IMNO 70.3 Race Report

I signed up for New Orleans 70.3 wanting to better my time from my 2008 Vineman 70.3 race. After I signed up I set out to find other suckers, I mean friends, to join me. We had a great crew racing in New Orleans this year (Me, Patty, Shannon, Pam, Tessy, Deb, Rita, Fran, John S, and Brandy). Most of us raced together at Vineman 2 years ago.

When we went to packet pickup, I found out my race number was 1000!! How lucky was that!! Race day came and I was ready. I had trained according to the Vineman training plan we purchased a couple of years ago and only missed about 3 workouts total over the 12 weeks due to work. I knew this was my year and wanted a major PR!

On race morning, we set up transition and then met together for a little team talk led by Tessy and then the first of our wave of swimmers went to get in the water. I was in a later swim wave with Shannon and Rita. The swim was the hardest swim I have ever done. Growing up in California, I learned how to swim in the ocean, lakes, and rivers...not the pool. I am not scared or even worried when it comes to open water swimming, but this was crazy! Three foot swells was going over your head while trying to get a breath. I started to hyperventilate a couple of times but started breast stroking to calm myself down and then went back to swimming. I kept thinking to myself that this would be successful if I could keep it under 1:05 at this point. I started thinking of other things until I got into a rhythm. I ended up out of the water faster than I thought.
Vineman 70.3 Swim Time - 52:09
IMNO 70.3 Swim Time - 57:57

When I was running to my bike, Rita was leaving with her bike so I was glad she wasn't far ahead of me. Shannon was long gone by then! I set out on my bike. A guy had told us before the race to be careful the first 3 miles and last 3 miles of the bike ride because the roads were pretty tore up. There were a couple of bridges for hills but otherwise this course was flat and fast! It was really windy out there though and it seemed like the wind changed direction at least 5 times. As people would pass me or I passed people, they would yell out, GO LUCKY 1000!!! I had my own fan club just from my race number! I saw Patty and Rita a couple of times on the bike ride so that was cool. The hi light for me was passing the guy on his tri bike with disc wheels and a cone helmet...he never passed me back!! LOL
Vineman 70.3 Bike Time - 4:08:34.
IMNO 70.3 Bike Time - 3:17:36 (17mph)

The run was where I slowed down. It was so hot out there and the first 5 miles there is no shade! Once we got into the park it was nice and shaded with a little breeze. I saw Tessy when I first got into the park at Mile 5 and she was leaving the park at about mile 9. I yelled for her and she told me to keep it up. I saw Rita, Patty, and Fran a couple of times in the park. Once out of the park you run down a long shaded street. It was nice but by that time I was starting to cramp in my right calf and my stomach was killing me from drinking to much of Lake Ponchatrain. LOL I was so glad when it was over...even though I was disappointed with my run time.
Vineman 70.3 Run Time - 3:27:46
IMNO Run Time - 3:04:31

Overall, I had a great time and am very glad that I do not EVER have to swim in Lake Ponchatrain again as I do not do 70.3's twice! I had a blast on Bourbon St with Patty, Shannon, and Pam for my first time! Nothing like Bourbon St and beer 2 days before a Half IronMan!
Vineman 70.3 - 8:37:20
IMNO 70.3 - 7:28:57

IMNO 70.3

RACE WEEK IS HERE!!! IT IS GO TIME!!!!

New body...

So it is setting in...I have lost 75 lbs. It was not easy and the battle will never be over. If you have seen my family you know that every one of us has a weight problem...I chose to do something about it. I have gone from a size 22 to a size 10. I wore a size 8 jean skirt yesterday!