Making new friends - the best part of racing!
This is a super fun race I love to come to! Since I am really no good at mountain biking (I used to be decent and want to get back into it!) but love trail running, this is the perfect fit! We get to run TWICE on the fun trails in McDowell Mountain Regional Park and bike on some nice roads around the park. And, of course, it's always a treat to escape winter in Flagstaff and enjoy some warm sun down here!
This is going to be a bit of a different race report. Coach Liz (my first race under her) had me answer some questions after the race and I am going to post those and my answers here.
This race actually attracts quite a good field of speedy women!
Yes,
I did. My main goal was to go hard and leave nothing out on the course. The
second run could’ve possibly been harder but given the
circumstances, I would say I did the best I could. I only had a few
guys in front of me during the first mile and once I passed all of
them there was NO ONE for the next 2 miles. If I hadn’t already run
the course that day, I would’ve thought I was lost. There wasn’t a single
soul. So I tried to stay focused and get the best out of me but
sometimes I would start daydreaming. I also knew a few speedy girls were
behind me but figured (from what I saw at the bike turn-around) I had a big enough lead that they wouldn’t
catch me. And if they did, I could speed up! Haha. I have no regrets though. The only way I could’ve run
faster is with someone breathing down my neck.
I
wanted to improve on my last performance here two years ago and I did just that. So considering it's February I feel like I am in a good place!
What worked?
The legs is what worked, especially on the bike. And that was nice!
Because, believe me, I know what it feels like when they don’t
work! I feel like our little taper was great and worked really well
for me. They already felt surprisingly good on yesterday's ride but you never no if they will show up on race day or not. This time they did and I am happy!
Everything
else worked well also: nutrition, pacing, and gear. No issues
whatsoever. Except for T1 when the sole came out of my shoe and I had
to put it back in. I knew it would be smarter to race with socks but
I just don’t like it. And I hate dealing with little things that
bug me while racing, so socks were out. So were trail shoes. I wore the lightest racing flats I have and they worked well for these smooth trails.
chasing Ironman champion Sara Gross and some Scottsdale lady
What didn't work?
I
want to warm up better next time especially for a short race like
this. There weren’t any issues per se and I don’t think I
would’ve run any faster but I took too much time to do random little
things and talking to strangers instead of starting my warm-up. 20 minutes isn't enough, I guess.
I
could’ve done better with nutrition in the 48 hours before the
race. It wasn’t bad and I am making progress but the whole
low-fiber thing is very unnatural for me. I will get used to it and
keep practicing it. It didn’t affect me this time because it was a
shorter race but I want to KNOW that I won’t be having any issues
in longer races either.
One of my favorite places to ride in the Phoenix area!
What did you learn?
I
learned that I am not afraid of big names like Sara Gross and I do
believe that I belong up there with some of these faster ladies and I
am not going to be afraid of them. I do have enough confidence to
think: ‘When Sara comes by on the bike I am going to go with her
and just see what happens.’
I
learned again that I love racing! Everything about it! So fun!
Especially if I still get to spend the rest of the day doing more
biking and some swimming but easy with friends. That’s my kind of
day for sure!
Did you follow your race plan?
Yep.
Followed your race plan. Tried to race my heart out and have the
effort feel violent and nauseating, just as you prescribed. I kept repeating those words in
my head on the second run. But I have never been able to push myself
hard enough to feel sick or throw up. Ever. In 17 years of racing.
Maybe some day… Great plan. Thank you!
Did you follow your fuel plan?
Yep.
Drank the whole 24-ounce bottle with Osmo and had 1.5 packages of Honey
Stinger chews on the bike. That’s a total of about 320 calories. Skipped the
gel I had brought on the bike. Took one on the run with me but didn’t
need that one either.
Had
white rice, a banana, almond milk and cinnamon for breakfast, then a
gel 20 minutes before the start. And one 16-ounce bottle of Osmo
while getting ready. It worked out well.
What training experiences do you feel helped to prepare you for
this race?
The
specific trail runs and hill reps. The days where I ran before and
after the bike. Any and all of the training, actually. Coach knows
what she is doing.
What training experiences would you like to see to help prepare you
for your next race?
It’s
working well so far, so let’s keep rolling with it. Looking forward
to Oceanside!
List one thing you learned from this race that you can carry over
into the next one to race better.
Follow
Coach’s plan. It’s a good one!
Always fun to stand on that top spot!
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