other tris, other guys

I oddly wasn't nervous as I stood in the water waiting for our wave to begin. I just knew I could do it. I had a time in mind in which I wanted to finish, but it wasn't about that.

We counted down to the start, then we were off.

I wasn't as far towards the front of the wave as usual, and had to make my way past some slower swimmers right from the start. There seemed to be lots of stragglers this year. I felt I had to dodge many, many more than in years past.

I knew my time was off as I came up the boat ramp, even though I'd forgotten to start my watch. It just felt slow. But I was still determined.

I saw my mom as I got close to the transition area. She was cheering me on. I smiled, it was great to have her there. She'd never come up to watch me do a tri before.

I quickly dried my feet, put on my socks and cycling shoes. Then some sunscreen, my helmet and gloves.

My sister-in-law had made it to the transition area by this time, and we encouraged each other as we left on the bike leg.

I felt good on the bike. The hills weren't easy, but only because of my hip, not because I hadn't ridden enough, like last year.

I was over a third of the way through the bike leg, sure I was on target to get my best time, when I heard a very loud pop.

Luckily I wasn't on a downhill, and could easily get the bike off to the shoulder without wrecking. I quickly took off the front wheel. And hoped someone might stop with a pump, since I'd very unwisely decided mine was too loose, and would just fall off anyway.

Three very wonderful women stopped to help me get back on the road. Exactly why I love doing this race every year. The encouragement and compassion of the racers.

A while later, I was riding again. Although I admit the flat had knocked the wind out of my sails, a bit. I still was pushing, just not as hard, knowing there was no way to make my goal.

But I couldn't give up completely. I'm just not made that way.

Back in the transition, I quickly racked my bike, changed shoes, grabbed a water bottle from the cage on my bike and put on my race number and sign.

The sign simply said that I was racing in memory of my grandma. I didn't care that pinning it on took some extra time. She was always the one that inspired me to be strong. Carry on. And refuse to give up.

And I intended to be strong, not give up. Just as she would tell me to do.

I started running, but the pain in my ankle and hip told me that would be unwise to continue.

Instead I walked, but quickly, as quickly as I could.

I saw a friend on her way in from the run, cheered her on and carried on. It was hot, but not as hot as last year. I got to talk to several other walkers as I'd pass them. Always encouraging each other.

As I neared the finish line, I began running again. Regardless of any pain I might feel, any discouragement from the flat, there was no way I was walking across that finish line.

As I looked around for any sign of my mom or sister-in-law at the finish, I thought of last year. When TheBoy was there to cheer me on. How promising everything seemed then.

I realized how silly I have been. A (mostly) great guy turned out not to be the great guy for me. There are other great, even greater guys out there. One of them just may be cheering me on next year.

Time to really get back in the race.

Any sadness lingering because of who was not there to cheer me on evaporated as I found my friend, her boyfriend and another friend. We chatted for a while and congratulated each other.

Then I went in search of my mom and sister-in-law. We sat in the shade and relaxed for a little while. Talked with the sisters next to us about the race. About triathlons, and who we raced in honor or memory of. It made me a little teary-eyed.

We recapped the race. My flat and unimpressive time. My sister-in-law's awesome race. How she knows she can do better next time. Yes, she's hooked. That makes me happy. The entire morning made me happy, despite the challenges.

The long, really hot walk back to the car couldn't even dampen my spirits. It was a great tri, even if it was technically my worst. There will be other tris. There will be other guys.

thank you, sir, may I have another?

I sat up, wide awake. the clock read 4:08am. 22 more minutes.

I tried to get comfortable again, but the butterflies were already there. I started stretching, well, at least those stretches I could manage while my head was still on the pillow.

the beeps finally started. I reluctantly got up and started gathering my gear. put on my shorts and top. then I headed downstairs to feed TheDog and myself.

there was a faint knock at the door. he was early. I finished checking my tires, re-inflating them a little, before he took my bike to the car. I grabbed the rest of my gear and we headed out.

we walked in from the car, then he wished me luck as I went to set everything up, and he went to find his friend.

I got my gear set up in the transition area and looked for M. she was nowhere to be found, so I got ready and headed to the start.

he was standing there on the beach as I walked to the start. he wished me luck again. it was strange to have someone there cheering just for me.

by the time our wave got into the water, it was already hot, making the chilly reservoir water feel great.

I had been worried for weeks that I hadn't trained enough. truth was, I hadn't, but with that first stroke I knew I was stubborn enough to finish.

the swim felt slow. and A & M were not about to start their wave, cheering me on when I got out. so, it was with a little less enthusiasm than last year that I made my way up the boat ramp.

I got my bike, helmet and shoes, and headed out on the bike course. not too long after, I started lamenting my (not) training. particularly on those hills. but the air blowing past the faster I went felt good. and I knew I could do it. I knew the course.

besides, there were a couple of guys cheering me on as I reached the bike finish. one with a camera and one with a cow bell. wait, where did he get the cowbell??

by the time I got my bike racked, it was hot. really hot. I quickly changed shoes and started on the run course. there was the cowbell again, and since I couldn't run, I teased him about it as I walked past.

about five minutes into my "run," M passed me. I cheered her on. I was going at a decent walk pace. but the heat started wearing me down. I felt a little dizzy. thankfully I'd grabbed my water bottle as I headed out of the transition, as there was only one water station.

M ran back past me again on her way to the finish, we cheered each other on again, and I did my best to pick up my pace a little.

but the heat was ridiculous. after the turn around, I tried running a short stretch. but my hip and back protested too much. and since the path had been completely paved since last year, there wasn't even dirt on the course anywhere to soften the impact.

not too far from the finish line I heard a woman sobbing behind me. I turned around and asked if she was alright. she said she was fine. but she didn't think she could do it. I pointed out the finish to her. told her if I could make it, she definitely could. she was walking more quickly than I and eventually got a bit ahead of me.

as I came up near the finish, he was there cheering me on still. he walked a short way with me, then said he'd see me after the finish. at that point I knew I had to run through the finish again.

as I approached the finish I heard M and her husband cheering me on. then, about ten feet back, I came up on the woman from earlier. I patted her on the back and told her congratulations on finishing.

they announced my name and hers as we crossed the finish. I was so happy to be done, but mostly to not have to bake in the heat anymore.

after finding M and getting a quick picture, I jumped back in the reservoir to cool down. I didn't feel good, but it didn't feel like dehydration. we headed back to the car, and he generously offered to carry my bike across the field so I didn't get flat tires from the cacti.

when we got to the car, the outside temperature read 97 degrees. it would get up to 103 degrees that day. every time I walked outside the remainder of the day I felt instantly ill. I realized later I may have had heat exhaustion. I didn't feel better until later, once the sun finally went down.

as I climbed into bed that night, though, I felt good. sore, but good. I finished. and I couldn't wait to do my next one. maybe even another this year.

define: training

so, thanks to Stacers deductive reasoning skills, the cat's out of the bag. I'm (probably) doing a triathlon Sunday.

I say probably because I haven't been on my bike before my ride tonight in, oh, months. and my first bit of pool time in a long time was Monday. I know, I know, that is no way to "train" for a triathlon.

also, I say doing instead of competing, because with "training" like mine, there is no competing. I only hope to finish without causing a) permanent injury to myself or b) complete embarrassment to myself by coming in dead last.

now, I still can't run because of my back/hip, but I know the swimming isn't a problem, and besides one big hill on the bike course, I'm pretty certain I can make the ride. so, unless (knocking on wood) something happens before then, I'll be there.

besides, I'm too stubborn not to finish. and I'm racing again* in honor of my grandma, from whom I inherited my stubbornness.

the last two are the only reasons I'm still doing the race. oh, and because someone's planning to come watch me. and I can't wimp out when I'll have someone there to cheer me on... and grab a big greasy burger with after the race.


* of course, in reading my post-race post from last year, I realize I haven't done any of the things in my notes to self. so, note to self: next year, re-read race posts earlier.

tri-ed and conquered

beep... beep... beep...

3:55 am

BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...

4:04 am

huh, what? oh, yeah, alright, I'm up.

I hurriedly grab my stuff and head to A's house, so we can leave for the race. down a protein shake and a banana on our way. we pull into the parking lot. check bike tires. grab our gear and start the long walk/ride into the race area.

I'm tired. this isn't good. I didn't sleep well last night. I got a call at 11:30 last night. it was BikeBoy*. he didn't leave a message, but the call woke me up, and I couldn't sleep well after that. and my hip and back were not comfortable.

I'm nervous. did I train enough to be doing this? what if I got a flat. what if my back really hurts in the middle of the race?

I'm excited. race day is finally here. I didn't get injured in the last 48 hours or days. I get to actually race today.

A, M and I hang out on the beach with their guys while the other waves start. I'm up in a few. I wish them luck, they wish me luck. we'll see each other at the finish.

as I'm standing in the water, looking out towards the bouys, a sense of calm and contentment comes over me. piece of cake the girl next to me says. this part will be.

then the countdown. the first stroke. it's cold, but it feels great. did I mention I love this part? well, except for maybe the other swimmers that hit me and my sighting.

I ended up about 50 m to the side of the farthest bouy. my goggles were hard to see out of and I accidently sighted on a boat instead of the bouy. there goes my swim time, but my mis-sight pushes me a little harded.

note to self: better goggles next season.

I'm coming out of the water and I hear my name being cheered. A & M's wave is about to start. they're cheering me on and I reciprocate.

up the hill to the transistion area. I know I should eat my gel, but I can't. I don't feel quite right. I throw on my helmet and shoes and grab my bike. this shouldn't be too bad, as long as the tear in my calf muscle doesn't act up.

it's very hilly. my thighs are burning on the first big hill. my hip is hurting a little. but I only briefly entertain the thought that I shouldn't be doing this. I've trained longer distances than this. but not these incredibly long hills. the wind working against us as we headed east makes the hills very difficult.

note to self: train more hills next season.

after the turn around I felt faster, less tired. the wind was at my back. the downhills were great, and the uphills less grueling. I see both A and M heading out as I'm heading back in, we cheer each other on from across the yellow line.

I see the finish at the top of the hill. I strain to finish strong. I get there, it's not the finish, it's another hill off. I start up it, the calf muscle is screaming. I ignore it.

there's a few girls crashed into each other at the dismount. I miraculously avoid the tangle and head back into the transition zone. rack my bike, lose the helmet and switch to running shoes. my number on the front, another sign on my back that reads: in honor of Gran.

I run for a little while, but the pain in my back and hip is excruciating. I guess the doc was right. there are hills and concrete, both terrible for my back.

I walk. quickly. it's hot now. I grab a glass at the water station and dump it on my head. as I pass other walkers, we encourage each other. this race is great in that way. everyone's very supportive of the other athletes.

I try running a few more times, particularly on the flats and the not-paved portion of the run course. it's not feeling right. I remember what I promised. not to push it too hard. walking ten years from now is much more important than running this race. I walk. I again see A and M going out as I'm coming in. cheers are exchanged.

the finish is in sight. I have to run. it doesn't feel right to walk across the finish. I'm all alone, they announce my name. and I think of Gran. I'm happy I could finish this not only for me, but for her.

I'm in a little pain, and so incredibly hot and tired. but I did it. I am hooked all over again. I'll definitely be doing more.

and we got M hooked. this was her first, but she said it won't be her last. I know exactly how she feels.

* A asked today if he called to wish me luck. I doubt it. even a clueless boy would know not to call someone late before a race.

tri, tri, tri, and tri again

my friend B: do you want to do a triathlon?

me: sure!

B: really?

me: yep, when is it?

she was a little shocked that I'd agreed so easily. I was a little shocked she wanted to do one. she's a self-proclaimed non-athlete.

but we signed up, and we trained and we started the triathlon.

we planned to celebrate over margaritas afterward. we were in the same wave, but she hung to the back of the pack for the swim. I was in the front, anxious to get in the water and swim the butterflies out.

the ride wasn't too bad, and I kept envisioning a frosty 'rita during the run as my inspiration to finish. I ran through the finish line, extremely proud of simply finishing my first triathlon, and looking forward to celebrating with my friend.

when I got back to the transition area after hanging out near the finish for a little while, B's bike and the rest of her gear were gone.

I knew she would run faster than me. our rides should have been about the same. but I'm a stronger swimmer (swim team since I was a kid). we should have finished up about the same time.

but B was nowhere to be found.

I went back to the finish to hang out with a few other friends that had done the race, then headed home.

I found out she'd blown a tire. she fixed it on the race course, but then blown another. she'd only had one replacement tube. so she walked her bike back to the transition, found her husband and left. she was crushed.

I was hooked.

I signed up again the next year, despite the fact that none of my friends that had done it that first year were entering the race. B was still too disheartened by the blow outs. the others weren't too happy with the crowded course.

I had a different reason for signing up the second year. my grandma had been diagnosed with breast cancer that year. the race supports breast cancer research. I registered and trained with her in mind.

two days before that race, I had a little mis-step getting into the shower. I ended up with a broken nose/concussion/bruised orbital/torn muscle under my shoulder blade.

I was crushed, I so badly wanted to do this race for my grandma. but it just wasn't to be that year.

or the next year.

a couple of months before the triathlon, I was on my way to work, stopped at a stoplight. I got rear-ended and taken to the ER. I had already signed up for the race, but there was no way I could do the race. no way my back and hip could handle it.

this year I signed up again. mostly as an inspiration to get back to training after the car accident. my doc gave me the ok, although she suggested I walk the run. (I'll see how it feels on race day.)

two of my friends from work are doing the triathlon with me. we even talked our company into sponsoring us and donating additional money to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

and although it might be a little painful, I intend to do my best, finish the race, and have fun.

and dedicate the race to my grandma, now a breast cancer survivor, and to her courage and her independence.

if she can overcome breast cancer at the age of 87, I can overcome a little car accident and finish the race on Sunday.

this one's for you Gran, thanks for being an inspiration to me!