Historic Badin Triathlon RR

Well, finally my first race report! Here it goes :)

I woke up saturday before my alarm went off.  Jumped in the shower to get refreshed since it had been hot since friday and I wanted to get the feeling of stickyness off. Got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast. The food of choice was toast with peanut butter... I am not a fan of peanut butter (I really don't like it) but it seems to work good for me, since I had tried it before. I got my drinks ready and headed out the door.

On the way to the venue I drank almost an entire bottle of Accelerade. The forecast was hot and humid, so I wanted to get started on hydration early.

I got there and set up transition. The area they selected was horrible. It was about 100 yards from the water and then when you got off your bike, you had to run about 75 yards, on grass, with your bike... Not exactly fast. I got lucky and my rack was right in the middle, and my number was right next to the aisle... very easy to spot. 

After setting up, I got body marked, applied sunscreen, used the porta potties and headed to the start line. Once there I warmed up in the water like Coach had suggested I do and I felt great. A little nervous but great.

Swim:

I was on the 3rd and last wave. All females and novice. I positioned myself at the back of the pack and when the horn went off I started swimming. It was a disappointing swim to say the least. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and every time I did, my chicken "clucked" (like coach would say) and I listened to it... EVERY SINGLE TIME. I do not know what the problem is with me in the open water... but I know I can swim better than a 2:55 x 100 meters... I was so slow it wasn't even funny!

Getting out of the water proved to be another challenge. The huge rocks at the bottom of the lake, made it impossible to stand up without hurting your feet! I could not believe they had not researched this. I ran to very LONG way to transition.

T1

I could NOT get my body to respond as fast as I wanted it too. I lost my balance, could not put my sock and shoes on, and then I could not clip on to my bike... The slowest t1 I have ever had. Period.

Bike:

The course was described as a with gently rolling hills.... My A$$. After getting out of T1, and being on the bike for about 3 minutes, you took a right turn and the first climb started. People were getting off their bikes and pushing them uphill. I struggled with it, set a small goal of NOT getting off the bike for the climb, and went to work. Let me say it HURT. The sucker was like trying to climb a wall on your bike. You basically had to keep pedaling or your bike would go backwards... It was that tough. Reached the top of the hill, spun my legs and took the only gel of the day. I think I did work hard on the bike, but I could have probably worked harder. Again, mistake that I a mat at myself about, and will make a conscious effort to not repeat. I finished the bike with a good split... 10 amongst the 47 females. 

T2

After I dismounted my bike, there was a 75 yard run to the "timing mat". I got into the area, racked my bike, and then again body did NOT want to move fast. i think the heat was starting to affect me. T2 longer than T1... WTF???

Run

I started conservatively... Took water right away out of t2 and run slowly so my running legs could catch up with me. The course was supposed to be be flat according to the description.... let me say, they need to do a better job at describing... Of course, it was not flat. I struggled during the run... A LOT. I think that while on the bike, I went the opposite way of not drinking enough, and filled my tummy with too much accelerade. It felt sloshy and heavy and it was making me super uncomfortable. Coach wanted me to take 1/2 a gel at the start of the run; but I could tell it would not be a good idea. So I took it along for later maybe. 

There was very little shade on this course, and I do not know what was up with it, but I was having chills while being hot (anyone experienced this before?). I was doing just fine until I saw the mile markers and realized I wasn't as far into the run as I had thought; and that is when I fell apart. My confidence left me, my chicken clucked again, and I walked. Convinced myself to keep running, so I ran a bit longer... telling myself, you can run 1 1/2 miles any day, pick it up now. So I would, for a while and then walk for a while. I had not gotten passed by women at all in this race, until on the run. Two ladies passed me. And I never caught them. After I crossed the mile 2 marker I decided that even if my lungs exploded and I was going to run to the finish. I picked up the pace and then about 1/4 of a mile into it, there was a beautiful downhill. It was just what my body needed. It was fast and effortless, and it helped me feel confident about finishing strong. I passed a couple of guys, and when I got into the final stretch I saw a guy and I wanted to pass him. I started sprinting an I almost had him until he turned around and saw me, so he picked it up too. I think he finished a couple of seconds  ahead of me. 

I crossed the finish line in 1:35:22. I was hoping for 1:30 or under, but the hills on the bike were  tough. I managed to get 3rd AG, but then again there were only 3 ladies racing my category :) it doesn't mean as much as I'd like it to mean, but at least I got a gift card to the local tri store that of course  will come in handy...

All in all, I think this was a good race; that taught me some lessons and let me realize how mad I get at myself for listening to my inner chicken. Next on the list, learn how to make the chicken stop clucking. Let's get to work.