Kona Training Camp

I can’t believe my Hawaii training camp is over. Although the training was long and hard, the days seemed to fly by and now what I was looking forward to for months, is over. I was definitely excited to see my hubby, from whom I hate being away for this long, when I got home last Friday, but I had mixed feelings about going back to the “real world”. For 8 days I had the amazing opportunity to train with incredible athletes and coaches and feel like a full-time professional, something I can’t get at home with my 45-50+ hour/week job and 10 hours/week of commuting. It’s stressful and tiring to focus 100% on triathlon for an entire week, but amazing at the same time. I feel like I am a different athlete than I was 8 days ago and I am so excited to start this season and see where all this hard work will take me. Here’s a quick rundown of the camp:

The training: In 8 days I swam 50,000 meters in the pool/ocean , spent 20 hours on the bike, and about 5 hours running – quite a bit more than my typical 17-20 hour training weeks.

Pool/Ocean time – We swam a LOT! I spent more time in the water this week than I have since I was in high school and I have an ear infection to prove it. The most challenging part of the swimming was our open water race simulations. I realized very quickly that although I was keeping up with Matt Lieto in the pool (well, for the most part), I was no match for him in the open water. While swimming in the ocean, my job was simply to get on Matt’s hip and stay there as long as possible. Matt was wearing his special unicorn speedo with a gnome on the butt – who wouldn’t want to hang onto that? Most of the time I failed to stay in my special spot – especially when Matt would do his best to drop me, but as the week went on I got better. Practice makes perfect, or at least improvement!

Mauna Lani Pool where we spent MANY hours

Bike – I love being able to put this kind of time in on the bike. We had a mix of aerobic riding, HARD interval sessions, and very scenic, fun climbing. Who knew Kona had areas so lush and green? I was so excited to be able to take the FUJI D-6 1.0 with me to Kona. Not only did it have DI2 (electronic shifting), which is AWESOME, it was pretty sweet looking as well. I did have to swap out the wheels after the first ride because while my bike handling continues to improve, I still wasn’t comfortable with 100mm rims in the cross winds! I think I might have shed a few tears on a big hill that first day :)

If you have been to Kona, you might find it hard to believe this picture was taken there! I would have!!


Run – While I felt like we definitely put in some good miles, we spent the least amount of time running. Coach Matt Dixon explained it’s important to limit the amount of running with our planned training volume, otherwise our legs would be trashed and useless for anything else. We did, however, put in a few key running sessions on the track working a little on speed, but mostly on pacing.

Stunning track at 2,500ft

That brings me to the coaching….AMAZING!

What an incredible coaching line up. Not only did we have the best triathlon coach, Matt Dixon, guiding the week, we also had access to Gerry Rodriques, the master of open water swimming, and Paul Buick, the bike whisperer.

I really felt like I was working with the dream team of coaching all week. Matt knows all the specifics of my training, and sometimes better than me, what I’m capable of. He was there pushing me and giving me confidence in my ability when it was lacking. He always knows just what to say to get me going. My favorite push was during my last swim of the camp. We were doing 10 x 300’s building each 2. The last 4 were supposed to be solid with the last 2 being pretty much all out. With 4 to go Matt says, “Jess, this is your last day…I’m just saying”. Of course I knew that actually meant, “Jess, this is your last chance to lay it all out on the line. You had better bust your ass and show me that you can work”. Good thing I speak Dixonese!

Gerry – I was amazed by Gerry when I met him last year in Tucson at this same camp and I was no less impressed this year. He has such a great way of explaining proper technique and has helped me improve significantly in a sport I have been doing since I was 3. I think one of the things Gerry stresses that stands out most to me is how different open water swimming is to pool swimming. The technique that works is different and Gerry coaches the open water swimmer, which is what all triathletes should strive to be.

Paul – I have never really had one on one cycling instruction so having Paul around for the week was great. He watched my pedal stroke, adjusted my saddle position, and talked to me about what it would take to get my cycling to the next level, while also giving me confidence in my current ability. My only mistake was telling him I am timid when it comes to cornering. No sooner was that out of my mouth than I was doing donuts around a round-about in the hotel parking lot. I’m surprised I didn’t fall off my bike from dizziness. I still have a long way to go when it comes to bike handling skills, but I was amazed at how much progress I made in 15 minutes. I’m still not ready to descend with my hands behind my back like crazy coach Paul, but maybe some day.

Paul and Matt giving instructions before a big group ride

Of course it was Hawaii and while it was MOSTLY hard training, we did have a little bit of fun, too. Here’s my top 10 for the week at camp:

10. Eating my first Chuck Norris Sushi Roll (with a small fear that it might roundhouse kick my stomach later)
9. Seeing eels, sea turtles, and lots of tropical fish during our open water swims. Somehow SP and I still haven’t seen dolphins, I think we might be the only ones. I guess that will be our excuse to get back!
8. Meeting Bill Walton, who is now an avid cyclist and was staying at our hotel. Yes, he is enormous.
7. Mauna Lani granola – which I not only added to my oatmeal every morning, but also took in cups back to the room for afternoon snacks. I don’t know what all is in it, but I will be missing it for sure.
6. Watching Sarah P. bring her walnuts, flax seed, and measuring spoons to the breakfast buffet every morning – hey, you gotta stay on the nutrition plan, right?

5. Realizing that I still haven’t met a Clif Builder’s Bar I didn’t like – my current favorite is the chocolate mint – it’s like eating a Girl Scout cookie without the guilt! Not sure how I could have gotten all my protein for the week without them.
4. Riding to and from the hotel pool on beach cruisers, which are actually a little more difficult to ride than you’d think.
3. Wearing matching Saucony outfits with SP every day hoping we’d win the coveted Purplepatch “Outfit of the day”, but always failing. Damn you Jesse Thomas and your aviators!

2. Seeing old friends from last year’s Purplepatch camp and meeting so many new, awesome age groupers. I can’t wait to see everyone tear it up this year!

1. Sharing Jesse Thomas’ 8th b-day and eating sushi w/ Matt Lieto, Sam McGlone, and Sarah Piampiano + maybe having 1 too many margaritas that were served by Faris Al Sutan’s identical twin (not really, but the resemblance was pretty uncanny)

Also, a HUGE thanks to Clif for keeping me fueled, Saucony for keeping me dressed in my best, FUJI for letting me take their new AMAZING tri bike, and Larry Rosa and the guys at Verdict Photography for taking video and pictures that I CANNOT WAIT to see!

VIP#11 SARAH PIAMPIANO!!

My VIP for this blog definitely has to be one of my good friends and my roomie for the week Sarah Piampiano, another first-year pro. This girl is wicked fast (don’t they say that on the east coast SP?) and I can’t wait to see what she can do in 2012. She is also extremely down to earth and a super fun training buddy. We had a blast in Kona and it’s not going to be the same not seeing her shining face every day on the bike or in the pool! She might be the world’s worst cartwheeler and a lover of terrible rap music (Flo Rida), but I love her anyway!

SP – thanks so much for setting me up with a home stay, forgiving me for being terrible at writing down workouts, giving me advice on sponsors and training, making me laugh, pushing me on the bike, at the track, in the pool and being such a great friend!

Frienemies + 2012 schedule + Sponsor updates + random training photos

So the title of this post is actually a little misleading. The women about who I’m writing this blog are friends and competitors, not really enemies. I just didn’t think “frienpetitors” or “competifriends” was as catchy.

Anyway, as many of you who follow me on twitter probably know, I have developed a very special relationship in the last several months with lots of girls currently and formerly in the W30-34 age group. I say “formerly” because a few of us are racing pro this year and our ages are OUT! We are spread out across the country and have been able to meet through training and/or racing…or by meeting their hubby on Caltrain (Hailey).

Post Team Sheeper "Ultimate" Run

I was thinking a lot about these girls last week, partly because I stalk their social media information to get updates on their training habits, and partly because I got an e-mail from someone talking about how inspired she was b y this group. This person said friends in her life have distanced themselves as she has become more focused on training for triathlon and meeting her personal goals. I can definitely feel for this person, as I have been in the same situation. Unfortunately sometimes even people you thought were really good friends can’t support positive life changes if they interfere with your current relationship. All I can say is that true friends will grow with you or they aren’t real friends. While this girl was disappointed her friends weren’t supporting her new lifestyle, she was happy to see that even competitors could be friends and root each other on. It made me realize how lucky I am now to have these women in my life pushing me, but also supporting me.

Kaiser Permanente 1/2 marathon before the crash and burn at mile 9

While we are all still competitive with one another, and of course I’m sure each of us hopes to win any battle with any of the other members of this group, I can honestly say I hope the best (or 2nd best if I am racing, too ) for all of these women. Their drive and determination inspires me to push harder and give everything I can and more every day. They also help educate me – how would I ever know the meaning of FOMO otherwise? (fear of missing out). They make me laugh with their funny training stories and one in particular has become my regular weekend partner in crime. All of these women are so strong and I can’t wait to see what we can do in 2012. And for any other women reading this blog, reach out to those girls you compete against. Learn from each other. Become friends. My guess is you will have a lot in common!
Okay, now for a couple quick updates before I move onto my VIPs (yes, there is more than 1)!

Sponsor updates – I still have a few things cooking, but for now I am SUPER excited to announce that for 2012, I will be racing for Saucony, Reynolds Wheels, and Clif Bar! All three of these brands are amazing and if you don’t use products from these companies already, I recommend you start ASAP! Check out the websites for more details. I will provide updates on new gear I am able to wear or test out in case anyone is interested in getting some user reviews. Or just send me comments if you have any questions about ANYTHING.

2012 races! I have pretty much finalized my schedule for 2012. First up Oceanside 70.3! Here’s the full plan, at least for now . This is a lot more racing than I have ever done before and I’m PUMPED!

3/31/12 – Oceanside 70.3
5/5/12 – Ironman St. George
6/10/12 – Kansas 70.3 OR Alcatraz
8/5/12 – Boulder 70.3
8/29/12 – Ironman KY OR Ironman Canada
10/28/12 – Austin 70.3
11/18/12 – Ironman Arizona


VIP#6,7,8,9,10, – My best frienemies

4 of the 6 meeting up at a pre race swim - Vegas 70.2 worlds

Hailey Manning – I know you have all seen this lady before! Since her last appearance on my blog, we have become training besties, garage-of-pain sufferers, and Chipotle fanatics (well, let’s be honest, we were that already!) I love training with Hailey because she’s so down to earth and has such an amazing attitude. I don’t know what I would do without this girl!

Sarah P. – Sarah is one of the most amazing competitors I know. She is my Purplepatch Fitness, Clif, and Saucony teammate, woohoo! I am absolutely certain we are going to see big things from this girl in her rookie pro year. I can’t wait to see her in Hawaii in less than a week. We haven’t had proper rocking-out-to-crazy-music-on-the-way-to-training time in almost a year!

Beth Walsh – this girl is the queen of social media and the fastest thing on two legs. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous of this girl’s running ability and that I haven’t thought a lot about how I could possibly out run her some day – so far I have come up with nothing!

Unfortunately I don't have any photos WITH miss Beth Shutt, but here she is looking super studly!

Beth Shutt – is maybe one of the nicest people I have ever met…BUT don’t let that sweet exterior fool you…she is a fierce competitor! She has a super solid swim/bike/run combo and will be a threat at all her races this year. I believe her Ironman debut is at CDA w/ SP and I can’t wait to see those two shine! (from the comfort of my couch, of course)

Definitely a great picture highlighting that famous CG backside!

Christine Gould – Love this girl! My former SOAS Racing teammate and biggest swimming rival (or the girl who always beats me out of the water). She’s not only fast but a smarty pants and happens to have the most famous backside of this whole group (you might remember her @$$ from the SOAS racing ads – if not check them out!)

My Night with Team In Training!

A couple months ago, my good buddy and Team Sheeper Teammate, Keith Terada asked me if I might want to be a guest coach at one of the local Team In Training group’s workouts. This group is an AMAZING group of people (I would come to find out) and is training for the Lavaman triathlon this April in Waikoloa (http://www.lavamantriathlon.com/waikoloa/). I guess you could pick a worse place to race, right? Anyway, Keith thought it might be fun, since I’m a new pro, to come “run” a track workout (terrible pun intended). This past Tuesday we were finally able to put it on the schedule and what a night!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Team In Training (http://www.teamintraining.org/), it’s an organization that helps people train for various events while also promoting fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I considered training with this group in Dallas when I did my first triathlon back in 2006, but never ended up joining. I have always wanted to be a part of the organization because I think it’s such a cool idea, so I was definitely excited about my opportunity not only to attend a practice, but to coach one.

The night had a theme – “Hoedown” which I thought sounded fun. Unfortunately even though I lived in the Dallas area for 8 years and you’d THINK I’d have some GREAT western wear to show off, I had nothing but a checkered bandanna. Better than nothing, I guess? To start the workout, they usually have a cancer survivor tell their story of recovery. Unfortunately I did not get the woman’s name, but it was so inspirational to listen to her talk about her battle with cancer and ultimately overcoming the disease. It was also a great reminder that I need to appreciate my health while I have it and not complain about the little things!

Inspiration time!

Once the speaker was finished and a few announcements were made, it was my turn to take over! There were about 50 people at the workout, which was initially a little intimidating, but within the first minute everyone made me feel right at home. I love getting the opportunity to talk to new athletes about my journey in triathlon. I was not an overnight success, not by any stretch of the imagination. I think my first Olympic distance race was over 3hrs and my first half Ironman was over 6. I know when people get started in triathlon, maybe they are nowhere near the front of the race or even their age group, they might think they’ll never be “good” at the sport. I think I’m a perfect example of how mediocre early results don’t necessarily mean you can’t make huge improvements and surprise everyone, even yourself. It took a lot of hard work, determination, and dedication to get where I am today, but you don’t have to qualify to race pro at your first triathlon to have potential. SOOO all you TNT racers out there – keep working your tails off, you never know!...

Okay, on to the workout. My #1 goal was to get the group to work hard, but to have fun at the same time. I also wanted to keep with the hoedown theme as much as possible. Here’s a quick breakdown of what we did:


• 10min light jog around the track to warm up
• 5min active stretching – my favorite was the Frankenstein walk to stretch out the hamstrings in which everyone began to moan like zombies without any direction from me – LOVE IT!
• 10min strength and core – focusing on glutes (don’t forget to squeeze those butts, I want to see dimples!) and abs – sorry for the backstroke kicks – OUCH!
• 10min run – 5 x 1:30 @ 60% perceived effort (PE), 30 sec 80+% PE
• 10min group line run – the group holds a moderate pace and the last person has to sprint to the front of the line – fun to do on a run OR in the pool!
• 1 mile relay – each team member had to run 200 meters and to tag the next person on the relay, you had to do-si-do with them – WOW was there some great do-si-do-ing out there, VERY IMPRESSIVE!

A little do-si-do-ing

And a little more


I was able to get in a little running during the workout myself and even joined one of the relay teams. Unfortunately I couldn’t pull us to victory, sorry team 5, I let you down! I really had so much fun at the workout. The group was so energized and excited. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time, I think my abs got more of a workout than anything else. I told Keith he might have to let me coach another workout soon. I am also super excited that I was added to the group’s facebook page so I can continue following all these amazing athletes on their journey to competing in Lavaman in a few months. I wish them all the best of luck and I know they will have a great race! I will be rooting for you TNT SV Lavaman 2012 aka TEAM KICK ASS!

VIP#6
This guy deserves to be my next VIP not only for what he has done for me, but what he is doing for so many others. My VIP#6 is a great teammate, a great friend, and the head coach of TEAM KICK ASS!

Love this one! hahaha all my training buddies beware I'll take my fav pic from your facebook page so be careful what you put there :)


Keith Terada! It has been so much fun getting to know Keith through Team Sheeper over the past 2 years. He’s a great triathlete, a stellar mountain biker, and an even better swimmer. Kind of annoyingly Keith developed these great swimming skills as a surfer, growing up in Half Moon Bay (if only I had done the same instead of spending 9 years swimming 9 workouts a week!). He has been my swim buddy and even offered to left me draft in Kona. It was a perfect plan as we were out of the water 13 seconds apart – too bad it’s almost impossible to stay with anyone in particular at the start of that CRAZY mass swim so I ended up losing him almost instantly.


I think Keith displayed the true teammate mentality when a couple weeks ago he agreed to do a timed swim so I would have someone to pace me. Not just anyone would agree to a 1,000 yard all out swim on a Sunday morning when they really didn’t have to. He’s extremely selfless and I am so lucky to call Keith a friend. And no I’m not writing this so he’ll agree to do the next timed swim with me as well…or am I?  Thanks Keith for everything you do!

Keith amd me at TNT practice - Keith bending WAY down and me on my toes to try and be a little closer in height, ha! Sorry for the blur!

Going Pro And VIP#5

Hello blog readers! Sorry it has been awhile since my last post (almost 2 months!). Life has been crazy trying to get through the holiday season at work, traveling to Iowa (brrrr – although not has brrr as normal this year) to visit my in-laws, negotiating with new sponsors (details to come!) and getting back on the training to prepare for the upcoming season. I have been back at the hard work for about 3 weeks now and I think one word can some it up – OUCH! Coach Matty Dixon is definitely layering on a new level of intensity and I LOVE IT! I’m feeling faster already!

On my way to losing miserably at the Team Sheeper Annual Donut eating contest. I gave it my best effort but I went home with nothing but a BAD stomach ache

Big 5 hour ride day w/ MBK, Hailey and the "Boys" - Keith, Aaron, and Bryce

So I’m totally going to cheat and be a copy cat all at the same time with this blog. About a month ago I did an interview for an upcoming 3GO article about “going pro” with a few girls in my age group who are all making the leap to the pro field for 2012. My buddies (and favorite competitors) Beth Walsh and Sarah Piampiano both posted their complete interview on their blogs, so I’m stealing their idea and doing the same. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I'm told the article will be in the March edition that will be released online towards the end of February. Make sure to check it out!


Name: Jessica Smith
Age: 30
Occupation: Inventory manager for Williams-Sonoma, Inc.(Pottery Barn Kids division)
Where do you live?: Stanford, CA

1. How did you get your start in triathlon? I think I was 12 the first time I saw Ironman Hawaii on TV. After watching the race I knew some day I was going to be an ironman. It wasn’t until a couple years after college that I finally joined my first triathlon team. It was the first time in my life I didn’t have a sport and decided I needed a new challenge to keep me motivated and in-shape. A year later I completed my first Ironman in Coeur D’Alene and was instantly hooked on Ironman racing.

2. What’s your athletic background? Growing up, I was a distance swimmer. Even when I was little my coach knew I was destined for the mile, probably because my starts were too slow to ever be a sprinter! I dabbled in cross country in high school, but quit after my coach said I had to choose between running and swimming. By the time I got to college I was ready for a change and joined the crew team. It was fun to participate in a more team oriented activity, but endurance sports are definitely where I belong.

3. What’s your strongest discipline? When I first started it was definitely swimming. Over time I have been able to develop my biking and running so now I think at this point my strength is my consistency. I might not ever be the fastest swimmer, biker, or runner in the race, but I do okay putting all three together. Now I just hope I can make all three significantly faster!

4. Which discipline do you think needs most improvement now that you’re joining the pro field? How do you plan to tackle this? Running is my biggest weakness right now. I think developing my run will happen gradually over time, but my plan is simple – run faster. I focus more on quality runs than quantity of miles and I’m sure the intensity will only increase as I progress in the sport.

5. What made you decide to “go pro”? I decided I wanted to “go pro” because I’m always setting new goals and looking for a new challenge. When I started in triathlon my goal was to finish an Ironman. Then it was to qualify for Kona. After that I realized maybe I could race as a pro. Now I want to win as a pro. Before getting there I had to prove to my coach I was ready to race. Winning my age group or the amateur division at a couple races wasn’t enough. We had tentatively planned on Ironman Arizona being my first pro race at the end of the year, but that was contingent upon how much I was able to progress throughout the year. Each time we’d chat I’d get a “we’ll see”. Finally when I won at the Vegas 70.3 World Championship my coach was convinced. I know I still have a long way to go before I’m winning Ironmans, but I can’t wait to get started on this next challenge! Of course the cheaper race fees and chance to earn back some of the money I’m putting in doesn’t hurt either.

6. Will racing as a pro change how you plan your season? If so, how?
Racing as a pro next year is definitely going to change how I plan my season. Before this year, I pretty much signed up for 1 Ironman per year and hoped I could add a second by qualifying for Kona. I might throw a few other local races in the mix, but with my husband in school, racing more than 5-6 times per year just wasn’t in the budget. This coming year I’m hoping I can race as much as possible. I will be looking for races that can help me get points for Kona, where I might have a shot at a podium finish, and of course don’t break the bank (Ironman Australia might have to wait a couple more years)

7. What do you expect to be the challenges of competing in the pro field? I think racing as a pro will be challenging because the race will always begin when the gun goes off. At any point I will have to be ready to swim, ride, or run outside of my comfort zone to stay in it. After just one pro race I have already realized there is a lot more strategy involved at this level and I still have a lot to learn!

8. What will you not miss about being an amateur? I will definitely not miss the swim start. Goodbye 2,000 people kicking and hitting each other while desperately searching for clear water. Swimming might be one of my strengths, but it is still my least favorite part of the race.

9. What concerns you most about your decision to race as a pro? I guess I really don’t have concerns about racing pro, I’m excited about it. I am already further in this sport than I ever expected to be when I started. How can I do anything other than completely enjoy the ride?

10. How will your training change in the coming year as you prepare for your first season as a pro? Ha, that’s a good one for my coach. I’m still working a full-time job so the amount of time I have to train won’t increase much. I think we’ll probably just layer in a new level of intensity. Every year I get a little stronger and am able to crank out training sessions that I wouldn’t have thought possible the year before. I’m hoping that trend continues.

11. What has been your favorite/most memorable triathlon experience to date? I have so many great memories from competing in triathlon, it’s really difficult to pick my favorite. I do think one memory that will stay with me forever is from Ironman Arizona 2009. Going into the race I remember looking at past year’s results and the times it would take to qualify for Kona. I thought there was pretty much no way I would ever get there – unless maybe I kept racing until I was 80. I ended up running about 30 minutes faster than I thought I would that day and passed a girl in the finish chute. I didn’t realize until I saw my husband after the finish that the girl I had passed was second in my age group and I had been third. Passing her (and beating her by less than a second) meant that I had grabbed the last spot in my age group for Hawaii. Of course going to Hawaii was an amazing experience, but this moment sticks out in my mind because it was the turning point in my triathlon career. I decided after that race it was time to get a real tri-bike and join a triathlon team to take my training and racing to the next level. It was one of my teammates who introduced me to my coach, Matt Dixon, and under Matt I have progressed significantly and am now racing pro. I like to think all the success I have had in the last two years is because I always try to sprint to the finish.

VIP#5 From Down Unda
This person definitely could have been my VIP of VIP’s this year. He has really given so much time and energy to helping me succeed as a triathlete and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am without him. He has been an amazing friend and always seems like one of my biggest fans. He likes to joke and tease me any chance he gets (calls me Shorty even though I’m pretty sure we are the same height), but I know he’s always there for me if I need him. He’s actually that way for pretty much everyone he knows.

My next VIP is MIkey Osmond!

I met Mikey, the Team Manager for Team Sheeper pretty much as soon as I joined the team. I actually met this Aussie the same night I met two English (Bob and Leigh) and one Irish (Mark) team members and wondered what crazy international tri team I had gotten myself onto! Mikey was so welcoming and instantly made me feel like a part of the team. He talked to Coach Tim Sheeper on my behalf to assist in furthering my career and I would probably still be racing on the Le Monde road bike w/ aero bars if it wasn’t for this guy. Thank you Mikey for all you do and being who you are! You would have been VIP#1, but I wanted to make you sweat it a bit  I’m so lucky to know you!

Pro Debut!!

Progress! It’s now only 2 weeks (technically 13 days) from my last race and I’m already writing my blog. Okay, 2 weeks is still a long time, but I’m definitely getting better!

Sooo, Sunday, November 20th, was official my debut as a professional triathlete! It was an exciting day and I was glad I was able to race as a pro for the first time at Ironman Arizona. Just two years ago I raced there as an age-grouper. It was my 2nd Ironman ever, I got a 2:12 PR (that’s 2 hours and 12 minutes), qualified for Kona for the first time, and realized I might actually have some potential in this sport. Needless to say I have fond memories of this race.

Anyway, when we arrived VERY late on November 17th I was super excited to be back. Friday was a pretty busy day. I had to get my bike, get in a short ride to make sure everything was working well, register, and attend my first pro meeting. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little intimidated going to my first pro meeting. So many of the other athletes knew each other, and of course just looked like fierce competition. I have been told that as an athlete I am “very unassuming” which is, I guess, a more polite way of saying I don’t look fast. I was also shocked by the number of pros entered to race. The female field alone had 26 racers on the start line, significantly more than most other Ironmans in the US. After the pro meeting I attended an event at Tribe Multisport – a local triathlon shop. They partnered with Slowtwitch to offer food, drinks, the chance to win raffle prizes, and the opportunity to look at some of the pro’s bikes. It was a fun event and I got to meet a lot of great people. My bike wasn’t the most amazing ride at the event, but it still trumps what I was riding 2 years ago!

Bike 2009

Bike 2011

Saturday was pretty relaxing and I was able to rest my legs and get everything ready for the race. As usual, I was nervous when I woke up on race morning, but not as nervous as I was expecting. Even though this was my first pro race, I think I was just more excited to get out there and race. I didn’t have any expectations except to lay it all on the line. This was going to be my last race of the season so there would be no 2nd chances. I knew I wasn’t going to have a Kona repeat and I was determined to end my season on a high note. I think because my last IMAZ was a great race for me, I had a little more confidence that I was going to have a good day.
It was a little surreal lining up at the start. I positioned myself next to the amazing Meredith Kessler, who I was hoping to stick with during the swim. Unfortunately when the gun went off, I only had her feet for about 50 meters, until I did a couple strokes with my head down and missed a move. The pro field definitely had a FAST start, which is something I need to work on. It was obvious to me I didn’t sprint hard enough in the beginning when after about 10 minutes I realized the pack I was in wasn’t swimming very fast. I was able to get around that pack, then the next one, and finally catch another pack towards the end. I didn’t have quite the swim I wanted, but it was about a 30 sec. PR at :54 flat. I was 7th out of the water, which is further down the field than I was hoping to be, but I was within about 10 seconds of 5th place, so not too bad.

I tried to make T1 a fast one and get on the bike as quickly as possible. I HAVE to learn how to start with my shoes on the bike in the offseason! I really like the bike in Tempe, even if the flat terrain doesn’t suit me as well as a hillier course. The 3 loops allow you to better manage your pace (which is important when you are like me and don’t have power), see your competition more, and of course more often experience the amazing crowd support. On the first loop I was passed pretty quickly by a couple other women. At first I matched the pace to see if I could hang with them, but realized we were on the first loop and if I tried to stay in contact, I might blow up on the 3rd loop. I made the strategic decision to hold my pace and let the other women go, which unfortunately meant I rode alone for almost 100 miles. The only time I was actually able to pace with someone was on the third loop and even that was pretty short lived. My legs actually felt reasonably fresh at the end of the bike, but I was still ready to start the run. My back and shoulders were killing me and I ended up sitting up WAY too much on the last 18 miles. The bay area is GREAT for climbing and building strength on the bike, but not for aero bar riding. Another thing to work on for next season…check!

Run 2009

Run 2011
I felt amazing on the run. I tried to stay conservative on the first loop of the run so I could finish strong on the last loop. Unfortunately what I THOUGHT was conservative, was actually about 20 seconds / mile faster than I probably should have been running. After the first loop I was right on pace to run a 3:20 and I still felt great. The fatigue really didn’t start to set in until about mile 13. It built really slowly, which I guess is good, but by about mile 18 I was starting to struggle and the aid-station walking began (grrr). 2 years ago I didn’t walk a single step and I was hoping for a repeat of that, although I didn’t start out at a 7:20 pace in 2009. At mile 21, I was ready for the race to be over. I was really struggling, my legs were sore, my back and shoulders were on fire, and I needed nutrition, but couldn’t even think about another gu or cliff blok. I saw my coach and he could tell I was in trouble. He yelled for me to only drink coke and water for the rest of the race. I don’t actually like coca cola, but a lot of racers I know say it’s like magic. The next aid station couldn’t come soon enough. I drank a cup of water, then coke, then another water. Within about a minute I felt a lot better. All of a sudden my running picked back up and I felt like I had energy again. Coke was going to save the day! Each little cup of coke would last me almost exactly 1 mile. I would come into the aid station feel like I was about to fall over and leave feeling great again. I kept up this patter for 5 miles until FINALLY I crossed the finish line! It was over! I raced as a pro, I finished, I got a 46min PR and I was 12th overall. With the strength of that field, I’ll take it!

Overall I thought the race went really well. I struggled the last 8 miles on the run, but I still had a 7 minute PR. I can’t be upset about that – although I will always drink coke and will probably start it a little early next time! I thought on my best day I MIGHT be able to break 9:30 so my 9:34 was extremely satisfying. I am excited I was able to end my season on a high note, but also with more motivation to improve and come back even stronger in 2012.
I also have to give a shout out to Leanda Cave, Linsey Corbin, and Meredith Kessler for their AMAZING performances at IMAZ. Linsey jointed the sub 9 hour club and MBK was 9 hours flat…WOW!! Three inspiring performances by three incredible women.

Also, thanks so much to my coach Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness and to my amazing sponsors, especially SOAS Racing. I couldn't do it without you!

VIP#4
This person is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She is a fierce competitor, an inspirational athlete, and a caring and compassionate teammate and friend. I have had a lot of help from other athletes to get me where I am today, but no one has given more of their time and energy than Meredith Kessler.

I first met Meredith at a Velo SF indoor cycling class in late 2010. Before the class I was amazed by how friendly she was and how much everyone in the class seemed to love her. During the class I was amazed by how strong and focused she was. While others were showing the pain of the class on their faces, Meredith’s expression never seemed to deviate from determination (something that still amazes and inspires me today).

VIP#4 and VIP#1

I was lucky enough to sign on with Meredith’s coach, Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness and since then she has completely taken me under her wing. She checks on me when I’m tired, ensures I am set for all my races, and gives me guidance and support in training. She had helped me navigate becoming a professional and is doing everything she can to make sure I’m set up for success in 2012. I can honestly say I really don’t know where I’d be without MBK! I think there are a lot of other athletes who feel the same. Thanks Meredith for all you do for me and so many others! You are truly and inspiration in and out of triathlon!

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE VOMITING

I realize it has been 4 weeks now since Kona. I don’t really have any excuses for not blogging about my experience until now other than work has been crazy, I’m back on the training, and blogging still intimidates me! Throwing caution and fear of writing an uninteresting blog to the wind!
Oh Kona, where do I start? I felt AWESOME going into this race. I had just come off a win in Vegas and had a lot of confidence in my training and I just knew I was going to have a good race. Training was going well and I was really excited to get back to the Big Island.
As soon as I arrived I thought Kona was better than I remembered. It was hot and humid, but gorgeous and even with the race hoopla still had the ‘islandy-vacationy’ feel (I believe that is the technical term). Anyway I had a few good training sessions and fun activities before the big day. I was excited to get in a ride with stud triathlete and pal Sarah Piampiano (who had an amazing day with a 9:50 PR and a podium spot – woohoo!). And of course some QT w/ my SOAS ladies! This was my first year doing the underwear run and I almost embraced the theme of the event!

On to race morning – I was nervous, but more excited. I knew it was going to be a tough day, but I was ready to get out there and race again. I woke up early, started in on my breakfast, which I had to force down and throw out half way through. Why am I a bottomless pit every other morning but on race morning, when I need the fuel the most, can I barely get anything down?!? At the race site I had a little time after checking all my gear to catch up with the SOAS ladies again, get some awesome USA tattoos from buddy Beth Walsh, and meet the incredible Lou Hollander.

I was still getting things together when the pros started, then it was time to head to the swim. Last year I lined up pretty close to the pier and was pummeled for an hour straight - maybe the worst swim of my life. I decided this year lining up a little more left might not be a bad idea – especially if I could manage to shoot for the far buoys and cut a good angle. I would have much quieter water and not swim out of my way. The gun went off and I was right next to Team Sheeper buddy Keith Terada. Keith and I planned to swim together (knowing our splits would be close). Really I was hoping to draft of Keith and conserve as much energy as possible. Of course that always sounds good in theory until the gun goes off and all you see is white water and your draft buddy disappears in a sea of craziness. Luckily despite losing Keith instantly, I was able to get out front, get some clear water for a couple hundred and settle in to a nice pace. I definitely don’t think I took a great line, and I wasn’t super excited about a 59 min swim, but I only got kicked in the ribs once and my cap never came off. SUCCESS!

I tried to make T2 a quick transition and get on the bike as soon as possible. I knew my bike would really dictate how the day was going to go. After the couple quick hills and turns in town, I was out on the Queen K and feeling AWESOME. I was staying focused, but also really enjoying myself. I really watched the time and was 100% on my nutrition. I passed a couple girls and when I saw my coach at mile 45 or so he said I was in 3rd and only a couple minutes down from the leader. Still feeling great, I continued to ride strong, although when the temperature started rising, my nutrition plan began to fall apart.

I had been training with Justins Nutbutter packets and bonk breakers bars. I know they seem like an odd choice, but I was working with a nutritionist trying to get the optimal balance of carbs, protein, fat, and sugar early in the ride. Both items are super tasty and great to eat on the bike…at least in the SF Bay area climate. My miscalculation for Hawaii was not knowing how terrible those would both sound after 2 hours on the bike in the heat and humidity. I was only able to get down 1 of each by mile 45 and after that had to switch over to cliff bloks (which weren’t in the schedule until mile 70). Over the next 30 miles I definitely didn’t get enough calories and I knew I was starting to bonk a bit. No problem! I could get it back. I just need to get gels from the aid stations, stay calm, and ride it out – it would come back. I stuck to that plan, but by mile 80 I really felt BAD. I grabbed a few more gels and finally a bottle of coke. I don’t actually like coca cola and have never had any in a race, but I know sugar and caffeine work so it was worth a shot.
Unfortunately while I was worried about getting all these calories, I guess I forgot to take in enough water and was quickly dehydrating. By mile 90 it hit and I threw up. Okay, keep calm, keep riding,…and unfortunately keep throwing up. Over the next 10 miles I couldn’t keep anything down. I would take sips of water and 30 seconds later it was back up. When I finally got to the aid station at mile 100, I had already been off the bike once. I was wabbly, weaving, and worried I would fall over. At that point I figured my dream race was out of reach, but the finish line wasn’t. I planned to sit down, drink, eat, and be on my way. When I got off my bike I collapsed. Luckily there was a med van at the aid station and volunteers surrounded me immediately. Lots of ice, a little water, more vomiting, and an hour later I was in the med tent getting an iv.
What just happened?!? How did I go from feeling amazing to ending up in the med tent with my first Ironman DNF? Because the race is so long, It SEEMS like you have so much time to think, analyze your situation, and ensure you are making good decisions about pace, nutrition, etc… The reality is that when things start to slip your mind gets a little fuzzy. The miles feel long, yet you can go 60 minutes with no calories and not realize it. I knew Kona would be tough and good nutrition was one of the most important components of the day, yet I still failed.
After 2 hour in the med tent and 2 IVs, I was finally ready to get back on my feet. I grabbed a little food with my family (which I threw up later) and watched the top amateur women come across the finish line. Of course I was bummed, and jealous that they were finishing, but it was done. Stuff happens and while I wished I could have finished, even if it had taken me 16 hours, I didn’t. At the time, I was 100% sure I did the right thing. Of course now, being completely removed from that feeling and situation, I think I should have been able to keep going – funny how you always think you could have given more when the pain is gone.
At the end of the day I had to remember that I was in Hawaii. I got to come to an amazing place, race (for awhile) with some incredible competitors, and I guess got in an awesome training day! It was not the end of the world and luckily not even the end of my season. I hoped to never DNF no matter what, but I think I learned more from that race than all my other ironmans combined. I know I will be much stronger and better prepared for the next one and I can’t wait to get back out there!

While I was disappointed in my race, I was so proud of all of my racing buddies, especially those in the W30-34 category! Big shout outs and hugs to Sarah P., Beth Walsh, Beth Shutt, Ashley Johnson, and Hailey Manning for incredible races and inspirational finishes! This group of women is going to do BIG things next year!

And last, but certainly not least - thanks so much to Soas racing for the awesome kits, fun, brunch, and support! AND OF COURSE my amazing family for joining me in Hawaii! I love you all so much and it meant the world to me to have you there (even for a DNF) :)

VIP#3
So once again choosing my VIP is tough – there are so many amazing people in my life – in and out of triathlon. I think this time I have to stick to the Kona theme and highlight the person who has become a great training buddy, friend, and had a breakout race in Hawaii, Miss Hailey Manning.

Ha! Please don't kill me for this one :)

Hailey is one of the toughest competitors I have met, yet she is also one of the most fun girls I know! We first met in June of this year and after 1 race w/ a wrong turn and a few extra miles together, I felt like we had known each other for years. After that race we were able to train together to prepare for Kona. It was great to have another girl to ride with who definitely pushed me to work my BUTT off!
She is so strong and had been training so well (and smart under the direction of hubby & cyclist Mark) I knew she was destined for Kona greatness. She started the season with a 4th place OA finish at Ironman TX and ended to year with an 8th place AG finish at Kona, which was 36th out of ALL women (including the pros). WOW! I can’t wait to see what this girl does next! (I’m sure it will be big after we spend a winter doing TRX in her “garage of pain” woop woop!