Skeezix's race report

[Skeezix]

Cleveland Triathlon, right in the heart of downtown next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Science Center and Browns Stadium. It was a really fun area to build a race around. This course was more challenging than the one I did last year, including several long hills on both the run and the bike.

The swim though, the part I usually feel like I rock, was hard for me this go. I got kicked hard in the stomach twice, which caused me to inhale the lovely water of Lake Erie. In turn causing me choke and then have a hard time catching my breath. After I exited the water I was still coughing up some of the water and spent about 45 seconds bent over at the waist trying to catch my breath. For someone who prides herself on being a strong swimmer I was hella disappointed in my performance. 7:04 for a 300 meter swim.

The hills on the bike were so long, I just kept peddling so very slowly. There must have been at least 5 good steep hills on the bike course and since it was a loop I got to hit them all twice. And the run, well- I walked up the first hill and then only ran intermittenly(at least 3/4 of the distance slowly running) because at that point of course I had to pee like no other and running with a full bladder was killing me. And nary a bathroom in sight at all anywhere on the course, and the only water station was at the very start of the run- which I think was poor planning. I would have peed in a bush, but being downtown Cleveland there weren't any bushes to pee in, at least none where other racers wouldn't have had a full view of what I was doing.

Swim: 7:08 (300m)
T1: 4:45
Bike: 44:40 (8 miles)
T2: :57
Run: 21:41 (1.5 miles)
Total: 1:19

To be honest I'm sort of upset about it all, I felt so awful coming out of the water and just didn't feel like I hit my groove at all. I'm having a hard time with it getting me down and freaking me out a bit since I'm supposed to do another tri this weekend in Cleveland (different course with a longer swim- 1/2 mile). I'll be wearing my wetsuit for sure. Part of me is wondering if I shouldn't bail and give myself time to regroup, then the other part of me is saying suck it up and you can do it.

My wave in the water (Cleveland Science Center in the background):


Bike:


Finish:


Post-Race with the Rock Hall in the background(My race belt kept riding up):

[Veronica]

Don't bail on your upcoming tri. Give it a go and avoid flailing feet.

V.

[tjf9]

Congratulations on your finish! I think you should get out there and try again. I'm sure you learned a lot this time that you can apply next time.

The more you do it, the easier it gets...

[Urlea]

Sorry to hear this race didn't go really smooth for you. *hugs*

Go out there and attack in your upcoming tri. Now you've got more XP to go off of, use it and I'm sure things will go more smoothly.

The pics look great, btw. You may not have been feeling so hot, but you look good!

[teawoman]

Aww, don't be upset. I do exactly the same thing, though. . Not every tri has to be the ultimate chance to race...you're supposed to be having fun out there! Some are to race, some are to learn.

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your tri! I'm sorry that you got kicked in the stomach (ouch!) and that it set the tone for a rough race. Sometimes I just have a terrible swim and can't get it together for the remainder (and I'm a good swimmer). Usually if by the time I reach the turnaround on the bike I'm not having a fast/good race, I just turn off my watch and HR monitor and tell myself to have fun. I try to remember that I'm lucky to even be doing it at all, and that any day I'm out there is a good day. But... I know the disappointment you feel and I'm sorry it was not the best experience.

And you know what? You get SERIOUS bonus points in my book for riding a mtn bike. Not only do you have to work harder than most with the increased friction of the knobbies, but your bike is probably far heavier than mine. You are a super-stud in my opinion. Makes me look like a sissy-pants girl.

And oh yeah- I love the pics. You look GREAT in all of them!!!!

Do your tri this weekend, and go out there with the attitude of just doing it for fun (and if someone kicks you in the stomach, pull their feet down and swim over them- just kidding- but the thought hopefully made you smile).