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| I think I can get used to starting lines that look like this. |
This summer has been all about training for a triathlon, I swam, biked, ran and bricked in every distance and variation that I could think of. As with many marathoners/ultra-runners one day you start thinking to yourself that as much as I love running it's probably better for my body to mix it up a little. My regular running partner does triathlons (um, Ironman Distance Triathlons) and while she has always been very encouraging and has tried to get me to train for one I have always been hesitant since she's so much more accomplished in the swim/cycle portion of the event.
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| Age on calf, genius. |
Over the past year a friend of mine was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, given my history I spent a lot of time with her and helped where I could as she went through treatment. In an effort to finish her journey with a silver lining she organized a group of her friends who are mostly new to triathlons to "try to tri" for the Osprey Sprint Triathlon in Snow Hill, MD. Since most of us have never done a tri before this was far less intimidating for me and I was thrilled to jump on board and train with this amazing group of women (and they are completely awesome).
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All of the essentials laid out
in order of use. |
As we trained I started thinking (I know--oh shit) that my body is geared more towards endurance, the distances of the Osprey sprint triathlon are: a ½ mile swim, 15 mile cycle and 3.1 mile run. I was training with a 2 mile swim, 20 mile cycle and 15 mile run. This does not seem right. The obvious answer was to sign up for an olympic distance triathlon less than a week before the sprint, right????
I signed up for the Giant Acorn International Distance Triathlon in Lake Anna. It was a 1 mile swim, 27 mile bike ride and 6.2 mile run. PERFECT. I got there early and got all marked up with my bib # on my arm and leg and my age and category on the back of my calf (I think all running races should do this--so if I am behind and see a woman with a 38 I know I don't have to give that extra push to pass her to win my age group and if you have not figured that I am competitive that way then I cannot help you).
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| Cycle and transition gear ready to go! |
After this I immediately saw a friend of mine from the gym in the restroom and our bib/transition area assignments were even close since we were both novices. This was the BEST way to start my first tri. I knew I was suffering from a case of pre-race/new-experience jitters but I just let it go and set up my transition area for the tri. Everything looked in order, so I got in the wetsuit and waited for my wave to start.
The water was perfect and calm in Lake Anna, I had people swimming over me and it was fine. I kept swimming way out from the buoys, then back in, then back out, but I was going for the experience so I was totally fine with it. As I made the last turn for the final ⅓ mile or so I started to realize that I really was not feeling very well. My head hurt and I felt a little weaker than I should, the water was way too warm and my level of exertion was way too high to have chills. I of course, ignored this.
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| Yup, that smooth. NOT. |
My very first transition ever was upon me and I was determined to rock it. I transitioned in 3:08 which was far better than I expected. On to the cycle. Soooooo....I have never cycled more than 25 miles or so on anything but flat terrain. I was not the tiniest bit physically or mentally prepped for the hilly 27 mile cycle, especially since it became increasingly clear to me that I was suffering from more than a simple case of pre-race jitters. Mike was home with a cold and fever and I was beginning to guess that he had shared with his dear and loving wife. More than once I thought--"DNF, why not?" Since I've never DNF'd ANY kind of race, I was not prepared to let my first tri be the race to carry those letters.
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| This I think I can do. |
On to T2. 1:43---YIPPEE. In and out. The 10K was VERY hilly but it finished with a wonderful downhill and I was able to maintain a sub 9:30 pace which I am actually proud of given that my temp was 102 when I got home. The Giant Acorn International was an extremely friendly and perfectly organized race especially for someone who had no clue what in the heck they were doing. Like, even a little clue.
Even though I had to spend the next two days in bed I am so glad that I went and tried to tri.
My final time was 3:22:35 which put me way at the end of the pack but I DID IT. Hooray for low expectations and exceeding them! The best part is that the two women I ran into from my area both won first in their category. One of them kicked ass as the overall female novice winner and the other was #1 in the Athena category. Way to go SOMD ATHLETES!
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Why I normally stick to just running. In this instance I ½ assed two things AND whole assed one thing. I am leaning towards a tri-addiction. I cannot lie when I tell you that my Iron Man running partner is more than a little excited.
Have you ever tried for a tri?
What went right and what went wrong? My transitions were good, everything else...meh?
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