Confessions of a Beginner: Hudson Valley Triathlon

July 24, 2011

Located in Kingston, the Hudson Valley Tri was pretty local for me. The Saturday before the race, I headed up to Ulster Landing Park with my friend Steph, a volleyball player for Marist, to pick up my packet and scout the course. Boy, am I glad I followed my own advice. Not only was the park a little hard to get to (Steph asked me at one point “where the HECK are we?” and even though I was following the directions, I didn't quite know myself), but the course had some LARGE hills. The worst of these hills headed from transition to the entrance of the park, where the bike and run courses were. Now, experienced triathletes might think that I am exaggerating but for someone who spends most of her time on a regularly flat river, any hill is scary. I was glad I drove the course the day before (and was glad to have company, so thanks to Steph for coming on that mini road-trip with me! If you’re local, come support the Marist volleyball team this fall…they’re awesome!)

I was surprised to wake up the morning of the race to clouds. After a super intense heat wave (with a heat index up to 112 degrees), the break from the sun was a relief. As I set up my transition area, it started to drizzle. I innovatively covered my sneakers and bike shoes with the plastic bag that my race numbers came in – not that it mattered once I started racing!

Swim warm up

Swim start!

My swim was great. Normally swimming is my strongest leg of the tri even if I do poorly, but this swim felt really good. While some of you might be grossed out about swimming in the Hudson, it was not bad. It’s definitely a little weedier than I like (I am an open-water wuss…I hate vegetation). The buoys were really easy to sight and I got to the front of the pack enough so that it wasn’t crowded. I hit my pace easily and just went for it because I knew I was going to need to get ahead to make up for my shoddy biking skills. I was the first woman out of the water and had the 6th fastest swim of the day. Then the hard part started.

T1 is super easy when you don’t wear a wetsuit (it’s not a secret strategy, I just don’t own one) and I hopped on the bike and was up that massive hill. I have no idea how the people who transition into their shoes while riding their bike handled that, I would have fallen for SURE. I didn’t have my bike in the lowest gear, so I had to change gears going up the hill but thankfully nothing happened. I made it up and headed out the park entrance to tackle the 18 mile bike.

Ready to tackle that hill!

So despite my amazing advice for preparing for a race, I did not prepare myself for this bike. Even a semi- prepared racer would have biked at least 18 miles in one ride. A semi-prepared racer might have biked a loop of the course to get used to it. A semi-prepared racer would have spent more than 5 days all summer on the bike. I’d have to say that I was completely unprepared. I have this crippling fear of biking in traffic (so novice, I know) and because of this, I rarely take my bike out. I knew that I had the fitness to complete an 18 mile bike, but there wouldn’t be any kind of competitive goals.

But it wasn’t so bad. The course was two nine-mile loops. There was only one tough, winding hill that I was fairly unprepared for, but other than that it was fine, just slow going. I am more comfortable riding in a harder gear with more power than riding in an easier gear and moving my legs more (which is what you need to be able to do to climb hills). I have been told this is a function of the fact that I am a rower, but this is one thing that I need to work on before I race next time.

I biked into transition and had a moment of panic: where was my race belt with my number on it? The race website had said that anyone running in or out of transition without the number on would be given a two-minute penalty – not what I needed. I frantically searched around the area but I knew that I had put the belt on before the bike and it must have fallen off. Bikeway members Carleen and Justin called out to me to leave it and just yell out my number as I crossed the finish line, so I followed their advice and ran out of transition. As I headed up that giant hill again, a race official grabbed me and handed me my number! I have no idea where he had gotten it, but I guess it must have fallen off somehow. I was stoked: no penalty for me!

A surprising number of people walked up the hill but one of my race goals was to run the whole time. On that hill it might have seemed like I was running in slow-motion but I never stopped running! The run was an out and back, which I like because you can encourage people. Since I had my last article on my mind, I almost tried to adopt the Iron Girl philosophy of saying something positive to anyone who passed me or who I passed. I think some people were definitely confused by this (mostly the guys). For me, triathlons are a way to cross train for rowing and to keep me from getting bored with a lack of competition in the summer, so I’m not a cutthroat competitor. It was worth it to take the time to cheer for people, especially all the Bikeway guys who were headed back as I was headed out. 

All smiles because I'm thinking about going to the diner!

I ran down the giant hill to a finish line with Bikeway members and my parents cheering for me. That’s one of the best parts about finishing behind everyone: you get the most cheers! Overall, I thought NY Tri did a good job running the race: the courses were well marked, the volunteers were encouraging, there were enough safety precautions taken and since it was a smaller race, almost everyone got awards. I ended up first in my age group….out of one – not too many people in the women’s 18-24 age group in most of the races I’ve done – but I was 5^th overall. Not too shabby for a slow biker like me. 

Team Bikeway and our hardware!

I do have some people to thank: my parents, for driving all the way to Kingston for an early start, Steph, for driving the course with me the day before (a job that would have been much less fun without company) and all the Bikeway members, especially Carleen. I’m pretty sure that Carleen cheered for me like she would have cheered for a family member and it definitely made my race a lot better. Even the guys who were super competitive racers took five seconds to yell “Go Bikeway!” when they zoomed by me. And that really means a lot!

Interview with Iron Girl's Sarah Frey

We’ve all heard of the Ironman but what the heck is an Iron GIRL? Hint: it’s not Tony Stark’s daughter in a third installment of the “Iron Man” movie series. It’s a series of increasingly popular races – from sprint triathlons to half marathons – with one goal: female empowerment.

            “The best part of an all-female triathlon is that a girl comes in first,” said Sarah Frey, the athlete services and marketing coordinator for Iron Girl. “If people were to get passed in the race, they are always being encouraged, even by the people who pass them.”

            Iron Girl was started in 2004 and had just two events. Since then, it has grown to 14 events all over the country – from California to Minnesota to Florida to New York. When asked about the rapid growth of Iron Girl, Frey attributed it to the overall positivity of the Iron Girl race experience.

            “There’s no intimidation factor here,” said Frey. “This is the kind of event that’s fun for everyone who does it. Even if a woman decides the sport isn’t for her, she has a good time at our race.”

            While it would seem that an event that fosters a good time rather than intense competition would be geared towards novice racers, Frey said that it is usually a 50/50 split between beginners and experienced triathletes. Experienced triathletes often use it as racing practice or to introduce their friends to the sport in a less competitive atmosphere.

            “Because it’s a premiere event, it is geared more towards beginners,” said Frey. “However, the experienced racers use it as a break in their season because, while it’s still a race, it doesn’t have that cutthroat atmosphere. The environment appeals to everyone.”

            Experienced athletes concerned about whether the atmosphere is competitive enough need not worry.

            “With athletes, whatever the level, there will always be elements of competition,” said Frey. She explains how it is different from co-ed races: at an Iron Girl event that she participated in, a woman passed her and said good luck. This woman went on to win the race. Frey said that the woman wasn’t trying any less hard than she would have in a co-ed race, but at Iron Girl, she took the time to wish her competitors well.

While Iron Girl appeals to all experience levels and ages, Frey said that is the 30-34 and 35-39 age groups that are the most popular, with the average age of participants at 34.

            “Triathlon is becoming a more popular sport,” said Frey. “Women are starting later.”

            When asked for one reason why a novice triathlete should pick an Iron Girl event for their first race, Frey laughed.

            “I can’t give you one reason, because it’s the whole package,” Frey said. “Iron Girl takes care of everything. It’s the perfect kind of event to start a triathlon career .”

            And it certainly seems like they do. Racers have a good deal to look forward to when they sign up for an Iron Girl race. Leading up to the race, participants receive “countdown emails” with advice for race preparation. Iron Girl also offers free seminars from coaches as well as coached sessions for a price. The race directors send a race guide which explains how every aspect of the race is going to work. The day before the race, there is a pre-race clinic which is open to all participants. There’s also an expo with gear, nutrition and clothing all for your training and racing needs. Post race, Iron Girl offers participants a catered breakfast. (Of course, all of this premiere treatment means a higher price tag – entry fees range from $85-105 – but it’s completely worth it.)

            Iron Girl also has a special group for cancer survivors called “Team Courage”. Women with cancer or in remission from cancer can fill out a form on the website to share their story. Iron Girl then gives these women a complimentary race entry as well as a special bib to show that they are part of the team. Their stories are then shared with other participants on race day.

            “What makes Team Courage different is that women can sign up year after year,” said Frey. “It’s not a one shot deal. We believe that these women are inspirational to others and that their stories should be told.”

            As for women just getting into triathlon, Frey isn’t short on advice.

            “Focus on your weakness,” said Frey. “It’s a hard thing to do, but it will make you feel far more comfortable on race day. Also, meet others locally to train. It’s 99% easier to show up for training sessions if you know other people are counting on you.”

            The future of Iron Girl looks bright. Although they don’t plan on lengthening the triathlons to a full length Ironman anytime soon, (“We tried Olympic distance a few years ago, but we didn’t see the growth,” said Frey. “It just isn’t as appealing as a sprint”), they are definitely expanding their reach. The August 7^th sprint triathlon in Syracuse sold out weeks ago. Living a healthy lifestyle is important for women, and participating in an Iron Girl event can provide exactly the right motivation to get started and stay focused.

For a race in your area, check out www.irongirl.org. (Sorry guys, it’s girls only! However, feel free to come support the lady in your life with a “My girlfriend/sister/mom/grandma is faster than your girlfriend/sister/mom/grandma” t-shirt.) If you have questions for Sarah, feel free to email her at sarah.frey@irongirl.com.

Next time, check back for tips on training on vacation, a review of your favorite products for quick energy, and the top ten myths of getting recruited to row in college.

Double Trouble: The Other "Princess of Poughkeepsie" Tackles the Jersey Shore

Double Trouble Triathlon: July 9, 2011

The boardwalk at Seaside Heights

There is usually one main factor that determines whether I can go to any specific race: is the race close to where I live or do I know someone that lives close to the race course? I signed up for this race in Seaside Heights, NJ because my friend, Marissa, lives about 25 minutes from the shore. Another thing that drew me to race was how different it was. The name of the race, Double Trouble, comes from the fact that triathletes had to do the course (.2 mile swim, 5 mile bike and 1.5 mile run) twice. I thought that was super cool and signed right up. Beaching with my bff and racing a different kind of triathlon seemed like a great way to spend the weekend.

I arrived at Marissa’s house on Friday to find that no one was home. After going for a quick bike ride around their lovely development, Marissa’s sister, Samantha, texted me instructions to get into their house. Unfortunately, I don’t follow directions well and didn’t turn their house alarm off all the way. That led to an extensive conversation with the nice lady at the alarm company where I did my best to convince her I was not actually a criminal and she didn’t need to send the police. Whoops!

Marissa and I then drove to pick up my packet in the pouring rain. I think there is something about me driving to a race that makes it rain…it has happened every single race this summer! I was race #13, which meant that I was placed in a rack closest to the run/swim entrance/exit of transition. This was good because it would give me a few seconds advantage when I was transitioning from the first run to my second swim. 

Pre-race deliciousness made by Marissa's mom: penne w/ veggies, salad and garlic bread

Marissa and I woke up at 4:45 in order to get ready and drive 45 minutes to Seaside Heights, most (in)famously known as the setting of the MTV reality TV show, Jersey Shore. The race started at 6:45 a.m. There were some pre-race explanations of the course, which was I thought was fairly straightforward.

Setting up transition

Swim start!

The swim start was a running start into the ocean. We had to swim out to one buoy, then parallel with shore to another buoy, then swim to shore and run out to transition. I had never done a race swim in an ocean before and the first swim was definitely a little nerve wracking. The waves weren’t huge, probably four feet high, but for someone used to swimming in a pool by myself, they seemed huge. I was lucky to get a good spot at the front of the pack and ran quickly enough to the ocean so that I wasn’t super crowded. Like all races, the turns around the buoy were crowded, but I was ready for that. Even though the swim did not feel as strong as my swims normally feel, I came out of the water ahead of a large number of women and a majority of the men. 

Running to the water

At least we scared away all the sharks....

Exit from swim #1

The race directors had nicely placed a kiddie pool in between the boardwalk and transition so that swimmers running from the beach could jump in and wash their feet off. I thought this was awesome because I was that five-year-old who threw fits when sand got in my shoes. I ditched my swim cap, threw on my helmet, sunglasses and bike shoes and ran with the bike out of transition.

Bike #1

Biking is by far my worst leg of the triathlon. I am still getting over my fear of biking on the same road as cars so I only bike in the morning, which usually conflicts with rowing. Needless to say, biking doesn’t happen nearly as much as it should for me. But five miles, even at race pace, is not impossible. My cardio was completely fine, it was just my legs that hurt a lot. I got passed by a few women and a lot of men on the bike. The bike course was a completely flat out and back. It was cool to ride along the beach and the view was a nice distraction from my screaming leg muscles.

T2: Bike to Run

As I pulled into transition, I heard someone else cheering for me. My old roommate, Jamie, had driven all the way from Cape May to Seaside to watch my race! Between her and Marissa, I felt like I had my own fan club. Having someone cheering for me really means so much to me, and I think it’s something that, as a member of a very supportive team, I almost took for granted. 

Heading out of T2 with my cap and goggles

As I transitioned from the bike to the run, I had a sudden idea: I grabbed my swim cap and goggles and shoved them in my tank top. The race director had said that people had to come back to transition in between the run and the second swim, but if I ran into transition with my cap already on, I could save some time. 

The run course start

My temptation...could I resist??

The run took place on the boardwalk, so I got to pass many of the Jersey Shore (the TV Show) landmarks. There was the Shore Store, where the cast worked in Season 1. There was the beach where Snooki got arrested for public intoxication. There were the rides where my boss at Hudson Valley Magazine director saw Snooki and Deena go on the dizzy swings…three times in a row. And then there were TWO Dunkin’ Donuts. Since the run was an out and back, I passed each Dunkin’ twice. And since I did the run twice, I passed coffee a total of EIGHT times without getting any. I almost contemplated DNF-ing so that I could enjoy my favorite, medium iced coffee with milk and sugar, but sheer willpower (and the thought of bagels at the finish line) kept me going.

I ran into transition from the run with my swim cap on my head, kicked off my sneakers and ran out. The run to the water was probably about 150 meters and involved climbing up and down some slippery stairs to the boardwalk and back down to the beach. I thought the volunteers here did a really good job of telling people to slow down, especially since triathletes will try to cut time any way possible. We must be a frustrating group to keep safe. 

Exit from swim #2

My second swim was uneventful, and it was nice to give my legs a little break. The waves were definitely bigger at this point. It was a little nerve wracking to not even be able to see the buoys at some points, but I knew that swimming was my strongest leg and I was never in any kind of danger (except from inhaling seaweed, perhaps). The coolest part of the swim was that, once I was headed into shore, I used the waves to my advantage and body surfed my way in. 

T4: swim to bike

Heading out of transition to the bike mount area

Going back to the bike was hard, as my legs definitely did not want to cooperate. But I knew it was time to “drop the hammer” and try to make up some time. Doing the course the second time around was nice because I remembered some of the landmarks, which made it mentally easier. After all, it was only five miles.

Running out of T5

  

Run #2...almost there

 My second run was similar. Once I got on the course, I knew I had less than 12 minutes of racing left. At that point, there were tourists as well as people from the other race, Everybody Tris, on the course so it was a little harder to navigate. As soon as I passed the run turnaround, I was passed by a guy who had been tailing me for a little while. I decided that I needed to hang with him, so I picked up the pace and ran with him. He would pull away, and then I would pull back. About .2 away from the finish, he really picked it up but he couldn’t shake me yet. I sprinted my heart out and we crossed the finish within a second of each other. In other sports, a competitor might be upset that I used his pace to help myself, but we high-fived and congratulated each other as soon as we crossed the line. 

All smiles as it's finally over

Posing at the finish line with my medal

Marissa and Jamie were waiting for a sweaty hug at the finish line. We grabbed some bagels and bananas and waited for the awards to start. I think my only complaint about this race was with the awards. The race director basically just guessed who had placed Top 5, and most of those people had already left the venue. At that time, I wasn’t sure how I had placed and I would have been a bit upset if I had placed and hadn’t gotten recognized. However, I was 6^thoverall (and 1^st in my age group) so no complaints here. And after I had gotten changed and Marissa and I were ready to hit the beach, I thanked the race director for a great event and he invited us for beers….at 8:30 a.m. Completely understandable, since he and his crew had probably been up since 3 a.m. setting up. 

Taking apart my transition area with Jamie's help

Overall I thought this was a really good race. The course was well marked and the volunteers were well trained, so I felt safe the entire time. The course was in a neat town. It was fast course and beautifully flat. The concept of doing the course twice was really interesting and I think it played to my strengths. Even though everyone in charge kept saying that it was a low-budget operation and a first year event, it didn’t feel like it was lacking anything. I thought they did a very good job and I would definitely recommend this to someone who is looking for a different kind of race or looking to turn a race weekend into a vacation weekend too. After the race, I spent the day on the beach getting rid of my unisuit tan! What’s not to love?

Post race snack...and I finally got my ice coffee!

Post race and beach meal....pizza at Pete and Elda's

Marissa's cat, Tigerlily, watching me write my race report the morning after the race

 

I’d like to thank Marissa and her family for giving me a place to sleep and food to eat for two days and, along with Jamie, their moral support and enthusiasm about my racing. A race is way more fun when you have a cheering section, and Marissa and Jamie have been to three of the four triathlons in my triathlon career. That is dedication on their part and I really, really appreciate it.

Coming soon: video from Putnam Tri’n’Du, interviews with race directors of the SheRox, IronGirl and Danskin triathlon series, and my race report from the Hudson Valley Triathlon in Kingston! Don't hesitate to email or comment with any questions, suggestions or problems! Happy racing!

Updates!

Hello readers,

I'd like to thank everyone who has been reading my blog. In the first month of its life, Training in Transition has had over 1,000 page views! Although I'm sure about 500 of those are probably my mom, thanks to everyone else too. (Love you, Mom).

Unfortunately I have had some technical difficulties getting up my race report from the Double Trouble triathlon, so to keep you all from getting impatient, I do have some other cool updates for the future of the blog.

Coming soon I will have a series of interviews with members of the staff from the IronGirl, TrekWomen,and SheRox triathlon series about the growth of all-female triathlons and what that means for the sport.

To wrap up the summer, look for race reports from Double Trouble and the Hudson Valley Triathlon, in Kingston, NY. I will also have articles about training on vacation and the issues that come with conflicts between training and the college lifestyle.

Also, Hudson Valley-ites, I had my first article (about the new hospital in Orange County) published in the August issue of Hudson Valley Magazine! Look for that on newsstands soon.

This Saturday, I will be at City of Water Day in Liberty State Park, helping coordinate kayak tours. Then on Sunday I will be volunteering for Bikeway at the Putnam Tri'n'Du in Carmel, NY. Come say hi! (I'll be the blonde one bouncing around enthusiastically).

Don't hesitate to let me know what you think! If you're too shy to comment, feel free to email me large amounts of praise.(I suppose suggestions, problems and constructive criticisms are also welcome...anything to improve!).

Thanks for all your support!

Tory

Tory's Top Ten: Tips for Mentally Preparing for a Race

Endurance athletes spend so many hours training and preparing for the physical aspect of racing that they often forget about the mental fitness that is also required. This used to be one of my biggest flaws as an athlete. I would be more than adequately prepared for a 2k erg test or a 100m free race but I would psyche myself out and do poorly. Years of racing have calmed me down a bit and I am able to handle race day nerves much better than my hyperventilating 12-year-old self. However, this weekend I will be tackling not one, but two semi-unknown races. The first is Derby Sweeps and Sculls, where I will be rowing in the single for the first time. The second is Rebel Race New York, a 5k run and obstacle course. Even though these races are very different from each other and from races I have done in the past, I know how to handle my nerves to the best of my ability. Here are my ten tips to keep race day nerves to a minimum.

Have A-B-C goals. Set three different goals for yourself, ranging from an A goal, or the best possible scenario, through to a C goal, an acceptable finish. Also, know what a race means for your racing season.  For example, Rebel Race is just a random race that my brother wanted me to do with him because he thought it would be fun. I have no intention of winning, I just want to finish in order to enjoy my free beer and finisher’s medal. I don’t need to have an A or B goal, because the race is a C race for me. However, Derby is important to me. I want to have a good racing experience because, in terms of rowing after college, the single is my best option. I would love to be top 3, my A goal, but if I cross the finish line with a good start  and good sprint and row a straight course without going swimming (my C goal), I will be satisfied.

Double check all equipment. In triathlon and rowing, equipment is vital. It’s possible for me to swim without goggles and a cap or even run without shoes, but I am not going anywhere without a functioning bike or shell. In the first triathlon I did, my goggle strap broke two minutes before my swim wave went off. Goggles are easy to fix, bikes and shells are not. I like to double check everything so that I can be confident in the fact that, if anything should break, it’s not because of my lack of attention to detail.

Wear something comfortable. This seems like a no-brainer but I think people sometimes go a little crazy with over-thinking a race day outfit. The first piece of advice I got when I started triathlon is “never wear anything brand new on race day”. Train in everything that you might race in. My outfit for Derby and Rebel Race is going to be the exact thing that I train in every day: black spandex shorts and a white tank top. I know it’s comfortable, and as an added bonus, I know I look good.

Rockin' the white tank and black spandex at Crash-B's, February 2011

Know as much as you can. Getting to a race late because of not knowing the parking was a 30 minute walk to transition or realizing the morning of that your GPS doesn’t recognize addresses located on state routes causes unnecessary stress. I like to know as much as possible about the venue and race rules beforehand. Sometimes certain places have funky rules that might throw you off if you only learn them on race day. I like to pick my packet up the night before if possible. That way, I can scope the course set up and meet some friendly volunteers who might be more willing to have my back on race day.

Have a routine. The weirdest thing about doing triathlons for me was travelling to a race by myself. I’ve always raced with a team. However, I stuck to my race day routine as best I could to combat the weird feeling of not having my teammates around. I made my coffee with skim milk and sugar, listened to my acoustic Eric Clapton and ate some oatmeal and half a power bar. Sticking to the regular routine that I follow with my teammates helped calm my nerves and get me into the racing mentality.

Oatmeal with raisins and apples, my favorite pre-race food!

Pack the night before…and pack extras. I like to lay everything out and double check it before I pack. Then I know that everything is going into the bag at the same time. If I pack over a span of a couple hours or rush around to pack the morning of, I am more likely to think that something is in the bag when it’s not (i.e. my unisuit, Dad Vails 2010). I also try to pack extras of easily misplaced things like socks. That way, if I meet someone else who is also forgetful, I can make a friend by sharing. 

Breathing exercises aren’t just for yoga instructors. Of all the tips I’ve researched, this one comes up the most. Personally, I just like focusing on my breathing because it gives me something to focus on besides the “what if” game. Also, slowing your breathing helps calm the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is what causes our fight or flight response. Calming down the SNS allows you to use energy more efficiently instead of wasting it on stressing out.

Positive thinking. This is definitely hardest for me to do. My brain loves the “what if” game and often enjoys “what ifs” erring on the side of failure. My main workout partner (one of the most mentally tough people I know) often tells me that I just have to turn off my brain and get on with the workout because too much thinking quickly becomes too much negative thinking which leads to a negative result. A lot of people like to walk themselves through the perfect racing scenario but I prefer to think about all the hard work I’ve put into my sport. I know that I might not be the most gifted athlete out there but I know that I have put in the hard work and time. This gives me confidence to make it through a race successfully.

Marist College's Erg Room: where the hard work happens

Practice to the best of your ability. I like to simulate a race situation as much as possible in order to give myself confidence that I can handle every part of the race and execute my race plan. Before I tried my first triathlon, I practiced transitions over and over  (much to the confusion of the Marist men’s lacrosse team, who had conditioning near where I set up my fake transition area). I wanted to have the muscle memory of going through those specific steps. In order to prepare for Derby, on Tuesday, my practice consisted of rowing 5x1k at just under race pace. If all else fails on race day, I can at least be confident in my ability to complete 1000m in the single. As far as Rebel Race goes, I don’t plan on climbing a mountain of mud over and over but I am confident in my ability to run three miles without stopping. Knowing both of these things will definitely calm my pre-race nerves.

….but be prepared to handle anything. It’s true that anything can happen on race day. The people who perform well through unexpected mishaps are not the ones who are thinking “THIS ISN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN” but rather the ones who are thinking, “Okay, that happened, what am I going to do next?” Even with massive amounts of preparation, crazy stuff can still happen and someone with the ability to handle it without stress can still perform well on  race day.

In my opinion, preparing for anything that could happen as much as possible is the best way to calm race day nerves. However, I feel that Laura Farres, a mental performance consultant with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association and founder of Mind in Motion Consulting Inc. in Vancouver, sums it up best:

“You get there and feel the jitters and all sorts of things can happen,” says Farres, “You have to be prepared for potentially any challenges that might occur.”