Vineman Ironman 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I had an excellent swim. Yanti and I had gone in on Friday before the race so I knew what to expect. It wasn't crowded really but got a little choppy when the wave behind me came through. I felt good the entire time and when I needed a moment to rest, I just stood up - it was that shallow. I literally walked the turn around. I did some drills too while I was swimming. I was thrilled when I saw my time...

I really need to learn to breathe bilaterally and I need to work on evening up my stroke especially on my left. Other than that, nothing really. The swim was awesome.

So T1 was long...I had to cram all my stuff in a bag. I handed it off to Yanti. I actually sat down for a minute and put my shoes on. I just had to. I was way too excited and jumping up and down trying to put them on wasn't getting it done. I was so dang happy. I put on a shoe and did something else then back to the other shoe...total chaos. I really needed to be focused but couldn't.

Not celebrate. I mean really couldn't I wait? Not really. :)
I need to practice transition and stay focused.

I loved it. Absolutely the most fun I've had in quite a while. I did well I think. Since I went out in one of the early waves, I pretty much had people around me (passing me yeah but so what?) all the time. It was a super fun course and I felt good. I stopped at the first aid station to use the porto potty, futzed around with my stuff after I came out of there, ate, got some water. I took off again and heard something drop and wondered if it was something of mine. At that moment a girl rode by and said hey, weren't those your sunglasses? Shit. I had to stop and run back and pick them up and not get run over which I did - I was going to need those for sure later on in the race. So far, the sun really hadn't even come out yet. I went through the next aid station at about 30 miles because I didn't need anything. I got all choked up about this point as I had started to realize that I was making pretty good time on the bike and I might just come in under 4 hours. I rode along pretty much crying thinking about all the people and things that got me to this point...I really love my life today. I would have never imagined it like this. So thanks everyone for all your love and support. During the ride I don't know how many times I heard "Go LA Tri" and "good job" - it was so nice. I had to stop at the third station which was just before the big hill. I had 13 miles to go! I can't tell you how happy I was and how surprised I was that I was feeling so good. My toes were quite numb especially on the right foot so I took my shoe off and massaged them a bit. I really need to get some of those toe warmers. The wind just blew right through my shoes. The big hill came and went and before I knew it was bringing it home. When I got to transition Yanti was there (thank you!!) and she said, "that was some smokin bike split" and I said, "fuck an A!" I was completely amazed and happy. And I didn't feel terrible in the least and was ready to run. Looking back on it I did a good job of keeping up with my nutrition and hydration on the bike which was good. I saw a few BT folks out there too. I saw Verna and AZChick - great job girls!!

Nothing really, I did well for my abilities at this point.

Okay, I know T2 was way longer...I was absolutely beside myself with my bike time. I couldn't believe it! Again, totally unfocused. Put one shoe on then did something else..finally got it together and ran out only to come back again. I forgot to take off my cycling shorts that I had put on over my tri shorts and then I had to use the bathroom after that. Plus I was celebrating big time and talking to Yanti too and another girl who was at my rack that I had met the day before. Shoot, now that I think about I talked to 2 other people that were from LATC...sheesh!!

Not be a blabber mouth and try to contain my celebrating til later....FOCUS!

A good run. I kept waiting to feel terrible which didn't happen. I felt really good coming off the bike. I tried to keep a 2:00/1:00 run/walk going but ended up changing to a 1:00/1:00 once I saw that there was going to be more hills involved and I did start to feel a little nauseated at about mile 3. I obeyed the watch til about mile 10. That's when the PF in my left foot really got to be painful so I decided to walk to mile 12 and then run again for the last mile to the finish. I finished! Overall, not a horrible time for the run considering the foot issue but as for the rest of me, I really felt good and was not completely blown out when I was done. I was completely amazed. (I still am really) During the run, I saw just about everyone we had met the night before at dinner from BT. It was fantastic - I gave shout outs to everyone and I think I was smiling most of the time.

Send my foot out for repairs. Ha ha Seriously, I think under the circumstances it went well.

Got some food and walked around a bit got my stuff and walked to the car.


Well, just me - its my second year doing tri and third year running. Period. I've never ever been an athlete of any sort until this point in my life. I am a work in progress. I will keep working at it and getting better and hopefully a bit faster as time goes by. Of course I can train more and lose some weight, that kinda goes without saying I think.


A class act. A super fun race.