Swim Bike Run Fuel: Louisiana Tri

Louisiana Triathlon is one of my absolute favorite races. It’s put on by Rocketkidz Foundation and some amazing race directors!

The weekend started by checking into the most amazing little cottage in New Roads. If you registered by a certain time they were giving away a weekend package. It included a 2 nights stay at LeJuene St. House, 50$ to Satterfield’s, 50$ to Ma Mama’s, 2 paddle board rentals, and a gift basket from the local grocery story Langlois’. My friend and fellow triathlete, Jenn, won that awesome prize and took me along! How lucky am I?? So we checked into the cottage then headed to packet pick up. We were so close to the venue we walked pretty much {pretty much right Jenn?} everywhere. After we got our packets we did a little shake out ride and returned to get dressed for dinner. Dinner was at Morel’s with some of Jenn’s Hard Inc. teammates. I love meeting new people especially connecting with triathletes and learning more about the sport and races. After dinner we headed back to the house to get out things ready for race day.

Stuck to my whole 30 all weekend!

Race morning was typical. Got up, pooped, ate, and got dressed. Nothing new same routine. Only I’m still on whole 30 and really really really missing my bagel and cookie butter, but I digress.

We packed up and rode our bikes to the race site and began setting up transition. I donated to Rocketkidz Foundation and was able gain VIP access at the race! This gave me a special rack with 19 others. We also were able to start in the first swim wave. I liked getting an early start. A little friendly competition/bet was set pre-race with 2 other ladies in the 30-34 age group. Last one out of the water bought the first round. I knew I wouldn’t be last but I knew I wouldn’t be first! I love having this competition because it really pushes me to race harder. Calli and I were both VIP so we started together. Jenn started in our AG wave so I didn’t know where she was the entire race I just knew I needed to push because I was getting those 14 seconds back!

I'm still learning this whole #looklikeapro TriTats thing.....

I felt really good on the swim and I think that’s a problem lately. I’m afraid to push and get too tired too soon. It’s so hard to judge my time out there and I’ve been disappointed the last few races with my swim time. Next race I’m going to push it harder. I knew Calli had beat me out of the water because when they said go she took off! 19:28 later I’m out of the water and running to T1, I hear cheers from friends for me and then for Jacob…..uhmmmm yea, he started way after me and managed to get out at the same time. At this point I knew my swim was slow and didn’t even want to see my time. I turned around and said “No, fucking way you’re behind me!” Of course he was in the zone and not even listening.

T1 went swiftly as planned 52 seconds! I swear if transition were a sport I would win every time. I’m not sure how I get through it so fast because everything feels like slow motion!

Off on the bike, I felt fantastic the entire ride. I ended up passing Calli around mile 2 and said a quick “YOU WIN!” There were other words exchanged but I can’t recall what. Have I mentioned how much I love these girls and our competition?? Because I do. Bike time was 59:52 with an 18.6 average pace. I’m proud of it but I wanted faster.

T2:……. Well let’s talk dismount first. So I’m new to the flying mount and dismount, I NAILED the mount. The dismount didn’t go as planned. My feet were out of my shoes I was ready to go and then I get to the line and there are people EVERYWHERE. My mind said don’t do it. You’ll fall. You’ll be embarrassed. So I just stopped and dismounted as usual, Then, proceeded to throw my bike down on the way in, in front of said crowd. Guess I should have tried it anyway. So back to T2, 54 seconds and I was off on the run.

When I started the run my foot was KILLING me. Like so bad I thought about quitting. It eventually worked itself out and I was okay. The run was 2 1.5 mile loops and I thought I would hate it but I loved it. It was great! I surprised myself and ran much faster than I thought I could or would. For the first time ever I didn’t choke!! Not going to lie I was looking behind me for my girl DJ Calli Cal the whole time! Run time: 29:42 9:35 pace

When I finally returned home I had the biggest smile on my face. It has been a seriously long time since I have crossed the finish line knowing I left it all on the course. I knew that I had given that race all that I could and I accomplished a lot. I beat my time from last year by 7 mins. The best thing about triathlon is having the ability to race others, but also race yourself every time. Every time I get out there I set out to beat myself. To better myself. It’s so much fun to compete with Calli and Jenn but so much more rewarding to beat your yesterday. To be better than you were before.

Total time: 150:49

AG: 5^th

Overall: 29^th

There were some fast bitches out on the course. Like fas fas! I hope that I can keep pushing myself to be as fast as them one day because they literally kicked my ass! Shout out to those fast ladies in F30-34 and thank you for pushing me to be a better me!