Race Dreams

on July 28, 2014
in All Posts

Happiness is a giant empty smoothie glass.

photo (29)

Yum.

 

How is your Monday chugging along? I confess – I don’t feel like it’s Monday at all!  First of all, I had a prenatal check-up at 7:30 AM, which sounds brutal but – trust me – it’s not. When you have a crazy, fun, loud, and awesomely energetic toddler, going to the doctor’s ALONE is kind of like a trip to a quiet, relaxing spa… especially when it’s just one of those “Let’s hear the heartbeat and have you pee in a cup” appointments.  Do you feel me?  Practically a spa appointment (minus the back massage, and I could reaaaaally use a back massage).

 

And then I came home, the Husband and I did the parent “Tag, You’re It!” and I took Henry to the pool, where we swam with his friends for a long time.

 

It was a glorious way to spend a Monday morning, indeed.

 

So – yesterday, I was thinking about RACES.  I haven’t raced a lot this year – I did one event in March (a half marathon) and then the back-to-back 5K and 10K in June.  The last race was my 58th event!  Crazy. 

race-recaps-collage (1)

I did so many events between 2009 – 2011 and then really slowed down once I got pregnant with Henry.  What used to be a (very expensive) once-a-month hobby has kind of been put on the back burner for a few years (with some big exceptions, I guess!). 

 

When I realized yesterday that I was at 58 events, I decided that I really want to make my 60th event a special “Welcome BACCCCCK” post-baby triathlon.  Nothing crazy long – just a nice goal to work towards after Little One is born.  I did a triathlon 11 weeks after Henry was born, but I really phoned in the race, which was totally fine at the time.  But I’d like my 60th race to be a solid effort, ya know?  Since Little One is due in December, I figure I’ll have five months of solid training and then I can do an event around June 2015.

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It’s a loooong way off (and I’ve got to squeeze a baby out, survive the newborn months, and figure out how to train with two kids first), but it’s really fun to plan ahead!  Honestly, it doesn’t help that I’m an active reader of the Tri-Fecta group – reading all the race recaps gets me so excited.

 

Do you race a lot?  Are you eyeing a special event in the next year or so?

{ 26 comments }

 

  • Eileen July 28, 2014, 5:03 pm

    Do you know of any similar Tri discussion groups that aren’t on Facebook? I have up FB a few years ago and really don’t want to rejoin but I’ve been pretty curious about the Tri group mentioned. I’m a complete beginner.

    • Caitlin July 28, 2014, 6:21 pm

      I don’t but maybe someone else does?

      However, trifecta is seriously worth joining Facebook for!!! The group is super super super supportive. I don’t think you can find something similar anywhere else.

  • Erica { EricaDHouse.com } July 28, 2014, 5:37 pm

    I race maybe 6-7 times a year. I have my 3rd marathon in November, my 4th (in NOLA!) in January which acts as a training run for my first 50k in Feb. Then, I rest!

  • Colleen July 28, 2014, 5:39 pm

    This is random, but is that a baby Bjorn ? If so, how long were you able to use it with Henry? I have several carriers, but they all face in and my particular daughter only wants to face out 🙂 She’s four months (and an average 14 lbs), though, so I hesitate to buy yet another thing if I won’t be able to use it that long? I’m curious what your experience was!
    Thanks!

    • Caitlin July 28, 2014, 6:21 pm

      Yes! We borrowed it from a friend and used it up until a year. He walked at 9 months indepdently (like legit walking) so it was harder to use it after that. You can sometimes get them on sale at consignment shops. I will definitely buy one for the next kid!!!

    • Catherine July 29, 2014, 2:34 pm

      Colleen, I also have the Bjorn with a very chubby baby (he was 20 lbs at 4 months old and now 26 lbs at 9 months old)… I highly recommend it! It’s very comfortable. The max weight on mine is 26 lbs, so we’re literally at the limit, but it’s unlikely for most babies to outgrow it before they start walking. My son will be the rare exception. My first baby was a hefty 16 lbs at 4 months; she turned 2 in June and just hit 26 lbs now. With the Bjorn, you can turn your baby either way, so it was perfect for both of my children since they had different preferences. If you are nursing, you can also turn her towards you so she can eat and then switch her back to front-facing. I tried out several carriers, but the Bjorn is my absolute favorite.

      • Colleen July 30, 2014, 6:18 pm

        Thanks so much ladies! I’ll definitely look for one used to try it out! And maybe look into selling some of my other carriers!

  • Joy July 28, 2014, 6:13 pm

    I don’t race a lot, usually one or two races a year that I really focus on (with hopes of a PR). But boy do I love looking around to see what I could focus on. I love searching for races and reading recaps and seeing what the possibilities are.

  • Sarah July 28, 2014, 6:37 pm

    HA! I love that “I’m not slow, I’m just getting my money’s worth from the entry fee”. I want it on a t-shirt!

  • Tanya July 28, 2014, 6:44 pm

    I don’t race a lot, generally one marathon a year and maybe a half and one other smaller race. Next year I’m hoping to be a big race year. I have two marathons planned in the first six months, and if all goes well, I’d like to do my first 50 miler in the fall.

  • Keri July 28, 2014, 7:14 pm

    Get out!! Even thinking about signing up for a race at 11 weeks postpartum would have exhausted me. It’s been six months and I’m just now tackling 3 miles 3-4 times a week–even though near the end I feel like my insides might fall out. I used to run half marathons. Now I’m thinking a late September 5k might be a good goal. A nice slow 5k that I can get my money’s worth from 😉

  • Sarah July 28, 2014, 9:01 pm

    I just completed my first Olympic Triathlon yesterday! You and Meghann are the people who inspired me to “tri” a triathlon in the first place – so thanks! With 3 sprints and now an Olympic under my belt, I’m hooked.

    PS – I started a blog – O-HI-30 – about what it’s like to be single and 30 in the midwest (and various other topics). http://www.ohi30.com. Greatly appreciate the support!

    • Caitlin July 29, 2014, 1:57 pm

      Yay I’m so glad you had fun and welcome to blogging!!!

  • Steph July 28, 2014, 9:08 pm

    My bff has already planned for us to do the Tomahawk Triathlon next summer. I’ll be the same amount postpartum as you! I’m not sure how the heck that’s all going to work out. I hope to be able to train with 2 little ones, but I have to admit that, right now, that’s intimidating to think about! Wheeeeee!

  • Amanda @ Living on Grace July 28, 2014, 9:52 pm

    YOU CAN DO IT!! i ran a half marathon 5 months post partum with my second baby, and it was the hardest race i’ve ever done, but it’s also, by far, the race i’m most proud of. can’t wait to read along 🙂

    my half-marathon: http://www.thekriegers.org/2013/11/richmond-half-marathon-2013-race-recap/

  • Chrissy July 29, 2014, 9:35 am

    I raced a lot more before children, but I have found that my times have improved a great deal since having children. I think that is because I really try to make my training count. And pushing that stroller really adds another aspect to training. I did a half at 3 months postpartum, have another half coming up in October, and am thinking of doing a third one in November. I am working to PR again in October (two PR’s in one year? crazy!) and using the November race as a “fun run”.

  • Alyssa July 29, 2014, 11:36 am

    At 32 weeks pregnant I’m not doing any more racing in 2014 (actually I didn’t do much anyway, just a few that I signed up for before getting pregnant). I did a 50 miler as my last hurrah before getting knocked up (I didn’t plan it that way but it happened!). I’m not planning any post partum races because I have no idea what life will be like with an infant, but I know eventually I’ll get back into it. Some friends and I have very tentative plans for the St. Louis marathon in October 2015, so hopefully a year gives me enough time!

  • Valerie July 29, 2014, 12:08 pm

    Just did my first sprint tri this past weekend! I can’t wait for my next one!

    I love all the positive encouragement on your blog – it definitely helped me get over my nerves and just enjoy the race.

    • Caitlin July 29, 2014, 1:56 pm

      Yay I’m so glad you had a positive experience!

  • Catlady July 29, 2014, 12:31 pm

    This seems like a solid plan for you! I have actually never raced (NOT a runner!) I have walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day (60 mile walk) for the past 8 years, but it is absolutely not a race of any kind. In the vein of setting goals, though, I am really trying to train hard and lose a lot of weight so I can have a strong walk this year.

  • Carolina John July 29, 2014, 1:13 pm

    I’ve completely giving up on glasses, and just started drinking my smoothies straight from the blender pitcher. Less to clean up.

    I’m doing the 70.3 race at Lake Logan this weekend! It’s the first year they’ve done anything longer than the oly we did together a couple of years ago. I can’t wait to get back into the mountains and see how my bike skills will hold up over that distance.

    Your 60th race should be a good memorable one post-baby. Maybe take a look at the Tri-Charleston stuff on Setup Events? They have some good spring tri’s, and Charleston is a fantastic race environment. Or, you know, come up to visit us and do Ironman 70.3 Raleigh on the first weekend in June. We’ll watch the baby for you.

    • Caitlin July 29, 2014, 1:56 pm

      Are you doing Raleigh??? That would be so cool to watch you do it! I heard good things about the course last year.

  • Carina July 29, 2014, 1:36 pm

    I’ve done 162 road races (all running, no tris) in the last 10.5 years, so I guess thats about 1.25 per month, although I was injured for 4 months in 05-06. The only special numbers I remember were my 100th race (which was a local Thanksgiving race I’ve done every year since I started, also my very first race as an adult), and my 13th marathon (which was Boston and I worried would be unlucky because of the number). This fall will be my 20th marathon, maybe I’ll pick a special marathon for number 25 or 26 if I get that far.

    • Caitlin July 29, 2014, 1:55 pm

      You are amazzzzzzzzzzzing.

      • Carina July 30, 2014, 4:32 pm

        Amazing… or I really like ice cream and 1.25 races per month keeps the scale holding steady! 😉

  • Janelle July 30, 2014, 2:04 pm

    I’m not a runner, and I don’t like crowds. When we lived in Montana, I was happy to stay fit by doing intense hikes – which were beautiful and didn’t involve large groups of people (my happy place). Now that we are living back in the Midwest and in a small city, the “hikes” (really just walking) aren’t nearly enough. So much so that I’ve gone on a couple of runs now – and strangely kind of liked it. I’ve never done a race, though, and I’m not sure how I’d feel about there being other people around – not to mention having to pay to run. What’s the draw? I want to talk myself into it… maybe.

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