A New Year, a New Outlook on Racing

It's hard to believe it's already 2014! I had a somewhat lackluster 2013 in terms of racing, but I was happy to receive 2nd in the Athena category for the tri-family race series. I was even more excited that my daughter took 3rd in her age group for the series!!

This year I am focusing on quality rather than quantity of races. I would like to focus on getting faster and fitter. Most of all, I want to have fun! Rather than racing in the longest distant race--I'd rather be racing somewhere fun, with fun people, and enjoying it. I did a bunch of sprint tris in 2013 and it felt good to get out there and race, but be finished with plenty of time to enjoy my day.  I've also had my fill of Tempe Town Lake!! I don't have any desire to swim in it or run around it any time in the neat future. 

I'd also like to focus on training--both on my own and with my daughters. I only have a few races on the calendar so far for 2014, so we'll see what comes up and sounds like fun. :) What are your race goals for the new year?

Where has the time gone?!!

Can you believe it--it's the last day of July?!!  We are just 16 weeks from Ironman AZ.   I have to admit, I am getting a little nervous.  I need to get some long rides in ASAP.  I slacked a bit the last couple of weeks as I was in MN.  I have scheduled some races to help get me back on track.  I have pretty much abandoned Fink.  I like the concept, but it doesn't really fit my training style.  I am working on getting 2-3 days of strength training in each week and at least 5 days of cardio. 

I really need to hit the pool with more intensity.  I've noticed that my stroke has gotten sloppy and I know that will sap energy from me in the long run.  So, I've come up with some August goals:
1.) Get in the pool weekly and focus on form.
2.) Get 3 rides a week in.
3.) Get 2 a day workouts in at least 3 days a week.

I think if I can get in this routine in August, I'll feel a lot better going into the September Oly and October 1/2 Iron. 

A rambling blog update

Hello ladies - Sorry I've been MIA.  Lots going on with Christmas and the new job.  Here is my update. 

Well, I've been at work for a few weeks and I LOVE my new job.  It is fun to use my brain in a different way and I am really enjoying the people.  I drive to work every morning thinking how lucky I am.  The only down side is that I am having a hard time figuring out a new schedule.  I was able to go for 1 run during work hours and it was beautiful.  I thought I'd be able to squeeze in more but it hasn't been easy to do.  There has been lots of holiday lunches that have taken up normal work time.  The Tribe has a rec center but I haven't made it over there yet b/c I'm trying to get things done quickly.  Hopefully it is a good gym with nice equipment.  I hear there is a shower there too. 

I know my big problem is that I'm a night owl.  I tend to stay up until midnight (sometimes later) and get up around 6:00 a.m.  I would love to get up early and try to get my workout done.  I know it is doable.  I did it this summer with Annette.  The early morning workout will be my best option if I want to meet my goals for the year. 

They say it takes 30 days to create a habit.  I need a good habit.  My goal is to get up at 5:00 a.m. and work out.  Luckily my husband wants to do it too.  We are going to fix up our 3rd car garage stall, add some equipment to go along with the nice weight bench already in there.  It will take some organizing and paint but it has potential to be nice.  I'm excited to take on this project with my honey. 

Oh, a friend gave me a Garmin to try out.  (310?)  It will be interesting to see how I like it.  I need to get ready for heart rate training with our Ironfit book.  I'm excited to try it.  People LOVE their garmins!

To be honest, I have been really disappointed with my 2011 work out season.  I have skipped races and have been pretty unmotivated.  In the first part of the year, it was b/c I burnt out from Ironman.  The second part of the year, I found excuse after excuse not to do things.  2012 has to be better right?  I did a 2011 overview and wrote some goals for 2012.  I'm sure I'll be expanding on these goals in the next couple of weeks. 

2011

PROS
New job
Family life is great
I feel good emotionally
Found Ironmoms
Weight is stable

CONS
Lost work out motiviation
Lost my #1 riding buddy to work/golf
Lost access to pool

2012

GOALS

Get more sleep

Develop a Morning work out routine

Eat less processed foods and more veggies

Improve all of my race time from past years (CA70.3, IMAZ)



Soma Tri 70.3!

Today, I completed the Soma 1/2 Iron Distance Tri. While I feel like I was under-trained for it, I am still calling it a success.  I had a few goals for this tri:
1.) Finish
2.) Have a calm swim
3.) Have a consistent bike
4.) Don't die on the run

I would say that I mostly accomplished each of those goals.  I was really worried that I would not finish before they closed the course.  Turns out, that was not too much of a problem. 

The swim went well.  I am not a fan of open water swimming or swimming in a wetsuit.  Since the water temp was 73 degrees, I opted not to wear the wetsuit.  This turned out to be just fine.  One of the other things I dislike about open water swimming is that it's hard to see and I don't like getting bumped by people.  I feel like swimming is such a calm and solitary activity--open water swimming is the complete antithesis of that!!  People push and kick and don't spot and swim into your "lane."  My goal was to keep calm and not get to worked up during the swim.  I was pretty successful at that.  I didn't feel like I really hit my stroke until about 3/4 of a mile in--which is a little late in a 1.2 mile swim!  Otherwise, I just kept steady and calm and it went alright. 

On the bike, I wanted to keep a consistent pace.  I did this pretty well.  I believe my pace was just under 16 mph.  This is great because it's even faster than the pace I want to keep for Ironman 2012.  I slowed a bit on the last lap (there were 3 laps to the bike), but overall, I felt good and even throughout the ride.  My only concern was that my back and neck were pretty sore after the ride, but I think I will keep working on my positioning and tweak my bike's set up and this should be manageable.  I have to say that my new tri bike is awesome.  There is no way I'd be riding this well on my old bike--here's to good equipment!

The run, well, it was really more of a walk.  I knew that I was not well prepared for the run.  I just haven't trained distance like I should be.  Also, it was HOT.  The temperature at the finish was 95 degrees.  The run was entirely in sun and it was MISERABLE.  I would have felt worse about walking as much as I did, except that most people were walking at that point.  It was just too hot.

The other thing that didn't go as well with the tri as I would have liked was that I wasn't feeling 100%, which meant I had some tummy business to sort out before I left home in the morning, which meant that I left later than I wanted (and encountered a car accident that closed the road I took to get to the race), which resulted in my getting into transition as they announced that transition would close in ONE minute.  I didn't have transition set up real well, so I didn't have everything in my bike pouch that I would have liked (like chapstick!!).  It's also a bit unnerving to be running that late for race start...

I learned a lot from this tri.  One, I can do it.  While I would have been miserable even attempting a full Ironman at this point, I believe I will finish when I do.  Two, I need to train.  I can't help but think about how much better this race could have gone had I felt 100% and if I had really trained to a level where I was confident about each event.  It makes me excited to work on my training for 2012. 

About Kristin

1. Age:30

2. Children: 2 - Gwen (7) and Drake (5 on Sunday)

3. Height: 5'3". Did you notice we are all 5'3" but Kate who towers us?

4. Weight: I'm not too worried about, I just want to tone it up!

5. Athletic background: I did the city's swimming programs all through my adolescent years. Also In high school, I did track, and a semester of cross country. Cheered all through junior high and high school.

6. Why Ironman?: I don't know... why are we doing this?!?! No, because I can. Right??

7. Weakest leg of tri?: It used to be biking, but since then, I have biked a lot more and swam a lot less. So I believe it is now the swim.

8. Toughest challenge: Getting out of bed to get my workouts in. If I don't do them before the kids get up, they don't happen.

9. What do I enjoy most about training? Sweating it out! The workouts have become my sanity. I may dread them sometimes (or often) but I'm always SO glad I did them!

10. What do I enjoy least about training? Worrying about injuries. I've had a few stress fractures and a sprained ankle, and currently have a sprained toe that has been bugging me since October! Also I recently found out that I'm anemic, and if I'm not taking my iron, I definitely feel it.

11. Ironman Goal: To finish! Under 16:00 is what I'm shooting for.

12. Bike: 2011 Scott CR1 Elite. 49" (xs frame). It's my baby, I love it!

13. How do I know the other Ironmoms?: I met Kate over a year ago when I was applying to ASU. She's one of the most sincere people I know, I'm so lucky to call her a friend! Kim was my legal writing professor, so I've known her for almost a year now. (I've got to be honest, I was a little intimidated by this. Despite the great professor she was, that class was my LOWEST grade that semester. I was worried she'd think I was a total idiot. Don't worry, I re-read that paper, I see the many errors!) Annette I just met, and I'm already impressed with her drive! I'm hoping she'll share some of that with me. :)

About Kim

1. Age: 32

2. Children: 2 beautiful girls ages 4 and 6

3. Height: 5'3"

4. Weight: Over!

5. Athletic background: In high school, I ran cross country, did some track, gymnastics, and cheerleading. And, I love tap dancing!

6. Why Ironman?: Because I think I can! If I can make it through 140.6, what can't I do?

7. Weakest leg of tri?: Biking--I'm so slow and I don't push myself--it's easy to rest on a bike (as opposed to when swimming or running).

8. Toughest challenge: Get in the long rides and runs--it takes a lot of time and a lot of support!

9. What do I enjoy most about training? The variety--I love to mix it up--hiking, rumba, strength training, and all the tri sports!

10. What do I enjoy least about training? That I am always hungry, which makes my goal below more difficult!

11. Ironman Goal: Lose weight and cross the finish line.

12. Bike: A purple Specialized--very girly, I know.

13. How do I know the other Ironmoms?: I met the lovely Kate when I came to work at ASU--Whenver I mentioned that I did triathlons, people would tell me about this crazy person who was training for the Ironman and I knew I had to meet her! I had the pleasure of meeting the fantastic Kristin in my first semester of teaching at ASU--she was a reliable smiling face in the crowd. :) I was introduced to the fabulous Annette through Kate and I have enjoyed racing with her at some smaller triathlons in the Phoenix area.