MUD REPORT...MUD??? Do you say MUD???

Ok so my last Tri of the season was last week...but that does not mean that racing season was TOTALLY over...NO WAY!!!

This weekend was so much FUN.....A mud run, hanging out with a friend and her beau and a great run and homework (ok that part was not fun at all!)

I got up at 5 am..Yahoo...a late start for a race day!

Everything was packed for the weekend the night before like I try to do each time.  But I had to double pack things...First I was racing two and half hours away..... and then driving all the way back and going another 30 minutes the other direction to hang out with a DEAR Friend!

Most of you probably do not know this...but I OVERPACK EVERYTHING and EVERY TIME.... if I need one pair of shoes I'll bring 3 pairs.  Since I knew we were going out to dinner last night, but did not know where or the dress attire needed...Yes I had a backpack, a race bag and a "small carry on" sized suitcase... Hey i needed layers for the race, clean dry clothes for afterwards and then stuff for the rest of the weekend RIGHT?????

Ok back to the MUD Report: up at 5 am...breakfast and coffee, load up the Jeep...and head to gas station ( this is going to be an expensive weekend for gas).  Jeep all filled up..my coffee cup is almost empty so over to D&D!!  EXTRA LARGE skim milk and equal HOT COFFEE.....it is 6 am and I have a 2.5 hour drive ahead of me...Traffic is not bad at all...

Got to Southwick, MA and to the race venue right on schedule..The traffic line to get into the parking area is about 1/4 mile long, there is a big school parking lot , almost completely empty right to my left...I pull in and ask a couple of the guys that were there in the lot, "Can we park here for the race?"  They are like "We are"..ok so am I...Come on it is only 1/4 to the race venue... Why not!

I grab my race bag and water bottle and head out walking...It was a quick 1/4 mile..people were asking me as I walked by where did you park? I said to them "RIght there"..pointing over to the parking lot...they just drive by it.....LOL

Check in is smooth...OH forgot to tell you... I am on a team for this race...The Trumanatiors... a bunch of staff form one of our local ER's and I somehow agreed to do this with them.... I think I have to blame  Adam and Cathy for that...and neither one of them were able to come and play int eh mud with us yesterday....:-(...I did find Bob and Dave though... I was told there were more coming, but I did not see anyone of them.   I rented the video camera..so in about two weeks I'll post what I saw as I was racing....

My wave is to go off at 1045 AM...by the time I checked in and went to the Porta-Potty and then did my bag check and took off the extra layers I was wearing...CAUSE yes I was FREEZING!!! is is already 9 am...I heard over to the race area...Cause a mud race is more about the obstacles then the run!

I stood watching as people jumped in chest deep COLD water and then cargo net climbed out ...

1030 , I pick up my camera rental...I figured if I am doing I might as record it try to remember it later....LOL!  It is my view of the race...

After I get the camera.  I see Bob and Dave getting ready for the
wave.  Bob and Dave work in the ER.  I was not sure who else beside Cathy and Adam that was suppose to be doing the race.  I found out the night before that Adam was not going to be able to race and then the next morning Cathy called me to tell me she was not going to make it there....I felt so bad for both of them.....

ok the gun goes off and we are off....This race is not about the TIME  it is about CONQUERING THE OBSTACLES!!!!!  Not int his order but in the way my mind works: The Following was what I remember of the race, ...There was this AWESOME SLIDE...LONG DARK tunnels you had to crawl thru...on your hands and knees..there are 12 foot high wooden walls to climb over and down on the other side... barbed wire strung out and you had to crawl thru the water and mud!  jumping from logs stuck in the mud, more tunnels and some you have to crawl on your belly to get thru...Walls you have to jump up onto to get over and others you need to climb over..Cargo nets between two huge shipping container that you have to get over....a "fire" to jump over........did I mention everything is COVERED with MUD!!!!  

Bob, Dave and I played "TAG" a lot during the race...I am a "runner" and they are not what they called "runners" but they FLEW over and through the obstacles where I was so much slower on them....But they waited for me each and every time I went over or through one....Thank you GUYS! As soon as I was through with the obstacles I would run ahead and wait for them other times we would run together or walk together.....  we all went down the water slide together,,,we all started with our feet out front and I am not sure how anyone of did not end up on the other side of town we came down so fast,,,,That is one of the obstacles I WANT TO GO DO AGAIN!!!!

We finish up in just under 1:05...I am not 100% sure of my time...cause I was not on the results page...so I emailed the company and told them I finished with Bob and Dave  or int hat time frame and we will see what they give me....But I am pretty sure about 1:05 or less....

BEER TIME::::  Yes one beer is part of the SWAG for the race...Thank you....then grab my bag and go over to the "showers" A pole hung between some trees with hoses attached to it...and there is NO HOT WATER!!!!!  changing rooms are big blue tarps tie to and around trees...enough to make a big communal changing room.....

Thank God I am not SHY!!! 10 - 15 ladies all changing in a open air tarpped wall "room"...I just wanted my pink fuzzy socks on my cold wet feet.....

Changed and ready to walk back to my jeep....SO glad I parked in the other lot and not right near the registration... I was out of the other lot before people in the registration lot were even on the street..

Drive to D&D and yes get more COFFEE.... another long ride to go home... Yes I drive 5 hours to race a 5k obstacle course called the  RUGGARD MANIAC ::::::::  CAUSE I CAN NOW!!!!!!!

Last Tri of 2012!

Wow can you believe it is officially Fall???   Yesterday was my last Triathlon of the 2012 season....

It was a cool rainy start.  My last tri was the Amica 19.7 Newport...this race is all about just finishing up the 2012 Tri Season with a good FUN race!!!!!

I had only slept a couple of hours...I have not slept very well the last couple of days..Not quite sure why...but it is what it is.

Up at 430 am.  I had prepped everything the night before as I always do.  Loaded up the Jeep and headed to Newport.  Pulled out of the driveway at 5 am.

Arrived at second Beach in Newport at 545 am..unload the Jeep and took my running gear to T2...

Yeah this race has two different transitions...One at 3rd beach (T1) where we swim and the other from 2nd Beach (T2) where we run from and finish.

630 am After setting up T2, I pack the "gear" bag the race official gives us so that our gear from the swim will be returned to the finish area for us, then I return the rest of the stuff to my Jeep.

Running around saying Hi and checking with the other Tri NE Teammates! and several other people I know...We all know how I like to chit chat!!!!

645 am:  I take Pippy (for those who do not know this yet: Pippy is my bike) and "gear" bag and walk to T1.  Sparky and I walk over together.

655 am: arrived to T1 and rack my bike and start to wiggle into my wetsuit...wearing the FULL suit cause it is chilly out but the rain has stopped...

715 am: a small swim to get started... the end of the boat dock...is a nice drop off...watch that last step!!!!!

725 am: the race official calls us all out of the water to line up and start the swim waves....

I am in the 5th wave...we are the last ones to go out....even before we start our swim the first swimmer from the elite are already out onto the bikes....

A good swim for me:  18:09 for a half mile, the water was cool but the air was cooler.   I am shivering again!!!

T1 was long at 4:06...I had a tough time getting the wet suit off again and then layering the tops..I wore my team shirt covered by a long sleeve running top.

On the Bike and a nice wet road for the next 16+ miles....There are a few crappy hills and A LOT of TURNS....every time I get up to a good speed, I have to slow down and take turn. Nothing too impressive about the bike.  ( I am going to be working hard on that BIKE form and endurance this WINTER!!!)  Bike is done in 58:26 for 16 miles!!!  T2 is 2:32... off with long sleeve shirt and change helmet for running cap.

Out on to the run..so to see this run you do not think of it as hard run....just a wee bit of a hill to start....turn out on to the road run about a tenth of a mile or so and take a right and then it is all up hill for about a mile or more...  Thank GOD what goes up must come down.... I do not feel like I running at all..it just feels like my legs are solid pieces of cement going up and down.

Top of hill and a quick left then about a 1/3 of mile to the turn around and return to the "HILL". Thank goodness it is now DOWN HILL!!!!  At the bottom of the hill is a left turn to the last bit of a run, I can see the finish line....There is a young lady behind me and her friends and family are calling out her name.."KATIE"..SO I turn my head back and start to call out to her  "Come on Katie, do not let this old GRANDMA beat you!!!!!"  Now lots of people on both sides of the road are call out to Katie....it is so cool...I later find out that she had a goal to finish in less then 2 hours!!!!

Guess what Katie did it....less then 2 hours...How do I know this...Cause my run was 30:55 and my total time was  1:54:07.  That is 3:11 faster then last years time!!!  Yeahhhhhh. Thank you, Coach Tara !!!!!! You Rock COACH!!!!

Now it is your turn to get out there and GET IT DONE!!!!  Cause you Can NOW!!! Pictures to come....

PODIUM at FIRM MAN Half Iron Tri...

Second HIM and an Oly and a Sprint and several road races in 11 weeks.

Yes you are not seeing things...I GOT A PODIUM at the FIRM MAN HIM on Sunday September 9, 2012!!!!   YEAH WHOO!!!...I place 3rd in the Athena Division, (Women who weigh more then 150 pounds!!!)  

Race Report:  

4 am Awake sipping coffee...I had packed everything and had it waiting at the front door the night before.  

Around 445AM :  packing Jeep and double checking my race list...

500 am :  in the Jeep and pulling out of the drive way...I am so nervous cause last evening I was at the beach to pick up my race packet and the OCEAN was so strong and choppy with HUGEEEEEE waves.

530 AM : after driving about 80 MPH....and Passing Sparky on Rt. 4...I arrived at Narragansett Beach.  Grab everything out of the truck..I pull in right behind Luis.  I see Brad right away...Then while unpacking the Jeep, I notice I did the same thing I did at the Patriot HIM...I forgot my bike pump.  LUISSSSSS?????  Can I borrow your bike pump?  Thank God, Mike P. comes by cause I can not get Luis's bike pump to work....Mike goes and get his and helps me to fill the tires on my bike.  Thanks Mike!   Gather up the gear and head to the transition area.

"245" Yes that is my race number  not the time!!!!  I need to get body marked and set up my transition site.  get to the area I am assigned and there are bikes everywhere and nothing in any assigned spot...I should of had the last spot on the rack but someone not only put her bike there but her gear was all over.  

6 am : Bike all set up on the rack and pulling on the wet suit...one chucky limb at a time. I know I know...you all do not see chunky limbs...but there are I still do some days!  Not too sure if I'll ever get over that but working on it.

630 am : Walking to the start of the swim.  Looking at at the waves and getting more and more nervous as we walk the mile or so to the start of the race....I can actually feel my heart pounding in my chest! I am very nervous the waves are HUGEEEEE!!!  and Crashing hard....  I attempt a warm up swim...After about 5 or 6 tries and I CAN NOT get past the breakers..I return to the shore to "think" about doing this race or at least the swim.  I am actually shaking The race director says that we can tap out of the swim and do the bike and run....standing at the water line with Melissa, Leslie, Kathy, Michele, Jill Brad, Mike, and a few other hundred people...looking at the water and thinking what are we doing????  This is nuts.....

700 AM :  The first wave goes off....then the second wave, the third wave is off...finally us, the fourth wave: All women, aqua bikes, and Athena (which is all women!)

We all looked so tiny compared to the waves!

Nice RIP TIDE!!!

Can you see how high that wave is behind the swimmer and lifeguard????

SO the some of these pictures above are from later in the day, and they really do not show the forceor power of the water that day.

Our wave goes off.  All I can think is that I have to get past the breakers.  First couple of waves are not too bad, dive underneath them..swim a little, at about the 4th wave I was hit so hard it actually dragged me back about 20 or so yards...I got caught up in the wave and actually was afraid I could not see which way to go, I was flipped around and upside down under the water...it was still early and cloudy out so no SUNSHINE to direct me to which way is up!  But what seemed like an forever and was probably only about 30 seconds...I pop my head out of the water... COUGH COUGH and gag gag...I take a deep breath and look out to the marker and there is only a few small waves coming...I take a deep breath and dive in...Swim Swim Swim Swim....I make it PAST THE BREAKERS!!!! YAHOOOOO!

Now just keep swimming just keep swimming..... round first marker and start the count down of green ones...one, two three and the finally the fourth one. The water was choppy and there were Jellyfish, and I actually passed one or two people from the previous wave...and a few in ours....I am wondering if my friends made it through the swim or not.....I am taking the last turn going into shore.  With every breath, I look behind me hoping not to see any waves getting ready to crush me...I ride one or two waves in a few feet as I can catch them. I am finally at a point I can stand.  The water is about chest high on me. and it happens...

I get a Charlie Horse in my left calf...bad enough to make me scream out....the lifeguards around me come rushing towards me...it last long enough to have to fight a few breaking waves...one of the lifeguards yells at me to go under...it hurts so bad I am not sure I can do that...I feel something tug at me,  it was the life guard telling me to take a breath and pushes me under the wave instead of it crushing me.....Thank you!!!!

SOME OF THE HERO's That day at Narragansett Beach!

Pain from Charlie Horse in left calf shows in my face!

As I reach the shore I am limping a little, trying to get the wet suit at least unzipped...not successful at all!!!  LOL...Thank God they had wet suit strippers...Suit off, rinse off feet and into the T area...

38:32 n the water for 1.2 miles of a swim!!!! (Psst...I beat Leslie out of the water....YEAH!, Sorry Leslie, But I can only work on one goal at a time and beating you out of the water was the first!  Leslie you are my Mentor....I love the fact that you are stronger and faster cause it makes me want to be stronger and faster!!!   THANK YOU!!!!)

Bike shirt on helmet on, sunglasses on, socks and shoes on...number belt on (wasted time trying to fix it, wont do that again!!!)...grab bike and head out to the road....It is drizzling and cloudy...I am cold and wet...YOU KNOW I HATE TO BE COLD AND WET!!!!!

I feel OK on the bike left calf is hurting..but OK... Every mile, I am thinking one less to go  counting down 55, 54, 53, 52, 51 , 50 Get on rt 1 and I stop thinking about the miles and start thinking of passing the people in front of me...( there are lot of people in front of me...but I can dream you know)...Then it happens....Leslie flies by me...I will never be able to pass her or beat her on the bike....but that is another dream for the future!  My whole ride is a good one..I do wish I had done the complete ride prior to the race though.,.,,,, I did not do the KFR loop...and it was ALOT hillier then I thought it was going to be....back on RT 1 and in a good place...legs feel good and breathing and nutrition is good...but I am thinking getting a little saddle sore...adjust adjust adjust....LOL and I am a GIRL....how do the guys do it?

56 miles in 3:34:57  Yeah!

Out of T2 in a decent time, changed shoes and socks and hat.....decided not to take the running belt with my gels and fluids, just grabbed one of the bottles and tucked it in my shorts...FIRM has lots of water stops on the route...THANK YOU FIRM!!!!

Onto the run and as Melissa is taking photos and telling me to "Smile Princess"....in my head I am thinking..."F*** YOU: Melissa, you suck...your done and I still have 13 miles to go."

The run is uneventful...my slow legs feel like "BRICKS" for the first 3 miles or so.  Nancy G. is at about mile 3.5 (at a friends house, cheering on the team mates).  I pass her as she is shouting words of encouragement!!!!  Thanks Nancy!  I continue to the turn around point up the rode.  As I pass Nancy on the return route, I hear a "hey I am joining you and Keep running, Ill catch up"...I look to my right and there is Nancy changing into her running clothes next to her car!!!  I yell back to her and everyone standing along the road..."NO WORRIES, NOT LIKE I AM GOING ANYWHERE FAST!!!!  YOU KNOW THE ROUTE!!" A few minutes later, Nancy is right along side me, encouraging, distracting me and making me laugh! And believe me I did not get very far before she was there. Nancy runs for me for about 3 miles!!!!  

Mile 6 - 7 :  I am now looking for a porta john,,,,checking out the woods as I am running...the Hammer Gels are starting to mess with my GI tract..( trying to think of a way for that not to be TMI!!!)

Then Nancy reminds me that there is a porta john at the Kayak Store...Thank YOU GUYS!!!When I find out what the name of your store is I will make sure to BLOG how great you are!!!!

Mile 7 thru 10 is a long straight run with a turn around in the middle...I am one of the last runners out there..Actually for a little while I thought I was the last female runner out there...Ops did I mention that Mile 7 to 8 is about all down hill...so guess what mile 10-11 is???? Yup...all up hill!

Mile 11-13 is not bad at all...I am actually trotting the majority of the way...Just when you think you are about done. With less then 0.3 miles left guess what!!!!  It becomes a beach SAND run!!!  I am going to let the pictures tell the rest of the story!   

yes that is me wayyyy downnn the other end of the beach!!!!

closer!

almost at the turn

can bearly breath and almsot start to cry when i was reading this 

Last Turn

Got to cross on the mats...come on I can make it!!!! Mats that are the green things in the middle right???

JUMPING FOR JOY......(not high but got both feet off the ground)

LOOK!!!!! LOOK!!!!!   A PR!!!!!!!

Yes a HIM PR:  Of course there has only been two HIM for me so far:  First was 7 hrs and 26 Minutes this one was 7 hrs and 13 minutes....Now I know, it is hard to compare Triathlon races (Lots of factors differ in each race!)BUT A PR IS A PR!!!!!

  Not only do I PR, but I PLACE 3rd in the Athena Division!   We do not know at first...actually not until the I ask the race officials what my run spilt was..then she tells me that I have a PODIUM SPOT!!!!!!!!

Part of Team Athena:  Kellie, Leslie, Melissa..We All Placed Today!

So here a picture of the bling I received that day!

The bling from the race

THE REAL BLING

You may ask why the beach stone is the real bling...

Cause it was given to me by a true friend, SPARKY...and as she handed it to me after I crossed the finish line and said to me "This is to remind you of all that you accomplished and your race on the BEACH!" At least that is what I heard...if that is actaully her true words, you will have to ask her...but that is what I heard. That and the fact that ALL of my team mate and GVP Swimmers that I know, were  still there after I finished the race, even ALL of them have finished LONG before me, is what meant the most to me that day!!!!!!!  THANK YOU ALL!!!!  Luis, Melissa, Kate, Norine, Bob, Brad, Leslie, Mona, Leslie, Chris S., Kathy, Scott and several others I am having a hard time remembering names right now ( Not like having a hard time remembering names is ever new in my world).

AMAZED, HAPPY, TIRED and Cause I can!!!

NOW YOUR TURN:  ALL OF YOU GET OUT THERE:  CAUSE YOU CAN!!!

Labor Day Weekend 2012

Summer Time Summer Time...oh Sweet Summer Time......I can not believe your leaving us already......

I feel like this summer just started.  My summer started with a mix of emotions and so much going on... 

May1st:  Produced the 2012 Rhode Island Obesity Symposium. ( I know May is technically early for summer but I wanted to start this on a positive note!)

May 6th: Cox 1/2 Marathon.

May 18th: Started my new job. (Very Excited to a new Adventure in my career!)

June 1st: Ended a 13 year and 2 day (Yes, I know the exact time frame since it was 2 days after the 13th anniversary) relationship with the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with.  

June 16th: Completed my First Half Iron Man Distance Triathlon. (AND ROCKED IT MIND YOU!!!)

June 17th: Flew to San Diego for a week to attend the ASMBS Conference. (Thank you to Sue B., John A., and Alta B. and Gary N. and a few other friends for helping me survive the week when my heart was broken and my mind and emotions were such a mess!)

July 3rd:  Did a great race where I finished on the 50 yard line of Gillette Stadium.

July 4th: I am so bless to know some truly amazing WOMEN...Spent the day with 5 of them on this day!!! Mona, Melissa, Nancy, Kate and Leslie!

July 14th:  Jamestown Half Marathon...almost a PR missed by 37 seconds...and HILLYYYYYYYY!!!

July 21: Flew to Florida and spent time with my mom, sons, daughter in law and grand babies.  And got my FIRST TRI TATTOO!!!!

July 28th: Deary TRI Training Event!!!!   3rd over all and 2nd place Female...Of course it was only about 15 0r 20 people and most of them it was their first TRI!!!!! But since that will probably be the only time I PLACE in a race...I am taking it for all it is worth!!!!!

Month of Aug::: I SO LOVE MY JOB!!!!!!   ( I truly mean that) ...Colaluca Family reunion...ran a half marathon just to spend time my one of my favorite people...Gina...Love ya, so proud of you!

Aug 26th: Cranberry Oly Tri....finished 46 minutes faster then 

I thought I might!!!!!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!

      Spent the last 5 days hugging, kissing, washing and feeding and chasing my two handsome and very active grand babies...Celebrated Craig and Emily's 2nd Wedding Anniversary: Congrats to you both.  Spent some time with the other family here in Florida, too...some great beach days...Some awesome workouts including::::::::::

CONQUERED ANOTHER FEAR: (Well still working on the full conquer part): Swam a half mile in the OPEN OCEAN!!!! No wet suit, so one else directly with me (yes others in the water, but no one having to babysit me in the water...I did have my cousin Caleb on the shore line spotting me though, THANKS CALEB!!!!)

So now the Summer of 2012 is officially over...what is next?...Well if you know me you know it is something,,,,,

Tomorrow fly home and go back to work...Wednesday (yes in less then 41 hours) I start my first class towards my DNP/PhD!!!!!! and capping the weekend off with a day at the Women's Wellness Workshop and then my SECOND HIM of the season....(Yeah "I know, I know I said I'll never do this again!") ( by the way I have a great PINK hat that says just that!!  Thank you Ms. Dianna Glass!)

So now it is time for you to get out there and do it:::   CAUSE YOU CAN!!!!