Back to the Pavement...err..dirt!

Two things of note have occurred this week: ME and I signed up for our first triathlon in a few months and I ran for the first time since my last race....in April!

Race selection first. ME has been itching to get back to racing...me, not so much. I’m not sure what’s been the deal, but I haven’t been the most excited about races recently. I think it’s a combination of having to compete in all of the races alone that ME and I had signed up for together last year when he deployed to Haiti for a few months. Then, we’d trained for the Miami ING marathon this January and two weeks before the race, I flared up with plantar fasciitis and was unable to race. Then, again, we signed up for the Nautica SoBE tri because ME wanted to and, yet again, the Army called and I got to compete by myself (although thankfully a great friend competed as well, so I wasn’t alone). So, I really do enjoy competing in triathlons and running races, but I was just burnt out a little bit. But, I’m feeling ready to get back on track and so ME and I signed up for the Houston Triathlon on 23 Sep. 

ME and I ready to go

With that decision, it’s now time to start focusing our training on swimming, biking, and running again! Yesterday, our friend Amanda at RunToTheFinish, posted a great note about how we all GET to run. So, when ME suited up for a run on the hottest (as of that time) day of the year to run out at Memorial Park, I took her motivation and threw on my skirt (why run in anything else?) and hopped on the back of the scooter and we explored Memorial Park. It only took us 30 minutes of running in the shade of wonderful trees and up unfamiliar hills (c’mon, we’ve been in Miami for 2 years!) to realize we were actually running on the mountain biking trail! But, we now know where all the runners are and we’ll hit them up next time we get the urge to venture out.

Trying to get motivated for the run.

Having not run, except the 10k in the tri, in about 8 months, I felt like a rookie, I couldn’t get my ipod to track my run, then couldn’t find a comfortable spot for my ipod to attach, and my headphones kept falling out and/or I was getting tangled in the cord! But, we managed to have a great run and enjoy the day and the scenery (and maybe even those nasty hills). I won’t say it felt great, but it felt decent and I won’t be so afraid of getting out there anymore for fear of the PF flaring up again.


What motivates you to get out and exercise or train? Is anything currently holding you back?


Beat the Heat and get out there and exercise...and don't forget to rehydrate!

~ Samara

Things I’m Thankful for Today:

~ Exercise for the fun of it

~ Crafty solutions for the satellite dish

~ New ideas to save $$

~ Multi-national style dinners that actually come together

Race Report: Nautica South Beach 2011 Classic Distance Triathlon

Competed in the Classic Distance Triathlon this weekend. I wasn’t exactly sure what distance that was until Saturday. It includes: 750m swim, 19 mile bike, 4 mile run.

Race conditions were warm and muggy, ocean current, but not even half as bad as 2010

Racing buddies: Jack – who attended some of the race weekend seminars and shared tidbits he learned: when running through the surf, run with your lower legs out to the side to take your legs over the surf. When the surf is deep enough, start using the dolphin method to get out until swim depth. Dolphin method is diving under the surf, streamlining, then pushing off the bottom back up for air, and repeat.

Swim: Water was barely wet suit legal. I wore my wetsuit, and the swim was short enough to remain cool enough and reap the benefits of the wetsuit. I just am unsure if the benefits of gaining time during the swim were offset by the time required to pull the wetsuit off in transition.

Bike: Bike was good. Struggling with why I can kick tail on the hills (yes, the few hills in Miami; read: bridges), but then the people that I feel like I fly by while they are standing still on the hills, then come flying past me on the flats. Need to work on that!

Run: just trying not to aggravate the plantar fasciitis from which I’m recovering, so just ran nice and steady. No cramps in my quads, so that’s an improvement as well. Only had a stitch in my side; from over or under hydration?

All in all, the race went as well as could be expected. 9 out of 53 in my age group. So, no complaints from here.

Thanks to Amanda, RunToTheFinish, for cheering me on at each leg and providing the finishing line photo.

When to wear your race day t-shirt

Is it wrong to wear your race day t-shirt before the race actually takes place? I have a 5K on Sunday morning, but I picked up the packet on Tuesday and the race t-shirt ROCKS! I couldn’t stand it just sitting there on the kitchen table, so when I packed my gym bag this morning, I threw it in alongside the shirt I’d already picked out. At the gym…I had to make a decision…

The Jinx

I run mostly for exercise and not necessarily speed, but to better myself. I never go to a ‘race’ and intend (or expect) to win. So, if one should not wear the t-shirt before the race in order to avoid jinxing yourself, I don’t really fall into that category. What am I really going to jinx…my easy to medium paced jog?

The Reward

Is it uncouth to wear it prior to the race because you haven’t actually ‘earned’ the right yet? The t-shirt could be considered a reward for your hard work. So, maybe you should not wear it until you’ve fully earned the right, by completing the race! And what if you sleep in on race day and miss it - can you still wear the shirt afterwards?

The Label

I read somewhere that it is dorky to wear your race t-shirt to the actual race. I can’t remember a time that I ever wore it during the actual race, however sometimes I do like to wear it as my ‘clean’ shirt after the race is over and for the ride home. And the ride home often includes a stop at an eatery to which I don’t normally earn a trip; but in the special event of burning extra calories that day, I get to stop and partake. And I like knowing in the back of my head that people in the eatery know that I’ve earned my meal and THAT’s why I am there that day! J

The Exhibitionist

And how soon after the race is it appropriate to wear the shirt? Is it too showy to wear it the next day? Or should you be so proud of your accomplishment that you share it with others? I tend to lean towards waiting a week or so to throw it into my repertoire; so as not to seem like a race snob; non-racers who are working out are good people too…they might just not have such a cool shirt!

My Choice

With all this said, I chose to wear it on my run today. I felt a little apprehensive when I walked past people because I didn’t want them to see the date, clearly in bold, on the shirt. But, I loved running in it and can’t wait until a week from Monday to add it to my workout cycle! Hopefully I haven’t jinxed myself…