More than a Real Estate Mom - Triathlon, Fitness, and Life on 30A

Amica Ironman 70.3 Race Report Providence, Rhode Island July 12, 2009 To say that I had six weeks to train for this race is not entirely accurate. I did train for New Orleans 70.3 and had a 5 week hiatus before I decided to register for Providence. So, for 6 weeks, I ramped up the mileage and focused on outdoor riding and running – which I had not done for New Orleans. Race weekend arrived and I felt prepared, ready to tackle the hills, and I was completely healthy! Jason, Elise and I dropped the dogs at my sister’s house then headed straight to Providence. We made decent time and I could have squeezed in packet pick up, as we arrived into town 10 minutes before closing. I decided to wait until morning, planning to arrive early to beat the crowd and get an early bike drop time. We checked into our hotel, and walked ALL OVER searching for a place to eat. Finally, we discovered not one, but two great restaurants within 100 yards of the hotel. So we ate at one, and made plans for ...

Who signs up for a 70.3 mile race on a whim? I do! Yay me! In the midst on focusing on getting stronger, leaner and faster I registered for the Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island. That's right. Throw another all day endurance event in when you haven't trained for distance in 8 weeks. BRILLIANT! My thinking was quite logical. I registered on May, 31; the last day before the fee increased again. Reason: I don't have any other local races planned, this one isn't sold out, and we've never been to Providence! Makes perfect sense. I am a little lighter than I was in April so that's a plus. I believe I'm stronger, as 7 weeks of a class called "Reduce Your Assets" should have strengthed my ass to the point where I can crack a walnut between my cheeks, or at least a peanut, maybe a soybean. I feel good. It's not a question of completing the race, I know I can with no significant equipment malfunction. It's a question of completing the rac...

Today I took a step class. It was the first time since I was in college. I've been out of college for 12 years so, yeah, it's been a while. By my own assessment, I'm pretty fit, so I set up my bench with 2 risers. Then I thought maybe I made a huge mistake when I saw the rest of the class with 1 riser or less... I've never been comfortable with the choreography that is an integral part of the exercise. Seriously, I'm like a bull in a china shop with limbs flying all over the place. If I get lost (and it's usually the same section of the routine where I do lose it) I just do my own thing. Remember that "Friends" episode with the tap dancing and Phoebe thinking she "got it? That's me. Anyway I survived - I didn't fall, my legs didn't fail me, and while I didn't have the same spunk that I once had, it wasn't so bad. Maybe I'll do it again...

My baby weight has been very stubborn, but I suppose that makes sense since it joined me very early in the pregnancy. So the weight that refused to budge one year after baby, is the same weight that I gained in the first trimester. Sooo not baby related! Really I was just enjoying myself and givinig in to my daily craving for cake. or cookies. or both. I managed to train for and complete New Orleans and my weight did not budge. On the other hand, I was pleased that I did not gain in the months since Dad's passing. I could have turned to food, especially since I uprooted my life to "handle" things up north. Suddenly I was without my husband, friends, routine social activities and so on. But still, once I focused on the endurance training to prepare for 70.3 miles on the bayou, I expected the weight to melt away. No such luck. I returned from the race feeling good. I was not crazy sore, even though I had a wicked sunburn, and I felt fit and strong. At the same tim...

I registered for this race in February, 2008... almost as soon as registration opened. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and thought it would be a great way to celebrate the baby's birthday and visit with family, plus I would be able to train with a goal and try to lose the baby weight. Well, I still have about 15 lbs of baby weight to lose and training proved more of a challenge than I originally anticipated however - I finished! Little did I know that it would become the largest 70.3 in the world with 3000 registered entrants. Holy Cow! Race morning started just as any other race morning. I woke about 3 AM and got right into routine of bodyglide, dress, contacts, last minute packing, etc. J asked if he should wear jeans or shorts... I quickly put an end to that nonsense with the simple response "Husband, you are not my concern right now". He wore shorts. I mixed up my carbpro drinks that Sandy had given me a week earlier in Austin and pulled my uncrustables ou...

After tossing and turning with a migraine into the wee hours of the morning, I was so glad to wake up feeling good and headache free. Today was my final swim before the race (and first open water of the season). The GNO Triathlon club meets every Saturday so today I planned to crash their workout! How great to have others to swim with. I dressed, put in my contacts, and left husband & baby sleeping peacefully. The drive out to the lake took about 45 minutes. I struggled into my wetsuit, thankful it still zips, put on my cap and goggles, then headed down the seawall. Not as cold as I expected! I swam for a short while and was thrilled to feel good. Then I swam back to the start. I'm ready for tomorrow. Another swimmer asked me to swim alongside her, as it was her first time in the open water ever. She did alright and it gave me a little extra practice. When finished, I headed back to Slidell. Now it's time to check lil blue into transition for the night. Early morning tomo...

My husband is navigating the bumper to bumper New Orleans rush hour traffic and I figure that now is a perfect time to do a test-post. We decided to pick up my race packet today rather than wait for Saturday, in hopes of avoiding a big crowd. We succeeded, though there was a good turn out. I sat through the mandatory briefing and then got my packet. I did buy a new tri suit that felt phenomenal when I tried it on. Best part...no elastic so it eliminates "sausage leg". My legs need all the help they can get. Then we talked to Tom Ziebart, who is one of my favorite race directors. Finally we purchased a "race crew" shirt for Elise and decided it was time to go. Swimming tomorrow with the GNOTriathletes! Race is 2 days away.

October came and went in a blur. Husband vs. Wife at Amelia Island did happen and husband took the victory quite handily with a much better swim time. It is amazing to me to look back on that weekend. Our lives had been humming along and we made our plans for the future without considering that, perhaps, our future really wasn't up to us. A week after the race, my father passed away. While my father was never the picture of perfect health, this was sudden and unexpected. Since then I have been living up north with the baby and my wonderful supportive husband has continued to work in Orlando. So, in a heartbeat, our lives changed and we decided to move. We are now near my sister and her family. As I age I have come to realize the importance of having her close by. Our children will know one another and she and I can lean on each other in the way that only sisters can. So what about triathlon? Well I am counting down to my next race. Oschner New Orleans IronMan 70.3 on Apr...