Gnu's Group - CLOSED (Page 11)

Yeah I just checked in and he finished the bike now.  He's doing so well!

Well I survived my first tri today!  It was great.  I had SO much fun, really enjoyed it.  Went alone, which is a little unnerving, but as I stepped away from being marked I heard, "NICHOLE!"...it was a former cross-country teammate (and friend) that I hadn't seen since high school!  It was great to have her there, nice distraction from the nerves. 

It was a flat, fast course.  Swim was great, it went by SO fast.  Bike was fast and totally flat.  The only thing I hurt on was the run.  My lack of run training (due to lovely shin splints) was obvious. Nonetheless, I did great considering my total run milage for June was 11 miles and even less in July.  Even so I just set a comfy pace and was happy to cross that finish line.

I finished in 1:23:27, I think...I didn't get splits or anything so I'll have to wait until they get those up on the 'net so I can do my race report.  I was shooting for under and hour and a half and I did it, so for a first tri it was great.  Now I can't wait until my shin is 100% to see how I can do.

Thanks!  They finally got the race results up.  147/240 overall, 7/16 AG.  Not too shabby for my first race out the gate.  A little erked b/c they didn't do T2 splits, they just lumped it into the run time.  And the swim time included this LONG run from the water up to the transition area, had to be close to an extra quarter mile!  On cobblestone.  Barefoot.  Lovely. 

Gary, how are you feeling????  If you aren't in a wheelchair, I'm amazed.  What stunned me was the sheer number of entrants in that race!  Almost 2500!??!!  THAT many people do IM's?!  Wow I totally have no excuse, I have to try someday!

Great job Nichole! 

 I have my first triathlon this Sunday and the butterflies are starting big time.  My biggest problem - getting over wearing that lovely trisuit that makes me feel like a stuffed sausage.  It is light purple with hot pink accents.  What was I thinking. I did pick up a sports bra and compression shorts but am not sold on them.  The shorts don't have any chamois.  Should I stick with my tri suit since I have been training in it lately? Any pointers for the morning of the triathlon?  I am in the 10th wave (final one for the sprint) which means I am waiting almost 30 minutes from the actual start of the race.  Someone asked me the other day what I was most afraid to do and I could honestly say that I am looking forward to all of it.  I think the bike is probably the hardest for me but because we did the ride twice now, I know that I can do it.    There are close to 2500 athletes competing between the sprint and the olympic. 

Thanks!  I did remember reading to wear for the triathlon what you train in and since I knew I was not going to get a chance to wear the sports bra/compression shorts thing, I returned them and will wear my lovely purple tri-suit and just suck it up and realize I will be able to add to the finish line photo thread.  (haha)

Okay,  I am sitting here at home and I guess I have had too much down time today because I am officially totally freaked out about the triathlon on Sunday.  I know that I am prepared as much as I can be but I just cannot shake the feeling like I just want to curl up in a ball and cry my eyes out and scream "what the !@@r was I thinking signing up for a triathlon and how the heck am I going to do this?"  I have no appetite and am sick to my stomach.

I have been thinking and planning for this triathlon for a year since it was because I volunteered last year that I decided to compete this year.  Is it because it is finally coming to fruition?  I am assuming this is totally normal but would love any suggestions on how to get past this.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for checking on me.  I should have posted on Friday after my last post that I went for a bike ride and it helped settle the nerves.  I updated my logs but am currently working on my race report. I had it all typed out and accidentally hit something and lost all of it.  I finished in just over 2 hours  (2:07:02),  way under my goal of finishing in 2 1/2 hours.  Glad I did that because otherwise I would have been last,  instead I am just BOP - not bad for my first Tri!  I am a bit sore, mostly my quads, and tired but am still a bit amazed that I was able to finish.  My husband participated too and finished 10 ahead of me in the overall.  I still get choked up thinkign about what I have accomplished and cannot wait for next year. Now I need to start looking for another Tri to do before next July.  Yes, I am hooked. 

One sad note is the missing man from the triathlon who went missing during the swim.  He was 52 yr old first-timer.  He checked in for the swim but they have no record of him exiting the water and his gear and car were exactly as they left them.  We were still in the park when the dive teams were called out.  We had been told they thought it was someone who went back into the water to cool off after the race but that no lifeguards were on duty.  You cannot usually swim in the lake.  This has put a little damper on the good mood.  I keep thinking that it could have been me or my husband who did not come out even as prepared as we were.  The missing (found) man was actually in my husband's wave.  I do believe that when it is your time, it is your time so if I were meant to drown,  I would have.   (edited) They just reported that they have recovered his body and will be doing an autopsy today.  The family was at the park around 1am (either paying vigil or possibly searching on their own based on different reports) when his body was spotted.    How very sad...

Also, some bad thunderstorms rolled through around 2:30pm but I was already home. I know there were people still at the park and worried about them being out there. I have not heard any bad news except tents got overturned and litter scattered everywhere.

I know that I have to work on some stuff but figure I have time now and a better idea of what to do differently.  Meanwhile, I will continue to relish the idea of being a triathlete. 

You know it's so hard to see all these people cranking out the HIM and IM's and I'm like, "hey, I wanna play toooooo!"....but I know I can't.  Not now anyways.  So I guess we can just enjoy our sprints, huh?

Having a virtual mentor group IS awesome.  I belong to an online mom's group too and it's the same way.  We've "known" each other for almost 8 years, and even though we are spread around the country many of us have met in person.  I think it's cool that we have these kinds of virtual resources because I believe it ultimately connects you to more people in real life. 

In other words, I'm waiting for my invitation to Florida, Gary or Mike....particularly in like February.  Thanks.

I agree Mike and Nichole!  I feel like I have gotten to know all of you. I was also part of a mentor group from January which was all women and all but one of us were new to triathlons.  We are all still in touch with each other.  These mentor groups are an amazing way to really connect with so many others on BT.  This spring mentor group I think is especially exciting because it is when so many of us are experiencing our first triathlons too. 

I have also been a part of an online group but for scrapbooking for almost 10 years and even travelled to Texas alone to meet many of the amazing women on that group. It was scary at first when I really stopped and thought about it but by the time I made that trip, I had heard about and seen pictures of their families.  I truly felt like I knew them. Now I count them as my dearest friends.  Without the internet, I would never have gotten to know them. 

The silly thing is that so many of the BT people were at the NJ State yet we did not meet up.  If I can remember for next year, I will try to be sure we have a place to meet and get a group photo at least.