Call a doctor! I think I need help.

I used to think "runners" were crazy. Who wants to get up SUPER early in the morning, just to run. Running was uncomfortable, awful for your joints and just overall...crazy.

Well, I still think they are crazy. But now, I'm a nut bag like everyone else!

After getting up at 4:30 yesterday morning to go to a race with 22,000 other crazies, I spent yesterday in pain. My knees, mostly, killed anytime they bent and/or I put pressure on them, ie every time I stood or sat down. I woke up today with some knee pain and sore hips. Not half bad for how well (or not) I'd trained. But then, driving to work today, I was thinking about how great the run was...and I wanted to run again! Crazy.

It's as simple as that. I need a psychologist because I'm just as crazy as those runners, those triathletes, those workout nuts. And I love it!

Marathon relay - race results!

What a fun race! They said that 22,000 people were participating, whether it be in the marathon, the half, the relay, the 5k or the kids marathon. It was ridiculous!

I hate getting up early. Like 4:30 kind of early. But, alas, I did. After meeting my parents at a hotel in OKC, we went off to the race. It started at 6:30, and I was the first leg. I had to walk blocks to get into the starting line...and even then, I ducked in an opening of the gates. It took me 10 minutes to get to the starting line after the gun went off!

My race was good. There were a few hills, but the wind was blocked by the thousands of people running ahead of me, so that wasn't a problem. My ankles began hurting pretty bad at mile 3 (I forgot ibuprofen this morning!), but I told myself to ignore it. Walking would hurt it still anyway, right? I kept a good pace and felt pretty good. I made it to the transition at 1:08:55, by my watch. I was actually already messing with the chip to pass off when I stopped it, so maybe a few seconds before that. Official time says 1:09:05, so I wonder if that's what time my dad left the area.

After resting for 5-10 minutes, I got food, my finisher medal and went to wait in line for the shuttle. I was in line - no joke - almost an hour. Only one bus had come and we hadn't seen one in more than a half-hour. Because someone told us it was two miles back, a couple of ladies and I decided to walk. My legs were stiffening up already and I was ready to get out of there. According to MapMyRun.com, it was 2.5 miles. It took us a while, but they kept me company. We made it back at the three-hour mark and found our way to the hamburger place -- I was HUNGRY!

Anyway, I waited and cheered until two members of our team came running along. I joined them in the finish! We saw my parents (our other two relayers) after the finish line. It was really fun to participate. Our team time was 4:31:59. Not half bad, I suppose.

If you're ever in the area, try the Memorial Marathon, even if its for the relay or what not. It's a fun, energetic race. And of course, it makes you think about the 168 lost 15 years ago in the Oklahoma City Bombing.

Relay tomorrow

We have the marathon relay tomorrow morning! (The race starts at a ridiculous 6:30...)

I'm running the first leg - 6.2 miles. I'm shooting for 1:15 time...

Guess we'll see how it goes...Wish me and my team luck!

One year ago...

A year ago, I became a triathlete.

I completed the King Tut Triathlon -- a sprint distance -- in 1:53:35! It was such an amazing experience, and I was hooked from Day 1. I won't go on and on reminiscing about what triathlon has done for me. I've done that post and if you really want to read it, just go into my history! To sum it up: It's done a lot -- so much of my life is different because of triathlon. And I've come along way in some respects. I haven't been freaking out about not being able to do distances this year because I know I can -- I've done it! But then again, things that haven't changed? I'm still slow :)

I just thought a post was deserved on the anniversary of this day.

--
Now, do you want to hear how my marathon relay training is going? Not well, actually! I decided to run an 3.8 mile out and back yesterday. I was probably 10 yards from my turn around when I had a back spasm! I had to stop and stretch it, but then my only option was to run back. It was an inconvenience, but loosened up some on the run. Well, it was incredibly tight and hurt all day yesterday and today. I decided not to run today (it was supposed to be my 4.5-5 mile long run to prep for the 10k on Sunday). I figured it would be really bad if I injured it further. I already had a busy evening of grocery shopping and bill paying, and it's bothering me again after all that. I'm busy the next two nights, so I can't get a run in then. Oh well. The race should be interesting!

Any idea why that happened? It was a really good run. I felt great. Am I holding my back weird or too much or something? Any suggestions?

Spring Fever Triathlon - Race report!

I've got the first race of the season under my belt! A year later? Still slow! ;p

I did the Spring Fever Triathlon, which was in Claremore, located about 50 minutes away from my parents house, which meant any EARLY morning! Why can't transition areas open at 9? Well, I got up, grabbed some food, put on my clothes and we were out the door. My parents are AMAZING and came with to cheer me on! We got there really early and it took me about 5 minutes to set up my transition area, so there was a lot of waiting. I guess a lot has changed in the last year. The problem with TA was that they decided to use PVC pipes. Well, after about 10 bikes got on, they started to lean completely over. I actually had to move my area because it was being crowded by bent over pipe!

I was very nervous for the race. Eager to get started, but scared too! Because it was a pool swim, we each started separately, and I was sixth in the water! That was a bit intimidating. My thoughts on a pool swim? I'm NOT a fan! While it's nice that I can see where I'm going, and theoretically I'm more comfortable in the pool, I didn't like having someone at my feet the whole time! I couldn't calm my breathing down because I felt like I had to speed because I always had a guy on my ankles. Therefore, the swim was ROUGH. I couldn't feel comfortable or get into a rhythm, so I felt like I wasn't getting enough breath. Anyway, I finished the 400m in 9:20. 48th in speed.

T1 was uneventful. I didn't get my feet dry, so my toe went numb during the ride from being wet! Boo! My time wasn't stellar either: 3:32, 82nd.

The 12-mile bike wasn't too terribly bad. It starts off on this huge, fairly steep hill, which was a bummer! It flattened out for a few miles before hitting us with a few good hills. Then, of course, we turned around and did the hills again! I'd say the course was "somewhat hilly, somewhat challenging," if I were rating it. I've had worse bike legs, so I won't complain. I'm still falling toward the end of the pack in my bike times. I came in 113 of 120 women. My bike time was 1:03:40, or 11.3 pace.

T2 also was fairly uneventful. First time I had to change shoes in T2! That went alright. I'd say my transition times were slow, but it's not a huge deal. It's not something I really practiced. T2: 2:15, 77th

The run! Oh my gosh, it was tough! My calves were incredibly tight and I just couldn't get into any kind of stride. (I think there's more brick workouts in my future!) Then, of course, they throw in a half-mile INCREDIBLY steep hill. Yeah, thanks! I'd promised myself I wouldn't stop and walk. I'd never finished a tri without some walking, so I was determined to change that this time! It was only a 2-miler anyway! I actually think I could have had a better time had I stopped, walked and stretched my legs out a bit at the beginning of the run, but I didn't! I ran the whole thing! My time, again, wasn't stellar, but I thought I did OK. I passed a person or two...I ran it in 24:50, or a 12:25 pace. And it honestly seemed slower to me! Came in 90th.

It sounds like I was kind of down. I think I had the wrong attitude during the race, which led to me struggling with the semi-rough terrain the race provided instead of taking it head on! I'm going to learn from that and enjoy the next race more, while, hopefully, pushing myself harder the next time. It was good first race to do and I think I learned a lot about how I need to change my training for the next one!

I finished in 1:43:34! I was 96th of all women. And 16th of 18 in my age group (25-29, even though I'm only 24!).

What's next? 10k in a marathon relay in TWO WEEKS!

Race is tomorrow!

I just got back from packet pickup! I'm totally excited and pretty freaked out all at the same time!

I'm nervous. Not because I'm afraid I won't finish or I think it will hurt. Just because it's my first race of the season. I guess it's kind of like the first time you get on a roller coaster when you get to the amusement park. You know it's going to be awesome, but it's pretty scary. Plus, it's a pool swim, with individual start times, and I'm not sure what to expect with that. I don't know. I'm looking forward to it, though!

I didn't get a last run in. I worked until 8 p.m. Friday, and then went to this event at work. The whole office was there and then I helped clean up after. I didn't get home until 10 p.m. (and I'd been at work solidily since 8 a.m.). Then the next morning, instead of hitting the snooze, I accidentally hit the off button, so I didn't get time for a run before I had to head to Tulsa in time to see my mom. Oh well. I'm sure it will be OK. But you know what the toughest part about having a race tomorrow is? Not being able to work out today. It's so beautiful out! I want to go on a bike ride or something...

Goals:
- Run the whole 2 miles (I've never ACTUALLY done a race without walking some.)
- 1:30 would be AWESOME, but I think 1:35 is more of a realistic, but tough goal time
- Then of course, coming in ten minutes later (1:45) is a pretty decent race.

This race is really going to be a feeler race. And fun. That's what this season is all about. Fun races!

Wish me luck!

T-7 days

Yup. My first tri of the season is just one week away! Woo!

Am I ready? Yes and no. It's a 400m pool swim, 12-mile bike and 2-mile run. I know I can do the distances with limited problems. In fact, I think I can do each of them fairly quickly. The problem is, I haven't done a lot of doubling up. I'm worried about my endurance at a quick pace because of that. And, I haven't done any bike/runs. I think I'll get one worked out tomorrow. (It was hard to motivate this weekend! But Easter was great!) Oh, and I had more pool trouble last week, so I'm not getting swims in as often as I want.

But all in all, I'm super excited and not particularly worried. This year is supposed to be about fun tri-ing, without putting a lot of stress on myself. I'm excited to get another under my belt -- and start the season off!