SheROX Triathlon

This past weekend I completed the SheRox Triathlon! Its crazy to think that almost exactly a year ago I did my first triathlon, and now a year later I'm up to six! (More about my first race on my blog Fearless Triathlon - I Did It!) This of course coming from the girl who swore she would never, EVER do a triathlon. What's up next? Me eating cheese? Doubtful! My friend Tara signed up for the race months ago and kept trying to get me to sign up. I thought about it since I liked the idea of a women's only triathlon, but my race schedule has been so heavy this year that I just needed to draw the line somewhere so I said no.

SheRox Triathlon Race Shirt

Mentor Program

A couple months ago though I saw in a race newsletter that SheRox was looking for mentors for first time triathletes. I was instantly intrigued, read about the program online, and then sent an email off to the organizer of the team.  A year ago I knew nothing about triathlons and had sooo many questions. Several friends, the Tri Club, and the Fearless Races clinics all helped me get to the start line prepared; and I really wanted to give back to a new triathlete who was were I was a year ago. (Not like I'm a master of all this by any means now, but I have a good idea of what you need to get through the race.)

I was soon matched up with a mentee and I was so excited to share everything I had learned this year! Unfortunately my partner was  a new mom with little time to train (or even reply to my emails half the time....) so we barely connected and actually never got a chance to meet. Totally not what I was expecting from the relationship. But .. silver lining .. by signing up to be a mentor I was given free registration to the race. I felt guilty getting the free entry in exchange for essentially doing nothing ... but hey, I tried!

SheRox Triathlon Course Map

Training For the Race

This race fell in the middle of my training plan for the Marine Corps Marathon which I'll be running with David next weekend. I scheduled one swim day and one or two bike days per week. Um yeah, I barley got those workouts in. I've started to burn out on running towards the end of the year and each time I had a mediocre run I'd try to make up for it the next day (and forgo a swim or bike workout) to get one more run in. As the months ticked by and race day approached I had only swam twice and biked four times in the past three months. Oops. 

LOVE My Volvo! Bike w/Tire On Fits Perfectly

Race Expo

On the Saturday before race day I came by the expo to pick up my race number and goodie bag. When I got my number I noticed I was in Wave 1 but didn't think anything of it. I figured maybe they put all the mentors up front. When I went to pick up my swim cap though, the guy said "Oh! One of the special silver swim caps!" I mumbled "Um yeah, I think that's a mistake". He said "Oh .. well are you a really strong swimmer?" HA "No, but I'm a strong runner." He shrugged and handed me the cap and just told me to start in the back. Well okay, it can't be that bad right? At least I don't have to start in a huge pack!

Wave 1 Huh?

I was sad to find out that before leaving the expo they were marking everyone up with their race numbers. It was 2pm and I had a bunch of errands to run. And .. I ran them with huge "75's" on my arm and a "1" on my right calf. 

The Gun Show - Marked for the Race

When I got home I started to fret a bit about being assigned to Wave 1. What if it was unethical? Would the other elite athletes laugh at me? Should I go back and try to switch? I turned to my online friends for some advice, and the general consensus seemed to be to stay in the wave. So I decided to just go with it.

Silver Cap Matches My Sony Gear!

Gear Laid Out, Ready to Pack

Race Morning

The next morning I got up around 4:30 am and made it down to the race area by 6:15 am for a 7:00 am start.  Look at me not showing up late! :o) I racked my bike and searched for Tara. 

Transition Area - So Much Room to Rack in Wave 1!

Glam Runners - Minus Their Glam

Soon it was 7:00 am and it was time for my (elite!!) wave to start. Oh boy, it was me and one other chick. She didn't seem to notice that I totally don't look like an elite athlete (by about 20 pounds) and said she was so relieved she wasn't racing alone! Um, well little did she know she would be as soon as we started. 

Silver Cap Looks Nervous!

The Elite Athlete, Me, & My Double Chin

Swim - 750m

The swim was a water start which I prefer to running in from the beach. When the horn sounded and we started to swim I took a few strokes and then looked up to sight and saw a flurry of arms off into the distance. O M G she was fast! I thought oh well, just keep swimming. 

Tragic - Me Swimming Alone

At Least I Avoided This

After two corrections from the lifeguards to head back in the right direction on the course (once by the BOAT! So embarrassing!), being passed up by faster swimmers in the two waves behind me, and wondering if 750 meters really meant 750 miles .. I finally emerged from the water. Thank goodness! I swear the swim felt like it would never end. Ugh. I ran up to the transition area, grabbed my bike, and then headed off for the second leg of the race.

THE Best Part of Any Swim - Getting Out!

Representing Team Sony

Bike - 20K

Since I'm new to biking I'm a pretty slow biker. In my past races I averaged between 16-18mph which is not very fast in a race. On this course I started out and noticed that I was around my usual pace in the first few miles, but suddenly around mile 5 I must have warmed up because I actually found my groove! I started to bike faster and felt like I was getting stronger. 

Looking Serious on the Bike

The bike course was 12.4 miles long and somewhere around mile 8 I think I got a biking high. I suddenly wanted to be good on the bike. I wanted to train. I wanted to get stronger! I made a promise to myself that I would dedicate more time to the bike. Hopefully I can stick to that. Throughout the two loops I averaged between 15-20 mph. 20 mph!! I actually rode a few 'fast' miles! Go me!

My Elite "Competition" Finishing Strong

Run - 5K

After the bike comes my favorite part of a triathlon ... the run! Oh the glorious run! I am SO happy to run after swimming and biking since it is the only part I feel that I'm good at. The race was two 1 1/2 mile loops

which were flat, but boring. I always run with music so running in silence (while soaking wet) is totally boring. Half a mile felt like ten miles .. and the looping course was such a tease. Right as you finish the first loop you are almost at the finish line .. but oh sorry, you've only run 1 1/2 miles. Head out and do that again. Sigh. 

Finally Crossing the Finish Line

I was happy to see that I was sticking to a 7:30 pace for most of the run and 22 sweet minutes later the race was over. I did it! A triathlete once more!

Yay! I'm Done!

Finish

After the race I had my eye out for Tara, Allison (another GOTR coach), and Veronika (one of my fellow Team Sony Walkman teammates). I got to see all three finish the race and got pictures with all of them. For those of you interested in race stats, here's where I ended up.

Very Cool - Immediate Race Results at the Finish

Swim 19:33  (Division Place: 52/81) <--- booo

T1 1:39 (Division Place: 8/81) <--- hustlin'

Bike 40:53 (Division Place: 31/81)

T2 1:14  (Division Place: 22/81) 

Run 22:26 (Division Place: 14/81) <--- yeah!

Final: 1:25:44 (Division Place: 27/81)

Overall Place: 143/582

Team Sony! Monika & Veronika (K's for Kool!)

GOTR Coaches & Friends

So I didn't do so well in the swim, did mediocre on the bike, and I PR'd on the run! My 5K PR from the LA Tri Relay last month was 22:38. This was a 12 second improvement .. although supposedly the course was a little short. So fine, even if its not a 5K PR, its within 30 seconds of my PR .. and I swam and biked first! I'm really, really happy with that. (More on my last race on my blog LA Triathlon Relay.)

Meeting our DailyMile Friend Leah

All Smiles Heading Home

Post Race

After the race Tara and Ben and I headed over to the Linkery  for brunch. Aka sausages and beer. I'm not a huge beer fan but Tara & Ben are seriously beer aficionados so while I'm in their company I try to give the brews a chance.

Beer & Brauts at the Linkery

After the race I headed home to get started on a long todo list of personal things I needed to catch up with. This race weekend came right on the heels of my trip to Texas (more on my blog Domo Does Dallas) and I had my usual post-trip feeling of behind-ness.

Adding to My Collection

SheRox Triathlon Race Medal and Singlet

Next Up

My next race is the Marine Corps Marathon next weekend! Eek! This will be my second time running (his race (with David!!), my 3rd marathon this year, and my 16th marathon in my running career. I'm nervous but excited! I've made the (smart? dumb?) decision to roll the race into a work trip so I'll actually be heading to DC for five days next week. I hope my dogs don't party too hard while I'm gone. DC or Bust!