I finished "officially" a 69.1 race, not a 70.3 race as the swim portion of the event was cancelled at the last minute due to strong winds and waves that were unsafe for the swimmers as well as the water support.

SO, now you know the gist of it. If you want the gory details read on. If not skim to the end and maybe by the time I finish typing this I will have decided what happens next, as I find blogging a very therapeutic way to deal with my race frustrations. This will likely be a long blog as I haven't gotten any posts out in 8 weeks and my head has a lot to say, so hold on...

The Final Days

I'm not sure even how to start this post. I am eight weeks behind on my entries, and so many things have happened during that time I am not sure how to go back, or even if I should. The "race" is in three days. It has all led up to this moment, and the last two months were so critical to it all. So what will I do about it? Well, for the sake of trying to save this seasons blog, I will hit the highlights and then after the race go back and recount the big events, and there were lots!

So my excuses for poor blogging are the following: the unexpected death of my mother-in-law, the Rouge Orleans Ultra-Marathon, numerous small running races, and the first triathlon of the season ~ OxBow. Oh, and then there is my "new" job (in addition to my regular job) - I am now the "Chief Operations Officer" for FitBird Fitness. SO, there has been limited time for blogging.

Training has been incredibly challenging and time consuming, but I feel very prepared for Sunday. I have had some good open water swim training sessions, and a few that I wish I could erase. I've been in the water with the suit, without the suit, in the calm, in the chop, in the fog, in the sunshine,... I think I've hit almost every scenario possible. I still have my struggles but I am confident that I can get my **** together and pull it out in the end.

I am confident this year, but hesitant to be over confident with public predictions about my performance. This year its personal. It's about me and my brain, and what I can do. Finishing officially is the ultimate goal. True time goals are close to the chest this year, and expectations are high, but guarded too.

Tonight the pre-race whirlwind begins. Last season I spent a lot of time blogging about it as I went. This year I'm going to experience it and blog later. I hope to not be "blogging" in my head on the run, and rather be focusing on what I am supposed to be accomplishing. God help us all if I have another blog written at the end of a long day. You may never hear from me again.

So, for those of you who have been patiently awaiting a posting, I am sorry for the delay and hope you understand my need for focus right now. I hope to be able to post a life-changing race report (for me) next week. I hope...

Week Twelve: Fitbirds Go To Tampa...

What an awesome week! Training camp was an absolute blast as well as an absolute challenge! I was taken to my breaking point and was faced with some mental challenges, and although I may have failed at some, I learned in the process. There are still so many mental obstacles that throw me and that I have not yet figured out how to overcome. If I don't learn to control my emotions when I am tired and hurting I will be faced with some serious consequences come race day. I think that the mental aspect is still my biggest hurdle.

There were many awesome photo opportunities in Tampa and I was disappointed that as team photographer I was not able to shoot as many pictures as I would have liked, but Coach seemed to think training was more important than art, so I spent more time in the pool, on the bike, and in my running shoes than behind the lens. We have big plans for some of the great shots that we got, so for now I will just post a taste.

Week Eleven: Styling in the Big Girl Panties

What a week! I am giddy. I wasn't sure exactly how this week was going to end when last Monday rolled around to start it. I was still hobbling on one foot as my cellulitic toe was pretty tender and sore. I only managed to get one four mile run in since the infection started over a week ago, and that run left me doubting that I would even attempt the half-marathon that was fast approaching on the upcoming Sunday. I accepted even more red on my schedule this week and dealt with the replacement of runs with swims. I managed to sit on my trainer and spin in endless circles, going nowhere, for two days in a row. The last of those spins was for 3.5 hours of misery. That was the day before the half-marathon.

I surprised myself this week and I learned more about myself in the process. I was pressed to make some tough decisions regarding my training. In doing so I realized that I could rely on my intuition, that I had the inner strength to do what needed to be done, and that I had again seen a jump in my confidence.

Challenge of the Week:

Deciding whether to race in the half marathon. I went back and forth all week long and had pretty much decided against racing by Thursday. I wanted to have a good training camp and not risk more injury that would affect my training when I got to Tampa the following week. What was my struggle? It was going to be a beautiful day. And I actually love to run now. And I wanted to race. But I didn't know if I could pull out of the race if I needed to. I had been instructed by my coach to not let my pain go above a 5/10. I was told not to start the race unless I knew I could pull out if I had to. I didn't know if I could.

I thought about it long and hard and finally decided that because I had to run that day whether it was in the race or on my own (as a run was still on my program), I figured it would be a lot more fun in a group of 17,000 people than alone. In New Orleans there would be food and beer after, and I'd claim my technical race shirt that I had paid for. I was in.

I made it to NOLA Saturday afternoon, picked up my packet and did a short walk of the expo. By the time we got back to the car, my foot was hurting enough to make me question my decision. I decided to stick with the program and see how far I could get, knowing I'd have to pull out if it got to be too much. I ran my pre-race facilitation that evening and carbo-loaded with Lizzard, FBI, and our husbands. After a lemon drop at the SYC, I wolfed down an entire pizza and then topped it off with some pastries from the doughnut store across the street. I love pre-race meals....

Coug and the Lizzard at the SYC

My Pre-Race De-Hydration

View from the SYC

Early to bed, early to rise. Lizzard and Kevin were gracious enough to allow us to stay in the boathouse with them. We got a good night's rest, popped a bagel and some water for breakfast, and rushed to the start line. I was eager by the time I got to my corral. I found myself standing in a long line for the last minute port-o-johners and watched my corral move ahead without me. Priority one - Port-O-John. Priority 2 - catch up to my corral. I managed to catch them just in time to start my Garmin and cross the timing line to begin the race. I had planned ahead just in case my race was cut short by carrying 40$ for cab fare (and for drinks to numb the frustration), and my cell phone to notify my finish line observers if I wasn't going to be there as planned. Figuring I had enough challenges I gave myself a break and broke a cardinal training rule... I listened to my music while I ran. I had enough going against me, I decided I'd at least be comfortable.

My coach had called me the night before to wish me luck... and to tell me to go out fast and strong because I probably wouldn't make it past 3 or maybe 6 miles. I gave her a hard time for her "negativity", but looking back at it during the race, I'm glad she laid it out there for me like that. It took the pressure off of having to complete it. It was just a training race, and I had to remember that. Knowing that I wouldn't be viewed as a "quitter" made it okay to walk away if I needed to.

I did what I was told and started out with a pace that I usually save for short distance testing. I felt great. I looked around this year. I looked up and not at the ground. I enjoyed running with a mass of people. I realized that sooner than expected I had crossed over the mat at the 3 mile mark... then the six mile mark. I threw my jacket to Lizzard's husband as I ran by smiling. I was passing people this year and not breathing hard at all. My foot felt great. I kept moving. Nine miles in I was getting tired, but still running hard, still not breathing labored. My legs were getting heavy. The long bike ride the day before was taking its toll. I slowed at the water stations but kept moving. Esplanade. Only 3-4 miles left. I knew I could do it, but I said a prayer that either I finished strong, or if suddenly the foot kicked in that God would give me the strength to walk off the course when I was so close to finishing.

Mile eleven was hell. I tried not to think. I just kept my legs going. I was looking at the ground now. Eminem started playing "Like a Soldier" in my ear and that got me going a bit faster. I wanted to stop so badly but I couldn't. I knew my pace was better than last year and I wanted to finish ahead of my time. I wanted it.

Mile twelve. I slowed and almost stopped but forced my legs to keep going. And then out of nowhere it happened. I stopped to walk. I was whipped. It wasn't long - at most - five seconds of walking passed before I felt someone grab my arm and pull me forward. I looked up to see Grace running beside me now. We didn't say anything to each other but I thanked God for putting her there at that moment. It was all I needed to get moving again. It was a struggle. I still wanted to walk, but I was afraid that if I did Grace would slow down to get me moving again. We trudged together towards the finish and I found a little bit left in my engine to speed up at the very end. I was ecstatic. I had finished with a new Personal Best. I dropped my time by over 3 minutes and ran a 10:03 pace.

Saving Grace and Coug

Lessons Learned:

• Never say Never. Where there's a Will there's a Way. Just Do It. Mind Over Matter. (Or whatever over-used cliche you want to fill in here). 

• Believe in Yourself.

Grace, Lizzard, Coug, Ellen, FBI (not pictured Koko)

So what's next? Training camp in Tampa, Florida is this week. I am excited, nervous, and ready.

To all of my Fitbird teammates that will be joining me I want to say this: I will NOT be earning the Put Your Big Girl Panties On Award this time at camp. I'm already wearing mine. Someone else can have that honor bestowed upon them...



Bring it Coach.