Reesha's Triathlon and Duathlon Race Reports!

[Reesha]

Not only my first tri ever, but my first *race* ever. I played soccer for many many years, spring and fall and never managed to get myself into any kind of running or biking race.

About 3 weeks ago I had no intention of doing a triathlon. I really didn't think I could do it. When I bought my first road bike in early May, the sales guy told me I should enter the local Monday night sprint distance triathlons and then every time I saw him after that he kept mentioning it. Fine, Jeremiah, you win. I entered my first triathlon, this monday last.

So not only did I not have any intention of doing a tri 3 weeks ago, but I didn't think I could run a mile three weeks ago, let alone a 5k which is the running distance for the weekly tri. I decided "now or never" and went for it and managed to bust out a 2.8 mile run on my first attempt. I got better on the bike so fast that everything seemed possible.

OK race day. I was nervous all day. I had to wear my tri gear under my work clothes to my job as I didn't get off with time to go home and change. I registered, was given my # for the summer and drawn on. I got to lay out all my stuff and rip out grass anxiously as I waited for the call to the beach.

I had a bunch of friends who were mini-tri vets there in the water with me and they were very reassuring. I made a lot of friends out of fellow self-proclaimed slow-swimmers and we all agreed to take it easy. I was only going out to complete this one really, I didn't want to worry about actually racing it as hard as humanly possible. It was a balmy 80 degrees out that evening but the water was easily 65 degrees given all the rain we've had in Lake Placid the last couple weeks. Ugh.

The swim started and I managed to breast stroke it the entire way. Hurray! I couldn't even do that the one time I'd been swimming before that so I was pleased. I was at the back the entire way with an old woman and some other asthmatics and first timers like myself. But it felt really good... I didnt stop, I kept a nice smooth pace. Coming out of the water I felt that well-known vertigo I've heard so much about but my friends were cheering me on so I had to go go go and get my bike stuff together!

The vertigo didn't really hit me until I was on the bike. I was wobbling like crazy which was frustrating because the bike is supposedly my strong point. The first time I stood up on my pedals to climb I almost fell right over. Bad bad bad. I decided to take it easy until the vertigo wore off and after 10 minutes I started to feel better. I passed a few people and got cheered on by fly fishermen along the river. My legs were a little spaghetti-like from all the breaststroke though and I couldn't muster the energy to sprint up the big hills like I could in practice. There are a couple brutal ones that are pretty steep on this course.

I rolled in on the bike just as my friend Dave (another bike shop guy who convinced me to do it) was finishing up the entire tri! He patted me on the back and cheered me on as I got on my running shoes and set out for the 5 k. My asthma was kicking in for the first half of the run... I couldn't breathe deeply at all and I pretty much wanted to die. At the turnaround though I hit my stride and ran faster toward home where I had a bunch of friends there taking my picture and screaming my name. A bunch of people I knew who finished in the top 20 congratulated me and that felt special. Some of the top 20 were Ironman Hawaii competitors.

I came in second to last but I finished! After feeling completely out of shape a month before! I'm still in awe that I was able to do a triathlon, and having finished one I can safely say that I can't wait to do another one and be just a little bit faster! :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/femmeke830/IMG_2443.jpg

Sadly this was the only image that came out... the rest are completely blurry. Hopefully I'll get some better ones next time!

I think I came in second to last actually.

[Tri Girl]

Yippeeeeeee Reesha!!! Congrats on your first EVERYTHING!!!! Wooo hooo!!!! :D :D :D

For only having 3 weeks of prep under your belt, I'm simply amazed at your performance! You should be very proud of yourself! Now you have a PR to beat the next time around. Are these races are every Monday night or just once a month? That's soooooo coool!

I love the pic that did turn out (maybe you'll have more to share next time :p ).

Congrats on a great first race and for finishing so strong. Doesn't matter where you placed- just that you finished!


You guys are getting ready for IMLP... pretty exciting stuff! I have a friend who's doing the race and he's soooooo excited. I've heard Lake Placid is an incredible place to race.

[Reesha]

Thanks Tri Girl! I'm pretty pleased with myself, for sure :) Yeah Lake Placid is amazing. It's incredible how much of the social scene revolves around athleticism of some kind or other and not in an exclusive way. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful and during the mini-tri the faster people heading back the way you're going high five you and say encouraging things. It's soooo cool. Then afterward, people kick back and drink a beer or go out for wings. It's a pretty healthy lifestyle all in all and I couldn't have asked for anything cooler.

I spent my whole young life thinking I was a terrible athlete with terrible endurance and no hope for ever being able to live my athletic dreams. Turns out I always had asthma! I was diagnosed last October and it's actually quite acute. If only I'd known back when I was a soccer player!

Doing the Triathlons is my way of sticking it to the condition. Screw you asthma! That's what I say.

I meant to do a full mini tri practice today but my swim friends cancelled and I'm not going to be stupid enough to swim alone. I did the run twice and the bike once. It's getting easier!

[csh_01]

Congrats on finishing your first tri! I'm amazed you were able to train in 3 weeks. It sounds like the beginning of a lot of tris to come!

[Wahine]

Yipppppppeeeeeee!!

Nice work. You finished and you didn't finish last after all.

The vertigo thing has to do with getting cold water in your ears. You do adapt to it after awhile.

Keep it up!! You'll just keep getting stonger.:D :D :D

[Starfish]

I have never done a Tri! I think you are brave and successful!! :)

[jesvetmed]

Hey Reesha... Congrats on your first tri, and especially in dealing with the asthma! I'm training for my first tri and you have given me inspiration!

[HillSlugger]

That is awesome! I can't believe you got yourself ready for a triathlon in 3 weeks!

[MeshLover]

Hey Reesha!

I'm about to do my first triathlon tomorrow and never got serious about training but was too stubborn to change my mind and not participate. Thanks for the inspiration to finish a Tri by willing yourself to make it!

[alpinerabbit]

Sounds like a good way to not get worked up about it too much!

Good Job!

[HappyAnika]

Congrats on finishing! I admire your "Get out there and do it" attitude. You have weekly sprints? That sounds like fun. Can't wait to hear how the next one goes. :)

[Reesha]

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes! Yeah I'm really proud of myself in a big way, I really wasn't expecting it at all. :)

I really recommend just "getting out there and doing it". It's the best way to start and the determination helps you when you get the the race day itself! I'll let you all know how Monday goes with my second one!

[RoadRaven]

Reesha... what a great first tri... and very readable race report.

Well impressed with your great attitude.
You finished and you felt good about your finish - what better way to finish than that! :)

[eclectic]

Reesha

Way to get out there and "JUST DO IT"

I have asthma too - not fun but you took care of it and got 'er done!

[Reesha]

Thanks guys!

Tonight is my second mini-tri! I'm scared again mostly because I know how hard it was last time and I'm worried I won't finish. Ugh. Nervous!!!

[Starfish]

Thanks guys!

Tonight is my second mini-tri! I'm scared again mostly because I know how hard it was last time and I'm worried I won't finish. Ugh. Nervous!!!

Hey Reesha! I have never done a Tri, or competed on my bike. But, I have done a LOT of competing over the years in other individual sports, and one thing I know...if you keep at something long enough, you are going to have stellar days, you are going to have OK days, and you are going to have a few bad days.

There could come a time when you don't finish. Maybe this week, maybe next year, whatever. You control the things you can, and you let go of the rest. Either way, you learn, and even if you don't finish, you will be able to find some thing that you did right, despite the finish. When that happens, you chalk it up to life, and go to the next Tri!

You've got a courageous heart, and that means you'll be OK, regardless! We're rooting for you! ;)

[Reesha]

Thanks starfish!

Tonight was my second mini-tri and I was just as scared, if not more scared than the last time. There were double the competitors this time but it was sunny and cool and great weather all around for a whole lot of hard work!

The swim: Ugh! I went into panic mode almost immediately because there were so many people and so many flailing limbs and bubbles in the water. I lost some time because of it, I'm almost sure of it. I couldn't even manage a breast stroke at first, or a side stroke. Just a weak "I'm panicking" flapping of arms and legs. I caught my stride eventually and ended up being one of the last ones out of the water again. 400 m in 12 minutes lol! I took my time during the transition because I remembered the vertigo and I felt pretty woozy.

I was prepared for the bike though and immediately passed about 10 people who swam faster than me! Go bike go! My legs tired rapidly though and some people ended up passing me, but I never left the big gear on my chain ring and was able to sprint up hills that stumped me last week. All in all I did the 12 miles of ups and downs in just 40 minutes. I'm really really pleased :up:

The run was miserable. I had a horrible cramp on my right side almost immediately and I couldn't catch my breath and find a rhythm. I rapidly got blisters on the arches of my feet because I forgot my socks and I had water in my left ear that I couldn't get out. Every fifty feet I told myself I would stop, but in the end I kept on moving in spite of all the pain and discomfort. I wouldn't let myself down after all the training I've done.

I finished 3 minutes faster than last week... and that's with really lazy transitions and a really bad swim! I finished in 1 hour and 31 minutes to a group of friends who were really loud and proud. :)

Right now I feel like I need some ibuprofen really badly for some possible swelling in my knee and it feels like my torso has been kickboxed, but you know, I've done two triathlons now. Never have I experienced such a strange combination of feeling like I'm going to die and feeling like I'm the champion of the world.

[Starfish]

Never have I experienced such a strange combination of feeling like I'm going to die and feeling like I'm the champion of the world.

What a great line! Hey, you overcame nerves, did your event, did it faster than last week despite nausea and cramps, and came out of it able to write a positive, upbeat report! Sounds like a victory to me. Great Job!! :D

[Reesha]

So... race report...

There were a total of 6 competitors tonight at the duathlon and they were all totally fun and awesome. I think everyone is resting up before Ironman this weekend or forgot about it. That's ok, it felt less like a race and more like an opportunity for a personal best.

I started out with a 4.5 minute long 1k trail run then changed my shoes and hopped on my mountain bike. I'd never mountain biked with clipless pedals and I crashed three times. One was kind of perilous... almost fell six feet into a river on a bridge, but I was ok... just dirty. The bridge was on a curve at the bottom of hill and was all mossy and yucky and slippery. Hence the crash. I laughed every time I fell. I'm not sure how long the bike took me but it was 10k.

The run though... I did my fastest 5k yet, a trail run which was harder definitely in about 27 minutes. In fact I actually took a wrong turn on the windy olympic x-country ski trails and did a much longer run than I should have. Maybe 5.5k? I was cruising at the end though, conquering my tired bike legs and asthma and it pretty much ruled.

I got a really nice nalgene bottle for being the *only* 20-29 woman participating (it would go to the fastest, but you know) and the guy who runs all the duathlons and triathlons told me he'd sign me up for a mountain bike clinic for free and he'd fit my mountain bike for free. Awesome!!!

So I'm home now and pretty covered in filth and grit, but it's such a happy healthy feeling.

I feel really energized though and I can't wait for the next duathlon. It will rule!

[HappyAnika]

OMG! You rode clipless on a mtb for the first time ever in a race?! You rock! I think that it so cool. Kind of crazy, but still cool. Congrats on the fast 5k trail run. Watch out, Rocknrollgirl is going to get you to sign up for an Xterra race. :D

[Reesha]

Well, I appreciate the love, but the clipless didn't daunt me as I've been riding my road bike with them. And thankfully, I'm getting used to crashing.

Tomorrow is my third sprint-distance triathlon. Once again, I'm nervous. I'm just hoping for no swim panic attacks and an equally fast and furious bike leg! After the duathlon last week, maybe my run will be faster! :o

[Reesha]

Race Reports: Mini-Tri #3 and Trail Duathlon #2!!!

Monday, my third mini-triathlon is the whole reason that I've started training. I've never had so much fun doing an athletic event. While my swim did not improve from the week before, my bike was faster and more fearless and my run was faster too! I spent the entire 5k coping with the breathlessness by cheering on my co-competitors and grinning ear to ear. It was funny to get complimented on my smile on a run... I guess I never thought I'd be smiling while running!

All in all I was 2 minutes faster this week. Woo hoo! There are three or four more this summer, I hope I'll be 10-15 minutes faster than I was to start this year. The goal will be to be 10 minutes faster at the start of next season than I will be at the end of this season.

Tonight... my second trail duathlon.

This time no crashes, my front brakes worked (they didn't work last week) and I felt like I had more confidence in general. I smoked hills that defeated me last week as well. No unclipping for me! My 1k run was 3.5 minutes, 10k bike was 38 minutes, and my 5k run was 27 minutes. That is a personal record for the 5k, so I was really thrilled. AND it was after a hard 10k mountain bike! Woo hoo! Awesome feeling.

Now I have to go shower off all this dirt, sweat and brake dust. Hahaha. Must ease up on those brakes.

Also, here's what I rode my bike home to tonight after the race....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/femmeke830/IMG_2457.jpg

Yeah!

[Tri Girl]

What a beautiful picture!
Congrats on getting better each time you do it- that's the best payoff for training!

[alpinerabbit]

You are one tough cookie... fearless with the clipless experience. And you live in a beautiful place.

[teawoman]

Congrats to you!! I can hear the joy in your "voice" as I read! :)

I am terrified of all things clippy related!

[Reesha]

Thanks everyone! I'm attending a mountain bike clinic tomorrow and I think that will really help me out in my Wednesday night races.

I've crashed so many times at this point that clipless pedals don't scare me anymore. And you can always unclip for parts that are a bit technical. 8')

I think I'm going to build a bike with my new favorite local bike man over the winter so I'm ready for next year! If I save until next summer, I can totally afford this:
http://www.yetifan.com/Yeti_AS_R_SL_2005.jpg

A Yeti AS-R SL... except I'd get it in pink. :o

[tygab]

Reesha, just for the record I love it where you live and try to make it there 3-4 times a year (which given it's a 5.5 hr drive each way, is a lot). Did you grow up there? Anyway, I was hoping to snag a Monday night tri this year up there but didn't think they'd be having one after the IM. Had I known, I woulda stayed til Tuesday to do it. I guess I should have looked online because the schedule is there. And they'll be over mid August, boo.

<<adding myself to their email list.

Anyway maybe next time I'm up you can ride lead. ;) You sound pretty tough tho.

[short cut sally]

Reesha, I am in awe of you..I popped into this thread just to read stuff about tri's to get some insight. A friend suggested she wanted to do some tri stuff..I can't run to save my soul-maybe jog at a snails pace for a couple of miles if that, I've never swam but I CAN bike. Thats a start. From what I can gather from your posts, there are small tri's? Could you either pm me or direct me in the right area to get more information. I know my neck of the woods does not have such things. Thanks in advance.

[tygab]

shelly,

These tris are sprint events, which there should be in your greater area.

sprint = roughly 1/4 miles swim, 13ish mile bike, and 5k run (3.1 miles)

The distances go up from there. Sprints are often very beginner friendly, but they also are a, well, sprint, so the pace for the winners is quite fast.

You can see all the available sprints on the USA Triathlon site.

http://www.usatmembership.com/EventCalendar/

Around these parts, the events are basically over by end of Sept. But, you might still be able to make one this year!

[csh_01]

WOW! You're doing awesome. I love reading how you've progressed at each week's tri. Keep it up!

[Wahine]

Wow Reesha. You've really been going at it. I'm so glad to hear that you are improving and having fun. Like Starfish said, you do something long enough and you'll have good days and bad days. As long as you have fun that's all that matters. Congrats on your racing and you're doing amazing things.

[Reesha]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys! I have to take a breather from running as I crashed my mountain bike the other day and my knee got all chewed up on the spokes of my front wheel. ughhhh it hurts. I'll probably go road biking though.

I bet it will be ready to go again on Monday (hopefully!). If not, I'm discovering just how many group rides there are around here. I'm sure I will be quite busy even if I can't do my fifth tri.

Oh wait... race report!

Monday, earlier this week, I did my fourth triathlon. Well... alas, my streak of improving every time is broken. I was 20 seconds slower than last week. I'd been running the day before, and I think my run during the tri was sluggish because of it. Or maybe I was just tired. I didn't feel very smooth until halfway into the run. Either way, I finished and felt really good about the hill climbs I was doing during the bike leg, although somehow, it wasn't any faster than last week. Grr. Great work out anyway!

AND... the guy I've got a crush on was cheering me on and wanted to know all about how it went after I finished. He's a top 10 finisher every week... incredibly fast and he was the first guy to ever utter the words "mini-tri" to me. Kept bugging me to do them for easily a month and a half. Now if I could just convince him to stick around long enough for ice cream afterward! (We've already been out once) :o

[Skeezix]

Reesha! Ohllalala! Cute boys cheering you on is always good!

Be careful with that knee! I hope it starts feeling better soon.

[Reesha]

Verrrry cute. One of those dark handsome ones with turquoise eyes. :eek:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I just bruised the heck out of my knee but today at work it felt pretty crummy. I iced it good for a while, while it was slow.