Finger Lakes Tri 2017: And the run stands alone!

Ambitious goal - write race post the day after race.  Realistic goal - write it that week.  Reality?  Same month.  Meh.  It happens.  I sort of debated not even writing one, but hey, I suppose a PR (spoiler alert) deserves a damn race report.  Plus, perhaps reading this will make me ride my damn bike to prep for 2018. 

I suppose I just gave it away, but hey, we will meddle with details....so I can ramble.  Ok?  Thanks :-)

Tri season 2017 ended (wait, it began?) with Finger Lakes Tri 2017.  Back in 2014 I PRed with a 2:54 on this course and was reasonably confident I could beat....at least my run time.  I think I've swam about 10 times this year and biked,,,maybe just a few more.  Wait, you have to do all 3 in a tri?  Dammit.

Well, we started out the right way.  I googled my race report from 2014.  Looked up my previous times to see if I could beat them.  Laughed.  Stalked last years race results to see what I needed to place in my AG (2:59-doable) 2:51 (meh).  Legit prep, people.  I also rode my bike around the block for the first time since June to check gears, cause clearly I can cycle through all of them in .30 miles, right?  Right.

Race morning dawned at 3:30 and it was...cold.  Like, hand warmer cold.  Like, those asshats dedicated athletes at Lake Placid would probably be doing their 70.3 swim leg by walking on water.  Brr.  Greg and I loaded up, debated sleeping in (Gramma took the kids) decided $200 was too much for a late morning, and were off.  We set up our crap (can do this in our sleep), peed a zillion times, and hung out with some friends until our wave starts - me at 7:19 and Greg an hour later.  Poor guy.

Swim:  32:xx - This was 2 minutes better than 2014, which I didn't deserve in the slightest.  The water was cold AF, I didn't warm up, and I wore goggles that I probably have had since 2015.  I should also mention that there is a 1/4 mile run on gravel to T2, so I'm feeling less and less pathetic as I go on with this.  Sighted like $hit, hyperventilated when I stuck my head in the water for the first time, floundered around like a fool, and still hit land in 30 minutes and change.  Score.

Bike:  1:25:xx ish ish.  I don't recall exact time except to say it was lame as hell and I need to get my ass on my new bike, who is much cooler than I deserve (only her second ride in a race and she is already much cooler than me!)  I never felt horrible, tried my best to stay focused, got pissy because I can't figure out tri mode on my garmin (did I practice? NO).  About the only good thing I can say is A) I didn't ride scared, and B) I put in full force Gatorade in my hydration system, which helped a ton with calories...yay for me Greg for making me buy it.  Thanks Babe.  Aside from a few cold miles, I felt pretty good off the bike, till I realized I couldn't feel my feet and spectacularly crashed as I dismounted.  WHAT A ROOKIE.  I like to pretend that cost me a good 5 minutes, but it's a lie and I racked into T2 2 minutes slower than in 2014.  Even. 

Me n my new pal 

Run:  I looked at my watch heading out and was at a 1:59, so I knew a 54 minute10k was possible - course is flat as flat.  But I squinted about 10 minutes in and couldn't read my watch again.  No mile markers.  How the hell fast am I going?  DAMMIT.  At the same time, my right arch started to throb.  I had been so worried about my left ankle, which was rocking a giant open wound (thanks, run shoes!) that I was pretty pissed that I now felt like there was a pebble in my right shoe, my good foot, right under my arch.  Stop?  NOPE NOPE NOPE.  About the time I was getting annoyed with myself, I ran by a guy who called out Hey, where's the fire?  Then trotted up to me and proceeded with one lame joke after another.  He looked to be in his early 50's, great spirits, and fun to run with.  So we connected, bad jokes and all (Thanks Doug!) He old me he was clocking 8:00-8:15 miles - perfect.  We spent the next 4 miles talking (mostly him), telling lame jokes at aid stations to volunteers (Who liked the skeletons new outfit?  NO-BODY!) and had a great time.  I had no idea what the clock was doing until we rounded the last 1/4 mile and I saw 2:47 in my watch...OHMYGOD I can beat 2:50!  I told Doug, he yelled he was gonna chase me, and it was on.  I passed about 4 people to run it in in 2:49:28, with a.....48:12 10k.  Seriously???  A new PR.   For Olympic and 10k.  YESSS!!!!

Overall, I ended up placing 7th woman (I think) out of 50, and I won my AG (35-39) which sounds super impressive until I tell you....I was the only one in it.  WHAT?  Now usually, my AG is super competitive, and there were 7 people in it last year.  I would have beat them all.  Of course, they probably knew I was coming, cause I am fearsome like that.  Or not.  But...more nut butter for me.

Also a big HOO-RAY to Greg, who won the Clydes division for the sprint tri (there were way more than 3 people in it) and to my friend Kim, who placed 3rd OA for the Olympic!   She and I have it worked out...Ill ctach a ride with her next time and give her a piggy back on the run.  Sounds about right to me.

Overall, a great end to tri season 2017 and a good intro to what's to come in 2018....I wonder what that could be?  (Wiggles eyebrows)

Number two is TWO!

What a title.  I'm sorry, I just can't even.  I looked up and here it is, 8 days post Bizzle B day and I haven't posted - what is up with me?  (Besides tendonitis, a huge event for work, and a party for my kiddo).  Lame, Rae, lame.  So, per excuse 1, we gonna keep the words brief and the pics abundant.  Happy birthday, baby (not so baby girl!!)

One week old

One year old!

My big two year old!

Size - 27 pounds.  Baby girl, you eat ALL THE THINGS.  All of them.  Especially the meat, eggs and cheese.  You may be your mommy's girl in some respects, but that ain't it....

Likes: You adore giraffes.  Ice cream (AHH KEEM).  Your swing set.  Dancing.  Hanging out with Rob (and copying everything he does!)  Being a daredevil- nothing scares you (OMG Biz).  Watching the Babies (Word Party) and "Shiny" (just the song). Waking up at 4am (Bizzzzz)

Dislikes: Sleeping alone (I hear ya kid).  When Rob won't play with you (sometimes, you are a pain.  I won't lie). Having your hair washed or combed (did someone say tomboy??)

Sleep: Yeah.  We will just skip right over this one, babes.  You have a few good nights (they are all at Gramma's house) but it seems you know your parents are suckers.  At 10pm.  At midnight. At 3am.  At 4:30.  Elisabeth Jennifer, I have not SLEPT IN 5 YEARS.  But I love you.  It's a darn good thing I do.

Eating: All the things.  Every. Little. Thing.  COOOOOKIES, Ah KEEM, eggos, 'cakes (pancakes), cheese, apples, peanuts, pretzes, popkin, chicken, trees (broc)- you love it.  You are a human garbage disposal and I hope you keep it up!!!

Milestones/Firsts:

Running - you ran your first kids race and love it!  You are so cute when you run, arms a kimbo.
Big girl bed- we outted that crib a few months back.
Counting to 10 (people cannot believe you are only two)
Plane ride - to Kansas and Missouri!  You go girl!
Riding your trike - You love trying to catch Rob

Probably more, but those are the biggest :)

Best Moment: You everyday 'mooches.  You give the best hugs and smooches and are such a little love.  Aww Biz, I am so lucky to have such a wonderful kiddo.

Looking Forward to: Our family trip to Maine next month, Halloween, the best Christmas ever, and experiencing every little day with you and your brother - you two are are simply the best kids a mom could ever ask for and I love you!!

Oak Tree Half Marathon 2017 - Mud Party

So, the beauty of racing back to back weekends is....you actually finally get my damn race reports while they are still relevant!  And, as an added bonus, no crying into my cherrios over life woes in this post.  Double win.  How can you go wrong?

So, tomorrow, Greg and I are racing the Finger Lakes Tri as a season tri closer (can I even say that when we've only done two this year?  Maybe).  It's a lackluster multi sport year, but big things loom in 2018.  I'll leave that one right there for you to ponder.  More later.

As a last minute decision, I decided to race the Oak Tree Half in Geneseo last Sunday - my alma mater.  While I only ran to he keg back in '04 when I graduated, it's pretty cool to run through my college town and get nostalgic, all for a pretty decent price and a nice timing for a tune up for my fall marathon (Northern Ohio, October 1).  I last ran this race in 2011 as prep for Ironman Maryland (when it was still unbranded) and recalled it as a challenging, hilly race that was fun, but not fast. So, just for kicks, here is my 2011 report.  It's ironic.  We will get back to that one. I finished in 1:59 back in 2011, 9 minutes off my PR of 1:50:09, a time that still irks me to this day because who can't find 10 friggin seconds to go under 1:50?  This girl.

Moving on.

Race day dawned bright and early at the ungodly hour of 2:30am.  No, my alarm didn't wake me.  The un shut uppable 2 year old did.  Thanks, Biz.  While she wasn't grumpy, she was wide awake and ready to go, so I started my pre race ritual of coffee and bathroom....3 hours early.  And, to add some fun to the mix, the 95% chance of rain did not disappoint - there was a fine shower starting outside that didn't let up until 11 or so (race time - 8am).  The course....8 miles of dirt, rocks and mud.  Yesss. Albeit a rocky start, Greg and I set off at 6am, did one potty stop, and managed to grab our gear and line up at 7:55 for the 8am start.

Garmining up, waiting for the RD and ....with no fanfare, a big horn blast...holy crap, we are off!

Miles 1-3 were all raod, with some rollers, and a tour through town (dancing bear still intact!)  I maintained a 7:45-7:55 pace, which was way to fricking fast, but about par.  I felt pretty damn good.  At mile 4, we pulled off the road and the mud slog began.  Mile 4 featured a sharp descent, about 3/4 a mile long (which, spoiler alert, was mile 11....coming back up).  It wasn't too wet yet but you needed to run a fine line to keep traction and off the rocks.

Miles 5-7 were also rollers, but hard to keep any decent pace since it started to get pretty muddy.  I was holding anywhere from a 8:10-8:40 pace, depending on how far I veered and how well I could actually keep from slipping (we got a tough mudder and didn't even pay for it!)

At mile 7 we got a half mile reprieve for pavement, then turned back onto the trail, which was mostly downhill, a nice change, but still hard to find a good path.  I teamed up with a guy and we leap frogged back and forth for a bit - also chatted with an awesome woman who told me I had a beautiful stride - always nice to hear!  Hit mile 10 in 1:22- I knew for sure I could do a 28:00 5k but....as I said before...mile 11.  What goes down, goes back up....

We turned back on the return to town to a few minor rollers and then....up.  Of course, at this point it was pouring and climbing this beast was a giant pain in the ass.  I stopped to walk for 30 seconds, figuring with the grade (9% I think?) walking was actually more efficient.  Mile 11 - 10:15  Yowtch.  I picked up the pace, figuring....less than 20 minutes of death - you so can do this, Rae!

Mercifully, we hit pavement again shortly before mile 12.  The last mile of the course is of fucking course uphill, but it least it was on a damn road.  Mile 12 - 1:41:30.  Shit.  I'm not gonna make this.  Now, I should mention (and had the foresight to mention in 2011) this is NOT a PR course.  So I had no business doing the mental math I was doing, but dammit, I oftem do things I have no business doing, so I didn't care.  Can I hold a 7:45 pace?  Let's give it a shot!

I took off, passing people and thinking...this is it.  You can die later.  You don't get this back (at least until the next race, but come on.  10 seconds, baby).  1:45.....6 to go.

The course ends on a track, which is cool but cruel at the same time.  You are almost there.  But you still have 400 meters to go.  I hot the track in 1:48:30 and knew, I could not do a 6:30 mile.  But I tried.  And crested the finish line....in 1:50:03.

Are you damned kidding me.  What do I do with that???  4. freaking. seconds.  But stop.  I PRed.  By...6 seconds.  But who gives a shit.  I ran the course in the rain, on 3 hours of sleep, beat my last time running it by 9 damn minutes.

And that.  I'll take.  Along with a sackful of Chinese food and a diet coke.  Because....when do I actually do anything that makes sense??

Watch out Oak tree.  Next year....I'll find those 4 seconds.  Or, you know, pick a course that isn't 3/4 dirt and rocks with 300 feet elevation gain in mile 11 alone.  Because....wait, why would I do that??

:-)  Run on, friends.

Maintenance

The least glamorous part, right?  Keeping it up.  The hard work.  The daily grind.  Who ever posts about such things?

Me.

Last month, alive and shiny, I started my posts with the forecast of beautiful, happy things to come.  Some I have shared, some not (no, I am not pregnant).  Then, as life does from time to time, my world came crashing down.  I won't linger, because it's private, but August pretty much has been the worst month of my life.  And so, in the interest of not clogging the inter webs up with more of my melancholy (and because, lets face it, I was too immersed in either eating Chunky Monkey or running off the stress)I didn't have the bandwidth to blog.

But (I hope) I'm back.  Somewhat tattered, but here.  And focused on maintenance.  See, here's the thing I forgot in the last few years.  You can't, in fact, have it all.  Not one little bit.  You might be at the peak of your athletic fitness, but if you aren't mommin' well, those littles are gonna grow up in a hot second.  You might be the best mom and wife in the world, but at the same time, your company is doing layoffs.  You might, in fact, have a kick ass career and a steamin' hot marriage, but those damn gourmet dinners out make it so your Seven for all mankinds well....are more like an Eleven for all mankind.

Fact.

For the last year (or 3) I've tried to have it all.  And the one piece I thought I never had a problem with...came apart.  Neglect?  Well, yeah, probably.  Because if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

No way.

Love yourself.  Love your significant other.  Love your kids.  Love your family.  Love your friends.  Enjoy your life, and don't worry too much about the small shit.  Work....well, that's gonna be there, and there's no sense killing yourself over it.

And whatever happens....pick yourself up, try not to linger on past mistakes, and go forward the best you know the hell how.

And remember the basic art of maintenance. Regular (but not every day) runs.  Time for cuddles and snuggles.  Calling a long distance friend...or meeting one for a nice long walk and talk.  Date night with your hunny.   Or a long overdue dinner with the woman that raised you.  All of this stuff we "don't have time for".....we do.  We really, really do.

Tomorrow begins fall racing season....Greg and I will be heading to Geneseo, NY to run the Oak Tree Half at my alma mater.  I can't wait.  To run through the streets and farmland where I spent a great, mostly carefree four years.  To enjoy the fact that even though adulting ain't easy, I am here.  And I have so much to be grateful for.  And to forget, for (hopefully under) two hours, any stress except the physical stress I'll remedy with a slice and a garlic knot.

And if Harvey makes an entrance?  Well, who let's a challenge get in their way?  Pretty fitting, since my chem teacher freshman year had that moniker and spent a semester trying to break me.

Nice try, Harvey.  I am woman.  Hear me roar.