TriForce Family does Nation”s Triathlon Sprint Relay

Momz and I did our 1st race together on Sept 7th at the Nation’s Triathlon. We did the Sprint Relay as the TriForce Family Team. It was my mother’s first race of any kind after picking up cycling just this past year.

 

Here is a little background…my mother retires about two years ago and one day last fall (rather fall of 2013) she up and says lets go bike shopping. Ummm…say what. We get the bike and then she goes all in and signs up for Spin90, joins a senior ride group, and asks for a trainer for Christmas so she can ride indoors. Seriously?! Cool. How about we do a race together, I say? She doesn’t object (except when I tried to make it an Olympic distance) and tells me that I have to put a training plan together for her. Ummm…okay, den. We train, we spin90 and even after some falls during outdoor spin90, I managed to get her back outside on no/low traffic roads as long as I was with her. She was RET TA GO!

 

A week before Nation’s she is getting the heebe geebees about how fast she is going to be able to go and how long it is going to take her, so I snatched her cadence, gps & milage meters off her bike and said, “JUST RIDE AND HAVE FUN”. She was going on and on about how she wouldn’t be able to put down more than 8 mph. HUMPH.

She crushed it with an average of 11mph and was cruising at 12.5mph for the 1st 12 miles until we ran out of a little steam heading out and back over the “bumpy” 14th street bridge stretch.

SWIM – NO SWIM (cancelled due to sewage run off from storm the night before)

Nevertheless, everyone had to run into transition as if they were coming off the swim and either go to their bike in transition or meet their relay team member in the relay pen, trade off the timing chip, and then the cyclist goes into transition to get started.

 

So when my leg is ready to go, I ran as fast as I could into transition into the relay pen. Hand off the timing chip and momz was off…

BIKE – By my momz account…she had a good ride. She was smiling every time I saw her and later told me that the hardest part was the last 4 miles across and back over the 14th street bridge. Those ramps and bumps got to her but she hung in there and brought it into transition with a smile and laughter. I’m still giddy with pride for my mother’s accomplishment. I hope she is too.

 

RUN – C is for Cookie

I was so damn excited to see my mother come back into transition all happy and ish (prolly cause it was over) that I took off out of transition and made it my mission in life to run down (as much as I could to my ability) the last of the last of the pack. I caught and passed 6 even at my pace of 12:30/12:45. Pure joy and adrenaline carried me through to the finish line.

 

It was a great day to race with my momz.

 

 

I put this slide show together from the race. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed ourselves.

Race Report: Team HardBody @ Rebel Race

 

Team Hard Body Outdoor Fitness under the auspicious leadership of Shawn Chavalier gathered together a group of fitness crazies to tackle the 2014 Rebel Race. Erin and I, for grins and giggles joined the team and off we went.

 

I had a blast and I’m sure I can speak for the rest of the team. It was a 5k course full of ‘relatively’ easy obstacles, a bunch of trail running and a good amount of mud. I took it leisurely like on the course because all I could think about was the tongue lashing I would get from my coach, Suzy Serpico, if I injured myself…and while I attempted every obstacle, if I felt like I couldn’t make it or busting my azz was a certainty, then …well…I let it pass.

 

This was a lot of fun – made even better with friends – but I would not do it again. My passion is Triathlon/Endurance Events and the obstacle course races require a different type of training and skill set that I don’t possess. I can use pure strength, determination and perseverance; however, that will get you only so far and brute force and will power will end up getting me hurt. I put too much money, time, effort, sweat & tears into training (suck it up, Princess) that ain’t nobody got time for a “self-inflicted” injury.

 

Thanks for the great time Hard Body Outdoor Fitness! I had a blast with all of you!

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The TravelDiva Swim Bike Run’s…Skip, Hop, Jumps Too!

Most of my friends & family know me pretty well and know that I plan out my run, skip, jump, leap tall buildings calendar out pretty far in advance. See…all this Wonder Woman business requires sponsorship, small business loans or, if necessary, time on the pole.

Since the New Year, the most popular question I’ve been asked is NOT what my resolutions are but what races/adventures are you up to this year. Well, after a meeting with my coach to develop a 3 year plan to IRONMAN GLORY for my 50th birthday, here is the plan of attack for 2014!

 

                   

Princess Half Marathon – Feb                        Marine Corp 17.75K – Apr

 

  

Columbia Triathlon – May                             Rebel Race w/HardBodies - June

 

MD Olympic Du – July                                MD Sprint DU – August

                                        IG Rocky Gap Relay Team – Sept

                                            NUFF SAID – September 2014

 

There will be some grins & giggles races added in cause my coach said so – group training (Icicle Ride, 6 Pillars) – I generally do what she tells me – mostly. Also, I’m waiting to see if I made the second lottery drawing for the NYC Half Marathon March 16th - from Central Park through Times Square to lower Manhattan! WHAT FUN!

 

Plus I would get to mooch off my BFF Val in Manhattan. Now that is how to race.

 

So, stay tuned for the occasional picture update from all the suffering training and adventures. Really, this is actually what I consider fun. REALLY!

            

                                     SWIM         BIKE             RUN

Product Review & Giveaway–Soy Protein Bars

I was recently given the opportunity to test out a variety of Soy Protein Sports Nutrition Bars. It can be pricey to try all the different varieties of sports nutrition until you find something that you like and works for you. I have usually gone by recommendation or tried something at an expo and if I like it – I stick with it. I don’t venture off the reservation too much and this opportunity gave me a chance to try 4 different bars.

 

I was sent receiving a variety of one Eat-Smart Bar, Nogii Protein Bar, Nogii Paleo Bar and NOW Energy Bar, as well as a “Powered by Soy Protein” Traveler Exercise Kit. 

 

Key Information Regarding Soy Protein:

• Soy protein is a high‐quality, plant‐based protein derived from soybeans

• Soy protein preserves lean body mass, promotes fat loss, and boosts satiety during weight loss

• A blend of proteins – soy, whey and casein, prolongs muscle building after exercise and increases recovery compared to whey alone

• Soy protein promotes muscle growth and development

• Soy protein is equivalent to whey protein for building muscle when consumed as part of a resistance training program

Soy protein has the ability to displace fat and sugar calories

 

I spread the taste test over a week either before or after a workout. My favorite was the NOW Energy Bar – DELISH!! The Eat Smart protein bar and the Nogii Protein Bar were very good as well. The Nogii Paleo bar – not so much. It tasted okay, but I couldn’t get through the whole bar. It was too sweet and I have “teeth issues” – I don’t like things that stick to my teeth, so this bar was a NO.

 

You can check out the links below for more information

• Eat-Smart: http://bit.ly/1ahEEQa
• Now Energy Bars: http://bit.ly/nOPGtA
• Nogii Nutrition Bars - http://bit.ly/heaKNV

Would you like the opportunity to try these bars for yourself. Enter the raffle below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

“The products, information and two gift packs have been provided by DuPont Nutrition and Health.”

A Runner’s Prayer for the Marine Corp Marathon

Two Days. Sunday.

 

YES, WE CAN!!!

 

Ever since coming back from IM 70.3 Cozumel it has been a roller coaster of emotions – with a bout of bronchitis, then another problem exacerbated by the intense coughing – I have been relegated to the sidelines of training for the Army 10 Miler followed by the MCM.

 

I had nothing but fear, doubt and uncertainty that I would be able to run the MCM let alone the Army 10, but last weekend I went out there with no expectations. All I wanted to do was beat the cutoff times and get in some kind of training – some version of distance before the MCM.

                   

AND IT WAS A GLORIUS DAY FOR A RUN. I felt great, refreshed. I actually looked up and looked around to take in the beauty of the city, talk to other runners and since I was all back of the bus – offer some encouragement to those who had their heads down. Si Se Puede. You CAN do it. It made my day and quickened my steps when I say Princess Erin at mile 6 and 7. When I saw BK with the cow bell (you NEVER have enough cow bell) at mile 7 right before going across the 14th St. Bridge and off to the finish line, I KNEW I had it in the bag.

Now, as I approach Sunday and 26.2 miles- I pray. I pray for me and I pray for my run buddy as well as all the runners who are winners in my book for getting up Sunday morning, lacing up their shoes and putting their toe on the line. WINNERS.

 

Search me, oh Lord, and try me; test my soul and my heart.
For your kindness is before my eyes, and I [run] in your truth.
Psalm 26:2-3

I know I will be tested, but He will be with me every step of the way.

 

The Runner's Prayer 
Father God,
Watch over me Sunday as I run. 
It is the day
and it is the time for the race.
 
Watch over my body.
Keep it free from injury.
 
Watch over my mind.
May I listen to the signals from within
as I enjoy the scenes from without.
 
Watch over my spirit.
Keep my heart and ears open for your voice.

Give strength to my steps

 
Watch over my fellow marathoners.
Remind us that we all are struggling equally.

I believe I am not running or struggling alone. 
 
Lord,
Let me win.
Not by coming in ahead of my friends, but by beating myself.
 
Let it be an inner win.
A battle won over me.
 
And may I say at the end,
"I have fought a good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith." 2Timothy4:7
 
Adapted from The Ultrarunner’s Prayer by Carolyn Erdman & Jay Hodde

 

See you out there! God BLESS!

Race Report: Maryland Women’s Sprint Duathlon

This right here is EVERY. SINGLE. THING!

The race report – WHATEVER! The fact that Princess Cara wanted to race too and worked at it to earn her bling brought me sheer joy.

Watching all the kids pour their hearts out on that course was the highlight of the day. To see these kids hustling out there without fancy bikes (how bout that ToysRUs Barbie Bike with the basket on front or the SpiderMan “mountain bike” that looked like it just got its training wheels taken off), running shoes or heart rate monitors was AMAZING. Just getting some fitness in and having a blast doing it. Happy Happy Joy Joy!

This was my second year doing the Maryland Women’s Sprint Duathlon and it was the Inaugural RipItEvents Youth Sprint Duathlon. The Women’s Sprint went off first at 7:00am and Princess Cara insisted in coming with me at O Dark 30 to hang with mom and cheer me on until her race started at 10:15am.
 
Cara and I racked our bikes, got marked and hung out with a bunch of ladies from LiveNowTriNow and SoleTriSisters. Finally, it was time for us to line up and get the party started.
This was the first race since the dramatic (and depressing) performance 3 weeks before and 2 weeks into workouts with my new coaches – Suzy & Dany Serpico. Those two weeks of pretty damn intense workouts and focus had me feeling I was getting my mojo back.

The JOY WAS BACK. Three weeks previous and even before that, I stopped having fun at what I loved and it was sucking the life from me. JOY WAS BACK. I was having fun again.

RUN                           BIKE                               RUN

….and collect the BLING!!

Sooooo, how I’d do?

Despite the foot issue, I knocked off 5:39 min off of last years time.

GO ME!!!!

Where did I get the time. TRANSITION and a few min on the bike mostly. TRANSITIONS DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE and I am a big time piddler in transition. Which Suzy gave me the side eye on during our 1st meeting. “No more piddling around, Lisa. Get moving, keep moving.” Yes, ma’am.

                   2012 Results                                                2013 Results
Run             23:53:91  (11:57 pace)                                 25:54:51  (12:57 pace)
TI                  3:36:23                                                     2:14
Bike             1:08:57   (11.3 mph)                                    1:03:42   (12.3 mph)
T2                 3:31:95                                                      3:11
Run              30:46:51   (15:24 pace)                                30:02   (15:01 pace)
Total           2:10:45                                                      2:05:06

I was thrilled. I felt pretty good during the entire race and I realized that maybe, just maybe I’m not going backwards with all this work. I AM moving forward and improving. Am I getting faster as quickly as I’d like – no – but I am getting better and I’m still having fun.

As for Princess Cara…she RIPPED IT!!!!
               
She came in 10th overall out of 52 in her age group and the 5th girl. I’m so proud of her! She wants to get into a youth running group to work on her running and she is looking for the next race. I’m glad she finds JOY in the fitness too…but who doesn’t like to collect the bling.

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Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever

This years adventures in swim, bike, run have been plagued by injury, pain and now illness. I have spent the better part of the year since mid-January telling myself that pain in temporary, pride is forever during a race and trying everything – ANYTHING to be able to train/walk without reinjuring my foot; without walking with a limp.

 

And my training and fitness have suffered for it. Yet, setback after setback – I keep pushing through.

 

The Cherry Blossom Ten Miler was last weekend. Princess Cara has Spring Break the week prior and she had a head cold/productive cough the entire week (didn’t hold her back at all though – HUMPH). The Friday before the race I was starting to feel a bit run down, but didn’t think much about it. Sunday morning of the race, I woke up and my throat was swollen and it hurt to swallow. I wasn’t feeling all that wonderful, but hey, I’ve felt worse. I shrugged it off and thought that a little breakfast and a coffee (or two) and I’d be right as rain.

 

Not so much. I look at this picture of me riding the metro into the DC and I can see it on my face. I’m tired, I’m sick…but I’m pushing through.

Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever.

 

Yeah, well. I probably should have stayed home and regrouped. After totally falling apart during this race – I pretty much decompensated after mile 4/5, I was wiped out and out sick for a damn WEEK. A WHOLE DAMN WEEK…SICK AS A DOG SICK. Just pitiful. Looking at my stats for this race is a study in depression and how injury and illness will set you back BIG TIME.

          

On the left is Oct 2012 Army 10 Miler –------ Right is April 2013 Cherry Blossom 10

 

I have never been Speedy Gonzalez, but with the foot injury in January, half azzed training as I nursed and cajoled the foot and now sicko, I am now truly slower than frozen molasses.

 

I’m feeling much better now. Took an entire week, but I’m back and it’s time to START OVER. START ANEW.

 

The Challenges are REAL! …but the fear & worry associated with them are a CHOICE.

 

I am choosing to not let these setbacks hold me back. I am choosing not to net negative, worry or fear enter my psyche. BACK TO WORK, BABY!

 

How are ya’ll doing? Any setbacks that have gotten you off your game? How have you dealt with the adversity?

 

See ya out there!