MusselMan Race Report - 7-15-12
When I completed the Musselman in July, 2006 it was a personal feat of determination. It was a challenging day and I finally crossed the finish line in 8:15:14. Coming back for the event in 2012, I had a whole new approach. First, I respect the terrain and also have been living in upstate NY for nearly 4 years so I am also training under similar conditions. Second, I wasn't looking to have an incredible time (though breaking 7 hours would have been nice). My body is much different than it was 6 years ago, mostly because I am still working my way back from having a baby 6 months ago.
My first half iron after Elise was the New Orleans 70.3 when she was 13 months old. I can honestly say that I trained less in that year than I did in the 5 months leading up to Musselman. I have a steady string of at least 3 workouts per week, with most weeks netting me 4-6. For that, I am proud. It's tough being a working mom and trying to find that balance. Mostly, my training has been at 6 AM and I squeeze in whatever distance I can in order to get ready for work. My time in New Orleans was 7:41:20. On a flat course (with headwind...that hurt). I beat that time by 9 minutes, finishing the 2012 Musselman in 7:32:18. I had a faster swim, slower bike (netted each other out), faster transitions (surprisingly), and a faster "run". All in all, I am satisfied.
Taper week:
The week leading up to the race, I actually had some good quality taper workouts. Usually I taper like a slug so this was good.
Sunday: family hike (the week prior had a focus on swimming as we spent 4 days on a lake)
Monday: 3.5 mile run
Tuesday: 10/2 brick
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: 1.25 mile swim/1 mile run
Friday: 4.5 mile run
Saturday: packet pick up, some walking
We drove to Geneva on Friday afternoon and got in town in time to watch the micromussel event - a super short triathlon with 2 races: one with racing bikes and the other with tricycles or big wheels. It was definitely worthwhile to see.
Saturday, J woke early to participate in the MiniMussel Sprint race. Elise and I slept in then drove over to the course with my brother in law to catch him on the bike, then we found a nice spot on the run course where we saw him at miles 1 and 3. There was a little walking and standing involved but not too much. When he returned from the race, I took the car and went to packet pick up and the mandatory pre-race meeting. Thankfully, I had ridden the bike course a few weeks earlier and had a sense of calm. I knew this course and I was ready. (I did crash on my course preview but that was at the end of the ride). I visited with some friends who were also in town for the race and then went back to the house. We had chinese buffet for dinner (yum, salty goodness) and then I turned in to get some rest.
Race morning!
I woke up and my headache was GONE. I felt somewhat human too, as I had been battling the crud all week. I dressed, grabbed my bottles from the freezer, and got ready to go. J put my bike on the car for me, then he drove me to the race (he would then return to the house and go back to sleep). We stopped at Dunkin Donuts so I could have my pre-race meal: toasted sesame bagel, egg, little bit of butter. When we arrived at the state park, I heard people saying that the water was 78 degrees. Basically it was .1 degree within wetsuit legal. I didn't care... no wetsuit for me! I was thrilled that I could just swim without the constriction.
The swim went without incident. It took longer than I wanted but I felt good. 53:53
T1-3:31
I hopped on the bike for 56 beautiful miles. The course was challenging but not terrible. We were hit with a torrential downpour, streaks of lightning, and a little hail. On the back end of the course, the skies cleared for a warm, sunny run. 3:31:23
T2-4:23 (thanks to the asshole who took my spot on the bike rack)
My back was aching and I considered stopping but I got off the bike and trudged through transition. Someone decided that their spot on the bike rack wasn't good enough so they took mine. I was pissed... again this happened??? What the hell! I shoved his/her bike to the side with a lot of cursing. I decided to hit the port o lets, realized I still had my (new) bike gloves on as I headed out of transition and handed them to a volunteer (never to see them again). I slogged past the finish line (aquabikers were finishing but so were some speedy MussleMen and Women), and it was at that point that I had decided to just finish. I was definitely going to PR the course, so why not just take my time. I ran and walked and jogged and walked. It's been several months so the details are fuzzy. I had zero bladder control (turns out I had a UTI...who knew) so that wasn't my greatest moment.
What I do remember was getting halfway through the run course and getting choked up. I had a 6 month old child and I was going to finish 70.3 miles. This was my 50th triathlon and I was GOING TO FINISH. Between the crash, the sickies all week, and the back pain I went into the weekend unsure, but suddenly I realized that it would happen - and I finished the half marathon (barely) under 3 hours. (2:59:59)
And I did it. 45 minutes faster than in 2006 (7:32:19)
Best part --- running with EV across the finish line and the kind volunteer who gave her a finishers medal (!)
My first half iron after Elise was the New Orleans 70.3 when she was 13 months old. I can honestly say that I trained less in that year than I did in the 5 months leading up to Musselman. I have a steady string of at least 3 workouts per week, with most weeks netting me 4-6. For that, I am proud. It's tough being a working mom and trying to find that balance. Mostly, my training has been at 6 AM and I squeeze in whatever distance I can in order to get ready for work. My time in New Orleans was 7:41:20. On a flat course (with headwind...that hurt). I beat that time by 9 minutes, finishing the 2012 Musselman in 7:32:18. I had a faster swim, slower bike (netted each other out), faster transitions (surprisingly), and a faster "run". All in all, I am satisfied.
Taper week:
The week leading up to the race, I actually had some good quality taper workouts. Usually I taper like a slug so this was good.
Sunday: family hike (the week prior had a focus on swimming as we spent 4 days on a lake)
Monday: 3.5 mile run
Tuesday: 10/2 brick
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: 1.25 mile swim/1 mile run
Friday: 4.5 mile run
Saturday: packet pick up, some walking
We drove to Geneva on Friday afternoon and got in town in time to watch the micromussel event - a super short triathlon with 2 races: one with racing bikes and the other with tricycles or big wheels. It was definitely worthwhile to see.
Saturday, J woke early to participate in the MiniMussel Sprint race. Elise and I slept in then drove over to the course with my brother in law to catch him on the bike, then we found a nice spot on the run course where we saw him at miles 1 and 3. There was a little walking and standing involved but not too much. When he returned from the race, I took the car and went to packet pick up and the mandatory pre-race meeting. Thankfully, I had ridden the bike course a few weeks earlier and had a sense of calm. I knew this course and I was ready. (I did crash on my course preview but that was at the end of the ride). I visited with some friends who were also in town for the race and then went back to the house. We had chinese buffet for dinner (yum, salty goodness) and then I turned in to get some rest.
Race morning!
I woke up and my headache was GONE. I felt somewhat human too, as I had been battling the crud all week. I dressed, grabbed my bottles from the freezer, and got ready to go. J put my bike on the car for me, then he drove me to the race (he would then return to the house and go back to sleep). We stopped at Dunkin Donuts so I could have my pre-race meal: toasted sesame bagel, egg, little bit of butter. When we arrived at the state park, I heard people saying that the water was 78 degrees. Basically it was .1 degree within wetsuit legal. I didn't care... no wetsuit for me! I was thrilled that I could just swim without the constriction.
The swim went without incident. It took longer than I wanted but I felt good. 53:53
T1-3:31
I hopped on the bike for 56 beautiful miles. The course was challenging but not terrible. We were hit with a torrential downpour, streaks of lightning, and a little hail. On the back end of the course, the skies cleared for a warm, sunny run. 3:31:23
T2-4:23 (thanks to the asshole who took my spot on the bike rack)
My back was aching and I considered stopping but I got off the bike and trudged through transition. Someone decided that their spot on the bike rack wasn't good enough so they took mine. I was pissed... again this happened??? What the hell! I shoved his/her bike to the side with a lot of cursing. I decided to hit the port o lets, realized I still had my (new) bike gloves on as I headed out of transition and handed them to a volunteer (never to see them again). I slogged past the finish line (aquabikers were finishing but so were some speedy MussleMen and Women), and it was at that point that I had decided to just finish. I was definitely going to PR the course, so why not just take my time. I ran and walked and jogged and walked. It's been several months so the details are fuzzy. I had zero bladder control (turns out I had a UTI...who knew) so that wasn't my greatest moment.
What I do remember was getting halfway through the run course and getting choked up. I had a 6 month old child and I was going to finish 70.3 miles. This was my 50th triathlon and I was GOING TO FINISH. Between the crash, the sickies all week, and the back pain I went into the weekend unsure, but suddenly I realized that it would happen - and I finished the half marathon (barely) under 3 hours. (2:59:59)
And I did it. 45 minutes faster than in 2006 (7:32:19)
Best part --- running with EV across the finish line and the kind volunteer who gave her a finishers medal (!)
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