Well, I am officially hooked. :DI finished my first "real" sprint tri. The other one I did was a backwards tri with swimming last in a pool. Saturday the 15th was the Rush tri in Rexburg, Idaho. It has both sprint and olympic distance with an open water swim. I did the sprint. The race is very well supported and very challenging for the elite athletes. I drove up the night before with a girlfriend and her husband. He also did the sprint distance which was nice. My DH was not able to go due to harvest so it was nice to have a support person. The event has two transition areas and we had to set up the morning of the event so we were up at 0430 to get to the T2 and set up and then go back to hotel and load up the rest of our stuff, and check out of the hotel and head to the T1. I always have a hard time sleeping the night before any event so I felt like I was moving in a fog. I tried to eat something and have a cup of coffee but feared I would have the usual IBS from nerves so I tried to pace my self but get some food in. The weather had changed and it was a very cool 50 degrees! I just kept telling myself enjoy the moment and the time because this is your first event and first open water swim. We set up our T1 and made it to the portapotty and watch the olympic distance take off at 0700. Guess what?? A women was the first out of the water! WooHoo!
We walked around the lake to the start side of the sprinters and my trainer was there to encourage me and help me relax. Her father was competing and she was doing the run leg for him. The walk helped me to warm up. It was time to put on the wetsuit and soon the men were off. We were in the water soon after. Women and relay started 10 minutes after the men. I wasn't sure were to place myself so I just got in and found a place in the middle. It was actually warmer in the water. I was worried about being kicked. I did get kicked but it was too bad. Most all the fast swimmers were out fast and the rest of us slow swimmers just kept plugging along. I made it past the first buoy and felt good. I kept my eyes focused ahead on a land mark since the buoy were hard to spot. I was slow but steady. Definitely not my strength but I enjoyed it. Swimmers were backstroking across your path and one actually swam right on top of me!:eek: I was happy to see the bank and get out and get to my bike. At least I was not the last one out. There were still lots of blue caps in the water. I had no idea how long my swim took but it was done.:)
The transition 1 area was set up right next to the exit from the water. Nice! They had carpets so you were not running on rocks etc! I pealed my wetsuit off, found my bike and swallowed my supplements with some water, took a GU, put on vest (so glad I had it cause it was still very chilly), helmet, gloves on, bike shoes socks on , headed out. My friend Kathy was across the fence cheering me on and awaiting my stuff. We had a plan to bag everything and toss it over the fence to her so she could head to the T2 and finish line. It worked great.
Yeah, I was now in my element, the bike! I felt good not too tired from my very slow 1/2 mile swim. The route left the lake and headed up hill for 5+ miles of climbing. Most seated climbs but continual. I was passing people the whole ride, but the strong swimmers were long gone. I did feel my quads on the few standing climbs but it was okay, the rest of the ride was rolling hills. My kind of ride. My computer worked so at least I could see my pace. I averaged 16.9 overall the 14 miles. I rolled in to T2 dismounted my bike and my legs were like lead!:o My feet were numb from the cold or I had strapped my shoes too tight. I found my set up, Kathy cheered me on from over the fence and said her DH had just finished. Wow, I was at least 1/2 hour behind him. Oh well I thought "just keep going Anita you are having fun". Took another GU and a drink of water and tried to find my legs. I knew the course was up hill so I needed to pace myself. I had turned my Garmin on as soon as I hit T2 but it was not catching the satelite "oh well get going". My legs were heavy! The run went up, up and up and took us off road up a single track to the top of the city. People were walking, I had to walk too. I was using more energy to run up the steepest part. Finally, we were at the top and the road started down hill. :eek:I felt my quads screaming! But it was down hill, so I tried to maintan a fast pace and maybe I could pick up some time. A lady passed me. I looked at her calf and she was in my age group. So I tried to catch her and pass her. We ran together passing each other back and forth. Maybe I can beat her if I try harder. I am sure she was thinking the same! She was taller and thinner. She passed me for good at the end. I tried!
I saw the end ahead! Yeah I am almost there. We ran around the track to a huge finish line event! Crowds cheering and your name announced on loud speaker. Everyone received a finshers award! I still had no idea how I really did but I finished! I was happy!
I had looked a the last years finish time for my age group. The fastest time was 1:45. I was hoping to come in under 2:00.
Overall time 2:00:36
Swim 32:11
T1 4:47
BIke 50:26
T2 2:47
Run 30:23
Place in my age group 5/7
Place in all females 59/124
I felt a little bad that my swim was so slow but I knew I going in that I had alot of work to do on my swimming. But I am happy I did it! There is no place but up. My trainer and her dad place 3rd in mixed teams and my friends husband placed 1rst in his age group with a finish time of 1:32. Hopefully I can do it next year with a lot better swim time and see improvement. :D
