Each New Day

To keep a record of what I accomplished on my triathlon times, here is my final stats. I was pretty pleased with all of my times and happy that I exceeded every goal I had set for myself!

Distance Short Clock Time 1:44:58
Chip Time 1:44:58
Overall Place 115
Gender Place 38
Division Place 38
Time Back 29:53 500M
Swim Rank 170 500M
Swim Time 18:06 500M
Swim Pace 3:37/M T1 Time 05:12
12 5M Bike Rank 130
12 5M Bike Time 51:01
12 5M Bike Pace 14.7mph
T2 Time 01:05
3 1M Run Rank 80
3 1M Run Time 29:31
3 1M Run Pace 9:31/M

The third and final leg of the triathlon was the 3.1 mile run. I felt pretty comfortable about this portion and did not spend as much effort in training for this portion, mostly because this is a daily run for me. I did continue running as part of my training, I just did not step up the training in this area.

My transition off the bike and into the run was pretty good, less than two minutes. I did stop to get a drink, which I could have skipped if I’d realized how many water stations there would be throughout the race. I felt tired but good as I started my run. Pretty quickly after I’d started, I heard my husband’s name called out as he crossed the finish line! I yelled and clapped for him, though I’m sure those around me thought I was nuts!

Not long after this I passed my son and friends as they were on their way back. We all “high fived” and I thought I was pretty close behind them. Little did I know how much the route snaked around, so I was probably close to two miles behind them!

The crew did a good job of keeping everyone hydrated and encouraged. They would clap and yell for us as we ran by. There was even a little cheerleading squad out to help encourage us on! As I rounded the bend back by the swim start, I heard my husband call out to cheer me on! He was sitting on the beach waiting for me! Just as I got to mile three, my son stepped out to give me a “high five” to encourage me on the last leg. Many onlookers called out “200 yards”. I tried to increase my speed, but had a hard time holding on to it for that last leg. At one point, just toward the end, I thought I might throw up, but held out to the very end! I looked at the clock as my name was called at the finish line. I knew I had beat the goal I set for myself, but did not realize by just how much until my husband reminded me that the clock started at the beginning of the race, and my start time was not until nearly 45 minutes after that!

I really enjoyed the whole experience and am glad I did it, even if I was a bit “out of my league”. It was a great feeling and I felt really good after finishing. I do think I’d like to do it again sometime. There is another local one coming at the end of May. We are talking about doing that one…

The second leg of the triathlon was the biking portion. The course was 12.5 miles, most of it along the sea wall extending west. We were so very thankful that the weather held out for us. When we left that morning it was raining, so we were afraid there would be slick roads. The weather had also forcast 30 mile an hour wind gusts. Thankfully the wind was mild, considering our location.

I felt really great on the bike ride! I suppose I was just so happy to be done with the swim portion! On the way out on the course, I felt like I was going pretty fast and was pleased to pass several people. I figured that since there seemed to be little wind on the way out, after the turn around point the wind would be against me. As I saw some of my friends pass by after the turn around, I could tell the wind was blowing against them. I thought it would be best for me to go as fast as I could while there was little wind.

Even after the turn around I felt good. My thighs/legs never burned. I was thankful for all those days spent in spinning classes! I think I only had three people pass me on this portion of the race, and two of those I passed back on the “home stretch”. I felt really good about the cycling portion, finishing in 51 minutes, just under the hour I thought it would have taken me.

The first leg of our triathlon was the open water swim. We swam in Offat’s Bay for .3 mile. The water was cold, though at 70 degrees, several athletes chose not to wear a wet suit. Being in the beginner wave, there were lots of athletes starting with us. I tried to get to the back of the pack. But there really were swimmers who were slower than me, so I decided to try to get in the gap area between the quicker ones and the slower ones. It was awful! Not only did I keep getting slapped and kicked, but some were right on top of my back! Especially those who were using the back stroke. I had really wanted to use the breast stroke, but the water was rough from all the swimmers and the jet skis the lifeguards were on so I swallowed a lot of water. I mostly ended up using doggy paddling and breast stroke with a few free style strokes thrown in to get away from the other swimmers. My time of 18 minutes was a pretty good time for me. But I found a video today that will really help me train for this kind of swimming!

I did it!! I just finished the Lone Star Triathlon! I beat the goal I had set for myself!

We did a .3 mile swim in the bay, a 12.5 bike ride on the seawall, and a 3.1 mile run around Moody Gardens! My times were better than expected! Although I did a really bad job on the swim, I beat my goal of 20 minutes, finishing it in 18:06 minutes. The swim pack was awful! I started in the beginner’s wave. Folks were all over each other! In the future I may start with my age group or the “larger women” group as there were less participants in each of these (and technically I won’t be a beginner.) My bike time was 51:01 minutes, better than the hour I thought it would take me. I loved the bike portion! The weather was so much better than forecast and I really enjoyed this portion of the race. I finished the race with the run in 29:31 minutes! This is better than my usual 30 minutes and I was happy as this was the last leg of the race! Although I finished last of our little group, I was pleased with my times. I feel really good about the whole thing and may try to keep up my training for another tri!

We were given a short “transitioning” clinic tonight at the YMCA. It is all about how to best utilize your time between events at the triathlon. I am not too worried about saving a second here or there, but I did learn some important tips.  For example, be sure that your helmet is on and buckled and strategy on how to accomplish this without forgetting. Placing needed items next to your bike is also important. Be sure that you have your race number ready. This is to be worn during the run. A belt was suggested as the easiest way to attach the number. I also learned that if there is a flat tire during the triathlon, you personally and you alone have to fix it. I learned that each swim wave will actually have to get into the water and sit there for a couple of minutes before being started.

There are so many little pointers that can be learned to help make transitioning between events eaiser and quicker. I am just hoping to finish successfully!

When my husband took my bike in to be fixed yesterday, he talked with the guys who own and run the shop. He has known them for a few years and they are always friendly. He talked with them about the upcoming triathlon. They will have a tent set up for their store there. They were there last year as well. They told my husband that last year about 90% of the athletes wore wetsuits to swim. That means the water is COLD!!!!

I’ve just committed myself. Along with my husband, my son and a family friend.

I put the registration forms for the triathlon in the mail today. So now I am committed to entering the race. I do want to do it. Really. It is fun. It’s just that I’ve done one in this same locale and I remember how very cold the water in the bay is. I thought the dates for this year’s event were later. But my husband found the old photos and this year’s dates are only three days later! Not enough to make a difference. We do have wetsuits to help us this time, but I am worried. The indoor heated pool that I’ve been practicing in is cold (to me!) I don’t know how I am going to handle the open water!

Maybe I should have just had myself committed.