N.O. 70.3 2011 RR

When I first moved to New Orleans and saw the abbreviation NO on various street signs - I thought it literally meant the word no. After a few days I eventually figured out that it really was the abbreviation for New Orleans.

Anyway given how the race played out, I found it even more appropriate to title this race report: "NO 70.3". As most of you already know this weekends race definitely wasn't a 70.3- it was only a 69.1

The swim was cancelled because of the rough waters below:

With the swim cancellation, the race officials opted for TT bike start. Even more fun! I wasn't thinking and ended up in the very last pair to leave for my age group. I initially thought they were going via numerical order but that never happened. Regardless, I miraculously did a flying mount past the dismount line and passed a few girls right from the start.

Given the circumstances and knowing the course, I knew things were going to be dicey out there. Negative energy seemed to thicken the air: drafting was everywhere I look

ed, the cross wind was my worst nightmare, and the 30-34 age group girls were just plain MEAN! My race goals were quickly thrown out the window. My new goal was to survive this course.

Eventually the crowds thinned, the drafting ceased, and the wind shifted a little. Despite the bad energy, my nutrition was spot on. I had 3 bottles of Infinite and 3 Gu's. Heading back to transition, I was feeling good.

Goal time: 2:38

Actual 2:40

Bike pace 20.9

I grabbed a Gu in transition and was off to the run. I knew I had to make

up some time here if I wanted to be top 10 in my AG. I started off running comfortably in my heart rate zone around a 7:22 pace. I was passing lots of people. After the first mile or so, I started getting some foot numbness bilaterally. Grrrrrrr~stupid Yankz shoelaces were too tight. Too LATE now.....

I stayed around 7-min pace until mile 7 and then dropped to 8s for miles 8-9 and then to the 9s for miles 9-13. You can do the math as to how I felt during those miles.

Goal: 1:38-1:41

Actual 1:50:22

Final AG: 17th in a stacked field of fast ladies

Final time: 4:33:30

For some reason, I just can NOT get the run together in the 70.3+ distance. Although I'm stoked to have dropped 6 minutes from my bike time last year and 20 minutes from my run time, something still isn't right. Luckily, I've enlisted some help from a new coach to fix this in the future :)

Regardless of what happened on race day, this weekend I made some great new friends and caught up with some old ones. Just to name a few Marni, Karel, Flex's new friend Campy, Barb, Tamra, Michele and her hubby.

And of course can't forget my house guest Kim :)

Cheers to getting the first race of the season done and to many new friendships! I think that is what makes the sport worth it! Thank you for your cheers and support :) Great job to all who raced-

New Orleans 70.3 Race Report: Rolling with the Punches

Moving is not fun and I apologize this has taken so long... But I'm finally living and settled in down in New Orleans. Here goes:

Race Morning

Race morning was smooth and glitch-less. Having visited the city several times and having Scott who obviously knows the area, we arrived on race morning right on time. Breakfast nutrition was a vanilla ensure and half a Luna bar. We settled into transition quickly and

comfortably organized our respective areas.

Swim

My heat took off right on time: 7:48 am. I got a nice spot right up front. The water was shallow for a while and required several dolphin dives to make it out. I was in the top few girls and felt strong, smooth, and comfortable.That was until I felt the chop...... Although I diligently observed the previous heats, I failed to notice the intensity of the chop and rollers. Oops. It was hard to get down a good rhythm as I was constantly being tossed from side to side. I tried my best to time my breathing with the waves. It seemed to work for the first half. After crossing the halfway mark and making the turn for the second half, I had an extremely difficult time spotting the buoys back. The glare from the sun and un-forgiving chop made it impossible to sight. I tried my best to make a straight track although caught myself too far in and too far out more than once.

I crossed the line. 36:20. Ouch. 4 minutes off my goal.

T1 was smooth and I was off on the "pink hotness".

Bike

I carefully monitored my time and made sure I knew exactly when I needed my first gel. After the washing machine swim, I knew I had to time it correctly. I was determined to nail my nutrition today. 20 minutes into the bike I grabbed my chocolate flavored Power bar gel. Wow-- was I hungry already. As I was so caught up on swallowing the chocolate yumminess, I haphazardly hit some railroad tracks and then a cone straight on.

Down I went....

Shocked at what I just did, I glanced down to both upper extremities and then to both lowers. No broken bones thankfully- just one big gash on my left knee. The blood quickly oozed and dripped down my leg. My mind and body were instantly numbed as I thought was this it?

No way! I was not giving up that easily.

I quickly examined my bike. Everything was intact except for some shredded wires beneath the handle bars. Could ol girl pull me through? Was my bike ride-able? I thought I would give it a shot.

I mounted the pink hotness and continued although I instantly realized I was not able to shift into my big ring. I kept plugging away, praying my pink hotness would pull me through. And she did. Thankfully.

Bike time: 2:46:05 in the small chain ring with a crash.

T2 was speedy and a blur. I felt good just having survived the bike and let out a sigh of relief as I moved onto the run. I took 2 gels with me and figured I could hydrate along the way. I was on to my best event at least I thought so at the time.....

Run

My legs never got moving onto the run. The noon sunshine beat down unforgivably and sucked the life out me and my legs. I felt sluggish, tired, and dehydrated. I couldn't tell exactly if it was nutrition, me knee, the crash, the sun..... Either way it was painfully slow and quite ugly.

Goal run: 1:45. Actual 2:10

Overall goal time: 5:15-5:20. Actual: 5:37

Despite the "mini" crash and not accomplishing my goal time, I still was able to place in the top 10 in my age group. Besides the run, my nutrition plan actually seemed to work. And most importantly, I had FUN!

Goals Accomplished

1. Top 10 Age Group

2. Successful Nutrition (for the most part)

3. Staying positive no matter the end result!

Not Accomplished:

1. Overall Time

I worked so hard for this race and was a little dissappointed with the end result. But with life and with triathlon we all must roll with the punches! Now I'm just hungry for more. I guess I'll have to find another 70.3 before IM Florida. I have some unfinished business. Cheers to 2010 :)