There is no perfect race:   Winning comes down to tenacity, patience and pain management.

This weekend I traveled to Oklahoma City to race in the Long Course National Championships (1/2 Ironman).  I decided I wanted to race the “double” this year:  Short Course and Long Course Nationals.

Fall has come to Chicago and I was ready to start my off season.  It was 30sF overnight and I wanted to drink apple cider and eat apple donuts, frankly.  But, I knew I was super fit – healthy and motivated to race long course nationals.  We kept my workouts very race specific, doing as little as I needed to get the job done AND never losing the sight of my goal:    To win Nationals – which, clearly, is never an easy feat and something I have never done.

In September, I am fit and my job was to keep things LIGHT leading into LC Nats and hold onto any strength I had and to stay sharp.  Honestly, that meant weeks where my workout totals were only 10-12 hours.  YEP.  For long course Nationals, I was in such great shape – the key was not to go into a HOT (race day was mid 90s) even 1% over-cooked in late September.  I have so many miles on my legs, I just needed to sharpen up for Oklahoma.  Luckily, I arrived in OKC – fresh and ready to race.

Elizabeth and I traveled to OKC and this trip did not disappoint.  We actually travel VERY well together and we know how to get ready to race, eat the right things AND have some fun – all of which is so critical for racing – but more importantly for Long Course racing.  This trip down to OKC I demanded we hire a driver to take us to the airport – stay at a 4 star hotel (after our dump in Burlington, I needed to get on this one!) – and basically have people take care of us.  I realize that sounds snooty; which, is not really the case at all.  I just have traveled and race for so long and all over – that IF I am going to OKC in 90 degree heat – Miss Daisy and Maude will be taken care of.  And, as a result, I have NEVER tipped so much in my entire life – I went through over $30 in SINGLES probably this weekend!  But, besides putting our bikes together and taking them apart – we did not do much more work.  Perfect.

I told Elizabeth when I am 50, we will need someone to DRIVE US TO THE START line on race day.  Preferably in a pink, stretch limo (which, by the way, we did see in OKC and nearly peed our pants).

I think the biggest blonde moment of the weekend came when Elizabeth and I drove the bike course and it felt like it was SO long – and desolate (it was!) – and we both said, “Gosh, I cannot believe we have to do that course 2x.”  On race day, as Elizabeth and I traded bike positions on the bike – one time I said to her, “This is a 1 looped course – DUH!!”    We had no idea it was a 1 loop bike course until we were out racing on it!

Race day came and I was ready to go.  We ate, had the bellman get our car (see…) and arrived at transition in pitch dark.   Our LC National Championships started first – along with the normal ½ Ironman race and the Aquabikes and the FULL Ironman (god bless those athletes out in that 95F degree heat AND desolate OK roads all day!!).  The water table in the lake was so low!  I started front and center and knew I would get hammered but I did not care – I needed/wanted a good swim to separate myself from some/any uber bikers out there.  The gun went off and I shot out of it like a cannon.  And, let me tell you, I do not shoot out of anything fast.  I wanted to get a good position.  I realized that not only did I get a good position, I was in the front pack!  I got a little off course – and out of the corner of my eye I see Elizabeth!  She worked so hard on that swim  – I told her to jump on my feet and STAY there!

I came out of the water first overall female – of ALL females that day.  That made me happy – I did not have a watch on – so I had no idea what my time was but I could have cared less.  The race was mine to lose.

I got onto the bike and my goal was to KEEP THINGS way easy for the first 30 minutes.  I knew it was hot out there, but I am not acclimated anymore to heat and I knew it would bite me in the ass in the last 30  minutes if I was not smart.  We had a tail wind AND I kept my watts way lower than I needed to – or would have if I did not ride with that power meter.  I must say, I am A HUGE fan of power for long course racing, it saves me from myself – especially in the heat.  Anyway, I was 1^st onto the bike and then a gal went by me fairly strongly at 45 minutes and she was 41 years old.  OK…game on now…time to race.  I got up to goal watts and rode strong and steady.  Soon after that Elizabeth came by me and we rode back and forth until the ½ way mark.

I had to let the 41 year old go on the bike – she was riding too strong for me to chase her – and she was a bigger girl (not heavy, just not 100 lbs) so I knew either she was going to KILL this race or she would implode.  Time would tell.

The roads were in crappy shape – really, really bad.  And, at some point, I lost a bottle of my nutrition.  If I knew I dropped it, I would have stopped to get it.  But, around 1:45 I reached for it and nothing was there!  So, I had to go to water/Gatorade, which is not my favorite combination for long course.  My stomach started to bother me and while my power remained steady, my cadence decreased and I was hitting a real low part.  I also had gone thru ½ bar, 5 gels and some salt.  Then, my stomach started really bothering me – and I stood for parts to get my stomach back to normal…I could not wait to get off the bike.  I was in a real low and thought there was no way I could run 13.1 miles – fast.

I arrived in T 2 and was in 3^rd position overall.  I was actually a little surprised because I fell off the bike pace a bit there – that I was still in 3^rd OA.  I actually was a hot mess.  The temps were hot, but honestly, it was not that bad.  It is a dry heat in Oklahoma and we had a breeze.  I sat in T2 and peed and peed and got my head around this run ahead of me.  I estimated that the girl leading my AG was at least 6-7 minutes ahead of me, conservatively.  THAT is a lot of time if she can run. I headed out of T2 and had actually had my legs.

This run course is flat but all on concrete and windy, trail-like paths.  I LOVED IT.  I could see the runners and it was out and back and 2 loops…a perfect course when you are chasing someone.  I almost let her go.  I almost allowed myself to believe I could not chase her down.  I had already stopped twice in two port-o-johns to crap my brains out.  And, this was in the first 4 miles.  HOW in the hell do you catch the lead girl when you are stopping to crap – twice in 4 miles?  AND once in the bushes at mile 7???

I will tell you how….you rely on that girl messing up her race plan in 90 degree temps.  You hope that the conservative approach on the front end of the bike/run will pay off enough and chip away on her lead.   AND YOU never ever ever give up.  AND, you have to think fast on your feet.  I knew that due to my awesome poopy pants that I had too much in my gut, so I was able to adapt at the end of the bike and on the run…I needed to be quick and sharp to get this win.

At mile 6 I saw Elizabeth, she said, “Keep chipping away at her.”   I put my head down and just swallowed the pain.  I did not allow myself to feel.  THE entire time I repeated over and over, probably 1,000 times, “It will all be worth it Jenny – you can be the National Champion…it will all be worth it…woth it….worth it…..”

I put my head down and ran as hard as the weather would permit –I was around 7:15-7:40 all day…slower than I wanted to be, but considering my stomach was a hot mess, I was OK.  And, who cares what pace you are running if you can catch the first place girl, right?  And, due to my stomach, I could ONLY drink water/COKE.  I had nothing else.  I had enough salt and calories on the bike…but it was a fine line.  I carried gels and salt for the entire run, because I knew at any second I would need something.  AND, ice saved my ass too.  I had ice down my sports bra to keep my core cooler – it helped.

At mile 10-11 I see Elizabeth again.  She is clearly in 1^st overall and I realized that it would be SO cool for us to go 1-2 overall at this race – WHO would have thought?  We pass and she says, “She is 1 minute up, Jen.”  At that point I knew I could do this.  If I could cut into her lead by almost 5+ minutes in 10 miles, I can do 1 minute in 3 miles.  And, so I went.  I dug really deep.  I grabbed as much coke/water I could at each aide station and dumped water over my head to allow my body to really get ready for what is ahead of me.  I round the turnaround corner and I have less than 3 miles ahead of me.  The course is super crowded since this is a 2 looped course.  I am flying by athletes and I am painfully focused on that girl – and FINALLY I see her and her pink shorts.  I slow my pace to catch my breath so that when I go by her, I can sprint past her so she does not attach herself to me and we battle for 2 miles in that heat for the win.

I pass her, say, “nice job” and go hard past her…BUT I was so happy.  I was so proud of my race and I could have given a rat’s ass if the time was 6 hours OR 4:30.  I was in the lead at the National Championships at mile 11.  The race was mine to lose.  AND I did not let off the throttle.  WHO knows who is lurking back there.  I did not really let off the gas until I crossed the finish line.  AND in the last 4 miles I did not have to stop and crap myself.  So, that was a bonus.  I ran a 1:41, which is slower than I thought I would run, but guess what?  IT DOES NOT MATTER.  I crapped myself for 13.1 miles and won the AG, who cares!

As I entered the Finish Chute I saw 4:57  – I had NO idea what the time was, but I was happy to be under 5 hours for sure.  I raced without a watch.  When I can go head to head with my AG, I do not need to know anything but who is in front of me.  I think it is so freeing and I race best when the game is ON.  As I finished I saw Elizabeth in the waiting area and we both smiled at one another – nothing really even had to be said.  We were both SO happy and to get 1-2 and both be National Champions was almost too much to grasp.

But, I was a mess.  I had mentally and physically given that race my all and I could not take another step.  I was thirsty, sore, tired and euphoric all at the same time – and SO satisfied.

Anyway, the Awards Ceremony for the National Championships is a great treat.   I not only won my AG, but I was 2^nd Overall and 1^st Master.  Honestly, it was so gratifying.  And, to get 2^nd OA to Elizabeth was nothing short of fantastic.

We finished our weekend with some pizza, salad (we desperately needed something green), Malbec for Elizabeth and big gelatos!  We took a Trolley tour and went back to hotel room to take apart our bikes (blah).  We were trashed.  Elizabeth and I could barely walk.  My legs ached so bad that night in bed I was praying someone would just bring me pain meds! I was even up at 1am emailing Elizabeth (who was sound asleep in the next bed) for her to get some ibuprofen!!

And, while I did the work yesterday on the course, I am not crazy to think I could do this without the great support of my team.  A special thanks to Jerome – who is a rockstar when I am gone and who gets to have special daddy time with the twins.  Thanks to Dave, Elizabeth and Kate @ ProKine who keep me honest and challenged even after all these years racing…and for keeping it REAL.  Understanding what I can and cannot do at 41 years old and most importantly, allowing me to hit some home runs this year!  AND to my friends,  family,  athletes & my sponsors – your support means the world to me.

Final note: Thanks to those who introduced themselves to us this weekend:  Christie, Pele and others.  And, CONGRATS to Carrie Kimber who was 4th OA at the Long Course Aquabike  – great to see some friends down in OKC!

Here is the link to the USAT press release – where they KEEP reminding me that I am a Master now at 40.

Next up:  THE OFF SEASON!!!!  AND as much pumpkin crap I can eat!

Burlington, Vermont did not disappoint.

I wanted to race USAT Nationals Olympic for a few reasons.  Mostly, I wanted an opportunity to race head to head with the best short course athletes in the country in my 40-44 age group on this given day.

Last time I went to USAT Nationals I was 35-39 and it was in 2007 in Portland.  This is the trip where I earned the nickname Miss Daisy from Driving Miss Daisy.  I was worried about bears, starving to death all the time and always had a bee in my bonnet.  Hence, the nickname.  Fast forward to USAT Nationals in 2012 and Miss Daisy traveled with Elizabeth and Chris Waterstraat – same trio from 2007.  This time, Elizabeth EARNED the nickname MAUDE and for the same reasons I am called Miss Daisy.  I told her it is the impending turning 40 that is making her lose her mind:   the chills, hot flashes, demanding FOOD and coffee, having a meltdown and stomping her feet.  Because guess what happened?  MAUDE came out in Burlington and Miss Daisy was a peppy, happy (and relaxed) as a clam.  Oh the irony. (after 40 you just don’t give a sh*t quite frankly).

But, we had a great time – lots of laughs, good friends and shared respect for each other and our racing preparation.  Our hotel was absolutely disgusting and I rallied and did not complain too much – that is what happens when you jump into an already sold-out Nationals of 3000 athletes – hotels are GONE.  Enter:  Roach motel.

I was calm for Nationals.  I knew I was in great shape and knew that I would have a good day.  The weather was cooler (yay!) and the water choppy.   I can’t ask for much more.  And, mentally I was in a great place.  I have raced Nationals enough (and big, competitive races) to know that YOU MUST have a good swim.  PERIOD.  If you cannot have a good swim at Nationals, you cannot get into the mix right away.  And, in my age group – we were last of the day, so we started at 9am!  I knew I had to work hard from start to finish because the course would be super crowded and I would not know who was 40-44 until I came upon them.

My goal:  NO regrets and TOP 5 Age Group.  Top 10 is Podium at Nationals and the Award Ceremony is as inspiring as it gets in short course racing.  USAT recognizes the TOP 10 in all age groups and it is one of the highlights of each Championship – to see the 80-84 year olds and 70-74 year olds!   I loved it.

I have been feeling really good lately.  Amazing what happens when you don’t train for an Ironman and you specify your training for short course!  Ah!  You feel good!  I knew that if I was going to be in the mix in this race, I would have to swim in the 22 minute range, bike sub 1:10 and run 42 or better.  I was confident in all of those times; however, the wild card was my run.  I KNEW I could run a 42 minute 10k, my workouts had proven that, but that was my HUGE goal for Nationals, run 42 or better, that is 6:45 pace or better.  I did a track workout the Saturday before Nationals (bike/track repeat) and it was VERY good so all things pointed to this being doable. (since last year at this time I was not even walking)

SWIM:  The best thing about the swim here is that it was REAL.  It was choppy and aggressive and just what a National Championships should be.  I secretly was overjoyed.  I was wishing it was worse because then it would most definitely rip apart the age group.  I found my friend Mary B and we tried to relax as we waited forever for our AG to start.  I warmed up a few minutes and then just plopped myself in the front of the AG – it was aggressive – we were all treading water and kicking one another to get position.  But, I don’t care about that – I know if I get a clean line – I can keep Mary B and some of the faster swimmers in my sight and I will be fine.  And, that was true.  I came out of the water in the top 5 and was right where I needed to be.  I felt GOOD in the water – didn’t sight as well since I too am not used to choppy water, but all fine.  We were all slow, but I did not care, just trying to keep the rubber band from snapping from the lead group of 1-3 girls.

BIKE:  Funny because I was most confident in my bike these last couple of months and this is the area that comparatively I did not do as well as I wanted.   But, it was enough to stay in the mix.  The bike was harder than I thought it was going to be and I was trying to get into that rhythm.  I was feeling good though and was passing a ton of the 30-34 girls who started 8 minutes ahead of me.  I kept trying to find ANY 40-44 girls!  I will say that if you are in the top 5 at Nationals (or thereabouts) EVERYONE IS FAST and you do not just “pass” someone – you have to hunt them down and get them.  I got off the bike and really had NO idea where I was.  I had one girl pass me and I knew I was still in that 4-7th position.  Note to self:  TIME to get back to the Computrainer, way better than outside riding for short course training.

RUN:  I felt AWESOME.  I saw 2 girls in front of me in T2 and I made it my mission to get my legs, get up that massive hill out of T1 and then settle and then attack.  I saw my friend Mary B up ahead and after I passed her I worked on getting the girl in the bright yellow POWERBAR kit (Thanks for wearing that color).  I felt light, fast and perfect.  Temps were perfect and the course is fast after that initial hill.  I was moving and everything clicked.  I did not even care where the mile markers are – or what my time was, I was racing.  I was going hard and I was feeling AWESOME.  One of those days you just need to bottle up.  Where you do not want things to end!  I was passing a ton of people and by mile 3 caught Powerbar girl.  I had NO idea where I was so I just started chasing the faster 30-34 girls ahead of me.

I came to mile 6 and one girl came flying by me and I could not respond.  While I felt good, she ended up running a 39:xx and I could not match that pace.  I crossed the finish line – spent but SUPER HAPPY.  I knew I nailed it and I knew I was where I wanted to be.  My final run time?  42:xx !

We waited for results to be posted and I was 6th!  Guess what the time difference was between 5th and 6th?  .01 second.  That is one one hundredth of a second.  I am trying to understand that because I never saw someone that close to me but there must have been someone crossing the mat with me who was 40-44.  It was crowded!  Trust me, when I saw that, I spent some  time trying to digest that one.  BUT:  That is racing!  I left it all out there.

Above is 1/2 of the 40-44 AG podium.  Maude’s picture taking skills need some work.

The best part of short course racing?  Fast, furious and done quickly!

USAT Nationals was one of those races where I said NO REGRETS and I went out and just made it happen.  I am happy today.  I race for many reasons.  Some are public (I crave the competition, I crave being the best I can be at each age, I appreciate the longevity I have in this sport) but some are private too.  I am deeply inspired everyday by the athletes that cannot race and I never take one day for granted any more.  With athletes dying on the courses, athletes fighting cancer or injuries or broken bones or motivation or the demons that run in their heads….I know when things are good – to ride that wave and jump on.  I did all of that on Saturday and that is what makes me tick.  When things are good – I am on that wave because life is short and who knows what tomorrow will bring.  So, for that, I am grateful and HAPPY.

I celebrate each success and this weekend was a HUGE success for me.  One of my best races – while it was far from any PR for me – It got the job done AND I am sure it is a PR for my 40-44 self.

And, I am grateful that I had bought new bright NEON SHOES (Yellow) so that Miss Daisy did not get lost in Burlington.  I literally stopped traffic with them.  And, here the whole weekend I thought it was just because I was cute.  The shoes:

NOT so much.

And, truth be told, all I wanted all weekend was ICE CREAM.  I patiently waited until 9pm on Saturday night for Ben and Jerry’s CHOCOLATE THERAPY (right Caroline?).  It was awesome..I had NO idea Maude (who needed to get her butt to bed and was fading away here) snapped this picture of me.

THANKS to Jerome who stayed home with the kids and supported my passion.  He is such a great supporter and spent some quality time with the kids while I was off in Vermont for 3 1/2 days.  Thank you, Jerome. xxo

Next up:  Maude and Daisy do Long Course Nationals in Oklahoma.  Oh, this will be classic.

I am heading off to Burlington, Vermont later this week to race in the USAT Short Course National Championships.  It has been awhile since I raced Nationals – since 07 in Portland.  I was on my way in 08 to Portland again but that was the year I was hit in my car and it totaled my car (the driver was texting).  I am very excited to be going to Nationals this year and be in a position to race in shape and feeling GOOD.

I love LOVE short course racing.  In fact, I this it is the bread and butter of our sport.  It keeps me fresh, excited and most importantly:  honest.

See, Nationals is no joke. It is an opportunity for the best age group athletes in the country to come together – and race head to head.  And, to me, that is all I want.  I have raced a LOT and sometimes people ask me, “Why Nationals?” when we have a ton of fun, local races here.  And my answer:  To race the best in the country in my 40-44 Age group.

Honestly, I just want ALL the top 40-44 girls to show up, on the same day, on the same course and hammer it out to see who is the fastest that day.  I crave that competition and trying to raise myself up to that level.  The Midwest is not short of talented 40-44 year olds that is for sure….and many I am lucky enough to coach..but at the end of the day, it is me versus the top 40-44 girls and I am excited to have that chance to suffer.

I woke up this morning a little nervous actually.  And, all year, I have not been nervous at all.  I have been challenged but for my Age Group, I want something bigger.   And, Saturday I will get what I have asked for!  Last year Susan Wiliams won the race and my AG.  If you do not know who Susan Williams is, Google 2004 Olympics.  I have not looked at the start list.  The ONLY person I know who is going is my friend Mary Bradbury, who I am hoping to see in the swim at some level!!

For this training cycle – to peak for Nationals I have been:

• Focused
• Eating well:  This means eating healthy but enough to fuel my workouts and help me recover.
• Be at what I think is my ideal race weight – NOT too light or too heavy
• Sleeping 8+ hours/night
• Mentally sharp, positive and visualizing my race on Saturday
• Doing my exact workouts – not more/not less – and being PRESENT for every workout
• Reducing stress
• Recovering like a champ

On Saturday Elizabeth and I did one of our crazy trainer/track repeats together.  We had a good time and both ran and rode way faster than we both thought we would do.  It was a great confidence boost and workout the weekend before Nationals!

The great Spencer Smith used to tell me, “Jen, when the flag drops the shit stops.”

When I show up on the start line at Nationals on Sunday, I will be as prepared as I can be.  And, I will be ready.  I will race my guts out and have no regrets.  And, let the cards fall where they may…but it will only be MY fault if I do not race well.  All the preparation has been ideal.  No excuses, just hard core and fast racing!

And, an opportunity to race the best in the country at short course — when I am at my best for 41 years old.  I can’t ask for much more and I will shred myself apart to hit my goals.

Well, maybe the only thing I would ask for is NOT to always put the 40-44 women LAST….it has been a hard adjustment to me as I turned 40 — it is like all of a sudden, BAM, in the back…but, I digress..

Lately I have been saying “WHO am I?” over and over again – but really, just in jest.  I am not serious, I know who I am.  More on this later…

On Sunday I raced a local Sprint Triathlon.  Jerome is in China, so I needed a race that was close to my parent’s house to help me with the kids.  I wanted to do a tune up before Nationals in 2 weeks.  I have been feeling REALLY good lately, but with short course racing, I needed to race and get used to laying out all out there – ironically without any pressure – 2 weeks out from Nationals.

The distance was 800m OW swim, 20k bike, 5k run.  AH!  A little longer swim – I’ll take it!  The only challenge I have now in local races is that now that I am 40, I am usually always in the last wave and Sunday was no exception.  But, I just made the best out of it and tried to work on passing as many athletes as I could before the finish line.  And, I chased every one of them down…and I really did not know if there was anyone in front of me (females) from the previous waves.

It was nice to catch up with some of my athletes, local friends and meet some new people – low key and actually my old boss (when I was in the corporate world) is the one who called me and asked me to come and race (she is friends with the RD), so that was a motivating factor for me!

Gun went off and I got a GREAT start – I have been working hard on my starts in the OW because if I can get a ½ step on the girls, I can usually get and hang onto clean water..and then if someone goes by me then I can grab their feet.  I did have clean water – for about 1 minute until I hit the wave before us and then the wave before them….I am not sure how many athletes I swam through, but it was a little out of control.   With a local sprint, there were many backstrokers and people out there clearly out of their element.  I was careful not to freak anyone out – and focus on regaining my body position every time I sighted – which was A LOT.  Got out of the water fast and raced to my bike.

Bike was uneventful EXCEPT for the fact that I dropped my water bottle pretty early.  This was a USAT race and the USAT official (one of them) was near me, so I HAD to go back and pick it up – cannot risk a penalty.  So, that was NOT fun as I know every second matters at that distance, but I got it and moved on.  I did watch my Quarq power and it is funny how even in the Sprint we could work harder.  I was working hard but having to ride so far to my left (but not across the  yellow line as traffic was NOT closed)…so a little dodging here and there – and I did have that worry in my cycling as I was more focused on not hitting anyone, but it was all good.  I felt good on the bike.

Onto the run.  I had a few people tell me I was the first female and someone else say I was 2^nd.  All I know is that since I started in the last wave, I had people to chase down and get.  I knew I was leading my 40+ women’s wave, but I was just out to destroy myself.  I felt good – not amazing but good.  I ran hard and was working hard at getting some of my speed back.  I do not ever feel my Achilles anymore – so now it is just a matter of getting that top end speed back (Hello – anyone see it?) and every race I do I run faster, so it is coming.  Then, at about 2 ¼ miles into the 5k I see the gal in front of me.  I was gaining on her fast and we were almost done (she started 3 minutes ahead of me, so I was in theory beating her, but I wanted to pass her!).  She rounded the corner and we still had 800-1000 meters left and she is raising her arms and celebrating.  I thought….she has no idea.  NEVER celebrate anything until you cross that line or results are posted.  Anyway, BAM, there I was – ruining her party (she won last year) and not that my goal is to beat anyone, but I go to win.  No excuses, no exceptions.

Then she saw my race kit with the JHC on the chest and knew I started 3 minutes behind her.

Mission accomplished:  I went to suffer a bit, get my running down a bit, work on a few things, win and HAVE FUN!  All done!

We were cracking up because LOOK at how big this trophy is?  It is like from the 1990s!

Congrats to everyone who raced:  Kelley, Rich and Katrina!  And, thanks to Katie Thatcher who came out and cheered for us!  Great to see some familiar faces out there!

And, speaking of “WHO AM I?  theme…I have been working hard to get to what I think is a good race weight for me for Nationals and since March I have lost 10 lbs, but all while eating ice cream! (rah rah!)   Actually, my goal was to get there before Door County 2 weeks ago.  And, I made some big personal changes too – and this is WAY TOO MUCH information, but I think I will share it with you all (females) because some of you may be considering this….anyway, I went off the birth control pill after being on the same one for longer than I was off.  Yes, I went on the pill at 21 or so – now 20 years later, I was asking myself – DO I really need these chemicals in my body still?  BUT I rarely change anything that is working and I was afraid of what would be on the other side of going off the pill…

But, I did it June 1^st.  I felt AWESOME…in fact better than ever.  I have been sleeping awesome, lost my appetite (my ravenous appetite!) and feel good.  BUT, I am eating ice cream like a crazy woman (I do not even like ice cream), cleaning my bike, crying when my neighbors did not invite me to a get-together.  I MEAN REALLY?  Jerome is like, “are you a girl now?”   Yes, I am a girl now.  But, if I get pregnant with twins again, I will REALLY be a mess !!

Oh goodness, shame on me for not updating my blog in a timely fashion!  Honestly, nothing personal, but I have been swamped.  It is like asking a tax accountant to go on vacation the month before April 15th!  I am here and all is GOOD!  I have been working feverishly all summer and when I am not working I am training/racing and trying to balance it all and be a GOOD MOM….all of which is not easy (as you all know!).  My kids are heading back to school in just over 2 1/2 weeks!

The kids were at sleep over camp for the week of the 4th of July and I headed down to Tucson for a change of scenery.  I went down solo as Jerome had to stay home and work (and be our emergency parent home) and spent the week training and working.  I got a TON of work done because it was so hot in the afternoon that all I did was work work work all afternoon and night – it was glorious.  I got a ton done and was a hermit all week except for a little visit with Gail L. and Jen Lynn, which was a nice ADULT interaction for the week.  I got lucky in Tucson too – the weather was COOL for Tucson (while it was breaking records at home) and I even rode up Lemmon and it was barely 80F!!  Lovely.

I think people were shocked I was in Tucson alone for 1 week.  Oh!  Well, that is easy for me, while I am very social, I really enjoy being by myself and had NO issues being gone the week!

After my last Triathlon – at the end of June, I was getting ready to race the Door County 1/2 Ironman this past Sunday.  This was going to be my “A” race of the season, but I had a change of heart (read:  feeling good and our house is not selling),  so I added short course AND Long course Nationals to the schedule (yeah!).  But, our huge Door County trip that was going to include:  Katie, Mia, Stacie and Karen turned immediately to just me, Mia and Katie.

Door County is beautiful if you ever can go – just a lovely Lake Michigan town about 5 hours north of Chicago in rural Wisconsin.  Home of the Green Bay Packers – consider yourself warned.  I agreed to do the driving, which was a Saturday AM departure and a Sunday afternoon return!  Phew!

Last year this race was 100F degrees and we NEVER thought we would see those temps again that far north – OH….we were wrong, it was definitely not 100F, but it was 90F and humid.  I like this race because we swim in “cool” Lake Michigan and there is an ELITE wave.

I did not know too many of the Elite girls except for Adrienne, Kimberly Gooddall and Karin Langer, but I was glad to have these girls in the wave -sometimes athletes sand bag and do not race elite.  WHY?  I have no idea.  Yes, I was out in no man’s land the ENTIRE race – I ride and run solo – even so alone I have to make sure I am on the course sometimes – but you know what?  It is a fair race in the front and it is REAL racing.  Yes, it is lonely but if you want to be the best – RACE the best.   I think some athletes do it because they take the Elites out of the Age Group awards.  I have to be extremely honest here – I could give a sh*t.  I race to be my best and to lay it all out there.  I do not race for awards.  I race to be the best athlete I can be at 41 years old on that given day.  And, I like to race off the front.

I felt so good for this race.  In fact, I have never felt so good before a race since 2005.  I am serious here.  I did taper for this race and was completely nutritionally topped off.  I was SO sick of eating by the time we went to bed on Saturday night.  I absolutely carb-load pre- half IM and the difference it makes is like night and day.  I was SO excited to race.  I literally jumped out of bed and immediately put my race kit on as soon as my alarm went off!

They started the approximately 75 Elites – male/female – together.  I got a GREAT start – I was out in front looking for the other women and I realized it was just me!  After about 300 m the gal who eventually came out of the water 1st went by me and I used her draft but she was hammering too much for me so she gapped me a bit.  I was swimming so effortlessly.  I felt awesome!  It was one of those swims where I was like “OH THIS is awesome – I LOVE THIS” feeling.  Then, I found Karin Langer who is a great swimmer and I hung onto her feet and finished right behind her – we were 2nd and 3rd out of the water – I had one of the best swims I have EVER had.  And, I gauge a good swim on how I am feeling and where I come out of the water – coming out in the Elite pack 2nd/3rd is right where I want to be – regardless of time.  I did not even look at my watch!  I had a race to race!

Onto the bike….I headed right out and was 3rd on the bike.  Unfortunately Karin flatted and was delayed a bit fixing her bike – so I moved to 2nd and felt so good I had to remind myself this was a Half IM, NOT an Oly race.  I was watching my power and speed and we were moving (we had a tailwind here).  I felt so good it was scarey.  And, I was making sure I was not over-riding anything here.  I passed the first place girl and then was riding in 1st place for a bit and Adrienne and I leap frogged for about 20 miles or so.  I was drinking and eating and taking in my salt because it was HOT out and I could feel it already (the race did NOT start until 8am?).  I felt really good until about mile 40 when I was HOT and wanted to be off my bike – and had a moment of, “OH!  I need to slow down and eat/drink more.”  By now my power meter was not working (or by mile 25 it went off – nice) – which is OK because I don’t like feedback much anyway, but I ONLY wear it so I do not over-ride the first 30 miles or so.  I ate all my gels (5) and wanted MORE.  And, I took in 4 bottles and wanted MORE – and I was under 2 hours on the bike at this point!  It was that hot.  So,  I slowed down a bit, and took in more fluids and got another gel at the AIDE station and came into T2 in 3rd place.  I did not feel SUPER but it was more of a heat management issue than anything else at this point.

I sat down to pee in T2, as I always do and I was clearly hydrated.  Honestly for me in that heat, I just need to go slower than I want to – so honestly, my entire day is fighting with myself to go faster NO slower NO faster NO slower …to ensure I can run 13.1 miles in that heat.  Got out of T 2 in 4th place and it was so hot we were running on the extreme side of the road for ANY shade and I even carried a hand held flask to get in more fluids.  I took ice/cold water from every aide station and kept that in my sports bra and that helped a ton.  The first 4 miles were AWFUL – I quit the sport again, but the good news is that I know what to do when things get a little ugly in the heat – you MUST slow down and stay cool/wet.  So, I did that.  I had since taken off my watch, so I ran as I could – by RPE and on a day like that, that is what you do.  I took in a chocolate caffeinated gel and that helped and I finally got my legs back around mile 5-6.  Then, after that I was pretty good.  There are several BIG hills on this course – one called the BLUFF, which is a monster, but otherwise, it was open, hot and a little slow.

I could not wait to finish.  I can’t believe sometimes how much I forget how much the 1/2 IM distance hurts and how badly I wanted those last 3 miles to BE OVER!!!  But, I knew I was doing OK because I held my position and ended up finishing 4th Elite in a slower time of just over 5 hours.  After the Age Group athletes were done, that put me in 2nd AG, which I was not super thrilled about, but I had to race the girls that started with me.  So, all in all a GOOD day for me – NOT great, a slower time for me due to the heat, but overall I was pleased.  Any day you can control the elements and come out ahead is a good day!

After my finish I went back and watched Marc, Joe, Brad, Rick, Scott, Katie, Sharon and Mia finish – as they all did.  However, Mia had crashed on her bike at mile 10 or so and it was bad.  HOW this girl finished the race is beyond me.  We call her Mia BEAST and this further explains why:  When she crashed, she thankfully did not break any bones but she took a CHUNK of her knee out.  When I saw her at the finish line I took her to the MED tent and looked at her knee.   I am NOT kidding, it was absolutely disgusting.  So bad that I wanted her to go to the ER.  She would have nothing to do w/ that because she knew it was so bad she wanted to get home to her boss and her hospital (she is a DR).  Thankfully Sharon is a nurse and was able to help Mia with the med staff at the race because Katie and I could barely look at it.  And, yes we immediately drove home – got home at 10pm and Mia went straight to the hospital to meet w/ the surgeon/plastic surgeon for repair.  NOW if this was anyone else, we would have been at the hospital in Door County but Mia – being a MD was able to work with the staff MD at the race and “fix” things until we got back to Chicago.

I really was going to post a picture of her open knee – but I can’t do it.  I can barely open it to save it, etc.  Let’s just say you can put your finger down to her knee bone and tendons.  She is having it vacuumed shut today and will be OK long term.  And, Mia, I love you, but STOP sending me pictures of your knee!!!! 🙂

Congrats to everyone who raced at Door County – LOTS of great races in that heat on Sunday.  Thanks to Katie and Mia who traveled with me to!  A BIG thank you to Jerome who has been nothing short of awesome.  I was gone last weekend with my sister/Mom and then racing this weekend – thanks sweetie.

Next up:  Local Sprint next weekend and then USAT AG Nationals in August!