So I’ll start this tale with Friday night; body is saying “you need some down time, seriously…” I cut out non-essential stuff that could hang until Sunday or Monday. I get home from the day of working around 8p.
Saturday: CapTex Team Survivor breakfast @ 8a; I’m tempted to not go b/c the body is still saying “slow down NOW” but am very glad that I went. Packet pick up and bike racking, all the while my neck is slowly tightening up. I call Christopher, see if he can fit me in for a CST session that afternoon. He’s the best. He fits me in. I have blood flow back to my brain! Restless night of sleeping. Night before the race, what else is new?
Race day
4:20 am. The time I wake up.
4:30 am. The time my alarm goes off.
4:55 m. The time I leave my apt to head to Decker Lake. There’s a reason I don’t do this anymore. Feeling icky and nauseated. Lovely. This is why I gave up traveling for AFAA. Body no like. Remember, body already being pushed to limits, and needing down-time!
5:30 am. Arrive at transition area. How are we supposed to see in the dark?
6:50 am. Standing at swim start, not feeling so hot. Decide I’ll just see what the day holds.
7:10am. My wave starts the swim. I must say, there are advantages to being in the third wave – only the Elites & the 50+/under-19 crowd (orange caps) in front of me. Didn’t see that many Elites in the water. I’m thinking I can take most of them (ok, except the elites) even feeling puny. Orange caps have a 5 min headstart.
Swim: Once I get going I feel great (I’m in the water, so yes, I should be. This is my 2nd home!) I catch up with the main pack of the orange caps by the first bouy (and its really short in my view to the first bouy). I see a few pinks around (my wave cap color). I see more falling back. I continue on, getting tired of running over orange caps, so go to the outside. Kick into secret squirrel swim readily. Nice smooth sailing. As we round the 2nd turn, I breast stroke a few to get my bearing, and notice about 3-4 pink caps in front of me. And a few orange. I’m feeling strong & pick up the pace a tad.
Transition 1: I bolt out of the water feeling fabulous. I hear as I run up to the transition area “look at that one”, and peripherally see a finger pointing my direction. I hear Ben Hodges’ “Go Sharon” followed by “Go Elise” (she was orange cap). I see Leticia shouting for me. I find out later that there weren’t too many people coming out of the water ahead of me from her (maybe 20-25 total). Get to my bike, have issues getting my shoes velcroed (note: put new cycle shoes at top of list). Shirt, shades, helmet go on, and I”m RIDING!
Bike: Get on the bike after the orange line, and notice that my CatEye not working. Nothing, nada, zero. Oh goodie! I get to ride by how I feel. Kinda nice! Finish my gel, get some water, and get cranking. Feeling quite good when we get to the Expo Center, 2 people have passed me (one on a damn Cervelo). Get out on Decker Lane, another passes me (not on a Cervelo). Then we come to a hill, and I pass all 3 of them. Huh? There’s about 2-3 people that I play leap frog with up until we get to *itch Hill (90 deg turn into the short but steep hill). I see Donna at the turn…. I shout her name, and hear her calling mine as I haul up it. A rider that I’ve leapfrogged with later comments that I really hauled ass that hill – she was behind me going into the turn I think, and then she looked up and I was gone. That hill really did feel good. Boosted my confidence that I am getting my hill climbing ability back. So how is it that I can haul past people on the hills, but they haul past me on flats? If they are out riding more than I have been (an assumption, I know), shouldn’t they be able to dust me completely? Start looking forward to the day when I’m back to where I was with my last really good ride (what hills?). We go up the frontage road ramp. I leap frog, pass a new person. The Bertha’s are coming up. I took the first one, and thought “really? that was one of them?” Take the 2nd one, and a rider is approaching me to pass. I shift. I drop her. Hee Hee Hee… this is starting feel like its supposed to. Around the corner in the home stretch, get passed by another damn Cervelo.
Transition 2: Easy to get out of my shoes since the velco is pretty much non-velcroy. Much faster getting running shoes on this time (vs. CapTex). Grab a gel, and leisurely walk through transition. Yep, I walked it. Get out the gate, 1st water station passes, and I start running.
Run: I notice that I actually feel pretty good on the run as I get about 5 min into it. I establish The Plan: walk the water stations & The Hill, and run the rest to the best of my abilities. I actually did pretty good at that. A lot better than at CapTex! Ev passes me somewhere on one of my non-water station walks. I actually run the top part of The Hill, then walk the last water station; am told that I’m within the first 30 people to crest that hill (remember I started early). Start really running to get to the finish. Technique Technique Technique. I even passed someone on this part! 🙂 Cross the finish line, can’t feel my legs. They numb. But they got me there!
Learning points:
- go with the intention of enjoying myself and see what the day holds. Had a LOT better day than I imagined I would when the race started.
- electrolytes in the nuun bottle works. remember to grab it off the bike for the run, or have a 2nd one in pack for the run.
- body glide the underarms where lat rub happens. Big Sore. Ouch!!! Put in T2 stack, or even carry it if I’ve got a pouch.
- CarboPro in the AM before the race does wonders. Less focus on actually having to ingest food at that hour.
- get new cycle shoes
- figure out why cateye no work
- only 4 weeks back into training. Take double the time you were out to return. 1 more month, I might be back to my pre-injury self!
- I can wear a tech shirt and stay cool. Just have to keep it wet. Yes, I carried a water bottle again for that purpose. I also want water when I want water.
- did i mention remember to bring salt tabs on the run?
- I can maintain run technique when I’m tired AND at the end of the race on pavement vs. grass.