A Triathlete Looks at 40

Ah, the off-season, where 2 words can describe my joy, "sleep in".  Finally a weekend where the alarm isn't going off before 6 am for either a race or to get out and train before it hits 90+ outside.  As I look back over my season, a few things stand out.

1. Racing the Masters division is awesome.  Lots of hardware/swag.
2. There are more kids under the age of 18 racing then ever before.
3. Some of those kids are really really fast!

I love a sport where you have the opportunity to continue to do well, even excel, and can have numerous goals along the way.  I love the fact that now this sport has spread to the youth who can continue to compete and enjoy the sport for many years to come, or perhaps branch off and excel in one aspect of the sport and then come back in later life (think Lance, only without the doping).

So in retrospect of the 2014 season, I met a few goals:
1. Remaining fit over 40 and continuing to enjoy my sport.
2. Finally got up to 90 minutes of running (thanks to injury this hasn't been possible the last 3 years).
3. Won the masters division at several races and managed a Top 3 OA at a couple local races.
4. Moved up from Category 4 to Category 3 in cycling.

There were also a few goals I didn't manage, some due to performance, others due to time constraints, that I hope to accomplish in 2015:
1. Complete (and hopefully PR) a 70.3 race, something I haven't done since 2011.
2. Top 3 Masters in a tri series (Just couldn't get in enough races).
3. Place Top 25 AG (qualify for Worlds) at Nationals (let's just say I didn't have my perfect race, somehow after 30+ years of swimming, I still haven't managed to find goggles that don't fog so I can actually see where I'm going! Worst - Swim - Ever).

For just a few more weeks I'll continue to enjoy my off-season, but even as some are just now finishing up their race seasons (mine has been over for a month) I can already feel the excitement and anticipation growing for next season.  For only the 2nd time in my 10 years of racing this sport I've decided to find a coach to help kick me in the butt this season (somehow when I write my plans I feel this complete freedom alter them significantly out of convenience, not exactly conducive to performance), so I'm confident that with the help of http://www.mpmultisport.com/ (thanks to a sweet discount deal from http://www.usmes.org/) 2015 will be better than ever!

Welcome to the "Masters" Division

Like many women, I've spent most of my 39th year dreading turning 40.  Every time I raced this season and the body markers innocently asked, "Age?" I reluctantly replied "40", even thought I'm thinking, "Not yet!  I still have a few more months until I'm officially Over the Hill!".  This weekend though, it actually paid off.  Rev3 Triathlon had a BRILLIANT idea to offer a masters payout.  I'm not sure what the rationale is, perhaps they traditionally have lower participation in the Master's ranks.  Perhaps someone decided that those who have persevered for so many years in this sport, most of us older folks pushing our bodies until we inevitably injure ourselves, deserved to get a payout.  I don't know, but whoever came up with the idea that there should be a payout for the Master's division is AWESOME!  Despite going slightly off-course on the swim (the part where we swam directly into the sun and were blinded), dropping my chain after hitting potholes on the bike course (other than the one part with pot holes the course was good), and one of my slowest runs, including the race where I tore my calf, I still managed to place first in the Masters division (even though I was only a lucky 13th overall, although that did include a few pros).

If anyone reads this post, I highly recommend Rev3.   Over Memorial weekend I also raced the Rev3 Rush on the Richmond International Raceway (think NASCAR) which was an absolute blast.   It was a super sprint, only 250M swim (in a makeshift pool set up inside the racetrack), roughly 5 mile bike, DRAFT LEGAL criterium style around the racetrack, then just a mere 1.5 mile run (my kind of race :).  One of the most fun races I've ever done, and I hope to do it again next year.

I also managed to earn the title of Langley AFB Athlete of the Year at this ripe old age.  I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to race like this, but thanks to Dara Torres I'm confident I can still continue to swim <almost> as fast as I did as a kid, and thanks to Jens Voigt and Chris Horner (and that fact that I only started cycling at 30) I believe I can still get faster on the bike.  Oh, and let me not forget to mention a local favorite on my very own Bike Doctor team, Scott Giles, who continues to get faster and kick ass despite being 40+.  And I'd be remiss not to mention one other source of my inspiration to continue pushing myself daily in training, Snapple National team member Hillary Cairns who also continues to kick butt even as she grows older (I swear she must have the regenerative powers of Wolverine).

So as 40 grows steadily closer, rather than dread the day, I say, Bring It On!  I'm proud to join the ranks of my fellow athletes who are "Fit Over 40".

US Military Endurance Sports Camp Tucson - Day 0

So after a small issue with a cancelled and re-booked flight (which Delta kindly didn't let us know they had re-booked for us) we made it from the east coast to the west.  As the training part of the camp officially starts tomorrow, today was just some light training, and an opportunity to catch up with friends we hadn't seen during our winter hibernation from racing.

The 'ol back seems <mostly> better for now, but the 'ol (everything on me is pretty much middle-aged now) calves seem to be acting up again after spending 10 hours traveling yesterday.  Fingers crossed I wake up feeling "fresh" tomorrow and ready to start what promises to be the most training I've done since I did the CIOR military pentathlon training camp back in the late 90's.  Too bad my buddy Jim isn't here, as a physical therapist for the military, he was able to bring all of his tools along to help alleviate some of the muscle pain at the end of the day. I was told there would be massages on a limited basis, but somehow that was missing from the informational meeting tonight... however, the swag so far has been great and our new kits look pretty sweet.  I must be a masochist because I'm looking forward to the painful training that lies ahead! This camp culminates in a sprint triathlon for myself and a few other USMES members out in Coronado Beach, CA, we'll see how much is actually left in the tank when it comes time to take on the Navy Seals on Sunday!

The Reluctant Rest Week(s)

Despite my mantra to "listen to your body", it didn't take long for me to break my own rules.  Having finally gotten to the point where I felt like I could truly start "training" again, I started trying to pack in the miles and the hours... I made it up to 16 hours in one week, and considering my (lack of) time management skills, this was a great accomplishment for me.  Unfortunately, my body did not agree with the increased training and the degenerated disc in my low back, which hadn't caused any significant problems in over a year decided to flare up.  I went from 16 hours in a week at the beginning of the year, to only getting in 6-7 the past 3 weeks.  Not quite the start of 2014 I had planned on.  I remember a time when I looked forward to a rest week, but 3 in a row is far too many.  Once again I find myself having to struggle with the ideal training plan I want to do vice the realistic training plan that my body will actually do.  Not to mention the time and money for all the therapy required just to keep me going.  This will be my first season racing the "Masters" division, I guess this is part of my body's way of reminding me of that... on the bright side, I can finally bend over and touch my toes without pain, now if I can just find that fine line and stay on the pain-free side of it....