Race Report: Gran Fondo Italia Coral Gables

fi'zi:k booth at the expo with Team Velocita

I did something different this past Sunday, and took part in the Gran Fondo Italia Coral Gables.  It was a blast.  If you have not done one of these events, I highly recommend it.  You can read more about the events on the Gran Fondo Italia website.  I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in this event through the amazing sponsorship of fi'zi:k, being part of their Team Velocita.

Aside from the event, which was so much fun and very well run, they have an amazing expo the day before with great vendors.  The swag they give out to participants is also great - and includes wine, which is always fun.

There are three distances to chose from - 25 miles, 63 miles or 108 miles.  Since I did the NYC marathon the weeken before, and the Ironman Miami 70.3 the weekend before that, I opted to go with the 63 mile route.  This ended up being a good choice, as I was still tired from the past two weekends of racing.

Locked and loaded at the start line

Obviously being that we are in South Florida, the course is flat.  You can view the 63 mile course map here.  Starting off was pretty tight, but did open up a bit as we progressed through Coral Gables.

It took me about three hours to wrap up, and best of all the finish food at the expo was great.  It rained, which made it a little messy, but overall a great day and a lot of fun.  

Major thank you to fi'zi:k and Gran Fondo Italia!!! It was an amazing event and it is truly an honor to be a part of Team Velocita.  

Race Report: New York City Marathon

I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and always I say, "There's no place like New York.  It's the most exciting city in the world now.  That's the way it is.  That's it." 

- Robert DeNiro

This was a special trip for me, having moved from New York City to Miami a little over a year ago, it is always special to visit home.  And, there is nothing quite like running through the five boroughs of the world's greatest city.  This trip was also going to be extra special since my mom was going to meet me in the city and stay with me for the weekend.  This would also be a time for me to connect with my NBCUniversal colleagues in New York, and I had a quick, but fun trip to 30 Rock.

30 Rock...boy do I miss working in this building

My old digs

At the expo

Of course food is always a priority for me, and there are certain places in particular that I miss the most since moving from NYC.  The first is Rubirosa, so i planned my pre-race carb loading there.  I have eaten a lot of pizza in my life, but this is one of my favorites.  It did not disappoint.

Rubirosa

I think with all the running around and reuniting with friends, my body wasn't quite ready to settle down and sleep.  If I slept an hour the night before the race, it was a lot.  Alas, the alarm clock went off and it was time to shuffle off to the race start.  I said goodbye to my mom, and headed to the Staten Island Ferry. I had planned to meet up with a friend I had not seen in 15+years at the race start.  We finally found each other on Staten Island in a sea of people at the ferry terminal - it is really funny how with certain people you can pick up right where you left off!  It was such a great treat!






To recap the race and the trip through the five boroughs:

• Staten Island:  race start is at Staten Island.  I opted to take the ferry over, so I can get a glipse of Lady Liberty.  Although I have seen her hundreds of times, there is nothing like the sight of her. There's nothing like hearing Frank Sinatra's New York New York at the start and it is so moving to see people from all over the world soaking up the New York energy.  
• Brooklyn:  once you cross the Verrazano Bridge, you are in Brooklyn.  Most definitely the best music of the five boroughs, and amazing crowds throughout the entire race course in this borough.  
• Queens:  after running through Brooklyn, you cross over into Queens.  I love Queens - it is so diverse and loaded with culture, but the Queensboro Bridge seemed to be never ending.  It was cold, windy, and seemed to be a never ending uphill climb!
• Manhattan:  it is a great feeling when you are finally over the Queensboro Bridge and back in Manhattan. The bridge dumps you on 1st and 59th, and this is one of the most spectator-heavy points along the route (and it is a great pick me up after that bridge)
• Bronx:  after that lively run up 1st Avenue, you enter into the Bronx.  You aren't really in the Bronx for long - just enough to say hello, before you are back into Manhattan and run down 5th avenue until you reach the Engineers Gate entrance to Central Park (90th Street - where I used to live)  This was extremely special for me, since while I lived in NYC all of my training was at the Engineers Gate entrance, two blocks from my apartment.

At this point, after entering Central Park, my calves started to tighten up pretty bad.  Somehow I got even more cold.  I was so ready to be done. I knew this was the last stretch, but it was a painful one for me.  I slowed down significantly the last few miles, but finally made it to the finish line. I would have liked to be a bit faster, but it was a 26 minute PR for me so I guess I should be happy.

       

I planned a post-race dinner with my mom at another one of my favorite restaurants that I missed deeply - Marc Forgione (You can read my Trip Advisor review, as well as others', here).  It is such a cozy ambiance,and their menu is unique.  It was just as amazing as I remember it. If you haven't been, it is a must-try.

The weekend flew by and before I knew it, it was time to get back to Miami.  I must say, of all the things I continue to miss about New York, the weather is definitely not one of them.  It was so great to land back in the Sunshine State!

One more weekend of racing before I officially enter the "off season."  Next up:  Gran Fondo Italia Coral Gables with fi'zi:k Team Velocita!  I am so excited and really looking forward to this event!

Race Report: Ironman 70.3 Miami

                                            

Simply beautiful backdrop for a 70.3!

Locked and loaded

I was actually tempted to focus this race report on the absolute draft-fest that was Ironman 70.3 Miami. But, since I always prefer to focus on the positive, I will skip what we all already know is happening more and more out there, and write instead about all of the amazing things about the day (because there was much, much more of that!).

For those that have not done this race and are thinking about it, it is really a fun race (after all, you are in Miami!).  For me, it is in my backyard so I have to do it.  It was so great not to have to worry about packing the bike and all the logistics that come with traveling to a race location.  Waking up in your own bed versus a hotel race morning is a beautiful thing. And did I mention...you are in Miami.

In terms of the course, you can view the details here:  The race ground zero is Bayfront Park, and below is a brief summary of each leg:

• Swim:  The swim takes place in the somewhat protected body of water in front of the park (course is a quadrangle).  This year, the swim was not wetsuit legal.  While this piece of water doesn't really have waves, there can be currents, and on race day, there were some strong currents.  At the first turn buoy, I swam into a jellyfish.  While it wasn't drastic or too bad, it is enough to get my attention out there.  I felt good on the swim, but what normally takes me 32-33 minutes, took me 38.  To be honest, I was shocked and unfortunately, fixated on it way too much for the rest of the race (lesson learned).  Time:  38:58, 2nd AG out of the water.
• Bike:  The bike course is out and back, with most of it on 27/Okechobee Road.  This is not the most picturesque part of the event, but there are only so many places in Miami that you can do a 56 mile bike ride with 3000 people and close busy roads.  There is typically a fairly strong headwind for a good portion of the bike course out, but coming back there is a tailwind so that is something to look forward to.   Not to focus on the drafting too much, but there was an insane amount of it going on out there.  I did not have a stellar bike portion, but it was a PR, so I have to be happy about that. Time;  2:48:59, 7th AG.
• Run:  The two-loop run course starts at Bayfront Park and goes over the MacCarthur Causeway and back (causeway=elevation change for us that live in pancake-flat South Florida). I like the run course on this race, and on race day it was pretty hot by the time I got out there.  I wasn't in a great place mentally, but thanks to my amazing M3T teammates, I got through the run and to the finish line.  Time:  1:55:04, 8th AG.  

My finish time was  5:27:40.  I went into this race like all races with a specific goal in mind, and missed that goal.  However, it was a PR so I need to take a step back and remind myself to appreciate the incremental improvements, and trust the process.

Since the race was in Miami where I live, it was great to see so many familiar faces - between friends volunteering, spectating and racing, it was a great day and a lot of fun.  I had several friends who raced a 70.3 for the first time, and many friends who PR'd and that made it extra special for me.  

The people made this race for me

Miami is also a great place for post-race "refueling" and fun.  I grabbed my bike after the race, headed to my apartment for a shower, and went directly to Budare Bistro. I had been planning this meal for awhile, and had not indulged in any cravings I had for arepas, cachapas, etc (I had this craving during the race, too - on the bike).

Cachapa!

Patacon

I am refocusing this week and shifting gears to prepare for the New York City Marathon, which is 5 days out. I have the marathon and the Gran Fondo Italia Coral Gables left on the race calendar for this year.  It has been a busy two months, and I am looking forward to some recuperation and recovery in the final weeks of 2014! (let's see if that happens, and I can resist the urge to register for anything else in 2014...)

Thank you to all my friends who made this race so special, and to X2PERFORMANCE® for fueling my training and racing!

Race Report: Ironman Maryland

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough...”  - Charles Jones, Life is Tremendous

So, it has been two weeks since Ironman Maryland and I am just getting around to writing a race report.  It is always funny to sit down and try and write these after an Ironman - I try and jot something down as soon as I can, so I don't lose the grit in the midst of the good stuff from the day (and believe me, there is always grit).  While I certainly had some tough moments out there, overall I had an amazing day, felt great, and truly enjoyed this race.  

One of the most special things about this race for me was having the opportunity to link up with the original crew of people I trained with when I first started in this sport.  I have moved twice since those days, and to be able to do this race with them on the course was pretty special.  

My last days leading up to a race are normally pretty boring - other than the ongoing struggle to keep extra high energy levels in check, I have a standard regimen of what I eat and do.  Once I arrived on Thursday and did the things I had to do like athlete and bike check in, it is a lot of laying around in the hotel room waiting for race day, and drinking/eating specific things at specific times.  

Extra motivation for along the way
courtesy of Tattly and X-1 Audio

I slept great and got up at 4AM on Saturday morning and had my usual IM race morning breakfast:  two packets of GoGo Squeez apple sauce, banana, small bagel with Justin's Nut Butter and a protein shake (it just works for me.  I also brought a bottle of X2Performance for immediately prior to the swim start).  As I was getting dressed, a thought creeped in:  rewind about three weeks from race day - it was a typical hot and humid training day in South Florida, although this particular Sunday ride was more fun than others (weekend training with the M3T crew is priceless).  We had about 10 miles to go on a ~60 mile ride when I crashed.  I will not rehash it all here, but you can see my previous blog post for pictures and detail.   As I got ready race morning, the hematoma on my right thigh was still present.  I am well aware that after 140.6 miles even the slightest injury could really start to bother you, but I blocked it out of my mind, hoped for the best, and headed to the transition and swim start.


The Swim:  2.4 Miles:  1:09:43
This was a two-loop swim course, and given that I did the 70.3 here, I was slightly worried about the narrow, boat ramp start being congested.  As I stood there waiting for the start, I tried not to think about the long day ahead.  Once I hit the water anxieties in general faded away and were replaced with a weird calmness, and I tried to get into a rhythm. I always tell myself to focus on one leg at a time - when swimming, just focus on the swim (if you start to think about the sheer amount of time you are going to be out there all day...) They did a great job with the swim start and I also think for the most part athletes did a good job seeding themselves appropriately (I went with the 1:00-1:10 group).  After two loops of the course, I wrapped up the swim and headed into T1.  For those that have never experienced an Ironman changing tent, it is a very surreal experience (those who know, know...) - to me, one that makes me want to get in and out quick.  

It isn't always all smiles :) 

The Bike:  112 Miles:  5:39:16
Again, I've done the 70.3 here so had the advantage of knowing what to expect (this was a two-loop bike course).  This course is flat, with potential for winds.  As I headed out for the first loop, I felt great.  I settled into a pace and felt I could maintain it for the long haul.  I followed the nutrition plan for the bike (special thanks to The Nutrition Store):

- 4 Bottles of Cytomax Tropical Fruit
- 6 Gels:  Honey Stingers and Ignite Naturals 
- 1 Honey Stinger Waffle
- 1 Bonk Breaker Cookies and Cream (if you have not tried this flavor you must)

Call me crazy, but I still can't pee on the bike.  At the halfway mark, I did get off my bike to hit up a toilet, then hopped back on to crank out another 56 miles for the 2nd loop.  


It always seems like you hit headwinds when you are most tired, and right around mile 90 thoughts of the upcoming marathon started to creep in my head. I again brought my thoughts back to the bike and just finishing up and getting to T2!


The Run:  26.2 Miles
When I head out of T2 in an Ironman, I have mixed emotions to say the least:  On the one hand, I am usually overjoyed to be off the bike (not matter how comfortable your seat, 112 miles on it and I am more than ready to get off).   On the other hand, you now have to run a marathon.  The run was 3-loops, which some people may love and others not-so-much.  At the end of the day, the marathon leg of an Ironman is still 26.2 miles of running after swimming then biking, whether it is out and back or loops.  

Nice touch on the run course

I felt great and got into a groove.  I got to mile 10 without any real issues, then encountered some stomach cramping (take away:  no matter how good the crabcakes in Maryland, do not eat them until after the race - I deviated from my nutrition plan  during lunch the day before the race and can't help but think I could attribute the stomach issues to this).  I tried to just work through it and after about 4 miles, it seemed to dissipate.  

Right around mile 18 I met a new friend - enter Christian.  Christian and I ended up running almost the entire last loop together.  One of the greatest things about a three-loop course is the spectator factor - you end up seeing the same people and we passed a few that were cheering for "Chris and Chris." 

The last few miles of the race, I got a second wind and that part is very spectator-heavy, so I had a blast running through town knowing that was my final time passing through.  I couldn't wait to run through the finisher chute and hear those famous words again.  I realized on the third loop that this was going to be a decent PR for me, and I had hit every time goal I had planned for each part.  As I came through the finish line and realized it was actually a 58 minute PR, I was overjoyed, and finally..."Christine Perez...YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"

So, I had a good race and my body, mind and spirit cooperated, however, I need to thank:  

• X2PERFORMANCE®, my INCREDIBLE sponsor.  I am proud, honored,and humbled to represent a first-class company and an amazing product - X2PERFORMANCE® has made a significant improvement on my fitness, energy levels, and recovery. 
• X-1 Audio for providing a soundtrack to my life and workouts ;) 
• M3T and Big B for being a simply awesome band of team mates.  
• Steve Brookner for teaching me so much and helping me through more than one rough time in 2014 (Clermont ended up being the easy one!)
• All of the family and friends out there who have supported and cheered me on along the way - not just in this race but in life! 
• GOD - through HIM all things are possible
• Ironman and Cambridge, MD for hosting us (the crabcakes were worth 4 miles of a debilitating stomach cramps on the run.  Really, they were)

THANK YOU!!!

Here Comes the Boom...

 

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” 

~ Nelson Mandela

Well, as they say, there's a first time for everything.  I had my first bike crash on Sunday, and it rang my bell good and proper.  Let's just say it was a leveling exercise - I think I needed to be reigned in a bit. 

According to the Ironman Maryland countdown clock below which reads 21 days, this is far from impeccable timing (is it ever?).  However, I am extremely grateful because it could have been much worse (the Felt is ok!), and I am thankful no one else was hurt.

Below is probably more than you care to see of my injuries:  I hit my head so black eye for me, bad hip bruise, and of course the knees, hands and one elbow got scuffed up. Since I can't sit still for more than a few minutes, I came up with a contraption to ice my leg (compression socks have many uses).

Aside from the incident, it was a really fun ride.  Thanks to my amazing crew for cleaning me up (good triage) and getting me back to my car after the spill (it was a fun ~10 mile ride back to the car for me). 

Valeria the GoPro Pro

I had egg on my face.  Literally.

 

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... fingers crossed on that. Hoping to get through the next few weeks training, and be good to go for Ironman Maryland!

 

Why I Love This Sport...

Every once in awhile, when things get really hectic and it is tough to balance work, life and training, I have to remind myself why I do this crazy sport called triathlon.  Is it because it gives you amazing legs (though I am not quite there yet)?  Or maybe the privilege of ingesting foods of weird consistencies - liquid food, gel food, baby food, etc?  Or perhaps it is being surrounded by scantily clad athletic bodies (or in the not-as-much-fun cases, scantily clad non-athletic bodies)?

I could have a closet full of Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, and Gucci shoes that would rival Victoria Beckham's for how much I spend on things related to this sport.  But not me.  Instead, I have Ironman entry fees, plane tickets, race wheels.

For me, I think it comes down to three things:

1.) It is a healthy, active lifestyle (some could probably argue points to counter this!).  To me, there is no better feeling than working out, getting sweaty and being exhausted to the core afterward.  It mellows my high-strung nature out, and this is a good thing for everyone around me. It forces me to make better eating choices, because if I don't, I will ultimately suffer the consequences one way or another.

2.) The people.  I have met some of the most amazing people through this sport.  It has helped forge friendships all over the globe.  There were those that were there for me when I was just starting out - I will never forget them.  And, I do not think my move from New York to Miami would have been as easy had it not been for people I met here involved in this sport.  It makes me want to get up out of bed and workout knowing it will be with incredible people who I am lucky to have in my life.

3.) Setting a goal, putting it out there and going for it.  Triathlon mimics life for me.  It simulates the ups and the downs, the challenges and the pitfalls that you ultimately encounter and need to push through.  It teaches you to work through them, and in my opinion, prepares you for the road ahead not just on the course, but in life. Sports have always been invaluable to me in this way.  There are days when you simply do not want to workout, but you put your head down, get to it, and grind it out.  At the end, you feel better. To me, that teaches you a work ethic that is easily translatable in real life (like when I just don't want to go to work, or finish a project!).  It teaches you that your mind and body could handle more pain than you thought, that you are stronger than you think.  And that, as painful as things can be sometimes, it does eventually pass and you are ok in the end.  And stronger for next time.

So, I am 59 days out from Ironman Maryland, and things are a little insane across the board in my life at this current moment.  It was time to take a step back, give myself a little reminder as to why I do this, and be grateful that I have the physical and mental ability to be able to do it at all. I am thankful that I have family and friends who still love me even if they don't see me for long stretches at a time. And super grateful for those around me that push me and inspire me everyday.

I never want to take any of this granted.  So today, and everyday, I am grateful.  

 

FIFA Fantasy Team Unveiling

Am I mad that Italia didn’t win the game against Costa Rica? No.  Well, maybe a little disappointed.  But, being an athlete, it is the best team that should win and Italia simply isn’t that good currently.

Having fully prepared ourselves for the fact that at some point they would lose at the World Cup, we (myself, along with Marissa Giordano and Nicole Madureira Friello), decided to channel our energy into something much more fun.

Working in close collaboration even while being 1200 miles away from each other (conference calls were required, after all, this is serious business), and being the global citizens we are, we came up with our own personal FIFA fantasy team.

Unlike the other rankings out there, ours does factor in athletic ability as well as performance, but more importantly and weighted heavily are physical attributes, as you will see.

Our FIFA Fantasy Team, unveiled:

Cristian Ronaldo (Forward):  Portugal

James Rodriguez (Midfielder)– Columbia

Fabio Cannavaro (Forward)– Italia 

We know he is retired, but as we say:  “if he is alive, he can play."  

I mean, look at this guy.  

Sergio Agüero (Forward):  Argentina

Matt Besler (Defender)– USA

Cesc Fabregas (Midfielder) – España

Ciro Immobile (Forward):  Italia

Oliver Giroud (Forward):  France

Julio Cesar (Goalkeeper) – Brazil

Panagiotis Kone (Midfielder) – Greece

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Forward)– Argentina

Thomas Muller (Forward) – Germany

Gerard Pique (Defender): España 

Sergio Ramos (Defender)– España 

 

Fabian Schaer (Defender) – Switzerland

Salvatore Sirigu (Goalkeeper):  Italia

Robin Van Persie (Forward): Netherlands

Didier Zokora (Defender) - CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Andrea Pirlo (Midfielder) – Italia (just because)

Ladies (and gentleman), your feedback is welcome:  did we miss anyone you would have included?  Anyone on here that you do not agree with?  As you can see, we have room on our team, so your suggestions are welcome. 

LET THE GAMES CONTINUE, IN THE NAME OF GOOD VISUAL STIMULATION! 

(OH, AND OF COURSE, FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPORT)