Oh, what a week.

Well this isn't going to be much of a training diary this week. There wasn't much training even going on. Tuesday I took off, Wednesday I took off, Thursday I rode to work, walked, and did some yoga. Friday I rode to work and didn't do anything else. Saturday I swam a lap, rode for ~40 minutes, and did a 20 minute run. Sunday, despite the week I raced.

Race report
Bozeman Tritons Triathlon
So Saturday I questioned racing. I didn't feel especially well in the swim, I coughed a lot on the bike, and my legs would not turn over on the run. I hate being in this position. If I don't race I will regret it and if I do race A) my race may not go well and B) I don't want to get sicker. I don't really know what decided it for me, but I ended up racing.

Matt Seeley was just going to pitch a tent somewhere. Since we have room I invited him to sleep at our place. Kind of embarassing since our house is such a wreck. Mister keeps bringing mice in at night and letting them go. I hope a mouse didn't run over his face in the middle of the night. Anyway, it was nice to have someone else there to get up at 5am with and also have a legend and a really nice guy staying at our house.

Swim
The swim was a 3 loop swim with a little run on the beach. The night before they told us we could use the whole beach, so I planned on running all the way out to the end so I had a straight shot at the bouy rather than swim at a diagonal. (See I was listening at your clinic). I was so disappointed when I got out on the first lap to see that they had coned off an entry into the water and people were standing in the way. I thought about trying to pass them and run down the beach anyway, but didn't. Swim was fine. 3 laps was kind of annoying and I was definitely ready to get out. I felt okay other than having to try and swim and cough or clear my throat while swimming a few times. It is kind of gross to be feeling a little ill and then swimming in water that seems like it could contain some nasty stuff. I was okay with my time. Right on the lower end of what I would expect, so that was good.

Bike
Settled in pretty quick. Got the timer for feeding going and started heading uphill. Thought about what we talked about and tried to get out a little harder than I normally would have. I knew Jamie would be out of the water first, so when I passed her right around Bohart I knew I was golden for the big W unless something happened. She was sweet, she said unless you do something stupid you got it. Kept the pace up over Battle Ridge and all the way to the turn around. Did the same coming back. Got a little distracted a few times trying to take care of myself. Tried to really get down the electrolytes and had to get those tabs into the water bottle. (Maybe endurolytes are better) Better than bonking though right. Coming down Battle Ridge I went into a coughing attack and out of nowhere totally threw up all over myself. So disgusting and worrisome. Trying to take in food ect and it just goes right out. Kept going. Went easier on the downhill. The Tritons need some help with instructing their volunteers. Uggh. That was hard. Nobody at Olson Creek with water. Also, flying downhill at 35 miles an hour. Maybe need an aid station in a different place. Amy Qqlo was awesome. She drove down and gave me a bottle. Came into the bike finish, lost my shoe and bottle. Uggh. So much for a nice graceful transition.

Run
The beginning of this run hurt more than usual. My stomach was kind of weird on the bike and despite needing nutrition my gag reflexes were super high and it was hard to take it in. I had a sort of stomach cramp/side ache at the beginning. I almost stopped to walk a couple of times, but fought it and kept running. I figured it would go away eventually. Also, it was hot out there. Holy Crap. The heat was a beast. The first aid station ladies weren't paying any attention. I don't think unless I asked for cold rags they would have even seen me. They started to scramble and I went on. Next aid station. Filled my bottle with ice and water and got a cold rag. Then the hills. I didn't know how hard it would be to "run" these hills after biking the other hills. I just couldn't make all of them and had to take a few steps walking. Here is an example of my inner dialogue for the hills.
Oh, there is another aid station. Yell, "do you have cold rags"? They scramble. Fill my bottle with ice, water, get a rag and shove it down my shirt. Another hill. Feeling good, got a good grove on. What I have to go downhill? This was not what I saw on the map. Really? Maybe I will just go the other way. No, you can't do that. Okay, fine. Down the hill and loop around to go up another steep hill. Really, another uphill? Walk a few steps. I hate this triathlon. Next year they need 250 people in this race. I haven't seen anybody for 5 miles. Where is everybody. Feel like crap. Aid station. Get a handful of electrolytes with my water and ice. I really wish I could stop wasting my time stopping at these aid stations to get what I need.

Okay now almost to the top of the last hill. Two cars go by and this gopher heads straight out of the bushes to smash his head into the back of the trucks tire. The poor little animal is writhing around on the ground. I yelled at the truck to come back and hit it again to put it out of its misery. I am mortified that this poor animal is suffering so. Being the scientist that kills animals all the time I go over to it, stomp my foot on the back of its neck and give its tail a giant yank. Crack. Cervical dislocation. Okay it is dead now. Keep running. What? What the hell did I just do? My bad mood is gone. That was crazy, where did that come from? Then finally around mile 7 I have the heat thing figured out, I have eaten much yet but I start taking on gels, I pick up my pace. Feel good all the way back into the finish. First woman in, got a win!

Definitely not a very fast race. Probably one of my slowest times. Sort of think about that and am unhappy, but I think the race went okay for the most part. After the race I wasn't completely devastated, but pretty tired (actually could barely leave the couch) last night and am really sore today. Also, considering I am probably still not 100% healthy things probably went pretty well.

Also, despite my misgivings about the race and how it was put on it was very moving to be out there with all those people. Jamie got 2nd, Jo took 30 minutes off his time from last year, when Ryan finished there was a big crowd of Masters and Tritons there cheering him on. I really value the Bozeman community of swimmers and triathletes and all the support they give each other. Also, that course is tough. I am feeling very fit and had a hard time with it. Hats off to some of those people who were out there for 8 hours. That took a lot of toughness, grit, integrity (you name it). This is a race that builds character.

Side notes:
It really bothers me that I have been feeling kind of nauseous on the bike. Not in training but racing Oliver and then this weekend. I would like to feel good. Maybe this weekend was the heat. Carrying my bottle and having cold water to drink or pour on myself anytime I wanted helped so much on the run though.