Ironman CDA!

i liked this surprise...

'life if full of surprises.challenges.emotions.  all of which can be confusing in even the most straight forward situations.'  what would appear as a simple solution is to remove as many variables from these uncomfortable situation as possible; restrict diets, limit relationships, laser focus on triathlon, cut out feelings, etc.  by controlling as many variables as possible we increase our chances to control LIFE. simple solution, right?

i'm finding out it is not that easy.  

even if you do strip down your life...  build yourself into this little, single dimension box where every single move is done with the utmost intention... controlled... fully analyzed...  you still can not keep the messiness of 'life' out.  in that controlled, stripped down world you can create for yourself, LIFE finds its way to get in.  injury, opportunity, disaster, love, hurt, will eventually get in.   

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prior to this year i thought i had my box to the perfect size i wanted. sealed off. controlled. restricted. simple. no unknown surprises. exactly how i (thought) i wanted.  

prior to this year, as i started triathlon, things just seemed to fall into place.  i went into races undernourished and over trained (not because of my coach) and always seemed to pull off a solid race.  all of which lead me to believe this boxed in 'life' i was living was working.  living this way was dedication.  living this way was comfortable.healthy. the only way to achieve my dreams.

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then life started to leaking in.  so the first of this year i committed to testing a new path.  one in which allows life in.  allows balance. allows stepping out of that box of old rules.  as i started to allow myself to relax, stop forcing control and obsessions, allowing 'distractions' to be a part of my life, and letting myself have fun:

i unintentionally gave myself a chance at one of my dream goals. Kona.

leading up to Ironman Coeur d'Alene, i had several people talk to me about taking so much focus off qualifying for Kona.  put the focus on enjoying the experience.  i remembered back to the absolute joy i felt crossing my first Ironman last year.  feeling that JOY was what i wanted my goal to be for Ironman CDA.

RACE:

The heat forecast contined to get hotter and hotter leading up to race day.  i chose CDA because it was a 'cold' ironman.  i keep my house temp under 70... me and heat are not friends.  so my dad came up with this brilliant idea to wear a long sleeved shirt and a silly hat to keep me cool.  practiced the set up a few times, with mock aid stations, and it seemed like this was going to have a huge impact on me having a good race.  silly looking or not :)

we arrived in CDA a few days prior to the event to get settled in and rested.  those few days of doing nothing and taking a break from the stress of work help me a lot.  

the chatter of the race still happening because of the heat filled the air.  i tried to ignore it the best i could.  took in all the encouragement Clyde and my dad continued to repeat to me :) ♥ :) the night before the race Teresa, Mark, and Dior came over.  so wonderful.  it was nice to chat.. review the game plan.. and finally meet that darling little girl. LOVEHER! as i was heading to bed that night, T called to tell me game day was ON - all 140.6 ☺

....

 i set my alarm at 2:07am.  woke up to no race day nerves. which was weird. clyde helped me make breakfast, then we went back to bed for another hour.  before we left the house my garmin stopped working! got it fixed, got in the car, and off to the race start.  race morning went smooth.  still no nerves.  i was just ready to RACE. 

SWIM

after Chattanooga last year, Teresa and i really wanted to put a focus on my swim.  the time and volume were definitely put in.  for some reason it did not today.

COACH T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i estimated i'd hit around a 1:15-17. wrong! as soon as i ran and dove in, there were people on every end of me.  the first loop went by okay... not great though.  getting out on the first loop, there were so many people just standing on the beach. taking photos. waving at the crowd.  that was a bit frustrating where i just wanted to make that a quick transition.  second loop was not pretty.  sighting was off on the way out leading to me swimming far off to the right.  people would stop in front of me, forcing me to stop to get around them. the further out we got the more clustered it was = drinking water! the entire last loop i just told myself to breath calm and get to Rocky!   figuring out what is going on with my stroke will be a priority going forward!

T1

quick! in and out of there.

BIKE

i've learned a lot from my races leading up to CDA this year.
  
2 specific things: 1) i can't push the bike crazy hard like i always get carried away with doing. 2) i HAVE to hydrate.  ESPECIALLY where it was going to be a very hot day. 

the entire 112 miles of CDA i told myself this should feel REALLY easy and drink.drink.drink!

the plan was to keep things feeling silly easy until the turn around point on the second loop.  this was SO hard for me.  i felt like i was just spinning on a casual ride.  especially at first when people were passing me.  patience Christie! NO heart rate spikes.  NO standing on hills.  no racing people.  i had to keep reminding myself that i want to have a good run so taking it easy on the bike was important!

usually i don't slow down for aid stations.  if i happen to grab and keep a hold of the aid great, if not, there is always another.  CDA i slowed down for EVERY aid station.  grabbing 3 bottles (1 gatorade, 1 water, and another water to drench myself).  i made sure i was getting in a constant flow of food, hydration, and salt.√  nutrition felt spot on.√  never was hungry.√ never bonked.√  was peeing consistently.√  felt good.☺

i really enjoyed this course. (other than that dang no pass zone... got behind slow people every single time!)  it was all very pretty, had climbing which I love, the 2 loops help split the race up mentally... all in all, great!

rolled into T2 feeling fantastic!

RUN

i knew getting off the bike i was ready to run. pacing the bike like i did left my legs feeling fresh with no real fatigue.  saw Rick and Clyde right out of transition and they told me Teresa was right up ahead.  it's nice seeing family/friends on the bike but the run you actually can SEE them :)  

having my support team on the course meant the WORLD to me!!!!!!!!!!! T wasn't sure my placing... but thought around 6-7th. typical Christie would have let this really effect my race. i didn't this time. onward, chase down the girls.

first out and back was not bad. the entire time i ran with a huge smile on my face.  it was HOT though!!!!!!! around mile 2 i saw Clyde again and he told me just nice and steady - don't push it! so that's exactly what i did. 26 miles is a long way so those first 20 need to feel easy! there were lots of familiar faces out there pushing through that heat! today was not about speed... it was about not falling apart and melting :) 

along the course whenever i had the chance i would completely drenching myself. saw my dad and T again on the second loop...high fives and smiles to see them both!!! i did not feel a real low point until the flat stretch on the second loop right before the climb. so i counted my steps over and over until i was up and over that dang hill. ready to head back to the finish!  at that point i made a deal with myself to make it to each aid station running, once i got there i could walk through getting in hydration and soaking myself.   

before i knew it, mile 24 hit. i turned the corner to see Clyde! he believes in me when i don't even believe in myself...and that gave me tons of energy!!  he told me he thought i was close to the third place girl and i had to move if i wanted it.  this was a huge surprise to me.  after T2, i never saw any girls so i assumed i was still around 7th! as soon as he left, i saw her.  orange kit. same girl that passed me in St George!!!!! (good think this was a full marathon... i need those miles to catch up to the fast swimmers!) as i came up on her i wondered if i should go for the pass or wait closer to the finish line.  i did not want to make the same mistake i did last year in St George 70.3.  i could tell she was hurting though and i was feeling stronger and stronger so i went for it and did not look back.  

the end of mile 25 i saw Clyde again and asked if she was there. he told me to JUST RUN!!! i was doing it!! i took off my silly cooling shirt and hat, and got ready to enjoy the best part of the Ironman - that home stretch.

as i got to the top of Sherman Avenue there was Coach T telling me no one is behind you, enjoy this, i am proud. Tears!!!!!!! it amazes me how all the pain, fear, insecurities, and doubts just vanish.  regardless of the place i ended up, i was happy that i did not give up.  not as in not finishing. i knew i would finish. but i did not give up fighting and just settle for 7th. ended up exited the water in 36th and finished in 3rd. the entire day i kept moving forward to finishing the race with JOY. 

GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!

awards came the following day and surprise...  KONA!!!! still on cloud 9 over it. so thankful and grateful to get to go race at Worlds in October.  freaking WORLDS!!!!  sharing that moment with my people was amazing. you bet i already have some goals for that race - at the same time, i plan to go with the main goal of experience that finish line JOY! 

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after the race several people made comments to me that all my hard work paid off.  and yes, i agree, at CDA, the hard work did 'pay off.'  BUT hard work is not what earned me that Kona slot.  not letting struggles, set back after set back, under-performing at races, bad training sessions, and the uncomfort of this new way of 'life' break me down enough to just give up.  hard work is actually the easy part.  especially when you are excelling.  but it is during the times when you seem to be up against a wall, working your ass off going nowhere that you have to find some other gear to not throw in the towel.  a lot of times, for me, that other gear is my amazing support team reminding me to KEEP GOING.  

Since the race, i am really trying to make myself recognize the goal i achieved.  it's so easy for me to devalue my own accomplishments, unsatisfied with my current level wanting to quickly move to the next 'big' goal. 

so right now:

..i am reflecting back and being proud of the progress I have made since starting triathlon in 2012.

..remembering that progress = patience and patience requires trusting the uncomfortable.

..realizing uncomfortable situations is where growth and new possibilities lay.

..trying to trust my training, my support team, my 'new' path outside of my old box.  continuing down this uncomfortable, scary, unstable, uncontrolled path that every day i have more and more trust is exactly the road in which i need to be traveling down.

            Oh... and right now: some swim/bike/run'ing is going down. KONABOUND!!!

xoxo

#10

Ironman St George 70.3

1. 

My #1 favorite bike course in 70.3's. Gorgeous. Challenging. Fun! Rode a bike course PR today.  The bike felt strong and effortless and awesome.

2. 

I typically pee 2 times on the bike in a 70.3.  Today... 0. Possible hydration issue? (tmi ☺). I drank according to my race plan.  I don't know if I drank enough for the higher temp's.

3.

Zoot! Rudy Project! Garmin! 3 amazing companies that I'm so lucky to be apart of.

4.

Wake up time: 3:47 a.m. Time Goal: 4:XX.  Finishing Temp: 94 :(

5.

 The # of gels taken throughout the day. 1: pre-swim 4: bike  0: run = 5  My stomach wanted nothing to do with any nutrition after the bike.

6.

Mile  6 on the run was the worst.  To be honest, the run was a bit of a shit show from mile 2 to finish. As much as I tried to push, the 'Iamsofreakinghotkillmenow' voice in my head seemed to be on repeat!  Getting off the bike I knew all I had to do was hit a 1:45 to dip under 5 hours.  Was not in the cards today...Disappointing run.


7.

My placing = 7th....  6 spots off of my goal.

8.

After the initial swim as fast as you can to find some clear water start... 8 is the number of strokes I took between each sighting. Happy to report I finally managed to stay in line with all of the buoys!

I recently switched to Roka F2 goggles. Amazeballs.  Large, no leaking, and my favorite part is the various lens colors help accentuate buoy colors.  (big deal for my bad eyesight!) I went with the Dark Vermilion Mirror and had no issues with the sun.


9.

I saw my amazing support crew throughout the race 9 times!!! My dad, Clyde and Bob drove me out to the race start.  Right before I got in the water, Bob gave me - The Best motivation/get-your-ass-in-gear/bring-out-the-beast speech!  Then they were able to get to spots on the bike/run course.  Means so much to me.

10.

This was my 10th 70.3.  First one being in 2012. Fastest being in 2014.  oh the journey...

I allowed myself a few days to be upset over this race.  All the pieces are not there yet.  I still have many more hours of work to do; both athletically and mentally.  But thanks to my support crew, I can put this race into perspective.  I am nowhere near where I want to be.  But this is my journey Building My Machine and 

I KNOW that my best is yet to come!!!!!!! 

xoxo

This time of year... Vegas here I come!

Race day is 13 days away.   

Which means taper time…. 

Which means blogging time to occupy my ‘I want to be training, not resting’ mind!! 

I remember this time of year, last year, getting a text from Coach T about considering  

qualifying for the Worlds 70.3 as a goal of mine for 2013. 

Big goal… I’m game! 

Reaching that goal in St George was amazing and the rest of the summer has been all about training hard, racing smart, and learning lots to lead me to a great race on September 8^th.   

Vegas is going to be very windy, and a lot hot, and plenty hard. Championship race worthy... I think so! :) Tough courses make for tough athletes, right? I am such a numbers person… quantifying everything is something I do without even thinking about it.  NOT for this race.  No time expectations going in.  Don’t get me wrong, I want to have a fabulous race, but my #1 goal is to leave everything I have on that course.  I am so excited to race with some talented ladies and all I want, is to cross that finish line feeling absolutely spent.

.......

This time of year is also when I decided to change my life.  Two years ago I committed to letting go of an awful lifestyle and began ‘Building My Machine.’  Recently, I finally feel like I have gotten to a point that I am not ashamed or held back by that past ‘life.’  A couple weeks ago at the gym, a young man I didn't know asked me if I would talk to his mom about her weight issues since I have been able to overcome mine. This was a real 'aha' moment for me. I have overcome them. I can admit to it without being ashamed.  I can help others now.  Changing your life is freaking HARD no matter what the adjustment you are making.  You can have amazing support like my dad, coach, and cousin but that doesn't simplify the change.  Throughout the two years I was always teetering back and forth, so owning my new ‘changed’ life never seemed honest and genuine.  But now, NOW I feel like I have gotten to a point to use that weakness as fuel instead of a weakness rendering me from my potential.  Finding strength in that weakness, Akhilandeshvari! Fueling my fire within. 

“If it isn’t something that’s physically stopping you, then it’s mental.  

So, is your mind going to be your weapon or weakness?”

You better bet that fuel will be my weapon in Vegas! 

Ice Breaker Triathlon

Ice Breaker Sprint Tri

59:57.5              1/108 Female         8/282overall  

Going into this race I had 3 goals:

1- I have not done a triathlon with my new bike or actual clip-ins so practicing quick transitions
2- Every triathlon in the past I have subconsciously held back on the bike always wanting the run to be priority.  I did not want to do this… really wanted to push it the WHOLE race.
3 – Get in under 1 hour

Drove to American Fork, picked up race-packet… markings… pre race meeting… transition set up etc. etc.  Went for a quick warm-up (2.3 easy with some strides)

15 minutes before the race I still was unsure what I was going to wear.  Everyone was complaining how cold it was, but last minute I decided to take off my tri top and wear a swim top with tri shorts for the whole race.  

Swim (6:19/300 meters)

Indoor pool swim. Cluster mess.  I am not very confident in my swim, so when we were lining up I kept moving backward listening to the others talk about their swimming abilities.  Ended up stuck in the middle of the lanes and at the wall ends several times waiting for people. I need to make sure to start further up next time… especially in a lap pool! The time includes running from inside the pool to the transition area mat.

T1 (0:45)

Smooth and uneventful.

 

Bike (12 miles, 31:56, 22.5/mph)

I felt strong on the bike.  I caught a lot of people which was giving me more and more energy.  Fell short of my 25mph goal… probably should have looked at the course before setting it that high :) Double loop course with uphill going out and downhill coming back.  About 2 miles left on the bike, I took 1/2 a gel and drank poweraid zero with Powerbar Perform mixed in. (This is the first race I opened the gels and taped them to my bike. Worked out perfect)  My dad was at the dismount area and told me only 2 girls in front of me! So encouraging having him there. 

T2 (0:51)

Pretty smooth…Forgot to take my helmet off and had an official ask me if I was taking extra safety precautions running with a helmet on! Duh Christie! Right outside of T2 was Rachelle!!! Best way to start the last leg of this race.  (Note - I need to purchase the no tie laces for my shoes.) 

Run (3.1, 20:08, 6:30/mile)

The first half of the run shares the course with the biker's which is a bit scary.  I ended up running on the sidewalk most of the time to avoid a collision. Most of mile 1 my legs felt good but I felt like I couldn’t breath; very frustrating.  Mile 1 is going up the ‘big hill’ and my shoe lace came untied.  Stopped, fixed it and pushed up the hill.  Mile 2 is flat, and 3 is back downhill to the finish.  During the run I was catching men and on the look out for those two dang ladies.  Finally, I saw some braids ahead, found another gear, and just charged past her and didn’t stop pushing until the end.  I never knew what ‘running scared’ meant until today with that girl chasing me:) I was really hoping for a 19:2X… but happy with the effort I gave.       

Crossing the finish I had no idea my time because my Garmin was messed up and thought I was in 2^nd.  Rachelle and I went for a quick cool down waiting for the results to post.  When we got back my dad told me I did it… sub 1 hour and overall female!     

Cant say enough how much my dad freaking rocks.  I swear, he gets just as much of a workout as I do moving around to the different areas on the course!  So fun to have Rachelle there as well… I don’t think people know how much support really means/helps during a race.  This is the perfect pre season race: well organized & wonderful volunteers, challenging course to test your fitness, and ideal race before St George 70.3 :) 

and my post race FUEL THE MACHINE tradition...

SASHIMI