Week-End Updates

Whew!  Saturday morning I ran the Panther City 5K - this race started and finished from a brewery right down the street!!!  Who knew this place was even there?  Not me!  Anyway, it was mainly on dirt and not cement but I am not sure I would go so far as to call them trails.  Just dirt.  I started out way too fast (7:44 first mile) and knew it pretty soon :)  Got passed at the end by the only person I was concerned with in my age group -  I did not turn it on to catch her either, decided to save it for another day.   It was a PR for her, it wasn't and wouldn't have been for me.  I was at least a minute off my PR, so I will catch her another day.  Ended up with 2nd in my age group with an average pace of 8:23.  I will take it and work on my pace.

Saturday around noon a friend from an online group I am in (Brooks First Marathon, Inner Circle) arrived from Oklahoma.  We are both doing our first Sprint Triathlon on Sunday - St. Patrick's Day Triathlon in Keller, TX. We have never met in person - it was so awesome and special to actually meet in person.  We went to packet pick up, picked up some belts to hold our bib numbers, had some lunch, watched some You Tube videos on transitions for the Sprint Tri and went to bed early.  The alarm went off at 4:15...AM...mercy.  We got to Keller a little after the transition area opened at 6:15am, got marked and set up our stuff.  

My number was 501.  The first athlete went in the water at 7:30.  There was a 5-7 second wait between athletes.  Needless to say it was a LONG wait and those that started first were FINISHED before I ever even got in the water.

Swim portion - the lanes were 50 meters long.  I had to rest after 100 meters.  We only had to do 300 meters...I spend almost half of those last 200 meters on my back instead of doing the free style.  Hey, whatever it takes.  I took a salt stick capsule before I got on the bike.  Got my PF sleeve and socks on my wet foot, threw on a shirt over my wet Tri suit, helmet and glasses and took off running with the bike.

Bike portion - a 2 loop course.  With hills.  Dang it.  I have yet to ride in a group or even with another person so I winged it the best I could.  I passed 1 person, I was passed by about 100.   I guess I need to invest in my own bike (I borrowed one) and actually get pedals and shoes that clip in.  It's only money, right?  And time.  And commitment,

Run Portion - My legs felt wobbly and I had cramps in both calves as well and the shin area of my left leg.  I took another salt stick capsule but I had nothing to drink - oops.  It did kick in around mile 2 so I was able to finish strong.  I felt better after mile 2 than I had most of the day.  Maybe because it was almost over, maybe because of the salt stick, or a combo of both.

Lessons learned:

* Must improve on the bike - need to work with the Tri coach on this.
* Must improve on the swim.
* Remember to start my watch - I remembered to get the satellite but forgot to press GO.
* Take salt stick early and often, with liquid.
* Turn off all alarms and notifications on my phone.
* Bring food and drink to the swim portion if I am in the back of the pack
* The competitors in this race were the nicest, most encouraging people I have ever raced with.

Cowtown 2015

37 years.  That's how long the Cowtown Marathon has been running.  No races have ever been "called" due to weather, but we had an ice storm that didn't go away fast enough this year.  The Expo did not open on Friday at all. They cancelled all the races on Saturday, Feb 28 - adult 5K, 10K and kids 5K.   They sent out an email letting everyone do the Saturday races virtually so we could still get our bling :) I did mine on the treadmill, my time wasn't great but a treadmill in the garage wasn't too exciting.

I drove to the Expo around 2 or 3 on Saturday.  Driving really wasn't a problem but walking a couple of blocks to the Expo was a huge problem, for everyone.  The sidewalks were slick as snot.  I ended up walking in the median as best I could - ice over grass was easier than ice over cement.  Thank goodness for boots! I met some really nic people in line at the Expo and the volunteers working there were just awesome.

By the time I got home from the Expo they had cancelled the Sunday Full Marathon and the Ultra but said everyone could run the Half.  I felt really bad for those that had trained for those races and certainly understand being pissed at the weather.  The start was delayed until 8am, hoping things would clear up a little more.  Honestly part of me wished they had cancelled the whole thing...I really do not like the cold and wasn't looking forward to running in this messiness.

When I signed up for this race (it is my favorite) I was in great shape and felt awesome running...I was assigned to corral 2.  Back when I signed up I felt certain <had no doubt really>  I would do a sub 2 in this race.  One injury later and that wasn't to be my reality this time.  Mentally I told myself to just try to have fun and screw the time...besides, I hadn't even run more than 6 miles at a time since December 14.

I have been running in some pretty low profile shoes - the brand is Karhu.  When I bought them the sales guy told me not to run long in them...but they seem to irritate my PF less than anything else so I made the decision to wear them anyway.

Getting to the corrals was another slick event but I didn't fall and didn't see anyone else fall, but I am surprised about that!  I did see people shaking so bad they couldn't stop.  I had 3 layers on top plus a trash bag and thermal insulated running pants, gloves, scarf, head band.  I was cold but not terribly cold.  I couldn't find my "pouch" I usually run with so I had to make due with what I had.  This race photo is hilarious!  Good Grief.

Honestly, I didn't enjoy much of the race.  I kept telling myself to but it really wasn't that much fun. It was cold, dirty and wet. My feet were wet from about the start.  It was misting on us the entire time.   I had decided I would walk the hills, so I did.  Right before the largest hill we got stopped by a train. A train.  For several minutes.  Truth be told though,  I was kind of glad to see the train but stopping did make me colder.

Some miles I thought this is one of the silliest/stupidest things I have ever done.  Some miles I thought this isn't too bad - it will be over soon.  But most of the miles I knew that if this wasn't the 2nd year in a 3 year medal series and if I hadn't SAID I would do this, that I might been at home in bed. Well, I think that but when it comes down to it I am too cheap to throw away that entry fee.

When it was over, my time was 2:17.  I was SO glad I did it and I finished it.  I was pretty happy with the time too even though it probably is my worst time ever (will go back and look).  Coming off an injury and lack of training - I will take it. And, no real PF issues and the shoes were fine for me.  They are dirty as hell now but that's ok.  I can build on this - thank you GOD!

Now, of course, I am ready to sign up for another one.  Dallas rock N Roll half is in a couple of weeks (March 22) and they sent me an email for $60 off ..it is a cute medal....