Bangs Lake Multisport Festival - TriathlonOlympic

WORST.SWIM.EVER. With my back all jacked up, this didn't start well, and it went from bad to worse VERY quickly. I tried to take a few strokes, but my back pain soon faded to bigger issues...I was extremely rattled and I panicked....which hasn't happened to me in a LONG time. I think it happened because the water was SOOO gross. You couldn't see anything but weeds, weeds, weeds. They got wrapped around your neck, caught on your feet, it was awful. My wetsuit had already felt tight on me, and this just made it so much worse. I almost quit...and that upset me that I was that rattled. Then when we made the turn, I FINALLY felt like I was going to be able to swim all the way in, and I started swimming normally, and then the chop was so bad, I was taking in mouthfulls of water. It was the worst! There were 4 girls right in front of me in my age group, and I couldn't get the strength up to pass them...uggh! :(

There is NO way that was 0.9 by the way....that felt like 1.5...sucked!

Still have to learn how to calm down. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! I refuse to give up!

Since we had a long run to transition, I was able to get wetsuit off and run with it when I got out of water. Had a very nice surprise waiting for me at the start of T1...Marc Jackson and Jim Fergus from HS had come out to spectate. Marc's friend was also racing, and Jim and I have been talking on FB, and he wants to start doing tri's next year. That made me smile!! Also this time, I decided to hold off on putting on skirt until the run, God forbid I have drag on the bike today with the wind, so I had bike shorts on with my jog bra, so all I had to do was put on helmet, glasses and shoes.

Nothing. Really liked having the bike shorts on so all I had to do was throw helmet and shoes on.

Was SOOOO happy to see Dad and Deanna standing at the bike out...told them "You guys are lucky to be seeing me, that was horrible!" I then started to bike, and was REALLY choked up, starting to cry, but took a deep breath and told myself to suck it up, and ride your azz off!

Have to practice turns...think since my wipeout, I'm a little too cautious. Also, hadn't been on hills since my last ride out in Barrington the day I fell, so, I could tell the hills were a tad tough on me, but that's just because I should have gone out by Jen to ride. But, you know how summer goes, gets busy, and it's hard to get out there during the week, and on the weekends, so much going on! Overall though, I felt really strong, so I am happy about that.

Racked bike, ripped off shorts, shoes and slipped on skirt and running shoes, grabbed race belt, and visor (first time wearing a hat) and I was off.

Nothing.

Seriously, this felt like a death march. By the time I started the run, I believe I saw the sign at the school (when I was coming in off bike) said it was 96 degrees...HOLY CRAP!!! My left hami was really tight coming off the bike. There was water at the start, and then again at mile 1...then not until mile 3, after we ran up a couple hills and into the sun...WTF??? I was absolutely DYING of thirst out there...so this became like some of the other BT'ers said, a walk/run for me. I was absolutely gassed. I made the mistake too of letting some very nice woman hose me down at mile 4 and forgot to let my shoes get wet, so for the last 2 miles, I had wet, squishy feet that were now sliding around in there since I run sockless...uggh, that was ANNOYING. When I turned on the gas with about 1/2 mile left, my feet felt like they were going to slip right out. That probably would have made me laugh.

The finish was so nice...Dad, Deanna, Jenny, Alli, Maddie, Marc and Jim from HS, Robertson and Russ (who were receiving their AG awards)...I was SOOOO happy to be done!!

Not sure...do I do more longer bricks so I can practice not running out of gas by the time I get to the 10k run? I know it's hard to think by looking at my pace, but I really was trying out there...it just sucked!!

Try to cool off...hang with everyone who came to watch and take pictures...then I just wanted to get my stuff and get the heck out of there.


Anxiety in water. Heat.


I won't be doing any more RAM races. Big foot and this one...while they have nice give aways, they're REALLY disorganized and I would MUCH rather spend my money at a better race like Chicago or Pleasant Prairie.

SO SO SO SO SO happy to have all those spectators there. There is probably NO way I would have finished if they weren't there...I was really having a tough day, mentally, and knowing they would be there waiting for me at the finish, meant soooooo much to me! And here a week ago I was complaining about not having anyone, and today I had a whole bunch...it put such a smile on my face.

And to end on a good note, I know there is a lot of "bad" in this RR, but when I thought about it on the drive home, I thought to myself, "Well, that really sucked, but at least I am able to go out there and compete," so I am happy for that. The fact that I do these, and made it to the finish, and my family and friends were there to bring me in, that is just terrific! Not EVERY race can be a great race...how else would I learn! :)