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 Swim
Comments: I went for a warm-up with a few other first timers in my age group. Nancy's husband, Michael, was warming up as well, and so kindly checked in with me to make sure I was doing ok. Honestly, I was terrified. I really wasn't sure I could do it. I got on land, talked to Nancy, and went to find my parents. Really and truly, my family made it all better. I stood with them until the start of my wave, said the serenity prayer with my mom, and got in the back and far outside corner of my wave. The shot went off, and I jogged into the water. The waves were really fine, but I certainly was hyperventilating. A woman asked if I was ok, and I said "yes" without thinking, so I knew that I definitely was fine. The first bouy seemed to take forever to get to, but I started chatting with the lifeguard. I really was too nervous to put my head in the water, but I just accepted it, and swam really really really well, considering - I did almost entirely correct form, just with my head out of water. I was totally accepting of myself, and chatted with a woman who was keeping my pace, as well as with the lifeguards, just to keep myself breathing normally. Well, it worked! I finished in under half the time I thought I would. It was fantastic. As the waves brought me in and I felt the ground beneath me, I kept saying "land! land!" the spectators loved it. What would you do differently?: Swim with correct form, but I was so happy anyway, because I beat my fear of the ocean swim. I am so proud of myself for that.  Transition 1
Comments: The path from beach to transition is very sandy, and my heart rate was through the roof, so I ran-walked it. Nancy ran and walked with me, as did Colin. Nancy told me how well I did in the swim, and that it was about 12 minutes. After that, I realized I could actually do a decent time, so I ran to the transition area. When I got there, my heart rate felt very high and the bike course starts with a decent hill, so I took it fairly easy (very conciously). I felt really good - I stayed focused but playful, and was able to run out with my bike. What would you do differently?: Run the whole way, and not relax, but basically, what I would have done differently is less the transition and more be more comfortable in the swim, as the transition went fairly flawlessly. Oh, but I would have also figured out how to multi-task a bit better, like put on my gloves while running. Still, I was totally fine with how it went, and felt very calm and focused. When my heartrate was down to 138, I set off on the bike.  Bike
Comments: FANTASTIC. I kicked serious ass on the bike course, and barely tried. I really did it strategically, pushing up the hill and going hard the first mile, backing off slightly for the first lap, speeding up for the second, and kicking ass in the third, backing off for the very last mile. My dad's nickname for me is "talk radio" and it proved true as usual...I chatted with people the whole way, and made people laugh. I love making people laugh, and I think it helps on an event like this, where almost everyone is a nervous newbie. My average speed was over 17 mph, which is incredible for me, and I really didn't push at all. SO happy with that. What would you do differently?: Push a bit harder next time, and not slow down quite so much on the turns, but yet again, I wouldn't have changed anything about this race. Transition 2
Comments: This one was great. I knew I was almost done (after yelling at the bike dismount area, "I have to run now!" to my parents) so I just took off. Ripped off the clothes, downed some water, put on shoes and race belt, and rocked. What would you do differently?: Multi-task on the way in, and remember quicker that I put a balloon to find my spot. However, I remembered and did very well!  Run
Comments: This was great. Tim Bomba was by the gate saying "GO KATE" as I went. I took the run really slowly, remembering Doug Boswell's advice of "no one regrets starting the run too easy". The first mile and a half I jogged it, just getting my legs, and shouting out to all my LA Tri Club members. I felt like such a part of something amazing to see them, and have them all yell Go LA. LA Tri Club is phenominal. The run involves a straight one mile, than up a flight of stairs, then half a mile. A really sweet girl kept pace with me for about a mile, gave me some of her water, and zoomed ahead. It's people like that that made this event spectacular - so kind, generous...and then super fast. I felt like such a part of something. The way back, I was just like, "What have I got to loose? If my legs don't hurt at the end of this, I didn't work hard enough." So I RAN. Not super fast, but there is no way I was jogging. It was amazing. Got to the finish, and sprinted faster than I ever have in my life...into sand, which was the last 20 feet. I tripped a lil bit, but still ran my ass off and got through into my loving family's waiting arms. What would you do differently?: Run faster after the first mile instead of after the turnaround...I really had that thing, but took it easy. However, all learning experiences! Post race
Warm down: I hugged my family, who were so unbelieveably proud. I drank water, and ate a banana. I found Nancy and Michael, hugged them, and found Tim, who was totally proud of me. I packed up, my mom took (yet more) pictures, and I came home. Should have stretched, but didn't. What limited your ability to perform faster: First race, baby! I didn't want to kill myself! I am totally proud of my incredible performance, which was about 1/2 hour faster than I expected. Event comments: Excellent race...so glad it was such a fun, fabulous experience. Can't wait to do it again next year! (Hopefully after 5-6 Olys, though!) :-) Last updated: 2007-07-22 12:00 AM
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United States
MESP
59F / 15C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 611/800
Age Group = 18-24
Age Group Rank = 16/20
The night before, I practiced my transitions, per Jasha's instructions. I have to give Jasha a huge amount of credit - he's amazing. He literally has talked me through almost the entire training. Wow, what an early morning! After a (very loud) party across the street last night, I still managed to get about 4 hours of sleep, to wake up at 3:30 am. What a blessing that was! I woke up (with my incredibly kind boyfriend, Colin, who didn't complain once at the obscenely early hour), did my morning reading, drank a peanut butter and banana smoothie, and ate some frozen grapes. I'm so grateful to BT.com to tell me what to do in general. I'm so excited, and I feel very focused. It's time to go!
This was so wonderful. The event started at 7:00am, so I got there (as per every article I read) at 5:00. This was perfect, as I was literally the second one there. I racked my bike, organized my transition area as I had practiced, and was ready to rock before most people got there, and while it was still dark. Colin helped me set up my transition area really nicely (we got there before the volunteers, so he was allowed in!) and showed me how to give the others some more space. One of the first volunteers to show up was my swim/ocean 101 teacher, Tim Bomba! He gave me a huge hug, and was soo encouraging all the way through (he was guarding the transition area, so I saw him twice during the race! I went for a brief (around 1/4 - 1/3 mile) run up the strand, and got back into my sweatshirt, and was very relaxed. My parents arrived around them, all the way from New York. It was amazing to have them there - they are both so phenominally supportive. They, with my boyfriend, were with me the entire way... they were so encouraging, holding signs, cheering louder than anyone. It was fantastic One of my LA Tri Club friends, Nancy, happened to be racked right near me with her husband (they were doing a relay together - how cute is that?!) I was so grateful to see her. My swim wave started at 7:49, and my parents arrived at about 6:30, so for about fourty-five minutes, I hung out with my parents and Colin, took pictures, but managed to stay really focused.