When Hot Flashes Come In Handy!

Saturday was the Mars High School Band 5k/10k Race.  Since our company is a sponsor, we thought we should make an appearance.  It was your typical spring day in Western PA.  Cold, gray and rainy.  Both Bryan and I were doing the 5k. (It was his first 5k, with no training of course).  I don't consider anything I do as a "race".  I think of it more as a "Personal Goal Event".  My personal goal was anything under 30 minutes.  My time was 30:13 - 14 seconds over my person goal, but it was a PR for a 5k.  (I have only done one other stand alone 5K). Bottom line is that I suck at running! The best part was I didn't get cold!  I even took off my raincoat during the race.  Everyone else seemed to be cold......Not Me!  Thank you menopause! 

                                               Laura, Share and I with our new hardware!



The Mighty Moraine Man Spring Sprint was on Sunday.  Once again, it was cold, gray and rainy.  My personal goal was to beat my time last year of  1:47:55 and to not mess up my Garmin in triathlon mode. This was the first "Personal Goal Event"  I was using my Garmin.   Me being me, I practice about 20 times pushing the correct buttons days before the race.  The water was around 63 degrees.  I think I was the only crazy person that did an open water swim before the race.  I wanted to get the fear of the cold water out of my head.  Everyone was dreding the cold water and the swim. I got in with some friends and did a good warm up.  The water felt fine, cold but manageable and my swimming was stress free.  Got to the staring line with no sign of any anxiety.  The horn went off and in I went.  The first 10-15 seconds were fine, then it went down hill.  Couldn't get my breath, went off course, stopped a few time......it was not pretty to say the least.  By the time I was half way done, I settled in and got into my grove.  I was almost done, when some random guy in a wetsuit and hood floated in front of me.  I T-boned him.  Startled me to say the least.  He was not in my sight line at all!  I guess he got off course and was backstroking or just floating on his back trying to get on course.  Needless to say, I had more stops in that swim than I think I have ever had and it ended up more worst swim ever.  (That really pisses me off......I love to swim, I love open water and I wasn't a bit cold!  WTF!!)  Anyway, I get out of the water (pushing the correct button (yeah me!) and get to T1.


There is the guy that I T-Boned!  He looked like one of the safety divers!  I really need to do something about that side boob issue!


               I was really trying to look happy! 

I thought I better put on a jacket and/or glove for the bike portion.  Neither one of them would go on since I was wet and I didn't have a dry towel, due to the rain.  I just said F it and threw everything on the ground and got on my bike (and pushed my button!!). The bike was uneventful.  I just need to be more aggressive and pass people when I can.  I have to stop thinking that person is stronger than me, so she will pass me anyway on the hill.  While on the course, I did notice that a lot of people had jackets and gloves on. I kept thinking, I am going to get cold!  Nope!  Not me!  Temperature felt fine! Made it back to T2 and once again pushed the correct button!  I'm sure people that didn't understand why I keep saying, Push The Button, Push The Button out loud thought I was totally crazy. T2 went quick, changed shoes (elastic laces are the best!),  put on my new orange hat and off I went leaving transition saying, Push the Button, Push the Button!

                You can see my mess in transition??

The run was uneventful, other than all the people passing me, due to I totally suck at running.  (I think I already stated that fact!)  The finish line came at 1:46:09.  I did make my person goal and I did push my button at the correct times!  Of course me being me, I was disappointed at my swim time and thought I should have been able to get a little better time on the bike.  I came in 2nd in my old lady division. And yes, there were more than 2 crazy old ladies!  There were 3!


Of course I had to do the "Laura" - Strong/Fast Finish to the End!


  Can you tell I was thinking about pushing the button??


               Push the Button!  Push the Button!!

After the race I talked to a bunch of people and they said they froze in the water.  I heard that some people were even disoriented.  I kept saying, I wasn't cold at all!  I guess the moral to this post is sometimes hot flashes are a good thing!  After about 5 years of having them, this is the first time I was "joyful" to have numerous hot flashes in a morning!!  Let's just hope they ease up in September for IMCHOO.  I don't think it will be cold in TN!