Leading up to Santa Rosa I had a good amount of time to recover from Coeur d' Alene 70.3 and put in a few weeks of solid training.  
In Coeur d' Alene, I was not feeling great during the race and a few days following the race.  I had some stomach issues, most likely a stomach bug which made taking in nutrition during the race hard.  I also wasn't very hungry the day before or day of the race and I ended up feeling pretty bad during the entire race.  After recovering from that,  things started going much better. 

I have raced Vineman 70.3 many times and love the Santa Rosa location (who doesn't??).  I was unable to race here last year and I was excited to check out the new course. 

The day before the race,  I went  to the lake for a swim, the lake is beautiful and the water is very clean and clear.  I think we were all looking forward to this swim! I did notice the fog the day before when I was riding near the lake but I didn't really think about it being foggy on race morning!

At the pro meeting on Friday, they told us they expected the fog to be just as bad on race morning as it had been that morning.  In which case, there would be three options; full 1.2 mile swim, if fog wasn't too dense, shortened 1k swim,  if it lifts by 7am and if not, then a time trial start on the bikes at 7:15.  We all randomly picked our number and start time out of a hat for the TT so we knew in advance when we would be starting and in what order, if we were unable to swim.   I was glad it was well organized and we were aware of the situation before race morning but having a shortened or no swim is always a little frustrating.  Especially since I have been putting in a lot of time and work into my swim.   Not being able to swim was a little disappointing but it happens!  

Race morning it looked clear when I woke up but as we started driving towards Lake Sonoma it started getting more foggy. By the time we got up the hill to the lake it was very foggy.  I walked down to the lake and standing on shore I could hardly see the swim out arches.  There was no way we could swim in that.  We wouldn't be able to see the buoys and I'd def get lost! I was pretty sure there wouldn't be a swim.  

It was very different having a time trial start.  I was set to start in 3rd place. We were all 20 seconds apart.  I think we were all pumped to get started after a 45 min delay. Starting out I felt great!  The weather was cool and perfect for race day. It was great being near the front of the race during the ride and having others to pace with.  I really enjoyed the ride.  A lot of the course is the same as the Vineman, hilly with some rough roads!  They brought back "Chalk Hill" and we also rode through the old run course in Windsor.  

This season I have changed my bike fit a lot. Lowered the front bars, new saddle, new position and it has taken a while for me to adjust.  I had to make some more adjustments after Coeur d' Alene and I wouldn't say I am 100% adjusted to it but it is improving and I felt much better during this race on my bike then the passed couple races.  It is one of those things that will make you faster in the long run but may slow you down a bit while you are in the process of making those adjustments.  I was happy with how much better I felt on the bike ride and my power was closer to where I need to be, not there yet, but it is coming!

Coming off the bike,  I tried to make it a quick transition even though someone had tied up my bag of shoes to the rack when we were told we could lay them out the day before.  I had them set up for a quick transition.  I was a little flustered getting my transition bag open and just grabbed two of my gels, running out of transition I dropped one. I probably should have gone back to get it but I didn't.  The run started out good, after the first 3-4 miles I felt like I could use some calories.  I took the gel I had but I def could have used another one a few miles down the road.  I did fade a little towards the end of the run which costs me a couple finishing spots.  I think the ride took a little more out of my legs than I thought! 

I do like the new course, I'm not sure if I like it more than Vineman but it has some similarities!  It def made it a strange race without the swim but I think we all made the most of it.

I finished this race in 11th place. It was hard to tell where you were with the TT start.  You may be in front of someone but they are actually ahead of you with time.  It was interesting. 

My next race will be Santa Cruz 70.3, Sept 9th.  In the meantime,  I am going to spend some time training in Boulder. 

Thanks to my sponsors, Epixgear, Flying Fish Bikes, First Endurance, ROKA, LaRocca Injury Center for the support and especially to my husband for always being so supportive and encouraging me in this sport. (And for the awesome photos he takes on race day!!)

​After Texas 70.3, I had a couple weeks to recover/train and get ready for St. Anthony's Olympic triathlon which is a local race for me.   I felt like it took me a little longer than usual to recover and get going again after Texas. When race day came for St.  Anthony's,  I felt a little off.  My power was quite a bit lower on my bike than I had planned and I felt like I was dragging myself through the run.  I still did manage to do well enough to come in 7th place.  Best I have placed at St. Anthony's and won some $. On a good day I feel like I could have done much better even though it was an improvement from past races on that course. 

I took the month of May to build back up with my training, spent some time in Boulder, CO (I loved it there!) and had some great training throughout the month.  I was def feeling ready to race at Victoria 70.3.

I've never been to this part of Canada, but I knew I would like it!  It is a beautiful area.  I read some things about the race, a hilly bike course and a run on a path around the lake.  I envisioned the bike course and run a little differently, but it was a very unique race. 

Race morning, conditions were pretty good,  It could have been a little colder but at least it wasn't hot.  There was a chance of rain but it held off. 
The lake water was just under the wetsuit cut off for us pros (19.5C). I had a great swim and got out of the water with a few girls behind me and a couple not far in front of me. I quickly transitioned out of my wetsuit and onto the bike.  

Starting out on the bike there were some hills, corners and turns.  That pretty much sums up the whole bike course.  Hill after hill, some decending into a turn or corner.  I have some work to do with cornering on the bike and decending.  I wouldn't say this is one of my strengths and it is partially because I live in FL and train a lot more in the wind and flats.  For how technical and hilly this bike course was, I felt like it went well, even though it was not my favorite terrain. I did ride some of the course the first day I was there and we drove a few of the hills towards the back half of the course just so I would know what to expect. A lot of the course I didn't see, maybe that was better. I could just be surprised! I rode with some girls for the first half of the ride and we started to seperate a bit more towards the end. I came off the bike in 9th place.  

I was stoked to be done with the bike ride and onto the run.  Starting out on the run, the trail was pretty narrow, curved around a bit, some roots and rocks and mostly dirt. It was all in the woods.  A few ups and downs.  I felt like I was doing an adventure race! It was a pretty cool run.  I moved into 8th place and I could see a girl ahead of me,  for about 6 miles I was trying to catch her but I wasn't making much progress.  We were practically running the same pace at that time.   After about 10 miles my hips started hurting a bit from running on the uneven surface of the trail.  Overall I felt like I had a strong run for this being on a trail.  I ended up finishing in 8th place.  One of my best finishes at the Ironman 70.3 distance.   To me, this was one of the most challenging 70.3 races I have done. This was a competitive field of ladies and I feel like 8th place is an improvement for me, especially on this course!

My next race will be Coeur d'Alene 70.3 in a couple weeks.  I'll be riding some more hills between now and then... I know more hills will be awaiting me there! :) 

​The GoFierce Tri Top & Shorts is one I use often in training, I have even raced in the shorts. ​

Fit: 
The shorts fit great, they do not come up too high on my waist and they don’t ride up when you are riding and what I like most are the open mesh pockets on each side, where I can fit a couple gels or anything else I need to bring with me, especially in the summer when it is hot and I don’t wear a jersey top I still have some pockets that are easy to access while riding or running. 

Durability:
I have had these shorts and top for over 2 years now. They have faded a little bit that is expected with how much I have used them. They have not ripped at all and are still in great shape. 

Improvements:
I have no complaints about the shorts but the tri top can get a little warm in the summer. I live in FL and sweat a lot- the top is a little thick.  A thinner more breathable material may help.  This top is a couple years old and the material Epix has been using lately is an improvement from this tri top. ​

Urbo Women’s Cycling Shorts and Jersey is one I use in training often.  The cycling shorts are great for long rides. One rear zipper pocket on the shorts and the cycling top has lots of pockets and one on each side has zippers. ​

Fit:
The shorts are very comfortable, stretchy and has plenty of padding that helps keep things comfortable on the long rides!   The top is a lighter breathable material and is also a little stretchy for a snug comfortable fit. 

Durability:
I wear the cycling shorts and jersey often, I have had it for about a year and it looks exactly the same as when I got it.

Improvements:
The shorts come up a little high on my waist but from person to person the preference pry changes.  The shorts also don’t have the mesh side pockets which are easier to access while riding than the rear zipper that is on shorts.  I do love the colors and material on this one!

Last weekend I drove to New Orleans expecting to race on Sunday. Race morning we were driving to transition and it started pouring rain.  We were all setting up our transition with squalls of rain coming through.  About 45 min before swim start I heard some thunder.  It started to get closer and lightining was starting to get more frequent.  I sat under an overpass next to transition for about 45 min waiting for any further notice on when the race would start. Finally I heard an announcement...  they said the storm was going to be passing but there was another storm approaching within a couple hours with high winds, lightning  and lots of rain.  They decided to cancel the event. 

About an hour later it did clear up, I ran the run course then went home, disappointed there wasn’t a race but no one can control the weather.  It’s just one of those things that happens. Even though registration for Austin was closed,  Ironman said they would register me for the race considering this one had been cancelled.  My aunt and uncle live in Austin and said I could stay with them for the weekend, everything seemed to work out on a short notice for me to race in Austin.  It was very cold when arriving in Austin and the forecast for race morning was 39 degrees.  I have had issues with my fingers going completely numb in cold weather and was a little worried about the cold on the bike.   I did find some hand warmers to put in my gloves and planned to put on arm warmers as well, after the swim.
​
Florida girl forgot what cold weather felt like and race morning I was shivering setting up my transition.  I went for a warm up run but it didn’t make me any warmer.  I put on my full wetsuit which did warm me up.  The water temperature was 69 degrees.  It was finally time to start.  I took off my shoes and socks and ran through the cold grass to the waters edge.  Fog was beginning to settle on the lake.  For a few minutes the buoys disappeared.  Just before the men started the fog dispersed enough to see at least from one buoy to the next.  Once I got in the water I began to warm up.  It was an in water start, no countdown just waited in silence for the gun which caught me by surprise.   I began swimming and passed a small group of girls,  found one girl going the same pace as me and followed her.  I could hardly see anything with the fog and rising sun.  I started getting really warm in my wetsuit.   As soon as I exited the swim I began taking off my wetsuit and running up the hill to transition.  

Trying to put arm warmers on wet skin was a process.  I felt like I was in transition for 5 min.  I knew I would regret it if I didn’t put any extra clothes on. Finally I got my wetsuit off, arm warmers and gloves on and left transition.  There was no one in sight when I started off on the bike. I pedaled in silence on some county roads.  I made a few turns, went up a few hills and with every downhill I got colder and colder.  I was starting to feel numb.  After about 10 miles I began shivering uncontrollably.  My hands were numb.  My legs were not wanting to move very fast.  I felt like my whole body was slowing down.  The roads were so rough at some points I felt like I was going to fall off my bike.  I kept telling myself it was going to warm up but it didn’t for at least 1.5 hours.  After about 40 miles I could tell the air was getting a little warmer.  I started to warm up and could finally start drinking and eating some calories. I passed one girl and one girl passed me and other than that I rode by myself. A cold, lonely ride.  Towards the end a few groups of age group men passed me.  I was really looking forward to running, I knew that would get me warm! (Plus, I love running :)) As I ran into transition my feet were numb,  it took about 3 miles until I could feel my feet again but that didn't bother me during the run, I was just so happy to be warm again.  During the run I really started to enjoy the race.  

The run was 3 loops. One section there were a lot of people cheering everyone on,  the other side of the loop went through a park.  It went  by quickly.  There were a lot of rolling hills on the run course and the finish line was indoors at the Austin Rodeo arena! It was pretty cool.  Different than any other race I have done.  I have been working a lot on my run and really wanted to have a strong run.  My goal was to run a 1;28-1;29.  I ran 1:30.  I am grateful I did get to run one more race before calling it a season and finished in the top 10!   This is def  the coldest race I have ever done.  It was quite the experience.

My husband was able to come with me to Austin and we were able to spend some time  with my aunt and uncle.  It was a good weekend!  Thanks to Xterra Wetsuits for keeping me warm in the swim and thanks to Epixgear for the awesome kits they give me so I can look good racing! :)  Thank you Flying Fish for keeping my bike running smooth all season, new machine coming soon! Thanks to my coach and everyone who trains with me, I have really had fun this year!