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 Swim
Comments: OY...why do I continue to do this to myself? The nice calm river of Saturday was now the CHOPYtank. At least I had no panic/asthma issues, but the chop really messed with my head. I just kept going buoy to buoy. I was miserable the entire time. I figured I was the last person in the water. That was the start of my lows. What would you do differently?: If I had the option, I would have started in an earlier wave. Being slow, and starting next to last meant that almost everyone in the last wave passed me. It was mentally demoralizing. I know that I have not spent much time n the water in preparation for this, but I think that the chop just messed with me. I had checked out already and that was a bad thing.  Transition 1
Comments: I am good at transitions. After the next to worst swim I had the next to best T1. I even put socks and my Garmin on. Hooked my watch around my race belt so I would be able to see my cumulative time. What would you do differently?: Nothing.  Bike
Comments: The first 20 miles were fun. After that, not so much. The later it got in the day, the windier it got. Again, this is where starting in such a late wave came to bite me. I have had lows during races before, but never as low as this. The negative self-talk is so entirely defeating, and I tried really hard to turn that around but it was really difficult. The relentless pedaling along with the headwinds just took everything out of me. I had many why the Hell do I do this moments. It seriously considered DNF'ing. I was miserable, and mostly alone on the course. Nobody to pass and nobody passing me. I also had a really bad pain in my right quad that radiated into my hip. That was a new one for me. Got off the bike at the 30 and 40 mile aid stations to pee and stretch. The only thing that kept me from DNF'ing was the thought that as bad as the swim and bike were, the run could not possibly be any worse. The best part of the bike was when I was about 3 miles out and the runners were on the same part of the course. I saw Steve on the run and that was the first time I smiled since 8:03! What would you do differently?: Not let my mind rule my body. I mentally checked out at about mile 25 and could not bring it back. Transition 2
Comments: See T1 comments. I am really good at transitions. I also stopped to chenge my Garmin over from bike to run. What would you do differently?: Nothing. If I have to be good at something, why does it have to be transitions?  Run
Comments: How screwed up is it when the run is the best part of my race? 4th out of 7. That is unheard of for me. The trick, I actually stuck to the 4-1 for the entire run. I figured even at my worst, I could run for 4 minutes. I stopped at every aid station and took water and ice. Took a gel at every other aid station. The run out was good until about a mile before the turn. Runners were coming back so there was a lot of people on the road. About a mile before the turn and the whole was back I was alone again. Every now and then I would see someone on the run out. At least I knew I was not DFL. The last 2 miles were tough mentally but I just kept to the 4-1 and trudged in to the finish. The bright spot was again seeing Steve when I was at about mile 5 going out and he was at mile 8 coming back. What would you do differently?: Again...starting so late meant I was out there on my own. Really though, I am not terribly unhappy with this effort. Post race
Warm down: Steve was waiting for me at the finish line. That made me smile. Stood in the shade for a few and then packed up, dropped the bikes and bags with the transport Dude and headed to the beach for vacation. During the ride, Steve and I took turns downloaded our days to each other. He had a PR, but a tough run that resulted in trashing his feet woth some of the nastiest blisters have ever seen. What limited your ability to perform faster: My piss poor mental state after the swim was probably my biggest limiter. The chop of the river and the winds and cramping on the bike. Maybe the long stuff is not for me? That is something I need to figure out. Being alone on the course for most of the day was tough too. That alone is one reason I probably will not do this race again. Event comments: From the perspective of organization and support, this was a great event. I underestimated the course thinking that no hills would translate into a stupid fast bike split. I have been humbled. But, I did HTFU. I never cried :) and I have my finishers medal! Last updated: 2008-10-21 12:00 AM
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United States
Columbia Triathlon Association
72F / 22C
Overcast
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = Athena 40-79
Age Group Rank = 7/8
Got to Baltimore Friday morning after a stupid early flight and little sleep due to a HS graduation party gone out of control. 2am and the police are in front of my house busting a kid selling wed to a bunch of underage graduates.
Spent Friday in Baltimore. Ran some errands (I forgot my watch so had to buy a new one) and visited with some friends.
Great dinner at the Inner Harbor.
After breakfast Saturday morning, we headed to the Eastern Shore. I was amazed that there was no traffic getting over the Bay Bridge! Got to the expo and got all checked in.
Panic moment one of two happened when the guy from the transport company could not locate our pedals. Took him about 10 minutes but he finally found them.
Had a bit of a logistical dilemma with the bikes since the expo was not at the same place as transition and the car did not have room for the bikes. We rode about 12 miles, then I rode to transition and racked my bike. Steve rode back to the expo, left his bike there, got the car and picked me up at transition. We drove back to the expo, Steve got back on his bike and rode to transition while I drove back. Confused yet ;)
We did a quick swim. Water temp was really nice but the sea nettles were a bit of a problem. Got stung twice. The water was nice and calm though. That was encouraging.
After the swim, found Aaron, stopped at some local place for an early dinner and then headed to Salisbury to the hotel.
Panic moment number two came when we got to the hotel and unloaded the car. My bag with my numbers and chip was missing. Me, being the calm, level headed person I am was not concerned (stop laughing Steve). I nearly had a meltdown right there in the Comfort Inn parking lot. Steve, being the level headed one thought that Aaron may have picked it up and he, as usual, was right!
Lights out at 9:30. Up at 3 and rolled around until 4.
Up and showered. Made a bagel with PB and jelly and a bottle of Gatorade. Found a great parking spot. Set up my transition area and then waited more than an hour for my wave to go.