Lonestar 1/2 Iron

No photos because I don't know where my camera is. I wanted to take a pic of the sunburn on my back.

I did it despite common sense and medical advice. I knew that if I hung around triathletes I would want to race. Had dinner with Kathleen, Greyhound and the IMAZ crew. As I drove down to Galveston just for dinner, I thought, well, let me pick up my packet just in case...then saw Kelly and Liam, and then had dinner, and just got caught up in the whole race atmosphere.

I covered my dog bites with: liquid bandage, then waterproof bandage, then waterproof tape, then duct tape.

While setting up, someone came up to me and said "do you have a blog?" It was Coach Liz, who is a local triathlete and personal trainer. Nice to meet you!

Swim was awful, really awful. I don't think I'd ever quit a race, but I would have, it would have during the swim. It was my first salt water swim, and nearly threw up after swallowing that water. I'm a slow swimmer, but this was REALLY slow. I think I was nearly of the last out of the water. About the last 500 m, I started thinking about form and actually started to go forward, duh. I thought my time was 1:20, so when I came out in an hour, I was okay with this. This is 10 minutes slower than last fall's 1/2, where the water was much choppier.

There were a lot of pros at the race, and Amanda Lovato came out of 1/4 distance swim the same time I was finishing my swim. We were side by side at the wetsuit strippers! Only she peeled her's off like a banana skin and off running lickety split, whereas I was confused and discombobulated and giggling, trying to get my 2 piece off (which confuses alot of people, as it is different than most wetsuits), then sitting down, then standing up, then laughing and acting like a general retard. I guess that's why I'm not a pro, huh?

Bike was good, as usual. The course is almost completely flat and whereas in year's past, there has been bad headwind, it wasn't really there on Sunday. I guess I've could have gone faster. I wore my heart rate monitor for the first time which was good, because I have a tendency to take it easy on the bike, just toodling along, then seeing my low heart rate and telling myself "uhm, this isn't a pleasant little bike ride, this is a race, so get going!" Finished in about 3 hours, which is 1/2 hour better than last fall.

I was really happy with the run. Although it was only a little faster than last year, I felt really good during most of it, barely walked and everyone said I looked pretty strong. Instead of that weird, staggering, pooped-out-I'm-going-to-die posture, I looked liked a runner.

So, despite a past month of lackluster training, weight gain of 10 pounds and a recent dog bite, I did really well: final time of 6:56. Last 1/2 was 7:07, so some improvement in time, but more importantly, I didn't feel so dead like last year. Am I bad-ass? Tell me I'm bad-ass. Who does a triathlon with a dog bite wound? My leg didn't bother me at all, by the way.

I think Kathleen expressed these sentiments, but the best part of the day was seeing people I know. I guess I'm part of the Houston Tri-community now. Sugar Cycles manned the aid stations, so every time I passed I got a cheer - even from people I didn't know. During the race, I also heard and waved to Kathleen, Kelly, Liam, Natalie, Greyhound and others.  That was really, really nice.

Of course Kelly won her age group and 5th overall and  Liam was 4th overall. He really needs to post about it with pics of his new drool-worthy bike.

Hi to Adrienne who did the 1/4 and Wade who did the sprint on Saturday.

I am really glad I did this. It was huge physical and mental boost for me, as well as sending me a message that my Ironman is 15 weeks away!

Comments

YOU ARE A TOTAL BADASS! AND I couldn't be happy we are going to Austria together! Whoohoo

[blink140.6]

Your BAD-ASS!!!!

[wade]

Hi Jane,
Once again great work, great blog!!!!
please contact me!!! I am starting to prep for my first 70.3. IF you need someone to train with, especially in April, let me know. Call me at the VA ext 3849!!

[RBR]

I believe wrapping a fresh wound in duct tape and pounding out a 1/2 Ironman PR is the very definition of bad-ass. Awesome. Truly awesome.

[Duane]

You rock Jane!

[pinkgurugal]

IM BACK!!!! no im's for me, but just thinking of you and wanted to send a HUGE congrats. SORRY my life has changed from last year, when i cajoled you into IM Austria and now i am out. anyhoo... let's catch up soon....

[Wendy]

PR! Dogbite & all. Good for you!!

[Greyhound]

**Electric Guitar: duh DUH duh duh DUH**

Bad to the Bone

**Electric Guitar: duh DUH duh duh DUH**

B-B-B-B-B-B-BAD

[william]

cool, jane!