I did something really stupid the other week. I registered for
my first triathalon. I have been saying for a few years now to anyone
who encouraged me to do one and also to my poor husband who is afraid I
will find more reasons to train and not be home, that I was not
interested in tris because I don't have time for 3 sports (its hard
enough with running plus the cycling for cross training) and I don't
have money for fancy tri stuff like $10,000 bikes. But Mo Percy, aka "No
Mercy" was doing it and she thought I could do it, so then I started
thinking I could do it. It was Mo's very favorite tri ever and besides,
I've been kinda bored with my training lately and I didn't have a race
for August. I thought it might be a good change, something to keep me on
my toes and wake me from my summer drowsiness. Never mind the fact that
I don't swim.
So, I signed up Wednesday; the tri was on
Saturday. When I went to packet pick up, the girl started to hand me a
nice green T-shirt then snatched it back when she realized I was "NG" -
Not Guaranteed a shirt. I mentioned to her I had just signed up
yesterday morning and she asked whether I had "just gotten a wild hair"
or something. Yep, something like that.
The morning of
the tri me, Mo and our training partner, Gene, met at early o'clock to
carpool together. We joked that we were always getting together at 5 or
5:30 AM and never at a decent time. Gene was along for cheering,
coaching, and photography support. As we neared Roxboro, we saw several
streaks of lightening and the rain was steady at times. I worried about
the weather, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. By the time
we arrived, the stormy weather had passed, leaving the gravel parking
lot a lovely expanse of puddles and mud. We trudged through the wet lot
pushing our bikes and carrying our stuff. Gene graciously helped us with
some of our load. Still, I complained that the tri was just like an
ultra in that I had to bring so much crap with me! A couple of people
were carrying their bikes instead of rolling them through the dirt. I
guess I would do that too if I had a fancy Cervelo! Ha! 'Ol Blue didn't
mind. He's used to it since he's a cross bike. Yep, that's right - I
don't own a road bike, I have a knobby-tired $500 cross bike and I was
going to ride the damn thing the best I could.
We found
our assigned areas in transition and set all our crap out ready to go. I
looked around at the other race participants with their tri suits on
and had no clue what I was doing there. I wandered over and I got all
marked up with my bib number and my future age by one of the volunteers.
At these tri things, they make you older than you actually are. Like we
need that!
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| What the hell am I doing at a tri? Photo Gene Meade |
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| Mo, Coach Gene, and me before the start |
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| Our
ages +1 written on our legs. I am sporting a nice bruise and scar from a
tangle with my bike 2 weeks prior Photo Gene Meade |
When
it was nearing race start, we headed down to the water for the swim
portion of the race. The first two waves were men and the third wave was
all us women. While we waited to get in the water, my heart pounded in
my chest. I was really scared. I stuck close to Mo and literally wanted
to cling to her. Here's the thing, the swim was a significant 750 meters
in the lake - the dreaded open water swim - and I had done
zero
swim training! The last time I had swam at all was a couple hours of
snorkeling in shallow water in the FL keys in June. Other than two
awkward laps back in March 2011 I tried when I was injured and subjected
to pool running, I hadn't swam laps in a pool since I was a small
child. I didn't even know how to put the swim cap on because I had never
worn one. I tried putting it on the wrong way and I couldn't get it on
my head until I realized I needed to turn it around the other way. I had
borrowed goggles from Mo because I didn't own any. I had tried the
goggles on in my shower to make sure they wouldn't leak. You know the
expression "fish out of water"? I was about to be a runner/cyclist "in
the water" and I was freaking out. I'm sure I looked a fool. Yep, the photo confirms I did in fact look a fool.
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| Clinging to Mo for dear life while waiting to start the swim Photo Gene Meade |
I
finally got my ugly white cap on my noggin and within a couple of
minutes, we were in the water. I had a few seconds to get my goggles
securely suctioned to my face and then we were off. I started out
freestyle and breathing on alternating sides like google had told me to
do for open water. This didn't last long as I soon found freestyle with
zero training to be exhausting. I coughed a couple of times. I switched
to breast stroke and my pace slowed significantly but at least I could
breath better. I noticed a few women around me doing the same. I stuck
with it until the first buoy and then the second buoy. Then we were
headed to the 3rd buoy. By this time, my heart was pounding, I was
breathing hard, coughing, and I had a long way to go before my feet
would be on ground. I flipped on my back for a couple minutes of rest
via unskilled backstroke and promptly got lake water up my nose.
Revelation: lake water stings when it goes up there. I resumed
backstroke and tried to make some good progress. My arms are weak, but
my legs are strong, so I managed to pick up the pace this way. After a
while, I turned over to check where I was I didn't know. There were no
other racers near me and the rescue boat was to my left. The guy in the
boat asked if I was okay and I assured him I was and asked him which way
I was going. He informed me I was going the wrong way! I turned back
around doing breast stroke again so I could see the next buoy. I had
gone backwards for a few minutes and I'm guessing 10 swimmers had passed
me while I was doing so. Trying not to think about the wasted effort
and time, I kept swimming. Here is where my ultra training helped me. I
told myself to keep making relentless forward progress and not to panic.
I kept breathing steadily and little by little made my way towards the
next buoy. I was behind almost all of the field. Finally, I reached the
last buoy and closed in on the exit out of the lake. It was a relief
when I was close enough to shore that I could get my feet back under me
and walk out. Whew! I made it! And I didn't even hang on to a canoe or
buoy. After exiting the water, the course went up a grassy hill that was
now wet and slick with mud from the traffic. I ultra-walked with a
purpose up the hill, grinned and waved at Gene as he snapped a photo of
me, and arrived in the transition area. I was really pumped up by the
fact that I had survived the open water swim!
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| Thrilled to have made it out alive! Photo Gene Meade |
In
transition, I saw that there was one other bike still there besides
mine. This worried me, but Gene told me something like they're out there
and I would get them and I focused on that. I sat on my 5 gallon
bucket, put my socks and bike shoes on, pulled my helmet on and ran out
of the transition area with my bike next to me and holding onto my
gloves. Got to the mount bike line and carefully clipped in to the right
pedal and pushed off. Stupidly, I tried to pull my gloves on while on
the bike and nearly lost control - twice. I used my teeth to pull them
the rest of the way on while I pedaled in pursuit of whoever was ahead
of me. The bike course was reportedly rolling hills, but I soon found
that I had ridden hillier routes in my training and I didn't think it
was that bad. Within a couple of miles, I saw another cyclist.
Determined, I closed in on her and passed. I set my eyes on the next
person I saw and passed them, then another and another. Every time I
passed, I told the person "Good job". I hoped it was nice and not
obnoxious to say that. Every time I passed a volunteer, I thanked them.
Before I knew it, I rode by the 5 mile mark. I continued to ride as hard
as I could knowing that it was only 16 miles compared to the usual 25+
mile rides I had been doing recently. I stayed in my highest gear on the
flats and downhills and downshifted just enough for the climbs. I drank
most of my Gu Brew and snacked on a few Shot Blocks that I had taped to
my bike. The course was pretty countryside and we passed over the lake
twice. I enjoyed myself, looked at the scenery, and passed as many
racers as I could. I didn't see the 10 mile marker so I was pleasantly
surprised when I came upon the 15 mile marker. The ride went really
quickly and soon I was coming to a stop at the dismount line and running
to the transition area to change into my running shoes.
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| Starting the run. Finally, something I knew how to do! Photo Gene Meade |
I sat on my bucket, pulled off the cycling
shoes, and pulled on my running shoes. I grabbed my handheld water
bottle, snapped on my race number belt (thanks to Mo for the belt) and
ran out of transition on a mission. I was psyched to have made it to the
run part of the event because running is what I know best. I have had
my bike for just over a year and as mentioned earlier, I don't swim. The
run started uphill on the road but quickly entered the woods and
changed to single track. There is a water stop just before the woods,
but I had my handheld, so I ran on by. The trail was rolling hills and
all single track with the exception of a few short field crossings which
were grass. I passed several ladies and men who were all walking or
running very slowly. I happily ran by them at the best pace I could
muster at this point. I was running hard enough that I was breathing
loudly and they would hear me coming and move to the side. The trail was
pleasant and I confidently ran down and up, over roots, and through
light mud. Here is where I had an advantage over the average triathlete
who I doubt was thrilled with trail for the run. Though I was in my
element, I was also ready for the race to be over but the course seemed
to go and on. I thought I must be almost done but then I saw a sign that
said 2 miles. I was in disbelief so sure was I that I was about to
round a corner and see the finish line. Soon after the 2 mile mark I
made it up a short climb and saw Gene at the top taking my photo and
cheering me on.
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| Trucking up a hill Photo Gene Mead |
Another minute or so and I was surprised to come upon Mo. She moved
to the side when she heard my ragged breath and I called to her that it
was just me. I tried to encourage her to pick up the pace a bit to lead
me in, but her knee was not feeling good and she let me go on ahead. I
continued to pass runners as I steadily made my way through the last
mile. Finally, I could hear and see the end. There was one last devious
climb to the finish which I stubbornly slogged up though I really wanted
to walk. As soon as I stopped, I had the sudden urge to puke but I just
heaved a bit and managed not to decorate the volunteer's shoes as he
removed my timing chip.
Here are my results: I crossed the line in 1:52:41.
Swim
(750 m open water): 23:19, T1: 2:47, Bike (16 miles): 57:30, T2: 1:51,
Run (3 miles): 27:12. I ended up 2 out of 4 Athenas (and got a sweet
shoulder bag) and 45 out of 72 females.
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| Finished! Finally! Photo Gene Meade |
Mo was right behind me in
1:53:11 and got 3rd in her age group. All in all, the event was a
success. One bummer was that Mo discovered that the vehicle parked next
to us hit her car when they pulled out. They were in a rust orange Honda
Element and got out of there without leaving a note or anything. Jerks!
You can bet that an ultra runner would not have done that. Just saying.
So, I may have gotten lucky to not drown due to
foolishness, but the tri went well enough for me that I would do another
one. I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed myself. Maybe next
time I will do a few pool laps for training. At the very least, I will
know how to put the swim cap on. ;)
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| Me and Mo at the finish :) Photo Gene Meade |
