CATALINA TRIATHLON - Nov 2 2013

Sprint Triathlon
1/2 mile S | 15k bike | 5k run
1:35:22
#1/5 (F60-64) |  #77/262 overall

Great race, as always, in beautiful Avalon.  The bike course changed to the original three loops around Mt Ada....  more work.. more time.. more climb.  The night before, I went to bed at 10:30p- ish, woke up at 11:30p, 12:30a, 1:00a, 3:00a then the alarm went off at 6:00a.  Whew, it felt like somewhat of a fraught night of not sleeping much.. but onward into the morning..... Coffee by 6:30ish, oatmeal, vitamins, protein powder by 6:55a - then a short walk down to the beach to rack my bike.  Our division had racks fairly close to the Bike Out/Bike In, so my trusty Pyro Platforms would probably work just fine. 

Pre Race November 2, 2013

By wearing the platforms, I can ride with my running shoes, a time saver in T2.  I went back to the apartment for over an hour and just hung out.  Took my pre-race 4 Race Caps, 4 Endurolytes at 8:00a and started on my 12 oz of pre-race Heed.

 I got back down to my bike and gear by 8:15a or so. Transition was cleared at 8:55a.  We all walked to the other side of the pier to get ready for our wave starts.  The water was warm, so I felt like I could get into swim a little before the race... good thing I did, I discovered that I the rubber sealer on one side of my goggles had come off... uh.... dang!  I tried to fix it, but couldn't see, because I didn't have reading glasses...  ( oh the joys of getting older......)  I ran back to my bike and gear to grab my spare goggles... remember this.. always carry a spare set of goggles!

Top three F60-64 - me, Helen Briglio and Joan Wright

The swim started on time, I started on the right side of the pack and hugged the pier, turned to the right slighly and headed to the first buoy.. turned again and headed to the second buoy and tried to fine the straight shot to the shore.  There was a paddleboard volunteer sending other swimmers too far left... unfortunately for them.  I swam between the boats and got as close to the pier as I could, came in, ran up the sand, sat on the steps and took off my wetsuit, kept running across the timing mat and went to get my bike.

I used the stone bench to sit down and put on my running shoes and platforms, and then I was on my way.   I almost dropped the chain on the first climb, but recovered by shifting back into the big chain, then trying it again.  I almost caught the right rear platform on my derailleur cable (again).... but averted disaster, thank goodness!  The bike course is now three loops around Mt Ada.. lots of climbing, but it felt just fine, no breathing issues and I felt strong!  After the third loop, I un-velcroed my platforms, got off the bike and ran to the rack.. dropped the bike, helmet and what was left of my Hammer Bar and took off on the run.

I was afraid to stop running, even for an instant, because of the breathing issues in La Jolla a few weeks prior... I just kept trucking through the hills.  It all felt remarkably great and I was really GLAD to get to the finish line.  Even more glad when I found out that I had won my age group!

SAN DIEGO TRIATHLON CHALLENGE Oct. 20, 2013

Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon - La Jolla Cove
1 Mile S | 44 Mile bike | 10 Mile Run   5:11:29

Whew!

Pre-race 7am 10-20-13

Rudy Garcia and a young challenged athlete out of the water

Post swim, run to transision

SANTA CRUZ TRIATHLON Sept 29, 2013

Olympic Distance
1 mile S | 40k  B | 10k R
2:47:22    1/8 (60-64)   49/228 F   232/642 overall

MALIBU NAUTICA CLASSIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON - Sept. 8, 2013

S 1/2 mile | B 18 miles | R 4 miles   1:55:13
1/7 (F60-64)
68/608 F overall
459/1636 overall

TONY GORA OUTRIGGER RACES SANTA CRUZ Aug 17, 2013 - 13.94 miles

Pretty sure that we came in last - -results aren't up yet.  But.. it was a beautiful day and a great day to be on the water.. in Santa Cruz yet again.

Yep, we came in last 1:59 for 13.4 miles.  Oh well, we saw some otters and great views.. wait.. who was looking at anything other than the paddle in front? .......

Tam Open Women head out to race start

oops.. can't move it by myself.....

Our team - we came in last -- we did have fun though!

Help from others to get our canoe out to the water

TRI SANTA CRUZ Aug 11, 2013

Sprint Tri
750Meter S | 12.4 mile B | 5k R  1:21:01
#1/2 F60-64
#13/123 F overall
#59/277 overall
Fast and fun race in the foggy morning.

With Deb Melnikoff - pre-race, racked and ready to go

We noticed a sign on the way to the swim start.........

Out of the water - on the way to Transistion

On the podium - happy to be there

We both won our age group!  

CHANGE YOUR LATITUDE SWIM - SITKA, ALASKA Aug 3, 2013

5k -  DNF

1:06 in the water - got a ride back to the start in a boat. 

Post a test swim on Thursday Aug 1

Pre test swim Thursday Aug 1

View from Harbor Mountain -- the course - Aug 2

TIBURON TRIATHLON July 28th 2013

Swim - 800 yds (approx) | Bike - 9 miles | Run - 2miles  - 1:03:20
#1 F60-69 | #10/64 F overall | #51/168 overall

Before swim start - wave #1

Heading out on bike

Post race - yellow line - do not cross

Post race triumph with Dawn Prince who has just branched out from Outrigger Canoe Racing

TOUGH MUDDER JULY 14 2013 - LAKE TAHOE

Not that we were timing but... the Mudwalkers got through the 10 mile and 19 obstacle course in 4hrs 9min.  More stories coming but here are some photos of the day:

Before the start - 8:00am - Northstar.  Me, Andre, Benny, Anthony, Michael and Danielle

First hurdle to get to the start 9:00am

Through the mud crawl

Happy Mudders

At the Finish Line 1:30ish

Re-cap:

This Endurolyte Fizz -- made it through the event... through the mud, ice, cold water, dirt, tunnels, over logs and other obstacles... I took a pass on the Electric Eel and Electroshock Therapy and two of the obstacles requiring two strong shoulders - Just The Tip and Funky Monkey.

Favorites:  Walk the Plank and believe it or not, the Arctic Enema
Most difficult: Hold Your Wood -- it felt long... or maybe we grabbed a log that was too big.

Nutrition:  Usual pre-event :  Coffee, Oatmeal + banana, Hammer Whey, Premium Insurance Caps, Tissue Rejuvenator, Race Caps Supreme, Endurolytes, Mito Caps, Zobaline, Heed.
During event - 2 Hammer gels + 1/2 a banana and LOTS of Water at each water stop.

Things that worked:

• Gloves --  full fingered with grip material on the palms - I used my gardening gloves.

• Mack ear plugs for the water challenges --- really helped with the cold.

• Old Zoot Triathlon running shoes -- no laces -- the shoes went bye-bye after the event.

• Over the knee leggings with a front and back pocket -- I stashed 2 Hammer gels and 1 Fizz in the pockets and my clothes.  I thought about carrying water, but it would have been in the way of some of the challenges.. Water stations were spaced every 1- 1/2 mile or so.. that seemed adequate.

• No hat - would have fallen off

• No contact lenses -- would have been horrible to have them in.. better to be near-sighted.

• No sunglasses -- would have lost 'em 

Things that would have made a positive difference:

• Adding pull-ups, more upper body (arms, shoulders and abs) strength training, to my workouts -- As it turns out,  my triathlon training didn't prepare me for some of the challenges........

• Light weight arm warmers -- would have protected my arms during the crawling challenges.

Glory Blades?  not sure

ALAMEDA - SAN LEANDRO DOWN WIND OC6 12 Miler July 6 2013

Master's Co-ed #1/1  1:49:09

Open Co-ed #1/5 Teams

No wind, not much help with the tides.. a HOT slog through East Bay waters from Encinal Boat Ramp in Alameda to San Leandro Marina.

KULA ANELA ANGEL ISLAND OC6 Race - June 29th, 2013

Open Coed Division - 9 miles around Angel Island - 1:42:38  #4/4 Open Coed Teams

It was a fantastic day on the bay.... the place to be during a Northern California Heat Wave!
We started near the Golden Gate Bridge.  Everyone kind of lined up ready to go:

Race Start Line Up

We started our race at 10:15am or so..  a 3.something Ebb Tide and wind starting to pick up. Our boat was doing just fine, in the running for placing, when after we made a turn around Angel Island..... opps... surprise!  The ama came up and we went over... kind of a shock to suddenly be in the water.. but.. our crew acted like a well oiled machine.  We quickly accounted for everyone, gathered paddles, righted the canoe, got back in and started bailing.  I don't think we lost more than 5 - 7 minutes, but it put us out of the top three.. No Kula Pint Glasses for us... oh well, it was a refreshing dip in the H20!
Thank yous to the photographers!

Open Co-ed Crew before we went over - Frank, me, Craig, Jacob, Lesley, Shari

Also, before we went over - conditions were wet anyway though

Jacob, Craig, Me -- after our Huli - it was so hot - it felt good!

FOLSOM INTERNATIONAL TRI June 9th, 2013
1550 Meter Swim | 40k Bike | 10k Run   3:05:35
#2/5 (60-64)
#64/158 F overall
#199/371 overall

Finally, on the podium, #1 (Sally Gaines) - not shown here

Guess what!  it was HOT!  I managed to come in 2nd - somehow.... as it had been 111 degrees the day before the race... luckily things had cooled down by Sunday morning.

The start of a hot and windy ride

USAP bag of goodies for #2 AG win

So.... the drive up to Folsom on Saturday was, shall I say, an experience.  It had been 68 degrees in Mill Valley -  108 degrees in Folsom by 2:30pm.  Anytime I got out of the car, I felt as if I was stepping into a very hot oven.  The race check in was at a bike store about 4 miles from the race venue... tables were set up outside - I felt badly for the people standing there doing the check in... as it was about 108 degrees in the shade.  I went back to Lake Natoma to check out the water temperature........  the surface felt like the high 70's... below the surface was a nice, cool 65 or so.  I took a little swim and decided that my sleeveless Xterra would be the best choice for the race the next morning.

The air temperature just kept climbing and climbing.. by 6:00pm, it was 111 degrees outside.  I considered not doing the race, because racing in the heat is extremely trying for me.  But, I carried on, got up at 4:30 am, checked the outside temp  - 65 degrees.... uh.. well... at least it had cooled down a little bit......

The usual routine, coffee, vits and Hammer supplements (Premium Insurance Caps, Super Anti-Oxidant, Tissue Rejuvenator, Zobaline, Mito Caps, Endurolytes, Race Caps Supreme, Whey Protein, Oatmeal with Hammergel and a banana)... ready set, out the door to the bike path and a nice little 10 minute ride to the race venue.

I got there in plenty of time, racked near the Bike Out/ Bike In and waited for the race start.  I waited until the last minute to put on the wetsuit, as it was still very warm out and I didn't want to overheat so soon.. that was coming later......  I drank about 12 oz of Heed and took 4 Race Caps and 4 Endurolytes  within the hour before the race start.

The swim -- water temp was all over the map -- 65 degrees to 70's in spots.... the first leg was a swim to a buoy heading right into the sun.. I swam to the wrong buoy.... oh well.. I couldn't see much of anything and wasn't successful in swimming a straight line to the first turn.  The rest of the swim was reasonable... a few crowded spots, but not too bad.. I got out of the water and took off my wetsuit just after the timing mat and ran down to my bike.

The bike was windy! It took about 15 minutes longer than I had anticipated...   I drank some Heed and ate 1/2 a Hammer bar during the ride.

The run was Hell.... I walked much of it because my head felt like it was going to explode from the heat!  Luckily there were water stops every mile with lots of cold water.   I was so glad to finish this one.   I saw #1 Sally Gaines on the bike ride, she was so far ahead at that point, that I knew I wouldn't be able to catch her.  As if was, she finished about 20 minutes ahead!!!  Wow!  Good going Sally!

Hopefully I didn't destroy too many more brain cells on this race......

MORGAN HILL SPRINT TRIATHLON May 19, 2013

 .75mi Swim | 16 mile Bike | 5 mile Run   2:05:44
  1/2 (60-64)
  36/182 F overall
  190/494 overall

A very beautiful day and wonderful race... guess what?  It wasn't too HOT!!!

Post race with award

Post Race.. Swim Start

Post Race Stretch tent

Oops, forgot to get back to the race report.. well.. I stayed at a hotel in Morgan Hill, which turned out to be a great night.  Nice room, nice hotel, big TV.. I got to the hotel at 4:00ish and just vegged all evening.  Had a little dinner, took a bath, watched a little TV, found a cut of the Tokyo Olympiad on You Tube... you get the picture.  Got to sleep by 10:00isn and got up at 4:35am.. ouch!  

Coffee, oatmeal, Hammer supplements and vits all down by 5:25am, then off to the race venue at Uvas.  I arrived at 6:10 or so with plenty of time to rack my bike, set up and head down to the 7am swim start.  I drank most of a bottle of Heed and took 3 Race caps and 3 Endurolytes within the hour before the race start.

The water was MUCH warmer than it had been a month ago.  Sleeveless Xterra and one cap was perfect.. sighting was EASY!  I had one of the best swims in any triathlon -- no bumping into people, easy sighting, 69 degree water... no swimming into the sunrise... just kind of perfect.

The race went on to be kind of great - easy bike around the water and an out and back run.. air temperature was perfect and i felt great!

MAY 11th 2013 - BERKELEY PIER IRONMAN OUTRIGGER RACE

A first cool, then hot, windy, wet day in Berkeley.  Our Team Standings:

Novice Women - 1st

Novice Co-ed - 1st

Open Women - 1st

Masters Women - 3rd

 

The race start was delayed because the tide was too low, so we didn't get started until close to 10:30 or 11:00am.. lots of hang around time with the club.. which was very fun.

One of our men's teams was swamped within the first mile.  Oops.. next time put the skirts on both canoes.

 

Berkeley Pier Pre-race

Tamalpais in the Race

 

May 4th 2013 - WOUNDED WARRIOR DAY ON THE BAY

Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club was honored to host the men and women who have served our Country for a wonderful day on the bay... paddling, sprinting, soaking up the sunshine, eating fantastic food and making new friends.  It was an awesome and inspiring day!

SILICON VALLEY SPRINT TRIATHLON - April 20, 2013

1/2 mi S | 16 mi B | 5k R
1:48:21  #1/1 F (60-64)

#18/149 F overall
#76/388 Overall

Even though there were no other women in my age group -- I won a bottle of wine and pint glass anyway.  Cool water  (63 degrees), warm bike ride and hot run.  The details:

I stayed in Woodside with friends.. the drive down was intense.. NPR all the way.. blow by blow of the capture on the Boston Marathon Bomber......whew.... I have comments, but this blog is about my competitions.

I got up at 4:00am and tried not to make too much noise or wake up the dogs while I made coffee, oatmeal and got myself together to head down to Morgan Hill.  It took 80 minutes to get to the race site.  A pit stop at a McDonald's at 6:15am saved the morning.. luckily the directions to the race were good.  I got to Uvas and saw that people were parking along the road, so I didn't try to get into the official parking area.. just pulled along side my other bleary-eyed competitors, got my stuff together and rode my bike to the transition area.
Check-in was quick and easy as was finding a good spot to rack my bike... always as close to the bike out as possible.
The swim is a deep water start... the water was about 63 degrees, so I was a little chilled while treading water waiting for the starting gun.  I couldn't see anything because of the sun... luckily, we had a right turn at the first buoy.  The race directors told everyone to hug the shoreline, but I just couldn't make my way over to the "lane" of people swimming right next to the shore.  The swim seemed longer than 1/2 mile - but maybe that was just because I didn't know the course and because of the fact that you can't see the finish until you are just 25 to 50 yards away - it's a swim around a point.  Very strange to not have an end point for sighting... but I got out of the water in good time and ran a little too far up the ramp before taking off my wetsuit... uh oh.. the legs were like glue.. I had waited too long....  (check - next time, sit down at the bottom of the ramp and get the wetsuit off!)
The bike out felt slow and windy.  Traffic control wasn't great, I almost crashed into a green Subaru - it was the last in a line of cars behind a large produce truck.. Luckily, the truck finally turned off of the course.
The run felt like the runs usually do... hard..... I was glad to be running just a 5k that day and I still had to talk myself through it with mantras and "deal" making... oh the deals I've made with myself while running races.... Very glad to see the finish line on this one!