Coming by the T3 Tailgating Tent!! The best part of the day!!
The 2008 Tri season ended on such a wonderfully high note as I wrapped up this year with a Half-Ironman PR (by 35 sec!) on an incredibly difficult course under some less-than-ideal conditions.
The 1.2 mile swim
30:31
Almost laughable...In fact, I did laugh when I exited the water. out loud...Yes, the course was short. I don't swim a 1:35 pace per 100! (as much as I'd love to). Some estimated that it was 300-400m short, which would have added 5-6 minutes to my time. Still, though, even with those additional minutes, it would still be a very respectable swim for me. By comparison, I did the swim in over 47 minutes last year! Nothing like having a 17 minute lead coming out of the water!
The 56 mile bike
2:53: 31 (19.4 mph avg)
That bike split was truly faster than I ever thought I could ride this course of hills, turns, winds and bad chip sealed roads. Again last year, by comparison, I averaged 18.2 mph overall. The course was slightly different last year, but the bike course official said he thought this year's course was more difficult. I made a conscious decision to just put it all out there and try to hang on for the run. I knew my run wouldn't be as fast, but I was already way ahead of my time goal, so I knew I could be a little conservative on the run. The bike course went by much faster than I thought it would. There were only a few moments where mental frustration kicked in and that was usually because we made a turn directly into the wind. The last 10 miles were blessed with a tailwind on the way back to transition. That is until you hit the last two "bitch" and "bastard" hills heading back to the park. Overall, it was a good ride and I started the run with a little bravado and confidence.
The 1.2 mile swim
30:31
Almost laughable...In fact, I did laugh when I exited the water. out loud...Yes, the course was short. I don't swim a 1:35 pace per 100! (as much as I'd love to). Some estimated that it was 300-400m short, which would have added 5-6 minutes to my time. Still, though, even with those additional minutes, it would still be a very respectable swim for me. By comparison, I did the swim in over 47 minutes last year! Nothing like having a 17 minute lead coming out of the water!
The 56 mile bike
2:53: 31 (19.4 mph avg)
That bike split was truly faster than I ever thought I could ride this course of hills, turns, winds and bad chip sealed roads. Again last year, by comparison, I averaged 18.2 mph overall. The course was slightly different last year, but the bike course official said he thought this year's course was more difficult. I made a conscious decision to just put it all out there and try to hang on for the run. I knew my run wouldn't be as fast, but I was already way ahead of my time goal, so I knew I could be a little conservative on the run. The bike course went by much faster than I thought it would. There were only a few moments where mental frustration kicked in and that was usually because we made a turn directly into the wind. The last 10 miles were blessed with a tailwind on the way back to transition. That is until you hit the last two "bitch" and "bastard" hills heading back to the park. Overall, it was a good ride and I started the run with a little bravado and confidence.
The 13.1 mile run
2:06:07 (9:38 avg per mile)
As you can tell by my time split, that confidence didn't last long. Actually, let me take that back. I was feeling damn good for the first half of the half-marathon. The miles were ticking by between 8:15-8:30s...then 8:50s...then 9:00s...I was still cool because anything below sub 9:00 was fine with me. I was hoping to be conservative and still have energy to pick it up at the end. Yeah...well...no such luck. By Mile 6, my calves and quads were cramping BIG TIME. I'm talking vice grip cramps. I wouldn't run 100 yards without something seizing. Needless to say, the last several miles included several walking bouts interspersed with some jogging. There was such a nice guy on the course who kept walking with me and encouraging me with each step. He ended up giving me his "magic towel" (as he called it). T3 Tom even stopped for a bit as I was having a seizure moment. He steadied me enough so that I wouldn't fall over and look like a road carcass on the side of the course! At Mile "something," I took 2 electrolyte tablets. They didn't kick in until the last mile, but I was able to jog the last mile and not cramp up. Lesson learned... Oddly enough, I didn't feel dehydrated or depleted AT ALL. I followed my nutrition plan to a "t." It just didn't include extra salt because I didn't think I'd need it.
Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the overall time, even though I was on pace for a 5:20 until the wheels came off at mile 6 of the run. As I look back on this year of triathlon, I've seen some incredible growth with my swimming and cycling, both of which I consider to be my "weaknesses." Ironically, they were my saving graces yesterday. I owe so much of that improvement to my T3 coaches and team. I can't tell you what a benefit it is to train with such a large community of like-minded individuals. It's a community of overachievers no doubt, but genuinely amazing people. I wouldn't trade the comraderie or discipline for anything.
Shawn also posted a huge PR on his race today as he continues to knock off his PR in chunks of 15-minute intervals! (we should all be so lucky). When we got home, he thanked me for getting him into triathlons. I thanked him for not divorcing me because of it.
2:06:07 (9:38 avg per mile)
As you can tell by my time split, that confidence didn't last long. Actually, let me take that back. I was feeling damn good for the first half of the half-marathon. The miles were ticking by between 8:15-8:30s...then 8:50s...then 9:00s...I was still cool because anything below sub 9:00 was fine with me. I was hoping to be conservative and still have energy to pick it up at the end. Yeah...well...no such luck. By Mile 6, my calves and quads were cramping BIG TIME. I'm talking vice grip cramps. I wouldn't run 100 yards without something seizing. Needless to say, the last several miles included several walking bouts interspersed with some jogging. There was such a nice guy on the course who kept walking with me and encouraging me with each step. He ended up giving me his "magic towel" (as he called it). T3 Tom even stopped for a bit as I was having a seizure moment. He steadied me enough so that I wouldn't fall over and look like a road carcass on the side of the course! At Mile "something," I took 2 electrolyte tablets. They didn't kick in until the last mile, but I was able to jog the last mile and not cramp up. Lesson learned... Oddly enough, I didn't feel dehydrated or depleted AT ALL. I followed my nutrition plan to a "t." It just didn't include extra salt because I didn't think I'd need it.
Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the overall time, even though I was on pace for a 5:20 until the wheels came off at mile 6 of the run. As I look back on this year of triathlon, I've seen some incredible growth with my swimming and cycling, both of which I consider to be my "weaknesses." Ironically, they were my saving graces yesterday. I owe so much of that improvement to my T3 coaches and team. I can't tell you what a benefit it is to train with such a large community of like-minded individuals. It's a community of overachievers no doubt, but genuinely amazing people. I wouldn't trade the comraderie or discipline for anything.
Shawn also posted a huge PR on his race today as he continues to knock off his PR in chunks of 15-minute intervals! (we should all be so lucky). When we got home, he thanked me for getting him into triathlons. I thanked him for not divorcing me because of it.
6:33:59
swim: 38:10
bike 3:22:50
run 2:26
And now....it's off to KONA for the World Championships this weekend!!!
19 comments:
i wanna run like carrie when i grow up, even on a bad day! ;) Way to end the season girl - it has been so much fun training with you!
Congrats on your PR!!! You rocked it...
Congrats to both of you on the PRs! Can we stow away in your luggage on the flight to Kona?
Way to go, Carrie! That's an awesome bike, and I know there are some big hills around that lake!!
What a great way to end your tri season - very nice :-)
Wow, PRs for both of you guys! That is fabulous.
Sean looked great on his last lap of the run course. Sadly, I NEVER saw you out there otherwise I would have ran along with you to help you through the cramping. I was the one handing out ice at mile 6 (the YMCA tent)... for literally 6 hours!! :) Congratulations to both you and Sean!!
Nicely done!! Next time, I'm just going to hang on to your shirt tail and let you pull me in!
At the rate you're going, it won't be too much longer before you're going out to Kona to race! Great job, and some serious ass-kickery on a tough day.
See you at training :)
Dang girl you had a fantastic race, well done!!!
Congrats to the both of ya! :)
PC
Congrats!! Nice race. If you see anyone in Forward Motion team kit at Kona (there are 6 racing it) scream GO FOMO! for me, okay?
Way to end the tri season with a PR, Caddy!! You must go get a massage in celebration :-)
Congratulations to the hubby too! I love that last line that he joined you instead of divorcing you ..hehehe!
Way to hang tough on that bike course I have heard the nightmares of this tough bumpy course, and if it was windy like it was in Dallas this weekend than you are even tougher than I thought.
It is awesome to see you setting you set new PR's. Next tri season will get even mo betta if that is even possible.
PS saw a T3'er take hardware at the Toyota Open this weekend, thought of ya!
WooHoo- a PR. Great race report.
Have a great time in Kona.
Congrats on such an awesome race!!! I'm kind of jealous I did a marathon instead of a 1/2 tri this Fall, but oh well. I was going to do Ironstar but haven't biked in 2 months, so that probably wouldn't be a good idea.
hey...i would die for that time.... congrats...way to race hard....
you rock carrie....
i don't get how these official 70.3 can be anything but the exact right distance for swim, bike or run.... how can that happen??
It's great to "meet" a fellow Buckeye triathlete!! Thanks for the comment. Don't you find that training gets in the way of watching the games ;-)
You're race sounded awesome and I am very impressed with your ability and time! I can't wait to be that fast.
O-H-I-O!!!!!!
Carrie, you ROCK!! Awesome swim (even if the course was short) and way to lay it out there on the bike. Man, had it not been for those darn cramps, you would have been sub-5:30 for sure. There's always next time, though. CONGRATS on another stellar race and enjoy your time in Kona. I'm sure it'll get you fired up for next season!
Nice way to finish the season. Good job all the way around. Your bike split was very impressive.
Enjoy Kona!
fantastic job! love your report. you make it sound easy! except for the cramping part. ugh. what a great time!
congrats girl!!!!!!!!
i did look for you and cheer for you on sunday.
hopefully i'll be working out with T3 soon enough. or see you at Gilberts? (i do TUTH afternoons..)
-Jessica
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