Sunday, September 11, 2016

I Was Transported (WW # 58)


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M - Rest Day
T  - Ran 6 Miles Easy
W - Ran 8 Miles (1 w/u + 7 @ 9:37)
T  - Cycled 15 miles (15.0 mph)
F  -  Swam 20 minutes
S  -  Transporter Sprint Triathlon
S   - Water Skied 2 x 15 (30 miles) + Strength


 




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Since this was a cut-back week for marathon training, I decided last minute (aka the evening before) to register for my fourth sprint triathlon.  The Transporter Triathlon was held at The Waters, an elite planned community.  Ironically, during this past week they posted no swimming signs around their lakes due to the recent removal of alligators and snakes.   Hmmm.....



While waiting for my swim start from the back of the line, I tugged on my goggles and they came apart.  I realized I would need a tool to repair them.  So off I go into the water, a goggle-less contacts wearer. My feet were immediately buried in muck.  It was like...thick snot.  Uh-huh.  The swim was shallow enough in places to put your feet down -- if you dared.   There was a little pack of us older ladies that stayed together and encouraged each other.  We exited the water and ran along the beach.  As we jogged past the community pool, there was a lady splashing water on our feet to remove the sand.  How nice!  Time = 11:38 (??)


I tried hard to transition quickly and think I did well, but the times are not accurate.  {No, I did not stay in transition for 23 minutes and 59 seconds Mr. Timing Company.}  The bike route began and ended by weaving around in the community with it's excessive number of large speed bumps.  I guess it's good to know my brakes work adequately.  I was terrified to take one at high speed and they cautioned us several times not to.

Lots of small rolling hills = constant gear changing.

Once we got to the main rural road I was able to maintain some speed.  The route was basically two different out and back legs but neither closed to traffic.  Cyclists were hugging both sides of the road with cars trying to pass from both directions.  Drivers seemed respectful, but they were awfully close at times.  Law enforcement did stop traffic at the turnarounds.  There were plenty of rolling hills but I actually enjoy those on the bike.  This remains my favorite leg -- passing young and old, male and female. Garmin Time = 44:33 

Me and my Sanity.    I've still got my game face on!

I transitioned lightning fast (I think) into the run and was immediately overwhelmed by the oven blast of our southern summer morning.  Only a small portion of the route was shaded and there was no cloud cover or breeze.  I shuffled along and ate a GU as I waited for the dragging-concrete feeling to pass.  It did and I overtook a few people on the run.  There were a couple of hills thrown into the last mile for good measure.  As music is officially not allowed, I was entertained by the loud squishing of my shoes. How can I still be wet?   Garmin Time = 29:00


We also received a nice visor but I was too lazy to retake this!

My total time was 1:28:21.   I do think the finish time is accurate, just not the pieces.  I squeaked onto the podium with a 3rd place age group finish.  There weren't many people in my age group [three hee-hee?]. Knowing how hard I worked and what a tough, hot day it was -- heck yeah, I'll take that pretty copper extra medal. 



After Saturday's brutally hot event, I chose an early morning at the lake instead of my usual Sunday run. I'm not sorry as the opportunity will soon be gone until late Spring.  The water was like a mirror.  To compensate, I'll do a mediumish run Monday morning instead of taking my usual rest day.  And, it's not like I was slacking...  

I also captured a glorious sunrise on the water (no filter).

Quickly one more thing: I was honored to be chosen as one of the first brand ambassadors for Sarah Marie Design Studio.  I'll be excited to share her wonderful running themed apparel, jewelry and accessories in the coming weeks. 

It's back to marathon training where I'll peak at my highest mileage and longest run this week.

And that's a wrap! 

Did anyone else race this weekend?

What are you currently training for?




96 comments:

  1. That is awesome, you should be very proud of yourself. I don't think I could do a tri. Also congrats on placing too

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    1. Thanks! I tri, although I'm not a good swimmer. But it doesn't matter how you swim -- just that you do. Overcoming the fear of the swim was the main hurdle for me.

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  2. Congrats on that tri! Ewww to the water conditions tho! Glad there weren't any gators.

    I'm so sad that another summer has come to an end without me skiing. Will I be able to do it next year? Ayyyyy

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    1. That's the worst water so far. I'd rather have deep, no way can you touch the bottom water. We are going to SO fix you up next year with some skiing, even if I have to come up there are drag you back.

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  3. You and those tri's! You're a rock star! I ran a half yesterday...stay-tuned, the recap is coming on Tuesday (I hope).

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    1. Awww...thanks. I miss my half marathons and look forward to the winter when I squeeze as many into my schedule as I can. I know you did a great job!

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  4. Another impressive job with a tri, and yay you for getting that AG award! :)

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    1. Thanks. It helps to be older. The field diminishes dramatically. LOL.

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  5. Awesome job and congrats on the AG award! (It doesn't matter how many people were in your age group, an award is an award!!)

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    1. Thank you. One benefit of being older and participating in a smaller race is that your chance of placing increases substantially. I'll take it.

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  6. I never gave it a thought that there could be alligators in that water! Good thing they closed it then. You did awesome at your try and heck yea, be proud of that medal. Who cares how many people were in your age group, you earned it!

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    1. Thanks. There is no way I could place in a large event. But I do appreciate any award I'm given. Yeah, they sure did post those signs but still allowed the tri participants to get in. Unsettling, yes?

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  7. Congrats on another successful tri. You are amazing.

    I ran a 5k and I have a half marathon on Sunday.

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    1. Nah...just a little nutty Darlene. You are the one that does all the races. You are amazing!

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  8. Wow jumping into a tri last minute and placing!? Very cool nice job. They would have lost me at the alligator in the lake thing :)

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    1. Thanks. According to residents, they removed a few small alligators and felt obligated to post the signs. (Wonder where Mama gator was though?) My husband had already cautioned me about snakes. Not exactly what you want to hear before a Tri.

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  9. I was wondering when I missed you signing up for another tri, but it wouldn't have been surprising with what's going on in my life.

    Sorry about the goggles -- that sucks! But congrats on the AG award.

    I ran a 5k sat (not the same one as Darlene); that's all that's on my race calendar until next month & while fall is my favorite racing season, at the moment I'm just praying I get to do the races I've already signed up for!

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    1. I had kept up with my cycling (but not swimming) since the last Tri so I figured "what the hay". The swim is just something to get through anyway, at least for me.

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  10. Congrats on another AG award and a great tri. Love your bike photo. The swim sounds pretty wild without goggles (I also wear contacts and can commiserate) and the creature removal leading up to the race...

    I raced a 5k today, which felt pretty good because of a cool down in the weather. I think the humidity and heat will return, so like you with the lake, I enjoyed it while I could and ran again later in the afternoon!

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    1. Yeah, those creatures... I felt like something (not necessarily a gator) was going to grab my feet. I definitely couldn't put my face in the water. I did sidestroke with just the side of my head in the water.

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  11. Congratulations on your age group award! That is so cool! And don't you just love training cut back weeks? I always breathe such a sigh of relief on those weeks :) Sounds like a great week!

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    1. Thank you! It was very nice to cut back! I can't say that I'm rested (LOL) but at least I didn't pound out the miles on my feet.

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  12. You, my dear, are a tri machine! COngrats on another podium finish! I'd toyed with doing another but I'd have needed to submit a swim time for seeding purposes and I was simply too embarrassed of my snail pace. Sigh. I think the tris around here are over for the season since our weather can go to hell in a handbasket any day. Your game face is awesome!

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    1. Marcia, I'm seriously cray cray I think. I'm not sure why I keep going back to these. I guess I like a challenge? My swim is AWFUL. If I didn't enjoy the bike leg so much... Yeah, there is not another local one around here this year either.

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  13. DUE TO ALLIGATORS!? No thank you. And goggle-less at that. I too love the bike leg best. I'm fairly average at all three legs, but I just enjoy the bike the best. I think because I definitely pass a decent chunk of people & I can usually at the very least create my own breeze, which is a must on hot days. CONGRATS!

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    1. Don't the creatures sound terrifying? The bike leg is definitely so much more pleasant. I'm never aware of the heat. And although I have a running background, the summer run is brutal by the time I get to it.

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  14. I give you so much credit for the last minute tri decisions! Living on the edge, I see. Congrats on your award, that is so exciting and impressive!

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    1. You are too sweet. My trend toward last minute registration helps me not stress out, I think. Of course it's in the back of my mind, but since I haven't registered I can always NOT participate. Make sense?

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  15. Congrats on the age group award and the ambassadorship! I think the snakes would have scared me out of doing the swim!

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    1. You know, I have seen a single snake this year which is very unusual. I typically see a few dead ones in the neighborhood streets if nothing else.

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  16. Congrats on the podium! Always fun to get that even when the group is small.

    Personally, I'm so over this heat it's not even funny. Someday I'll enjoy running again. I hope anyways.

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    1. Even in our extended forecast, there is little relief from the heat. I'm at my breaking point. Can it last forever?

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  17. So cool you did another tri! Congrats!! Nice sunrise pic! Congrats on the ambassadorship too!

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    1. Sunrise pictures can never do them justice, but them one comes close. I was very surprised and excited to receive the ambassadorship.

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  18. I am very impressed ! I would not enjoy swimming nor biking in those conditions. I am getting to the point where if I am not enjoying it, I ask myself why I am doing it ! I ran with 40 000 people yesterday and didn't enjoy it.
    Congrats on the AG win and the picture of you on your bike is great. You look like you could conquer the world !

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    1. I think I can tolerate anything for a few minutes (the swim). LOL. Even though we had traffic, the bike leg was still enjoyable. We just had to stay on our toes. That's a LOT of people in a race.

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  19. Wow, yet again - congrats! Congrats on the AG win - that is great. I love that photo of you and the bike - so determined! And that sunset photo is gorgeous. No racing this past weekend, but I got in a little over 6 miles of running (about 2 with a jogging stroller) which is the longest postpartum run I've got in yet!

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    1. That is actually a sunrise photo -- I guess there is no good way to tell that. I usually don't capture a sunset unless I'm at the beach. It's great you are back to running!

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  20. Wow, huge congrats on your podium finish! And bonus - you didn't get eaten by a gator! The traffic situation sounds scary, though. Your waterskiing pics are always so gorgeous - have a great week!

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    1. Whew! No gators or other lake creatures. The traffic did make me nervous at times but everyone was respectful. There just wasn't enough room to pass as bikers were on both sides of the road.

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  21. Congrats on your strong race. And how incredible that you also placed 3rd. What a great way to celebrate your hard work!

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    1. It is nice to be rewarded when you are trying (tri-ing) so hard!

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  22. Congrats on your tri! I love that you sign up for these events so spur of the moment! Coconut oil is awesome, love using it in my hair and it's great for the skin!

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    1. I'm finding out there are so many uses for coconut oil. The sugar scrub smells so good -- I think I could eat it.

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  23. Snakes and gators?! I don't know how you got in that water. Even with recent removal, if I knew that, I wouldn't go near it.

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    1. Me either! It helps to see everyone else jumping in... And I can tolerate anything for a few minutes???? Maybe.

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  24. Congratulations on another Tri ...and placing too!! You've become quite the tribeast, tackling not only the race itself but snakes and lake creatures as well! Can't wait to see some of these Sara Marie designs, congrats on being chosen for that as well!

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    1. I just show up and participate. Not exactly a beast -- LOL. Hearing about the recent extraction of creatures was a little unsettling!

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  25. Congratulations on the Tri and the AG placement! that is amazing ! did you have any trouble with swimming without the goggles?

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    1. Thanks. I had to keep my face out of the water. If you do a mean dog paddle like me, it's not a big problem.

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  26. Congrats on another great tri, and a trip to the podium (even if there were only three of you in your age group - you beat everyone who didn't show up).

    I've often wondered... Do you have alligators in the lake where you waterski?

    Thanks for the linkup!

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    1. No alligators in our skiing lake. Whew! My husband wouldn't have that. They are in the river though (supposedly) where I did the second Tri.

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  27. Congrats on another tri and your AG award. Alligators is one thing I'd be afraid of swimming in open water down here :-)

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    1. They are so common here in the south. We have them in the rivers and small ponds but thankfully not in our big lakes -- that's where I practice open water swimming (with my husband following in our boat).

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  28. So awesome! Congrats on another tri and the AG award and way to get it done without goggles! Alligators and snake removal? Yikes! Can't believe Chicago is little less than 4 weeks away! :)

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    1. Chicago is just a bling away now. One more really long run! Yippee.

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  29. Beautiful sunrise photo! And congrats on that tri :) I would definitely have been taken aback by the no swimming signs though.

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    1. I found that sign so ironic. No swimming -- but heck yeah -- we're hosting a triathlon. ????

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  30. another triathlon?!
    you are awesome! congrats on the AG award and for going sans goggles in the open water. those no swimming signs would have highly bothered me (given the fact my dog was almost eaten by a gator last week,lol!)
    LOVE LOVE your water ski pics and you look like a bad a$$ in th epic of you and your bike-game face!!!!
    hope you have a good rest of the week-hang in there with those long runs in this heat!!!!you got this!!!

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    1. Thanks. I believe that will be my last tri and until late Spring. Maybe I can learn to swim by then! Gators and so scary. I'm still hanging on for Fall!

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  31. Congrats on the triathlon! Way to sneak it in during marathon training and before the weather cools down. Yikes for those no swimming signs and the wildlife in the water, eek. Pretty awesome that you placed as well and they had some cool swag.

    Good luck with peak week for Chicago- it's almost here!

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    1. I'm glad I had the opportunity to sneak one more Tri in this year. Chicago is almost here -- I hope I can hang on.

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  32. I'm training for Chicago too :) Congrats on the tri-I would have been so freaking nervous! Also water skiing looks awesome, and that photo is great!

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    1. Water skiing is the only saving grace in this HOT, HOT with relenting humidity summer of marathon training. Can you tell I'm over the heat? LOL.

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  33. I love your water pics. I'll be sad when those come to a close soon but glad for you to finally get some cooler weather to finish training for Chicago. Good job with your tri!

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    1. It doesn't look like I'll even get one cool training run for Chicago. I hope that bodes well for exceptional race day weather!

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  34. The picture of you with your bike is one of my favorite pictures of you ever! You look like an AG winner! Congrats! I love how you spontaneously decide to do a tri. Ha! We are so opposite, but I think that's why I love reading your blog--so I can do things vicariously through you that I wouldn't do myself!

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    1. The Sprint Tris are good "practice" and also great cross training. They are much easier on the body than pounding the pavement for a couple of hours. So, why not participate? (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

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  35. last minute tri, broken glasses and placing? amazing!

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    1. Let's not forget all the crazy over-sized speed bumps...

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  36. Congrats on your 4th Triathlon HoHo! You had such a great active week - with all that cross-training you will rock at your marathon!

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    1. I've definitely done so much more cross training this summer. We'll see how that plays out very soon!

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  37. Congrats on another great tri Holly! And an AG?! Awesome!!

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    1. Age group placing gets much, much easier the older you become. The field narrows. LOL.

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  38. I love sugar scrubs! My favorite!

    And congratulations on your tri! I have a really, really, really hard time being comfortable with lakes. The muck, the snakes, the gators, the zombies.... No, thank you.

    But unfortunately, on the other side of it is the ocean, with all the sharks. No winning for me.

    Love seeing you out water skiing - so cool that you can do that!

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    1. I'd think you would like river swims! You don't have to touch the bottom at all. The gators and snakes (if any) will stay away from all the boats and swimmers out in the middle of the deep water.

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  39. You did awesome, that sucks you had trouble with the goggles before you started, but looks like you got it all worked out! Congrats on the finish placement!
    My sister did her first Olympic Tri this weekend so I was a bit of her cheer support. She did really good, I think she's a bit hooked on them now!

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    1. I had to swim with my face out of the water! My dog paddle style is conducive to that anyway. LOL. I'd have to get more comfortable with the swim leg before I could do an Olympic Distance. I bet you were so proud of her.

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  40. Your game face is awesome! You did great in your tri! I love the skinny coconut oil! That is my new favorite oil to cook with!

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    1. I haven't tried cooking with the oil yet. I confess I haven't been cooking much at all. I need to get back to it.

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  41. Another tri?! Look at you go :) Great job and congrats on 3rd in the age group! Spending time on the lake definitely sounds like a good trade off instead of a run especially with it already being mid-September. Good luck with peak week for Chicago.

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    1. I think I'll always pick the lake if conditions are right. It's just part of me and I only have a short window of opportunity every year.

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  42. Wow nice job! That's a solid finish. Whoop whoop!

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    1. I'm very glad I took the opportunity to do one more this year.

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  43. I love how on your cutback week you decide to register for another tri. You are amazing!!! Great job and way to push through!!!

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    1. Honestly, they've been a nice distraction and have helped me not to "over focus" or OBSESS on my marathon training.

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  44. Wow congrats on the 3rd place finish! It's great to be in awesome shape to jump into races the last minute. A little bit of competition is always fun.

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    1. I've kept my cycling up through the summer and will continue to do so until it gets cold...which I don't see for a very long time!

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  45. OH my goodness I so could not do the snot on my feet lol! Exactly why I can't do a tri with swimming. Speaking of gators, They pulled and 11 1/2 foot gator from our Okatibbee last week. Kind of disturbing knowing my kayak is only 10'
    I'm so glad you decided to do this tri, I think it breaks up the routine of marathon training. Good luck to you this week then a downhill ride to race day!

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    1. The biggest gator ever captured EVER was a couple of counties south of here right out of the river. EEK. Yes, the tris were great for breaking up the marathon training. A nice diversion.

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  46. I love that you decided to enter a sprint tri the day before as part of your slow down week! It sounds like such hard work, I'm not sure hot and squelchy is a good combination for any race!

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    1. It's much easier on the body than running. Or, maybe I'm not doing it right? LOL. Seriously, to me cycling and swimming are tough cardio activities but don't beat you up like running.

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  47. Congrats Holly! I am amazed how you keep cranking out these tri performances in this hot muggy summer! You are really rocking it! I am running a 15K this weekend and know am wondering what was I thinking? Love love the coconut oil and can't wait to see some of this jewelry! Good luck this weekend!

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    1. Thanks MB. Good luck at your 15K. Yeah, what were you thinking? I hope you'll have some water to jump in afterwards.

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  48. They sure did let us Tri participants in their water. I guess it was for the safety of their residents only? The lake bottom was so freaky and that typically doesn't even bother me. I'm a river rat, born and bred.

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  49. 3 Studies REVEAL Why Coconut Oil Kills Fat.

    This means that you actually burn fat by eating coconut fats (including coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil).

    These 3 researches from big medicinal journals are sure to turn the traditional nutrition world around!

    ReplyDelete

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