Pumpkinman 70.3

My first half ironman is complete.  All week I felt like I was going to throw up whenever I thought about it, and now it's finally over.  I had an absolutely awesome day - didn't hit the numbers that I was looking for, but it was my first, and considering that this was my first tri season, it ended well.  I finished with a strong run and a smile on my face.

3:45 am - Alarm goes off.  Up like a little kid on Christmas morning.  (This is a trend with my races, I'm always super excited and have no problem getting up early).  I also have no problem sleeping the night before - I went to bed at 8 and slept like a rock.  Turned the coffee pot on, started to get together everything I was going to need for the day.  I am not a night-before packer - I like to get up with a clear head and think everything through for the day the morning of.  My plan was to be at the venue by around 5:30, race started at 7.  By 4:30 I had drank two cups of coffee, eaten a clif bar, and had everything I would need in the back of my truck.  I started thinking - I could've slept another half hour :)

I was really excited about the day.  My mom was volunteering on course, my best friend was the race director, and my boyfriend was one of the assistant race directors - as well as tons of other people that would be there racing and cheering.  It was going to be an awesome day.  I didn't feel nervous at all until I got to the venue, and even then it wasn't too bad.  I parked, got all my stuff out, went to get my timing chip and to get body marked, then went to transition to set up. 

I decided last minute that even though I've been having shin splints in my left leg, I was not going to wear my compression socks on the bike and run, because I had completely forgotten about the ankle band-chip, and decided that would be too much of a pain. So I bagged the compression socks and used regular socks.  I also got to meet Dot and John M, fellow ontrier's in transition, so that was really nice. 

A couple trips to the porta potty - hi's and hug's and kisses to Mom/best friend/boyfriend - and a couple little pep talks, and I was ready.  I put my wetsuit on and headed down to the water. The swim waves were pretty big - mine was all females 39 and under.  I made the decision that I was going to just start way in the back, to the left.  I knew that even if I was in the back, I would start my day better than if I was getting kicked and punched and swam over... and I was so glad I did.  Saw a bunch of friends down on the beach (racing and spectating) - my friend Matt was down there to take some pictures of me looking like a deer in headlights as I looked at the pond and thought about the swim.  I had been swimming in this pond at least once a week all summer, so it was nothing new.  I knew the course, had swam it many times, and really knew what time I could expect. It was gonna be slow, but at least I was prepared for that and had told myself that no miracles were gonna happen out there. 

The waves start... my wave is called to the water, and we're given the signal to start.  I was the very last person, and just got right into my groove and swam very comfortably.  Very uneventful - didn't get kicked or punched - I did get swam over by a couple of elite males as they lapped around - funny that no one else did this.  Apparently their so focused on finishing that it's too hard to see someone right in front of them and they end up on top of you.  The swim was a two loop course, and in between you had to get out of the water and run across a timing mat.  I got out, ran across, back in the water for my second loop. Uneventful again.  I was able to pee a couple times (yes, in my wetsuit) which was good because I didn't want to have to go on the bike (that backfired).  Out of the water in 49:43. Oh well, it is what it is.

From the water to T1 was a "hill climb challenge" - it replicates a local ski/sled hill in the town called Powderhouse hill. They have a seperate challenge for the fastest climb out of the water, and there are people that actually have the goal of just winning that challenge.  I was just going to take it easy, I didn't want to aggravate my achilles or shin splints.  Took my wetsuit off at the bottom of the hill and trotted up.  1:32

Into T1.  socks and bikes shoes on, helmet and sunglasses, grab bike and go.  1:17

Onto the bike.  I had ridden the bike course a few times before as well, so I was pretty familiar with it.  Hilly.  I was pretty far to the back of the pack, so I didn't get passed at all, but I did pass a few people.  I felt okay on the bike, but in the end I had only averaged 18.1 mph, I had hoped for faster.  I did have to pee starting at about the half way point, and try as I did, it was not happening. And I certainly wasn't going to get off my bike and lose any time. I need to practice peeing on the bike, I guess - cause no matter what I did, it just didn't happen.  Again, lots of familiar faces volunteering and cheering along the bike course - good stuff.  The wind picked up towards the end and made it a tough second half.  3:05

Came into T2 and saw my Mom standing there flagging people in. That was pretty cool. I gave her a high five and said something, don't remember what. But it was nice to see her.  Bike shoes off, running shoes on.  Helmet off, visor on.  Now here's the tricky part: I wanted to run with my fuel belt, and I didn't want a race belt as well, so I bought these little things that can attached your race number to the fuel belt. Only thing is, you have to close the velcro before you can attach one of the sides (unless there's another way that I haven't figured out yet).  So as I ran out of transition, I fumbled with trying to get the elastic through the hole in the race number and then the little plastic thing on.. as I ran by my mom I said "this was a really bad idea!" but it didn't take long, and actually worked out great.  T2: 1:07

Ah, the run.  As I went running out, I remember what my coach had said "it's going to feel really easy - BACK OFF" and I looked down at my watch and saw 5:59 and said whoa! and slowed down.  I tried to keep it at around an 8 minute pace for a couple miles, but I was still a bit under.  So as I get about a quarter mile down the road, all of a sudden two of my friends are running next to me - not runners - in their jeans - it was hilarious.  Apparently Chris had said to Derek "if we see her we'll have to run with her", not thinking they'd see me right away - so off we went! It was awesome.  Really pumped me up. They ran with me for about a mile, and then turned back.  Very cool.  I felt fine for a couple miles, and then a few miles into the run I was hurting. I was keeping around 7:43 pace - my achilles was hurting, my back was hurting; I had that terrible thought go through my head of "oh crap, I'm not going to be able to do this" - and then I crushed that thought and started thinking positive. I knew I had to turn the focus away from my aches and pains or I wouldn't make it.  So I started telling everyone that I passed "good job" and "looking good!" with a big smile on my face. and it worked. I was fine after a few miles. Then I started putting it down.  7:30's, 7:09, 7:42, etc.  The run course was kind of a loop also - out and back twice with a loop at the end.  My dad and step mom had positioned themselves on the course so that I ended up passing them four times. That was pretty cool.  Derek and Chris made their way to one of the places that I'd pass on the course, before going to the finish line to see my finish.  And there were a bunch of friends cheering for me along the way - that was great. 

It also helped to boost my spirits to hear "wow - you are flying!" constantly.  And.. I was.  Jon drove by in a truck at one point, and was along the course at a few different places to cheer me on.  It was awesome to have him there, really motivated me every time I saw him.  First loop done, back out for the second.  As I approached the final hill, I saw a girl ahead of me with a 31 on her leg.  In my age group, she's mine I thought.  So I flew past her on the hill. Into the chute and across the finish line.  Run: 1:40.  7:39 pace.  Sweet.  My Mom, Jon, Kat, Derek, Chris, Mia, Tom were all at the finish line when I crossed.  It was awesome. 

Oh, and I still hadn't been able to pee. So I ran over to the portapotties.  I felt great - a little sore, but really good.  Final time was 5:39.  Sixth in my age group.  The swim killed me.  I was shooting for 5:30, didn't happen. Oh well, next time.  I think my run split was one of the fastest out of all females, but I haven't looked at all the numbers yet. I wish I could swim and bike like I run!  Overall fantastic day - quite an experience.  Now I get to rest for two days, and then back at it for my next events.  Amanda DeBlauw, YOU are a PUMPKINMAN!

Taper Day No. 2, 5 days out, Nightmare No. 1

Taper week - everything changes. The workout hours (obviously), the way you eat, the way you sleep.. your whole body dynamics.  I have to be careful not to eat like I have a 3 hour workout, and at the same time, eat enough to keep my body going.. find the right balance, which I am not good at.  I need to keep my body in a schedule, even though there is no need to wake up super early for a long workout, I need to make sure not to throw myself out of whack. 

Last night I awoke at about 2 am feeling paniced.  I had been dreaming (let's call it a nightmare) that I showed up to Pumpkinman, finished the swim in a great time (that part is awesome, hopefully that's a premonition) and then got to T1.  T1 was a small cabin, you had to stand in line single file and walk your bike in to cross the timing mat.  The line was about 50 deep and moving at a snails pace.  As I got to the cabin and picked my bike up to lift over the wall that you had to climb over, my seat fell.  As I examined it closer, it had these weird things on both sides that needed special tools to raise it and tighten in place. No one in the cabin had a tool for this. I tried to do it with my fingers and got covered with grease. 

As I made it through T1 and out onto the course, it was a loose, gravelly, road for a while, and I tried to ride with the seat in the fallen position, but it was like riding a little kids bike.  There was a bike shop on the side of the trail, so I went in to find a bike mechanic - there were three fat old guys that were smoking and very rude and told me that there were many other athletes that were there first...although I didn't see anyone.  I tried to mess with my seat while I waited, and finally they got to me, and no one had the tool to fix my seat.... and then I woke up.  I think I need to eat less protein today.  Lord, help me make it through hell week!

Taper.... aka Hell Week

I came up with the perfect description of "Taper" while I was in an ice bath after doing my final 10 mile run before beginning my taper week: "The week spent convincing your body (after beating the sh*t out of it for months) that it's over, it's okay to heal... so that you can really beat the sh*t out of it on race day."  I think that sums it up perfectly. 

Some people look forward to taper.  Others, like myself, dread it.  For a type A personality like me, to go from a very structured, wake-to-the-alarm-drink-coffee-look-at-the-schedule-to-see-what-your-workout-is-going-to-be-today-and-get-out-and-do-it period of months, to all of a sudden open the schedule to find "Rest"... and to see that word planted in the schedule more than once in the course of the week...well, that's just plain torture. 

5:30 AM.  Out of bed.  Coffee maker on.  Drink first cup of coffee. Check email. Reply to email.  Drink another cup of coffee. Hmm... now it's 6:15.  What to do.  See what I mean?  Hell.  I cannot sit still long enough to watch a movie.  I am good for about 20 minutes, when I notice that the plant across the room looks a little droopy and needs water. So I get up and water it. On the way back from putting the watering thingy away, notice that I have a new message.  Sit down for a second to read the email.  It's a message telling me that someone replied to a post on facebook. Open facebook, read the post.  Then scroll through to see what everyone else is posting.  Back to email.  Link to website... etc etc.  You get the gist.  Movie? What movie?  That is my life in a nutshell. Can't sit still. How in the world am I expected to go from a 14 or 15 hour week to a 5 or 6 hour week? 

This is only halfway through day 1 of taper.  Tomorrow I get to swim.  As much as I do not look forward to swimming, I cannot wait to swim tomorrow.  And Wednesday, oh Wednesday. I get to ride my bike for an hour fifteen, and run a couple miles off the bike. Wednesday cannot come too quickly. 

Hurry up Pumpkinman.  You've got an impatient type A athlete waiting for you. 

To Tri or Not To Tri....

I'd been feeling like something had come over me for about 5 days.  I couldn't shake it.  I felt light headed, dizzy, had a terrible headache, weak, tired; if I was sitting down, I still felt like I was going to fall over.  I was scheduled for an olympic tri on Sunday, and since Tuesday had it in my head that I'd be over this and able to race.  Friday came, I went to the pool.  500 meters into my swim I felt like I was going to pass out in the pool.  I got out.  Smart move number one.  The rest of the day I drank lots of fluids, rested, did everything I was instructed to do.  Saturday I woke up feeling a little better.  Had it in my head that I was going to race on Sunday.  Went out for my shake out ride and run and felt great. Put out pretty good numbers with little effort.  Brought my bike in to get a couple of last minute tweaks and a pre-race tune up.  As the day went on I felt worse and worse.... but that night still had it in my head that I was going to get up at 4 am and get my race on.  As 8:00 rolled around that night and I could barely stay awake or hold my head up, I told myself that I wasn't going to set my alarm, but if I woke up at 4 (which is not unusual for me) it was meant to be and I would head to the race.  Sunday morning I rolled over and saw 6:30 am, and knew it was not meant to be, and it was too late to get to the race anyway.  I was fine with it.... as my A race is in two weeks and I didn't want to jeopardize anything leading up to that. 
So... I prepared a few bottles (notice I say a few, obviously had the intention of a good ride) and headed out on my bike.  Oh, I also set up a transition area at the end of my driveway, just in case I felt okay and wanted to run a few miles after.  Headed south on 125, took a left onto some unknown road, figured I'd loop back into Exeter... came upon another cyclist, about 20 minutes down the road after catching up with and passing each other over and over, I said "hey, do you know where this road comes out?" He said "I have no idea!" and we both laughed and kept on... about another 20 minutes go by, he (his name was Andy, I came to find out later) caught up again and said "Uh, we're in Amesbury Mass".  Oops.  We found our way onto 286 and into Hampton together. 
My ride turned into 60 miles, and I did a 4 mile run off the bike.  So, I feel like I could've raced... but I guess it was better to not have and wish that I did, than to have and wish that I hadn't.  Needless to say, I was feeling much better, and think I have finally kicked whatever I had come down with.  Two weeks til my A race: Pumpkinman 70.3. 

Hey GENIUS...

Not advised to buy a pair of Newtons 4 weeks out from your 70.3 that you've been training for all season.  Wait, let me add to that: and run 13 miles at a 7:40 pace and then do 8 miles of speed work two days later.  Wait, a little more... especially if you've had achilles problems in the past.  Hang on, a little more: a slight achilles tear that sidelined you from running Boston in 2008.  Wait, scratch all that; let me start over with a complete sentence (or maybe a run-on sentence):

Hey MORON, Don't go out and buy a pair of Newtons when you have never run in anything but asics for years and years, when you are 4 weeks out from your 70.3 A race of the season and 9 weeks out from a marathon, especially when you have had achilles problems in the past; specifically don't lace them up and run 13 miles and then two days later do a hard speed work day in them.... and expect everything to be a-okay. 

That about sums it up.  Luckily I think I caught it in time; as soon as my achilles started to show the same signs of injury again, I backed off - took 6 days off from running; was religious about using rock tape; and I think I'm good.... I hope.  As I get older, the more injuries I seem to get, but I also seem to get smarter about taking care of them immediately instead of trying to push through them.  The Newtons are back in the box, haven't decided if they are going back or if I'm going to just keep them in the box until November and then slowly break them in over the winter.  Right now they have left a sour taste in my mouth (or on my achilles) but I really want them to work.  The two runs that I did in them felt great; just not so great after. 

Ran 13 miles this morning, in my asics (and rock tape), felt great.  Phew. Tragedy narrowly averted. 

The Swim: YOU are the weakest link

On my list of Top 100 favorite things to do, no where will you find anything even remotely related to swimming.  I guess it is human nature to like the things that we are good at...good at swimming, I am not.  I started swimming in December (well, I went to the pool a couple times, I wouldn't actually call it swimming). I took a few lessons in January, so I guess that is when it really started.  I won't really get into details, but it wasn't pretty.  I couldn't swim one length of a 25 meter pool without hanging onto the other end gasping for breath for five minutes.  Fast forward to today, mid-August, and I can swim 2 miles without stopping... but it ain't pretty.  After a few lessons with one coach at the pool, I got the basics down.  I spent at least 3 days per week in the pool (sometimes 4) for at least an hour at a time, doing lap after lap after lap after... yeah.  I guess there was improvement somewhere, as I pointed out I can swim much farther than when I first started. But it still ain't pretty. 
I have done four tri's this year; three sprints and an olympic.  First sprint I won my AG, 5th overall.  Second sprint placed 2nd AG.  Olympic...well, we don't even need to discuss that.  I don't know where I placed but it certainly wasn't worth mentioning.  Third sprint, won my AG - I think I was 7th overall?  Or something.  But, none of that was thanks to the swim portion.  Luckily I can run.  Out of 202 people (men and women), I was 149 out of the water.  Run, I was 17th. (2nd female).  None of these numbers really matter, except they go to prove a point that I am super competitive, and I like being good at things.  Swimming is not one of these things. 
I have been working with Craig Lewin from Endurance Swimming and he has been fantastic. I have certainly gotten a lot out of his instruction.  I plan to work with him over the winter as much as possible. For now, my goal is just to get through my Olympic race in a week and a half, and not let the swim ruin my race like it did in my last Oly.  And then to get through my 70.3 in (gulp) 3-1/2 weeks, again, without letting the swim ruin my race.
I'm hoping that by this time next year I can look back at this post and laugh, because I'm SO much better at swimming by then. If I'm not, it won't be for lack of trying!

Jumping ahead... my first Olympic tri (aka I am my biggest critic)

Jumping ahead to my third triathlon... an olympic distance - July 18.  this was my race report:

First and foremost, I must say that I am extremely hard on myself - always have been, always will be, it will never change. So here's my report.


3:15 am my alarm goes off, and I am up like a little kid on Christmas. Always like this for me on race day. I had asked my mom if she wanted to go with me, as she has come to all of my marathons and most of my running races, but never a tri. I told her she had to be at my house at 4:15... I completely didn't expect her to come, but at 3:53 I got a text message "on my way". I was excited - it is always nice to have someone waiting for you at the finish. We left the house and headed out for a 2 hour drive to the race venue. I had plenty of time to just focus on my race. In my head I was going over everything that I had in the back of my vehicle to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. At one point while I was doing this I even turned around to look and make sure that my bike was there... a bit OCD, yes.

We got to 275 Baldwinville Road with the help of my GPS and it was somebody's house. After a little bit of freaking out, I realized it was Baldwinville State Road that I needed and luckily I wasn't that far away. Got to the parking lot, all gear unloaded, headed towards registration and body marking. My mom pulled out the camera and started taking pictures - I think she took a total of 88 photos throughout the day. Team Hoyt was there, whom my mom had never seen or heard of, so she was very impressed with them and I ended up with lots of pictures of them. She was also very impressed with the size of some of the people that were participating, so I ended up with about 6 pictures of two very large people that I don't know. My Mom's a little odd. Anyway....

Walking into transition my chain fell off my bike, not sure why. Put it back on, set up transition; shoes on, off for a little 1 mile warm up run. while I was gone they announced that the water temp was 80, so wet suits could be worn but you wouldn't be eligible for any awards. this was fine, as I didn't expect to place anyway. I figured my swim would be 35 minutes for .9 miles, and with that speed, I think a one armed... no wait, Jim K, probably could've passed me :) Back from my warm up run, onto the bike to make sure it was in the right gear and chain was good to go. Back to transition, grabbed sleeveless wetsuit, goggles, cap, gu and headed to the beach. Walked in the water for a little swim and saw the guy that I have taken a few lessons from (obviously I need to take a few more) and chatted for a few minutes. He said "why are you wearing a wet suit?" and I told him I would still be in the water when he was coming in from the run if I didn't. I asked him the best place to start to be out of the madness, so we came up with a plan; he was off and I did a little warm up swim.

Fast forward to race start. The sprint race was going off at the same time as the Olympic - the sprint waves were first. Finally my wave was up (orange caps), into the water to the first buoy to start, and we were given the signal to start.  there were only 4 waves for the Olympic race, so the waves were rather large. It was a struggle at first but I was fine, and got away from the mass of people and got into my groove. I just concentrated on my stroke and aiming for the big buoys, which looked so far away... after a while, the men in the wave of white caps that started after us, started to pass me. This is where my day started to go south I think. I started to get grabbed - my feet, my legs, my butt (ooh baby) and swam over and kicked. I didn't freak out at all, but it made me slow down a lot and keep looking around to try not to get kicked in the face. This went on for most of the rest of the swim, which seemed like it took forever. I felt fine, wasn't tired or anything, more annoyed. Oh, I also peed twice on the swim so hopefully one of those guys swimming over me got peed on. I finally made it back to the beach, ran out of the water and looked at my watch... 40:17. My heart absolutely sunk, I was so disappointed. I have been swimming around 1800 meters in 40 minutes, so I thought for sure I would swim the .9 in about 35. Secretly I was hoping that I'd somehow be faster than that. It's alright, just get on the bike, legs feel great, make up the time on the bike and run.... is what I SHOULD have been thinking. Instead I was consumed with the fact that I sucked so bad in the water. I think at this point I mentally packed up and went home.

Swim: 40:17 ...gulp... 291 out of 322. Yikes.

T1: I had worn my racebelt under my wetsuit and already had my garmin on, so I only had to tear off my wetsuit, throw on my bike shoes, helmet, sunglasses and grab my bike. Switched my garmin into bike mode as I was running out.. T1: 1:21

The bike course was two loops, with a couple of good hill climbs. The first was at mile 5, and it was almost a mile long climb. I passed a lot of people on the bike, kept it steady up the hills, just cranked along. I was still thinking about the swim and how disappointed I was. Not much to report on the bike - other than the 2nd loop at the big hill climb almost at the top of the hill there was a guy in cycling clothes that had parked his bike against a tree and was on his knees on the ground with a cowbell in one hand and pounding the pavement with the other hand yelling "hammer! Hammer! Hammer! Almost there! Kill this hill! Hammer!" It made me smile and gave me a little kick.

I was hoping to average around 19+ mph on the bike, ended up in the 18's. I was disappointed with this as well.

Bike: 24.4 miles 1:20 - 129 out of 322. A little better than swim, but geesh, still disappointing.

Dismount, run into T2. Bike racked, helmet off, visor on, bike shoes off, running shoes on, speed laces tightened on right shoe.. grab the little plastic thingy on the other laces and CRAP! Pulled it off! Alright, relax, just take your time and put it back on - no big deal. Got the little plastic thingy on, laces tightened, set garmin to running mode on my way running out of transition. Figured that T2 was going to be a couple minutes at least.

T2: 0:53!!!! I scanned through the results quickly at the T2 times and this time was definitely better than most!

Onto the run. All I can say is Thank God I can run. My competitive spirit kicked back in (I'm lying, it never left) and I was passing people left and right. I guess it's a good thing that running comes at the end of triathlon. I had asked Aleck how to play out my day as far as pacing and he gave me instructions on all. For the run he had said to run the first mile around 7:30, then work up to 5k pace and then the last 5k go as hard as I could. so for the first couple miles I tried to hold back and ran around 7:15, but then I thought - why am I holding back? It's only a 10k! And I kicked it in. My legs felt great, I didn't feel like I had swam or biked prior to this (based on my results I really didn't!) and I was on it. I passed one person after another and kept thinking in my head "Ha! That's for passing me on the swim!" It was hot out, the run was out and back, there were two water stops (so really four) and I grabbed water at each, drank some, and poured the rest over my head. At the 3rd water stop, I reached for the cup and somehow it got knocked onto the ground. I needed water at this point so I turned around and went back for a cup. Aggravating. In the last mile I kept thinking about my coach saying "give it all you've got" and pushed harder and harder. My last mile was 6:26. My 10k pace ended up being 7:06 average per mile. I definitely could've gone harder - lesson learned.

Run: 45:26, 41 out of 322.

Reached the finish line and my first Olympic was done. Time was 2:48. 126 out of 322. I didn't wait around for the results to be posted, I was too pissed off about the swim still (I'm a big baby I guess). I did get in the water to cool down, and then packed my stuff up and headed out. I am pretty psyched about my transition times and my run. I need to work on getting stronger on the bike, and definitely need help on the swim. Next Oly is Aug 28, then my first 70.3 is Sept 12. Hopefully I will make some huge improvements in those periods of time and be much happier with my races in the future! (Side note: I will never be happy with my race results. No matter what. That's just me. :) )