St. Anthony's Race Report - Rell

Brian Rell and his brother-in-law, Travis.

St A's Post Race Report:

Up at 4am...foam rolled for 15-20min, had two packages of oatmeal, got bottles ready, picked up Travis (brother in law) at 5...ran over opposum on university (nasty...we laughed for 15 min as the damn thing turned around at the last 2nd..and splat), got to st pete and transition by 6. 

Set-up barely in time before they were kicking us out/closing the gate...waited awhile for potty...unloaded. Got to swim 15-20min early; got WS on..went in water for a few minutes.

Swim: started midpack...tried to take it real easy...kept HR low, swam slow but still found myself veering to the right and bordering w/occasional panic feeling...breast stroke more than I wanted throughout to regroup...water felt real choppy to me...was very glad to get out...wetsuit felt tight/shoulders sore...I know its lack of practice, not the wetsuit.

T1...a bit slow...bike was way at the end...WS took a little longer to take off than expected and I spent 20-30sec getting compression socks on...maybe I should have wore them under WS? who knows

Got on bike...rode real hard...probably 90%, full throttle as much as I could...ave 21.4...thought I was faster but w/all the turns/bumps/etc...I guess that's about right.

T2: ran slow to rack, tested legs..thought they were ok..grabbed a swig of h2o, then ran out...not as fast as I wanted but felt ok...

Run: Legs were HEAVY!@! .75 miles in...Hams cramped severely...stopped, stretched, and started again...1.25...cramped again...stretched on top of the bridge, started again...and felt better and better. Thought I was running 8:21 for the last 3+ miles but according to my posted time the 2nd split was 8:59...not sure why I was off so much...

Time: 2:44:08....not great...but really, that was my first Olympic Tri believe it or not so I now have something to beat next year. 

Hindsight...I realized I only had 2 Oatmeal packages 3+ hours before my race...I definitely did not have enough calories pre-race. Had 3 gels and 1 1/2 bottles of heed on the bike...felt right, felt good on the bike. The run, who knows, popped two salts in t2...probably should have popped them 1/2 hour before run but I forgot...actually didn't forget...when I looked in my little bike bag...I hadn't put them in there!


Up next for Brian..... Ironman Mont Tremblant, Canada in August!!!

Galveston Island 70.3 Race Report - Suz

Walking along the Pier

Finish Line shot

Leading up to Galveston 70.3 I was very excited. I also was nervous about some conditions that might present on race day. Namely the possible wind, heat and rough water. I was encouraged (ordered) by my coach to not stress the uncontrollable and just have fun. 

Race morning madness

As per my usual I didn’t sleep much the days before the race. Nerves and excitement get the best of me. On race morning I did feel rested and ready. I was the first of our group of racers to go off.  The walk to the pier was further than I thought so by the time I got there my wave was in the water. I had just enough time to jump in, find a spot and set my watch before it was “go time.” I had no time to fret and as I began swimming I felt the crush of bodies. The first 5 minutes or so I was grabbed, dunked and was grabbing and dunking back. I felt this push on my shoulder that was strong enough to make me stop and look up. This woman pointed to me and yelled “you grab my leg one more time and I’m going to punch you in the head!” I couldn’t believe this grown ass woman was threatening me! I mumbled some sort of apology and kept on swimming. I have to say that my swim time didn’t reflect how okay I felt in the water. I felt like I swam straight (although my Garmin told me different) and I didn’t feel spent coming out of the water. 

That wetsuit wouldn't go over than damn Garmin!

My first hiccup of the day was getting my wet suit off. These two adorable girls that were no bigger than a minute tried for what seemed like forever to strip it off but it was caught on my watch! Finally after a group effort my wet suit came off and I was off to T1.

After a smooth transition I was on the bike. Galveston is an out and back along the coast. The view is pretty but exactly the same. Mind numbingly the same. The wind on the way out was intense. Mentally I struggled with how slow my speed was. Physically I was uncomfortable. My hope was that on the way back I could make up some time and get in some sort of grove.  When the turn around came I did feel a bit of a tail wind. My speed improved, slightly. The view was the same, again. 

Happy to be coming into T2

Trying to yell something at Nick :)

When I pulled into transition I was really happy to be off the bike! That was the longest to date I have ever been on a bike!  My legs weren’t happy.

The run was so incredibly well supported! The three-loop course was packed with people. The upside of that was all the cheering and distractions. The down side was half way through the first lap I need to throw up but I couldn’t find a single place that was private! I saw my peeps several times during the race and that always helps. With a three-loop course I was able to see my fellow racers as well. 

Post Race!

Having too much fun in NOLA...found a new friend!

After the race we all were able to hang out by the pool and enjoy a beer. We were in for a long ride back to Sarasota but our overnight stop in NOLA made a tough race worth it….almost 

Disney Princess Race Report

Nicole, 

It's so hard to believe that the most magical half mary has come and went! I love the Disney Princess. Maybe it's because it was my first half ever in 2010 or maybe it's because my family has always been such Disney fanatics. I know my Father is smiling huge in Heaven everytime I run through that castle with the trumpets playing.

Love those smiles!!!

This year was a little bit different. I had the entire family with me! We did Magic Kingdom on Friday. Then on Saturday the kids ran in the kiddo races (they loved it) and then we went to Epcot. So much for resting before the big run....but so worth it! I was up at 2:30am on race day in order to catch the 3:00 am Disney bus to the start line. I put on my Rapunzel outfit and was ready to go. Reagan woke up and decided that I should not run with Pascal (the green critter from the movie Tangled) She was worried I would lose him :) She also arranged the flowers in my hair. Seriously, if you have not seen the movie Tangled, you need to!

 

I felt great during the run. I am really having an issue with starting too fast. I get carried away with cheering crowds and cowbells. I never save much for the last 3 miles. My totaly awesome friend, Ashely, ran with me. Even though I was slowing her down, she hung with me. We had a blast looking at all the different costumes. It's amazing what people will run 13.1 miles in for Disney. Many of the picture lines where long. We were sure to get a shot with all the handsome princes and with Mrs. Incredible. Disney does an awesome job with entertainment. Half naked firemen around mile 6, the Kelly Clarkson song "stronger" blaring at the half way point.. Every disney character you can imagine each mile......so fun!

 

Way to finish strong, Eggs!

Charlie - Mini newton running model!

 

The last three miles felt like I had a brick in my stomach and my pace slowed. Maybe I should not have had the margarita in Epcot the day before? hmmmmm.  I am looking forward to the Sarasota half.  I am also thinking about running the Irongirl half in April, but we will have to see. Maybe I'll be training for an Ironman 70.3 by then :)

Be sure to check out pics below. I had to show Charlie's rocking form!

See you soon,

Eggs