2014 Season Recap:
Was a season of not necessarily
getting faster, but continuing to race consistently and sharpen the mental
toughness. The biggest thing I learned in 2014 was that an open mind
is a powerful thing. If you give yourself a chance, often you’ll surprise
yourself.
Early season racing included the Shamrock Shuffle 10k and the Crazylegs 8K. I tried to find my running legs and get some speed back despite a very cold and snowy winter and not a lot of track work.
Then I went back to the AMERICAN TRIPLE T. 2013 was the
year of random errors and issues keeping me just far enough away from the top
spot that I couldn’t wait to come back and try again… even though triple t is
crazy hard. It was SO SO COLD this year and the courses changed slightly, but
my mission was be tough all weekend and don’t
walk at all during the run. In the end, I snagged 2nd place
by 23 seconds. Yes, 3 days… 4 races… 140+ miles… 23 seconds. So, being OCD
about not walking at all paid off. In retrospect, the break to refill my own water bottles on the bike probably could have been better planned...
so so cold. getting ready to bike back up the hill to the lodge... |
LEONS was a warm year with a different run course. Rather
than seeing people on the out and back you were on a big loop. I had pretty
much the same gap on the girl in first the whole time and didn’t have much pep
in the run to catch up to her. 2:17:49, 2nd Female.
Leons awards |
I raced PLEASANT PRAIRIE. It was super foggy and the race
was delayed what felt like forever. I swam super far off course and for the
first time ever would stop and see most people ahead of me stopped, treading
water, trying to figure out how we get back to the beach. Stellar. My high
point was when I kayak waved frantically and pointed me in the direction to my
right, which was where the buoy I should have been heading towards was. 2:09:43, 4th Female.
VisionQuest representing at Pleasant Prairie! |
Then I had what seems like my annual melt down prior to
RACINE. Everything felt slow and awful. I was certain I was on a downward
spiral that I wouldn’t get out off. I’m clearly not overly dramatic at all with
my training…. But, I was talked into having an open mind and giving myself a
shot at Racine (BIG thanks to the brains behind the operation – Scott Iott of
Training Bible). And I ended up with a decent day at Racine – just slightly
slower than last year, first AG and a big reminder to have an open mind and
give yourself a shot. 4:44:54, 1st F25-29.
So, with this new found motivation I was ready for some
more triathloning. I was also enjoying being unemployed for a month while I
transitioned between jobs and moved up to Madison. There was a camping weekend
and then the TBC Iroman Wisconsin camp and then I was going to start work! And,
then I went trail running in devils lake and sprained my ankle. Walking hurt
for a while, my ankle still doesn’t quite seem like it’s the same size… and I
was off running for like 2 weeks. The big rides during the IMWI camp where
still there and we tried to get the most out of bike fitness before I was back
in the working world. But, that scrapped any August tri plans and put running
on the back burner for a bit. It came around and I was back at it before too
long.
Fat ankle and banged up knee. #notwinning. |
The stretch from September to November was tough. There
were lots of friends wedding activities to train through, cold weather and less
and less people to train with. It was wonderful that Amanda had decided to do
IMAZ and continued to be a training buddy during those months and that I found
a good running club at work to keep me motivated during some mid week long
runs.
IRONMAN ARIZONA has a great end of the season. It was
awesome having a good IL / WI representation down there and so many people had
great races. TBC cleaned up in the M35-39 category, Amanda claimed the overall
amateur female slot and DOMINATED with a sub 10 hour Ironman. I will continue
to cling to her wheel during long training rides with the hope that I’ll get
some of that bike speed! I rocked a new Smashfest Queen tri kit and enjoyed
soaking up some of that energy in Arizona. Lots of love for smashfest at that
race!! 10:09:51, 1st F25-29, 5th Female (amateur)
IRONMAN ARIZONA! |
Serious thanks to everyone this season. Training buddies
in Wisconsin and IL (Amanda for dragging me around on the bike many times this summer, Trey and Eric for runs back in the burbs and a few bike rides around Madison and other running buddies :)). Scott Iott and Training Bible for the coaching and putting
up with my crazy and working around a busy summer of friends weddings and a
move and new job. Jason for tolerating my schedule and how tired and hungry it
makes me all the time.