Well since I can’t get the picture uploader to work, I am going to have to give you my written race report: 2nd overall today. The race was a 5k run, 30 mile bike, 1 mile run. (www.midwestsportsevents.com) Since this race is very bike heavy, it takes a good bike ride to win it, not boding well for me having been able to only bike an average of 2x a week as of lately and for a good majority of the summer. The weather was great with temperatures into the 70’s, with a strong southerly wind. The first run was fast, myself and another racer broke 20seconds up on the second group with a 16:10 run. I took the lead with a fast T1 through mile 7 of the bike. I was then passed by the second place rider. I decided to stay about 10m back and wait til later in the race to throw down an attack. I did so at mile 17 on a roller and thought i got a gap of about 20 seconds, i kept my head down and pushed the biggest gear I could. This was short lived however and we were on top of each other within a few miles. The other racer took the lead with about 3 miles to go and I faded out, losing about 20 seconds over the last couple miles, my lack of biking mileage showing. I knew this was the end of a shot at victory with such a short second run. I cruised the second run at what a felt like molasses sub 6 minute pace to come in for 2nd place. I was happy with this since I felt I put everything I had into my attack which was my gameplan but just didn’t have the overall power to take the W today. Of curios notes, some things that you will only find in wisconsin: a Brett Favre shaped piece of cheese, and a packers vs. vikings inflatables at the finish line.

(I’ll try to get up pic’s)

4:52 – 33:24 Swim, 2:33 Bike, 1:38 Run

1^st 20-24 AG, 8^th Overall Female

Racing in Mexico – Round 2!!! Not too sure this was the year to race down there, but hey, it’s all in good fun, right?!? Absolutely.

At any rate, the preparation leading into this race was great until about 2 weeks out. I had put in some big weeks at some very high altitude and never really recovered too well, hence putting myself in what us endurance athletes like to call a ‘hole’. After digging myself out of ‘the hole’, I had a stellar taper the week of the race and a great attitude going into it. After lots of running around, tying up loose knots with each of my clients and the stress of packing, I finally made my way down to Cancun where I met my Mom at the airport. She flew in from Michigan and was ready to have a fun little vacation since she had never been down there before. We walked outside and it was absolutely gorgeous. Well at least for the first 5 minutes. Then, it just started down pouring like I had never seen before. There were gigantic puddles and flooding everywhere. I started to get a little worried as the forecast was not predicting such stellar weather. However, I stayed optimistic and when we arrived at our hotel, which was beautiful, I met up with fellow teammate and good friend Laura Tingle and the rain finally stopped.

Unfortunately, when I woke up on Saturday morning, the day before the race, it was completely dumping rain once again with some added hurricane-like winds. Let’s just say that those conditions never let up from 6am-9pm that day…talk about stress. I ran on the treadmill in the hotel in the morning, swam in the ocean with waves crushing over me in the afternoon and then had to ride on a bus from the hotel to transition with my bike (covered in plastic bags) and drop it off for the race the next day. I definitely did not sleep well that night.

Maybe that is why I felt like such crap race morning! Imagine that. Lots of stress plus little sleep…hmmm. Crappy for me, when my tummy doesn’t feel so great, there is no possible way for me to force food down. So, I just take the caloric deficit and pray that I can refuel during the bike. Luckily, when we arrived at the race site, the condition were not too bad, just a little windy. However, windy conditions in an ocean swim usually lead to lots of chop and giant waves. Oh yeah, and that’s exactly what we got. Because I was having such a hard time sighting over the waves, I mistook a yellow kayak for a buoy and swam a good 200m off course – grrrr.  So after yet another unsatisfying swim (I haven’t had ONE yet this year), I was able to get my head back into the game and get on my bike, eat some food and just hammer. The course was flat and fast. With my Bontrager disc and 6.5 Aeolus front wheel, I was flying and buzzing by people left and right as my legs just kept feeling stronger and stronger. It’s feelings like that that make racing so much fun. After being engulfed by a giant peloton of 20 or so people chitchatting, I decided to try and put out a solid effort and get rid of them as I was not going to get a penalty for drafting. Well that lasted a good 10 minutes until I got swallowed again. By this time, the sky had completely opened up and started shooting rain at speeds that made the drops actually hurt as they hit my arms and face – now try riding behind a group of 20 egotistical men who refuse to let you by but when they pass you slow way down so you’re forced to be stuck behind them…ugh. After several ‘mini hurricanes’ (at least they felt like it – not that I’ve been in one) and some road that was only a few centimeters under water, I decided to just put my head down, pass the pack of guys who were completely driving me nuts and go after the last 10 miles in a pretty strong headwind. Mission successful and when I arrived in T2, the rain had stopped and I was ready to rock the run. The first couple minutes are always so darn awful, but that feeling usually dissipates very quickly. As I was finally finding my rhythm and getting a good pace together to lock and load, boom – another massive downpour unleashes. I just kept telling myself that at least it’s not 110 degrees with 100 percent humidity as I’m trying to run through enormous puddles with soaking shoes that feel like 10lb bricks on my feet! ‘Remember, it’s ALL IN GOOD FUN!!!!’ – I repeated this over and over. And it was a lot of fun. I had a decent run that was very average time-wise but I only got faster as the miles ticked by which is a great sign.

The race overall was an absolute blast and a fun experience. The spectators and volunteers were absolutely amazing, as always, and even though I didn’t quite get those times I was hoping for, it just leaves me more hungry to get even better ones later this season at Worlds. Now that the race is over, it’s time for that little vacation with my Momma which she deserves after standing in that crazy weather all day!!! Cancun, here we come…

Oh, the wisdom of a 7 year-old. 

After listening to me sing the ‘poor me’ song one time too many, my 7 year-old, Hanna, looked at me with some frustration and said, “Mom…you get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.”  Amazing how those little ears hear and retain everything…well, everything that is except when I am loudly exclaiming, “It is bedtime, now go to sleep.  No more talking!” 

Even prior to racing in Lubbock this June, I knew something was wrong.  I had been feeling run down for a long time, I could not retain weight and I was losing muscle mass.  Workouts were hit and miss, and regardless of the amount of sleep I got, I was still tired.  When I raced at Lubbock it reminded me of how I felt in my last High School Cross-Country meet when I raced with mono and was subsequently hospitalized.  It was during the run in Lubbock that I made the decision to step back from racing triathlons for the remainder of the season and focus on getting my health back in order.  Of course, implementing this plan was not a simple process for me…my mind was a battlefield of ‘Train More versus Train Less’ and my family was caught in the middle.      

Yes, there is a time to push things, but as I have learned (the hard way) there is also a time to just…REST.  Rest is a difficult thing to do for us self-proclaimed obsessive-compulsive types, especially during the racing season, and when it does not come on our terms.  I would be lying if I said this is ‘easy.’  Rather, quite the contrary, it takes [me] more discipline to hold back rather than to continue to push myself.  We all start out the racing season with goals and expectations, anticipated race schedules, and when these plans get derailed, due to illness, injury, stress, work, etc. it can be a hard pill to swallow. 

I have been reading Brad Kearns book, “Breakthrough Triathlon Training.”  It is a good book that has at least provided me with some mental relief, especially with the chapter, “The Myth of Suffering.”  Now, not all will agree with what he has to say, but I believe there is merit when he talks about the emphasis we, as athletes, place on suffering.

  
I have come to the realization that there is a distinct difference between persevering and suffering.  According to Wikipedia, perseverance is “human endurance”, while suffering is “a negative basic feeling or emotion, that involves…harm or threat of harm.”  I do not believe persevering involves the potential for harm or damage.  That is not to say one will not suffer at some point in an Ironman or another race, but I think the key is maintaining balance and knowing when to step back.  Persevering through a race is honorable.  Suffering through a race or workout at the cost of permanent damage to your health or serious injury is questionable decision-making. 

I am not writing this to whine or complain…no, the anger and frustration have since subsided.  When your 7 year-old is telling you to ‘get over it’ one cannot help but to move-on, or as I choose to look at it now…move-forward.  I know everybody has their mountain to climb, and most often we come out stronger on the other side.  Besides, there are many other ‘mountains’ I would not even want to attempt to climb.  Temporary setbacks do not mean ‘forever’ and while I did not get to complete my 200 meter butterfly [yet] or compete at the races I set out to do at the beginning of the season, I have found  immense joy in watching others complete their racing goals and have found new interests and goals outside of triathlon. 

I am constantly reminding my girls that life is not fair, and that we cannot always control what comes our way, but we do control our response and attitude to what life throws at us.  Ironically, it took my 7 year-old to remind me of this.

“You must treat your body with kindness and respect and come to the realization that this is your vehicle to move through life and you should not abuse it.”  
-Tim Sheeper, as quoted in “Breakthrough Triathlon Training” by Brad Kearns.
 

I’ve decided to write what I will deny writing and stay oblivious to until October 13 at sometime in the evening (see item 1 below).

The First Trip To Kona.  Thoughts, suggestions, preparation:

1.  Don’t talk about it.

Why?  Isn’t it true that if you tell someone you are going to do something that you are more likely to do it?  Yes.  But, that is in the realm of behavior modification.  OCD’s (obsessive compulsive disorder) like me (and perhaps many of you) don’t need that.  What I learned is to not give my energy away to all the casual conversations about “what is your next race?” and “are you going to Kona?” and the must-be-avoided “what will your splits be in Kona” (if I nail that, I’m hitting Vegas, baby).  Possible responses:  I might do another race, I did some bike racing recently; maybe I’ll go to Kona; maybe I’ll go and watch.  All the people asking are trying to be kind and thoughtful, I just have to be conscious of my energy.

2.  Letting go of what I don’t control. 

Like what?  Ankle sprain, adrenal fatigue, bike crash, Autumn (my daughter), Michael (my spouse), basically everything around me except me. 

3.  Flow instead of Force.

I have to say that this has been the most significant lesson over the past 2 months.  I took a break in July then began training for IM again in mid- to late-July.  Initially, I tried to force my swim stroke to come back, push the pedals harder, make myself run faster.  Taking a step back, I re-engaged with the joy that is in my heart when I train.  I let go of the expectations and focused on that moment on the process.  For me, that is “long and strong” in the water, “from the hips” on the bike, and “straight forward and back, get those knees up” on the run.

 Enjoy your journey!

After the race many people asked me why I came all the way to Raleigh, North Carolina for the Duke Liver ½?  Well, the truth is I am living with some friends down here in Durham, NC doing some “heat acclimatization” and my final build up for Kona.  The 50-60 degree weather of Vermont is just too much of a jump to Kona’s 90 degrees.  But I digress, onto the race report!

The race was put on by SetUp Events and they really did a great job.  They had done some publicity before the race saying that I was coming down to race “fresh off my win at Ironman Lake Placid.”  As a result I was a marked man on the course, but at the same time everyone knew who I was and were all very supportive.  I had a great time during the race, but an even better time after the race meeting people.  Thank you to the entire North Carolina triathlon community for being so welcoming.

Since I came for the heat, obviously on race morning it happened to be 50 degrees.  During the race it was sunny and in the mid 70s, basically perfect race day weather!  I was hoping for it to be 95 and humid just to practice racing in the heat.  I’m sure I was the only one who was hoping it to be disgustingly hot! 

I did not even bring my Helix wetsuit on this trip expecting the water to be well above 78 degrees.  However, because of a few cooler days before the race it was a wetsuit legal race, measuring in at 77 degrees.  I had decided regardless of water temps to wear my Blue Seventy Point Zero as I have yet to wear it in a race and wanted to before Kona.  The water level in Jordan lake was about 2 feet lower than normal due to the drought most of North Carolina is experiencing this summer.  As a result the swim was an out and back instead of the preferred triangle shape course. To add to this there was a pretty strong headwind creating a very rough and choppy swim particularly on the way out.  As a result my swim was significantly slower than I was hoping and a little further back, 30mins, 8^th place and 5 ½ minutes behind the leader. 

After a quick T1 I headed out onto the bike.  This bike course is absolutely beautiful through rolling farm land with a few small climbs and very few cars.  At one point during the race there were about 10 wild turkeys in the middle of the road, at the time I was traveling about 30mph and had to swerve and fortunately avoided them, needless to say this experience was a little scary!  The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful.  I was working pretty hard and found a great rhythm until the last 10 miles when the slightly rougher road and head wind began to make it a little tough.  I pushed through and finished 2^nd off the bike in 2:19. 

I cruised into T2 just as the leader was heading out onto the run course.  After another quick transition I began my pursuit about 2 ½ minutes down. 

This run course is two loops on a series of hilly, dirt and grass trails located in New Hope State Park.  This run course is hard, but very beautiful and peaceful through a forest and overall a really enjoyable run.  I began the run with several tight muscles and twinges after a solid bike, but after a mile or 2 I began to loosen up and found my stride.  I caught up to the leader at about mile 4 and kept up the pace because there were some very talented athletes in this race that I knew would keep the pressure on.  I finished the run in 1:22.

I finished first overall in 4:13 which I was told is a new course record.  This was a great confidence boost and measure of my fitness heading into October and I’m getting very excited!  Lastly, I really like this area of the country and the triathlon community is pretty impressive.  There is a chance I may move here next year…we’ll see! J

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Thanks!

Alex M-M

http://www.alexmmtri.com/