I finished a half ironman this weekend but this is not about that, this blog is my spring lead up to getting there. I did a mini sprint indoor triathlon. I did a 5k run, and a half marathon run. And I did a sprint triathlon.
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| Jess got us knocking out the bike miles. |
So starting with the mini sprint indoor triathlon January. I do this one every year that I don't have something broken on my body. It is a fundraiser for Girls on the Run and Steve and I usually do it together (but he forgot to sign up) so I did it with my awesome friend Jess. It consists of a 400 yard pool swim, followed by a wardrobe change and then a 7 mile spin bike ride, and a 2 miles treadmill run. The swim went fine, I'd had a fair bit of cycling going into this so the bike went fine although Jess kicked my butt there. Then I was off to the back nine to do my 2 mile run. I kept having a heart rate spike (thanks for nothing perimenopause) but pushed it down under 20 minutes despite short walks.
Next up was a Rosy Cheeks 5k run with Steve in February. My goal was to hit 10 minute miles and while their distance was a tad short at around a 2.9 mile run I was able to keep things right at a 10 minute mile on a brisk winter day.
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Me at the end repping my MS
Run team RAMMS |
April brought the Drake half marathon. I was still having heart rate issues and not having quality feeling runs. It had been since March that I had a long run that felt strong and it was more of an anomoly so I wasn't sure how things were going to go. I had the miles in, I'd been doing a lot of cycling, strength and other things that should have supported a solid race. I worked my fueling and race plan but even so things did not go as I had hoped. I wasn't able to sustain a pace I knew I was capable of and as I got to the last four miles it took all the mental strength I had not to slow down and walk to the finish. My body was just not having it on this run and I finished feeling very disheartened. Steve started this one with me but he wasn't feeling right either and pulled himself off the course partway in.
After that race we did adjust our meal planning to support more consistent protein, carbs and veggie/fiber in each meal and that did seem to help some. Perimenopause has packed on 12 pounds in the last four months while eating well and training hard. I started HRT in February and added 3 more things a couple weeks before the race so was starting to get better sleep, recovery and fewer hot flashes. I also was sweating like a beast the entire race. It was 35 degrees with a 10 mph wind and I was in lite layers and yet I was chaffed and soaked through and struggled with heart rate again. A disappointing race and just added to my body frustrations for what is normally a race I enjoy and feel strong doing even after coming off a broken ankle two years ago. I guess there is always next year.
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| Jess and I at the finish line. |
My last pre 70.3 race was TriByKnight. It is not one I had done before since it is almost two hours from us but it had a 9 am start and a pool swim which is great for the first weekend in May. It is definately one I would do again! Steve and my friend Jess had also signed up. Steve had some issues with his bike part way through the course he was not able to resolved and pulled off the course so that was a bummer.
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| 2nd place in the 50-54 age group out of four |
The pool swim was interesting as you went up and down each lane and self seeded your start position. I was ready to have some fun and get babs out for another ride as we are still getting to know each other. The swim was chaotic but knocked it out 200 yards and headed to the bike. The bike was 15 miles and had some rollers at the end with a side of wind but I felt strong and managed almost 18 mph. I got off the bike for the run and yet again my legs just wouldn't do what I wanted. What should have been an comfortable 10 minute mile 5k was me fighting with my body on all three laps just to keep running. I wish I could figure out what is going on with my run but alas more work to be done. Still 12 lbs of extra fat holding me back but it was a beautiful day spent with two great people. I also managed to get second place and podium which was crazy. Had the fastest bike and swim in my age group.
Next up is the 70.3. More to come on that.
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