first official Tri- RR!

[Iris616]

Last year I trained all summer for a Tri that was cancelled at the last minute due to a hurricane. So, this is my first real tri!
I wasn't last! But, I was pretty darn close!
It was brutally awesome! DH and I got there with no problem. We drove the course in reverse, as we dropped our stuff off at each transition area. That's when it really set in that some of the hills were going to be pretty tough.

The swim: 440 yards of a lake swim.
There were a lot of weeds for the first 50 yards. I knew that DH wasn't doing well with the swim. He got in the water before the race to warm up, and came out freaked! He contemplated not doing the race, at all, but decided to give it a try. We were in the first wave of swimmers. I passed him quickly, and some how knew he was heading toward one of the buoys to rest. I got around the 1/2 way turn before I was passed by any one from the second wave of swimmers, and I was feeling pretty good. That's when I got kicked in the head! Shortly after that, I swallowed water, and I'm pretty sure it went to my lungs. Then, I saw the Sheriffs boat heading toward a buoy to help some one who was in trouble. That threw me for a loop because I was thinking that it might be DH, but I kept going.
The timing mat was placed at the edge of the water, so my swim time was "real time" It was 11:52. That's a 2:42 pace, and put me at 133 out of 154 participants.

The bike: 19.8 miles
Bike time started the second you got out of the water- it included the swim to bike transition time. This is where I lost at least 5 minutes, maybe more. I couldn't breathe. My head was pounding from the kick I took. And, I was really worried about DH, because I heard some one say there was a man down in the water. Let's just say that I was not in "race mode" at this point. Just as I pulled myself together and started to refocus, the milk crate I was sitting on to get my shoes on, shattered underneath me! It's not very confidence boosting to think that my weight shattered a milk crate, as I'm trying to complete a race.

Okay, I pulled it together and got on my bike. I love my bike. I was doing okay. I didn't pass anyone, but I was holding a really good pace. Then, at mile 8, DH caught up with me!!! This is when I started dogging it, and now I know that I should've had a GU at that point. But I didn't. I was still fighting the headache and the desire to puke up the lake water. DH passed me (I told him to run his own race and not wait for me). Then I hit the first hill! That's where I knew I needed to do a GU earlier. I couldn't make it. But, in my defense, many people around me were walking their bikes too. I made up lots of lost time on the flats and downhills, but never caught DH. The other hills were rough, but not as bad as the first one. All in all, I think I gave it my all on the bike. The hills were much harder than I estimated. The scenery was absolutely beautiful!The course was well marked and intersections had plenty of volunteers/ state police to keep us safe. I felt like I didn't really get into my groove until mile 15 when I finally started feeling like I wasn't going to get sick.

The bike time also included the time for the second transition area. Again, I could've been at least 3 minutes faster in this area, but I just let myself slow down way too much.
So, all in all, my bike time was a pathetic 1:36:40. That gave me a pace of just over 12 miles per hour. It's a very sad time. If the transitions had been separated out, my time would've been more like 1:26:00. So, now I know to push it much harder in transitions, and not slip out of race mode.

The run: 4.5 miles
OH MY LORD!! First of all, at this point in my training, 4.5 miles is a long run. So, even in a stand alone race, that would've been tough for me. The run started on an uphill!I ran most of it, but then my calves froze up on me, and I started to walk. Mile 2 was another uphill. Yep. The entire second mile was uphill- steep. 5% grade for some of it. My knees started hurting a lot- sharp pains. So, I walked part of this hill too. Mile 3 was downhill- some as steep as 7% grade. I went as fast as I could without hurting my knees. Then, the last half mile was uphill again. I know the scenery on the run was beautiful- but I don't remember much of it.
Final run time: 58:36. Ready for this....my mile splits were 13.01.. How frustrating is that? I was so close to being in the 12 minute range.

Overall:
My final time was 2:47:09

I'm so proud of myself and DH for doing this!
There are a bunch of things I learned- like don't try to sit on a crappy milk crate for the transition area!
I'm taking some time to process the event and every thing I learned.
I know what to focus on for my next tri- and I have a baseline to set some goals with.
Here's a picture of me, a few hours after the race. I have the crazed look of some one on an adrenalin high.

[colby]

Awesome race report! Very interesting distances - that's a long ride and run paired with a relatively short swim. And no transition times? Bummer!! Running uphill like that is rough anyway, let alone after riding your bike almost 20 miles. It appears you were also the recipient of a "scenic doesn't mean flat" race. Now I know to watch for the word "scenic" in race descriptions

You have a smile on your face, you learned something, and you want to do it again. That is a good day. Congrats to both of you!!

[HillSlugger]

Congrats on doing your first triathlon! You are a triathlete! w00t!

Yes, definitely strange distances for a tri.

I know from first hand experience how hard it is to start the run on an uphill.

The first triathlon is always a learning experience. I'm sure your next one will be stellar!

[KSH]

WOW! Congratulations! That was a LONG tri for your first one! Great job! Those hills sound BRUTAL!

Great picture! You look like you are so happy... and ready to do another one!

[alpinerabbit]

congrats on pushing through what sounds like a grueling race!

[tribogota]

RUNNING UPHILL, ARRRRRRRRG!
good job, and congrats,

[sgf726]

Congrats! You look so happy in the after race photo.

[Iris616]

Thanks every one!
I've chosen my next race. It's in 5 weeks, and I'm hoping to improve my transitions, as well as my bike and run splits.

I'm still on a High from the experience! I love that it was not a flat course. I feel like I worked really hard to finish.

I read a comment in Runners World that said, "even if you finish last, you still beat every one who's sitting home on the couch, eating chips!"

[HillSlugger]

Thanks every one!
I've chosen my next race. It's in 5 weeks, and I'm hoping to improve my transitions, as well as my bike and run splits.

I'm still on a High from the experience! I love that it was not a flat course. I feel like I worked really hard to finish.

I read a comment in Runners World that said, "even if you finish last, you still beat every one who's sitting home on the couch, eating chips!"

Cool! What are the distances?

[salsabike]

Iris, that race sounds HARD! You should be really pleased that you made it through so well for a first race. My goodness.

I love that slightly crazed, triathlon-high stoked face in the picture!

I bet your next race will feel really good. I will look forward to hearing!

[Urlea]

Awesome report! You should be so proud of yourself, those were some pretty distracting & challenging circumstances and you did really well!!

Love the post-race shot, you look happy. Question is: Have you washed the numbers off yet?

[fatbottomedgurl]

Good job. Can't wait to get my picture with my number on my arm. Gotta wait til the end of September. Running is really hard for me- working on it 3x a week with an 8 week program. Luckily my 5k will be flat.

[newbieinPA]

Congratulations! I'm currently training for my first spring tri too! Mine is in 3 weeks and I'm terrified! It sounded like yours was a good experience (other than worrying about your dh in the swim).
Good luck with your next race - this gives me hope that I can finish mine too!

[Iris616]

Yep-Numbers came off

The next race is much more of a traditional SPrint. It's 1/3 mile swim, 10.4 mile bike, and a 5K.

NewbieinPA and fatbottomgirl- have fun in your tri's!

[txred9876]

another one hooked!!!

Great race! have fun on your next one!

Tina