Calling all triathletes!

Have you heard about Trakkers?

Do you often have friends and family hitting the “REFRESH” (F5) button on the results page waiting to see how you performed? I know that my parents and grandparents are often patiently awaiting to hear how I did in my races. Sometimes my friends see the results before I do.

Trakkers is developing this awesome new technology using GPS where an athlete can wear a cute little unit like a watch and information about your race will be displayed on a website REAL TIME. You strap on this little doo-job-er to your race belt, wrist, or arm, hit the start button and do your race. Meanwhile, the Trakker will be relaying location, pace, distance, heart rate, etc to a website that your friends and family can tune into!

Another cool feature…a panic button. If you get into trouble during a race you can press the panic button and your distress call will be relayed to organizers.

Trakkers is still in the development stage (I even get to help out with that process a little bit). They are aiming for a release date closer to the end of 2008. Working with Trakkers thus far has been super fun, they are taking the athletes perspective very seriously! I’ll be updating you more along the way as I get more information.

I didn’t plan on racing today. Nope, nada. After asking Steve what I should do instead of my planned bike for today (bike out of commission for awhile) he said if I wanted I could come do a 5K out at Wash Park today. Steve was going out to help one of my teammates, Sandy, post a great time to get into a good Bolder Boulder heat. I stayed up late last night with friends, had like 5 smores, and didn’t even sweat it that I might race today.

Another one of our teammates, Kirk, was going to jump into the race and help with pacing as well. It almost felt like a little pacing party this morning. Troy and Annie came along to the race, as did Steve’s son, and Sandy’s 4 kiddos and her brother and niece. It was a total party.

The original plan was for everyone to help with the pacing but as we got on the line to start Steve changed it up on me and gave me a new little strategy that he wanted me to attack. I admit having the game changed last minute was totally fun. A year ago I would have been MAD, but today I just got a little smile on my face and said…”I’ll try until I blow up”.

After the national anthem and some really touching words by Congressman Perlmutter we were off. I stuck straight to my plan that Steve outlined and this took me across the one mile point at 6:12. My first thought was that this was too fast. But I was sticking to my plan. I relaxed up, calmed down and just focused on turning over the legs, calming the mind, and let my body do what it loves. I came into mile 2 around 12:40 and felt right on. I decided to put in a surge that would hopfully pull me away from the lady I was running with and into the lead. I surged hard up a little hill and just let it come to me.

I was in the lead. It’s funny the feelings you get when you are leading a race. Instead of relief, it’s dread. You have this idea that everyone in the race is coming to get you. You use all your mental strength you keep your head on straight. In the lead, the work is all yours. I heard Kirk yell something at me from behind. I figured they were further directions from Steve, being relayed up the race pack. Before I knew it Kirk was at my shoulder running stride for stride with me. I stood a little taller and ran a bit harder. You see, Kirk is a bit ellusive amongst the group. He is a amazing rock star of a triathlete and one of those people that just being in his presence makes you feel fast. It was great to round the last turn with him.

I really felt like I was on pace to break 20 minutes today. That number seems to be my nemisis. I don’t run 5K’s too often, but when I do, I haven’t broken 20. I think the last 1.15 was a little long, or maybe I wasn’t flying as fast as I felt. My finish time was 20:25. I took the first overall slot for the ladies, and Sandy pulled in right behind me with the third place slot. Second went to local tri-star, just turned professional, Kylie.

All in all, I had a ton of fun executing a race strategy today. I learned a lot and this race really added to my confidence level as a competitor. Steve just keeps teaching me little by little, piece by piece. I just keep praying (or meditating) that I continue to have the clarity to absorb his teachings. I really feel like he is “raising me” in the sport and I couldn’t feel more lucky for the mentorship he provides. As we warmed up he was giving Sandy all these tips, and I was just basking in the fact that I got to be there to listen as well. He really knows how to race, and he is full of many gems.

Tons of thanks to Troy as well who totally was out there for me today. I was thinking on the way home about the sense of ease I feel when I run by my husband in races. It’s instantly calming. When he isn’t there my whole race feels off. He adds way more than I can describe to my race experience. Just knowing that someone out there doesn’t care if you stick to the plan or not, if you blow up or not, bonk or not. He could care less, he’s always just there with a smile on his face, cheering his guts out while running after a two year old. I am SO stinkin’ lucky.

It matches my blog!

Tell me that the new Garmin Forerunner 405 isn’t absolutely awesome looking. Go ahead…try, yea, that’s what I thought, you can’t even say it. The new Forerunner is HOT HOT HOT! The last two versions were a bit more lets say…large…maybe clunky is the word. But we still bought them, and we wore them, and we used them. Why? Because WE LIKE DATA. And there is nothing like knowing your pace and your distance.

We were set free by the Garmin Forerunner. No longer did we need to run routes that we “knew” the distance. Nor did we have to just “Run for Time”. Oh no, we could now step out the front door and just start running, letting our feet and heart take us were they may. And boy have they taken me places.

When we got home we knew it all…where we had gone, how far, how fast, how many calories. It was all there. Yet we just got to run, to let loose.

I was very lucky to have trained with a Garmin Forerunner 201 this past year, and I have loved it. It’s especially awesome to get back on the computer and review past runs and rides from months back. However, during the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Race #2 my Gamin suffered an injury. It got torn from it’s wrist strap during one of my many falls. Ever since I have been forced to train with it in my pocket (or sportsbra) b/c it’s doesn’t have a strap any more, nor does it have the pins to hold a replacement strap on. So needless to say when I saw this new one on the market, I started drooling green. The only problem…

Suggested Retail Price: $318.74

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On New Years Day this year I ran the 31st Annual rescue Run in Colorado Springs. I ran this race last year and really enjoyed it. It benefits a really good cause and it’s a great thing to do on New Years Day.

The news station asked me to say a few words and I just now hunted down the footage. So check it out…my part is super short, just a simple “It’s a healthy way to start the new year”.

The race went really well, I ended up with 3rd overall in the 5K and I was about 20 seconds away from the course record for my age group which was broken by the second place lady. I ran 22:03 on a super hilly course.

If your looking for a good New Years race to run, think about this one for next year!

Results are here: 2008 Rescue Run 5K

The annual holiday party for my track club was this weekend and the plans were to run the 2007 Jingle Bell Run and then head out to lunch for a little party afterwards. I wanted to do the race, but seeing that I am a self proclaimed racing junkie, I needed to check with THE MAN. Usually we do our long rides on Sunday mornings, but a few of my teammates were planning on riding their bikes to the race and then competing. I asked for permission to race and got shot down big time. It wasn’t that I got totally shot down, I just told him I wanted to do what was best for my training and he said “Ride your bike”. So I asked if I could ride down to the race site then run. The answer…”no”.

Humm.

Well apparently the cosmos had a grander plan because we woke up Sunday morning to 4 inches of snow in downtown Denver. I immediately called THE MAN. “Can I race now”?

“Yes, you can race, but I want you to run 6 miles before you get on the starting line”

Sweet…

Several minutes later the phone rings…it’s THE MAN… “Take that back, throw in your snowshoes, lets do 6 miles on our snowshoes and then race, meet me there at 9”.

Sweeeeet, even better….

So that’s what we did. We met early, did a nice (actually AWESOME) hour long run around Wash park on our snowshoes and then came back, changed clothes and got ready to race. It was nice to get some one-on-one time with my coach to talk about where I was at and what I need to work on. In case it doesn’t show…I am really happy with Practical Coaching and the coaching that Steve is providing to me.

I have never been so warmed up before a race before. It usually takes me until about mile one to really feel in my grove for a 5K. I decided to wear my YakTrax. It was pretty slick out there, definitely the perfect day for some traction!

So here is the odd thing. In now 30 some odd races in the last year-ish, this was the first time that I wasn’t nervous. Zip-Zero-Zilcho on the nervous front. Just chill.

And with a countdown from Ms Colorado (tiara and all), we were off. By the first turn the race was pretty sorted out and I could tell I was the lead girl. Whoah! Strange feeling. I knew there was obviously a lot of racing to do, but I felt this confidence that in retrospect I think was just a super warm body and a complete lack of nerves. The race went VERY VERY consistently. About two hundred yards from the finish I took a quick glance behind me and I saw another lady close behind. Boy did that light the fire under my shoes to push it in. Everything came together, and when I came through the finish line, it was a winning effort. First woman!

Steve was there, he had raced to 4th place in the men. We grabbed a cool down, hit up the awards ceremony where there was a little “misunderstanding” concerning my win that we had to sort out, and then it was off to lunch with the track club.

Matt put together an AWESOME lunch for us at Handlebar, with lots of schwag!

The details:
Time: 21:34 on a snowy snowy day
Colorado Runner — Click here for the article on the race (pics too)
Click here for RESULTS

Holiday Meal Doesn’t Slow Wilcox at Gobbler

We had such a wonderful time spending this holiday with Ron and Michelle in Pueblo. Sam an Annie just tickled us pink as they played so well together. When they get together they become the two most polite two year olds you have ever met.

On Wednesday, we got a late start out of town. It was nice to sleep in though. I had a timed mile in the pool to measure progress so we hit the Greenwood Athletic Club on the way out of town to get that in. My time was 31:15, which is about 2 minutes faster than my last timed mile. So, slowly, and surely, I am getting better little bits at a time.

The drive to Pueblo was quick, we stopped on the way at the YMCA in Colorado Springs to sign up Michelle and I for the Turkey Trot the next day. We had a mellow evening and were able to visit and catch up with each other.

Thursday Michelle and I got up early, left the kiddos with their daddies, and drove up to the springs for the race. It was a BIG race! The course was great, lots of hills through a residential neighborhood and many twists and turns. I took it out strong but felt a bit cold and sluggish the first mile. I came through mile one as 10th overall woman in about 6:35. Then we hit the hills. The second mile my arms felt very sore and tired from the swim the day before. I ran the hills steady, but nothing super impressive. I missed the mile 2 marker. Somewhere around mile 2-2.5 I reeled in and passed one lady, and beat it home to the finish in case she decided to try to pass me back. About one minute after I finished I saw Troy and Annie! They had tried to surprise us by bringing the kids to the race, but got there ONE minute too late! I guess I was just a little to quick for them that day!

I got 9th overall woman (664 total women in the race), and 3rd in my age group. My time was 21:22, which felt great given the cold temperature and stiffness. There were some awesome fast ladies there and it was great to get to run with them!

Back home we went, and in went the turkey. We had a few mishaps there, but all in all Thanksgiving Dinner went beautifully. The hit of the evening was the Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing from Eating Well. It was to die for! I do think a big part of it was that I made it with the cornbread from Trader Joes, it was so tasty!

Friday was a mellow day, we woke up to a totally WHITE post-Thanksgiving Day. It was snowing in Pueblo. I hit the local YMCA for an early morning swim and afterwards Michelle and I did a little Christmas shopping at KOHLs. We headed home after that, renewed, refreshed and happy to have spent the day of Thanks with our closest friends.

9News aired a piece and an article on the Gobbler Chase Snowshoe 5K Race and I “made the news”. Click on the link at the bottom of the post to be taken to the webpage with the footage.
Photos curtsey of 9News.
I’m not sure how long this footage will be up!

I can’t even begin to explain how fun today was! We had a big group of Practical Coaching athletes travel up to Copper Mountain for the annual Gobbler Chase 5K Snowshoe Race. It’s a great first season race. Good for getting the cobwebs off the snowshoes and for a test run before the intense Beaver Creek Snowshoe Series begins in three weeks. We traveled up as a group which means lots of banter and smack talk.

This was my first race on my new direct mounted snowshoes. 9News did little interview with me before the race (I happened to be talking a little smack about my orange shoelaces). We did a warm up as a group, checked out the course a little…it was thin, and that’s an overstatement (WE NEED SNOW…BAD).

With strict instructions from the man not to go out too hard, we were off. The course was a bit of a short 5K, with all the uphill in the first 1.5 miles. I was sooo happy to be with my teammates and friends, and so excited about being on my snowshoes, that I just WENT. I felt good. AND…I only fell down twice. I have a bad habit of eating it in my snowshoes, but only twice is pretty good for me, it means I was pushing it. I was the lead woman out of the shoot, and I just managed to stay in the lead the entire race. My new snowshoes are really awesome and so light on my feet. And for my win today, RedFeather Snowshoes gifted me a new pair of snowshoes of my choosing. I felt very lucky!

My friends and teammates did really well too! In the women’s race we took 1, 4, 7, 9 and 20. If we were a cross country team we would have rocked the house! The boys did well too. Steve was 2nd overall, and Tyler came in right on my tail with Bryan on his tail. I’m so proud of everyone. I think when you have fun together, you race well together!

I had a fun little interview with 9News after the race, and the Summit Daily News also asked me a few questions. This evening 9News aired a piece that was really cute, you can watch it at any of the links below. BEWARE: they don’t get my name right and they call me “Sophie”. I’m not going to even share with you Steve’s comment on that one! Oooh, and I love that it ends with Steve and I running off together in our Practical Coaching jackets! Too Fun!

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=81604

Happy Gobble Gobble Weekend!

This weekend we traveled to Pueblo, CO to visit our good friends Ron, Michelle and their little boy Sam. I met Michelle through Colorado Mountain Mamas over a year ago, and we became good friends immediately. Ron got a job in Pueblo and they moved down there about 5 months ago. We miss them a ton, but they are only about a 2 hour drive from us, so we are lucky they are still relatively close.

Michelle has been running a lot so we decided that we would do a 5K on Saturday. It’s part of a series that we both signed up for, the “Pueblo Toyota Benefit Running Series”. In two weeks there is a 10K that we will run as well, so we get to go visit again!

The race went well and after a week of rest I can’t feel any pain or discomfort in my IT band. There were a little over 100 people running the race and the course was pretty hilly. The ladies took it out at a 6:11 pace for the first mile. That was a bit fast for me and at 1.5 miles I found myself in second place for the ladies. I kept this place throughout the race, but my pace slowed quite a bit. The hills were part of the reason!

5K is a lot more fun that 13 miles, that’s for sure. My official time was 21:17, which was second woman overall, and 12th in the race.

Michelle also ran super strong. She was hoping for sub-30 min and she was sooo close! Being that the course was hilly, we know she’ll beat that goal in her next 5K. She finished in 30:29. I had the pleasure of watching her for the last quarter mile and her form and attitude was great. She was spot on with her pace, nice and relaxed looking gait, and generally a real joy to watch run. I can’t wait to see her progress with her running, she definitely has the right attitude about it! Yea Michy-Michy!!!

The rest of the weekend was awesome, except for one teny-tiny part concerning some over-indulgence with the margaritas and the Pama. I’m not looking for a repeat performance there, and Ron isn’t ever going to let me live down a few of the stupid things I did! All in all it was a great weekend!

We just returned from a GLORIOUS weekend up in the mountains. We left Friday night (after a gracious friend took Arwen at the last minute) and headed up to Winter Park where our friends Chris and Taylor had reserved a condo for the 5 of us. We had a great night with them, chatting and catching up. Saturday morning we made our way to Winter Park Ski Resort which was a 2 minute bus ride from the condo. I skied in the morning while Troy stayed with Annie and then I met him at 1pm and we swapped. I picked everyone up in the car at the end of the day. Everyone had fun skiing, it snowed the entire day and the conditions were FABULOUS! The bumps were soft and we did some awesome runs off the top and through some dense trees. The snow was powder, and fluffy, and just lovely! That evening we had lasagna, garlic bread and a salad, prepared by yours truly. The boys all seemed to enjoy the food. Annie was an absolute RIOT that evening. I knew she was outgoing, but it was a hoot. She played with Chris and Taylor without even acknowledging us for about an hour. She would sit on their laps, bounce on their tummies, laugh, giggle, roll around, bounce on the couch, and act generally silly, all pretending we didn’t exist! She went to bed like clockwork and slept very peacefully. After getting her to bed I had several glasses of wine, a mimosa, and hit the hot tub! Ahhhh!

Sunday morning we checked out of the condo and drove over to Beaver Creek Ski Resort for the third race in the Beaver Creek Adventure Series, called the Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships. This is the largest snowshoe race in the world. They have a heavily competitive 10K, and a “more on the fun side” 5K. The 10Kers race for $$$, the 5Kers, for goodies! My very good friend Amy had taken the plunge and signed up for the race. This was to be her first race EVER, in any discipline. What a rock star! We met up with her at the free parking, and Troy dropped us off at the lifts. Troy went to check into our hotel in Avon, while Amy and I took two lifts up to the top of the mountain where the race was. The previous two races started at the bottom of the mountain, and therefore Troy could participate, or spectate. But the last two races are at the top of the lift and infants are not allowed on the lifts, so Troy and Annie must kill time until we are finished racing. We got dressed to race, took a small warm up, and stood around to let the nerves swell! Amy was nervous, and that made me even more nervous, but I tried to stay upbeat! The race was off! Swells of people with snowshoes all instantly on the move. The start was uphill, and not a very nice uphill. Quickly the pack broke into small groups as we trudged upwards. Somewhere between 0.5 and 0.75 miles the 10Kers took a left up some huge nasty hill while we 5Kers got to continue on a modest hill. I remember feeling tired and wondering early in the race if I was having an off day. I looked ahead of me, I could see 3 women and I thought to myself, what if those 3 are in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. How would you feel knowing you could get them now. I sped up. We passed the 1 mile marker (15 minutes…huh). I passed a girl, she passed me back. We took a dip into a deep powder section. The powder was knee deep, not runable (not a word, I know), dang. The girl ahead gained distance on me, I gained distance on her. The 10Kers joined us again. There was a 2 mile marker (apparently for them, not for us, b/c later we passed another 2 mile marker). A water stop, I passed it without water. We dipped into more powder. I had a fast 10K lady on my heals. One step before the end of the powder section I tripped on my snowshoe and fell on my face. We both had a strong laugh about that. “You almost made it” Hahaha. More hills, bye bye 10Kers, they turned off to more hills. The real two mile marker (30 minutes), and another powder section, this time hip deep. I got stuck several times, so stuck I had to yank at my leg several times to free it. Women were told to run through the powder on the right side of the flags, men on the left, I complied (apparently the winner of the 10K did not, but they let her keep her title…hum…interesting). Out of the powder and more rolling hills, I now loose the girl in front of me to the fog, she’s there, she isn’t. She’s far ahead, I’m all alone. Slowing down. I catch a glimpse behind me on a turn…girls behind me…close behind. I go, I go hard. Don’t want to get passed…no! It works, girl in front of me gets closer. I hear the announcer, the end is close. Time to haul. I pick it up, I dial in the form. I finish. I look around, not many women. I count 3. I get in the tent for snacks and see another 2. 6th, could I be 6th? Sure enough. 6th it is. Time of 47:08 for a 5K (although, this “felt” longer than 5K). I’m high…ooh, but now getting cold, very cold. I change clothes quickly and walk back along the course to cheer for others and watch for Amy. Sure enough, there she comes, looking strong as ever, and awesome as ever. You would never know it was her first race. I watch her run to the finish, so proud of what she overcame, and what she now knows is possible.

Ahhh, the sweet taste of being done and knowing you did well…ahhh.

We ride the lift down, meet up with Troy, and grab the provided lunch. I win a pair of Atlas kids snowshoes in the raffle and we head off to have a few celebratory drinks…thanks Amy!! Awesome race!