Zooma Atlanta race report November 10, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races, Running.Tags: Running, Races, Half marathon
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Way back at the end of the summer, one of my triathlon teammates convinced me to sign up for the Zooma Atlanta half marathon. “Come on!” she said. “It’ll be fun!” she said. “It’ll keep your training on target!” she said. I figured it would be a good idea to have an endurance event on the fall calendar, as it would force me to stay in shape and avoid the off-season slump.
Well…so much for that.
Between my September wedding and some crazy work travel, my training regimen was decidedly unregimented. I ran when I could, but it was usually on a treadmill, and it definitely wasn’t for distances that were acceptable for half marathon preparation. So, as November 8 approached, to say that I felt apprehensive about my commitment would be the understatement of the year. Still, even walking 13.1 miles is quite a feat, so I decided to stick with the event and just do the best I could.
I woke up bright and early on Sunday, and I put on my lucky running skirt, my “Will Run For Wine” wicking shirt, and my badass visor from the Chattanooga tri (it makes me feel like a real athlete, what can I say). A friend picked me up, and we headed to Atlantic Station to start the race. At the start line, I actually ran into a friend from high school who was attempting her first half marathon. We chatted for a bit, and then it was off to the races! I felt pretty good for the first couple of miles, happily bopping along to my workout playlist (this was an iPod-friendly race, which I hadn’t experienced before).
I paused for a bio-break at the first water stop, and I kept right on running when I was finished. For the first 5-6 miles, I was pretty pleased with myself–after all, I was maintaining 11-12 minute miles, and I wasn’t feeling any pain. Maybe I would PR after all!
Not so fast.
As Spring Street turned into Techwood, which turned into Centennial Olympic Park, and as we ran past the CNN Center and the crowds of Falcons fans already tailgating near the Georgia Dome (man, did their grilled meats smell good…), I started to poop out. Specifically, around mile 7, my hip flexors began to THROB, and a stabbing pain occasionally flared up in and around my left knee (already braced). Other than at the water tables, I hadn’t been walking–but the exceptionally hilly course, combined with my lackluster training, meant that my ability to truly run was more and more compromised, and I found myself slowing significantly.
We circled Turner Field, passed the gold-domed state capital, and then stayed on Piedmont Avenue for a while. With every step, my joints cursed me. I tried to play peppy, positive music, but my brain wasn’t buyin’ it. I’ve never been so happy to see the 17th Street bridge and Atlantic Station. As I spotted the finish line, I saw the clock and realized that I could finish in under three hours if I just gritted my teeth and pushed a little harder. It may not have technically been a sprint to the finish, but I used every last bit of energy and gumption that I had and crossed that line at 2:56:16. That was about 13 minutes slower than my ING Half Marathon time, but I felt like the Zooma course had a whole lot more climbing.
Instead of a medal, the Zooma half marathon finishers got a cool silver necklace–it’s a peach with a runner inside, and on the back is the date of the race. I may not have set any records on Sunday, but I earned that piece of jewelry for sure! While I wasn’t a huge fan of the course (it took us through some…unattractive parts of Atlanta, and there was virtually no one out on the roads cheering), I definitely appreciate Zooma for reminding me that I have to get back on the training wagon if I want to do better at these events.
Next up? Who knows…maybe a Christmas 5K? What do y’all have on your racing calendars for the holidays?
In a slump October 7, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Uncategorized.Tags: Slump, Uncategorized
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As you can probably tell by my lack of posts, training hasn’t been at the top of my priority list since the triathlon season wound down (for me, anyway–for some folks it JUST finished). To be fair, I did get married and go out of town for business, and life in general is as busy as ever. But really, the basic, bottom-line truth of the matter is that I am in a slump.
I haven’t been on my bike since July. The pool? Please. I signed up for a half-marathon in November, thinking that it would spur me to work on my running game, but I haven’t done more than 4 miles at a time since my last tri. I am feeling unprepared for my upcoming race, but more than that, I am feeling fat and lazy (though I know I am truly not either of those things) and unworthy of the “triathlete” title.
Have y’all (if there’s anyone still reading) ever found yourselves in a similar situation? Did you find a way out? How?
New tri gear! August 20, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Uncategorized.Tags: Gear, Uncategorized
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When my fiance and I moved from DC to Atlanta in May of 2008, one of the first things we had to do was buy a car. After all, Atlanta is SUPER spread out, and public transportation is a joke (there’s a train system, but it basically just goes north-south and east-west, and you’re SOL if you live anywhere in between). So, I paid cash for my dad’s old Infiniti G20, and we rented an apartment that was strategically located within a short bus ride of Jason’s office. People thought we were crazy for having only one car in Atlanta, and it wasn’t always the easiest thing to deal with, but we made it work and enjoyed the lack of a car payment.
Then, Jason lost his job. The good news is that he pulled himself up by the bootstraps and used the layoff as an opportunity to hang out a shingle and do what he truly loves, which is practicing law. The bad news is that he practices a LOT in Gwinnett County, which is 20-30 miles away from where we live, and he needs the flexibility to go to court and meet with clients on a fairly irregular schedule.
We tried car-pooling for a while, but it usually meant that I’d have to go to work early and leave late, and that we couldn’t run errands and walk our dog and do the other household errands that keep things running smoothly. I would have loved to ride my bike to work, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate, and my road bike doesn’t have any racks or ways to transport work clothes, lunch, purse, shoes, etc. I investigated MARTA options, but it would have taken me 3 buses, a half mile of hoofin’ it, and over an hour and a half to get to my office…which is a mere 6 miles away from our loft. Ridiculous.
So, this week, I bit the bullet and bought a car. I am pleased to introduce you to…the Bett-mobile!!!
It’s a 2006 Ford Escape (certified pre-owned), and it has about 52,000 miles on it. It doesn’t have any crazy bells and whistles, but with the back seats pushed down, it has plenty of room for my bike and other tri gear! Plus, my doggie will definitely enjoy the extra space in the back.
Maybe later I’ll install a trailer hitch in order to add a bike rack, but for now, this is a great solution to a lot of problems. I know it’s a stretch to call it tri gear, but who knows, maybe it will improve my performance because I’ll be able to ride more! 
I have a dream… August 10, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races.Tags: Races, Withdrawal
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Out of nowhere, I had a crazy tri dream last night. Maybe it was spurred by our Team reunion last week (we got together and watched the NBC coverage of the Iron Girl Atlanta event–so cool!), where everyone was talking about which events were next on their respective calendars. Maybe it was prompted by the fact that yesterday, many of my amazing teammates competed in the Acworth Women’s Sprint Triathlon. Maybe it was because I have been stuck in a teensy tiny hotel room since Saturday, due to a non-functioning A/C unit. More than anything, though, I think I was dreaming about triathlons because I MISS TRIATHLONS.
I wanted to sign up for one more event this season, but between my September 5 wedding (woot!), a week-long business trip, and various other life events, I just couldn’t make things work without stressing myself and my husband-to-be more than was reasonable. I registered for the Zooma Half Marathon in November, which at least gives me something to shoot for athletically (I haven’t figured out my precise goal just yet, but I want to shave some considerable time off my ING finish). But I don’t know, it’s just not the same. Wah.
How do other triathletes out there make it through the off-season? Do you supplement with other sports? Hone your skills indoors? Drink heavily and count the days till spring? Let me know in the comments!
Music to tri to July 27, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Uncategorized.Tags: Silly, Tri music, Uncategorized
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To help us cope with our triathlon withdrawal, one of my wonderful teammates made everyone these fabulous CDs, chock full of tri-related music. Songs like R.E.M.’s “Night Swimming” and Cake’s “Going The Distance” are great, but my favorite track is numero uno. Once you read the lyrics, you’ll understand why!
“The Triathlon Song”
Well it’s 5am and I’m ready to go.
A little stretching and a cup of joe.
The stars are fading from the sky.
Got that early morning high.
Lots of miles, lots of sweat
It was worth it, I’m all set
Got my wetsuit on and I’m ready to fly
Damn, my tires are pumped and so am I!
Well, swim, bike, run
Yeah, it’s so much fun!
Here comes the morning sun
But I won’t be first and I won’t be last
But I’m knowing that I’ll have a blast
I’m in the swim: feel that morning chill
I’m on the bike: hammer up that hill
I’m running fast: like I knew I would
And it feels so good!
Well it feels so good!
Barely made it to T1 alive
T2 was quick, just 1:05
My biking muscles are ready to fold
Come on, running legs take hold
I’m sweating buckets everywhere
Two liters low but I don’t care
I’d give my wife, my house, my car
If I could set a new PR!
Well, swim, bike, run
Yeah, it’s so much fun!
I’m not stopping ‘til I’m done
Well, I’ll crawl on in as a last resort
But man, I love this sport!
There’s the finish line I never thought I’d see
I hear the crowd, they’re all cheering me
A final burst, like I knew I could
When it feels so good!
Well, it feels so good!
‘Cause it feels so good
To stop
Chattanooga race report July 15, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races.Tags: Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, Races
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It’s official…I am an Olympic-distance triathlete!
The Team arrived in Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon, and everyone was rarin’ to go. We registered, checked out the transition area, and then rested up before our big pasta dinner. During the meal, we heard from our honored hero and her daughter, and it was truly an inspiring evening. We focus so much on the physical training, but there is a bigger reason that we push ourselves so hard–to continue the fight against cancer until we FIND A CURE. I was very proud (and surprised) to be recognized for raising over $500 above and beyond my fundraising minimum. I was also excited to watch many of my teammates earn accolades for finishing multiple events with TNT. After a big plate of food, a lot of laughs, and a few tears, it was time for bed! Of course, there was very little sleep actually happening, but at least we were off our feet for the evening.
At 4 AM, we got up and got moving. After packing our transition bags (which we had painstakingly organized the night before) and taking some team photos, we rode down to the race site and set up our areas. Luckily, I was in the same general vicinity as a few other TNT folks, so we had a good old time lathering up with sunscreen and organizing our mats. Before we knew it, it was time to load the buses that would take us to the swim start!
As we drove along the riverfront, I started to feel a little queasy. 1500 meters may not look like much in the pool (since you’re going one lap at a time), but it is a LOT of river to cover! They let us out at a practice football field right by the dock, and we waited some more. Then, it was time–one by one, we dipped into the water and paddled to the starting line. When the race official said, “209? GO!”, I was off and swimming! I got jostled a few times by people passing me, but overall it was a calm and uneventful swim. My sighting was good, I did freestyle the whole time, and I finished in an astounding (for me) 32:41. I had planned on 45 minutes, so obviously I was very pleased!
After spending 4:26 in transition (rinsing my feet and chugging water, mostly), I hopped on the bike for a 26-mile adventure. A lot of folks had checked out the course in their cars before the race, and the resounding opinion was, “Betty will love it.” Why? Because there were lots of slow, steady climbs, and not too many dramatic downhills! I felt really strong during the ride, and I even passed a few big burly men while going up the hills (they don’t like that, by the way). About 24 of the 26 miles were on the interstate, which was a new and interesting experience, but I stayed relatively calm and even got up to 30 mph at one point. The climbs did take their expected toll on my legs, and I was pretty tired when I got back to transition, but I finished the cycling leg in 1:44:47, which I was really proud of.
It took 2:50 to change my shoes and get out on the run, and I was greeted first thing by my coaches…and a huge hill. The initial half mile or so was pure incline, and THEN there was a flight of stairs to get up to a walking bridge, but then the course flattened out and became a little bit more manageable. It started to rain about a mile into the 10K, which cooled things down nicely. I think I pushed myself a little too hard on the bike, because the first 2 miles of the run were really difficult. But once I saw a bunch of my teammates and realized that I was SO CLOSE to being an Olympic-distance triathlete, I pushed myself to the limit and sprinted to the finish. I completed the run in 1:19:52, bringing my total race time to 3:44:34. My goal was to finish in under four hours, so I beat that by a fairly significant margin. I was all smiles!!!
After the race, I ate myself into a stupor and slept like I’ve never slept before. I’m a bit sore today, mostly in my left lower back, but I think I will fully recover and be ready to hit the gym again by the end of the week. I don’t have any more tris on the schedule as of now (I have that whole wedding thing to worry about, haha), but I know that I will continue with the sport. I already have goals for next year, such as learning how to eat and drink while cycling.
Thanks for reading! Any thoughts on which race to do next?
* For those of you in the southeast area, I would definitely recommend the Chattanooga race. It was well-organized and safe, and the volunteers and staff were all wonderful.
Chattyvegas, here I come! July 10, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races, Swimming.Tags: Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, Good times, Races, Swimming
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This is it. My “A” race weekend is right around the corner. Not that Iron Girl wasn’t a HUGE accomplishment (and a TON of fun), but this race has always been my holy grail. I mean, come on, an OLYMPIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON. I don’t guess I’ve ever attempted anything even remotely relating to the Olympics. Hell, I barely even WATCH the Olympics (thus earning the nickname “Hanoi Jane” from one of my buddies).
I’ve been a good little triathlete and have been tapering. I went to the beach last week and did two nice, flat, low-mileage (14 and 9, respectively) rides. I ran a few miles on the beach. I tried to get lots of good sleep and curb the alcohol consumption. I did NOT manage to curb my fried shrimp consumption, but what are ya gonna do?
We had our last group swim on Wednesday night, and I got back from vacation early and was able to attend. Thank goodness, as I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this workout–a 300 meter warmup, followed by two-by-two sprint races, followed by relay races (during which we sprinted, sunk down and touched the bottom of the pool, and sprinted some more), followed by the highlight of the evening…
…doggie paddle racing while singing the “Meow Mix” song. No lie. If I can doggie paddle 50 meters while meowing, laughing, and NOT inhaling enough water to clog my lungs, then Chattanooga will be a piece of cake. Ha!
Our coaches still can’t believe the crazy and humiliating things we will do at their request. I hope they realize now that we are putty in their hands, thanks to the time and energy and faith they have put in us all season long. A little meowing in exchange for teaching me to swim, bike, and run? No problem.
Hope everyone has a great weekend–wish me luck!
Iron Girl race report June 30, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races.Tags: Iron Girl, Races
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Greetings from one of Atlanta’s newest triathletes! I competed in the Iron Girl sprint triathlon on Sunday, and it was one of the most amazing and empowering things I’ve ever done. I totally understand the addiction!
After checking myself and my bike in on Saturday afternoon, and after some good old fashioned carbo-loading at the Olive Garden on Saturday night, I woke up at 4 AM on Sunday in order to don my race uniform and head up to Lake Lanier. I got there at 5 AM, got body marked, and set up my transition mat. I realized I had forgotten my tire changing pouch (and if I didn’t have it, clearly I would get a flat–Murphy’s law and whatnot), but luckily my coach has the same wheels and lent me hers. I took some pictures with my teammates, and then there was nothing to do but head down to the beach, where the starting line was. I found my family, posed a few more times for the camera, and then before I knew it, it was time for my wave to go, go, go!
The swim was relatively uneventful. There was a lot of breaststroking going on, which meant that other peoples’ legs were a little harder to avoid, but I stayed calm and finished in 15:08. There was a HUGE hill to get from the swim finish to the transition area, and I was SERIOUSLY huffin’ and puffin’, but I made it and started getting all of my cycling gear in order. I had to rinse my feet, and I had a bit of trouble with my gloves, so my first transition was a little long at 4:55. Maybe I took a little more time than anticipated because I was dreading the bike ride!
Turns out there was no need to be afraid. Other than some ignorant cars on the road, the first miles of the cycling course were rather lovely. Well, for me, anyway–many of the participants were very intimidated by open-road riding, and many others had to get off their bikes and walk them up the hills. Not me, though–I powered through the climbs, even earning a “You’re my hero!” comment from a fellow racer when I didn’t even have to get out of my saddle to tackle the course’s biggest incline. Of course, I was worried about the downhills, and I got a flash of fear before I came to the first one, but I tried to harness my adrenaline into forward progress. I didn’t fly, but I didn’t slam on the brakes, either. Overall, I had a very strong ride, and I finished the second leg of the tri in just over 1:21. My second transition was a lot easier (though I did have a touch of trouble putting on my ankle brace), and I was out on the run in 3:21.
Right away, I started feeling the heat of the day. With every step, I was praying for a water station. Luckily, there were three of them on the run course, and they had Gatorade AND cold sponges. I cramped up a bit in my right calf and really felt like I was running slower than ever before–but I sped up toward the end when I saw my fiance! As I rounded the corner to go up the transition hill one last time, my fabulous TNT mentor ran me right up to the finish line. My run time was a surprisingly respectable 35:29, which made my total finishing time 2:20:20. My pre-race goal was to finish in under two and a half hours, which I beat by ten minutes. I have never felt better than when that medal was placed around my neck.
The crowds were amazing, the volunteers were incredible, and the stories were inspiring (you will be able to see some of them when the race is broadcast on NBC on August 2!!!). As I was swigging champagne with my family when the race was over, I realized how lucky I was to have taken part in something so meaningful, on so many levels. And of course, I realized how lucky I am to have such wonderful support during this life-changing journey.
But the journey is far from over–in less than two weeks, I will tackle an Olympic distance triathlon in Chattanooga. This is my “A” race, the one I have fundraised for, and the one that my eye has been set on from the start–but, I will always remember Iron Girl as my first triathlon. With any luck, it will be the first of many.
Wish me luck! June 26, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Races.Tags: Iron Girl, Races
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Next time I blog, I will be a triathlete and an Iron Girl!!!
Here’s hopin’ for calm waters, smooth roads, swift feet, and a general lack of panic and fear.
See ya on the flip side…
Reality check June 22, 2009
Posted by bettyjoan in Cycling.Tags: Cycling
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Iron Girl is THIS SUNDAY. As in, there are no more Sundays between now and Iron Girl. As in, there are six days until my first triathlon. As in, at this time next week, I will be a triathlete.
The reality of the situation has been settling in for a while, actually. Two weekends ago, we rode the Iron Girl Atlanta race course up at Lake Lanier. Our coaches pointed out where the expo would be, where transition would be, where the run course would be, and, most importantly, where THEY would be, cheering us on! That’s when it really hit me–I am going to DO this.
Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared me for the toughness of the Iron Girl cycling course. I had heard from previous participants that it was VERY hilly, but I wasn’t terribly concerned–after all, I’ve been KILLING the uphills all season. However, as anyone who’s graduated elementary school knows, what goes up MUST come down. At the other side of the two biggest inclines of the course were two MASSIVE downhill stretches. I freaked out, froze up, and ended up braking the entire way down (while hyperventilating and generally panicking). Even my amazing coach’s encouragement couldn’t break through the fear. It was like I was paralyzed.
I made it through the course, but I was pretty down on myself. After all, that was the ACTUAL course–there would be no, “Oh, Iron Girl is nothing like this.” I scheduled a time to go out to Stone Mountain and work on downhills with one of my friends/mentors. Again, I panicked and froze and was unable to generate any speed at all. It actually felt worse than it did at Lake Lanier, as the hills at Stone Mountain are more rolling and less shockingly steep (meaning that I should have been able to tackle them handily). I was beginning to think that I just wasn’t meant for cycling, and that my love affair with triathlons was going to come to an untimely end.
Last Wednesday night, before swim practice, my coach and I were talking about my fear and how to get over it. She said to me, “Betty, I am so frustrated that this is holding you back, because I SEE what a great athlete you are.” She probably thought nothing of that statement, but it stopped me in my tracks–in my 29 years, no one has EVER used the word “athlete” to describe me, unless they were being sarcastic or trying to make fun of me. I thought about that word the entire time I was in the pool, and I really started to understand that it DID apply to me. No matter what happened in my past to make me insecure about my athletic abilities, I’ve been working my ass off to turn the tides and do something physically monumental for me. I even started tearing up while I was swimming*–the comment really struck me in an unexpected and inspiring way.
After thinking a LOT (and typing a pretty emotional email to my coach), I decided that I needed to buck up and get over my hangups on the bike. Sure, saying it isn’t necessarily enough to make it happen (if it is, poof, I need a million dollars in my wallet), but I knew I could push through at least a little bit and show my coaches and myself that I was capable of making progress. After our open-water swim on Saturday, we headed to Cartersville to ride. My coach stayed with me on the shorter course (about 14-16 miles) and worked with me on bike handling, cadence, and stability. And lo and behold, after a few miles and some zen internal chanting, I managed to go down some hills without braking–and I even hit about 24 miles per hour at one point, which was a new land-speed record for me. 
Even though I know I won’t be barrelling down the Iron Girl hills at 50+ mph, I feel a LOT more confident in my cycling abilities. I know that however fast I go, I’ll be much more comfortable–which means I’ll have much more fun!
Did I mention that Iron Girl is in less than a week? EEK!!!!
* Oh, by the way, I swam a continuous 1500 meters that night–and it felt GREAT!!!
