***Iron Girl DISTANCE***
Swim: .62 miles
Bike: 17.5 miles
Run: 3.4 miles
***RESULTS***
Overall
Overall: 1:36:54, 10th/1632 overall, 1st in age group
Swim: 13:48
Bike: 54:22/19.3avg
Run: 25:56/7:38avg
***PRERACE***
Iron Girl was the 2nd of our Team LUNA Chix DC events and my 1st Iron Girl event. Friday and Saturday were the Iron Girl Expo. We set up our Luna tent both days to promote LUNA, BCF, triathlon, and to raise some money for BCF. This year we decided to do a raffle for Shonny Vanlandingham's jersey and a LUNA saddle. Both were hot items and we were able to raise over $600! During my time at the tent I talked to so many great ladies and was really inspired by everyone. The Expo/Packet pick-up were huge...so many vendors, goodies, etc. I was a bit overwhelmed. I left the Expo around 5pm and headed to Centennial Park for bike check-in. That was easy and I wa son the road back to DC by 6pm. Got home, got my stuff ready, and was in bed by 9pm.
Up at 430am on Sunday and on the road by 445am. Got to the park around 530am and headed to transition to set up. I did not expect to see any of my LUNA teammates until after the race...I was in the 1st wave at 645am...the elite wave (also the pro wave). A lot of the team did not go off until after 730am. It was still dark and I had somewhat of a hard time pumping my tires and lubing my chain...I think I lubed the whole area. nice. A girl I met in transition really calmed me before the race. She was a riot. Her name was Erin, it was her 1st triathlon, and somehow she had gotten herself into the elite wave. She thought it was pretty hysterical. I loved her laid-back attitude. She had forgotten water bottles, so I ran back to my car and grabbed her some LUNA bottles. She was very grateful and my new best friend.
It was then time to head down to the water. I was freezing. The water was 84 so wetsuits would not be allowed. Once I got in I would be fine.
***RACE***
SWIM - They called us up to enter the water. We all waded in and all lined up treading water. Thew ave was only about 25 people so it was not hard to find a spot. I positioned myself on the end right of the line and waited for the strange Aflac duck go signal. BUHAHA. We were off. It seemed like a more calm start than usual. I had positioned myself on the right so that I could just site off everyone to the left (I breathe to my left). We started to separate. About 6 ladies were out in front...I was not far behind them. And I did not see anyone to either side, just a lot of splashing behind. I settled into my rhythm and started to focus on myself and not everyone around me. It was sort of a rectangular course. On the long side I saw no one around me, just the few out in front, and felt someone at my feet constantly. ARGHHH someone was really drafting me. I just tried to kick a lot :) Finally I spotted the finish chute. I sprinted in. As I ran out of the water I saw Laura and Andie, they were there cheering me on.
T1 - Nothing too exciting. I was off on BANANAS. YEAHHHHHH BANANAS.
BIKE - I had never rode the exact course. Came out the beginning of May to ride the Columbia course with DC tri and I knew it was hilly. Which is good...my strength. The girl who had come out of the water right behind me passed me after a few miles. I wanted to hold my place so did not want her to get out of my site. I was feeling decent. I had taken a few weeks off riding and did not feel as strong as I had been at the beginning of the season...but not bad...legs did feel fresh. Each hill I gained on the girl that had passed me. There were 2 roundabouts on the course. After the 1st one I saw I was not too far behind Dede, the leader. Exciting! With about 5 miles to go I passed the girl who had passed me. I felt I was maybe in 7th or 8th place overall as I came into T2.
T2 - Quickly got outta there...Newtons...no socks...should be interesting :) My blister situation has been much better. I have been putting iodine all over my feet and they were pretty tough now. But still for anything longer than say 4 miles I should wear socks.
RUN - I was in 8th. I wanted to make top 10. So this is where I get nervous...and people usually start passing me. I could see someone behind me maybe 100 feet. Yes, she would surely pass me. I tried to set into a pace with high cadence. Looked behind again about 5 minutes later and no one. Mile 1, still no site of anyone behind me. Mile 2, same...no one behind me. I picked it up a bit...if no one passed me on the run that would be ridiculous....I would make it happen. Mile 3, no one behind for as far as I could see. GEEZ...haha I guess I am pretty paranoid when I run. Only .4 to go! I busted it to the finish. Crossed the line in 8th!
***POSTRACE***
All of the sudden I was sweating like hot yoga. I needed water. I talked with Megan, who had finished 5th! and then headed to the LUNA tent to hang/regroup and wait for others to finish. My teammates started coming in. Everyone was in the best mood and really happy with their strong finishes. Then I headed over to get a post-race massage...never done that...why not though..it was free!
Iron Girl was an excellent event and Team LUNA Chix DC did good....promoting the sport, raising money for BCF, and team togetherness. :) Thanks everyone! I love you all.
***LESSONS LEARNED***
-Iono.
-Up Next: Reston Triathlon, Reston, VA, September 7, 2008 (look for the big blue tent!...we will have lots and lots of YUMMY snacks for all)
8.27.2008
Iron Girl
8.26.2008
LUNA Pro team athletes in the Olympics
Catharine Pendrel Only 9 Seconds From Bronze, Georgia Gould Finishes a Solid 8th
August 23, 2008 Vail, CO
Congratulations to Catharine and Georgia for an outstanding race at the Olympics! I went online last night and watched the entire race from my computer. It was amazing coverage, except I had to make up my own commentary. I was thrilled that we actually got to watch the entire race, and not a five minute highlight segment squished into the NBC swimming and gymnastics show. I have few details on the race, but from what Isaw and read, it was brutally hard.
Catharine had the ride of her life and finished 4th, only 9 seconds out of the bronze medal. Georgia got the hole shot off the start line and then rode steadily in the top ten to finish eighth, just 23 seconds behind her fellow US teammate Mary McConnelog. It was an incredibly difficult course with many of the athletes saying it was the hardest circuit they've seen all year.
Catharine rode in the top five the entire race. She was third with two laps to go. An unfortunate missed shift on the last climb of the last lap allowed Irina Kalentieva, the 2007 World Champion, to squeak past her and claim the bronze by a mere nine seconds. "Irina and I were together for most of the last lap," said Catharine. "There was one little 'popper' climb before the final descent, and I made an error there. I tried to downshift to my granny [gear] on the steepest part, and had to put my foot down, and that's when she got by me. It hurts, but it was still a fantastic ride for
me, and I feel that I didn't lose third, I won fourth."
After a strong start, Georgia rode steadily up through the field. With one lap to go Georgia was in 12th behind China's Ying Liu, winner of the 2007 test event. A last lap surge saw Georgia come across the line in 8th.
"It wasn't what I was hoping and dreaming for," said Georgia, "but it's a solid result. I had a strategy to be conservative at the beginning, because I knew people would be blowing up at the end. If you're tired, you can't make it up those climbs." Still, a top ten finish at the Olympic Games is outstanding!
Congrats to both Catharine and Georgia. Enjoy the Closing Ceremonies and safe travels back home.
7.14.2008
Triangle Triathlon
Distance: 750 meter swim, 15 mile bike, 5K run
***RESULTS***
Overall Female
Open Female
Overall: 1:16:25, 12th overall female, 8th open female
Swim: 11:12
Bike: 39:55
Run: 22:02
***PRERACE***
Another busy but very FUN weekend adventure. Original plan was to head to Raleigh, NC Saturday and then over to OBX Sunday to visit my dad on vacation. I decided it would be fun to find some ride or event on Sunday morning. We ended up at the Triangle Triathlon (part of setupevents NCTS). Matias's crazy work traveling had him back in FLL early early Monday morning...so OBX fell through and we would head back home Sunday.
The past month has been a beater trying to recover from some solid training this season. I have been having some breathing trouble, especially while biking. I feel as though I can not get enough air in and when I do take a real deep breath it feels as though I have strained some chest muscles. The breathing problems started before the Savageman training ride and chest pain began after that. After some doctor visits and talking with The Delaneys (Rehab To Racing) they diagnosed bronchospasm, or contraction of the windpipe...usually allergy related. With this occurring it would be easy for me to strain chest muscles, especially during these beater rides. I was feeling better knowing what was going on but still worried about overdoing it.
Saturday - After a nice long swim, while Matias ran, we were on the road for Raleigh, NC. We hit a lot of traffic leaving the area and did not make it until around 6:30pm. We checked into the hotel, found some good eats at Outback, and were in bed at a reasonable hour.
Sunday am - We arrived at Lake Crabtree County Park by 5:30am for packet pick-up. Matias decided to switch over to the Open/Elite category and convinced me I should do the same...so I did. We got our race packets and headed over to transition to set up. Matias and I ended up right next to each other in transition...so that was fun :) It was really a strange feeling not knowing anyone at the race besides ourselves.
***RACE***
SWIM - Open Male and Open Female started together in the 1st wave. Everyone looked SO serious...and they all seemed to know each other and had on the same uniform, except Matias and I. Cripes...what had I gotten into. Most of them were on this Triangle Multisport-Inside Out Sports Triathlon Team (TMS-IOS), a team of elite amateur and professional multi-sport athletes from around the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. The water was 86 degrees (no wetsuits allowed)...I love warm water :) As the starter counted down we all lined up in a row...and shortly we were off. Busted start...everyone was all up in my space. Ughh...no getting away in this one. Hit the turn around and it calmed a bit. I felt like I was in the middle of the wave. I sprinted into the finish beating another female out of the water by maybe 2 seconds.
T1 - Pretty uneventful...was off on Bananas.
BIKE - The course was a 4-leaf clover...out of the park and around a mostly suburban area. It seemed the start of each loop was in a small valley with some climbing at the start of each loop and descent back into the middle. A female passed me before getting to the 1st loop...then came some climbing and I started to catch up and pass her back. Another female came up on us and shouted at me..."YOUR DRAFTING...GRR." And then she passed the other lady and yelled to her that I was drafting :( They were TMS-IOS teammates. I felt bad...I was not trying to draft off her. I get passed on the downhills and then gain and repass on the climbs. Can be a lot of back and forth...not tring to cause problems. But felt strong throughout the ride. I gained on people on each climb...even caught a few people.
T2 - Socks or no socks? Last few races I have gone without and paid for it. I could NOT get one on...NO SOCKS. GEEZ. Then I ran out the wrong way to get out of transition...NICE.
RUN - Take 50 for the Newtons. After some serious blister issues, I was still sure I was faster in these shoes and was determined to break my feet into them. I had been putting iodine on my blisters several times a day for the past month...I was told it would make my feet tougher. And had also been putting moleskin on my feet where blisters were likely to occur. I had started out with some on but it fell off..the usual. I started out and felt good. I am definitely becoming more used to the bike to run feeling. Less people are passing me on the run. Hit Mile 1...no blisters. Mile 2...I picked up the pace. I felt strong finishing and NO blisters! The TMS-IOS tri team finished really strong. Matias finished 2nd overall and won a pretty awesome mug...HEHE!
***POSTRACE***
I feel I am recovering from running and racing more quickly now. Before I would have to take at least a week off running after a race involving running. Now its maybe only a few days. My body is getting there. And thanks to Mary and Al for helping me figure myself out yet again :) I love you guys.
***LESSONS LEARNED***
-Practice transitions.
Up Next: NYC Triathlon July 20, 2008
7.02.2008
Laura's General Smallwood Race Report
"Okay... just settle down," the voice in my head was trying to calm me. " Let the air come. Don't force it." Panicking during the swim happens to other people, not me. I'm a swimmer - at least I used to be. Now I was hoping just to get through the swim, heck I was hoping to take another stroke. I was as close as I have ever been to waving the kayaks over.
I signed up for the General Smallwood International Distance Race several months ago, but switched to the sprint distance the day before the race. For a variety of reasons, I was not feeling prepared for the longer distance. This race was the first of two official DC Luna Chix races, where the whole team either races, volunteers or both. I love being part of a team - the camaraderie and the support on race day is awesome.
On race morning, the Luna Chix team and friends gathered at the tent and then headed down to the swim start. There was quite a bit of time before my wave, so it was nice to have team mates to hang out with. The women's international wave started early enough ahead of the women's sprint wave that we were able to cheer Katie out of the water (she was the second woman out!).
A couple minutes later and I was in the water with the rest of the women doing the sprint race. I was doing this race with no expectations except to get a good, though expensive, brick work out. My focus on the swim - long strokes, roll the body and sight often. I tend not to sight and often find myself adding significant yardage to the swim, so I planned to sight frequently. And that's when it happened: I picked up my head and I got a foot to the jaw and water where I should have gotten air. I tried over and over to get a breath, but nothing I was getting no air. I tredded water and thought to myself, "alright - calm down, let the air come because if you don't you won't finish this race." (When I told this to my neighbor he laughed and said, " You know, most people would be concerned about drowning. You, on the other hand, were thinking about the race." - perhaps I should reassess my priorities!) After what seemed like minutes, but I am sure were only seconds, I was swimming again and with each breath the air came easier. If I harbored any expectations for the race, they were gone.
I exited the water and jogged up the long path to the transition area, where I changed into my bike gear. I am really starting to love the bike. I did not preview the course beforehand so I did not know the second half was almost all down hill. I love the speed! It seemed I did all the passing while on the bike - in fact, I don't think I was passed by any women at all. Still - it was no where near race effort. I had a good ride, but definitely could have gone faster.
As much as I enjoy the bike, I struggle with the run. The second quarter mile was up hill and I was passed by several racers, including a woman from my age group. It's just a training run - not race...right? Well darn it anyway! The last mile and a half of the run was through a wooded path. I love trail runs, so I picked up the pace a bit. I ran across a little bridge and up the small hill to the finish line. It was a good work out. I put in a good effort to be sure, but I was far from spent.
I headed over to the Luna Chix Tent and met up with Emily. We cheered in the rest of the Luna Chix team as they crossed the finish. Emily scouted the early result postings and was cautiously excited as it appeared she took first for her age group in the sprint. Katie also took first in her age group in the international race. So I decided to hang around a bit, eat some barbecue and cheer my teammates as they took their place on the podium. They were giving chairs instead of hardware...nice. When my name was called for third place in my age group, I felt like a 6 year old opening a birthday present. It was a silly giddy feeling - "really me...but I didn't really race!" It was a complete surprise and the first time I've ever placed. Of course, now that I've had time to review the results and reflect on the race, I have to chuckle a bit. There were only 14 women racing in my age group and I suspect many of them were beginners. This coupled with the fact that I did not give it my best race effort.... But still, I got a chair!
