Above: Bike Diva at 2010 Miami Beach Classic Duathlon
If you’ve been following along the Bike Diva blog, you will know that after two years racing duathlons, I have decided to make 2011 the year of the triathlon. Here are some of my previous posts on that topic:
Bike Diva’s Ironman Triathlon Plan
Bike Diva’s Second Swim Practice
Try a Triathlon with Team in Training
Above: Bike Diva’s finishers medal and age group award plaque from 2010 Miami Classic Duathlon.
Bike Diva’s Triathlon Training Observations
Here are some of my comments and observations, regarding my triathlon training, that I’ve made on my Facebook page in the past week. I thought I’d copy some of them to the Bike Diva blog, sort of like my own personal training journal.
January 11 – 11:24 AM
Uh, what did I just do? I just registered for the Broward County sprint triathlon package through Multirace.com. That’s a series of 5 sprint triathlons; swim-bike-run, and I am still learning how to swim. Should be a fun year.
Races take place in parks, all swims are in a small lake/pond. Here are the dates of the races:
4/03 – Multirace Season Opener – Tradewinds Park – Coconut Creek
4/23 – Egg Hunt Triathlon – CB Smith Park – Pembroke Pines
7/04 – Independence Day Triathlon – Tradewinds Park – Coconut Creek
9/04 – Time Trial Triathlon – Tradewinds Park – Coconut Creek
10/09 – Race the Troops Triathlon – Tradewinds Park – Coconut Creek
January 11 – 2:00 PM
Just “talked shop” with Profile Design Director of Sponsorship & Events and Wetsuit Developer. She raced Ironman Lake Placid twice, and said I can contact her anytime with questions about triathlon training and racing. That’s like having access to my own private multisport guru – AWESOME!
January 11 – 2:28 PM
Is it weird that the Bike Diva isn’t doing any pure cycling events in 2011? Racing lots of triathlons, or duathlons if first tri results in being rescued by David Hasselhoff wearing a red Speedo. Guess which portion of multisport events I like best? If you guessed BIKE, give yourself a pat on the back.
January 12 – 10:30 AM
Just filled out a 5 page sponsorship application. Really? It’s not even for cash $$ or free stuff. Just a pro deal discount. Hardly seems worth it sometimes. Yes, even the Bike Diva has homework.
January 12 – 8:28 PM
Swim splash at the Y. Almost did a couple of full laps of freestyle, almost. Pfffffftttt!
Kids swim team was finishing up their workout when we got there. Dang, to be able to swim like a fish, they looked like pros!
Bike Diva pulling into a rest stop at the 2010 Intracoastal Waterway Century Ride held on Halloween day.
January 13 – 10:05 AM
We’re at 10% of our fundraising goal for the FAU triathlon. You know, the event where Lynn, the Bike Diva, Smythe is going to swim in an ocean!?!
January 13 – 12:01 PM
It’s official. I now see my name listed under the 5 Broward county sprint triathlons on Multirace.com: Lynn Smythe-Female 45-49-Triathlon-Delray Beach-Florida-Pink
YIKES! Don’t know about the pink swim cap though. 🙂 My friends all say that will make it easier for the Lifeguards to be able to see me in the water. Thanks for the vote of confidence, does everyone think I’m going to sink to the bottom of Davy Jones Locker during my first tri attempt!?!
January 13 – 2:51 PM
Just received an email saying I didn’t make the cut to be a member of the Timex Triathlon Team. I can’t believe I had the balls to even send them an application. I like collecting rejection notices, I think I’ll start printing them out and use them to wall paper my office. 🙂
Well, they did mention: “I encourage you to re-apply for next season as our roster needs are always changing.” I think that’s code for “when hell freezes over you may have a remote chance of getting accepted.” HAH!
January 13 – 4:46 PM
Apparently I don’t exist. Sent in renewal contract to one of my 2010 sponsors a few weeks back. Today they emailed to say they can’t find me in their system. Really? What about all those emails and blog posts I sent you which included pictures, such as the photo currently being used on my Facebook page which shows me racing in their gear!?!
January 14 – 11:57 AM
To southern Palm Beach county Team in Training friends that have signed up to do the FAU triathlon. Coach Louis says swim trainings are Saturday morning 9 AM at Aqua Crest pool in Delray Beach. Ooooh, we get to sleep in. Used to 7 AM starts for cycle team, NICE!
But we also have to train Sundays for that bike and run stuff. Don’t know how early that is. We’ll get all the info. at the TNT season kick off Sat. 22nd. 🙂
NOTE: I am Facebook friends with the dude that is going to be our triathlon coach for FAU. Oh snap, he is totally going to scream at me all season and tell me to suck it up and get my pansy ass in the water. Nothing like having a drill sergeant for a coach. Pffffttttt!
January 14 – 1:35 PM
Well, somebody wants to place a text ad on Bike Diva. $60 for 6 months. Can use the $$ but it’s for a gambling site. So, probably not going to accept it. I know $$ is $$ but I really want to stick with fitness, diet, nutrition type ads. Think putting a gambling ad on the blog will make it look cheesy. Opinions?
I vote: BIG CHEESE IS FOR LOSERS! Will not be accepting the ad. Thanks everyone for your opinions. 🙂
January 15 – 9:53 AM
Attempted run turned into pathetic run/walk. Homey can’t run today. Glad I didn’t try and do the Dyer Consequences 10k trail run this morning.
Shoe issues. Ran in old, but low mileage Newton distance trainers. Being donated to the shoe collection bin next time I’m at the Y.
I think the knobby bottoms on the Newtons were part of the problem. I am midfoot striker but like my Brooks. Was trying to save myself having to go buy new shoes.
January 16 – 1:06 PM
Swim splash at YMCA lap pool. Still mostly breast stoke. Getting tiny bit faster, but still S-L-O-W. At this rate it would take me 15 1/2 minutes to do the 400 meter swim portion of a sprint distance triathlon. I think last week I was at 18 1/2 minutes. So laugh if you will at my pathetic swim ability but at least I’m improving. SO THERE! HAVE to get comfortable doing freestyle, that should make a HUGE difference …
When I first started swimming last month I could only do 1 length of pool (25 m) without having to stop to catch my breath. Now I can do 4 lengths (100 m) before having to stop for breath. So I can totally swim from lifeguard to lifeguard for my first tri. I’ve got NO ego to bruise when it comes to swimming. Do they have a swim cut off time for sprint tris? I might be close to it, DANG! Please understand, I have a slightly wacked, sarcastic sense of humor. Not looking for any sympathy. I just try to keep laughing at myself and my journey towards becoming an Ironman. Cue theme song to IRONMAN….
January 16 – 2:26 PM
I never thought I’d be someone that would go shopping for swimming gear. But that’s exactly what I did after my YMCA swim today. Swung by Sports Authority to get a 2nd pair of goggles (good to have back up pair at races, and new pair is clear lens, I already have mirrored lens).
Also got a swim version of the sham-wow! One of those faux chamois mini towels to have on the pool deck. Bringing my soft, fluffy bath towel just seemed a bit silly.
And the fact that the Sport’s Authority is right next to a Sonic drive through had nothing to do with my decision to buy my swim gear from SA instead of going to Dick’s Sporting Goods. No really, it was just a coincidence that a Cherry Limeade and Chicken Club sandwich found it’s way into the mini van shortly after leaving SA. Well, at least I didn’t totally cave in and get the chili cheese fries, or the chili cheese dog. Sport’s Authority has a much better swim gear selection than Dick’s, really they do.
January 16 – 2:29 PM
To my swim enabled friends. What do you do when you get a foot cramp in the middle of a swim? I was at lap pool, so stretched out foot when I got to end of lane. But what do you do if you are in the middle of a tri swim in a pond/lake/ocean? Cramp started at toes/arch of foot and started to work it’s way up ankle and towards calf. Freaked me out a tiny bit.
Probably cramped up from the crappy run I did in the morning and lack of fuel before going swimming. Should have eaten a banana before I left the house. 🙂
I did see a triathlete swimming next to me last week at the Y. He had a water bottle at the end of his lane. I’ll start bringing a water bottle filled with Nuun to all my swim trainings. I’m in the water, what do you mean I need to bring water with me!?!
January 16 – 3:46 PM
Well burst my bubble. Just researching sponsorship opportunities from a certain company. Found this on their FAQ page: “Since we proactively seek athletes to endorse our brand, we do not accept unsolicited sponsorship requests.” I’m guessing I’m not on their top ten list of potential athletes to sponsor, HA!
Above: the Bike Diva’s road bike; Trek Madone 6.5 full carbon – NICE!
January 16 – 4:00 PM
Swimming at the YMCA lap pool. A bit slow today, may have been a bit tired from morning road bike ride. But managed to do 5 lengths of freestyle, that is a BIG FREAKING DEAL for me.
January 16 – 4:15 PM
Relaxed road bike ride. Team in Training cycle team recruitment ride. First time on road bike since Cocoa Beach century ride on Halloween day. First ride with new ceramic bearings – SMOOTH like BUTTER!
This was not the first time I’ve been on a bike since Halloween day. I do most of my bike training solo, on my triathlon bike. My poor road bike has been neglected, awwww. But I did buy it nice new, smooth ceramic bearings to replace the old bearings that had crapped out.
January 17 – 10:00 AM
Well, my account’s been charged. Hoping they’ll send out shipping confirmation so I know when to expect my wetsuit. Is it too late to switch back to duathlons!?! It’s on like DONKEY KONG baby! So now I might have to do that sprint tri at Club Med in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 6. TRI VIRGIN!
Take care,
Lynn Smythe, AKA the Bike Diva
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