So after the HonTri, I went on a trip to CA to visit family. On the way home, I got my normal souvenir: a cold! This morphed into Bronchitis. Four weeks later I was finally feeling normal again. No Tinman Triathlon for this year, I'm afraid. That was just too long a break to recover and put in a performance I'd be pleased with. So, I've just been having fun doing my own thing: Mountain biking, soccer, and hashing mostly. The shoulder is STILL messed up, so I haven't been doing a lot of swimming. I know, it's stupid of me not to have done anything about it. I'm stubborn like that.
Starting tomorrow, I'm joining a Mountain Bike Clinic. It's put on by the same group that taught DH and I to ride last year, and we're really looking forward to it. A year ago, I didn't even own a bike, now it's something we do every week. I'm looking forward to learning more advanced skills. Last year I was so overwhelmed with the newness of everything, I'm not sure that I actually took much in. I think I'm in a better place now to learn what they were trying to teach. Hopefully this will translate into more trails that I can handle, and less falling.
I had the most amazing run yesterday. I went for a run on Kailua Beach, an out and back from end to end. The sun was setting and the main crowds have gone home leaving the beach to the walkers and joggers. For whatever reason, it felt like I had limitless energy, I just wasn't getting tired. Well, there was one exception. Around half-way through the run, my calves let it be known they weren't happy with me. Ooops. I guess it's been a while since I last ran on the beach, and they aren't as strong as they once were. It didn't even cross my mind that it might be a problem. Still, I finished the run, but I'm a little sore today.
At the end of the run, I went and floated in the water, looking up at the sky. The sun had set, and the sky was a pinkish purple haze with the color reflected in the water coming up on sand. Over by the mountains, the final rays of the sun were shining on the clouds, turning them bright orange. It was just amazing.
I can't believe I live here, I'm one of the luckiest souls on earth.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Honolulu Triathlon 2008
Saturday, May 18
Apparently, I never got around to posting this, so here's what I remember:
Finished my second Honolulu Triathlon, and it was much better than the last.
Swim: 33:39
T1: 2:15
Bike: 1:15:50
T2: 2:24
Run: 1:05:41
Total: 3:00:52
Last year's time? 3:11:22
I PR'd by 10 minutes! WhooHoo!
I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to do the race. I went snowboarding a month ago and took a nasty spill, messing up my shoulder. Given that, my swim stroke is all out of wack. I saw a Chiropractor a few times right before the race and that helped quite a bit, but I was still worried going in.
My strategy for the swim was just extend out as far as I could before it hurt and draft as much as possible. The strategy did the trick because it seemed like the swim was over in no time at all. I was really surprised when I realized how close I was to the finish. The course is an out an back at Ala Moana Beach park, and coming back has you looking straight into the rising sun, so I really couldn't see further than the next buoy. I beat last year's swim time by 1m12s. With the bad shoulder, I was stunned by this, I fully expected to swim several minutes slower. I actually did a double take at my watch when I hit the beach, I just couldn't believe it. A pleasant surprise.
My transition went well. For whatever reason, I opted to go without socks. They were there are ready to go, but I saw someone I know go trotting by and I just couldn't wait to chase them, so the socks were ditched. I know, ewww. Sorry. Still, my transition was almost 2 minutes faster this year than last. Was it the fault of the socks? Don't know, but there is coincidental evidence.
The bike went MUCH better than last year. Last year I felt sluggish and my stomach was revolting, this year I knew that no matter what happened, I was going to eat and drink, even if it made me throw up. Fortunately, there were no issues and I had a decent ride. It wasn't my fastest ever, but I think I went hard and still saved just enough for the run. The bike was 4m38s faster than last year.
T2... I really don't remember anything about T2. This got blanked out somewhere along the way. 2 seconds faster than last year, and still didn't put the socks on. Yes, this is the last run for those shoes. It's time for new ones anyway.
The run. It got a little ugly here, but not as bad as last year. If I want to do better next year, I think the one thing that would bring the most improvement would be to train more in heat. Most, if not all, of my training is done in the early morning or late afternoon, but by the time I hit the run during this race, it's in the high 80's with high humidity and I about keel over. I was slooow, but the bright side it that the only time I walked was through the aid stations. So at least mentally, I'm getting a little better at making myself suck it up when it's uncomfortable. I just need to learn to push it harder rather than just get through it. Knocked 3m49s off last year's time.
All three events were better than last year, and I see exactly what I need to do to get better. I don't expect to drop another 10 minutes, but I'm definitely planning on breaking 3 hours.
Apparently, I never got around to posting this, so here's what I remember:
Finished my second Honolulu Triathlon, and it was much better than the last.
Swim: 33:39
T1: 2:15
Bike: 1:15:50
T2: 2:24
Run: 1:05:41
Total: 3:00:52
Last year's time? 3:11:22
I PR'd by 10 minutes! WhooHoo!
I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to do the race. I went snowboarding a month ago and took a nasty spill, messing up my shoulder. Given that, my swim stroke is all out of wack. I saw a Chiropractor a few times right before the race and that helped quite a bit, but I was still worried going in.
My strategy for the swim was just extend out as far as I could before it hurt and draft as much as possible. The strategy did the trick because it seemed like the swim was over in no time at all. I was really surprised when I realized how close I was to the finish. The course is an out an back at Ala Moana Beach park, and coming back has you looking straight into the rising sun, so I really couldn't see further than the next buoy. I beat last year's swim time by 1m12s. With the bad shoulder, I was stunned by this, I fully expected to swim several minutes slower. I actually did a double take at my watch when I hit the beach, I just couldn't believe it. A pleasant surprise.
My transition went well. For whatever reason, I opted to go without socks. They were there are ready to go, but I saw someone I know go trotting by and I just couldn't wait to chase them, so the socks were ditched. I know, ewww. Sorry. Still, my transition was almost 2 minutes faster this year than last. Was it the fault of the socks? Don't know, but there is coincidental evidence.
The bike went MUCH better than last year. Last year I felt sluggish and my stomach was revolting, this year I knew that no matter what happened, I was going to eat and drink, even if it made me throw up. Fortunately, there were no issues and I had a decent ride. It wasn't my fastest ever, but I think I went hard and still saved just enough for the run. The bike was 4m38s faster than last year.
T2... I really don't remember anything about T2. This got blanked out somewhere along the way. 2 seconds faster than last year, and still didn't put the socks on. Yes, this is the last run for those shoes. It's time for new ones anyway.
The run. It got a little ugly here, but not as bad as last year. If I want to do better next year, I think the one thing that would bring the most improvement would be to train more in heat. Most, if not all, of my training is done in the early morning or late afternoon, but by the time I hit the run during this race, it's in the high 80's with high humidity and I about keel over. I was slooow, but the bright side it that the only time I walked was through the aid stations. So at least mentally, I'm getting a little better at making myself suck it up when it's uncomfortable. I just need to learn to push it harder rather than just get through it. Knocked 3m49s off last year's time.
All three events were better than last year, and I see exactly what I need to do to get better. I don't expect to drop another 10 minutes, but I'm definitely planning on breaking 3 hours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)