I am sure I mentioned in one of my June blogs about the follies that started my season. Wind... Rain... and a bit of disappointment to be sure. I had three more races lined up for late August and early September with a month of rest in between. The first was Hickory Grove... I did this race last year and well... it sucked. I did part of the swim looking into the sun and then have to run up a huge hill to get to transition. The bike has a hilly 3-4 mile loop with a one mile out and back so basically no forward momentum allowed. The run covers every terrain possible, grassy path, asphalt road (very hot), more grassy trail, and then gravel road...
So you might ask why do that race again. First reason... great swag as they have the best workout shirts in the race packet and second because last year I had just had a baby and this year some training had actually taken place so I was off to see if I could improve my time. So I get there and hang out with my friend Jill (doing her second triathlon ever) and go through the motions. the swim was good... the bike was uneventful and the run was hot just like I remembered... YUCK! I only dropped five minutes off last years time so that was a bit of a let down especially after being so on fire at Hy-Vee in June. The plus to this race is Joe brought the kids so I actually had a cheering section which I love. The weather was beautiful (the skeeters were horrible.) I probably will only volunteer at this one next year since it is so close to home.
Then I was up to do CyMan in mid September which is a fundraiser/charity race put on by the ISU triathlon club. I was feeling a little blah but took the kids down to pick up my race packet anyway and scored a new running hat. Ok folks this kind of nice gear is expensive to buy so I get most of my workout clothes at the races I do so I apologize if I sound so material. I ended up not doing the race with my first Olympic looming as I would have had three races in five weeks time.
So then comes Peregrine Charities race in Waterloo. It was super fun to go back to my old hometown area. I stayed with some old family friends and had a delightful dinner with their Indian (the country) friends and was up early the next morning to head to the race. It was a beautiful morning with mist coming off the lake (64 degree water & 42 degree air temp). We hopped around in our wetsuits to stay warm for an hour while the opening ceremony and first six waves got off. I was excited and one of the race volunteers got a photo of me seconds before my start with a huge smile on my face (I will try to get it and post it.) I rocked the swim at just over 25 minutes and first in my wave to finish. They had pool noodles on ropes guiding us so it was almost like following a lane rope.
I took my time in T1 wiggling out of the wet suit, putting on my socks, shoes and jacket because I was soaking wet and it was chilly. I had a solid ride but know I can do some different training next year to do better. Then a quick T2 and out onto the run course... the first mile was pain as my feet were completely numb. I don't know if I mentioned this was my first Olympic race since Hy-Vee was cut short. It is a .9 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 10k run (6.2 miles). Running has been my nemesis over the years but I have been working hard with better form and more consistent training to make running easier for me. So I headed out for only my 3rd or 4th 10k run of the season. The last one I did was in early July and didn't have a triathlon attached to it... I did the same time on this 10k and came it at 3 hours and 1 minute at the finish line. The Peregrine folks organized a GREAT race with fun things like a unique race shirt and sock, and my race number actually had my name on it. And what a great charity to give money to... rare pediatric diseases. I love the Olympic distance so I will have to look for most races in the Midwest at that distance.
So I am already looking ahead to next year and the year after. I am thinking I might see if I can get on a team together and do the swim for a 1/2 ironman next year. I am also wanting to build up my run speed for next year from just under a 10 minute mile to something in the 9 minute pace. I'm hoping in two years barring any running issues I would like to do Dam to Dam with Joe or the Des Moines half marathon. Just thinking if I can conquer that there might be a 1/2 ironman in my future. I won't say never but I still think it highly unlikely that I will ever do a full ironman because a 15 hour race that ends with a marathon just seems a little bit crazy to me. I know a lot of you are thinking doing a triathlon at all seems a bit crazy, but I love competing against myself, having clear goals and working hard to maintain my fitness and set a good example for my kids. So until next year enough about the tri. :)
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