A Long Week

Wow, I have not posted in a long time. That is what one week off from work will get you when you live in the middle of no where w/o Internet. I now have the iphone so I am one step closer to being back in touch with technology.
A lot has happened in my training and racing world. And I am happy to say it has all been very POSITIVE! Luke and I decided to take this past week off to train (happened), take care of some housework (somewhat happened) and to relax (not really). It was a really great way to refocus mid-season and get in those long rides and runs.
The week started off with both of us participating in the Stowe 8-miler (http://www.locorunning.com/stowe8miler.php) . This is a great run through Stowe that I often do on my training runs. My goal was to hold 10-min mile pace. I finished the race in 1 hour and 12 minutes. Way under my goal! I felt solid running until around 6-6.5 miles where I got a little sluggish, pulled it together and finished strong.
Luke and I then got in the car and headed to St. Lawrence County, NY to meet up with our bike group to enjoy some country riding. I thought we rode in the middle of nowhere in VT, this part of NY was empty. Lots of really good paved rodes with good company. I also got some good swims in lake.
Back to VT, did a long ride to Woodstock, Vt, a long run and lots of other workouts in between.
This past Saturday I raced in a 3-mile open water swim (www.kingdomswims.org). I won the race overall (yep, beat all the men). I felt controlled and comfortable throughout the whole swim. We had excellent conditions and I had a awesome kayak guide who knew the course. It got me thinking about focusing on open water racing more.

To the present: this week is fairly easy, i fell during one of my t-runs and strained my ankle. Nothing serious but enough to slow me up.

Nutrition-wise: I cannot stop eating ice cream!

Vermont Sun Sprint: Personal Best

It was a great weekend for me doing a SPRINT tri. I forgot how great sprints are and that I can actually do fairly well at them. My goal going into this race was to finish in the top five. A few of the really good women were not at this race so I knew I had an even better chance. http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/vt/Jul12_Vermon_set5.shtml

The swim went well. It was pretty rough getting around the men backstroking. This race always starts the women behind all the men. I just went all out and finished 1st female out of the water. I just found out that I hold the female swim course record and I pretty sure I bettered the time. (7min 17sec)

On to the bike. Normally I am used to being on the bike all alone until the fast women catch me. Since the heats are not too far apart (only 3 minutes), I got out of the water with a lot of decent men riders. I am very particular about not drafting and racing a fair race but the men were all over the rode so I am sure I was not completely out of the draft zone. It was motivating trying to keep up with that group though. I'm sure this was my best bike time ever but have not had time to look back at last years results. (39.22) Never mind, just looked. This is where I definitely made up my time, last year I biked 41 minutes. That makes me really love my Felt now. I also had a very slow transition here because I knocked over the mountain bike next to me. Sorry to whomever that bike belonged too.

And then off to the run, I felt good. Heart was pounding but was able to get the air in. I knew this course and that it was a quick out and back. The way back had a good decline so I knew I couldn't give up. I had to stay mentally strong the whole way. One girl passed me right after the 1/2 way mark. I kept her in my sights, stayed positive and kept pushing. Finished with a 25.10, slow closed to getting a 24. Next time.

Overall finish, 2nd female overall, 1st in age group and a new Personal Best time of 1 hr. 13 min. and 58sec. I am glad I got under 1:14.

Now I am off for a very intense 2 weeks of training!!!