Pine Bush Triathlon - Triathlon

I was confident for the swim. 325 yards is my swim warm-up, before I get to the serious stuff. I started behind everyone, went the first 75 yards or so to the buoy very smoothly, was passing people, although I don't really remember it much. After I turned, and saw how far the end was, I guess I got nervous. I don't get nervous on my usual OWS, but I could not get enough breath to take three strokes, breath, three strokes. I tried to breath on every stroke, and it was tiring. I was now totally paranoid that I was going to have a heart attack in the water. I never panicked, I never thought I would drown, or needed help, but I did turn on my back for a minute. Then back to trying to relax, which I usually can do very nicely. Now the men from the 30 to 34 age group were catching up to us. One man hit me. I yelled at him, if I can avoid people, so can everyone else. I hate getting hurt. I considered holding him back, but figured I would get thrown out - (JUST KIDDING, OF COURSE) - so I let Mr. Speedy go.
At the last buoy, about 125 yards out, I said, "Stop being such a schmuck, and swim." BAM! I swam the rest of the way calmly and smoothly, breathing every left side at first, and then breathing every 3 strokes, reaching and pulling. I passed a lot at the end, but was a bit dizzy getting out of the water.


I am not sure. I love the water, usually I feel like a dolphin, I haven't gotten nervous in my OWS since the first one. I think I need to swim out to a point, and then back in training. Since Lake George is so big with so many huge boats, I don't swim out and around. I stay in a roped off area, which is about 10 feet deep, but it is not the same. I swim circles or squares in there, so my endurance was not the issue - also, I finished really strong in the water. Maybe take a Xanax next time??? (KIDDING!!)

I have a mountain bike with skinny tires. I stumbled out of the water, gathered my senses together, and ran to my bike. I sat down on someone's tupperware container, (did not dent it, I promise) and carefully washed my feet, and put my socks on. As I was slow in the water, and in the second to last heat, I was like, Where is everybody? I was almost alone at this time.
Got on my bike and started pedaling. Think the Wicked Witch of the West's music: deet,deet,deet,deet,deet,dee, over and over. That was me on the bike. I was passed by about 5 people, passed no one. My chain fell off twice, had to stop to fix it. Rode the second half with a nice woman, I think we were almost the last ones on the bike course. It was actually fun, though; I have a fear of biking, and today helped alleviate that a LOT. I actually did not hit my brakes down one downhill. I am such a coward!!!!
At the end of the bike, my watch said 57 minutes, but they made up get off the bikes, and walk them all the way down this chute until we could find a place for them. We walked them about 200 yards at least. It was a real pain. I racked my bike, grabbed some water, and started the run, which started downhill.

Ride a road bike. Try to figure out why my chain fell off twice. Learn to fix my chain more quickly. It was actually not as bad as I had dreaded. I looked forward to the swim, and that surprised me and I was slow on the bike, but never afraid.
I was happy on the bike, smiling, thanking all of the volunteers. Some dudes on the road were cheering on us slowpokes and invited me back for a couple of beers. But my husband was waiting at home so I couldn't take them up on their offer. It was a good time!!!

Good bike course, I was just not prepared for it as I should have been. Still, it was a very positive experience, I really enjoyed it, probably more than I should have. I found myself smiling and even laughing at the volunteers being silly and stuff.

I need to train on the bike, outside. Forget the inside Life Cycle stuff. I need to go on long rides, with other people. I need a road bike.

The chute was packed with bikes so the last people had to take our bikes all the way down the chute. People were leaving via the chute, there were strollers being pushed, it was not easy. I stayed calm, walked my bike down for about 2 minutes, put my helmet on the bike, walked over to the water station, took a glass, poured one over my head, and started downhill. I was concerned about my knee, starting downhill, but I started very slowly, and it felt OK.

Nothing - it was out of my hands, really. Get there faster. :)

I walked/ran a bit in the downhill. Once I hit the flats, about 5 minutes in, my legs were killing me. My calves ached, were very tight. You know the feeling. I didn't think I could do it. I doubted. But then I said, "Nancy, you are tough, you can do this." So I did the best I could. I would walk one minute, run 5. I was alone, almost last, as we started in the 9th out of 10 heats. My legs felt better after about 10 minutes.

As I got to the halfway point, people were saying, "Almost halfway,' but I didn't believe them. I thought I would be back much further. At the 1/2 point, I had water, and had a wonderful young man spray my head with his hose. Thanks, Young Man!! You are awesome!! The run back I did a few minutes with another woman, and then she couldn't run anymore, so I left her. Around the final turn, then up the long hill. A lady said, "Almost there," and again, I didn't believe her, but I saw the sign. Barbara came down to cheer my on, the crowds were wonderful, I almost started to bawl, but thought how dreadful my photo would be, so I tried to smile. Barbara said to concentrate, one foot in front of the other, under the banner at the top of the hill, lots of cheering. I almost cried again, and I ran to the end, onto the second mat, and handed the chip in. Everyone told me I would not be able to stop smiling after my first triathlon, but really, I was overwhelmed. I quit smoking 3 years ago, and gained 35 pounds. Barbara has been helping me. I never thought I could do this. I am still just so grateful - thanks Barbara, thanks Whizzz, and all else here who halped me, gave me advice and encouragement.

I have plantar fasciitis, so I was not really disappointed in my run. I haven't been able to really run too much. Also, I have been taking it easy since I tore my ACL in February.

It must have been my state of mind, but the run was much less painful than I had figured it would be - it went by fast, and I was not too unhappy with it.

Ate a hot dog. :)


Biking - my fear of the roads. This race helped with that.
Running - plantar fasciitis - I think I am going to get a shot of cortisone this week in my foot.
Swimming - keep plugging in Lake George, get my hubby to come with me by kayak so I can swim out and back.


Great volunteers, great police presence. Someone was down on the bike, I think it was his heart, as it didn't look like a bike crash, and they had a heart monitor hooked up and about 5 EMS people and firemen too. Police all along the route. Great race and thank you to all the volunteers!!!