Post Race Blues

It's been over a week since the Tri and I'm still bummed it's over. I've made it out running and swimming a few times this week but have to get back on the bike this week if I'm going to ride in a race a month from now. I've been reading Triathlon Magazines and Runner's World to keep excited about training. I just ordered a running, shock absorbing, hands free dog leash so that Boomer can run with me and I can escape the blisters I get from his pulling shenanigans. I'm looking forward to having a running partner.

I scrolled through my magazines searching for events to train for, I'll need to stack up next year better than I did this summer. So far there is a sprint distance Tri in the Outer Banks that looks fun, an all women's Tri in Philadelphia and a few more around here that might be fun. Maybe even a half marathon, which given my intense love for running makes perfect sense. Or maybe I'll stick with triathlons and bike races :o)

Guess we'll see!

Mission Accomplished

So we made it to the finish line.

Race morning I woke up heavily doubting my participation in another event like the Iron Girl. 4:30 comes a bit too early for my liking. After I shook the sleep off I forced down some breakfast, taking the advice from the Iron Girl site I started the day off with half a banana and half a bagel with peanut butter. So off I went to Oneida shores to set up my transition. I shakily organized everything I thought I'd need and had my number written all over me with permanent black marker and nervously looked around for Angela. Elyssa being the newbie pro that she is, was all set up and ready to go before I even pulled in. Angela on the other hand rolled in with 10 minutes left til transition closed :o) Luckily I found her and ran her to where she needed to go, plus we got a little warm up on the jog over. Finally everyone was set up and ready to go. From shore the swim looked a bit longer than I remember from the 2 practices, but I attributed it to race day jitters. As we lined up to get organized for the swim we all got good luck wishes and pats on the back. And then it was game time.



I felt sort of sick as we plunged into the water and even when it was clear that I could swim I remained walking to try and calm myself down... it didn't work. I was panicking worse than the first time. Lucky for me I could walk almost the whole thing. I just felt like a jack ass. However at some point I did try to swim, and must have most of the way back in, but believe me I did not swim anywhere near 600m. As I dragged myself out of the water I could hardly breathe but I realized I was generally expected to run to transition and get on a bike. It might have been at that point I had mentally written off ever doing something this crazy again. But low and behold I made it back to my bike and clumsily tried to pull my heaving self back together. I did take my time getting prepped, I was afraid I'd forget something. As soon as I was on the bike I sighed a small sigh of relief... at least for the time being I was still alive.

Once out on the bike course I decided it was better to just conserve energy and not push myself too hard. I was only averaging about 17 mph and I knew I could go faster but I couldn't find that fire I had a few weeks earlier. I did push past a few people now and then but I wasn't going as fast as I knew I was capable of. The bike seemed to go by sort of fast. I ate a whole package of shot bloks and guzzled down as much water as I could swallow. I was waiting to turn on the speed til I knew we didn't have too much further to go but as the end came in sight I realized I waited too long. Back in transition I dismounted my bike and traded my helmet in for a hair band and took off with my sport beans. Once I made it past all of the spectators I knew I could walk without feeling like a jerk. I made it to the mile marker and had just caught up with Angela when I finally gave in. It was sort of a disaster after that as far as "running" goes. I had a hard time running for any length of time after that. I needed way more water than they could provide at the two hydrating stations. When the finish line came into view and I knew there could only be 3/4 of a mile left I decided to run for real and took off. The last half mile was actually not too bad, I think because there were people cheering and yelling out my name and really getting into it. I can't tell you how much all the cheering and moral support meant to me during the race, it certainly kept me in a happy, positive place when physically I was starting to fade. I sprinted across the finish line as they called out my name and someone put a finisher medal around my neck, someone else handed me a much appreciated water bottle and a cold wet sponge. I wanted to hug everyone in sight I was so happy to be done.

I found Elyssa and shortly after Angela, and then friends and family descended, congratulating and hugging and high fiving us. We were in our glory, just glad to be done.

















I met my goal of coming in under two hours at 1:52:25.

Angela and I were staggered by 5 minutes so we didn't ride our bikes together but our times were only 5 seconds apart. I thought that fitting since we were biking buddies all summer. I just wish I could have caught up to her and rode with her too. My bike time was 1:05:25 Angela was 5 seconds later.

I "ran" a 10:13 mile which is disappointing looking back, but I really didn't expect much in the run.

All in all we all did very well for our first Triathlon. Elyssa came in 246 overall and 6th in her age group finishing at 1:46:36. I finished 371 and 23rd in my age group, and Angela finished 515 and 70th in her age group (one of the fastest, largest groups) with a time of 2:00:35. Most importantly we all finished. 900 girls started out Saturday morning and only 730 finished. I give credit to all those who attempted and all those who succeeded, it was no easy task.



Kristy's rockin sign she made for me! :o)

I have to thank Elyssa for getting me into this endeavor and Angela for being my constant work out buddy and everyone who listened to me obsess over triathlons and training and drowning and scary fish and pain in the ass pool schedules and general legit pains everywhere for the last 7 months or so. It's been a crazy summer and crossing that finish line was pretty awesome. I only wish we didn't have to wait a whole year to do it again. It's been weird since finishing, I don't know what to do with myself. Despite being incredibly sore I really want to jump back into training so that next year I really can swim the whole 600m and run farther than a 5k if I want to. The next goal is an upcoming bike race for Angela and I. Elyssa will most likely be training for another half marathon. But there's no doubt in my mind that all three of us (plus everyone we've since convinced to jump on the Tri train) will be signing up for next years race!

Listening to: My Life Would Suck Without You/ Kelly Clarkson

Beat

I'm too tired to write a real post tonight but I will just say that all three of us had an awesome time and finished in good time, and of course we can't wait for the next one!

I'll do a full run down tomorrow.

The Swim














Transition




















My Spot

Night Before Craziness

Elyssa's Bike













Angela's Bike













My Bike


The bikes are racked, our wrists have been banded and we're carbo loaded to the max. In less than 12 hours I will sleepily be meandering around Oneida Shores setting up my transition stations and fighting back the urge to vomit. I'm pretty nervous, as is Angela and I'm sure Elyssa too.

I somehow scored the best possible bike racking area... I should be among the first to get to my bike but the last one out for the run... still I shouldn't have any trouble finding my bike amongst the 800-1000 that will be there. Even Elyssa and Angela's bikes are only a few racks away from mine... it's as if they knew we were all together.

I'm nervous I'm going to forget something, or get foot cramps during the swim, or leg cramps when I run, or it'll be so windy I get over tired, or someone will kick me in the face during the swim, or swim over me, or worst of all I really don't want to get a flat tire.

I hope I get some sleep tonight, I haven't been doing very good the last week or so. I think the fact that I have no chance in hell at being competitive in this race is helping me to hold on to the remaining shreds of calmness just as long as I keep reminding myself that my goal is to finish, not get some ridiculous time.

I think it's going to be fun tomorrow, awesome weather, couldn't have asked for better... 76 and sunny. Might be a little chilly in the morning but I'd take cold over hot any day.

This day has gotten away from me.
I hope a chocolate snickers flurry is a good race night meal :o)


Wish me luck!!!!


Listening to: Dare you to Move / Switchfoot

I feel like Jabba

The last few days I've been eating too much and exercising too little. I think I may have missed the point of tapering and "carbo loading." Mostly because my usual workouts are what most athletes would consider thier tapering and I most likely already eat more than enough carbohydrates. When mixed with 90 degree weather and unrelenting humidity the result of eating way too many carbs and participating in very little physical activity is a very uncomfortable, lazy, stressed out version of my former self. I want to swim so badly but I'm too uncomfortable to go to a different YMCA. I should mention I am currently house sitting/ dog sitting about 45 minutes away from home. It's been nice to be so close to work, and on Saturday the race, but my normal routine is now in shambles. I miss swimming more than I thought possible. I'm either forcing myself to go to the local Y tomorrow or driving home to swim on Friday. I feel like I will drown if I don't. As for everything else I've ran barely a mile and biked a whopping 5 today. That's it for this week so far, it's no wonder I feel like a slob... that and I have a strange addiction to Jax cheese puffs which I would normally never buy, but I can always count on my best friend's husband to have them in the cupboards when I watch the house. They could be my undoing this week... I will try to muster up some will power and just say no for the next 3 days... I fear the damage has already been done though.

Thank God the humidity is supposed to break tomorrow, I can't stand this weather!!!