Jessica Jacobs' Ironman Site

2011-08-28T22:49:00.001-05:00

Road to Wisconsin…Part I

26 Aug 2011

As many of you know, I have moved (once again) in July back home to my original home in Green Bay, WI - there were a couple deciding factors in making this change, but the two biggest ones had to do with my husband deploying to Iraq and the instinctive family connection I craved shortly after my father's passing in March. Since July, I have NEVER once looked back and my focus in not only training, but in my daily life as a mother, daughter, wife and sister has never been so pronounced. You know that feeling you get when you just KNOW you are where you're supposed to be in your life? I'm there RIGHT now! I'm almost waiting for someone to pinch me!

At any rate, once arriving and getting situated in Wisconsin I raced in two 70.3 races - both were "training races" leading into my IM endeavors later in my season, but none the less, I wanted to perform well at both and see where my fitness was at the time. First off was Racine 70.3 - it was on one of the hottest and most humid racing days I ever experienced! Yes, my friends, it gets hot in Wisconsin…don't let the "Frozen Tundra" of Lambeau Field fool you! The day was an "ok" day for me with a 4th place finish. It gave me some perspective as to how I could perform on very tired legs as my coach and I didn't taper for the race at all…but, rather, "trained thru the race" - I reminded myself of what my ultimate journey was - and that wasn't until September!!!

Next on the schedule was Steelhead 70.3 in mid August…I drove to the lovely town of Benton Harbor, Michigan in which I was pleasantly surprised at the atmosphere and local area…very cute! Beautiful homes line the coast of Lake Michigan and the little shops make window shopping a must! The race ended up turning into a duathlon due to the 7 ft waves that crashed the am surf…so, a "time trial" start was arranged quickly and effectively by the race directors. It was a first for me, but a really cool experience! I was excited to race and race hard right from the start! What was cool about that race was we as pros had a 30 sec gap between each other…so, yes you were chasing, but also being chased! It was so much fun! You had to tell yourself all day, "Go! Go! Go!" Because you really had no idea how far ahead you were of "X", "Y" or "Z"! At the end of the day I put together a solid performance and took home 3rd place! I was very happy with my run split as I negative split the 13.1 course…very good confidence boost heading into IM Wisconsin!

So, here I am, only 2 weeks out of a major race…I feel like a race horse at the Kentucky Derby! I went to Madison last weekend and rode the course Sat and did the marathon course on Sunday…it was awesome! What a city! So many riders were out there testing the course on Saturday - it was really so special and fun…seriously, what other IM course allows you so much access to great country roads where hundreds of riders can get out on it beforehand? Not many! The city of Madison, Verona, Mt Horeb and Cross Plains really embrace IM and for the most part accommodate our nutty lifestyle commitment! (Doesn't hurt that we bring in a ton of money to their gas stations when we need to refuel on gatorade, water, bars and coke!)

Lastly, I can't not finish this blog entry without mentioning the wonderful reception I've received from several athletes in the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas. I was honored to put together an open water swim clinic for the Ozuakee Triathlon club in late July. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon! (see photos!)

Also, I've been blessed to meet a couple great training partners in Green Bay that are also on their journey to IM Wisconsin…Bill Roach, Marc Barbier and Jason Helgeson. These three gentlemen greeted me with open arms and have shown me some great routes and have reminded me (once again) what the core of triathlon is all about! Simply going out there…doing what you love and doing it to the best of your ability…so cool, so pure, so simple!

Well - that's about all for right now…thanks for taking the time to read a little about my journey and get ready for my "Wisconsin Part II" blog…so much more to come!

Cheers!

Pro's and Cons to moving to El Paso, TX

2010-12-08T23:18:00.002-06:00

As some of you know, I recently made the trek from just outside Birmingham, AL to El Paso, TX. My husband was offered several duty assignments, which included, FT Benning, GA, Alaska, FT Riley, KS, Korea, Ft Irwin, CA and FT Bliss, TX --- we reviewed the pros and cons of each assignment and duty location and found our best scenerio to call "home" (for at least 3-7 years) in El Paso, TX....or, FT Bliss!

Many friends and even some family were confused by our choice, but looking at our options, we felt the best place to raise our daughter, a climate I can train in year-round and a duty assignment to help catapult my husband's career, was in Texas. I mean, let's me honest, yes, Alaska would've been gorgeous...but, how many months could I actually train on my bike outside?!?!

Well - it'll be 1 month this Sunday since I've arrived to our new casa, so, I've gotten a pretty decent "lay of the land", feel for the people, taste for the climate - that is why I can feel comfortable to give you my "PROS and CONS" list of El Paso/FT Bliss, TX!

ENJOY!

Pros:
Very Friendly atmosphere...haven't met one person that has been rude to me, or treated me with disrespect.

Cons:
Driving on post is ULTRA SLOW --- I think 35 MPH is the max?!?!

Pros:
Weather has thus far been quite pleasant - it's chilly in the morning (December), but quickly warms up and you can be out on your bike taking off layers by 8-9am!

Cons:
I heard Mar/Apr is the windy season...dust, sand storms, tumble-weed -- yippee!

Pros:
My husband is happy he's back serving in the Army and my daughter goes to a great private school and she is getting a phenomenal education

Cons:
My dogs have a smaller backyard than in Alabama!

Pros:
The on-post pool is 50 meters, 8 lanes and open 7 days a week...new gym is 60,000 sq ft and has state-of the art equipment...even a TRX room!

Cons:
The pool is 50 meters...that's a long way to go before you "flip"!

Pros:
I have been introduced to some great people in the tri community here and swim with some friendly guys at noon on Wed who have been nothing but welcoming!

Cons:
I miss my training buddies in Bham...God I miss you guys!

Pros:
The roads here have SHOULDERS --- amazing concept that Bham has yet to implement

Cons:
Seems to be a lot of glass out there...what is up with all the smashed beer bottles?!?!? And why wasn't I invited to that party?

Pros:
I have extra time to spend with family and take care of my home since I no longer teach spin classes at Gold's Gym or the YMCA.

Cons:
I dearly miss my clients from the above gyms - you guys really made me feel like I was afforded the opportunity to help change, cultivate and add a POSITIVE impact onto your lives...and for that, I will forever be grateful!

Till next time - be good! Santa's watching!!!

Cheers!

Jess

Ironman Florida - Champion!!!

2010-11-09T01:00:00.003-06:00

You know that dream you have for many, many years...that scenerio you play over and over again in your head while you're out running trails, staring at a black line on the bottom of the pool or biking on an endless country road for hours on end? Well, mine came true on Saturday, 6 Nov 2010 in Panama City Beach, FL...the title, "Ironman Champion" is now mine!

For years I had that nagging goal rip away at my core - Ironman Florida was my 17th Ironman distance race (10th as a pro). I have spent years clawing my way up this ladder and when you look at the time commitment it takes to train, the career I traded for this one and the chess match I play daily managing a 5 yr old daughter and support a military husband's career...you begin to look at your goals in a completely different light...this is why this victory is so incredibly sweet!

Before I go into the race recap, I have to take a moment to thank my husband and daughter for their enormous support and understanding. I know I am not the easiest person to love everyday, but they do and show it everyday! I want to thank my coach for believing in me when I called in February. I was on the verge of walking away from the sport last December, but, I decided to give it "one more year"...thank God I picked Derick! He accepted the job and is not only my coach, but an amazing friend and confidant! Lastly, there are those who supported me mentally, financially and physically - allow me to explain! Mentally...that one goes to my sister Jayne, brother's Tony and Mark, sister-in-law Ida and nieces Aly, Rachel, Taylor and Sarah...and of course my mom. You are all my big fans, I love you and will always stay grounded because of you! Financially, I have to thank my sponsors: Sport Beans/NTTC, QR, Hawk Racing, Newton, SLS3, Rudy Project, Blue Seventy, and Schwalbe. Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to endorse your wonderful products! Finally, the crew that keeps me physically moving in the right direction...Eskeridge and White Physiotherapy and Bike Link. The amount of love you've given this journey is beyond words of appreciation. I will have a hell of a time finding replacements in El Paso that will take care of me the way you guys did...thank you, thank you, thank you!

Ok...now for the report! I had an erie calm going into IMFL...I knew I felt ready, but I wasn't nervous. I've felt prepared in the past before, but not like this - this was a "I'm going to work to do the job I know I can do and will do" kind of confidence. My coach and I organized my training in a way that capatilized on this confidence, but, with only being together for 8.5 months, he, as a coach, was probably still trying to figure me out! Hell --- I'm still trying to figure me out! Ha!!

At any rate, the swim was ironically a welcoming retreat due to the cool air and cold beach sand that embodied Panama City Beach that morning...outside of choppy waves going out to the bouys on the 2-loop swim course, I really had a somewhat uneventful swim...one little kick to the goggle that forced me to quickly stop, readjust, but, no major damage was done! Once out of the water, I hustled into the changing tent to the arms of one of my good friends that was volunteering...Tanya Beck, along with 2 other ladies made quick work in giving me my helmet, sunglasses and putting my race belt around me...oh, and how can I forget the precious (and much needed) arm warmers...those damn things are so hard to get on when you're cold, shaking and wet...but...damnit...on they went! Boom! Out of the transition tent and out for a little run thru the bike parking lot...(Here is a snippet of what went thru my head during the trek to my bike) "Oww! Oww! Cold feet! Cold toes! Ouch, Mother of God! When will I see my bike...ahhh!!! There you are!!!"

Off onto the bike it was "go" time!!! I love this course, I love to ride and run...anyone that knows me, follows me, knows this about me! Today was no exception, but, it was cold and I did not change my kit, so I was wet, wet, wet! I did have on those lovely arm warmers and toe covers, but unlike some other racers, I did not add tights, leggings, gloves (I wish I could've found a pair at Walgreens the night before, but...no luck!!!), a vest or jacket. So, for the first 30 miles I was a popscicle...I felt my body literally creak like the "Tin Man" from the "Wizard of Oz" as I got out of my saddle to climb the first (and close to only) hill on the bike course around mile 10...but I started heating up and thought...this isn't so bad...it's hurtin' them more than it is you!!! By mile 10 I started passing some female pros, so, maybe that ignited my fire and made the crisp morning not seem so bad! I kept holding the pace I knew was powerful, yet steady...I wanted to actually go harder than what I went, but, once I made the pass into first at mile 75 I knew I still had a marathon to tackle and wanted to be smart...my coach and I had a plan and I was already surpassing his (and my) expectations on the bike...I could've gone much harder on the bike...but to what cost would that have affected my marathon? The bike came with 3 mishaps I need to tell you about! First one: completely missed my bike special needs bag - the woman tried to give it to me, but her reach wasn't fully extended and nor was mine, ohhhh, so close, but it was like 2 ships passing in the night....In my head it went like this, "Oh no...crap, there went my Coke, hmmm, that's ok, I still have almost a full bottle...oh, but I also had donuts in there...damn, powdered donuts sound good right now...ok, what else was in there...an extra GU? Hell, I have plenty of that on the course, an extra bar...no worries, still got a granola bar here...see, you're cool Jess, you got it all!" Then, just when I had my head readjusted from the special needs fall-out, I hit a minor bump in the road...literally...SNAP! Off went my right aeropad....not JUST the pad...didn't you hear the SNAP!!! The ENTIRE piece completely gone...so, for the next 52 miles, my arm rested on the bar...it hurt, but not as bad as quitting would've! And, finally, there is that pesky "stop-n-go" penalty I incurred. I rec'd the yellow card for the following reason...for about 20 miles I pulled 3, let's call them "gentlemen" for Christian purposes...then, they heard the rumble of the Race Officials Harley coming...one guy passes me right away to reflect attention off his questionable riding behavior. I immediately sat up and stop pedaling to fully allow the 10 meter rule to take effect. Well, just as I'm doing this, a 2nd knuckle-head passes me and instead of passing me and the first guy, he squeezes in b/t me and the first one...oh no! I knew waht he was doing was illegal...he needed to pass the both of us due to official distance rules. As upset as I was, I SHOULD HAVE let it go...waited a good minute, and then hammer pass this drama...but, I didn't...I reacted and passed both men right away...bottom line...I got a yellow card because I didn't allow a full 25 sec to go by before passing the first man. I made a mistake and fully accept the punishment and consequences...but, for any AG male out there that is doing this...shame on you!!! Please remember we are pro's trying to make a living...if you want to draft off me for the full 112...I don't care! But, please, please, please don't suddenly kill my tempo and potential race by passing me, then slowing down and not maintaining a strong cadence when you hear a Harley coming...it's so uncool and you're are literally taking food out of my daughter's mouth! (How's that for a guilt-trip people!?!?!?!)

On to the run!!! Yes, the marathon! I wanted 2 things out of the marathon upon entering T2...First, I wanted to leave T2 before the next female Pro got into transition and next, I wanted to come as close to 3:03 as I could (this is my Ironman distance PR for the marathon). First goal, accomplished! Got out of T2 3:30 something before the next chica, then, slapped down a 3:04 marathon split...BAM! Part II, done! At the end of the day, I hit the fast female bike and run splits, became the first American woman to win IMFL and I believe had the second fastest time...not bad for a girl originally from Green Bay, WI!!!

When I spoke to my family the next day I felt as though I really made my family proud of me...not because of the win, but because I try to ALWAYS cross the finish line with the American flag during an Ironman distance race. They saw that on the live feed and where touched by my words of graditude of the men and women of our Armed Forces. They are the true heroes...not me. I carry the flay as a symbolic effort to show how absolutely proud I am to be an American, thank those who are or have served and to tell the world...this is the BEST country to represent...look how many come here for work? To play? To experience freedom?

So, on behalf of a proud veteran herself...thank you to all who serve and allowed me to follow my dream, this accomplishment could never have come to fruition if it wasn't for your sacrifice...I do the easy work...you do the tough stuff! Thank you and I love you!

Thanks for reading!!! More to come soon from El Paso!!!

Cheers!

IMFL...It's Time!!!

2010-10-28T08:20:00.003-05:00

Ironman Florida...3rd year in a row, here we go! I'm about 9-10 days out right now to "show time" and ready to race! I felt pretty prepared this year for IM Canada, but in hindsight, now - I feel totally ready to go!

I feel as though my coach and I have taken my fitness in running and cycling to a completely different level in the past 3-4 months. I was able to really test it 2 weeks ago when I took a little trip to Panama City Beach for a weekend of training. I got out the course map and rode on that bad boy like I owned it! It's a little different from the last 2 years, but, all in all, it's pretty much the same course...flat, little windy and fast! I'm excited to see what my legs can clock in on the bike and then turn around and give me in the marathon. I'm even stoked to ocean swim!!!! Yes - even the swim I'm excited about :)

This year has been a wonderful journey - new coach, huge PR in my open and ironman marathons (2:48 open...just 2.5 minutes off US Olympic Trials qualiying!!!) new revelations within myself (less is more), an ultra-supportive husband, daughter and family...I have no excuses!

I'm excited to see what I can put together in Florida as well as where my journey will take me in 2011...this is an attitude I did not have last year. I will not lie -driving to Florida last year, I was just "going thru the motions" - really wasn't excited, but thought..."oh well, one more IM won't hurt me!"...luckily it didn't physically hurt me...but with it being my 5th of the season...something had to give! I was ready to hang up the season right after Kona...but, you get that itch to do "just one more" --- at what point do you tell yourself, "STOP!! Take a break for goodness sake?!?!?" Burnout and a bit of disappointment shadowed me leading into Florida and post-season...but, like anything in life ---- brush yourself off...find out what truly makes you happy and figure out a way to live that life to the fullest EVERYDAY! I'm not going to lie...some days don't click, life gets the best of you...but, take a deep breath, evaluate, examine and pick yourself back up...that's a true LIFE LONG champ!!

Cheers!

Jess

Thank You REV 3!!!

2010-09-27T23:22:00.002-05:00

Thank you REV 3 for the amazing race series you put on this year! I was fortunate enough to race in all three locations building from the Olympic distance in Knoxville, to the 1/2 in Middlebury, CT and finally landing in Sandusky, Ohio for the full. It was worth the wait to get to Cedar Point and put everything I worked for this season on the line! It was all easy of a day as Lake Erie was more like a cold washing machine than a lake, but, I made it thru the swim with the thoughts of, "ride hard...run harder" on my mind! I had to redeem myself from IM Canada two weeks prior...I had a great swim and bike there, but, nutrition got away from me, I lost track of it a bit and paid dearly on the run. It absolutely broke my heart, but after much reflection, I was happy I could pull myself together to have a little "redo" in Ohio...I wanted to prove myself on the run...the run is my baby, my buddy - how could I let you down in Canada?!!? We needed to rekindle our friendship and we did! After a fun little trip on the bike for 112 miles I got to unleash the beast on the pavement! I felt great leaving T2, but had to remind myself to "run my race" --- 26.2 miles is still a LONG way...luckily my sister was cheering me on and told me to "relax...chill!" My husband was constantly on the phone with my coach, Derick Williamson, giving him updates, then relaying those messages onto me...it was great to have the love of so many on my side mile after mile! I knew leaving T2 in 5th place I could put pressure on those in front of me...but I didn't know how much. You can NEVER underestimate your competition, that's why it is VITAL you just RUN YOUR RACE...sounds so simple, but, it's so true! YOu never know what kind of day they are having...or not having...so, control YOURSELF - believe in your abilities and let "the chips fall where they may!" (That was an old saying my high school cross country coach used to ALWAYS say!) Suffice to say, I crossed the finish line in 9:28 with a new marathon PR of 3:03...besting my old PR of 3:12 by 9 min...I was elated (go check out the photos on the REV 3 Cedar Point page!!!) What a day! My family from Wisconsin was on hand to enjoy the ride with me as was my husband and daughter that traveled with me from Alabama! What's up next?!?! Ironman Florida on 6 November...stay tuned for the adventure my friends!

Cheers and enjoy the ride!

Long time my friends!!!

2010-03-03T22:52:00.002-06:00

I know, I know, I know - I've abandoned my blog for some time and I am truly sorry for such a huge delay! There has been a lot going on in my life and training, but no excuses...shall we make a date - twice a week, I BLOG!!! How's that for a New Year's Resolution in March!!!

Ok - to get you all up to speed, I'm still a Team Sports Beans/NTTC girl, and have resigned with Newton, Rudy Project, Blue Seventy, SL3s compression socks, but my biggest leap this year came when I signed a 3 year agreement with Quintana Roo. However, I still maintain my relationship with Hawk, by riding are their amazing wheels and their excellent bottom brackets! I'm a very lucky girl to get the best of both worlds! Thank you to all my sponsors for your continued support and love!

Secondly, and, to me, this is a big step - I've decided to change coaches this year. After much research, interviewing and exploring my options I've decided to partner with Derick Williamson and his team at Durata Training. I'm very excited to work with Derick as I feel as though he has the science, knowledge and experience to take me to the next level of fitness I'm ready to cultivate! (This new coaching style should add fuel to my blogging!!)

Finally, I've already starting 2010 off with a win as I defended my title at the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, AL on Feb, 14th. My primary goal was to enter the race and go under my PR of 2:54:25 Well, I did that and won! I went 2:52:56. It was a great day, my race plan unfolded beautifully and I capitalized on it as I did last year. Feels great to win on your home turf! Thank you Bham! Looking forward to writing much more in 2010 - take care!

Cheers!!!

Training for Wisconsin and Kona

2009-08-25T21:35:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm biting the bullet and racing in Wisconsin (Ironman Wisconsin) again this year, with only a 4 week turn-around time to the "Big Dance" in Kona. Some critics may think this is crazy - but I've decided that after I felt so good and performed well in Roth, Germany after only having a 3 week break from Ironman CDA that I'd give this a shot! I love Wisconsin and as many of you know, it's home for me...family will be there, fellow cheeseheads and come on...that course and the support from the volunteers in unbelieveable! I had a big break-thru race there last year and I'm ready to capitalize on that this year....my training here in Alabama has been going very well as the weather has cooperated the last month...it's not as hot and humid as it was last year, but beautiful conditions for some great training. I'm very focused right now even as many of my training partners are starting to "wind down" from the season and begin to focus solely on "Alabama football"!

There is something to be said for the amount of training I'm doing alone right now and how at peace I am with myself and surroundings during the endless hours on the road and in the water. I've had time to think, think, and think some more the last few weeks - I will sometimes "zone out" for miles at a time and think about my family, something my brother discussed with me over a lengthy phone conversation, an expresssion my daughter learned from a scene out of "High School Musical" or the latest drama my husband is dealing with at work...whatever it is, it helps tick away the miles and time I have to put in for the week. Let's be honest...this sport is my salvation from a lot of things...some may need meds, therapy, drugs or a bottle to "cope" - me...I need an open road!

Ironman Couer d'Alene!!!

2009-07-25T17:30:00.004-05:00

Ironman Couer d’Alene

My 2009 ironman season was kicked off in beautiful Couer d’Alene, Idaho. I race here as an age-grouper in ’06, so I was familiar with the town, its fantastic scenery, and community filled with some of the best people you can come across and tough, tough conditions.

When I left Birmingham, the heat was in the 90’s and when you factor in the heat index we were looking at temps hovering around 110! Needless to say coming to Idaho sends you into a bit of a tail-spin. You have to pack not only summer, but also some autumn like clothing as well…you’re only 90 miles from the Canadian border, so, chilly weather is certainly to be expected!

Water temperatures this year were kind, but it was still 62-64 degrees! Definitely wetsuit legal! The water literally takes your breath away for the first few minutes, so never mind the anxiety you face swimming competitively, but now you have to add the “shock” of cold water and you’re in for a LONG swim…oh and did I mention the waves on race day…year, Lake CDA is NOT kind and in my opinion one of the toughest swims on the race circuit!

The bike course was changed in 2007, so I had reacquainted myself with the new hills I didn’t experience in ’06…tougher course…by all means! I swear, the race organizers looked for and FOUND every hill imaginable and plotted it on that course…and I like hills…I thrive on hills, but in all honesty, I could not find that gear on race day to really get myself attack like I normally do on the hills. Not making any excuses for myself, but I did find it a bit more difficult starting so far ahead of the mass age-groupers. This made for a LONELY day out on the ride as I normally attack, attack, attack on the bike – I love going after the better age-group swimmer’s, as well as the faster female swimmer’s, but this was not the case on race day. Our Pro start time was 6:25…35 min ahead of AG’s…I would pass someone about every 90 min on the bike…then see nothing for miles and miles…let me tell you how many times I thought I saw someone, got excited only to realize it was a mailbox in the distance…oh, if only you could’ve heard the curse words I was muttering!

Finally as the run began I landed myself in 8th place…I didn’t really know how my run was going to pan out as I was in a lot of physical pain from the bike…my right scapula seized up around mile 80 and I could even raise it up to get fuel at the last two aid stations. In T2 I begged on of the volunteers to rub out my muscle spasm in my right scapula. I felt so bad for her as I was telling her, “go ahead, press down harder, deeper!” Poor thing probably thought, “What a nut-case!” (However, I did find this particular volunteer and thanked her after the race…she was an angel for doing such unconventional work on me!) Once I got out on the run I was instantly happy, I knew I still had a FULL marathon to do, but I was out of the saddle and virtually pain free. During the run you do 2-loops and run along the lake, back thru T1/T2 (cheering fans), thru local neighborhoods and then again along the lake front…it is actually one if mot my favorite IM run courses and my attitude and time agreed! I felt very strong on the run and kept moving thru the field with a strong charge. Capturing 7th place on the run didn’t come easy, but I made my move and pass around mile 22 and didn’t look back.

During the final stretch I saw my family cheering my on one last time – they held out an American flag for me to wave. With pride I grabbed it and proudly waved it for all to see…I am very proud to wave our “stars and stripes” especially in such an internationally deep competition. After crossing the finish line I saw my family, I remember hugging my husband and telling everyone else how hard it was out there. They all agreed that the conditions (cold and windy) were tough on a lot! I was lucky…as we got back to the car it started raining! I felt so bad for my friends still out on the course. My friends Nan Gelber, Eddie Thomas and Travis Grappo all came from Bham to race and they were out there as I got to go back to our rented home and shower! My husband looked at me in the car and said, “I’m so happy you’re done and we do not have to stand out there in that weather!” So, I guess that was one positive thing about starting at 6:25am!

As we were driving home the texts on my cell phone came in and I was receiving my congrats, but one fond message I received that wasn’t expected was one from my friend Kyle – he wrote in a text message, “girl, you got the run course record! They just talked about it on “ironmanlive.com” – I couldn’t believe what I was reading! It didn’t register at the time, but later, once I got my wits about me, I realized how big this was! Heather Gollnick had the run course record of 3:15 something…I clocked in a time of 3:12 flat…I bested the record by 3 minutes! What a great way to salvage a less than perfect swim and bike day! Needless to say the moral of my story is simple…never, ever, ever give up! I felt like and wanted to throw in the towel in T2. I was in a lot of pain and wasn’t performing up to the level I wanted – but I am NOT a quitter out there and respect all the athlete’s and fans for putting their lives on hold to compete and watch…it’s my job and duty to finish! This is why I LOVE ironman racing…it is such a long day out there. You can feel horrible one minute, but turn a corner and your body says, “ok, I’ll play nicely” – now sometimes you really have to go thru a world of hurt to get yourself mind/body connection to comply, but patience is such a virtue and I’m learning to love it every day!

PowerMan (National Duathlon Championships!)

2009-06-24T21:35:00.002-05:00

PowerMan Weekend!

What a great, great weekend and event! Not only did I win the PowerMan event - also known as the National Duathlon Championships...so, yes, I am now a national Champion!! (And no one can ever take that away from me!) - but, I got to be so lucky as to cheer on my hubby the day before at the Magic City Duathlon! (It's a shorter event, but just as exciting! It's a 5K run, 15 mile ride and 1 mile run!) ---- my daughter and I got to be the cheerleaders for Daddy!!! It was very fun, but I can now see why so many say, "it's exhausting being the fans!!!"

On Sunday, it was my turn to go to work! 5 mile run, 34 mile bike, 5 mile run...my plan of attack was to go into the first run conservatively, then lay down the hammer on the bike and let 'er rip on the second run. Very good game plan and smart...if you're patient and controlled! The gun went off and all of the ladies were excited, but I didn't feel as though anyone was going out too hard, so I found myself leading the pack within the first 400 meters. Not what I anticipated or wanted, but I do like to control things! I found 2 girls right on my heels if not breathing down my neck during the first 3 miles of the run, but I got a chance to open up my lead and put a little gap b/t #2 and #3 by mile 4 and 5. I got into transition with a 10 sec lead (not much by any stretch, but, it was nice to be first!) --- once on the bike it was time to open up that lead. As planned I rode hard thru the streets of downtown Birmingham like a mad woman! It paid off as I had a 5 min lead going into transition for the second run...that felt great, but I did my best to not allow that lead to slow me down! The second run was tough during the first mile, but than I got my "runner's legs" under me and ran it home for the win! It was nice to win on my home turf (again) and be around such amazing friends and family! I love the Birmingham family I've established here in less than 2 years! I'm so incredibly blessed to have great training partners, friends, a coach and bike shop (Bike Link) that goes above and beyond the call of duty (and with a smile!!!) If you get the chance, definitely support the Team Magic events in the area - Teresa and Faye are wonderful race directors and are always looking for what's in the best interest of the athlete! Hope you enjoyed the blog and I'll be updating you on my adventures some more this week! Promise!!!

Cheers!

Jess

New Orleans 70.3 (Half Ironman Race)

2009-05-01T12:40:00.002-05:00

Well, my first triathlon of the season was kicked off in New Orleans this year at the inaugural NOLA 70.3. Never visiting NO before I got an opportunity to take in a bit of the energy of the city a couple days before our Sunday race. The city’s reputation did not disappoint…it is a crazy, crazy city! As my dear friend Kate Clarke once said, “It’s as if something is in the water and everyone is drinking it!” My daughter, Kasey, got to see firsthand a lot of beads, masks, and boas (and maybe other things a 3 ½ year olds eyes shouldn’t see, but, she got to take in the culture, (is that what we call it?!?!) she even picked out a boa at a local shop on Bourbon Street and no doubt, my “girlie-girl” picked her trademark color…PINK!

As far as the race itself, if you didn’t already know, it was a star-studded event. I’ve never competed against such a huge competitive field in my professional career and although it was intimidating (especially as the first race of the season – think names such as Natasha Badmann, Heather Gollnick, Kate Major, Lisa Bentley, Desiree Ficker, Nina Kraft and believe me, the list goes on and on…) I tried hard to welcome the competition with open arms and believed that it would be a great opportunity to really see where I’m at this early in the season!
Going into the race with this outlook was very wise because I ALWAYS have to remember that what others bring to the table is out of my spectrum of control. I can control many things, but how others perform is not one of them! During every race I go in with many goals. This helps break up my day and also sets me up with several outlook options rather than putting all my “eggs in one basket”! I went into the swim telling myself to get on someone’s feet. It is no secret the swim is the “thorn in my side” – I didn’t grow up a swimmer and really didn’t learn to swim properly till about 1-2 years ago! This puts me at a disadvantage to those who were tossed in the water at their local YMCA at the ripe ‘ol age of 3, but, I instead grew up running and biking like a banchee, so, there’s the pay-off! So, back to the race…I wanted to hang on to a pack of girls and work together in the water and it happened for me! For the first 800 meters of the swim I hung on to another chicas feet before I decided to pass and open up my speed and go a little harder. When I got out of the water I saw my sister, Jayne, and was smiling as I knew I wasn’t the last damn pro female out of the water…hell, I even passed some male pros out of the water as well! This was huge!

With that I got out on my bike and this was my first time on my new baby. This year I’ve been blessed with a great bike sponsor, HAWK RACING. I’ve got a custom made HAWK racing bike and it is special. My bike was designed with several factors in mind, but the color scheme was Kasey’s idea! I asked her, “Hey Kasey, mommy gets a new bike this year, what colors should it be?” Quickly, without hesitation, she said, “Pink!” With that, I decided to make my bike pink, purple, and blue…I wanted to honor Hawaii with Hibiscus flowers, my triathlete pendant I wear religiously around my neck was scanned and painted on the top tube along with my name and a couple butterflies accenting the corners. If you haven’t seen the bike yet, please check it out on my website or on the Hawk website at www.hawk-racing.com It is gorgeous and you can get a limited edition “Jessica Jacobs” bike also! It not only looks cool, but rides like a dream – I’ve been properly fit on it at Bike Link (local shop here in Birmingham) and the race wheels are phenomenal. The bike portion of the race was very windy at times with gusts as high as 17 MPH! This was pretty tough, but it’s the same conditions for everyone and nowhere near the worst I’ve experienced… (think IM Arizona – now, that’s wind…OUCH!!!)

During the 13.1 miles of the run, I have to admit it was pretty uneventful. The conditions turned from overcast skies and humid to sunny skies and humidity! Once the sun broke out that was all she wrote! I never saw so many people go straight to medical after a race. The aid stations during the run came up about every 2 miles and in my opinion, with humidity and heat as high as it is in NOLA you need aid every mile. Some may disagree, arguing it too expensive or unnecessary, but when you have 3,000 competitors in a race, you have the resources to purchase the water, ice, cups, sponges and Gatorade! That was the other thing I missed…ice and sponges! I would literally go thru an aid station and think…oh…2 more miles before I get some respite from this heat…it felt very close to Kona conditions out there! I guess I’m so accustomed to IM racing and having those luxuries every mile and accessible to my disposal that when I race 70.3 I’m a little “out of sorts”.

As mentioned above, the run was okay…our field was pretty spread out when I got off the bike so locating your competitors and chasing them down was not an option. Still, I did run down two females during the 13.1 miles which kept my motivation alive. I’m all about moving up little by little as oftentimes my strategy is all about patience and it’s something I’m mastering with my IM racing. IM is such a long day and chipping away at your competition is just something I feed off of as the time and miles tick away.

I ended the day in 13th place, with a finishing time of 4:36. This is nothing to be disappointed with and highly competitive with the world-class athletes I faced that day! Thankfully, the first race is down and the cob-webs are getting cleaned out! 2009 race season has begun and it looks good! Next up, PowerMan in Birmingham, AL in 2 weeks…it’s the National Duathlon Championships, so this should be an exciting event right in my town!

You are not invincible!

2009-02-21T18:11:00.002-06:00

This week after the marathon has been a blur...I was of course on a huge endorphine high for a couple days after the race...but just as I was enjoying the moment a little virus decided to settle right in my body for a party...although this is not a party I like to attend! Yes, I got the infamous "after race illness" that so often plagues many athletes after a key race. I'm actually really ok - just got a chest virus that takes time to "run its course".

I have a theory that during the week prior to a race your body goes into a state of "hibranation" --- now, with that being said, your body also says..."hmmm, I'm not working me as hard as normal...well, I'd better take this time to repair, rest and take advantage of this break...don't know when I'm going to get to rest again"...well, with that being said, I sincerely believe that during this time of "rest" your body tries to repair, but ultimately "let's it's barriers down" which may lend a hand to a host of virus's marching right into an unsuspecting territory...i.e., my body!!!

Well, regardless of whether or not my theory has any scientific evidence or not, it happended to me! I was feeling a head cold coming on Saturday (day before the race) and it didn't let up on Sunday morning when I woke up. You can guess that after running 26.2 miles that your immune system just doesn't stand a chance to any viral infection waiting to pounce! So, yes, this past week I've gone thru more tissues, cough drops, Earl Grey tea bags, nasal sprays and cough medicine than I'd like to admit...augh! I hate being sick...I mean seriously, who does like it? But, I really hate it...I don't have time for it and it just doesn't go very well with my everyday activities...puts me in a bit of a crunch! You see, I'm a mommy, a wife, a triathlete, a coach and I teach a lot of classes at the YMCA and Gold's Gym in Birmingham, so, when I'm sick...I need to find subs, explain to my daughter why I can't play, feel guilty that my husband has to play "double duty" as daddy and mommy and then explain to potential subs and coaches why I'm sick and then get better and so on...blah, blah, blah...it's all just too exhausting! I found myself taking 2 days off...this NEVER happens, but rest is what the doctor and coach ordered - and quite frankly I didn't mind and it was a recovery week, so, if any time off was going to happen, I'd better take it now!

We've all been there - sick, injured, or just in a mental funk...whatever the case may be it's a blessing to go thru this piece of the journey. It's a way to re-respect your temple...the body we pull out of bed everyday and train, torture, sculpt and sometimes abuse in order to get the results we all dream and deem so important. I forgot that I wasn't invincible. Thankfully I was able to race last weekend before this head and chest cold took over my body - however, this past week I paid for it...I learned this week though that rest and repair are so important and your body is smart...it knows what it needs...like, for instance right now, I need a good meal and a good night's sleep...still repairing, still getting my health back up...still respecting what God gave me...and remembering to never take it for granted!

2009-02-18T20:34:00.002-06:00

Mercedes Marathon...breaking new barriers!

Sunday morning I woke up still feeling a cold coming on more and more - but I just masked the effects with 2 "Day Quil" tablets and went on my way to the race. Ate a bagel with cream cheese in the morning with some coffee and then sipped on a bottle of water/gatorade all morning till the race start. Felt VERY relaxed on race morning (still of course had my race morning bowel movement - but didn't happen till I got to the race...really wasn't nervous at home...just tired.) Said my "hello's" my area "Red Clay" teammates and people I know before the race and found Jon (my run buddy) and went over how we were going to feel, communicate and run our races TOGETHER till mile 10 when he would pick it up and go! When the gun went off, I really didn't feel too nervous...26.2 miles is a LONG way and your race can really blow up in the first couple miles if you go out too hard and get caught up in all the nervous energy and ego's of those around you! Jon and I started together and stayed that way mile after mile...it was so peaceful and easy! We really watched our pace and we were finding things that would trigger our instincts to want to "pick it up" once we recognized them, we'd note them to each other and pull on the reigns! We tried to keep pace with Eric, a friend of mine that works with "Fleet Feet" and he too wanted to go under 3:00 --- he's been doing Ultras as of late, so the marathon pace wasn't something to which he was accustomed. Around Mile 7 I told Jon he should take in his last GU by mile 8, he told me he wanted to take it now at mile 7, I told him to go for it, better sooner, than later! I was so proud of him and his patience and ability to work with me. This was his first 1/2 marathon and it was unfolding beautifully. Right before mile 10 he saw someone he wanted to chase down in the final 3 miles, knowing he was going to pick up the pace, I told him to start to go and run his last 5K with everything he had --- knowing myself too well, I know this would be a perfect opportunity to pull over and pee...first and formost, I HAD TO GO!!! and secondly, I knew that if he started to pick up the pace, that I too would naturally want to follow my buddy...this could turn a well laid out plan into a complete disaster within miles. So, right before the 10 mile mark, I found a little pit stop and told Jon to go! The plan was perfect...I lost maybe 10 sec, but, felt as light as a feather and he got a good little cushion ahead of me and although I could still see him, he was far enough ahead of me that I didn't feel compelled to run with him. It went perfectly planned! Going down the main streets of Birmingham thru miles 11-13 I found myself having to really pull on the brakes, I wanted to pick up the pace badly, but I knew that the race still had at least 7 more miles to go before I could really turn up the heat..."the race doesn't begin till mile 20" is all I kept telling myself over and over again! Passing thru mile 14 I saw that I was about 3-3.5 min ahead of my projected time at that point...I thought, "Wow, either I'm going to smash my goal time, or the last 10K is going to kill me...let's see what happens!" At mile 15 and 17 I was so excited to see my husband, daughter and coach...this was going to be a test...was my coach going to be angry with my time? Was I too far ahead of my goal time? He was happy and told me, "Hold this pace till 20 - then run the hardest you can for 10K." Huh, easier said than done there buddy...that's what I wanted to say, but again, I was feeling good! My quads started feeling the effects of the mileage around miles 17-19...at one point I thought to myself, "God, my legs feel like tree trunks" Anyone that knows me knows I have "thick" quads...not manly, just not your typical skinny runner chick legs...they are built for cycling and serve me well in that arena, and definitely know how to manuever a run course, but at mile 19 I would've given anything to shed a little weight off those bad boys! By mile 20 I finally got to "unleash the beast" - however, how much was left of the beast? Miles 20-22 were definitely the toughest miles of the whole race...I kept telling myself only 6 more miles, only 5 more miles, only 4 more miles...once I got to only 3 more miles I was so happy...than again, that is where we got a nice down hill as well and my quads got a chance to stretch out a bit and change direction! By the 24 mile marker I found myself passing a lot of guys...were they relay team members or were they doing the marathon and burning out? The final 1.5 miles took forever...I'm not going to lie...it is a straight shot back into the city and the streets go on FOREVER...I kept looking upward at the buildings I knew would surround Linn Park, and slowly, but surely they got closer and closer...finally I heard more spectators cheering and up ahead was Dana Harmon, a fellow colleague from the YMCA - she was screaming at me, "Jess, you're the first female!!!" I thought, "What, seriously?!?!? How come no one told me?" Unfortunately many couldn't tell who the first woman marathon finisher was due to the half-marathon and relay's going on...so, until I rounded the corner and went into the "Marathon Finish" chute - it was clear only then to many that I was indeed the first female. Pure joy ran over me...first I knew I accomplished my goal of going sub-3 hours...I went 2:54:53, but it was going to be a pay day! I lept up in the air, pounced on the final timing mat and kissed it as if to seal the deal. I was so happy as I got to celebrate that moment with my husband, daughter, coach, his wife and kids and yes, my training buddy Jon was there waiting...he too had something awesome to celebrate...his 13.1 goal time of 1:30 was smashed as he clocked in a 1:27...not bad for your first half Jon, not bad at all!!!!

Thoughts on Ironman Florida 2008

2008-11-11T21:45:00.001-06:00

So my coach, Frank Meyers, and I decided to do a little experiment last month. Fresh off of my Third Place finish in Ironman Wisconsin, we wanted to see how quick of a turnaround I could do to another Ironman. Hillary Biscay took first at Wisconsin ONE WEEK after finishing Ironman Louisville. I would not even attempt that anytime soon, but I wondered how quick could I turn around?
Florida was seven weeks after Wisconsin and we both felt that that should be enough time to recovery, then ramp back up with a hard three weeks of training block and then a one week taper. Hopefully this would be a perfect prescription without inducing injury or exhaustion. To be honest, I wasn't 100% enthused and driving to crush all competitors in my way, but I wanted to do well and end the season on a good note.

I drove down to Panama City Beach the Wednesday before the race and got a chance to spend some time with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew that flew in from Wisconsin that evening. I LOVE my sister Jayne! She is like an older version of me…or, am I the younger version of her? We get-along very well and she tries to come to as many of my races as possible…in the 9 Ironmans I’ve competed in, Jayne has flown/drove to 8 of them! She’s really into the triathlon community, the family support and passion all the athletes, families and friends bring to the table. Someday I hope she competes in a sprint tri and I’ll be all over the course cheering her to the finish!

The next day I met up with some friends to include my good friend from Austin, Richard Freer. Richard is a pro from Austin I met while I was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas and a great guy. His wife Tiffany is so much fun and I was also introduced to Mike and Kari Harris and their two daughters, who over the course of five days have become great friends as well. Mike, Kari and Tiff weren’t competing, but were there to support, take TONS of pictures and videotape…Mike is such a pro at taping that during morning swim practices he’d take his camera out in the ocean with us and he would video us swimming over him…every year in Florida he puts together a great “movie” of the trip, race, training…it’s awesome! One of the best things about triathlons is that the community is made up of some of the most friendly, kind, and caring people in the world.

Race day quickly approached as it always does and my husband, daughter and coach came into town around midnight the day of the event. My husband and coach had to work till Friday evening, so they had to drive about 5 hours to Panama City Beach. Exhausted as they rolled in they knew they would only get about 4 hours of sleep before the race day wake up call! Amazingly, I felt very relaxed and happy on race morning. I’ll tell you, you never know the state of mind you’re going to be in on race morning, but this year has taught me so much about confidence, remaining calm and staying in your “element”.

The swim was interesting in the ocean. The water wasn’t too cold, but definitely wetsuit legal. The race was a dry start and a two-loop course which also required the racers to get out of the water after the first loop, run over a timing mat, grab a cup of salt-free water (if you want) and then pounce back into the ocean…this was tough on me and getting my rhythm again in the water was a test of wills! After the swim I was off on my favorite part…the bike! I love the road and it seems as though the road loves me J I always have to remind myself to remain patient and the competition will come back to me…I mean, let’s be honest, I’m ALWAYS chasing down the better swimmers, so the road is where I buy back my time! Florida is relatively a flat course, especially compared to courses like Wisconsin, Coeur d’Alene and such. Now, let’s not let this fool you – this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easier! You don’t get the down hills to relax…you are always hammering, hammering, hammering! I loved this, but, again, I’m not your normal cyclist J

On the run, I entered the marathon in fourth place, but could see third and second place right away within the first mile. I past both girls right away and was excited to be within 3 minutes of first place. The run is a 2-loop course winding you thru neighborhoods, city streets and a state park. It is as flat as the bike course, but again, this doesn’t mean it’s easy…you use the SAME muscles over and over again. Sometimes a hill is a nice break on the quads! I held onto second place thru about mile 17-18, but unfortunately was passed for second and just didn’t have the next gear to go with Tamara.

Finishing in third place was a feat I didn’t foresee and was very happy to accomplish. My coach was ecstatic and very pleased with the training he invented and the outcome for the ’08 season. I am now enjoying a nice break from the day-to-day grind during the month of November. I’m taking care of things that were neglected for months such as cleaning the house, painting the bathroom and yes, my husband and I held our very first garage sale last weekend…that was a trip! I look forward to the ’09 season and training, but I’m going to really enjoy the much deserved off-season right now!

It's Me!

2008-10-15T20:08:00.002-05:00

Hi! Welcome to the Jessica Jacobs triathlon blog! I'm happy you took the time to sit down and read about me, my life in triathlon and life in general! Well, most of this blog will be about triathlons. Why? Well, for several reasons. Number one, I am a triathlete and it is who I am, not what I do. It encompasses every aspect of my life. When I wake up (4:00 Am) to what I eat (Lots of Gu!), to who my friends end up being (Other athletes). It decides when I get to see my daughter on the weekends and how much energy I have to snuggle up with my husband. I am blogging about triathlons because it is what I am.
But I guess that there is a little more to me. I am a daughter and the youngest of eight cheese heads...Go Packers! I am a veteran of the United States Army, am the mother of a beautiful three year old girl and wife to the most supportive man I have ever known and can't believe God sent into my life.
SO why would you listen to me? I don't know. Maybe you've heard about me via news articles or videos regarding some of my success and are interested in peaking into my life, thoughts, adversities I face and how deal with it all. I guess even if no one ever reads this, it can be a way for me to put my thoughts on paper, or digits, or something. I am guessing that this will be fun and if I can inspire others in the process than all the better!
I am hoping to write twice a week and discuss my training, life, and answer any questions anyone might have regarding triathlon, being a professional, a mother, wife, or anything else on your mind! Now that I am a professional with a dedicated coach, I seem to be training more than I ever thought possible. But when I get tired I just pinch myself and say "Can you believe I get paid to do this? I do get paid, right?" Now, let me be frank - it's definitely NOT about the money...not at all!!! I actually decided to go Pro to inspire my daughter. I wanted to be an example for her to go after any and all dreams she may have in her bright future. I want to say to my grandkids some day, "Yes, Grandma was a professional athlete!" How cool will that be?!?! Also, as mentioned, I served our great nation for 6 1/2 years and loved the Army, my position and leadership roles. However, anyone that served knows it is a very selfless career and you are not allotted the opportunity to "do whatever you want." At times you are sent to the field on exercises for weeks at a time, work very long hours (12 hour days are a norm) and often times deployed. This lifestyle doesn't exactly fit into the proper mold a triathlete (or any athlete for that matter) to truly master their craft. I would get a good couple weeks of running, cycling and swimming in and then told, "Hey, Jacobs, you're going to be on the night shift for the next FTX (field training exercise), so get ready to be at the office @ 1700 (5pm) and you'll be released by NET (no earlier than) 0700 (7am) - yup, that's the price you pay for a 3-year ROTC scholarship! Now, please don't mistake my belly-aching for the absolute respect and admiration I have for our military. I loved the military, my soldiers, my leadership influence and miss it everyday, but there were times that frustrated me to no end because I was constantly putting my triathlon training on the back burner. Therefore, today is "pay-back" time for the time "borrowed" when I gave to the country. I decided about a year ago I was going to do this...it's now or never!