Strive to TRI

Training

2010-05-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Between design work, organizing the Smith Point Triathlon, working with the best tri company around EVENTPOWER, kids, family, volunteering, pilates, strength and tri training... I AM CRAZY TIRED!!!

Training is going well. Not superb but well. I've been swimming, and running at least 2x a week. I really need to step up my biking. I've been out on the cruiser with the kids but that's not training! I finally got out the road bike, put on the pseudo winter gear, ready to hit the road 2 minutes out—a flat. After fixing a flat I get a call from a friend of mine come over and help me find my dog 2 hours later ready to ride and BAM thunderstorm.

I won't be riding until tomorrow early morning. Hopefully not to many drunks on the road.

So it begins

2010-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

After a nice triathlon free winter I am sufficently sick of yoga, pilates, belly-dancing, circuit training and that damn treadmill!

Yesterday I started running outside. I can not believe how much I missed it!!! Where is SPRING!!!! This morning it snowed. Tomorrows forecast sleet/snow. Friday snow. Saturday SUNNY and 45 degrees!!!!! I'm plotting my course around the neighborhood. Where to go?

Mighty Man Half Ironman — October 2009

2009-11-28T18:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am late writing this one. Now the question is can I remember? I think this race was a bit like childbirth. I'm forgetting the pain. I'd better write it down now.

Last Jan I decided if I ran a 13.1 under 3hrs I'd sign up for the MightyMan 1/2 Iron man in Montauk. I did, and I did. I was under the impression that 10 months of training and quitting drinking would prepare me for the race. HA! If I was a serious athlete that wasn't prone to bouts of cheesecakecouchpotatoitis it would've turned out much better. I probably would've bailed on the race if it wasn't for one thing...

Last May, I won an essay contest at Event Power for a hotel room at the race. And being the cheap-o that I am I wasn't letting a free room in Montauk and a entry fee go to waste just because I was unprepared. Oh did I mention I just returned, the Wednesday before the race, from a 7 day 6 night trip to Disney World that had a free upgrade to a Villa on the meal plan. Not exactly the best way to taper. I ate cheesecake just about every night. I think I was in denial about the race. It was coming, and I was f'd.

I keep diluting myself... I am willful with a high (ahem), low tolerance for pain. I can push myself through anything (ahem), some stuff. I've had kids naturally (ahem), oh right... I had two epidurals with Demerol chasers — so they tell me. But I can do this... after a week at Disney and half-assed training. No problem.

You can see where my head was for this race... Cinderella's Castle.

I get out to the Hotel Friday night. Kids, husband and coolers (cause we are tapped out from the Disney trip and my kids eat only cereal and peanut butter and jelly and I'll be damned if I'm buying PB&J for $9.00 a sandwich at some swanky Montauk diner. (I'm cheap, remember)).

We walk into the room. It is completely beautiful and chic and modern. Everything is white and it has amazing lighting turning everything blue and pink. It was created for double income no kids (DINK) Manhattanites. It's about 200 sqft and built for snuggle lovin'.

The 4 year old Long Island world traveling diva that I call my daughter, (She's been to Maine, Rhode Island and to Disney) says, "Where is the kitchen? Where is the other room? We all have to sleep in the same room?!"

My eyes bugged out of my head.

My husband started cracking up and gives her an explanation, "Honey, this weekend is going to be like camping."

"Where's the lake?"

WHA! Camping, really? über swanky hotel — is camping sans lake. I have created a monster.

We get all the gear up and are looking forward to a day free tomorrow to see the lighthouse maybe hit the beach, stroll through town, hit 2nd house or play some mini golf. We wake up and it is POURING. Pure Nor'easter. We watch the sprint tri below and I am really happy I am not doing that race. Once we decide to get up and out. We head to the lighthouse since it's somewhat dry. Lightning. My kids and husband are just completely peachy. Coming off a Disney vaca to Montauk in a nor'easter for a triathlon. They are going to stand around for 8 hours. This may just be the poorest maternal judgement call I have made in a really long time.

The storm seems to break and I pick up my race packet. We head over to Gossmans so the peanuts can run all over that break wall. Get some flip flops from KaiKai's cause it's end of season and I have a coupon! (Cheap-o)

We head over to the pasta party at Sole East. It was a yummy never ending bowl of pasta. I like that—cheap and delish! Once we are done we head back up to our room and try to get the kids to sleep. Two LONG books and 5 songs later they are out. I now have to check my list. Twice, cause I'm neurotic about that sort of thing. Finally I get all my stuff done. Lay down to sleep it's 11pm. I have to be up by 4:30am. I am too excited, in a strange bed, worried the alarm won't work, watch backup will fail... I can't sleep.

I lie watching the ceiling until 4:15am when I blissfully fall asleep. WAWAWAWAWAWA goes my alarm. BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP goes the watch. 15 minutes of sleep, ugh I am exhausted.

I eat my breakfast get dressed and walk my gear to the race site. It's a nice morning surprisingly warm for Montauk in October, day after a nor'easter. I set up quietly. I refrain from the usual chitchat. I am scared. I can not believe I am doing this race. Not one fat person in this whole area. I am sooooo going to be last. The whole place is muddy and squishy. Nothing will be dry after this race. Heavy sigh.

I get on my wetsuit and head over to the portos. I FORGOT FLIP FLOPS EWWWHHHHH!!! Squish, squish, through the mud and into (I hope) muddy portos.

The racers are beginning to set up I walk down to the water and wash my feet. HOLY CRAP THAT WATER IS COLD! I can feel hypothermia setting in and I've only dipped my feet. I know I have to get all the way in or I'm gonna hyperventilate. So I do it slowly, which is more torturous but I can't shock my heart with a quick rip-the-band-aid-off jump into the water. Remember, I'm fat, family history of heart failure and I'm about to do a 1/2 iron man. I'm am not ready to die today—even though I may be tempting the fates. Slow, slow, slowly into the water complaining the whole way. I clearly am not in the proper frame of mind for this race.

I get all the way in, my heart rate stabilizes and I'm ready to go. I don't need to head to the front of the pack cause there aren't enough women in my age group to double us up. Nice, no thrashing. Bonus for doing the long race. The gun sounds and I get to swimming. I get into a good rhythm quickly and pull ahead. I am feeling really great. The water is chilly but it's fresh water so the taste of it doesn't seem like a salt lick.

I'm watching the shoreline and the moon is just above the trees. It makes me happy. My daughter always says, "The moon is Mommy's, the trees are Daddy's, My son is the sun (get it), she is all the stars and our dog Nugget is the Earth" Our family is the universe. Did I mention my daughter is not only a world traveling diva and the world's greatest shopper (big statement) but a profound philosopher.

I am really enjoying my swim. I am singing to myself and listening to the sound of the water as my arm cuts through it. It's my favorite form of meditation. I get out of the water completely calm. I am thinking maybe this won't be so bad. That swim was terrific. I mentioned tempting fate before. I think I was a bit hubristic.

I run through the mud and get on the bike. I start up the hill. Yes, the bike STARTS with a hill. I begin my ride feeling pretty good. I am passing a few people and feeling really nice doing some nice gear work to get up the hill to the point. Not as bad as I thought it would be. I am focused and having a nice ride.

I am on one of the side streets and I see a woman with a flat. I stop to give her a hand cause I seriously need to pay it forward. Her name is Alex and she ran over a crushed beer bottle and has shards of green glass all through her tire. She has changed her flat but has the wrong type of CO2 cartridge. (She needs the threaded kind but has the un-threaded). I learned from last years flat fixing fiasco (Mighty Hampton Sept 2008) that a good mini bike pump is really the way to go. I let her borrow mine. As she is pumping away on her flat, I tell her about the beauty that is Specialized Armadillo kevlar tires and tell her my whole story of 3 flats and the saint that stopped to help me fix my flats even gave me a new tube.

So I say, "I had to stop, if I didn't I would've been riddled with flats the rest of this race. It's only 20 minutes. Finish the race in 8 hours or 8 hours 20 min. What's the difference." Needless to say, no flats.

I get on my bike again and now my tush is killing me! I didn't ride my bike while in Disney and I think the blisters that turned to calluses began to heal and are reforming blisters. I'm not even halfway. I'm screwed. I come to the last turn and there goes the pace car, there's Pete Ventura whizzing past me like I'm standing still.

"Go Pete Go"

Nice as can be, completely un-winded, "Hi, Mo your doing great, keep it up."

Man. I wanted to be past the 1/2 way mark before I got lapped. I feel big, and fat, and old. I used to babysit him and he's 30 for gosh sakes!

I begin lap 2 of the bike and my lady parts are demanding my attention. I can't really enjoy the ride because every dimple, every bump, every grain of sand in the road feels like female genital mutilation. We'll maybe not that bad, but it really hurts. I think I'm gonna apply an amply gelled beach cruiser seat to my race bike. I'm way past giving a crap about what I look like. This thing is torture and this seat is WAY better than the one the factory supplied. It at least the Adamo I'm riding on has a cut out in the front so I no longer get numb... but the blisters on the sides! Sort of defeats the purpose of getting fit and hot if you can't feel it. Unacceptable. I've heard good things about the Terry saddles I thing I'm gonna try the liberator. I need to free myself.

I climb the hill to the point. I am mashing it out. Just pure muscle to get to the top I am in my highest gear. WTF? Now I have been riding like crazy... 60 miles, 70 miles like nothing then I think I always ate. I always stopped someplace beautiful and ate something. I am out of fuel. I have a ClifBar, not doing it, I have a Hammer Gel better. But I'm was out of gas, I didn't stoke the fire. This was a rookie mistake. I won't do that again.

I bike my way through all the twist and turns of Montauk the wind has picked up by Gossmans but I have a big downhill to transition. Me likey speed. Low gear, push it, 40mph YEEEEHAWW I feel like a rough rider. I'm in Montauk, get it... TR... anyways...

I come into the transition my legs are done and I haven't even started running. GRRRREAT. From my ride I think there are a few people behind me, maybe 5. I am sooo going to be last. I get started on my run. I'm actually having fun. My legs ache but nothing terrible. Everyone going by is cheering me on. The day is getting hot. The sun has finally come out and I am sweating. I'm hitting each water station with a fury. I drank plenty on the bike but the sweat is pouring now that I'm running. I'm climbing the hills slowly but I'm still doing it. I'm running the whole way. That's all I can ask for. I am cheering people on, they are cheering me too. They all have wristbands (already did the first loop) I do not. I am going up and down these killer hills. They call it murder hill for a reason! I am tired, but that's to be expected but I feel as good as is to be expected of an overweight, middle-aged, mother of 2, doing a 1/2 iron man.

I'm coming to the second loop my husband and kids are there to cheer me on.

"Go Mommy Go!"

"Mommy you are winning the race!"

"Good job keep going!"

I am getting my bracelet and I'm off again squishing through the mud. I get a glass of water. I see Vicki and she sheers me on. There are people all over the place. They are in my way. I hear someone say, "runner coming through" and I get upset.

It bothers me when people figure the race is over just because they are done. It gets me down. I know people are basically self-centered. I know they are on a post triathlon high. I know they are patting themselves on the back for accomplishing something as wonderful and fantastic as completing a 1/2 iron man. But I don't like the total and complete disregard for slower racers. It makes me feel... less than. Like my fellow racers don't care. Which makes me sad.

I am now in a bad place mentally. I get around the corner and out of sight of Montauk Highway and I feel lonely. I am the only person on the road. I start to sob. This is something I didn't expect. Every one says that an endurance race is challenging physically and mentally. I always thought it was mental in the way that you say, "f'this I physically hurt I'm gonna quit. Then you dig down and say no, I'm finishing this." This is the first time I had ghosts.

Intense pain from the past surfaced. Feelings of loneliness and despair. Feelings of inadequacy. I am last, and alone, and doing battle with my own mind. There is no distraction there is just me the road with my demons. I have to stop to cry. It is nearly impossible to run and sob. You can't breathe, your chest constricts and it is painful. My hips and knees are killing me. I am walking, and crying, and hurting. I am just raw.

I keep saying to myself, "I love my kids, I love my husband, and they love me." over and over again. Tears running down my face. "I love my kids, I love my husband, and they love me. I love my kids, I love my husband, and they love me. I love my kids, I love my husband, and they love me." I feel myself getting stronger. I am back in this. Tears stop. I can breathe. I push my shoulders back, take some deep breaths, compose myself, open my stride and begin running again.

I turn the corner and there are a few runners finishing up. They are saying good job and I am smiling again. The grin is not as wide but it is there. I am shuffling up the hill. Steve rides by in his Prius and asked if I have seen anyone else out there. I say "no, just me" I am holding back tears but I think he takes my surly demeanor as physical pain. Which I have plenty of...

I am walking up the up hills and running the down hills. I keep thinking, "Why on earth do I do this to myself? I am like a battered wife going back to the beater because he is rich and handsome."

The course is beautiful. In the hills, I can see the water. The perfectly manicured Montauk homes are beautiful. Flowers and the leaves beginning to change create a cornucopia for the eyes. I am seeing like an artist again. In shapes, colors, light. I am feeling peaceful.

I think, "This is why I do it. This peace... I can't get this anywhere else." I go to church, I paint, I read, I write, I play, but I am not free from anxiety, unless I am mentally and physically exhausted. I find god in the Church of Triathlon.

I am running up in the hills all alone. I think, "I could cut out two blocks no one would know."

Then I said to myself "I'd know. I'd know I wasn't a 1/2 iron woman." then I said out loud, "You've done 68.5 miles you're going to get to 70.3 and do every inch!"

I run down the hill. I am on the last road. In the home stretch. I can't run. My hips. It's always my hips at the end of a race! I am walking. I say to myself, next telephone pole run. The pole comes I run two poles. I walk. Next pole run two, walk one.

I am so done with this race.

The sweep car comes up... you're last the course is about to be closed. You have less than 5 minutes and 1/2 mile to go. That's the pace I run when I'm not completely spent! I may not finish! I start jogging. I am trying like hell to get in. A race volunteer is running with me. I see my kids and my husband.

"Go Mommy Go!!!"

I turn the corner, I see Pete, Steve, Josie, Vicki, Christine, Valerie, all cheering me on at the finish. I'm high-fiving as I go. I run across the tape cross the finish line. I am a 1/2 iron woman.

The crew starts to take down the finish line. I am last. BUT I FINISHED.

Here's the kicker. I won my division!!! I was the only Athena to enter. First and last all in the same race. Go me.

Mighty Hampton — Sept 2009

2009-10-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

I know I'm late on this post. It was a good solid race. No crazy, weird bodily things happened, no flats, no insanity of any kind... so I don't know what to write about! I apologize now for boring you to tears.

Saturday the family and I went out to Southampton to pick up the race packet. It went quick without a hitch. Spent the evening eating pasta and went to be early. I told you BORING.

Sunday EARLY morning I got up at 3:15AM I was determined NOT to be late this year. I was on the road, in the dark by 4:15AM. I made it to the race site in Sag Harbor (one of the first) at 5:30AM. It was chilly and dark but the tri community was beginning to buzz and as usual people were excited and having lots of fun even though it was pre-dawn. I found myself chatting with my rack neighbors. They were two guys from NYC that came out to do the race. Both were worried about the swim but looking forward to the bike. I told them to "Say hi as you pass me on the bike. I'm gonna destroy you on the swim but my bike skills are more endurance this year than speed since I am training for the 1/2 in Montauk." They said they would and I laughed since it was still dark out and I couldn't make out their faces let alone what color their bikes were!

I was in the first wave, Elites and Athena's. Normally I would get to the front of the pack for the swim but since these are the people who make their living on Triathlon I figured I'd be wise to head to the back. Good choice. The Elites swam off and left me eating their wakes! The swim was a little rough. The wind picked up and there were some decent waves (for Noyak Bay). I was wearing my new goggles which were working out terrific until one big wave smacked me in the face and dislodged the suction on my goggles. The left eye began to fill with water. I tipped it to empty it and I must have loosened the strap because shortly after the right started to fill. Damn. It was annoying but not race threatening. I stopped and tread for a bit corrected the problem and started swimming again.

I had a good rhythm four strokes, spot, breathe. That rhythm puts me into a pseudo hypnotic state that makes it possible for me to banish the JAWS fears I have swimming in open water. Every time I go to the beach I think, "There are sharks in here, it's the Atlantic Ocean".

I think that EVERY SINGLE TIME I get in the water! And I go in almost everyday in the summer! I swear my parents should have been brought up on child abuse charges for allowing me to watch that movie on TV circa 1980. I still have mild panic attacks. I do however feel safer swimming in a large group... I guess it's the school fish mentality. — side note: I seriously need therapy.

I am swimming having fun until... I get a calf cramp! "HOLY CRAP THAT HURTS"

I spend the final 500 yards with my legs crossed cause that is the only way the pain isn't excruciating! I see the swim exit ramp.

I say to myself, "F-this I'm sprinting." I dig down and pass a few guys at the end. As I stand the pain in my leg disappears. Thank god cause that would have made the race unbearable. I run out and see my time 33min, MAN I wanted to beat 30min.

I run out and quickly see my bike. Since I was so early I have a sweet end-spot right next to the exit. No long clipitty-clop bike shoe run for me! Wetsuit off, helmet on, shoes on and go. I'm riding down CR60 and I'm feeling winded. "WTF? It's a flat, I'm in pseudo great shape, what's going on?"

As I make the turn right onto Noyak and head up hill it's getting worse. It was a really weird feeling. It wasn't like I ran hard and was sucking wind. It was like I was holding my breath and had a panicky feeling once the air started going in. "Is this exercise induced asthma?" Not cool.

I have to purposely think about my breathing "air goes in, air goes out" I am worried I'll start to hyperventilate. I guess I was taking shallow breaths cause the mindful breathing works. phew.

Just as I start getting it together a guy rides by and is like "Are you ok?"

I say "I'm fine, just slow." but then I think "Was I turning blue? Was I making weird noises?" Now I'm all self conscious. — side note: Yep, major therapy.

I am feeling better getting passed all over the place but I'm ok with it. I'm saving it for the run. Right before a major turn west one of the guys from the rack passes he says, "Hey is that you? You? Blue girls is that you?"

I'm thinking yes... who the hell are you? Then it dawns on me pre-dawn NYC dude.

"Hey, what's up!!! See you at the finish!!!!" That was cool.

I start heading up Great Hill. Don't let the name fool you. IT'S A FREAKING MOUNTAIN!!! or as close to a mountain you can find on Long Island. OK it's a hill. I really need to do some riding upstate cause my hill work is really kinda pathetic. But I rock it. For the one and only reason I rode, up and down, up and down, up and down, the hills off river road ALL summer. They are short but steep. It did the trick I was passing people on the hill. nice.

Next bunch of turns I am having a blast. Riding fast big round leg circles. I'm staying mid lane. I know, I know, you are supposed to stay right unless you are passing but HELLO I had three flats last year not doing that again eff the zipps pass on the right you get a flat. See there's one now, oh look there is another. Notice me, big blue, no flats here—suckas learn the course. Man, that wasn't nice. I almost fall. Ok karma. Next guy that has a flat I'll ask if they need help. Damn why such an immediate slapback. My mom used to say it was my guardian angel punishing me for my bad actions. T-H-E-R-A-P-Y spells therapy, you got it? Cause I need it.

As I come down the sweet hill back to CR60 I am riding SUPAfast. I have a need for speed. I FREAKING LOVE IT!!! 40mph on a one inch tire —pshaw— give me something scary. I am passing people all over the place. All I keep thinking is WOOOOOO I AM AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE!!!! Man I wish I had a parachute strapped to my back and I was going over a cliff. I wonder if my life insurance would pay out for death by bicycle base jumping? I may need to add a rider.

I come into transition and get on my shoes. I stand and wow, no jello legs. That is new. I stop at the porto cause, well, I'm a blond but I'm not an idiot.

I head off on my run. I feel good. 6.2 miles to go. I am not stressed at all. I'll run 11-12mm and be very, very, happy. People are passing me, but I don't care. I am not even remotely close to last so I'm completely cool. Heck, I'm even smiling. I've done this run a bunch of times. It's getting hot but I have a gel if I need it and there are plenty of water stops. I run down to the ferry make the left. I'm heading home 3.1 to go. I feel good. Real good. I suck my gel drink an energy drink... I get a little cocky... I pick up the pace just a skotoch. BIG MISTAKE. I turn the corner. I am in full sun and running hard then I get it the usual I'm about to have a baby pain. WHOA. Slow down. Where the hell did that come from?

I'm jogging slower, my hip-flexor says, "oh we're done? Stop."

AGAGAGAGAAAAAHGHHHHHH. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!!!!???? I stop to stretch I have right around one mile to go. This is so lame! I walk a bit loosen it up it seems to respond favorably and I start jogging like a 85 year old woman. So it really should be called shuffling. I shuffle down the road I can practically hear the creaking. I have absolutely no idea what happened but the pain stops. Just stops. I'm completely fine. I run hard to the finish. I beat out two dudes that were trying hard to pass me. (I go to the Dr. and she says it sounds like I had a hip spasm and I should lose more weight.) Thanks Dr. Obvious.

All in all, the race was really fun. I used it as a training day for Montauk. I'll write that one when I feel like reliving that hot mess of a race. ugh.

Mighty North Fork 2009 — July 12th 2009

2009-07-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

MNF

"They call me Jane, that's not my name" is the lyric on the radio at 4am the morning of the MNF. Crap, now I have that stuck in my head for the day at least the beat is up-tempo. I get out of bed put on my race gear, load up my bike and throw my pack into the truck. Where are my keys? There they are on the kitchen table with my sunglasses—clearly not needed now, pre-dawn and post-storm—and with an envelope. HUH? It's a card from my husband. Today is our legal anniversary. We've been officially married 6 years, he is so sweet.

I kiss him and the kids good-bye and drive out to the North Fork of Long Island, farm & wine country. The drive is easy a quick stop at 7-11 (I need my coffee—the last addiction—I am unwilling to give it up) and I'm off. I drive the back roads cause I like to do that. Give me a winding country road—with the possibility of hitting a deer, over a highway and the possibility of hitting a deer—any day. I get to the race site at 5:30 exactly. Plenty of time to set up. stretch, hydrate, watch the sunrise, socialize and pee.

I am there early, but not early enough to get the end of my rack. Darn. I set up somewhat toward the end, just 4 spots down. I finish laying out my towel with; sneakers, race belt, bike shoes, sunglasses, and helmet. I forgot my bucket to throw my wetsuit, cap and goggles into Damn, first race of the year, there is always something. I apply my body glide to all the important places; armpits, groin etc. No need for blisters today! I spot Mr. B. Just a few spots down. He's 70 and looks 45. There is something to be said about a dedicated triathlete. He tells me this is his last race. He's planning on winning his division and going out in a blaze of glory. I'm sad that he is going into retirement. He has won his division the past two years and I'm looking forward to the hat-trick, even if it is bittersweet.

The sun has risen and the pre-race buzz is in full effect. I hear from My left, "MO!" It's Mimi. She is here to cheer on her daughter Courtney. This is the 4th year we have done this race together. She kicks my ass every year but she passes me on the run a little farther each time. I'd love to get to mile 2 this year. She tells me this may be the last time she does the race. She's a serious marathoner and feels like she is wasting time training for the swim. Mimi has a great idea, she says we should do a relay in Montauk. I'd do the swim, she'd do the run, we just need a biker—I need to woo Jana. [Jana, oh Jana, wanna do a tri-relay? Montauk, October 2010 56 miles of windy, hilly, biking happiness... come on you'll love it!]

It is time to get into the water. Wetsuit and cap on. This is probably the most unattractive outfit I have ever worn—and I have been a bridesmaid like, 12 times. I see Vicki the race director. She is awesome. She's helping me to get a race in my town, hopefully fingers crossed, next August.

Gun sounds, wave one off. I really wish they let the chicks off first. It's so annoying to have to swim through all the slow dudes doing the backstroke. I get in the water and head straight toward the front of the pack. I haven't really practiced open water swimming this season with all the cold and the rain, so I'm just hoping for muscle memory. I'll be at the front of the swim definitely in the top 100 overall. I may seem over confident, but this is one area of the race I actually know something about. These people are runners trying to swim. I am a swimmer trying to run. I tread to the front.

Gun sounds, wave two off. I get a great start right out in front drafting another serious swimmer. Straight, in line with the first buoy, perfect. About 150 yards in... Here we go... slow dudes. They are so annoying! They try to swim fast, thrashing about, not wanting to be trounced by a couple of girls. See my blue cap dude... Not only am I a girl, I'm a fat chick. Blue means Athena baby! You are getting your ass kicked by a fat chick—booyah. (Of course they will pass me on the run but I won't share that right now... I'm enjoying my moment.)

250 yards, make the turn and head back to the transition. This is where being a swimmer really comes into play. The guys that went out fast are petering out. The chicks with little upper body strength are slowing down. My shoulders are just warming up. I am planting my hand and pulling myself through the water. Like a big blond rotating skiff I cut through the water. Feeling strong, wishing the swim was 500 yards longer. Alas it is over, out of the water and into transition.

I haven't really practiced transition. Ever. It's a new adventure every time I do it. I have gotten better, but I should be awesome by now. I could cut minutes from my time If I only spent the time to train on this... New goal, train transitions, not once, not twice, but get a rhythm. Create a routine get really good and fast at them. I could shave my time by minutes and not even have to run faster!

Wetsuit off, cap goggles off, helmet on, bikes shoes on (I'm pretty sure this is a huge flaw in my transition) clip clompitty clomp all the way to the bike mount. Since I am at the end of transition, this is a long clomp out and will be a long clomp in, on those bike clips. I mount my bike and ride. I haven't been training on my race bike. I've been riding hills and major miles with my beach cruiser. I know what you are thinking... WTF why would you do that!?! but hear me out. I have two kids. One entering kindergarten in the fall, the other entering pre-k. They are young but not small. 50 and 40 lbs respectively. My husband, did I mention he is brilliant, has invented this two-seater child seat that fits on the back of any bike. So I ride with an additional 90 lbs and only 7 gears. EVERYWHERE. My legs are strong. They also look great. I look like a fat woman on a Rockettes legs. Clearly time for a boob lift and tummy tuck but that is another story...

I am not only holding my own on the bike, I am passing people. Lots of people. Now and again a serious biker with Zipps zooms past but that is to be expected. I ride a 2005 Specialized. I am saying, "on your left" more than I am hearing, "on your left" and it feels great. When the day comes that I get my new Cervelo with Zipps, there is no freaking way I'll be passed on the bike leg. You can bet your bippy. What does that mean, and why is it in my vocabulary?

I come into the dismount, clippity clomp, clippitty clomp, I'm bringing my bike back to the FAR END of transition. People in the first few rows have a serious advantage! I have to ask Vicki how they stack the racks cause next year I want to be in row 1!

Bike racked, helmet off, socks soaked—going commando, sneakers on. Run. I run on the beach. This is the torturous part of this race.... hehehe I live at the beach, I run on the sand every day. Cake walk, pass two people, sweet. I get on the road run up a mild incline those two people pass me. Damn. I'm doing well, keeping a steady pace.

"They call me Jane, that's not my name" I am singing that one line over and over. Damn the Ting Tings for making such a catchy tune and singing in the Queens English so I can't figure out any of the other lyrics!

I am running and I feel a hand grab mine it's Mr. B. saying, "Come on, stay with me!"

I'm like "Dude, I run an 11 minute mile on a good day!"

The smart ass next to him says, "Doesn't it make you feel lame when a guy with a 70 written on his calf passes you?!" I refrain from flipping him the bird... I am, as always... a lady.

I pass mile 1. I look at my watch 10:37 WOW I am actually running fast! But I am thirsty. Very thirsty. The air is humid and thick. I am salty and I have an acute case of swimmers ear. (Which incidentally turns into a full blown case of swimmers ear and certain pitches make my ear feel like it is being jammed with an ice-pick... but that has nothing to do with this race.) I am feeling tired and thirsty but good. I see the water station in the distance then Courtney passes me. Mile 1.5 but still WAY better than last year. I stop for a sec and drink some water and HEED and go on my merry way.

I am getting tired. I'm like What is going on? I'm not sprinting, this isn't all that long then I think, OOOH I had coffee and a banana for breakfast. Clearly not enough fuel. I am developing blisters on both heels and my big toe. No socks will do that. I feel myself slowing but I make a conscious choice to push, blood or no blood. I pick my mark in the distance. The run/walker that clearly lifts LOTS of weights.

I say aloud, "I'm gonna kick your ass."

I go. Focused on him. I get close he runs pulls away. He walks, I step it up, he runs. I'm staying with him. He's not pulling away from me. Final mile. You're mine. We are coming down the incline and turn into the finish. I kick it. I pass him and raise my arms to break the tape. AWESOME!!!! He looks dejected in the photo. (If I didn't look like such a red-faced fat-ass I'd post it cause it's priceless—oh well, vanity wins again).

My time is 10 minutes faster than the first time I did this race. Nice, a little faster each year. Transition is still closed. This is new. Apparently I have finished before the last biker has entered transition. Cool. That used to be me.

I saunter over to the timing van for no other reason than I have water and a banana and nothing else to do. I look at my results.... WHA! I got the bronze? Seriously? So freaking cool! Now I am so pumped I'm telling anyone that will listen. "I got the bronze... 10 minutes faster... I am SO COOL." (I know, once you say you are "so cool" you're really an "über dork", but I don't care... I am cool in my mind, and that's all that matters in my reality.)

I wait for the awards ceremony. (I was planning to bolt and head to Brooklyn for my oldest and dearest friends baby shower BUT I PLACED!!! I'll have to be late. She's a kick-ass competitor too, she'll understand—and she did, I love you Stacy xoxo MUAH!)

As I am watching the age grouper get their awards starting with Mr. B. Yes, he got the gold in the 70+ age group AGAIN. I am approached by this very nice woman named Susie, "Shout out to Susie" —that's funny cause if you met me, I'm really not a "shout-out" kind of a girl, any more than I would yell HOLLA! (I'm more of a thank-you-by-snail-mail-on-my-monogrammed-stationary-that-I-designed-myself kind of a person) Anyways, Susie tells me she reads THIS BLOG! I am shocked! I didn't think that anyone outside my immediate friends and family would take the time! She tells me it came up right after the Event Power website on a google search for Mighty North Fork. Holy Crap! I start thinking of all my gross posts and now I'm embarrassed.

She said she commented on the blog. Now, I had NO IDEA that people could comment or interact at all. So I've just read my comments today.

"Hey there blog readers!"

OK, just an FYI... I'm so not replying to comments—not because I don't care, but because I am a middle-aged wife, mother, business owner, community leader and triathlete... and I'm tired plus I kinda don't feel like figuring out how to reply... techno-lazy wins!

Alright back to the awards ceremony. Vicki reads off my name and Josie and Valerie (I just met them at a Smith Point shin-dig) give me the award. I get my picture taken with the gold and the silver medalist—who just came back from hip surgery. Can we say WOW what an awesome awe-inspiring chick!

I get a hello from Steve over the mic. I am a special shade of crimson since everyone turned and looked at me. I say good-bye to Susie her husband, Chris, Pete and meet Vicki's mom—super sweet lady—I say goodbye to Vicki and Steve... with Mr. B, Courtney and Mimi it feels like a big family.

I love this race. It's such a good time. Next year, hopefully all my big talking family members sign up AND actually do it with me!!! Gauntlet thrown.

Shelter Island 10K — June 20th

2009-07-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, Ok, I'm late on this one. I've started training for the Mighty Man 70.3 in Montauk. I REALLY have no time now!

Shelter Island 10K
Thank god the race starts at 5:30 cause I find myself at a preschool pool party at 1pm. Fueling up on Hot Dogs, Doritos and Gatorade. I realize I really have to overhaul my diet. I plan to ignore the fact that I am running the Shelter Island 10K in a few short hours and grab a handful of Cheetos. Chatting with the other pre-k moms saying things like, "oh yeah it's a 10K... no big deal... I'm training for a 1/2 iron man... I just had a fever, broke two days ago... no I'm fine to run..." I'm clearly delusional.

3:30 comes and goes and we are still playing pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey —indoors— cause the sky has turned a dismal shade of dark grey and the ark is beginning to float. I turn to my husband and say we have to go NOW if I'm gonna make this race.

We gather up the loot from the goodie bags and get the kids in the car. Kicking and screaming "I want to stay and do the pinata!"

I find myself saying, "yeah, yeah whatever." I have officially turned into my mother.

We race home to get our stuff and the dog and I have to get changed into my race gear. I grab a bunch of water bottles and get in the car. I am now hydrating.

We're off. Dog, Kids, Husband, Self, off to Shelter Island before the race start. It's now 4pm. Traditionally, Shelter Island is 1:30 away. Not today! I am thinking, I am the reincarnation of Mario Andretti. Is he dead? Not sure. Gonna have to google that one. Weaving in and out of Range Rovers and Beemers through Westhampton, Shinnecock, Noyak and Bridgehampton. With my—hasn't been washed since the last snowfall ford F-150 with the big-assed 4ft wide AntiHamptons.com bumper sticker on the back. hehe. When did this country club girl turn red-neck?

Vroom I pull into the South Ferry—thankfully all the other races have taken the North Ferry or had the foresight to get to the start early—the line is nil. We cross the channel and we are on Shelter Island! 5:05 sweet! We race (36 mph) to the school and I run in and get my pack.

Crap. I was supposed to meet Delli here at 4. Ooops, I suck. So I wander around screaming at the top of my lungs "DELLI!"... "DELLI!"... "DELLI!". The racers are lining up I position myself at the 7 minute mile sign "DELLI!" everyone is looking at me. BFD. I'm looking for a tall, white, middle-aged lawyer on Shelter Island at the 10K—needle in a haystack. I realize he's looking for a tall blond with a pony tail. I start laughing hysterically. Now everyone is walking away from me. Crazy woman has snapped.

The race begins.

I'm running nicely. Having fun. Chatting with people, wishing them luck as they pass me. Waving to the spectators. We pass the B— art gallery... someone is smoking. ARE YOU F'ING KIDDING ME! 1. It's a running race! We need oxygen not nicotine—you douche. AND 2. Who the F smokes anymore. It's SOOOO 90s. Smoking went out with grunge the day Kurt Cobain died... I digress.

Right, I was running. I run past the Whales Tale SOMEONE ELSE IS SMOKING!!!! You selfish s.o.b... This guy even looks like a selfish s.o.b. He's that guy. You know the kind of guy. Drives-a-Ferrari-send-his-steak-back-clearly-has-never-satisfied-a-woman kind of a TOOL... I digress... sorry.

Ok I was running. Now I was warned about the Shelter Island hills. I try to spend as much time as possible there so I know the suckers are no joke. I am prepared. Many a week on the treadmill at 12% grade. I can take a hill. But wait... DOWNHILL. Haven't practiced that. HELLO QUADRICEPS!!!! This should be fun.

In my infinite wisdom (as anyone who has read this blog—knows I am chock full of). I wore running pants and a sweat wicking t-shirt. Now I know what you are thinking, SO... BFD that's what you are supposed to wear. I, the genius that my IQ "says" I am. Decided to wear fleece running pants. Now in my defense, it was very chilly when the sky opened up at 3:45 when I picked out this ensemble. But now the storm has sort-of passed and behind it is a humid sticky thickness that doesn't exactly work well... while running... with fleece.

I am hot.

Sweat is dripping. I feel like that gross Gatorade commercial. I think the color of my skin must be Cheetos orange. Ewh. I swear salads only... for like a week... maybe a day... at least the day of my next race.

Over the next hill there is Jim Dougherty the Supervisor of Shelter Island with a hose. I've seen his picture in the paper. I feel like I can call him Jim. "Hey Jim can I get a squirt?" He squeezes the trigger and I'm thinking nice mist get this orange cheetos goo off of me, cool me down. Nope, he squirts me square in the face with a full blast of water! It was like a power washer! It is so forceful that it dislodges the ipod earbuds from my right ear! ipod is dead! I have water in my ear! I'm gonna get swimmers ear! Welcome to Shelter Island!!!!! If I see you at Wades Beach JIM you're so getting dunked.

I'm now dripping wet in my fleece pants. Great.

Here's my first big downhill. I am tall and heavy so I use gravity to my full advantage. I am pretty much just trying not to fall. I'm am flying down this hill! I pass Paard Hill Horse Farm. Is that Dan Ratiner of Dan's Papers? Would this be a bad time to pick his brain what he thinks of AntiHamptons.com and BetweenThePorts.com? I decide the crazy lady in the wet fleece pants look isn't going to make the best impression. I keep running.

I no longer have my ipod so I have to amuse myself which usually isn't all that hard. I am running nicely I have hit two splits and I am a solid 11 minute mile. I pass this guy on an uphill and he is groaning. I'm like, whoa dude, just walk for a minute. A mile passes he's still right behind me. Groaning. Not in a oh-I'm-in-so-much-pain sort of a way. He's groaning in an Oh Face from Office Space sort of a way. "Ohh OHHH OHHHH mmmmm ohhh OHHHH ohhh MMMM oHHHHH" I am laughing so hard it is interfering with my breathing. This guy is killing me. I notice he gets louder when young girls in hot pants run by. He's starting to really creep me out. I decide to step it up to get away from Mr. Ohface.

Running through Dering Harbor is really fun there are tons of spectators on their rolling lawns with beers at the ready for anyone passing. Makes me think of a Hash Run. I smile. Never got to do one of those.

Running this coastal route around Shelter Island is so unbelievably beautiful. To my right are the most pristine waters with the most amazing sailboats. I am now shamelessly asking... Anyone that lives on Shelter Island and does not have an heir. Please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to be willed your Shelter Island real-estate or sailboat. I'm a really nice person, mostly a really nice person, well, my husband is a really nice person and my kids are awesome. We'd be the perfect family to leave your estate. That being said, I really love Shelter Island.

ok, ok, ok, that's not a race report. geesh I'm such a suck-up even to a fictitious sugar daddy! Shameless.

OK!

I am running up to route 114. Not far now. maybe a bit over a mile to the finish. I'm tired and hot but I feel good. No weird —or for me, normal— bodily function issues. I get some water the road is flat. I feel good. I take the corner onto the last hill up Midway. This one is a sucker. It is a low grade but it goes on what seems like forever! But I knew it was coming. I drafted a lady in pink for the first half. When I got to the cub scouts at the last water station they were screaming wet or drink wet or drink. These little bug-a-boos were DYING to drench some one. How could I disappoint. WET ME!!! All the boys threw their glasses of water at me. They thought it was awesome. A few went back for more and chased me up the hill! How could I deny those little peanuts. Right after the cub scouts I passed the lady in pink and pushed hard up to the top of the hill.

I made the left onto Bateman and the right into Fiske Field it was muddy and the 5k finishers were lazily sauntering to their finish line. I nearly toppled an old woman with a cane! "Hey grandma get outta my way!" oops I should be nicer... she might will me her house! "Good job! We rule yeahhhh!" clap clap. (side note: My husband is a really good person and he's raising the kids so they have a shot at being good too.) LOOK THERE THEY ARE!!!!

"Go Mommy Go!!!!" I love that sound. I round the bases and there is the finish line. WOO HOO 1:13 better than the 1:15 I was shooting for. Cool. I get a water and a banana. The skies open up and it begins to rain. Sweet. Let's get to Uncle Joes for a shower.

LI 1/2 Marathon

2009-05-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Waking up at 5:30am is never fun for me. BUT this was the morning of the LI half marathon. I've been running on a treadmill at a 12° incline just so I can handle the hills for weeks and weeks, today is it.

I eat my peanut butter on whole wheat, banana and drink my water. I drive to Uniondale. I am meeting Rachael at Eisenhower Park.

We say, "meet in the parking lot at say 7ish."

I don't own a cell so we are winging it. After I get there I realize that Eisenhower Park has MULTIPLE parking lots and there is no way I am going to find her. I have her race number and chip and she is going to be s#!t out of luck if she doesn't find me. I pull right in front of a bathroom and low-and-behold she's already on line. We both can not believe we found each other, cause we both didn't follow the official race directions. We both parked in the Aquatic Center lot instead of the lot at the finish line. Coincidence or sisterly ESP, you decide.

We walk to the start and miraculously we find Jen. She's just hanging out at the start and we literally walk into each other. Coincidence or best-friend ESP—either way Rachael is creeping me out.

We stretch. It is still grey and a nice temp for a run. The bane of my existence, helicopters, (I live en route between NYC and the Southampton Heliport) are flying overhead. The American flag as big as my house is being held between two fire trucks—I'm not focused on the race, I'm taking notes for the tri I'm chairing!

The gun sounds. I think, "Did they get a helicopter? Damn, maybe next time."

We're off down Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Rachael is nice enough to stay with me for, oh lets say, .0125 of a mile, then she leaves me in the dust.

I'm running a nice pace. Not so hard that I shoot my—you know what. Not so slow that I can do cartwheels at the finish. My heart rate says 85%... perfect. Mile 1, 11 min mile on the dot.

I think, "That's to fast, there is no way I'll be able to do that the whole way."

Then of course, I have to pee. "Come on! Mile 2, are you kidding me? I've been doing super kegals since like January!"

Luckily there is a bathroom right by the Coliseum. I stop, look for a bathroom with toilet paper. Of course there isn't one. Luckily this woman (spectator) sees me and gives me a Kleenex. Bless her.

All I keep thinking is, "I swear, if I get swine flu from a Porto Potty at the LI Marathon someone is gonna get b!t¢h slapped."

I get some Purell and I'm off... Then the rain starts. Sweet.

I run over the Meadowbrook Pkwy and run up beside the park —mmmm the sweet smell of AmerRefuel in the distance. This should be good for my lungs.

I'm doing well, passing people. I'm enjoying the scenery of Eisenhower Park to my right. Don't look left, nothing but chain restaurants as far as the eye can see. I realize I haven't been in these parts in like... I dunno, 20 years. We turn the corner around the park and there is Holy Rood Cemetery

Ohhhh I've been here, in 1995 when Grandpa died, "Hi Grandpa, Hi Grandma, Hi Lenore Joan, give me strength to finish this race." I run by thinking, "It really is a pretty cemetery to bad they get to look at a KFC." I'm very happy with my decision to be cremated. The things I think of running. No wonder it's my therapy.

We turn the corner 10K to the right, Marathon and 1/2 marathon to the left. Last chance to wuss out... I go left. Alright, I'm in this for the whole she-bang. We run up into Westbury on Post Road. Wow this place has really had a face-lift. New signage, New lamps. Maybe there is hope for Neighborhood Road. We go over the Northern State Parkway. I decide there, that I will run every hill no matter what. I am passing people left and right. Nice.

We turn right onto Jericho Turnpike even though the whole road is closed, I feel the need to run on the white line. I am passing the 10K point. Just as far forward as back, really at the point of no return. Still feeling good even though, at this point, it is raining so hard that my baseball cap is dripping into my line of sight and annoying me.

All of a sudden my left IT band is like, "HELLO! ENOUGH! I'VE HAD IT WITH THE COLD THE RAIN THE RUNNING I'M DONE." I stop suddenly and stretch. Holy crap that hurt.

I explain to the muscle that, "We are past the halfway point and we just have to keep going."

It laughs at me.

So I resort to bribery. "I promise, two days off and a massage."

IT band says,"two massages and three days off, then just swimming for a week." We shake on it. I'm running again. Gingerly.

At the next water station I stop and drink Gatorade. I lost my Gu and I need carbs or I'll be cramping in more places. The Gatorade helps. I run again. I'm feeling really good. Really good. I'm running to the Black Eyed Peas having fun. Goofing around, seeing if I can run between the yellow lines, waving to spectators. As I begin the ramp onto the Wantagh. Then... (Please stop reading if you are squeamish—seriously go to the next paragraph. I'll leave a marker where you can begin again. I'm serious. Dude serious—like a heart-attack. Can't say I didn't warn you.)

All of a sudden I have to poo. I mean, I REALLY have to poo. I have to walk or I'm gonna $#!t my pants. Fu¢k!ng Gatorade. I don't have a change of clothes so that ride home would be HORRIBLE. I walk up the ramp completely prairie-dogging. Thank the lord and all the angels above, clearly I haven't pissed them off this week—there is a Porto John behind some construction trucks. I open the door. OH MY GOD. If I didn't get swine flu at the last one I'm certainly going to get it here. But again, heaven smiles upon me, there is toilet paper. A few pounds lighter, I'm off again.

OK, YOU CAN READ AGAIN

I run on the Wantagh. It's completely flat and smooth. I am really enjoying myself again. Then I see it. The hill. Lapdance by N.E.R.D. simultaneously comes on my iPod. I squint my eyes and say to myself. "I'm gonna make this hill my b!t¢h."

I run up this bugger. Everyone is walking. I am trouncing them. My adrenaline surges and I dig in deeper and run faster. By the end, I'm sprinting to the top of this hill like there is a wildfire behind me and If I don't make it I'm toast.

"Take that you sorry excuse for a hill WOOOOOOOO!!!!! go mo-o, you ruu-le, it's like your birthday" I cabbage-patched in my mind the whole downhill.

The second turn-off 1/2 marathon goes right, marathon left, awesome! Next water station nothing but a 5k left. Piece of cake right? HAHAHAHA no.

Here's where I start to feel uncomfortable. Like I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy and the baby just flipped into position. Not enough to stop me from running but certainly enough to get ALL OF MY ATTENTION.

I am running with a small group of women so of course I blurt out, "Does anyone one else feel like they are pregnant right now?"

This chick in a red tee says, "Oh my god yes! I though there was something seriously wrong with me!"

Chick in the black tank says, "It's like two days before the baby comes that pressure..."

We bond.

2 miles to go. This woman in a Team in Training tank with a pink tee underneath passes me. She's my mark. I've been passing her, she's been passing me, since the start back and forth. She was the one I picked to race in the final stretch. I say good-bye to the mommy pack and chase her down. We start running together. She runs a bit faster, so I have to. I run a bit faster, so she does too. We get to chatting through quick breaths It's nice to have some company. My hips are now screaming at me. Then the knees start in. Her coach comes out to see her. He gives her a pep talk. It was nice.

We are coming into the final 3/4 mile, I see Rachael. I wave ask how she did, she tells me to finish. I realize I am not running fast enough if I can hold this conversation. I step it up. At the 1/4 mile mark this old lady passes us.

"HOLY CRAP I passed her at mile 3 and figured I dusted her. She never passed me where the hell did she come from?" I must have been her mark.

All three of us are sprinting to the finish. The old lady is winning. WTF! I have no more to give. The hips give me the finger and say, "push us harder and we'll make you fall." We finish one, two, three, I thought I was second, but turns out I was third by 1 one-hundredth of a second. I hate that.

I get my swag and go find Rachael. It's miserable out. Cold, raining, muddy I don't have the usual post-race euphoria. I hurt and I just want to get the hell out of there. On our way out I see the Purple Tent that I told Mac I'd drop in to say hi. We stop for a second. Seriously, we say "Hi mac, how'd you do? Talk on Facebook, bye. (Sorry so quick Mac... but hypothermia, you understand)

Rachael and I realize we have NO IDEA where our cars are. Since we don't read directions, we weren't at the parking lot at the finish-line. We ask some cops where Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Road connect since that's where we parked—kinda. Each cop we ask send us in another vague direction. We wander around the park for a good 20 minutes before we find our cars. We get to the lot and Rach gives me a tee since I have no clothes to change into. I swear, everyday it surprises me that I have lived to 36. There is never a plan and everything always works out just fine. Maybe that's cause everyone I know is a boy-scout—always prepared—even my sister.

We say our good-byes and I drive all the way from Uniondale to Mastic Beach in the pouring rain with lycra pants sauseeged into Rachael's size 1 tee. I turn down Neighborhood road and pass Mommylou's Cheesecake I momentarily think "Is it illegal to walk into my neighborhood cake store in this outfit?" Mind you I was gonna wear the medal and mylar blanket they gave us.

Prospect Park Duathlon

2009-03-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

The first race of the season. It was a decent race. The folks over at City Tri and Slope Sports did a bang up job as usual. The start of this race is at the Prospect Park Carousel, zoo and the Old Lefferts House (three Brooklyn landmarks you shouldn't miss). It was a frigid 34 degrees at 7am and by the time I had my bike set up I couldn't feel my toes. There were lots of guys in nothing but spandex and compression socks with blue lips and chattering teeth. I was like, "dudes get some body fat" but they didn't find me funny. My snarky comments didnt go over well. Shocker.

The start of the race was good lots of blaring music and a nice bunch of people set up correctly. I of-course started at the back of the pack since I seriously think I can skip faster than I can run. The first 3.5 miles were nice. Through the rolling uneven paths of Prospect Park. Under bridges, through dog parks, around ponds and beside waterfalls. That Olmstead guy knew what he was doing.

I felt good. I was with a pack of slow-pokes which is rare, usually I am watching them run ahead of me. This was a treat to be able to gasp some sort of a tarzan speech at fellow runners.

"Mo run slow, you run slow too?"

I did the first run in 35:04 spot on for beating my goal of 2 hours. Then I come into the transition.

I think, "HEY THERE ARE BIKES HERE — WOW I'M NOT LAST!"

I get a surge of adrenaline, I may not finish last!!!!! I start up the big hill. I'm a bit nervous since I haven't ridden outside yet this year because of the cold. I put my head down and pedal using nice round strokes. All of a sudden I'm at the top.

"HUH, I'm not sucking wind. That wasn't too bad." The rest of the park circle is nice ups and downs until the big downhill on the othe rside of the park. Its awesome. I'm flying and passing people left and right. My bike computer broke but I'd say I was pushing 30mph. Sweet. I do this three times. I'm passing people. Lots of people and I really didnt push to hard. I wanted to save my legs for the last run. I fisnished the bike in 43:46. Slow, but not horrible. More miles will mean more speed.

As some of you remember I ran the "special" run with my helmet last year I was determined NOT to do that again. Although when rode in at 7am and I walked off to pick up my race pack, I had the helmet on. Jana—who was doing the race with me— was like, "uh mo, your helmet... freakin' spaz." I had to laugh.

So this year I came into transition TOOK OFF MY HELMET FIRST. Good thinking right? Changed my shoes, stripped out of the fleece into my running gear. Pink and black spandex stretching over a belly that looks like it gave birth to a nice year old. I was HOT.

I start the second run doing well I am psyched that I passed so many people on the bike. That feeling of elation soon passes as ALL those people pass me on the run. The part that really bums me out is the run is an out and back and people that I eyed up at the start.

"I can beat THAT guy. You know the one... with the beer belly, doing espresso shooters, smoking a cigarette, wearing balck spandex with a male camel-toe"

Uh nope. He's the home stretch and I am still on the way out. Damn.

But I'm having fun. No need for a potty break — thank you super kegels. Compared to last year this was a breeze. I guess running all winter and not drinking actually paid off. Cause I finish the seconde run in 40:38 not to bad considering last year I ran 17 minute miles.

I come round the corner and hear the music blaring the crowd is cheering and my kids are so close to the finish-line that Arik nearly trips me. The usual chant GO MOMMY GO is being heard and I feel great. Like I could go some more. Absolutley no feeling of the urge to vomit. Nice. I must be getting in shape!

I finish the race in 1:59:28 UNDER MY GOAL OF 2 HOURS!!! Ok it was only 32 seconds under BUT I beat my time from last year by TWENTY-SEVEN minutes!!! very cool. After party nice the guy at city tris mom made oatmeal for 300 people. And I finished before they started the awards ceremony. How cool is that?

Next race is the LI 1/2 marathon May 3rd. I'm actually looking forward to it.

BananaMan or IronMan

2009-02-23T16:59:00.001-08:00

A friend once said this to me about abusing my body — even moderately. He was at a bar sober. He had a conversation with one guy who was an IronMan, he too was drinking soda. On the other side of the bar was another man stupid drunk acting out fellatio on a banana. My friend thought to himself, "Do I want to be an IronMan or a BananaMan?"

This saying has stuck with me... I vow to be an Iron(wo)Man.

The First Ever, Go Mommy Go 1/2 Marathon

2009-01-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

We'll it's 2009 and I did it, I ran 13.1 miles. I signed up for the Blue Point Brewery race for Dec 27th but it was canceled due to lack of participants. Since I trained for 3 months for the run, I decided to run my own race. I plotted a course through beautiful Mastic Beach. 4 loops past my house so I could have water/potty breaks. (Smart thinking huh). I planned on running on New Years Day BUT it snowed and was 20 degrees. Sooo I postponed the race to the 3rd when it would be a positively balmy 34 degrees. I have a small head cold, but nothing too terrible to stop me from racing.

Race starts out perfect. Hat, check. Gloves, check. iPod, check. Warm running outfit with fleece, check. Heart monitor, check. RoadID, check. I'm off. Nice day, warm considering, black ice only in the shadows. Feeling good.

First 5K is a breeze. The sun is shining, very little wind, it is a beautiful day for a run. My friends Tim and Nancy drive by. Big waves. I'm feeling great. I get back to the house and Shawn has made a sign that says, "GO MOMMY GO! WIN THAT RACE!" it is clamped to the fence—too cute. I did the first loop in 41 minutes at 75% HR which is perfect. My goal is to finish the whole race around 3 hours 15 minutes with a pace of 14 minute miles. The first loop was around 13 minute miles... nice.

Second 5K is just like the first. I am feeling good, running on the balls of my feet, chest up, looking forward, using my arms for momentum, leg turnover is excellent. My music is bouncy and I am having a great time. As I came to the end of the second loop I am feeling fantastic, endorphins are kicking in. I get it done in 41 minutes, perfect! I kinda wanted to skip the water but it is freezing so I stopped for a few minutes. I had an extra glass of water. Not smart... you'll see...

Third 5K starts out OK, but the wind is picking up. Anyone who lives near the beach knows that once the sun passes center sky the winds pick up and make for a nice afternoon breeze in the summertime. BUT THIS IS JANUARY these winds were straight out of Canada I am freezing my face off. I get to the halfway point of my third loop and OH MY GOD I have to pee. It wasn't the "oh I have to pee in a sec" kind of a feeling it was the "HOLY SHITE I've had two kids and if I sneeze I'm going to be soaked" kind of sensation. (SIDE NOTE: Anyone thinking of having children, I have two words: SURROGATE or C-SECTION. Trust me, you're lady parts will thank you later) Soooo anyhoo, I kick it into high gear and run my ass off home. I make it back in 41 minutes, wow I'm making time like a real runner! I put on an extra fleece and head back out.

Last loop. Now it's positively freezing. There is black ice everywhere and my quads are yelling at me. Not to mention I started to have a very annoying pain in my foot—and to make matters worse—the battery on my iPod dies. Crap. Now I can hear that ever-so-slight wheezing in my chest. That can't be good. Now, I have never experienced "the wall" and I don't think I hit it here either, but I have to walk a bit. My legs are jello and all I want to do is turn around and head home. It's really difficult to keep my spirits up. It's so cold my butt is numb. I start with my usual race mantra "I do not give up" over and over again. Until I am running. I pass the half point same distance either way— I'm heading home! I run past every annoying dog in creation. (I didn't notice them when I had my iPod.) I am jumping over the trail of snot rockets I have left along the course in the preceding loops. Gross. But there it is! Elm Street! The last road! I can see my street! My stop sign! I'm in the final stretch! I turn the corner, I see the sign Shawn made for me! Hey, there's Tim driving by again, he must think I'm crazy... I'm still running, big waves! OH MY GOD I HAVE TO PEE and I may not make it! SHITE SHITE SHITE! Kegels don't fail me now.

I hear the faint sound of children chanting "Go mommy go" I love that! I get to the fence, Arik & Nora present me with a "gold medal" construction paper with foam animal stickers and red Christmas ribbon. It says, "First Place in the Go Mommy Go 1/2 Marathon - 13.1 miles" It is the best medal ever. I'm going to have it framed. I run inside and take a super long hot shower to help alleviate the slight case of hypotheremia. I finish the race in 2 hours and 50 minutes running 13 minute miles. 25 minutes faster than my goal.

I said to a few people that if I ran the 1/2 marathon in under 3 hours I'd sign up for the MightyMan 1/2 Iron man in Montauk. I am officially crazy—I did it—I signed up. Training begins January 5th. Base building until July then full-fledged 1/2 Iron man—boobs to the wall—training.

I must be out of my mind.

I'm reading my 2008 Blog

2008-09-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is hands down the suckiest of sucky tri-seasons. What the fuck!!!!! Check back next year for a “Holy shit I kicked ass” tri season. Cause all I can do is better, right! WTF!!!!

2008 Mighty Hamptons Olympic Distance Triathlon

2008-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

The weekend started well. I drove out with the family saturday and picked up my Mighty Hampton race pack in Southampton. We crossed the ferry to Shelter Island and stayed at my Uncle's place since the race is Sag Harbor and Shelter Island is way closer than Mastic Beach. Saturday night I ate pasta, drank much water and electrolyte drink, went to bed early. The alarms (multiple) were set for 5 am so I could catch the 5:40 ferry to Sag Harbor. I awoke at 4:40 and just decided to get up get ready and go. Which was a good decision. I didn't get out of the house until 5:15. Now since we only have one car and the family would be joining me at the race finish I had to bike to the ferry. Not usually a big deal it's only 10 miles to the race start (it's a good warm-up). I opened the garage door and low and behold it was dark. I know, I know you say duh its 5:15 am in September but I figured the moon is high I'll be ok. But at 5:15 am it was POURING! No moon, no stars and it's Shelter Island so no street lights. I get my stuff and start biking blindly into the rain and dark. Whistling as I go to keep the Shelter Island scourge (white tailed deer) from running into me as I bike down the deserted streets. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to the ferry. And I just miss the 5:40 ferry. I have to wait until 6am for the next ferry (they run every twenty minutes off season and at that hour).

I get the ferry cross over and I have 3 miles to the race site. BUT I HAVE TO BE THERE BY 6:25 am since I am in the first wave out. I have to haul ass. I get to the site just as the National Anthem is being sung. I set up my stuff in record time. Get in my wet suit as I run to the swim and just make it to the start with 15 seconds to spare. My swim was good. I did 33 minutes for a mile which is about my average. I wasn't going full force cause I wanted to save energy for the run where I need all the help I can get. I did zig-zag a bit, not to bad, but enough to add a few minutes. It poured while I swam. Which I love. It's really cool to have pelting rain hit your back and bounce off the water all around you as you are soaked in the water. You get that I'm caught in the rain feeling but you tell yourself, "it doesn't matter, I'm swimming" it's surreal.

I get out of the water and run to my bike which is soaked, my bike shoes are soaked, my helmet is soaked. Thankfully I had the foresight to bring a garbage bag so my socks and sneakers are both toasty warm and dry. I head out on the bike. I've done the course before so I know the first half is really hilly. Uphill hilly. So I am queen of the gears keeping my cadence even. Using my hamstrings and saving my quads. I do well averaging 13 mph. I can't wait for the second half which is flat with a big fast 30+ mph downhill to the transition. I am doing well. Only guys with Zipp wheels are passing me. Looking at my time I should get this sucker done around an hour maybe an hour ten. I'm feeling strong. I'm coming up to mile 15 all flat and downhill from here, cool now I can get some serious speed... I hear a hiss... $hit what is that... I take a turn, my brakes feel weird... I climb the last hill and wa wa wa wa $HIT a flat. I stop, fix it in 30 minutes, I say, "ok whatever my bike time is, I'll just subtract the 30 min and I'll know how I did. Flats happen."... I'm off again 2 miles later hisssss... FU¢K are you kidding me!!!! I stop fix the flat again and I find the culprit. A tiny itty bitty sliver of quartz has punctured my tire and has pierced the tube. Now, I am out of gear. No air, no tubes. I'm walking. I feel blisters forming on he bottoms of my feet. Rain and asphalt definitely a combination for blisters.

This awesome woman stops gives me her spare tube and a co2 cartridge. I ride again! I get maybe another mile and BAM tire pops. Must have over inflated. COME ON! — I'm screwed. I walk a few miles. Crying, cause well... I've been training for this sucker since February and all I seem to get this year are setbacks. Shingles, bronchitis, pulled muscles, twisted ankle, hurt knee, broken toe waaa poor me.... I finish my little pity party and decide I'll walk back and do the run what else can I do... QUIT? I don't think so.

I get down the road another mile and there is a policeman directing traffic keeping the racers safe. I ask the fastest way back to the transition area. He says it's 10 miles away. I am a bit crestfallen and I start to walk. He sees me shivering and says, "Miss I cannot allow you to walk. If you get hypothermia and die it will be on my conscience." So he escorts me to the patrol car. Now I'm thinking "Wow... for the past 35 years, all the stupid things I've done, I've never been in the back of one of these." and it actually surprises me.

The officer calls the race officials and they have a sweep van come and pick up all the stranded bikers. There are three of us. We follow the last biker into transition and there we are. I'm like F-it I'm running. The other two say I'm crazy and bring their bike to their cars. I get to my transition spot put on my dry shoes and go. I am last. Dead last. So last, they have a biker go with me to insure my safety. After a brief bathroom break (what, am I gonna lose my position) I'm running. Slow, cause thats the only speed I run. But I run. The whole thing. Every time I feel like walking I think of all the soldiers that come back from Iraq and have to do physical therapy blind. Or all the kids that play around land mines and have to go on living without a limb. They can do it. I can run. What sort of a douche-bag would I be to complain about a run. One that I signed up for! When there is real suffering out there. (I just watched the documentary Nobelity about a bunch of Nobel Peace Prize winners puts stuff into perspective.) ANYWAY... the whole time I was chanting my mantra, "I DO NOT GIVE UP. I DO NOT GIVE UP. I DO NOT GIVE UP." One hour and fifteen minutes later I crossed the finish line. (15 minutes faster than I thought I'd do) To a cheering crowd. My kids were the loudest "GO MOMMY GO" and my friends holding the tape. I get the last participant medal and beeline to the water. I am hot, sweaty, grease and sand covered, I have black goo in my fingernails, my race suit has black hand print smudges all over it and my hair is falling out of my braids. But I feel like a million bucks.

All-in-all. it was a crappy race. I finished with a whopping time of 4:51:51. BUT I FINISHED.
Swim time: 33:58 206 place overall .
T1:3:06
Bike time not recorded
T2: not recorded
Run: 1:19:15 (but I had a pee break)
Run place: 764
Overall time: 4:51:51
Overall place 779 out of 779 finishers
I'm guessing I would've finished around 3:15:00 which would've put me in 3rd of my division. 580 overall.

1000 signed up for the race so I beat 221 wusses.

Once again, I reminded myself I can do anything if I set my mind to it.
One whole year to train.
Next year I'll kick A$$.

2008 Tobay-Pigman Sprint Tri

2008-08-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of swearing and some gross (bodily function) parts to this recap. Delete now if you are easily offended.

It all went pear shaped the night before and I never recovered. I know this sounds like this is a list of excuses... well maybe it is. It's all my fault and I take full responsibility for my crappy time. 1:43:00 ridiculous.

I didn't hydrate enough sooo I'm an idiot. I couldn't fall a sleep because I was so excited for the race. I didnt get to sleep before 12. Woke up 4 am packed car and left I didn't eat enough just a peanut butter sandwich and a banana again, idiot. 6:15 Get to race. Get my period. sweet, week early. Only have slenders in bag this should be interesting.

8:30 I'm in the next wave, I'm hungry. shite no GU, I'm Fk'ed. Got in water swam 400 yards new goggles fill up. peachy.

I go into transition 1 I'm right by the mount so I am pretty psyched that I don't have to run in those shoes. I mount my bike and this doofus cuts me off and mounts in front of me. Then he gets a leg cramp! Instead of pulling aside dealing with his leg cramp. He's all over the place shaking his leg keeping everyone from pa$$ing him. a$$. I finally get around him and I'm doing ok keeping about 18mph then I get to the killer hill. I down shift and these jacka$$es are all swerving. I'm screaming, "on your left" but it matters not.

I'm climbing the hill. It's brutal. People are walking, and this... tool... is going so slow she can't balance and she hits me! I fall and I'm mid f'ing hill! So I try to get back on and the chain slips... futile. So I grab my bike and walk to the top of the hill. (I wish I could say I carried my bike and ran but... no. walked in bike shoes slipping and swearing the whole way) Fix chain and now I'm greasy and pissed. I bike like a freaking animal getting to 38 mph on my downhill. But wait! Another wad of jacka$$es biking 3 across seem to be chatting like they are on a leisurely ride to the beach, car coming in other lane, I have to slow. I get around them, car pulls out of driveway in front of me and stops at stop sign... I'm assuming... to ask cop "what's going on with all the bikers?" I slam on brakes cursing the whole way.

I get to transition 2 and I usually pull my feet out of shoes and run barefoot. Toe says "uh, I don't think so" (I broke my toe on Monday) so I run in bike shoes slipping all over the place. I get on my sneakers and get running. Straight uphill 2 miles. Can't wait. (sarcasm) I'm doing ok pacing with this guy then he decides to pick it up. I try to keep up, but my heart rate is through the roof 185 I feel like vomiting so I slow down and get it to 165 (my good distance pace) I see the turnaround and water station. Awesome all downhill. I stretch out my legs wide and use the momentum and my height to get down the hill fast. (Here it gets gross and totally inappropriate for mixed company, so move to next paragraph is you are squeemish.... Trust me.....) Each step, I feel the tampon coming out of me. Arrrgh annoying. There is a guy with a hose and he sprays anyone down that asks. Since it's like 80 degrees I'm like "YEAH!" so soaking wet running with a stick pushing out of my crotch I see a blood trail on my leg. EEEEWWWWHHHHHHH. Fu¢k I bled through the slender and the water made it run. FU¢K!!! What can I do? I just run. I try to rub my legs together a bit so it's not so obvious but shite, I'm a mess.

I pack up my stuff and try to get outta dodge. I realize my sunblock leaked all over everything. My wallet, keys and iPod. Completely fried. Ggggggrrrrr. I pack up and get out of there. Worst race ever. I figure I got all the kinks out before the Olympic mid-September. (At least I won't have my period.) I'll be doing bike/run bricks on the Olympic race course this week and next before my taper. Get the jello out of my legs.

Mo

2008 Mighty North Fork

2008-07-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday was my triathlon I did it in 1:24:54 about four minutes faster than last year, but my swim was slower than I thought. I found myself in an underwater moshpit cause I didn't get myself to the front of the pack in time for the start. So my time suffered. About 3 minutes which is hugely disappointing. My bike was great I was passing people left and right but my run was sad. A minute slower than last year. I'm guessing the two weeks of solid wine benders had something to do with that. My next race is on Aug 24. I'll be ready for that one.
MoGetch

2008 Fathers Day Gold Coast Sprint Tri

2008-06-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

This Fathers Day I competed in the LI Gold Coast Tri in Port Washington at Bar Beach. I slept over at Mom's with the kids so I would only have to wake up at 5 and not 4 so I could get more sleep... RIGHT. First Nora wakes up with night terrors... twice... so I had her sleep in my bed. Second, it seems all of Huntington decided to move the party scene from downtown to the former JJs parking lot behind my mom's house... until 4:30ish am. I didn't really need the 5 am alarm cause I was up and pissy.

So come 5am I pack up the truck with my gear and realize I need some coffee or I'm falling asleep and going down in a fiery crash on the LIE. So what's open at 5am on a holiday sunday? Duncan Donuts of course so I in my infinite, sleep deprived wisdom I order a large coffee, two gatorades (I need to keep hydrated) and a crossaint. Breakfast of champions.

I get to Bar Beach and it is next to a waste treatment plant—people neglected to tell me this, Ziggy I'm looking at you— the day after a major storm. I get there, set my bike and gear up get on my wetsuit and head down to the water. The beach is covered with goose poop... mmmmm ecoli. The water is grey with a fine layer of diesel fuel on top and me without my pepto. It's FREEZING, the fog is in so thick you can't see the other side of the harbor and the tide is coming in.

At the race start the Elites are all lined up, they dive to start their .5 mile swim. I look out into the water and see Pete Ventura swimming like he's on a treadmill. The lifeguards are paddling to stay in place. Crap, rip tide. Luckily I was in the 10th heat. So the people before me created a current so my swim wasn't that bad. I placed 205 out of 1007. With a time of 16:35 for a 1/2 mile. Not my best, but not to bad.

At the transition, I get off my wet suit, get on the bike— for the fashion conscious, wearing a shiny grey bathing suit, hot pink skirt, blue helmet riding a cyan blue bike with sliver shoes... looking good — I begin by 12 mile ride. I't pretty flat and I am going a respectable 18 mph. I hit the first hill up seagate drive, not to bad road is rough but I have a decent speed. Now I think that is it for my hills... OH NO ITS NOT. I make another turn up Harbor Park Drive. Its a mother of a hill not terribly long but riddled with tire flattening potholes and one steep uphill. My nice 18mph dropped down to 9mph. I get through that hill make a turn and I am hit with that smell... sewage treatment. Nice. I have to do this twice. I place 671 out of 1007 With a time of 46:10 for 12 miles. I'm happy with that ride, as I practice more hills this time will get better.

At the next transition I remember to take off my helmet, get on my sneakers and start my run. My legs are jello. I haven't ran in 2 weeks because I hurt my knee. This is not fun. I figure I'll take it slow and just finish. I'm running slow, but in my HR zone. The run is flat right on the water It would be beautiful if it wasn't for the fog and the smokestacks. I do the run soaking wet (nothing dries cause of the fog) and by the second lap I feel a blister forming on my arch. Luckily the finish line is in sight so I dig in and pass a girl right at the finish. I love that. I finish 749/1007 with a time of 34:35 for 3.1 miles. Slow. Last race I ran 9 min miles this one was an 11. Knee felt ok after. A little creaky. I'll do a yoga for runners today and get in a good stretch.

My total time was 1:42:50. My goal was 1:39:00 just a little off. A faster run would've done it.

This morning I look at the times and I realize that 233 people didn't show so my bubble burst a little knowing where I placed was close to the bottom. 205/774 swim, 671/774 bike, 749/774 run. Bummer, but at least I got out there which is more than I can say for the 233 no shows. I placed 35/57 in my division females 35-39.

I keep on TRIing.
Mo

2008 Mothers Day Duathlon

2008-05-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing giving the 10.5 mile bike segment the notorious "Hecksher Hills" (the course is flat but the wind makes it feel like you are going uphill). The runs were a beautiful 2 miles each through the woods.

I came in 184 overall out of 207 finishers. I was 18th out of 20 in my age group (since the last time I did this race I was last, was a huge improvement) I was 199th on the first run, 145th in the bike and 198th on the second run. Finishing with a total time of 1:22:07 31 minutes faster than my fall time!

First run - 2 miles - 19:34 - 9:47 min mile - 6 mph average
Bike- 10.5 miles - 3:55 min mile - 15.3 mph average
Second run - 2 miles - 10:43 min mile - 5.5 mph average

I am looking forward to my first Long Island tri of the season on fathers day. It is the Gold Coast Tri in Port Washington 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. My goal is to do it in 1:28:00.

Training is going well for the Mighty Hampton Olympic Distance in September. I start open water swimming (with wetsuit) next week. brrrrr. Just in time to swim in the Bellport Bay at the mouth of the Carmans River as the alewife (river herring) come to spawn. If you have never swam in open water with alewife, you have to be aware that right behind them are stripers — not small fish— it's a little freaky at first getting hit by a big fish in the dark cold water! They don't bite (me at least) so we swim upstream together. When I swim downstream I prefer to do a Tarzan swim (head out of water) so i don't end up kissing one. For fear of getting a black eye or fat lip!

2008 Newport Beach Sprint Tri

2008-04-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Here are my race results for my latest TRI. (1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike 3.1 mile run) I did the Newport Beach Sprint TRI in LA with jetlag and 5 hours of "is it time to get up" sleep. I beat the 2 hour goal I made for myself and finished 6th in my division. Helena and JD were troopers up at the crack of early to cheer me on and make sure I didnt run with my helmet! Natascha made it for the after race party at the beach. (THANKS GUYS xoxoxo!!!!)

I had a great time. Newport is beautiful and I was constantly catching myself looking out over the bay, at the distant mountains, covered in flowers, saying "ooooooh pretty" and riding like I was taking Nora to the beach instead of in a race then I would snap out of it and dig in and ride hard then some weird bird I never saw before would fly by and I would be distracted again.... such is life as an adult with borderline ADD.

The rest of my trip was fantastic. Helena had a BBQ at her house in Pasedena which was great since I could see friends I haven't seen in 5 years and met new ones. We did all of the usual touristy things hollywood, santa monica pier, etc. Had brunch with Natascha monday morning and I met up with Stacy for dinner on Monday night which was an added happiness bonus. My cheeks still hurt from smiling. That JD, Helena and Kevin had me spitting water out my nose every three minutes with laughter.

2008 March Madness Du

2008-03-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

I finished my first race of the season the prospect park duathlon last Saturday. 5k run, 14 mile bike, 5k run.

I was last AGAIN (I kinda suck at duathlons -- I need the swim to get an edge). BUT I finished before they closed the race so that's new. I placed 104 out of 140 that signed up so I like to think I beat all the people that wussed out. I ran a 12 min mile on the first 5K. I am pretty happy with that time since I wasn't able to train all February because of the shingles and bronchitis.

I placed 66th in the bike (14 miles with 4 killer hills) so the new bike and professional fitting really helped. I did a 4 min mile. I was able to pick up some ground there. I'll get faster as I get used to the bike. It was FREEZING I couldn't feel my toes after the ride.

I ran a 17 min mile on the last 5K. Which is not exactly accurate. One, I started my run with my helmet on... NO ONE SAID ANYTHING!!!! Until mile 2 some guy said "better safe than sorry huh!" and I was like... what are you talking about? then I realized I didn't take my helmet off. I thought I was looking good. NOPE. So I had to take time to stash my helmet in the woods. Two, I had to stop at a restroom cause I had to go to the bathroom. And three, the water guys were packing up and I made them unpack to give me a glass. Just cause I'm last doesn't mean that I'm any less thirsty! So needless to say the second 5K could've been faster.

My total time for the whole thing was 2 hours 26 minutes.

My next race is a The Newport Beach Triathlon in California April 20th. Wish me luck!