Monday, June 3, 2013

Change in plans...

I just got done racing the Buffalo Olympic triathlon and it was fun but cold.  If anyone knows me they would know that I like it the hotter the better!  Race officials said the water temperature was 66 degrees but not sure about that one - it felt pretty cold to me!  I had a solid race but had a mechanical issue on the bike that probably cost me about 90 seconds which is quite a bit of time but I ended up 3rd overall.  Swim went as well as expected with being so cold I never felt like I could really get into a groove.  I camped out way too long in T2 putting on gloves, arm warmers - you name it!  I knew I would be chilled so I wanted to make sure I could stay as warm as I could.  The run was where I was pleasantly surprised - I ran decent considering I am fighting some glute/hammy issues.  I struggled with this last year but it is working it's way out.

Couple of weeks ago was the famous Gear West Duathlon - this race has been my nemesis for the last couple of years because I can never seem to pace myself for duathlons and either go out way too hard on the run or too slow.  It is also off course and I am so afraid of pulling a muscle since it is sketchy terrain and it is usually muddy.  Two years ago I lost my shoe on the run course because it got stuck in the mud so there is a great picture of me running with it.



This year I again didn't pace myself right and felt like my heart was coming out of my chest but made up some time on the bike to end up with third overall.  Even though every year I dread the thought of running in the mud this is a race that I come back to every year I can - it is the season opener for most of us in Minnesota and it is fun to see everyone you haven't seen for the last 6 months - as well as it is a good check on where you are with your fitness.

Concentrating on my footing so I don't fall!!

Boys are great - they are growing up so much - Owen is almost done with Kindergarten and Keaton had his first year of Montessori school.  He went two times a week from September to May and he cried every time I dropped him off - I was hoping the last day of his school I would get by without any tears but it wasn't so.  I know it was all a show for me because I would hang out for 5 mins and peak in on him and he would be fine and start playing with his friends but still....it would break my heart and it would all I could think about for the next hour as I would try and work.  Owen is participating in a 5k run this weekend - it is part of his schools Fun Run and there was the option of the Kids 1 mile run but he really wanted to do the 5k - that's my kind of boy - go long or go home!
Keaton hammin it up!


Playing at the park

Speaking of going long - I had the chance to do Ironman Wisconsin again this year.  I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to go through it all again.  I had already set my race schedule up and I am somewhat a creature of habit but Derek convinced me to do it.  I got the email that I could register for it about 2 months ago and so after talks with the coach and Derek it was in the plan.  I had a solid race last year but GI issues crept up to me on the run the last hour and it wasn't pretty.  I want a do over and be able to celebrate at the finish line with my family and friends this year and not pass out in the porta potty!  Hope everyone is off to a great start of their season - sure hope it warms up - We need some 90's so I can swim in my pool!

Thursday, February 28, 2013

It's been a while...


Sorry it's been a while since my last post...September to be exact!  It is almost spring...yipee...Keaton and I actually went to the park today for about 45 mins and had his snack there until our hands got cold and we made our way back home.  It seems like winter will be around for a while with all of the snow we have in Minnesota.  For a whole week I had to run on the treadmill and I thought I was going to go crazy.  I went for a 9 mile run on Sunday and it was so nice to be outside even if I was jumping over puddles and ice.  We have been pretty healthy here in the Haag household except for Keaton getting the nasty flu bug and was sick for about 5 days - poor guy probably lost about 5 lbs.

Keaton on day #3 being sick 

Hopefully winter will be gone soon but wanted to post a picture of the awesome hockey rink my husband and our neighbor put together for the kids.

Owen has gotten his fill out of it this winter!!  This was my first year experiencing hockey in our household.  Owen was a Mite 1 and his team were the Wildcats.  I got asked to be the team manager and I had no idea what I was supposed to do or if I was doing it right but I took the bull by the horns and only three more weeks of hockey left...yipee, now on to soccer and baseball!

I am super excited about my race season - no Ironmans this year and I really don't know when the next one will be.  I loved Ironman Wisconsin but I missed those epic hard workouts - like the ones I have been doing the last 3 weeks on the bike - feeling the burn in the legs!  So here is the schedule for 2013:
Some run races this spring and then:
Gear West Duathlon
Buffalo Olympic
Lifetime Olympic
Chisago Half
Age Groups National Championships
Pigman Long Course
Hyvee
Age Groups Long Course National Championships

There might be a couple more to add it just have to wait and see what the summer brings with the kids. I usually do about 11-12 races a summer so this doesn't seem a lot to me but I know it will be busy.   I want to be able to watch a lot of my athletes race and I have one that is doing Ironman Wisconsin this year and very excited for him to accomplish his goal!  Coaching and personal training is going great as well - I find myself so tied up with coaching and training sometimes that a goal of mine for this season is balance - Balance in that triathlon is important in my life but it is not the most important thing.  I have a new coach and mentor and he is helping me realize this.  He told me a couple weeks back - "Kortney - go get a hobby that doesn't involve swimming, biking, or running.  I took his advice and it has been great to be able to help out more at Owen's school, as well as surprising him for lunch.  I really love being active but without recovery and downtime there is no way I will get faster.