Race Reports Jan - May 2026

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Setting Goals, Getting the Season Started 2025

I started the season with no broken bones as I tried to maintain some fitness through the holiday season.  I kicked things off with the Girls on the Run fundraiser indoor triathlon in Des Moines.  My swim felt okay (a little slower than two years ago), my bike was about even and my run was solid but total time was a little slower than previous ones (this may be the fourth time I’ve done this one?).

This was a year to push my body and see how it responded to new challenges so I queued up a series of running races.  We did the rosy cheeks 5k in Story city and since our run volume was supposed to be closer to 8 miles we ran almost four before the race start on a blustery but not super cold morning.  My goal for the 5k was to hit 30 minutes so I pushed as hard as I could and came in around 30 minutes and a few seconds which was not easy on a cold day after running more than that before starting the speed.

Next up was Drake relays half marathon.  I was supposed to run this last year but since I broke my ankle in January I was only able to train up to the 10k in time.  This year I was ready to go and wanted to hit a 10:30 pace just below where I was at for the HillBilly Hustle 02:22:42 that I ran last November 2024. 

Final outcome was 2:20:07 Pace MIN/MI 10:42, Ranking Overall 841 / 1050, Female 320 / 452 Female Masters 82 / 143, Female 50-54 14 / 20  I wasn't last,  

The run felt pretty solid and I was on track for doing harder longer things later in the season.  I got to see my honey finish his half and then we had free jerky and chocolate milk to celebrate our finish.  :)

A No Excuse Life - What this Garmin Means to Me - Goals for 2025

From A No Excuse Life by Chris Norton

"Call to Action: Starting today, let your actions speak for you. Reflect on your values and what you want to be known for, then align your actions accordingly. As you consistently live out your beliefs, watch how your identity transforms and how your impact on the world becomes more profound."

After my 2023 Grandma's half marathon I had all these thoughts, not all good, banging through my head. Really pretty negative for me.  

Over the years I have run over a dozen half marathons, done four half ironman triathlons (the last one in 2019 - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run), and have always had a goal of completing one full ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run).  My 2013 MS diagnosis knocked me back and 2014 was both a hard year, and an amazing year as I got to race on the Kyle's Bike team (they picked me before I knew I had MS for sure).  Three of my half ironmans and most of my half marathons have come after Dx, but for some reason 2023 was hard for me.  

Maybe because it was my first big race post covid, post racoon attack, post broken foot, post IT band nonsense that fought me for four years.  Maybe I needed a couple more long runs in my training plan, maybe my head space was disrupted once I got into the Duluth city limits with all the crowds, but all I know is the last mile of that race nearly beat me.  I stopped having fun and had to dig deep to keep shuffling... like an old lady... to find my way to the finish line.

During that last mile my inner dialog was about whether to invest in myself and my race equipment, or to give up doing long races and on that LONG time goal of doing an Ironman Triathlon.  Maybe MS had beaten me after all... but I couldn't stop thinking about getting a real, proper racing watch that could see me through 15-17 hours of racing.  Something that could track my data effortlessly instead of using my phone and a hand me down apple watch.  Something that could be with me while I keep setting and meeting my goals.

I finished 2023 with a 10k run that went well, and made goals to do more races in 2024, and while I had a few setbacks related a broken ankle, I ended the year on a high note with a solid half marathon and my new Garmin.  With the start of 2024 came a sale on a newer model of Garmin the forerunner 255s (over $100 off) so as a gift to myself for turning 50 and believing in my future goals I invested in myself.  It arrived after I swam as part of an Ironman relay team with my triathlon club in June, but I had it in play for my favorite triathlon in Ames and along for that successful 13.1 run in November.

Me on my 50th birthday at the Clear Lake
Triathlon in 2024

So here are my 2025 goals:

Drop 10 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle (go to weights class each week or work with a trainer).  Continue my PT rehab, add some yoga. HAVE FUN!

January - Girls on the Run Indoor Triathlon - have solid legs especially on the bike where I have languished in past years.

April - run the Drake Half Marathon (I was supposed to run last year)

May - Clear Lake Olympic Triathlon (.9 mile swim... mind over mater with the cold water, 25 mile bike, 10k run)

June - Run Grandmas Marathon 26.2 miles (MY FIRST MARATHON!!!)

September - 1/2 Ironman Wisconsin (This will force me to bike train over the summer as it is hilly, but I've done it before so I know what I am in for.  Excited to have my teammates on the course with me.)

Oct/Nov - Half Marathon Grand Rapids, MI - hoping to race with my Run A Myelin My Shoes MS race team in Michigan if it works out.

2026 - IRONMAN!  Course/Date TBD

So there it is, out in the universe for all to see.  Hopefully I collect a cheering section along the way but I am determined so who is with me?  Ironman at 52.  You betcha! GOALS!

Fitness 2024 Recap

Clear Lake 24

I am a data person so of course I have data on my fitness activities.  Per a cousin that got me started on this 12-15 years ago I decided to revive my annual fitness recap.  At the beginning of 2024 I was feeling good.  I had some solid focus on fitness, body health (working through aches and pains) and nutrition through the fall of 2023 and was feeling pretty good.  I was at my goal weight and feeling trim and ready for a great season of races and activities.

My house had a different idea in mid January, and minutes after giving myself a pep talk about being awesome for hitting my goal weight, and trimming down into my size ten pants, I had a foot shoot out from under me going down the stairs in my race to finish my morning chores before heading to class.  

Drake 10k 2024

The result of my tumble was a broken ankle.  Well, this is a place I have been before as I broke the same foot in the spring of 2022 (I was finally back in shape from that ugh). Once the initial shock wore off and I had a visit with the surgeon, I realized I was in a good place and determined not to slide too much this time.  The break wasn't a load baring bone so I could walk in a boot, and it also did not require surgery.  Bonus points, the surgeon said I could start swimming again right away (pulling only), and riding a stationary bike once the swelling was down enough to put on an ankle brace and peddle.  So for 8 weeks that is what I did.

Clear Lake Tri - 50th BDay

I missed our annual indoor triathlon in late January, but it was a fundraiser and they had my funds already.  I was supposed to do a half marathon in April, but wasn't cleared early enough to train for that, but was determined to do the 10k (6.2 miles) instead.  I was able to get some decent, slow runs in to get ready and felt pretty good on race day.

Next up were two triathlons, one on my 50th birthday at Clear Lake was supposed to be Olympic distance but training three sports with only a month for that distance was not going to be feasible so I dialed back to the sprint.  The swim (my best event) was tough as it was cold, but the bike went as well as expected (so so slow), and the run was fine.

The second one was Ames Tri, which is my hometown fun in late June.  I had a pretty good swim for that one, and an okay bike, and solid mostly run where a young woman doing her first triathlon and I were run walking together at the end of the run.

Ames Tri finish 2024

After that I pretty much don't do races through the heat of the summer so not much happening but I kept up with my run, swim and weights activities.

The next big activity was giving another half marathon a go.  My last one was in June of 2023 in Duluth and the last couple miles of that one were rough for me with some foot drop.  I got lucky with this one as I started near a couple going about the same speed as me with music playing.  Their song choices were fun and kept us all entertained until their pace dropped with about 3-4 miles left so I pushed ahead and had a solid run and met my goal for the day.

So here finally fitness data is my recap.  These are rough numbers as i didn't always have my phone or watch with me so missed recording some of the workouts.

Swim - 53 miles, with 40 hours in the water

Bike - 200 miles, with a big chunk of it indoors, 17 hours

Run - 280 miles, with 57 hours in a mix of roads, trails and treadmills

Weights/Yoga - 14 hours

Kayaking - 8 miles - 3 hours

Walking - 235 Miles - 116 hours mostly walking the dogs (I didn't track all my walks)

Hiking - 13+ miles, several hours

2025 goals include more biking outside, more kayaking and hiking.  Likely a lot more running and swimming as I have some big races lined up.  More to come on that.

Last Kayak on Clear Lake with Dad 2024

Boulder 1/2 Ironman Race Report

Yes me.. the whole race.

Leading up to this race I had an "oh shit" moment.  I'd spent the last few month packing a house finding a new house, dealing with health issues, moving Joe, moving me, and clearing things out on the acreage.  In June when the dust settled I realized I only had about six weeks to get my training in to go do my fourth Ironman in Boulder the first week of August.

I had a decent base of running, and has been hitting the pool and doing spin class unto May.  I just needed to ramp up the mileage and not get hurt.  I got my bike out of my crammed full garage and did a total of three longish rides, plus riding to work and the gym/pool.  I started ramping up my weekend run distance, and morning pool time started after memorial day in the 50 meter.  About two weeks out from Boulder I had a minor malfunction.  Every muscle in my body got really tight and caused a fair bit of discomfort in my neck and legs making running and road riding challenging.  I dialed back the run and decided to just go race and see what happened.

I love having my name on my race number

I drove out on my own with a stopover to visit my friend Lisa overnight and got to Boulder to pick up my packet on Friday.  It was warm but not ridiculous.  I got my packet, checked my bike and surveyed transition fully prepared to make the best of things.

I met up with Galen and got checked into the AirBnB we were sharing and then we walked down to the local grocer for some dinner and made a plan for the morning.

Water exit compliments
race photographer

We were staying near the venue and left with plenty of time to get there and set up, and as we walked across the parking area I realized I forgot my cooling sleeves which drop my arm temperature up to five degrees when I race on hot days.  There wasn't anything I could do as traffic was only coming in and we were all there already so I had to just go with the flow and figure things out on the run course to keep me cool.  I had some nice chats with my neighbors and we found out the water temp was 75.9 degrees so wetsuit legal.  In the past I might of thought about what to do, but any advantage I can muster these days I take so wetsuit it was.

bike compliments of race photog.

Hung out in the potty line, and then waited for the race to start while I ate a banana.  It was a rolling start and I figured I'd park in the 30-33 minute group but got to chatting and ended up in the 35 minute group with no hope of moving closer to where I should have been. I swam through a lot of people during the swim as a result and that likely slowed me down but I made the best of it and just kept swimming with a time right on target.  The amazing wetsuit strippers and the sunscreen goddesses got me squared away and out onto the bike course.

had to stop on the run and get a picture of this
awesome sign

Then to start my worst leg... As I mentioned above I was a wee behind getting training miles in, and I'd been having some issues with my legs as well as my shoulder and neck and they all came into play at some point on the bike, but so did something else bigger than myself.  This was the first race where I could feel the support and love of friends and family in spirit with me.  I've lost two friends in tri in the last couple of years and one friend earlier this summer who I was supposed to visit on this trip and recently lost his battle with cancer.  I reflected on what amazing people they each were how proud they would be that I was here doing what I love on that beautiful day.  I knew my new love was also cheering me on from back home such that people on FB were wondering if he was there with me.  I also had friends and family from running, tri and life also tracking me and sending their love and support and you know what it lifted me up in the hardest parts of that 56 miles.  For that I was incredibly grateful.  It was a pretty powerful feeling, but inevitably the sneaky bastard hills that you didn't know you were going up but for the drop in speed and the burn in your legs, and the aches of my body made the last ten miles pretty grueling, but fortunately they were all within sight of the venue so that gave me the strength I needed to gut it out and get my ass off the bike.

finish photo compliments of race photg

So on to the run.  As I noted my legs had been a bit of a crap shoot so I'd grately reduced my mileage the last two weeks before the race, and it was sunny and low 80s and I'd forgotten my cooling sleeves so my plan was to go easy on the first loop, and then see how I was doing for the second loop.  I had walked most of a half marathon before so I was fully prepared to do that again.  I got out on the course and they had ice, blessed ice in great abundance.  I wore my hat so I could put ice in it, and I also put ice in the sports bra front and back which gave me a stead stream of core cooling throughout the run.  I can't take on nutrition on the course due to food and gut sensitivities to the offerings so I had a couple ninjxias from Young Living on me, as well as taking one leaving transition.  I figured out within the first couple miles that I felt decent and that I could carry ice in a cup to suck on while I ran.  I also figured out they had potato chips which I could eat at most of the aid stations so every aid stations after mile three I took on ice, water and walked through.  Then had chips as needed as they were available.

Coming into the last couple miles of the first loop/out and back I was running with another mom about my age and we were keeping each other company and still running.  I couldn't believe it so I decided to keep running, and just walk the aid stations and the miles slowly ticked away.  I saw Galen and Lara along the way on the run, and I kept feeling better and better. My running friend dropped off around mile nine and I still felt good so I picked up the pace and ultimately ended up with a significant negative split for the last 5k and looking at my watch realized I still had a chance to be under my goal time of 7 hours so I kicked it in and really pushed the last mile to the point where my angry leg kicked in and I was limping but damit I wasn't going to slow down because I was in the zone.  I ended up finishing with my second fastest of the four half ironman races I have done.  Oh I forgot... 1/2 Ironman - 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile rolling hills bike, and 13.1 mile crushed gravel run.

Had to buy this finish picture and plan to print
and frame it to remind me of all the things I
overcame to get here.

With all the adversity I'd dealt with related to my food sensitivities, shingles, MS, divorce and move, falling in love again, I somehow found myself overcoming everything to finish the race strong and feel great in the end.  I am super grateful for my friends and family and teammates who kept me moving the last year encouraging me, handing me tissues, moving all my crap, again... And while I'm never going to be fast, I know I don't plan to quit anytime soon.  Next up, a half marathon in April 2020 and my first marathon in June 2020 and then who knows what the future holds.  All I know is I am ready to face it all head on.  Thanks as always for reading.  Love you all.

Sweet swag pile from the race

One last thought.  I read this article after the race and it really captures what I was feeling that day.  When training, or racing or life get tough do a gratitude mile and be grateful for all the good you have in your life.  Gratitude mile https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a29321193/gratitude-tips-for-long-run/

Season End Run Race Reports - Ups and Downs

Run for the roses

In late August I started batting around the idea of doing another half marathon this
year, but I wanted to get a longer timed run in as well.  It’s been a long time since
I’ve done a 10k run (6.2 miles). Run for the roses (in mid Oct.), which is a
fundraising run, was coming up and we decided to do it as a family.

Abby (just finishing cross country season) and Joshua (in the middle of soccer
season) were both in good shape for a 5k.  Joe who had major back issues
earlier this year has been rehabbing and working with a trainer while easing
back into the run. This race runs a 5k and an hour later runs a 10k.  So I
watched the family start and then went inside to get warm as it was a cool wet day.

Then I watched them finish with Joshua coming in first (3rd in his age group),
Abby came in second (6th in her age group just short of her goal) and Joe
came in third (2nd in his age group).  

I gave them my rain gear and we headed out for the 10k start.  I was happy the rain
stopped shortly after our start and we were off.  This course begins on the middle
school track where we do two laps before heading off down the trails behind the
middle school, up state street hill and around to the front of the middle school,
then we reversed our trip and went through the hilly neighborhoods and back up
state street to the trails to finish.  The 10k race was mostly dry but threw plenty of
hills at us. I felt strong the first four miles or so but then the little hills started to get
to me. I managed to push through and finished in good spirits with a solid time
and 2nd place age group finish. The family had finished their omelettes by the
time I got in and were at the finish to cheer me in.  All in all it was a solid race
for me and I’ll have to do it again next year. Hopefully with less soggy weather.

Before the 5k start

Race stats 2/6 W40 Shawn Blaesing-Thompson, 44*, Kelley, IA 57:29

Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon

As I noted above this was a bit of a last minute decision.  In mid-September I was
trying to decide if I had enough time to train for the Des Moines half, which I have
done several times, or Hillbilly Hike half which was purported to be flat and a
fundraiser.  I opted for Hillbilly which gave me a couple more weeks to train.
About the same time I signed up I rolled my bad ankle on a training run and
am still nursing that back to a point where it doesn’t ache.

I spent the weeks leading up to this race training with a group of experienced
runners several of whom were also doing this race.  I felt like I put in the miles
I needed although I had no expectations of having a PR as I hadn’t been real
consistent with my training.  

Leading up to race day, my body had other ideas so while my MS is pretty much
in check although not without limitations, I started having some other issues.  
Starting a couple months ago I’d take my evening meds and feel like they would
get hung up in my esophagus and make me uncomfortable.
Then I had several nights where I’d wake from sleep with shooting pain in my
chest and back.  After the second time in a week I went to see my Dr who put me
on a reflux med and five days later another attack. I finally got a scope done but to
no avail. Either stress or med induced acid reflux I guess. Anyway, I’ve generally felt rather crummy the last three weeks so wasn’t sure how things
were going to shake out for the race.

So race day.  This is a point to point race so we had to be down to Carlisle early to
catch a bus to our run starts.  Joe decided to do the 10k so was on a different bus.
It was chilly and I had batted attire ideas around the night before with my coach
John Mongar and opted for more layers rather than less.  We stayed on the bus
until 15 minutes before the race started in Indianola, and then with my training
buddies we started the race. The pace was pretty assertive and on a normal day
for me it wouldn't have been a problem, but by the first water stop at about 2.2 miles
I started to get a stitch in my side.  I never get stitches and it started to work itself
around into my mid back like the attacks I’d been having only milder.

I just kept running and my teammates started to pull away by mile five.  Fortunately
it seemed when I’d start to get in a funk a new temporary running buddy would
appear, chat with me and keep me going.  This went on over and over throughout
the race and for that I was grateful. I still had stretches alone where I had to dig
deep on this cold and eventually drizzly race day but just kept putting one foot in
front of the other.  By the last four miles I was really struggling and started to walk
longer at each water stop and then shuffle some more. I walked half of the last
mile and finally was walking with another lady and we decided to hustled to the
finish.  By then I kept getting dizzy and was really feeling not well. Thanks
goodness Joe was at the finish line and offered to go get the car as I was shaking
from the cold, dizzy and really uncomfortable.

By some fluke I managed to finish the race in the range I gave my coach (2:10 - 2:20)
but without my body failing on me it probably could have been a PR day.  Either way
I was grateful to be able to run even if it didn’t turn out the way I expected.
Here is to improving health. I have big plans for 2019 so will post more about that
later.  For now, thank you for reading.

AG finish 13/21 Shawn Blaesing-Thompson - Final official time 2:19:28

Race Report - Milkman 1/2 Ironman Triathlon

Teammates Galen and Andy before the
race - Joe Thompson

Sometimes life presents you with choices.  As my earlier blog post noted I had a rough couple of weeks going into this race.  That meant drastically reduced training, physical therapy, and on and on... Add weather in the 80s and a pile of hills into the mix and I made the decision to take the pressure off myself.  As I did my race prep the night before I was talking through the plan with my husband and cousins and warned them It was going to take me a while to finish.  I said it was likely I'd be walking the half marathon and worse case might not even finish (I never really know when heat will make my MS flare).  I was not going to strain my body to collapse with the heat and challenging bike course so with that I went into the next day with my mind and heart open to whatever experience was put in front of me.

Race day I was up before 5 and the guys and I headed over to the course lot.  My cousin Jay introduced me to Captain America Aaron who does ToughMudder races with him.  Jay and Joe walked over to the transition zone and Aaron and I took the bus with our gear.  With nearly 1000 people racing it was a good sized transition area.  I had dropped off my bike the day before but we didn't have time to check out the course which is pretty unusual for me. I got things reinstalled on my bike and set up my transition area.  I found a bunch of my triracer teammates and Ames racing buddies and shot the breeze before heading over to the lake to check out the buoys.  While chatting and waiting I met another Pearl Izumi Women's Tri team member GiGi and love my extended tri family this year.  The water was in the low 70s as was the air and I opted for a wetsuit.  

Coming out of the swim

This race ran the waves starting in reverse age order with the elite heats and the older folks going first.  I think I was heat nine which put me in a middle heat.  I got a strong start and the sun was high enough it wasn't completely in my face but sighting buoys for the first leg was challenging.  I started to hit traffic about 200 yards from the first turn and found myself in people as I swam through the three heats of athletes ahead of me.  It was a solid swim but I wasn't pushing super hard.  I came out of the lake with 1.2 miles in right at 35 minutes.  YAY wetsuit strippers got my out of my suit in seconds.  It was quite a distance up over the hill back to transition and I jogged most of it.   

I took a few minutes to dry off, get my gear on, drink water and snarf down a Lara bar.  I was convinced that I wasn't going to bonk like I did last year.  Joe, Jay and Jodi  my training buddy Galen's wife all gave me a shout out as I headed out for my ride.  I had three water bottles (one insulated and cold, one with air temp water and one with skratch) and with the heat rising through the ride I made sure to work the warm one twice for every hit of skratch and saved the cooler one for later on the course.  The roads was rough the first ten miles and then the hills came, and came, and came.  I started working on my PBJ bonk bar around mile 20 and finished it off by mile 45.  I also worked through all three water bottles pushing the last of my water as I rolled the last mile into transition, and felt like my nutrition plan thus far was just right for my 56 mile ride.  This was my longest ride of the season by 20 miles since my training derailed with the car crash recovery.  So at this point I am 56 miles and 3 hours and 53 minutes in the saddle which had me at four and half hours so far.

My ROCKSTAR family at the halfway point
of the half marathon - LOVE THEM!!

My new triathlete friend Leslie
and I at the halfway point

Coming into transition I was cheered on by seven people I love (biggest cheering section ever for me) and I prepared myself for a hot shuffle around the lake.  I put on my Pearl Izumi cooling bolero which is wet and fun to wriggle into but worth the five degree cooler temps on my arms.  I had been chatting with a young man towards the end of the bike who'd been cramping and we came out of transition together with my soon to be new friend Leslie from the Madison area.  As we shuffled the first few steps we agreed neither of us was going to push too hard for the 13.1 mile "run" portion of this half ironman so we agreed to make the journey together.

Around mile 9 1/2

By this point the weather was heating up into the 80s and full sun.  Thank goodness for ice at every water stop.  The neighborhood course support was fantastic the first seven miles with lots of sprinklers along the way for us to keep cool. They also had bananas so when my tummy started to rumble around mile five that took the edge off.  I was carrying my skratch in a 16 oz hand bottle and took this one between water stops as needed.

At each stop we would put ice in our bras and in my hat, pour water on my cooling sleeves and drink some as well.  It was a beautiful shuffle the first 6 1/2 miles through older neighborhoods and lakeside houses.  After the water stop at mile 6 1/2  where I took on a banana as well it was a long stretch of sun and busy roads and left us simmering coming into the next water stop which was father down the road then the rest had been thus far.  This stop was at the edge of a large park and also where I found my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Kenny (did I mention my race support from my family was AWESOME!!) so gave soggy hugs and made plans to catch up before we left town.

The last four miles were very urban and sunny and tough and even though we were only walking by that point I was desperate to get to the end of the race.  It takes a VERY long time to mostly walk a half marathon and keep in mind by the time I started I'd already been racing almost four and half hours.  It took me three hours and 20 minutes to get around the lake for 13.1 miles.  The last 1 tenth of a mile was uphill... yes uphill but we finally got there.  I am grateful for the new friend I made on the journey and look forward to racing in the Madison area again in the future.  Final time... don't really care.

I have decided that running a half marathon is much preferred but was glad I made the choice to walk most of it.  A lot of people struggled with the heat and many needed medical attention.  Racing isn't work that for me.  In the end I had the most fun I've had racing in years, with beautiful scenery, fantastic volunteers, a challenging course and my AMAZING family cheering me on.  I promised Joe I would take a year off on the long course races, and promised my cousin Jay I would be back soon to race with him for his first sprint triathlon (something he has talked about for years).

I am truly grateful to still be able to race.  I have two more triathlons and some runs scheduled yet this season but this season is just about having a positive attitude, lots of smiles and making new friends along the way. 

Thank you to the Race Day Events crew for an amazing course and fantastic volunteers and free race photos!  Thank you to my awesome coach John Mongar who encourages me and keeps me in the right frame of mind when I invent struggles.  Thank you to Pearl Izumi for the great extended ladies tri team.  #endureandenjoy.  And last of all thank you to my family for giving me time to do what I love and always cheering me on when I know you are stressing after me.  I love you guys!!  Until next time... get off the couch and experience life.  Thanks for reading.

Race Report - 3rd 1/2 Marathon of the year - Season Wrap Up

 I want to share this great card my husband and kids gave me after my 1/2 Ironman race in September.  They are pretty amazing and my secret spot is formulating some dreams for next year, but until then here is my last race report for 2016. 

Card my husband and kids gave me
after my 1/2 Ironman in September

Card my husband and kids gave me
after my 1/2 Ironman in September

Well, another season is officially in the books.  I have a couple of fun runs left yet this fall but last weekend was my last A race with the IMT Des Moines half marathon.  This was the third time I have run this race and I had a plan.  In 2011 this was my third race in my first year of doing them.  I finished it with a PR and a serious runners high.  It was amazing.  2012 -13 seasons had me laid up with injury issues and a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.  2014 was a test the waters year with five triathlons racing with the Kyle’s Bike triathlon team.  I did this half last year as a test to see if I could build back up to ½ Ironman distance racing again and was pleased with my results even if I wasn’t back up to the speed I was hoping for.  I did Dam to Dam ½ marathon this June but wan’t happy with how the run felt and was determined to have a good wrap up run.

Since march I have been training with John Mongar getting “strongar with Mongar” he says.  John is an experienced runner and triathlete and I worked with him last year as I built up my racing abilities again.  He helped me have some strong late season finishes at the Hy-Vee and Cyman triathlons and I was determined to dream big for 2015.  I knew I could hit my mark with his help keeping me on track.  John and I managed my workouts with assistance of Google docs to track my monthly workout plan and actual workouts accomplished.  Most weeks I had a strength building session and we would take a minute at the end to see if I hit my primary workouts for the prior week and set some focus areas for the coming week.  John’s positive encouragement kept me going when I felt like I couldn’t train another mile.

At the start of the season these were my goals:

1. Finish another 1/2 Ironman - done
2. Get my run at distance at a 9 minute mile - see my two des 1/2 marathon blog write ups for my two best halves with splits. - average 9.30 for the half but have been doing 8:30 ave for 2-4 mile runs so getting closer
3. Get to a 20-22 mph average on the bike - I've been all over the place on this in past years but a strong ride for me last year was in the 18-19 mph range. I need to do the miles in the saddle and that is where I fell short in 2011 training for my last half.  Still stuck in the 18-19 mph range so lots of room for improvement.
4. Have an age group top 3 in a race or two and not because I am the only one in my age group. - had a second place finish in my ½ ironman
5. Figure out the mental override for my run on hot/humid days so my training overcomes my MS - had a lot more early morning training sessions to avoid the heat … but not the humidity
6. Trim down a bit - guess I like to eat too much.  :)

My A races were the 1/2 Ironman in September where the run got the best of me, and this race.  I’ve been having some really great training runs leading into this race with 2-4 mile runs with 8:30 minute miles so I was optimistic going into this race.  I wasn’t sure I would hit a PR but I thought I could get pretty close.

Yes!

The morning of the race it was around 35 at the start but I love the cooler temps so that works for me.  Joe and I drove down with plenty of time park, use the restroom and find just the right start spot.  I was determined to hit a time somewhere between 2:05 and 2:10 so we lined up about 50 feet in front of the 2:10 pace sign.  We got things started and I knew I needed to hit mile times that were under 10 minutes.  Once we got out of the first mile of traffic our next three miles were under 9:30 (8:52, 8:59, 9:14) and part of me was ecstatic and part of me was worried we went out a little too strong.  Around mile five on the backside of Water Works Park I was trying to mentally pull things back together and had what was supposed to be my first of two honey stinger gels.  This gave me a boost from a 9:46 minute fifth mile to the next three being 9:11, 9:19, 9:20.  The irony here is I was just running but not feeling like I was running fast. These miles also had a bit of a head wind so I am surprised they were faster.  I had been taking on water every other stop the first six or seven miles.  Around mile 8 I decided to take on Gatorade instead of waiting until I got to Grey’s Lake to take another gel.

The run around Grey’s Lake felt a bit slower with miles that ranged from 9:29 to 9:47.  I was definitely slowing down and having to talk to myself a bit to keep the wheels on the bus.  I don’t think I was physically laboring or feeling bad, just in a weird place mentally which was holding me back a bit.  This lack of focus is where I lost my shot as matching my best time although I wasn’t paying close enough attention to get myself back on track.  I started taking on water at most of the stops seems like mostly to have an excuse to walk for a second and took on another Gatorade just out of the park.

Joe and I at the finish line.

We got to the little ½ marathon out and back and I saw the guy with the 2:10 sign coming and picked up the pace a little bit.  I didn’t realize how close we were to the finish once we got into downtown so turned up the pace later than I should have but managed a strong last three block finish anyway.  I am happy with the outcome of this race and have high hopes I can get below my PR next year.

Here is the breakdown between 2011 and 2015:

2011 - 6.5 mile time 1:07:46 / ave 10:26 min mile - final time 2:06:27 / ave 9:40 min mile /  final place 191 in division (this race had me negative splitting as I went)

2015 - 6.5 mile time 1:05:08 / ave 9:41 min mile - final time 2:08:12 /ave 9:48 min mile / final place 113 in division (this race had me maintaining a nearly constant split but slightly slower second half)

Milo and Ash our new kittens

Flowers after my 1/2 Ironman
race in September because
my family is awesome.

I feel good about how the year went and am looking forward to even bigger goals for next year that include another ½ Ironman and maybe even a marathon (testing the waters for doing an Ironman distance in 2017 or 18).  I want to say a huge thanks to my family who supported me in my racing training efforts this year.   Thanks to the people who picked me up when I was harder on myself than I needed to be.  Thanks to my coach and my training buddies who gave me something to look forward to each week, kept me on track and helped me achieve my goals. And now I am going to play with my two new little buddies. Too cute!