It's been a really long time!

Elliot and Mom after the Mesa Tri

Wow, it's been so long since any of us Ironmoms have been on the blog to update about our races and training.  I guess that this year has been more about being moms and less about being Iron.  :)  I was at IMAZ 2013 this weekend and I couldn't believe that a year ago I was out there racing.  I volunteered to help--mostly because I know how much those volunteers mean to the racers on that long day.  Also, I had some friends racing and I wanted to be sure to support them.  I can't say I missed racing.  It was great to be around the energy and excitement without the stress and the long hours of training that go along with racing.  I saw fellow Ironmom Kristin while volunteering.  She had baby Eden with her and looked awesome.

Women's Half Marathon

Meanwhile, I have done tons of races!!  So many, that I can hardly remember all of them.  Since the last update--SW Valley tri, Marquee tri, Espirit de She tri, Tempe International Tri, MedCity Marathon Relay, Minneapolis Marathon, Timberman tri, Waseca tri, Skirt Chaser 5k, Cheese Fest 5k, Peoria tri, Mesa tri, Nathan's/Lifetime tri, the Women's Half Marathon, the Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge, and even a virtual marathon.  I think that's all of them.

Truth be told, I think I am a little burnt out on racing.  Completing the Ironman gave me sort of a bad attitude about training.  I tend to have the "I finished an Ironman, so how hard can this ____ race be?" mentality about everything.  As a result, I haven't really been enjoying the races nearly as much (because I have not been training for them).  The ones that I have enjoyed have been the ones I've gotten to do with friends (which are always the best ones anyway!!).

Jessie and I at the Timberman Tri

I only have a few races scheduled in the coming months.  Elliot and I are going to do a Thanksgiving tri, I am doing the Hot Chocolate 5k again, the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 1/2 Marathon, the Awesome 80's run and the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon.  And, that's all I have planned for now.  I am going to focus on having more fun with races and doing races in more interesting locales (I've had about all I can take of the area around Tempe Town Lake for now!).  

Katie, Jen, and I at the SkirtChaser

At the Mesa tri a few weeks ago, a woman asked me if I was an Ironmom from the blog.  She was really sweet and encouraging.  I am glad people are still interested in the blog and I will be better about updating about races and training.  I hope my other Ironmoms will join me.  :)

As for training, I have really started to mix things up since IMAZ last year.  I found a dance studio where I could take tap classes (which I did when I lived in MN and have missed since moving to AZ).  It's been so fun.  Also, I have been trying out different classes at the gym to make up for the significant decrease in running, biking, and swimming I have had since IMAZ.  

Happy training everyone!

Tap!!!

Phoenix Marathon 2013 - Kristin

Aww, the Phoenix marathon.  I had been looking forward to this one for a while.  After all, without sticking to my training plans for my past few marathons, I had beat my time each consecutive marathon, and since my last (not counting Ironman) was 4:00:15, I was sure to FINALLY be under that 4:00 mark!  And especially coming off of Ironman?  I was sure it was in the bag.

Then I got lazy.

I started getting serious about long runs with the help of my friend Marie (picture below on the left).  This was to be her first marathon, and she was also hoping to come in under 4:00, so I begged her to let me tag along for her long runs.

But my mid week runs were pathetic.  It was so hard to get out of bed, and I was just feeling slow and heavy.  I figured it was due to a busy semester, and the stress of moving.

Come to find out...

I'M PREGNANT!!!

Well come hell or high water, I was going to run this marathon.

 I was so excited to run this.  A marathon in MY town, where I'd run by MY (old) house, and MY highschool, with lots of MY friends.  

 To avoid the super early wake up call, and having to sit on a bus, I had a friend drop Marie and I off at the start.  Sure the race directions said this was not allowed, but we risked it, and it paid off!

We were dropped right at the start just 15 minutes before the gun went off.  Just in time to use the porta potty and take some quick pics.  Perfect.

It started off great!  It was cool, but not cold.  Perfect running weather.

The start of the race is down hill and fast.  I loved it!  

We were maintaining our pace, and I felt great!  

At the half way mark, we were at 1:55, and I felt like I had tons left to give.  But Marie's quads were hurting from the down hill start, and so we split at the half.  

At 19, I was starting to feel the tired feeling I usually feel around 22.  :(

But I was still with the 3:45 pace group, and I felt like I could hold it.

But then at 21 I had the burps that turned into the pukes.  

I stopped and puked, and caught my breath as I watched the 3:45 group move on.

I walked for a while.  Then when the 3:50 group came, I started running again.

Puke, walk, repeat.

I tried so hard to stay with the 4:00 group.  Because then I could just pour it on that last little bit and beat 4:00 right?

No.  They left me in the dust too.

I was just about resigned to walking the rest of the way when my friend Mark (my first boyfriend, ha!) was walking back along the course.  He did the half in 1:30, and had been running people in.  So he started running and talking with me.  I was too embarrassed to tell him I really wanted to walk, so I dug deep and ran the last mile in at a great pace!  I was surprised I could pull it off!

There I am, running in to the finish, after high fiving just about everyone in the crowd.  I was so happy to be finished, and I usually see that as taking more time than just sprinting in to the finish, but my time goal was gone, so I didn't care.  It was fun!

4:08:44

So what's next?

Ironman St. George 70.3

I need to get back on the bike, and pray my wet suit will fit!

No time goals, I just want to finish.

Tri for the Cure

Tri for the Cure!

This was a fun and quick race!!  The only complaint I had was that I was #406 so that meant I didn't start until nearly 9:00 a.m.  I had gotten to the race at 5:30 because I missed packet pick up the day before due to the fact that I was in Colorado for work.  I would have liked to have gotten a couple extra hours of sleep...but oh well!  Also, I wish that I had eaten a bigger breakfast.  I was super hungry by the time the race started.  I didn't bring many snacks since the race was so short, so I was pretty low on energy by the end of the run.  The race went well.  I finished 4th in the Athenas--I had hoped to run a bit faster, but the swim and bike went well.  Overall, it's a fun race.  Things always seem a bit less hectic when it's just ladies racing. :)  Oh, and it was awesome to see the elite athletes at the start of the race--one of the swimmers was insanely fast!

Upcoming races:  SW Valley YMCA race through tri family in April and Marquee Sprint, Espirit de She and Tempe International Tri in May, MedCity Marathon Relay over Memorial Day weekend, Minneapolis Marathon in June, Timberman Tri in July (I hope!!).  

Race Results

Phoenix Marathon and Peoria Tri

Phoenix 1/2 Marathon

Last weekend was a busy race weekend! First, I ran the Phoenix 1/2 marathon on Saturday morning. The course was different this year so we didn't enjoy a three mile decline to start out the race. The course was still quite flat and the weather was perfect. The race organization was a bit of a disaster. The finish was moved, but the race organizers still had runners bussed to their respective starts.

The race traffic was completely backed up getting onto the highway and then off to the exit. As a result, many of us sat on the highway for close to an hour. Then, we took the buses (also somewhat chaotic) to the start. I got off the bus and into the port a potty line...where I waited 25 minutes, which left me two minutes to bring my stuff to gear check and get to the start. I walked up to the starting line area just as the gun went off!!

Kids' 1K

The run was fairly uneventful. It was a bit crowded at the start and about 9 miles in I started catching some of the 10k walkers, which would have been less frustrating had the running lane been wider. Overall, I ended with an alright time, but not the PR I had on the course last year.
The finish area was chaotic--but there were lots of fun activities and vendors just like last year (cotton candy is always a win in my book!).

After my race, the girls ran a 1k on the course. It was a little warm for the kids' race. Lyla got a little warm and didn't really love the run. Elliot had a better time.

Silver Medal!

Sunday morning was Elliot's big race day. We headed up to Peoria for a tri just for her! She did great. This was in the regular order--swim, bike, run. Her swim went well, transition was still a little confusing, the bike felt long, and she had a GREAT run. She ended up 2nd in her age group and she was so excited!! A lot of the older kids had been ahead of her so she didn't think she did that well. It was pretty great watching her collect her silver medal. :)

2nd Place!

Now why don't she write????

Hey all!! It's been a looooooooong time since I've posted here. It's also been awhile since I've really done any training. : / I decided I was going to enjoy the holidays and family time. Well that was a few months ago now. I can't say I haven't done ANY training at all.

Kate and I got our bike crew together for a first ride up Usery Pass about a month ago. Should've listened to the signs. Kate had a minor spill in the parking lot, quickly followed by me doing pretty much the same thing - not getting foot unclipped fast enough to step down. Once we got going everything seemed to be going well, and I was even keeping up with the pack without any trouble. We started cruising along Bush Highway, and I was feeling pretty good to be back on the road, peddling along, chilly wind in the face. After a little bit of a hill, the other three went ahead, and I was getting up to speed and had just settled into my aerobars when BAM! My left side aerobar just dropped out from under me. This caused me to fall to the right, into the gravel shoulder. I could feel the front of my helmet, sunglasses and cheek skid along the ground. When I came to a stop, looking up at the sky, I screamed as loud and as long as I could hoping the rest of the group would hear.

Nothing.

So I screamed just as loud and as long as I could again. Still nothing.

I checked my face fully expecting my hand to be covered in blood. Nope...good sign. I didn't feel like anything was broken. I sat up and looked around, I could see the other three waaaaaaay up ahead on the road, and I tried calling to them again, but they were too far. Dang, I thought I had a pretty strong voice when I was a cheerleader. Oh yeah, that was decades ago....DUH!

By this time at least a couple cars had passed by without one even slowing down. Turds! My elbow was bleeding pretty good to the point where it was dripping onto my leg. I stood up and texted Kate that I wrecked. I also tried calling but to nada. A couple more cars pass by. Doo-doo heads.

Just then my knight in a shiny black Chevy Avalanche is coming towards me. Hooray MCSO to the rescue! I raise my hand to wave him down, and was shocked when he just waved and passed by!!!! OH HELL TO THE NO!!!!!!! I think my look of shock made him realize I actually needed help. So after a U-turn he comes back, administers some first aid and gives me a ride back to the cars. Kate finally got my texts and message and tells me to wait at the car.



Well to make a long story short - turns out that the bolts holding the aerobars onto the handlebars were too short and there was barely any thread holding them on. I'm actually grateful I wrecked where I did because I can only imagine how much damage there would have been had I been going down the other side of Usery Pass easily going well into the 30mph, if not 40mph range. The other big lesson is that this is the second time I've had difficulty riding on the Bush Highway. Oprah talks about listening to the message the Universe sends you - first it starts as a whisper, that gut feeling you have. Then the messages get louder and louder until you finally learn the lesson, or get the message. I got the message.....no more Bush Highway for Enzo.

I still need to get a new helmet and get my sunglasses fixed, but my body is healed (hopefully the road rash on my elbow will leave a cool scar), and Enzo is fixed. I'm definitely ready to get back on the road!!!!!

Another Ragnar Down

Well, last weekend I put another Ragnar in the books. This was my 4th ( 3rd year in a row for Del Sol). This time I was in Van 1 and the legs were a little longer than what I've done in the past.

Overall, the runs went well. I was tired and sore by the end. My hip is still a bit sore--which is a little concerning since I've got the Phoenix 1/2 marathon in the morning.

Each Ragnar is fun, but exhausting and after it's all said and done, I think--why do I do this!! :)

Catching Cupid Reverse Tri

My cute little triathlete

Today was my little Elliot's first triathlon!  She has been so excited about doing a triathlon for about a year now and has one scheduled in March.  But, I saw this triathlon online and asked Elliot if she was interested and she said, "YES!"  So, I signed both of us up.  Last night (Friday) was the father/daughter dance at Elliot's elementary school.  So, the girls and Adam went out for dinner and then went to dance where the kids had cupcakes, slushies, and candy.  Jump to 1:30 a.m. and Elliot coming into my room and saying her tummy hurts.  I figured she was either anxious for the race or it was just too much junk.  So, I told her to try going to the bathroom and then getting some rest.  She did, but about 15 minutes later she said her tummy really hurts.  Then, she ran to the bathroom and threw up...a lot.  After that, she was able to go back to bed.  At that point, I figured the race was out for the morning.

At 5:30, I woke up Elliot just to see if she still wanted to race or if she wanted to rest--she was still super excited to race and swore she felt better.  So off to the race we went!  Since this was reverse triathlon, the race started with the run, followed by the bike, and then the swim.  Elliot's race was a 1/2 mile run, 4 mile bike, and 100 yd. swim.  The run was on a track so I ran along the inside of the track with her to help her keep pace.  Then, it was off on the bike--Adam rode along with her on the course.  It was cold (in Arizona terms) so the ride got pretty chilly.  The poor thing was frozen by the time she finished and she was pretty pooped (probably the lack of sleep on not feeling well).  She jumped in the pool for the swim and it was clear she was out of energy, but she powered on and finished the whole thing.  She had a little confusion in the transitions (so do most first timers though), but other than that she did great.  At the end, she was finished, but so excited.  Watching her cross that finish line was such a proud moment.  :)  I've had people tell me that they are motivated by my running/racing, but to know that I've inspired my daughter to believe and accomplish this was one of the greatest feelings ever. 

I also signed up to race.  The adult race was a 5k run, 12 mile bike, and 400 yd. swim.  This is a pretty short distance...but it's the first time I've been swimming since Ironman and only the 2nd time I've cycled since then!  (I know--that's just terrible--I really have to get back in the swing of biking and swimming!!)  I actually like the reverse tri format.  I find that I run faster (I got a PR on the 5k) and it doesn't significantly impact my bike or swim--and the transitions are faster.  I placed solidly in the middle of the pack overall--but 9/10 in my age group.  :(  I am still in that ultra competitive W30-34 age group--had I been in the 35-39 or either of 20 something age groups--I would have finished in the top 3!  I must say I do enjoy when I pass 20 somethings (and men) on the course.  :) 

Next up (for real this time)--Ragnar, then the Phoenix 1/2 Marathon!

Double Down!!

Runner's Den Road Race--Double Down= 5k + 10k

The day was perfect for a run...or two! It was cool and overcast, but not windy. This race is well organized and well run. The course wasn't too crowded and there were free pancakes!!!

The 5k went well. I tried to hold back a bit in anticipation of the 10k. After finishing the 5k, I had about 45 minutes to relax before the 10k started. It did feel a little chilly after running, but once the 10k picked up it was great.

The 10k went well too. Around the 4 mile mark, a car ignored the police roadblock and almost hit me and another runner, but otherwise the run was uneventful. I was definitely tired by the end of the run, but I generally felt good during and after the run. Next up--Ragnar!

Awesome 80's 10k and Rock 'n' Roll Half

Wow, 2013 is taking off fast!  I am already two races behind on my updates.  I ran the Awesome 80's 10k on January 12th and it was, as advertised, awesome!  I convinced my husband to run the race with me and he, in typical Adam fashion, did no training for the race, but was ready to go and run anyway on race day. 

Awesome 80's!

It was a cold morning--very cold by Arizona standards, but it felt very nice to be running in it after things got started.  The race was relatively small, which was great.  There wasn't a mad rush to pick up race numbers on race morning and the crowd at the starting line was very manageable even though both the 10k and 5k started at the same time and ran the same course. 

The course was flat and easy.  The 10k was two loops of the 5k course.  Adam kept pushing the pace with this long legs and we finished in 1:00.48--a PR for me.  It was a good run and I felt great afterwards.  I would highly recommend this case in the future--it was fun and relaxed.  My only hesitation in recommending it is that if more people sign up in the future it may get too crazy and crowded.  :)

This past Sunday I ran the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon.  It was my 4th time running one of the P.F. Chang's races--my third time running the 1/2.  I wasn't really excited to run this race again because it has gotten increasingly more crowded and crazy each year, but I wanted to try the newly revamped 1/2 course, so I sucked it up and signed up. 

The girls were ready to rock!

As it is every year, the expo was a madhouse.  I had signed the girls up for the kid's run on Saturday, so I had to go on Friday after work so I got the double whammy of expo insanity and downtown traffic.  The girls had a blast at the kids' run--lots of entertainment and nice, fun running experience.  I would sign them up for this again in the future. 

For my race, things were a little more hectic and rushed.  Adam and the girls dropped me off at the starting line, which was nice because parking looked like a nightmare.  I arrived around 7:15 at the starting area.  The race was scheduled to start at 7:50 so I had plenty of time to use the port-a-potty and get set...or so I thought.  The first thing I did was jump in the port-a-potty line...which was pretty much the whole pre-race time period.  Just after I stepped out of the port-a-potty, they started the National Anthem and then the race. 


I usually like to eat an energy bar or something before the race and I had brought some salt sticks to use as well, but I didn't have water with me (there's usually plenty at the start).  I didn't have time to look for water, so I figured I'd just take the first salt stick at the first water break, which is usually just after the first mile.  I was in corral 9 and we started about 12 minutes after the first corral, which made me wish I had looked for water and then just got back in the corral, but oh well. 

Another RNR Down!

Things started out well.  I was maintaining a pace that felt comfortable and was on par with what I had run the Awesome 80's 10k.  Around mile 7, I started to get hot and very thirsty.  I was anxiously looking for the next water stop around every corner.  When I finally got there, I took my salt stick and ate a bit of my power bar.  I think I ate the power bar too late in the race, because from mile 8 to the finish I just kept fading.  I was tired and my feet were super hot.  I had debated between running my Newtons (which I'd worn for the 80's run) and my old Brooks and went with the Brooks since I was still worried about the lack of distance I'd run in the Newtons.  I should have worn the Newtons. 

Also, I think the hills in the 2nd half of the course really took a toll on me.  No doubt about it, I was under trained for the race.  Reflecting back--the only real running I've done since IM have been a 5k in December and 2 10ks in January...so that shouldn't have surprised me. All in all, the Rock 'n' Roll race series is getting a bit tiresome.  The races have been really crowded and the expo is always a huge ordeal.  And, there's nothing that exciting about the races (other than the cool medals) after you've done a couple.  The race fees are always really high too...so this might be my last RNR for awhile. 

I will definitely be getting more miles in before Ragnar in February!!  I also need to get back on my bike, though I have been less than excited about that prospect since IM.  I am hoping Kate and Annette share their adventures/misadventures on getting back on the bike yesterday. 

Next up:  Runner's Den Road Races in Feb.

Polar Dash 2013

This race update is a bit late, but here it is! I started off the new year with what's becoming a chilly new tradition. I headed to St. Paul for the Polar Dash 10k. Last year, Danie and I ran this and decided it was not a great idea. Somehow, after a year, we could no longer remember anything but the fun!

We were able to recruit a bigger group of friends to join us. Among the group were a number of 10k newbies. It was so much fun running with a group of friends without a care about the pace. And, one of my friends who had planned to finish her first 5k that day--decided to make it her first 10k instead!!

We polished it off with a fantastic lunch at one of my favorite St. Paul haunts.

Coming up--Awesome 80's 10k and PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon.