Ironman Muncie 70.3 Race Report

Ironman Muncie 70.3 is a race to remember. My husband and I love this race. Last year, the experience was awesome, how cool is it to see your son in the swim (he was a lifeguard) and my husband throughout the race... so, we decided to do this again.. We were really excited because the race was going to close highway 35!! 

About a week before the race, my husband calls and tells me that he couldn't go because of work. Something about an Admiral asking him by name to run a meeting on Friday!!! What could I say, he had to stay home. We tried to see if he could fly out, but by the time he would get in, he would miss check-in. My son was staying home because he is getting ready for a big swim meet and had to practice. So, I went by myself... I was sad, angry and mad at the situation, but I put on my big girl panties and went.. 

Travel day was uneventful, I left on Thursday and arrived in Anderson, IN that night. I downloaded the book Divergent and that kept me occupied during the drive.. 8 hours is a long drive. The good thing about going by myself, I was able to stop when I needed too... see my hubby and son, hate it when I have to stop and hit the ladies room. :) 

Friday, I got up and headed to the race site. This is where registration was going to be. Loved it. Last year, registration was at the Muncie convention center and this year it was at the race venue. I was able to have Bo Peep get a race check-up and tire replaced... yes, I rode over something sharp and when I loaded my car, my back tire was flat. I checked it, and when Bo Peep was ready, I took her on a 5 mile bike ride and then ran a mile. It felt great!!

I checked everything in and went to back to the hotel, had dinner, spoke to the family and then went to bed. What a restless night, usually, I sleep like a baby before a race and I let my husband toss and turn, now it was my turn to toss and turn. 

Race Morning, up at 4:30, I got dressed, had breakfast and headed out. I prepaid for parking across the street and it was the best thing ever! I was right across from transition. I walked into transition and the speaker was stating the water was 74 - wetsuit legal...Whoo hoo... but wait... I left it in the car...so I go back and get my wetsuit. I received a welcome wake up call from my husband.. That really made my day. I got back into transition and started to pump up my tires... and out popped the presta valve... OH NOOO!!!! raced the bike over to the mechanics and they fixed the valve and pumped up the tires.. everything was ready.. I went down to the water and did a warm-up swim (a first for me) and I was ready.. I was near the end.. we got into the water at 7:45.. and away I go.... "row row row your boat..." singing through my head. I felt great in the water. I remembered all of my training from Lesley and just enjoyed the swim.. Just keep swimming to each bouy.. on the way back, a guy hits me in the head and I punched him back with my left hand... I didn't think it was hard, but the next thing I know, he is hanging on the kayak... don't mess with this turtle when she is swimming... I may have hit him in a sensitive area but he got in my way.. what was I supposed to do... got out of the swim and looked at my watch... Whoo Hoo... PR on the swim my 4 minutes!!  Up the hill I run and the wetsuit strippers are there!! Yeah!! On to the bike.. put the helmet on, and headed out. Something didn't feel right with my helmet... It kept moving.. pulled over and checked my helmet and my strap was broken... I rigged it and adjusted the helmet to keep me protected in case I fell... off I go... 17 mph, I hit headwind.. what.... there wasn't supposed to be any wind!!! We had a headwind adjust my speed and increase my cadence... Thank you Billy for teaching me about high cadence.. I hit the turn around and I loved the tailwind... finished the first loop and started on the second loop.. Second loop done and off I go into transition... I maintained the same speed as I did last year, avg 17 mph. Off to the run.. the weather started to warm-up and the humidity increased.. I was determined to keep on running.. I was going really well, running and walking through the water stops.. but then it kept getting more humid.. add water... I got disappointed after the turn around point because I just wasn't going as fast as I wanted to.. The evil voice in my head started getting to me... I heard things as you are soo slow, just walk up that hill... you will never make it through a full... you are just way too slow... 

Evil voice..

That voice in my head was evil... I got to mile 12 and I heard my phone beeping... all of my friends and love ones were cheering me on and sending me texts... Two tall guys came up to me and said..."come on Thunder..we are almost done".. I finally listened to my training voice and ran up the last hill and to the finish line... I did it!!! I finished the race in 7:22, not a PR but I finished and that is what counts!! I got a call right as I finished the race and it was my husband!! He watched me crossed the finish line and wanted to be the first to congratulate me!!! What a special guy!!

Running up the last hill

In retrospect, I am glad I did this race, I know I can do this and I know I can and will train for a full ironman one day.. I have it in me I just have to believe in myself and not let the evil voices in.. So, I will continue on to the next race and who knows what will happen...

Happy Training!!

Eling aka Speedy Turtle

P.S. My hubby said that I probably would have PR's if I didn't send out my selfies... 

Being a Speedy Turtle!!

Over the last few months, a lot has been happening!! Speedy Turtle has grown to be an amazing group of people. When I first started this blog, I chose Speedy Turtle as a name because I will always try to improve and get speedy.. I am not very athletically inclined... I was a band geek growing up... That and I thought how ironic the  name Speedy Turtle was... :)

Me and Mr. Speedy Turtle, my biggest supporter

So what has Speedy Turtle become.. Well, Speedy Turtle has become a group of like minded people who want to have fun running, biking and swimming. We are a group of individuals that enjoy the sport of triathlon and we aren't out to get on the podium... though that is nice once in awhile.. (I have podium in the Athena (Big Girl) division).  We cheer each other on and motivate and inspire each other to do our best!

Our group at Dragonfly... just before the triathlon!! We all had a blast and supported each other!

Our group has started a group riding on a weekly basis and each week, a new person has joined us.. It is a lot of fun!! Our motto is "No One Gets Left Behind"  We ride with Newbies and Experienced riders  each week and end it with a one mile brick.  The best part of the ride is the happy smiles and coming back the next week to see everyone again.. I really do love this group and am very excited to see where it goes from here.. Everyone of us has a turtle in us. We  all strive to improve.. we all think we are slower than someone else and work hard to get better. We are all Speedy Turtles!!!

Until next time!!!

Happy Training!!

After the ride

Just before we take off!

With Turtilina, our Mascot!

On the ride! I still can't believe we didn't crash!

6 more weeks until Spring!!!

Today is groundhog day and I really wanted Punxsutawney Phil to not see his shadow and state that we would have 6 weeks of warm weather till spring and not 6 weeks of winter.. See, I have been hibernating these last few weeks.. After the Christmas, I started to reflect on concentrate on building myself up mentally.. I had a great season last year but during the holidays, I became really down on myself. I wasn't happy about how I looked, how I was training and what I was doing.. I had a lot of people supporting me but that ugly voice in my head just got the best of me.. So, I hibernated... I still continued to do my workouts... I do have a 70.3 in May to get ready for... This turtle just decided to go into her shell and work on herself..

What did I do??? Well, at the beginning of the year, I started to DIET... That is a four letter word now.. I was beating myself up because I couldn't have what I wanted when I was hungry because I wanted to save my calories. I looked at myself and felt fat.. Yes, that voice was working really hard... So, I decided to make a change... The first change I did was tell myself something nice that I liked! I learned to like my smile a lot..the next thing I did was start to change my mindset on my diet. For Christmas, my wonderful hubby, hired a sports nutritionist and we went to see her.. What a lifesaver!! She told me that butter is good and food is good. You do not need to diet, count calories and drink smoothies as a replacement meal.. She wanted me to eat real food and to have my plate at every meal, half veggies, a third protein and a third carb.. hmm... I could do that..She, also, told me to move the scale and not step on it.. I still do, only once a week now and not everyday... Low and behold, I started to like myself and feel a lot better about myself.. I know I still have that voice in my head, but I am going to try not to listen to her....

Now... I am slowly coming back and training consistently to have a great season this year!!

Happy Training!!

Eling aka Speedy Turtle...

Practice...Practice... Practice...Practice will make you better...

Where have I heard that before?? Duh... I have been hearing this phrase since the fifth grade.. I know you all ask.. " How can that be Eling?? You said you were never an athlete when you were younger".. You are correct, I wasn't a runner or cyclist when I was younger.. I was, however, a band geek and I played the flute since the fifth grade.. So, yes, I have heard this since the fifth grade.. I was told to practice to make the middle school band in the fifth grade, so I did. I was instructed by Mr. Higdon and Mr. Baker to practice  my scales, practice my music.. over and over again, repeat the scales, repeat the music.. the more I practiced, the better I got and the more music awards, I got. So, I practiced.... In high school, I practiced and practiced and listened to Mr. A. I wanted to do well in Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Orchestra.. I did.. We had a great band. So, I practiced marching and playing my flute and I got better. It all stopped in College... Instead, I studied and studied to succeed in College.. I succeeded, I graduated from college, but I stopped practicing my flute.. I stopped practicing, I stopped following my the phrase I had heard since fifth grade...

So, what does this have to do triathlons.  Well, it has everything to do with it. This past year, I have been telling myself to  keep on swimming, keep on running and keep on biking... I have been practicing and practicing and getting better. What I have learned is that practicing = being consistent. I am looking back at my early upbringing and I want to thank my music teachers for what they have given me because I now know that to get better, I need to be consistent. I need to practice. I need to tell those evil voices that talk to me early mornings ("the bed is really warm..don't get up to swim or run.. you will feel a lot better if you stay in bed") to go away because I need to practice..

I am becoming a stronger swimmer, a stronger runner and a stronger cyclist. I have been telling my coach that I am trying to stay consistent and she told me that I am not trying.. I am succeeding. I am getting myself healthy and stronger.. I do fall off the bandwagon a lot.. gosh, I did that in high school.. but I got back on and kept on moving forward and kept on practicing. I am getting better and better..

Happy Training,
Eling

me playing the flute in high school

Running 10 miles.....

Today was the second Memphis Runners Road Race Series 10 miler.. This race is at Shelby Forest and it is called the beast by the local runners. I was a little nervous but I was really excited to run this race today..

Two weeks ago, I had run the race the day after I had done my first metric century ride (64 miles). At that time, it was a beautiful morning in the 60's and I was running through this beautiful forest enjoying the beauty!! I had a great run at that time too.. I ran the 10 miles in 2 hours and 6 minutes.. Not bad for a Speedy Turtle, who normally would take FOREVER... to run 10 miles... I make the most of my races... At that race, I encountered the Beast of Shelby Forrest.. Yes, it is called the beast. You see, this race has some hills and more hills... and then at mile 9, there are switchbacks. These aren't just your normal switchbacks... These are killer uphill almost 90 degree incline switchbacks.. ( a little exaggeration but it is really steep).I actually really liked this run! I felt like a runner and I loved running again!!

So, here we are this morning... We, the hubby and I, got up early and got dressed.. We looked at the weather and the temperature was 39 degrees.. by the time we would run, it would be 40 degrees and not get warm the whole time.. Brr... I do not like to be COLD.. So, I bundled up (see picture). ... That is me at mile 3.5 having fun.. This time around the run may have been cold, but I had fun.. We got to the race a little late, so I was one of the last runners to cross the start line.. This was the first race that I started to pick off runners.. I would look ahead and tell myself, go catch that person.. you can catch that person.. and away I went.. It was so much fun.. My little legs and feet, just kept on moving.. I didn't have any music, so I could hear my cadence and my breathing and away I went. I caught up to the group of people, I have seen over the last few months in front of me and fell into a groove. I was having fun! I was becoming a runner!!  I walked the water stations and eventually took the gloves off and the ear muffs off..I got hot.. and there it was.. the switchbacks... I looked at them and said..."HERE we go!!" So I took one step at a time and conquered the Beast!! I walked sideways to stretch out the hips and it felt great!! I got closer to the finish line and saw the time 2 hours and 3 mins... remember, I started late.. so I knew I beat my time two weeks ago!! I crossed the line and felt this huge amount of accomplishment!! I  finished the race in  2 hours!! I may not be fast, but I am meeting my goals and getting better...  I am soo excited for the next triathlon season.. my off season has been busy training but this is my journey and I am enjoying it!!  There are no excuses and it is almost time for bed.. I have to get up early again tomorrow... I have a master swim class at 5:30 am..

Happy Training!!
Eling

There is no "Off Season"

Over the last couple of months, I have been training harder in the off season than when I was training for my Half Ironman and Olympic races... How is that?? Well, after my last race, I talked to my coach and I asked her to make me faster in my running... I want this next year to be the year I build a solid base... So, what do I end up doing?....I am running and running and running... I am swimming and swimming and swimming and I completed a Century Ride... Yes you read this correctly... One weekend I completed a metric century (64 miles) and then 100 miles.. Why, do you ask?? I wanted to be a good friend. I am a crazy person.. Anyway, I had a lot of fun on the 100 mile ride..

As a Speedy Turtle, my friend needed someone to ride with her as she trained for IM Florida. I didn't want to have her go by herself, so I went along. We met on Saturday and we took off. My husband wished me good luck and we took off.. It was a beautiful day when we took off..My coached stated that I didn't have to do this and that I needed to listen to my body... well, that is what I did. After 50 miles, we got back to my house, got fluids, nutrition and a bathroom break. This time, we completed loops around my house. I took each loop one at a time. As I completed each loop, I asked myself, could I go on... I answered Yes and away I went.. three loops later, we made it to 100 miles... What an accomplishment.. I don't think I will do that again for awhile, but I am glad I did it. While we were riding, Elaine and I got to become better friends and I am thankful for the time we spent together..The next day, I went to my running group and I trained with more of my friends. My other friends sent me messages throughout the day asking how I was doing... I am so thankful for these friends..

The friendships that I have made since starting my Journey has been so special and I know I will continue to have these special people on my journey during the Off Season and in Season. We will support each other and encourage each other as we conquer or accomplish our many goals and fears..

Friendships are a gift from God and I have been given a great gift over the years!! Thank you to all of my friends for helping me on my journey!!

Happy Training,

Eling

Starting a new 30 day Challenge

Sorry it has been awhile. I have been busy working on my running and starting to really enjoy it! With October coming up, I had a fellow Speedy Turtle send out a 30 day Challenge to one of her friends on Facebook and I wanted to join in. Her Challenge was 30 Day Challenge of lunges. I thought I would up the ante and suggested let's do a 30 Day Challenge of planks too.. Low and behold, Eat Drink and Be Skinny was, also, holding a 30 Day Plank Challenge.. So, thanks to Melissa, I  will  be completing  two 30 day Challenges that I will be starting tomorrow.  The running has helped a lot  and I have finally broke through my weight plateau that I have had for the last year. I hope that doing these two challenges, I will break another plateau. If I don't, I know I will have a stronger core for the next Tri Season.

So here is a Big Thank you to Melissa for the Challenge and I am ready to take it!!

Happy Training,

Eling

P.S. Here are the links to the Challenges:

• Plank Challenge - http://eatdrinkandbeskinny.com/30-day-plank-challenge-starts-october-1st/
• Plank Tracker: http://eatdrinkandbeskinny.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/30-Day-Plank-Challenge-Calendar.pdf
• Lunge Challenge - http://beta.active.com/fitness/Articles/30-Day-Lunge-Challenge.htm?cmp=17-7-5277
• Lunge Tracker: http://eatdrinkandbeskinny.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/30-Day-Lunge-Challenge-Calendar.pdf