Race Report: Collegiate Nationals

It’s hard to believe that my final USAT Collegiate Nationals is over; I’ve been picturing that red carpet in both my waking and dormant hours for months.  While I didn’t exactly accomplish all of my goals, it was overall a very successful race and an amazing experience. 

After a little extra time in the Denver airport due to snow, I finally arrived in Phoenix, AZ on Tuesday night.  I was greeted by my friend Angela (her family graciously housed and fed me for a few days before the rest of the team arrived).  For the next few days I enjoyed the sunshine, rode the course with my ASU tri friend Julie, scammed my way into the ASU (outdoor!) pool, and enjoyed fresh-picked grapefruits from Angela’s tree.  On Thursday, I was met by the rest of my team and by my own personal cheerleader/Sherpa/punching bag/therapist Ian. 

Dinner with my team

A few of my teammates: Susan, Sara, and Steph

On Friday, I was excited to go watch the first ever draft-legal nationals race but was sidelined by a flat caused by a pesky valve extender.  Two hours, a trip to tri-sports, and a few new tubes later though I was good to go and VERY grateful this happened the day before race morning!  The rest of the day was filled with nationals excitement as I loosened my legs, relaxed in the expo, hopped in the water, and carb-loaded with my teammates (I was a little high-strung, however, so sorry/thank you to everyone who dealt with me – especially Coach Mace and Ian).

Relaxing NormaTec Style

My Number One Fan!

Ok now for the fun stuff, RACE DAY HAD ARRIVED!  Racking my bike in transition equipped for over 1000 bikes, I was mildly star-struck as I recognized the big-league ladies next to me.  I proudly hung my baby girl in transition before watching the men’s race.  While I would typically hate waiting around for race start, today was a different story as I was filled with the excitement of the men’s race.  Our CSU boys starting the day off with an impressive showing – landing TWO men in the top 10 (Steve at 5^th and Chris in 8^th)! 

Race Ready!

Ready to go!

Finally, it was my time to don my wetsuit and show what I’m made of.  I came out of the water about 2 minutes back from the leaders and took off towards my bike.  My transition, unfortunately, was pretty rough.  My rubber bands were somehow already broken when I got to my bike and I then dropped my chain as I mounted.  Before long, though, I was on Maureen and working my way up through the field.  Despite several 90 and 180 degree turns, that course was FAST, I couldn’t help but ride with a smile on my face.  I steadily gained on the leaders and came off of my bike in 9^th (though my T2 was just as bad as my T1). 

Heading out onto the run course, I knew it was time to dig deep into my race brain.  This was where I fell apart last year, letting nearly 25 women pass me within 6.2 miles.  This year was different though, I’ve been working hard on my run and while I am still not a “runner” it’s not a true weakness anymore either.  Despite being passed right out of transition, I set my eyes on the back ahead of me and started picking girls off.  Let me tell you what, it was hot as sin out there and it was not overly fun.  However, the words of my coaches rang in my ears and I simply put one foot in front of the other until the finish line was in sight. 

I flew down the red carpet and across the line in 7^th place with a time of 2:06:43 (a pretty substantial PR for me).  I hadn’t hit my goal of finishing top-five and getting on the podium, but that’s the danger of setting high goals and, really, making top-10 in the nation is nothing to be ashamed of. 

After the race, I had the honor of sharing an ice-bath with the fastest collegiate women.  I then had a few hours to recover before the super-sprint relay (recovery consisted of me telling Ian what food/drinks to get me and where to cart my stuff to – thanks dear).  We finished our relay in 7^th out of over 30 teams and had a great time doing it despite the soreness (and hey, I had the 6^th fastest female split). All in all, it was a successful day, in addition to my top 10 finish, my team moved up in the rankings, coming in 9th as a combined team (out of over 100 schools)!

Coming in on the Relay Course

After that, it was finally time to stuff myself with Mexican food before heading off to the awards ceremony.  While I had grand plans for the night, I have to admit that it turned into Ian and I sharing slushies and ice cream before falling asleep in front of Bravo television (he may have been more tired from chasing me around all day than I was from actually racing).

All dressed up in our "thrift shop" gear for the awards ceremony

I think my favorite moment of the day was crossing the finish line as I heard the announcer say in a shocked voice, “And Bailey Hinz from Colorado State, out of nowhere! Where did she come from?!”  He may not have known, but I did.  I trained passionately for this race and left it all on the course.  This was possibly the first race (other than Havasu) that I didn’t finish saying “What if?” and THAT is something to be proud of.  I cannot say thank you enough to my coaches (Mace, Reu, and Tess), my family, Ian, and my teammates for their support as I've fallen in love with this sport.  While I close the collegiate chapter of my career, I am SO excited for what is to come!  

Training Camp/Havasu Race Report

After five months of literal blood, sweat, and tears my race season has officially begun again.  As has been the case for the past few years, my season kicks off strong with the two most important races of the collegiate season: the MCTC (mountain collegiate triathlon conference) championships (in Lake Havasu, AZ) and USAT collegiate national championships (which will be April 13^th in Tempe, AZ).

As this past week was our spring break, a few of us decided to fill it with a good mix of fun and training.  My adventure began with a few days in Las Vegas with my friend Megan.  I had plenty of cross training walking up and down the strip and dancing my booty off until the wee hours of the morning (where I was further blessed with the fun experience of how non-triathlete men react to cyclist legs in short shorts – oh boy).  

Vegas with the lovely Megan

On Sunday night, a few of my teammates arrived in town with my bike along for the ride.  Megan was sweet enough to release me from my position pool-side for a few hours in the afternoon to take advantage of the awesome riding around Las Vegas (who knew?).  On Monday, we rode a modified version of the Ironman 70.3 World’s course, changing it to take us on a sightseeing tour past the awe-inspiring Hoover Dam.  What an incredible sight!  On Tuesday morning, we headed out of town for another gorgeous ride through Red Rocks Canyon followed by a somewhat demoralizing track workout.  We then loaded our smelly bodies up and headed over to Lake Havasu, AZ where we would be for the rest of the week.

Riding up from Lake Mead

Wednesday started with a solid run of the course and a much needed pool workout.  Unfortunately the pool was open less than an hour, heated to 86 degrees, and swamped with retirees breast-stroking around.  After lunch and a little beach time, we wiggled into our wetsuits and got in some open water work.  Gliding through the cool water, I was filled with bliss.  I had really forgotten just how much I love open water swimming!  Thursday was another tough one, riding the course and doing repeats of “the gauntlet,” a section of steep hills through a neighborhood on the course.  While this was tough, this workout really paid off come race day.  On a side note, I was shocked by how much easier these hills on my new little carbon bike versus the aluminum beast I was riding around a year ago! 

Getting in Some Open Water Practice

As of Thursday evening, the rest of the team arrived in Lake Havasu and Friday meant final race recon and prep.  This race is a little different than any other is the majority of the field consists of collegiate racers from within the Mountain conference.  Over the years many of us have become friends and/or created friendly rivalries so packet pickup turns into a little reunion.  I had the further joy of my friends Amanda and Mike driving over from California for a visit (I haven’t seen Amanda in over two years so this was beyond exciting for me). 

CSU Tri Team Ready to Race!

Race morning I woke up ready to rock.  I was finally grateful for the last nine months of 5am alarm clocks for swim practice as this one felt no earlier than a normal day.  I heated up my new favorite race morning meal of mashed sweet potato, applesauce, banana, and honey and donned my lovely CSU tri suit.  Finally, after months of anticipation, it was go time. 

Go Time

The wind was blowing at a solid 15-20 mph, making the swim start fairly wavy and a little tough to see.  A large group of ladies drifted off course and wound up on the wrong side of the channel.  While I went slightly off course, I did realize it before the main pack and was able to right myself before being washed up on shore.  Once in the channel, I took off, concentrating on holding proper form and on catching the feet in front of me.  The past few months of 100 and 200 repeats rang through my head as I heard Coach Reu’s uncomplicated advice of, “it’s ok if it hurts, just go faster.”  With about 500 to go, I found myself stroke for stroke with another pink cap with only a few ahead of us.  We pushed each other out of the channel and into transition.  I almost laughed out loud with glee when I glanced at my watch and it read 20:25 – a three minute swim PR for me.  Coach Mace yelled that I was in about fifth or sixth place (a little farther back than I had hoped) so I grabbed Maureen (my Slice) for her inaugural ride and took off into the wind.  I quickly passed a few ladies and was going strong until I misjudged my shifting and dropped my chain on an incline.  Fortunately this was a fairly quick fix.  Back on the bike, it was an absolute battle into a strong headwind heading out, though I was for once extremely grateful to be so fun-sized as my low profile gave me a little advantage.  With Thursday’s workout behind me, I was able to hammer through the hill section (passing a couple of nervous riders) and get back on the straightaway with the wind at my back. 

Running out of T2

Running out of transition, Coach let me know I was in third or fourth place about 40 seconds back from the girl ahead of me.  Now, this run is a little different than the average 10k as the out and back is book-ended by a section of soft sand and a large set of stairs (which leads up to the London Bridge).  Despite this, I set my brain to track mode and found myself running some fairly decent splits.  However, I still have my head in a place of being a “bad runner” and was therefore shocked when I started using landmarks to time the distance between myself and the girl ahead of me and found myself gaining on her.  I finally passed her at the turnaround and set my sights on the finish.  Around mile 4 I was unfortunately passed by one of the girls I had taken on the bike.  At this point I realized I was in third and in a position to go well under 2:20 (my two goals).  I visualized Coach Mace’s grueling track workouts at this point and managed to keep my pace for the final miles.  I crossed the finish line in 2:18:23, a two minute PR (and a 14 minute course PR), good enough for third place. 

Women's Podium

Following the race, I got in some relaxation, sun, and quality fun time with Amanda as well as with my teammates.  While I would’ve loved to bask in the glory of a successful race for a few days, it was right back to training at Monday morning for me (though I did sleep through 5am swim after the van rolled into town at midnight).  Seeing the results of hard work fuels me to work even harder in the final weeks leading up to my nationals taper.  I am excited to make a few adjustments and to hopefully ride this wave into another big PR.  Train happy, race happy – it’s going to be a great season! 

Race Report: Tidewater Classic - My First Cycling Race

It was raining for my first triathlon, my first post-high school 5k, my graduation, and every first day of the semester for the past six years; therefore it is only fitting that my first cycling race this past weekend was met with chilly temperatures and a torrential downpour (needless to say, I will not be planning an outdoor wedding when that time comes).  After effectively avoiding a crossover from triathlon into cycling (admittedly my strongest of the three sports)for the past few years, I was finally talked into a 21 mile road race in Williamsburg, Virginia during my most recent trip to visit Ian (hey – if he was willing to fly my bike, I suppose I was willing to race it). 

Going into the race, I was a little nervous.  I was terrified of tight formations, sprints and surges (not my strong point), and remembering the etiquette of road racing.  However, I tried to avoid expectations and simply enjoy myself.  Lined up at the start line, it was pretty obvious that this crowd doesn’t see a whole lot of new faces in the female divisions (I don’t think I’ve been hit on that much since 2007 when I was the token blonde girl in a small Italian village) which helped to distract me and calm my nerves a little.  During the roll out, I did my best to lay low and settle into the pack and to then find a position near (but not at) the front once the real race started – I did NOT want to establish myself as the newbie triathlete who was willing to pull everyone for 20 miles only to get destroyed at the finish.

Obviously this is one of the men's races, 

but you can see how beautiful the day and road conditions were.

After about five or six miles, however, I started getting bored.  Realizing I was at a conversational pace and that most of the group was still together in one pack, I surged ahead and took the lead.  At this moment, I had major delusions of grandeur.  I pictured myself riding away from the pack and finishing the race minutes ahead of the rest in a wave of glory.  Unfortunately, when I surged ahead, about half of the group went with me.  After about 5-6 more miles, we entered our second loop and a few girls flew past me.  Suddenly, the game of draft legal cycling started to get fun.  Surging ahead to catch them, the ride became as much tactical as speed (which was only magnified by the fact that the rain now made it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of you).  As we neared the finish, I used all any knowledge of draft legal racing that had been spewed at me by Ian over the last year and took a spot near (but not at) the front of the pack.  Finally, the finish line was in view.  With the final stretch on an incline, I had a distinct advantage over the sea-level girls and I sprinted my booty off across the line.  Much to my surprise, I looked around and realized I had come in first place among the cat 3-4 women!

After soft-peddling back to the car, I quickly changed into dry clothes and collected my winnings (a leftover William and Mary Cycling sweatshirt – best prize ever because it helped warm me up).  I was tired, freezing, hungry, and hooked.  After coffee and iHop breakfast, my elevated spirits were even higher!  Did I probably get lucky in placing as well as I did?  Yes, definitely.  Does it matter?  No.  I had an absolute blast and enjoyed the adventure of stepping out of my box a little (because learning to drive stick shift this week and proceeding to do so by myself in rush hour Virginia traffic wasn’t enough of an adventure).  I’m sure I’ll never just transition to being “just” a cyclist – I get bored way too easily; but I think I’ve found a new and fun way to race/train during the off season.  I’ve already started searching for some Colorado road races and can’t wait to get back out there!

You get some great looks in the airport when flying with 

your bike, suitcase, carry-on, and guitar. Oof!

Inspiration

Last summer as I was gearing of for Boulder 70.3, my swim coach, Reu, had a little visualization talk with me.  He told me to pick an object which would inspire me to keep working and push through when the race got tough or when I was feeling mentally or physically tired (he personally things of his awesome yellow motorcycle helmet).  I thought and thought about my options for an inspiring object.  I eventually settled on the image of my dad’s sailboat slicing through the waves.  This image work and I drew it to mind throughout the race but something just wasn’t right.  I knew there was a better option out there but I just couldn’t bring it to mind. 

Fast forward a few months.  My friend Megan and I were climbing out of my car when she said, “Oh hey, I have something for you” and handed me a little pink Oakley for Young Survival Coalition (YSC) pin.  YSC is a program which supports young women diagnosed with breast cancer (check it out at http://www.youngsurvival.org/), an issue which has become extremely close to my heart over the past few years.  It is easy to make our mothers/grandmothers/aunts the face of breast cancer as they are who paint the ads when we walk for the cure or outfit our football players in pink for the month of October.  However, to me, the face of breast cancer is a little bit different.

Love this jersey – made by Giant and supports YSC

Two years ago, I sat quietly in the back of Research Methods in Music Therapy class as the professor had us all introduce ourselves (name, hometown, and fun fact about us).  I was fully engrossed in the contents of my planner when from the front row a tall, beautiful girl with short platinum hair containing a purple streak said, “Hi, I’m Megan, I’m from Naples, Florida, and this is the first semester at CSU I’ve started with hair.” I later found out that Megan had been diagnosed at age 21 with Stage IV breast cancer (contrary to my original suspicion that she was just crazy and liked to shave her head from time to time).  I didn’t spend much, if any time, getting to know Megan that semester but we ended up rooming together the next fall at national conference, which I attended and she presented at.  We hit it off immediately.  A few months later, through a series of serendipitous events, we ended up going to Vegas together for spring break.  The trip was full of adventures and shenanigans which I will not go into on a public forum, but the point is that we became fast friends.  Ever since, we have been all but inseparable. 

Megan and I in Las Vegas

On February 7^th, Megan celebrated her 5 year cancerversary: a day which doctors told her she only had a 15% chance of ever seeing.  The importance of that day cannot be stressed enough.  However, to me, the amazing thing is not that Megan has survived the last five years but that she has truly been alive.  No one would blame her for being angry and cynical, for dropping out of school, for staying in bed every crummy day, or for becoming a hermit (goodness knows I hole up at the slightest sniffle).  Instead, Megan has one of the sweetest and cheeriest dispositions I have had the pleasure to encounter, she has stayed in school and is committed to finishing her degree no matter what the obstacles, she’s always down to go get breakfast/dinner/froyo, and is one of the best dancers in the continental United States (an activity which she views as therapeutic). 

Celebrating Megan’s Cancerversary

Besides being one of my dearest friends, Megan serves as an incredible inspiration to me and has inadvertently become my motivation in triathlon.  Whenever I dread a workout, I am grateful that my body allows me to workout.  If I am tired, I think about the exhaustion that those who undergo cancer treatment must feel.  When the fight for the finish line feels long or seems distant, I think about how short and easy it is compared to a five year battle. 

Hairs growing back - BOOM

As I head into my next season, I have no doubts as to what my “inspiring object” is.  My pink pin will be affixed to my transition bag and I’m hoping to get my hands on a sticker for my bike (maybe even some temporary tattoos).  But the truth is, that object isn’t motivating at all, it is the woman that pin represents who inspires me every day.  Thank you Megan for being the beautiful human being that you are.  I love you and congratulations on your five year cancerversary!  P.S. I can’t wait for next month’s round two in Vegas! J

Triathlete Wisdom from Superbowl Sunday

Ah here it is, one of the most celebrated American holidays is once again upon us: Superbowl Sunday.  Now, many athletes, especially endurance athletes, seem to hold a bit of animosity towards the big boys who throw around a prolate spheroid and knock each other over.  And I get it, I’m as annoyed as the next guy when I see one of our CSU players scoot by on his stipend-funded moped to his scholarship-funded class despite their inability to win a game while my nationally competitive teammates and I struggle to be granted pool time.  But I digress.  The truth is there are several lessons we can learn from football.  Of course there are the obvious lessons (the importance of coaching, offseason can determine the season, the agony of injury, comeback kids, etc), but there are others as well.  So, kick back with some beer and wings this afternoon and be prepared for some football wisdom.

Do it for the love of the game

Brett Favre got a pretty bad rep when he retired for the millionth time from the Packers only to take on a few more seasons as a Jet and then as a (gasp) Viking.  As a Wisconsinite, I get that this was practically a mortal sin.  However, I get it.  To me, it always seemed as though Brett wasn’t playing for the fame or for the money (after all, he has that illustrious Wrangler endorsement) but instead for the love of the game.  As he got older, he simply couldn’t give up on the game, the way many of us can’t imagine a life without multisport.  As a triathlete, I try to remember that I’m in this not for a plaque or medal but because I love it and, like Favre, I will do whatever it takes to stay in my game.

Poor Guy didn't get a lot of love after he left

There’s a place for all shapes and sizes

Football players come in all shapes and sizes from Gilbert Brown at 6’2” and 340 lbs to Jim Leonhard at 5’8” and 185 lbs.  Each player offers a specific asset based on his body.  At the starting line of a tri, it is always amazing to see the differences in bodies.  Some athletes are tall and lanky while others are short and stacked – each offering its own specific set of advantages.  Personally, I sometimes get down on myself because I am not as thin as the “typical” female triathlete.  However, I try to remember that my shoulders help me swim and my big quads help me ride.  As in football, we need to start seeing our bodies for all they do for us instead of how to fit a mold.

Ian and my bike side by side (and this is the larger of my bikes)

The game is played from start to finish

Everyone remembers that Hail Mary touchdown or an amazing sprint finish.  But the truth is, games are often won or lost by plays in the early and middle parts of the game (think: certain missed Bronco’s field goal in this year’s playoffs).  In a tri, it is easy to settle in or not push in the swim or in a transition because there is still plenty of race left.  But the truth is that every moment is a part of the race and should be treated as such.

We can all be friends here

One of my favorite moments of a football game is immediately after the game when players from opposing teams greet and embrace one another.  There always appears to be friendly banter as though happy to see a friend despite the loss of the game.  In triathlon, we develop an awesome community.  Out on the course your main objective is to beat that guy/girl but that should never stop us from sharing post-race meals and laughs with that person no matter who climbs the podium.  I love seeing the friendly banter between pro’s on Twitter.  Obviously, these people compete against one another but they also share a sense of camaraderie and true friendship. 

Gomez and Brownlee immediately after the 2012 Olympic race

Success doesn’t necessarily equal respect

Yes, sometimes the bad guy does win.  However, it only takes mention of players such as Michael Vick or Ray Lewis to realize that the athletic success of these players does not mean we respect them.  I personally respect Packers Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver for their humble and respectful demeanors and would do so win or lose.  In triathlon, I don’t care who crosses the line first; I respect the athletes who play fair, who are kind and respectful before/after the race, who are humble, who thank volunteers, and who have a smile on their face.

Goldenboy Rodgers has bought my friends drinks and dates girls who have never heard of him while Driver has written thank-you letters to fans and the state of Wisconsin. <3

Being a bully doesn’t pay off

Two words: Detroit Lions.  This team is notorious for bully-like behavior such as the 2011 Thanksgiving game stomping incident of Suh on Dietrich-Smith.  Yet the Lions went 4-12 this season.  Ouch.  In triathlon, you can do some pretty awful things.  You can mess with bikes in transition, steal from transition, throw unnecessary elbows, purposefully draft, cut someone off, the list goes on.  But these things don’t really make you win in the long run.  The only way to the top is through hard work, dedication, talent, and luck – so you might as well be nice while you’re at it!

Not everyone can win – and that’s ok

Two teams play in the Superbowl and only one of them wins.  Each season, 31 teams will not be named champions.  Yet, we still love our teams.  On the morning of January 13^th, I woke up still a Packer fan and my Colorado friends and neighbors were still Bronco fans.  There’s even a sect of Americans who, despite all evidence to not be, are Miami Dolphins fans.  We don’t love our respective teams based on their record.  In fact, most people can’t even explain why we love our team; we just do.  In that respect, our friends and families love us for who we are and will do so no matter how long it takes to cross a finish line.  It is easy to place value on ourselves based on our successes or failures but the truth is that these events are secondary all secondary. 

So there it is, lessons from Superbowl Sunday: love the sport, love your competitor, and love yourself.  And, oh yeah, GO PACK GO!

Superbowl 2011

Head Games

I wrote this mid-December and forgot to post it (oops) but the point is still the same a month later!

“Ok, last hard set of the day,” Coach told us, “12x25 under-overs on :35.”  This is possibly my least favorite set.  For those who don’t know what this is, it is a length of the pool completely underwater followed by another length of the pool at a sprint with no breaths (six times).  While 35 seconds isn’t a short interval, it feels like an incredibly fast turnaround when the wall is the only time you can take in any oxygen.  I groaned but prepared to complete the set.  I’ve been working on hypoxic training the last few months and know I can physically push myself to do a set like this (no matter how uncomfortable).  However, a funny thing happened this time.  Following my first underwater 25, I took a look at the clock knowing I’d only have about five seconds to recover.  But instead of taking a few breaths and pushing back off the wall, my body seized up.  I couldn’t seem to get a breath in.  On the next wall, I hopped out of the pool; I sat on the side of the pool hyperventilating for a minute before I realized that I wasn’t going to “pull it together” and ran to the bathroom where I promptly collapsed and burst into tears.  Much to my dismay, I was having a (mild) panic attack.  After a few minutes, I calmed down and jumped back in the pool.  I didn’t give the episode a second thought until halfway through track practice the next night when it (almost) happened again. 

I don’t like talking about mental health issues.  I like to stand here, pretending I have all the answers and that I am the strong one at all times.  Unfortunately, that is simply not the case.  After writing a paper this past semester on how cognition and “choking under pressure” affect athletic performance, I’ve come to realize that many athletes are hindered by anxiety.  Therefore, I’ve decided to swallow my pride and share a little insight here. 

As athletes, we work hard to condition our bodies and expect them to thank us by performing at a few key times (ie races).  However, despite meticulous attention paid to nutrition, perfect detail recorded for heart rate and power, and endless hours logged in training, we tend to neglect one of the most integral parts of our bodies: the mind.  I won’t bore you with the details (contact me if you want them) but essentially; research shows that in many cases the difference between a great athlete and an elite athlete is the ability to remain relaxed under pressure. 

I am not one of those people. While I’m not prone to episodes like the one I described above, I have had several races in which I did not reach my full potential because I shut down mentally (as described in a few of my previous blogs).  However, despite wanting to work with athletes and in sports psychology (through music therapy) someday, I have long resisted admitting that my game could use a little help in this area.  This is the season that I admit I need to work on my mental strength and relaxation.  I believe that this aspect of training and preparation is what will help push me to the next level of athleticism.

In order to negate the stigma associated with addressing one’s mental health, I believe it is best to compare mental health to physical health.  For example, if you have a cold, it is probably best to eat chicken soup and get lots of rest.  However, if we ignore symptoms or if the nap doesn’t work, that cold may progress to a sinus infection or bronchitis in which case a quick stop at the local walk-in clinic should get you fixed up in no time.  Unfortunately, every now and again, that infection will continue to progress and you find yourself with pneumonia, meaning some heavy duty medical care. 

In mental health, it is not much different (I’ll relate it to our sport for the purpose of this post).  Every now and again, you may start to feel sluggish or that workouts have become a chore.  This can probably be fixed with a few days of rest, some relaxed and fun workouts (like trail runs), talking with a close friend or loved one, and a beer.  However, sometimes this rut lasts a little long or stress and anxiety may start to build (ie panicking in the pool).  At this point, it’s probably best to bring up your concerns to your coach (I know mine had a lot of wisdom to offer when I was finally honest about how I was feeling).  In a particularly rough patch, though, a quick fix may not work, too much stress could result in a season of poor races or in constant stress related to training (this can even result in physical injury if the body is holding too much stress).  At this point, it is best to seek a little professional help.  A psychologist or counselor may be able to help you to better understand where your anxiety is coming from and to develop appropriate coping mechanisms. 

Personally, I didn’t take care of myself mentally when I was a high school athlete.  Not only did I end up stressed out and slower, I grew to hate running so much I hardly ran (and didn’t compete at all) for about five years.  Multisport has brought me so much joy that it pains me to imagine myself or anyone else growing to hate the sport.  After talking to my coaches and having a few quality workouts (long ride/run = therapy for me), I think my little anxiety episode has passed (though I still freak when I have to hold my breath too long).  However, I will not hesitate to seek further help should stress or anxiety continue to haunt me.  I believe as athletes (and as human beings) we stand to benefit from letting go of our pride and admitting that sometimes our minds need a little work and that we cannot do it alone.

So, yes, I do like to think of myself as a pillar of strength; but the truth is, even the mighty pyramids eventually erode unless a restoration crew comes in every now and again to provide support.  Thanks Coach Mace and Coach Reu for dealing with my tears and fears :)

Hard to forget the joy of running when views 

like this are practically in your backyard

A little cross-training (in this case xc skiing) helps me to relax a little

Training Camp Recap

Two years ago I opted to do training camp “on my own” which resulted in me gaining a solid five pounds and nearly dying of oxygen deprivation when I got back to Colorado.  Last year, I made the right decision and traveled to Tucson with my team for camp.  That week I rode more than I ever had before, improved my overall fitness, and had a blast.  I thought that trip would be hard to top but I’m pretty sure this year was even better!  With Ian along for the suffering too, I couldn’t have asked for more (except maybe some warmer weather).

DAY ONE

A few of us headed down a day early and I had the absolute pleasure of spending our first day with my friend Angela and her husband.  We got in a nice long brick to burn off the previous night’s Mexican food and margaritas.  I was feeling pretty weak from having a little flu bug but I think the workout helped me get it all out of my system.  Side note, running was pretty stinking entertaining as it was the second of January and all the New Year’s resolutionists were out jogging in jeans (ouch).

DAY TWO – Mount Lemmon

Yikes!  This ride goes up about 6000 ft (from 2 to 8) over about 25 miles, starting in a cactus filled desert and ending in a pine-filled ski area.  While slow and daunting, it was such a beautiful ride and a great time to bond with a few of my teammates as well as one of my NAU girls (Hannah).  Of course, the giant cookies at the top serve as a pretty decent carrot but I think the true reward is the 40 minute decent home!

Rammies Ready for Mt Lemmon

Windy Point - Halfway Up!

With Steph, Hannah, and Eliza - Picture break at Windy Point

DAY THREE – Run/Swim

I always dread group runs a little but, running is definitely the weakest of my three sports and it stresses me out to watch others effortlessly stride along while I slowly die.  However, on this run, I vowed to go my own pace, even if it meant running alone or at the back of the pack.  Low and behold, I settled in with a few Tricat ladies pretty quickly.  We weren’t at the front of the pack but we certainly weren’t at the back either.  The scenery was gorgeous (we were just outside the Saguaro National Forest) and the 10.3 mile run flew by as we chatted and got to know one another.  I love when a workout can surprise me!

It was pretty (relatively) chilly out so I was dreading swimming in Arizona’s gorgeous outdoor pool.  Fortunately, the water was heated and the sun was in the perfect position for a comfortable swim (I even got a little tan line).  It was a tough workout but being in the water with 60 college triathletes was inspiring their presence helped me really push my body.  At the end of practice, we had some fun with a few crazy relays (I just won’t tell you which relay group had to do planks on the deck for coming in last).

Rams After Our Run

DAY THREE – Gates Pass Ride/Swim/Run

Brrrr what a cold morning!  The entire group of riders stayed together for the first portion of the ride.  The cold really made me want to push the pace but it was also nice to hold back and get to know another Tricat.  Once we hit the “real” ride though, it got super intense!  I was bound and determined to stick with the lead pack for as long as possible.  I cannot describe how much fun it was to fly down a flat road at 30+ mph with a group of about 15 riders (almost makes me want to be a cyclist)!  I worked my booty off and stuck with the pack until about 2/3rds of the way through the loop when the boys dropped me on an incline.  I managed to stick with a second pack though and we finished the flatter section not far back from the pack.  Then the hill hit.  Gates Pass was steep and, while short, more difficult than Lemmon.  What a great feeling it was to get to the top (and to find the boys waiting for us).  We descended back into town and went to the Tricat president’s house to warm up and devour his leftovers (from the dinner they hosted) before swim.

I’d venture to say this swim was even tougher; it required a lot of mental toughness and simulated a race start and transition into race pace, yikes!  The subsequent run started out pretty treacherous but had the pleasant side effect of loosening my stiff legs.  On the ride back home, I couldn’t help but be awed by the gorgeous sunset.  Equally jaw-dropping was the fact that a group of us had been riding for both sunrise and sunset that day!

Top of Gates Pass with Ian

DAY FOUR – Final Ride

This ride took us north of town.  It was nice to ride over rolling hills and some false flats (so I could actually hold on and not get dropped for the most part).  Again, it was so wonderful to chat and make yet another new Tricat friend on this ride!  The way home was a little hairy due to a little crash but I couldn’t help but love the descent when I realized the whole way out had been a false flat inline!

Sadly, that was the end for me though.  While a few Rammies were able to stay an extra day, my group loaded up the truck to drive home through the night.  The better part of this week has been devoted to light training and recovery as we head into another tough week.  I’m giving yoga a try and will be getting a massage tomorrow as well.

Overall, I cannot say enough what a pleasure it was to spend the week training with my team, NMU, NAU, ASU, and UA; thank you thank you thank you to Coach Brian Grasky and the UA Tricats for hosting such an amazing camp!  I logged some quality miles, strengthened old friendships, formed new ones, and had the opportunity to train with Ian (though he was always pretty far ahead of me).  Can’t wait to keep the training ball rolling at to see all of my MCTC training camp buddies again for our regional race in Havasu!