owl_girl's Group --- FULL! (Page 33)

The weather was absolutely aweful for the race...cool and pouring rain almost the entire time.

They announce the water temp as 65F. I was wearing my wetsuit, a neoprene hoodie, and booties. We were the eighth (last!) wave, with about 3 minutes between waves. The horn goes off, we go in, and I completely tanked it! I felt like I couldn't breathe and like I'd forgotten how to swim. I'm assuming it was from needing to put my face in the cold water. Did a lot of side stroke and elementary back stroke before I finally manage to pull it together and FS most of the final 250m. I was hoping to do the swim under 15min, but it's going to be somewhere north of 19min! I really need OWS practice!

I had no problem finding my area, but I had some trouble getting my feet out of the wetsuit. Also had some trouble getting my arms out because I had failed to pull the zipper all the way down.

The transition area had turned into a mud fest so running out to the ride was tough.

I rocked the ride! I had "Hill Slug" written on my left calf (hoping a BTer would recognize the name and say "hi". One woman got up pretty close to me on the ride and said "You're no Hill Slug. You're rockin these hills!" I thanked her...and then dropped her ~17.55 miles in ~1:01:30 so ~17+mph.

I had my running shoes under a piece of tarp so they were pretty dry when I grabbed them, but my socks were completely soaked. On the way out of transition I was running through mud so my shoes were also soaked before I even started the official run. Overall, the run went pretty well...first triathlon where I actually ran the whole run! Unfortunately, I hit the wrong button on the Garmin so it stopped timing coming out of transition. I managed to figure out what was happening and get it recording a little way in, but missed about 0.5 miles. My time for the last ~2.6 miles was ~26min. I was hoping to bring it in under 10min/mile and will be really close.

Funniest thing I heard: on the run "I think I'm getting swimmer's ear."

Funniest thing I saw: a mile or so into the run: a woman running around a puddle. As if that mattered by then!

Thanks Shaun. When I first started biking and participating in online discussions (Team Estrogen) I needed to pick a screen name. I had heard the term "Hill Slug" used to describe a rider who could barely ride hills. That's exactly how I felt at the time and decided to take the name. No, I'm no longer a slug, but I like the name because it reminds me how far I've come.

The bike and the run were good or better. Someday maybe I'll figure out OWS, too! 

You did awesome Nicole! Sounds like the weather threw some obstacles your way, but you didn't let it stop you, and as far as the OWS goes I think we learn with each race and before you know it you'll be rockin the swim just like the bike and run. Congrats!

Sarah, congratulations on you PB today! You're knee must be healing well because you've been doing some fantastic running! Keep up the good work!!

Oh, and it looks like three of us were racing today, pretty cool!! I think I PB'd my 5k, but I don't have the official time yet. Was pretty cold and windy here today and my lungs are feelin it a little.

It's kinda funny Shaun, there are weekends where I want to go out for an easier, longer ride and everything has these hills and they can't really be avoided. So, like it or not, I'm always riding/training on hills. It really paid off yesterday.

Probably the only way I'll be able to get in OWS practice is to join a tri club and hope that they schedule them from time to time. Probably will look into that. My tri in July is a short pool swim (300m) but my tri in August is another 750m OWS. 

I'm doing all 3, the trifecta. Really looking forward to this one should be fun!

Wow, everyone here is kicking butt!  Nice job y'all!

Nicole, way to stick it out at your tri.  It sounds like less-than-comfortable conditions, but you pushed through it and had a rockin' bike and run.  Seriously, I'm envious of your riding ability!

I have a great story from the gym this morning.  Many of my fellow club members who do triathlons are talented athletes and have worked hard to do well.  It's not unheard of for almost every Headhunter (gym "mascot" who competes to have a podium finish.  Lately, I've been bummed coming back from races, because while I had a PR, everyone else is wearing a ribbon around their neck.  So after swim this morning, I drag my tired body into spin class, climb onto my bike, and start grinding away.  About half way through there is a break in between sets and my friend Jenn walks over and puts a ribbon around my neck.  It says "Sarah Gets Faster at Each Race Award."  I had the HUGEST smile on my face after that!  When I get home tonight I'll take pictures and post them.  I'm still smiling...

Results are in and the race report is up.

117/197 overall...7/13 in AG.

Would you believe my 20min swim time put me 8/13 AG but my 31min run put me 12/13? 

MOP is not so bad, right?

OH MY!!!!

Fantastic job on that bike ride!!!  It must have felt good to drop that lady!   Don't worry about the swim.  You still did great in the swim!  Congrats!!!  You should be proud of yourself for running the whole thing!  That was some serious weather you had to contend with.  I'm not sure it could have been much worse from the way you describe it.  You've got some serious tenacity, girl!!!!

Awww!  That's so sweet!  Yes, you are getting faster!

I wish we had a tri group around here.  There are a lot of single sport people so I try to go with them.  No one is up for OWS around here.  Bummer.

Hi everyone!  I got back from Anchorage, Alaska last night!  What a gorgeous place!  It snowed 2 feet a week before we got there so there was lots of snow all around.  It was sunny and cold while we were there.  We went north of Anchorage to our friends shack in the woods for a visit.  Very pretty piece of property that they have!  We did all sorts of Anchorage stuff.  The wedding was beautiful.  On Sunday, we drove south of Anchorage to Portage Lake and Glacier.  It is really had to see glaciers when everything is covered with snow!  The lake was totally frozen over so we were walking around in the snow on it and watching the cross country skiiers on it.  We stopped at Alyeska Ski Resort to check it out.  It has some of the steepest runs I've ever seen!!!!!  The thing that cracked me up about the ski area was the base elevation.  It is at 275 feet above sea level!  Crazy!!!  The days are already long there.  It was getting light around 5:45AM and it was still light at 10:30PM!  I'll post some pictures when I get them.

Congrats to all of you in your races!  Now I have to go check out all of the race reports!  Cheers!

Dude!  You would freeze your butt off up there!!!!

owl_girl - 2008-04-23 11:42 AM It looks like we have been archived. We can still chat away on this forum if you want. I'll be keeping an eye on it. Let's definitely keep in touch. I've had a great time getting to know all of you! Congratulations on all of your accomlishments over the past few months! Cheers!

Huh?!? Do we need to start a new thread? 

MDHillSlug - 2008-04-23 12:06 PM

owl_girl - 2008-04-23 11:42 AM It looks like we have been archived. We can still chat away on this forum if you want. I'll be keeping an eye on it. Let's definitely keep in touch. I've had a great time getting to know all of you! Congratulations on all of your accomlishments over the past few months! Cheers!

Huh?!? Do we need to start a new thread? 

No.  We can stay right here and continue to post.  No worries!

Haha, Shaun, didn't you complain a week or so ago about having to run because it was too cold?  It had got down to like 60 or something?  Just givin ya a hard time because I'm so tired of bundling up and riding on the trainer...  I hear it's going to get up to like 62 this weekend over here - wohoo!!!!

Yeah!  I think he said he would sleep in his wetsuit too!!!