Day One Hundred and Three

Race Day

Olympic Distance Triathlon

.9 mile swim, 20.93 mile bike, 6.2 mile run

I was pretty nervous last night.  Not because I don't think I can complete this, but because I feel like I need to complete this and feel wonderful after - otherwise I will fail when it comes time for the half.

We woke up really early - 4 am so I could eat (hopefully digest) and calmly get ready for the race.  Things were unclear going into this race.  I got an email that said I was going to have to cycle 5 laps, the website for the event said I had to ride 8 laps, and the prerace meeting yesterday said I would be riding 6 laps...I need clarity.  I like to be organized and know what I am doing.  So I got to the event early set up my transition area and headed down the path to the swim.  I was there right on time 6:45 with about 10 other athletes ready for our meeting.  It did not start until about 15 minutes later.  These are all minutes that rack my nerves.  I just want to get going.  The race director explained that we would be starting after the men's sprint distance and doing two swim laps.  Between the laps we had to get out of the water, run a hundred or so yards and jump back in for our second lap...weird right?  Then we would run .78 miles to transition one (T1) and proceed to bike 6 laps and then run over the Golden Gate and back.

The first group to start was the woman's sprint distance.  Surprise to these girls there was a current.  These poor girls were really off track and drifting away from the course.  They had to swim much farther than they anticipated.  Then the men's sprint took off.  The same thing. They were doing a little better because they had just seen what happened to the girls, but the men were also victims of the current.  Once the guys started I jumped in the water to warm up (really cool down in the bay) for my swim.  After seeing the guys struggle the race directors decided to reverse the course for the Olympic distance competitors. This meant I had to freeze for a while to let the men's sprint athletes finish their swim.  It was about 45 minutes later that we actually got in the water.  I met a nice lady in the meantime.  This was the only other person competing that I really talked to and she was also doing this race as a prep for Barb's Race, my final half iron man. Fun to meet and talk, killing time while we waited for the guys to finish their swim. 

The swim was difficult for me, that is an understatement, I felt like I might drown.  I am comfortable in the bay, but not with people.  The first few minutes I was doing great, finding my rhythm.  I had started to the left of everyone so was not jockeying for a spot.  But as I approached the first buoy (which was yellow - bad planning to give all the swimmers yellow caps, it would have been nice to just look up and quickly sight the buoy, but I had to look not only for color, but for the correct shape to make sure I was headed to the buoy not the head of an off course swimmer) things got rough.  Everyone funneled from a broad group to a tight line to get around the buoy.  All the reasons I only played two weeks of water polo came back in flashes as I was kicked in the stomach, kicked in the face and then someone actually reached over my head and ripped off my goggles forcing me to freak out and find them behind me in the water.  Now in my water polo days (all ten of them) all of these things would have been on purpose, but in this swim it was all just friendly accidents. This put me into a bit of a panic and I struggled to swim to the next buoy.  Once I got to the final buoy I more comfortably headed to shore, fully intending not to get back in the water.  But knowing Ryan's Uncle and my friend Rheana (both actual open water swimmers) were on shore pushed me to jump back in - throw caution and my fear of being drowned by another well intending swimmer to the wind.  The second lap was much better.  I quickly found my rhythm and was on my way.  No problems, just a comfortable bay swim!

Love these two images - thank you Ryan

After the run I stuffed my wetsuit in a bag and ran .78 miles to my T1.  Sweet Ryan accompanied me on his bike.  I got to bitch about how I got pushed around in the water and then I was able to let it go for the rest of the race.  I am not really into the transition areas, not speedy, just get ready and head out.

Bike - Looking at the bike course R and I thought that it would be a mile climb a mile flat and a mile downhill - repeated 6 times.  But somehow we misjudged the mile flat.  The ride was either up or down.  Really difficult first lap, but after that it was a pretty fun course.  My mom, brother, Madeline, Rod, Kami and of course Ryan were at the top of the climb - both ways, so each time as I was looking to end my climb I had the encouragement of family there cheering me on. 

Run- I look forward to the run.  Maybe because it is the one thing I know I can do for a long time (slowly) without falling down or drowning.  The run was across the Golden Gate Bridge. I started out great and then suddenly found myself at Fort Point - the tri's poorly marked course did not send me on the right path, I missed a turn which added some distance - as I stood at the base of Fort Point I wondered how I would get up to the bridge - an elevator??  No I have to go back and find a path up.  So I did.  The run across the bridge was nice, but it would have been good if there was a sign letting the tourists know that a run was going on, we really had to weave through people.  Ryan met me a little over half way, a nice treat to be able to finish the run with him.  Hey check out this picture - I almost look legitimate.

Overall the race was good.  Slow, but good.  I felt like I could have done it twice.  That is how I needed to feel after.  This sort of comment drives Ryan nuts, he wants it all left out on the course.  I need to know there is more in the tank for next month. And I need to be smiling