Race Report - 2012 Minneapolis Duathlon

On Sunday, August 25th I ran the 2012 Duathlon as a relay with my aunt. A duathlon consists of three legs, Run-Bike-Run. The Minneapolis Duathlon consisted of a 5K run, 15 mile bike, 5K run. I ran, my aunt biked. This was our second year competing together as a team and while our primary goal was to have fun we both hoped to improve over last year.

I was up at 4:30 am on race day (I'm pretty sure the last time I was up at 4:30 am was a year earlier on the day of the 2011 Minneapolis Duathlon). I had packed my race bag, pinned my number to my shirt and prepped my breakfast the night before so there wasn't much I needed to do in the morning - just get up, get dressed and head out the door (much more than I normally do before 5:00 am mind you). I met my aunt at her house at 5:30 to drive to the race. The weather was damp and foggy but it was not actually raining - it was about 70 degrees which was nice but a bit troublesome given the sun wasn't even up yet. The transition area was set up differently than it had been last year but the volunteers were out in full force and were very helpful. We racked our bike, talked through our first transition (which I kind of flubbed up last year) and hit the port-o-potties with plenty of time to spare.

First Leg - 5K (3.1 mile) Run
The race started at 7:00 - we were in the 6th wave which was scheduled to take off at about 7:06. The fog had lifted but it was still cloudy which helped to keep the air cool - pretty perfect running weather, actually.  The first run went well, it's a mostly flat course that starts with a 1.5-ish mile loop and finishes with a 1.5-ish mile out-and-back. There is one noticeable hill just after mile 2 but there is a water stop and the turnaround at the top which was both motivating and rewarding. I finished the first run in 28:14 - 9:05 pace and 42 seconds faster than last year (Yeah!).

Transition 1
One of the benefits of having run this same course the year before was that I remembered how far it was from the end of the run to the transition area.  Like most people I push hard for the last few tenths of a mile in a race which is great unless you are running a duathlon and there is an additional few tenths of a mile to run after you "finish" the race. This year I didn't go all out at the end of the first run and the transition went much more smoothly. My aunt was standing right at the front of the chip-exchange area when I got there and we were able to quickly make the exchange. Before I knew it she was off and biking. We managed to complete the first transition in 1:29 - 11 seconds faster than last year (Yeah!).

Second Leg - 15 mile Bike
While my aunt was out killing it on the bike course I had about an hour to kill. I grabbed my bag and copped a squat on a nice little piece of sidewalk. I entertained myself with stretching, snacks and phone calls for about half an hour. At that point they asked everyone to head to the chip-exchange area and being the rule follower that I am, I did. It was at this point that I realized we had not discussed how we would find each other for the second transition. Laurel finished the closer-to-16-than-15 mile course in 53:22 (Yeah!).

Transition 2
Since we had racked our bike within a few feet of one of the entrances to the chip-exchange area, and she needed to rack her bike again before we could make the exchange, I decided to stand at the entrance and just yell her name when I saw her. I saw her riding in and watched her rack her bike - in a different location than we had started in (crap). I watched her start running toward the chip exchange area and then - I lost her! About 10 seconds later I heard her call my name and turned to find her standing exactly where we had said we would meet for the first transition. I strapped the chip onto my ankle and was off. I always seem to be the weakest link on the transitions. We completed the second transition in 2:36 - 56 seconds slower than last year (Boo).

Third leg - 5K (3.1 mile) Run
The second leg followed the same course as the first leg (with a slight deviation at the finish). I felt good and could tell I was running fast even without looking at my watch. I tried to focus on running a smart race and not burning out. When I hit the 3 mile mark I kicked into high-gear and sprinted to the finish. I finished in 26:58 - 8:40 pace, 47 seconds faster than last year and a personal record (Yeah!).

Overall
Our overall time was 1:52:37. We placed 12th out of 42 teams in our category (2-person, female teams). We improved our overall standing as well as the times for each of our legs (and one of our transitions) as compared to last year!

2012 Results - 12th Place out of 42 teams
Overall - 1:52:37  
Run1 - 28:14   
Tran1 - 1:29
Bike (15.8 miles) - 53:22
Tran2 - 2:36
Run2 - 26:58

2011 Results - 17th out of 35 teams
Overall - 1:59:20
Run1 - 28:56
Tran1 - 1:40
Bike (18 miles) - 59:21
Tran2 - 1:40
Run2 - 27:45

Beauty in Ashes

Two weeks ago we had to let our sweet little pup go.  While we have figured out a way to continue on with our lives a cloud of grief is constantly upon us.  It's a sad time in our lives - one that we will not likely pass through quickly.  The pain is still very raw and very real - too close to the surface to attempt to share without risking a breakdown.

But...

Amidst this devastating sadness and grief the evidence of God's love and hand in our lives has been abundant.  At a time when we are struggling to "hold it together" and maintain our composure we are also prospering.  At a time when logic would have us lying on the ground mired in a puddle of grief we are being raised up.  At a time when anger and doubt and discontent could easily prevail over us we have been covered in peace.  We are being given beauty while covered in ashes.

And...

I am certain that this outpouring of God's love is the result of the prayers and thoughts of our family and friends.  Not because God needs their help but because He desires to let others be a part of what he is doing in our lives - so they too can be blessed.  If you have prayed for us know that your prayers have been answered in very real and tangible ways.  If you have prayed or left messages or sent cards or spoken kind words or given us space to breathe - know that you have played an active role in God's plan to bless us.  Know that God's love has been poured out from you.

I have found words insufficient to express so much of what I have experienced and felt in the last two weeks and this is one of those times.  To be loved on so graciously by our God, our family and our friends is an indescribable feeling.

Don't be upset with the results you didn't get from the work you didn't do.

Before I start let me just say that this post is not targeted at anyone in particular.  I didn't have a recent encounter that stands out or triggered this post nor was I thinking of anyone in particular (with the exception of myself) when I wrote it.  If it resonates with you I think it's because we share a common human condition expressed best by Paul in the 7th chapter of the book of Romans.

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

What a tantalizing intro - I bet you can't wait to read on!

Joyce Meyers has often said she believes we are educated well beyond our level of obedience.  She points to the fact that most Christians know that the Bible condemns gossip.  In fact, most Christians have been taught this lesson over and over and over - yet most Christians are guilty of gossipping.  It's not that we don't know what to do (or what not to do) it's that we choose to do what we know is wrong rather than what we have been taught is right.  We could get into a big philosophical discussion about this statement on many levels but that's not really what this blog is about so we wont.

When Joyce says we are educated beyond our level of obedience she is speaking of biblical knowledge and obedience to God.  But I think the statement holds true in other situations.  Most recently I have been thinking about how it pertains to making healthy choices - specifically eating well and exercising.  I know which foods are healthy and which foods are unhealthy.  I have unhindered access to all the healthy food I could possibly desire - yet I frequently choose to eat unhealthy food.  And not just unhealthy food but food that might be considered toxic if broken down into its individual ingredients.  I also know that I need to exercise.  I know how to exercise, I have everything I need to exercise including numerous opportunities to workout each day - yet I often choose to spend hours watching mindless television or "catching up" with people on Facebook rather than going for a run, walk or bike ride.

I have heard people suggest that the media or the government have caused the epidemic of obesity and lethargy in our society.  Really?  I can tell you that neither the media nor the government made choices for me regarding what I would eat or how I would spend my time today.  And I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this statement is true for basically everyone reading this blog  Again, we could get into a big philosophical discussion about this on many levels but we wont.

Another common excuse I have heard (and possibly used myself a time or two) is that we are too busy to eat well and exercise.  It sounds like a good argument until you take a good look at how we spend our time.  Yes, we are all busy but I think if we are honest with ourselves we have to concede that we are able to make the time to do the things that are important to us.  And if it's true that being too busy is stopping us from eating well and exercising are we to assume that people who do eat well and exercise aren't busy?  NEWS FLASH!  Everyone is busy!  It really doesn't take much longer to prepare a healthy meal than it does to pick up fast food at the drive-through on the way home.  If you value the spare minutes more than your health then by all means - have a Bic Mac & fries for dinner.  There's nothing wrong with opting for unhealthy options here and there but own up to your choices - don't pretend you're a victim.

The bottom line is there are a million excuses for not doing what we know we ought to.  Many of them are even really valid excuses but they are still just that - excuses.  They don't give us a free ticket to whine and complain that we feel gross and fat - unless of course you feel gross and fat after a sustained period of eating well and exercising.  I'm not suggesting this is easy - taking responsibility for the circumstances we find ourselves in rarely is - but lets face life isn't easy and if we really think about it we don't really want it to be.

I'm choosing to stop complaining, blaming and making excuses and instead, take responsibility for the decisions I make.  Day-by-day, hour-by hour, even moment-by-moment I will try to choose the best of the options presented to me - get up and run rather than sleep an extra 45 minutes, skip the donuts my coworker so graciously brought to work, go to pilates over the lunch hour instead of surfing the internet, drink water instead of soda, take a walk after work instead of watching TV.  Small decisions throughout the day that over time will make me feel better than the extra sleep, donut, internet, soda or TV ever could.  And when I choose to sleep in or eat the donut (which I absolutely will do on occasion) - I will own that choice and any downstream ramifications (my business background just made an appearance on my blog!) whole heartedly.  After all - I am the one making the choice.

Stepping off my soapbox... : )

Thoughts on my mind... Things in my life...

A few of the thoughts on my mind - a few of the things going on in my life...

1. The Soldier Field 10 Mile is THIS Saturday!  I've had a couple of weeks of solid training runs so I'm feeling pretty good about it.  I'm most nervous about navigating my way around Chicago on race day - I'll most likely take a taxi from our hotel to the stadium to keep things simple. 
   
   
2. Apparently, the shirts for the Soldier Field 10 Mile are hideous - huge blow-up on Facebook about it.  I suppose it's hard to pick a design that appeals to 17,500 people.
   
   
3. PRAISE GOD!  I did not end up in a wave of runners that need to be lined up by 6:40 AM.  Nope, I don't have to be lined up until 7:10 - 10 minutes after the official start of the race.  This gives you an idea of how long it takes to get 17,500 people off and running!
   
   
4. I just bought the cutest shirt at Old Navy! 
   
   
   
   And mine is even cuter than the one pictured above because it's - get this - ORANGE check instead of red. I know, you can hardly wait to see it. 
   
   
5. I also bought 6 pairs of flip flops at Old Navy.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for a $2.50 shoe.
   
   
6. My sister and I took my mom to see Chonda Pierce last weekend.  Chonda is beyond funny but also has a very unexpected, quite tragic, yet inspiring life story.  Another reminder that yes, we all have trouble in this life - and you never know what the person next to you might be going through - so be nice to them.
   
   
7. YouVersion released The Bible App for the Nook - I'm beyond happy about this.  If The Bible App is available on your device you should definitely check it out.  Love The Bible App - simply love it.
   
   
8. I still don't know if I passed the test I took 2 1/2 weeks ago.  It's not uncommon for it to take 4 weeks or more to get your results.  When people ask how the test was and if I passed I tell them "I have received no indication that I didn't pass."  I'm considering ignoring the email that reveals my results when it arrives and sticking with this response for the remainder of my career.
   
   
9. Speaking of my career, in June I will celebrate my 15th anniversary with my employer.  Isn't that crazy?  There are very few things in my life that I have done for 15 consecutive years.  Going to school is the only thing that come to mind.
   
   
10. 800 miles is a lot of miles.  You may remember that I set a goal to run 800 miles this year.  I have had to re-read the post that I announced this goal in to confirm the number of miles several times.  I keep thinking "maybe it was 600 miles..."  Nope, the goal is 800 miles.  Eight.Hundred.Miles.  Guess I'll keep running!

It's been a long time

It's been a long time since I have posted!  I think it's interesting when bloggers warn their readers that they wont be posting for a week or even a few days.  Do blog readers really get worried when bloggers don't post for a few days?  What exactly do they think may have happened - and why on earth do they think it's any of their business?  I really don't get it.  Maybe if I was an uber-blogger with thousands of followers I would feel obligated to let you know when I was taking a break.  As it is I'm not sure I'm even at the tens of readers stage so I'll just continue to come and go as I please thankyouverymuch.

So anyway - how about a running update?

I am currently two weeks out from a 10 Mile race.  This will be my first "destination race" and I'm really looking forward to it.  I'll be running the Soldier Field 10 Mile in Chicago on May 26th.  To make things a bit more interesting I just came off of a three week hiatus from running.  Back in April I had a brief but painful calf injury that eliminated my ability to run for just over a week.  Immediately following the injury I became fully consumed with studying for an exam I would be taking a week later.  I was literally studying every.waking.moment.  The exam was this past Monday and it took me a good four days to return to normal life after my self-imposed sequestering. 

Prior to my hiatus I was running about 20 miles a week including a long run of 8-9 miles on the weekend.  This past Friday I opened my door and started out on my favorite little 4 mile route.  3 miles in I was dying and stopped to walk for a half mile.  Not what I was hoping for but probably not an unexpected result after such a long break.  The good news is that I was dying from lack of cardio-vascular endurance (and let's face it - maybe being a bit wimpy) rather than any physical pain.  I had planned to rest on Saturday but it was sooooo beautiful outside I couldn't help myself and I ended up running the same 4 mile route - only this time I actually ran the entire distance.  Baby steps.  The plan from here on out is to continue to baby step my way to 10 miles in the next two weeks.  I don't have a very solid direction other than to listen to my body and avoid injury at all costs.  I'm hoping some sort of muscle memory will kick in and I'll be able to up my mileage pretty quickly.  If not, well - let's not cross that bridge unless we have to.

On a related but different note - as a result of my latest injury I visited with a physical therapist who (once again) diagnosed me as weak - specifically weak in the hips and core.  She prescribed several stretches and exercises that I can do at home but also suggested that I take pilates classes.  I found a place close to my work that offers classes over the lunch hour and I'm going to give it a try (though probably not until after the 10 Mile race for various reasons).  I'm quite excited to try something new and to see what kind of results it offers.  I'll keep you posted.  

Oh - check out my sidebar - I just passed the 200 mile mark!  Only 400 miles left to reach my goal - did I really just say only 400 miles? 

Keep breathing... and running!

Thoughts on my mind... Things in my life...

A few of the thoughts on my mind - a few of the things going on in my life...

1. I'm a wee bit behind on my running goals - okay, more than a wee bit - but I have high hopes for March!  I have a few things going for me in the month of March that should give me the mileage boost I need and help get me back on track:
1. Momentum - on Sunday I hit the 100 mile mark - can I get a "woot! woot"?!
2. I'm running a 10 mile race on March 10th.  That's basically 1/7th of my monthly mileage goal in one day.
3. Daylight Savings Time goes into effect on March 11th and will bring with it the ability to run outside after work.  I love my treadmill but nothing motivates like the outdoors.
4. I start training for a Half Marathon on March 12th.
   
   
2. I'm running a 10 mile race on Saturday!  I'm just running this one for fun so there is no pressure to make a certain time and I've been training pretty consistently so I don't anticipate any difficulty completing the mileage.  Bonus - I get a sweet sweatshirt and a medal!
   
   
3. My Father-in-law is having shoulder replacement surgery on Thursday - keep him in your thoughts and prayers if you are so inclined.
   
   
4. Chris and I are totally addicted to Downton Abbey.  We feel a little old when the Masterpiece Theater intro runs.  I am pretty sure I would have made a fabulous heiress - what do you think?
   
   
5. I'm hosting a Stella & Dot Jewelry show this Saturday (after the 10 mile race).  If your looking for champagne (or sparkling grape juice), cupcakes (or fresh fruit) and fabulous jewelry you should be at my house from 2:00 - 4:00.
   
   
6. I'm trying a new skin care line.  It has only been three days but I'm really liking it.  We'll see how I feel in a couple of weeks after the novelty wears off.
   
   
7. A very special little girl in my life is turning two next week.  Two!  We're getting her a bike.  A bike!  She is going to be two years old and riding a bike!  I don't know if I can handle this...
   
   
8. I used up the last of our home-made laundry soap last week.  This week I spent 97 cents to make another batch that should last about 6 months.
   
   
9. I have warmed up to the iPad a bit since experiencing its utility in the kitchen as an online recipe book.  It's very convenient though I'm always worried I'm going to spill something on it - not that that has ever happened - nope, never happened...
   
   
10. Last night I stayed up way too late reading.  I'm reading a book that I've actually read once before (but oddly have almost no memory of).  It had been moving a bit slow for a few days but last night I had to force myself to stop reading it and go to bed.  Free time and a good book a happy Jessy makes (channeling my inner Yoda).

He's Amazing!

You'll all be glad to hear that my sweet pup is doing well. What's that?  You didn't know there was any reason to believe he wasn't doing well?  No worries. He's doing well again so we'll focus on that. In fact - he just had a yearly check-up and his vet continues to be amazed at just how healthy our 13 year old Little Black Angel is. I'm pretty sure he used the word "amazing" to describe our dog at least 10 times during the appointment. Yes, his hearing is not what it used to be, his eyes have clouded over a bit and he moans and groans a little more than he used to - but as far as 13 year old dogs go he's amazing. Of course, this just serves to feed my belief that Dash is actually an "eternal dog". Chris worries when I talk like this but really - all evidence points to Dash being with us forever so why deny it?

Dash may not be the most well behaved dog in the world. His reputation for destruction in his youth may have been well earned. He may not come when we call him or retrieve objects we throw for him. He may have a supernatural ability to seek and destroy every bit of cardboard in the house. He may eat his poop and roll in stinky things outside. We may have to live with the shades drawn to avoid his piercing bark with every passing squirrel and bunny. It may take 20 minutes to walk around the block as he dillydallies and wanders, stopping every few feet to sniff and mark his territory. We may cover the furniture with blankets so that he can sit with us and contort our bodies around him while we sleep.  He may - in fact - have us wrapped around his little puppy paw. 

Dash may not be the most well behaved dog in the world - but he is without question the most loved.  Oh, how we love our sweet dog. He is a special dog - a true gift from God.  It brings us joy to care for him - to be his owners - to call him ours. He brings calm to our souls - our home - our lives. God has used him to teach us patience - responsibility - love.  He is sweet, funny, loving, snuggly, protective. He's our dog, but more than that - he's the third member of our family - he has been with us as long as we have been - longer, actually.

I pray, with all my heart, that he is a happy dog. In fact, I measure our success as his owners not by how well he behaves or how obedient he is - but by his level of happiness.  I realize there are many people out there who disagree with this approach - who believe good behavior and obedience are in fact at the very root of happiness.  They are entitled to their opinion but I'd be willing to bet their dog isn't as special as ours.