Thursday, July 18, 2013

Musselman 70.3 Recap

After a fun Mussel-Weekend of adventures, it was finally race day--

Pre-Race
The morning itself went pretty darn smoothly. Got up, got ready, and got on the road. Went to volunteer tent and John did my body marking for me, and then I went to transition to set up. I ate a huge handful of Energy BITS, and drank water like a boss. I knew it was going to be hot and was trying to help prepare myself as best I could.

I got set up and left transition and found my family & friends and was actually pretty relaxed.
My friend Amy is the Volunteer coordinator and made sure to leave me a special note for when I arrived in transition. Good work making a girl cry before the race.

Kind of reminds me of my awkward faced wetsuit photo from my first sprint triathlon.
 We made our way to the shore and I got my hugs and "be boss", "kick butt" etc, before John walked with me to enter swim area. It was an absolute gorgeous morning on the lake, and I was just trying to soak the sights and sounds (bagpipes) in.
Ratcliff photo posted this on Musselman Facebook page

Swim (Goal time: 45:00, Actual time: 41:22)[T1-2:38]
After getting counted in, I waded my way out to the start buoys and found a spot I was comfortable and relaxed while waiting. Miraculously I hear a pretty loud "GO LAURA" and turn to the shore which was a ways away to see my family and friends jumping up and down. I waved my hands in the air and smiled, it was going to be a good day.  I maintained pretty steady pace throughout, and only over shot one of the buoys which made me really happy. I finally made my way through the canal and to the last buoys by the boat launch where we exit. I walked up the ramp and slipped right near the top as the mat had moved towards the middle. A volunteer caught me right as I did (thank you, whoever you are!) and then I was able to get out and go. I looked at my watch as I was going through transition and saw 41:XX and couldn't help but smile. I gave my high-fives as I passed my family and friends and continued to get ready for bike.

Bike (Goal time: 3:25, Actual time: 3:30)[T2 2:09]
Bike mount went smoothly, and got to wave and see my family and friends shortly after which put a huge smile on my face!


The bike could easily be broken down like this for me
First 1:30 hours--"oh boy it's gonna be a long day"
From 1:30-2:30 hours--"this girl is on fire"
From 2:30-3:00 hours--"I literally feel on fire, it's hot"
From 3:00-3:30 hours-- "FML, why is this so hard right now"

After rounding the last turn- I knew I was close, got all excited seeing my family and then my friends were also at dismount....I got off my bike and said "woah"...drunk legs. T2 was decent for me switching my shoes, dumped remaining water from my bike bottle on my head and went on my way.

[After the race, I realized that I had punctured my tired while coming out of Sampson State Park (rough road section, I remember the bump where it had to have happened) which is about the time I thought it was fatigue slowing me down. I rode on low air for a while, and it had to have been flat the last 2 miles because I struggled really bad but wasn't going to stop with so little to go...explains why it felt harder than it should have!!!]

Run (Original Goal time: 1:45, Adjusted Goal time: 2:00, Actual time: 1:53)
Goofy smile seeing everyone in beginning of run.
Coming out on the run felt amazing, I was finally in my element. As much as I was happy to be running, I knew that I was tired and that the 90 degree heat wasn't going to help me get a 1:45 half in. I immediately told myself, just come in under 2 hours. I came around a corner and saw one of my favorite sites of the day. My parents, friends and their kids, my sister and her hubby all screaming and cheering my name. Even the people next to them started cheering my name when they heard them. Then my friend Mary did something that made my eyes light up, she held out my 3 month old nephew. I stopped and gave him a huge kiss on the forehead and went on my way. I couldn't stop smiling. Shortly after that I saw my friend Tom, he was stretching on the side and told me he wasn't going to go on (he was injured going into the race), I walked with him for a minute and then he told me to "get my ass going". I carried on, and got to see John around mile 3. I was so excited I just stopped and gave him a big kiss. We jogged together for a minute and then he told me to have a good run and I went on my way again. I knew that aid stations were roughly a mile apart so I made the goal to run to each and walk when I got to them (for fuel, ice, sponges and standing in hoses). With walks I averaged 9 minute pace for first 8 miles. Finally at mile 8 I told myself to kick it in, and bring it home. I still walked a little through aid stations to drink water and dump it on myself but managed to do the last 5.1 miles at 8 minute pace(including walks).
Pure happiness before the finish line. 
My goal times (with original run goal) + 
my pre-estimated 5 total minutes of transition time 
would have put me at 6 hours.
I crossed the finish line in 6:09.

9 minutes away from my original goal, and I am definitely okay with that. I did a half-iron distance triathlon, I didn't die, and I finished with a smile on my face.....you can't beat that. Yes, there is a part of me a little bummed- but that's what makes me an athlete and competitor, you HAVE to have the drive to be better. If I was 100% satisfied with this then I'd have no reason to try again and work harder for a better time. I want to get better, I want to get faster and I want to prove to myself I can break 6 hours. And you can bet your bottom, I WILL. #Findyourstrong


Thoughts
I may be a newer member of the Tri-family, but I still feel part of it. The encouragement from most of the other athletes out there was incredible. The "good jobs" and "you can do it" out on the course were awesome. If someone was on the side with a flat, everyone was asking if they needed help (I even offered my CO2 to someone, but they already had some).

I have amazing support from family and friends. I can't thank them enough for being there. My parents, sister/hubby with the baby, Mary/Cassie, Corey/Marie/Giada, Amy, and everyone else--it made me incredibly happy to see their smiling faces.

I also can't discount the amazing support from my friends and family who were not there physically but were sending emails, Facebook posts, texts, and tweets.

John really is my number one fan and team mate. I couldn't have done this without him. I absolutely can't wait until he is fully recovered from his knee problems and we can be out there together. Even though he hasn't been able to compete this year, his support to myself and other athletes has been more than I ever could have asked for.

The volunteers and course support was INCREDIBLE. I took the time to thank as many of them as I could on the bike, and same on the run. The run course was never lonely, aid stations every mile (overloaded with water, ice, sponges, food, flat soda, and hoses), and many local residents had their sprinklers and hoses set up outside as well. I don't think I ever went more than a half mile without either a local resident support crew or race station. I'm going to the volunteer appreciation dinner tonight (I volunteered Saturday and John did both days) and I can't wait to give lots of people hugs for all they did. Musselman, you put on an amazing race and I thank you for that.

Stay tuned: There will be some more photos, including a blooper reel for you. Most likely tomorrow (waiting for my daddio to send me the rest, get ready for some laughs!).


31 comments:

  1. Congrats again!! Awesome recap! Having the support of family and friends is so important.

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    1. SUpport makes a HUGE difference, thanks Natalie! :)

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  2. omg congrats again!! So cute. I love that wetsuit photo. And....duh...the bike flat stole your 9 minutes. No seriously, i once did a 40 mile ride with a slow leak and had no clue why I couldn't keep up with my friends. But that's just me, professional self-rationalizer. Actually it's not about the time, it's about the 70.3 badge. AND YOU GOT IT!! AWESOME!!!

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    1. I feel like an ass for not realizing it was flat-- I was like "wow I'm tired" "wow this is hard" I blamed it on myself..silly me!!!

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  3. Just amazing! You had really solid times in all three events, and nailed that run!! Inspiring. Congratulations!!

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    1. Thanks Laura!!! Can't wait to see you do one of these one day! You should do Musselman with me next year!

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  4. Wow, you did amazingly well! Great job!!! My fav part are your pictures. They're great, and you look so darn happy!

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    1. Thanks! I was definitely a happy girl (although there were also moments I wasn't quite as happy lol) It was a long hot day but ended on a great note!

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  5. It looks like you had a great time at the tri and I'm so glad you did it and posted this recap! I've never had the desire to do one but they are fun to read about and definitely a lot different than a race. I don't blame you to walk a little on the half marathon one bit, I can't even imagine running that time in a half marathon after a swim AND bike ride anyway. The pictures are great as well, and I'm sure as you do more tris (if you want to do more 70.3 ones) that you will improve that much more.

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  6. I just found your blog from a comment that you left on NYCRunningMama and I had to comment on this post. This is so incredibly inspirational. I am still at the point where I'm building up my mileage and running 5 miles seems like a major accomplishment to me. I cannot IMAGINE running a half marathon, swimming, AND biking?!? That is amazing!!! This is so, so inspiring and just what I needed today. CONGRATULATIONS!

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    1. I'm glad you found my blog, MIchelle @NYCrunningmama is so inspirational isn't she!

      Here's what I will tell you, we ALL started somewhere. And for the record running 5 miles IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, you choose to get out the door and run instead of choosing not to! Take it one step at a time!

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  7. Awesome recap!!! Sounds like a great race even though it was super hot out! Thought about you and your race a lot on Sunday and eagerly awaited your recap!!!!!!!
    Great job!!!!!!

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    1. Awe thanks Shelley! HOw are you doing? How was the coconut bra and grass skirt??

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  8. Awesome job girl! So glad your family was there to support you! You are one tough cookie! :)

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    1. Thanks! I was super glad my friends and family were there, my parents don't come to much so this was big!

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  9. Woohoo!!! Congratulations Laura! You did amazing!!!!! I've been stalking your blog all week waiting on this recap lol! Enjoy your awesome accomplishment girl!

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    1. Thanks Mindy-- the post took me a few days to write because it was like 12 pages long and wanted to shorten it....but also wanted it to be more than "I swam, biked and ran and survived" even though thats really how it went!

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  10. I am so proud of you and it was great to read all about it. I really wish I had been able to come and watch and you know if I was in upstate I would have. I can't imagine riding a bike that long and LET ALONE on a flat tire for a while. That is seriously incredable and then the half at the end in the 90 degree heat. Geez. I am extremely proud of you Laura and nothing will ever take this away from you. You are a fantastic member of the tri, running...rochester...life...internet community.

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  11. Girl I am just always so amazed by you. You absolutely rocked it and I was smiling as I read this entire recap. If it hadn't been the same day as the Boilermaker I would've been there screaming for you. Hopefully you are getting your recovery game on point and maybe we can meet up for a long run soon? And we can work on teleporting Hollie here to run with us too :)

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  12. Girl, you are such an inspiration!! Major congrats!! You said it perfectly with "you HAVE to have the drive to be better. If I was 100% satisfied with this then I'd have no reason to try again and work harder for a better time." I'm a new reader, was this your first 70.3?

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    1. Thank you :) I love pushing myself and always trying to get better, it keeps me focused, driven and motivated! Yes this was my first (and won't be my last) 70.3! Officially a Half-Ironwoman :)

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  13. Fabulous recap, and congratulations. Excellent race.

    You'll blow your 6:00 goal out of the water at your next!

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  14. Congratulations!!! You are a rockstar :) So proud of you for finishing your first half Ironman!!

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  15. Great race racap! Nice to finish happy and so close to your original goal! Way to go!

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    1. Thanks Paul, it was a great day! I'll get that 6 hour next time!

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  16. I'm so proud of you! Congratulations on completing your first tri and officially becoming a part of the Tri-family! I hope your hubby heals soon so you can go out there together! It's amazing how much crowds can push you. I definitely experienced it on my first half!

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    1. Thanks Lauren! He's slowly getting back into things (he can swim and ride and is slowly running short distances right now....he's working on getting his endurance back) and I can't wait till we can work out together sometimes again!

      Crowds do wonders, soak it all in....I love race day feeling!

      I'm glad you had that on your first half and you will on your NEXT one as well, because there will be a NEXT one for you and I might just have to come watch your amazing comeback!

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  17. Laura, you did an incredible job! Coming within 9 minutes of your goal of the course of a 6 hour race in that heat is an AMAZING accomplishment! And biking with a flat?! Wow. Your inner monologue during the bike is hilarious! CONGRATS!

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