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Going Long Again: HITS Lake Havasu Pre-Race


ready to roll...

My first and only long-distance* race was in 2007 in Germany. Challenge Roth. It was an amazing experience and I am so glad I got to be a part of it! You can read my race report here. But I was kind of done with long distance racing after that. We had another kid and things got busy and crazy. Plus, while the race went well and I was pleased with the result, truth is - it wasn't as much fun as I had hoped it would be. Toward the end of each discipline things got kinda boring. Apparently I had a hard time keeping the adrenaline and excitement going for 11 hours. Even in the race with the most spectators ever! So I focused on the middle distance for the next 6 years. And had a blast! 

*I have issues with the naming of the different distances in triathlon. Because if your race consists of 2.4 mi swimming, 112 mi biking, and 26.2 mi running but it's not put on by WTC, you cannot call it an Ironman. (In my opinion.) But unless you do, people don't know what you are talking about. I think we should adopt the German terms: sprint distance, short distance, middle distance, long distance. There you go. Pretty straight forward and not referring to any sort of brands. 

yay for awesome biking buddies!

Now that both boys are in school, I am ready to give the long distance another shot. At least one. I chose HITS Lake Havasu Full this weekend to see how I am liking it this time. I am expecting a low-key, well-run race in the warm and sunny desert. Should be perfect! Of course I wouldn't mind competing in an Ironman but, seeing how these things are in no way affordable to us right now, I am pleased to have found a great alternative. It's within driving distance, the whole family will come, we are borrowing an inflatable boat for some fun on the lake, and the campground even has a pool! The kids are thrilled! I, on the other hand, just hope I can get in and out of the tent and to the bathroom in time post-race. In Roth that was a real struggle. Yay for camping trips! 


Training for this adventure has been fun, fun, and more fun! If you know me, you know I will take quantity over quality any day. Which is not a good thing. But can be helpful when training for an all-day race. I told Coach M and HT after Vegas that I wanted to do this on my own. They weren't too sad to get a bit of a break from me. So I have been doing whatever I feel like. This basically includes a lot of long, slow stuff and no speed work whatsoever. I figure I did plenty of that in preparation for my middle distance races earlier in the year and I just needed a break from it. On the upside: I am in a very good place mentally. No breakdowns or even rough patches. If I don't feel like it, I don't do it. On the downside: I am certainly not as prepared physically as I could be. But that's ok. I want to race well but I also want there to be lots of room for improvement. 


I am super excited for Saturday. Can't wait to see what the day brings and how I am going to deal with it. I know a long distance race is about so much more than just physical fitness and I am ready to see what I got. The reason I am not nervous is because there really is nothing to be nervous about. Too late to worry about things like training and nutrition. Nothing I can do now about all that Halloween candy I ate a few days ago. Gear is either ready or it's not. Not sure if those tri shorts are really going to get me through 112 miles of biking without too much discomfort but I chose to wear bike shorts on my long rides and now it's just time to suck it up. I am trying to control what I can and let go of the rest. I definitely don't have it all figured out and there are a few a lot of unknowns. But I know this much: Whether the day goes smooth and I only have about 3 minor issues to deal with or whether I will be walking the marathon and finish around midnight, this race is going to teach me a lot about my strengths and weaknesses and will be a great learning experience. It will be fantastic to see a bunch of friends out on the course and to cheer each other on. I CAN'T WAIT!  



HAPPY RACING to all of those whose season isn't quite over yet!!!










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