Just one of those kind of days...

when you are off work and your mom is in town.  'Staycations' are the best.    Sometimes I really have to pinch myself!

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!!!  

Gulf Coast 2012 - the death march

Gulf Coast is a 70.3 in my backyard.  Literally.  It's 1/2 of the Ironman course and is known for being hot.  Not just 'warm' - but OMG my feet are going to melt to the pavement hot.  This is also the first triathlon I ever did five years ago and every year I tell myself I'm not going to do it - but I always do.  :) 

So I was traveling for work the entire week and I did not even look at the weather for race day.  I was in central florida (where it is always hot) so I just saw being outside as fantastic race prep.  But Friday night - the weather forecast was overcast and rain mid-day.  PERFECT.  This is going to be a fantastic race.

Saturday morning - I did my normal race prep.  Woke up at four - ate some oatmeal and coffee - hit the bathroom and then out the door.  It was kind of weird getting my transitions set up - the princess and Babs (Bad Ass Bike Sucka) are always right next to each other.  But Carla is temporally out of racing commission and Babs has been gathering dust the past few months:

(if you ever need ideas for fun race signs - we have plenty!)

I love this race because females 30-34 are typically one of the first waves in the water.  The gulf has been very warm the past few weeks - so I opted to race in my super awesome Blueseventy PZ3TX swimskin.  I was very happy with my decision and the water felt fantastic.  But the gulf itself was another story.  The past few weeks it's been flat like a pancake - but yesterday it was like a washing machine.  A washing machine full of millions of little fish/bait balls that I'm glad I did not swallow.  It was uber gross, but as long as jelly fish are not around, I'm ok with anything. Needless to say, it was a very challenging swim.  Bouy spotting was difficult due to the swells - but I just charged forward.  My goal was for a 32ish swim - but came out with a 39:46.  Pulled a 4th out of my age group - so everyone had a fun swim.

I knew the bike was going to be awesome.  I ride the course on a weekly basis and knew exactly what was ahead of me.  My tummy was a bit off due to the wishing machine swim - but I just sipped on my water and ate my Powerbar Energy Blasts   The weather was still overcast and I was feeling great.  Until the last six miles of the bike when we hop into Front Beach Road heading directly east.  My average bike was 21.4 MPH until those last six miles.  There was a storm pushing in and we had direct head winds at about 30mph.  And stinging rain.  And you can't forget the 20+ story condos which make pretty awesome wind tunnels.  I have never been so scared of being blown off of my bike into traffic.  I'm all about following the rules, but I was desperate for a big man to draft behind.  Or a truck.  Anything! 

I have never been in so much pain transitioning from my bike to the run.  Ever.  I typically feel awesome and ready to hull ass.  But the lactic acid built up in my legs those last miles where killing me.

Bike Total:  2:57 - 19mph - 8th in AG

The run was like a death march for everyone.  All I wanted to do was finish.  My legs hurt so bad.  No joke, this run hurt worse then IMFL.  The run is a loop (east to west).  So the first six miles of the run we where running directly into the wind.  Again.  The mental battle was pretty tough but thankfully a friend from Tallahassee was right there with me and we chatted and kept each other going.  She has a huge year which includes IMFL and IM New York - so it was great to hear about her training.  It was a relief to make the turn and have a tailwind.  I took full advantage and ended up with a negative split at the end.  Chicking a bunch of guys I made my way in.  Besides me wanting to hitchhike my way back to the finish - the run was pretty uneventful.  

Run total:  2:17 - OMG.  Worst run ever.

Please notice the sweet guy behind me in the speedo.  Love it.

Total:  5:59.  Not the best time.  

Cari and I after - in route to the massage tent.

But everyone had a challenging race since I somehow placed 10 in my age group :)

Local races are the best - and it's so awesome to see and cheer on everyone racing.  And you can't forget all of the spectators!  We have such an awesome group of triathletes here in Panama City Beach! I love it when the guy running next to me said "wow - you are pretty popular"  - nope, I just have a bunch of great friends!!  :)  

So for the first part of my season I placed 1st, 1st, and 10th.  Hmm.  Lets see what the rest of the season will be like!  

Now - I'm going to finish my 2nd margarita and drink away my pains from yesterday!  

Dare

I dare someone to steal the stinkiest bike shoes ever. Double dog dare.

White Sand I Sprint Race Report

Finally I got my stuff together for race report #1 (of 2).  Two Saturdays ago was White Sands Triathlon.  It's an awesome local sprint in Panama City Beach.  There is always a fun crowd of regulars and not to mention a bunch of future tri-addicts.  They have one race at the beginning of the season and another one at the end - so it's fun to see how much you've improved throughout the season.  Anyway - they have a great after party as well...at a beach bar.  With beer.

 I got up bright and early to head over and set up transition.  With fingers crossed - I headed down to the beach hoping that the gulf was not rough and full of jellyfish.  And I was in luck!  I got in and swam a warm up.  It's been awhile (like 6 months) since I've put on my wetsuit - so we had go get reacquainted.  The gulf was PERFECT.  This was going to be an awesome race.

This race also has a $5 buy in.  If you opt to pay the extra $5 - as a girl you get to go in the 1st wave and then the guys who opted for buy in go five minutes after the girls followed by the normal waves.  Anytime I get to go in the first wave - I'm in!  

The swim was suppose to be a 600 - but after looking at the buoys (and every ones times from the previous years) we think it was a bit further.  Anyway - the gun went off and I was in a wave with about 20 other girls.  My swim has been feeling awesome lately - so I felt great.  It was an overcast day so glare was not screwing up my sighting.  Once I hit the beach - I was the FIRST ONE OUT OF THE WATER!  Awesome.  I ran like hell through the beach bar to transition and jumped on the princess.

Swim:  12:44

T1:  1:24

The bike was 15 miles - and it is three loops around a four lane road with a grass median.  It's awesome because you get to check everyone out and see where the competition is.  So there I was.  Out on the bike course.  All alone (which was pretty cool) but then the fast guys caught me on the 2nd loop.  The first half of my bike my sweet bike computer was not working, so I had no idea how fast I was going.  But I was feeling good, so I just kept on throwing the bar higher.  I love doing local races because you see SO MANY of your friends cheering you on.....

 Helen being her normal goofy self

Marshal, X, and Hadley being road thugs

I finished up my 3rd loop and headed into transition

Bike:  50:28 (20.21 mph)

T2:  .40

(I don't mess around in T2)

The run was a 3.1 mile loop out on Surf Drive.  I decided to go watch less for the run just to see how I've done.  Over the past few months I've really been focusing on my cycling and swimming, so I just wanted to see what I could do on the run without the garmin.  I was passed by a few guys and cheered everyone on as I was running.  (I really need work on my focus when I'm racing) But I was not passed by any girls...and I thought...holy shit...I could win this.  

Run:  23:44 (7:30ish avg)

(yep...need to work on that run)

Total:  1:29:00

But...there is a risk you take when you take the buy in.  You don't know what is going on behind you.  Thus no one to push you.  I ended up getting 2nd to Kristen who is an AWESOME runner and opted out of the buy in.  

But overall - it was a great way to start the season!  

1st in AG

2nd Overall Female

One other thing I was working on is my breathing.  And controlling it when I'm out of the water and getting onto the bike.  I think I stress myself out, screw up my breathing, and throw the rest of my race off when I don't focus on staying calm.  This race I focused and felt amazing.  I'm hoping I can keep this up.  

Up next - another race report.  And the 'Dirty Girls Guide to Cleaning Your Bike'

Stella!

We took Stella on her first boat ride/island experience today. And she loved it!

Two race reports tomorrow! I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Goggles!

Goggles.  They are very important.  Well, at least for me.  For years I swam in the good old Swedish goggles.  Years, I mean, since I was probably 10 (and I'm 31 now).  Once I was swimming a warm up for a meet and got kicked in the eye.  Swedish goggles + kick in the eye = back eye for Chloe.  But I saw myself as a purist swimmer with my awesome $10 goggles.  I loved the way that some people were intimidated by a swimmer rocking the Swedish (at least in my mind!) and the way you actually had to put them together.  

THEN I started doing triathlons and swimming in the gulf.  My purist ways did not fair to well.  And after way too many races with saltwater in my eyes and goggles flipping down, I decided to make a change.  That was the best idea ever and I am kicking myself for not making this move sooner!  I found the NERO RACE GOGGLES by BLUESEVENTY.  

I love these goggles.  They are comfortable, stay firmly in place when you get hit by a wave, and look pretty bad ass.  Happy swimmers = better race!  So, if you are in the market for some new goggles, I would suggest trying out the Nero Race Goggles.

And just a little bit of fun with the GOPRO!

Butterfly - best stroke out there.  :)

On a random note, we went to see Cabin in the Woods last weekend.  It's a pretty awesome movie and not at all what you expect.  Anyway - our movie theater has Wonka Machine.  Or what I like to call - heaven for $4.00.  You get to pick what wonderful treats you want to munch on - and you can mix and match.  Are you in a chewy spree kind of mood?  Bam!  Push the button and it's yours!  

And these girls were taking WAY TO LONG to make there selection!  

Race report tomorrow!  

The pool ninjas

Wattie Ink vs. Rev 3 came out in full force at the pool yesterday. Just another awesome blogger friend in town! Good luck in Nola 70.3 this weekend Libby!!!