It's official! I am a triathlete! On June 22, 2008, I competed in and completed the Subaru Women's Triathlon in Naperville, IL with almost 2,000 other women.
I was so nervous about this race that I hit the bathroom three times before it even started! It didn't help that we had a rain delay of about an hour (except to allow me to hit the Port O Potty one more time!). Just as the elite group had stepped into the water waiting for the horn to start them off, KABOOM! Thunder, lightning, rain. A lifeguard announced everyone needed to get out of the water, away from the trees and that 30 minutes would have to pass after the last lightning had been sighted and/or thunder heard. For the next 30 minutes we continued to have thunder and lightning. It was only in the 60s, so we were wet and a bit chilled (us older, post menopause athletes didn't mind a bit and found it refreshing!). Finally....at 8:00 AM, the elite wave was allowed to begin. There were about ten or so who competed at this level (pros). After them was the special wave of women who have battled with ovarian cancer (the charity the event supported). Next was the wave of women 55 and over. Right after them, was my wave, 50-54. I'm the one just ahead of the clock pole tugging at my swim cap.
THE SWIM: Once the horn blew, we ran into the water until we were forced to start swimming. Up to 75 women could be in a wave so there was much hitting and kicking each other going on until we could spread out. That didn't happen until around the first of several buoys. I was most nervous about the swim. I thought if I could survive the swim portion, it would be downhill from there. My only wish besides completing and surviving the swim, was to do it in a respectable time! I was slow and not so skilled at this swimming stuff! After what seemed like an eternity, I was finally running out of the water and onto land. I was exhausted to say the least! [swim time: 15:36 for 1/2 mile swim] How was I going to bike and run when I was THIS tired?!?!?!? I had planned on running to my bike as fast as I could and making awesome time in the transition area (T1 - also counts in your total time and is often considered, "The Fourth Event"), but I could barely move! I had what we call, "sea legs." Forcing myself to at least jog, I finally made it to the transition area looking for the chalk arrow my bike neighbor drew on the blacktop. I also had a giant sunflower by my bike so I could easily find it. Good thing. The chalk arrow was now gone from the rain we had earlier. I had to laugh thinking how I commended this poor woman on a great idea! Little did we know.... [T1: 3:49]
This photo shows the swim course:
THE BIKE:Off on the bike, I tried to tell myself to just enjoy the ride as fast as I could. I LOVE riding my bike! This would be the most fun, but of course, I was still nervous about it. I saw a couple of gals on the way with flats and hoped this wouldn't happen to me. Also, there were many with very professional looking bikes with aero bars and cycle shoes, etc. Some passed me, but I did plenty of passing myself. Lap two went WAY faster as my sea legs disappeared. At the start of lap two, an athlete yelled behind me that my bike bag was rubbing on my back tire. Sure enough! I had to pull over and raise my seat. I had been having occasional problems with my bike (just 3 months old) seat dropping down. This probably cost me 25-30 seconds and several slots in my placement. But when you are at my level, who cares! There's no prize money for 990th place! The rest of the ride went very smooth and I tried to listen to my coach's advise about dropping a gear or two in the last mile or so in preparation for the run. [Bike Time: 49:56 for 14.5 miles]
Above: Coming to the end of the bike portion and transitioning to the run....
Now it was off to T2, the transition from bike to run. I quickly parked my bike, threw off my helmet, put on my cap and off I went.[T2 Time: 2:15] This is the hardest transition as you are going from using your glutes to your hammies. Your legs just don't want to do this and it can take up to a mile to adjust. I had been practicing this transition and it definitely helped, but I was REALLY tired now! I grabbed some water at the very first aid station at the beginning of the run, but couldn't get much down. I felt so slow, I didn't dare stop! In the picture below, I am in the background to the left of the spectator shading her eyes (just to the right of the bike helmet in the foreground).
THE RUN: Now I was really questioning myself as to why I thought this was a good idea! all I wanted to do was to crash on a couch! Really... this is the vision that I had. Laying on a couch. I had not felt this tired in ions if ever. For the first time, I seriously thought I would not make it, but I quickly forced myself not to think negatively. I thought at the very least, I could walk myself in and at least finish. But I immediately talked myself out of that too. This is what I trained months for. Walking would be a last resort. The only time I walked was for a brief second when I would throw back a water at an aid station to ensure I got it down my throat and not down my shirt! Where I passed many on the bike, I passed NO ONE except a walker or two. MANY were passing me. At this point, I didn't much care. I was pushing harder than I ever imagined just to finish and finish jogging in. Finally, I saw the hairpin turn into the park, a section of the riverwalk that would lead me to the finish line. I could hear some announcing and some crowd cheering. This was a good sign. I looked up and it looked like the finish line canopy. I was elated! A few yards later, I saw that it was the swim start! RATS! When will this finish line ever appear?!?! Suddenly, just when I thought I could no longer sustain myself in an upright position, let alone run, I saw the side tarps forming the tunnel that would lead me to the finish line. I had planned on sprinting in, but there was absolutely no way I had anything left to do that. I was happy that I was still running in and not walking in. I heard my name and saw my fan club, husband Russ and two sons, Adam and Ben clapping me in. A few more yards and HURRAY! I made it! I raised my arms in glee and headed straight for the party! [Run Time: 33:52 for 3.1 miles] {TOTAL TIME: 1:45:26}
Above: Running into the finish line at last!
THE PARTY: The first thing I did was head into the water sprinklers. After the rain shower at the start of the race, the sun came out making it humid and warm. Already drenched with sweat, I drenched myself in the nice cool water. Then I returned to the area behind the finish line for some food goodies and more water. My fan club arrived and dished out hugs! Below: Hubby gives his triathlete wife a hug! He was very supportive, from encouraging me on to buying me my brand new bike! (Adam is in the background and Ben took the photo as well as most photos seen here. Other photos were from Russ).
Below Left: Wearing our finishing medals, we wait for professional stretching. Everyone was so friendly. These women shared some useful triathlon tips with me.
Above right: The rest of my fan club, Ben (23) and Adam (27) as they wait for the rain delay to end (looks like the sun is shining here!).
Below: The prize! Proof I finished!
Click below for official race results:
