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Selina Carpenter - SwimNancy Toland - BikeStacy Plucinski - Run
 

Racine Half Ironman 2008 - Stacy Plucinski

August 2nd has been the date I have been preparing for for the past 18 weeks. However, when Nancy suggested we throw in the Racine Relay a few weeks before Steelhead to prepare, I thought nothing of it. As the Racine race approached, I began to get nervous (realizing I hadn’t run 13 miles since April) and began to realize that a whole team was counting on me to run fast. The morning of Racine came and I was up at 3:45am! After driving an hour, waiting through an hour delay in the race, and 3.5 hours of Selena and Nancy racing, it was time for me to begin. I started the first two miles with a side cramp but that quickly disappeared and I felt great. I ran the first 8 miles at a pace that I was very happy with. I felt I was fueling consistently and everything felt right. However, after that eighth mile, I just couldn’t hold my pace any longer. I slowed about 30 seconds per mile for the next few miles. I was starting to feel the heat and my legs just didn’t want to go any faster. With the finish line in sight, I picked up the pace and finished strong with Selena and Nancy.

That race taught me several things about running. First, practice running in the middle of the day in order to help you acclimate to the heat (before Racine, I had never run at 1pm!). Second, because of the heat, I needed to be putting more electrolytes back into my body. Finally, there is nothing better than crossing the finish line with your friends and training partners by your side!

Selena, Nancy, and Stacy - 3 Brawn Brunettes - finished in 4th place amongst all of the female relay teams. Good job TFP ladies!

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2008 The Fitness Pursuit, Inc. - Last updated 9/14/08