A little bit of everything in one post

Typically my posts entail me blogging about one of three things: a race recap, a review or preview of my training, or a synopsis of whatever injury I am going through.   I figured I'd combine all three in today's post!

Yesterday was the Ross TriFit Challenge!  This was my third year competing in this race as a relay member.  I don't ever plan on doing the full triathlon, as I'm not a huge fan of the bike course, but I LOVE the fact that the swim is in Antrim Lake.  This is a lake located on the Olentangy Trail in Columbus, and it is closed to the public 364 days a year.  On one Sunday each July, the city gives a permit for the Ross TriFit race to use the lake for swimming.  What's so special about Antrim Lake, you may wonder?  It was originally a quarry that was filled by the city years ago, so the depths range from a few feet to 30 feet.  It's also amazingly clear--you can see down to the bottom!  It's a very different open water swimming experience from where I usually go at Alum Creek. 

Two years ago, I raced with Tracey and Amanda, and last year, my partners were Elizabeth and Jen.  Both years, I figured we had a great shot at winning the relay, and both years I was disappointed.  That's why I decided to just have a good time this year and do the race totally for fun!  My friend Lisa, who I traveled to Indianapolis with last November for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, mentioned she'd like to do the relay as a cyclist a few months ago.  I told her I'd find a friend to run, and within minutes had roped one of my training partners and close running pals, Katie, into joining us! 

The weather predictions for race day didn't look good all week long, but Sunday morning dawned overcast... yet no storms!  We all met up at Antrim and did the obligatory pre-race selfies.  Lisa knows even more people than I do in the world of triathlon, so between the two of us we had fun chatting to all of our friends, while Katie took it all in.  

Pre-race selfie!

I did a short warm-up swim, and before I knew it, it was 7AM and time to race!  Swimmers were sent off in groups of 8-10, and I positioned myself around the 4th group in the first corral.  

I honestly should have gone a little sooner, as of course I had to immediately deal with swimming around people.  

The first lap was relatively clear, though.  I felt good, relaxed.  The clarity of the water was a bit unnerving at one point--I had to keep refocusing myself on what I was supposed to be doing!  I did have to deal with a few more people breaststroking/backstroking/sidestroking during the second lap.  

Katie wins the Photography award for getting a picture of me swimming!

The other swimmers only got to me during the final 200 yards, when I was trying to sprint to the finish and people were slowing down/stopping with the chute in sight.  I was slightly disappointed by my time, as it was a little over 2 minutes slower than my split from last year.  No clue why, as my distance was spot-on this year (and I think it was last year, although I don't really remember).  I haven't been swimming quite as much, at least distance-wise, so that could be it.  

I ran up the 0.2-miles into transition, handed our chip off to Lisa, and met up with Katie to head down to campus, where she would do the run.  The rest of the morning was spent chatting to my relay teammates and other friends doing the race.  

Lisa entering T2!

Katie & me waiting for Lisa!

A super-happy Katie!

Katie finishing!

Our relay ended up 4th overall (top all-female relay, though!).  We enjoyed the post-race breakfast burritos before heading home.  All in all, it was a great day.

Team Virago (look up the definition ;) )

Now, on to a brief review of my training this past summer.  I have been training for various races, including a sprint and Olympic distance triathlon, as well as for the Erie Marathon.  Most weeks, I've had between 9-11 workouts.  Typically I have 1-2 swims, 2-3 bikes, 2 strength workouts, and 4 runs.  My runs work out to be two easy, one speed, and one long.  My bikes are usually 1 speed, 1-2 easy.  And my swims are whatever I want them to be, since I am mostly just swimming at the local pool on my own.  (Probably why my swim time isn't where I want it to be right now, but I digress!)  For strength, I either do two Body Pump classes, or one Pump + one Pump/CX combo class.  In the early part of the summer, the two easy runs were done as bricks with the bike.  However, now that I've decided to not compete in any more triathlons this summer, I haven't been bricking at all.  My coach and I met up a couple of weeks ago and discussed everything that I mentioned in my last blog, and jointly decided that it would be best for me to spend the rest of July and August focusing fully on the Erie Marathon.  That means no USAT Nationals.  Qualifying for Nationals was a big goal of mine, but as he said, it's not going to be the only year that I have the chance to go.  Right now, it just makes sense for me to keep my eye on the prize, which currently is a fast marathon on September 9.  

Last, but not least, an "injury" update.  I used quotation marks there because my coach mentioned that we've been doing a fairly good job of avoiding injury for the past few months, and I agree (KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD IN THE WORLD!).  I've had a couple little things... low-grade muscle strain, posterior tibial tendonitis... but nothing that's caused me to miss a workout.  It helps that it's summer and I can do my stretching and icing--things that typically go by the wayside during the school year.  The only thing I am dealing with currently is the stupid foot-numbness problem that has plagued me for over six years.  It started when I first started running, and it comes and it goes.  Unfortunately, all but a handful of my runs since my April marathon have resulted in a numb right foot.  I finally decided to see a foot and ankle specialist after all of these years.  Dr. Mustafa believes that the numbness is a result of my super-flat feet, and wants me to try custom-made inserts.  I get casted for those later on this week, and then will have a month-long breaking-in period.  There is no way that I will be able to wear them for my marathon, so my coach and I are considering trying a wider version of my current shoes (Nike Zoom Structure) to see if that helps, as well as perhaps some over-the-counter inserts.

So, that's where I am!  Less than 7 weeks out from the Erie Marathon.  I honestly am finding it hard to believe that I will be able to accomplish my "A" goal of a 3:40.  My speed workouts leave me feeling less than confident, even though I keep telling myself it's the dreadful humidity that is making them so difficult.  All I can do at this point is continue to work hard, listen to my coach as well as my body, and pray for the best!  That being said, I have yet to register.  Less than 400 spots remain in the race, so I imagine I will be doing that sooner rather than later.  Pulling the trigger is so hard for me...