Well, it's time. This morning, I leave for 'Oh Canada' for my A race of the season - Barrelman Triathlon, a 70.3 race that will be not only a season wrap on 2019 but also the first time I've ever raced outside the country. It should be a fun, wild ride that I cannot wait to share with Greg and my good friends Bruce and Ryan (aka Outlaw).
It's also my "A" race of the season. Back when I developed my tri plan of the year, it included Pittsford Sprint, Cayuga Olympic, and Barrelman. My super secret goal for the year was to train my "pants" off and go under 6 hours for Barrelman - something I had been trying to do since 2009.
Wow. So much has happened. I can say that with respect to my planned races, my goal times, and basically, 2019 in a nut shell. We all know that I went out and raced all the races - I look back at Keuka Sprint (that time I came in 4th overall and had a taste of podium chasing), Tri in the Buff Olympic (that time I actually did come in 3rd overall and they cancelled the awards ceremony due to rain - but I STILL podiumed!) Musselman Half Ironman (that time I decided to try to come in 6:10 and shave twenty minutes off my PR and instead.....shaved almost an hour off with a time of 5:36 (I still don't believe this)). Then there was Cayuga, where I came in 6th overall and was actually...disappointed I didn't podium. And Finger Lakes, two weeks ago, where I came in 5th overall but netted a new 10k PR!
I won't even start on running races. This is about tris. I look at the year and seriously am in awe of it all - I never thought I would be that fast, sure, but there's a bigger part to it. I never thought it would be this damned much FUN.
I've talked about my training crew before - since the beginning of the year (yep, lets bring in running) I think about all of the people that have stepped into my life and have made it so damned fabulous. From the early winter mornings of run training with The Rabbit, The Escort, Kellman, Dwyer and all the "Fire and Ice" Boston crew.....you guys gave me a taste of what I could do out there on a run course. You blew away my expectations for what my favorite part of the sport could actually mean in terms of speed, and even with sub zero wind chills, those Sunday mornings were so much fun. I can't wait to do it again in 2020.
My tri- go fam - You guys have made multi sport fun again, something I'm not sure I could have said again. Between slow runs, hill work and "arrow" on the bike, swim sessions complete with raunchy jokes and boy humor - as well as all the fun we have had hanging out outside the tri world, I really don't know how I could have found a better group of guys to hang out with - you make me faster, you make it more fun, and you make me feel like "me" again - not as a mommy, an "adult" - just Rae, Pants, one of the crew. It's been epic.
Bruce - well - you are in a class by yourself. You have made bad decisions so much fun, and I have enjoyed the hell out of our miles - both the planned ones and the ones we do to piss off my coach. You make the miles fly by and I can't wait to keep training with each other and chasing joy!
The Banter. I don't even know what to say. He's a member of tri-go, but also deserves his own shout out as my coach and friend. You have been there for me every step of the way in this journey, even when I wasn't sure about it. You inspire greatness and are such an amazing coach and a wonderful friend. Thanks for taking a chance on me.
And, of course, Greg, Mr. Pants, Mr. Rae, "The husband". This year has been such a damned amazing year - I still can't believe it. But I do know I couldn't fathom one little bit of it without you by my side. You have been my best friend, #1 supporter, and right there next to me for this crazy walk of life for the last 14 years. I am such a lucky woman and I love you!!
I am so damned fortunate to have such an amazing support crew for this. As I prepped for my "A" race, I have had some anxiety about it in the last month. I've blogged about it before - when you plan to go sub 6 hours in September and nail a 5:36 in July, where do you go from there?
You keep going. Of course you do. But I've realized, with the help of a few special people in my life, that it isn't always about the number. This is my "A" race. My AMAZING race. This is the race to go out there, soak in every minute, have a blast with my friends, do it up for those that can't be there, and, as was my ENTIRE goal for 2019, to go fucking love this sport again.
I LOVE THIS SPORT. And I'm gonna go enjoy Every. Second. of my day tomorrow. I'll be racing for everyone I just talked about above - you guys are always on my mind - and I'll be racing for me. Because one year ago, I never thought I would be here. And I am so freaking happy that I am.
Uhhhh....while doing it fast, of course. I never said I didn't have goals. After all, I am a Tri-Go girl. We do EVERYTHING FAST!!!
Barrelman 2019 - let's do this!!!
It's also my "A" race of the season. Back when I developed my tri plan of the year, it included Pittsford Sprint, Cayuga Olympic, and Barrelman. My super secret goal for the year was to train my "pants" off and go under 6 hours for Barrelman - something I had been trying to do since 2009.
I won't even start on running races. This is about tris. I look at the year and seriously am in awe of it all - I never thought I would be that fast, sure, but there's a bigger part to it. I never thought it would be this damned much FUN.
I've talked about my training crew before - since the beginning of the year (yep, lets bring in running) I think about all of the people that have stepped into my life and have made it so damned fabulous. From the early winter mornings of run training with The Rabbit, The Escort, Kellman, Dwyer and all the "Fire and Ice" Boston crew.....you guys gave me a taste of what I could do out there on a run course. You blew away my expectations for what my favorite part of the sport could actually mean in terms of speed, and even with sub zero wind chills, those Sunday mornings were so much fun. I can't wait to do it again in 2020.
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| IBR crew - Fire and Ice! |
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| Honestly - my favorite race pic ever. Tri Go Fam. |
Bruce - well - you are in a class by yourself. You have made bad decisions so much fun, and I have enjoyed the hell out of our miles - both the planned ones and the ones we do to piss off my coach. You make the miles fly by and I can't wait to keep training with each other and chasing joy!
The Banter. I don't even know what to say. He's a member of tri-go, but also deserves his own shout out as my coach and friend. You have been there for me every step of the way in this journey, even when I wasn't sure about it. You inspire greatness and are such an amazing coach and a wonderful friend. Thanks for taking a chance on me.
And, of course, Greg, Mr. Pants, Mr. Rae, "The husband". This year has been such a damned amazing year - I still can't believe it. But I do know I couldn't fathom one little bit of it without you by my side. You have been my best friend, #1 supporter, and right there next to me for this crazy walk of life for the last 14 years. I am such a lucky woman and I love you!!
 |
| Classic Team Glaser pic |
You keep going. Of course you do. But I've realized, with the help of a few special people in my life, that it isn't always about the number. This is my "A" race. My AMAZING race. This is the race to go out there, soak in every minute, have a blast with my friends, do it up for those that can't be there, and, as was my ENTIRE goal for 2019, to go fucking love this sport again.
I LOVE THIS SPORT. And I'm gonna go enjoy Every. Second. of my day tomorrow. I'll be racing for everyone I just talked about above - you guys are always on my mind - and I'll be racing for me. Because one year ago, I never thought I would be here. And I am so freaking happy that I am.
Uhhhh....while doing it fast, of course. I never said I didn't have goals. After all, I am a Tri-Go girl. We do EVERYTHING FAST!!!
Barrelman 2019 - let's do this!!!
👊
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