TT & Icebreaker Sprint

Rapid Cycling in St George hosted a Crit Series this year.  One of the stages being a Time Trail which I had to get in on!  What would be more fun than 10 uncomfortable miles at balls-to-the-wall effort??

I was a little nervous jumping into an event full of hard-core cyclists.  Clyde arrange to have his good friends help me get ready at the start which was aaaaaamazing! They helped me get the trainer set up to get my warm up in, gave me the perfect get ready to suffer motivation speech, and to top it off were out there during the ride! SO dang nice!!!

Success # 1 of the day was not tipping over while I was being held at the start line before I was sent off! I was probably most worried about this :)

From the first pedal stroke I went into suffer mode and was able to stay focused throughout the 10 miles.  We had drove the course prior, but those hills were felt in the legs a little more than I had anticipated.  The last two miles really hurt - which they should! I just put my head down and hammered.

***Note to all you newbies... when you hear 'put your head down and hammer,' you do NOT literally put your head down! First of all, you can not see where you are going.  Second, putting your head down literally creates a wall out of your aero helmet  #lessonlearned Keep your head up :) :)

When you can find an emotion that sets something off within yourself, it can be super useful in a race setting.  Find what triggers you and use it to your advantage!  Came across the finish line and headed out to finish off the rest of my workout.  Thanks Coach T!

Finished 1st in my Cat and 7th including the boys ---► Rocky was most excited about that part :)




ICEBREAKER SPRINT TRI
1:00.58
1st AG
2nd Overall

I also raced in the IceBreaker Sprint Tri on March 21st.  I've done this race the past two years and it is hands down my favorite Sprint!  RaceTri knows how to put on a solid race.

Going into this race I had written down my goal of breaking my course time (0:59.57) and take the overall win.  Guess what?! In life, things don't always go the way you plan.

We drove up north early enough to pick my packet up, set up transition, and get in my warm up.  This year we brought the trainer.  I probably looked like an idiot with it.  Seriously loved having it though.  It was pretty dang cold first thing in the morning so it was nice to warm up on the trainer without that wind chill. 

I don't have too many details to share.  I felt really good throughout the race, my body just did not respond like I had thought it was going to.  Other than the bike split, I don't think that the times are indicative of what I am capable of.  

So with that being said ONWARD!

trusting in MY plan.
#BUILDINGMYMACHINE

 

XOXO!

 

Starting 2014, Icebreaker Triathlon

THIS...

was how my 2014 started. The time when fresh starts, goal making, motivated and eager to start working athletes are ready to get going again after 'off season'... my body told me to STOP! 

Injuries suck.  Being held back by our own bodies is never fun.  Life has a funny way of breaking you down just when you think you have figured things out... akhilandeshvari!  The first two’ish weeks when I couldn't do anything (even swim) I was not the happiest camper J  It took those weeks for me to realize this 'IS WHAT IT IS' – what I needed to do was focus on the things I COULD do while injured.  So that being said, the first quarter of the year I definitely missed out on some initial season build up, specifically my run training has suffered, BUT what I chose to spend my time focusing on was my swim, being a stronger biker, and strength training. 

ICEBREAKER SPRINT TRIATHLON

Now back and gearing up for St George 70.3, Teresa and I decided the Icebreaker Sprint Triathlon would be a great way to kick off the 2014 season.  I raced this event last year and although I finished a little slower this go-around, I am happy with how I raced!

My father and I drove to American Fork the morning of the race.  After I picked up my packet, I did a quick warm up, set my transition area up, and headed to the indoor pool.  Warm up included a ride checking gears with a few surges and a easy jog with strides.

Swim: 300M
The swim start is self seeded and last year I noted that I started too far back in the line.  Based on the ladies registered, I knew there were 3 very fast female swimmers so my plan was to line up right behind those three.  I ended up getting right behind the 3 and the BAM/SLC Tri guys which worked out perfect! Exited the pool feeling good and my heart rate was not super high like it usually is.  Hit the wall in 5:34 - Huge improvement from last year!

Quick T1



Bike: 12Miles
Double loop course basically uphill, downhill X 2.  I felt really strong on the bike and dismounted at 31:42 so about the same as last year (31:56). Colder this year and wind... my toes were pretty dang cold starting the run. I clearly do not pay attention to things going on around me because I guess I almost got his by a car going into T2 and do no remember it at all, Yikes!:)  Here is a clip...  

Run 3.1Miles
Quickly in and out of T2 ready to run!  The course is up a nice hill mile 1, flat, then back down to the finish.(21:08)  I definitely felt the lack of speed work during this run and is where I lost the minute from last year (20:08).  Crossing the finish line, Amanda was finished before me and I thought she had won because of my slow run time... turned out the bike saved me and took first overall female. 1:01:11 



The race directer of this event is a super nice guy and takes care of all his athletes participating!  Always awesome to have my dad there to support me out on the course.  Love this event and was the perfect way to start off the 2014 race season! 

BRING ON ST GEORGE

DinoTri Race Recap

DinoLand Tri - 1:17:33 (1 AG, 2 Female, 4 Overall)

This past weekend I drove to Vernal for the DinoTri.  This is my new favorite short distance race. 

Great venue (who knew Vernal was pretty?), honest course and organized as well as an IM event.  I was nervous traveling by myself, but the race directors were so helpful; they personally took extra time going over how to find the different transition areas with me. Oh – and the prizes are freaking awesome... cash prizes for overall winners, fun rock plate awards, and differed bonus prizes like 'beat the race director' and 'King/Queen of the Hill'.  

We were bussed up to Red Fleet Lake. Gorgeous area for the race start.  Warmed up with a jog and short swim. **Typically I take a GU right before the start and I forgot one this time

Swim 15:51

I positioned myself very front and center at the swim start.  Swim was going perfect, until I noticed I wasn’t swimming with anyone… stopped and looked up and saw the start line buoy! Freak – missed the turn, swam back to the loading ramp completely frustrated. 

T2 2:10 

Up the boat ramp running pissed. Chip timer came off when I took my wetsuit off.

Bike 38:01 

The bike is where things turned around.  Awesome bike course including some climbing, a steep descend, then rolling hills to the finish.  Right out of the bike you start the 2 mile climb. LOVED it. I was so angry with my swim that I just powered up the hill.

T2 :34

Run 20:55  
Leaving transition I could hear a girl right off my shoulder.  She was breathing very hard so I just focused on keeping my breath calm and fast turn over. You turn 3 times on the course so you could see your competition very well.  Felt strong, didn’t break 20 though! I still need to figure out how to make my legs move fast off the bike!

Fun day! I highly recommend this race... I will definitely be back next year.

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