Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon Recap 2013

I participating in the 2013 Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Clermont, FL on September 29th.  This was my last tri of the season and I didn't trained for it.  Come to think of it, I didn't really train for Coteeman either.  Why do I keep signing up for triathlons?!

Denise, Jenny and I drove the hour and a half over to Clermont on Saturday afternoon to pickup our packets and check-in to our hotel.  We decided to stay the night instead of leaving at 3:00am the next morning to make the trip to Clermont.  I'm very glad we did because we were able to check our bikes in at transition, get a look at the lake and drive the bike course to get a feel for the hills.  And oh there were hills!

The next morning we were up, out and setup in transition with plenty of time.  I was very nervous about the lake swim because it would be my longest race swim at 1/2 mile. 

Jenny loaned us Polar shirts to stay warm.

I was in the third wave of swimmers.  We got in the water, waist deep, and waited for our start time.  Once it was go time, I ran in the water until it was deep enough to swim.  We had to swim out to a buoy, turn left and swim to a second buoy, then turn left again and swim toward shore.  I attempted the freestyle stroke that I was practicing over the summer but I was too overwhelmed with the rough water and other people swimming around me.  I'm a good recreational swimmer, most comfortable with the slow breast stroke so I switched to that and took my time.

Half way to the first buoy, my non-fogging goggles were so fogged that I couldn't see.  They never fog!  What happened?!  I had to hold on to a kayak to rinse them in the water. Afterwards, I realized that was my problem...I didn't wet my goggles before I put them on my head.



That's me with the purple cap.

I ran to transition feeling really good after my slow comfortable swim.  I tried to be fast in transition, not worrying about the grass on my feet before I put on my shoes.  Then I was off on the bike.

The bike course was great in the beginning with a couple of little, manageable hills.  The first major incline appeared where the sprint racers separated from the super sprint racers. After driving the course the day before, I vowed to try my hardest to make it up the steep inclines without getting off my bike to walk.  As I started up the incline, lots of racers were walking their bikes up the hill but I was passing them so I struggled on, with my feet clipped in.  The next portion of the course was filled with hills including one other steep incline.  I enjoyed the downs with a top speed of 29mph.  I managed all the hell hills, on my bike, and made it back to transition.



I can tell from my posture that I was tired and ready to be done with hills.

In transition, I caught up with Denise and we took off together on the last portion of the race.  Just 3 miles to run and we'd be done.  As soon as I started running, I felt tightness in my right shin all the way down into the top of my foot.  This was more than the usual bike-to-run, legs-don't-want-to-work feeling.  At the water stop, I took some time to stretch out my leg and foot.  This was also where our paved path turned to dirt...not my favorite thing to run on but my leg did feel better.  I managed my way to the finish line at an easy pace.

I survived the 2013 Iron Girl Tri sprint with a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run.  Now that it's done, I can say that I enjoyed it too!

Overall time - 1:42:42
Swim - 23:03
Transition 1 - 3:09
Bike - 46:43
Transition 2 - 1:11
Run - 28:36
Division Place: 26/41
Overall Place: 106/218


Disclaimer: I was given an Iron Girl Tri registration in exchange for event promotion and a review.  All opinions are my own.

Coteeman Sprint Tri Recap 2013

The Coteeman Sprint Tri is a small, local race with a lovely, safe pool swim.  No creatures from the black lagoon lurking beneath my feet.  No need to freak out because of the swamp water smell or murky waters all around me.  I grew up swimming and playing in Florida lakes but the one tri I did with a lake swim, freaked me out!  Anyway...back to the clear, non scary waters of a pool.

This was my second time participating in the Coteeman Sprint Tri.  I must admit that I didn't train as much as I should have.  I was running, biking and swimming as my usual exercise, but I didn't put them together and do any bricks.  It was a pool swim so I knew I'd survive.

We even bought fancy sTRIders tri suits!

 

 

The short pool swim was great.  I was in and out and on to transition 1.  I know I need to work on speeding up my transitions times.  I'm too particular to get in and out of transition quickly.  I actually left grass on my feet this year instead of wiping it all off before I put my socks on my feet.

 

I was off on the bike portion.  For this course, we had to bike two loops before finishing the bike miles.  On the first loop I caught up to my hubby Mike.  That wasn't a good sign because he started his swim before me and is faster on the bike.  He was sick and having a hard time breathing.  He decided to take a DNF (did not finish) after the first bike loop.  I was sad for him but kept on pedaling.  After my two loops, I biked back to transition.

 

I felt like I had a million accessories switching from the bike to run.  I had to remove my helmet and bike shoes and put on my Garmin, hat, sunglasses, race belt and running shoes.  With that done, I was ready for the final run part of the tri.  I finished faster than last year but not quite as fast as a normal 5K.



 

 

I beat all of my times from last year.  I won 3rd place for my age group this year!  Woot! Woot!  Last year, I won first place for my age group but had a slower time by 3 minutes.  My boys were confused by that.  I explained that there was steeper competition this year.  

The sTRIders cleaned up this year with members taking first place over all for male and female.

Overall time - 1:07:30
Swim - 3:50
Transition 1 - 2:48
Bike - 29:34
Transition 2 - 1:49
Run - 29:32

Revolt Week of June 10

I was off track with my Revolt diet for the past two weeks.  It all started with the stomach bug week when I didn't feel like eating and lost 3.5 lbs.  Then when I felt like food, I wanted bland things like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and toast and cinnamon bread.  I ate a lot of bread and not the healthy wheat kind.

I'm back on track now and have committed to myself to stay on track!  It's summertime in Florida so that's lots of time in a bathing suit.  We're also going to Jamaica in a couple of weeks where I imagine I'll be living in my bathing suit and not always sober enough to remember to suck in my stomach.  It's an all inclusive resort!

I've started running again too.  I don't have any big races until the fall but I want to increase my pace.  I will be participating in a couple of sprint triathlons including Coteeman and Iron Girl Clermont.

Here are my numbers for the last two weeks.

There are really no changes from my slacker weeks.  A little weight gain but I'm ok with that after my unhealthy 3.5 lbs loss because of the stomach bug.  The important thing is inches and body fat loss.

Are you working on your bikini body for a special summer trip?

If you need help, consider joining Revolt Fitness!  It's all online for only $10 a month...check it out!

Disclaimer: I was given a free membership to Revolt Fitness in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

2013 Iron Girl Triathlon Clermont Discount!

Triathlon season is here!  I need to get in the pool and start training my weakest sport, swimming.

I'm participating in the 2013 Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Clermont, FL this September.  The swim in the Iron Girl Tri will be my longest race swim yet so I really need to work on my race swimming.

I have a 2013 Iron Girl Tri discount code for anyone who wants to sign up for the Clermont, FL race.  Use LOVINGLIFE as your Iron Girl Tri coupon code to receive $10 off your registration for the 2013 sprint distance tri in Clermont.  This Iron Girl Tri discount code is valid until September 1st.

The 2013 Iron Girl Tri sprint distance is a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3 mile run.

Who wants to join me for this fun girls' weekend?  Let's start training!


Disclaimer: I was given an Iron Girl Tri registration in exchange for event promotion and a review.  All opinions are my own.