PR at Pleasant Prairie & Leon's Triathlon

The season is going by quick! I started off with a great team event with Endure It at Leon's triathlon in Hammond, IN.   We had a great showing with 3 teams.  The race is fast and very competitive.  I finished with 2:28.  It was fun being with everyone we trained all winter inside with. 

Today I woke up at 4am to head to Pleasant Prairie, WI for their triathlon.  They announced how the bike would be shorter than usual at 21 miles vs. 24.   Going in the swim was nice, it's a very clean and pretty clear, almost like swimming in a quarry.   I got out right away at 24 mins and then headed into transition...got on the bike and away.  But after I finished my 2nd loop, i asked the volunteer which way to go and he said "international that way" which I should have realized why people were heading straight.   Turns out a couple miles later I asked a biker women that I was close with on the last loop where the turn out was and she was on mile 12!  I thought she was on 21 like me....so quickly I turned around.   The good part about turning around was meeting Julie from Endure It Willowbrook.  We chatted after the race that she's also doing Ironman WI as her first Ironman, I'll see her up at the Madison camp.   

With the race turning into an official Olympic distance tri (since I added to make it 24miles)  I cut off 2 minutes from Leon's.  That's great news for a PR, my run is stronger and faster....thanks to Jenny's running workouts!

Ironman Wisconsin Prep

(email written June 14)  Race Date:   September 9, 2012 Madison, WI

I am 12 weeks away from the start of my Ironman Wisconsin race!   This past weekend I went out there and did the two loop bike course which equals 80 miles.  The total bike is 112 miles.  The course is absolutely beautiful; you go thru the town of Verona (on the near West side of Madison) and into the country side of steep climbs and fast downhills.  There are 3 large hills that people generally flock to cheer from and hang out.    During the ride my friend said he has already been in touch with his cheerleading squad (friend and family) so this is my first reach out to you.   I wanted to start the dialog if you want to car pool with friends in the area.   And if you were planning on getting a hotel the time is now to secure that too.   If you come the night before we can all get a big reservation for a pasta place. 

 No worries if you are unable to make it.  You can also track online.

 For those of you that are able to make it please let me know…I plan on making everyone matching T-shirts with logos, ect….What doesn’t kills ya makes you stronger.   From your email responses I will create a spate email for those traveling up there.

 The start of the race is Lake Mendota, downtown Madison at 7am.   This swim will be no more than 1 hour and 30 minutes.  From there people generally go up to Old Sauk Hill or Timber Lane for the bike.   The bike should take between 6 ½ -7 ½ hours.   The marathon is a two loop course downtown Madison around Capital Square.  There are lots of places to sit and have a bite to eat or drink downtown.  The town is really fun…I have really enjoyed watching for the last two years.   I am extremely nervous but want this to be a fun experience.   Thank you all for your support and help, I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of my husband and parents.   With Jenny’s coaching I am enjoying very detailed workouts.   This experience has also lead me to meet some new friends, Lynn, Chris, Tim, Beth and Karen.  And I have to thank Betsy for always joining me for my long run…Saturday mornings at 5:15am J

 PS   I will have a very detailed email closer to the event with times and locations.   Please don’t feel you need to stay for the whole event, do what’s best for you schedule, it is a trek up there.   Thanks in advance!!!

 Love,

Diana