2008/2009 Race Reports in a Nutshell!

Wow! It's been over a year since I've posted on here last! Since then, I've done three more triathlons. Can't say it's old hat... May that never be! Just busy doin' this and that. After the first woman's triathlon, there was the Naperville Sprint Triathlon. That was fun, as some friends came to watch:

After that, was the Fall Colors 5K for the Morton Arboretum and after that...The Turkey Trot in Naperville.

2009 brought in my 2nd Women's Triathlon where I raised close to $1,300 dollars for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. It was a privilege to raise funds for an organization trying to combat the disease my mother passed away from.

After this race, I was scheduled to run in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon for the 2nd time as well. Only problem was squeezing in training. We went to Hawaii for a vacation and I only ran three times. No bike, no swimming...just running and only 3X in ten days. When we returned home, I twisted my ankle running on the Prairie Path!

Running on Ali'i Dr. Kona, Hawaii...The big Ironman route!

So, another week off for that. Add that to my collection of minor injuries. Inventory: An annoying ongoing glute injury that shoots some mild pain down my sciatica... the other ankle giving me mild trouble... two sore shoulders from swimming... all add up to meager times and training...

(Above: Springbrook Prairie Path...Great place to run!)

The Naperville Sprint Triathlon of 2009 was a mixed bag. HOT, HUMID conditions and physically and mentally NOT being prepared made for a less than par performance. The swim went very well. For once, I had clear paths and only had to swim around a couple of back floaters. Unlike last year where I kept running into people who decided to stop and take a break. And this year...no snaking lane dividers that broke free causing confusion and swimmer back ups as guards tried to fix it. The bike was NOT fun as there was a strong head wind. HOT wind, at that. But I did try something new. This time, I wormed my way out of my cycling shoes and rode my last hundred yards with my feet on top of my shoes for a quick dismount and run to transition. Maybe the next triathlon, I can jump on my bike with the shoes already attached to the peddles via a rubber band and slash time off my transition.

The run was THE SLOWEST EVER! I'm talking waaaaaay slow! Icky slow! My worst run time ever! First mile went better than expected as much of that mile was in nice shade. Second mile was the killer.... I decided to negative split and speed it up half way through mile two. But this mile was on a stretch with NO shade and hot sun. AND...some of it was on two day old freshly paved road making for a hot surface. Ugh...I couldn't pick up speed if my life depended on it! So...I just kept plugging along running and telling myself to just finish as best I can. This meaning...keep running and don't walk. I don't condemn anyone for walking, but I vowed to run the whole way for each triathlon if I'm not injured. So....I finished. It was the slowest triathlon I had ever run, but my fastest swim. My worst bike. My worst run. My worst total time. But....I finished.

I learned some lessons along the way. I can't get away with hap hazard training. I have to continue to train hard, although that would not have been the wisest for me with my current injuries. Accept that there will be times this happens and change your goal to just finishing and enjoying the ride. Have fun. "Tri" harder next time!


What's next.... I've been taking complete time off from running and biking but am still swimming. We will have a week off next week as the Y works on the pool. So...a much needed rest.

I'm hoping to do a running race or two this fall and if my injuries will allow it, maybe one of the races will be a 10K. Also...I'm planning on lifting weights again beginning the week of Labor Day. I let this go and paid the price. The year before I was faithful to weights 2X a week and had ZERO injuries that year. Another lesson learned!

So...that's 2008/2009 in a nutshell!