Category Archives: Racing

Race Report – Silverman Ironman 70.3 October 5, 2014

  By Crystal Clarke | November 3, 2014 - 8:38 am | , , , ,
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I finally finished my race report! I wrote it slowly so that I could make sure that I really thought about the race thoroughly. Pre-Race: Our hotel was in Las Vegas so we all got up early and were out the door around 5:00 to make it to Lake Mead around 5:45. Scott was amazed that we were there so early, but he quickly learned that with big races like this everything takes longer. I was the hero with the bike pump in the bike transition area and was lending it out to anyone who asked for it. I will say … Keep reading →

Race Day is Tomorrow!

  By Crystal Clarke | October 4, 2014 - 9:57 am | , , , ,
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      On Thursday I previewed part of the Silverman course. Scott and I made our way out to Lake Mead so I could do a 30 minute swim and a 1-hour bike ride. We heard that the lake was very low and it looked like the beach had receded about 100 feet. The “beach” is the weirdest beach I’ve ever seen. Because it’s desert all around, people were just parked not far from the water, leaving a bit of “beach.” I met a woman down there, who lives here. We swam together and chatted about the race, as triathletes … Keep reading →

This is me not freaking out – 1 week away

  By Crystal Clarke | September 28, 2014 - 12:12 pm | , , , , ,
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This has been my mantra for the past week: I can do this. I am not freaking out. So this is me, not freaking out by cramming in some last-minute hot-weather training. Actually, over the last few days I’ve been feeling better and better. I’ve figured out a strategy for the swim so that I don’t get swum over; I’m going to swim on the outside and try to sight accordingly. I’ve also been studying the bike and run profiles and have made strategies for that. All I need to do now is figure out my nutrition and pack my … Keep reading →

Second Summer

  By Crystal Clarke | September 25, 2014 - 8:23 pm | , , , , , ,
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This past week a very amazing thing happened… we got a second summer! Considering it’s 35C in Las Vegas right now, and will likely be in the 30s on race-day, I have been very thankful for some hot weather training. I feel like I’m cramming for a test. In reality, it’s more to just put my mind at ease so that I know that I can do this. Truth time: I’ve been doubting myself. The good news is that I’m pretty much injury-free, my cardio is good, and I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in over three years. … Keep reading →

It starts at the Beginning

  By Crystal Clarke | September 22, 2014 - 8:04 am | , , , , ,
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Since my last major triathlon event (Ironman Canada, 2011) there has been a change in how the swim starts. Instead of a mass start, we now have the joy of the wave start. When I heard about this change I had hoped that it was like the indoor triathlons I did where we self-declared our time and were put in that group. That’s the way marathons are too, where you seed yourself in the group. A few months ago I learned that this is not how the swim wave start is. A swim wave start happens according to age groups. … Keep reading →

Long Training Day Review

  By Crystal Clarke | August 12, 2014 - 12:05 pm | , , , , , ,
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The night before the Frank Dunn Triathlon my sweetie asked me why I kept calling it a “training day.” I explained that it’s because it wasn’t a race. It wasn’t a race with myself or anyone else. My expectations were so low I literally just wanted to get it done. Since I haven’t done any races in three years it felt like I was starting all over. In the spirit of starting over, this was my first long brick workout. Here’s how it went. Pre-training day: There was some stress a couple of days before and I had been having … Keep reading →

Race #2 of 2014

  By Crystal Clarke | August 6, 2014 - 12:56 pm | , , , , , , , ,
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In only 3 days I will be participating in my second triathlon this year. My training buddy and I were looking back at my history of the race, which is very varied. It will be interesting to see how Sunday plays out. This race has followed me throughout my triathlon life and I have loved every second. My times vary from sub-4-hours to sub-5. This year I’m being realistic and looking closer to the 4 and a half to 5-hour mark. That is, if my knees will stop freaking hurting! This morning’s run/walk was pretty painful. I have GOT to … Keep reading →

Pre-Race Jitters

  By Crystal Clarke | July 19, 2014 - 2:32 pm | , , , , , ,
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This morning I went for my pre-race swim with my training buddy, Blair. It went well even though I forgot my wetsuit. So I swam in my bathing suit, which was actually pretty good. It prepared me for the “cold panic” that I always get (and I think most get) when I first get in the water. The water this morning was clear and calm, even though it was pretty windy. I met another triathlete out there and we may even become training buddies! As I’ve mentioned before, training buddies are the shit! As I was driving into town this … Keep reading →

Reality Sets In

  By Crystal Clarke | July 6, 2014 - 1:37 pm | , , , ,
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Yesterday I went for my first open water swim in a year. I thought it had been longer, but I remembered that last year I attempted to swim across the lake by my mother-in-law’s house. After I did that my back seized up because I had hardly swum and I was so out of shape that it felt like it rejected my effort. That was my reality call last year. I listened and spent a few months finding a decent massage therapist (actually I found an AMAZING one). The past year has been an interesting one trying to find a … Keep reading →