Ocala HITS Half IM 2012

So, I know I have been bad, bad, bad about blogging. Case in point, I raced a half IM last weekend - one I was really looking forward to and the only one I will be doing this year - and I have yet to blog about it. This is not due in fact to my unexcitement about training, but rather the busyness of the year. 

I had set forth my goals this year to train for IMCDA whilst ALSO keeping up with my business and the kiddos. I am happy to report that I have been doing all these... but blogging has then taken its toll (ie, have not been), unless it is this blog.

So, here's a quick recap of my race last weekend.
OCALA HITS HALF IM:
This is my first (and only) half IM I am going to be doing in training for Coer d'Alene, so I wanted it to be good.
My mental goal: I was going to go out, do my best and see what it brought me.
My time goal: I really hoped to beat my time from Harvest Moon - a half IM I raced last September (although I didn't really have a strategy in how I was going to do it).

A quick break down about Ocala HITS Half IM:

Beautiful venue!

Going to pre-race meeting the day before.

Despite the prettiness, I feel I need to mention it is in the middle of NOWHERE. Seriously. My parents have a home 40 minutes away, so that is why it was feasible for me, but unless you live around there, logistically this race seems very hard to manage (the host hotel is also 35 minutes away) and somewhat costly to get to.

HITS is in their first year of planning events, so don't expect a lot of hype, goodies, volunteers, etc. They are not there.

The best thing about racing in Florida.

My parents

Swim start. Obvi.

THE SWIM: Nice out and back. Not confusing. I concentrated on swimming straight (a weakness) and keeping my stroke even (another weakness). I had trouble getting my heart rate up and I wasn't sure if that was due to (a) the (lack of) altitude or (b) that I still didn't know how to properly "race" a swim. I guessed it was a little of both. Came out of the water to see my parents and was happy as could be that they were there.


THE BIKE: Now, the course was described as a rolling course and, for Florida, it is. I guess there are parts of the state that are flat, flat, flat - but this was not one of them. We went through Ocklawaha (a town) and then out onto the country roads. I was looking forward to the fact that it was one giant loop (no double-backing), but then I was unprepared as far as what to expect later in the ride. One of the first things I noticed was that it was windy! And I was ok with that, thinking I would get a tailwind on the way back (never happened). I don't really like time goals on the bike, so I had set my goal as to maintain 85 rpms in as hard of a gear as I could. I guess it worked, because I cut some time off the bike.

THE RUN: I got off the bike and was on the run. Unfortunately, as soon as I started my legs hurt. I mean they HURT. Now, I have done a lot of running on sore, tired, aching legs, but none on legs that were just screaming at me from step 1. Much to my dismay, there was no racing this run. This was "put one foot in front of the other and see how long it takes me to transverse 13.1 miles". The first 3+ miles were on trails and I thought "wonderful!", but it was a sandy trail and was harder than I thought to run on. Coming out of the trails, I saw my parents at an aid station and then knew I was on the road for the rest of the run. My parents lifted my spirits and the road lifted my legs.

Drinking on the run. It was HOT!!!

As I made my way, mile after mile, it was simply a countdown to the end. Mile 8.5 was the turnaround and I was happy for it. I do like out and back courses, as you know what to expect on your way back. This being a rolling course with a downhill at the end, I was just looking forward to the downhill. And, before I knew it, I was at the end!!!

So, there you have it. My race in a nutshell. And how did I do? Well, turns out I meet both my mental and time goals, so that made me happy.
In addition, I was proud of my performance while also tabulating a number of things to work on - which is precisely what a 'training race' is for - so: SUCCESS!

Us, recovering at Gator Joe's, a biker bar on the beach.
Nothing like some yummy seafood after a race to refuel.

On top of that, I  got to spend time with my parents and involve them in my life and my goals. It means the world to me that my parents continually support me in all my endeavors - whatever they are.

More relaxin' with daddio in the pool!

Racing Rattlesnake!!!

This weekend is the weekend of EVERYTHING it seems - Leadville 100, Pikes Peak Ascent & marathon, Warrior Dash, age group nationals and...

 Rattlesnake is a two-day triathlon series out here at the Aurora Reservoir, and olympic on Saturday and a sprint on Sunday. Some people do the Back2back. I considered it, but at the time of signing up, didn't know if I could commit to both days, so I opted for the olympic.  Figured it would be a great training race for the Harvest Moon 1/2 Ironman next month, as HM is also in the res. Plus, our family loves the Aurora Res, our kids could dig in the sand forever.

So, Saturday morning it was off to the res for me. Since it was only a few miles, I rode in on my bike. It was a nice, relaxing ride at 6 in the morning with no traffic and a great little warm-up. I got there, into transition, found a few friends and then it was off on a short warm-up run. I timed it well, maybe a little too close, but it wasn't too hectic or stressed of an atmosphere, so all was good. I got down to the water just in time to dunk in before finding Ross and the kids and getting into the corral.

The swim is a time trial start, which I had never done before. Basically, they lined us up oldest to youngest, women first, then men. Everyone entered the water one at a time in 4-5 second intervals. This was actually very nice avoiding the mass chaos of a wave start. As I swam out, I realized that the buoys were strung together by a yellow rope. Sweet! Since I breathe to my right and the buoys were on my right, this was optimal for me. No need to sight, just keep the yellow rope right there by side. This worked well for the first lap, but then everyone caught on and there was a little more chaos the second loop around as now everyone was in the water. I still didn't mind it though. Looking to my right beat sighting into the sun AND I found some feet. Cool. I practiced drafting - not entirely sure if I was doing it right - but liking it. After awhile, I kept tapping the toes in front of me. I am sure the woman/man was probably annoyed and was thinking "just pass me already!", so I did. Around them I went and on my way. I was pretty happy with the swim as one of my weaknesses is sighting and swimming straight and I seemed to conquer it!

I got out of the water and Ross was there excited and cheering me on! (The boys were digging in the sand, go figure.) I ran up and through transition and off on the bike.

In Loveland earlier this year I realized I don't know how to "race" a bike. I just ride a bike course and when I am done, I am done. My goal for this bike was to be uncomfortable. Not redlining, but a bit out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, this course was FILLED with hills, so it was not an issue getting my heart rate elevated. I just had to keep it that way. And I did, so I was pretty proud of myself for that. Before I knew it, I was back at the reservoir and into T2. {Where I heard my kids screaming. "GO MOMMY!" - it is awesome having a small transition where the kids can watch and cheer!}

On with my race belt, run shoes and out on the course. I didn't really know what to expect, but I did want to run the second half of my run faster than my first, so I settled into what I thought I could maintain for 6 miles. And that I did. As I progressed, I wasn't feeling so good nutritionally. I tried to keep my heartrate in check where I could take on some water and calories without wanting to yack. It was a tad bit hot and my nutrition was off so I just continued doing what I could to make my way through the run. Again, I was on my way back before I knew it. I can do anything for 6 miles, right?

Hit the end and saw the kids in their swimsuits. They ran out to the shoot with me and were able to cross the finish line - all smiles!

I was done, yay! What I realized was that with the time trial start, I had NO CLUE what I had done, what time I had done, where I had placed, nothing. Hmph. And, figuring that I am never the "fastest" at shorter distances and such, I just went along figuring I was somewhere in the middle of the pack - like usual... I got some food, hung out with some friends, the kids, enjoyed the post-party (which was a nice set-up).

It wasn't till the results were posted that I realized I placed - 2nd in my age group! This is fun for me. I haven't placed in anything in triathlon, ever. I have plenty of friends who do. All the time. But, me, well... it's not really a consideration. But today it was. And that felt good and I was proud of my accomplishment for me.

Accepting my award with Yon, announcer and friend.

Krista and I with our age group awards (and Lincoln who wants to be in every pict)

And then, of course, was an afternoon of playing at the beach!!!

All you have to do is bring sand toys and my kids are in heaven.

The two reservoirs + two cities they created next to the big reservoir.