Lake Geneva, WI Triathlon on 9/9/06

[roshelleuop]

Hi all!!! You girls are absolutely right~~ it's addictive. It's so funny how during the event you are thinking why the he## am I doing this and telling yourself you are never going to do it again, then after it's all over you are looking forward to the next one!!! Here is my report!!!! It's a little long, but you'll understand why after you find out how awful the weather conditions were!!!!

So we got there the night before to pickup our registration packets and eat the pasta dinner they provied. My nerves were not getting to me yet because I knew my DH and our friend were doing the tri with me. They were also going to be in the same wave as me, which made me feel alot better too. We took the RV, so tried to sleep as much as possible, then woke up at 3:30 am, yikes!!!! We wanted to get a good transition spot. I'm glad we got there early becuase by 5:30 the entire place was jammed packed and people were setting up there transition areas against the trees and fences!!! So, we are anxiously waiting for the event to start~~ did I mention it was only 50 degrees when we got there!!!! The half iron man group was suppose to start at 6:45, well becuase there were so many people that were registering that a.m., they didn't start until 7:30. Well, by then it was a beautiful 60 degrees!!! So our group finally got to go about 8:15 and we were in the second wave. Holy crap, it was my turn!!!! I'm freezing my butt off and did I mention there was a 10 mph wind, so the waves were actually cresting and there were white caps!! huh??? what?? get in that freezing cold water and swim ~~ FOR FUN~~, no way!!!!

So DH looks at me and says "I'm going to tell you something, you are going to get out there and you may want to quit, you are going to get tired and scared and may just want to stop and call for help, but whatever you do, just keep going, no matter how much it hurts and no matter how scared you are, just keep going, you can do it! you can do this Roshelle!". Thank the Lord he said this to me, becuase I didn't even get a quarter of the way out there and the waves were crashing all over me. I tried again and again to get my freestyle going and breathing pattern steady, but every time I tried, I'd get beat down by another wave. A big honking wave hit me and I swallowed a bunch of water, then another big one hit me and went up my nose, and at the same time a guy on my left side was yelling for help to the organizers and I feared for my life that he was going to grab onto me to keep his head above water (I had my wetsuit on, he didn't and was actually going under). At this point, I was going to quit. I was going to yell for help and end it. Then, all of a sudden I heard Jeff's voice in my head "whatever you are feeling, just keep going!". I turned around and saw him right behind me and he just gave me this look a reassurement that I could do this, that made me realize, I CAN DO THIS!!!! So I just kept on going!!!!! I can't believe it, people were quitting all around me and I just kept going!!!!! I got to the booey, and thought that the honking waves would help push me back to shore, well, yeah, they didn't :-) It was just as hard going in as it was going out. The feeling when my feet were able to touch ground as I got to shore is indescribable (I'm sure you can all relate back to your first tri)!!! It felt like 2 hours, but it was only 18 minutes that I was actually in the water. Wow!!!! I usually swim a 1/4 mile in 10-12 minutes, but with those waves, I can't believe it only took 18! And I still had a bike ride and a run to go!!! Oh yeah, I have to mention, I beat my DH out of the water, woohoo!!!! (but he swims like a rock~shhh don't tell him I said that )

I got to transition, pulled off my wetsuit, put on my cycling gear and I was off!!! I started going and within no time I saw a black blur to my left.... it was DH . He was gone and I didn't see him again until the end. I was told the bike ride was a 17 mile rolling hill course. Yeah right!!!!! The first hill was a mile long climb (rolling hills, my a##) and I felt like I was pulling sandbags behing me becuase I still had water legs. I prayed to the heavens that I wouldn't let myself get off and walk becuase I wanted to sooooo bad!!! Finally got through that hill, and oh, how nice, another and another and another. And did I mention the 10 mph winds!!! So I had an awful headwind all the way until about mile 15 when it started to flatten out, and I saw hope at the end of the tunnel becuase I knew I only had 2 miles to go. NOPE!!!!! The next thing I know, I'm back to those original hills I hit at the start and I'm just dying. Then, my gps shows 17 miles and I know I'm not close to the finish....18 miles.... 19 miles... 20 miles... I finally asked one of the people riding by me if we went the right way and her gps also said 20 miles. Finally we see the transition area at 21 freaking miles!!! Yikes again!!!! So I get off my bike, throw on my shoes, stumble my way through the transition area as I don't have my running legs yet (and suck in my tummy and stand up tall as I run past the camera guy!! ) and there is DH and friend, my fan club cheering me on!!!!! They ran with me for a little bit, then said they'll see me at the finish line.

Yeah, I'm almost done... then I see another set of hills!!!! Oh geez, is this almost over I say to myself. I said screw it, walked up the hill, ran down, walked up the next hill, then ran down, as I was approaching the finish line, I almost started to cry with enjoyment. The pain I was feeling in my legs, arms, chest, neck, everywhere, suddenly dissapeared and all I cared about was that I did it!!!! I finished!!!! I crossed the finish line and I got my medal!!!! Ok, EVERYONE, got a medal, but I wore that damn thing all day!!!!! About 99.9% of the time during the tri, I was swearing at DH and saying how the hell did he talk me into this~I'm NEVER doing this again, but within 5 minutes of crossing the finish line, I was already looking forward to tri-girl on the 24th with my cycling buddy Renee.

I ended up finishing in a little under 2 hours and placed 102nd out of 200. 5th out of the 20 in my age group. It is an awesome feeling and I can't wait to do it again!!! You gals are right!!! It's addictive!!! It's painful, but addictive. I took yesterday off and can't wait to get back on my bike tonight!!! Thank you all for your support!!!! You gals, my cycling betties, and my DH have been the best support system a girl could have!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!
Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[Lise]

Roshelle, you ROCK!

What a great race report! I was getting a bit worried, when we hadn't heard from you. Whew. That sounds like a killer race. "Super Sprint" my flat Swedish butt! Why was the ride 21, not 17 miles? Again, I say, whew!

Your DH gets an extra medal of honor for inspiring you so well. Especially when the swim wasn't easy for him. Maybe he was sharing with you what he says to himself. I always tell myself, "we do not quit".

I know exactly what you mean about, "why on earth am I doing this, I hate this...when can I do it again?!?" That's a triathlete for you!

What's the race on the 24th? (You know that I want to do another one this season, after reading your report! )

Please post pictures when you have them. Congratulations, again.

You are a triathlete!

[Eden]

Good for you! Sounds like it was scary, but you stuck it out and finished. You might not like hills, but I'll tell you - I hate water. I don't even really like to swim in deep water when its calm out so I never would have done that swim with the waves and all. Sounds like you did great, 5th in your age group, and its your first tri. The next one will be even better!

[roshelleuop]

Thank you Lise and Eden, and thank you Lise for calling me a triathlete, it gave me goosebumps!!!! It feels awesome!!!! I'm on a natural high every time I look at my medal (which I hung from my truck rear view mirror to remind me everyday that ANYTHING is possible!).

The event on the 24th is the Bloomington, MN TRI-GIRL Duathlon. It's a 2 mile run, 22 mile bike, 2 mile run. Woohoo!!!!! No swimming!!!! It looks like the run is flat (woohoo), but the bike has several good hills and rolling terrain. Here I come hills!!!! Watch out!!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[colby]

Great work Roshelle! Talk about a test of your character, sheesh! You made it, you're a triathlete, and you WILL do it again

Congratulations!

[Lise]

The event on the 24th is the Bloomington, MN TRI-GIRL Duathlon. It's a 2 mile run, 22 mile bike, 2 mile run. Woohoo!!!!! No swimming!!!! It looks like the run is flat (woohoo), but the bike has several good hills and rolling terrain. Here I come hills!!!! Watch out!!!

That sounds really fun! And too far away from me to tempt me into just one more...

I have every race/ride number hanging from fishing line, strung aroung the top of my kitchen walls. I have my medals hanging from a picture over the microwave. I am proud of what I have become. You just bask in it, Roshelle!