When I was in my early 40's I took on the challenge of trying marathons. I did a few an then decided that was just not for me. But this year (now almost 52 at time of race) I decided to join a couple co-workers and try out first triathlon. I kind of always wanted to try one but could never commit to signing up....I think the thought of the swim always stopped me. I liked this Xterra event that Kim fount in Alabama because it was an offroad sprint (750 m lake swim, 16km trail ride, and 4.5 km trail run). I thought I could handle all those distances and so I signed up :)
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| Almost time for the swim |
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The heard gathers
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| I survived! But was practically drowning the first 300m. Yes, I feel how I look! Diane wasn't sure I was ok LOL. |
"The sea was angry that day my friends" (sorry - i love that George quote from Seinfeld). I almost had to give up in the very first stage. I thought I could just handle the swim if I took it slow. I almost didn't do a single practice swim for the event but I did end up going to UGA to swim in a pool with Emily for 750m. It sucked in the pool but it didn't really prepare me. I should have done MUCH more. It is totally different in a lake. All of the sudden you are just out there...and your body isn't warmed up and in cardio mode yet....and you want to breathe...but you can't breathe the same way you do when you run. It SUCKED. And I inhaled a large volume of water on top of that and started choking while gasping for air. I was having a mini panic attack and was really worried I might have to raise my hand for help. But I kept grinding through it and eventually found a breathing rhythm and very slow free-style stroke I could handle. I was probably almost the last person out of the water but I made it! My face my not show it but I was pumped!
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| Transitioning from the swim to the bike |
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| Let stage 2 begin. The ride! Has to be better than the swim right? Maybe not. |
The ride was not easy either. It was constant up and down for 16 km (over 9 mi I think) and it was single track most of the way so it was really hard to pass and be passed. I had to stop numerous times to walk my bike through some technical parts I couldn't handle (or was too nervous to try) and I fell once while trying to pass. I just scraped and bruised my right knee-nothing major. I think was on the bike for about 90 minutes. My upper body was actually exhausted from holding my body weight up during all the downhills I guess. It was exhausting. I thought the bike section was never going to end. On a couple occasions I actually asked other riders if they knew if we were almost done.
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| The home stretch. It was a simple run but I was already spent...so it was slow going. |
Well it was brutal but I finished. I way underestimated the amount of effort and time this was going to take. I finished in about 2 hours and 24 minutes and was exhausted. I felt nauseous for an hour or 2 but didn't get sick.
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| Diane took this photo of about when I finished but you can't see me. I'm not sure if I'm not in view yet or if I already finished. |
We all had plans to have some beers after the race but that didn't happen. Kim went home early with an injured leg and Melissa felt even worse than me. I guess none of us really knew what we were in for. Poor Kim actually saw a fell rider in cardiac arrest during her super sprint race. She heard later that he did get to a hospital and was alive that night. Prayers for him.
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| Some chili cheese Fritos after the race. You can tell that smile was forced and I still feel like shit. |
So would I do it again. Well my answer immediately afterwards was - HELL NO! But then the next day I realized how much I underestimated the event and how under prepared I was. I was totally happy with my performance and I really only wanted to finish but I think I could do a lot better. So now that I know what it is all about and how much training I should do.....I'm considering a 2nd go. We'll see.
And thank you for going with me Diane! You were a great pit crew and I loved seeing you at every transition!
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