OHHH that's it...

Finally, I called the doctor yesterday. It was getting ridiculous. It was Wednesday and I was still sick from the race. I was nauseous and my head hurt still since Sunday. This is silly. After talking to Barb on Tues I quickly realized that I had really bad heat exhaustion. I must have gotten sick during the race (I knew that but stuck it out). The smart and experienced athlete would have gotten an IV at the finish and all would have been good on Monday. Well I was so bummed about bonking that I just wanted to get home and see my kids. Monday I felt terrible, sick and just gross. By Tuesday I was starting the think I was pregnant, NOT GOOD. But that is how I felt. On Wednesday, I said this is enough. I was still bonking during my workouts and feeling terrible. I put a call in and an hour later talked to my doctor. I told him my symptoms and the first thing he said, "You know Jenny you can still get pregnancy while nursing." Yes I know Dr. but TRUST me that is NOT happening in this house for a LONG time. Then he went on to tell me about electrolyte depletion, potassium, and sodium can play havoc on your body if you only take in water. I definitely had severe heat exhaustion probably almost heat stroke if it had been a longer run. If I was more sane I would have stopped running when I started going blurry but kept going. Because as triathletes we are such smart people. He told me until I start drinking electrolytes and eating tons of salt I will continue to feel sick and then will need to go to the hospital (again something most normal people would have done after the race) to get IVs. So last night I downed a ton of gatorade and will continue today. I hope by tomorrow I am back to normal. And trust me this will never happen again.

Learning from your experiences...

Yesterday I raced my first Pro race. It was a really great experience. On Saturday I got to register for the race at the Pro suite. Pro's get to register away from the lines and crowds in a separate part of the hotel with snacks and chairs to sit down in to relax while you fill out your paperwork. It was unreal. They were doing camera interviews for the TV show. I didn't want to do it b/c I am really nobody compared to some of the big people there. But the camera guy made me. And what was even more weird was that he knew my stats! I brought Molly to the pro suite while Bill checked into the hotel. So while they interviewed me on camera one of the crew guys held Molly outside of the room. When I came out Greg Bennett was holding Molly's hand and talking to her! I don't think I will wash her now for a while. I am hoping some of the speed and desire he has rubs off on me!!! All I can say is that I was completely star struck. Later at the pro meeting I sat in the back with a really nice girl I had met that Barb coaches as well. Looking around the crowded rooms it was full of talented athletes. I felt like a tiny ant sitting there. All I could think of was I bet none of these women have kids! I don't know why that was the first thing that crossed my mind. It struck me as they asked questions and headed out to have dinner that all most of those athletes have to worry about are themselves. I think that is advantage that I will have going further into this. I have more on the line that I have sacrificed. BUT on the other hand I did just have a baby 5 mos ago and WHAT THE HECK am I doing here with these people!
I slept awesome Saturday night b/c the pro start was at 11am. I was actually not that nervous more excited about a new experience. And I knew that I had it in me to finish in the top 10. I know a lot of the girls in there that have turned pro in the last few years from nationals and I have beaten them. So I felt good about my goals and what I could do. I just needed to execute them and probably hurt a whole LOT to do it. Remember, they have trained all year. I just started 3 mos ago!
I got to the swim start to warm up and some of my friends were there to cheer. I was really touched that they came to watch. Thanks everyone. You don't realize how special friends are until they show up for your biggest days. I got in the water and felt excited! Once they told us to get in they literally blew the horn a few seconds later. I am glad we didn't tread for long I think I would have gotten more nervous. I actually felt good on the swim. I held on to some feet for about half of it then kept them in sight. My swimming is probably the last thing that I will get back b/c getting to the pool is the hardest thing to do with kids. Half way thru the swim my wetsuit came apart just a little but I felt water rush in, yuck. Oh well I kept going no big deal. Then off to run more than a quarter mile to transition! I was sooo out of breath. I got on my bike and realized after passing a few girls I was biking behind Samantha McGlone! I did the entire ride with her. You can ride with someone as a pro as long as you are staggered, new to me. During the ride I started to feel cold and semi bonkish. about half way thru I decided to slow down a little to make sure I had something left since I was feeling this way. I kept drinking as much as I could I knew it was important to stay on top of this since it was warm and sunny (and I am still freaking nursing!). As I rode into transition behind Samantha (I can't tell you how awesome that was) I knew I was feeling bad. But I grabbed my bottle and gel to head out. Right away I was laboring WAY to hard for the effort I was putting out. By mile 2 I could have dropped out. I was CRAWLING. I haven't bonked that bad for a few years. I couldn't see straight, I was wavering on the course. It was bad. I'm not sure where I went wrong. I think looking back it was a combination of a few things for me: the race is was at 11am (I never workout that late), it was warm and sunny, and nursing takes a ton out of you nutritionally and fluids as well. I can't figure out how to eat right before a race at that time or run in hot temps. If we had gone off at 8am it would have been a different day for me. My run time was probably 5-6 min off of what I can do now. Plus my bike was even a little weak. But I do not quit. So I dragged myself barely running to finish. I believe if you can finish then you should. I sacrifice too much to not finish a race. I want my kids to know that you don't quit no matter how bad it gets.
I know that over this winter I will get stronger and faster. I think that I put too much pressure on myself after having Molly. I am proud of myself for going pro and racing yesterday against such a talented crowd. I learned so much about myself and how to race better. Anytime you have a bad day you have to take away something from it so it isn't a failure but a learning experience. I know if this was last year I would have been top 10 but it is this year and I have a beautiful baby girl to show for it! And next year, who knows I could be top 5 (trust me I will be top 5)!

Thank you to everyone who was there cheering for me! I heard my name yelled out a ton of times on the course. It felt great to know people were pulling for me when I was really needing it.

My training hideaway...

This is where I spend most of my training time Monday thru Friday. Not pretty or exciting just my basement. But lately some seriously hard work has gotten done. Yesterday was one of those training days that I was actually nervous about before it started. (Secretly I love those days). It began with an easy run in the early morning then a killer bike/run/bike/run workout a few times thru. Except this time it was the fastest I have run at intervals longer than I have held yet this year post baby! As I was warming up I was getting excited and nervous at same time. Just like in a race. My first set on the TM was just comfy tempo pace around 7s or so. I started visualizing on the wall in front of me all of the super fast pros that will be at Chicago next week. Then after the first set I was down to 6:20s at 2% incline for 8 min! I was pushing but I knew I could do it. It was one of those feelings that you are on the edge of wanting to stop but you know you can keep going it will just hurt. (note-I have actually thought about what would happen if I pass out in my basement with no one home!). I think Barb was angry when she wrote this workout. My legs were sore going into this from the hard week I have already had too! But I did it!!!! I hit all of the intervals and finished without fainting! I was really psyched and even more excited about Chicago. Not to mention after I got off the TM I had 30 min of leg strength and REALLY hurt. I kept telling myself that I LOVE this, I really do.

So one more weekend until my first big race in Chicago against some HUGE people that I feel almost silly to be in the same transition with. But my new motto is go big or go home. So I am going big. I need new challenges to keep pushing myself in that basement. One more big weekend of training before a nice taper, yeah!

Race Report-Bangs Lake

Fun day is how I would recapture yesterday. It was really a great local race. I really enjoyed waking up at 3am to get there for a 6:30am start (really I didn't). But it was so nice to race with Jenny H. and see here again. I am going to just jump right in with how it went.

They bused us to the swim start which really was only a half mile away but I guess that is too far to walk! Funny how some triathletes freak about walking too far but we put ourselves thru miles of running. As we stood there on the beach trying to figure out where the buoys were I should have payed more attention, but I didn't. I looked a few times into the blinding sun as everyone was making a big deal about it and just figured I would follow the wave in front of me. BAD IDEA. It was a run in start which I LOVE. It is more aggresive to me then starting in water. After a few strokes I felt good and noticed that Jenny, her freind Mary (good swimmer) and I were in a pack. Good! Not for long. Next thing I noticed we came upon the slower swimmers from the wave in front of us and I lost Mary. So I started weaving in and out of swimmers trying to see a buoy. No such luck. I just followed the rest of the people who obviously didn't know where they were going either! But finally I saw a buoy! As I approached it I noticed there weren't many swimmers around, oh crap. Wrong one. I had to turn around and go back to the BIG buoy. You would think since now I am a Pro triathlete I would know a course better or have a magic secret for stuff like this. But nope, I couldn't see sh** like the rest of the swimmers. All said and done I think I added a good 4 min onto my swim.

As I get out of the water my Dad is standing there and says to me, "Did you drown?". He is really very supportive. He told me about 5 min back on 1st person. So I knew I had to work hard on the bike. It was a killer bike too. Who knew Wauconda IL had that! It was interesting b/c it was 2 loooped which I love. The only downfall on the bike for me was saddle sores! Yuck. Riding on your trainer alot seems to have some nasty and uncomfortable side effects. So I kept standing and trying to figure out a more comfy position, never happened. It was a solid ride and I new I was getting closer as I approached transition and he told me I was about 2 or so min back on Jen. I came out of transition on fire. I knew I needed to run hard. I saw her right away so I ran within my limits a little more then so I could reel her in slowly and not explode and bonk. One of my personal goals for the day was to have a solid run to build my confidence for Chicago. As we came to the 5k mark I had caught her and really wanted to slow down. But she yelled at me that someone was coming. After a little bit I dug deep and hauled butt to finish without someone passing. Turns out the girl she was talking about did the duathlon, UGH! Still it was good b/c it pushed me and I won!

I really felt like it was a great race mostly b/c I messed up the swim. As an age group athlete I don't usually have to do alot of chasing on the bike and run. It was a good experience at trying to run down people. I know as a pro now I will most likely be in the middle to back of the pack going into the bike. I am really excited for the new challenges that it brings. It is really amazing how every race no matter what happens you can take away something positive!

Oh and this picture! I carry a water bottle on a 10k (I know it isn't a marathon) because of nursing. I am thirsty 24/7. I can run 1 mile and feel like I just ran 20. Oh the joys of motherhood. And my sports bra under my suit! Well, you can figure that out. I normally don't need any extra support.