IM RI 70.3 Race Report/Whats Nxt

1st off I wanted to say that compared to my heat stroke Hawaii 70.3 first time Half Im in 2007 of 7 hrs flat at age 21, what a difference. I then proceeded to race the "Bassman" in 2008 which was not an IM series, but instead a Half distance in 6:20 at age 22at a 6 flat pace. I was faced with major stomach issues during the run.

I was due to race in 2009 last summer the Westchester "Toughman" but I had a major bike accident towards the end of the summer. Now I can only wonder where I would have been time wise if I would have been more consistant with racing half IM races every yr. My org. goal this race was between 5:20-5:40, only realizing after I had finished, it isn't fair to myself to jump an HOUR faster no matter how bad I want the times and what I think I can capable of doing at this current time in my training. From reading Tawnee's blog, her first Half was in 2009 at her age 24 where I am now, mine was in 2007 at age 21 way slower, way less experinced. Although Tawnee is a little faster than me race wise, I have had more experience and more years racing.

Her first half was 5:40 where I should be now. Three months later, she took 20 mintues off her time and finished her 2nd half in 5:20, a time I would be looking at to finish in Clearewater. It is now July and I was 10 minutes short with all the hard work and training behind me of qualifying for Clearwater. Major dissapointment. In a way, I am kind of counting this Half IM even having done 2 previous as my first. 2007 was just a mess from the heat, having gone an hour slower than my normal run pace, it was just a rediculous race I would NEVER do again. Kona is another thing for the full...

In 2008 with the Bassman I was def undertrained for the bike, I never even did 1 ride over 30 miles it was rediculous. That was also the year I ran the race injurged with major knee pain... other than that, fast course and if I were to take all away easily I could go 530.... Tawnee Q'ed for Clearwater at age 24 through her 2nd half. She placed 4th in her first half just as I did and missed 3rd by a min, me I missed 3rd by ten mins....If only I could have ran faster in this race. Like Hawaii I was faced with major heat issues the first half and in fact, I bas fainted after I finished 20 mins after....

I had said to myself that I would use Cancun as a race backup, if I didnt Q for Clearwater this yr, it would be even double hard for nxt... So before I go into the race report, I am here to say that I am going to wing Cancun and see what I can do there hoping to go 40 mins faster if not 30 mins coming in with a 535 would be sweet. Tawnee at age 25 did Oceanside in a 513 this past April which is a sick time before she got injurged. I race Oceanside at age 25 nxt yr which I am pretty xcited about :D. Then I still have st Croix nxt may as well! :D To be honest, once I complete my first FULL, my body can handle it, but I am not quite sure if I can handle it with out getting injurged after...

So I have to come up with sev jobs to not only have xtra cash for Santa Barbara, but to pay for the hotel/flight to Cancun. I almost have my mom convinced to go with me.... so hope she comes thro so I can split everything and have a supporter during my race. Secretly I think she enjoys watching the race and getting to see new things through my races.

I went into this race having been well trained and injury free only thing having not been trained better than I wanted to be is the run. I didnt do enough 90 min -2 hr runs, but then again sometimes if I do too much running, I get knee pain and I get too slow.

I think overall from an endurance perspective, I was in perfect condition. Having been in 1 of the last swmming waves, I faced choppy conditions in the water which suxed and made my swim time 4 mins slower. I still have yet to break 40 mins in the swim... I have to be at the pool an hour for now on, I am def not doing enough volume, as 30 mins each swimming session is obvi no wheres near enough.

Biking training was perfect did plenty of volume and mostly because I enjoy the biking training the most. The bike course was filled with rolling hills and I went up them just fine. I was faced by mile 20 with major left hip groin pain, but eventually went away when I kept re-asjusting my positining in the saddle and stretching my legs out on my bike on the down hills. I was just shy of my goal of 3 hrs flat on the bike and I am almost betting that once I FINALLY get a racing bike after being a TRIathlete for 6 yrs at the end of the season, I will be flying in the bike course.

The run, I was paced and planned to do at least a 150 if not a couple mins faster having done the swim/bike previously. The heat hit me like woah and I felt like such shit the first half, kinda like passing out shit. At least I wasnt getting any stiches, cramps, or knee pain, just instead, dizzyness. I slowed down my pace to almost 9 mins but when I refeuled myself, I started feeling better instantly and by the 2nd half I was def pacing 740s if not faster. I kept checking girls legs who appeared to be in my age cat to make SURE no one passed me. Funny enough, the entire 56 miles I let not 1 WOMAN pass me, NO ONE lmao! Only to find these men passing me then slowing down, give me a break boys, get ova urselfs, sorry if im betta...

So my run time was super slow over a 150, but at least under 2 hrs. This girl tried to pass me the last 2 miles but I was fighting her off, and now we are friends over fb lol... I always like to finish strong now matter how shitty I feel or how tired I am. So I had a sprinting finish and passes her only by secs to the finish. This IDIOT was running with his kids and blocking my way which is actually supposed to be an Automatic DQ, I nearly ran them over. I crossed the line in a 5:58, paced on a 5:40 if I didnt screwed my run up and swam just a little faster.... I can't complain too much, it was my best offical half time ever, and they do hand awards out 5deep which I also was unaware of :D. I finally got my first M dot trophie which is sweet :D.

The thing that suxed majorly is that they rolled down clearwater to 3rd place, and I was 4th 10 mins behind. SHITTY SHIT SHIT!! damn her. Seriously man, that sux. But luckily like mentioned before, I am going to Cancun to try 1 more time, and Im going to do whatever it takes to get me there. 5:40 flat im shooting for in Cancun, 520 in Clearwater, 5:15/5:20 nxt yr in Oceanside, prob 5:20..:)

I am taking today totally off and tmr I am doing a heavy swim getting the tightness out of my legs. I might lift tonight, might.... we have to see... Wens.thurs will be the work outs of the week and I have a MAJOR race sunday which is the Metroman. The Metroman was just made into the USAT Age Group National Champ Q so I have my sights set on that too, if Clearwater falls thro. But why the hell do they have to be held in Alabama rly?! lol I think they are always held there but why now cal. :D

So I have Metroman oly July 18
Irongirl sprint Aug 8
Santa Barbara oly Aug 28
Cancun Sept 19
Nov Clearwater?

SO my season only has a few more races, but now I have come to where I NEED to push everything I have. RI 70.3 taught me that if I see someone my age, dont SETTLE, NEVER settle esp since I was in front the ENTIRE race. I mean forget it, I know I am a weak swimmer, but I am such a stronger cyclist, I must of passed 10 woman my age in the bike lol...

SO thats the report and I hope all u readers enjoyed what I have to say! :D