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Feeling Awful
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 2009-08-11 1:22 PM |
 8 |  Subject: Feeling AwfulI have to admit my first tri experience was a complete disaster. I "competed" (if you can call it that) this past weekend. The day was a complete disaster. It started with heavy rain and wind and they had to cancel the swim. Great that was my best event. So they made it into a duo, Run-Bike-Run. More bad news my run times are slow. So I line up and the gun goes off and there goes the field leaving me behind. I knew that I was slow but a 10 min mile is that slow? Wow. So I finish the first part the run as the last person with everyone waiting for me to finish so they can start the sprint, embarrassing. Then came the bike. 8 miles into the bike after a 3.1 run I hadn't started to drink yet and I don't know why. My kidneys began to hurt and spasm. So I quit! DNF. I was demoralized and still am. I hated being last after never being that far down in all of my previous road running races. I know now that I bit off more than I could chew doing an Oly for the first race, but I was shocked at how fast people were. I really got the feeling that I didn't belong. I like the sport but I don't want to feel that way again, so I will train but if I don't get faster I guess I won't race. Sorry for the crying in the proverbial beer but I had to get it off of my chest. |
| 2009-08-11 1:40 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
| 21 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I'm sorry your experience was not what you had hoped. I'm in the same boat. Although I finished my first sprint "unofficially" (took too long on the bike and had to turn in my timing chip before I did the run), I have decided that I will not do another tri until I'm certain I can finish in a timely manner. I wouldn't even care if I were DFL, but I want to know I can "officially" finish. For what it's worth, I couldn't get near a 10-minute mile at this point, so I admire you for being able to do that. |
| 2009-08-11 3:33 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Master 1993     Riverside, IL | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I don't think a 10-minute mile is THAT slow. Maybe because that has been my pace for the last 3 years or so. I've done a few races (triathlons and 5k runs), and even running a 10-minute mile I was never even close to coming in DFL. I would definitely NOT let this one event be the end of your triathlon racing...even if you don't get faster. There are plenty of other races out there, where a 10-minute mile run would be considered "respectable". Please don't let this one bad experience stop you from racing again. Get back out there and keep training for your NEXT race! |
| 2009-08-11 5:46 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Expert 838 West Palm Beach, FL | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful So you had a bad day. There's nothing that erases those rotten feelings like taking on a new challenge, a new race, and putting your stamp on it. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. Run your race. |
| 2009-08-12 12:18 AM in reply to: #2341816 |
Veteran 320 Edmonton, AB | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful DO NOT give up. I had my first DNF this past weekend and at first I was devastated, but I have learned a lot from the experience. It sounds like you were defeated mentally when they cancelled the swim. A 10 min mile is just fine as a pace. Believe me, I understand the embarrasment of being "that guy." My first half-marathon I was last by a fair bit. Every time I passed a water station they closed it, as I got closer to the finish I was the only person remaining so the paramedics on their bikes followed me in and the volunteers from the last two direction sites followed me in. I had a full entourage and when they saw me coming they blasted the music from "Rocky." Then as I crossed the finish line they deflated the finish line marker and packed up. Looking back it is pretty funny but at the time I just wanted to disappear. That moment has made me realize that no matter how hard it is and how much I stick out I have the mental and physical fortitude to do it. Stick with it and everyone else be damned. |
| 2009-08-12 1:33 AM in reply to: #2341816 |
Veteran 215 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Gosh, compared to me a 10 min mile is speedy. I'd have been trailing behind you with my 12+ min. mile (and I swim slow, too). Sorry to hear you had a bad experience though, that really sucks. |
| 2009-08-12 10:16 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
| Veteran 261 Townsville, Australia | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I would safely say my first Tri experience was as bad.. DNF.. I mainly failed due to a lack of mental toughness on the day, and really underestimated this aspect. dust yourself off.. sort yourself out.. train hard.. and go again ! Edited by serenityau 2009-08-12 10:16 PM |
| 2009-08-13 2:01 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
| 8 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I want to say thank you all of you for your kind words. I know that my DNF while a disappointment may have kept me from getting into a real bad medical situtation. Yesterday (two days after the race) I passed my 92nd Kidney Stone (Yep that is 92, I have a rare genetic defect lots of fun) . So I thank God that I stopped, and the pain that I felt in my kidneys was for real. I will try again, so that I can show my son who has the same disease that this won't stop us from having a normal life. Thanks again for helping me to remember that |
| 2009-08-13 2:48 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Expert 790 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Don't get discouraged. To me it sounds like the rain, weather, and the tri being converted to a duo really affected your mental state. Especially with the swim portion being your best event. Train, sign up for a sprint, and make your son proud. Just remember the only person who can tell you, "you can't" is you. And you don't have to listen! (quote taken from someone's signature). |
| 2009-08-13 10:51 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Veteran 393 The Beautiful San Fernando Valley in Sunny L.A. | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful jbirish - 2009-08-11 11:22 AM I knew that I was slow but a 10 min mile is that slow? I came in 4th in my clydesdale division last triathlon with a 10:48/mi run. Don't worry, it was just that race you were in that day. You'll make up for it in the future on the swim and bike until you get running faster. At least I hope so because that's my plan! |
| 2009-08-13 10:59 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Master 1690 Metro NY Area | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Tri again! Sounds like a bad day all around. You seem to know you can do better. Next time you will have a better day. |
| 2009-08-14 7:42 AM in reply to: #2341816 |
| Veteran 229 New York | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Wow, thats an interesting race if a 10/mi pace is last. I'd have been another 15 minutes behind you. I have walked in all 3 of my previous races. I've started doing running intervals since, but just started, so Im thinking i'm looking at slightly under an hour for my next race. Hopefully by the one a month from now I'll be in a faster speed. Don't worry, you'll do better. I've never DNF'd but I've been DFL once, and close to it another time. My 3rd race, I beat quite a few folks. It just takes time and practice. |
| 2009-08-14 9:23 AM in reply to: #2341816 |
| 13 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful not sure if you are male or female. But if you are female - you should check out an all female event!! i did one last weekend and it was great! Every body was very supportive. |
| 2009-08-14 4:18 PM in reply to: #2348287 |
Master 1690 Metro NY Area | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful That is quite true all women's tris are very supportive of everyone. My first two were all women as is my next. I will do one co-ed late september. jsmom - 2009-08-14 10:23 AM not sure if you are male or female. But if you are female - you should check out an all female event!! i did one last weekend and it was great! Every body was very supportive. |
| 2009-08-15 5:42 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Extreme Veteran 335 Medway, MA | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful 10 mins/mile is slow? I've been working on running for 6 months and just recently cracked an 11 minute mile. My last tri I did 15 minute miles (the purpose was to avoid injury) but I finished - and I can tell you now I am mentally harder than the folks who find it easy. Just do it... you're obviously physically capable of completing a triathlon. Don't let your mind tell you otherwise. You *CAN* do it. Forget about the last tri and go do it..!!!! Good luck! |
| 2009-08-16 2:40 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Regular 157 Bay City, MI | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Just a pointer if the swim IS your best event you are ahead of probably 90% of the people out there. for a lot of people that get into tris the run is their best event. a duo would have sunk me as well. just enter another and try an actual 3 event tri. My motto is DFL and DNF are always better than DNS. Now go out and finish for you and your son. I don't know how old your son is but maybe you guys could team up for a relay. |
| 2009-08-20 7:38 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Master 2158 | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Holy Kidney Stones! 92? Uhh, I think there may be a reason you felt like crap. 10 min mile isn't slow. I think you already showed that you are learning and growing from the experience-As in maybe an OLY as first race was tough. Plus, I can't imagine what it would be like not to have the swim. I like and do well on it and it woudl definitely mess with my game to start with a run. Way to go for planning on doing another! |
| 2009-08-21 2:41 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful Gosh, maybe 10 min/miles are slow but I have only done that once on a 5k during training. Maybe we should all get together and do some Clydes and Athenas only events. :-) |
| 2009-08-22 10:03 PM in reply to: #2341816 |
Regular 79 Port St. Lucie | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I'd kill to run ten minute miles. Triathloning for me is about embracing humility. I know I'm gonna be in the bottom 10%, so I just focus on having fun and setting new little records for myself. You have to remember that you are out there, challenging yourself, pushing yourself, when many many other people wouldn't even dream of trying. |
| 2009-08-23 1:15 AM in reply to: #2341816 |
Extreme Veteran 1112 Las Vegas | Subject: RE: Feeling Awful I am hoping to keep a 10 min mile for my first full marathon coming up in December. As for your first Tri, in mine, I came out of T1 and actually fell off the bike as I took off in front of everyone. They even took photos of my skill and put it on the internet. So don't tell me about embarassment. |
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