My first Tri, the reportage
Ok, ladies, here is my super nerdy recap:
The morning of the race was nice and overcast, around 66 degrees. I got up at 5:10 because the race started at 7:30 and I wanted to be there by 6:15 to rack my bike and get my gear laid out.
Before the race I had a lot of water (I'd started hydrating the night before) a banana, one egg with a slice of cheese and a Cliff Mojo bar.
I decided for the swim portion to swim in my sports bra and tri shorts, and then pull on my tri top with my number pinned on for the bike and run. Everyone at the race site was so helpful, and I have to admit I loved being body marked- it made me feel like a real triathlete since the body marking is always noticeable in photos I've looked at.
The swim portion was a self seeding single start, with the swimmers going into the water in three second intervals. There was 9 minutes and under, 10-13 minutes, and 14 and up for the timed sections. I placed myself in the 10-13 minute group figuring that I'd do the swim portion in about 11-12 minutes. There was a lot of chatting among the triathletes, one woman standing next to me was celebrating her 55th birthday that day. How awesome is that?
So eventually it was my turn to get into the quarry for the swim, there were three steps down into the water and then a 25-ft drop to the bottom of the quarry. Which was great because there was no wading through sand or mud, just straight on swimming. So I dove right in, and then started passing people left and right. I was most confident about the swimming portion because I've been a swimmer since I was a child (and competitive one until I graduated high school). The water was the perfect temp, it was warm but not too warm. Before I knew it was I approaching the first buoy and did some breast stroke to really get some good deep breaths and then made the turn around the buoy and pulled back into a front crawl. I felt like I was flying through the water and before I knew it I was at the finish and slogging up the 30 some steps out of the quarry/swim portion and into my transition.
I ran to my bike rack, I had counted how many bike racks I would pass before I reached mine before the race so that made it really easy to locate my stuff, and dried off my feet and started to pull on my tri top. Well, tried to pull on my tri top- it kept getting stuck on my wet sports bra. HA! That was a failure in the part of my planning. Once I finally got it on I pulled on my socks and shoes and helmet and took off on the bike.
I was not prepared for the how much the first 3 miles of the bike would make me want to die. I'm a decent bike (albeit a slow biker) but for some reason those first three miles were torture. In my head I could hear myself saying 'why the hell did you think you could do this?' and 'man, I don't know if I can make it' but I kept peddling (and getting passed a lot) and by the time I make the second turn in the course I felt better. I just settled into my rhythm and told myself to screw any preconceived notions about what speed I should be clipping along at and just keep peddling. The second loop of the bike course was a bit easier- but again there was just one section that felt like it went on forever and ever but this time I knew there was eventually going to be a turn and that I could make it.
I really do need a different bike though, I've got a hybrid bike (at least that is what the bike shop called it when I bought it 3 years ago). It is great for tooling around town and whatever but it is entirely too heavy and I really felt like I was dragging it behind me as I biked. I definitely see a new bike in my future.
So I finally approached the end of the bike section and quickly re-racked my bike and whipped off my helmet and set out for the run.
I had been practicing my bike to run transitions so that went super smoothly and I knew what to expect from my legs, and lightly jogged for a little bit. And then I needed to walk a good bit because I had to pee so bad and it physically hurt to run with a full bladder. Luckily about a 3/4 of a mile into the course were some bathrooms so I quickly hit up those and felt instantly better. I did a good bit of slow jogging because running in the hardest part of the whole thing for me, and little bit of walking.
The best part of it was when this woman came up from behind me and we were about to turn onto the grass to run for a bit and she was hilarious. She started yelling to me about how good it felt to be on the grass and then (she's still behind me at this part) yells "Oh my god, you're a swimmer aren't you?" And I said yes, and reduce my pace a bit to let her catch up to me, then she said "I could totally tell from behind because of your little athletic body!" and then we ran along together talking for a bit. She had a great pace and looking back I wished I decided to keep up with her but I needed to walk a bit because of a cramp in my glut.
Finally I came around the corner to the finish line and was so damn happy. It was great because as you crossed the finish line they had music playing and an announcer calling out your name. I had a great big smile across my face as I hit the finish line and the announcer commented on it. It was great! I felt fantastic! And really except for those few miles of the bike that were painfully rough I thought it wasn't too bad. I was wickedly slow and am looking to improve but I know I can do it now and will get better.
These are approximate, except for the swim because I was most proud of that and memorized my time. They've yet to get the results up on the web so I'll edit it as soon as I know for sure the official times:
Swim: 7m 42sec
T1: 3m 42sec
Bike: 1hr 5 m
T2: 43 sec
Run: 45 min
Overall time: 2 hours 5 minutes
I really think that the Elite Endevours/Toledo Triathlon group did a fantastic job. Everything was well marked and their constant shouts of encouragement really kept up my moral on the course. Afterwards one of the volunteers came up to me and grabbed my hands and told me I did a amazing job and that I was such a strong powerful woman and he saw me on the course working my tail off. I felt fantastic. I also thought it was great that whenever you passed someone who was doing the course or they passed you- you shouted words of encouragement at each other. I wasn't expecting that but it helped and really made me feel some sort of connection to the other racers. Uh, that might sound really corny but whatever.
It is definitely one of the best days of my life EVER.
And I'm so doing another one.
Ok, photos- I've only got mine and I'm sure I'll bombard you guys with more when I get them from my mom and then the professionals who took some too:
This is me (in the white top and black shorts) heading out after the swim into the bike course:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01821.jpg
This is me about to head into the second lap of the bike race:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01822.jpg
After the last lap of the bike race, I look so wiped out don't I?
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01823.jpg
Coming into the finish line after the run portion:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01825.jpg
hahah, dude, I'm so cheesy:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01826.jpg
LOOK! The finish line! And my spandexically clad *** running towards it:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01827.jpg
Mom and I post race, look how red faced I am:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01828.jpg
And my body marking, they use these to identify your age and then your race number for ranking/names/etc.
I'll be 28 on Dec.31st so I was considered to be 28 for the race:
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01830.jpg
And then my guns with my race number (hahah):
http://suzanneburkey.com/triathlon%20/DSC01832.jpg
