She's Done! My IM Hero!

I've been anxiously following Noelle all day long on the internet (in between cleaning), watching all split times and calculating finishes. I even got her finish snapped on video (she's in the purple-ish tank with the hat on coming in behind the first few people in the clip). 

It helps that announcers cannot pronounce her last name, as a flag for me as she came down the chute from the darkness. She looked great! Noelle just called from the finish and all is well - she's a bit sore she said (I bet!) but she has her medal. Here's a clip of her finish. 

Final time: 13:46:44

Oh where oh where has Noelle gone???

OK, while watching the live coverage of the race, I started doing random searches now on IronmanLive and I finally found Noelle! So wierd that she was not listed under her name OR bib number earlier. Oh well - I've got her locked in now. 

She's on her bike and cooking! (probably literally - since they say that it's gonna be 92 degrees there today) Looks like she's keeping strong and about 75 miles into the 112 mile course - so will have to keep watching to see how the run goes... Go Noelle (& Moon Goddess) Go!!!

Technology Error... I Hope?

So, I've been sitting at the computer for the past hour trying to find Noelle's stats on her Ironman - which by my calculations and time differences she should be out of the water and on Moon Goddess by now (her bike). 

However, the Ironman tracking system is not pulling up Noelle's name at all - which is getting me worried. Hopefully this is just a technology hiccup, but I am positive that I pulled up her name last night to test the system. So, hopefully Noelle made it down to the start and got in that river. I'm pretty sure it would take quite a bit for her to not do the race (e.g. something broken or ruptured).

Note: The Ironman ticker updated did mention at 1:33 the following information (which I hope Noelle isn't one of those 13):

• 1,988 into the water this morning. That was about 13 fewer than picked up their registration packages. Over three hundred are out of the water so far.

Well, I will just have to keep trying to pull up her data - maybe her chip will register on a mat and then her stats will pull. Here's hoping. If not, Noelle and I will have to write a strongly worded letter...hee hee.

See Ya At The Fair...

So, yesterday I took a 1/2 day off to hit the State Fair with Jake before he left for Montana. We had a great time people-watching, walking around, having some token beverages, eating, eating, and did I mention eating? Augh.... 

Good thing I got up this morning and ran 7 miles with run club to work off some of those calories! Run felt good, have kind of been taking it easy this week after last weekend's races and being swamped at work.

Tomorrow, I have to monitor and watch Noelle's stats as she competes in her first Ironman down in Louisville. She's gonna rock!

Jen's Finish At Chicago

Here's a clip from my finish at Chicago: I'm in a hot pink tri-top/grey bike shorts and black visor coming in around the 1:49:08 time on the clock. 

Notice how I totally smoked the girl in front of me coming down the chute. Ha ha... that's what you get when your boyfriend paces you for the WHOLE RACE and ducks out right before the finish line (Note: Cheaters never win, they just get passed by Team Pink Lightning). 

 

Queen of 4th Place Strikes Again....Twice!

Well, we all got back from Chicago last night (me, mom, dad & Jake) and had a great weekend of exciting races. My timing results are above - click on the image to see a closer view. I'll post some pictures tonight.... 

Race Recap: Saturday SuperSprint Race 

Well, the race on Saturday was a lot of fun... it is half the distance of a sprint race and I signed up to do this as a "warm-up" for Sunday. Note: the transition times are mashed into the Swim and Run legs of the race, which is deceiving. 

The swim was NOT a 1/4 mile - I was getting out of the water when the wave behind me went off, which was at 3 minutes!!! Michael Phelps would have some trouble with that split! Needless to say, I did come out of the water 1st in my heat. Yeah! 

Bike was decent, but with a 3 loop course (at a mile long) you just get up to a good speed (over 20 mph) and you have to slow down to make your U-turn. The run was flat, short and decent - I ended up finishing 4th place in my age group (of 142 women)...19 seconds from the girl in 3rd place. Was about 9 minutes faster from last year - but it was a different race last year as a duathlon (no swimming). 

Stats:

• 4th place out of 142 in my age group
• 9th Female overall
• 71st out of 742 total racers

After the race we met some friends of Jake's and had a late lunch and then walked around and did some sight-seeing at some parks in Chicago. Afterwards, I totally missed the expo for getting body marked for Sunday - so dad had to put my numbers on with a sharpie in the hotel room and we had to pray that the marker wouldn't come off during Sunday's race. Early to bed! Up at 3:45 to get to transition by 4:30 AM! Ouch!!! 

Race Recap: Sunday Accenture Sprint Race 

Well, made it to transition early to get all setup with about 8700 other people. Wow, there's a lot of bikes! In transition some of the girls were calling me "Pro Jen", since I was helping them with their questions and setting up their transition areas (a LOT of first timers at this race). 

I met mom, dad and Jake down by the swim start - all in their matching Team Pink Lightning T-shirts. So cute! Alright, down to the race... 

Swim is in the marina against the wall - so people can walk along and watch you the whole way. I could hear them yelling for me and I had a decent swim...staying in the front of my heat and passing people in earlier heats. I came out of the water with a few girls ahead of me - but not too many. 

Then we have to run .25 mile to the transition area on cement sidewalks - I had some shoes at the end of the swim I slipped on and hauled butt to Pink Lightning (Note: swim split = .5 mile swim + .25 mile run for this race). I was about 1 minute ahead of last year's swim. Good start. 

I got on Pink Lightning and took off. Lake Shore Drive had SO many potholes and grooves - you had to be careful. Rules for this race is if you get a flat tire - you are out of the race. No repairs. So I was passing people "on the right" (this race is backwards) and making good time. There was a headwind going out (which I was hoping would be an awesome tailwind for the last half of the race). I passed 2-3 girls that I know of, that were in my age group and just kept going. I ended up finishing going 20.8 mph (which was my goal of going over 20 mph) - and I was the 2nd fastest bike time in my age group (missed 1st by about 15 seconds). My bike time was about 3+ minutes faster than last year. Woo hoo! 

Getting back into transition was sketchy - I had to carry Pink Lightning part of the way, due to people lolly-gagging in between racks and stuff EVERYWHERE. I scoped out my rack and I was the 3rd bike in. NO PRESSURE! 

The run was good - my legs felt GREAT! It was just my breathing that was heavy. I kept telling myself all the tips for keeping my run fast (high cadence, shoulders down, run on clouds, etc). At about a mile and half in one girl passed me with a number "7" on her calf (which is my age group wave). She was booking and I was sure I couldn't maintain that pace for the rest of the race. So kept with the pace I was going. 

At mile 2 we turned at a cone down by Soldier Field and headed towards the finish line. I was bumming a bit in my head, because I calculated I was in at least 4th place now. But then I realized that the top 3 female finishers get plucked out of age groups! What if one was in my heat? I could then get bumped up higher in standings and make the podium! 

Well that lit a fire under me and I hauled it in for the rest of the race. I finished in the :25 min range which is my fastest 5K split (8:10 ave mile) and about 3 minutes faster than last year. I even beat mom, dad, and Jake to the finish line from their viewing spot on the bike-in! 

Well, we went to watch awards and when 3rd place was called - she was 1 minute faster than me. I was happy with my race and all my splits - and I was almost 8 minutes faster than last year. I got home and logged on to see my finish placement - of course.....4th place! 

Stats:

• 4th place out of 170 in my age group
• 24th Female overall
• 146th out of 2050 total racers

But I made all my goals (see previous posting):

1. Drop my time (almost 8 minutes faster!)
2. Go over 20 mph on the bike (20.8!)
3. Place higher than last year's 5th place finish (got 4th!)

All-in-all the weekend was a blast and a major success...is gonna get harder and harder to top these times. Man I love these Chicago races!

Getting Set For Chicago

So, last night I decided to start organizing my things for leaving for Chicago on Friday. Since my husband is getting back into town today (from a 17-day hunting safari in Africa), I figured I'd be pre-occupied with stories and watching video footage when he got home and might not have the time to pack. I wouldn't want to be getting ready for my swim and realize I forgot my goggles!!!

I cannot believe the amount of "stuff" you must pack to race in a triathlon! My guest bedroom bed is covered with "stuff". I think I need to slim things down a bit - I am only going to be gone for 2-3 days!

So, in Chicago I'm racing on Saturday at the "SuperSprint", which is a shortened triathlon I'm using as a "warm-up". (or so I tell myself) Last year it turned into a Du, because of the 'toxic' levels in Lake Michigan. Ew! Granted they let us swim on Sunday in it - which I prefer not to think about.

Sunday is the big race...there were over 8500 competitors last year! I'm doing the sprint again this year and am hoping to cut off some time from last year's finish. If I race like I have been all season, I don't see that as being a problem.

Chicago's Goals:

1. Get faster than last year's time (overall)
2. Get Pink Lightning's average over 20 mph
3. Would "like" to place higher than last yr (5th) - but realize that that is sort of out of my control in some respects.

I'll have a race report when I get back. But, for now I better get scooting - have to get to the airport soon!

St Paul Tri Race Results

Well, I raced this morning at the 3rd annual St. Paul Tri. Weather was SO much nicer than last year's drizzly day. Mom & Noelle made it out to cheer, Mark was there to cheer on Cindy who was doing the Olympic distance too. I had to wait until the 2nd to last heat to get into the water - took forever with 4 minutes between heats. Oh well. 

In the water I felt good - today's song that I sang to myself was Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" (yes, I sing to myself when I swim). Note to self: decent song to keep a good pace with - maybe I'll have to sing that next weekend in Chicago too. I saw one girl in a blue swim cap (my heat's cap color) about 2 body lengths in front of me that I was trying to keep in my sights. 

At about over half way through the 1/2 mile swim - I saw another blue cap appear and was getting a bit rowdy with her (I think there were a couple elbows when she got right next to me...oops! My bad!) I ended up 3rd out of the water in my division (4th in my heat of 84 women) - which I was happy with. I had a faster split in 2006, but I'm pretty sure that the course was maybe shorter - as I'm much stronger and faster this year on my swim due to my half IM training and more yardage. 

The bike was fast and I felt pretty good on that...results said I averaged 20.2 mph! I FINALLY broke that 20 mph mark!!! Yeah! 

The run was alright and I had a pretty decent split for me, but was a bit tired and sore from yesterday's run (note to self...maybe crank the mileage down the day before a race). 

I ended up finishing with a PR time for that course by about 2:30 (1:18:04). 7th place in my division (of 50). I'm pretty sure this was my fastest sprint finish time too. I think I'm ready for Chicago next weekend...bring it on!!!

Phelps Phan (& Nastia / Shawn)! Go USA!

I've been way too wound up around the Olympics this week - I have been up WAY past my bedtime cheering on Phelps and the gymnasts that I can hardly sleep when I finally get to bed. Think I need to settle down this weekend so I can be rested for Sunday's race in St. Paul. Am attaching some pics from my "former" days of being a swimmer and gymnast that I ran across on my computer. Wow...was that some time ago!

Sunday is my last race before Chicago (weekend after), which I'm looking forward to. Was so much fun there last year, so I cannot wait to get back. Hopefully I'll do as well as I did last year (or better), but not getting my hopes up too high. :) Then I'll be officially done with "tri" season - although then it's on to "half marathon" season, etc. I think the facebook flair button is right... there is no off-season.

To be or not to be? That is the question...

I decided to setup this blog, similar to my friend (Noelle) - who will be competing in her first Ironman in a few weeks. I've had to laugh at all of her stories in her training regime and thought this might be kind of fun (not sure if anyone will want to read it, but doesn't really matter). In the past month, as triathlon season has been winding down - Noelle and Cindy (my other tri friend) have been talking about doing Ironman Madison next year. At first we just threw it around, but now talk is getting serious.... 

Why Madison? Because it's close to Minnesota and we could do training rides on weekends. We don't have to fly there to sign up or race - just a nice 5-6 hr drive. 

Why debating so early? Now, for non-triathletes you may be wondering why we'd be discussing this so far out from the event in 2009. Well, Ironman events tend to sell out minutes after it goes online for registration(sometimes it doesn't even make it to online registration because everyone signs up onsite). If we are going to commit to this - we better get a plan. So, we signed up to volunteer at this year's Madison Ironman race in September (taking bikes from the racers in transition), which will give us 'preference' for signing up for the 2009 event the next day. So... we shall see (it's still a gamble if we'll get in). I guess this is just the first step - with several million to go. 

Why do an Ironman? Well, I haven't really decided how to answer this one yet and maybe never will. I did my first 1/2 Ironman this summer and am so glad that I did. I worked really hard for this event and it was a huge hurdle to say that I did this race. (Plus it's fun to see people's faces when you tell them what you've done - they think you are seriously crazy). So...as I'm not getting any younger and other priorities may take over in my life in upcoming years - now is as good of time as any. Plus then I can get an M-dot tattoo (which for those who do not know is the Ironman logo). Ironman finishers can get this tattoo and it is kind of a badge-of-honor for the accomplishment. Lastly, if Noelle, Cindy (and maybe Jen - ahem!) all signed up - we'll have some great support for each other to get through this. I'd kick myself if i backed out and they all did the race without me. So, we'll see how this all pans out over the next year - I know I have the great support from my husband and family....now I just have to get the ball in motion. Stay tuned.