Hogpen Weekend, Polar Bear 5k, and Resting

Right now I am taking a break from training. A mandated two day break. After a few weeks of continued decline in workouts and training, it’s needed.

I am fixated on one question. How could I forget what I am like without training to take the edge off my personality? I am absolutely impossible to live with. Impossible. And I’m just talking about me living with me. Who knows what’s running through the heads of my nearest and dearest.
So January has been fun, busy ,and very stressful.

I will focus on the training end since this is a triathlon blog. Soon, I hope to have exciting bike news, too that is deserving of its own post! All I will say is that I may or may not have appeared to be a beached whale with scoliosis on my bike (entirely due to my own fitting tweaks.. I get all the credit for that one) and that Soon I may NOT look like that! I may look like a poseur cyclist on a shiny bike, instead.

So here’s the recap on all the other training stuff….

Hogpen weekend


This weekend is soo much fun. It comes with goals attached. The Hogpen Trifecta is threefold and quite difficult to achieve. It includes maximum pain and maximum fun, then more pain. Therein lies the paradox of the hogpen trifecta. Specifically, it includes the following

1. Race up hogpen 11.5 miles and 4352.3 million feet of climbing
2. Sing karaoke that night in Helen
3. Ride your bike up hogpen the next day.

Last year was the inaugural year of the trifecta and I am proud to say that only three of us achieved this formidable goal. This year I wanted to try and recruit others, and was successful at the getting people rallied part. Unfortunately I messed up the actual planning and execution. I was tired and grumpy pre-Hogpen and it was slated to rain nonstop so we made the last minute decision to leave our bikes behind.

After a lackluster run up the hill, (eight minutes slower than last year. Yes, there was a course change that made it longer, but most people’s times were similar or faster because the added part was pretty much downhill at the beginning)it was time for the extreme fun portion.

We had a LOT of fun and karaoked until Helen closed down. The next day’s ride was not to be for anyone, as one, you generally feel sleep deprived and sore after the first two phases, plus the part about not having our bikes.

So I was bummed but I was even more sore and exhausted than last year, and am not sure that I could have pedaled the minimum watts to keep the bike from rolling down the hill backwards.

Onward to the Polar Bear 5k this past weekend. Fun because the club was sponsoring it and I believe we succeeded in getting a lot of people fired up about wanting to do a triathlon. Also, yes the actual running of it. After the way I was feeling and my Hogpen run I was the opposite of excited about this race. I wasn’t even sure if I would break 20 minutes much less the goal that I set awhile ago of wanting to break 19 sometime this year. In the end, pure ego allowed me to run the essentially the same time as last year.


Though there was like 1500 people in the race John, rich, rosemary, and I finished in succession, despite john and rich being almost 20 seconds ahead. They were going for 19 and rosemary was going for 19:30. After getting passed like I was standing still by them and many, many others the previous weekend I couldn’t go down without a fight. I started running and my legs immediately felt like someone had taken all the blood vessels, mitochondria etc, out of the middle and filled them with iron instead. Very strange, usually at least the first mile should feel easy, but I was in end of 5k pain from the gun.

John finishing (behind Rich) in a Hair over 19.


Anyways, I lost rich and john but managed to stay behind rosemary .. barely. Every uphill she pulled away and every downhill I managed to reel her in..the last 100 yards I put in a kick with the look, sound, and agony, I imagine, of a dying elephant and crossed the line 1 second before.

Last 100 yards...

Right after we finished.. photo credits to John's dad!




The next day was the Mountain Madness preview ride which I was Very excited about ..nothing was going to stop me. Not the 20 degree weather, not the fact that my legs were filled with molten iron as I mentioned previously. I managed to convince Rich and Ted to attend and it turned out that Lauren Fogarty and Paul were also there. (not that I saw Paul ..or Ted..after the first five minutes..showoffs)


So we started out riding casually or what I call “lazy riding.’ Lazy riding is where you don’t get in aero, pretty much keep in the small ring, and coast everything that is coastable. I was trying to stay super positive and was helped on that path by the beautiful scenery, Lots of Coke, and Rich’s company, who is perpetually chatty and positive. I kept reassuring him we weren’t slow because xy and z.

Lauren, Rich, and I at the first 'aid station' I look like I'm trying not to be grim and Rich appears to be contemplating some hand warmers.



So it turns out I was pretty tired because at first, I kept wondering why everyone was so fast. Second, I kept thinking well everyone out here is just really hardcore, and then I thought well they are just trying to see how fast they can ride the course. And THEN I noticed, when we were climbing the mountain part that I was climbing in low zone 2 and when I tried to pick it up, I really couldn’t and THEN I noticed at the halfway point that we were already 2:40 in .. yikes! I was thinking total ride time would be about 3:15 and instead it was 4:22!!!!!!!!!! After looking at my data later and my mouse-like average watts, it’s clear that this rest Is due.


*By the way, I have to mention that if you are considering Mountain Madness half distance you should totally do it! The scenery and the course is awesome, and though I will be occupied during the actual race, I plan to be at the preview rides as much as possible. Zone 5 proved they are awesome at organizing this weekend, too. I really had my own personal SAG.. even though I hope this is the first and last time I will be with the SAG 

** I had several friends tell me at Hogpen that they are thinking about donating to Sadie’s cause. I really really need more people to donate. In fact, I need YOU to donate.. just ten or 20 will do the trick. YOU will make a difference helping shelter dogs and I really really need your help. And I will stop bugging you and not send you a personal letter if you go ahead and donate now 

Disney Half, Etc.

Fundraising is tough!! Wow, I only have the utmost respect for those people who constantly do this as part of your job etc. I HATE bugging people about things like this, which is ironic, since I am in sales. But that it what I must continue to do.. until you donate. Then you are exempt from my pleas. Sorry.

At first I thought it would be extremely easy. Just put the word out and surely everyone would be happy to throw 5 bucks or so in. But I am thinking about it and seeing why it doesn’t always happen. I try to support such ventures myself but I’m sure there are as many times as I’ve forgotten or though, I’ll do it later, versus times I actually followed through and did it. Or thought, I’m sure this person has dozens of other people helping, they don’t really need my help.

Well that is definitely Not the case here so if you have it in your heart to donate, then please know that you will be one of a very select few and the effort will not be in vain, no matter how small the amount. Soo easy and so beneficial for those dogs whose lives you are directly saving http://sadier.chipin.com/barking-hound-village-foundation-rescue And for those who are reading this who HAVE donated, I love you and you are awesome!

waiting for cool pic from Disney to go here

On the training front, things are going well for the time of year. Actually last weekend we participated in my first race with Both my parents and John, the Walt Disney World half marathon. I had zero expectations going into this race. I really wanted to just use it as social time with parents. I didn’t even know if they had seeded corrals or if we had submitted times when we registered. I wasn’t even sure who had ended up registering us.

We waited too long to get plane tickets, which is becoming a theme lately, and didn’t arrive until Friday evening to pick up our bibs. Well I was telling everyone about my plan to take it easy and I was being totally forthright too. That was the plan. Then we went to the expo to pick up our bibs and I saw that my number was very low and had my name and the word ‘Elite’ on it.

First of all, it goes without saying that their definition of ‘elite’ is, shall we say, Quite broad if it includes me. Elite is people finishing 15 minutes faster than my seed time. But hey, they gave me one and that was that. I don’t like starting in front and then jogging. Maybe it’s a pride issue that I need to work on. But I almost feel like it’s disprespectful.

Last year at the Peachtree road race, for example a race with 50000ish people, I BARELY by the skin of my teeth managed to get a ‘ top seeded’ time, which meant I got to start in the front. Or ALMOST at the front.. so I thought. The plan for that one was to run easy, too.

In fact, I was having a conversation about it with a young cross country girl right before the start this year in July. We were at the ‘front’ but comfortable behind the line, as it was roped off on our side and full of the runners who were flown in and trying to win money on the other side.

Weren’t we surprised when the tape was lifted at the last moment and we were Forced to the LINE of the Ptree road race. Next to Ryan Hall et all. (Was Ryan Hall there this year or has my story just improved over time?)

So that was another example of when it was just NOT possible to stick with a plan of running easy. Even if the people you’re running ‘with’ are going to be done ten minutes plus before you are.

So where was I? Aww yes, the not going to run easy part. So the next morning we left our hotel with plenty of time, so we thought. I mean we walked out at 3:30 AM but for the Disney, apparently that is cutting it SUPER close. We almost missed the start by the time we got down there.
Plan was to just go by feel and look at my watch.. just to see. Start up and I was pleasantly surprised to be comfortably clicking off miles in the 6:30s. Legs were sore from my first big week back training but felt fine aerobically. Hoped sore legs wouldn’t catch up with me.

Through 10k and I basically was at my PR for that distance. To this point we had been running very straight but then we got into the park, where you are running around attractions and making a lot of 180 degree turns. At this point I started to feel very sore and like I might need to make a quick stop.

I was trying sooo hard not to think about it. I was actually on pace for a good sized PR if I just didn’t have to stop. Well I guess I thought about it too much because a stop became mandatory and after that I was just trying not to fall off the pace. Managed to squeak in with about a 6 or 7 second PR. Hey, I’ll take it!

The very good news is I think rested and with a bit more running I could really knock off a few minutes this year. John, had a great race and knocked THREE minutes off of his Publix time from last year. He is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with in all three sports this year. Watch out, boys!

My parents both finished, too. My dad hasn’t been training a bunch and my mom was walking with a friend. Both of them finished but unfortunately, she hurt her knee in the process. Thought I understand it is healing well, I’m not sure she will be rushing to do a bunch more races anytime soon. Hoping though that many more races with the parents are in the future!

Overall a great weekend with the family. A logistically difficult race. Would do it again if it meant roping family into it, but not really a good ‘A’ race because of the crowds.

2012 Begins...

Lots of exciting changes in 2012!

Look like John and I are going to be more involved in our tri club next year. Actually a LOT more involved. More on that to come, but suffice it to say I have been working very hard over the holidays! So far just a few of the main things I have been helping with are the 2012 training schedules, lining up club sponsorships, and putting together a more formalized race team. All very exciting stuff! I’ve been trying to do as much as possible before ‘real’ work starts and I only have nights and weekends to work on things.

Other exciting projects- John and I have done a lot of scheming, and meeting, and dreaming about other exciting projects. These aren’t quite ready for the blog yet, but it’s always important to have big dreams and goals that may or may not pan out.

Individual coaching- I am going to start doing individual coaching more next year. Although I have done a lot of personal training, general fitness training, wellness coaching, and even individual run coaching, this will be the first time I am making the shift to individual triathlon coaching. I am ready. I have actually been a certified coach with USAT for almost two years now. When I first took my certification class, I was really just beginning to learn what I needed to know. Since then I have learned so much more, and as the saying goes, the more you learn the more you realize you have to learn. I am excited to continue this process of learning, and applying what I have learned so far in 2012.

Giving back- for a while now I have been informally involved with helping out animals as I come across them. I have a true heart for animals and 100 percent believe that his eye is on the sparrow I always believed that when I found the ‘right’ place to help in a more formal position, I would just know, and that’s how I feel about this cause. I felt like I couldn’t NOT help and I guess that’s how you know.

People have a heart for for all different things, that’s what makes the world go round. Helping animals is my true passion. All that said, my dog, Sadie is taking the lead on this one. She will be raising money for the barking village foundation rescue. You can read more about it here.

All I will say is that she is a dog with a BIG dream.. to raise 5000 dollars by may 5 to help them build a new adoption center. In fact, if anyone reading this (mom) has ideas to help me figure out how to raise money, I am all ears. So far I have been talking ot all my friends and family but I don’t want to be the person who constantly badgers others for money! (That being said, won’t you donate, please? Just 10-20 dollars makes a difference!)

Why is my sister getting all the attention? Look how cute I am!

Training and racing- This is a triathlon training blog after all, so 4 out of (the) 5 people reading this are likely mega-bored! Next year I will still be training under Meredith at Purplepatch. I really enjoyed working with this group last year and had big improvements to show. Coach believes I will make some big gains in swimming and cycling and I am holding her to that!

My big races are New Orleans 70.3, Ironman St. George, possibly Augusta 70.3, and Kona. I have BIG goals for these races that will get more specific as they get closer and I get a better idea of what is possible.

I actually have a bunch of ‘fun’ races coming up and the first one is this weekend at the Disney half in Florida. I am ‘really’ out of shape after my nice long rest, so this is not a PR race. I am all about ‘races are for racing’ nearly without exception. BUT if you are in no shape to race, have no shot at a PR, and have a big training week after your ‘d’ priority race, that is The exception to my rule! Therefore my main goal is to have fun with our family and friends that are also participating, not hurt myself, and be ready to hit it hard again for Monday!

I also have some big goals and additional responsibilities for my ‘real’ job next year, so we’ll have to see how that unfolds.

My goals as far as day to day are

- Not getting so stressed about time and efficiency. This is the way I’ve been my entire life and so it’s not going to be easy to change. I’ll have to settle for more of a management of this. I get stressed out about getting everything in and set myself lots of deadlines, real and artificial to make sure I’m on track. For sure it’s a good strategy if you tend to be a big procrastinator, but if you are constantly doing that for everything in life.. ie I have to start my bike workout by 6 pm.. even if you technically have till six am the next morning to get it done, it can start to suck the fun out of life (and other’s lives) really really quickly.

- Being more patient in general- this is closely related to the time thing. It is sometimes a shock to me to realize that not everyone is on the same time schedule as I am. Example- the light turns green and someone takes ten friggin’ seconds to get going! Or, say if John and I plan to leave at ten till eight and actually leave at 8:05. I need to get over it and be more gracious and considerate and patient. Note to self: get a xanax prescription ;)

- Pay attention to the little things as far as recovery and training. I’m not one to get all militant about eating perfectly or going to bed at 9 0’clock. However, there are definitely a Few things I could work on that would probably help me recovery better, and consequently be able to train more consistently, which will lead to being faster! 

- Getting more involved in our church- we have started checking out a new church in Atlanta that I am really excited about. I loved our old church but it was so huge and crowded that it was easy to get lost in the shuffle, not really get involved, or develop any real relationships. This other church that we have attended a few times is smaller, MUCH smaller so I am hoping we can be involved in numerous ways as a result.

- Make more of a difference in my friends’ lives. If someone tells me they need help, I am all ears and will do what I can (or at least I like think of myself that way!) BUT, in day to day, when I come across people that do need help, I doubt I even notice it or them half the time. That’s just honesty right there. I am always thinking about 10 million different things and I know I overlook a lot in the process. Lord help me with That one!!

Looking at this list is rather daunting, so I’d better get on it!