This is what my wonderful husband now does for training while I am off running! Talk about strength training.
I think I discovered a new sport in Galena a few weeks ago. I even used Noah's Lightening McQueen fishing rod. I didn't tell him but as soon as a fish would come near I yanked it out. There was NO way I was touching a fish. We told him they fish were taking a tap!
Getting ready to go...
Trying to get balanced to go uphill with no shoes on.
Chatting with Deb and here sister after the race! They both had a great race too!I know it has been SOOO long since my last post but I find it really hard to sit at the computer in my spare time (ha ha ha!) I would rather be a vegetable in front of the TV or asleep. Plus since I raced in New Orleans my life has been pretty low key and I have had consistent training. I chose Memphis in May over the winter because it was "driving" distance and a non drafting race. Well after way too many hours alone with my Dad in a car I now think that it should be a plane trip instead. Needless to say we made it down to Memphis Friday right before dinner. My Dad booked the hotel closed to the race site. He always used priceline which is great except you really don't know what you are getting. Well we got a house full of Marine teenagers on their weekend off. There is a base in town so I assume when the kids (I say kids because for the first time I felt OLD waiting in the check in line next to the young men in uniform. They seemed so young and pre pubescent) get a weekend off they go to a cheap hotel to live it up! Luckily they seemed to be pretty quiet and didn't keep me up. Plus after traveling to races for years now I have learned to travel with drugs and ear plugs. There could have been a tornado and I would have slept beautifully.
It seems as if all pros sign up for a race the year I do it. The last few years of results for this race don't seem nearly as competitive? Maybe it was me. But Michellie Jones? Who would have thunk she would come to Memphis TN! Lucky me:) Actually I was really excited and feeling great! I knew a few people doing the race as well as some friends doing the amateur race. I no longer get nervous because of who I am racing. Now I just get nervous for all the good reasons: Will I mentally stay strong the entire race, or Will my body hold up the entire race the way I want it to? Those are good reasons to get nervous. YOU can control those. You cannot control your competition. Only get nervous in life for the things you can control. It took me years to figure that one out.
I had a solid race. It was a time trial start so a person left every 10 seconds. They mixed men and women pros. Not a fan. I would much rather race head to head. I am a racer! I thrive on that element of the race. It brings you to a different level. The swim was super choppy but not awful. I used a fancy speedsuit that I bought Saturday b/c I am the only professional triathlete without one. WAYYYY worth it for anyone out there thinking of buying one. It was FAST!!! I bought a Blue Seventy and love it. (NO I am not sponsored by them). A cold front blew in on Saturday evening and with it came wind. I would take wind and cold over heat and humidity ANY day. Give me a 50 or 60 deg triathlon and I am a happy camper. The bike was extremely windy. Pretty much like riding here in Chicago all year long. It wasn't a spectacular bike for me. I never felt in the groove. It was struggle the entire ride. I think I need to borrow someones fancy aero helmet and disc wheel. It seems like most pros use those now too! I am learning. My goal was to start the run very comfortable. Run a mile to get my legs back then reassess. I did exactly that. I actually negative split the run and felt strong the entire time for taking out the first half slower. It has taken me many bonked races to learn this one. Turns out I finished 5th! Pro awards were 5 deep so that was a big milestone for me. It was my first pro award and paycheck! The only frustrating part of 4th place was 14 sec ahead of me and if it was head to head I know I would have outkicked her! UGH. Next year.
Thanks Dad for the trip and BBQ. Thanks Avia for the awesome new red and pink racing flats! Thank you PowerBar, Mideast Team Elite, my super coach Barb, Bill, Gao Fei, and my family for helping with the kids.
