First race report

[Bluetree]

I did my first race this morning!!!

Okay, so it's only a reverse-sprint but I got the monkey off my back and decided to do it, rain storm or not.

Weather Report:
Forecast was for early showers with a low of 40 degrees. Fortunately,the rain clouds cleared out and all was dry. Desert temps were very cold, though, and after I registered and set up, I spent a great deal of time in my car trying to keep my knees warm. Brought the Sugoi mid-zero tights just in case and they really helped until it was time to go.

Game Plan:
I suck at running (blame mom for short legs) so I decided to keep it slow and steady, and try to make up time on the bike instead. The pool swim was a mere 150 meters, piece of cake. I train every week between 1000-1600 meters so I wasn't too worried.

Running Leg:
I had no idea what to wear. It was still too cold to wear my tri-suit, so I opted for my tri-swimsuit, my CW-X knickers and my PI Microsensor jacket. I started out ok, but got a little bit too warm later.
I knew I couldn't keep up with most runners, and about a third of the field registered for the 5K-only. I could tell because they had red numbers, while the tri-folks got black numbers.
At the starting gun, everyone took off and it wasn't long before I was doddling along near the back of the pack. Everyone passed me - even the groups of kids and the elderly people with knee braces! Trying not to get discouraged, I kept telling myself to keep my heart rate steady and no matter how slow I went - to never stop. Sure enough, after a half mile, I started passing people who slowed to walk. This kept on for about two miles, and then I fell into people who were running at the same pace I was, about an 11-minute mile. (Note to self: train without an iPod more often!)
I ended up back in the transition area and was kinda bummed that almost all the bikes had departed. At least it was easy to find my bike.

Bike Leg
Again, I had trouble deciding what to wear for the bike leg and wasted many precious minutes. I was warm from the run, but would I stay that way? I went with the CW-X knickers over my swim suit, but at the last minute decided to go back and put back on my jacket. You never know about those desert winds, esp. right after a rain storm.
I hopped on my bike and started out slowly from the transition area. There was about a half-mile side road to the main highway, which was flat, exposed and closed to traffic for the race. Once on the highway, it was 5.5 miles out, 5.5 miles back.
I felt great on the bike (much different than on the run) and on the lead-out road, quickly got into an 18mph pace. As soon as I turned out onto the highway... AHHHH!! Headwinds like you wouldn't BELIEVE. Toss in occasional bone-chilling crosswinds, too, whipping across the desert. I'm glad I decided on the jacket.
As I headed up the highway, the headwinds started getting to me. Slowly, I saw my speed decreasing... 15mph...13mph...11mph. I went into smaller and smaller gears and at one point, was tempted to get into my granny gear. But I didn't.
Side note: For those wondering about choosing a hybrid over a road bike, here's the difference. As slow as I was going, I was passing dozens of riders who were struggling with the MTBs and hybrids. I kept my gears small, my cadence up, and tried to make myself as streamlined as possible. I probably passed a hundred cyclists on the way out. Believe me, a road bike made the difference.
On the turnaround... at last! I got out of the headwinds and started my real riding. I felt really strong and with a tailwind, I got into my big gears and started hauling. Not only was I passing MTBers at this point, but road cyclists as well, male and female. It felt good to be passing the same people who humbled me on the run. Every mile I felt better and my speed reached 22mph... then 24mph...then 26mph. I got into my drops and heard people cheer me on as I passed them (tri people are so supportive.) People were yelling out,"You go girl!" and "She's going for a podium position!" It felt really, really great.
At one point, I passed an obviously-experienced gentleman who was going slow for his companion's sake. He left his friend, caught up to me and told me my gears were too small. I clicked up. He said, "One more." Click again. More power to the legs! I thanked him, he wished me good luck and then dropped back to his friend. Like I said, tri people rock.
With a mile to go, I had my sights set on a lone rider ahead of me, in full matching bike/kit. I took aim at his bright yellow butt. (Gosh, I didn't realize how competitive I was!) Slowly I made up ground. With a half mile to go, I pulled up along side of him and for some reason knew he was not going to let a mere Girl pass him. He picked up the pace and so did I. When we passed people, I fell back and sucked on his wheel, then tried another pass at him. There was no way he would let me do that, and we sprinted to the finish. We turned off the highway for the last stretch side by side and then were hit with a blasted crosswind. At this point, he stood in his pedals and started cranking.
I couldn't keep up and conceded, but I was happy enough to have pushed him to that point. After all, I only started riding in July. When I got back to the transition area, I now realized that only half of the bikes got there before me.

Swim leg
Like I said before, I didn't worry about the swim. I do 2 miles in a workout so 150 meters was nothing. Boy, did I have another thing coming. Those 150 meters were the hardest 150 meters in my life.
After the first few strokes, I realized that I left everything back on the bike. I was huffing and puffing, my form was dreadful, and I all could think about was wishing it was over. At one point, I even did a backstroke to keep going. By the time I crawled out of the water, I wanted to hide my face in embarrassment. Did I forget how to swim? At least it was over!

My final time was 1:29. I know it seems slow, but I was happy because I was aiming for 1:40. My first and last race as a 35-39 age grouper! (40 next year)
Okay, I think it's time for me to pass out on the couch. I'll post pictures later. Then I'll plan for my next race. You TE gals are so supportive - I couldn't have done it without you.

[KSH]

WOW! What a great race report! I really felt like I was there!

Great job on keeping YOUR pace on the run. You knew your race plan and you didn't let people passing you, make you go outside of that plan. I know what it's like being passed by everyone on the run... and it's a little tough... but that's cool that some of those people started walked later on .

The bike... YOU GO GIRL! Sounds like you really kicked some butt. Really impressive stuff. That is so awesome that you made that guy work for it at the end. Sounds like it was a fun bike ride.

The swim... gosh, I was surprised to read that you had such a hard time on the swim. Guess it's not so easy to swim after kicking everyone's butt on the bike... eh?

Great job... YOU DID IT!!!!


Welcome to the world of triathletes... you are no longer a triathlete in training... YOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!

[Bikingmomof3]

Congratulations on becoming a triathlete!!

Great report. I loved the details. Reading reports like your keeps me motivated to become a triathlete.

[Tri Girl]

Many, many CONGRATS!!!! YOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!

Wow- sounds like you had a really great race. I don't know if I could do a reverse tri, something about swimming at the end when you've depleted so much energy reserves on the bike and run- but you did it, and you finished strong! I'm so very happy and proud of you!!!!

Thanks for the GREAT race report. I was reading as fast as I could, wanting to get the end of your race so I could hear how it went! So glad you had a great time!
You look sooooo great in your picture! Wow!

Congrats again on becoming a triathlete!!! You did it!!!

And yes, triathletes are an amazing bunch! Never met a group who was more encouraging and helpful in all my life!

More races in the spring and summer, eh???

[KSH]

Great picture Bluetree!

You are so cute... and the hair is primo! Yep, that picture... looks like a triathlete to me!

[BikeMomma]

Awesome, Blue....way to seriously ROCK!
Keep it up!
~BikeMomma

[Bluetree]

Thanks everyone for all the supportive words.

I talked to my coach and he said I neglected to fuel properly, thus partly explaining my swim collapse. He had instructed me to load up on carbs/protein for lunch the day before the race. I'm not accustomed to eating very much at one time, so anything more than 400 calories was a HUGE meal. It kept me from getting hungry later on and I forgot to eat dinner. And before the race, all I had was half a turkey sandwich.

I did bring shot bloks with me, but they didn't do much good in my back pocket... they should have been in my stomach. I was so into the chase of the bike leg that I forgot. Doh! That'll never happen again.

Hey Karen,
My French-trained stylist gave me this do because it's very wash-and-wear, and he was aware of my jock-lifestyle. It's a bit shaggy now, but he used a razor to thin out the under-layers so it dries very quickly. It's short enough to fit into a swim cap quickly (or helmet) and yet, doesn't look too butch, at least I hope it doesn't. And, if I use some gloss and slick it down, I can look like a Vulcan:

[Bikingmomof3]

Your haircut is adorable!! Hmmm, I *was* growing mine out, but your style is so cute.

[spokewench]

What a great race report! I'm hoping to do a sprint tri next summer. I was going to do one earlier, but I just haven't been able to start swimming yet.

I'm so proud of you to keep with your own pace and do so great on the bike. Now, you know what to work on.

Your hair is great too. It really suits you

[eclectic]

Awesome report - cute hair - great pics YOU ROCK GIRL ! ! !

that is so exciting - you got me motivated again to keep plugging away so I can do my first tri next summer.

I think a reverse tri would be awesome but I wouldn't expect the swim to be so tough either. Maybe that is why it is usually first - less drownings of pooped out competitive cyclists

You didn't mention about the "MEDAL" around your neck or I just missed it while caught up in the action of the reading!

[Lise]

I only have a minute, but wanted to say: GREAT RACE! For me, "pacing" is the 4th discipline of triathlon. More later...

Plus, you look FABULOUS! Congratulations. L.

[Bluetree]

You know, after having done it, I understand why the swim comes first.

When I do a swim workout, I get into my zen mode and my strokes beocme very automatic. My breathing relaxes and my heart rate is barely registering above normal. If I do anything less than a mile, I actually come out of the pool feeling warmed up, rather than worked out.

With the swim leg last, not only was I going on a serious calorie deficit, but my heart rate and adrenaline levels were way up. I think I panicked a bit because I was so surprised at my lack of strength, the non-responsiveness of my limbs, and that made the swim even worse.

Plus, I think I took that final leg for granted. Shame on me!

[btchance]

Great race, especially on the bike. I completely understand about having the swim last and the problems it causes. The one tri I did like that, I had major back cramps for the first 50m, and took another 50 to find my stroke. But hey, live and learn. When's the next?

[tygab]

awesome report Bluetree! You sound like you had a great time, and after all isn't that the most important thing? I am impressed with your time too, sounds pretty good to me for a first timer. I would be elated to have a time near that when I finally give it a go.

Oh, and BTW you do not look 39!

[Bluetree]

One more thing I forgot to mention...

When fighting the winds of the outbound ride, I think I had a terrible grimace on my face. I know I was growling or going," Gaaahhhhhrrr!" at one point. The race leaders started passing by in the other direction, already past the turnaround. One guy gave me a huge sh*t eating grin and yelled, "DAY-WEH!!!"

Dayweh?! What the heck does Dayweh mean? Jerk, I thought.

After I reached the turnaround and escaped the headwind, I suddenly realized why that elite rider was grinning so much.
He was yelling, "TAILWIND!" At that point, I felt like grinning, too.