Kenosha Tri

Okay, so it was a race morning that I've only heard horror stories of. To start Friday night was stormy. It was so stormy and I was so keyed up that I barely slept. When I did finally find sleep I had a nightmare that I was late for the race- so late that the officials wouldn't let me in the event. Which shouldn't be such a big deal, but the entry fees for these races are not cheep, and almost never give refunds- So in my fitful sleep I was ANGRY.

Once our alarms rang and MK and I sprung out of bed, we didn't have much time to get ready - but it was still storming and down pouring outside. Slowly we get ready, and plot the driest way to load the car. When we finally get in the car, and are getting on the highway I ask my co-pilot what the time is. Soon my nightmare becomes reality. We have less than an hour to get to Wisconsin. Panic strikes, and I take the little Honda Civic to speeds it never should legally see. Lucky for me the highway was patrol car free - phew!~

Somehow, we make it to the race, and pick up our packets with a minute to spare. We find parking, and I get my bike to transtion as the Olympic distance racers are starting their swim. As I fought with my wet suit, I hoped that I'd just be able to blend in with the next wave of swimmers and catch up. Which is what happened.

Lake Michigan was the coldest I've ever felt it (perhaps all the rain?). Seriously, there was a man taken to the hospital after the swim because he was so cold. Eventually I relaxed into the swim, caught up with the rest of the Olympic distance triathlets and came in fifth overall in the swim (which is about a mile!). Then it was on to the bike. Now, because of my hurried arrival I didn't set all my stuff up exactly the way I wanted it but I was able to find my shoes, helmet, and gloves. Off I went, five laps on a park course filled with mud puddles. I dropped to seventh- but because this is a very small tri I held on to some delusions of grandure. Once I put on my running shoes all illusions fell away, and I was happy to be two thirds done. The remaining folks on the course passed me, and I looked forward to brunch afterwards. Maybe I lost focus, maybe I started to hard and faded at the end. One thing is for sure, I have some very healthy fear about the half Iron Man. In the end I was one of the last folks to cross the finish line, but Matt & the guy with the medals were waiting for me and Matt cheered loudly as a completed the race.

So here's the breakdown:

Swim (.9 mi) time: 45.46
Bike (25 mi) time: 1.29.22
Run (6.2 mi) time: 1.19.33
TOTAL : 3:41.34
Place in class: 4th of 4
Place in Olympic Distance Race 50 of 52

Lesson of this race?
Well, I need to respect the distance, and I need to pace myself. I always get in trouble for laying it on to thick at the start then not having enough juice left at the end of the race. Most importantly, I learned to NEVER EVER EVER plan to drive for over an hour to a race on race day.

I like these smaller races because I got to be 4th and 50th in the same race. It's also nice, because they still let us in the race, even though we arrived to the race a half hour after packet pickup ended, with only five minutes left to the race start.

summer time and the living is easy.

so it's been a while. sorry faithful blog readers. I've been indulging in reading lots of food and sports blogs at work, and have neglected writing my own posts.

Summer has blown by entirely too quickly! I managed to spend every weekend in June having some kind of Wisconsin adventure. A visiting high school friend of Matt's on leave from the Air Force for the weekend, a wedding, a bike ride, sand bagging flooded river banks (and visiting Adam's farm) kept me in Wisconsin almost every Saturday.

The weekend of July 4th Matt & I was a blast, and later deemed 'the best weekend ever!' Friday was a long bike ride, dinner with the Kings (it's a tradition now), followed by fireworks in the fancy North West Burbs. Saturday morning we visited the famed Evanston Farmers Market to load up on fresh bread, cheese, berries, and veggies for a picnic at Ravania (out door concert venue North of Chicago). Once we loaded up on our fill of picnic goods, we found a 50 Meter outdoor pool so we could get a swim workout in (and then play on their slides and high dive). That evening we joined forces with Matt's folks and good pal Stephanie for a live performance of Praire Home Companion. Jerry provided some fantastic wine, and Mother Nature provided a glorious evening to be outside- and some of the best strawberries I have ever eaten!

This weekend Matt & I are doing our first tri's of the season. Matt will be doing a sprint distance, and I'll be doing an Olympic at the Kenosha tri on Saturday. So far the weather is predicted to be stormy and humid- lets hope that it'll pass tonight, or it'll hold off until the afternoon.

Otherwise all is well. We've managed to only take on one home repair project so far- installing a ceiling fan to replace the gawd awful lighting fixture in our dinning room. It's been fantastic!

I'll post tri results Monday, and attempt to keep ya'all better updated on our happenings!