Iron Girl, take 3

[divingbiker]

Can you stand another Iron Girl race report? I didn’t hate it like sfa or love it like MDHillSlug. It was a so-so race for me.

This is the fourth time I’ve done this triathlon course, so I’m pretty familiar with it now. Once again, I didn’t really train; I just did my usual bike commutes (haven't ridden the road bike since the last tri in June), ran/walked a few times a week, and swam only once since June. The triathlon is just fun for me, and I’m completely non-competitive.

I’ve also been having problems with a growth on the bottom of my foot that hurts when biking or running. (I had it removed this morning, so there’s a big divot in the bottom of my foot. Should solve the pain problem for the future.)

This time I decided to stay at the hotel where packet pickup was located, so I wouldn’t have to get up before 4am and deal with the dogs and drive a half hour to the race site. So I went out to a local vegan restaurant (where my decaf chai was actually caffeinated, I think, making for a restless night’s sleep) and went to bed early, around 10:00.

Sunday morning I got up, threw on my clothes, drank coffee and ate breakfast, and took the shuttle over to the race site. Then it started raining. I set up transition, pumped my tires, talked a bit with MDHillSlug, and made my way to the swim start. My wave started at 6:55.

The water was warm and didn’t have as much grass floating in it as there was in June. I only had it wrap around my arms at the beginning and at the end, but once again, my bra was full of it when I took a shower. I was, as usual, slow but steady, and finished in 31:24.

T1 was slow at 4:52 because of the rain. It took a while to get wet socks onto wet feet.

I got on the bike and, as sfa and MDHillSlug have said, had to be careful due to the rain. This race is getting so big that there were people everywhere on the bike. You were either beside someone or passing them. I held back to be sure I didn’t wipe out since my road tires have no tread whatsoever, and finished in 1:14:12, 14.2 mph.

I had a Gu during T2, which again was slow at 3:04.

The rain started up again on the run, which was awful. My foot hurt, my knee hurt, my shin hurt. I did a lot of walking, and finished in 43:11, 13:06/mile.

I got my medal and a cold sponge and grabbed some food. Then I packed up my backpack and rode my bike 2 miles back to the hotel in the rain. No point hanging out when the weather’s bad. After a nice hot shower, I went back to the vegan restaurant for brunch.

Total time was 2:36:42, 100/144 AG, 1336/1837 overall. (I just noticed that I finished one second faster than Sarah Reinertsen, the para-triathlete who was on Amazing Race. I saw her on the way in and told her I liked her book.)

My dog Sammy loves the stuffed toy they gave us, an Aflac duck. When he bites down just right, it says “Aflac! Aflac! Aflaaaaaaac!” It’s so cute.

[colby]

Congrats, divingbiker. It sounds like a wet, icky day. I did the Danskin Seattle a few years ago in the rain (inevitable that you eventually get a rainy one) and the bike was a little scary with that many people on it, especially many of whom are on skinny tires or inexperienced.

I at the growth on your foot! Yikes! I can't believe you raced with that. Iron Girl indeed!

[Zen]

No stress, no muss, no fuss, and a doggie duck!
What's not to like?

You go, 'girl'

I wonder if anyone would make a stink if I started a race and called it IronWoman?

[kmehrzad]

Wow! There sure were a lot of stumbling blocks in your way but you plowed right through them - good for you and congrats for finishing. Hope you're not feeling aches and pains today.

[HillSlugger]

It was good to see you at the race. I'm too competitive with myself to take triathlon this casually.

Congrats!

[divingbiker]

I'm too competitive with myself to take triathlon this casually.

I think my lack of competitiveness comes from growing up before Title 9. I was never involved in any sport, and never kept score. I truly just don't care, and really don't understand why it matters how fast I go. The competition gene is just missing. Which makes for a whole lot less stress and pressure come race day.

[7rider]

You didn't "DNF".
You finished a triathlon with little training (something millions of folks don't even attempt).
You didn't come in last!
Sammy got a new toy.
What the heck are you beating yourself up for? To me, it sounds like a complete success!
Congratulations are in order...

[sfa]

Congratulations! I wish I could be that non-competitive and just enjoy myself! Maybe you can give lessons. But I'm amazed that you pushed through it even with your foot hurting so much. Must be a relief to get that growth off. Yuck.

For the record, I didn't really hate it. I loved the bike. The rest frustrated me because I *knew* I could do better and didn't. If I were smart I'd throw away my watch and HRM and bicycle computer and stop measuring myself.

Those Aflac ducks are fun. We still have the one from last year. I like how their medals match ours.

[divingbiker]

What the heck are you beating yourself up for?

Oh, I'm not beating myself up at all! If I cared, I'd train harder.

[Bike Chick]

Sounds like you made the best of a bad day--with no training and a bad foot! Great job and great attitude, diving. Know what you mean about growing up before Title 9. I've always been an "enjoy the journey instead of worrying about the destination" person as well as not participating in sports. It's just fun.

[kacie tri-ing]

Wins the award for the most laid back race report ever!

I love reading how we all take this sport differently! Congrats!

[Alex]

No such thing as too many race reports!

Congrats on your race. Well done!