(no, while swamp bunnies can swim, i did not do a triathalon, i am just posting this for Monk!!)
TBF Racing Tri for Fun #2
Rancho Seco Park
Herald, CA
Saturday, July 10
The last couple of years I’ve been doing some events other than “just” bike races. I started competing in Duathalons and seemed to be hanging out and training with more
and more tri-athletes. Last year as my back injury worsened I tried my hand at swimming
thinking “if I could learn how to swim, at least I can get some cardio in if I can’t run or ride.” After having back surgery in September, I soon found swimming to be great for recovery and actually started liking it.
Well my dear tri-athlete “friends” started peer pressuring me a bit, I’m sure ‘cuz they
knew I’d bite. Last Saturday I officially became a TRI-athlete, for whatever that’s worth. J The Tri for Fun I did, consisted of 0.5mile swim – 16mile bike- 3mile run. This is a bit longer than most Tri for Funs, I’ve learned but, it was close to home, TBF Racing does a great job, the water is warm, so, why not?
I was SO nervous and scared. The day I registered online, that night I woke up at 2:30 in a cold sweat, panicked about the swim. Not only did I have to swim that far in open water but, I had to do it in a mass start. Yikes! I got all kinds of advice and thought I had my anxiety under control ‘til Friday night when I couldn’t sleep, like hardly at all!
Anyway, I was there by myself, all my peer - pressuring tri friends were off doing their own tri’s or training. (Where’s the love?) I got myself all set up in the transition area, I did my little run warm up, got the wet suit on and swam around a little. I felt surprisingly calm as I stood in a group of about 60 waiting for the gun to go off. I positioned myself kind of mid pack, kind of on the outside. I figured it was better to swim over some people then have them swim over me!
We took off and things were going all right, I was swimming and looking at that first buoy. Soon though, much, much, too soon I was out of breath. I continually stopped, regrouped and started again. It wasn’t pretty, I back-stroked, I did a little breast stroke, I ran over people, I got ran over, I thought I wasn’t gonna make it, the guys in the kayaks were looking tempting but soon I found myself touching bottom. Woo –Hoo the worst part’s over!
I was exhausted from being so amped up during the swim. I started running to the transition area but had to walk to catch my breath. My whole bike leg I felt afraid to push it too much ‘cuz I might blow. My legs ached, my heart rate was too high but I was picking people off one by one. Just as I was coming in for T2 (for non tri-athletes, this is transition from bike to run) I passed one more girl in my age group…my immediate thought was, “ shoot, hope she can’t run.” Wait, suddenly I’m worried about how I place!
My run felt sluggish and slow. I still felt like my heart rate was too high and couldn’t get a good rhythm going. I made myself a goal to pick it up a bit at the half way point and for sure, the last mile. The last mile I had a side ache and was just anxiously looking for that finish line arch.
I was so happy to be done! So happy to have faced my fears! I got my recovery drink, all my gear and waited around to see how I did. There weren’t any postings of
results or race times so you just had to wait until they announced them. When my age group was announced I really hoped I made the top 5. I couldn’t believe it when they said I won, What? Really? Wow….I was shocked. I felt like my whole event sucked, funny what anxiety and nerves can do.
I plan to do the same event the first weekend in August. I need to see if I can handle that swim a little better, be a little less freaked out. Afterall, everything gets easier with practice, right? I’ve always thought this, but understand better now - all of you who do Half and Full Ironman events amaze me…you’re either tougher than nails or a little nuts…possibly some of both! J
Monica (who can now wear that Tri-athlete hat a friend gave me)
Attachment: GetAttachment.jpg (Downloaded 60 times) Last edited on Tue Jul 13th, 2010 08:07 pm by bunny
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