2014 Tri For Fun #1

I hadn't planned on doing a sprint after the Morgan Hill Sprint but, my planned Splash and Dashes were canceled due to the drought. I had also done some work on getting my out of control asthma under control and I needed to see what that did to my performance.

Tri For Fun is a series of low key sprint triathlons put on for people just entering the sport. 400 yards swim, 10 mile bike, and ~5k run. That's where I started in 2010. Because I just needed a place to pull everything together, I chose this over a women's only tri or a bigger race both of which were a lot farther of a drive.

Grumpy had a dog show so, I was off to the race by myself. I was grumbling on my way how I didn't want to do this race and then, I remembered how Molly had made herself get over herself and get infused by the new people.

I pulled in early, registered, and set up my spot. The new people were every where and they had lots of questions. I answered a few and then, I plugged into my ipod - I played  AC/DC Thunderstruck... over and over to get my mojo on. Soon, it was time to do my warm up but, first, remind myself of what I was going to do out there.

To help me really pull it together, printed my top goals/objectives for each sport putting specifics:

Swim: Ease into the first couple of minutes and then push and KEEP pushing.
Bike: Starting watts, build watts, hill watts, and the final back to transition.
Run: Keep my HR into the > low zone 3.

And thanks to Tea,

"We are as slow or as fast as we give ourselves permission to be."

Following my race plan, I jogged around for a few minutes and then got into my wetsuit. The water was very warm. I paddled around trying to get my HR up. The briefing went seemingly for ever. Then the first of the 4 waves went off. My wave was last but, eventually, the horn sounded and off we went.

People were zig zagging every which way until the first buoy. As soon as I rounded the buoy, it started to thin out. I kicked up the pressure on the water and my turnover. Soon, I was rounding the final buoy and heading to shore.


(Pictures from 2010)

Swim: 7:21 (2010- 10:55)

T1: 1:48 (2010- 3:00)

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Time to jump on my ridiculously over swank bike and ride hard. No sooner did I get up the steep hill out of transition then I started picking off people. "ON YOUR LEFT!".

Earlier this year, I had done a couple of time trials to concentrate on the feel of cycle racing. It's a little like doing 5/10ks. You focus on just one sport and do what is needed for that one sport.

I passed people on cruisers and mountain bikes. I passed one guy decked out in tri gear in aero position (that happens - NEVER). 10 minutes in I kicked up the watts. It was all good. Finally, I hit what used to seem like a huge hill and it was nothing to even speak of.

Bike: 32:59 (2010- 38:00)

Dump the bike & helmet. On with the shoes and grab my fuel belt, running belt, and hat. I'm out of here.

T2: 1:02 (2010- 2:00)

So now, the run. My plan was to try to up the pace from the Morgan Hill Sprint. In 2010, I had had to walk a lot of this hilly trail run. As I drove up the first hill, I wasn't sure that attacking the hills was the right thing to do. I decided that I would power walk the top, steepest parts of the hills and run the rest. I came down out of the final hill and I had leg. I had lungs. I had plenty in the tank for the first time in a VERY long time. I just have to learn what that means. I think this time, it means I should have run the entire hill.

My wave went off 20 minutes in.

Run   33:49 (2010- 38:00)

Overall 1:17.01  (2010- 1:31minutes)

2014 Morgan Hill Sprint -- Oyster Point Version

This race report is very over due and after you read it, you'll understand why I wasn't excited about writing it.

I signed up for the 2014 Morgan Hill Sprint as a way to gauge my fitness level before going into the big push of training for Vineman 70.3. The race was intended to be done at Uvas reservoir in Morgan Hill but, it had to be moved. Turns out USA Productions found a really fabulous place to hold the race. Oyster Point Marina is located in between San Francisco airport to the south and Candlestick Park to the north.

Oyster Point Marina

Grumpy and I got up at the butt-crack of dawn and head up to the race site. Parking was a breeze. We had driven up the day before to scout the bike course (although some was blocked by road construction) so, we knew our way around. A-typical for that area of the Bay Area, there was little fog at the start of the race. I set up my transition spot with other SVTC club members. 

Time to do my warm up and after a bit, I was entering the water. As I walked into the water, I noticed how WARM the water was and then, I noticed I was sinking into the silt. I had worn my full sleeved wetsuit and immediately regretted it. As usual, I was in the second to last wave so, we were able to see the first swimmers return just as we were taking off.

I swam what I thought was the same effort that I did in Half Moon Bay the month before. Lots of women short forward. I passed several women. Just as I was passing a woman kicking very loudly, she sped up. I kept going and came up to her again. She sped up. This went on a couple more times and then, I just tucked in behind her. What I SHOULD have done, is just powered past her and I would have had free waters ahead. But, we're taught to only expend so much on the swim and that might have really drained the tank.

That's her. In my club AND my transition spot is right next to hers!!!

Swim (3/4 mile): 30:05  -- pretty sucky

We ran together into transition. I have NO idea what took me so long in transition. I let her get away. Not my usual focused self.

T1: 2:31 (NO. It was NOT a long run between the timing mats.)

Off on the bike. I wasn't able to see part of the course the day before due to road construction. That was the part of the course that had a couple short/steep hills. Blissfully ignorant I went. By then, some fog had come in so it misted a little. 4 laps around the course. First lap was cool because it was something new. I had to pass an odd guy on the bike as a referee looked on... must have done it right since I didn't get penalized. Up through the Genetech parking lot and then a VERY sharp uphill to the road going out. Hard to remember to keep the pressure on the peddles after going up. As I started the next loop, there was a 17 year old riding in the middle of the lane. I yelled "On your left" and SHE MOVED LEFT!!! I screamed "LEFT LEFT LEFT" and she finally moved right before I was going to have to take defensive measures. (felt bad yelling at a kid) Next time around was ok.  Third time around, I was out of the saddle on the sharp uphill and tired of going around in circles. Finally, the fourth time around was done and I turned back into the road to transition. 

Genetech buildings in the background

As I went into transition, I blew pulling my foot out of my shoe only to discover, I don't have to actually pull it out. Just loosen it all the way and my foot easily slips out. Score!

Bike (16 miles): 57:47

Into transition and already feeling raw airways, I managed to do a decent transition.

T2: 1:05

For most of this year, I've hated running. Even when not working out, the asthma has really caused problems. I stopped singing with Grumpy and his friends because my voice was always rough and hoarse. I'd go into coughing fits. But, I would muster through this because I was having fun wasn't I?

The run course was a simple out and back along the bay trail. I saw 2 more women in my age group breeze by me. I beat my swim/club mate off the bike slightly but, she trotted past me early in the run. All I could muster was basically a tempo run. Eventually, I made it back. 

Run (5 miles): 50:02 

Overall: 2:21:48

4th AG

Afterwards, coach debriefed me. I wasn't interested in thinking about it yet. She kept poking (as she does). What was holding me back? At one point, she said if the asthma is the thing holding me back she can't help with that.... Well DUH!!! LIGHT BULB MOMENT!!! HELLO?! MCFLY!!!

It was time to wake up and do something thinking....

2014 Silicon Valley International Race Report

Because of the severe drought in the South San Francisco bay area, most of the races have been canceled. USA Productions moved their popular Silicon Valley Tri out to the coastal town of Half Moon Bay.

Pillar Harbor Half Moon Bay California

The week leading up to the race was pretty typical taper week. Coach published a great article on getting your head straight to race. Why do you get up and train every day? Why are you racing? For each person it is different but, it is the thing that drives us to push our limits. I've been struggling with motivation this year and I really connected with this message. What is my "why"?

That's are really good but, really hard question. I train because I won't exercise. I like the way I feel and how clear my mind is with all the training. I race because I want to see what I can do. But, with challenge comes doubt and fear. If you know you can do it, why bother. The trick is to find a challenge to gets you to reach even farther but not so far that it isn't even possible.

Friday morning rolled around and my world was ripped apart. We lost Tazzy quickly. I was devastated.  I had no interest in racing let alone thinking of how I'd achieve the goals I'd set for this race. I wanted to crawl into bed and never move again. I knew this wasn't the way. So, I kept moving forward through the tears.

Need to permanently keep a flashlight in my tri bag

3:45am Sunday morning the alarm blared. Time to pack up and go over the hill to the coast. We got there early enough for Grumpy to get decent parking. We found transition and setting up was pretty quick since it was a point to point bike leg. I turned in my T2 bag and we headed to the water.

O'dark thirty

Way to early to even get into my wetsuit, we just hung out watching the water safety crew getting briefed and the other athletes getting into their wetsuits. We watched the guy on the jet ski ride the course. It was a triangle. Go a little right to the first turn buoy, turn left. Go straight along the sea wall to the next turn buoy, turn left. Come straight back to shore how ever you want.

6:30am

As the morning progressed, the fog came in. The Sprint Tri was supposed to start 8 minutes after my wave but, because the fog was so thick, they posposed the start so the water saftey crew would be able to move into their course.

The water temperature was ~55F. I got in and got my face wet. It was so cold my face and feet hurt with just the short time I was in there. For a brief second, I ALMOST said fuck it. My heart was not in this. I had no interest in being here. I thought of coach and my friends Molly and Tea. Some how, I found myself on the start line.

Where'd every body go?

Finally we were off. I usually don't have anybody to draft off of after the first 100yards or so. Today, two women were swimming side-by-side. They were fast enough it would take great effort to pass them and then they'd probably pass me back. So, I hung out in their bubbles. Suddenly, I was passing the first turn buoy. I was still hanging out in the bubbles. We were passing women from the early waves!

It was all pretty cool until the woman on the right suddenly took a 90 degree turn right over me. I guess she saw the sighting buoy and thought she was supposed to turn. I lost the other woman so, it was just me for awhile. Finally made it to the last turn buoy and then headed toward shore. By that time, the relay group had caught us so, I tried to draft where I could. And then, I was touching slimy squishy mush. After a couple handfuls, I figured it was time to "pop" up (gravity is such a bitch).

T1 was a couple short blocks once you ran up a steep little ramp. They had covered most of it with carpet (BIG LIKE TO THIS!).

Swim: 33:51 - 4th in AG

As I ran up the ramp, my feet were screaming. 30+ minutes in the cold ocean water had frozen them. Each step sent pain shooting up my leg. I found my bike easily and changed. Wetsuit and stuff into the bag (note - I did practice stuffing my bag so, found no issues).

T1: 2:43 - 1st in AG

By the time I got out on the bike, the sprint people were already out there. Lots of people passing me and I just tried to race my race. I had a big ass category 3 hill to climb that they didn't. The first 9 miles of the ride were pretty flat and the road was clean and in good repair.

Taken by car the previous weekend

The course turns into the coastal mountain range with a gentle but determined 8.5% incline. Going through a little wooded area.

Taken by car the previous weekend

The peak was in full sun and typical scrub brush on either side. The down hill was swift but, care was required due to switch backs and big drop offs.

Once out of the hills, it was back on the highway headed into a strong head wind. Again, I tried not to over ride it. I still had a 10k to run.

Bike: 1:38 - 4th AG

T2 was closed bag drop off so, I found my rack and made space. Next, I had to find my bag. Luckily? my shoes had come out so, the orange running shoes sitting on top of the bag were pretty easy to see. When I reached into the bag to pull out my fuel belt, ALL my nutrition fell out. I managed to grab things and dash out of transition quickly.

T2:  2:37 - 4th AG

Still putting stuff on

The run course was an out and back. The out was a slight decline. I really kept the out under control. There was a small patch around mile 2 that took you over some rutted single track that took additional effort. But, I got out to the turn around with out any trouble. I just kept trying to keep the pace in a range that I could hang on for the rest of the race.

Finally, I was heading up the hill to the finish line.

It was a long hill. 

Really long hill. 

 Finally!

Run 1:05 - 5th AG (PR Olympic tri run)
Overall: 3:22 3rd AG

My "why" for this race was simply to race hard. I wanted my body to hurt more than my heart was aching. I shed some tears out there but, they weren't for the race. It's been more than a week and I still cry a little every day. Tazzy shared so much of my life there is always some thing there to remind me of her. 

Tazzy Marquez - 12/13/2002 - 04/18/2014

I vacillate between sheer emptiness and excruciating pain. When I think I've cried all the tears I have, suddenly there is a new wave. She's gone. Although we knew something was off, we didn't know how little time we had left with her. It was quick. We were with her.

The grrl that would comfort me through this is gone. My Empty Nest Grrl is gone. My happy want to go any where/do anything grrl is gone. Gone forever.

 Tazzy Marquez - 12/13/2002 - 04/18/2014

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