2014 Age Group Nationals ~ Olympic Distance

While Milwaukee isn't normally a city I would vote to spend a weekend, with Age Group Nationals taking place there I wouldn't have asked to be anywhere else.  And at 9:18 am I joined 150 other women from the ages of 25-29 in Lake Michigan for the biggest race I had ever been a part of. 

 Friday 08 August 2014

The day before my parents and I met up in Chicago, IL, them from Hood River, OR and myself from Spokane, WA, and made the drive up to Milwaukee.  It was a relief to finally check in at our hotel as it had been a long travel day filled with very early morning flight, small thunderstorm, delayed flights, and lack of food.

The day before a race is always a little hectic and this one was non the different.  With 3700 participants people were everywhere; athletes running around picking up packets, bikers and runners weaving in and out of the crowds, spectators milling around the expo, and officials trying to keep the schedule moving forward.

After packet pick up I donned my new Volt X-Terra sleeveless wetsuit and hopped in the water to check out the swim course.  The water was perfect! At least 70 degrees making my new sleeveless wetsuit the perfect attire.  My dad heard from a local that we were extremely lucky for if the wind had been blowing out of the west instead of the east the water would have been in the mid 50s instead of 70s. 

At that time it was time to get the bike all racked up, which as with many pre-race extravaganzas turned out to be more of a hassle than wanted.  When I went to add air to the tires I discovered that the valve to my back tire had sheered off and while it seemed to be holding air that was not a chance I wanted to take.  So off we go in search of a new tube/the tools in which to change it.  Fortunately one of the bike reps took pity on me and he quickly changed it along with giving my bike a good once over.  Thank goodness otherwise it was going to be a two hour wait, and by that time I was hungry, hot, tired, and I must say relatively cranky.  

 FINALLY!! The bike was all racked up in rack J spot 2683 we could head back to the hotel, whew!

 Saturday 09 August 2014

So for time and your sanity I am going to skip ahead to race day. You don't need to hear about what I had for dinner and the process of scrambling around trying to find everything I had stuffed into my travel bag.

5:45 am and race numbers on!

Despite my wave not going off until 9:18 am we still had to arrive at race site by 7:00 am as transition closed at 7:30 am. This was something new for me as normally once transition closed I was jumping in the water within 15-30 minutes, not two hours.  Once all my gear was set up in transition I walked out and prayed that I hadn't forgotten anything. Now all I could do is wait and watch.

Swim

There was  definite buzz in the air during that long two hour wait.  You could feel the nerves, anxiety, and excitement radiating off the athletes.  After all the hours put into training for this it was time to see if it all paid off and everyone couldn't wait for their turn to see what they were made off, I know I had enough nerves for at least two people.  

At exactly 9:18 am the gun went off and my and 149 other young ladies my age took off in a froth of foam, waves, arms, and legs.  While it wasn't one of the most aggressive or brutal starts it was one of the most difficult starts I had ever been a part of.  People were every where and you could barely see in front of you (made sighting very difficult).  

1500 m never felt so long.  With each stroke I kept wondering if I was ever going to make it to the out ramp and worried that this swim was going to be one of the slowest I had ever done.  As the out ramp came closer I dug a little bit deeper praying that I wasn't as slow as I felt, turns out I had put in my fastest swim to date (which isn't saying much as I still came out of the water 91st).  

Bike

With no clue where I was in the field I struggled my way through T1--could not get my bike shoes on to save my life--and took off for a 26 mile ride.  The bike course was relatively flat with a three mile out and back to the north and then around an 8-9 mile out and back to the south.  When I came back around from the first couple miles and was about to head out for the meat of the race all I remember is my dad yelling at me to "bike faster".  He's such a wonderful cheerleader :)  

So I settled in and pushed as hard as could trying to make up the time I know I needed to make up.  I  kept my eyes on the person in front of me using them to pull me forward.  Each time I passed someone I would search for the next person in front and repeat the process.  

Run

By the time I got off the bike I was on track for my goal time and feeling pretty good.  I took off on the run at a steady 6:32 min mile pace.  At this time it was starting to get very warm and you could feel the sun beating down on your head.  After every aid station I would immediately wish there was another one right after.  I was able to maintain that 6:32 min mile pace for roughly three miles when all of the sudden I hit a wall.  My stomach started to growl, throat was on fire, breathing got ragged, and legs started to feel hungry.  I was feeling the affects of having taken my second GU much earlier than I normally do and was seriously wishing I had another one.  My 6:32 pace dropped to around 7:30 and while I continued to pass people it was at a much slower rate.  After running close to a mile at this much slower rate I told my self to stop being pathetic (my verbiage was much less politically correct) and start running.  

I was able to bring the pace back down to under 7:00 minutes and though I hated every minute of it started picking people off again.  It was a long long run.

With a mile to go the feeling of pain and hurt dissipated and adrenaline kicked in.  It helped that once again my wonderful cheerleader of a father was out at 1 mile to go yelling at me to "Run Faster" and "Pick more people off.  Pass more people."  At least he caused some people to laugh while they were out there, and I must say as always his cheering helped to spur me on.  

I want to say thank you to the guy on my left in the above picture, I don't know who you are but he kept me going in the last 500 m.  In fact at one point I think he even said "come on let's go" as we both raced in to the finish line.  I came in at a time of 2:24 and a 31st Age Group Placing. 

Despite coming in with my fastest time yet I was a little disappointed.  I believed I was able to make the top 25 and qualify for worlds and I was so close.  I needed to shave off two minutes and I would have done so.  I kept thinking to myself two minutes I could have shaved two minutes off, if I hadn't have had that slow mile or if I had pushed a little harder on the bike so many what ifs. 

Then I had to remind myself that I have only been racing for one year.  I have been doing all of the training on my own, making up workouts on my own, forcing myself to get out there and go for long rides by myself, paying for everything, and while I have an amazing support team I have mostly been figuring it out the process on my own.  I also had to realize that I was should be proud of what I had accomplished. I went from 91st place to 31st in a span of two hours.  I worked very hard the past year not only with my training but with work and life.  

Looking back this last year has been a crazy one.  In the past year there has been a lot of change; with moving, starting a new job, finishing some classes, applying and getting denied from physical therapy school, racing, and most importantly meeting the most amazingly wonderful man I could ever dream of.  I am grateful and blessed for the opportunities that I have had and the chance to experience them with the people that I love most.  

My AMAZING family who came out to cheer me on

So if I take a second and actually look at everything that I have accomplished I cannot say that I did not succeed; because in reality I have more than succeeded in the things that are important to me. If 31st is the best place that I ever accomplish then it is the BEST place there could be because I know I gave everything I had and did it with the people that I love.  I have grown and learned every step of the way and that is success.  Where I placed at Nationals is only a number, and while it would have been fantastic to qualify for World's I am not done yet and there is always next year.  So triathlon world you better watch out because I am coming for you.  

I know this was long one and if you made it all the way through it I hope I did not bore you to much. 

Next up for me is the Black Diamond Long Course 70.3 and my first ever marathon in Tri-Cities.  

Did you race this past weekend? How did it go? What is up for you next the rest of the season? 

Four Days and Counting

A year ago this coming weekend, I believe it was August 10th, I shook myself awake at 5am and drove out to Couer d'Alene, ID for my first--well in actuality it was my second with the first being about 3-4 years prior in Portland, OR but I don't totally count that one as it what feels like many moons ago and right smack in the middle of my unhealthy life choice of an eating disorder--Olympic distance triathlon.

I had signed up for the race mostly for the hell of it.  At the time I had been going through some "stuff" trying to figure life out and mostly feeling as though I floundering.  Barely able to make rent, having to borrow from mom and dad every month in order to pay bills; that constant feeling of no matter how hard you worked it wasn't enough.  I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to make it and in reality starting to wonder if I would ever "feel" again.  So to counteract that I figured why not see how hard I can push, lets see how much I can handle--and I signed up for a triathlon.

So back to August 10th at 5am: it was the first time I had ever gone to something like this by myself.  Previously I had either been on a team or my parents had been there, but being on your own means you have to figure it out yourself so I did.  I got myself to packet pick up the night before, arranged and set out my gear the night before, and set my alarm.  

Now you should know a little bit about the gear I had: no wetsuit and/or swim suit I just wore a sports bra and nike running shorts, a bright blue helmet from back when I believe I was in middle school, and best of all my mother's old motobecane touring bike from back when her and my dad spent summers cycling across Europe.  This bike was older than me and probably weighed as much as I did with crotch rocket gears and baskets instead of clip ins.  Lets just say I made an impression.

There I was standing at the start line with my toes in the water putting my swim goggles on upside down (yes that happened) with no clue as to what I was doing yet it was a fantastic feeling.  As the "gun" went off I threw myself into the water and took off for what was the start of an amazing journey.  Something in me changed that day, in fact I can remember the exact moment.  At about mile 10 of the bike as everyone started climbing (for those of you who have done the Couer d'Alene Olympic Triathlon you know exactly where I am talking about) this feeling came over me.  I don't know that I can give you an exact description of the feeling but it was as though a calm settled down upon me.  Weight came off my shoulders and everything that had been going on the last couple of months became irrelevant.  This smile spread across my face and joy seeped into my body.  Nothing mattered any more because I knew I was going to make it, I was going to survive, I was going to come out strong and you know what.... I sure as hell did.  

That day everything changed I was hooked and most importantly my self confidence came back.  I began to believe again. 

Not the fastest time but still a 2nd place

  So here I am now almost exactly one year later preparing for the biggest race of my life (hopefully not my last) and writing to you.  I have come a long ways in the last year;  I am strong, confident, healthy, and most importantly unbelievably happy.  I met the most fantastic man who has made the past eight months some of the best I have ever had the experience of happening.  His love, support, and all around presence has helped me to continue pushing myself and striving to constantly be better.  I am blessed and proud to be a part of his life. 

In four days and counting I will be standing at another starting line this time on a much bigger stage and with a much different out look on life.  I am not sure I can tell you exactly what is going through my mind, excitement, nervousness, anxiety, thrill, and many more emotions run through me on a constant basis.  I want more than anything to perform well not only to show that yes I did it, I made it, but also for those who have been out there supporting me; my parents who are making the journey with me, for my sister who always believes in me even when sometimes I don't, for Brandon whose love and support continues to amaze me, for his parents who have embraced me as a part of their family, and for everyone who continues to cheer from wherever they are.

I am blessed to have the chance to race with some of the best in the nation and I wish all those who are racing with me good luck and to all those racing this weekend at Coeur d'Alene have good luck, have fun, and I hope that maybe it will change your life as it did mine!  

If you wish to follow the race you can with the link below, I will see all of you at the finish line!!!!!!

USA AGE GROUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OLYMPIC COVERAGE