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Discussion: Race Report- I am a triathlete!
Subject: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Teresa S. Written on: 2006-06-25 17:39:30 Message: I did it, its history now, I am a triathlete! What an icky day though, weather wise! I remember reading Carrie M.'s race report that it rained all day and thinking "please don't let it rain for my race"... well, i wasn't so lucky. But I discovered that I can deal with anything like a true triathlete. The weather report said 60% rain in the afternoon. I didn't think this would effect the race because we would finish before noon... no such luck.. it drissled most of the morning then poured right after my run finish. I wrote before that I didn't sleep well Friday night..but i sure made up for it last night. I slept like a baby from 10pm to 430a. I woke up with my alarm and jumped right out of bed, ready to go. I had packed the night before and only had to eat, get dressed in my tri suit and leave. I felt so good, I made breakfast for everyone. I wasn't nervous at all. Then when we left for the site 15 minutes away, it started to rain.. just a drizzle, but it was warm rain and not sideways.. I thought it would stop before the swim start. Got to the site and discovered that I had left my goggles and cap at home! Stupid. I thought I packed them the night before with my towel, but then I remembered that I was debating carring them in my pocket of my tri suit and took them out of my bag and planned to carry with me. I left them on the sink at home. Hubby...the sweetie, dropped me off with the bike and drove home to get them. Lucky we live close. I proceeded to the bike transition spot to set up. I unpacked everything and did my best to attempt to keep things relatively dry, shoes upside down and that. By the time I finished getting the lay of the land, hubby was back with my cap and we proceeded to the swim start to view the waves. I was in wave 14, starting at about 7:52 so I got to watch the other swimmers from elites to age groupers (descending age) from wave 1 through about wave 11 before I went to staging. I wasn't nervous. I had a plan. I was gonna stay to the inside next to the rope. I am a right side breather and thought if I only had the rope on my right side, I could breathe and sight, and go straight without much fuss. Well... best laid plans. It seemed everyone had that same thought. Everyone that was slower than me stayed by the rope, and I never practiced passing in the pool, so when i bumped into them, I got water in my goggles and panicked. So then I held onto the rope also and tried to regroup. I was discouraged and disappointed (I have been doing a lot of swimming and I thought I could swim the whole thing without holding onto the rope and I could finish in the middle of my group. But alas, I panicked and held on for a while, then started again. A couple of mishaps and rope holding later, I did finish. At one point I looked behind me to see if anyone else was in my group, by pink cap.. and me and one other lady was last before the next caps, green. Then all of a sudden, I could swim faster! It was comical... I am more inspired by not finishing last than anything else. Transition was about a half mile away, so I jogged it and caught my breath and thought about what I would do in transition when I got there. I wanted to put my gps onto my bike from my wrist and that never happened. But the bike was great! Even though it was lightly drizzling, I felt confident and it was nice to pass many of the ladies that had passed me in the swim. I pushed it on the bike and took it easy on the corners, and adveraged 18.9. Very cool. The bike was two loops and by the second loop, I was in the groove and calm and talking myself into a good run.. After all, I had practiced longer distances. All I had to do was run my race. During transition, I realized that I hadn't gone to the bathroom before the swim (as advised) and even though it wasn't urgent, I am not fast or focussed enough to get through the run without a potty break... so I took one in transition... hopefully not too long a transition... and then out i went. My shoes were waterlogged, but it was warm and I wasn't uncomfortable at all. I started out and about 15 of my friends and family were at the start cheering me on and i got a burst of energy.. About a half mile later, I looked at my watchand I was on a 9mile pace and hr 180! oops.. i had gone out too fast for me. Would I bonk at the end? Of course my mind was ready to quit.. I was sure I had ruined my whole race by showing off at the beginning for the family and cameras... I wouldn't have anything left. But to my surprise, I settled into a rhythum, caught my breath, let my hr come down and ran steady for the rest. It was actually over before I expected and I felt great at the end! I ran past family and friends with high fives all around, huge grin and a steady sprint over the finish line. As soon as i finished, the rain started to pour. It was comical! It was like somebody knew I would be too discouraged if I had to run in a down pour. Just a little egocentric, ya think! Overall, it was the best experience! Thanks Jeff S. for seeking me out for a pic and congrats! That was soo cool. I will post pics soon. Maggie S. and Liz K. tell me how your races went. I did see Liz.. you go girl! But it was hard enough in the down pour to find my family let alone anyone else. swim 17:42 for .5 mile T1 7:16- gotta work on that, lol Bke in the rain-43:00-14miles T2 5:38 even with a potty break! Run 34:29 3.12miles These are from my gps and i admit to being slow to hit the button a couple of times so they may be off from the official. But I am happy. For my next race.. see already thinking of the next one.. I will work on my swim plan, work on my transition, and as always, I have to work on my run. But the improvements from my last tri 2 years ago are legion! And I feel great. Last time, I could barely walk and fell asleep in the car on the way to lunch... Thanks to everyone! Teresa
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: maggie S. Written on: 2006-06-25 18:27:04 Message: congrats, Teresa! It was a messy day, wasn't it? I also did much better this year than last and didn't bonk till now (didn't eat enough after). So i'm gonna go make dinner and then give a full report! sorry I missed you, but I was freezing and ran to get my dry clothes as soon as I finished.
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Elizabeth C. Written on: 2006-06-25 19:26:49 Message: Way to go Teresa and Maggie, sounds like a fun wet day!
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Stacie J. Written on: 2006-06-25 20:08:58 Message: Congratulations on a wonderful race! Thanks for posting your report and pictures -- I loved them all!
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Tim M. Written on: 2006-06-25 20:17:18 Message: Congrats, I thought I lost my googles for a couple of mins. this weekend too. Great race and I hope to be reading more in the furture.
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Liz K. Written on: 2006-06-25 22:01:19 Message: congrats Teresa. I'm just now finding enough energy to write back after that wet race. It was so wonderful to see your big smile at the finish. Inspiring race. When's the next one?
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: julie w. Written on: 2006-06-25 23:28:49 Message: Way to go! I loved reading all your details...just made me smile! Thanks for sharing! Julie W
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Ronald F. Written on: 2006-06-26 00:09:54 Message: Theresa, What a smile on your way to the finish! Thanks for the great race report and photo's. Sorry but I have to say, You girls are going to have to leave the blow driers and make-up at home or really work on the T1 times:-) Congratulations to all of you Liz, Maggie and Theresa. Ron
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Dan W. Written on: 2006-06-26 01:22:34 Message: Wow, Theresa - that was fun to read! Special "thanks" I bet, to your husband for those goggle, eh? I usually go to races alone, so I put everything out the night before, but don't actually pack until the morning of, since I'm the kind of guy who can go to play tennis and forget the rackets... Way to rally back! Thanks for the great story - looking forward to hearing about the next one!
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Jael A. Written on: 2006-06-26 10:13:25 Message: Teresa, I am so proud of you! You are a Triathlete!!!!!! Congratulations on a great race under the rain! You Rock! Jael
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Leo d. Written on: 2006-06-26 10:45:01 Message: Theresa, Great race report! Great race ! And congratulations on becoming a triathlete. Enjoy the next race and I am sure you'll beat the T1 time by minutes! Leo D.
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Jeanette M. Written on: 2006-06-26 11:39:16 Message: Congrats on your race. Thanks for sharing your story.
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Jeff S. Written on: 2006-06-26 13:11:45 Message: Teresa, You looked great, you did great, and even though the weather was crappy it was a great day. Congrats on a wonderful race, and I'm really happy that we got to meet up. Maybe we could work on getting together for a workout once in a while, although it sounds like you are light years ahead of me in terms of conditioning. I'm looking forward to my 1st on August 20th in Pleasant Prairie, hopefully I will have some good stories to tell like you did. Once again congrats and good luck with all of your future Tris. Jeff
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Paul B. Written on: 2006-06-26 13:13:12 Message: Great race and great report Theresa. I'm glad to hear you regrouped during the swim. Congrats on being a triathlete. Paul.
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Carie M. Written on: 2006-06-26 13:41:01 Message: Congrats Teresa! Yay!! Another one joins the ranks -- whoo hoo!!
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Bert K. Written on: 2006-06-26 13:53:12 Message: Yes! you are. Great race review. I think that if I had to sum up a triathlete with one word it would be perseverance. That is exactly what you exhibited! Bert
Subject: RE: Race Report- I am a triathlete! By: Asabi K. Written on: 2006-06-26 18:12:36 Message: I am sooooo proud of you. I loved reading your report and the support your husband gave was awesome !!! I'm sure he's sharing this medal with you . Looking forward to reading more tri reports because you've COME A LONG WAY BABY !!!
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