Fairport Triathlon

I'm a triathlete.

aka ~ Lake Erie v Me.

I think the score is even.  Lake Erie - 1/2; me - 1/2.  In practice I could finally swim in Lake Erie... Game day came & I was a bundle of nerves.  Self talk was all about going out slow in the water.  The race started with the kayaks going out at 8:00, followed by four waves of swimmers every five minutes.  Being an old lady, my wave was at 8:20.  The water was perfect ~ no waves, good temperature ~ and I was going to start slow.

Mike, Rick, me & John ready to start

And 8:20 came and I got 10 strokes in & couldn't catch my breath...so I started breathing every stroke...so I started hyperventilating...so I started the breast stroke...so I went slow!  I kept trying to swim...and kept failing.  I got to the turn and stood up, talked some sense into my head, and swam back.  Got out of the water & everyone was running to the transition...I didn't want to run, that swim was hard.  But I bent to peer pressure & ran to the bike.

Yep, that's how my swim went & "Why is everyone running?"

Being the last wave, the transition area was basically empty when I got there to get my bike.  Dodd & Mike were both long gone, so my bike was the only one on the rack...and I had no idea what I was doing except hurrying to get my socks & shoes on...helmet...gloves...pull on my flipbelt & bib...eat the gel...get out.  I guess I did ok, because I had all my stuff.

Rode up the hill (oh my, what a way to start the ride) and got going.  My speedometer wasn't working ~ so I moved the sensor...too much.  It was clinking and dinging the spokes the whole time.  UGH.  Tried to move it back, but kept pinching my fingers (can't stop and fix this)  Luckily I threw chapstick into my flipbelt...pulled it out and used it to push the sensor out of the way.  Didn't know my speed the whole time, but it stopped clanking.

Passed people the whole ride.  My quads were working, but I remembered what Dodd said about doing each event well...and holding back didn't really equate to better times in other events.  So I rode hard.  I averaged 17 mph, above what I did in training.

talking to someone, I'm sure

So thankful to have so many people fanning ~ it's motivation to see a familiar face & someone yelling your name. And, there lots of pictures of the adventure afterward.

The transition to the run went much faster ~ no shoe change.  Threw off the helmet & gloves, chugged some water and off.  On the way into transition John yelled, "power walk the hill."  I ran out of transition, and he yelled it again at the bottom of the hill.  So I walked it.  I think that really helped, because I took off at the top & passed a whole bunch of people.  He had told me to not get passed, and I didn't.  Not a single person passed me on the run ~ and I ran it negative.  I never run a race negative.  I felt very strong on the run.  It was one of those moments when it hurt & I was working hard & I KNEW I was strong enough to maintain and finish strong.  The 5k was 3.29 miles (UGH) I ran it at an 8:04 minute pace according to my Garmin.  

the final turn to the finish

I missed 3rd place in my AG by 26 seconds (Lake Erie's final word) but I'm really happy with my first tri.  Sat at the award ceremony (I beat Mike timewise, and he placed 3rd in his AG) saying to myself, "well, that was fun & I don't ever need to do it again."  It was HARD.  Not as hard as a marathon, but hard.  By Sunday night Mike & I were both talking about next year.  What is wrong with us.

Woke up Monday with really sore shoulders and tight hips.  Weirdest after race aches I've ever had.  This tri stuff is taxing on the body.  I can't even imagine what Dodd will go through with his full ironman in October.  Total respect.

Mike's finish

PR ice cream

The gang ~ minus BJ

Mike's award

Could not have done this without my friend Leslie & Brenda