For the Love of the DU

With just under four weeks to train for the Iron Girl I decided the goal for this years race would be to finish the race without injury and enjoy the journey.  My trainer instructed me to keep up with my weekly long rides on the hilly outer loop of Elm Creek, to do a brick once a week, and to run hard and fast for 2 miles once a week to work on improving my run time.  So that is what I did.

The funny thing is I do not consider my self an endurance athlete.  I have had it hardwired into my mind that any training that involves running for more than 30 minutes simply does not match up to what my physique goals are (maintaining muscle mass for my body type)...  Trying to maintain muscle and going out for a long run are contradictory to each other when it comes maintaining muscle due to how your body reacts to each.  But the Iron Girl race kinda, sorta fits in with my overall fitness goals as it has 2 runs which amount to a combined total time of around 30 minutes plus a longer bike portion which, although endurance in nature, also incorporates major muscle strength due to the nature of cycling by utilizing my friends  "Mad Maxx" and "Thunderdomes" ...AKA the gluteus maximus,  hamstrings, and quadriceps muscles.

Come race day I was more than pumped up.  I had waited so long for this race.  It was a really fun day.  Us old gals got to go out in the first waves, I was in wave two. I humored myself by thinking I am not that old, I am not the first wave.   It was amazing to see all the women , all 1350 of them.  That alone was pretty motivating.  The oldest woman was 72, the youngest 18.  It was very inspiring to see such a large group of active women in one place. It was a beautiful fall morning in September and the crisp fall air was refreshing but chilly. I ran the first leg in 15 minutes.  A PR for me.

Transitions to the bike felt pretty great.  The bike portion of the iron girl was 22.8 miles. This really was a hilly course.  At about mile six I realized I was in my small chain ring.  NO wonder I felt like Scooby Doo (feet spinning so fast and going nowhere)  on my bike, pedaling fast but not fast enough to keep up with the hill...opps.  Once I slide my bike into the big chain it was a much smoother ride.  The one thing I have found with both Du races this summer is that I love the bike portion, it rocks! But also that these other chics get in my way.  There is some strategy to cycle racing.  Just have to say that this intrigues me a bit.

Coming off the bike for the last 2 mile run was , well pretty stinky.  My runner legs felt like lead.  My self proclaimed turtlehood was super apparent.  Here is where I know I can improve for the next time, getting ready for that fast third run off the bike.  The good thing is this race, unlike the Mpls Du , was only 2 miles.  I kept asking myself what I wanted?  to finish 75th or 25th in my age group.  I pushed on.

I finished the Iron Girl in 2:00:07....less than 3 mins more than the Mpls Du.  I am an Iron Girl! I learned a few lessons and figured out where I can make changes to improve on my time for next year.  I am really looking forward to next years race season ...  There are a few more Du I am going to jump into.  Wish me luck!

Be Well.