PowerMan (National Duathlon Championships!)

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

It's Me!

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!