Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I love this pic.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 | Original Musings by
Jen
I love this picture. To me, it represents the best moment of the Triathlon (well, the best two).After the swim I struggled with, I was on my bike, struggling up a hill and struggling to keep my cramp at bay. About the time I was wondering why the hell I was keeping going, I get to the top of the hill and I hear, "GOOOOOOO MOMMMMMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" really loud.
My brother, future SIL, and my daughter were at this intersection. Fortuitously they were late and unable to enter the park and the Sheriff had stopped them at an intersection. The first intersection at the top of the first hill of my 12 mile ride.
It was meant to be.
At that moment, the race was no longer about protecting my ego and simply finishing to avoid the embarrassment of a DNF. Now, it became something much bigger and much more important. It was about showing my daughter the results of those workouts I had sacrificed some of my precious time with her for (as a single parent, I feel so much of our time is eaten away by "have tos"). I needed to show her that you don't quit.
Most importantly, I couldn't let my 7 year old down.
This hug post race meant the world to me, and I'm so glad my friend captured this picture, because to me, it emodies the spirit of my race.
(if the moment on my bike was the best moment, finishing was the 2nd best!)
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Midwest Mayhem Part 1 - The Swim
I'm not sure what to write here. When recapping this part of the Tri to a friend on Sunday, I ended up crying. It was not what I expected and while everyone keeps patting me on the back saying, "at least you finished", I'm not one to just finish, I want to excel at it.
But panic set in.
Then a cramp.
And unfortunately that set the tone for the rest of the day.
*thinks she should immediately register for another sprint to get this behind her*
First, everyone was talking that the swim was 600m, not 500m. Still not sure if this is true, but still freaks a person out.
Another surprise is that it was a treading water start, which actually was ok with me. The treading for 2-3 minutes was a little more of a warm up. At race time, they announced the water was 82, but outside temps at 75. Perfect day really, especially for Kansas in mid-summer.
*jump off the dock with 39 other people and wait the 5 minutes in between heats*
I did ok with the start, stayed towards the back and outside. Then it hit.
*white flash of lights in my head*
I realized the water was so dark I couldn't see my hand when pulling under me.
*crap! I've only gone 50 yards*
At this point, I'm swimming at the angle of a teeter totter with one person rather than flat. I am guessing this is what caused the best part of the swim.
The cramp. (insert doomsday music here)
About the 300m mark, I felt it. It was sudden. It was painful. As I wrote yesterday, my first reactions were: 1. yelling, "cramp" and 2. rolling on my back, float, with my knee pulled to my chest and try to keep my pain-induced obscenities to a indoor decibel level.
* Oh my &$*(&#$(* leg! OMG! (*$&#)(*&% NO! I can finish on my own! ($#*$&(#*$& I'm ok! No, don't help me! (*#&(FUOI#%&#*
At this point, I swim approximately 75-100 yards and stop to treat water and give my cramp a break. It hurts. I stop 4 more times before I reach the beach. To give the water rescue people credit, they stayed by me the whole time.
Another swimmer was also having trouble, and I told her after the race when we were the only 2 left in the water with 200 yards to go, that she was my inspiration to keep going.
*have to catch that other yellow cap*
Because if I had been alone out there, I would have quit I think. I hurt and the distance seem insurmountable to a beginner swimmer (I took lessons 5 months ago in Feb) who had never swam (swum? swimmed? stupid verb) more than 1000 yards in a session.
When I finally made it to the beach, there was a small run up the sandy hill and the cheer from the crowd was both awesome and embarrassing. I was happy for the support, but knew they were cheering because most probably thought I wouldn't finish.
I almost forgot to step on the mat for my chip timer. Thank you volunteers for yelling at me.
I almost forgot to put on my helmet before grabbing my bike I was so flustered. Thank you husband of woman near me who reminded me and also told me to slow down, take a Cliff shot, drink some water, and gather myself. You're awesome. I was flustered for being last out of the water and in pain. Can't believe I almost forgot to drink and get my helmet!
*facepalm*
I hopped on my bike and the swim and T1 were finished. Tri 1 Jen 0.
Next time? I won't let a defeated attitude get me so early in the race.
Yes, I said next time! I'm not done with Triathlons yet!
Triathlon Mistake #1 of the Day:
Underestimating the open water swim. Why can't the water in a lake be as still clear as the indoor pool? Life would be easier. I still can't figure out why the murkiness caused such a panic. Maybe because I couldn't see the bottom? Any ideas?
Funny Triathlon Moment #1 of the Day:
Women who wore makeup for the tri, and obviously were not wearing waterproof mascara as the infamous racoon look proves later in the day.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I Answered My Own Question on Sunday (also titled I Didn't Drown Due to My Cramp)
I jokingly asked on June 19th while mentally preparing for my tri the following:As my first triathlon is approaching, I have so many questions.... ranging from, how do I let the kayak life guards know I'm drowning to what socks to wear to how to setup my transition station to what to do with my hair. Seems frivolous to some, but to me, it's a worry and not for aesthetic reasons either.From my experience last Sunday (write-up coming I promise you my friends and family) I now have an answer to the question in bold. Yell, "CRAMP!".
It works.
For real.
Just in case you're wondering.
I also learned you can roll over, float on your back, and curse loudly (personally, I think KLM Marketing should give me an award for my creative string of multiple cuss words used in a single breath) until the calf cramp subsides and they will float patiently next to you.
All valuable lessons.
[side note: I may have been the last one out of the water, I came out of the water on my own to finish my first sprint tri.]
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Funny Triathlon Conversation of the day!
I was asking a friend if he had ever used one of these or known anyone who had (I wanted to hold my inhaler)
His response?
" I think it'll hold it... It held my Zippo lighter and a half-pack 'O smokes during last month's Half Ironman race :)"
I about fell out of my chair laughing.
This might have been funnier for me than most, but thought I'd share.... I'm getting nervous about the race! I'm starting to think my lunchtime workouts aren't enough, and it's only 12 days away, not much I can do now.
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