So many kids, I don't know what to do.



Monday, April 4, 2011

A Day at the Beach

The Coach and I got up at the butt crack of dawn Sunday so I could participate in the Kemah Triathlon - International Distance.

The race started with a few trips to the port can. 





 Of course the race really started with a swim, but instead of leaving from the shore we were loaded onto this boat.  The boat then drove us a mile out in to the Gulf and we jumped off and swam in. Different. 


Check out this absolutely straight swim course.

 Then tell me how I managed to add probably 200 meters to my swim by swimming in a triangle.  I swam too left until I literally ran into a lifeguard kayak and then I had to course correct and swim back to the right.  I tell you I am going to kick some butt when I learn to swim straighly.  (Yeah.  That's a word.)
*I think I was 9th in the swim for my age group.

Next was the bike and I felt like I was doing fairly well until the wind came in.  So I was headed out at max speeds of 14.5 mph.  My bike sounded horrible.  I felt like it was going to fall apart.  I kept envisioning myself sitting on my bum in the middle of the highway holding on to my areo-bars while the rest of my bike fell down around me.  I finally realized that it has probably sounded like this for a while, but I haven't noticed since I usually listen to my ipod.
I was keeping up a steady stream of mental trash talk when I would pass people.  "Ha ha you 28 year stud.  I just passed you.   I am a 39 year old mom of five.  Take that."  Then I realized the guy was probably recovering from leukemia or something, and I felt terrible.  Conversely if someone obviously faster than me passed by I would think, "You're not so hot!  I beat you in the swim!" Thank God for the turnaround!  After that I was booking it and I passed several people. (Only to see them again on the dreaded run.)
*I have no idea of my rank in the bike.


Running improvement is slow and painful.  At least for me.  I can say during this race I at least didn't feel like I was going to die.  I did cut my time in the run marginally.  I think I would have cut it more had we not had to go up and over the causeway....TWICE.  (My photographer didn't get a picture, I got this one of the internet.)
*Pace - 11:30/mile


All in all it wasn't bad.  I improved on my last time by over ten minutes.  I'll take improvement no matter how minimal over a DNF!!
*Final Time  3:19:??


After that we went home.  My mom and dad were nice enough to watch the kids at their house so we could catch a post-race nap.  After that I experienced the post-race "I can't get out of bed."  Then we enjoyed a nice Italian dinner courtesy of the folks.

What races do you have coming up?

*Official race results were not posted yet when I gave up and went to bed.
Tune in tomorrow for a humorous guest post by The Coach.

11 comments:

  1. Look at you all badass tri girl! Congrats! I think you did great and you wrote an excellent report!

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  2. You kicked butt, as always! and I don't have any races coming up, because I couldn't do that. Be proud of yourself - the mental trash talk is deserved.

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  3. I might have to race to find a toilet: my bladder isn't what it used to be after four kids.
    You look fantastic! So proud of you! What an accomplishment. The post-race Italian feast would have been my favourite part!

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  4. You are amazing! Look at you go!

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  5. Ahh, Awesome Heather! Congrats! Thanks for writing a non-boring race recap! I enjoyed it and my eyes did not roll to the back of my head thinking "Gosh, when will this end?! I don't really care that you chewed your power bar twice before you swallowed and chased it down with a mix of water and power gel!" ha! Doesn't that post race nap feel heavenly?!

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  6. I'm so in awe of your races! I don't think I could ever do that. Then again, my swimming is more of a doggy paddle.

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  7. You're incredible. Just incredible, and I am in total awe of you.

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  8. A straight swim? A jump off a boat? That sounds like an awesomely fun race!! Great job :-)

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  9. wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing..ps can't wait to hear from the coach!!!!!

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  10. I'm like Sandra. my only race these days is to the bathroom. :) You're so my hero!

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  11. Solid race. I wonder how many people did cannon balls off the boat. Maybe that's what the coach is going to write about?

    In all seriousness, the best way to get stronger on the run is to get stronger on the bike. If you properly pace the bike you should run a pace within 30 seconds per mile of your stand alone run pace at the same distance.

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I always like to know someone is listening!