Ironman Texas Race Day Video from Ironman - Best Day Ever

Tapering For Ironman

Yes this is me today, 5 days out for Ironman Texas. I am moody, germaphobic, and irrational. I have been obsessive about The Woodlands, Texas weather forecast all day. [thanks for the weather text updates, Mark Nash]

I feel restless, anxious, and elated - all at the same time.

Fun Times.

Ironman Race Week - Planning & Making Lists

It is less than one week to race day. I’m anxious, ready, excited, emotional, panicky. Despite all this, I’m making lists and checking of race week tasks as completed.

Here is the checklist

1. Bike – bike was dropped off at TriSports. Thank you TriBike Transport for adding TriSports as a drop off location. It was a pain to drive to Tempe to drop off for my last race. One less thing to worry about while traveling; my bike will be at The Woodlands in a few days.
2. Haircut – it’s my Ironman ritual to chop off my hair right before race day. Mentally it helps me to think I’m lighter with less hair. The day before Ironman Arizona I got a really bad haircut from a salon in Tempe but I PR’d on my race - so here’s hoping!
3. Packing List – I made a list of things to pack and will pre-pack today to make sure everything fits. I’m not checking any luggage, everything is a carry on.
4. Nutrition – It’s all Hammer Nutrition this year. I’ve been training the last four months with it and picked up last minute Gels and Bars from TriSports since my latest order won’t be here in time (poor planning on my part). I plan to race with Perpetuem, gels and bars.
5. Tapering – this race season has been different for me in the sense that I actually will taper. Past races I never got my volume up enough to do a true taper. This past week I completed 10 hours of training. This week will be about 6 hours leading up to the race. I feel fit, energized, and ready for race day – Imagine That!
6. Weather Check – I’m been checking obsessing about the weather in Houston and The Woodlands. Today was the first day the weather on race day showed a sun. I’m sure it will change daily but I’m prepared physically and mentally for rain and humidity on race day. Here’s hoping for a cloudy, 65 degree race day.
7. Hydrate – continuing to hydrate.
8. Trying Not To Do Anything Stupid – I haven’t done anything stupid this week. This will hopefully continue. Two weeks ago I stepped on a thorny branch that stuck in my foot OUCH but since then incident free. Praying for calm, injury free days. This is also a mantra I say towards the end of the bike in Ironman. Kristen, don't do anything stupid you are almost done the race. 
9. Mental Prep – I keep going back to triathlon books and reading the race day prep sections that are dog-eared and highlighted. I keep googling keywords like “race day checklist” and “race day prep” and reading pages and pages of advice.
10. Race Plan Review – Memorizing my race plan by re-reading it hourly and bringing with me everywhere I go.

All of these are either checked off or being done on a daily basis.

Yeeaaa Ironman - can't wait to get in the water and start my race. 

Updated: 3rd in My Age Group

I just reviewed the race results and there is a change.
I got 3rd in my Age Group:

So excited. This is great news! And a picture on the bike with my Rudy Project Helmet. Loved it.

Esprit de She Race Report – International Distance

On Sunday I raced my first International distance triathlon of the year in Tempe. Esprit de She

About the race:

I met a group of friends from Tucson in Tempe and we headed over to Tempe Town Lake for packet pickup. 

The tri jersey is super cute and we listened for race details at the meeting. This race is geared to women who are racing their first triathlon so there are several distances: super sprint, spring, and Olympic. At the bike rack there were all kinds of bikes: mountain bikes, hybrids, road bikes.

After the meeting we dined Gordon Biersch we headed back to the hotel to relaxing and sleep.

Race Day:

I woke up at 4am and ate a peanut butter bagel and sipped water.

Maireads’s husband Eric drove us to the start and was the perfect Sherpa and photographer. 

Eric has an infectious laugh relieving us all of race stress. Mairead was so distracted by being nervous she put her wetsuit on backwards – we’ve all been there!

We hit the water about 6:50 a bit of a late start due to volunteers getting in place. It was going to be hot so sitting around in wetsuits wasn’t great however it turned out to be a blessing since it allowed Torie’s husband, daughter and son to arrive and see her off.

Swim:

The water temperature was 70ish degrees. My ROKA Maverick sleeveless wetsuit was perfect for the warmish water. This was my first race in the Maverick; my first race in a sleeveless wetsuit and I’m hooked. It was incredibly comfortable and I felt fast. My legs overheated which was a weird feeling at first. 

Afterwards I learned I should have let water in to cool down which I will remember for Ironman Texas in less than two weeks. The water felt so good. I felt so good. I just swam and sighted. Swam and sighted. A perfect swim.

It also helped that I followed my training plan for swimming and added a 4,000 yard swim. It made me stronger on a shorter distance so I want to be sure to do another log swim this week to prepare for Ironman. This race also perfected what to eat and how close to the swim start. 40-45 minutes for me is ideal.

Out of the water, the man who helped me on the stairs was great. I don’t know how he did that all day. Great Volunteers at this race – all morning long! The wetsuit strippers helped me to the ground and in one fell swoop off it came. I jogged to transition feeling amazing albeit a sore back which is normal for me, unfortunately.

.93 Miles Time: 36:59

Bike:

I just biked fast the entire course. I wore my Wingspan RudyProject helmet and it felt so nice on my head; I felt fast. I tried to stay in aero position the entire time and pushed it for the 24 miles.  I wasn’t passed at all which was so fun! (because that has never happened in a race)

 2^nd in my age group on the bike

24.16 Miles Time: 1:15

Run:

At times when I looked at my Ambit3 I was running at 8:45 / mile which didn’t seem hard. But, because it was so hot I wanted to stay hydrated and stopped at all aid stations except two which slowed me down. The hills on the back side of the loop helped me pick up my pace at the end. I can go faster, I just need to train faster for the 10K but happy with the run results. Very Happy.

6.2 miles Time: 59:08

Overall time: 2:56 – 4^th in my Age Group!

This race was the perfect warm up race for Ironman. It was a great day with friends and practicing nutrition on race day.

I love the Olympic / International distance and want to do more of them of them and get faster.

A Big, Huge Thank You to my Triple Threat National Team and our sponsors. I am thankful for the support and encouragement from my team members and the opportunity to experience ROKA wetsuits, Rudy Helmet aerohelmets, and the Suunto Ambit3.

A big thank you to:
Torie for driving and taking care of the hotel arrangements.
Mairead for the humor and easing my stress by talking about her pre-race anxiety.
Nice to meet you Fast-Laura who placed 1^st in her age group.
You all motivate and inspire me to swim, bike and run faster and with a smile.

Thank you Eric Brogmus for the photos and cheering. Thank you Dan, Tanner, and Shelby Grammar for the photos and cheering.

It was a good day in Tempe. 

Breakthrough Swim Training Session 4000 yards

This is where I swim; pretty nice pool at the Northwest YMCA in Tucson.

Yesterday after work I swam for 1 hour 32 minutes for 4,000 yards. 4X1000.
That is 2.2 miles - woo hoo!
It's the longest swim training session to day.
While training for prior Ironman races I never went this long in the pool; looking back I'm not sure why. Whether the training plan didn't call for it or I just didn't have the time.
Regardless, I did the time and hope that it helps me in 2 weeks at Ironman Texas.

Today, Thursday I woke up a bit tired and instead of a bike ride I walked the dogs for an hour.
The plan calls for a track workout today and I'm going to try and do it after work. High temperatures are going to be triple digits so I may have to do it on the treadmill.

All is well in Tucson. Happy Training.

Esprit de She Triathlon & Race Week Prep

I did the training. I did what I could. As part of my training I completed one 17-hour week and three 16- hour weeks. I’m ready for this more than any race. I want to have a good time. 

Last week I had a 16 hour training week.
Monday was a full recovery day.

Tuesday I biked and as part of prepping for Ironman I later dropped of my bike at Bicycle Ranch for a mini tune up and bought new racing tires. That bike looks good.

As part of Race Prep Week I have a few things left to do to get ready for Ironman:

•  Get a haircut

Before Ironman Arizona I chopped it all off. I’m thinking I might do that again.

• Continue reading my book about mental training "Be In The Moment" 
• Figure out how I’m going to travel with my Wingspan Aero Helmet

I’m thinking that I will have to carry it on and keep it on my lap.

•  Race Food Planning and Shopping

I know exactly what I’m going to eat and drink; it’s in the Race Plan.

Less than three weeks to Ironman and I’m ready. Heading out for a bike/run and if there is time swimming at lunch.

On Sunday I’m racing the Esprit deShe International distance in Tempe. I’m excited to push myself and see how fast I can be at that distance. 

I will be racing in my Roka wetsuit for the first time.

I will be racing with my Wingspan 57 for the first time.

I can’t wait to see how they will perform.

Then the two week taper to Ironman begins.