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).

[HillSlugger]

Think of this race as a learning experience for the next one. I'm sure you'll nail it. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Skeezix]

Thanks guys, your words/advice really mean a lot. Really, I mean it.

This weekend I'm going to go out and have some fun and not over think this race. I'm feeling a bit better about everything today, Sunday and Monday were rough- I felt like crying a lot. Then again- last year after I came down from my post-race high I felt like crying then too. Maybe racing just makes me weepy? Ha.

I scheduled a massage for Thursday afternoon so my muscles can get all loosened up and ready since I'm a little stiff today.

[HillSlugger]

I was terrible disappointed after my first triathlon because I did not meet my goals or expectations. It took many days before I could appreciate what I had accomplished. Give it time and I'm sure you'll feel better about your accomplishments, too.

[arim]

I just finished my 3rd sprint Triathlon and was disappointed with my performance, so I'm struggling too. I didn't train quite as hard (my kids took priority this summer!) as my prior tris, which I'm sure is part of it, but was disappointed none the less.

Things I learned, from living with this for a few days:

1) Stuff happens that is not in your control!! For me, it was:
--a cold the week before
--leaky goggles at the start which delayed me significantly
--we didn't use wetsuits, which I thought would be fine, but it was my first time without one in a race (there is a reason why the elite triathletes use them whenever allowed!!)
--the piss warm gatorade they gave us during the run turned my stomach, I couldn't replace electrolytes and BONKED big time on the run--my slowest ever!

2) Things could have been much worse--a flat tire, a crash (heaven forbid), etc. Just going slower than planned isn't the end of the world!

3) Dang, woman! Think of all the couch potatoes out there that NEVER attempted (or would dream to) anything like this! YOU ROCK!

So, feel good about your accomplishments! You finished with a smile on your face. Good luck in your next race!

[Tuckervill]

Yep, instead of swimming, riding and running (which I've NEVER done ALL IN ONE DAY!) this weekend, I was handing out water to racers and complaining about the heat! You started, you continued in the face of mounting odds, and you FINISHED! Way to go!

Kaaren

[rocknrollgirl]

Dry those tears immediately!! You did it! Something that bazillions of people would never, ever even think of doing. Take the lessons learned and file them away, and get ready for the next one.

Getting roughed up during the swim sucks...but you pressed on and on knobby tires!!!

great Job.

[colby]

I know that "the woman who starts the race is not the same woman that finishes the race" is a little cliche, but I think of that EVERY race I do. Every single one is an experience, and you usually learn MORE from the days with bumps in the road than you do from those perfect days.

You did great. Maybe not as well as you could have, but, you did it. Lace up those shoes (strap on those goggles, buckle that helmet) and keep moving!

[Wahine]

Skeezix - I've been racing in this sport for 13 years. I have lots of races that don't go as planned, where I'm disappointed in my results, maybe I flat, my stomach goes south, I get the living daylights beat out of me on the swim.... but you have to go out and do the next one. You're going to have bad days. But you'll have good days too and it's all worth it for the good days. Don't bail on your race this weekend. Try to relax and have fun. Try to remember why it is you do this in the first place and embrace that. If you have another bad day.... chalk it up to a learning experience. It will all come together eventually.

BTW - I get very down after big races. Even if I do well. It's the knowing that what you've been working towards for months, maybe years is over and you have to let it go. It's the post Christmas thing. Then there's the period of confusion until you find another way to refocus your intention or energy. DH says it's like clockwork. He always knows I'm going to be down after a race and the bigger the race, the bigger the downturn and the longer it lasts.

(((((Hugs)))))))

[roadie gal]

I think you should give yourself big points for finishing a race that wasn't going well. Good job! ... and definitely do the next one.