Lonestar Quarter Iron Triathlon

Lonestar is one of my favorite triathlons. This was my third year in a row to do Lonestar, in 2007, I did the sprint, in 2008 I did the quarter iron and this year I did the quarter iron again.

I got to Galveston around noon on Saturday and checked into my hotel, Inn at the Waterpark, it was really nice. I assume they completely renovated after Hurricane Ike, because it looked brand new. The staff was really nice and they even started their continental breakfast at 4:30 am this weekend for the triathletes. Since I decided to come in on Saturday instead of Friday, I knew I would miss Cassie and Steph doing the sprint, but I talked to Cassie and she had a good race. Steph never said much about the sprint, she was too busy getting ready for the quarter.

I went to Moody Gardens for the pre-race meeting and Ingrid and Kim met me there and brought me lunch. Thanks! We did packet pick-up then Del and I decided to do a practice swim. Cassie had told me the water was 65 degrees, so I was prepared to freeze. I hadn’t swum in the ocean or in my wetsuit since the Battle of San Jacinto Triathlon last April. But I decided I wasn’t going to wear my wetsuit to practice because it might not be dry by morning and I really didn’t want to stand around on race morning in a cold damp wetsuit.

Del getting into his wetsuit

Del and I started to get in and both screamed! The water was freezing! But once we got in and started swimming it wasn’t so bad, we both had a good swim and I knew if I could handle it without the wetsuit, I’d be fine in the morning. After the swim, I did a short run and then got ready for dinner. Del and I after swimming
Pre-race dinner was at Mario’s with Kathleen and lots of other HRTCers. As always, it was a lot of fun. I went to bed pretty early and slept really well; maybe it was the glass of wine that Kim and Gillian talked me into at dinner. Kim and Del at dinner

Steph, Loanna, and Augie at dinner

Race morning I went to the lobby for breakfast and started chatting with a couple in race crew shirts, they turned out to be Keith Jordan’s (the race director) in-laws! So I told them how much I love Endorfun races and that Keith is my favorite race director. After breakfast I got everything ready and went over to the transition area. I got everything set up and then had 2 hours to wait until my start. Luckily I ran into Jane, Marla, Kim and a few other people I knew, so the time passed quickly. Jane with her bike in transition

me with my bike in transition

I got in the water and started shivering, I was having a little trouble breathing as I swam out to the start buoy. When we started, I still had a little trouble breathing for the first 100 or so meters, but once I got going and got a little warmed up I felt much better. I tried to focus on my technique and all the things Coach Lisa taught me at the Trizones swim clinic a few weeks ago. I had a hard time keeping my head tucked down in a good position since I was breathing higher than normal to avoid inhaling salt water- YUCK! My goal for the swim was to swim equal to or faster than last year’s time. Last year’s time was 25:23, this year’s time was 24:54. Pretty cool since I really didn’t start swimming this year until after the Trizones clinic 3 weeks ago!

Getting out of the water

Transition 1 felt really slow to me, I walked out of the water while I got the top of my wetsuit off, got stripped, then ran over to my bike and started getting ready. Right across the rack from me was a girl in a Trizones jersey! I thought I was the only Trizoner doing Lonestar! I asked if she trained with Trizones, yes, she asked me North or South team? North, me too. How do we not know eachother? I was almost ready to go at that point and I think I said something dumb like “I’ll have to meet you better sometime” she said she’d look for me after the race as I was leaving transition. As I was leaving Moody Gardens on my bike, I realized I had no clue what she looked like, I was too busy getting ready to even look at her, I just noticed the Trizones jersey. I can’t believe my transition was actually 12 seconds faster than last year at 4:35!

My biggest goal at the race this year was to improve my bike time over last year. I was a little slow on all the turns getting out to the seawall, but I knew I would be. I was pretty sure I’d have a headwind going out on the seawall and I did, but it wasn’t super strong. I was trying to keep my speed at 15 mph or higher and it was pretty tough. I was working pretty hard and getting concerned that maybe I was using too much energy for the first half of the bike. I was really hoping for a tailwind on the way back, but you never know in Galveston, sometimes you get a headwind out and nothing but cross wind on the way back. I turned the U turn and it was easy to go 16, 17 even 18 mph! Woohoo a tailwind! I tried to stay at 17 mph and even got over 20+ when I was passing people, I was having fun and felt really good! I told everyone I passed and who passed me to have a great race. I did a good job of drinking my Infinit from my aerobottle on the ride, with about 5 miles to go, I went to get a drink and heard “slurp slurp” from the straw, cool finished my Infinit with 5 miles to go. Unfortunately after the race I realized that I had pulled the straw up some and I still had about ¼ of my Infinit left, oops. Last year’s bike time was 1:49:47 for 15.3 mph, this year was 1:47:33 for 15.6 mph. T2 was 3:27 (last year’s was 3:12, not sure what I did slower this year).

I got out on the run and felt good, the sun was out and it was starting to get pretty warm. I decided to go without the fuel belt since it was only a 6.5 mile run. If I drank properly on the bike, I shouldn’t need anything except maybe a little water on the run. After mile 1 I started to feel a little hungry, that’s usually a bad sign for me and I started to think it was a mistake to not carry the fuel belt. Endorfun always has tons of food and drinks at the run aid stations and I never use any of it. They always have defizzed Coke, and I have always thought that was pretty disgusting. I don’t drink Coke anyway and couldn’t imagine drinking it while running, but for some reason while I was running and getting hungrier, I thought Coke sounded good. At the next aid station I took a little cup of Coke, it tasted good, I wondered if it would upset my stomach, most things do, but I felt fine. I ended up drinking 3 little cups of Coke on the course. On the run I saw Kim, Steph, and Marla racing and Penny volunteering. The last 2 or so miles I was getting pretty hot and my legs were feeling tired, but I knew I could beat last year’s time and I didn’t have much further to go. I ended up running in 1:16:08 at 11:43 per mile, last year was 1:18:48 at 12:07 per mile. I was really happy as I came in to the finish. I knew I had beaten last year’s time and not just by a minute or two but by over five minutes! (3:36:39 compared to 3:41:59). I got my post-race swag and a couple Icee pops (I think that’s the best immediate post-race food I’ve ever eaten!), then found Kim, Steph, Del, and Jane they all had awesome races too.

Kim and Steph post-race

Kim’s mom brought us cupcakes! Thanks! I went back to the hotel for a quick shower before coming back to the race site just in time to see David finish in under 4:30 and take 14th place overall in his very first half ironman! Wow! He’s amazing! This was Ingrid's reaction when she found out how well David did!

Then we figured out where Ingrid was on the course and found a spot to watch for her, Merry, Ross, and Maggie on the run. Steph, Kim, David, and Gillian spectating

Everyone did awesome! Ingird took over 30 minutes off her Ironstar time, Maggie PRed the course, and Ross was under 6:00 for his very first half ironman!Ingrid high-fiving spectators on her last run lap

post-race cupcake! YUM!

Spokes and Spurs Ride

They postponed the Spokes and Spurs ride last weekend since the weather was awful, cold, rainy, and windy. It was beautiful today. I would say this was my first "long" (43 miles) road ride since Longhorn. This ride was also really hilly.

Hills just before the last rest stop

I dropped Jeff off at the shop on my way to the ride, he and Nic were doing bike repairs at the last rest stop. I got out to the Spirit Reins Ranch and got registered with no problem, I ran into Coach Gina and talked with her for a few minutes. Just before we started I also ran into Maggie. Jeff put a different stem on my bike last night, so I spent the first few miles just getting used to the slightly different way my bike was handling (and climbing hills). The signs on this ride were great, there was never any question about exactly where to go. There were rest stops about every 10 miles and I had decided that I would stop at all of them since this was my first long ride and I didn't need to try to go fast or anything.

The first rest stop had Girl Scout cookies- yum! The second had homemade oatmeal cookies- yum again! The hills were tough but not too bad. Some of the downhills were really steep, I'm probably the only person in the world who hates going downhill fast. It freaks me out. One was so steep that I actually got off and walked down it. The last rest stop was sponsored by Performance Bike and Team Roadkill. When I got there I got to see Jeff, and I hung out for a few minutes. For the last few miles the wind picked up and I had a headwind back to the ranch. I didn't even mind, it was such a beautiful day and at that point I only had a few more miles to ride anyway.

They had a transition area and a 5k run course set up, so I decided I would do a very short run, about 15 minutes. I saw Maggie finishing her ride while I was running.

After the ride they had fajitas for lunch, a live band, and pony rides. This was great ride, I couldn't believe how well organized it was and it was a beautiful day.

After the ride, Jeff and I went out to Flat Creek Estate Winery to pick up our wine club case of wine. We had lunch on their patio. It was the perfect day to be outside.

Things we Love about Austin

Wow, I haven't posted anything here in over a month! I guess that means it's been a quiet month. For the most part it has, although my parents visited at the end of February. My dad took some great pictures of wildflowers and the UT campus, we had a lot of fun in Austin, but we didn't take any pictures of Austin fun that weekend. My parents loved Homeslice Pizza and the Zilker Botanical Garden.

Since we have lived in Austin for over 6 months now, I thought I'd start a list of things we love about Austin.

Barton Springs Pool
TriZones
Town Lake Trail
Jeff and I can both bike ride to work
First Thursday
Kayaking on Town Lake
Curbside recycling
There are tons of beautiful parks all over Austin
Festivals (Austin has a festival for almost everything)
You can get almost anywhere in Austin in about 15 minutes (except during rush hour)
Tons of great places to eat
Zilker Botanical Garden
Museums on campus
Tons of cool, unique local businesses
Walnut Creek Park
St. Edward's Park

Austin Half Marathon

I have been looking forward to the Austin Half Marathon ever since last year. Most of my Houston friends were coming to town to run, so I knew it would be a lot of fun!Cassie, Kim, and David at packet pickup. David ended up not running due to an injury
Everyone got into town by Saturday afternoon and we went to packet pickup. It was a little more crazy than I had hoped. I picked up Richard and Kim at their hotels before going to the convention center, but with all the traffic and roads closed it took longer than expected. The packet pickup was also really crowded.

Ingrid and Gillian at packet pickup. Austin was Gillian's first half marathon.

While we were in the long line at packet pickup, I realized there was no way I was going to make it back up to my neighborhood to pick Jeff up from work before dinner. Luckily Del offered to pick Jeff up on the way to dinner. That didn't go as smoothly as planned either, sorry Del! In the end they got to dinner and we all had a great time.

Jane, Del, and Kim at Spaghetti Warehouse

Steph and her brother Kevin. Kevin came out to spectate on a bike and ended up getting into an accident and breaking his collar bone! Yikes! Steph said he's going to be fine.

Richard and his daughter Amanda

It was also Kathleen's birthday on Saturday!

I was super excited when I woke up on race morning. Everyone got ready and we got to the Trizones tent earlier than expected. Coach Tracy was just setting up the tent went we walked over. Race morning was a little warmer than we expected, in the 50's

Jeff biked the course to spectate this year instead of walking.

Coach Tracy and I pre-race

Matt, Cassie, Del, me, and Ingrid

Ann, Kasey, me, Annette, and Red

Richard, me, and Cassie just before the start with the Capitol in the background

Jeff said this guy ran out in front at the start, wouldn't it be fun to be able to run that fast!

I started the race with Richard since we planned to run about the same pace. I told him it was fun to see the mass of people running up Congress at the start. Jeff got a good picture, but it just doesn't do it justice.

Richard and I ran up Congress and enjoyed the awesome crowd support, I pointed out Hey Cupcake to him and we smelled breakfast tacos from Guero's. The first 3 miles were mostly uphill, but we were keeping pace. We chatted, although Richard talked more than me, since I usually have a tough time talking while I run. We turned onto 1st Street and I knew we'd have about 3 miles of mostly downhill and flat before the rolling hills on Lake Austin and Enfield. I was really enjoying his company, but when he stopped to fix his sock, I decided to go ahead in hopes of my PR. I saw Jody and Cindy from Trizones between miles 4 and 5 and I saw Jeff around mile 6.

When we got out of the truck at the race site, I realized I had forgotten a hat. I never run without a hat. I was really annoyed! It was fairly windy so my hair was blowing around and bothering me the entire race.

I stayed on pace till mile 7, but I could tell I was breathing a little too hard and getting tired. I started to slow down between miles 7 and 8 and Richard caught up to me between 8 and 9. I was really happy to see him. He seemed to be feeling pretty good except for some calf cramping. I knew I was in trouble when I couldn't catch my breath during our 1 minute walk breaks. Around mile 10, I knew I wasn't going to hit my PR, I was disappointed, but I just tried to enjoy the rest of the race and do the best I could. Around mile 10.5 Richard went ahead and ended up finishing 3 minutes ahead of me. I saw Kenneth, Tom, and Carolyn at mile 11 at the top of the BIG hill and I saw Jeff just after that. Coming in to the finish was fun with all the spectators cheering. I had a great time running even though I didn't run quite as fast as I had hoped. I ended up finishing in 2:43, my goal was 2:32.

After finishing we all hung out and ate cupcakes at the Trizones tent.

I REALLY enjoyed my cupcake since I hadn't had any sugar at all since Christmas day

Gillian really enjoyed her cupcake too, I'm not sure how she ended up making such a mess! She finished her first half marathon at a smokin' sub 2 hour pace!

After cupcakes we watched people finishing the full marathon for a little while.

Coach Tracy coming in to the finish, check out those leg muscles!

Maggie and I at the Trizones tent.

We went back to the tent, but we were too hungry and tired to wait for most of the full marathoners to finish. I was sad that I didn't get to see Kasey, Terri, Liz, Annette, and Elle finish the marathon, but they all did well.

Ingrid, Steph, and I

Steph did the full marathon at Houston and decided to do the full at Austin too (3 weeks apart). I told her she was crazy to do both! She proved me completely wrong and got a huge 12 minute PR! Her first marathon under 5 hours on a really tough course!

We went to Chez Zee for lunch and while there, I realized that most of the Houston crew got half marathon PRs. Ingrid, Kim, Cassie, Jane, and Del all PRed!

I had an absolutely awesome weekend, the only thing that could have made it more perfect would have been running a 2:32 half marathon.

Next year I plan to run the full Austin Marathon as my first marathon, so I'll run the half at Decker and at 3M in preparation. So hopefully I can get a 2:30 half marathon at one of those (you never know, it could happen at Decker even though it's crazy hilly)

Death Race 2009

Nic's second bike race was themed after a movie called Death Race 2000, it's a 70's movie and it's AWFUL! I only watched about 5 minutes before I got bored. The idea was the people raced across the country and hit as many people as possible for points. This race was based on points and racers got extra points for dressing up like characters from the movie. One guy even had his bike "in character" This race also started and ended at the Drungo Ice House. It's the perfect location and a great place to hang out. They have great food and a nice patio. Plus the owner, Mike, is really bike friendly.
From Drungo the racers went up to Performance Bike on Anderson Lane.
Getting ready to take off

Behind the store at Performance, Nic had set up cardboard cutouts and lots of plastic babies. He had a point scale for cutouts, big babies and small babies.

The racers were back really fast! They all seemed to have fun and got a little crazy getting all the cutouts and babies back to Drungo. It was so much fun to see everyone come back and see what they had and hear about what happened at Performance. It would have been really fun to be in both places at once!

The same guy who won Nic's first race won this one too, I think his name is Ernie.

Then there was the track stand competition

The foot down (ride in a tiny circle) contest. I think Shannon, the co-owner of a pedicab company won.And a drag race down Rio Grande
Nic built this swing bike, it's hinged in the middle and Nic can actually get the rear wheel to come around almost to the front wheel!

We all had a great time and can't wait to see what crazy ideas Nic comes up with for bike race #3.