You Go Girl Sprint Triathlon Recap

Today was my first triathlon and it was awesome. The Life Center put this on with a local cycling store for women, Pedal Chic. It was an all women triathlon targeted to beginners who are new to multi sport racing. They held free training clinics, which I've discussed before. I felt like this one might be a good one to try (no pun intended... lol) since it was a short distance and since most participants were beginners.

oh lawd this pic... lol

Distance:
250 m swim
10 mile bike
2.5 mile run

I arrived around 5:45 am because I want to set up early and warm up in the pool

After putting my stuff up, I went and got my timing chip and got marked. 

my iPhone camera was sucking at 6 am

The WHOLE time leading up to this race, i was freaking out about swimming. I knew that this was weak for me because 1. I've never really swam and 2. I didn't start training until about a month and a half ago. I was worried I'd be in everyone's way and it would be a hot mess. It didn't feel like a hot mess. I swam pretty slowly so I could make it 250 meters but it seemed to go so fast.

My time: 8:17 which was 108 out of 135

*eh, not so great but I mean, I have never swam so I didn't care, I was just glad I made it out without being too much in people's way


The bike felt good. I was passing people all over the place and I felt strong. I was averaging about 15-16 mph. I didn't know how that compared to others, but it felt good to be "in control" a little more. I felt a little more experienced on the bike.

My time: 35:14 - I actually placed 35th out of 135 on this so I was right in what I was feeling

Run: I thought this would be cake for me. In my head, I'm a runner - piece of cake. This is was I train in, I'm going to kill it. Welp.... everyone must've been a runner because I placed like, 50th in this. But my time was 22:50 which was like a 9 minute pace. What's amazing about that is that my legs were shot and I ran 2/walked 1. So even with all the walking, I was averaging a 9 minute mile... wow

So overall I finished 46th out of 135. I would say not to shabby but all of us were beginners. I think I was 4th in my age group so I felt pretty good about that. If I could've swam just a little bit faster, I think I could've placed. The 3rd place person was 107:52 and my time was 108:22

I absolutely LOVED doing this. As for my next one, i think I'd like to work on my swimming. I really really really enjoy swimming and I think if I train in the pool the way I train in my running, I can speed it up. I also am impressed with my bike and I think if I can actually train in that, maybe I can really do well on that portion.

All in all... I'm hooked

Maybe it'll work this time

So, yesterday, I tried to post about my long run and it wouldn't save or publish. I don't know what happened but I was upset when I tried to publish my post and IT WOULD NOT. I think it might've been our internet or maybe blogger, I have no idea. So, here I go again...

Yesterday, I ran 8.24 miles in a terrible time, something like 1:38 or something, but here's what my training plan called for:
first 2 miles, half marathon pace
4 miles, run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes
last 2 miles, half marathon pace

my half marathon pace is run 4/walk 1 so that's what I did. I didn't feel like carrying a water bottle, so I did a 5 mile loop, went up to my porch, drank some water and ate a GU, which turned into a longer break because my hubby wanted to talk to me.

I felt bad that it took me so long but what I loved was that it felt so good! My half marathon pace if I just ran without the run/walk would probably be about a 10 minute mile, maybe a 10:20. The issue is that I HATE running that slow. My body feels most comfortable running at a 9 minute mile, but I can't hold that pace for 8 miles, much less 13 or 26.2 which is what I'm training for, so since the training plan called for run 2/walk 2, I was excited because that meant I could run fast!! It felt so good and I remembered why I love running. I felt strong, it felt good to be sweating, I felt happy, I LOVED IT!! At one point, i was rounding the corner, singing Black Eyed Peas out loud and dancing with my arms. I realized that I had to reel it back in before someone saw me and I thought I was completely psycho.

I think my play list helped too because I just put it on random and it included Bob Seger, Chicago, Black Eyed Peas, Amy Winehouse, Beastie Boys and Stone Temple Pilots. That seems like a weird mix... I guess it kind of is...

The other thing, I am participating in the FITABS challenge and missed my day yesterday. I realized that this morning so I guess my rest day for the week is over... whoops. Otherwise, I have done 700 since we started. WooHoo!

Lastly, I have a triathlon this weekend. It will be my first. I have not been in a pool since the last wednesday in June. I have not been on my bike since the beginning of June... whoopsy... But, I signed up for the back and I think there are going to be a lot of old women, so I'm like, eh, i'm sure i'll be fine. At least I'll have the run down :)

So, speaking of all of that, my training for the week will be as follows:

Monday: Speedwork: 10 x 30 second hill repeats, 6 x 60 second repeats on flat ground with 1 minute recovery
*p.s. speed work is my fav, i'll talk about it later

Tuesday: swim. My friend Holly recommended www.beginnertriathlete.com and that site has a learn how to swim 5 month program so I'm starting that in order to become a better swimmer. They've got all kinds of stuff on there so it seems pretty cool! I will also try to do strength as well, either after the swim or at lunch

Wednesday: 6 x 3 minute repeats

Thursday: spin class

Friday: swim, yoga

saturday rest

sunday: TRIATHLON!!!!! 250 m swim, 10 mile bike and 2.5 mile run

It should be easy, I'm just not going to be placing or anything. I need to learn to swim. But what I will say is that when we practiced the swim/run workout, I LOVED IT. So I hope I can train and do a longer sprint one day!!

What does your training look like this week?
Have you ever done a triathlon??

Swim clinic and brick workout

As I was saying Wednesday, last night was the first of three clinics for the You Go Girl Triathlon. I'm kind of excited about this triathlon because it was made specifically for people who've never done a tri and want to see what it's all about.

Last night was the first night and we focused on swimming. Here is what was on the agenda:

You Go Girl Training Clinic 1:  Wednesday, June 29^th, 6:00-7:30 pm

Discussion

• Introduction to triathlon
• Virtual triathlon swim: what to expect
• Swim tips: common complications and how to correct them

Practice/Workout

• Swim: practice what was discussed during swim tips
• Swim: practice changing lanes
• Swim/run practice:  (50-100 meter swim + 0.5 mile run)

What to bring:

Swimsuit or triathlon suit, goggles, swim cap, running shoes, socks,  shorts/t-shirt IF you plan to throw them on before running—we won’t be changing between!

I am so happy they are offering these clinics because I learned so much information last night. Kendra has been doing triathlons for 4 years and she is currently training for her second half ironman. She told us about her first tri and all of the mistakes she made. I thought that was cool because she was helping us feel comfortable. None of the people in this clinic have ever done a tri. In fact, a lot of them hadn't even been in the pool yet. So I was like, okay, at least I'm not the only one. We talked about transition, we talked about changing lanes, etc. and as it got time to get in the pool and practice, I was getting nervous. The lanes look small when you've got all these people swimming in it and what if I run into someone, what if the person behind me gets mad because i'm not going fast enough, what if I have to stop, blah blah blah blah blah, freaking out, freaking out, freaking out, freaking out...

I got in the pool and started swimming behind this girl. Normally when I swim, my breathing is wild, I have a hard time getting it together, and I have to stop every 25 meters. I was so focused on not running into anyone, i didn't even think about my breathing... in a good way. I was swimming pretty smoothly and the only time I had to stop was when the girl in front of me stopped. And she stopped a lot, so I was fine. Once I got out of the pool, I felt much better about the swim. Not that I swam super fast or anything, but I was able to get through it without getting injured and 100 meters went by pretty quickly. My ADD my actually come in handy for this!

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This morning, I did a brick workout, kind of. I took a spin class and then ran a mile on the treadmill. It takes me about a half a mile to get through the weirdness I feel in my legs from switching to the run, but after that, I feel pretty good. I ran a mile in 9:45 which I felt was pretty strong for having done a 45 minute spin class.

My training this week has looked like this:

Monday: 4 sets of 30 second sprints, 4 sets of 60 second sprints, a warm up and cool down mile - 3.5 miles total

Tuesday: Holly's boot camp - i was supposed to swim but I didn't :(

Wednesday: 10 sets of 60 second repeats with a 90 second - 120 second recovery - warm up and cool down mile - 4.6 miles total

100 m swim with the group and 100 m on my own

then a 5 minute run after the swim

Thursday: Spin class and a 1 mile run

I hope to swim tomorrow and I have a 5k on saturday (Red, White, and Blue Shoes 5k) plus I'll add 3 miles to finish my long run

Next week: I will be at the beach so it'll be interesting to see how I keep up with my training during vacay... very interesting... 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

IT'S TIME FOR......

Thank you, Little Daisy May, for doing this again. I have been skipping Yoga Pose Wednesday but will probably bring it back when I'm either, doing yoga more or when I start my teacher training. For now, I'm in full on marathon/triathlon training. So....

THE LIST

1. Whole Foods ready made meals. They are delish... I have a hard time finding balance between working 8-6 daily, following a marathon training program, cooking meals for my friends that are having things go on in their life, being a good wife, keeping my house clean since it's for sale, blah blah blah someone shoot me... so.... Whole Foods has these ready made meals that we thought we'd give a shot this week. THEY ARE DELICIOUS. I mean, de - li - cious. We bought a chicken pot pie, $12.99 for the big one, which we made on sunday. It was so good and we ate it that night, James had it for dinner one night and I had it for lunch one day, so we got 4 meals out of it. THEN, we got a lasagna that we just put in the oven. James had some last night and I brought it to eat this morning. He said it was pretty good, I'll find out later. So yay for an easy, and fairly healthy in that the food is organic and made without the use of artificial blah blahs, although it's still chicken pot pie and lasagna.

source

2. The Life Center : My gym membership allows me to go to any YMCA or Life Center facility in Greenville County but I will tell you that I LOVE THE LIFE CENTER. 1) the pool is never too full, 2) they have lots of open pool hours where as the Y always has crap going on, 3) it's open and set up in a way where you can do lots of things and 4) they are putting on a triathlon for people that want to see what it's like, me, and are offering 3 free triathlon clinics. Tonight is the first clinic and this is what is on the agenda:

You Go Girl Training Clinic 1:  Wednesday, June 29^th, 6:00-7:30 pm

Discussion

• Introduction to triathlon
• Virtual triathlon swim: what to expect
• Swim tips: common complications and how to correct them

Practice/Workout

• Swim: practice what was discussed during swim tips
• Swim: practice changing lanes
• Swim/run practice:  (50-100 meter swim + 0.5 mile run)

What to bring:

Swimsuit or triathlon suit, goggles, swim cap, running shoes, socks,  shorts/t-shirt IF you plan to throw them on before running—we won’t be changing between!

How awesome is this? It was kind of expensive, but the clinics make it worth it because I've never done it and any information helps!

3. Holly Di Giovine

She is getting ready to go to Iraq so we won't get to see her for a while but in the time that she's been patiently waiting for her assignment, she has helped me a lot with running knowledge, swimming knowledge, biking knowledge, confidence/training support, etc etc etc. I really appreciate everything she's done and I'm going to miss her while she is over their fighting for our country!

4. Pearl, Annabelle Reese, Emily, and Kate - new babies born in the last month

Baby Pearl

Baby Annabelle Reese

Baby Emily

Baby Kate