Run Bike Run

Since getting more comfortable with biking, I decided to give my first duathlon a try. My friends did a sprint triathlon in downtown Indy in August, and I decided to do the Sprint Duathlon – a 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run.

 

            Run 1            Transition 1       Bike                              Transition 2         Run 2

Me with my (crazy) triathlon friends:

I was so proud of my running times, but honestly, mostly of my bike time! The course was very rough – bumpy pavement and lots of turns – but it’s the fastest average on the bike I’ve ever done!  I love running the most…but I’d highly encourage fellow runners to do a duathlon for an added challenge.

The Need For Speed

Let me back up….

I registered for a local 5k in June.  It was cheap, and I hadn’t done a 5k race in forever!  (Okay. I looked it up thanks to www.onlineraceresults.com and it was actually 2006. And I got a 23:33 overall time, which I was very happy with).

So I wanted to do this race because it was so cheap, in my town, and I wanted to see what I was capable of.

Well….

I was thrilled with the results!  I felt like I was going to vomit in the end, but seeing my sister and her sweet kiddos kept me going.

 

 

I don’t consider myself a “fast” runner.  And I’m not saying that to fish for compliments, I just am not that athletically inclined and don’t think I’m “good” at anything sports related. I was always one of the last kids chosen on a team in gym class But this race did make me feel good. And having some of my favorite fans to cheer for me along the way?  Well, that was icing on the cake.

Do you view yourself as an athlete?  I was a choir girl in high school, so for awhile I had a hard time saying “I am a runner.”  Then I figured…..9 half marathons and 3 fulls makes me a runner, right? No matter how fast I am.

Where Have I Been?

Well, to answer that question….

(Source)

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To people who think Indiana is "Flyover Country,” let me tell you differently: I have lived in Indiana (Indianapolis) my whole life, and I’ve seen prettier parts of our state in the past few weeks than I’ve ever seen in those 31 years.  Plus, we are friendly here.

Yes, it is travel season.  A typical day starts at 8 a.m. (or 5 a.m., if you are me and prefer to workout in the mornings) and ends at around 9 or 10 p.m.  I’m sooooo tired.  But I LOVE my job.

I am SO sorry I am behind in most of your blogs.  I am Catholic and am feelin’ the Catholic guilt, so please pay me no mind..  But I miss you all, and you’ve been in my thoughts the past few months!

Sprint Triathlon Number 2!

Last weekend, I completed my second sprint triathlon!

Even though it was my second tri, it was my first open water triathlon (the swim portion for my last tri was in a pool).

In a way I felt more confident going into this race because I had one under my belt.  But I’ll be honest….I was a tiny bit disappointed as I crossed that finish line.  Let’s look at the negatives and positives of the race:

Positives:

- I practiced two open water swims prior to race day

- I had been on my bike more (maybe 5 or 6 more times?)

- The weather wasn’t going to be 40 degrees like it was in April!

 

Negatives:

- It was raining – no, POURING at the start of the race and during the swim, which threw me off

- During the swim, I lost this;

…..which is the timing chip that is velcroed to your ankle.  I tried to tread water and get it back on – yeah, that wasn’t workin’!  So I swam over to a lifeguard on a surfboard and got it back on. 

- I lost the chain on my bike as a I got started….and I have no idea how to fix it when that happens! (I know, I know….I am going to learn).  Thankfully after looking around with a panicked expression, a spectator came to help.

- It was my first time riding my bike on wet roads…on a hilly, curvy course at that!

 

Here’s how my first tri compares with my second:

 

Triathlon 1: (400 meter swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)

Triathlon 2: (500 meter swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)

So definitely room for improvement in the swim and bike, but at least my transitions were awesome this time? 

 

Picture Post: Spring into Summer

Why…..hello, there!

I hope you’re all having a great summer so far!  I’m going to post a recap of my second (!) triathlon, but here is a quick picture update of the last month…..because, if you’re like me, you prefer pictures to words, anyway. 

 

Mother’s Day

Trip to the Children’s Museum with Reid (isn’t he getting so big?!)

Fort building with Aunt Holly

 

Indy 500 with my dad

Sailing….

 

First open water swim route!

  

My birthday….

 

“Better Than Sex” Cake….OMG

Birthday celebrations 

Second triathlon!

 

Just playin’

And the most exciting part….

 

My sister, Kelly, is preggers again!  My 6th niece or nephew will be here in January – SO EXCITED!!

 

Enjoy your weekend!

I Owe You a Recap….

Well, hello there!

Yes, I am still alive. 

My job has been pretty busy, and, well, life in general!  And every time I take a break from blogging, it takes a lot to get me back into it, I guess.

Anyway, first I will start off with a recap of my triathlon last month!

I didn’t have anyone there to take pictures, but here is a before and after shot.

 

Me and my friend, Steph – she is training for a half Ironman in July!

 

Steph, my friend, Bruce, and me post-race

I kind of felt like a bad ass with the numbers on my arms.

I had no idea what to expect, other than being slow in the pool. 

I was, indeed, slow in the pool, but that particular day was also FREEZING!  We came out of the pool and ran outside into 40 degree temps and heavy winds.  I will never forget that run from the pool to my bike – soaking wet and freezing cold!

I tried to transition as quickly as I could….it helped that I borrowed my friend’s tri suit.  I threw on my jacket, bike shoes, and helmet and took off on the bike.

I’d only been on my road bike (clipped in) about 4 times prior to the race, so I was still a little scared during all of the twists and turns!  It was super windy but I was okay with my bike time.

Then came the run.

I felt like I was HARDLY moving at all.  It’s true why they call them “Brick” workouts – your legs feel like, well, BRICKS.  I remember seeing the one mile marker and SWEARING it should be 3.

I was so happy with my run time, at least! 

 

Swim (400 Meters): 11:02.6

Transition One  – 3:38.4

Bike (10 Miles) – 36:51.7 (16.3 mph)

Transition Two – 2:16.2 

Run (5k) – 23:35.7 (07:35/mile)

Overall:  1:17:24.6

 

For my first triathlon, I was pretty happy with how it went.  Sure, I wish I could have been faster in the swim and bike, but for not really doing it much to prepare, I was pretty pleased!

 

I promise to catch up on your blogs and lives soon – I missed you all!

Beans and Birthdays, Blind Dates and Burns

This weekend I…..

- Celebrated the first birthday of my sweet nephew, Reid:

- Hung out with new friends and enjoyed lots of laughs and TONS of good food:

- Biked 37 miles and ran 3.5 miles Sunday!  (Whoa….)

- Didn’t learn my lesson about sunscreen….

 

- Went on a blind date with a very sweet (but short ) guy…..we will see.

 

- Enjoyed WARM…no, HOT weather.  Summer, I am so ready for you.

 

- Made this bean salad recipe recommended by Lee…..SO good!

What’d you do this weekend?