I had been thinking about---no, obsessing about this race ever since I DNF'd it last year after missing the bike cutoff by 4 minutes. So this year it was all about making the cutoff.
PRE-RACE: I set a new PR for pre-race hydration -- polished off a gallon of water on the drive to NY, requiring 5 pit stops along the way. This was on top of the 5 day hydration extravaganza I had embarked upon leading up to departure day.
Tough time sleeping Saturday night, but at least this year I wasn't making a late night run for Krazy Glue to fix my goggles the night before the race! (lesson learned the hard way last year)
Before my warm up swim on race day, as I was having one of those "Can I do this, will I make the damn cutoff" moments, leave it to Priscilla to try to lighten the mood with Ye Olde Divert-Her-Attention-And-Maybe-She-Will-Forget-To-Be-Worried Trick:
Me: "I'm really getting nervous about this."
Priscilla, pointing to some trash on the ground: "Look, look! It's a Snickers wrapper--your favorite!"
It was so random and she looked so excited about this piece of litter on the ground that I was cracking up as I headed in for a practice swim (no one rocks the pre-race cheer fest quite like P Diddy :).
And then there was Lisa, who was yelling at me about the debt crisis and the war in Afghanistan as I was walking into the water for my wave start--not your usual cheer material, I know, but I had told Lisa I needed to get worked up before the race, so she was trying to piss me off! LOL
SWIM: Goal: anything under 53 minutes would be nice. Actual: 47:19
If you were in the neon green swim wave --- that was me who yelled Oh My God twice, right before the horn went off. What a wild swim that was! I felt like I was getting thrown all over the place by the waves and chop. After we made the first turn it seemed to get worse. I briefly considered freaking out, but then decided that plowing ahead would be more productive. Once I relaxed and decided to roll with it, I was surprised that I actually enjoyed the swim!
I have to pause here to give a big shout out to our awesome Team Z MD swim coaches, Alexis, Mark, and Jim. THANKS GUYS! And a big thank you to the Z cheer squad that greeted us as we got out of the water. :)
BIKE: Goal: Make the cutoff Actual: Made it with about 25 minutes to spare
The bike course seemed easier this year, perhaps because I knew what to expect. Or maybe it was the strength training (thanks Janet and Melissa) and hill workouts I did this year (thanks Melanie and Alexis).
I have these nifty new aerobars, so my plan was to stay aero as much as possible, keep up my cadence, and pay attention to my nutrition. I had practiced my tire changing skills the weekend before the race and had an extra tire and multiple tubes and CO2's stashed all over the place---probably overkill, but better to be over-prepared, right?
Right around mile 51, just as I was starting to drag a bit, I spied the familiar Z green on the side of the road. I couldn't believe it! They had waited this long---on the side of the road, IN THAT HEAT---for the LAST of us to ride by! Amid the cheers I could hear Lisa shouting something about bin Laden--- OMG I was laughing so hard. It was just the boost I needed to pick up my pace and make it back to the park.
Approaching the final stretch before the dismount line was my favorite part of the race. I kept checking my watch, thinking it must be slow, or maybe it had stopped working. It couldn't possibly be correct! How is it that I have all this time to spare before the cutoff??!!
Priscilla, Janet, Rich and several other Zs were there cheering everyone in. (Thanks for waiting guys!) They have had to listen to me obsess about last year's DNF for a year now and knew how nervous I was about making the cutoff. As I passed by they started shouting "PR! PR! PR!" I started getting choked up---I had to tell myself to GET A GRIP! Then I saw the timing mat, still in place--- and no one was waiting with scissors to cut off my timing chip! Oh happy day.
RUN: Goal: 2:45 Actual: 3:28
I was sooo happy to finally be on the run-- my total comfort zone! It took about 3 miles for me to pep up a bit and step up my shuffle. That didn't last long, though. The heat was a challenge, for sure. By the time I was approaching the gravel hill, I was taking regular walk breaks. Just as I was starting to think I must be the only person left out here suffering in this heat on this hill, two Zs passed me. Just seeing familiar faces and the Z green was awesome. We all must have been thinking the same thing-- get this done!
The aid stations were amazing and the people standing out in the heat with their hoses -- I couldn't believe it. I'm sure there were plenty of other ways they could've spent their Sunday but they were there for all of us.
Thank you to the cheering Zr who told me to just "keep moving forward" -- that became my mantra for the final few miles.
Thank you to Rohini, who rode up on her bike and gave me words of encouragement, told me I had only a mile or so to go, and pointed out the Z tents off in the distance. She said something like, "That's the finish line--it's right there!" What a happy, happy sight!
Then Tracey magically appeared out of nowhere with --get this--a Diet Coke! No kidding-- I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I had a Diet Coke before I even reached the finish line!
FINISH LINE! Goal: 8 hours Actual: 8:28
Approaching the finish line I couldn't believe how many Zs were still there -- waiting in the heat for the last racers to cross!! I got choked up again. It was a combination of - Wow, I'm so glad to be done and OMG Team Z is so amazing!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
MusselMANIA!
Okay, I am so pumped about Musselman. This race is all about redemption. I'm not going to go into detail about what happened last year (because frankly, the only person who reads this blog has heard it over and over and over....and over) but let's just sum it up with a simple "I didn't make the bike cutoff" and leave it at that.
This year is different. Here are the top 10 reasons why I'll make the damn bike cutoff this year:
10. Karma is on my side
9. My goggles aren't cracked
8. But just in case, I actually have a spare pair this time
7. No late night runs to the store to buy Krazy Glue
6. My bike is pimped out with aero bars
5. I actually went to Hillz practice this year
4. Georgetown Prep....Lake Montclair...I've made it to more swim practices than ever before
3. I actually started hydrating 6 days before the race (unheard of!)
2. The race may start on time...or not. But this time I'll actually check my watch to make sure
1. I'M IN THE 4TH SWIM WAVE!!!! WOOOHOOOO!
The bottom line is that this year, I WILL run--no matter what! They can yank my chip, yell DNF at me, and rip my race number off of me, but I will RUN AND FINISH THE RACE!!! BRING IT ON, MUSSELMAN!
This year is different. Here are the top 10 reasons why I'll make the damn bike cutoff this year:
10. Karma is on my side
9. My goggles aren't cracked
8. But just in case, I actually have a spare pair this time
7. No late night runs to the store to buy Krazy Glue
6. My bike is pimped out with aero bars
5. I actually went to Hillz practice this year
4. Georgetown Prep....Lake Montclair...I've made it to more swim practices than ever before
3. I actually started hydrating 6 days before the race (unheard of!)
2. The race may start on time...or not. But this time I'll actually check my watch to make sure
1. I'M IN THE 4TH SWIM WAVE!!!! WOOOHOOOO!
The bottom line is that this year, I WILL run--no matter what! They can yank my chip, yell DNF at me, and rip my race number off of me, but I will RUN AND FINISH THE RACE!!! BRING IT ON, MUSSELMAN!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
3-2-1 Amazing!
Just got back from watching the Space Shuttle Atlantis blast off into the history books. That's it, the final shuttle launch, something that will never happen again. It was so very cool to be there covering this milestone for the U-S space program. Assignments like this one make me love my job.
I interviewed some amazing people: astronauts Ken Reightler, Roger Crouch, Dan Tani, Janice Voss, former shuttle launch director Bob Sieck, and NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden....
On launch day, NASA almost called it off because of the bad weather. But somehow we lucked out and managed to have just enough of a break for Atlantis to launch. It was a long day -- wake up call of 2 AM, then standing in one spot the entire day for live shots. But it was all worth it because at 11:28AM, Atlantis roared off the launchpad toward the heavens.
I must note that my tri training came in handy on this assignment. To beat the heat and humidity, I wore tops made of "wicking" fabric, drank lots of water, and popped some Endurolytes to keep from getting dehydrated.
When I finally made it home I collapsed on the couch and slept for several hours, woke up and practiced changing my bike tires, then went to bed! Had to get the tire changing practice in because Musslemania is in one week!! woooohoooo!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
30 Days To Kilimanjaro!
The 30 day countdown is ON!! (Well, it's officially 28 days out, but it was actually 30 days out 2 days ago when I started writing this post.... but who's counting?)
I'm starting to get nervous, excited, overwhelmed with all I have to do to get ready... Let's see, what else? I woke up at 3AM on the official 30 day countdown day thinking that I still need to buy large Ziploc bags. Yep, gotta obsess about that one. That'll wake you up, alright. Can't forget those Ziploc bags. Never mind that I still haven't gotten MAJOR things done! And I'm heading out of town this week for the final space shuttle launch....which means no getting things done, no Musselmania training, no sleep....
At least I have tomorrow off! Happy Fourth of July, y'all.
I'm starting to get nervous, excited, overwhelmed with all I have to do to get ready... Let's see, what else? I woke up at 3AM on the official 30 day countdown day thinking that I still need to buy large Ziploc bags. Yep, gotta obsess about that one. That'll wake you up, alright. Can't forget those Ziploc bags. Never mind that I still haven't gotten MAJOR things done! And I'm heading out of town this week for the final space shuttle launch....which means no getting things done, no Musselmania training, no sleep....
At least I have tomorrow off! Happy Fourth of July, y'all.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Rockin' The Rock Hall Sprint
Goal: Breaking 2:00 would be nice
Actual: 1:52:21 - 2nd Place in my age group!
Ah...the joys of a sprint triathlon. A mere 750 meter swim; a nice 15 mile jaunt on the bike; a quick 3.1 mile walk-in-the-park-run. I signed up for this race on a whim just a few days before, thinking how nice it would be to do a short distance for a change.
Priscilla picked me up at 5:30 AM and we made the 2 hour drive to Rock Hall. A road trip with P is always a blast :). The weather was gorgeous too-- clear skies and about 70 degrees. We arrived to find plenty of parking, no parking attendants, and a t-nincy transition area! This was a small race for a change-- only 180 or so contenders.
Swim: 18:47
When I first laid eyes on the swim course, all I could think was: That's it? That's as far as I have to swim? It seemed so short! Still, the swim is always my least favorite part of triathlon and I knew I couldn't take it for granted.
Melissa had said that I needed to get myself really worked up before the race -- get mad and take it out on the water, Sally! But I was so laid back--I mean, this was the shortest distance I would do all year! So I really had to make an effort to get myself pumped up and pissed off.
The horn went off and I was surprised to find myself actually swimming near other swimmers. This was foreign territory for me...usually I've got plenty of open water around me as everyone else pulls ahead. But this time I swam in a pack of people the whole way. My thoughts went something like this:
Pull harder, remember how pissed you are! You're mad, dammit---act like it!
Don't pick up your head when you breathe, for crying out loud! Pull!
C'mon, snap that rotation! Reach over the barrel! Pick up the pace!
Before I knew it, I was pulling myself up on the dock and running for transition.
T1 3:36
Bike: 53:04
The bike was pancake flat and windy. Great, I thought, now's your chance to practice using your aero bars. So I laid down the mandate:
Sally, you will not raise up out of the aero position unless you are braking or making a sharp turn. Failure to comply with this rule means you are not worthy of owning a tri bike and therefore, must stop shopping for one. Only when you grow up and learn to ride with the big kids can this rule be revisited.
We had a headwind going out...and a tailwind coming back, so any time I lost during the first half of the ride, I made up on the last half. I managed to comply with my aero bar mandate and all was well as I headed for the dismount line.
T2 2:12
Run: 34:45
Did I mention how much I love to run? Well, I love to run. Yes, it was getting hot and no, there wasn't any shade, but I was happy to be in my comfort zone. My focus, at this point, was on staying ahead of this woman in my age group. We had played tag on the bike and initially she was ahead of me on the run; but within the first mile, I managed to pass her and tried not to look back. I kept imagining she was right on my tail and that made me keep up the pace. On the out-and-back stretch, I noticed that she was pretty far behind me, but I still didn't want to let up. I kept thinking how nice it would be not to finish last in my age group :).
I had no idea that I was a contender for 2nd place at that point. I knew there were only a few women in my age group, but when they called my name at the awards ceremony, I was truly shocked!
Finish Time: 1:52:21
Priscilla also placed --taking 3rd in the Athena category! Needless to say, the ride home was great. We compared race notes and laughed about our improbable "podium" finishes. We'll always be back-of-the-packers, but for one brief moment we got to feel like winners....and that was cool.
Actual: 1:52:21 - 2nd Place in my age group!
Ah...the joys of a sprint triathlon. A mere 750 meter swim; a nice 15 mile jaunt on the bike; a quick 3.1 mile walk-in-the-park-run. I signed up for this race on a whim just a few days before, thinking how nice it would be to do a short distance for a change.
Priscilla picked me up at 5:30 AM and we made the 2 hour drive to Rock Hall. A road trip with P is always a blast :). The weather was gorgeous too-- clear skies and about 70 degrees. We arrived to find plenty of parking, no parking attendants, and a t-nincy transition area! This was a small race for a change-- only 180 or so contenders.
Swim: 18:47
When I first laid eyes on the swim course, all I could think was: That's it? That's as far as I have to swim? It seemed so short! Still, the swim is always my least favorite part of triathlon and I knew I couldn't take it for granted.
Melissa had said that I needed to get myself really worked up before the race -- get mad and take it out on the water, Sally! But I was so laid back--I mean, this was the shortest distance I would do all year! So I really had to make an effort to get myself pumped up and pissed off.
The horn went off and I was surprised to find myself actually swimming near other swimmers. This was foreign territory for me...usually I've got plenty of open water around me as everyone else pulls ahead. But this time I swam in a pack of people the whole way. My thoughts went something like this:
Pull harder, remember how pissed you are! You're mad, dammit---act like it!
Don't pick up your head when you breathe, for crying out loud! Pull!
C'mon, snap that rotation! Reach over the barrel! Pick up the pace!
Before I knew it, I was pulling myself up on the dock and running for transition.
T1 3:36
Bike: 53:04
The bike was pancake flat and windy. Great, I thought, now's your chance to practice using your aero bars. So I laid down the mandate:
Sally, you will not raise up out of the aero position unless you are braking or making a sharp turn. Failure to comply with this rule means you are not worthy of owning a tri bike and therefore, must stop shopping for one. Only when you grow up and learn to ride with the big kids can this rule be revisited.
We had a headwind going out...and a tailwind coming back, so any time I lost during the first half of the ride, I made up on the last half. I managed to comply with my aero bar mandate and all was well as I headed for the dismount line.
T2 2:12
Run: 34:45
Did I mention how much I love to run? Well, I love to run. Yes, it was getting hot and no, there wasn't any shade, but I was happy to be in my comfort zone. My focus, at this point, was on staying ahead of this woman in my age group. We had played tag on the bike and initially she was ahead of me on the run; but within the first mile, I managed to pass her and tried not to look back. I kept imagining she was right on my tail and that made me keep up the pace. On the out-and-back stretch, I noticed that she was pretty far behind me, but I still didn't want to let up. I kept thinking how nice it would be not to finish last in my age group :).
I had no idea that I was a contender for 2nd place at that point. I knew there were only a few women in my age group, but when they called my name at the awards ceremony, I was truly shocked!
Finish Time: 1:52:21
Priscilla also placed --taking 3rd in the Athena category! Needless to say, the ride home was great. We compared race notes and laughed about our improbable "podium" finishes. We'll always be back-of-the-packers, but for one brief moment we got to feel like winners....and that was cool.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Lake Montclair
At times I wonder if I'll ever be sleeping late again on the weekends. Once upon a time I would lounge in bed until 10:00 or 11:00. These days, sleeping till 7:00 is considered sleeping late. In fact, I get up earlier on the weekends than I do on weekdays. But today is yet another example of why it's so worth it to drag myself out of bed waaay too early.
This morning the alarm went off at 4:45. Ugh, no fun. But by the time I throw my swim gear in my car and take off for Lake Montclair, I am thrilled to be awake. Lake Montclair is flat calm quiet this early in the morning---perfect for a swim. We slip into the water and aim for the big white house on the other side of the lake. Melissa paddles next to us in her kayak---my own personal coach, cruising right alongside me, offering tips on technique and making sure I make the necessary corrections---can it get any better than that?
I'm hoping the Lake Montclair swims and Melissa's coaching will be the extra help I need to make it happen on race day---and make all those early mornings worth it!
This morning the alarm went off at 4:45. Ugh, no fun. But by the time I throw my swim gear in my car and take off for Lake Montclair, I am thrilled to be awake. Lake Montclair is flat calm quiet this early in the morning---perfect for a swim. We slip into the water and aim for the big white house on the other side of the lake. Melissa paddles next to us in her kayak---my own personal coach, cruising right alongside me, offering tips on technique and making sure I make the necessary corrections---can it get any better than that?
I'm hoping the Lake Montclair swims and Melissa's coaching will be the extra help I need to make it happen on race day---and make all those early mornings worth it!
Monday, June 20, 2011
My Epic Year...So Far
I'm now at the halfway point through my epic year, so it seems fitting to pause for a moment and take a look at how things are going. Here's my list for 2011 so far:
1. Set a new marathon PR by 6 minutes
2. Swam my first 2 miler
3. Made the cutoff at Kinetic
4. Graduated from Georgetown with a masters degree
5. Tracey and I have raised $17,900 toward our $19,340 goal for Global Alliance!
6. Interviewed Pres. Obama
7. Participated in my first biathlon!
Looking ahead to the next 6 months
July 30th - leave for Kilimanjaro
August 9th - reach the summit!!
September 17th - Savageman Oly
October 9th - Waterman Half
November 20th - IMAZ!
December 10th - The Big Birthday
Not to mention all the epic training weekends (epic seems to be my fav word this year), including a 120 mile ride and 20 mile run extravaganza! This is possibly shaping up to be one of the best year's of my life...
1. Set a new marathon PR by 6 minutes
2. Swam my first 2 miler
3. Made the cutoff at Kinetic
4. Graduated from Georgetown with a masters degree
5. Tracey and I have raised $17,900 toward our $19,340 goal for Global Alliance!
6. Interviewed Pres. Obama
7. Participated in my first biathlon!
Looking ahead to the next 6 months
July 30th - leave for Kilimanjaro
August 9th - reach the summit!!
September 17th - Savageman Oly
October 9th - Waterman Half
November 20th - IMAZ!
December 10th - The Big Birthday
Not to mention all the epic training weekends (epic seems to be my fav word this year), including a 120 mile ride and 20 mile run extravaganza! This is possibly shaping up to be one of the best year's of my life...
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