Giant Eagle Duathlon Recap

Ever since I bought my bike, Trudy, from my spin instructor at the gym, I had planned to do a multisport event.  Originally, I thought I could do a triathlon - swim, bike, run but between work, marathon training and other goals this year, I opted to sign up for a duathlon - run, bike, run - instead.  I didn't sign up until mid-May for the Giant Eagle Multisport Festival but I had been mentally planning to register all year.

There were times after I registered for the Olympic distance duathlon that I questioned what I was thinking.  Pretty sure I thought I'd fail or not have enough time to train.  Then there were a couple of bricks that went so smoothly I plan to try to incorporate a few of those into my marathon training for the remainder of the season.  I loved the early morning rides then runs on the trail & I am glad I did them.  I did a really terrible job of chronicling them here but I did keep them up to date on Daily Mile.  I am a pretty bad blogger.

I had a lot of questions about what to expect at this race and I was very thankful for a quick session at Fleet Feet Sports Columbus with Coach Aimee Friday night to learn more about what to expect over the next couple of days.  She calmed my nerves and made me realize I would be crossing that finish line - whether I believed it or not.

I went up and racked Trudy on Saturday and felt weird leaving her there overnight.  Since I was there early in the day, there were not nearly as many people there so by the time we got there Sunday and it was full, it was a little bit surreal.

Me, Amy & Sarah. Pink not planned.

There were athletes running here and there.  People we know from MIT everywhere.  We quickly learned there were people around Amy & I who were also doing the du so I picked up a few tips and borrowed a few things.  I admitted to myself I'd be running the first 3K because I knew I just wanted to get started on the race and downtown!  Around 7, they shutdown the transition area for the athletes - if we went back in the chip would have started and messed up our times - so we headed to the beach.  For the first time, I saw true beauty in Columbus as I watched the sun rise over Alum Creek Lake.

We had a beautiful start to the day!

Somehow the combination of the beautiful sunrise and a few friends cheering us on made this race go off without a hitch.  We gathered near orange flags for the start of our duathlon.  Very different then other races as they didn't have a clear start line where you cross for your timing chip to go off.  You gathered with the other competitors ran down a beach sidewalk, through the grass, back down more sidewalk, turned around & headed back.  What made this awesome was being right along that sunrise while we did it!  My left shoe came untied at some time during the race but I didn't care.  I ran the race in a fast 15:00 which was on average a 9:15 minute mile according to my Garmin.  This from the girl who doesn't run and professes to hate it.

From there we headed into the bike transition area.  I kicked off my sneakers, dropped them into the bag and regretted not just have my bike shoes already clipped in.  I was in and out of transition pretty quickly and on the road faster than I expected.  The first many miles were challenging with little rolling hills throughout.  I had not really looked at the course so I just went with the flow.  I was excited that my cadence meter was saying I was pulling 20MPH on average and hit 30MPH at one point or another.  I was pretty happy with that kind of performance!  There was one road that literally had a line in it every couple of feet that made it pretty bumpy!  This was also where a stupid woman in a car pulled out in front of me, ignored the cones and almost hit me.  But I survived with a bunch of cursing and turned the corner to Indianola where I saw a rider down.  Thankfully he is okay - posted on the event's Facebook page that he had a major crash but is recovering now.  From there, we were downtown before I knew it and there was a mark that said "dismount here!"  I dismounted, ran into transition on my clipless shoes, looked at my arm to remember my number then headed to my spot!  

Transition may have taken a little slower here then I would have liked because someone double-knotted the bag I left last night and I couldn't get in it at first.  The results say this transition took me 4:16 and I don't know how.  Either way, I headed out to the exit to hit the 10K part of the course.  I saw all kinds of people I knew spectating as we got started and I must admit - I felt pretty good.  The first mile surprisingly was my fastest - I am not sure if it was all of the people and the cheering but I got out to a less then 11 minute mile.  I racewalked the entire 10K which took us on a mini-tour of Columbus where we got some amazing views of downtown.  If cell phones weren't an auto DQ I would have snapped at least one picture.  We could not have asked for a better weather day.  Towards the end of the 10K, I was ready to just be D-O-N-E!  Two bikers passed me and said "you've got a mile to go." And I said "Carry me?"  I really didn't need them to but it sure seemed like a good idea at the time.  As I headed back towards the finish, an awesome friend was standing just where I needed her telling me that it was just around the corner.  That last little bit was a 10:20/mile.  I may or may not have been running - I don't know.  

I crossed the finish in 2:52:03 which is a full 24 minutes shorter than I predicted when I registered!!  According to the final results, I placed 3rd in my age group (small field) and 9th for women.  I'll take it even if it was a small field!  When they handed me my medal, it felt awesome and then we headed to the tent to get the special bicentennial medal I earned for finishing both Cap City Half & the Giant Eagle Duathlon. 

Good thing I ordered another medal holder!

One of my favorite parts of this race was all the support at the finish since the other races had happened, there were people there cheering us on!  Being welcomed back after a long race by your friends has to be the most awesome feeling ever!

Amy's hubby told her to look tired!

All in all it was a great experience.  Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  That was my first reaction when I finished!  Will I do a tri?  Maybe.....if I can get over the idea that I can't swim!  I am my own worst enemy on that subject!

Would you want to do a multisport event after reading my recap?

I finished!!!

A 3K run.....yes, I ran

A 40K bike

A 10K Racewalk

And my first Olympic duathlon is in the books!  Still trying to gather my thoughts and waiting for final times but it went GREAT!  I decided to run the 3K since everyone else was......and did it fast!  Oops!  I think I finished in under my estimate of 3:15 but I am not sure.....yet.  Soon!

My friends I trained with....we didn't plan the pink!

Did you race this weekend?  How was it??

It's time to become a duathlete!

I am not going to lie:  sleeping in until 8AM today was glorious.  I think the last time I slept in on a Saturday was two weeks ago on vacation.  Either way, it was awesome.

Why was I resting today?  Tomorrow is the big day!  My Olympic Duathlon!  I may or may not have been in a panic all week between the number of friends I have doing the same event that read the FAQs and directions that put me in a panic.  All I have to say is I've read them now and I am still not 100% clear how long the course is open.  All I know is that they moved our start up from 7:45 to 7:10 and I think that's awesome......now I really feel like I can finish before the close the course.

Packing for a du is different then packing for any race I've ever done.  There's remembering what needs to be in Transition 1 bag, the T2 bag and then what you wanted to put in your T1 bag to gather downtown.  I think I am good as I am planning to not change & just wear the same outfit from the first walk to the last walk.

Trudy is already racked and waiting for me at Alum Creek:

Don't tell me you don't name your bike! 

Since we'll get there early enough to visit her, I am planning to bring my transition bag with me in the morning.  I think that'll work.  The awesome part is my friend Amy offered to pick me up and bring me home after the race so I won't have to worry about getting my rear end downtown for 5AM to get up to the start!  She also is one number above mine so we're in the same transition areas - if we stay at the same pace!

Sarah thought I was nuts for talking to Trudy and letting her know I'd be back for her in the morning.  It sure does seem weird to leave my bike outside all night but at least I know she'll be making new friends.

Had to pose with her before I left.

The ride downtown from Alum Creek seemed a bit long but it's only 24.4 miles........not bad at all!

Wish me luck!!  It's go time!!!

The trail is my sanctuary

As I was heading to the trail yesterday morning for my last ride before my duathalon, I realized that the trail has become my sanctuary.  Its quiet, forgiving, non-judgmental and the one place I feel closest to our higher powers.

I am not very religious but I feel like I can think my thoughts and have them heard when I am out there.  One with the world, per se.

Where I usually start - by the Hills Market.

I think of my family and friends and the things they are going through.  I ask for my strength to continue.  I usually come off the trail more refreshed and at peace then when I started.

With a sunrise like this....

After spending a lot of time on this particular trail, there are days I head there where I think "this is getting old" or "time to go somewhere new."  Now, I'll think about my peaceful, quiet ride yesterday and put those thoughts out of my head.

Do you have somewhere you work out often that brings you peace?

Friday Confessional

Its been a while since I've posted real confessions.  I know, you all have been dying to know what is in this seedy little brain of mine.

I posted Wednesday about being nervous about teaching others the sport that has come naturally for me.  Still nervous but definitely in a different perspective now then I was then.  I think part of my concern is that people will show up at Fleet Feet with expectations that night and I won't be able to deliver.  I thankfully have enough people who have volunteered to either help me or be my friendly face in the crowd, I should be okay.  Public speaking is not the issue here, that's for sure.  I do it all the time.

I've not been traveling for the last few weeks for work and I love it.  Today, I got up at 4:45 AM, heading to PAI for TRX/Yoga combo, came home and spent the entire day in the workout clothes I wore.  Yup, I am a special kind of smelly now.  I guess I'll take a shower before bed so I can be less smelly tomorrow for my 10 at 6:30AM!

I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  Yup, last time I checked, I am already grown up with a car payment, a mortgage, a marriage certificate & a little credit card debt.  The job I am doing now is not fulfilling and I am doubting it ever has been.  Time to make a change but I am not sure what to do.  Is it too late to go back to school?  I need a sugar daddy.  I borrowed a friend's NASM Physical Trainer book and I definitely found it interesting and a route I might want to go.  It was thick and I haven't studied in years.  I know I can do it but......

I am so excited about the Summer Olympics starting up next week I can't stand it.  I am hopeful we'll get to see some racewalking.  Keep your fingers crossed!

My first Olympic du is Sunday, July 29th.  I am doing the Giant Eagle Multisport race which guarantees me a second medal for finish both this and a half marathon I did back in May.  I sure hope I don't disappoint myself and DNF.  I've done a lot of training so I think I am ready and even got my last brick in yesterday.  I am still trying to get over the fact that I dropped a water bottle off my iFitness belt over the bridge but at least I ordered 2 more.  $7 with shipping due to a random code I found online!  I am excited to receive them!  My 10 miler tomorrow will stink with just one bottle but I'll get over it.  May just use my crappy belt instead.

I sold my entry to the first Color Run being held in Columbus because of MIT commitments tomorrow.  Am I crazy?  The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do it.  When I saw someone post about needing a bib for a friend from out of town and how easy it was to transfer to her, I did it.  I am not regretting it until I see my team's pictures.  It'll be awesome fun!  I'll be with MIT for 10 miles, a celebration of 11 years of MIT with pancakes & a few clinics at the store and then they are giving us a coach certification class from 1-6.  I sure hope I make the Farmer's Market at some point too!

I am extraordinarily sad about the shootings that happened early this morning in Colorado and I have been praying all day for the families.  I am sure we'll hear much more as the weeks go on but I will never understand how humans kill humans.  It just makes me sick to think of what those people experienced today.  I am so thankful for my easy day in comparison.

Come on, be honest.  Share with me in the comments whether or not you know what you want to be when you grow up.


Any advice for my first multisport event?

Nerves

I am a bundle of nerves.  I have been helping MIT coach the walkers for a couple of seasons.  I've gone from a 15 minute/mile pace to a 11:30/mile pace.  Earlier in the season, they asked me to be the walker blogger for their website and "coach" the competitive walkers.  Now, we're putting together a clinic.

GASP!

I know I've done well but am I good enough to share what I've learned with others?  The first "clinic" I am planning will be next Wednesday night during MIT's mid-week workout.  They had someone contact the store who wanted some help with racewalking form so they sent her to me.  I think that might be easier then the planned clinic at the store.........at least I can demonstrate better!

I am thoroughly excited because this is a direction I've been seeing myself going for a while but of course, you have to have nerves.  That's how you get through things right??

There.  That's better.  I am reminding myself that the clinic at the store is the Tuesday after my racewalking clinic in Cleveland.  I'll have tons of material after that!

Back to my regularly scheduled programming, I'm hitting the sack so I can get a great brick in tomorrow morning so I can be ready for that crazy Olympic Du I schedule myself for in 11 days.

Have you ever taught others?  


Any tips?

Vacation Success!

What a week!  I headed off to NY/MA/NH then NY again for a week visiting old friends and seeing my family.

On Sunday, I arrived in Albany and got to have lunch with one of my college professors and classmates!  They also took me on a tour of the new Communications building on Campus and I could hardly believe it!  Totally made me want to go back to school.

MA, me & Lori

After that I headed to MA to wait my sister & her family's arrival from Belgium on Monday.  In the meantime, my cousin & I headed to an awesome MA Central Rail trail and I got in 4 miles while she speedily clocked 6.

Hard to capture the beauty of this trail!

Once my sister and her family arrived, we had lots of fun!  Her kids have grown up so much in the last year since I saw them in Europe and it was hard to believe!  I really was glad to get so much time with them - just about 5 days!

E - 14, Me, H - 8, A - 15

One week.  23 miles covered in three different states.  13 in MA with 9 of them being very hilly in my aunt's neighborhood.  The hill was awesome going down but up was killer!  Sure did make Ohio seem flat!  Friday I got in 4 miles in NH where it was a little hilly but definitely not as hilly as MA.  Saturday morning, I enjoyed a nice trail in Cohoes, NY at my friend's house.  It was an out and back that I had to do twice.  Truely very beautiful and I failed on taking pictures of the two bridges I crossed because I ended up not needing to go back to them.  Next time!

This vacation was perfect - family time, old friend time & relaxation.  I couldn't have asked for more.  Things I accomplished on vacation?  Not much but I did:

• Finish Mockingjay.  I am still a bit confused by the ending and had to reread a bit to make sure I caught it all but it was good.
• Learned I do have a wart on my little toe.....yup.  A wart.  Disgusting.  Think I need to get that removed.  YUCK!
• Started reading 50 Shades of Grey and felt slightly dirty on the flight home reading it.  Not sure its the book for me but somehow I am oddly interested in what happens.
• I didn't WORK!  I had my work phone with me but I left it off.  I brought it along as a precaution in case my crappy Droid X2 decided to malfunction.  It did but it was only calling someone over and over again (61 times this time).  Time to replace.

I definitely needed a break from work and the daily grind!  Biv is on vacation this week so at least I'll get to see him & catch up.

Have you ever completed mileage in multiple states during vacation?  Which ones?


Have you had a wart?

Racewalking deserves R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I am at the point where I am feeling like a real athlete.  Today, to beat the 100+ degree heat, and because my running (walking) group was cancelled, I got up at 5AM to meet a friend to get my LSD (long, slow distance) day in.  We met up at 5:30 (and yes, I was 5 minutes late) and covered 4 miles, refueled our water belts with Gatorade & water then headed back out for 5 mile to get the full 9 on the schedule in.  It was hot & humid but my goal was to keep the HR under 144 which is my LSD rate and I did fairly well.  That meant the pace bounced between 12:30 and as high as 13:10 but that's okay.  I felt good.  Normal training Saturdays, we get done with MIT and I head to the Worthington Farmer's Market but not this week since I leave tomorrow to go to NH/MA to see my family.  That meant 9 miles in by 8AM and time to relax!  I definitely got in a nice snooze after sending our sweet house guest home.  I guess this face meant she was ready to return to Mandy's.

I really did like it here!

I convinced Mandy & Sarah to join me at Columbus Marathon's RunFest this afternoon which is supposed to be a kick off for our training for the full.  It was in an airplane hanger and a bit warm - but surprisingly not as warm as it could have been.  They had food trucks giving us some free food and I enjoyed a yummy chicken pita from Pitabilities which was probably the highlight of RunFest for me.  The Patient Champions were pretty cool but considering how much we were sweating, it was time to go.  They did reveal a drawing of the medals:

That's some bling!

Mandy & I bought shirts as well so we'll end up being twinkies during a workout at some point this season!  My upcoming week off is well needed and I am looking forward to it.  The schedule literally has 4 miles every day with a 6 miler on Saturday.  I should be able to pull that off pretty easily and I am looking forward to cooler weather!  My mom said I'll need a sweater since its in the 70s there.......YAHOO!

On another note, I ran across an article about the Olympics Racewalking trials.  I was hugely disappointed when I couldn't find anything anywhere about them being televised.  Then the article mentioned that the fact that it takes a bit longer for a racewalker to complete their events, they don't get as much attention.  As much attention?  The winning male racewalker, who is 19, finished 20KM in 1:23 breaking records set by other racewalkers!  Some runners can't finish that fast!  While racewalking is picking up more attention lately, it is not getting the respect it deserves.  I am hoping NBC doesn't disappoint me this summer and at least lets me see one or two racewalking events.  The way they move just amazes me and I only hope I can get to that speed!

Would you have checked out the racewalking trials if they were televised?

Monday 2.0

Seriously.  Who planned to have the most awesomest of summer holidays in the middle of a work week?  Oh yeah, something about them signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 makes it a holiday that doesn't move.  Kind of like Christmas.  Which made today feel like Monday 2.0.  Unfair to have two Mondays in one week.  Plus side?  Instead of Tuesday tomorrow, we get Friday!  And, I get to have 9 days off to enjoy my family in NH & MA.  Definitely looking forward to it.

To celebrate what was the shortest holiday ever, I got up to walk in the Westerville Rotary 5K.  I had done this race last year and they had an official competitive walk category.  I registered again for it assuming they'd have the same category then realized in the days leading up to the race that they never officially said anything about race awards.  Oh well, I was already committed so I headed over.  Apparently this is a race that's been around for a few years and it definitely has had its changes.  This year, our shirt was 100% cotton.   Not a tech tee.  Totally useless if you ask me.  It also was a very weird size and a medium was big on me.

I know a lot of people at races these days and a few runners had asked me how I was planning to race - as in what pace.  I hadn't really thought about it - just wanted to beat last year's time of 12:12/mile and somehow remain upright while doing so considering it was already 70 something and high humidity.  They had the course in a new to me location but apparently it has been there other years.  Pretty much a 3 mile loop that included some sun, a little shade and a pretty nice trail.  I started out too fast - 10:50ish first mile and then settled in for just around 11:10 or more per mile for the remainder of the race.  I was trying to keep my heart rate under my max (179) and wanted to see how I'd finish watching my heart rate.  We headed back in before I even realized 3 miles had gone by.  I kicked it up a bit finished the last little bit in what my Garmin said would have been a 10:30 minute mile.  I love it!  Official chip time was 35:01 for an 11:18/mile which is a PR! After downing 2 full bottles of water, I headed home to get ready to ride my bike down to the Doo Dah Parade.  Apparently I had forgotten that it was downtown and would be at least 14-15 miles from our house.  It was pretty cool, though, to use my own power to get down there to watch it.  The only thing I did wrong and I realized pretty soon into my ride is forgetting nutrition of some kind.  Thankfully, there was an ATM on the way & I was able to pick up some cash to hit up a food truck downtown.

After the parade, my awesome friend Sarah had a few people over to hang out & BBQ.  This was the perfect time to try out the ShowerPill to see if it made me feel better after sweating so much and I have to say it did!  Of course, all of us were so sweaty, I am sure no one could decide who belonged to what stink!

I couldn't figure out why they called it "ShowerPill" until I read more on their website and figured out the name came out of someone saying "Wouldn't it be nice if we could take a pill after a workout to feel clean again?"  They work nicely and I need to get some more on order from Amazon.  We used them during RAC too and everyone had something positive to say about them!

I probably won't race the Westerville Rotary 5K next year - although I have to say the course was nice because of the shade.  There was another race in the area friends were doing that was not shaded at all so I am glad I did one that had some breaks from the sun.

Did you race on the Fourth of July?

Toeing the line.....

We were lucky enough to have our power restored relatively quickly last weekend - by late Sunday afternoon, all systems were humming again.  Some of the local Columbus residents have not been as lucky as they are just coming back online today and its been record high heat over the last few days.  I cannot imagine how they've been surviving!  I am not sure why Mother Nature's been mad lately but it sure has been like living on the surface of the sun......with it being Independence Day, I was humbled by a Facebook post about complaining about the heat:

Thankful for those who serve.

I've not talked much about training for my first duathlon because I will be honest:  I haven't given it enough attention.  I'll ride a few days every week - lately its been Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays but I haven't really done many bricks.  When I woke up July 2nd and I realized had 27 days until the Olympic distance duathlon!  Time to step it up a notch or two and get ready.  I pulled out the schedule MIT had put together for training and decided Tuesday looked like a good day to attempt my first real brick.  The schedule called for a one hour ride & a 3 mile brick.  I had done a tiny brick last Tuesday with one of my friends - about an hour & half ride & a 1 mile walk and it was tough!  I was very scared about the race.  Then yesterday happened.  I moved down the Olentangy Trail effortlessly for a half hour then turned around.  After a "quick" transition, I was back on the trail for my 3 miles.  It was a great workout.  I felt like a real athlete getting up at 5:10AM and hitting the trail before even the animals were awake!

The sunrise over Antrim "Lake"

One of the coolest things about my upcoming duathlon is the double bling!  Since this year is Columbus's Bicentennial, we get a second medal as long as we've completed the Cap City Half Marathon and one of the events at Giant Eagle Multisport Challenge!  Score!  I think I'll look pretty good with this bling around my neck:

I think I am going to need to ask for a new medal display for my birthday or Christmas since my current display is overflowing.

Need some ideas for a new one!

I am consistently toeing the line between stupid & smart with my training.  Yesterday was a smart move.  I needed to calm my nerves and make sure I was ready for the duathlon.  I feel ready but with a week of vacation coming up and likely no riding, my little brain gets worried again.  I'll be able to get my mileage in but no 3 hour rides like the schedule calls for.  It will be okay, right??  I feel like I conquer anything at any time so I know I'll be ready but a duathlon is very different from a normal race.    Today was one of my stupid days!  I did a 5K today for the Fourth and PR'd in a 35:01 and then decided it was a good idea to ride my bike in very high heat & humidity to a local parade called the Doo Dah Parade.  It was about 18 miles to the parade site (yes, I took a wrong turn on the trail) but it was worth it.  The BBQ at a friend's house was even better.......but I was tired enough that we were home by 6:30.  I'll be giving my body a break and enjoying a rest day tomorrow!

Do you ever do more exercise in a day then scheduled?  

Am I the only one who toes the line?