Subject: Finally got a chance to TRI By: Dan W. Written on: 2006-06-11 16:43:55 Message: First tri was Saturday...a novice tri at Blue Lake...1/4 mi, 12 mi, 3.1 mi...novice meaning most of us were newbies, though some chose it because there are no age waves, and you can compete with friends/family that would otherwise be in another group.
For first timers nervous about the water, you may want to skip the swim part...or it may be really helpful. I got to the race site earlier than usual (though later than planned), and should have had time to be ready. I was a little confused about setting up my T area and had some misfortune about getting into the bathroom in a timely manner (both bathrooms were occupied right in front of me with women applying makeup inside).
SWIM: I didn't get into the water until 5 minutes before my start time. I knew I wanted more practice than that, but tried to make the best of it. It usually takes me a while to get into a great rhythm but there was no time for that. I started in the back and off to the side. About 30 seconds in, I started noticing that I was moving forward in the group. That was exciting, but may have caused me to tri and speed up. I picked my head up to sight, and a wave of water went right down my throat, I didn't even swallow, it just went down. I tried to ignore it and kept swimming, but was short on breath (having not gotten any) and came up for air/sight again. Took in a wave of water again. Switched to breastroke to catch breath. Was a little peeved. Then something strange happened. Given the influx of H20, I couldn't breathe at all. No air in or out of my lungs. I tried hard to force it, but nothing. This really creepy sound was coming from my throat as I tried to force the air through. No go. I tried breathing through my nose (as though it had a link to a mythical third lung), and still nothing. By now, it had been nearly 10 seconds, my heart was racing, and I needed a breath. Nothing. My wetsuit felt like it had a drawstring around my throat and chest and someone was pulling it tight. It hurt. There was a boat nearby, and my attempts to breathe were getting louder. I didn't want the boat guys to notice I was struggling. I decided that I was leaving the lake with the other swimmers or on a stretcher (though I really preferred the former), so I tried to get back into my freestyle, hoping my body would relax and air would come. No go. It was a little scary, but I knew there had to be a solution. I came back up and basically began to doggy-paddle. Finally, I started getting air through and my heart felt like it was not about to pierce my suit. I probably should have breaststroked longer, to get my breath back and relax, but I went into my freestyle again. I could not go more than 20 yards without having to pull up for a breaststroke breath. I felt comfortable and confident again, but my chest never really felt right, and I could not go more than 2 strokes without breathing. My goggles repeatedly filled with water. Down the last stretch I tried to sprint back to shore, feeling that finishing strong would make me feel better. Goggles filled again. Swam until about knee-deep in water, to avoid running through deep water - that was the one thing that went right during the swim. By the time I got to T1, my suit was down around my hips, which was good, and made me feel like I was still with it okay mentally. One of the guys in T1 said he heard me triing to breathe during my "choke" and said he almost called for a boat. We all got a good laugh out of that. Things are funnier in the rearview mirror. Somehow, my 1/4-swim was timed at 8:49. It HAD to have been a little shorter than 1/4. I promise the rest of this RR is shorter...
BIKE: Good transition onto bike, ate a GU on the way out of the park, as morning gitters kept me from eating as much as I wanted. Biked just under 18 mph...fast for me. Aero bars are a new addition, as is new pedaling technique courtesy of Coach Ron (I still have a lot to improve on, Ron, but the 11 o'clock thing is really helping - thanks). It was fun to get onto the road and mix with the other race waves (there was a full sprint race, too, and us novice racers were the last wave...full sprint had a 1/2-mile swim, same bike and run as us). There were a lot of bikers out - new to me - and it was great. 12-mile bike timed at 40:16.
RUN: Came out of T2 fast and GUing again. The run course was packed, which was great, since the DUs and trail runs I've done before are far less populated. There was a woman on the course with one leg amputated at mid-thigh, no prosthetics, just those crutch-like supports. It was incredible. The run went well, though I felt a little tired near the 2-mile marker. Pushed on though, and set a PR of 23:37.
Final time was 1:18:30...6 1/2 minutes faster than my goal. For the novice, men and women's results are together, so I took 5th overall of 80 amongst the novice racers (14th swim, 20th bike, 5th run).
I know a guy from college who was in the regular sprint, and as I ran my bike into T2, I heard his name get called over the speaker as he finished, which was great. He was also near the finish for me and I got a high-five down the final stretch, which felt good as well.
It's a beautiful day here in Portland today (Sunday) and my wetsuit's seductive whisper is asking to take a trip to the lake, but I set appointments for work (dumb) and have to play homeowner in the afternoon. I anticipate much open water practice before my next sprint in six weeks and Oly in early September.
What I learned from first race: a) GET IN THE WATER EARLY AND GET WARMED UP! I believe this is how I ended up in trouble.
b) don't tri to swim too fast. This is also how I got into trouble.
c) don't sweat the small stuff in transition. In T1 I put my shirt on and the race number was missing one of the safety pins. I took the time to put #4 back in. Why? It was really just a waste of time.
d) I am hooked on the sport.
e) I have a full case of bike envy.
Sorry that this is the longest post in the history of ONTRI.
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Subject: RE: Finally got a chance to TRI By: Dan W. Written on: 2006-06-12 15:18:01 Message: Jenny, I'm OBVIOUSLY not an expert swimmer, but I often swim with a 2-2-4 or 2-2-2-4 approach. I only breathe to the right side, but can get into an okay rhythm "skipping" a breat every 3rd or 4th time around. This seems (seemed?) to help with sighting since I could sight on the "4" breath, where it seems my mouth is exposed a little longer anyway.
That said, Ron is much faster and more experienced...
Thanks guys (and gal) for the positive words.
Jael - That's very sweet, thank you. I really believe the swim time is a fluke (i.e. mistake). I'll still take it...
Ron - I will work on alternating sides in the pool, my left-side breathing is really bad.
Jamie - how in the world do those evolution runners land on the balls of their feet? It is a great video - thanks again.
Marty - Practice, practice, practice - you're right. Glad I'm not the only one. Thanks. One day, the swim will be ours!
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