Thursday, November 13, 2014

I Can't Believe It's Over - 2014, that is.


I've been thinking about how to write my Beach2Battleship 140.6 race report for about a couple of weeks now, and I keep running into the same obstacle:  If I write the race report, then the season is officially over.  Bummer, dudes and dudettes!

But, alas, all great things must come to an end, so write this report I will.  But ... starting at the beginning.  Buckle up, it's a long story.

In 2013 when I trained for my first 140.6 (Beach2Battleship) I was working from home.  I had the distinct advantage, pleasure, and flexibility to do any length workout presented on my plan.  Three hour bricks and long swims in the middle of the day were the norm.  My then-coach knows his stuff and prepared me well while completely taking into consideration the other Ironman-in-training in the house at the same time:  my older son who was training for the Ironman World Championship.  My event, because I hesitate to call what I do racing, went well.  I came out of the water slightly ahead of schedule; spent far too long in T1 trying to get the feeling back in my feet and hands (it was 39 degrees outside); rode a very consistent ride in spite of the high winds; and then ran a very pleasing marathon.  I was happy to have finished just over 13 hours for my first 140.6 event.  But, as I rode home, and texting my coach, I was already thinking about the next one.

A few weeks later, in November 2013, I received an exciting e-mail from the Big Sexy Racing Team that I had been selected as a member for 2014.  Oh, Snap!  Game on!  

Flash forward to October, 2014. 

This time around the training was vastly different.  I now had a full time, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. job.  No more three hours bricks and no more two full days off during any seven day period.  There was a lot more very focused interval training during the work/school week, and nearly all of the longer and mid-long sessions on the weekend.  The evolution of the training eliminated one day off completely, and frequently the only day off was a "swim day."  I was more than just a little bit worried about how that would translate on race date and how it would affect the ride, but more importantly, the run.

I felt good going into the weekend.  The taper had done its job and I had been sleeping soundly at night - for a change.  I ate well.  I kept hearing Pete Jacobs say that he believes too many people go into a 140.6 race day "too light."  I feel like I drank my weight in GatorAde on the drive up to Wilmington, North Carolina, yet I did not feel bloated or that I had gone "overboard."  The Super Sherpa Hubby Man made sure that our drive had been relaxing and we arrived near dinner time on Thursday.  We checked into the host hotel, the first thing I noticed was ...

"No wind."  The temperature was above 40, and the buzz in the air was very positive.  Last year, let's just be honest, I was a cross between terrified and scared to death.  We headed to what is undoubtedly our favorite eatery in Wilmington, The Front Street Brewery, for a fabulous sandwich and onion rings.  We unloaded all of our gear, not forgetting any of my race day needs fabulously organized in my Ogio 9.0 transition bag, and hit the hay for some well deserved, uninterrupted-by-teen-age-boys sleep.

Some special people I "took along" for the day.
Friday morning - still no wind and wonderful pre-race conditions.  I was getting more and more excited.  I was loosely monitoring the tide charts for when the incoming tide would be on Saturday.  The nice thing about Beach2Battleship is that the swim is usually timed to coincide with the incoming tide in the channel.  Thus, the effect is much like a wetsuit mandatory, salt water river swim.  My fave!  The day consisted of athlete check- in and packet pick-up; gear bag packing and drop off; and bike check in at T1.  With my race number, locating my rack was a breeze, and knowing that I could easily find my sturdy Quintana Roo Kilo in the sea of race steeds the next morning was more than just a tad relaxing.  Dinner was routine:  PIZZA!  Nothing new during race week.

All numbered and only one place to go...
Race Day Dawns in Wilmington:
I had my coffee, bagel with peanut butter, grabbed a banana, a Bonk Breaker, and a GatorAde and headed downstairs to the shuttle.  Armed with Ruby's Lube, my Infinit-filled bike bottles, wetsuit and Rudy Project Wingspan, I wrapped up setting the bike then skipped over to body marking.  Finished up in T1 and grabbed another shuttle to the swim start on Wrightsville Beach.  Conveniently located about 2.4 miles away.  ;-)



I love this swim start.  Sun rise.  The crowd.  Eminem's "Lose Yourself"
"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted. one moment

Would you capture it or just let it slip?"

This time around, I did get in a quick "warm-up" swim and positioned myself not quite as far back in the pack as I had previously.  I was more comfortable with my ability to swim strong, and negative split the swim.  In 2013, I reached the marina ladders in 1:17 and the transition mat in 1:19.  The mats are about 100 yards beyond wet suit peeling once you get up the ladders on the pier.  This year my time at the ladders was ... drum roll please ... 52:20! Time at the mats:  54:16!  I felt like I could have stopped right then and there and been happy.  (Totally excited until I saw that the fastest female swim was 39 minutes and change.  Sigh...)  My T1 time was less than half of the time I spent last year, including getting my Big Sexy Champion Systems tri top on.  However, that meant I was out on the bike 10 minutes ahead of when I had told the Super Sherpa Hubby Man to be at T1.  I looked and looked for him, and unfortunately did not catch sight of him until just outside T2.

What Mike found in T1
The ride was great!  The course is pleasant, and pretty:  taking an athlete through some wonderful rural North Carolina farm country with some of the most enthusiastically manned aid stations anywhere I have raced.  Number 553, Ruth, rode up on me at about mile 15 (maybe?) and we played Cat and Mouse for the longest time.  This was her first, and she was the first person to point out that my race number was "Freakin' Awesome!" no matter how I had gotten it.  I enjoyed meeting and encouraging her for the next 50 miles or so.  I lost track of her at the Special Needs aid station, but I looked her up to see how she finished.  I was Not Fast.  I'm not fast, so I didn't expect to burn up the bike course.  To my satisfaction, I had ridden my goal pace.  I wound my way down hill into T2 about 20 minutes faster than last year, spotting Super Sherpa Hubby Man right there cheering and happy to see me.  You run up into the convention center at T2 and a wonderful volunteer takes the bike, and you run/walk your way to your run bag and get on the way.  Again, I spent less than half of last year's time in T2 so I was totally stoked.  I had literally jerked on my Newton Gravitys and HeadSweats visor, grabbed my hydration belt and pulled an Elvis.  I left the building.  By my rough, on-the-fly, dwindling math calculations, I figured I was roughly 40 minutes ahead of 2013.  I adjusted my goal to a 12 hour "ish" finish time.  I knew that if I could run on my time from 2013, I had close to 12 hours in me.

The T2 Chute...Mike is just about where I am looking.
The run started out fine, and my first loop was on target for a 4:20-4:30 finish.  Then at mile 14 I took a "stumble" step and stubbed the middle toes on my left foot.  It hurt, but I wasn't broken or gimpy.  Somewhere between miles 16 and 18 is when the wheels started to come off.  I had been running Galloway intervals of 3:1 successfully and consistently up until that point.  However, I discovered that it is a challenge to maintain the goal run pace when the lower hamstring attachments start to seize and then the calves decide to follow suit.  I adjusted my intervals to 2:2 knowing that would alleviate some of the tightness.  I started taking in a bit more sodium and continued on.  I met a ton of great people during the run.  Nearly all of them commented on my race number and wanted to know "how I had managed that."

FYI:  Being assigned the Number 1 bib carries a lot of pressure.  But, it was also a superb conversation generator.  It did ensure that I had people to talk to every step of the 26.2.  I still have no idea how I garnered it, other than maybe it is due to the spelling of my last name:  ABBEY.  A couple of guys and I played leap frog for many miles.  Sadly, eventually both of them fell off the back.  They did end up finishing strong and pleased with their races.


I watched my 12 hour finish slow down to 12:15, and then I saw it creeping down to closer to 12:30.  I was getting discouraged, but I also knew those thoughts and feelings would be counter productive to a successful finish.  I guess it was near mile 23/24 that I re-adjusted my attitude - yet again - and began the DOWN HILL path to the finish line.  Mike, the Super Sherpa Hubby Man, was right there LOUDLY cheering me through the chute.  He got some awesome shots of me under the lights along with me "cheesing it up" at the Finisher Photo Spot.  Again, the BEST EVER finisher item is distributed with a smile and assistance if needed at this race:  soft, comfy, Pajama Pants.  They are a super idea for a cool weather race with what can be a chilly and windy finish line.


Just past the clock.  Still able to pull a strong pace at the end.


Finish time:  12:33:59 - a 30 minute improvement over 2013.  Although, being completely honest, I know all of that was bike and transition time(s) because in my opinion the swim was "freakishly" irregular, and my run totally neutralized the gain from the swim.  I'm happy with it.  I am confident hat the different approach to this year's training did not negatively affect the outcome.  As you might have guessed, I'm already planning 140.6 number 3 in 2015.

2014 was an awesome year of great experiences.
Admittedly, I am anxious to hear if the Big Sexy, Chris McDonald, will retain me for 2015.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Full Time Job - Full Time Mom - Full Time Ironman



I’ve been an “athlete” for going on 12 years now.  I began running in 2002 just having turned 35 and with a 17 month old son.  Many of you know that I started running (again…regularly) with a life-long friend of mine who had been told by her sister “it was time to get back in shape” and that she should do so by running.  But, not just any running, she should target a half marathon.  Yep, that somewhat magical 13.1 number.  She called me early that November and gave me the run down, and said she needed my help:  to be her training partner.  I hemmed and hawed and told her that I was a Mountain Biker (you can stop laughing now) and I HATED running.  Needless to say, the next day I went out and bought running shoes.  It’s pretty much been “full on” since then.

I’ve run, and run, and run some more.  Once upon a time, I said I “never wanted to run a marathon.”  Well, “never” is a very, very, very long time.  And then along came 26.2 with Donna:  The Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer the same year I turned 40.  Kaboom!  Sure, I’ll run a marathon to celebrate my fortieth birthday AND to recognize all those I knew who had been touched by breast cancer.  But, wait, first let me mentor the marathon group of the North Florida Chapter of Team In Training and run the Goofy Challenge a month beforehand.  Can you say, “Not the brightest bulb in the box?”  That was 2008.  So, I kept running, and bought a road bike so I could add some cross training.  In 2009, I followed the same schedule of madness:  Goofy in January followed by “Donna” in February.  That makes FOUR marathons in about 14 months’ time.  Along about October of 2009 I thought I might have it in me to attempt the elusive BQ.  Now, I wasn’t sure that I could actually qualify for Boston, but I had the time to train properly and some awesome people to train with so I went for it.  In February, 2010, at the Tallahassee Marathon I nailed that BQ time on my first attempt.  My husband and sons were at the finish line along with my training partners.  It was a “mountain top” kind of moment.  Since that first BQ I have qualified for the Boston Marathon 3 times, and run it twice.

Pre-Race Transition Set-Up:  Red Hills Triathlon 2010
My older son had been dabbling in triathlon for a couple of years at this point.  2010 was his third year racing Tallahassee's very own Red Hills Sprint Triathlon, and his father completed his first triathlon of any distance at the same event.  I had begun participating in the shorter distance triathlons because I needed something to do while I waited for Colin to finish.  I found it fun in the summer, but not something that I wanted to devote myself to on a full time training level.  Then along came another friend…

This friend has a bucket list.  Her bucket list includes finishing an “iron distance” triathlon.  You all know that one:  2.4 mile swim, 112 mile ride, 26.2 run.  INSANE!  CRAZY!  Stooooopid!  So not what I had ever considered, thought about, or planned.  Thank God for a great coach, a relative healthy and injury-free body, and an extremely understanding and supportive husband.  We started training a week after the Breast Cancer Marathon with a target race in October.  Last year when I trained for that first 140.6 event I was blessed with the good fortune of being able to train “long” whenever the schedule said to do so.  I had a job that allowed me to put in 2-3 hours of training on a daily basis if need be.  In retrospect, even with the inclusion of 1 or 2 off days, I feel like I was always tired.  Always hungry.  And always tight or sore to some degree … All. The. Time.  Flash forward to race day:  I finished in almost exactly what I predicted putting in a solid day on the race course.  When I woke up the next morning I was tired and hungry, yes.  But, I was not sore or broken.  It seems that the training, my nutrition, and my recovery had been spot on the entire 32 weeks.  Whew.

Beach2Battleship 2013 - 2nd Loop on the run course
That was 2013.  This is 2014 and it’s a “whole new world.”  In January I took on a new job that mandates the traditional Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. schedule.  2-3 hour workouts during the week are not an option.  Well, I suppose they could be if I got out of bed every morning at 3:00 a.m. in order to be finished by 6:30 to be out the door to work by 7:25 a.m.  Riiiiiiiight.  That’s going to happen.  NOT!  What does happen is a 60-90 minute workout before work with a 45-60 minute swim three evenings a week after work.  The other evolution is that very few “off days” exist.  For example, if today calls for a “mid-long” brick (90 minutes or longer), the bike leg is today and the run is tomorrow.  And the workouts move out by one day accordingly.  Thus, the off days are almost always eliminated.  Is this going to work?  I’m not sure yet.  However, I can tell you that the soreness rating has been lowered by a degree or two (I wonder why…HA!), and I don’t feel as if I am always starving.  I will be interested to see how the change in approach affects performance on race day.  And, I am anxious to see if overall recovery is as speedy as last year.  

2014 has brought with it a lot of changes.  Not just in careers, but in community and team involvement.  I have been a member of the 2014 Big Sexy Amateur Racing team and thoroughly enjoying my time on the team.  The team has afforded me the opportunity to meet and race with great new people; to test out some new products; and work with some fabulous athletes.  I hope that trend will continue into 2015.  ;-)

2013 Ironman World Championship - Finish Area
I can tell you that it is possible to train for the “iron” distance without alienating your family; nodding off at your desk; or falling asleep in your dinner and really making your spouse unhappy.  However, I am reserving judgment on what kind of outcome this approach to training will produce on race day.  All I can say is, “So far, so good.”  See you at the finish line.


Friday, July 11, 2014

Living A Life While Training for "Ironman"

Monday through Friday
4:15 - 4:30 a.m.  Morning Alarm
5:15 - 6:45 a.m.  Morning Training Session
8:00 - 5:00 p.m.  "Work"
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.  Evening Training Session (swim) - three days a week
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  Dinner and "Family Time", laundry, dishes, etc.

Saturday
5:30 - 6:30 a.m.  Morning Alarm
6:30 - Noon        Training Session - usually "long brick" day
Afternoon           Lunch, grocery shopping, "family time", dinner preparation, laundry, dishes, etc.
Evening              "Family Time" or Movie Night
8:30 - 9:00 p.m.  (Truly) Lights Out


Sunday
6:00 a.m.              Morning Alarm
7:00 - 10:00 a.m.  Long Run
11:00 - Noon        Church
Afternoon           Laundry, Dinner preparation, "Family time", coaching e-mails and plans, maybe a second "work out" with the hubby
8:30 - 9:00 p.m.   (Truly) Lights Out

Every seven days, "lather, rinse, repeat."

Now, bear in mind that I am married to an age-group triathlete, law-enforcement lieutenant who is currently assigned to the midnight shift, and that I have two competitive triathlete sons so the preferred schedule is frequently revised at a moment's notice if not more quickly.

For example, on the weekends when my younger son will compete in a three-day swim meet.  His session will require his arriving at the pool by 6:30 a.m. and concluding somewhere about Noon.  And, if he swims top 16 in any of his events he returns by 4:30 p.m. for warm-up for the Finals competition.  That means Saturday's long ride/brick will have to move to the next weekend and the long run on Sunday will have to be split or shortened to be completed during the warm-up period.

Last summer, right in the middle of training for my first 140.6, I traveled to Hawai'i with my son for two weeks.  Since he was competing (IM Honu 70.3), my tri bike stayed in Florida (golly gee it's expensive to take a bike anywhere if it isn't on your car).  That meant training was limited to short runs and swimming when my son was swimming.  Later in the fall when my husband "aged up" to 50, and wanted to complete an Olympic Tri for his birthday, that meant my scheduled 100 mile ride became a high intensity 3-tiered brick followed by a loooonnnnggg run the next day.  And, for anyone who wants to know about long trainer rides, I'm here to tell you they can be done.

The weekend preceding and the weekend of Ironman World Championship left me a "single parent" while my husband traveled with my older son to Hawai'i.  If you have a pre-teen son, you know that leaving one to his own devices while you ride 120+ miles is not advisable.  Six and seven hour trainer sessions can be done:  you pick a movie, the son picks a movie, and ... continue until the required time/mileage is achieved.  Of course, one of those rides was done at 1:00 p.m. following the pre-teen's participation in his first adult sprint tri that he had insisted upon entering.  And, naturally, traveling to an out-of-town swim meet or tri in which I am not entered presents another set of scheduling challenges not only for training but for the normal family dynamics as well.

Sadly, the husband gets the shortest end of the scheduling stick.  Largely due to his current shift assignment, but sometimes (frequently) it just happens.  As any person who has completed the training for any 140.6 event, the training is lengthy, and the athlete can often be accused of being selfish and self-absorbed, self-centered, etc.  It takes conscious, deliberate effort on my part to not be "turning into a pumpkin" by 8:00 p.m. every night he is off duty.  Honestly, that can be very difficult if that day held an early 4-6 hour work out.  And, social friend time?  I'm pretty sure my only friends are now people who are willing to ride or run long.

The important thing to remember is that balance is vital.  The mantra, "all things in moderation" plays an key role in balancing training versus family versus life.  I make sure that my athletes know and live by the standard of "Life and family first, everything else second, training next."  Training should compliment your lifestyle, not dictate it.  You are not defined by the distance you race.  It is a part of who you are, not the entire you.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Choosing Your Own Path

Originally published on BigSexy.net

Tattoo, Bucket List, or Life Style

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“I hear you’re a running coach.”

“Well, I sometimes help people I know reach a goal.”

“Really?  I was hoping you’d ‘train’ me for my first marathon.”

“Wow!  That would be awesome.  How many half marathons have you run?”

“Ummmm…well, none.”

“Wow…  Maybe we should start with a couple half marathons to build you up and then look at your first marathon.”

Or how about this one:

“I want to run my first marathon, and my best half marathon time predicts that I could finish in xxxxxx hours.  Will you help me train?”

“I just registered for Ironman.  I’m buying my first tri bike next week and I don’t really swim all that well.”

I offer up to you the phrase, “Tattoo or Bucket List?”

As an endurance athlete, a training partner, a member of my local triathlon community, and a somewhat “quiet, sit on the sidelines” kind of coach I hear these statements frequently.  I nearly always have to bite my tongue and try not to choke on my Gatorade.  And, so many times the person I am listening to has been influenced by someone else – usually another athlete with some experience.  However, every now and that “other person” is someone who is just checking things of their own personal “Bucket List.”  Having had a couple of “training decisions” made for me and not necessarily by me, I have some pretty strong opinions about choosing your own path.

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“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
 – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I came to endurance sports by way of a life-long friend whose sister had informed her that it was “time for her to get back into shape.”  She was nearly 100 pounds over-weight, and coerced and guilted me into training for our first half marathon.  I was not a runner at the time.  In fact, I distinctly remember telling her that I hated running and was NOT going to train with her.  I was a northern California (Sierra Nevada) mountain biker.  Needless to say, we trained.  We huffed and puffed.  We finished.  And, while I stayed in the endurance world, continuing to run half marathons all over the south eastern United States, I believe that she felt worn down and beaten up by the training.  She came back to the running world about 18 months later – very slowly, methodically, and working towards a lifestyle goal in a very smart fashion.  When she decided that the marathon was her next goal, I declared to all who would listen that I “never wanted to run a full marathon.”  Well, I’m here to tell you that NEVER is VERY, very, very long time.  I chose my first marathon on my own, for reasons of the heart – not from peer pressure, or a coach’s desires to see me run longer.  I coached/trained myself and felt successful for my first attempt.  I ran a few more marathons, and decided to take it to a new level:  Qualify for Boston – just to prove that I could if I wanted to.

While I was training for that elusive BQ time, I discovered road cycling was an excellent form of cross training.  Are you looking into your glass ball?  Follow me here…  It gets really complicated.  Not too long after, a friend of mine who also happened to be an IMWC finisher (2009) asked me to join his coaching group.  The group was interested in a dedicated run coach for their athletes during the “non-tri” season.  Really?  In Florida there is a non-tri season?  Anyway…I digress.  I was quite nervous and worried about being a coach to those who I deemed be far more accomplished and capable than I.  Not one of them ever questioned me or blinked.  Thus began a facet of my life that I have grown to love and enjoy more than maybe even my own training.

Three months after I qualified for Boston the first time, I sprained my ankle to the tune of 8 weeks no running.  Grrrrrrr and Bahhhhh!  I couldn’t even clip in and out of my pedals for the first three weeks.  Now what was I going to do?  My state ranked swimmer son said, “Duh, mom…swim.”  I did my first two sprint tris that summer with my son.  I didn’t do another one for quite some time – there just wasn’t time to train for THREE sports and stay Boston Qualified.  Not as a 40+ year-old mother of two high energy, involved, athletic sons, and wife to an career VICE officer in a high-stress, high liability position.  Something’s gotta give.

As I looked for a way to keep my training more level year round, I added more and more cycling and (oh my gosh…) more and more swimming.  Then, I decided that if I could comfortably ride Centuries and run a pretty quick half marathon, it was time to beef up the triathlon aspect.  So, after more than a two year hiatus from triathlon I joined forces with a world-class coach, the same one who invited me to join his group, and attacked my first 70.3.  I decided it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, but in no way felt “the Need” to try that whole “stupid Ironman thing.”

Flash forward a bit.
(All those "named" below are COMPOSITE characters.  No one individual makes up the profile presented.)

I have found that those new to the world of endurance sports really want to fit in.  Unfortunately, I have found that they want to skip a lot of the base that will secure a successful future.

Take for instance “Sally” who is pretty new to the endurance world.  She went right to the marathon when she began running.  She qualified for Boston in one of her early attempts.  But, mostly she was lucky.  She really only suffered one major injury in her hips and pelvis.  She has since been through massage therapy, regularly supervised stretching, some physical therapy, and has learned the value of “slow but steady” base training.  However, when she dove into triathlon she did so with a 70.3.  No sprints or Olympics.  And, less than 2 years later she trained for her first 140.6.

Let’s talk about “Ricardo.”  Ricardo is the “time goal” athlete.  He had run 2 half marathons and wanted to train for his first full marathon based on that finish time. BUCKET LIST item he said.  Not only that, he had lost a bet, and not only did he “have to run it” but he had to wear pink.  I advised him against it; passed him at Mile 5 and invited him to run with my pace group.  I was waiting for him at the finish line when he crossed more than an hour off of his “goal” finish time.

*Now, I’ll be the first one to tell you that PINK makes you the fastest one on the course, so don’t discount it.

Another superb example is the County Commissioner who came to me wanting to run his first full marathon.  In college he was a NCAA Div. I running back who enjoyed a brief career in the NFL.  But, he had no idea how to train for an endurance event.  To his credit, he did follow the advice of “his coach” and started “small” with the half marathon.  We are still working up to that full marathon distance.

I have watched new triathletes go from Sprint to 140.6 in less than 2 years after signing up to work with a new coach.  It makes me wonder about where the coach’s interest truly lies – with the extended 140.6 time line and subsequent pay check(s) or with the health, safety, and success of the athlete.

I have turned away and lost athletes who have asked for my help because they didn’t want to come at the ultimate goal in a slow, safe, methodical manner.  Truly from the selfishly safe side, I would much rather see someone become a healthy and successful athlete rather than a mere finisher.

How do you measure success?  Well, I suppose that’s relative.  Are you in it to just finish?  Are you in it to want to do it again?  Are you in it to win?  Are you in it for life?

When faced with any of the above scenarios I tend to fall back on my favorite responses:

1.  Is this event a Bucket List item for you?
2.  Are you only doing this for the tattoo/medal at the finish line?
3.  Do you want this to become a lifestyle?

The answers to those questions tell me an awful lot about the athlete.  It also tells me how we are going to best collaborate on reaching the athlete’s goal.  Sometimes I try to dig just a little bit further and find out who was the primary influence in the decision making process.  Mostly what I try to impress upon any athlete, whether s/he decides to work with me as a coach or not, is to pick their own path.  Be the master of their own fate.

I am often shocked, amazed, stunned, floored – pick your adverb – by the athlete, be s/he novice or experienced, who allows the influence of another person or group to determine the path towards any given finish line.  I encourage anyone new to a distance/event to do some soul searching, and evaluate the decision to take on that goal.  I believe the heart should make distance decisions for you, not a person, group, or tattoo.

Last fall on my birthday I became an “ironwoman.”  Again, I chose to accept the challenge of the 140.6 for reasons of the heart.  No one person, group, tattoo, or title forced me to push the “submit” button on my registration form.  A great number of people, groups, and dreams pushed me to the finish line.  But the initial decision was mine and mine alone.

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I became a runner in 2002; a marathoner in 2008; Boston Qualified in 2010, 2011, 2013; a triathlete in 2010; a 70.3 finisher in 2012; and an “ironman” in 2013.  I am the mother of two boys – 19½ and 13.  Both are accomplished swimmers, stellar students, and triathletes.  My older son qualified for his first Ironman and 2013 Ironman World Championship last year at his second 70.3 (Hawai’i) the same day he was to graduate from high school.  He was the youngest qualified competitor on the IMWC course on October 12, 2013.  My younger son has completed his first two “adult” distance sprint triathlons in the last six months – the youngest competitor at both races.  I am the wife of a 24 year career law enforcement officer.  He holds one of the most stressful and high-liability positions within his department.  I hold a full time job within the Florida Office of the State Attorney; a second job with the local running specialty shop; and coach endurance athletes of all abilities around the world.  And, this year I have the exciting privilege and opportunity to race with some of the best amateur athletes I’ve ever run across.  I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything.

Lori Abbey

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Red Hills Tri: Florida's Toughest Sprint

"In the beginning..."  I had thought and planned that if I could "go" 1:40 that would be a great first time finish on that course. If I could get close to the Master's time that would be sweet. Anything in between totally acceptable.  

The day begins waaaaay early because #KonaKid wants the end place on the rack and the gates open at 5:00 am. Sheesh.  We are four cars back when the gates open. Body marking, chips, rack placement no problem. Irony-he gets assigned a middle rack and I get an end spot. LMBSAO. Then it's time to chill, snack, and get off my middle-aged legs for a while. 

Dancing my way to the "fun" side of Tri ...
and out of Transition for the swim start.
This is my first time here as a participant (Colin has been racing it since 2008), but it felt like a reunion of sorts. Once I'm awake, I do love the early morning camaraderie and fun.  Lots and lots of friends here including guys who trained with Colin in 2008 for his first Red Hills.

Here is probably a great place to say, "Thank you" to Champion Systems for a comfortable and well-fitting kit (although I still prefer a kids' size short); Headsweats for my favorite visors of all time; Newton Running - I've been a Newtonite since before they were the cool kids on the block; and Big Sexy (I'm not sure what you were thinking when you added me to the team, but "I'm here....").

Transition closes.  Now sheathed in neoprene, we waddle to the lake shore for a brief acclimation and warm up swim. I'm fairly relaxed because I have "swim strategy." I know my asthma could attack me at any time. My inhaler is in my wet suite sleeve just in case. The swim waves are lining up and I hope to see Colin get out before I start. The day will good for him if he is out of the water first.  I turn around and see My Main Man/Hubby/Honey on the hill behind the swim start. He has worked a 10 hour shift keeping Tallahassee safe, but still came to the race to see Colin and I finish. Now I'm ready...a kiss and a "good luck" send me to the shore. I check the swimmers coming in and immediately recognize Colin's stroke. Yep! First out. Let's start this party!

That's my Honey.  Always there for me.

I start near the back of the wave even though people are telling me to move up. Nope. I want to PASS people as I settle in, not stress over where I am.  It works like a charm.  Slowly I settle into my stroke and begin to work through he crowd. I'm not fast, but I'm steady, and I can negatively split the swim. I pass a lot of people including men from the previous two waves. I hit the boat ramp at 11:29, not bad for me (1/3 mile) and the transition mats at 11:54 - it's up hill and you're stripping your own wet suit. 

Out of T1 and on the bike ahead if three people that ran past me into T1. It's not my first rodeo. I don't expect to win or place, I just want to be smart. I had set the gears for an uphill start and was very glad to have done so. I've seen people crash 10 feet past the mount line for not planning. Passed four people in the first 200m uphill. My husband and bonus parents said it looked like booster rockets on my bike.  Thank the stars for those big quads   Got out of the state park and kept rolling. My goal on the bike was to NOT get passed. I was successful in that the only person who "net" passed me had played cat and mouse with me for about 8 miles of the course.  I tried to reel her in....she was in my age group. 

I had estimated that with the wave start and my times Colin would be FINISHED by the time I came in off the bike.  He wanted to win, and he was working for it.  At the dismount line into T2 I asked my friend GP Palmer if Colin had won. He said, ""No, third." I proclaimed some bad word in my "outside" voice and kept moving.  T2 was not blazing, but I stayed on my feet. My husband, Mike, was at the run exit and confirmed Colin's finish but added that he had gone a PR time! I felt better. UP that damn hill again for the run. 

Gotta Get My "Big Sexy" on straight.
Most of the first mile is paved, so I'm great here right on my goal pace. Then we get to the trails. The first section of the trail is loose road bedding gravel: a weak ankle's enemy. Slowing down, I pick my way through to the actual trail. It's not too bad. Soft and cushy but rooty (turns out Colin tripped twice out here for the first time), so more caution. Just after mile two I'm back on the pavement and picking up a little speed. Funny, the first and third miles are the hilliest but were my best paced miles. I make the turn to the downhill finish and Mike is right there. He was awesome: tired, exhausted, and I'm sure hot (still in full uniform); but right there for both of us. 


About 100 feet from the finish line
My watch read 1:31:41 when I stopped it. Not great. Not bad. Better than I had planned for.  Good enough for third in my age group. I'll take it. 

GP Petty, Melissa Thompson,
Michael Weyant, Yours Truly





Team Big Sexy had a great showing:  Melissa Thompson won her age group; GP "Crash the Party" Petty took second in his age group and finished 13th Overall.  Michael Weyant was on site as volunteer supremo.



Red Hills "Bling"  Made by local potter Brian Bachman,
 it's unique to the region, and nearly always useful.



I don't know if I'll do this one again. It might be hard to say, "No," since it local. However, make no mistake, it's a challenge. Beginning with a cold, dark, murky water swim, you need courage. The early miles of the bike and one good climb about two miles from T2 can waste your legs before the run. Two uphill-out-of-transition starts test you for sure. The run isn't your typical sprint run: it's not flat, and it's not even all paved. Things to remember in January when registration opens.

Colin #KonaKid #HonuBrat Abbey, Third Overall - 1:08:5
1 Corinthians  9:24-27


  


Coaches for a Cause

Mac's "SwimSTRONG" Foundation

Mac's "SwimSTRONG" Foundation
Love this art work. Click for link to the web site. And follow Team TRI Mac at www.trimac-competingforareason.blogspot.com