First Race of the Season!

The first Triathlon of the season is now behind me. What a good way to start...it was a all womens sprint. Don't worry the competition was still high! In my age group I came in 5th. I would like to of placed a little higher but I can live with 5th place.

The race was located at Fort DeSoto. It was so beautiful! The swim was great, the water was a little chilly but with a wet suit you didn't even notice. What I did notice though was the girl that I couldn't get around. We swam on top of each other until the last buoy. I don't think I've ever been pushed around so much in the water. This girl was brutal! I think she ended up coming in 3rd or 4th other all. I did beat her out of the water though! :) The wind was blowing so hard on the bike, on the way out we were all going so slow and then we were able to pick up the pace on the way back. My theory about the run was right. I was a little afraid that I wouldn't be able to get going very quickly on the run. I though I would be almost done before I would be warmed up. I wasn't to the finish line but it wasn't until the last 1/2 mile that I could finally stop huffing and puffing and pick up some speed. I knew though when I crossed the finished line and gave the lady my foot to take off the chip that I didn't push myself hard enough. I GAVE HER MY FOOT! Most of the time I can't even stand still because I'm afraid of what will happen if I do. My coach was right there at the finish line congratulating me and she tried to hand me water. I didn't want it. What does that tell you? I took it anyway because I knew that I needed it, but that obviously means that I should of pushed myself 20mins ago. Maybe I would of been in 3rd place.

It all worked out though I was able to go back onto the course and cheer the rest of my team. All the Tri-Training ladies did a great job. Way to go you guys!

Two Loves Come Together

Below I have attached a letter that I have sent/emailed out to my friends and family. I am so excited to see what God is going to do with.

Dear Friends,

As some of you know I have been training for the last couple of months to be able to compete in my first Ironman 70.3 triathlon. That means that I will be swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 and running 13.1. The race date is June 2, 2007 and will take place in Honu, Hawaii. While this date may seem far away to you, according to my training, it is just around the corner! The training is going well, the runs and rides are becoming longer and tougher.

Some of you also know about my love for Restore Orlando. Restore Orlando is a non-profit, Christian base organization that reaches out to one of Orlando’s poorest communities, Holden Heights. A few of Restores programs include, Future Hope of Promise School, after school programs, martial arts, and adult education programs.
I have been volunteering at this inner city organization now for 9 years. Currently I am serving in the Kindergarten and Pre-K classrooms once a week. I plan on serving Restore Orlando in hope that I will continue to see a change in the lives and hearts of those that live in the Holden Heights community.

I have committed myself to completing this race in Hawaii. As if that wasn’t challenging enough I would also would like to raise money for Restore Orlando. My goal is to have 100 people support me in giving $70.30 each to go along with the 70.3 miles I will be completing. In doing this YOU would be changing lives.

I ask you to help me support Restore Orlando through your prayers and financial contributions. Please know that 100% of your contribution will go to Restore Orlando. Not a single penny goes to support me, my travel, or my training, this is purely for Restore Orlando. Apart from helping me reach my goal and supporting this ministry I would also appreciate your support in praying for my training and the race. You can follow my training by viewing my training blog at www.amytris.blogspot.com . Thank you so much for your support in this challenge I have undertaken.

If you are interested in supporting this ministry financially please send a check to me made out to Restore Orlando. My address is: 815 Arlington Blvd. Altamonte Springs, Fl. 32701.

New Tri Clothes Warm a Girls Heart!

Training is going well, I feel as though everything is coming together. The count down begins...only 10 weeks left! I'm starting to get excited. There is a great foursome of us going to Hawaii which will make the trip 4'x better!
All thats great but what has really gotten me excited are the new tri clothes that I just bought. I know the guys won't understand this but buying new clothes is very therapeutic. It allows for a fresh start, it gives you a since of accomplishment and it boost your self-esteem. Shopping is wonderful if you have the $$ to do it with if not well it still can be fun in the moment.
So now I'm set for the season...(thats what I tell myself until the next sale) I just bought new tri shorts and top, new shoes, socks and my three new jerseys just came in the mail today!! I'm so excited!! The best part is it was ALL on Sale!
When I think about buying tri shorts it makes me laugh. Three years ago when I was just testing the waters of this whole triathlon stuff I didn't want to get near a pair of those shorts. I thought they made me look fat and a bit ridiculous. Now I love them, in fact they are my favorite shorts to where. My non-tri friends don't understand me!

Cold in March?!?

Who said it was allowed to be cold this morning! Living in Florida we don't expect cold weather in the middle of March! Yesterday it was in the 80's, it was beautiful! Today 60's! This morning it was definitely in the 40's!! Did I mention the wind was blowing? We are definitely wimps when it comes to cold weather! Our workout was plyo's and running. While our coach was setting up there were 5 of us crammed into his tiny trailer he keeps all the equipment in. It was quite the site to see! I wish we had a camera. We all came dressed for warm weather. Its a good thing most of us still where light jackets in the morning time around here no matter how hot it is. Short sleeves and shorts weren't going to cut it today!
The workout was tough but not as tough as it seemed like it should of been. I guess you can't do plyo's forever. It was a short hard workout, we worked hard for about an hour and a half. It was okay though, this week was a rough one. I worked hard this week and we have a long ride in the morning to wake up to. Thank goodness its not suppose to be windy!
Next weekend is my first sprint of the season. I'm really excited. I've heard a couple other people say well its just a sprint....we don't need to worry about it. They are right but on the other hand I want to see what my body can do in this race. I'm ready to push it! I'm a little worried I won't get into race pace quick enough on the run. The race might be over just when I get warmed up! We'll see, the others are right, in the end its not going to kill me if I don't do well...its just a sprint! An expensive training day!

70.3 in Kona

Question for all you tri junkies.... Has anyone done the 70.3 in Kona? Hows the bike? I heard its a 7mile incline. How steep is that incline? How about the run, is it a rough terrain? What about the wind?

This morning I went for a ride and at one point the wind was so strong coming down a hill I was loosing speed when I was coasting. Crazy uh?

Today was a fun workout. My team and I swam in "Lucky's" Lake and then went for a run. The competition was on today! It was also the first time this year I put on my wetsuit. I was a little worried that it wouldn't fit!
We started out swim behind a group of men. I was so excited to catch up with them and swim side by side with them on the way back. The run was difficult today, but for a different reason that you would think. I was in the front today. When your in the front you don't know how to pace yourself. All I knew was that I didn't want anyone to catch up with me. My coach was on his bike riding beside me some of the time encouraging me to not look back and keep going. I wanted to look back so many times. I did! I tried to look back only at the corners but my curiosity got the best of me. The last time I looked back my team mate Alex waved to me! I guess I was giving him the power he wanted. Alex and Heather caught up to me in the last 1/2 mile or so, it was a battle to the finish line! Heather and I were sprinting and at the end she won. I loved being in the front of the pack today but it was a different kind of challenge that I haven't experienced before. I think it might be easier to be the 2nd or the 3rd so you can see how fast your legs have to move. Its a good problem to have I guess.

Brick workout

This mornings workout was so much fun! My team an I went out to Clermont and did hill repeats on Buck Hill. When I started this morning I thought it was going to be anything but fun. It looked like it was going to pour at any second it was windy and cold. Although after the first ride up and back the jacket came off.
I think I enjoyed it today because I feel like I'm actually starting to understand the way to ride the hills. Just getting the gears down and working on my foot speed helped so much! I worked so hard getting up those dang hills that I actually enjoyed coming down them. Most of the time I'm a big chicken and put my breaks on but not today.
On the way back the second time I was able to get with the fast people and ride back with them. I loved it. But just as I pasted my competitor she came up from behind and beat me to the finish. Not once but 2x's. Good job Shauna!
We quickly locked our bikes up and went out for a run. Ok let me tell you that running up and down hills (to me they are mountains) is not as fun as biking them. It was good though I hadn't done a brick workout in a long time. I felt strong though.
My coach Pat (we have a love, hate relationship) told me and Heather to keep going, little did we know he had told everyone else to turn around. He had us go down one extra hill and back up another. We couldn't see it but he knew that we still had some left in us. Heather is my biggest competitor in the run. I never beat her! Nor did I today but she gave me a great push!
I love my team! We are great for each other. As our competitive spirits grow and our bodies become stronger our competitors change. Its great to always have a new challenge ahead of you!