I am well aware that I've slacked on my training blogging, I've been meaning to get back into it since my race. The last week before race day was pretty light, I swam one day, biked a very short course, and ran 3.5 miles on Thursday before my race. My hip no longer hurt, but my groin was still achy so I didn't want to push it too hard.
Morning of the race I woke up early, I could barely sleep the night before, and had some PB on a toasted bagel, one of my favorite pre-race breakfasts. I had my bag packed already and checked it over once more. I had attended the transition clinic the day before and felt pretty prepared for the race. I got the family up and moving and we hit the road at 7am, the race was planned to start at 9.
When I got to Ste. Gen my friend and fellow racer was already there and set up in the transition area. We loaded the kids into the stroller and I pushed my bike to the rickety bike rack and set up my stuff. At 8:30 or so we headed to the gym for a pre-race meeting and then to the pool.
It was a time trial start, and seeing as I'm slower than a sloth when it comes to swimming, I planned on swimming around 3 minutes for the teeny tiny 150 meter swim portion. I skipped the swim cap and just went with goggles, something I won't do again as I got a ton of water in my ears. When it was my turn I took a deep breath, ran and hopped in the water, pushing off the bottom of the pool and off I went. It was a serpentine swim and the girl behind me swam straight into me on my return swim down the lane, but I wasn't swimming extraordinarily well so it didn't really affect much. I hoped to get out of the pool in right around 3 minutes. Chip time: 2:59. Score! I'm not fast, I didn't intend to swim fast. I was happy.
T1 was fine. I skipped the socks as had been suggested by many other triathlete friends, and got onto the bike quickly for a T1 time of 1:25. Not bad for my first tri. I knew I wouldn't be extremely fast on the bike either. I actually just hoped to ride the 9 mile course under 39 minutes. It was an out and back course x3...very boring. Plus it was pretty hilly with one monster hill...and all had to be done 3 times! My family was there cheering for me, they were near the turn around point so they had plenty of time to cheer me on and take pictures.
I hoped to ride under 39 minutes, actual chip split time: 37:48! I was happy with this. As I said before, I knew it wouldn't be fast. I'm not a cyclist. Hell, I'm afraid half the time I'm riding! Although I think I look alright on the bike, and my cycling computer said I got up to 30mph on the big descent, so I was proud of my bike split.
T2 was easier than T1, but my bike kept falling over due to the crappy bike racks. I didn't want it totally laying on the ground...it's brand new!...so I spent a few seconds getting it to at least hang on the rack by one handle bar. T2 time: 51.9 seconds.
On to the run...which also covered the same out and back course for the 3 mile run, so going out I knew I'd have that monster hill to run towards the finish. I felt okay though, it only took about a 1/2 mile for my legs to feel loose and the weather was great so I wasn't feeling over heated at all. I kept my eyes on the runners ahead, trying to pick them off one by one, even though it was a time trial start so I was mainly just racing the clock. At the turn around point I grabbed a cup of water, took a sip, then dumped the rest over my head. Only 1.5 miles left in my first triathlon! I tried to pick up the pace and passed a group of runners on the next couple rolling hills. The big hill was much easier to conquer on foot than on the bike, mainly because I'm a runner, not a cyclist. I felt good finishing, although my groin was tight and achy, the rest of my body felt fine. I wasn't even huffing and puffing that I could tell. Although my husband, who isn't a runner, ever so sweetly told my family that I look like a stroke patient when I run. So encouraging. I tilt my head to the right when I run, don't know why, always have. Guess I'll have to try correcting that. So my goal for the 3 mile run was under 26 minutes, I smashed that, finishing in 23:22, faster pace than my usual 5K's. For a total time of 1:06:27! My goal was to finish under 1:10! I was quite proud of my finish.
And was happy to have my cheering section to keep me going.
Overall it was a great race. I got 2nd in my age group and was the 6th female finisher overall. I am already planning my next race. :) But since the race I've been nursing this darn groin injury. I've stayed away from running and cycling, and have been swimming a little and weightlifting, along with some pilates and lots of ice and compression in hopes of healing quickly. I can't wait to get back out there!
