The Wilsons: May 2011

Saturday, May 21st, was the 6th annual Women of Steel Triathlon. Back in December a few of the women from the spin class at the gym that I attended were talking about how fun it would be to do this triathlon. There are so many women that want to participate in it that on the day the registration opens you pretty much have to get on the sight to register just as it opens. Somehow I was at home and able to get on-line that day at that time and was able to register. Four other ladies from class also were able to register. I tried to put it out of my mind for awhile because I get nervous and anxious about races. Especially triathlons. But this time I have coaches helping me prepare, so I just tried to follow the workouts and their coaching as best as I could.

After the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon that I ran with Sarah Thomas, I found out that she was also participating in the Women of Steel Tri. That was perfect. Eric, Rubie, and I could spend the night at Dan and Brandee's and then Sarah and I could go to the race together.

The weather has been less than perfect for training lately. We have had lots of rain and cool weather. However, on the day of the race, it was beautiful!! Lots of sunshine and warmth. It was a little cool going to the race, but as soon as the sun came up it was perfect.

Transition area with 800 triathlon participants.

At my transition spot. I chose a bright towel to help me find my spot. Sarah dubbed this the transition lounge.

As I was setting up my transition spot that is when I happened to see lots of other friends participating in the race. Some that I have not seen for a long time. Sarah was doing the race witj a bunch of her friends from her spin class and a swim group. One of them I recognized from Davis High. Rachel Richins (maiden name), graduated with Jessica. I also visited with a girl that was a teacher at the MTC the same time I was, the ladies from my spin class, another from the Women of Steel Tri in August, and Michelle Lloyd. Having all these friends there definitely made this more fun.

Still I was feeling quite nervous about the race. I don't know why. These are about just having fun right? And then as we are walking to the pool I think I really do like working out with friends, but 800, this is ridiculous. Why do I want to do a race? We line ourselves up around the pool according to the time we think that we will swim the 300m. I go for the 5:00 min area and then as I see the other ladies there, situate myself around the 5:30 time. Most of the women are still behind me and so I wonder if I am in the right spot. But I remember how congested the pool was in August. I also heard that last year there were so many women in the pool it was hard to even move. Even though I'm not a great swimmer, I still know that swimming is faster than walking through the pool. There are a few in the 4:00 min time. I think how intimidating it would be to be one of the first into the pool. The first women in the pool jumps right in and swims fast. There are some great athletes here. Some accomplished ones too. This race is more about first timers and beginners to the sport of triathlon. I begin to get more nervous. I make sure this time my goggles are on my eyes and not on top of my head.

When it is my turn I jump in and begin to swim. I swim the first lap and then during the second I have a moment of panic. There are all these women standing around the pool yelling and cheering. There are swimmers, although they have spaced us 12 sec from each other so not too crowded, but I panic. I stand up for just a second and take a deep breath. Then all of Heath's coaching for my swimming floods into my head. I stop panicking and just swim. One girl passes me, but I get out of the pool right on her heals. I passed a few and swam great! I was so pleased with the swim. I get out of the pool smiling and running fast. I probably passed 10 ladies on the way into T1, we had to run a mile to T1 from the pool (not really but it seemed far). My swim time ended up being 6:48. T1 was 1:56.

I was a little worried about being cold, but was not at all. I felt my transition time was pretty fast. Shoes, helmet, glasses, bike, go. Again we had to run quite a way on the grass before we got to the road and could mount our bikes.

I wasn't sure about my position coming out of the pool and on the bike. I really missed my cheerleader and personal photographer. I needed him to tell me how I was doing.

I was feeling great! The bike was fast, I had new tires and Maddog cycles had it fixed so I had the use of all my gears. Coach M and told me to ride hard, pretty close to red lining it, but remembering I still had to run. She told me to be careful of some of the corners, not because I couldn't take the corners, but because of the inexperienced riders that would be around me. She was right, and I was careful. Beginning the 2nd loop of the bike course a girl's father yelled to her that she was 14th, as I passed her, she said now you are 14th. So now I had an idea where I was. I pushed a little harder and passed more riders, although now there were more women that had come out of T1, and the 5K race had started so the route was congested and crazy. I wasn't sure who I was chasing down. My bike time was 36:36. An okay time. T2 time was 1:58.

I sped out of T2 having no idea how many women had already been into T2. I was certain there was quite a few. So I ran as fast as I could, this time redlining it according to Coach M's directions. Right away I passed a few women. Some I thought would give me chase, but no one did.

One of the best parts was running faster than the women biking on the one steep little hill. I couldn't believe it. I was feeling so good and pushing hard and loving it! Oh yeah, this is why I race! I love the feeling of being out here, pushing so hard, with all the other ladies! Oh yeah!!

As I ran I was thinking about all the stories we each have that got us to this race. Everyone of us have over come obstacles, those obstacles being mostly ourselves, just to be here. That inspired me and I picked up the pace.

Coach H & M training was in my head the whole time too. And I kept picturing Sarah, her serious race face. I also thought about Scott and Eric and Rubie a lot.

The course was so great for running. There were two little hills at the beginning. Then flat and downhill. When I got to the flat I could see another girl, she was the same age, according to the age written on her calf. I caught up to her, she seemed content to let me pass.

I didn't see anyone else until I approached the finish line. I crossed the line just a few seconds after a girl named Liz. My run time was 19:38. Holy Cow, 19:38 for 3 miles. I was happy about that!

I asked the volunteers taking our timing chips and handing us water how many runners had come in before me. They looked confused. Just you two they replied. I couldn't believe it! I was the 2nd to cross the finish line. Wow! Now we needed to wait for a lot more ladies to come in to see how our times added up.

Instead of medals we were all given this cute necklace.

Sarah Thomas' group of buddies. They were so fun to hang out with.

Amazingly I won a very nice wetsuit in the raffle!!!

As other women finished the race, times were posted a few different times. At first the swim times were messed up and then they were fixed. At one time my total time was just 1 hr. That was cool. But when the final times were posted I was in first place overall with a time of 1:06:58. I am still elated and can't believe it.

Melissa Pennock took 2nd. I'm stunned that I was faster than her by a few seconds. She is an experienced athlete.

Roses, a Tiara, and a medal.

I don't think this video is working here, but a man from the Bank of American Fork was filming women after the race. He asked me to tell him about training for and completing the Women of Steel Triathlon. With the race endorphins and the elation of completing the race I couldn't hold back my emotions.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150254776366098

Just participating in the race is a big deal for me. With Scott gone since January it has not been easy to train. Eric, Rubie, and myself have had to sacrifice a lot. I am more stressed having the care of the household and family all on me, which makes me more tired. We have relied on friends and family to help us out. Heavenly Father has blessed us with such good friends that enrich our lives each day. He has also been with us each and every day. I have no doubt that because of Heavenly Father and the love of the Savior our little family has made the most of the last few months. Our friends have made it possible to train. I am so glad to have HT training. There were many days throughout these past few months that I would not have even worked out if I didn't have someone to be accountable to for my workouts. But not only that, they have made me into such a better athlete and person. And I for sure would not have pushed myself as hard. Everything just came together. Now I have Salem to think about. After having done so well with the Women of Steel I have a lot more confidence for the Salem race. Although that race brings a new challenge--open water. Yikes!!!

Back in March we went to visit our good friends the Warner's. No, not in beautiful San Diego. In windy South Weber! They have moved back to Utah and we went to stay in their beautiful new home for a few days.

We were there on St. Patrick's Day. Mandy started the day out perfectly for everyone with cute St. Patrick's Day settings, green eggs, green pancakes, and green syrup. It was yummy!!

We got some bike riding in. The Warner's live on a great street (not too busy) across from a caldesac. It was a great place for all of us to ride.

The Warner's cousins, the Elton's, live in the caldesac. We were able to celebrate Gabe's 3rd birthday with a St. Patrick's Day treasure hunt. The gold at the end of the rainbow were some yummy cupcakes.

Bubbles were a prize during the hunt.

We visited the Eccles Dinosaur Park at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. There were there very life-like robotic dinosaurs. Rubie and Eric would not stand in front of them for a picture.

Fay and Kimball were not too afraid though.

There was a small museum inside with some displays and artifacts. The displays outside were very cool. We could here the volcano in the background erupting and all kinds of dinosaur noises.

For some reason the kids could not resist leaving the dinosaurs alone. They had to touch. I kept reminding them there was no touching. But it didn't do any good.

At the playground, we were free to touch and even climb on the dinosaurs as much as we wanted.

Rapunzel, let down your hair.

We had so much fun in March, that in May when Mitch went out of town for a few days, we headed up to play again.

We went to a park where Mandy and I were each able to get a run workout on the trail around the park. The kids had some fun time playing and biking.

Rubie made friends with some older girls that though she was just so cute.

This sequence of pictures of the kids in the bathtub is so funny. I put the kids in the bathtub and then put bubbles in. After I poured in the bubble bath Fay told me I didn't have to put bubbles in because the jets will make bubbles. The jets exponentially increased the bubbles from the bubble bath. Most the kids thought it was hilarious.