Racing Weight........HELP!

I love working out. I love training. I love racing. I have days that "I don't want to" - but not too many. Training for my first marathon I gained 10 pounds. Not muscle. I checked. I can't find it. I'm not sure how it happened - or at least I don't want to believe I overdosed on GU and electrolyte drinks (but I'm pretty sure I did).

Instead of hating my scale and poking my fat (you do that, right?) I'm going to celebrate!

I'm going to work on getting to my racing weight.

First step: line up a babysitter for Wednesday nights. Sam and I go to a team track workout/date night. (done!)
Second: Up my veggie intake and back off the sugary crap

Anything you would like to celebrate? Blisters? Black toenails? Chub rubs scars (I got those)

PowerBar Winner...and some 4th of July pics!

Mason went fishing for the first time

Scored some loot at Potomac River Runners 4th sale

Ready for some fireworks!

Dancing to the music

It's getting darker.....

Getting comfy

The winners are......................
#2: SupermomE12
#6 Ozone3

Send me your mailing address at ann _ hardman (at) hotmail (dot) com. Congrats! and Thanks for following my journey

I Love the Tavern Race Report: by Sam Hardman

I think most of us know the feeling of race nerves.  The butterflies, the feeling of not knowing what you were thinking signing up for this race, the wondering if that really will be your last trip to the port-a-potty this morning.  I did my first tri in June of 2010, and I will never, ever forget the race nerves I had that morning.  It was something I had not felt since I was 18 years old, I got off of the bus at boot camp and the drill instructors started yelling at us.  I didn’t know what the race was going to be like and I knew that I had not properly prepared.  Those just added to the typical race day nerves. I finished the race in 2:20:55.   But this year was different.

This past June I did the same race, although there were some major changes this time.  This was going to be my 4^th sprint triathlon so I felt like I knew what I was doing.  More importantly, I had been working out with FeXY Coaching, I knew I was ready and was excited to prove it.  

I woke up before my alarm (at 4:00am), took a shower, got my race bag, which had been packed and double checked the day before, and waited for my friend to pick me up.  We got to the race at 5:30, set up my transition area, got marked, picked up my timing chip, rechecked my transition area and walked to the swim start.  I was in the first wave and we started at 7:00.  There were almost 100 guys in my wave and this was a race where I was able to stay towards the front of the main group for the whole swim.  It was a pretty physical swim, I was hit it the face twice (my goggles were nearly knocked off), someone swam into me from the side and used my back to push off with.  It was a quite the experience! 

I got out of the water and felt really good.  I hit T1 and got on all my gear.  It took longer than I had wanted (2:50), but I got of the bike feeling fresh and confident in my ability to get this ride done quickly.  I had a great ride (got up to 43mph on a hill!!) and got out of T2 in :50.  I was really happy about that time and knew my plan for the run.  I also saw Ann and my boys for the first time at T2.  I heard them cheering for me and I yelled back to them as I ran past.  

I am not a fast runner, but I knew if I wanted to hit my goal I had to work hard here.  I was hitting my pace but I knew that for the last mile I would have to push.  My Garmin was scrolling through screens so I was having trouble finding my pace as quick as I wanted to, so I ran by my HR.  At my normal race pace my HR is around 160-165, so I decided to try to stay between 180-185.  

In 2010 I finished this race in 2:20:55 and had a goal to finish this year in 1:45.  As I came towards the finish line I could hear the announcer, the music and the crowd.  I came out of the trail into the finish line shoot and saw Ann and the kids.  I pushed as hard as I could for the last 100 meters.  I could see the clock ticking away and crossed the finish line at 1:45:00!  One more second and I would not have met my goal, but I did it!  I finished the race 35:50 faster than I had a year earlier!  I got a big hug from Ann and both boys at the finish line.  It felt great, I was so happy with my performance.  My training had prepared me!  What a difference a year makes.  I can’t wait until next year!!

Don't forget! I am picking a powerbar winner tomorrow!

What I have survived.........

We have all survived or are surviving something. Whether it's small or HUGE - we've all been there. Sometimes it's hard to see to the other side and sometimes it's so big we aren't sure there is a other side.

Yesterday I experienced a horrible health scare. I was in the grocery store with my kids and got hit hard by something. Thinking it was a "I need a snack" moment I got a latte. I love Starbucks in the grocery store. I didn't even drink half. I was so dizzy and nauseous I knew I just needed to get home. I was well enough - for the moment - to get myself and the kids home safely.

I called my husband and told him what was happening and that I was not feeling good. I got home. Laid on the couch and 45 minutes later awoke to my mother in law coming in. Sam had been calling me, friends, and my mother in law to find me. She came over and held my hand and stroked my hair. I started crying. I was dizzy (couldn't even open my eyes), nauseous (huge fear of throwing up), had ringing in my ears, and my whole body was tingly. Sam got home, saw me, and called 911. Then I got scared. He is my cool cucumber. For him to think something is wrong, well - that means it is.

The ambulance showed up and asked me a TON of questions. At this point my face felt funny. I felt like I was talking slow and I couldn't think clearly. Both EMTs said "stroke?" Enough said. I panicked. I tried to "be cool" but I was melting. I didn't say "bye" to my kids! I'm too young! I have a race Monday and Saturday! Ugh. Terrible. I passed all the stroke tests and they checked my blood pressure, pulse, and blood sugar. All was great, but the blood sugar was low (73). They put me on the gurney and wheeled me out to the ambulance.

waiting for lab results

After a few hours in the ER - at least I had my own room - I was diagnosed with BPV. Benign Positional Vertigo. It may never happen again, it may happen in a week, it may happen in a year. I got some medication for now and future occurrences and was good to go. All my blood work came back great. The Dr. actually told me a few times how low my blood pressure and resting heart rate (58-65 in the room) were and attributed it to triathlon training! She even said I inspired her to try one (she panics in the water).

One thing that really helped was being in training. I knew exactly what I had eaten that day, how much I worked out, what my max heart rate was during that, and that I've been doing this - it's not new. I heard each professional say "she's training for a triathlon". It sounded so silly at first. The more I heard it the more I felt "bad ass".

Today I'm good. I'm exhausted and I'm feeling hung over from all the crap from yesterday. Survived! That made me think about all that I have survived in my life and just felt like writing it down.Some are good, some were terrifying.

1. being adopted
2. 2 car accidents at 16 (oops)
3. graduating high school, college, and graduate school (thanks mom!)
4. finding Sam, falling in the love, and marrying him!
5. meeting my biological mom the day before my wedding
6. my parents divorce
7. having two beautiful boys (c-section scar to prove it)
8. working full time
9. completing my first 5k (got me hooked)
10. completing my first 1/2 marathon (getting choked up here....)
11. completing my first marathon (tears)
12. meeting my biological dad on st. patty's day 2010 - we both had green beer
13. supporting my best friends as they both lost someone they love (sole sisters)
14. completing my first triathlon (thanks sam!)
15. forgiving my adopted dad and visiting him in the hospital to "say goodbye"

I feel so strong reading that list. I'm sure I have forgotten good and bad survivals too.

What have you survived?

oh. THAT'S how you are supposed to ride a bike?

Last week we rode bikes with Coach Rob. I've been on the bike twice since then. I'm going to be honest here....I NEVER rode like that before I rode with him. Now? It's all about sweat, burn, and double digits on the hills. I mean, how many ways can you ride a bike? Apparently there is the "easy" way and then there is Coach Rob's way.

Pretty sure this is how steep Coach Rob's hill was

Now I'm paying attention to form, speed, feel, and using "free speed". Man, this bike this is tough! I have learned with exercise the better you get the harder it gets. There is so much to be thinking about. Luckily I'm feeling awesome at clipping in and out, stopping, and being around cars.

I'm almost positive this is what I look like now on the bike

I'm gearing up for the Colonial Beach Sprint Tri. I can NOT wait! I'm feeling much more prepared and ready for this. My husband and kids will be cheering me on from the beach too.

Don't forget about my giveaway!!!
http://runwithann.blogspot.com/2011/06/tough-chik-shirts-and-powerbar-giveaway.html

Sam is going to guest blog tomorrow about his race from Sunday. Spoiler alert: He NAILED it!

How to move past a crappy workout and ANOTHER thing about me!

This weeks training went pretty well. Monday is almost always my day off. It also happened to be the last full day of school! It was field day and I spent a big portion of it outside and scored a cherry snow cone.

Tuesday I did a trainer ride and Wednesday was track and pool. Trying to get my track workout proved difficult. I went to the local HS track and it was closed for repairs! I'm glad it was getting fixed, but that really screwed my plans. I told the boys that if they were good I'd get them dunkin donuts (yep, bribery). So, we got donuts and tried the college track. Open, but you had to pay $3 cash. I did not have cash. CRAP! Mason cried when I said we were going home - guess he really wanted to play at the track.

It was starting to get hot and I was not real happy about that. We tried one more high school. Success! I had 4x5 min I pace to do with 2 minutes recovery in between. I was just about finished with number 3 when Sammy grabbed his head and screamed.

Sammy cut his head on the bleachers

He was ok, but there was some blood and lots of tears. The workout was done. Time to go home.

We relaxed in the pool and just chilled.

Then the boys made pizza from scratch for dinner. Yum!

Thursday night we met up with Coach Rob for a bike session. I was nervous. I knew it would be hard and I hadn't been out of the neighborhood clipped in yet. Nervous poo to say the least. His girls watched the boys while we went out. It was great! I didn't die or fall (whew!) and Coach Rob gave me some great pointers. I really gained a lot of confidence with this ride. It was also a huge eye opener - I have NOT been riding this hard on my own! I will have to step it up. There was one hill that got me. Yup. I unclipped and walked up the hill. I was embarrassed, but also scared I would fall over if I couldn't make it up. We did the loop one more time, this time I got up that effin hill! It was slow, but I did it. Go Ann!

This morning I tried a run. I actually made it .5 miles. It was too hot (10am, what was I thinking?) and my Garmin was crapping out, and my piriformis was bothering me. Stupid bad run. Why do those happen? So that I appreciate the good ones? I might have been tired from the ride the night before too. 

Tonight is our pre race dinner for Sam. He is racing the I Love the Tavern Sprint on Sunday with his BFF. I'm so excited to cheer for him. We go down tomorrow and the boys and I have already made our signs.

My "thing about me"? Well, it has proved to be more annoying lately than ever. I have a profound hearing loss in my right ear. I've had it since birth but didn't get diagnosed until high school! If you are behind me odds are I wont hear you (sucks on the bike) and if you are on the right side of me odds are I'm turning towards you and reading lips. I tried hearing aids two different times, but they didn't help much.


How do you cope with crappy workouts or missed workouts?

Don't forget about my giveaway!
http://runwithann.blogspot.com/2011/06/tough-chik-shirts-and-powerbar-giveaway.html?spref=fb

Tough Chik shirts and PowerBar Giveaway

On Saturday I ordered two ToughChik shirts. I've had my eye on a few of them for a long time and I finally ordered them. Wednesday this was in my mailbox:

The super cute hand written note

My two MUST HAVE shirts

The back of the purple and the front of the blue

I cannot wait to wear these! I will be wearing Triathamom at Sam's sprint tri this weekend. These shirts are so comfortable, they fit well, and they are longer in length - no back or belly show.

Now - for the giveaway. I have two boxes of PowerBars to give away. I love these things. They are great for on the go snacks, bike rides, before/after a swim, race day......anywhere. The flavor is cookies and cream. Yum!

PowerBar Performance Energy bar — key features:

• Provides more energy to muscles with C2MAX
• Contains 200mg sodium, a key electrolyte
• The original energy bar
• Low in fat, with 8–9g of protein per bar
• No preservatives or artificial flavors

PowerBar Performance Energy bar is a great choice for use before & during higher intensity competitions or training sessions like running, cycling & swimming. It’s formulated with PowerBar® C2MAX dual source energy blend, a 2:1 glucose to fructose blend found to deliver 20–50% more energy to muscles than glucose alone and improve endurance performance by 8%.* Performance Energy bars contain 200mg sodium — a key electrolyte lost in sweat that is associated with muscle cramping in some athletes.

Fueling up right can make a big impact on how you feel and perform, no matter what you’re tackling. Eat 1 bar 30–60 minutes before exercise, and for events lasting over 1 hour, eat 1–2 bars per hour during exercise.

How do you get a box?

1. Become a follower (Mandatory) (one entry)
2. Tell me your favorite pre race fuel (one entry)
3. Tell me the worst thing you've ever fueled with (one entry)
4. Post this on your blog (one entry)