MY FIRST TRIATHLON

It's been quiet on my blog.  To bring you up-to-date, here is a run down of what I've been doing these past months:

• I learned how to swim and have been fine tuning my strokes and improving my endurance
• I bought my first road bike and have been cycling more

So you see, I've been suffering from an identity crisis.  Am I Running Girl, Cycling Girl, or Swimming Girl?

I am all THREE!

On September 22, 2012, I participated in my first triathlon.  I opted for a sprint tri- 400 yd. swim, 13 mi. bike, and 3 mi. run.  Here is how it went:

SWIM

Shadow Cliffs Regional Park

I felt confident going into the race.  I put in a lot of hours in the pool and I practiced swimming with a wet suit in open water...okay, just once.  It was the first time I've ever worn a wet suit. I was surprised by its buoyancy.  After practicing in it, I felt the swimming, which I feared, was going to be no problem.  The idea of the wet suit gave me a sense of confidence.  Well...

Nothing prepared me for the splashes, the swells, the crowd, and the vastness of my surroundings.  I freaked out, but didn't panic.  I tensed up, but managed to float.  But I could not get myself to perform a proper swim.  I'd catch myself gasping for air and losing my technique.  As a result, I developed a bad calf cramp- the kind that stiffens like a rock that you can't get rid of.  I ended up doing a back stroke with one leg.  Imagine the difficulty of swimming a straight line.  

The Life Boards I refused to get on even with a cramp

The swim was daunting.  I felt defeated.  But I refused to give up.  I backstroked the rest of the way.  After a while, It looked like I was the only one left in the water.  I was so relieved when I saw the end in sight.  I didn't experience the, "Yay! I did it!" kind of reaction.  It was more like, "Finally."  

The fact that I just learned how to swim 1-1/2 years ago wasn't enough to feel accomplished.  My competitive nature argued, "I could've done better.  I should've practiced harder." 

Lessons learned:

• Practice in open water more than in the pool
• Learn to breathe on my less dominant side (my left)
• Learn the breast stroke too

CYCLING

There isn't much to say about the cycling event.  The roads were straight and mostly flat. The ride was fast and smooth.  I was relieved to be out of the water and on wheels.

That's me, #594!

In this leg, I passed quite a few cyclist.  I was determined to gain some time. Each cyclist I passed was a step up from being last.  

RUNNING

Of all the 3 legs, running is my strength.  But after having swam and cycled, I wasn't so sure.  

The run started with a hill.  I was not happy about that.  In fact, there were a couple of small inclines that felt like huge mountains.  By this time, I felt that I wasn't going to meet my expectations if an 8 minute mile.  So, I ran the best I could. Again, it felt good whenever I passed someone. 

In the end, it was bitter sweet.  I didn't experience the feeling I got the day I finished my first marathon or my first duathlon.  It was the swim that bothered me.  I had imagined a better performance.  But I am happy with my cycling and running.  It made up for my swimming.

My finish time:  1:15:01

I managed to pull ahead and finish in the middle of the pack (a tad better than average overall and in my age group).  

What I accomplished so far this year:

• I learned how to swim and swam in open water for the first time
• I picked up cycling
• I completed my first triathlon

I TRI!  

~HAPPY RUNNING, BIKING, AND SWIMMING!

Encouraging Words

When my friends learned that I ran marathons, I received mixed reactions like, “Wow, that’s amazing. I wish I could run 26.2 miles like you,” to “You’re crazy! Why would you want to run 26.2 miles?”

Unless you participate in an organized run, you’ll never understand the excitement and thrill of being a part of a race. It’s very exciting to be among thousands of runners with a passion for running, and in the midst of the energy that they bring. It’s also heartwarming to be surrounded by an overwhelming number of people who come to see the race. These supporters are out there because they admire what we do. They offer us encouragement and support through claps, whistles, signs, and cheers. This is what keeps us going.

No matter how many marathons I’ve ran, each time feels like my first. I get nervous at the start of every race. It’s common. Afterall, 26.2 miles is a lot of miles to cover on foot. And I never know how my body will perform or how my mind will react at a given point in the race. Only one thing is certain; that there will be supporters, who I can rely on, to offer me encouragement.

Good job Looking good

You can do it

AWESOME you’re almost there

way to go keep it up

I find that cheers help me run faster than I normally would run. When bystanders are sparse, my pace slows a little and my energy drops. But as soon as I hear the cheers of the crowd, my pace picks up, my energy rises, and my face lights up. It’s an instant adrenaline rush- my energy boost that carries me through a couple of miles until I reach the next batch of supporters. I love all the “hoopla” that comes with an organized race. Even if I am at a point of exhaustion, the encouraging words I hear from the crowd, makes me want to push myself a little harder. The cheers drive me to do the best I can in the race. The best I can do is finish.

Nothing compares to the thrill of crossing the finish line. That’s is when I get to experience what it’s like to be a rock star. The crowds grow thick and the cheers get louder. The cheers resognates in me like an echo as I fight to the finish. And when the race is over and I’ve settled into my cozy home after a warm shower, I will relive that final moment. I will recall all the cheers, the congratulatory remarks, and the excitement of the event to experience that feeling of worthiness a little more longer.

“A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.” ~ Emily Dickenson