Fly By Night Duathlon Race Report

                        (Watkins Glen Race track watching the race)

What a perfect day for a race! Couldn't ask for Better! The race took place at Watkins Glen Speedway on May 29, 2010. Racing at 6pm was a change from the 8am start we usually have for races. My brother in law was doing the race with me so we decided on meeting at the race track, watch some of the Porsches go by and then get ready to race the night away.

Registration went smoothly even though I had to go back to the car to get my ID and USAT card. I wasn't too happy that I didn't receive my arm warmers at the registration tent, but I could pick them up after the race as my size medium wasn't available yet.

Onto the race. We still had to pick up our chip timer so the race had to start later than expected. They were also still cleaning up the track for us to race on it.

Transition Area- Pit Area

                                                                    Waiting for our chip timer

After we got our chip timer, the track was cleaned and we were encouraged to do a warm-up lap on our bikes. My brother in law and I went out counter-clockwise on the track. (I am still getting used to riding a triathlon specific bike this year. I am really comfortable and used to my rode bike.) The Course was great until we reached the back side of the course which was pretty steep. I needed to get out of aero position to

get up the hill.                                                                                                                                          

We were fooling around after that, showing my muscles off, laughing, the usual. Then the gun went off and the race was on! I have to say I was proud of my race as this is the first race I did without any cramps in the legs at all!! I made sure I ate a well balanced meal the night before, a great balanced breakfast, a light lunch, and hydrated well the day before and the whole race day. An hour before the race I took a chocolate Ensure which I swear has been helping me ward off the cramps, 10 min before the race I took more water with my Hammer Anti-fatigue tabs,  then every 20 minutes During the race I drank my Power Bar Endurance Fruit Punch drink. I have never felt better in a race as I felt in this one. Even though I thought my bike could've been alot better, I felt good!! Here are the results:

Overall Time: 2:06:05

135/190 overall

18/44 Female

4th in Age Group

                             Second 1.8 mile Run                             

                                                                                                                          

                        Second 10.1 mile Bike Leg                                

Finishing as the Sun is Setting!!

Nutrition

I Have been Reading Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook for the last couple of days and have gained some insight into eating right and properly fueling.

I am currently on Chapter 13: Assessing your Body: FAT, FIT or FINE?? I thought great! Im going to find out if I am Fit. (Of course I think I am)One of the topics is Body fat and exercise, which is talking about myths and misconceptions. I loved reading that my cellulite, which I have been obsessing over on my thighs and butt this year, Is not from my yo-yo dieting over the years but from me (as a women) having thinner skin, a child (which makes fat deposits more on the hips to help feed our babies), and my Mother (a genetic predisposition).

Next Sub topic I read, BODY IMAGE. I have a visual disturbance when it comes to this. I find myself comparing my body to my other friends who are athletes as well as other women my age. Of course our bodies are genetically predetermined, (I can thank my parents for my body), I need to accept that I come from a family with large thighs and be realistic in my expectations. Rather than obsess over my flaw, I am going to let go of my dissatisfaction and accept myself for the caring, strong, sincere person I am. I am appreciating that my body has taken me this far and beauty comes from inside. (Not that I didn't know that already)

I loved reading that men Have distorted body images as well, feeling the pressure to be lean and muscular in todays world. BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) is so common believing everyone around then is seeing their flaws and judging their appearance.

So in closing, I DECLARE from this day forward, I will live by the following tenets.

- I will accept my body in its natural size and shape

- I will celebrate all my body can do for me each day

- I will treat my body with respect, give it enough rest, fuel it with a variety of food, exercise it as my schedule says, and listen to what it needs.

-I will not use food to mask my emotions

- I will not avoid participating in activities I enjoy simply because I am self conscious about the way my body looks. I have the right to enjoy any activity regardless of the way my body looks

- I WILL believe that my self-esteem and Identity come from within!!!!

NANCY CLARK, you hit the nail on the head with this book!!!

Recovery week

My first Recovery week of Training for the Syracuse 70.3 is almost complete. I never thought it would be so hard to back off training. I had to push myself to stop when I was done and not do anymore than my plan called for this last week. Thats mental toughness!

I have been doing great these last couple weeks and now I finally get to do my first "true" race of the season!! I will be in Watkins Glen doing a formula 1 duathlon which consists of 1.8mi run, 10mi bike, 1.8mi run, 10mi bike and 1.8mi run.

Nervous and anxious but ready to take this challenge on!!

Swimming

When I first started this triathlon business I was a backyard swimmer. A swimmer that swam for fun with my daughter, not getting too serious.

I decided to take up triathlons. My first swim I felt like a fish flopping out of the water. What was I thinking trying to do a triathlon?? I kept at it swimming every chance I got. I liked swimming like I liked a toothache.

I got to the point where I was going to give up an just do duathlons. Then I took a swim clinic and watched other good swimmers swim, analyzing their strokes, trying to copy the rythmic movements that looked so effortless.

I had a revelation today..I felt effortless and so calm in the water. I kept telling myself what one of the swim coaches taught me. Patient leading hand, patient leading hand..(oh wait breathe!!) Yes..I finally feel zen-like in the water and am looking forward to all my summer activities that include swimming!!! :)

Sunshine Ride

Yesterday was a perfect day for a nice ride. No clouds, sunshine and 80 degree weather. What more could you ask for?! I had the day off from work so my significant other, my friend Kelly and I went out to Beaver Lake in Baldwinsville, NY to ride a 41 mile loop which turned out to be only 35 miles due to conflicting schedules.

I decided to ride my rode bike, not my triathlon bike. With all these stories floating around out there about Triathletes getting hit. I was scared, for once, to ride my tri bike. I know I really need to train on it, but didn't want to today.

Kelly rode there from her house which is about 8 miles away so she got a little more than us in! She had planned on doing a 3 hour ride and then a run. I had planned on running with her, but my other half had to go to work, smashing my hopes for a run in the lake trails which are so peaceful. I love running at Beaver Lake. I ran there a few days ago in the ran and it felt so peaceful. I don't get that feeling very often when I run but when I do, my times are unreal! LOL!

I had a meltdown at the beginning of our ride, don't know why, but I missed a turn, got off my bike and walked up the hill. This is totally out of my character as I LOVE riding my bike. I was trying to make excuses as I had it in a hard gear, yada yada, but I could've done it. After that I apologized to the group for having to wait for me and we continued on to have a wonderful ride full of sunshine, talks and laughs, dogs barking and a puppy chasing us (So cute). If it were any other dog I'd be doing a time trial at that point!!

I felt I wasn't even working hard for the 1st 20 miles, then the hills came leaving my legs feeling like they were in a vise grip. Rolling hills, steeper hills came at the end of this ride. I was concerned that I wouldn't make it up the hills as I started hearing some skipping of my chain on the steeper hills. I definately need to get it looked at. But we all made it back safe and sound to the car for a group ride of 35 miles.


Kelly and me After the Ride

I am proud to say I finally have my cycler tan!!! :

3 Ironman women killed, 3 more injured

I was saddened when I read Ironmoms post about 3 women triathletes were struck and killed by a pick up truck Yesterday in Montreal. They don't know fully what happened yet, an investigation into this is ongoing.

My heart goes out to all the families of these triathletes. They were Training for the Lake Placid Ironman taking place in the Next couple months here in New York.

I am very fearful of cars. I think all the time, do they see me, will they stop. If they don't stop, do I have enough time to clip out and stop myself?? Some people have even swerved at me. I don't get the need to feel like you own the road when you are behind a wheel?? Your car is bigger than me and Im not trying to piss you off when Im out there. I am simply abiding the road laws and training for something dear to my heart.

This brings me to another note as to why I always wear my Road ID. I don't run or cycle without it. You never know what can happen to you out on the road.

There is a ride of Silence taking place next week that honors all the fallen cyclers. I will be riding.

Happy training and be safe.

New TT helmet

Today I had a package waiting for me when I got home from work!! Finally my own Louis Garneau TT Helmet!!! Woot!! I was so eager to open that box to see my shiny black and white helmet that I just had to try it on right then and there!!





I felt like I was a true triathlete at this moment in time! I just had my bike fixed with new triathlon bars so I said to myself what the heck. Ill go outside and try the new bars and helmet out! I absolutely love the way I feel on my bike!!




A guy stopped me and said, "Man you look fast on that bike. Look at that helmet!!! Good luck to you!!" That boosted my spirits. Then the neighbors said,"Man she is zooming on that bike!!" Loved it again!! I hope my bike and helmet hold up on their bargain to make me go fast in my race in 2 weeks!!!