Hats off to all service men and women, past and present on this Veterans Day! Thank you for your service to our country.
Always a prankster in the bunch.
Posts
1 hour ago
IronMissy - it's official!
A vision in green!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Beach2Battleship Race Report - Long Version
Beach2Battleship Race Report - grab some coffee, it's going to be a while. I already gave you the abbreviated version so here's the LONNNG version. I will not bore you with the long ass drive, getting lost in town and our tour of the USS North Carolina (very cool, by the way) and cut to the racing chase.
I got my bike in order, transition spot set up, took pictures with Carolina John.
I get totally zen on race mornings. I find that I'll make conversation with people if they initiate, otherwise, I'm just going through the paces and staying calm. I was so glad to meet John and that he spotted me. He's been such a fun, nice and supportive blogger peep. THEN I meet Caylx Meredith and we get on the bus together to go to the swim start. At some point, she told me that I was nice and calm which is my goal and just reaffirmed what I was trying to do and maintain. It is actually part of my race strategy, the calm. I don't hang in the expo, I didn't go to an athlete meeting, all that junk just gets me anxious. I got my packet and got the hell out of there. Got to see Ryan Ironman Barnett pre-swim, he was ready to rock it, you could see it. ANYWAY...
Swim - 27:35 - No, I'm not a superstar. Everyone had fast swim times. HellO swimming with the tide. It rocked out. There was nothing eventful about the swim other than the markings kind of sucked - needed more definitive buoys or swim lines. There were people everywhere. As I exited the swim I saw a 26 something on my watch and thought - this IS going to be MY day.
T1 - LONG run to the bikes, a quarter of a mile or so. Thankfully, I had on those neoprene swim booties. I left that and my wetsuit on so I wouldn't get chilled running to my bike. It worked like a charm. I tried to make quick business of T1 and get the hell out of there. I went with a skull cap hat, gloves and just my uniTARD.
Bike - 2:54 - not pleased BUT this ride is NOT pancake flat as the race directors like to promote on their website. There were bridge crossings and false flats that took a lot of people by surprise. It was fine but pancake is not what I would use as my descriptor. I knew the winds would hit us at some point so when I saw 22-24mph on my computer, I knew that tailwinds were in my favor and to MILK IT. I did and it was great until, you turn, of course. Riding on the interstate rocked out. It was very cool and I felt like I was flying. I did lots of passing and only got passed by about three or four women so I was still very encouraged about this being MY day. At one point on the bike, I stood up to pedal and stretch out and I got the 'feeling.' YES people, my period had started - SONOFABITCH! I sat back down real fast just wondering how long this little, thin, tri pad on my uniTARD would hold up. There was no alternative, I wasn't going to stop. The only other 'event' on the bike was at an aid station. The poor volunteer that handed me water, bless her heart, she didn't take the cap off the water bottle. Besides the fact that I yelled at her, I bit it off and spit it at someone. My apologies to whoever I hit and for yelling at that girl. My period had just started and my cooter was sore from riding. I was getting my bitch on.
T2 - 2:30 - The volunteer took my bike and racked it. That was so nice. I took off my shoes so I could run around T2 in socks. Think, think, think, what to do about shark week starting. I ask the first female volunteer inside T2 - do you have tampons in the changing tent? She said she didn't know but handed me one out of her pocket. I could have kissed her, seriously, kissed her, elated. Get my running gear on, tampoooon in hand looking for a can. I also have a small tube of aquaphor be cause my 'ginny is getting extra lube for this run. I had a serious case of chafing last year that caused me to walk because of the pain - NOT going to happen again. Apparently, I didn't lock the portocan door, dude flies the door open, I'm half necked (uniTARD) and am wrist deep in lube application. NICE! An image burned into his mind for all of eternity.
Run - 2:02 - OK, not the sub 2 hour I planned but it was truly all I had. As I started the run, I see hubs, I kind of feel like crap and I yell at him, my period just started and forged on. I think that's what I'm saying in this picture.
I trot around and am really feeling the affects of the day. I'm sore already, my gut is not pleased. Chug, chug, chug. The run course was OK but the brick road and cobblestone portions can suck it, along with the grate on the draw bridge. It was an ankle twister for sure. I see Ryan Ironman Barnett as he is finishing the run with his bike escort - 1st male finisher, it says. What a little bitch! He yells at me - something encouraging to get my ass in gear like - don't be a pussy and get to running bitch. Something like that. At about mile 6ish, my gut turns in that - I can't eat anymore - kind of way. From this point on, it's me and water, nothing else. My water baby is growing by the minute and I've stopped processing. Mile 8, OK, getting closer. This is probably the point that I yelled at a girl for having someone pace her on their bike. Yep, I was that bitch. Why did I care, she was part of a relay team? No outside assistance, no pacing, it's just part of the deal. I think I yelled - must be NICE to have a pacer. Hell, she probably didn't even know what I was talking about, just like the dumb bitch with the iPOD on jamming tunes. People, read the daYum rules. ANYWAY, I'm looking at my watch and I realize that my STRETCH goal is out of reach but I can still bust 5:30. My hands are tingling, my feet are cramping and I have to run over the bridge to get the finish line. Shit, I can feel myself dehydrating but I can't take anything in, my gut is huge at this point. Mind over matter and tunnel vision is the ONLY thing that got me through the last mile. Finish line, I can see it. Please let hubs be there because I'm going to need someone to catch me and I'm not kidding. He was there taking pics and I accosted some poor old volunteer. 5:27 my watch said, SWEET...now I need to puke.
Ryan B, his lovely wife and daughter find us and we're hanging out for awards. Melissa gets us all beers, she totally rocks, Teegan gives me some of her Halloween candy, also rocks. Ryan looks freshly showered and is ready to collect his award - 3rd overall male in 4:20 (HOLY SHIT). He is very fast but he is also very fun. The three of them are one helluva team, I gotta tell ya. OK, age group awards, they come to female 35-39, first place and I hear my hometown and state announced before my name...what??? Yes, the other women in my age group were so stinking fast that they took two of the overall awards (4:30 and 4:43, respectively) opening up the age group division.
In the end, it was MY day. I may never win another prize again but on this day I did. I worked for it, I gave it all I had on race day and it paid off for me. And here's to the off season...I think I'm going to have a bloody mary with my breakfast just because I can.
There's so much more to tell like, having dinner with the Barnett's. I love to have dinner with people who don't think that talking about fecal matter and periods at the dinner table is weird. What a treat! I have found 'my people.' Story to be continued...
I got my bike in order, transition spot set up, took pictures with Carolina John.
I get totally zen on race mornings. I find that I'll make conversation with people if they initiate, otherwise, I'm just going through the paces and staying calm. I was so glad to meet John and that he spotted me. He's been such a fun, nice and supportive blogger peep. THEN I meet Caylx Meredith and we get on the bus together to go to the swim start. At some point, she told me that I was nice and calm which is my goal and just reaffirmed what I was trying to do and maintain. It is actually part of my race strategy, the calm. I don't hang in the expo, I didn't go to an athlete meeting, all that junk just gets me anxious. I got my packet and got the hell out of there. Got to see Ryan Ironman Barnett pre-swim, he was ready to rock it, you could see it. ANYWAY... Swim - 27:35 - No, I'm not a superstar. Everyone had fast swim times. HellO swimming with the tide. It rocked out. There was nothing eventful about the swim other than the markings kind of sucked - needed more definitive buoys or swim lines. There were people everywhere. As I exited the swim I saw a 26 something on my watch and thought - this IS going to be MY day.
T1 - LONG run to the bikes, a quarter of a mile or so. Thankfully, I had on those neoprene swim booties. I left that and my wetsuit on so I wouldn't get chilled running to my bike. It worked like a charm. I tried to make quick business of T1 and get the hell out of there. I went with a skull cap hat, gloves and just my uniTARD.
Bike - 2:54 - not pleased BUT this ride is NOT pancake flat as the race directors like to promote on their website. There were bridge crossings and false flats that took a lot of people by surprise. It was fine but pancake is not what I would use as my descriptor. I knew the winds would hit us at some point so when I saw 22-24mph on my computer, I knew that tailwinds were in my favor and to MILK IT. I did and it was great until, you turn, of course. Riding on the interstate rocked out. It was very cool and I felt like I was flying. I did lots of passing and only got passed by about three or four women so I was still very encouraged about this being MY day. At one point on the bike, I stood up to pedal and stretch out and I got the 'feeling.' YES people, my period had started - SONOFABITCH! I sat back down real fast just wondering how long this little, thin, tri pad on my uniTARD would hold up. There was no alternative, I wasn't going to stop. The only other 'event' on the bike was at an aid station. The poor volunteer that handed me water, bless her heart, she didn't take the cap off the water bottle. Besides the fact that I yelled at her, I bit it off and spit it at someone. My apologies to whoever I hit and for yelling at that girl. My period had just started and my cooter was sore from riding. I was getting my bitch on.
T2 - 2:30 - The volunteer took my bike and racked it. That was so nice. I took off my shoes so I could run around T2 in socks. Think, think, think, what to do about shark week starting. I ask the first female volunteer inside T2 - do you have tampons in the changing tent? She said she didn't know but handed me one out of her pocket. I could have kissed her, seriously, kissed her, elated. Get my running gear on, tampoooon in hand looking for a can. I also have a small tube of aquaphor be cause my 'ginny is getting extra lube for this run. I had a serious case of chafing last year that caused me to walk because of the pain - NOT going to happen again. Apparently, I didn't lock the portocan door, dude flies the door open, I'm half necked (uniTARD) and am wrist deep in lube application. NICE! An image burned into his mind for all of eternity.
Run - 2:02 - OK, not the sub 2 hour I planned but it was truly all I had. As I started the run, I see hubs, I kind of feel like crap and I yell at him, my period just started and forged on. I think that's what I'm saying in this picture.
I trot around and am really feeling the affects of the day. I'm sore already, my gut is not pleased. Chug, chug, chug. The run course was OK but the brick road and cobblestone portions can suck it, along with the grate on the draw bridge. It was an ankle twister for sure. I see Ryan Ironman Barnett as he is finishing the run with his bike escort - 1st male finisher, it says. What a little bitch! He yells at me - something encouraging to get my ass in gear like - don't be a pussy and get to running bitch. Something like that. At about mile 6ish, my gut turns in that - I can't eat anymore - kind of way. From this point on, it's me and water, nothing else. My water baby is growing by the minute and I've stopped processing. Mile 8, OK, getting closer. This is probably the point that I yelled at a girl for having someone pace her on their bike. Yep, I was that bitch. Why did I care, she was part of a relay team? No outside assistance, no pacing, it's just part of the deal. I think I yelled - must be NICE to have a pacer. Hell, she probably didn't even know what I was talking about, just like the dumb bitch with the iPOD on jamming tunes. People, read the daYum rules. ANYWAY, I'm looking at my watch and I realize that my STRETCH goal is out of reach but I can still bust 5:30. My hands are tingling, my feet are cramping and I have to run over the bridge to get the finish line. Shit, I can feel myself dehydrating but I can't take anything in, my gut is huge at this point. Mind over matter and tunnel vision is the ONLY thing that got me through the last mile. Finish line, I can see it. Please let hubs be there because I'm going to need someone to catch me and I'm not kidding. He was there taking pics and I accosted some poor old volunteer. 5:27 my watch said, SWEET...now I need to puke.I sat on a chair and had other people take care of me for a minute. They handed me water. Look at that water baby I'm carrying, seriously 6 months along...
I can't even drink water. I need sugar, stat, Coke, anything. He points me to another tent and I give him a retarded look like - YOU expect ME to walk there? He did, I got up and stumbled over to Ryan. We made our way to a Pepsi (I hate Pepsi but I'm ready for simple sugar). Another sweet little girl volunteer runs up to me - want some pizza? I almost puked right on the top of her head. At least I was nice to her - not right now sweetie but thanks. I laid down, legs up. OMG, I hurt, I hurt. This is what it's supposed to feel like. I'm notorious for 'pacing myself' and keeping something in the tank. I really wanted to hit 5:19 but I knew that was not even possible with how I felt at the end. 5:27 was my number and I was happy. After three, yes, three Pepsi's, I felt human again and started to walk around a bit. Hubs is collecting my gear and I'm just trying to feel like a human so we can get on the water taxi to get back to our condo. He goes to look at the results posting and counts out that he thinks I'm 3rd in my age group. Really? Me, a prize? I don't win prizes, I'm a door prize kind of girl but that's about it. Shit, I'm staying for awards at 3:00 if you think I'm winning a prize.
I can't even drink water. I need sugar, stat, Coke, anything. He points me to another tent and I give him a retarded look like - YOU expect ME to walk there? He did, I got up and stumbled over to Ryan. We made our way to a Pepsi (I hate Pepsi but I'm ready for simple sugar). Another sweet little girl volunteer runs up to me - want some pizza? I almost puked right on the top of her head. At least I was nice to her - not right now sweetie but thanks. I laid down, legs up. OMG, I hurt, I hurt. This is what it's supposed to feel like. I'm notorious for 'pacing myself' and keeping something in the tank. I really wanted to hit 5:19 but I knew that was not even possible with how I felt at the end. 5:27 was my number and I was happy. After three, yes, three Pepsi's, I felt human again and started to walk around a bit. Hubs is collecting my gear and I'm just trying to feel like a human so we can get on the water taxi to get back to our condo. He goes to look at the results posting and counts out that he thinks I'm 3rd in my age group. Really? Me, a prize? I don't win prizes, I'm a door prize kind of girl but that's about it. Shit, I'm staying for awards at 3:00 if you think I'm winning a prize.Ryan B, his lovely wife and daughter find us and we're hanging out for awards. Melissa gets us all beers, she totally rocks, Teegan gives me some of her Halloween candy, also rocks. Ryan looks freshly showered and is ready to collect his award - 3rd overall male in 4:20 (HOLY SHIT). He is very fast but he is also very fun. The three of them are one helluva team, I gotta tell ya. OK, age group awards, they come to female 35-39, first place and I hear my hometown and state announced before my name...what??? Yes, the other women in my age group were so stinking fast that they took two of the overall awards (4:30 and 4:43, respectively) opening up the age group division.
In the end, it was MY day. I may never win another prize again but on this day I did. I worked for it, I gave it all I had on race day and it paid off for me. And here's to the off season...I think I'm going to have a bloody mary with my breakfast just because I can.
There's so much more to tell like, having dinner with the Barnett's. I love to have dinner with people who don't think that talking about fecal matter and periods at the dinner table is weird. What a treat! I have found 'my people.' Story to be continued...Saturday, November 7, 2009
PR - book it!
Thanks a million to everyone for all their well wishes, prayers and good juju. It totally worked and I had to call upon it during some darker moments when I really wanted to walk.
The shortest version - PR of 5:27 and the best part...that was good enough for 1st place in the 35-39 age group. Seriously, I don't win prizes. I think they got the wrong girl or were doing new math. I took my award and ran.
More to come! I hurt EVERYWHERE!!!
Missy
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Skillz
I'm off to Wilmington, N.C. The car is...not packed, the coffee is...not ready and I'm in my jammies. OK, so I'm almost ready. No great news to report other than hubs put my tire changing skillz to the test last nite. Yeah, I can do it, even with the little CO2 cartridge BUT I'm not the fastest on the planet. Here's to NO mechanicals and NO flat tires.
I've booked it all, all the work is done, I just need to concentrate on the present, stay calm, channel my energy and stay warm. Yep, Saturday morning will NOT be a warm one. I've have wrangled my coaches full wetsuit, booties and hat. Water temp is 68 and dropping and there's something about right whales in the marine forecast. I PROMISE you I will freak out if I see this ugly thing!
I hope to deliver the PR I'm looking for....
I've booked it all, all the work is done, I just need to concentrate on the present, stay calm, channel my energy and stay warm. Yep, Saturday morning will NOT be a warm one. I've have wrangled my coaches full wetsuit, booties and hat. Water temp is 68 and dropping and there's something about right whales in the marine forecast. I PROMISE you I will freak out if I see this ugly thing!
I hope to deliver the PR I'm looking for....
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Ironmaiden Torture Device
For the love of PETE, I must start making tri clothes for tall people! I know I'm not the only one but yes, my legs are long, yes my ARMS are long and NO I'm not short waisted either. I'm long everywhere. Monkey arms, I tell ya. Why do you think I just love the 3/4 sleeve trend? So in my preparation for B2B, I start laying out all my gear, what I'm going to wear, what I'm going to eat, what back ups I'll need, what I'll need to practice in on Friday. I get to my uniTARD and realize that I have no swim worthy bra. For crying out loud, I'm not wearing this thing to the pool and look like a TOTAL moron. We make fun of those guys. It was bad enough that I had to test out my wetsuit there. The 'swimmers' just love that. Thankfully, the heater pump was broken that day and I was perfect. Who's laughing NOW swimmer peoples?
ANYWAY, I've worn my uniTARD on the bike and running with no issues other than I need EXTRA lube in my nether region. We don't need another pleather incident. See, this did NOT involve swimming so I just had on a sports bra. I am lucky enough to have a local tri shop that's about five miles away. I'm pretty average 'upstairs' so I'm guessing I can find something that works. Thankfully, it's just 'two guys' working the store that day. We wouldn't want any boob talk to be uncomfortable for anyone. I told Chris I was a medium and NO THANKS, I don't need to be measured. I grab a handful OF BRAS, OF BRAS people, and head to the dressing room. Look at this ugly thing. 
I mean, I get it, it needs to be high neck, don't need any extra water drag from my huge jubblies (baaahahahaha) but man, UGLY. It's fit and function, it doesn't have to be pretty. I get this thing on and it's tight, I like the smoosh effect, I'm totally OK with it as long as there's NO movement, I'm OK. I'm swimming with my arms going like a windmill and running in place in the changing room. Check. OK, this is the one. Um, how am I going to get OUT of it? I'm no contortionist but I think I could qualify on this day. Holy Crap! All I could think of is the fact that there's me, two guys and a random shopper in the store. WHO is going to help me out of this thing? I get it half way off and my arms are stuck. By now, I'm just laughing because if it weren't X-rated for content, it would have been worth the pictures. Bra is rolled up, arms tied up and I'm stuck, totally stuck. I start wiggling, dancing to try to get it to come loose, the bra, that is. FINALLY free, finally free, yep, this is the one for me. Thankfully, the next time I have to put it on, Ryan will be there to help me out - not Dan and Chris. Yep, that had potential to be embarrassing for everyone. Sheesh!
Now back to my many lists...
ANYWAY, I've worn my uniTARD on the bike and running with no issues other than I need EXTRA lube in my nether region. We don't need another pleather incident. See, this did NOT involve swimming so I just had on a sports bra. I am lucky enough to have a local tri shop that's about five miles away. I'm pretty average 'upstairs' so I'm guessing I can find something that works. Thankfully, it's just 'two guys' working the store that day. We wouldn't want any boob talk to be uncomfortable for anyone. I told Chris I was a medium and NO THANKS, I don't need to be measured. I grab a handful OF BRAS, OF BRAS people, and head to the dressing room. Look at this ugly thing. 
I mean, I get it, it needs to be high neck, don't need any extra water drag from my huge jubblies (baaahahahaha) but man, UGLY. It's fit and function, it doesn't have to be pretty. I get this thing on and it's tight, I like the smoosh effect, I'm totally OK with it as long as there's NO movement, I'm OK. I'm swimming with my arms going like a windmill and running in place in the changing room. Check. OK, this is the one. Um, how am I going to get OUT of it? I'm no contortionist but I think I could qualify on this day. Holy Crap! All I could think of is the fact that there's me, two guys and a random shopper in the store. WHO is going to help me out of this thing? I get it half way off and my arms are stuck. By now, I'm just laughing because if it weren't X-rated for content, it would have been worth the pictures. Bra is rolled up, arms tied up and I'm stuck, totally stuck. I start wiggling, dancing to try to get it to come loose, the bra, that is. FINALLY free, finally free, yep, this is the one for me. Thankfully, the next time I have to put it on, Ryan will be there to help me out - not Dan and Chris. Yep, that had potential to be embarrassing for everyone. Sheesh!Now back to my many lists...
Monday, November 2, 2009
List and lists and more lists
Race week is upon us! For all the times I've said - I'm READY! - Now is the time to put up or shut up. All that is left is some splash and dash, some spinning, some bike cleaning, a little 'jog' - don't you just LOVE it when people ask you about your jogging. What defines jogging vs. running? But I digress... Laying out clothes, laying out gear, obsessing about every ache and pain, perceived sore throat, the weather and the jimmy leg. While it's too far out to really trust the forecast, I'm seeing highs in the high 60's/low 70's and lows in the low 40's. That will be one cold morning. Mostly sunny, you say, mmm, sunscreen, can't forget that either. Water temps seem to be 69ish or so. OK, totally doable with my sleeveless wetsuit. This might turn out to be the perfect day I ordered up months ago.
The jimmy leg - ever just lay there and your leg involuntarily kicks out? That's what I tell hubs, at least. Your legs feel all creepy crawly, like you're going to jump out of your skin. Yep, it's taper madness time and the legs are getting the physical affects of it! Mentally, I'm ready and will love every minute of this taper. There's no second guessing now. It's a little late for that.
Goals, PRs and such. My best at the halfim distance to date is 5:39. That was Muncie Endurathon in 2008 during the perfect storm. Seriously, pulled people out of the water when the lightening started. It was nuts but I had a good race and made it out of the water without being one of the boat people that was pulled in. So there in lies my goal for Beach2Battleship, sub-5:30. This is realistic and within reach. I also have another goal, a stretch goal, a "I'll be so emeffen happy" goal, but I'm going to keep that one to myself and not jinx it! It's the - if everything goes my way, the stars are aligned, the winds are low, the temperature is right, my nutrition is spot on and I have no mechanical issues - goal. This is the one I am focusing on, this is the one I REALLY want. But, as we always say, let's see what the day brings, plan for it, aim for it but sometimes you have to take what you are handed. As long as someone doesn't hand me my ass...
Let the taper week freakouts commence! Oh, one year ago today it was Ironman Florida and all things Iron. I think about a year ago, I was up, eating my waffles, drinking coffee trying not to think about what a long day I had ahead of me. You know what, it was worth every minute of training. It was a great day.
The jimmy leg - ever just lay there and your leg involuntarily kicks out? That's what I tell hubs, at least. Your legs feel all creepy crawly, like you're going to jump out of your skin. Yep, it's taper madness time and the legs are getting the physical affects of it! Mentally, I'm ready and will love every minute of this taper. There's no second guessing now. It's a little late for that.
Goals, PRs and such. My best at the halfim distance to date is 5:39. That was Muncie Endurathon in 2008 during the perfect storm. Seriously, pulled people out of the water when the lightening started. It was nuts but I had a good race and made it out of the water without being one of the boat people that was pulled in. So there in lies my goal for Beach2Battleship, sub-5:30. This is realistic and within reach. I also have another goal, a stretch goal, a "I'll be so emeffen happy" goal, but I'm going to keep that one to myself and not jinx it! It's the - if everything goes my way, the stars are aligned, the winds are low, the temperature is right, my nutrition is spot on and I have no mechanical issues - goal. This is the one I am focusing on, this is the one I REALLY want. But, as we always say, let's see what the day brings, plan for it, aim for it but sometimes you have to take what you are handed. As long as someone doesn't hand me my ass...
Let the taper week freakouts commence! Oh, one year ago today it was Ironman Florida and all things Iron. I think about a year ago, I was up, eating my waffles, drinking coffee trying not to think about what a long day I had ahead of me. You know what, it was worth every minute of training. It was a great day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)