Cry Bebe

Well, I'm not able to sugar coat my thoughts on this race, so I have to say it sucked. The spectators, volunteers, weather, etc, etc, was perfect, but I just could not execute anything I knew I was capable of. I take my races very seriously and am not afraid to vocalize if I am unhappy with my performance...I'm not begging for compliments or sympathy, I am j ust writing about how I feel. One word comes to mind with this race: disappointment. I trained SO freaking hard for this race and it just didn't come together. I know that I am stronger and faster, it just blows that it did not show. Hence, the title of this blog, "Cry Bebe" because I cried like a sausage multiple times on Saturday.

SWIM - 30:xx

Ummmmmm... 30?! First of all, that isn't cute.. second of all, I haven't been getting my ass handed to me in Masters for nothing. It's frustrating because I have done so much work on my swim and am swimming faster, but this was my slowest HIM swim time. Just the weekend before, Lesley and I were swimming together and even though she tried to kill me with the set, I was able to keep up (except for the 100s of fly) and even give her a run for her money with the sprints. On Saturday, I don't know what the hell I was thinking, but I wasn't trying too hard and I wasn't sighting. I was blindly following another purple cap and for some reason I thought that was kosher. Note to self: swim in open water before race!

BIKE - 2:53 without penalty, 2:57 with penalty.
Cry #1 of day -


I almost flipped a shit when I heard, "1598, red card." I literally looked at my arm to see if they were really talking to me. My first thought was, "what, bitch!?" but I tried (keyword: tried) to keep my cool and just accept that I couldn't argue with the officials. What kills me is that this happened within the first 7 miles of the race, where we were on a narrow bike path. It was obviously congested because I was passing many of the waves that started before me. I would pass someone, go over to the right, feather my brakes because someone else was in front of me, and repeat. I couldn't make a one-time pass because there were SO many people. This penalty really pisses me off because I am an honest racer. Not to be obnoxious, but why the hell would I want to draft off some old twerp who was going 14mph? Seriously.

Even without the penalty, my bike time still would have sucked and was not what I was looking for. Yes, it was windy and the hills sucked, but I did St. George and I'm used to that. Plus Lesley finds ways to torture us much worse than that course so I was prepared. I did the computrainer at Aire in a time of 2:47 and you can usually ride faster than your computrainer time on race day. After talking with Lesley for a bit, I realized my nutrition was.....horrible. I had 2 GU Roctanes (love em!) and half a bottle of concentrated Infinit. That equals what? Like 300-400 calories? WHOOPS.

Even though I was pissed on the bike, I was still excited to see so many friends killing it out there. Erin Hunter passed me right before the no pass zone, so I was able to chit chat with her a little. I was seriously in shock that she was doing so well, not because I didn't think she was capable, but because she was slammed by a car in a race last year. The people around me probably thought I was a freak because I kept on being like, "WOW!!!" but she crushed the course and am super excited that she'll be in Vegas in September!! I also saw Tawnee out on the course who looked incredibly strong after being injured for the majority of last season. I was giggling to myself as she passed because I saw her cheering out on the run course in Kona and she was like, "keep it up!!" and I replied something like, "you too, you got it!" you know.. just wanted to encourage her awesome spectating skillz! (ok, maybe it was funnier in my mind at the time, but she looked awesome and I'm excited to see her crush IM Canada!)

RUN- 2:06

This is where I'm really pissed in my race, but there is totally a glimmer of hope because I was able to average ~8:45 for the first 6.5 miles. The second loop I just died (nutrition, maybe?) I gave up mentally because I knew that I was in first at that point, but I saw second place moving like a freaking mountain goat and quickly closing the gap. Giving up is definitely my weakest part of racing and something that I will have to work on. I know that I am capable of running so much faster, and am so happy that Les and I are going to sit down and work this shit out. For now, I have to be careful for what I wish for because my training plan is totally focused on the run now. GREAT!!

TOTAL: 5:40:xx
Congratulations, Whitters, that was my second slowest half IM!

Even though this race was ass for me, I am so appreciative of the support that surrounds me. Tanya (GOTRIbal founder) rode up to Oceanside to cheer, and she totally saw that I was hurting. In her cycling shoes, she clopped and ran next me cheering and encouraging me the whole way. Brit, Stephanie's (co-founder of SOAS)husband, kept me updated as to what place I'm in and cheered when I thought I was going to die, GOTRIbal ladies: Leony, Gina, and Janet were so sweet after the race and didn't judge me when I cried talking about the penalty (Cry #2). Kebby & Steph are freaking amazing out on the course and are always so supportive.. I am so honored to rock the SOAS kit and be apart of something so amazing. Whenever I passed a girl in the kit, there was always a "GO GIRL" cheer or wave - truly amazing. Since I was wearing a different kit, a lot of my old teammates didn't recognize me and I was left looking like a dweeb waving and cheering for them OR the trifling, good for nothing type of brother(s)/(sisters) on the sidelines looked at me like what is this fool doing waving to us and then they realized that it was moi! (the trifling, etc is part of a Destiny's Child song, just felt like singing)

Ok so the kicker as to why I am SO PISSED at this race is that 1st place girl beat me by less than 4 minutes and I had a 4 minute penalty. I don't like the "if..." game, but seriously, if I didn't have to penalty WHICH I DID NOT DESERVE, I would have been swinging my hips to a hula dance and on my way to Hawaii (Cry #3). You bet your bottom dollar I am appealing the hell out of this penalty because I. don't. draft. Like, check my Clearwater splits, mama over here does not draft!!!!!!!!

Wow, this blog is a long-y.

Cry #4 was when I talked with Felipe and Michelle. It was just nice seeing them, because they truly have been a huge part of my life the past 2.5 years. I definitely made Felipe uncomfortable by crying, but I am just a water works over here!! Even though I know I made the right decision by switching to Lesley, I still respect Lipe as an amazing coach and am forever grateful to where he has gotten me. Most of all, I miss seeing everyone almost daily, so yes, I cried like a freak.

Oceanside was a 70.3 first for many of my friends - Marison, Erin, Fred, Michelle, CONGRATS - you did it!! I know there will be more to come for all of you ;)

For now, I have to wait on the appeal and be content with the Vegas Half Ironman World Championships. Obviously I'm not content, but I'm getting my ass to Kona one way or another.