Wahine!

Oh Yeah Baby! Wahine is DONE!!!

Back in transition and changed into my event shirt! I EARNED it!

This year was my "re-entry" into multi-sport...yeah, I did this one as a relay, but it was hot and I think I would have died to do all 3 legs on my own ;) Me 'n Mary teamed up...with almost NO training for me on the bike and Mary did a little bit of cycling, walking and some running in the last few weeks - yay for Mare! It's a good thing that I run pretty regularly - otherwise the day would have been a disaster.

We (I) decided that I would do Run #1 and the Bike. Okay...not too bad except for the heat of the morning of the hottest summer on record in the PNW! So, as per usual, I started the run too fast...but not so much that I died within the first half mile. Once I hit the trail I could REALLY feel the heat - UGH! I did a fair amount of walking, but I did manage to run quite a bit. Probably a little more than at past All Women's.

The best part of the run, hands down, would be all the teen volunteers young ladies and the guys. They kept things pretty lively out on the course and when there is fun stuff happening, then that makes me smile and happy thoughts make for better running. That and the fact that on my way back I was heading away from the sun and back toward the shade of the park!

Once I had returned to transition it took me less than 4 minutes to switch out shoes and get my helmet on and get out on the bike course. THIS was much better than the bike course from a few years ago. The last time I did the bike course at Blue Lake would be the Stumptown Tri-It. It seemed like the athletes had to run quite a ways before getting to the pavement to mount the bike - that was horrible! Now it was basically outside of the transition area just a few strides away.

The bike course was different than the last time I had been out at Blue Lake, basically a less than 6 mile loop that riders would do twice. I like the out and back course, but no one asked me so once I figured out what was happening I couldn't protest. At the beginning I was remembering how much I enjoyed being on my bike and felt REALLY good. After the first time through I still felt pretty good, but then started to feel a little pain...no padding between me and the saddle...ugh! Note to self, always wear the padded underwears when riding during a duathlon! At the first turn around (the second time through) I spied another rider that was probably about a 1/4 mile ahead of me - and I told myself that I could catch her and pass. Man oh Man, she was moving along!! I thought that maybe by the time we reached the last turn around I could catch her then. THAT would have been a great thing, BUT she dropped her water bottle....OH YEAH!!! It's awful, but I could feel the competitive side of me coming back. Seriously good times on my bike!

So, bike leg is done and I arrive back in transition and tagged Mary out for her run. She would have to write this part, but this is my blog...so I'm gonna say that she was miserable and hot...BUT she did it! Once we got some fluids into her and got her cooled down in the shade she smiled and said it was fun!

My love for multisport is creeping back in and I'm thinking that I want to do the Spring Classic Duathlon next year. I have been  wanting to do that one for quite a while. If I stick to what I say and NOT do the Shamrock I will be devoting my training to preparing for that event for sure. The only thing that would get in the way would be: a) serious illness b) serious injury c) Shamrock comes up with something new.

I so appreciate my hubby for hanging out in the heat with no place to sit down while I was out on the course and when Mary was checking stuff out. I am proud of my new Du partner for having the adventurous spirit to try it out. Next year she'll do the bike portion! My running has improved since the last Duathlon, so I think that I could hammer out two runs no problem!

Team Felida

2015 BLING

Team Felida overall time 2:26:58

Run #1 - 42:34
Bike - 46:35
Run #2 53:14

Had we stayed we would have gotten our Team Division medal for First Place - which wasn't hard to do as we were the only team. That also meant that we would have gotten  the Overall Team award!

Sometimes being the only team pays off...PODIUM!

2014 Wahine All Womens

wa·hi·ne

wäˈhēnē/

noun

1. 1.

   a Polynesian woman or wife, especially in Hawaii or New Zealand.

Mary, Kristen, Me & Julie

Today was the day! Mary's first "real" running event put on by AA Sports. Technically, this one is her 3rd, but this is a biggie put on by AA Sports in Portland and they do a pretty nice job putting on a multisport event - I love coming to Blue Lake and haven't been since 2011 and now I'm itchin' to get back into all three sports.

BUT...this is about Wahine.

The power went off at our house right when we were getting ready to leave so it was perfect. Coffee, showers and breakfast all done so not a big deal. Off we went to pick up Mary...we ALMOST made it a quarter mile down the road from her house when I remembered that I didn't grab my watch. Dang! Back home we go!

We met up with Mary's co-worker right after we parked it and then we became a trio. As we were milling around Kristen arrived and we all got to hang out for a while before the Du and Tri races started. While we were getting our race bibs and timing chips on another woman came up to where we were and we eventually all were chillin' together waiting for the action to start.

The Duathlon started at 8 a.m. so we saw Kristen off before heading over to the lake to watch the different waves of swimmers get started. After watching several of the wave getting started, the first swimmer was getting ready to come through the finish chute to the transition area...then pretty soon the Duathletes were coming through and about 30 minutes into the race we saw Kristen come through...looking pretty fresh really.

Now it's 8:30 and us 5k'ers make our way to the start for our race. Oh, I had decided a few minutes before that since Mary and Julie would be run/walking together that I would try to race this morning...just for the fun of it.

The race started and I actually felt pretty good for about a half mile. Then we hit the ratty beat up bike trail and it was HOT. Holy Cow! I KNOW that it gets warm going out, but this morning had to be the warmest race yet! I'm thinkin' that I might want to train a little during the warmer part of the day...somehow. So, I ended up walking...A LOT! Kind of like the last time I was there with Robin (but I had to do the run twice then). It was slow going, but once we made it past the turn-around it wasn't that terribly anymore.

So, my race ended up being just over 44 minutes and I was probably 5 minutes ahead of Mary & Julie. So after getting some water Tom and I made our way down to the other side of the finish to look for Mary...I spot both of them while they were still a distance off and met them as they were coming up the last little hill getting ready to turn to the finish. Mary wasn't looking that happy at that point and she did a little running and a little walking and a little running and finally ran through the finish arch. She did it! She finished her first 5k race put on by a bonafide race organization!

Finally...done!

Seriously - why are you point that at me?

Yaay Julie and Mary!

Almost there!

For me it always take a few minutes to realize what just happened, but since I have a few races behind me, I know that what I'm doing is fun - even if I don't feel like it is. Well, this was true with Mary as well...after hydrating a bit and catching her breath she said she had fun! Yahoo! 

I'm so proud of Mary - she worked toward this goal, it was a little scary and seemed a little out of reach, but with some encouragement and a couple of other opportunities to be in a race situation, she did it! One day she is going to be quite the athlete and I'll probably be trying to out stay ahead, but I'll be there cheering her on and celebrating too. 

So, for next year I'm thinking that we should do the Duathlon as a team with me doing the first run and ride and Mary finishing us up! 

Wahine baby! 

More Bling to add to the collection

Week 4 and Wahine!

The end of week 3 was not so great. I got out for about 15 minutes, if that long, and realized that a 5 mile run on my own was not going to happen. Before I even reached the main road, I decided to turn around and go back home. I'm getting better about my training runs though. If I don't feel that great I don't need to beat myself up if I want to turn around and go back home. At least I gave it a chance. As it turns out I didn't want to get out yesterday either. So, no long run in week 3.

Week 4 - well this week is all easy running. I'm SO excited!!! Mostly because I don't want to get all sore and tired before Saturday and have a bad experience with Mary...Wahine baby!

Okay, so I'm a little excited - it's almost Wahine time! It's been a 3 years since I have been to the All Women's event at Blue Lake and I'm really looking forward to getting back into this particular event/venue. Blue Lake is a favorite with us - Tom and I  have done the Duathlon during the June event and then Robin and I teaming up to do the Duathlon at All Women's - oh and me doing a couple of Tri's there the last year that we were there. Man! It would be nice to get back into multisport, maybe see if I can get someone else to join the fun - perhaps Mary could  run the 2nd 5k on her own while I do the first run and ride - THAT is a definite possibility for 2015.

Until then, Mary and I will be running the all new Hula Girl 5k together (there is also a 10K). She's been getting her running groove back and has been using those running shoes more often in the past few months. I'm so proud of her and the progress that she has made! In June we did the Marriage Team event together and my goodness when we are not running she is walking REALLY fast and I'm doing a bit of a fast shuffle run just to keep up with her. I was not blessed with the legs that go speedy while walking...it's almost like I'm a little kid trying to keep up with my mom at the grocery store or something. That's the great thing about Mary, she has a lot of get up and go when she wants to! So blessed to have a friend who is game enough to try new things!

Here's to an easy running week and a quick race on Saturday.

2011 Team Felida Cycling...

is soooo DONE!

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This year wasn't the greatest year...my running has been waaaay down and I guess Robin hadn't been training much either. At least we were both in the same predicament. We both knew the event was coming up and still just going along our business until race day. Actually, I like to think that I "crammed" a little the week before, but that's silly...I was just getting out to get out of the house!

So, my big observation is not about how I raced or how Robin raced, but how we COULD HAVE placed if I had a chance to apply my logic to the teams that were signed up.

Hopefully I don't get lost in my thinking...for I AM thinking clearly now...

Okay, there were a total of 6 teams. Out of those teams, one of those teams was registered for the 70 and Under division - yay, no competition there. From the 5 that were left, one of those teams should have been in the 70 and Under division, unless new math dictates that 32+34=over 91. So in my mind, that would be an automatic DQ for not being able to ADD. Now we are down to 4 teams - two of those teams had 3 people each. Another automatic DQ - not fair having 2 different runners to run each leg. That's cheating. In the end that would have left 2 REAL teams in the 91 and Over Division. And with our minimalist training performance we STILL could have placed! Which is kind of funny because we would have STILL been LAST!

First or Last...we still could have gotten a medal ;)

All Women's 2010

We raced. We finished. We WON our Age Division!

The win was questionable for a little while, there was another Du team, they were wearing matching flower bikini tops and hats with flowers on them. The gal in transition had a team number on and she was hanging around the team transition...but later on when we checked times, we were the only team listed. Not sure what happened, but that's okay...we WON!

Final time: 2:04:34

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Taper?

I think I've been tapering since Blue Lake when in reality I should have been continuing the training. Since Blue Lake I have had a few set backs...other events, allergies/illness and general tiredness. Not to mention a little bit of lack of motivation.

It would figure though, now that All Women's is this coming Saturday I have all sorts of motivation, but no time...unless I were to run morning AND evening, but I'm not that crazy....or am I???? So I have decided to do specific run training this week hills today and speed work on Wednesday...I did a 3 mile run on Saturday and man that felt good! Oh, and I also went out close to 8:00 just to get used to the idea of running at that time instead of 5:30....my oh my...I like running EARLY! It's much cooler and I don't feel as if I might wilt. I'll probably get out on Thursday night and do the Time Trial just for fun even though I don't have to train for the bike. Gotta beat 32:58 though...

It's time to not psyche myself out - if I do that now I'll just make myself crazy. So I'll just be sure to enjoy this week, eat well, hydrate and look forward to a fun Saturday morning with my Duathlon partner...wee haw!

Almost time to run, ride, run!

I done signed up..

(All Women's 2009)

for All Women's 2010! Robin and I will be looking to defend our Age Division "Title".

Yeah, so we were the only team...but still!

This is it though, I have 20 days to run, run, run! Next weekend is Cycle Oregon weekend -  I don't think that I'll get much running done. I could bring my shoes...and I might do that, but the likelihood that I'll actually run is pretty slim at this point. At least I'm thinking about it.

This week I'll get two good runs in though.Tomorrow I'm planning to run the short hills on 149th Street which is close to home, a good thing. The quote I got a few days ago helped me to realize that if I do the hills which are not easy, running on the flats will be easy. It's a nice theory, we'll see how it turns out after tomorrow morning.

Run Run Run!