Race Report: Longleaf Tri

This is a bit late, but October has just gotten crazy busy!  The Longleaf Tri was almost two weeks ago, October 22nd.  The absolute best thing about this race is that it is local and tons of my running buddies are either participating or cheering.  Here is a link to the website for the event: http://longleaftriathlon.com/

Last time I did the Ft. DeSoto Tri (on a whim) I was talking to some of running buddies about how they could without a doubt do a tri.  (Yes, I'm talking to you Marcia and Melanie).  I explained that doing a relay may be a good way to try out a tri (HA!) to see how the experience is.  Now, most of you probably know Marcia and know that she is a crazy-fast runner.  Obviously, she would be holding down the run portion of a relay.  Without a doubt.

We talked about it a little more, and decided that myself (swim), Benny B (bike), and Marcia (run) would do Longleaf as a relay.  I have been swimming just about twice a week at the YMCA in order to train.  I consider myself a decent swimmer, so I was actually really excited to just do the swim portion of a tri and really go all out.

Here is Team Sandbaggers before the race (thank you Patrick McCormick for the wonderful photography):

And you can't forget the AWESOME sign that Carrie's daughter Natalie made for us:

Laying 'em down!!!

Now, every one was all together and pumped up for the swim.  But, I stood around for a while.  Until I figured out that I was going the VERY LAST person to enter the lake.  VERY LAST.  Meaning that there was no one else behind me.  Luckily, I was able to pass several people and not be the last one out, but still.  As soon as I hit that lake, I felt as it if forgot how to swim.  The lake was smelly, cold, murky, and downright disgusting.  Blah.

Here I am entering the swim:
 

Coming out of the swim:

I honestly thought I might die in that lake.  It was TERRIBLE. I drank a LOT of pond water.  If there is something wrong with me down the road, I'm SO blaming it on the pond water.

Here is Marcia on the run: (BEAST mode!):

Ben and I after the race (yes, we are nerds):

Here are the 2011 results: http://chiptimes.com/?TabId=65&EventID=557

And here is our winning team photo:

Overall, a super-fun race with a lot of local support. Thumbs up from me! 

Sneak Peek - "THE" Place

Last weekend I was able to show our wedding venue to my sister and mom and snapped a quick picture of the back of the house:

I know it's still kind of hard to see all the beautiful details, but this is the area that we like the most for the ceremony.  Behind the brick wall is a pool, gazebo, swim-up bar, and of course the Black Bear Lodge.  To the right of this photo there is an actual working smokehouse and will soon be an organic garden.  

Just a quick post to let everyone get a sneak peek at Black Bear and get a visual as to what we are raving about.  

Race Report: Rattlesnake Run

This morning was the 33rd annual Rattlesnake Run in San Antonio.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with San Antonio, it's pretty hilly.  Actually, really hilly.  Most runners and bikers train in the hills in San Antonio because it doesn't get much hillier in Pasco county.  And every year there is a Rattlesnake Festival (read more about it here: http://rattlesnakefestival.com/)

I have to be honest, I wasn't really expecting very much for this race.  I've been training distance for the past few months, and not focusing on speed.  Combine that with a super-hilly course, and my goal was to finish and maintain at least a 10 minute mile throughout the run.

This is the third year in a row that Benjamin and I have ran the Rattlesnake Run, so I pretty much know what to expect from the course.  There are a few hills right at the start and then most are on the back end.  The weather was perfect this morning and I was feeling pretty good.  My legs were freshly Biofreezed, my stomach was full with a CHOMP, and I was ready to start running.

The first mile was a little faster than I thought it was going to be, but the 2nd mile was full of hills!  My pace slowed to about 9:44 for that mile and the 192 feet of elevation was a challenge.  The third and fourth miles really started to feel good and I realized that I was capable of getting a PR today.  With a mile left to go, i just took a deep breath and started around the last neighborhood corner.  The best thing about this race is that the finish is on a really steep downhill.  As you round the final corner you can see the finish clock and no more hills!

My final time was 44:43.  Complete results can be found here: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Oct15_33rdAn_set1.shtml

The time was a personal best.  Almost TWO FULL MINUTES better than last year's time.  Those results can be found here: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/fl/Oct16_32ndAn_set1.shtml

Here's a picture of me bringing it home (thank you, Chris!)

Here are the splits ( forgot to stop my watch at the end):

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	44:52.0	4.99	8:59.8
1	8:38.8	1.00	8:38.7
2	9:22.7	1.00	9:22.7
3	9:06.0	1.00	9:06.0
4	9:12.4	1.00	9:12.4
5	8:30.8	0.99	8:37.8

Here are some of the most interesting stats, especially the elevation gain (Woah, baby!):

Distance: 4.99 mi Time: 44:52 Avg Pace 8:60 min/mi Activity Type: Running

Calories: 590 C Elevation Gain: 201 ft

Overall, it was AWESOME!  I even got 4th place in my age group (up from #10 last year).   Next up, the swim leg of the Longleaf Tri tomorrow morning.  Hopefully I will come off of cloud nine by then.

OMG - 22(!) Miles!

This weekend was nothing short of amazing.  Benjamin had his 10-year high school reunion and there was lots of stuff going on allll weekend.  If I said I wasn't nervous about completing all the tasks necessary, I would be a big liar! ;)

Friday night, we headed out to Dade City for the football meet and greet at Pasco High.  We made it through about one and a half quarters before the rain started coming down.  Really hard.  One look at the radar determined that it was NOT going to be getting any better any time soon.  So that night was cut a little short (not to mention, VERY wet!).

Saturday during the day, I went out with my sister and mom while Ben went golfing with some of his high school buddies.  It still rained all day.  Boo.  We had the semi-formal gathering that night, and it was still raining.  Typically, before a run I can not possibly have a drink (which means that Ben gets a built-in designated driver), eat cake, or eat anything out of the ordinary.  Dinner, cake, and alcohol all looked delicious!  Bummer.

Saturday night we did not get home until midnight.  That 4:25 wake up call came wayy  too early.  It was drizzling a little outside, but if was raining on race day - I'm still going to run Space Coast.  Luckily, I grabbed a hat just as I was heading out the door.  Rhonda, Melanie, Jen, and myself all met in Longleaf at 5:00 (ok, I was a little late, but I had to drop a cooler in Starkey, so I think it's ok) and did a little 2.5 mile loop in Longleaf.

Personally, I've not really done a LONG run this training.  The 18 miler, I bonked and had to walk a little bit (arch pain - but thanks to Mary Manning, I'm a firm believer in athlete's tape!).  The 20 miler came when I was sick and without voice, so I REALLY wanted redemption on this run.  REALLY, REALLY bad.  Just completing the distance was going to be an accomplishment.  One that I haven't completed in over FIVE years.

Typically, we have been running through the Aristida neighborhood twice (once on the way out and once on the way back).  This week, we decided that we were going to run out on Decubellis Road and then run Starkey and skip Aristida on the way back.  By the time we got to Starkey, we had to run 3 miles in, 3 miles out, and 4 back home.  Seemed logical and manageable in my head.

When we hit about the 19.5 mile marker, it really started raining. Hard.  Cars and trucks were splashing us from their wheel wells.  It was less than awesome.  However, we were almost done, already soaked, and determined to reach the 22 mile mark!  You can tell that we were "done" on the last mile because it was one of the fastest:

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	3:45:13.8	22.00	10:14.3
1	9:53.1	1.00	9:53.1
2	10:04.6	1.00	10:04.5
3	10:14.2	1.00	10:14.2
4	10:26.4	1.00	10:26.4
5	10:30.3	1.00	10:30.2
6	10:31.6	1.00	10:31.6
7	10:25.4	1.00	10:25.4
8	10:20.0	1.00	10:20.0
9	10:19.3	1.00	10:19.3
10	10:03.9	1.00	10:03.9
11	10:18.8	1.00	10:18.8
12	10:24.0	1.00	10:23.9
13	10:14.5	1.00	10:14.5
14	10:21.2	1.00	10:21.1
15	10:09.3	1.00	10:09.3
16	10:12.2	1.00	10:12.2
17	10:02.9	1.00	10:02.9
18	10:20.5	1.00	10:20.5
19	10:11.6	1.00	10:11.6
20	10:09.5	1.00	10:09.5
21	10:04.7	1.00	10:04.7
22	9:55.0	1.00	9:56.0

This weekend is going to be crazy with the Rattlesnake Run and Longleaf Triathlon.  But, for now it's off to Naples for a leadership conference!  Have a good week, y'all!