login
 Swim
Comments: Our Wave: Males & Females 40-44 / Males & Feamles 45-49 also started in time at 7:05 am... When the guy in the boat with the Megaphone gave us green light to start...I jumped into the water in the right side of the peloton... I believed that I would avoid kick/punch combat...but...for my surprise...It was worse than the usual women kick/punch combat... I still can't believed what I experienced in this swim...the men were more aggresive than I was expected...OMG!!! Ok...It was like...all the men had the right to swim/pass first and over wathever woman is in their way...WTH???? I decided to swim more wide...We had to swim to the first yellow bouy that was located to the north-west from the Island...and from that buoy...to a 2nd and 3rd yellow bouys more to the west...when I finally got in the 1st Buoy is was when I started to get my normal rhytme...the water was choppy, some waves, and you could feel the current.... At the 3 bouy is where we had to round it and went to south-west along a group of bouys till the Swim Exit at shore...from the 3rd bouy when I rounded it...I started to push a little more... I was feeling well...but by my surprise I was too focuse in my swim that when I lifted my head to see where was the Swim Exit... I was very far from all the swimmers group...the waves pushed me more close to shore while all the people were following the bouys lines till the Swim Exit...and...I said to me..."Don't Worry...You follow the shore line...looking all the buildings"...at the end it was the same...and I was more relaxed/calmed...LOL In one point a lifeguard boat noticed that I was swimming in my own way and they came to check if was Ok...I never stopped for them...I continued...then other lifeguard in a kayak came to check me too...It was great...cuz...I was scorted by them... Finally when I got at the Swim Exit Area...it was a little difficult to get out of the water...there were some rocks...and...I had to be very careful...cuz...I didn't wat to get hurt...out of water they had a huge carpet...but...they didn't removed the rocks form the sand...they only placed the carpet over...and let me tell you...It was not nice to walk over that carpet with rocks under...LOL...and...just in the Swim Exit Arch there was a huge step...it was not easy...I saw people having hard time...some slipped and fell...like my Buddy...all these obstacle made me lost a valuable time...cuz...I'm usually very fast getting out fo the water to run to Transition Area....      What would you do differently?: Now I know what to expect when I swim with men in my Wave...I will be very far from them...LOL  Transition 1
Comments: Just when I passed the Swim Exit Arch...we had to run to the north over a paved trail along the ocean and then turn to the left and run over grass to the Exit/Entrace of north side of Transition Area...maybe 150 to 200 yards...and just before I got inside I got a cup of water from the water station to rinse the salty water from my mouth...I run very fast to my rack area...I didn't have difficult to find my bike...I counted the 12 racks... and I got it...now...when we were running for a long/wide corredor in the middle of Transition Area...it was all muddy cuz the heavy rain we had the day before...OMG!!! I remembered that the Organizers put a huge carpet last year to avoid that cuz we had rain the day before the race too but not this year...when I got at my bike and I'm putting my helmet/sunglasses/CamelBack and biking shoes at the same time...my feet were all full of mud...the mud was a very orange mud...like clay...I don't know how I did it...but...when I was running with my bike out of Transition...I could feel my feet swimming is soft clay inside my shoes...LOL...at least was soft and it didn't bother me...Out of Transition we had to run over a paved trail to the road maybe 0ther 100 yards where was the Mount/Desmount Area...there I jumped like usual...and got off... It was a good and fast Transition even I was 3rd fastest in my AG...Overall...I don't know...I don't have the information...    Bike
Comments: Just when I took off...I could feel the strong winds coming from NNE at 15 gusting to 20+ mph...I started to drink some water from my CamelBack and I took one Clif Shot Block...we headed first to the west with tailwinds but not for too long only 2 blocks and then turned right on (Federal Hwy) to the north with headwinds/crosswinds...ufff!!! for almost 1.20 miles...then turned right to the east headed/merged in the I-195 to the "Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge" and started the 2 challenges in this route...to climb 2 bridges...one big...not huge like the famous "Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge" in Key Biscayne...but big enough...and...a second one...more easy...but...still we had to climb it...at this point I could feel that the winds coming from the north were more stronger than the winds coming from the east...I could feel the crosswinds pushing me out of the way that I had to hold the handlebar very hard and at the same time headwinds uffff!!!...during this route I did drink some of my PowerBar Endurance beverage alternating with water...then from the second bridge...we had to take a exit at the right to go to south to the famous Alton Rd. that goes to South Beach...for almost 1.5 mile till a U-turn and go back again to the I-195 and to climb againg the 2 bridges with a little help of tailwinds/crosswinds at the same time...after the second bridge...we took other exit that merged again on Federal Hwy and we headed to the north till a U-Turn and headed to south on the same Federal Hwy till the U-turn where we started the 2nd lap...again for second time to climb the same bridges 4 times and came back to Transition Area...just when I started the 2nd lap I took 1 Clif Shot Energy Gel with water....and after some minutes I tryed to take 2 Endurolytes with water, the first one no problem but when I was swallowing the 2nd one...it stucked in my throat and I throwed it and it fell inside my Gel Box...and...I said to me..."Ok...My body doesn't want it...let's continue"...I felt good in my second lap and when I was approching to the last bridge to go back to Transiton Area...I said to me "this is over...piece of cake"...and...I pushed more and more hard till I got to the desmount Area...did it very fast like usual...like the Pro/Elites but keeping my shoes on... What would you do differently?: train and train Transition 2
Comments: It was other fast transition without problem even I was the 4th fastest in my AG...ran fast like usual...placed my bike in the rack...changed shoes, removed helmet and CamelBack...all at the same time...took my fuel belt with Bid#, hat and the bottle with water and run as fast as possible out of Transition Area...  What would you do differently?: train and train  Run
Comments: Just out of Transition Area...running with a good pace..not too fast and not too slow...I buckled my Fuel Bealt and hat...and...then I took 2 Endurolytes and I drank enough water and tossed the rest over my head, face and neck...it was cold and made me woke-up...I felt great...and...I started to push more...We started to run south on Bayshore Dr. and then turned left to MacArthur Causeway Bridge...other bridge to climb...Yahooooooooo!!!! but I was feeling with full energy and I push more and more till I got at the top of the bridge...and...downbridge...Yes!!!!...from this point I could see my friend Helen not too far from me and a more far my other friend and eternal rival Eileen...and...I pushed a little more...and I said to me: "It will be easy to reach/pass Helen but not Eileen"...she knew that I was behind her and she started to push more harder...at this point I was not sure if I was in the top 5 but I at least top 10...I reached/passed Helen very easy and continued with my constant pace...passing a lot of people...I was feeling with full energy and very motivated...when I was aproching to the mile 3 and to the U-turn I saw Eileen coming...she saw me...we smiled...and...we clapped our hands...it was nice!!!...off course!!!...she started to push more harder...and...me too. During my run...I only drank water in each water station...I was feeling Super!!!...and...the weather was great sunny/cloudy...windy...it was the perfect condition to run...When I was approching to the Parrot Jungle and last water station before to climb again the bridge...I reached/passed a women in my AG...I didn't know till I saw her age marked in her calf...then I pushed more and more...till I got at the top of the bridge and I said to me: "this Race is over"...only 1.1 mile more...downbrige....Yahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! and I started to sprint...till the Finish Line...I remembered that when I was approching to the Finish Line...I heard all the people cheering and I heard somebody saying "GO Leonora GO"...I never knew who was...LOL...but...It was great!!!! OMG!!!! I was so Happy and Excited!!! I knew that I did an excellent Race...and...when I saw my watch more...I said to me: "Wuaooooo...I did it in sub 3h" Yes!!!! I ESCAPED...!!!   What would you do differently?: train and train Post race
Warm down: Just when I passed the Finish Line...a volunteer gave to me a huge Finisher Medal...other took my chip and other gave to me a bottle of water...I walked out...and continued walking and walking....stretching my legs...I felt fresh...I was not tired...It was amazing!!! Then I went to the food area...ate some slices of orange, a banana, more water...and...when I saw a crowd trying to see something in a board...I knew some results were posted...I approched...It was hard and I decided to wait maybe 5 minutes...and...finally I got in front of the board...they posted the Overall Results...and...no for AG...a little difficult to find out my results...I had to start from the last of the list checking the times and with my no-official time in my watch...finally I found my name...by my surprise...I was 5th...my friend Eileen 4th...and...I really didn't know the 3 tops...not familiar names...but...I was Super-Happy with my results...!!!! Yahooooooooooooo!!!  Event comments: Excellent Event...Very well organized...Unfortunate the heavy rain the day before the Race ruined all the Events programmed for that day...but...in general...Great Event!!! Last updated: 2008-01-03 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
United States
Run Miami, Inc.
75F / 24C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 280/602
Age Group = Female 45-49
Age Group Rank = 5/17
Thursday Oct.2nd:
We (My Buddy and me) went to pick-up our Race Packages at the store "Elite Cycling & Fitness" in South Miami...due the number of participants (Olympic 602 participants + 41 Relay Teams/ Sprint 304 participants).
The Race packages included all ours Bid#'s for the bike/belt and helmet, the caps, the T-Shirt and the color bracelet to use to abord the ferry and during the Race. My Buddy got the Bid# 907/red cap and the blue bracelet and me the Bid# 486/ pink cap (I hate this color...LOL) and green bracelet.
Saturday Oct.4th:
Woke-up at 8:00 am in the middle of a very heavy storm (downpour)...all day raining...It was a real monsoon...LOL.
We took a good breakfast: orange juice, eggs with toasted bagel with cream cheese/slice of turkey/brie cheese on top and coffee with milk...Hummmm!!!
We washed(wiped)/lubed/tuned bikes and prepared/packed all our stuff in the morning.
12:00 pm: Took a ligh lunch of Healthy Choice (Steamers): a Roasted Chicken Marsala with Penne Pasta, green beans, mushrooms in Marsal Wine Sauce...Yummmy!!!
1:00 pm: Loaded our bikes in the car and left to Margaret Pace Park in Downtown Miami cuz MANDATORY Bike Check-in the day before the Race. It was raining very hard and we decided to take some huge plastic garbage bags to cover the bikes in the Transition Area.
When we got there...the rain continued...It was amazing how much rain we got that day...I think more than 4 inches.
Before we got inside the Transition Area we got our body marked.
We had asigned spots in the Transition Area...our Bid# were in the rack
When we got in our respectived places we covered our bikes with 2 huge plastic bags and placed it in the rack.
We supposedly had to pick-up our timming chip but with the rain...we forgot.
We left and in our way to home...my Buddy needed to stop in a West Marine store for something that he needed for our boat and next to the store there is an Italian Restaurant and it was almost 4 pm and we decided to get our full/good dinner...Good decision...!!!
The food was excellent...my Buddy ate pasta w/seafood and me 2 huges canellonis filled with ricotta cheese, spinash, mushrooms and various meats...OMG!!! It was awesome!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!!!!
Got home around 5:30 pm and started to prepare our beverages for the Race and placed them in the fridge/freezer.
By the time we got home the rain continued...a non stop storm...
At 7:30 pm I prepared/drank my usual green tea and went to bed...watched some TV till 8:30 pm when my Buddy joined me...turn-off TV and lights and to sleep...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!
I don't know what happened to me...but from 9:00 pm to midnight...I was electric...I couldn't fall sleep...never happened this to me...
I usually fall sleep very easy...
Finally I did fall sleep around 1:00 am...but...I had a bad dream...LOL...
My dreams usually before a Race are me Racing maybe 3 or 4 times the Race till I fall sleep very deeply...but...this time...my dream was all about the f****@ "timming chip"...cuz...we forgot to pick-up them...LOL.
I was dreaminng that we arrived the day of the Race early and we were trying to find the place and the people in charge of the "timming chips" and we were running and asking to everybody where are the chips and the people only answered us: "over there in that bulding" and nothing...running from bulding to bulding...I was in panic!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! LOL
What a dream!!! In my dream I never raced cuz I never found the f*****@#$ chip...LOL.
Sunday October 5th:
Woke-up at 4:30 am...Took our usual Pre-Race breakfast: orange juice, a small bowl with macaroni & cheese, coffee for my Buddy and for me my usual Super-Soy-Protein Shake (chocolate) and off course our package with multi-vitamins/minerals, Amino 1500, Glucosamine, and CO Q-10.
Put our respective bracelets in our wrists.
Prepared our CamelBacks...took our coolers w/beverages and left from home at 4:50 am.
Got at Margaret Pace Park around 5:45 am...and...got in the line to get in the Parking Lot...it was a long line...and my Buddy told me..."get your stuff and go to get your "timming chip" while I park the car...cuz...you have to board the ferry at 6:25 am".
He had plain of time cuz he had to aboard the Ferry at 7:05 am...and
I did it...just in time...but...after that I didn't see him again till the Race finsihed...LOL.
I got my 'chip"...did set up all my stuff in the Transition Area...
First removed plastic bags from my bike...it was perfect...it didn't get wet...
Placed helmet over the seat...
AeroBottle with frozen PowerBar Endurance(lemon-lime) and sunglasses over the bracket in my AeroBar.
Biking/Running shoes/ CamelBack with water and ice/ Fuel Bealt with my Bid# and 2 bottles with frozen water and 2 Endurolytes inside the pocket/ my hat and an extra bottle with frozen water...under my front wheel of my bike.
And in my Gel Box attached to the head tube and stem of my bike, 2 Clift Shot Energy Gels (Razz/Strawberry) 1 Clif Shot Block Electrolyte chew (cran-razz) and 2 Endurolytes (just in case).
When everything was setting-up...I put my TYR Transition Back and Cooler against the fence around the Transition Area...
When to check the exit/entrance at the Transition Area and where exactly was my bike cuz it was a huge Transition Area...and the racks didn't have a Bid#s reference...LOL
What I did was to count how many racks from the exit/entrance to my rack...It was the rack number 12 at my right...
Then went to sit over my cooler to relax and do a final visualization of the Race...
At 6:15 am they started to announce that people with green bracelet has to start going to the Marina to board the Ferry...
I took my cap/googles/ wax-ear plugs and a PowerBar Double Caffeine Gel (Tangerine), a bottle with Accelerade (Orange w/caffeine) and a bottle with water and headed to the Marina Area to aboard the Ferry...
In my way to the Marina...I started to drink my Accelerade...when I got there...we wait like 5 minutes...and...I took my PowerBar Gel with some water/Accelerade before we started to aboard...
Boarded/departed our Ferry in time...
I met with some friends...It was nice to see familiar faces...like my good friend and eternal rival in the Trilogy Series Eileen, Patricia Soden and Helen Varble...and other girlfriends form the AG 40-44...
The trip from the Marina to the Island was relatively short...maybe 5 to 10 minutes minutes...very fast...
It was still a little dark but the sun was coming...
The Ferry stopped maybe at 200 to 300 yards from shore...We jumped from the boat to the water...all the lifeguards in their boards were waiting for us...they formed a double wide line from the boat to the Island...in that way...we could swim direct to it...
It was very organized...when we got at the Island...we had an asigned section where we had to wait...
The First Wave Elites Males & Females / Males 25-29 / Males & Females 30-34 / Males & Females 35-39 were already in the Swim Start Area...
There was a guy in a boat giving instructions with a megaphone...then...we listened the National Anthem...and...the Fisrt Wave started in time at 7:00 am...
The weather was great...felt fresh...We were maybe in 78oF...very windy...it looked to be overcasted...sunny with some clouds...
The warm-up was the swim from the Ferry to the Island... The water temperature was great...not too cold not too warm...just right...maybe in 79oF.