Our First Triathlon (reposted from www.daretobecome.com)
Triathlon for Hope – July 2011
Earlier in the spring Wendy and I signed up for our first triathlon. We were excited to try something new so signing up for a women’s only charity triathlon would be the smartest thing we could do. First, the distances are slightly shorter so we could dabble at this without biting off more than we could chew. Second, the majority of women that participate in these women’s only triathlons are first timers also.
To be sure we wouldn’t forget anything we packed the night before. Holy wow triathlons take A LOT of gear!
 |
| Packing the day before |
The race would not start formation until 7:45 a.m. but transition opened at 6:30. As we were totally newbies, Wendy picked me up at 5:45 a.m. (insert major yawns here) and we arrived at the lake at about 6:15 to pick up our packets and figure out setting up our transition area.
And we were able to witness this beautiful sunrise over the water.
Standing there seeing the sun over the water was just perfect. It felt great to be alive. I’m pretty sure Wendy was feeling the same thing.
First we had to get our age group numbers marked on which made us feel like the hardcore bad asses that we are!
 |
| Wendy |
 |
| Me |
Then we entered the transition area with all our stuff. This part took way less time than I thought it would. Less than five minutes of fiddling around. Most of the time was spent biting our nails with other first time triathletes. 99% of the time all the women are going to be supportive, but of course, there is always that 1% that comprises the “know it all” woman who acts like a snotty booger. We encountered her. My rack neighbor walked away when “snotty booger woman” said some things that were not very nice. Believe that there is Karma in the world because there is. When we were together again in transition after the swim she was shouting “I’ve lost my sunglasses does anyone have another pair?” bahahahaha….yeah…sure we want to help you. When you say negative things to people or think negative things about someone, that will come back to bite you on the ass. I didn’t get to be my age and not figure out that piece of learning. Be kind….always.
Yeah, that is my “cripes it’s is EARLY and I didn’t have any coffee” face. But, all ready now, including my cute beach towel with the bright spots to make it easier to find. Not sure that helped at all. When you enter back into transition it is pretty much a dazed feeling of confusion anyway.
Wendy’s wave went first and mine was 3:00 minutes behind her. Right here waiting for my wave to start my heart was absolutely hammering in my chest. So hard it felt like it was going to pop out. I didn’t feel scared but I was so excited and my adrenaline was just racing. The whole event had a undertone of excitement, plus it was my first triathlon. I’ve never experienced this much excitement at a race start, not even at my marathon start.
And then we were off, running down the sand and into the water. I’m just praying no one jumps on me when we hit the water and takes me down.
And here is the moment that nothing went right for me. Between the racing heart beat, dash into the water, and all the adrenaline, I could not catch my breath or breathe normally. I planned to freestyle the swim and I just could not find my stroke. I felt like I was just floundering out there. Since I was breathing so hard I felt like I was almost hyperventilating I couldn’t put my face in the water without getting a mouth full of lake water (yummy….NOT…burp). Still I wasn’t scared, but it was just absolute chaos for me. I flipped over onto my back and thought I’d just float a few seconds and try to breathe, that didn’t work. I also realized my legs were kicking like mad and tiring me out and I wasn’t getting anywhere. My goggles were foggy and I couldn’t see well. I think I might have been close to a semi-panic and then I remembered what my friend Rhonda said “focus on only the next buoy…nothing beyond that.” So I took it one buoy at a time. Also going through my mind was “man o man, I hope Wendy isn’t thinking that she wants to kill me!” She was really nervous about her swim because she wasn’t able to get the amount of training in that she wanted for the swim piece.
Through my foggy goggles I looked up and swore I saw my son standing in the water. The shorts and shirt looked exactly the same. I squinted and saw it was a just a lifeguard, but it gave me a bit of calm when I thought of him. Somehow I made it. Listen up here because I did not. When an experienced triathlete tells you to make sure you practice in open water – listen to them and don’t be a jackass! I didn’t and I paid for it. Believe me when I tell you swimming in a swimming pool is NOTHING like an open water swim, especially when you are surrounded by people. Do not make that rookie mistake I did thinking my indoor swim was so strong I didn’t need to listen. When I reached that last buoy and stood up I was never so glad to be done with something as I was at that moment. A quick glance at my watch showed 10 minutes and I was shocked as it felt like 20 minutes out there. As crappy as my swim was, my time was only 2 minutes slower than in the pool.
 |
| Get me the hell out of there! |
That is how close my family was standing to the water at my departure. Even though I was choking back tears I was so damn proud of myself for facing my open water fears. Seeing them there just proved to me that I did the right thing. I gave my little Coach T the thumbs up sign because I DID IT! I finished the swim.
No time to waste though or catch my breath. All the spectators are screaming, go go go, hurry hurry hurry. Ack! I’m racing barefoot into transition, thanking my lucky stars I was smart enough to wear the same clothes for the swim for the bike and run. Arms shaking like leaves I pull on my socks and slip into my cycling shoes. Whip on my race belt that already has my bib attached (thank you GOTRIbal!), and snap on my bike helmet all the while I’m dripping water everywhere. Shove on my Oakleys and I’m ready to roll. T1 time: 2:18 – awesomeness!!!!
Meanwhile I’m running my bike out of transition still breathing like an overheated racehorse. I feel wobbly everywhere and all I can think of was “damn! my legs are weak and shaking, what if I can’t get my leg over the bike bar?” Thankfully, I made it on to the bike without falling, felt and heard the click of my shoes snapping into my pedals and I was off. I was worried about Wendy. I didn’t get a chance to see if her bike was still on the rack or if she was already out on the bike. It took me 7 miles of cycling to get my breathing back under control. Finally, after that I got it back and my confidence was restored. I passed a woman on a cruiser with a baby carrier on the back of it and I smiled. I was proud of that woman for coming out and participating in this tri. You don’t need a $3,000 tri bike to participate in a tri. I saw so many kinds of bikes – even mountain bikes. A tri bike might be easier but not necessary. Use what you have and be proud.
I pushed as hard as I could given where I was at the moment. At mile 10 we had to come up a 1/4 mile grade 6 hill. It was tough but manageable. Anytime I can take a hill seated on my bike without standing up is a win for me. When I was going up the hill I passed a woman who was cranking up on a mountain bike with tires fatter than my fist. I can’t even imagine how hard that was. She was talking to herself. I heard her say “if you can do this, you can do anything”. It gave me goosebumps when I heard her and I thought “you GO girl!”
One other bit of why I knew choosing a women’s only tri was right for us….Wendy dropped her chain on her ride. Another woman stopped her bike to help her! Wendy told her to please keep going because she didn’t want her to be responsible for her losing time. But isn’t that wonderful? There is no bucket of gold at the end of these events – help your fellow human when you can. It shows much about you. There will always be other races.
Back to transition, the crowd still screaming go go go, hurry, hurry, hurry. I toss my bike back up on the rack, kick off my cycling shoes, put on my running shoes, drop my helmet, put on my hat and start running to transition exit. T2 time: 1:49!!! Yowza. All was smooth in there. Then my heel hit the ground and I almost fell down. Not only were my legs tired from the cycling, it felt like someone was jabbing an ice pick into my bad heel. It has never hurt this bad. I passed by my husband and could only point down and say “my foot!!!” He knew. He gave me the look that said “just do your best”. So that is what I did and it was slow. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t even moving but I’m sure that was the sensation of coming off the bike. All I wanted was to finish. My pace didn’t mean anything to me. I saw Wendy during the run portion and that was perfect. She told me later that she wasn’t thinking about killing me during the swim but she thought it during the run. LOL. It told her not to worry, by the run I felt like killing myself for both of us.
The first person I saw at the finish was my son. He was the one who snapped this finish line photo. I am so glad he is taller than me because I literally clung to him after I crossed that line. I gave that course everything I had at every moment. I’m proud of that.
And we DID IT! We conquered that triathlon. There were many learnings for us, which was what we were there to do. To watch, participate and learn for next time.
 |
| Champions! |
I had a few takeaways. For me, the triathlon was harder physically than a half-marathon, but WAY more fun! In distance running, the body can self regulate. In my experience, the body will automatically slow down and speed up when necessary. In a triathlon it feels “balls to the walls” every second! Everything is HURRY HURRY HURRY. The pace is frantic and furious and gloriously full of adrenaline. As hard as it felt, I had probably the best time during this event than any other I’ve participated in. The tri-bug has bitten and I know I can speak for Wendy when I say we WILL be back for more.
And really….I want to thank Wendy immensely. She is always so supportive and ready to jump off the deep end with me when it comes to all these zany ideas I get. Wendy never even hesitates. Having a friend to do things like this with is such a bonus and makes the experience priceless. It is my wish for you that you all have a “Wendy” in your life because having a partner to help you through the good and the bad takes all the fear away.
