Race Report-New Orleans Ironman 70.3 (67.1)

This wasn't the race I wanted. I wanted a real 70.3 For an early season half I was having trouble deciding between this race, Rev3 Knoxville, and Orlando 70.3. I picked New Orleans because I have never been to New Orleans, and I thought lightning doesn't strike twice, and since the swim was canceled last year, I though we would be good this year. Left South GA with my best friend Loraine at 3 a.m. Saturday morning. Long boring drive. About 40 minutes from New Orleans we decided to stop for lunch so we wouldn't have to try getting lunch in the city. While at lunch I got the email that I was dreading, the swim was canceled. On top of that, the bike course was shortened to 52 miles, and there would be a 2 mile run to start the race, so this was going to be a long course duathlon. I had so many emotions running through me, I was mad, I was pissed off, I was upset, and then I was depressed. I can't believe I drove almost 12 hours for a long-course duathlon.

After we finished eating lunch I was no longer excited about the race. Too much went into it to turn back. The hotel was already paid for, my mother and law had flown in all the way from California to help Joel with the girls while I was gone, my best friend took time off of work to come with me, and a cameraman from the big news station in Atlanta was there to get coverage of me doing the race. It would have been highly rude and selfish for me not to do the race with all these factors. We got to the expo and did check in. Bought a few small things, and finally got a aqua sphere mask I have been eying for months.Went to the hotel and I tried to mentally prepare for the race the next day, and to get over the disappointment that is wasn't going to be a 70.3

Got to the race site around 5:15 a.m. It was 58 outside but with the wind and gusts it felt really cold. Set up transition quickly since there wasn't much to set up. Me and Loraine stood around for awhile but we were so cold we decided to go sit in the car until 6:30 or so. We found the camera guy and he told me he would be on a motorcycle on the bike and run course to get footage of me. The race was the start at 7, the were keeping the same swim waves for the first run with supposedly the same start times, but that quickly went out the window.

The start was really unorganized. Every wave they had 2 people go off every 10 seconds in a time trial fashion. My age group was dead last, were we supposed to go off at 7:27. They ended up starting my age group after 8, I went off around 8:05, I was the second to last person of the whole race to start. I took it easy and decided to to the first 2 mile run at an easy pace just to warm up. First run time (2 miles)was 16:44

Due to unforeseen feminine issues that occurred 2 days before this race, both transitions were longer than I wanted them to be, and I will shut up about that now and leave it at that. T1 time was 4:06

The issue with the race being shortened was because of strong winds. Strong winds canceled the swim, and shortened the bike course because of debris from the wind. I was riding my Sram S60s with a disc cover on the back wheel. Since I was second to last to start the whole race I passed 100 people or so. The only time things got sketchy with the disc was on the tall bridges we had to go over close to the sea wall, at the very tops of the bridges I could feel the wind pushing the disc and I had to work to stay on the bike. Other than that no problems. I kept nutrition to a minimum, just water, ironman perform, and a few shot blocks. The headwinds were brutal, but since I live and train in flat with headwinds I was able to hammer these sections. When I got to the dismount line I didn't realize how much I spent myself on the bike course. After hammering the headwinds I just felt wrecked. Bike split (52 miles) was 2:44

See issues from T1, T2 time was 6:36

The day before, after finding out the course was altered, I had to set a goal for myself to get me through the race. I set a goal of a sub 2 hour 13.1 mile run split. The run course was great, plenty of enthusiastic volunteers at the aid stations. The run was 2 laps with 2 out and back sections. I think I liked this run course because this is how I do my run training, multiple laps with out and backs. The first lap I felt great, head up, decent pace. There were a few hills but nothing too serious. At the turn around heading out to the second lap got some mojo from the crowd and a high five from Loraine. Second lap was not as good as the first. I could feel my left Achilles getting rubbed raw and it hurt. I was also just plain tired, I was pulling out all the mental strength I could muster to get through the race, I looked down at the ground a lot on this second lap, that is always my tired and true coping method. I was hurting, and looking at my watch I knew sub 2 hours was possible, but it would be close. The whole run I only used water and ironman perform for nutrition, I felt like it was all I needed. Mile 12 I gritted my teeth and pushed through the last mile, at 12.5 there was one last hill, I dug deep to get up it. When I saw the finisher's chute I knew I was sub 2 hours. Since it didn't feel like a real 70.3 I just crossed the finish line without doing the arm raise. Run time (13.1)was 1:56

Got my finisher's medal and mylar blanket. My legs were hurting bad so when Loraine found me I leaned on her for a minute. She took me somewhere to sit down. It felt great to sit. I told her a few things about the race. She told me about her day as a spectator, I was surprised to hear about all the crashes at the bike dismount line, even by pros. She told me everyone just looked wrecked after the bike, so at least now I know it wasn't just me. Got some post race food, attempted to drink a post race beer but just wasn't feeling it. Pack up my stuff and grabbed my bike and left back to the hotel.

total race time 5:09:10

I have a lot of mixed emotions about this race. I don't know what to call it for one. In my mind, even after this weekend, I still only have one 70.3 under my belt. I had been looking forward to this race all winter, and worked so hard on my swimming to get ready for. I think this race has potential, but I don't think I will race it again, swim being canceled 2 years in a row is just bad mojo. Gives me a chance to try another early season half iron race next year. I am now super pumped up for Muncie 70.3 on July 7th.

NOLA race week is here!

Finally here, race week for the first of 3 70.3s this year. Leaving on Saturday very early morning, like 3 am early. Tomorrow I will soak my wetsuit in the bathtub and then hang dry it, to ensure I won't rip it on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain before the swim start. My mother-in-law is arriving tomorrow from California to visit and help Joel out with the girls while me and Loraine are in New Orleans. I have a great relationship with my MIL so I am excited for her arrival as well.

I did a super sprint tri on Saturday. It didn't feel like a race to me, kinda just felt like speedwork training. I almost got the overall win. I am not going to write a race report here but if you want to know about the race here is my entry from beginner triathlete. Of course I plan on writing a full, detailed race report on NOLA.

Something exciting, one of the big-time news stations from Atlanta (a 5 hour drive from here) saw my article in the Frontline newspaper and wants to do a segment on me. They are traveling down here today all the way from Atlanta to interview me. Even more exciting, one of their camera guys is traveling to New Orleans on Friday to get footage of me in the race. Over the weekend myself, Joel, and Loraine were scrubbing the house since they are going to film in the living room. Was killing two birds with one stone since Joel's mom is coming tomorrow, the house is nice and clean for her as well.

I got a stretch band and have been doing the ITBS exercises 3 days a week, as well as using the rolling pin. I am almost back to my old self. I managed an 8 mile run at an 8:24 pace. Its too late to increase mileage so that 8 mile run will have to do as my "long run" going into NOLA 70.3. It an early season half, and if I don't meet my own expectations, I still have Muncie and Augusta to meet them. Right now to weather is looking great for Sunday in NOLA, but that could change at any second.

If you are in NOLA on Sunday at the race and see me, say hi! I will be wearing my Team RWB kit, with a white Team RWB hat (on the run course). As you know, I have a Cervelo P2 with Sram S60s with a rear disc cover. I am in the very last swim wave.

Uncertainty

Like a mentioned in my blog post a few weeks ago, there is a lot of uncertainty in our family right now. I try hard, and have been pretty good about not complaining about the Army. The Army has been a provider for us, and has given us a mostly comfortable life. However, not knowing if this deployment is going to happen is really irritating. You think I would be used to it by now, 2 deployments myself and Joel's 2 deployments, this wouldn't be our first rodeo. But I really need to know if this rodeo is going to take place, there is a lot of planning involved, and lots of affairs to get in order. Its frustrating at times, especially when trying to plan ahead for the end of the year, when I don't even know if Joel is going to be here or not. That's where the uncertainty comes in, not knowing if this deployment is going to happen or not.

11 days until the New Orleans 70.3. After the last few sessions I have had in the pool, I am now glad I am not doing an ironman this year. I am getting that gassed feeling once I get to around 1300 meters. I am going to take this season and the winter to really work on my swimming. My swim is becoming the pink elephant in the room. In the past 2 races, I am keeping up with the fast girls on the bike and run and transitions, but I am 3-5 minutes behind them in the swim. In a sprint tri 3-5 minutes is a big deal.

I registered for the Muncie 70.3, and also registered Joel for the Jekyll Island Olympic on May 19th. I am doing this race as well, for both of us it will be our first olympic triathlon. Olympic is the only distance I haven't completed so I don't know what to expect. I do know I will lose a lot of time in the swim, but since the swim is long-ish, and the bike will be 28 miles (per the website) and the run a 10k, I might run out of miles to make up for my bad swim time.

Joel is doing his first century ride on May 5th. He has actually been training for it. Yesterday he went on a 70 mile ride and he actually found some hills.(!) He assured me he didn't see any dogs on this route so I might just have to join him. My only hilly race left this season is Augusta 70.3, but I want to do well at that race, so that means I need to do some hills.

Sometimes I take a step back and still can't believe the changes I have made in my life have influenced Joel's life. I never thought I would even be able to get him to do a 5k with me, now he has done half marathons and a marathon with me, is doing an olympic with me, doing a century on his own, and want to do a half ironman if his work ever stabilizes enough for him to have adequate time to train. Just amazing!

Also amazing I must add, my best friend Loraine doing the all women sprint tri in Acworth in August with me. I just knew sooner or later she would want to get in on the fun. I just hope she has fun and isn't miserable during the race, then I will feel bad for egging her on. We have been besties for 10 years now, so we are pretty good judges of what the other is capable of, and I really think she can handle this race.

April in my boring life

I wish I had exciting stuff to report, but the truth is, I don't live a very exciting life. I train, go to school, take care of my kids, hang out with my husband..............and that's pretty much it. Lately, myself and my best friend Loraine have been frequenting Chili's on the weekends for their 2 for $20 dinner deal, along with $2.99 margaritas, that has been pretty exciting. As you can tell, I don't get out much.

I was notified that I qualified for USAT age group nationals. I qualified last year as well and couldn't go because it was the weekend before ironman Louisville. This year I won't be able to go because of financial reasons. We are pretty tapped out with me doing 3 70.3 races, as well as Joel getting into triathlon, many of the smaller races are doubled with him racing them. I will go to USAT nationals one day, just not sure when.

14 days until New Orleans 70.3. I have been treating my ITBS with stretch band exercises, and using a rolling pin instead of a foam roller. The foam roller just isn't cutting it anymore. Cycling doesn't hurt at all anymore, and I have been doing 6 mile runs pain free, so I think I am almost there. I made a big mistake last year, when I stopped having ITBS pain I stopped all treatment. This time I will continue my stretch band exercises 1 to 2 times a week once the pain goes away, as well and rolling it with the rolling pin a few times a week.

New Orleans is going to be such a quick trip. We are leaving Saturday morning at 3 am, going directly to athlete check-in and bike drop-off, and then relaxing at the hotel. Sunday is the race, we are staying there that night and leaving early Monday morning. Wish we could get their earlier, but Loraine can't get that much time off from work. Joel's mom will be here to help Joel out with the girls, so I don't have to worry about him as much.

Every night I want to rip my hair out with the algebra homework, I just hate it. Its not even college algebra either, its a class I have to take to get into college algebra. I am not a very math minded person.