Right here, right now, I consider this the hardest thing I've ever done. It was "only" a Sprint, but challenged me in ways that nothing else has ever done to this point. From moments of panic, to questioning it all, to wanting to quit entirely, to proclaiming 'One and done', to more fully realizing what a triathlon actually means and still now coming to terms with the fact that I actually did it; this was an event in the on-again, off-again (but never really off) planning stages for well over a year; this is my mish-mosh and complete randomness of the event and all it entailed.....
Carol (my idea lady and training buddy - and yes we occasionally go by the name "Carol Squared") and I headed down to New Bedford the day before the big event to pick up our packets. Reviewed Swim Wave Starts and realized that going in one of the last waves might have the disadvantage of pulling up the rear for the entire race, but that was OK! Then Mark, our Race Director, was asking us how long we expected Swim and Bike to take as he was planning on opening up the roads at 9:30. Wait... what? With an 8:25 wave start that meant that we needed to be done with both swim and bike in an hour. Ummmm, my calculations of swim time of 30 minutes --- yeah, totally a wild guess and bike of an hour --- generous to include transition timing. put us at 10AM... He assured us we wouldn't be swept, but the road may just get opened up.... okay, okay, I can live with that.
Then we were talking with a guy who usually does kayak, mountain bike, trail run triathlons - pretty cool - and he was telling us (at least naive me) about how road racing can be injury prone due to one person screwing up on the bike and everyone behind him then going down.... Oh no, that doesn't sound right!!!! Carol reminded him of USAT rules and bike lengths and single file and passing rules, which he seemed completely un-aware of. Hmmmm, maybe I'm better educated than some... but if these are the people out there, what might happen?
Then we walked down to the water to check out the swim course. The white caps were many and the wind was howling and I'm thinking maybe a Duathlon is better... Who am I kidding - an ocean swim - why did we not practice in the ocean? Ummmmm, yeah that might have been a good idea!!!
The usual butterflies and contemplation... When you live outside your comfort zone for so long, you come to expect them.... What the heck am I doing? How did I get here? How did you talk me into this? But all those thoughts now are becoming "normal" when I do something new.... It's a nice reminder of the entire journey. Someone very wise told me, butterflies are good, because it means what you're doing matters... and yes it absolutely does matter.
We stayed at a local hotel... Sure, we could have gone down the morning of; but it was an hour and half away and would add more stress and anxiety and less sleep. So we opted to stay overnight some place closer. It was absolutely the right decision. Had a nice early dinner and time to veg and relax without normal life distractions. Also forced us to do all prep earlier so we could kinda, sorta relax the night before. We got our bibs and clothing all set and planned out our nutrition and hydration for the next day... and were all set for a good nights sleep... which I think we both actually somewhat got - well, as good as you can get when you're gonna be doing something so far out of your comfort zone.
5AM wake up call; out the door at 5:30; Favorite Protein Shake; 1/2 bagel on the way; Didn't get there early enough for the first parking lot. What time did they all get here, geesh? Headed first to Transition to drop off bikes. They had nice little stickers with our names and words of encouragement (that we entered at registration) on the racks that you put your bike on. We laid out all our gear, to hopefully make Transition (from swim to bike; and then bike to swim) as effortless as possible.
The swim is split up in different waves.... where each wave is designated by swim cap color. We were in the "Friends and Family / Beginner" wave - exactly where I wanted to be... but it was the second to last wave... so we had to wait (and wonder and watch and worry) through all the previous waves. Water was 68. OMG - I don't like to go in the water if it's under 85... but with a wetsuit 75 is good... and then the arms get cold... So very glad to have my little booties to keep the feet warm. But 68? Asked someone who had already gone in how it was. They assured me it wasn't too bad after you got past the shock factor..... Wait, whaaatttt, the shock factor?? What the heck was I doing?
Met a women probably close to my age also doing her first Tri and asked her how she got involved in all this ummmmm, crazyness. She told me that while training for her first half she fractured her hip and the doctor told her from now on nothing more than a 10K, and highly encouraged her to take up swimming. She absolutely hated swimming, but listened, got a coach, and just 2 short months ago came to the realization that she really did like it. Maybe there's hope for me????
Met a group of teen guys all doing their first Tri... none in wetsuits; all seemed nervous. Conveyed some knowledge that I had accumuted like save your legs for the bike and run. Salt water makes you boyant. Going out against the tide will be hardest. I'm sure they killed it.
My Transition area was pretty well set up, and I didn't have to think too much with that... but the breathing from the swim... and the Gallons of water I swallowed (I'm sure not) but felt like it... had me a bit off. Quickly downed my special endurance Gel (for good measure if nothing else), and then we have to get on the bike... Good I like the bike.... Oh, Crap, I can't get the first peddle clipped let alone the second... so I'm peddling unclipped. This is ridiculous, I have to clip in. Carol is venturing out and passing the guy in front... and I'm not even clipped in. Finally got clipped in just to head in to a very strong headwind... I was so not prepared for that... and probably still not breathing correctly from the swim.... Yeah I can see where more "BRICK" practicing would be beneficial. I wanted to catch up, but legs were still wobbly... You know, the legs I had wanted to save in the swim.... but then just opted to kick and get out of the water... Oh well, Coming back with the wind at my back was a pure treat and I looked down and was going in excess of 20MPH.... so cool. but then on the second loop and hitting that very same headwind... I just said keep at it, keep at it. I was completely convinced that I was the last bike out there and then remembered how Mark had said he was going to open up the roads again at 9:30.... Well that hadn't happened yet... so maybe it's not so bad.
Our cheer squad was strategically positioned at a place that we actually went by 3 more times... and it was such a treat to have them out there cheering. I don't think I've ever realized how important having someone cheer you on can be -- especially when you are feeling as challenged as I was. We've had cheerleaders for runs before, but this was profoundly different for me... I think because this was truly --- even being "only" a Sprint --- a bigger challenge for me right now than doing those 3 half marathons! So our cheerleaders were such a ray of sunshine.
I knew Carol was ahead of me on the bike.... and saw her waiting for me to start the 5K. I was wobbly.... My right knee and hip were bothering me... Hmmmm, whats that all about? Probably did too much earlier in the week??? I needed to walk a bit before running. Probably should have done something nutrition-wise here, but completely neglected that. Stupid, stupid, Stupid... but don't think I was thinking clearly. Carol said she thought I was hyperventilating... Really? Maybe I was just talking too much? Ok, ok, shut up and focus on breathing. And then run - slowly at first. Just after 1/2 mile, Carol got a side stitch. I suggested we stop right there and walk it out - thinking we only have just over 2 miles to go and not wanting to potentially make it worse. We opted to slowly run to the first aid station and then walk a bit. It seemed to be working itself out so back to running... Then we hit some more headwind and I started thinking - yes I know I think too much - what the heck do I think I'm doing? At that point everything seemed so hard. I should be sitting on a farmers porch in a rocking chair knitting afghans.... not out here thinking I can be doing a stinking Triathlon!!!! And then just around mile 2, I started getting a side stitch.... so we walked a bit more through mile 2 aid station... getting some water, pouring it over our head and realizing we were a mile away from completing this Triathlon. I just wanted it to be over. I was absolutely convinced that this was a "One and Done" type of thing and remember vividly working Patriot Finish Line last year and hearing those same words from someone who had just completed her first half iron. Hmmmm, I wonder what her thoughts are today?
The Venue:
Sun MultiSports put on this race - Whaling City Tri in New Bedford, MA; and I don't think, as a participant, in any event I've ever felt more welcome or been encouraged as much. I have volunteered for Sun in the past, so maybe I'm biased... and I do know that they want their Volunteers to be friendly.... but I wasn't thinking about any of that as I was struggling out there... From the moment of packet pickup all the way through to leaving transition after the event, the energy, support, encouragement and just plain politeness of absolutely everyone involved was phenomenal. The course was absolutely beautiful and marked extremely well,and I'd highly recommend anyone to do one of their events.
Carol and I came across the finish line together.... and I know I did not fully appreciate then (or maybe even now) what I -- what we -- had just done.
I knew going in that the swim was going to be hard --- and it was harder than I ever imagined. But now looking back at the times... what felt like 3 hours was actually 13 minutes. I have no idea or even care how that compares to anyone, but at this point, for me to swim 1/4 mile in a choppy ocean for the very first time in 13 minutes, I'm good with that! I knew going in that I was not fully prepared on the bike --- ummmm, yeah, I just got the bike 4 weeks ago and those clip-less pedals 2 weeks ago and had only been out on them a handful of times. And looking back, the bike time was under 50 minutes.... which is actually about what I expected. Total time ended up being 1:55 And considering I had wildly ball-parked it at about 2 hours, was not too far off.
So hey, I just did my very first Triathlon!!!! Special Thanks to Carol for the idea, the push and all the encouragement. Thanks to our cheering squad, Brian, Scott, Katie, Liz and Izzy; you mean more than you know. Thanks to Mark, Linda and all at Sun MultiSport Events for putting on a fantastic event. And thanks to anyone out there who has ever had any words of advice, help or encouragement along the way.