Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Road ID coupon

Anyone interested in a dollar off a Road ID?

I ordered one, and as a thanks, they gave me a $1-off coupon that can be used up to 20 times over the next 25 days! If you're considering getting one, go to www.roadid.com and use the coupon id ThanksJessica835398.

Just a thought!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Mini crossroads

I haven't posted in a while, which I'm sure you're quite aware. One of the reasons is that nothing in particular has been going on to post about. But anyway, here we go.

I feel like I've hit a sort of crossroads. I've really had a difficult time motivating to work out for the last month or so. (I've been exercising probably 3-4 times a week.) I've blamed it a poor diet and lack of exercise as low motivation. Then I blamed the heat. There was always something. But after a few weeks of it, I've realized clearly the issue lies elsewhere. As a side note, I'm planning on doing a race in mid-August, but I haven't been eager to sign up for it, and I also haven't been reading Triathlete.

I think it's time for me to re-assess my priorities and my goals. I just don't really feel like I have enough time in the day for everything I want to do. I have no place to complain, I know, because this summer I'm only working 32 hours a week, but somehow, my hours fly by. Therefore, I think I need to again look at my priorities. Once I decide what I most want (training, scrapbooking, reading, work, something else), I can create goals and work specifically toward them. If I decide I want to focus on triathlon or running, I think it can give me me motivation to get out there and force myself to do it. If I decide that's not where I want my focus right now, I can cut down to more of a maintenance workout plan.

This does NOT mean that I will give up on triathlon. Even if I decide it's not my focus, I still expect to do some tri-ing in my life. It's part of me now. But it may be a bit more casual.

I'm really not sure which way it will go at this point. Guess that's something for me to think about on my ride this evening...

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Race Report: OKC SuperSprint

Such a fun race!!!

It started off a bit hectic, I guess. About 9:30 the night before the race, I realized I hadn't even started thinking about or packing my bag for the next morning! Eek! So I freak out and jump up to go do that, while my wonderful boyfriend gets up to do the dishes for me. Then, I realize I can't find my extra pair of goggles! I took it with me to our river trip last weekend...and I guess they didn't make it home. I looked everywhere they would logically be. Again, that amazing boyfriend of mine "went to search his car"...and 20 minutes later, came back from Walmart with new goggles and three beautiful, white roses! (I made sure not to open the goggles, and since I didn't end up needing them, we took them back to the store.) The rest of the packing/preparing went off without a hitch.

Race morning, we wake up at 5 a.m., I eat and get ready and we head off to the race. The race was about 35 minutes from my house. Transition area closed at 6:30, the race started at 7:30, but I started closer to 8 because it was a pool swim. I didn't love being rushed to get my transition area ready, just to sit around for another hour and a half. I was the 161st swimmer...and it was really hard to wait that long to get in the pool! I was ready to start!


The swim - 500m:
This was my second pool swim, and it was so much better than the last time! The pool was 50m length, so we did five out and backs. The lanes were wide enough for two swimmers and two passers to go by. Plus, we started 10 seconds apart. The extra time and wide lanes made it so much more pleasant. I also made sure I made my time slower since I had such a stressful experience last time. This was a great swim, after the initial 50m of constantly fixing my goggles. I passed three people, and really wanted to pass this guy in the last 50m, but we were close to the exit, which had a narrow turn and I'd decided while watching others attempt it that passing then wasn't too great of an idea.
Time: 12:00

T1:
Since I got to the race sort of late, I didn't have a good place in the transition area. I was in the back, and we came and went each time in the front. Oh well. At least it was easy to find! Transition went fine. I realized the shirt I'd brought to wear wasn't great for trying to slip on a wet bathing suit...and struggled with that. But I finally got off onto the road with a granola bar in hand.
Time: 3:05


The bike - 14 miles:
As soon as I got clipped in, I opened my granola bar and realized the same shirt that was all wrong in T1, also didn't have pockets for my trash. I didn't want to throw in on the ground, so after holding it for a few miles, I stuffed it into my sports bra strap and went with that. I had been preparing for a 12-mile bike, but found out the week before the race that they'd bumped it up to 14. It didn't seem to make much of a difference. It was a fairly flat race. The hardest part was the wind! I was coming out of the south and was strong! Our bike started out going south for a mile and a half probably. It was two loops, and we actually hit the windy part three times because that's where we started and ended. I will tell you, the wind got worse each time...and it wasn't because I was more tired! The good news is that we also headed north -- with the wind -- and equal distance, and I rocked that part! I'd set a goal to pass three people on the bike, but didn't really get that done. I passed one girl, who was on a mountain bike and had just passed me, but then shortly after, she went passed me again. I couldn't catch up with anyone until toward the end, when I passed another. I kept her behind me for a few miles, but once we hit the windy part, she sped past me. Oh well. Also, toward the end of the first lap, I teared up when I realized I was smiling! (I get pretty emotional during races.) My main goal was to have fun...and I'd already achieved that halfway though the race!
Time: 59:06


T2:
Nothing too terribly exciting. I'd had some practice changing shoes, so I didn't struggle too much or anything. I did, fortunately, remember to remove the trash from my bra...and off I went for the last leg!
Time: 1:29

The run - 5k:
I felt great coming off the bike. My legs didn't hurt or anything, but I was going slow. I'd practiced running off the bike some previously with the same result. I was slow. Anyway, I got in a rhythm and kept on running. I'd contemplated walking, but decided I would be mad at myself at the end of the thing if I had. I didn't need to and I'm not sure it would have improved my time. During the run, I got a chance to cheer on some of the triathlon virgins I had talked to before the race. It actually helps motivate me when I cheer on others. I finally saw Nick for the first time since the run with less than a mile to go in the race. It was good to see him. As I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, I picked up a bit of speed (probably my normal running pace now), but then I started to kick it. It was one of my best kicks! I felt great, then I realized how fast I was going and it amazed me and just tried to go faster. Very cool little kick and I had a nice high after.
Time: 35:47

As I said at the beginning. it was a great race. I enjoyed it, pushed a bit, and ended happily. And guess what? I beat my first race...which was two miles shorter in the bike!

Final time: 1:51:28! Woot!

I came in 15/17 in my age group (25-29). I'm actually 24, but according to USAT, I'm 25 because my birthday's in September. Had I been in the 20-24 age group...I would have come in third, which is hilarious!

Anyway, great race! Made my goals, had a great time, and I'm back in love with the sport!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Tri tomorrow!!!

I have another tri tomorrow morning! My original goal was to beat my first tri time (1:53:35), but they added two miles to the ride, so I'm not sure I will...

The tri is 500m, 14 miles, 5k. I'm pretty excited about it. My goal time is still to beat the first, but I mostly want to have fun. I didn't enjoy the tri in April as much as I hoped I would, but I think I've gotten a new joy in the sport, so I hope to have a blast out there! I'm shooting for less than two hours...

I'll be the 161st person in the water, which is pretty nerve-wreaking. Wish me luck!

Monday, May 31, 2010

It finally happened

My workouts have been going great over the last week. I've felt really blessed to be out there, having fun swimming, biking or running. I live in a small town, and my rides take me out in the country. I've gotten to ride beside running baby cows, goats and playful gophers. It's been pretty fun. I'd fallen off the "I enjoy this sport" thing, but I think I'm getting back on! I have a tri in less than two weeks, so I'm trying to give it my all before I leave on vacation on Wednesday/Thursday!

Yesterday, I had a bike/swim planned. It was great! First, I went on a 12-mile bike through Norman, eventually planning to end up at the OU Pool for an OUTDOOR swim! Along the ride, it finally happened! I fell for the first time with my clipless! It was one of those times where I didn't get the second foot out in time and just sort of fell over stopped at a stop sign. I scratched up my knee a tiny bit, got a small bruise and pulled the chain off the gears. There were two cars at the intersection to watch my graceful fall, but it really wasn't too bad. I made sure to clip out extra early the rest of the ride!

So many times when I work out, I think, how great would it be to jump in a pool right now...and this time I got to! It was the first time all season the outdoor pool had been open...and the first time I've done lap swims outside since the first few classes of my Beginning Swimmer class four years ago! Let me tell you...it was amazing! It was so much better than being inside. I'm not really sure why, but I really enjoyed it. Because I don't live in Norman and there's a pool where I work, I won't get to use the outdoor pool much, but it was a great swim!

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend! I plan to run today, bike tomorrow...then travel Wednesday and Thursday. I'll be on a camping/float trip with Nick's family. I hope to get a run in along with swimming in the river, canoeing on the river and hiking through the hills. And plenty of relaxing! Should be a great trip!!!

Monday, May 24, 2010

More uplifting...

I don't really feel like writing out a long post, I just don't want my lame last post to be the one up...

Friday I got to go into work a few hours late, so I slept in, and then decided I'd run. Time kept me from getting much of a workout in, but I did three sprints up this short hill. I cut four seconds off the second one as compared to the first. Then, determined to be just seconds faster, I did the last. Cut another SIX seconds! Awesome. The short work out got me thinking about my previous post. I have a tri in three week -- there's no room for excuses! And that's honestly what they are. If you're committed to training, you overcome those things.

Of course, then I didn't work out again until today, so maybe I was full of it!

But I am committed for the next week and a half. I have a fairly intense (but doable) workout plan. Next Wednesday evening, Nick and I leave for a little trip with his family. We're heading out to a river and cabins. I'm super excited, and hoping to get an open-water river swim in as well as a run. I think I'll be able to have to motivation -- especially now that Nick's working out. Plus, we'll do some hiking, and of course, an all-day canoe trip. I should stay active, but still relax. My next tri is the following weekend! Eek!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I've had a really difficult time motivating to work out this week. First off, I'm scared that if I push myself, I will get sick and throw up all over! I know it's silly, but it's real...

I did go swimming on Tuesday. The swim was fine, but I had a horrible headache after! It died down to just an annoyance, and last for 12 hours or so...

Here's the deal. I've been really tired and had some waves of nausea since I started the antibiotics. Yes, it's likely mostly in my head, but it's hard to overcome. I'm hoping the problem will resolve itself this weekend. I don't know if my lack of motivation is from being tired because of the meds or because I haven't really worked out...

Today I did convince myself to go outside for 30 minutes. The plan was to just be outside for 30 minutes. I could walk, run if I wanted, or even sit down. I hoped the beautiful day, the sun and the exercise would help. I loved it and had a great half hour! I did try to run a bit. I got a little motion sickness. Even looking far in the distance, everything was moving up and down...Does that normally happen? It doesn't usually bother me...

I don't really like this post because it sounds like I'm whining. Maybe I am. I'm hoping I feel way better after I get off the meds tomorrow night...