The Scottsdale Halloween Adult Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

My coach told me to use my legs more than normal to try to save wear and tear on my rib. My breathing was sort of all over the place. I was sometimes breathing every 3 strokes, sometimes every 2, etc.... Just basically doing what I had to do to get through it. My rib actually didn't really hurt. I think I just have to think about too many other things while swimming, that I couldn't even think about it. The Advil and warm water probably helped too!! My coach's start time was about a half hour after mine, so she was there at the side of the pool telling me to take a breath and push off. I mostly listened! :-) Again, need to continue working on my breathing and keeping cool! Swim time includes the run out of the pool ramp and out around the corner to the parking lot. That's where the first chip timing mat was. Was 9th in the swim for my age group. (So much room for improvement!)

I need to focus my swimming efforts during practice on moderating my breathing, and building up my endurance.

So here's my first "racers brain" mishap. You know...where your brain starts to get mushy and you don't always think straight...like forgetting to take your helmet off as you start on the run? Well, my coach told me to tuck my swim cap into my suit so I could adjust my pony tail as I am running out of the pool. (Have to move it down for the bike helmet.) So I have no waist band in my new one piece suit, so I sort of tuck it in my neck hole. Well, as I go through everything in T1, I forget to remove the swim cap. (Stay tuned to find out when I finally realize this!)

Um....remove the swim cap from my neck hole!!!
Otherwise it went well. Clipped in easily, and was on my way.

Felt good on the bike. I realized that I SO need aero bars! My current positioning is causing me to get a knot in my back behind my shoulder blade, but when I get in aero position, I don't have that. Using the new shoes worked well. Last 2 turns were somewhat hampered by some guys who wanted to do the tight bike lane wide turns as a group. Guy in front of me slowed way down and caused us all to slam on our breaks. For the second turn I just powered in front of them and lead the turn. Much better! My bike time was 3rd best in my age group!!! (Moving up!) Rib kept quiet for the most part. Fastest speed was 23.6!

Be faster?

Boy! The legs were super jello! Took a few extra seconds just to grab my ankles behind my butt and stretch my quads just a little before running. T2 went well, though.

Realized maybe at THIS point that the swim cap was still hanging out of my neck hole....but no.

As I took off on the run I was once again reminded that my running has suffered over the past few months, and I SOOO need to start running more! Again, just such a battle to control the breathing and just make it!!! So as I am rounding the first curve, and right in front of a mass of people, I reach down to unzip my suit a bit, and I think "What is bulging out of my neck hole?" I look down and discover my freaking swim cap!!!! OMG!!! I pull it out, but then wonder what the heck I am going to do with it!!! Just then I remembered that my tri suit had a pocket in back, so I stuffed it in there!! What a dork I am!!!!! However, I finished 2nd on the run in my age group. (Again, moved up a notch!) Rib gave me the most trouble in the run, but it was manageable.

Train more for the run!

Walked a bit, then walked right over to the snack table and had myself a big ol' chocolate cake doughnut! I love doughnuts! I figured if there was ever a day where I could eat a doughnut, it should be the day that I just burned over 700 calories doing a Tri!!!! I deserved that freaken doughnut!!!


Only getting 5 hours of sleep did not help.


WOOOO HOOOO!! Can you believe it? I got 3rd in my age division!!!! Rib finally started to let me hear it after the race. I will ice it a lot to day, and start backing off the mega doses of Advil. Next race PHX New Times 10k??? Next Tri on Thanksgiving morning???? We'll see.