Lake Mead Triathlon
Today was my inaugural Olympic distance triathlon. For starters I'm sure I need to get better at scheduling events. The week before this event was spent at my company's national convention. Little sleep, poor eating choices, and no workouts.
The story of my summer.
Well, that's what this one was all about for me....a longer distance and getting myself back on track.
A portion of the proceeds for today's event went to benefit Operation Rebound.
I was most humbled and impressed to see so many veterans/amputees/double amputees running in the sprint race.
The morning temperature was a beautiful 56, with a water temp hovering near 68 degrees. No worries, I had my trusty "whale suit" to keep me warm. Being an inaugural event and late in year, the field was not too large.
I was one of 19 women registered.
As I surveyed the area, I noted that the distance from lake's edge to bike rack seemed close to a mile.
Yes, I am exaggerating, but it was a long way.
30 minutes before the start of the race, as always, I proceeded to the porta-potty line. This is when it really pays off to be in an event with limited participants,
NO WAIT! Yippie!
I began to apply my wetsuit. I'm about to swim a mile, bike 25, and run 6, but putting on the wetsuit has me huffing, puffing and actually breaking a sweat.
This can't be good.
15 minutes to race time, into the water I go. Yup, it's a little cold.
Many people have experienced the dressing of a small child to go play in the snow. First the long underwear, then pants, snow-pants, jacket, hat, gloves, scarf....just as you finish they look at you and say....I have to go to the bathroom.
I'm cold and I have to go to the bathroom. Not Gonna Happen. No way, no time. Being the resouceful, quick thinking person I am...
Mom... now would be a good time to look away from your screen.
I pee my pants, or more specifically, my wetsuit.
Talk about two birds, one stone. My bladder's empty and at least my lower extremities are warm. The horn blows signaling the start of the swim and I quickly forget about potty lines and cold. Only 19 women and never have I been swum over, had my feet grabbed or been run into as much as the start of this race. The challenge in this event was to learn a pace for a longer race. That being the case, my swim was at a controlled easy pace. I walked most of the way to the bike racks so I'm sure my swim time could have been faster....
T1 was uneventful and slow..off to the bike. My goal was to ride 15 to 16 mph. In reality I only managed 12.
What is it about hills? Seems everyone of any size, shape, or bike model can blow by me on the uphills. I've tried everything in my training and it continues to happen. Why, oh why???
Okay, enough of that. Bike done. T2 a little longer than expected due to a bathroom stop, as I have yet to develop the courage to actually relieve myself on dry land like so many others. I suppose that day will come.
Perhaps I should rename this post The Porta Potty Chronicles.
The run was uneventful, although I did find that in an event of this time length I need to learn about taking in nutritiion. The half of banana I ate at the run turn around really gave me some energy. I finished the race 2
minutes ahead of my projection and Dead Last!
More importantly, I'm happy with my time and where in the past I would have been totally embarassed to finish last, I am proud to have competed and completed this event.
If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race. Your goal can be to come in first, to improve your performance, or just finish the race its up to you.
-Dave Scott, Triathlete
