Working my way to be a dominaTRIx of my division
Chicago Triathlon 2010
2:51:58
Swim (.9mi plus quarter mile run): 34:50 rank: 1659/3859
T1:
Bike (24.9mi): 1:12:55 rank: 899/3859
T2:
Run (6.2mi): 56:53 rank: 698/3859
Division Place: 22/323
Gender Place: 105/ 1169
Overall: 777/3859
Is Triathlon season really over for my 2010 year? What a year. Last year, I got so nervous just to complete a sprint triathlon. I still get nervous, but the reasons are different; I've found the competitor in me with triathlons this year.
Since this is my second year in the Chicago Triathlon, I had expectations. I've already done this race once, and so I knew the course.
Racine had come and gone. I did just what I planned on doing: sleeping a little more and cutting back on the mileage. It was time to focus on marathon training, and the Chicago Triathlon was just another event in the mix. I look back and kind of wish I would have placed more emphasis on it, because in my division, I kicked butt at being in the top 6.8%, if I would have focused on bricks more, and worked on speed more, maybe I have it in me as D. Lee says: 'To bring home the hardware' (Things that make you go hmmm....for after the Ironman).
Alison and I continued with our social hour rides on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We stopped pushing speed but the rides are our equivalent of going out to the bars or grabbing dinner with a twice a week. I cut back on Lake Michigan swims, but made sure I was getting in the pool twice a week if not out in Lake Michigan. Sheila and I had some good swims, and I met Emily out there twice; one of which can mark as the longest swim I have completed thus far: 3 miles. That was a lot of fun, as I took a half day, ran 7 miles (hill training at the gym) then met with Kristin, Emily and Sheila for a swim. We would stop at certain 'check points' laugh some, curse at the boats creating waves, and then continue on.
Overall, I've improved my ability to relax while I swim in open water. Alejandro has made me love biking and enjoy getting out and do it (If you are new to my blog, Alejandro is my bike). And the run....well, it's running. What has changed since last year would be just this: I look forward to jumping in the water and know you just breath; I really like getting on the bike, because I pass many and keep up with guys on the course; And it's the run that has turned into my weakness.
My Parents came to Chicago to continue with their wonderful cheerleading abilities. We went out for my Birthday dinner Saturday night, and with the Triathlon in town, hotels were scarce and expensive for last minute, so my Parents stayed at Hotel Tara and I stayed over at Alison's. Alison, being an Ironman, knew what pre-race evenings should be like, so the prep was laid back and easy going. We stayed up until about 10:30, doing what girls do best (and what we do on our bike rides), girl talk :) If I haven't mentioned this before, the lake shore path is kind of like Vegas: What happens on the path, stays on the path.
My alarm went off at 4:00am, I slowly made my way out of bed (snooze button was used) and was riding down to transition by 4:45. Here is what I love about this race: It's in my backyard! I just have to hop on my bike and take a leisure ride 3 miles. I quickly set up my transition area and enjoyed hearing others around me talk, as they were new to this. It made me feel great to know I was experienced this year.
Once I set up my transition and took in my surroundings (which Chicago's transition area is the biggest clusterfuck known to triathlons), I met up with Laura B. and we went to watch her Man, Michael, start the race. It was his first tri, and he was in one of the first waves. Laura is so laid back I had to laugh she said he was pretty intense with it. Usually Laura's calmness makes me calmer, but I guess it just made him more nervous. As we were slowing walking to the start of the swim (which is a good 3/4 mile from transition) we hear the air horn go off. She looks at me and says "Crap I'm the worst girlfriend ever, we need to get there” and we take off running (Did I mention I didn't bring my sandals, so I waited the 3+ hours barefoot). We made it to the swim start area and found him, she was able to wish him well, and off he went.
I told Laura I wanted to go to the ACS tent and say 'Hi' to them for a bit, so we parted ways. The transition closed at 5:45am and I wasn't racing until 9:20. That's a lot of waiting around. I spent one of those hours just lying on chairs by the ACS tent relaxing (How many ACS volunteers does it take to put up a changing tent? FOUR), another hour walking back over to the start area and watching people start (maybe did a little stalking/?investigating?). I watched Laura prep in the swim start race chute, and the last hour was spent back to the ACS tent to get Emily, put on my wetsuit and go back to the start area.
Technically this swim didn't need a wetsuit, the water was in the lower 70s that morning, but there is something about Lake Michigan water, that I believe I'm a little more protected from the germs and sickness of that lake with my wetsuit on. I was sweating in the wetsuit, which made me look forward to getting in the water. Just before I left, Veronica, Alison and Emily decided 'Club Can't Handle Me’ should start me off. Ironically, just as we were walking into the swim start area (where you jump into the water) 'Club Can't Handle Me' played!
The start of the swim was the most aggressive I've ever been, but within the first two minutes, I had managed to be comfortable with my space, I just followed the feet in front of me and passed when necessary. I swam harder than I did the previous year, though, I did alot of swerving on the second half of the swim. Everyone knows straight lines are more efficient, but that wasn't how I ended up working that swim.
Once I got out of the water, I started to rip off the wet suit right away- it was HOT out. The run is the same quarter mile run as last year, I tried to run it a bit more aggressively, but there were others more aggressive which equates to more rude. One girl pushed her way through to pass and I focused my quarter mile run to be paced with her. I also decided to not like her right away. We will call her Pushy Girl for the rest of the write up.
I made the rookie mistake in the transition area, not running the planned route, which the extra row up I ran through didn't have the opening for me to get to my bike and I ended up by transition area number 48 stopped and confused trying to find 47. After maybe 30seconds of cursing under my breath, I found where I needed to run back to and found my bike. My transition could use some work. Once I got on my bike, I told myself I should hit 20mph early on. And sure enough, I ended up gliding for a bit at 24mph. That felt good, as I passed many, but I took on closer to 21mph average as I settled into the pace. I knew I would have the ramps to go over which are Chicago's hills. People in this race aren't educated like those in the half ironman. Staying over for people to pass doesn't work so well.
The whole ride, I counted ONE girl pass me and I had to do a double take to confirm she was indeed a girl. I ended up making a leapfrog friend in this race like I did in Racine. He also did Racine, and we chatted for a bit while we were forced to slowdown because a race official vehicle made us all ride on one lane, and slow people had no respect to stay over. This did affect my ride, as the first hour my watch read I completed 21+ miles, but my overall time on the bike was about 20.8mph average.
Once the bike was over, I wanted to make up for the slow transition 1 and I tried to rush on getting ready for the run. I was very excited for the Chi Tri because it's one- though frowned upon- the no music rule isn't enforced. This year, not many people wore it so I felt a little guilty, but, this is a run on a path i do practically EVERY day. I wanted my music. I kept it off for the first mile and the last half mile where the crowds were plentiful.
At first I thought I was going to keep a good 8:30 pace, which of course, in my mind would be like that for the first half and then pick it up in the second half. The 8:30 pace didn't last long as I realized the heat was sucking the life out of me. This became a mental battle game and actually a physical game toying with dehydration. The main game was: Don't let any 47s pass you, and try to pass other 47s. Around mile 2 or 3, I found Pushy Girl and passed her!!! Yay, take that pushy girl!
There were several ambulances working hard on the course and several people down. I believe if this were a Chicago marathon, the flag level would have reached red for sure, and Alison believes it was a black run.
The race became a battle of not letting pushy girl repass me. I slowed down significantly, and even walked a few parts. The last water stop ran out of water (and didn't have cups filled around mille 2). I took an ice cube and ate it for whatever coolness and liquid I could get. I pushed slowly to the finish, shocked not a single 47 passed me on the run and crossed the finish...upset.
I had done so good up until the run, I thought I for sure had my 2:45 goal. BUT, the run was not where I thought it was going to be. I was upset, I cried for a bit, but then I started thinking, even at my 9:10 pace, nobody passed me, and it wasn't like I was at the back of the pack. Of my division, of somewhere around 323 people, I finished 22nd (one minute better, would have put me in 18th). Nobody in wave 47 passed my slow run?!? Alison was probably right on the black flag level, with a head index nearing the 100s.
I'm sad that 2010 triathlon season is over. I don't want it to be over. I plan to keep the swimming and biking in circulation, though, an hour after the race finish I reminded myself: 6 days until the Idaho Marathon.
....Stay Tuned....
***Please note I once again talk about the American Cancer Society Team: Team Determination. Though I didn't officially race through them this year, I focus my volunteer efforts on them. Between being a Mentor for runners in their Half Marathon and Marathon programs, and being a Cheer Coach at the RNR Half Marathon/Chicago Marathon: They are my charity of choice. Just because I don't have a page set up, doesn't mean if you have a desire to donate, you can't. For the half Ironman, I gave Alison's page to donate on. This time, I'm giving out Kristin's page. Kristin has been part of many of my write-ups as an inspiration to me. And as I write this, she is just a couple hundred dollars away from reaching her 2010 fundraising goal: To raise $10,000 which brings her to a total of $100,000 since 2002. She defines the team name: When we swam the 3 miles, I had a thought to be done at 2 miles or possibly 2.5, but then I kept thinking of the friends I was swimming with, Emily and Kristin each with their own inspiring stories. This swim was Kristin's third open water swim of 2010. 1: Racine Half Ironman, 2: Steelhead Half Ironman;3: 3 mile swim (4? Madison Ironman). She is DetermiNation defined. Go to her website to read more about one of my many heros, and while you are there, if you want: Donate
The American Cancer Society:
:)
Chicago Triathlon 2010
2:51:58
Swim (.9mi plus quarter mile run): 34:50 rank: 1659/3859
T1:
Bike (24.9mi): 1:12:55 rank: 899/3859
T2:
Run (6.2mi): 56:53 rank: 698/3859
Division Place: 22/323
Gender Place: 105/ 1169
Overall: 777/3859
Is Triathlon season really over for my 2010 year? What a year. Last year, I got so nervous just to complete a sprint triathlon. I still get nervous, but the reasons are different; I've found the competitor in me with triathlons this year.
Since this is my second year in the Chicago Triathlon, I had expectations. I've already done this race once, and so I knew the course.
Racine had come and gone. I did just what I planned on doing: sleeping a little more and cutting back on the mileage. It was time to focus on marathon training, and the Chicago Triathlon was just another event in the mix. I look back and kind of wish I would have placed more emphasis on it, because in my division, I kicked butt at being in the top 6.8%, if I would have focused on bricks more, and worked on speed more, maybe I have it in me as D. Lee says: 'To bring home the hardware' (Things that make you go hmmm....for after the Ironman).
Alison and I continued with our social hour rides on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We stopped pushing speed but the rides are our equivalent of going out to the bars or grabbing dinner with a twice a week. I cut back on Lake Michigan swims, but made sure I was getting in the pool twice a week if not out in Lake Michigan. Sheila and I had some good swims, and I met Emily out there twice; one of which can mark as the longest swim I have completed thus far: 3 miles. That was a lot of fun, as I took a half day, ran 7 miles (hill training at the gym) then met with Kristin, Emily and Sheila for a swim. We would stop at certain 'check points' laugh some, curse at the boats creating waves, and then continue on.
Overall, I've improved my ability to relax while I swim in open water. Alejandro has made me love biking and enjoy getting out and do it (If you are new to my blog, Alejandro is my bike). And the run....well, it's running. What has changed since last year would be just this: I look forward to jumping in the water and know you just breath; I really like getting on the bike, because I pass many and keep up with guys on the course; And it's the run that has turned into my weakness.
My Parents came to Chicago to continue with their wonderful cheerleading abilities. We went out for my Birthday dinner Saturday night, and with the Triathlon in town, hotels were scarce and expensive for last minute, so my Parents stayed at Hotel Tara and I stayed over at Alison's. Alison, being an Ironman, knew what pre-race evenings should be like, so the prep was laid back and easy going. We stayed up until about 10:30, doing what girls do best (and what we do on our bike rides), girl talk :) If I haven't mentioned this before, the lake shore path is kind of like Vegas: What happens on the path, stays on the path.
My alarm went off at 4:00am, I slowly made my way out of bed (snooze button was used) and was riding down to transition by 4:45. Here is what I love about this race: It's in my backyard! I just have to hop on my bike and take a leisure ride 3 miles. I quickly set up my transition area and enjoyed hearing others around me talk, as they were new to this. It made me feel great to know I was experienced this year.
Once I set up my transition and took in my surroundings (which Chicago's transition area is the biggest clusterfuck known to triathlons), I met up with Laura B. and we went to watch her Man, Michael, start the race. It was his first tri, and he was in one of the first waves. Laura is so laid back I had to laugh she said he was pretty intense with it. Usually Laura's calmness makes me calmer, but I guess it just made him more nervous. As we were slowing walking to the start of the swim (which is a good 3/4 mile from transition) we hear the air horn go off. She looks at me and says "Crap I'm the worst girlfriend ever, we need to get there” and we take off running (Did I mention I didn't bring my sandals, so I waited the 3+ hours barefoot). We made it to the swim start area and found him, she was able to wish him well, and off he went.
I told Laura I wanted to go to the ACS tent and say 'Hi' to them for a bit, so we parted ways. The transition closed at 5:45am and I wasn't racing until 9:20. That's a lot of waiting around. I spent one of those hours just lying on chairs by the ACS tent relaxing (How many ACS volunteers does it take to put up a changing tent? FOUR), another hour walking back over to the start area and watching people start (maybe did a little stalking/?investigating?). I watched Laura prep in the swim start race chute, and the last hour was spent back to the ACS tent to get Emily, put on my wetsuit and go back to the start area.
Technically this swim didn't need a wetsuit, the water was in the lower 70s that morning, but there is something about Lake Michigan water, that I believe I'm a little more protected from the germs and sickness of that lake with my wetsuit on. I was sweating in the wetsuit, which made me look forward to getting in the water. Just before I left, Veronica, Alison and Emily decided 'Club Can't Handle Me’ should start me off. Ironically, just as we were walking into the swim start area (where you jump into the water) 'Club Can't Handle Me' played!
The start of the swim was the most aggressive I've ever been, but within the first two minutes, I had managed to be comfortable with my space, I just followed the feet in front of me and passed when necessary. I swam harder than I did the previous year, though, I did alot of swerving on the second half of the swim. Everyone knows straight lines are more efficient, but that wasn't how I ended up working that swim.
Once I got out of the water, I started to rip off the wet suit right away- it was HOT out. The run is the same quarter mile run as last year, I tried to run it a bit more aggressively, but there were others more aggressive which equates to more rude. One girl pushed her way through to pass and I focused my quarter mile run to be paced with her. I also decided to not like her right away. We will call her Pushy Girl for the rest of the write up.
I made the rookie mistake in the transition area, not running the planned route, which the extra row up I ran through didn't have the opening for me to get to my bike and I ended up by transition area number 48 stopped and confused trying to find 47. After maybe 30seconds of cursing under my breath, I found where I needed to run back to and found my bike. My transition could use some work. Once I got on my bike, I told myself I should hit 20mph early on. And sure enough, I ended up gliding for a bit at 24mph. That felt good, as I passed many, but I took on closer to 21mph average as I settled into the pace. I knew I would have the ramps to go over which are Chicago's hills. People in this race aren't educated like those in the half ironman. Staying over for people to pass doesn't work so well.
The whole ride, I counted ONE girl pass me and I had to do a double take to confirm she was indeed a girl. I ended up making a leapfrog friend in this race like I did in Racine. He also did Racine, and we chatted for a bit while we were forced to slowdown because a race official vehicle made us all ride on one lane, and slow people had no respect to stay over. This did affect my ride, as the first hour my watch read I completed 21+ miles, but my overall time on the bike was about 20.8mph average.
Once the bike was over, I wanted to make up for the slow transition 1 and I tried to rush on getting ready for the run. I was very excited for the Chi Tri because it's one- though frowned upon- the no music rule isn't enforced. This year, not many people wore it so I felt a little guilty, but, this is a run on a path i do practically EVERY day. I wanted my music. I kept it off for the first mile and the last half mile where the crowds were plentiful.
At first I thought I was going to keep a good 8:30 pace, which of course, in my mind would be like that for the first half and then pick it up in the second half. The 8:30 pace didn't last long as I realized the heat was sucking the life out of me. This became a mental battle game and actually a physical game toying with dehydration. The main game was: Don't let any 47s pass you, and try to pass other 47s. Around mile 2 or 3, I found Pushy Girl and passed her!!! Yay, take that pushy girl!
There were several ambulances working hard on the course and several people down. I believe if this were a Chicago marathon, the flag level would have reached red for sure, and Alison believes it was a black run.
The race became a battle of not letting pushy girl repass me. I slowed down significantly, and even walked a few parts. The last water stop ran out of water (and didn't have cups filled around mille 2). I took an ice cube and ate it for whatever coolness and liquid I could get. I pushed slowly to the finish, shocked not a single 47 passed me on the run and crossed the finish...upset.
I had done so good up until the run, I thought I for sure had my 2:45 goal. BUT, the run was not where I thought it was going to be. I was upset, I cried for a bit, but then I started thinking, even at my 9:10 pace, nobody passed me, and it wasn't like I was at the back of the pack. Of my division, of somewhere around 323 people, I finished 22nd (one minute better, would have put me in 18th). Nobody in wave 47 passed my slow run?!? Alison was probably right on the black flag level, with a head index nearing the 100s.
I'm sad that 2010 triathlon season is over. I don't want it to be over. I plan to keep the swimming and biking in circulation, though, an hour after the race finish I reminded myself: 6 days until the Idaho Marathon.
....Stay Tuned....
***Please note I once again talk about the American Cancer Society Team: Team Determination. Though I didn't officially race through them this year, I focus my volunteer efforts on them. Between being a Mentor for runners in their Half Marathon and Marathon programs, and being a Cheer Coach at the RNR Half Marathon/Chicago Marathon: They are my charity of choice. Just because I don't have a page set up, doesn't mean if you have a desire to donate, you can't. For the half Ironman, I gave Alison's page to donate on. This time, I'm giving out Kristin's page. Kristin has been part of many of my write-ups as an inspiration to me. And as I write this, she is just a couple hundred dollars away from reaching her 2010 fundraising goal: To raise $10,000 which brings her to a total of $100,000 since 2002. She defines the team name: When we swam the 3 miles, I had a thought to be done at 2 miles or possibly 2.5, but then I kept thinking of the friends I was swimming with, Emily and Kristin each with their own inspiring stories. This swim was Kristin's third open water swim of 2010. 1: Racine Half Ironman, 2: Steelhead Half Ironman;3: 3 mile swim (4? Madison Ironman). She is DetermiNation defined. Go to her website to read more about one of my many heros, and while you are there, if you want: Donate
The American Cancer Society:
:)
