This is what I wrote on my facebook page when I finished the race:
I did a tri. It was fun. I have no idea my time. Go Team Z.
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| Judith, Kris and Me at the Finish Line. LOVE my tri buddies! |
It was so fun!! I definitely had a post-tri high. My first olympic distance - 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run. Prior to this I had done a few sprints, a half-relay and my own personal attempt at a half. And I finished. And I had fun. I should have stopped my analysis at that point and called it a day.
My goal for this race was to chill out on the swim and bike, so I could have enough gas in the engine to do the run. The run is the toughest for me - which is funny because I really do love to run. I am just not very good at it. And I think it is the sport where I feel the impact of the weight gain (yay side effects!) the most.
Nation's was a huge race. I was wave 27 out of 35 - with over 4,000 racers! So by the time I got into the water it was 8 am, and by the time I got onto the run it was almost noon -- and 90 degrees -- and no shade.
The swim was amazing. I can't even describe it. As a Washingtonian and history nerd, being able to swim past the Lincoln Memorial and under the Memorial Bridge was just breathtaking. I was relaxed, I took in the sights and everything about my swim was wonderful.
The bike was also wonderful. I know others hated the course because it was tight and crowded, but I loved it. I got to bike on the HOV lanes of the freeway and right down the middle of all these roads I am never allowed to ride. BUT wow I wish they had had at least one or two bike officials on the course because riders of all levels were doing some stupid and very unsafe things - I saw two pretty serious crashes being carried off the course and lots and lots of people walking back with flat tires and such.
As I went out of transition two, I continued to feel good. I was excited because usually I feel HORRIBLE coming off the bike and into the run, but I had been practicing this more this time around. My first two miles felt pretty good and then... yep.. the wall. I had to do the walk/jog combo for the rest of the run and don't think I would have made it at all but for the ice at one of the water stations that I shoved in my hat and down my bra.
But I did it. I crossed the line and my teammates stuck around to wait for me and cheered me across the finish. After I caught my breath, I was all smiles. I felt great. I even wanted to bike home. It was a great, great day and I was sooooo proud of myself.
Then I made the mistake of looking at my numbers when they were posted and started to compare myself to other people -- out of 135 in my age group I was 90 - swim, 110 - bike, 124 - run, 121 - overall. What?? How could I have done THAT badly? I felt great. I felt awesome. I thought I rocked it.
And guess what? I DID. I REALLY DID. Know why? Because I said so. I could justify the above with all the different "excuses" that went through my head -- that doesn't include people who didn't finish, still faster than the people who didn't compete, side-effects, it was hot, I was on my period, blah blah blah. But at the end of the day, I don't really need any of those reasons to feel good about my performance. I can just feel good about it because it was fun. It's that simple.
I should have just stuck with my original race report from facebook.
Some more random lessons from the race:
- When you leave your race clothes out the night before, make sure they are right side out. I almost wore my tri shorts inside out to the race.
- Make sure all your friends aren't racing in that race or somewhere else - having folks on the side lines cheering is really nice. I missed it at this race.
- Respect the bike course - and when you are warned about turns and crowds, believe the warnings. Slow down and put your safety and the safety of other riders first.
- Medication side effects are real, they aren't made up - I get dehydrated, my heart rate is elevated, I gain weight - it is what it is and I need to embrace this instead of fight it.
- Sherpas are amazing and are definitely part of the team!!! Special thank you to Judith's amazing husband, Roger, for taking us down to the shuttle super early and picking us up after.
- Eat and drink more on the bike. Feeling great on the bike does not mean you will feel great on the run. In my case, I think it is just the opposite.
- Keeping your equipment in shape is part of the game - you can bike as fast as you want but if you catch a flat or drop a chain because you haven't taken care of your bike, tough luck.
- THIS ONE IS FOR THE LADIES - get the Keeper for those races when you have to deal with our special lady issues. It is so worth it. My first time racing with this unique challenge and it was flawless.
- Go ahead and confront (nicely) people you see breaking the rules. It's our sport so it's our job to keep it awesome (yeah, hey fellow 13 min miler runner who thought it was cool to throw down your gel wrapper, it wasn't because of all the reasons I told you, so next time don't do it!)
- You don't have to to look at the final race numbers if you don't want to... age and time ain't nothing but numbers.
- Race weekend isn't always about the race. Sometimes it's the dinner the night before that is the highlight of the weekend (what happens at the pizza place, stays at the pizza place eh Judith and Laurel?).
- While the medal isn't a reason to race, it is a nice touch. Nation's unfortunately had a shipping mishap and didn't have medals for us back of the backers -- they will be mailed, we have been told. Until then, here is a picture of someone else's from a few years back that I found on the internet. It will have to due until the real one arrives.
Labels: race report, side effects, weight