Looking Back... and Looking Ahead... MISSION BAY TRIATHLON!

Big difference in weight between 2010-2011.. YES!
... this year, the weight numbers are the same...
... but I can't wait to see how weight training has changed my result!!!

3 DAYS and COUNTING!

I had my first flutters of nerves today as I was thinking about the race this weekend.  This is the 3rd year that I have competed in this race, but my race history has been all over the board!  2010... I drank too much water in T-2 and I had to WALK the run due to cramps... 2011... I cut about 25 minutes off my time and took my VERY FIRST 1st place category win! ... and now 2012...

I am ready...

... and my training has been solid...

... but now I have (and my friends and family have) expectations that I'm going to place again...

... and I know, there are so many factors when racing... to date, my biggest issue has been hydration... too much or not enough.  There are also mechanicals and injury and illness and... well... add in female issues and we gals have "things" we have to conquer over and above the race course!

I have added my Race Reports from the 2011 and 2010 Mission Bay Triathlon races below.  Just reading through them again has those nervous butterflies moving like CRAZY!  But it is sooooooo good to look back... to see what I have done in the past... to see where I was so confident based on my weight loss and/or my training and to see how far I've come!  EVERY time that I race I go FULL OUT... and every race is in a moment in time... and I LOVE watching the overall SUCCESS... because that is what it is... SUCCESS... I'm getting my butt out of bed and training and being healthy and I'm going to KICK MY OWN RECORD'S ASS!!! (sorry for the swearing, Mom and Dad...)

Make everyday count!

Make your goals... REALITY!!!

http://becomingmyhusbandsgirlfriend.blogspot.com/2011/10/1st-place-mission-bay-triathlon-who.html

http://tlocher.blogspot.com/2010/10/project-365-mission-bay-triathlon-yes.html

Mission Bay in T-2 Weeks and Photos!

Here we go again... doing a countdown to a race.  March through October seems to follow the pattern... countdown to a race... race... set new training schedule... countdown to a race... race... that is what I call "Tri Season!"

2 weeks from today is my last race of the season, and one of my favorites - the Mission Bay Triathlon.  This will be my 3rd year doing this long established sprint tri and I am really looking forward to this distance!  This year, I completed (2) international distance tris and a metric century and I've been thinking a lot about doing this sprint distance race while doing my training for the past few months.

While doing benchmarks for the international distance races,  I was often frustrated with myself because I found that after months and months of training, my splits for my swim, run and bike were the same as my sprint splits.  For example... my 500 meter swim benchmark was 10 minutes and my 1,000 meter benchmark was 20 minutes.  My 3 mile run benchmark was 30 minutes and my 6 mile benchmark was 60 minutes.  I thought, "What the HECK!?"  I've done all this training and I can't even speed up my split times?  Then a good friend brought be back to the real world... "Tracey, you have doubled your distance and ARE STILL able to pace each mile as if they were sprint distances!  Most people would slow as they add on miles, but you are pushing on, with consistent splits, no matter how many extra miles you are adding!" 

So I went with that as I competed in my first international distance tris this year and felt pretty good.  Of course, I want to speed up my race, but that is what I will concentrate on during this off season.  Back to my Mission Bay training... I expected my training would once again, meet those benchmarks that I have been hitting all year... BUT... this time, when I lowered my distances back to the sprint distances... MY BENCHMARK TIMES HAVE ALL DECREASED... and pretty significantly!  When triathletes consider a 30 second cut from their previous years' time a huge victory, I am planning for a 10 MINUTE cut this year!  And I'm ON TRACK to make that GOAL HAPPEN!  Wooo Hoooo!!!

Onto the photos... I'm not going to lie... fitting in the training and eating properly has been very difficult since going back to work in February... and since the San Diego International in June, my workouts are averaging only (4) times per week. (AUGH!)


198.8 pounds

202.0 pounds

I've continued with my small group weight/cardio training twice per week... my race times are getting faster and faster... and although I've put on 3 pounds in the past 7 weeks, my size 12 clothes (down from size 20) are still fitting me just fine!  This is why if you are going to start on a weight loss journey, YOU HAVE TO TAKE PHOTOS!  I have put this off for almost 2 months and... from what I see, I'm looking better now than I did 7 weeks ago!

The numbers on the scale are just part of your personal benchmark.  Take the photos.  Take your measurements.  Feel how your clothes fit.  Just as I was so obsessed... and then depressed... about my training benchmark numbers, I was getting stronger and faster and didn't even know it!

Set your goals.

Record your benchmarks.

And CELEBRATE your success!!!

Cool Breeze Century 2012!

So much drama... so little time...
Let's get right to the important stuff... thanks to friends Dave and Mari who live by the start of the Cool Breeze (they are at Cal State Channel Islands, 30 minutes from the start of the century), and with about a 36 hour notice, they helped us out so that I could ride with Jeff and Dan (another frat brother that we haven't seen in 3 years!).  We decided to do the metric century (about 60 miles instead of 100 miles) for a variety of reasons, and were THRILLED that we took the metric, rode our hearts out, and had trained well enough that we all felt great after the ride and were able to enjoy our annual BBQ and catch up with our friends that evening!

... so let's chat about weight, shall we...

Me at 200.0 pounds at the 2011 Cool Breeze...

Me at 200.6 pounds at the 2012 Cool Breeze... 1 year later and 1/2 pound up...
weight training is doing the trick!  WOOO HOOOO!!!

It has been a year and no weight change... and I not concerned.  Sure, I still have the goal of "Size 9" to meet, but I have lost 50 pounds, held it off for a year, and although my weight numbers haven't changed, my clothes sizes sure have!  I am now wearing a regular size large in tops and size 12 in bottoms... HOLY COW!  Coming from a size 20, I am so close to my goal... and keeping it off is just another "bene" in the "I can do it" column!

Next up... the Mission Bay Triathlon... in 6 weeks...

1st Photos in 2.5 months...

Let's get right to it, shall we...

197.0

198.8

Yes, I've gained 1.8 pounds in the past 7 weeks... however...

September 5, 2011
199.8 pounds

Almost a year later...
198.8 pounds

In the past year, I haven't lost any numbers... except INCHES!  You can see it in my belly... in my back... and I can feel it in my arms!  I started "Boot Camp Weight Training" in a small group, which includes TRX, cardio weights, boot camp... in the past 4 months I have been training with Paula, I haven't been through the same workout twice!  I've hit the point where the numbers on the scale, although still important, are not the main story.  With the weight training, I'm losing inches, fitting in my clothes and looking much better.  My goal now is to get into - and be comfortable - in a size 9.  I've already gone from size 20 to 12... I'm getting closer and closer!!!  Here are the changes in my inches in the past year...

Right upper arm...     13.25" to 13.00"

Left upper arm...        13.00" to 12.00"

Bust...                         44.75" to 44.00"

Chest...                       38.00" to 38.00"

                                       Waist...                        38.50" to 39.25" (huh?)                            

Hips...                         43.75" to 44.00"

Right Thigh...             22.50" to 22.25"

Left Thigh...               22.25" to 21.50"

Right Calf...               16.00" to 15.75"

Left Calf...                 16.00" to 15.50"

The overall journey takes time.  I hope that sharing my journey shows that.  Keep working.  Follow your journey.  And you will reach your goals!

Summer catch up...

As you may know, my daily schedule since going back to work consists of... up at 4:45AM to the gym to train... go to work... eat and sleep... 6 days a week... and try to fit in everything else on Saturdays.  I will be posting new weight photos on Sunday and will share what has happened in the past 2 months at that time.   I've already shared the San Diego International Triathlon and our visit to "Wicked..."  For now, I wanted to share some of the down time that we have enjoyed since the end of the school year...


There are a few perks to being PTA President, and hosting Charger #29, Mr.
Shareece Wright, who volunteered his time to support our jog-a-thon, our
school and our 5th graders on promotion day was TOTALLY one of them! 
And I have to say, he is AWESOME... dedicated to helping his community
and specifically troubled teens.  What a pleasure to chat with him!!!

Anna's 8th "Monster High" Birthday party and sleepover.  Costumes,
scavenger hunt and the skull pinata were just a bit of the fun!

Jeff and Jessica fighing over some of the
pinata candy...

Ice cream pies for desert... devilishly delicious...

Campland on the Bay - Mission Bay, San Diego!  A family
camping vacation destination for the past 20 years.  Jeff and Anna
with Uncle John and cousin Sarah.

My sister, Mary and her family... Matthew, Sarah and John. Love you!!!

That is Anna floating in the "Charger Baby" on the left...
... and Daddy is about to CANNONBALL!  And, no...
Jeff is not a farmer... ;-)

Our favorite campsite (F9)... right on the bay...
24 hours of vacation bliss!

 No matter how busy you are, you must make your family and your husband THE priority.  I admit, I'm struggling to make that happen these days... who ever thought "making time" for fun would be so hard...?  See you on Sunday with new photos...

"Wicked" Afternoon...

Our sweet bug... and her darling Daddy!

We finally enjoyed a fun afternoon... I only had to work in the morning and the early evening, but the middle of the day was AWESOME! :-)  Anna is TOTALLY into musicals at the moment.  "Phantom of the Opera" is her favorite show and she can recited almost every line and sing every song.  So... for her birthday a few weeks ago, we found out that "Wicked" was playing at the Civic Center in San Diego and decided we had to take her to see her first big production.  We took her to see the Russian Ballet perform "The Nutcracker" a few years ago and, even at that young age, she loved it.


In the lobby after the show.

Of course, the performance was amazing!  Although it was a Sunday matinée, we still made a big deal about dressing up... we pre-ordered our intermission drinks and snacks and arrived to find a table reserved for "J. Locher..." with our treats perfectly laid out for us... and were giggling to ourselves as Anna chatted away in the backseat on the way home about her favorite scenes, songs, and details of the show.

We "Couldn't be Happier" to enjoy this "Popular" show with our little bug that "Dances Through Life" by "Defying Gravity" and lifts our spirits every day, "For Good!" :-)  (sorry... I couldn't resist!)

San Diego International Triathlon - WOOO HOOO!

Back at home and #1... see those "dirty" spots on my shorts?  Those are salt deposits...
at the end of the race, I had so many salt crystals on my skin that
Anna said I was wearing "gliltter!" :-)

WHAT... A... DAY!  Let's start out with the BIG NEWS... I TOOK 1ST PLACE IN MY CATEGORY (AND, came in faster than the winner of the under 40 Athenas!)... which means that I was the FASTEST BIG GAL... of any age... at today's race!!!
For those of you that want the full story, here we go!

My day started at 3AM... up... shower... take in calories (which I usually have to choke down because the last thing I want to do at 3AM is eat breakfast... not to mention the nerves), re-check my transition bag, hydrate, and the all important 1st bathroom "movement..."

We parked about 1 mile away from the transition area at 5:30AM... and I found out that I would be racking AND swimming with the men (more to come on this.)  Transition set up was incredibly relaxed, which was a surprise because this is where I usually start to freak myself out.  After my epic bonk at my first international tri in March, I thought this was a good start to the day!
Another bathroom stop (actually 2) and it was time for a quick swim and on to the start.  From here, I think I need to let the photos tell the story...

Briony and me about to warm up...
funny thing... the rolls you see
are from my short and shorts... unlike...

...not even 2 years ago, my first "wetsuit tri"
... those rolls are me (sadly)... and almost
a 50 pound difference!

My swim wave... swimming with the men was a strugle... they have bigger
hands to hit you with and bigger bodies to swim over you.  All that being
said, this was my most "comfortable" swim (if you can say that for a tri swim)
I was in the top half of this field, finishing almost 4 MINUTES faster than
my training!!!! WOOO HOOO!

Getting out of the water... I'm always surprised how many people finish
after me at the swim... even all those guys... :-)

From the swim to the bike... I was racked with the guys... and look how many
 of them were still there (or not yet there) as I head out of transition!

I'm coming to the downhill to the dismount of the bike... SERIOUSLY...
for someone that is afraid of the downhill, I'm doing pretty good!

SERIOUSLY... my coach and awesome friend, Laura,
started 20 minutes behind me.  I knew I could hold her off
during the swim, and perhaps within a few minutes of
the bike, but she is a RUNNER!  I knew she would catch me
on the run... but I didn't know I would hold her off until the
finish... where she caught me and although I was DONE,
she asked me "what I had left."  I told her that I was done
a mile ago... she said she wanted to cross the finish we me...
... and I ran as hard as I could...
... and I finished with my coach...
(yes... insert happy tears here!) 

Our Palomar YMCA Tri Club... Briony (Fitness Director), me, Laura (my
original weight loss coach and friend), Alfredo (Director of our Y and
inspiration), and Matt... fellow member and my 100% inspiration... Matt,
you are a ROCK STAR!

I was (just a little) excited that I took 1st place for the Athenas...
and having our Y team there cheering for me...
... NO... BETTER... FEELING!
(Seuiously, who cares if I looked like a dork... I just took FIRST PLACE
in an International Triathlon!!!

I was SHOCKED how many people were following my journey and emailing, Facebooking, texting to see how I was doing.  It doesn't matter how much you weigh... or how out of shape you are... tomorrow is another day!  Make it the first day of something AWESOME!

13 hours and counting...

We are T-13 hours until I start Wave 9 of the San Diego International Triathlon!  WOOO HOOOO!  Off to bed soon, hoping to get a few good hours of sleep before the alarm goes off at 3AM!  I know I'm ready... my Palomar YMCA family and fellow racers are ready... and it is going to be a GREAT race! 

Briony and me... with our newest tri necessity (tri equipment/transition bags)
as we pick up our race packets at the expo... it is too bad that the race
will have such boring scenery... :-)

San Diego International... 2 days and counting!

... HERE... WE... GO!  Holy cow... I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted... my life is work and training at the moment... thank goodness for my wonderful husband who supports that although we are working like crazy... I've worked for several years to lose this weight and prepare for this race!

We all know that I have a self image issue... as we all do that are overweight... and although I've been racing in triathlons for 3 years now, I still always wear something black... or dark colored... and God forbid I should actually wear a tri suit or something like everyone else... because I am still overweight... and I'm not going to invest in a tri suit or a wet suit until I get closer to my goal... so I race wearing my regular dry fit shorts and top... always looking like the beginner... especially now that I'm racing at the international/olympic level... where everyone wears their "team kit!"

I DECIDED TO CHANGE MY SELF IMAGE for this race!  I went out and bought this shirt... bright, animal print... SOOOOOO not me... and SOOOOOO ready to be me.  And you know what... It shows my belly... and for the first time I am going to be proud of my accomplishments, where I started and that although I'm not as thin as the rest of the field, I'm going to KICK many of their butts...
... in my animal print shirt...
... that shows off my belly...

I AM READY for this race! ... and I'm going to kick my OWN BUTT... and be very proud at the finish line!

Tour of California - Mt. Baldy Stage 7

Jeff had an idea... a CRAZY and WONDERFUL idea...
He was going to ride his bike up one of the toughest climbs of a
professional tour... pulling Anna on her attached bike... AND a fully
loaded trailer with stuff to watch the finish...
Do you SEE the rocks under the bike wheels that are protecting the
bikes from crashing down the hill on this BIG GRADE!?
We should have known better...

It might have taken me a week and a half to post about the Tour, but here we go!  You might know that Jeff is a HUGE cycling fan (and I have been since I met Jeff) and we have travelled to a few stages each year of the Tour of California (except the last 2 years since they changed the date to May which conflicted with Grad Nite).  We were THRILLED to have a chance to watch a mountain top finish of the Tour this year (and to take a much needed day off work) AND to ride the last few miles up the climb on our bikes a few hours before the pros came through.

As I love to do, I am going to let the photos share the story of this fun day (a day that before I lost this weight would not have been possible... so glad to be a part of my family fun and history once again!)...

Let's just say that in between the last photo and this one, Jeff was helped/pushed
around each switchback by fans who thought he was crazy to ride with this much
weight, but impressed that he was going for it... until God finally said, "ENOUGH!"
and popped one of the trailer tires... we had to take it off and park it on the side
of the road... (thank you, God!)
Here, we were enjoying the very quiet stage fair since the only people that could
make it this far had to ride up on bike!!!  And we made it!!!

"Breakaway from Cancer" booth - Anna proudly wore a temporary tatoo for
Jeff... "I love a Survivor!"

Jeff and Anna at the festival... and the JUMBO-TRON
to watch the coverage behind them.

Anna and I opposite Jeff at the festival... YES, Jeff and I shared a beer up
here... and YES... it was one of those awesome and earned beers!

Of course we wrote on the road to cheer on the coming pro riders...
and a pretty cool photo from our spot at the 4KM marker!

Yes, there are lots of dedicated fans that dress
up and follow the Tour.  This guy is one of our
favorites, so when he decided to set up camp next to
our van and run with the racers right in front of us, we
were thrilled (I know, we are weird!)

Here he goes... doing what he does best...
showing his American spirit with all the riders!

CHRIS HORNER!!! WOOO HOOO! One of our American superstars!

BIG GEORGE HINCAPE!!!  One of our FAVORITES in professional cycling!!!

We were cheering and shouting for every rider!!!

REALLY...?  We just rode up this hill... and you just did like 100 miles BEFORE
hitting this hill... and you are chatting and drinking soda... Pros, huh!? :-)

Here comes the rest of the pelton... WOW!

What a fantastic day... and the fact that I was able to ride up this climb with Jeff and share this memory... AWESOME!!!  :-)