Monday, August 26, 2013

I Love Getting Kicked in the Face

TGIARD (Thank God It’s a Rest Day).

I started out this crazy weekend with a sprint triathlon on Saturday.

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It was only a ½ mile swim, so I opted for no wetsuit because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle. Air temps were 55 degrees, water was 75 degrees.

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Here I am so excited because I found Jill at the start.

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I love that picture because it shows my good posture. I also like to play a game called “count all of the tendons in my neck.”

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Here I am trying to act all cool like I am not freezing my balls off. Nothing breaks me down like being cold.

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The fun really started when I hit the water. This has never happened to me before in a race, but I completely and totally lost my breath. I could not stop hyperventilating. Not because I was nervous or scared (I don't mind the open water at all), but because my body was so shocked by the cold water.  I spent the first five minutes trying to just breathe and not DNF. Every time I put my face in the water, I found I couldn’t hold my breath. It was odd and sucked. Finally, I found my groove just in time to get kicked in the face HARD. Good times.

Swim ½ mile (about 800 yards): 15 minutes

{The rest is a blur. Hopped on my bike trying to make up some time}.

Bike 12 miles: 37 minutes (19 mph)

Run 3.1 miles: 26 minutes (8:20 pace) <WTF?

My transitions were long and sloppy. Not my best race. At all.

But still 4/56 in age group. Not sure how I pulled that off.

Best part of the race was the mega giant bottles of water (50 ounces!) given out at the finish. I hate it when races give you about 2 ounces in a Dixie cup afterwards. Bastards.

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Ken was the best cheerleader for me. When I got out of the water and off of the bike he’d tell me how many people were ahead of me. He just took care of me in the way that makes you feel cherished and special. 

So, after the race my weekend was just getting started. I came home and rode two hours on the bike (about 33 miles)….then the big test of my mental health and well being (not to mention physical fortitude) was a 91 mile ride on Sunday (5 hours, 46 minutes). I rode most of the Boulder Ironman Course (the race will happen for the first time next year, but they have the course posted online).

Number of flat tires: 2
Number of times I had to call Ken:2
Number of degrees outside: 90
Number of ounces I drank: 150 maybe?
Number of feet climbed: 2,700
Number of times I peed: 0 (yeah, bad news)
Number of calories eaten: 1,300
Number of times I got lost: 2
Number of times I bought a  ham and cheese Hot Pocket at the gas station and threw it away after one bite (GROSS): 1

Things were looking good by the time I finished (the blood is a blister from the day before running with no socks on):

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Here’s how the week shook out in terms of training:

Swim: 9,000 yards (~5.1 miles)
Bike: 172 miles
Run: 13.6

Total mileage: 190.7

Total time: 16 hours, 16 minutes

 

Ever had a panic attack, trouble breathing, etc. doing an open water swim?

What’s the best food/drink you’ve ever had at the finish line (or aid station) of a race? When Ken and I did the 5-day Ride the Rockies bike event a few years back, we climbed up to the top of Wolfe Creek Pass. At the summit, they had heavily salted backed potatoes for us. That might sound odd, but it was the best snack ever.

SUAR

59 comments:

  1. I just did Ironman Mont Tremblant and they provided beer and poutine after the race. Words cannot describe how delicious it was after my stomach settled (race report here: finnnder.blogspot.com)

    Great job at your race. I follow your blog regularly and like your no-nonsense style of writing and you high-nonsense attitude about training. Keep it up!

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    1. BEER AND POUTINE!!! Good lawd, I might have to sign up!

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    2. Poutine is a Quebec specialty...french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy...delicious! :)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine

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    3. OMG that sounds amazing! Must to Quebec.

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    4. Poutine recently made it's way to MN... you can order it at the burger chain "Burger Jones".

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    5. We have poutine in Louisiana, too. Those Acadians brought their most fattening treat to Louisiana - as if we needed any help.

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  2. At my first trail race (30K), they had watermelon at one of the aid stations. Sweet Jesus, that was like nectar of the gods.

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  3. Yup. First open water swim in years earlier this summer. It sounds like the same thing that happened to you--the water was just so cold that it knocked the wind out of me. I recovered, but it sucked.

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  4. I have panic attacks on a semi regular basis during the swim. Some days I'm good and some days my brain says "you know, humans aren't meant to be doing this, if they were, they'd have gills..." and then the panic kicks in.
    Best food ever on a race - chicken broth and flat coke at Ironman Lake Placid - not together because that would just be gross. I alternated between the two on the run course. So. FREAKING. Good.

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    1. OK, I am going to keep that in mind - I know my stomach is going to revolt at IMFL.

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  5. wow that is intense! kicked in the face. TGIARD, hilarious! best snack during a race... gummy bears and/or beer

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  6. I had that same hyperventiliation thing happen during a one mile race this summer. I got different opinions on why. One person said it is was normal fo that distance when you push that hard and have to adjust your energy systems part way through the race. Another person said it was probably due to insufficient warm up. I did warm up and did my strides but probably finished too soon before race start. First in my age group literally walked up to the start line from her warm up. I came 2nd in my age group. I wanted to tackle her during the race but she was too far ahead of me.

    Best post race snacks was at a local community race called the Muffin Festival. All homemade muffins at the finish. Nobody eats until the last person has crossed the finish line. How cute is that? Only problem was none of the muffins had chocolate chips in them. Who bakes muffins without adding a handful or two of chocolate chips?

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    1. I think it was lack of warm up. I probably should have gotten in the water pre race to let my body adjust. All I can say is when I hit the water it was a shock to my system. I think if I had been in a wetsuit I probably would have been ok.

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  7. I had that same hyperventiliation thing happen during a one mile race this summer. I got different opinions on why. One person said it is was normal fo that distance when you push that hard and have to adjust your energy systems part way through the race. Another person said it was probably due to insufficient warm up. I did warm up and did my strides but probably finished too soon before race start. First in my age group literally walked up to the start line from her warm up. I came 2nd in my age group. I wanted to tackle her during the race but she was too far ahead of me.

    Best post race snacks was at a local community race called the Muffin Festival. All homemade muffins at the finish. Nobody eats until the last person has crossed the finish line. How cute is that? Only problem was none of the muffins had chocolate chips in them. Who bakes muffins without adding a handful or two of chocolate chips?

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  8. Okay, I'm totally convinced I could not do a tri! I'm sure I would drown.

    White powdered donuts after the Santa Barbara Marathon. Actually they were in the car, provided by my husband, but man they were good!

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  9. I hyperventilated/panicked at my last tri. Water and air temp were cold so I skipped the swim warmup (duh..)(and peed in my wetsuit) Panicky feeling started as soon as I put my face in the water. Kept yelling at myself, "calm down, calm down"! I'll never skip the warmup again... I have found on colder swims that it's easier if I breath more frequently and not to worry about it.

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  10. Best post race snack for me, pb&j on graham crackers - simple yet delicious.

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  11. Not in the water but i had a panik attack and hyperventillating when giving birth to my third child, hahaha!

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  12. I did Iron Girl Saturday as well, and the wetsuit definitely helped! I think my goosebumps had goosebumps until about half-way through the bike! Of course being from Wyoming you would think I would be used to that by now.
    WTG on the training week!

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  13. Still an awesome race, sorry about getting kicked like that. During my 70.3 last month I got kicked pretty good but in the shoulder not the face. During my first sprint tri in June, I definitely had a moment of "holy crap" and freaked out in the water, I swallowed some on accident and it took me a minute or 2 to really recover

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  14. Congrats on a great result, even though it didn't feel that great! Yikes about the face kick. Nice week of training.

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  15. Holy bejeebies. I'm thinking back to a snorkeling trip in Belize that was out in the "open water" near the reef. It took a crowbar to peel my fingers off the ladder into the water...

    Pretty sure I will never finish a triathlon. Mostly because I highly doubt I'll ever start one. The swim comes first...right?

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    1. yup and they have pool tris....so go for those to start...

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  16. Wikipedia - Poutine is a common Canadian dish (originally from Quebec), made with french fries, topped with brown gravy and cheese curds.

    Sounds blecky to me.

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    1. Poutine is food of the gods. Serious yummy.

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  17. YES I have panicked in the water and it sucks BIG TIME! You definitely can't swim when you can't breathe! The best post-race food I ever had was a cinnamon roll after a marathon. OMG it was heaven!

    Congrats on another great race even with the freezing water temps!! And I loved reading about your husband being so supportive. Mine isn't at all and I just love reading about those that are. I'm sure it makes a huge difference in your race.

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  18. I too was kicked in the face this weekend... fun times!! As far as best finish line drink, I'd have to say chocolate coconut water. Yum!!! I have yet to find any exceptionally tasty food at a finish line :(

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  19. Oh lady......THIS: My transitions were long and sloppy. So much to say but well we will just leave it at that.

    Your ride sounds like mine. I drank nearly 200 oz in 5:45 on that bike ride (5:16 of pedal time) and pee'd ONCE. WTF! I don't have a clue as to how many calories I consumed but I went into the ride with 880 calories in my bottles. NOT ENOUGH!

    As for your question: Yes I have had a panic attack in the cold water. Happened to me last year at the US Open. I am a cold weather pussy. I hate it. HATE IT. It was freezing out and when I jumped in the water I was still not warm and panicked. I swam kayak to kayak until around the 500m mark (out of 1500m) and finally yelled at myself that I am a fucking Ironman and now go swim. That was all I needed and I got swimming but it freaked me out big time.

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  20. Hate the swim. Did my first triathlon and I SUCK at swimming. Mine was only a half mile as well, but double your time! LOL! I hate cold water. But I finished! :)

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  21. AMAZING job on your training! :D Congrats on the race too!

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  22. In water panic - yes, me. thanks. I learned in my research that it's actually a human reflex to hold your breath in cold water. So while a warm up really helps me a lot and I recommend it for everyone the second part of the equation is to really force the exhale with your face in the water. In cold water you do have to really think about it (face in, exhale ... woosh - and repeat).

    Like all things with swimming practice swimming in cold water helps. So as unpleasant as it might be I would suggest a few more dips in the cold water before your big race.

    Other things that can help are wearing two swim caps which holds the heat in. Also some people recommend ear plugs for seriously cold water which I'll admit I've never tried.

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  23. Oh no! The Hot Pocket kinda made me laugh, sorry. You're a champ for getting in ALL of this activity, though! I totally panicked during my first triathlon - I think it was a combo of being freezing + being surrounded by so many kick people + slight fear of open water (not "I'm going to get eaten by sharks" but "if I drown no one might notice/ find me"). Best post-run food is definitely the Hot Chocolate 15K - I've done it in 2 cities and they always have amazing chocolate fondue, hot chocolate, etc.!

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  24. OMG! You are already an Iron woman in my eyes. Are you serious?? 19 mph on the bike and then an 8:20 running pace??
    On a side note: I think you should take this opportunity and hammer a shim into the cut under your big toe to make it as long as the 2nd toe. Repeat on other foot. Just a suggestion.
    Anon from CT

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  25. Cheese fries and a milkshake. Feels like heavenly sweetness and fat, and then quickly drives you to lay down. Perfect for recovery in the fetal position.

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  26. A 5K I ran here had all these homemade goodies at the finish line from a lady they hired to cater the event...brownies, cookies, bars, granola, cake....I seriously ate more calories than I burned off that day.

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  27. I've hyperventilated many times. Sometimes because the water is cold (mid 50's for the race in early June in northern NH) and sometimes because there are too many people around me! I got kicked by a guy once but thankfully my goggles were only moved a bit. Best tri swim I ever had was when I warmed up in the water for close to 1/2 hr. I think freeze pops at the end of a hot summer race is the best I can remember. Sugar and cold goodness. Ice cream at races is always super nice!

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  28. Yes, the Mammalian diving reflex SUCKS!!! Before I became a triathlete a surgeon who was an Ironman told me all about it. And the feeling you get. He had it once happen to him and he almost DNF. http://evolvify.com/superhuman-tricks-mammalian-diving-reflex/

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  29. I had a martini during a marathon once. Yep. At mile 6, too.

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  30. Thank this nerve for some of your physical responses and reflexes-

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve

    I have never panicked but every time we go swim from Alcatraz and jump into that 60 degree water I sure have a hard time putting my face into it for a short period of time. I actually prefer cold. It's hard to find a pool around here that's below 80- I would LOVE swimming in 75 degree water!

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  31. Wow, good job on your race! I, too, have a totally awesome husband that is always on the ball when I race, making sure I don't have to worry about anything non-race related, making sure I don't forget anything, always there cheering me on and making me feel totally pampered and cherished. He's the best!

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  32. I always end up with the chain rung thingy mark on my lower leg too! :)

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  33. Well done on the race and the training! The swim part of a tri scares me, I have days I think I'd like to train and do one, but I'd have to do some serious work on my swimming first. Best post-race food: hard to say, but I lean toward the champagne and chocolate at the finish line of the See Jane Run half marathon and 5K.

    BTW, is it bad that I immediately thought of you when I saw this sign on English Whirled Wide's Facebook post this morning: "No laughing at other people's farts" (sign posted inside a bathroom stall)?

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  34. Dixie cups at the finish line, ha! I love it. I couldn't even find water at the end of my last marathon!

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  35. You had a kickass time in the water for feeling so crappy. Wish we could have hung out more or at least have Ken snap a quick pick while we looked so awesome (ha) after.

    172 miles in a week of biking? Um...I think that's my max for the year :). You're doing awesome, Beth!

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  36. the best post run snack I had was after a cold 5K in April where we finished at a restaurant and they had hot hush puppies with a magic sauce to dip them in.

    good luck on your ironman!!

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  37. For an Ah Soh you sure have lots of drive!

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    1. Ok at first I thought you were calling me an "a$$hole," but then I looked up the translation for Ah Soh an saw it meant old lady. I think I prefer that to a$$hole anyday!

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  38. Great job, even with that panic attack. My first tri ever I got the best advice for a veteran on this, and that's to put your head under the water before the gun goes off. That kicks up the hyperventilating and you can get it over with before you are racing.

    Killer workout week--you are one fit mama!

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  39. Best finish line food? Beer and pizza at the end of Ragnar!

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  40. YES! YES! Did you know that's a real reflex? It's called the Mammalian Diving Reflex, and it's triggered when cold water contracts the face. It doesn't usually happen in water over 70F. It's supposed to maximize oxygen use and prolong survival in case of accidental submersion. Marine mammals all have it, but most all mammals have it to some degree.

    My very first OWS (practice for a first tri) the water did the same thing to me. Shocked my brain so hard I held my breath at all of the wrong times and just couldn't get out of that horrible place. I ended up stopping and hanging out at a lifeguard on her buoy for a minute, until I could regulate my breathing. I thought to myself, "Self, if you don't finish this you'll never get back in the water and/or you'll be screwed because a lifeguard has to tow you in." Needless to say I finished it, but it was horrible. But I did the tri the following weekend, and I'm hooked. Totally and completely hooked on triathlons. http://seenancyrun.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/so-this-is-what-an-open-water-panic-attack-feels-like/

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  41. Just wanted to tell you how jealous I am of your arms. :)

    I've been working out for months and still have almost no definition. Lol!

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  42. I start every triathlon with that hyperventilating thing as soon as I hit the water no matter what I do to try and overcome it in training. It freaks me out every time and I have to do some major self talking to calm myself down!

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  43. Ouch to the kick in the face! Not cool!

    Best finishing snack - cupcakes of course. That's the most unique item I've yet to experience at a race.

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  44. What is the Boulder Ironman bike course like? You are rocking your training, awesome!

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    1. The first half is very scenic, riding along the foothills and climbing up (and down) to Carter Lake. After that, you head east (across I-25) and are on rolling hills in farmland for miles and miles. It's nice, but there is no shade and I think it will be very hot during the race. Then, you head back west towards Boulder. Overall, a nice course with some variation in scenery and elevation. The part I did was about 2,400 feet of climbing. Not sure what the overall elevation gain is.

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  45. I used to have panic attacks in the water, or asthma attacks, it was a unclear, but it was a very bad time to stop being able to breathe. Warming up in the water helped a lot. Also, I found, being terrified helped a lot, because then it was rarely as bad as I thought it was going to be.

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  46. I've had that hyperventilating thing a couple of times but forcing the exhale (hard) and doing a warmup makes a HUGE difference for me...you are doing amazing with all this training, so impressed!!

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  47. You are like a machine!! So many hours on the bike, running and swimming. You are so motivating. Even if you do get kicked in the face!

    I just have to know did you call Ken to change your tire?

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