Lake Logan Half - Triathlon

I got in the water about 30 seconds before my wave's gun went off and this water was legit cold. // EDIT: found out the water was 63 degrees, and that is BEFORE the temperature drop at the end. Everything makes more sense now. // I put my face in to test my goggle seal and did not enjoy it. I immeditaely wished I had a sleeved wetsuit (which I have at home, but it's horrible to swim in, so this was a wash... have cold arms with sleeveless or warmer warms but restricted shoulder motion). But here I am and I gotta swim in this.

The gun went off and I started moving. My hands, feet, arms and face were overwhelmingly cold. I've never swam in water this cold. In my life. I now know the feeling I've read about when people talk about the "shock" of the cold water. I kept it a bit easy in the beginning becuase I didn't want my heart rate or breathing to skyrocket from the shock. Good call.

After about 10 minutes, I either started to warm up or go numb... I honetsly couldn't tell. But it started to become more enjoyable and I was like you know, I really do love to swim. I always think this in a race because it's true.

Another thing everyone wouldn't shut up about was a "debris field" in the lake from all the recent rains and whatnot. I kept thinking "I've encountered a LAKE MONSTER before... no biggie with some sticks and leaves." I ran into a few things here and there and thought that's it? That's what all the talk was about? But then about 1500 yards in, I found it.

THE DEBRIS FIELD. OK this was not only a wall of "matter" like sticks, leaves, who knows what, but it was SWIRLING around and around. I would hit it with every stroke, the debris pelted my face left and right. It was the stuff your nightmares are made of. It lasted maybe 200 yards and it was kind of crazy.

Right after that, here was the temperature drop and it was well before everyone said it would be. But I knew I was nearing the end at this point. Here I could see the bottom of the river and it made me kind of dizzy. Just wanted to be out at this point. Got to the dock, stood up and couldn't decide if I wanted the volunteer to pull me out or if my arms had enough strength to pull myself out. I stood there for a good 30 seconds before I pulled myself out.

If I had a full sleeved wetsuit that was comfortable, I'd definitely have worn that.

It felt so good to be out of the cold water. I looked down to see if my feet were blue - they weren't. I ran almost the whole way around transiton while pulling my wetsuit down and taking off my cap and goggles. Got to my spot and sat down to get my wetsuit legs off, struggled good, and a racer across the rack from me came over and pulled the suit off of me - thanks, random racer!

Everything else was normal and smooth. I walked my bike out of transition and up to the mount line. Here we freaking go.

Nothing. There is a lot of ground to cover in this transition, plus get a wetsuit off, so I knew T1 would be long.

I had a lot of anxiety about the bike course because of all the chatter about the hills - plus, this was the first triathlon I'd done since crashing on the bike and breaking my leg at IMLOU in 2015. I had a lot mentally riding on this bike ride.

Immediately, I could tell that my recently-installed aerobottle was not going to work. Even though I'd tested it on the trainer a few days ago, it was completely not in the right position for me to be able to drink out of it. And the most annoying part was that the mount didn't really fit my aerobars. I had zip-tied them tight, but it was rattling louder than anything I'd ever heard rattle on my bike before. One of the most annoying things I'd ever heard, and I couldn't imaging riding 56 miles like this. More on this later.

Felt good otherwise, but knowing the first half of the course was net downhill. At mile 12, I dropped my chain and panicked when at first it looked like what happened last weekend, it was kind of stuck. But I stopped and wiggled it around and only lost about 30 seconds before I had it fixed right up. But, because of this, I was really nervous every time I shifted into my small gear that it would drop and get stuck. Ugh. Going to take it in to get looked at this week.

At the mile 19 aid station, I stopped and asked the volunteer if anyone had scissors or a knife. He produced a knife and helped me cut the zip ties off my aero bottle mount - I took it off and said "throw the whole thing away!" and filled up the water bottle on my downtube. Waste of money on that set up, but it was so awful.

Janyne passed me at mile 20, and Anne Marie passed me at mile 30! So fun to have friends on the course. Stopped at the mile 36 aid station to fill up my water bottle again.

Ticking off the miles up to mile 40, I got more and more anxious about the hills. Gave myself a little pep talk, it's going to be fine. It's going to be fine. I hit the first 9%+ grade hill - and about 1/3 of the way up there is a small drop and I thought, this is it? THAT WAS NOT IT. Back up up up for another... mile? Grinding grinding grinding. I passed two women who were off their bikes and walking up the hill. I put my head down and chanted out loud... Go... Go... Go Lisa Go. It hurt. I was going 3 mph. But I was in my saddle and moving. When I was sure I was finished with the hill, flying down the other side, I was so happy. I yelled "I DID IT! I FREAKING DID IT!" and was so proud of myself.

I really, really enjoyed the course after the first big hill and until the last big hill. I actually improved my average speed on this section and it was just really fun. Then at mile 53 was the other 9%+ grade hill and it was so brutal. Again, I put my head down and chanted. And again, I somehow made it. Just a few more miles back into transition and my emotions came flooding out.

For this course, maybe train on mountain passes. LOL!

Took my bike shoes off to run into transition. Racked quickly, changed out of my tri top and into my ATL Tri Club top. Yep, something I normally wouldn't do, but I had this intense desire to be part of this group today. And I'm so new that only a couple of people know who I am, so the branded top helps.

Nothing.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel off the bike, but I started running and didn't feel too bad. The first 3 miles of this course is a solid incline uphill, then you turn around for 3 miles downhill, then repeat. On my first loop, I saw lots of tri club friends so lots of high fives, encouragement, cheering for each other. THIS is why I wanted to wear the top!! I struggled on the long uphill here, but once I hit the turnaround I felt amazing and ran most of the way back to transition. Here I saw Nicole walking, and I asked if she had seen Michele since I had been looking and hadn't seen her yet. She told me that they didn't make the bike cutoff and were DNF'd but walking a loop of the run course. Ooooof.

The sun was out now, and while it wasn't overwhelmingly hot, it was definitely warm. I was carrying my handheld bottle with water, and taking sports drink at every aid station. Around mile 8 I got hungry, so ate my Honey Stinger Waffle I'd been carrying - perfect. I was doing a run/walk the 2nd time up the hill with the promise to myself I'd run on the way down. On the way down, I saw Michele and walked with her for a minute. She was disapointed, but not angry. I felt bad for her.

Finally back in transition I did the last little gravel loop before getting to turn into the finish line. Very ready to stop moving, and proud of myself for finishing this very challenging race.

Not much. I managed some things like heat, pinky toe rubbing, and 6 miles of incline. I feel good about this.

I almost started crying at the finish line, but my buddy Chuck saw me come in and was rushing to give me a high five. He walked me over to where Nicole and everyone were sitting and I went to get some food. I spent a few extra minutes alone and let myself cry for a minute. Good, happy tears.

Hung out with the tri club group while we watched the awards ceremony (SO many ATC people placed and got awards!). We waited for our last person, Tish, to come in and cheered her across the finish line. Then I packed up and walked out with Tish and Michele.

A bunch of ATC people had talked about heading to Asheville for dinner and drinks (including Michele), but didn't extend an invitation to me, which I thought was a little... exclusive. But in all actuality, but the time I got back to my AirBnB and showered, I didn't want to be around anyone or go anywhere. I found a place a few miles away that had GF pizza, so I ordered some take out and brought it back. It was probably the best pizza I've ever had - no joke.

Slept really good and took my time getting ready the next morning. Headed out around 10:30 a.m. but had to stop and close my eyes 2 hours into the drive. Finally got home around 2:30 p.m.



Lake Logan is a wonderful, well-organized race. But it's one of the more challenging events I've ever done. Cold swim, incredibly hilly bike and hilly run. Great volunteer support and in a beautiful area of the country.