Well....this is the 1st race I REALLY suffered in. I love training, love racing, but this hurt. I really wanted a PR, but kinda thought it was unlikely from the time I saw that my wave started almost a FULL 2 HOURS from transition closing.
there was a lot of hanging out and waiting at the start.
My swim went pretty well, I got tossed around a bit, but I was out in 35:01. I felt good throughout.
3:30 transition (I need gloves on if it's that long)
I don't know WHAT happened to me on the bike. I went out feeling weird. My quads felt weak, and then at mile 20, my right hip kinda seized all the way around my leg and my groin muscles felt so tight. I kept looking down at my saddle, at my bike, it was BIZARRE! I kept thinking, "Is THIS my saddle? Maybe I grabbed the wrong bike?!" I literally felt like my saddle was made of wood. I have NEVER had any issue with it before. UGH! I was in tears from the pain and frustration by mile 26, got it together and figured, I could either quit, or suck it up, with absolutely NO power in my legs and just chug along as ALLLLLL these 35-39 year old passed by me, sigh! So stubborn me, I just ticked down the miles at around 17.5 mph avg and got it done. Total bummer. I think my bike time was around 3:11 and change.
T2 2 min. and change
I was so freakin glad to get off the bike and my run started off well. I felt really strong the 1st 2 loops, but it was getting soooo hot. It was past noon by then, and even though the sunscreeners got me on the way out for the bike and run, all the water I poured on myself took it's toll and I was feeling burnt (I am a complete mess now). By the 3rd loop, I was falling apart, and apparently, the race was too, b/c I was hearing some volunteers at an aid station call out "SAVE YOUR CUPS!" REALLY?! By the 4th loop, I was cooked, dehydrated, basically a piece of beef jerky. I had tunnel vision, I had to stop and puke. Good times. And at that point, there was no way in H3LL anyone was draggin me off the course, so I chugged along, and finished.
Now comes my rant/whinefest...I don't know my run time OR official finish time (my watch said 6:01 at the finish line, so we'll go with that) b/c I think they turned off the clock around 7 hours and 30 minuted after the race officially began b/c no one in the later wave starts that finished after that time got complete results. I HOPE that this was accidental, but irritating regardless. And what I found equally as annoying, was that when I finally recovered enough to get my a$$ off the grass at the finish line area and make my way to the food, they had JUST run out of pizza. I thought I would cry. I mean, if they are gonna have a 2 hour swim start window, you'd think they would at least take care of the people they screwed at the finish line.
The truth of the matter is, as I said before, I LOVE racing, and training and this lifestyle and the people involved and even though my race sucked, I feel so lucky to have been able to be out there, uninjured, enjoying my sport. (but it feels good to whine and rant to people who care :)
that definitely sucks
that definitely sucks Sharon. I can only imagine what you were running through during the race and afterwards. That is definitely something they need to be more cautious of when they have a 2+ hour stagerred start.
Ouch. I think the wind
Ouch. I think the wind heading out was much more in our faces than many people expected. I don't know that I have a better answer, but I know a lot of the women were displeased with having to clear out of transition by 6:45 but their swim start not being until 8:40. I'm not sure which is worse, waiting around and then taking more heat on the course, or being swim over by all the gorillas.
It looks like there was a 3-4mph differential on the bike between the first half split and the second half for most folks. That first half hammered a lot of folks. Glad you stuck it out.
And running on baked concrete definitely hurt. But you PUKED and finished? Awesome, you're one tough chick.
what a Pain!!!! but you
what a Pain!!!!
but you finished...
really all that matters sometimes.
I think the worse thing that
I think the worse thing that ever happened to me was that they gave someone else my timing chip and I didn't get a time at all. In fact, I think someone else had an awesome time because they were in the full sprint and I was in the half. Sometimes it is good to know who you crossed the finish line with, that was the only way I knew what my time should have been. It feels weird to read other people's RRs. Our weather is still too cold for training and racing up here! Congratulations on what sounds like a successful race....
they just emailed me with my
they just emailed me with my official results (will I be getting Papa Johns pizza in the mail?)
run: 2:08:16 (the last loop killed me :(
finish time: 6:00:45
while it is no consulation
while it is no consulation to you nor will it ease the pain but if everything went right with every race we would not only never learn from the experience but it probably wouldnt be as much fun (in that i must torture myself i am a triathlete kinda 'fun' way) ! i think it is these races that bring out the best in us. well done and great effort to get across that line !
Sounds like a tough day but
Sounds like a tough day but you are stronger because of it.
The bright side:
You started your season with a HIM. That is awesome and not an easy thing to do even if things go well. You now have an amazing base and can ramp up all your workouts because of it.
Your next race is going to be better.
You got tested an d passed. Many would have given up or given in.
Congratulations for making it through.
nice going! one HIM in the
nice going!
one HIM in the bag!
jtrimom wrote:finish time:
[quote=jtrimom]finish time: 6:00:45[/quote]
6:00[b]:[i]45[/b][/i]. Must've been the gloves.
TriSooner wrote:jtrimom
[quote=TriSooner][quote=jtrimom]finish time: 6:00:45[/quote]
6:00[b]:[i]45[/b][/i]. Must've been the gloves. [/quote]
argh!!!!! Like the big brother I never had!
That sucks jtrimom. Just sad
That sucks jtrimom. Just sad that bad race planning can mess up months of training. Do you think you puked for 45 secs? If so, I'm giving you the sub-6. :)
Wow great effort, and nearly
Wow great effort, and nearly sub six, I have my first HIM in ten weeks and would love to get a time that fast. Well done for toughing it out.
Rob
Anybody can have a good day
Anybody can have a good day and finish well. Not everybody can have a rough day and still finish.
Despite all the overall suckiness, you showed you can persevere and finish.
That my friend is mental toughness and you surely have it.
Congrats on being one tough mama! ;-)
Wow! I am proud to say I
Wow! I am proud to say I know you, Sharon (at least... internetally). Well done. You are a genuine racer.
What a crappy thing to
What a crappy thing to happen to such a nice person :(
You women get screwed as they always start you end of pack as guys like me (M 40-44) get started after the pros as we'll be meanies and creeps as we're total ego maniacs which scares the women thus they start us first and hold you back so you're not able to become "Collateral damage" or road kill or a victim.
That is so sad the way you got neglected like that post race, especially after you stuck it out and finished on a positive note from your grueling ordeal.
Ahh that is tough! Gotta
Ahh that is tough! Gotta love the delayed starts :( But congrats on getting through the day!