The gun goes off and its time to start swimming. This is my first swim like this. The only other triathlon I've done was a surf entry...meaning you ran in from the beach. This one we're all hanging out in the water and when the gun goes off you swim. So, I know from talking to Dave this is nothing as far as mass starts go but it still takes a little getting used to. Basically as soon as you start you are either being swam over or you are swimming over/into someone else. I had a hard time finding a spot for a little while meaning I was either always hitting someones heels or someone was on me and it was kind of hard to get in a swim groove. That on top of the fact that I really am still not a very comfortable swimmer made for a little bit of a panic situation. I just had a really hard time getting my breath and so I stopped a few times to look around and try to find a spot and to just breathe and try to talk to myself and remind myself I could do this. I did look around and think there is no way I can swim like this for 1.2 miles. Then I'd say "stop it Kandis; you trained; you can do this...keep swimming!" so then I'd put my head back down and swim. I spent probably the first 1/4 of the swim in panic mode. This includes fast breathing, pulling my head out of the water a lot, swallowing water, wanting to quit etc . There was finally a point at which I got in a rhythm and just swam. This felt amazing to me. Like a mini breakthrough. I was finally just swimming and not stopping to freak out. LOVE! I am sure I was not swimming fast but the point is I was consistently swimming. At this point I knew I was good to go and I could make it. I have to mention that at this point I was swum over by at least the wave behind me if not 2 waves behind me but no matter... I was still swimming :) After we rounded the turnaround buoy it got a little choppy but at this point I was settled in so it was ok. I pulled my head fully out a few times to try to get a good sighting on the buoy's but was doing good with breathing. I knew now I only had 1/2 mile to go. I was all good. It wasn't until the last probably 1/4 of the swim that I finally thought.. um HELLO this is a race why don't you start RACING. Which for my swim is kind of a misnomer but I tried to give it all I could for that last bit and it was great. Towards the very end I started to get some calf cramps. Like totally seizing up cramps where it just felt like a weight but I wasn't too worried because I could stretch my foot and I knew I was almost done. I was so excited I had made it! The end got a little congested again as everyone is turning right to exit out of the swim ramp and so I did some attempt at swimming but did a lot of heads up doggy paddling trying to find room. Made it to the ramp and was SO relieved. My legs felt a little tight but I got out and started jogging up the ramp. Swim = 49:02.
Ok; T1 was SLOW. I'm not talking like an extra minute or so slow I'm talking a whole 12 minutes of transitioning. This is ridiculous and I'm not even sure what the hell I could have been doing for 12 minutes in there. <
I then finally started to jog out of transition with my bike which was hard with my bike shoes on so I walked. Once I got on the bike and started riding I noticed my butt area where it connected to my leg muscles felt sore/tight in the beginning but it loosened. It felt good to be on the bike at this point. I almost immediately started eating which is noticeable in my race photos as it looks like I'm always cleaning my teeth. Nice! I think I was rewarding myself for surviving the swim and wanting to get some nutrition in early. I am so glad I packed a few Picky Bars cut up in my little bento box because it was great to have something to chew and not just eat gels and gu's for the whole ride. It just gave me something to look forward to. I know a lot of more competitive racers just do blocks or gu or gels mixed in their water bottles but I have to say I loved having a little solid nutrition. I felt good on the bike and was just counting down the miles. Dave had taped a pace chart on my bike so I could see how I was against my loose goal. It really motivated me when I realized I was ahead of pace. So I just kept telling myself to keep pushing. I have to say I really loved the bike on this race. There were some hills but nothing too crazy. Just one "major" hill that definitely looks like a beast when you are approaching but is do-able.
You do see a lot of people walking their bikes up this hill which just looks painful to me because then it takes you soooo long to get up it. The hill looks huge coming up to it and definitely is a challenge but once you are on it you just commit. I was lamenting the pain of the hill with fellow riders as I'd ride past them :) Notice that...when I'd ride PAST them. Yup I passed a few people on this hill. I was dying to use some version of the phrase "Let's make this hill our bitch" or "we totally made that hill our bitch". For some reason that was rolling around in my head and I was seriously looking around for someone to share this gem with but I wasn't sure who any of these people were and I figured I'd just look like a crazy.
This reminds me. I asked Dave if he talks to himself in his head (or out loud) during the bike portion and he said yeah sometimes and I can't remember the example he gave but it was literally like 1 time he'd talk to himself. I am almost constantly thinking of a joke, trying to find someone to say something funny to.. talking out loud to myself.. singing a song in my head (or out loud). It's like this constant show in my head. I'm kind of a dork on the bike. At one point out-loud I said "it smells like horses" but I said it unintentionally with a Temple Grandin accent (if you haven't see that movie on HBO its definitely worth it). I made myself laugh out loud when I heard the way I said it.
At the end of the bike I didn't feel too spent but was definitely ready to be done. My neck still gets really sore so I need to figure out if that is a positioning thing or just me. Finished the bike in 3:30:30.
It was a great feeling to bike back into town and roll into transition with all the spectators and at this point you also rode right next to the run course so I could see other people out there running. In fact on my way in I saw Dave's brother running so I yelled out to him. This transition was still slow but not as bad as my first one! Got all my stuff on and it almost felt too easy. Like I was forgetting something. I didn't really have much to do so I took off for the run on my lead feet.
to be continued.........
No comments:
Post a Comment