Weekend Recap & Central FL Tri Series Race #3

What a wonderful weekend! Scott and I spent Friday and Saturday in Clermont, Florida. Home to pretty much the only real hilly terrain in Florida and the famous National Training Center.

On tap for me Friday evening was a 2 hour, tempo-finish run and on Saturday's schedule for Scott was race #3 in the Central Florida Tri Series.

This was our first visit ever to Clermont and honestly, if I could move there tomorrow, I would. It is LOVELY! For two days I didn't even feel like I was in Florida. Not only did the welcome elevation bring slightly cooler temperatures, but good Lord, there are HILLS! Everywhere! Houses perched on hilltops, steep roads and driveways up to hilltop bungalows that I'm certain I would have to walk my bike up, and the rambling, hilly South Lake and West Orange multi-use trail. Ok, so these would be nothing to people living in Colorado or somewhere where there are mountains... but for this flatlander, they were brilliant!

FRIDAY EVENING

Look... see, I wasn't lying! They actually post 'warning' signs on the trail so that the cyclists don't take a nose dive!

Here I am, running up a wonderful, gradual incline and loving every second!

A very happy, Me! Happy for the slightly cooler weather, the change in scenery and for the best slo-mo cycling, picture snapping, running sherpa... ever!

Making my way up one of the shorter climbs. This was around mile 6 and my achilles/calves were starting to 'talk' to me. Still smiling! This was right near the National Training Center.

Drenched in sweat and tired, but nailing the tempo finish and seriously negative splitting the run. Coach Jen will be proud!

And so I covered a little more than 12 miles of hilly terrain and lived (loved) to tell about it. This was quite possibly my best long run ever, despite the hills! Ha! Who would have thought!

SATURDAY MORNING

This race was scheduled into the event calendar at the last minute and was ALL about my main man duking it out with his swim demons. Scott is a great swimmer. He was an open water lifeguard as a teen and a springboard diver for our high school; but like so many triathletes, the swim start has rattled him a bit this year. So, we decided to stick in one more race before Augusta and make it 100% swim focused.

Goal for Scott: to swim his OWN race and for him, this meant starting dead-last in his wave.

Exiting the water with a smile (that the camera missed) and clearly not dead-last at the finish!

In his comfort zone on the bike! 3rd fastest bike split in AG.

I love when runners fly! Scott has both feet off the ground!

Finished and drenched! 10/30 in AG (not bad for starting nearly 45 seconds after everyone else)

And so it was a successful weekend for BOTH of us! I had my best long run ever (in the summer, on hills) and Scott battled his swim-start demons and WON! Leaving Clermont to return to our boring, flat neck of the woods was sad. The triathlon community in the center of the state (stretching from Tampa to Orlando) is simply amazing! So many talented and friendly athletes. Boat loads of well-run races. Gorgeous, well-maintained trails to train on. Boo-hoo! I want to go back... like tomorrow!

I was a very good girl on Saturday. Recovery socks were on ALL morning! I got a lot of questioning 'looks' but also a lot of 'why aren't you racing' questions from 'those in the know.'

Today (Sunday) wraps up my first build week for Augusta and with what will end up being over 15 hours worth of endurance training. Aside from my achilles and calves being a wee bit achy from the hill running, I actually feel great. I'm surprised that my body is holding up this well... knock on wood.

Off for a ride and a swim now... and then home to watch the Track & Field World Championships!