Tri Turned Adventure Race?

Well, I participated in my first official Triathlon this past Sunday in Indianola. It was quite an experience and I learned some very valuable lessons....where do I begin?

There were 30 triathletes in this event and thankfully I was toward the back of the group for the swim, so the 300 yards were a breeze...except for the fact that the water was FREEZING....the swim course was 6-50 yard laps in a pool. The swimmers got a 25 yard head start on the person behind them, so it was perfect for me. I never caught the swimmer ahead of me (my faster swimming friend, Nicole), but the swimmer behind me didn't catch me...so it was awesome!

Okay, so I get out of the pool and run down the grassy hill to the transition area. It went a little like this: Dried Feet...put socks/shoes on....clipped on race belt...helmet on and buckled...quick drink of water...grab bike and head to the bike course.

I need to mention that in addition to the triathlon being held for this event, there was also a 5k and 10k race going on. I also need to mention that thankfully I had my Garmin on my bike, so I knew my mileage as I was riding and running.

I get on my bike and was told to follow the ORANGE arrows on the road...so I followed the ORANGE arrows on the road. I became suspicious pretty quickly that I was not where I was supposed to be. The road was really bumpy and it seemed like I was turning every block or so. More importantly, I wasn't seeing anyone else on bikes...but I kept following the orange lines. I was also getting annoyed because I had to slow down at every block to look for an orange line...I kept thinking "Couldn't they have posted arrow signs!".

Finally after the first mile I came up to a couple of race volunteers....I slow down and ask them if I am on the right course they both say "Yep..Yep, just keep going". So I kept going....all by myself.

After about 3 miles I see the start/finish..what? There was a kid directing the 5k runners to the finish and telling the 10k runners to turn right. But what about me? I asked him where I needed to go...he didn't know. Okay, so I turned right, thinking that maybe the bike course veers off somewhere along the way.

Then I start seeing things I've already seen before...I am just looping the 5k course! Finally I see someone on a bike, but they are another block down on a road I have yet to get to. I come up on the same 2 fellas that told me I was going the right way and I ask them again "Am I supposed to just keep looping this course?" Which I know is not right because if that were the case I would definitely be with other riders.

This time one of the guys says "Yep, just keep on going" and the other guy says "I don't know...I've been seeing people on bikes on that street". The above mentioned street one block away. GRR!

I cut back to the start/finish with 5.5 miles logged and ask what is going on? I am told that almost everyone has had problems with the course and most are just getting off their bikes and starting the run. But this is my only tri before Hy-Vee...and I wanted to get the 12+ mile bike ride in. I then find out that I was supposed to be following a YELLOW line, not an orange line.

I go back to where I started and low and behold, a block before the orange line is a yellow line! I turn left and am officially on the bike course..finally!

Wow...what a difference that made, the bike course was in newer neighborhoods which meant smoother roads and I was actually able to get some decent speed because I wasn't turning all the time! Oh, and guess what? Not only were there arrows on the road, but SIGNS posted too, so I wasn't searching the road at every intersection for a turn!!!

Well, I was probably 6 miles or so in before I saw the first volunteer. I stopped and asked to see a map...I wanted to get my 12 miles in, not end up riding the full bike course in addition to the 5 miles I had already ridden. At this point we must have still been on the 10k run course too, because there were yellow and orange arrows on the ground. The super helpful volunteer reminded me that the bikes were supposed to follow the ORANGE lines....oh boy...here we go again! I said "No, I was told to follow the YELLOW lines". He called to verify and found out he had been telling people wrong the whole time.

Okay, so back on the course, and I finally start seeing a couple of people on bikes..on the same street as ME. Yay, I really AM going the right way! I stopped one more time for directions and realized that we're supposed to ride the bike course twice, which was going to work out great for me because that meant I just needed to finish the first lap and be pretty close to the mileage.

Meanwhile, back at the start/finish it apparently started going around that I may or may not be lost somewhere in Indianola. With about a mile to go, a straight shot to the finish I was joined by Kerrie, a fellow aTc (Altoona Triathlon Club) member and veteran triathlete turned search party rescuer! She rode with me thru the finish and I finally made it back to the transition area to begin my run. I ended my bike ride with 12.26 miles logged.

2nd Transition looked a little like this: Drop off bike...take off helmet...put on hat...turn race number around...drink of water and I was off.

The least favorite part of the run for me was the fact that I left the transition area and had to head UPHILL, turn and UPHILL again. That was diabolical! I made it on my knee for about the first mile and a half and it started hurting a little. I walked a little bit and started running again...had to walk a couple more times, but still felt great...and finished the 5k in about 31 minutes.  Overall, I finished the entire course in 1 hour 38 minutes.

And with that...it was official. I am now a TRIATHLETE!!! All things considered, I was really happy and I felt great! I am pretty excited about Hy-Vee now! I am now going to spend the next 17 days swimming and riding. I know my knee won't hold up for a 6 mile run at the end, but I'll run as far as I can and walk when I need to and be perfectly happy about it. I need to focus on what I can do...I haven't been able to get too many miles in on the bike, but am surprised how much stronger and faster I am after every ride! I can't wait to put it all out there and finish what I started!!!

Wow~sorry for such a long post, it was a long story! Please forgive any errors in spelling or grammar...I tried to check myself as I typed, but I might have missed some stuff!

Oh yeah...most valuable lesson learned:  Know the course...carry a course map!  

Better Late Than Never

This Sunday, the first full day of my 30's, I will be competing in my first triathlon. It is a Sprint Tri in Indianola consisting of a 300 yd swim, 13.5 mile bike ride and 3 mile run. I'm super excited...especially for the 300 yard swim, which I feel is completely within the realm of my swimming abilities (unlike the nearly one mile of swimming for the Hy-Vee Tri, my greatest source of anxiety!).

On a side note, I started running again this week (just 2 miles Monday and this morning), I am cautiously optimistic that the knee will hold up for the run; but after having to walk 8 miles of the OKC half, I know that I will still be happy if I have to walk the "run" portion.

So, this morning I attempted something that I probably should have done before now, but the weather hasn't really cooperated, thus...Better Late Than Never. I did a BRICK workout...(a BRICK is when you train in back to back events). Today I did a Bike/Run BRICK.

I've actually attempted this before, 2 years ago before I even knew there was a title for the workout. This was also before I was a "runner", so I all I remember is getting off my bike after 5 miles and running the hardest mile of my life...I felt like I was running in concrete shoes and I was probably running a 12+ mile pace at the fastest! It was shocking! I don't know why it didn't occur to me at the time that it might be difficult.

So, it was with my limited BRICK experience that I decided to attempt it again this morning. Got started a little late on my bike, but I got a good, steady 5 miles in before meeting up with my favorite running partner, Janet. After a slow transition...had to put my knee brace on, remove a couple of layers, stretch out a bit (I am a rookie, after all, I think that allows me a little stalling before my first cycle/run BRICK). I was ready to run (at least that was what I was telling myself).

Wow~yep, it was still tough, but nothing like I remember. I start off slow, assuming that the weight in my legs will ease up as I keep running. We huffed and puffed along until the Garmin jingled at the mile mark...YAY!....time to turn around!

By then, just as I expected, the weight has lifted but now a new wave of fatigue has set in...probably (hopefully) because I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night but, MAN...I was beat!

When the Garmin jingled again, signaling the end of our run I looked at our pace and I'm not going to lie, I was totally prepared for a shockingly slow number. I was tired, I was sore. Average Pace: 9:49. I know, for some rock stars out there 9:49 might SEEM like a shockingly slow pace. But for me, coming straight off the bike, coming back from this knee injury, it was REALLY good! I WAS shocked, but in a good way!

And with that, I have my first BRICK workout in the books...just one more notch on that "BECOMING A TRIATHLETE" belt! I hope to get on my bike a little more this week, maybe try one more BRICK and then on to Sunday...CAN'T WAIT!!

Where has this been my whole life?

So, I tried something new today. Went to spin class this morning at 9:15, this was my first "official" cycle workout since the knee injury and I am happy to say it held up pretty well. The knee was a little "achy" toward the end, but no debilitating pain, so that was good!

Much of the cause of my injury was due to tightness in my hamstrings and quads, so I've been trying to stretch everyday and I really think it has helped. With that being said, I noticed that there was a Yoga class scheduled to begin right after spin, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I've tried yoga in the past, but it was mostly just at home stuff, and if you've ever tried working out at home to a video and you're like me, it just isn't the same...I need the extra accountability of people (presumably) staring at me if I wimp out after 5 minutes!

Back to the Campus...in I go, I follow the lead of everyone else and grab a mat, some stretchy bands, a "strap" of some kind and two purple blocks. I will say, I have 2 of those blocks at home, but I don't think they've ever been used for yoga....honestly, I think they are in the kids toy box as I type!

I am a "front" of the class type of person, so there I am, right in the front and thankfully the instructor introduced the newbies (me included) to the class...I feel like that is a "free pass" to look like an idiot, but it usually only works the one time, so I knew I had to pay attention if I planned to ever return to the class.

So we get going and WOW~ not only was I not the most un-coordinated person in the class, but I might have been among the most coordinated. Before I knew it I was doing the hardest poses with ease! Apparently I have exceptional balance (despite falling off my bike that one time) and I am flexible! It was great. I felt great after class, all stretched out and I might have even grown a couple of inches.

Now, before you start judging me for my bragging, I just want to point out that this is probably one of the first times in my life that I have found something that I seem to be a "natural" at...most of the times when I try something new I have to work twice as hard to do half as good as everyone else. Which is fine, it is good motivation for me. Most of the time the reason WHY I do something is because at one time I would have thought it impossible for me to do...I just want to prove myself wrong (stubborn Italian blood, perhaps?).

Finally I found something that isn't such a struggle! I only hope it wasn't "beginners luck"!

P.S~I have lots of stuff to blog about this week...look for my 2nd Max Muscle Nutrition Plan results soon!

P.S.S~I am having a fund raising Pampered Chef party on Tuesday @ 7 pm~ A portion of the sales will go to my fund raising goal!! Send me a message if you'd like to come, or you can order online here:

www.pamperedchef.biz/suziereicks?page=products-main

(for some reason I can't get the link to work right, so you'll have to copy the link and paste it in your browser :) sorry!)

Have a great Monday! And try something new this week, you never know...you might find out you're "a natural" at something too!

On The Mend

Taking time off to rest is not fun. Visited the chiropractor again Friday and got in a little trouble because apparently my definition of "resting" wasn't realistic for my healing. Boo.

I spent the weekend taking it easy on my knee. And guess what? It is starting to feel better (imagine that!).

Today I taught a kickboxing class with almost no pain, even though my kicks weren't nearly as high as they should have been. But, it felt good to at least get to sweat again!

I am going to spend this week in the pool, which is probably good anyway because I didn't swim at all last week. I really need to work on speeding up the turnover in my stroke...I am still pretty pokey as far as that goes.

I have a 3 mile mud run on Saturday that I really want to be able to do, the good news for that one is that the slower I go the more muddy I'll get and in the end that is really the point, right?!?!

Well, it is off to the pool for me! Keep speedy recovery for my knee in your thoughts and prayers!!