Great Bunny Chase 5k

As part of my year, I'm doing 12 running races in 12 months. As long as it's at least a 5k, timed, and not free, it qualifies. I was down in GA over Easter weekend as I had Good Friday off, so what better time than to do a race on Saturday that my love is doing the timing at? The Great Bunny Chase!!

The plan had been to do a 56 mile ride in the morning, then go to the race. My best lady boss was the bunny we were chasing. She's a beast and ride it not, there's no way I was going to catch her. But we both had this brick workout scheduled now, and the planning began. Best laid plans, right? A 56 hour ride turned into a 3 hour trainer ride due to nasty winds and frigid temperatures. It wasn't amazing, but all in all, not the worst ride I've ever had. Tiny victories?

Arrive at race location. Still freezing. Awesome. But my love is there!! Being long distance, any chance I get to see him is a huge plus. The kiddos do their Easter Egg thing, while the adults freeze. Kids and their resilience. Rude. Anyway, it's finally go time. And boy do I go. My legs feel good, but the wind has got my lungs screaming from almost the beginning. But I'm hanging on and flying by people. What? That doesn't happen during a run....

I start seeing people coming back on the out and back course. Sweet. Turn around. See lady boss as the bunny. She says "3rd overall female minus the bunny." I'm not sure why my brain didn't work, but all I could think was "huh, I didn't think she qualified for awards." Kept running, got to the aid station, and there was nothing. Cool. Not dehydrated. It's fine.

Start booking it back downhill, mostly to get to water. Another woman: "2nd is right in front of you. Go get her!" Wait, I'm in 3rd? Me?! No way!! Too bad my body was done. I could see 2nd place the whole time but there was nothing in the tank to catch her. I couldn't even be mad! I was on the podium at a run!! Me! The least runner triathlete ever!!

Turns out, maybe I'm slowly becoming a runner.....

Shirtless

In tris, they have changed the rules and neither men nor women are allowed to have zippers open on tri tops lower than the xyphoid process (lowest part of sternum). The pros flaunt this at various races, but I won't get into a rant about that at the moment. The point is, when I'm racing, no matter the temps or humidity, I have to keep my tri top on. But training? That's a whole different story.

I have a condition, probably genetic although I'm never paying for the that, which makes my tendons and ligaments have too much elasticity, but unfortunately, causes my skin to have not quite enough in some areas. Mainly my abdomen. So, despite no children, my stomach is covered in stretch marks. You know, from growing into a full grown human! Nevertheless, society says that's ugly. That I should cover it up. That no one wants to see my stretch marks or my still somewhat jiggly tummy as I run. To society: go eat a bag of dicks.

It was 80 degrees with 90% humidity on my run this morning. I made it 4.5 of my 9 miles and that tank top came off. Because it was hot. And I was soaked. And I don't feel like getting chafing during a training run. So bra and shorts wins!! Did I get glares from asshats who have seen women clad in much less at the beach? Obviously. Did I let them dull my shine? F#@k no. My tummy was free, in all its stretch marked and jiggly glory. And in those 4.5 miles, for just a little bit of my day, I was free.

Rest

Some weekends you go all out. Long ride, possibly a brick, on Saturday, long run on Sunday. Earning that rest day on Monday. And some weekends, you walk around a beach town, drink in hand, after sleeping in and enjoying a massive breakfast. It's called rest.

As a triathlete, and an intensely driven woman, I am constantly on the go. Physically, mentally, emotionally. It's truthfully very overwhelming. Always on to the next, brain churning, body moving, go go go! It's exhausting. So a well needed, training free weekend, was just what the nurse ordered.

Tybee Island with the love of my life. No training. Beach, booze, and buffets. Hotel bed sleep. Sunshine. History. Simply existing and enjoying life. It's now just under 4 weeks until my first tri of the season. Last year's Heather would be freaking out, over training the next 3 weeks to compensate, setting herself up for injury. This year's Heather? She is aware that Ironman Virginia 70.3 is an early season race, a test of how training has been going, a jumping off point. And that sometimes doing nothing is a hell of a lot better than doing too much.

Craft Beer Half Marathon

March 30th, 2019

Day after my love's birthday, my folks came down too, and I was ready for redemption. Almost 3 months after Red Nose and I had been doing well with training with my coach. 5k times had been getting faster, so theoretically my 13.1 time would too?

The night before was full of alcohol and pasta, but I woke up feeling good. Stomach wasn't happy, but it wasn't angry either. Fairly neutral. Tiny victories. It was breezy and cool walking over, but I could see the sun starting to peak out from behind the clouds. I would have preferred the clouds....

Love of my life was doing the 5 miler after doing an ultra the week before, so I started 15 minutes before him. Started off with a downhill. Yay! It was gradual, so knees were ok with this. And my time looked great. Got onto the path and settled in nicely at an 8:40 pace. A bit fast, but lungs and legs felt good, so I just kept going. Classic me.

About halfway through, hill. And I knew this hill was coming, I could have practiced it, but I don't like hills so I didn't. Oooops. Ended up walking it because there was still a long way to go and it's good practice for not burning all my matches. The 2 hour pace group passed me and it took me a solid 2 miles to catch up. Yeesh!

Mile 8. Knee. Knees are dumb. IT bands are dumb. Running is dumb. I had been neglecting foam rolling and stretching and it started to show. A little bit of hobbling and limping while running, but I kept moving forward. And passing people. Which is always my favorite. Teehee.

Mile 10. 5k to go!! But knee and IT band were done. So, so done. And then it wasn't. And then it was. It was such a fun game. Not! But 3.1 miles? I can so that. Easy. So I did. Until mile 12.4. Where there was another massive hill. Seriously?! Why are all finish lines at the tops of hills?! Walked it again because I just didn't have much in the tank, and then I could see it. The finish line!! Searched for my folks and my love, saw them, and dragged my ass over that line. Official time was 1:56.29. I'm back!!