Tri-ing To Strive: A Random Week

It was a big week. Sunday morning I rode outside for the first time since IMFL. I met team CCR and did a short and easy brick. It was nice to just get out and be with people and not worry about pace or cadence. Then that afternoon it was time for a two hand tag football game. Although it was windy it was still a lot of fun. It made me think about all the weekends growing up playing in the empty lot next door and then on the college field when I got a bit older. I had a little ‘oh wow’ moment. One of the guys announced that someone could get hurt because there was a nurse around. This was the first time I had been referred to as a nurse and as much as I wanted to say ‘ya that’s me,’ I actually got a little nervous. I found myself being worried about people the whole time and didn’t want anyone to even get knocked down. That was not ok with me. I was there to have fun and not to stress. I decided right then and there that in the future I would not go into nurse mode unless I had to – until then people could be stupid.

All week I’ve been trying not to think about 2011 race season but just can’t keep myself from at least talking about it. I have yet to google races which I’m sticking to until the new year. Right now I really want to do the Rev3 half in SC in October. It takes place in my old stomping grounds of Anderson. I can’t think of a better race to do.

This week ended with receiving some surprise presents in the mail from a friend, having a great afternoon at the beach, and perfect weather for a little creek adventure. Man I love having the woods and the beach so close.

The most noteworthy ‘training’ aspect of the week was my first 10k race on Saturday. Ya, I have never run a 10k race before. X was going to pace me and I told him I wanted 7:40s. Really I wanted to be faster but didn’t tell him that. He didn’t show that morning but S was there and I was pumped to go fast. I did the look around to see who was there and was put in my place when some ladies looked fast and were well equipped with their compression leggings. Over confident, I positioned myself at the front of the start. I caught the first place female at mile one marker and ran within 5 feet of her for the next 5 miles. This was my first strategic run and boy was it fun, although extremely annoying to the other girl. Breath hard, hide in her shadow, drop back on the two turn arounds, don’t play the speed up/slow down game, and more. Around 4.5 I knew I didn’t have it in me to pass her and stay ahead. Looking back at splits we slowed about 15 seconds from 3.5-4.25 and I should have made my move there and not allowed her to control the race. But I didn’t know what to do. I don’t run fast and was out of my league. The last .5 I had planned to surge, but she was fresh and I just couldn’t do it. She deserved to win. If she hadn’t been there I wouldn’t have been close to my time. We crossed the line within a half of a second and she was wiped out. I told her congrats and realized she played me. She was struggling – maybe I could have passed her and held her off – maybe not. I’m happy with the results despite that. Small race, 2nd OV F and got a really cool ornament rather than a ribbon. 44.47 for a 10k! Bang!

After the outside ride.