Tri-umphant Triathlon Recap!

This morning I took on my FIRST Sprint Triathlon!  I've been training for the last 5 weeks and thought it would be a great way to change up my training.  As much as I love running, I've wanted to throw in some new things.

I recently added Shakeology & Hip-Hop Abs into my training routine along with cycling and swimming!  I've had a great time training for this race.  I honestly didn't really know how to train for it since I don't have a pool in my back yard and I'm not a fan of running on a treadmill, biking on a stationary bike, and swimming inside.  So, I just kind of winged it.  Running & cycling outside and throwing in swimming in the lap lanes at the pool we go to randomly.

I'm not necessarily an amazing swimmer but I can keep my head above the water. haha.

Talk about an exciting race!  I was surrounded by awesome local athletes, first timers like myself, veterans, marathoners, ultra runners, and so many more!  Everyone was encouraging and helping each other... I know I've said this before but the Running and Cycling community is beyond amazing, I am thankful to be part of it!

I had absolutely NO CLUE what to expect, this was my first Triathlon race.  BJ and Chad did their best to prepare me for it but until you've actually done one, hearing someone say; "It's SO easy, you're going to do great!" isn't that comforting because it's still unknown.

I've been training for a little over a month.  Cycling, swimming, and then doing a cycling/running combo several days a week.  I knew I was capable to swimming the 400 yards but I had not clue what my time was!  I think that was the most stressful part for me.  I didn't want to hold anyone back but didn't want to be that girl everyone passed.

Last night I had a great early dinner and got to bed by 10:30pm.  My alarm went off, bright and early, at 4:45am.  I got up and drank some black coffee and allowed my body to slowly wake up.

Breakfast:  2 pieces of Ezekiel Bread with tbsp soynut butter, black coffee, water

As I was eating, I sat listening to worship music and prayed the Lord would be with me as I took on this new adventure and race.  That he would calm my nerves and bring peace to me.

I double and triple checked my bag to make sure I had everything...
goggles
socks
running shoes

The race started at 7:30am but I got to there early because I wanted to make sure I had everything together.  I found a great spot in the transition area and loaded up.  There were a few women around me who all started conversation, sharing their stories, and encouraging each other.

I couldn't have asked for better weather! It was overcast, cool, and a little breezy.  JUST perfect!

BJ put some air in my tires before I went into the pool area and got ready for the first leg of the race- the swim.

7:30 am is when the women started swimming.  Everyone started lining up according to their swimming pace.  Unfortunately, I had no clue how fast I could swim 400 yards but I knew it was my weakest out of the three so I went towards the back.  It was there I met a nice mom of 4, who had ran 8 marathons - including Boston, and was such an encouragement!  She made me go in front of her and cheered me on as I started my first sprint Triathlon!

BJ and Chad were able to make it into the swimming area to cheer me on (and for BJ to take some great and embarrassing pictures of me).  BJ also was able to catch me before I took off and give me some words of encouragement.  My chip didn't start until I hit the water and by the time I hopped in, it was close to 8 am.

I started with freestyle but realized I was using a lot more of my leg strength than I wanted to.  After 1 lane of swimming freestyle I went straight into breaststroke.

I knew I'd rely a lot more on my arms if I stayed in breaststroke.  Talk about congested... I got stuck behind a few people and had to go around them.  At a few points I had to stand up and run in the water past a section of people.  Once I hit that last lap, I got excited - the part I was most worried about was finished.

I transitioned out of the pool and went straight for my bike.  I had a small towel that I wiped my feet off with, they were covered in grass and I was obviously drenched.  There really is nothing WORSE then riding & running with chunks of grass and wet socks.  I took a GU at this transition and knew I'd have time to relax on the bike.  I didn't force the transition with the bike, I took my time and made sure I had everything.

The Bike Route was 2 laps- With the race being in Mason, it was great knowing where I was at and what elevations to expect. The course wasn't bad at all, it was familiar and nice and had two hills that definitely challenged me!!

My friend, Rachel, was also participating in the Tri.  She is an EXCELLENT swimmer so she was way ahead of me in the swimming line so she was on her 2nd lap when I started my first.  It was so nice to catch up with her and get a moment of conversation.  As I headed into my first lap, I passed Chad on his run and yelled out to him!

As I went into my 2nd lap on the ride, I was alone.  Where was everyone?!  I couldn't figure out if I was pacing well or behind.  I chose not to keep pace mainly because I didn't want to be too hard or disappointed if I wasn't where I wanted to be.  I just wanted to have fun.  Because I had started later into the swim, I just wasn't sure where I was at in the race.

I pulled into the transition area, put my bike back and drank some water.  It was in this time I walked for a bit.  That feeling after cycling for so long and going straight into can be discouraging, trying to find pace can get exhausting but I wanted to make sure I gave my body time to adjust.

As I began running I looked up to see Chad and BJ, right there cheering me on.  One of the guys handing out water said; "nice pace!" and I wasn't quite sure how to take that but I took it as encouragement that I was moving in the right direction.

The start of the 5k

Coming into the last mile, there BJ, Kim, and Eliza were cheering me on and yelling for me to push home!  I was so close, the finish line was right there!  I was able to pick up my pace and pass a few runners.

And push hard to make it to the finish line.

01:30:09 Finish Time

Overall place of women: 47 out of 101
Age group place: 9 out of 19

 400 yard swim: 11:26 minutes
12 mile bike: 48:03 minutes
 5k run: 27:21 minutes

Kim snapped one last victory shot of me after the race!  Thanks to Chad and BJ for training with me, Kim for letting me use all of her cycling gear, BJ for make-shifting a road bike for me, and for coming to cheer me on and support me in my first taste of a triathlon.

A Triathlon is DEFINITELY something I never thought I would ever do... But 18 months ago I couldn't even run a mile.  It was such a wonderful feeling taking on this challenge and pushing my body further than what I thought it could go.  The Lord is so awesome, He fills me with such JOY on my runs.  It is a pretty awesome feeling to set goals that seem so unattainable, bust your butt in training, and crush those goals with all your hard work!

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

~Psalm 73:26

The Butterfly Show, Triathlon Training, and Shakeology Challenge Wrap-Up! Whew...

Butterfly Show

Cincinnati is a pretty awesome city!  There is seriously so much to do here and if you have children, the list gets even longer!  Every summer the Krohn Conservatory has a Butterfly Show and it's amazing!  There are crafts for the kids, a section to go through that shows you the stages of the butterflies, and all sorts of wonderful learning spots.

Savannah is a huge fan of insects, so I knew she'd be in heaven learning about them.  The greatest part though?  There is a huge room you go into and the butterflies LAND on you!  It's so wonderful!

We had a wonderful time with our friends, Chesney and Willow!  It was a great morning to explore and learn.

TRAINING!

I am just a few weekends away from the Sprint Triathlon on June 30th!  My awesome friend and running buddy, BJ hooked me up with a fabulous road bike and gear! I have to say... I AM LOVING cycling!  I feel pretty blessed to have this gear and be able to use it!

Going from cycling to running is extremely crazy!  Ok, cycling alone was a CRAZY feeling at first.  BJ got a good laugh watching me get on that bike for the first time.  I was so wobbly and all over the road.  It is NOTHING like a mountain bike.  As BJ road next to me, he kept telling me to shift, and his bike was getting closer to my bike, and before I knew it I was panicked, over the curb and in the grass. HA!

My first solo ride went pretty well and now almost 2 weeks into riding, I'm feeling a lot more comfortable.  No crashes yet.  Still a bit wonky on the shifting but I am really enjoying the change in my workout on the bike.

Tuesday, Mile 9.3

Now, when it comes to transitioning into running... cycling takes on a whole new challenge for me.  The moment I get off that bike, take off my gear and put on my running gear (less than 5 minutes) and I begin running, I feel like I'm running in jello or quicksand for the first mile... My legs are so heavy!  It feels like an 11 minute pace when in reality, I am coming in at an 8 minute mile???

I definitely need more practice with that combo because if I can't get my pace controlled or my body strong enough to handle that pace, I'm going to be dead when I add in the swimming!

Speaking of swimming.... Tuesday I logged my first swim!  I have a feeling the swim will be the most difficult portion, THANK GOODNESS it's first!  As much as I love to swim, it is tough.  I really have to focus on using my upper body and core instead of my legs.  The last thing I want is to be exhausted and my legs to be shot for the bike and run portion.  On the upside, I haven't swam laps in several years... I was able to do 4 laps (200 meters - 1/4 of what we will be doing in the sprint) comfortably in 10 minutes.

I only got 10 minutes in because it was adult swim and that was the only way I could get Savannah to sit at the shallow end of the lap lane... otherwise, she's in the water.

I'm excited and a bit nervous for the race, it's new and different so I don't want to get too confident in myself.  It's so nice to be in the pool and get back into swimming.  I wish I could swim laps more often, I know I would really enjoy it.

SHAKEOLOGY CHALLENGE WRAP-UP

My 30 day challenge with Shakeology has wrapped up!  Talk about an exciting 30 days... I really enjoyed the group I was in and my fabulous friend and coach, Emily did a great job! And even though our group never met in person... I learned a lot from the other girls and rejoiced in their health and fitness successes!

As I mentioned in my last post, I kept my same running routine and healthy diet and added Shakeology.  Within the first week, I absolutely LOVED the way I felt!  From the noticeable changes in my energy, the curbed sugar cravings, and of course... the results!

So... what was the total loss?!

Measurements before Shakeology 05/13/13 -

Bust:  32.3"

Waist:  32.2"

Hips: 38"

L Arm: 12.5"

R Arm: 12"

L Thigh:  22"

R Thigh: 22.5"

Weight- 148.3 lbs.

Measurements after 30 days of Shakeology 06/11/13 - 

Bust:  31.2"

Waist:  30"

Hips: 36.2"

L Arm: 11.5"

R Arm: 11"

L Thigh:  21"

R Thigh: 21.5"

Weight- 146.2 lbs.




My first Challenge Group as a Coach starts this coming Monday, June 17th!  I'm very excited to continue in my journey by adding a new Shakeology flavor - Chocolate (which is OUTSTANDING with 1 cup coconut water, 1/2 frozen banana, and a cup of ice) AND a new workout program... Hip-Hop abs with Shawn T!

Come on... you know you've wanted to try Hip-Hop Abs ;)

But MORE importantly, I am going to be helping others reach their health and fitness goals!  

And that is VERY exciting!

Getting healthy and strong has been so much fun!  I've never had muscles so those baby abs you see have been months and months AND MONTHS of hard work...  17 months of running and eating clean PRIOR to starting Shakeology!

If you're interested in joining a future Challenge Group, trying Shakeology, or any other Beachbody Products, feel free to email me , FB message me, or go to my Beachbody website to see if there's anything that interests you.

So many people have asked to see my very beginning photo or at least my stats prior to my life change... that day in January 2012 when I decided to lace up, start my weight loss journey, and begin training for the Chicago Marathon... 

Measurements 01/01/12 - 

Bust:  38.7"

Waist:  38"

Hips: 41.2"

L Arm: 14.6"

R Arm: 15"

L Thigh:  25"

R Thigh: 25.5"

Weight- 188.3 lbs.

I was unhealthy, unhappy, and didn't care what I ate or how it hurt my body.

I was addicted to food, emotionally ate, and thought I was too far gone to change my ways.

Thankfully, I have a family doctor who cares about me, my future as a wife and mother, and gave me some tough love in December 2010.  My cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure were off the charts and heart disease and diabetes runs high in my family.  My weight and height had me as obese and I was mortified.  He said; "Hillary, you HAVE to make some changes!"

This is NOT who I wanted to be.

I'm so thankful running found me... It has transformed me in many ways.  Not just physically but mentally and spiritually.  I love the time I get with the Lord on my runs.  The Lord has shown me that everything I have accomplished isn't in my own strength, I rely on Him to match my stride, push me, and help me finish goals I have set out.  I can do ALL things through Christ!

If you're interested in joining a Challenge Group, trying Shakeology, or any other Beachbody Products, feel free to email me , FB message me, or go to my Beachbody website to see if there's anything that interests you.

The 30 day Shakeology Challenge!

22 days ago I decided to take the 30 day Shakeology Challenge! 

A friend of mine recently became a Beachbody Coach and loved her results so much she began selling Shakeology along with other Beachbody products before her 30 day challenge was even up!  Last month, just a month into her coaching, she encouraged me to jump in and take the challenge!

As I said, I am 22 days into a 30 day Challenge and I was pretty skeptical at first, there was no way this shake was:

1) going to taste good
2) do anything that running wasn't already doing for me
3) and show results/changes in my body in 30 days

With the 30 day challenge, if you aren't satisfied you get your money back!  Where was the problem there?  If I didn't like it, I'd get my money back.  Seriously, those ridiculous before and after pictures on the late night infomercials can't possibly be right?!  We all know they're rigged and not the same people, right...

I decided to try the Tropical Strawberry blend and at first, I wasn't a big fan of the shake... until I found "my combination":

• 1 scoop Shakeology Tropical Strawberry
• 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup of 0% chobani greek yogurt
• Alternating 1 cup frozen berries, frozen pineapple, or frozen peaches
• 1 frozen ripe banana (this seems to smooth it out)

Perfect.  Like shaking the blender to get all of it out, good!  It wasn't until I was a week into the challenge that I began to notice non-physical changes.  

The BIGGEST and most noticeable change was the afternoon hours 2p-5pm.  I have ALWAYS struggled during the afternoons.  I get tired, irritable, and crash.  I often time would snack the most during the afternoon and crave sugary things.

I drink my shake around 1/1:30ish and am full, without cravings, until dinner time.  And when dinner time (5:30/6pm) rolls around, I'm not starving and scarfing food down.  I'm just ready to eat.  It's really amazing the change in how I feel for the afternoon into the early evening.

Maybe that's why the shake tastes so good to me, I know what it's going to do to my afternoon :)

Anyway... I'm wrapping up my 30 day Challenge and I have to be honest, I'm kinda sad.  

I have really enjoyed doing the Challenge Group on Facebook.  It's a private group of 4-7 people, where you check in daily, set goals, encourage each other, drink shakeology and have an exercise routine you keep.

The shakes have proven everything I thought wrong...

1) The shakes really are good

2) I have seen changes in my body that have happened since starting shakeology without changing my current running program

3) and I'm already a few inches smaller in my most troubled area... the lower abdomen, where I had my c-section and I actually am starting to see a baby arm muscle! WHAT?!  

So strange, there's never been a muscle there before!

So I'm wrapping up my Shakeology Challenge a little sad that it's over BUT I'm very excited because I've not only ordered my next 30 days of Shakeology (I'm going to try the Chocolate this time around) but I'm now a Beachbody Coach and selling Shakeology!

Not only that but I've purchased my very first workout program with Shaun T (creator of Insanity) called Hip-Hop Abs.  Seriously, I am SO PUMPED to have a dance party in my basement and see what kind of results I get this summer.  

If you want to take the 30 Day Shakeology Challenge, join a Challenge group, or just chat about Shakeology and if it's something that could work for you... drop me a message on Facebook, email me, or checkout my website.

At the end of my 30 day Challenge with Emily's group (June 11th), I'll be posting my before and after pictures, measurements, and thoughts.  

Who wants to do this with me?!