As always, I am overwhelmed by the thought of writing a race report. There are so many people to thank, so many emotions to document, so many lessons to share... I just know I am going to forget something.
So here is the short version: I DID IT! I FINISHED 70.3... SMILING. And the only reason I did it was because of the love and support from everyone around me.
The triathlon gods were with me and all the hard work, practice and training definitely paid off. And a few months before the race we formed an online Waterman's 70.3 Support Group. Wow did this pay off! #winning
I took the Friday before the race off from work and took my time driving to Rock Hal, stopping at the health food store to stock up. Big mistake from past was heading to a race venue expecting that I could find food. I did my research this time, found pretty much nothing vegan in the area so made sure to rent a house with a kitchen and buy food. #winning
The house was perfect. Little place about 15 min north of Rock Hall. Right on the bay. This was our sunset view on Saturday (was too cloudy on Friday to see the sunset).
Not kidding. I took that picture. With my tiny phone. It was just that beautiful. I shared the house with two amazing, inspirational friends, Florence and Tamara. I need to write entire separate reports on each of these women to express my love and gratitude for them. You all might remember Tamara from her appearance at my one and only marathon back in March where she helped run me into the finish line after hitting a PR in the half-marathon. She kicks my ass. I love it.
And Florence is my IMMD 2015 training partner. She has become my triathlon spouse. There are very few people I trust in the world, and Florence is one of them. I can rely on her for anything (except nice things -- we can NEVER have nice things!). We work so well together, everything is hilarious and we have similar levels of relaxation and intensity. Having a training and racing buddy like her is priceless. #winning
Before the race, I re-read some of my favorite quotes from Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart. I shared this one with Tamara and Florence: "Reaching our limit is like finding a doorway to sanity and the unconditional goodness of humanity, rather than meeting an obstacle or a punishment." And "The first noble truth of the Buddha is that when we feel suffering, it doesn't mean something is wrong."
Onto the actual race. Race start was nine am because it was a fall race, which was great. We got to wake up at six am, which is crazy late. I ate my rice cakes (the ones I had left after carb binge in bed around midnight) with almond butter, a banana, a blueberry chia pod and a huge bottle filled with iced coffee I made the night before. By the time I got into the car to leave I was so ramped up I felt manic. I did my best to breathe and move slowly instead of do what I usually do before a race -- joke around, make everyone laugh and flame out before I even start.
Setting up transition and getting ready for the race felt like brushing my teeth it was so routine at this point. I had one new item in transition -- a photo of my team buddies Nate, Becky, Megan and Darla who were not at the race. It's a happy picture from a very cold marathon relay we did a few years ago. I knew I would need a little extra something going into the run, so I placed the picture right near my running shoes. Becky, a two-time Ironman, texted me the day before the race with great, simple advice: Just keep going.
I wrote the following on my forearms:
left: SUFFERING <> BAD
right: Just Keep Going
And Jimmy made me promise him I would finish the race in under eight hours. We shook on it.
Putting on my wet suit is easy and no longer gets me into Zone 4 -- and I know how to NOT put it on backwards all the time now. My amazing friend Kelly helped me with my stuff (she came to the race just to cheer and support us.. amazing) and Val collected everyone's shoes (Thank you!). Swim start was calm. The water was perfect. It was an in water start and I was in the last wave - the misfits; Athena, Clydesdale, Relays, Acquabike, Novice and Spectators. Just kidding on the last one. And thank you Heiki for taking and sharing the pictures!
With the brackish water and wet suit, it was impossible to not move forward. My goal on the swim was the just be relaxed the whole time. I didn't care what my time was. After what happened at Musselman, I just wanted my body to remember that it loves the water. When I got bored, I used the simple prayer "May I be safe, may I be happy, may I be healthy, may I live free with ease" to pace my strokes and time my sighting. I think ended up wishing everyone around me safety, happiness and health at some point!
I got out of the water and felt amazing (after the initial dizzy went away). I think I look freaking fat in my wet suit coming out of the water but I DON'T GIVE A DAMN because inside I felt amazing. Not tired at all, redemption from Musselman complete and during that I ended up taking five min off my usual 1.2 mile open water time! Thank you to the cheering crew who was at the dock -- I know it was Heike, Scott, Val and Patti. I apologize now if I saw you there and didn't name you here. There was a lot going on!
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| Brush your shoulder off |
My transition one was good. I think my time was okay. Nothing spectacular, but no major blunders or time sucks. Could have gotten out of the wet suit faster, but whatever. Back of the pack benefit -- it's easy to find your bike in transition. #winning
I got on the bike and headed out for a nice little 56 mile ride through the Eastern Shore. The bike was tough. Everyone had warned me of the headwinds that can happen, and I had ridden the 25 mile version of this course back early in the summer and didn't think it was that bad. Somehow for this ride we had headwinds in all directions and I was pretty much riding alone for the whole thing. My goal was to not flame out on the bike, keep cadence at nice, easy 80-90 and come in under four hours to leave me just over three hours to finish the run. I met my goal. But the lessons from the bike ride were huge: 1.) I definitely need to get that tri bike to do Eagleman and IMMD next year, 2.) Formally add mediation to my training plan (no joke), 3.) lose weight, 4.) get stronger, 5.) bike more. Here is to the off season.
As I came around the final corner and was about half a mile out I saw Aileen and Katryna cheering their heads off. It was so wonderful because it gave me a specific moment to check in with myself and compare how I felt at that point to how I had felt at that point at Williamsburg (one of my 70.3 DNF). And it was night and day. At Williamsburg, I just wanted it to be over. I was hoping I had missed cut off. This time, I felt amazing. I knew I could finish this thing.
Waiting for me by my transition area were screaming teammates. I don't even remember everyone who was there, but it was amazing and thank you to each of you. I threw my shoes on, Heike yelled at me to get my ass moving, I saw my Mom cheering and my Dad taking video and I was off. I knew the first two miles were going to really hurt, but they actually were no where near as bad as other transitions I have had. Despite the bike being difficult, I think I did a good job focusing on using my quads so my glutes were saved for this race.
Sarah Baker was right in front of me so we decided to run together, starting with four min run, on mine walk. that way I could tell my brain all it had to do was run four min. Anyone could do that. Sarah is an angle. There is no way I would have made the first part of the run without her. We celebrated when we passed mile four, which is about as far as I got before on a 70.3 before dropping out. But by mile four or so, I was clearly slowing her down so I told her to go ahead and I JUST KEPT GOING. The other slogan I held onto was FORWARD IS A SPEED. As I began the second loop Aileen was there with her relay teammate, and my former Team Z mentee, Joanna. I call her Waldo. Not just because she looks like Waldo, but it's her last name. Anyway...
Joanna had finished the relay with a 1:45 half-marathon which is insane and then offered to run the rest of the race with me to keep me going (another 6.5 miles). So TECHNICALLY I received outside assistance which is a penalty. But with as slow as I am, I don't think my assistance really interfered with anyone's day. So guess what we did? WE JUST KEPT GOING.
Lessons from the run: NUTRITION, NUTRITION, NUTRITION. I was so good on the bike sticking to my plan and by the time I got to the run I fell completely off. I left my extra bag of Skratch in transition, I forgot salt pills, I didn't have nearly enough food. And I felt it. I relied on what they had at aid stations, which is fine, but it isn't what I train on. And my electrolytes were completely off. I stayed hydrated, but had to pee way too often (yes, TMI, I know, but admit it, us triathletes love to talk about our urine).
Also, I need to trust myself that I can actually do it. I can keep running. And I can go faster than I think I can. I was so afraid of the fatigue. Around mile ten I lost it and started to cry, but instead of falling apart, I pulled myself together, started counting steps (Thanks for the tip Jimmy!). I remembered the promise I made to Jimmy and started to sing some of our group's motivational songs in my head.
The sag truck trailed directly behind us. I pretended it was the paparazzi.
Around mile 11 I actually saw another person ahead of me still on the course. It was my amazing friend Donna! The person who recruited me to join Team Z and start this silly sport in the first place. She was having a really difficult race, and is typically much faster than me. I barely caught up to her but we got to run a bit together. Then Scott came running at me, drunk off his crazy redhead rocker as always, and gave me a hug and a kiss. I told him he smelled. He reminded me I did too.
And I just kept going. Aileen came running out as well. I was in some kind of weird zone/trance as I saw the finish line about a quarter a mile ahead of me. I could hear the screaming of my teammates. Aileen was saying amazingly motivational and kind words and I for some reason really wanted to focus on counting my steps so I turned to her and rudely said SHHHHHH. Luckily I realized what an ass I was being and apologized.
I can't even write about the finish line, because NOTHING I write would even do it justice. Every teammate, total strangers, my parents, my coach, the race staff, volunteers all lining the shoot. They played my song, HAPPY by Pharrell, as I crossed. I tried to slap everyone's hands as I went by, but there were just too many. I was pissed a bit I didn't see a finish line photographer (I hope she didn't just go home). I crossed the line, put my hands on my knees. The Set Up staff person said, "Do you need to sit down?" I saw the medal in her hand and I said, "No, I just need that" and grabbed it out of her hand and put it around my neck. My apologies to whomever that was for my rudeness.
Another Back of the Pack benefit! An unbelievable finish.
I collapsed and cried in Aileen's arms. And then my Mom's. I was so overwhelmed. It was like all my energy had gone into moving forward and I couldn't talk or hear or process anything. I ate a protein bar, my senses started to return and I just sat at the Team Z tent and felt the love. I love you all more than I can even express. Less than three years ago I could not swim a lap nor run a full 5k. And look at me now! Look at us now!
And hey, Florence, THIS right here is why we don't NEED nice things.
On to the next one.
Labels: #winning, 70.3, race, race report, team z
