Did Anyone Do the Ice Breaker (Folsom Lake, CA) Last Weekend?

[Hill Slug]

I know this is a few days late. I've been kinda lurking for a little while. I'm mainly a cyclist, and decided in Feb to try a tri. There's a fitness company here is Sacramento,CA, Total Body Fitness, that does classes, called Learn to Tri. They're 6 weeks long and they teach you everything you need to get started. I hadn't run since high school and that's been over 30 years. And I'm not comfortable in the water, and wanted to use the class learn to swim and get over my water fear.

I started the class in March, and was able to finish the Baby Ice Breaker, 200yd swim, 6.5 mi ride, and 2 mi run. I learned to swim, sort of, and tried out a wetsuit, which totally threw my balance off in the water! It was really freaky, so that coupled with the cold water of Folsom Lake, and just being in open water, was mentally and physically exhausting to me. I was last getting out of the water, but I did it and was able to make up some time on the bike.

My goal was just to finish. I was hoping to get it done in 90 minutes, and my final time was 92. So I was really happy about that. My personal support team was there: partner, dog and friends. And a few of my classmates were waiting for me at the finish line too and that was really awesome. There were several times I said to myself, what the hell were you thinking!! But it was very gratifying to cross that finish line.

I wouldn't say I am hooked, but I did sign up for the rest of the 5 classes through Oct.....I took this week off, and will join the class on Monday with another swim in Folsom Lake. I do feel better in the water, but I need to do alot of work to learn to relax and know I won't sink. I never learned to swim as a child, and now as an adult all my friends are into water things. I feel bad when I can't join them, and I know they do as well. I want to be able to snorkel and just play in the water. The class was totally worth it and am looking forward to learning more and have fun as well.

Posts here have helped me as well and given me some good info and insight. I haven't decided if I'm doing the Tri for Fun in June or volunteering for it. It really will depend on my swimming.

[tribogota]

congrats and you say you're not hooked, but if you have signed up through October, I call that hooked!

[colby]

Congrats, Hill Slug! It takes a lot of guts to step in the water that first time, and a lot of people do panic. A friend of mine had a really hard time getting going her first tri in open water - she'd been in open water before but never really learned to swim-swim properly until the months leading up to the event, and it was daunting, the feeling of panic overwhelming. She did finish the race and did sign up for another race the next year.

Even if you don't do another tri, the lessons you learned will obviously benefit you as a person, and that's the real goal. You accomplished something, you did something for the first time, and you stuck with it. Way to go.

[roadie gal]

Good job, Hill Slug! Going from being a nonswimmer to doing a sprint tri is huge!

[Hill Slug]

Thanks for the encouragement women.....I went to an open water swim at Folsom Lake this evening, and it was lik 58 degrees according to one of the guys. BBBBrrrrrrr......I had a sleeveless wetsuit to try out, and I didn't like it. Now I'm going to start looking for a full one to perhaps purchase....

I'm looking forward to maybe doing the Tri For Fun in June at Rancho Seco near Sacramento. If I can get through the swimming I will. So now I'm focusing on that.

I appreciate all the info everyone puts out there, it's really very helpful!

[Veronica]

The Rancho Seco Course is really nice. I did a Tri for Real out there two years ago.

Have fun!

Veronica

[roadie gal]

I second the Tri for Fun/ Tri for Real series. TBF does a very nice job. The course is nice, although it's a little freaky seeing the nuclear plant stacks so close by.

I'm going to be doing the June 6th Tri for Real. If you're around Saturday afternoon, come and knock on our door. We'll be in the small RV in space 16.