Wasa Lake Tri-kids!

Avery's first triathlon was the day before mine, she completed this triathlon, (and I use the word completed loosely) just 2 weeks shy of her 4th birthday! She had been super stoked to do this race, it is all she talked about for months leading up to it! She chose to wear her two piece pink suit and life jacket for the swim. The life jacket was a last minute decision, as she is super confident in the water. I was the pod leader for the 4-5year old group, giving them to low down on the race course and rules and leading them to the swim start. This is where Avery when entering the water realized that I wasn't going to be leading her through the swim as well, and again I use the word swim loosely! Avery stood there as the rest of the group walked across the 50m course. Shawn headed out and coaxed her across. She was still pretty excited about the bike ride when she came out of the water. She had chosen to ride her Skuut bike for the course, I don't think it was the best choice but oh well! So...I am watching her head out on her first of 5 laps around what would be Sundays transition area...she wasn't moving too quickly :o) As she headed out on her second lap, there a little fireball heading out on her run! This girl was serious man! So I was directing the kids on the run course as it turned around right away, when I got back to watching Avery, I couldn't see her on the bike course. "Shawn" I asked "where is Avery?"
"She's done her bike" he replied. "done! How can she be done?!" So he went on to inform me that after 2 laps she had enough riding and wanted to run, so she headed out on her run.
I didn't see her again until she was coming into the final stretch and then rounding the corner to the finish....her run was amazing! She sprinted the entire way! So she cheated...she was proud of herself, I was very proud of her!

Wasa Lake Triathlon June 2010

Ok! I am a little behind in my blogging! So I will try to do some major catch up!
Wasa Lake triathlon, an amazing, race just outside of Cranbrook BC, where we live! This is a somewhat big race for me, being my first race of the year, and also the local event, and it is my goal to be the first local female finisher, and I achieved this goal again this year, but by much!
It was a bit stressful leading up to the event, tons going on with work, volunteering and a bike catastrophe! 3 days before the race, I was told by the http://www.favorit-cycles.com/ local bike shop that my carbon fork on my custom built Norco road bike was broken, and that I shouldn't ride it! The day before the race I borrowed a road bike from the same bike shop, had time to adjust the seat height and fore and aft....and ride it around the block a few times before trying to get some sleep before an early wake up the next day!
I had a good race, felt pretty relaxed going in the water, I was hoping for a sub 28minute swim. I have been swimming twice a week, every week since October, probably doesn't seem like a enough for other racers, but I was very proud of this! I have always disliked swimming in the pool, and have been lucky if I hit the pool a half dozen times in other full training years!!
So I went for a 32 min 1500m swim to a 28:32! So, slowly than I was hoping for, but set me up for a much better position on the ride from previous years!
I headed out on the bike, not as comfortable on my new bike, but was feeling pretty good! Not as many people to pass after a faster swim! I don't think I had the best bike, I wasn't catching anyone after the turn around and was feeling pretty tired and deflated!
My bike was 1:11:56 the other local strong female competitor, Megan had a 27:56 swim and 1:09:26 ride. I was expecting to catch her on the bike especially since I knew I was close after the swim, but she is super strong this year!
I felt good heading out on the run, but not for long, my run felt forced and tired, didn't think I was moving very fast! Fun though,lots of runners on the course, with some sprinters still out there and some of the Men's field as well! As the turn around approached I saw Megan a little sooner than I was hoping and was getting worried that I may not catch her this year! I kicked it up a notch, and was chasing her down, but without seeing her in front of me, I could just picture that I was gaining on her!
Sure enough as I rounded the corner on to the residential street, and the last long stretch and last feed station of the race, I saw her! Yipppeee! was able to catch her just after the feed station and it was all I could do was just hope that I hadn't dropped my pace, as I didn't feel like I was going very fast! I didn't look back, I just ran! We headed back on to the path...so close to the end, yet so far, soon I could hear the finish line, and they see the finish line! I still didn't look back! I crossed the line in 2:24:04. My fastest Olympic results, third in my age cat, 10th overall female and top local female! Mission accomplished!

Ridiculous??

OK...So, we are heading to Fruita CO and then Moab Utah in a week. Yipppeeee!! There just happens to be a race in Fruita the weekend we get there...again yipppeeee!! So, my dilemma; I think if I don't get a UCI license as a Pro/elite this year, than I have to race as a one day citizen, which I don't want to do. If I get a UCI Pro/elite license ( which go figure, I am able to do) then I can race in the Pro/elite cat there...which I am not sure I should do!? I have been training well this year, but really not sure what my fitness level is, I don't mind not winning (well I kinda mind) but I don't want to be so far behind that I am not competitive. What to do, what to do?
It would be nice to have the license for the SaltyDog, so I can race pro in that race. Maybe if I am doing OK, I will try a couple other mtb races.
Am I slow? Am I fast? Not even sure! Comparing ride times..it seems that I should be OK..but racing is totally different.
I am excited to race, and would like to be pushed, but I want to be competitive.
I will have to decide later today:0)
Tan

Out of my system...

My sis is going to be here soon to drive me to the airport!
Doing a one week training camp with former Olympian cyclists...should be fun!
Funny though, I have so badly wanted to do a training camp, but now that Shawn and the kids have left to pick up Nana..I am soooo sad, and I just want to stay home with my family.
I cried so much, and still am prone to breakdowns!
Before Shawn and the kids, I used to take off every weekend, used to go away ALL the time...now it seems like the biggest deal, just going to Victoria for a week by myself!! Seems selfish!
I hope this is worth it....not sure how I will know if it is worth it! What do I want to achieve?
What do I really want!?!
Did I mention that I keep checking the weather in Victoria and all I see is rain, rain and more rain!! Seriously, why am I heading to the rain!
Well, I am going....we will see what happens. I hope I have fun, I hope I learn lots, I hope I get faster and I hope that I don't miss everyone all week as much as I am missing them now!

So much for that!

After a long stretch of consistent training, OK, maybe not as many hours as I have been scheduling, but certainly cramming in extra training and all the early mornings, I have been shut down!
I felt fine going to bed Sunday night, but ended up having a feverish, not so good sleep...and very suddenly developing tonsils the size of tennis balls, with the pain already spreading into my ears and head, yikes! Mom took Avery for the day and Jackson and I lounged and napped as much as we could. Had another feverish sleep on Monday night, and although not feeling better at all, headed to work (with the help of some Tylenol and ibuprofen) pretty awful day, and a repeat on Wednesday. Thursday I felt better, waaaay better! Biked with the kids to playgroup and Safeway, played all day...but started feeling lousy again as the day went on...but not feverish and tonsils were much smaller.
And today (after missing the second swim of the week, 3 spins, weight sessions and a run) I do feel better, although I have a horribly painful, upper back up to the base of my neck...man it is bad....I have had this before, not sure what it is....I may take the weekend off as well.
I know this happens, whatever, but the thing that worries me now, is that I feel like I will never have the energy to get back at it, just the thought of all the early mornings, cramming in a bike ride on my rollers while Jacks naps and I force Avery to watch a show in the afternoon.....makes me even more tired...

Training

Training is going well this year, I haven't missed a swim session since October!
2 days a week with the Masters swim club here, and I am really seeing an improvement! I was sooooo slow though, I had to improve! Hopefully a few more months and I will be even faster and not be so far behind coming out of the water!!
I am starting to increase my spin sessions, rolling at home a couple days a week and then my long (1.5 hr) tri spin class at the gym.
Weights 1-2 times a week....usually only one, should do more, and my running, is being neglected, running 1-2 a week, usually only 30 mins.
I have my training schedule planned out, but usually don't make near the hours I have scheduled! I do all my workouts in the early am, sometimes thinking I will do another before bed...but man! I am SO tired by the evening, can hardly stay awake, never mind workout!
Shawn was away last night, so I missed my weights and run workout at the gym this morning, may try to get a workout in this afternoon...or maybe I should be spinning right now before the kids wake up! I am really loving using my rollers to train, such a great cycling workout!
Maybe if/when the store sells..... I can do more!