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 Swim
Comments: Just swam and was calm and good for me. The girl behind me caught me and passed me about 1/2 way. I'm not going to push my HR way up to gain 10-15". 2006:6:12 2007:6:18 2008:6:13 Not much progress...got more congested than in the past...got water up my nose on spot when girl passed me. What would you do differently?: Other than being a better swimmer I was happy with my swim.  Transition 1
Comments: A little debate in my head knee warmers? gloves? socks? Last week's race I didn't wear glove or socks and my hands/feet still feel a little odd. But that was almost 30 mile bike this was 9. Opted no socks, gloves, knee cover but had toe covers on my tri shoes and was easy to slip feet in. What would you do differently?: Hard to plan ahead what weather will be, but don't want to be cold and hurt myself like I did last weekend by being stupid.  Bike
Comments: Felt good on the bike and tried to keep power even. I found the rolling hills this year were easier than in past years. I was only passed by a relay guy on a sharp Orbea and a bike racer guy..did lots of passing but less as folks are staggered out in pool swim. The fast descent had sharp turn so braked as roads were wet and not swept. Found this one section with slight downhill and just nailed it..it was a blast. One straight away I was flying and folks said funny things as I flew through the intersection...I love riding like this..it hurt in that good way. As I ride with power, cadence and HR (which wasn't picking up), I saw mile markers and just kept thinking this is going by so fast, you can give it more. NP first half 189 and second half 183..not to bad better to have it go up but pretty close often it drops down. Duration: 28:29 Work: 310 kJ TSS: 44.6 (intensity factor 0.971) Norm Power: 186 VI: 1.02 Min Max Avg Power: 0 386 182 watts Heart rate: 23 150 38 bpm didn't pick up right Cadence: 29 118 100 rpm 2006: 31:36 2007 27:14 with NP of 169 and avg HR of 166 2008: 28:29 with NP of 185 HR ? Odd my power was up this year, I had my Zipps and aero helmet yet I was slower. I weigh same or less, my bike is the same and my position is the same so conclusion is weather influenced my time as my power was up 16 watts I should really be some faster not slower. Goal for race was power of 175-180 so 186 is good. What would you do differently?: Not sure but did well..not drop my bottle. Transition 2
Comments: Ran through long grass to bike rack but on wrong side slipped bike in and ducked under the rack as most bikes were still out on the course..sweet! grabbed a gel out of my bento box as I hadn't taken one as I was w/o liquid more than half the bike. Opted to leave on my bike shell. What would you do differently?: Not quite my speedy self but passed lots of folks in transition  Run
Comments: Took a gel and brought my 10 oz fuel belt bottle with me. Hoped to drink some as I didn't take in but maybe 6-8 oz on the bike before I dropped my bottle. My feet were cold as I ran I could feel them again..worked on good form and being positive. Lots of folks in and out on bike and run on same road so tried to say positive things to lots of folks. First mile I just kept repeating joy and I'm lucky and thought about the things I put in my Friday blog about stuff I'm lucky about...two stood out..one since I've lost weight I can do this cool stuff and how blessed I am to have 5 kids after years of infertility..so I just sort got in a positive place in my head. Yep I wasn't passing anyone but that is normal. Just after mile 1 this guy said finally I caught you as he had been chasing me down on the bike...I can keep them behind me there not so much on the run. Passed one guy and then worked on going hard. Miles just seemed to fly by and I think IM training helps make 3 miles seems super short. At the turn and way back, my focus was pushing hard. I thought this doesn't hurt much I should push harder. My breathing was good today and asthma wasn't limiting my breathing. Over and over in my head saying this doesn't hurt enough so you have more in you..but never got to that it hurts really bad place..need to do some more 5Ks next winter to learn how to get to that place as today I was ready to endure it..but couldn't get there. What would you do differently?: 2006: 32:55 2007 30:37 2008: 29:58 Ran well and had an enjoyable time working hard..all good Looking at actualrace result times run with T2 was 95 seconds faster from last year or about 30 seconds/mile...cool beans! Post race
Warm down: Found my son, walked around, felt good and not wiped out, put stuff in car, took a shower and checked race results a second time..drat would have been #1 in Athena again, but was 3rd in my AG...wait for awards and turns out I got bumped down to 4th by someone who swims slow and started later. Not so annoyed that I was 4th but I was tight for time and would have left 45' earlier if I had known. Weird thing the Athena/AG conundrum for me. If I do Athena sometimes I get hardware which is cool..but sometimes rarely I would do better in my AG. Deep down I would rather place in my AG how unlikely that is yah I know. What limited your ability to perform faster: I find it odd that my time was exactly the same as last year down to the second. I recall being surprised how I did last year and it was as close as I've come to nailing a race. Today it was colder, winder and wet roads. I'm please my run time was faster and overall the race distance seemed easy even though I went hard. I wish I could have pushed harder on the run I did try though. Look I was above the dead center MOP including men (just barely but at racing as a 47 yr old women I'll take that) Yes I did have fun and had an attitude of thankfulness that I can do this cool stuff as the old me couldn't. Slight struggle with placement and no improvement. I did nail each of the goals my coach set out and was higher on the power what more can I want? I did the best I could with the fitness I have today which is good. Now just to have a great Monday and not get all stupid and self criticizing instead be proud of all I have done to be able to do this fun stuff. Event comments: Fun spring race..wish it was longer. Lots of first timers and friendly folks. I wish they would accurately measure the course and also time transitions as it mucks up figuring out my paces. Last updated: 2008-04-30 12:00 AM
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United States
FIRM
46F / 8C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 70/142
Age Group = W45-49
Age Group Rank = 4/7
Race started at 9 instead of 8 as in past years. Up and left at 6:37 takes 1:20 to get there just under 85 miles. Had whole wheat blueberry pancackes w/Canadian bacon and SF syrup and while driving a Nature Valley Granola bar.
Rained whole way to race.
Lots of first timers so I answered questions and helped out as I could.
Race Goals:
Goal to find joy in racing at the fitness level I have now given the weather conditions..raining and in the 40's. Have fun & really just a hard workout with a number.
Now not have a manic or blue Monday..as how I do reflects nothing as no bearing of me as a person. I need to learn to accept the fitness and skill set I have now and that I do my best.
Time goals swim 6:00-6:20; bike Normalized power 175-180 speed will fall where it does; run 29-30'
When registered I registered as Athena on the application, get there and I'm in AG (they did this at the du 2 weeks ago too) so I said move me to Athena, went inside and came back and said just leave it....always a conundrum in my head which way to go...which is better, which would I feel better getting hardware? I won Athena last year..crap I hate making this type of decision pre-race..why do they always screw it up? AG I went with.
They don't time transitions..last year I estimated from 2006 and this year my son timed my splits..so I'm going with his times for s/r and my power meter time for bike..the rest is transitions.
I was starting about 21' after first swimmer with #65.
Ran about 10' then biked for about 10'...glad I did as my Zipp was rubbing on front brake..needed to reset wheel. Got in line..met the nicest folks many first timers plus a guy in his 60's who was super nice and high 5ed us all before getting in the pool. He is doing IMLP and IMFL again and laughed when I asked to compare the two...LP he thought is the hardest one he said and with that thought I got in the pool.