Peasantman Sprint Triathlon 2012, Race Recap Part Two or The Day The Earth Stood Still

(New? Read part one here.)

As I was saying, I had forgotten, truly forgotten, how much forethought, goes into triathlon. Let's take a trip on the wayback machine, waaaayback to my first trip to Lake Anna in June 2008 for a simple swim/bike practice with D.C. Tri Club. In 2008, the lovely NOD (that would be Number One Daughter, as some of you already know) put this checklist inside the front door to make sure I didn't forget anything:

say, like, Chocolate Chip cookies! (Like I said, just the essentials!)

In my last post, I exposed my fears, worries and fallback position of "I don't even know where my wetsuit is!"

But as the days ticked by, one thing led to another.

My friend and mentor Becky egged me on.

And then I swam 700 m straight in the pool.

And then I found the wetsuit.

And some ShotBloks.

And some throwaway flip-flops.

And the next thing I knew, just like Mitt Romney, I was shaking up the etch-a-sketch, erasing the past two years of triathlon boycott, and on my way to Lake Anna!

Thankfully, there were four swim waves, in this order:

1st: Olympic confident swimmers
2nd: Olympic less confident swimmers
3rd: Sprint confident swimmers
4th: Sprint less confident swimmers

(Can I just say that I LOVE the pc-ness of these swim labels?!?! This is what makes America great--everyone's a winner!)

(Also, for those new to triathlon, Olympic distance is 1,500 swim, 22 mile bike, 10k run. Sprint is half of those.)

What a relief. Clearly organized by someone who understands me!

Into the lake I went. For the first 200 meters I pretty much let the wetsuit swim for me. It's buoyant! Then i tried to focus on not having a heart attack. Then i tried to focus on different elements of my stroke. Finally I resorted to counting. In the world of sprint triathlons, I took forever. People have finished Ironman swims in less time. But I had plenty of company, and people were even laughing and having fun. While swimming.

I know.

!

750 M: 25 min

As usual, I made my graceful exit:

Am I wearing a tutu? Is that why I am holding my arms out? Am I radioactive?

I emerged dizzy, disoriented, with a headache but oh-so-pleased with myself. I did it! The rest was gravy.

I think I took about 8 minutes in T1 (transition 1). But I was so happy, I couldn't have cared less what my time was. Breakthru thinking people!

The bike out started on an uphill. Which is kind of a challenge, if you're me. So I dropped my chain and the nice bikeout volunteer helped me put it back on. Which is a big no-no in an "official" tri, but no problem in this one!

The bike route was just pure fun. Because there were so many people doing the Olympic and they had started at different times, I was never alone. I wish more race directors would take a clue from Peasantman! It wasn't too hot, the sky was clearing, there were few cars, and we were in a state park. What's not to like?!

11 miles: 1:05

My extensive bike training clearly shows. But I was just so happy!

And then came the 5k run. I have only recently re-ignited my illustrious running career (hello, see name of blog you are reading) by using the Couch to 5k program on my iPhone, which I highly recommend. It's a very gradual intro to running. So with no time goals in mind, I was delighted to do a walk/run ratio of 3 min walk/ 8 min run. And that's what I did. For 4.3 miles.

Wait...what?

Wasn't this supposed to be 3.1??

Around the 2 mile point, one of the volunteers cheerily informed us that the course was long--actually 4.3 miles instead of 3.1. Thank God I wasn't trying to beat any records, or I would have shriveled up and died. But people seemed to take it in stride. We just kept on putting one foot in front of the other.

This is why I love triathlon. It really teaches you that if you're going to survive, you have to learn to make the best of whatever comes your way. LESSONS, people, LESSONS!

The other reason I love triathlon? Even though I am OLD and SLOW, just about every single person who passed me said, "Good job!" or some encouraging thing.

Triathletes! They really are special.

4.3 mile run: 50:40 minutes.

And anyway, how could anyone get upset with signs like this?!

With a huff and puff, I skipped the last few walk breaks and ran it in.

Utterly and completely delighted with myself!

And at the finish line? Were these:

and these:

Courtesy hometown heroes Georgetown Cupcake

Stacks and stacks of them! I have never seen so many cupcakes in my life!

I felt sick to my stomach and my head hurt. And? I have never felt so good in my life!

I had only one thought, as I passed on the mounds of cupcakes that were gently whispering my name, and the piles of food at the barbeque:

Please sir, I want some more.

Kayak, Bike, and That Other Thing You Do in the Water

Kayak:
Last night I went kayaking for the first time ever. It cost $5. Since I don't have the kid's camera anymore, and strangely, other people don't feel the need to photograph every single thing they do, you'll just have to imagine the scene: The C & O canal, dusk, sun slowly setting, mosquitoes slowly eating me alive. It was blissful, and peaceful, and I got told by the instructor that I need to "put more force into it." A familiar rejoinder, sadly.

It kind of looked like this.

The instructors taught us a few strokes and then had us play tag with the kayaks. A lovely way to spend a hot summer night.

Bike:
Saturday I went on a 33-mile bike ride on the very very hilly Eat-a-Peach charity ride, out in the hinterlands of Westminster, Maryland. I was grouchy and grumpy and not feeling it, but I just got in the car and put it in drive, bitching to myself the entire way. I should have manned up and gone for 40 miles, but I gave into my worse self. I rode alone most of the time, and what do you know: My mood actually lifted. It really IS all about the bike!!!

The ride went through bucolic (and hilly) Carrol County, out in some real country, with no cars, lots of corn, cows and horses. Also geese. The first rest stop was at 9 miles. Are they kidding?? I was barely warmed up. The second was at 20 miles, at a cute little country nursery. There were a ton of people stopped, including a bike team that was helping some chick change a flat. I flew right on by. 33 miles took me 2.5 hours which, if you're keeping track, is slow. But whatever. I passed people like they were standing still. The ride organizers saved their worst for last, of course: the longest and steepest hill at about 31 miles out. It went straight up. God knows how I didn't fall ass over teakettle. Instead, I passed one teenager pushing his bike up a hill. I felt smug (and what the heck, why not?) even though he was riding a banana bike that was about 6 sizes too small. I take what I can get.

At the end I forced myself to run, and got in 2 good miles in the hot sun. (I've been following 21st Century Mom's admonitions to always run after biking, no matter how short or long. Listen to the mother!) So that was my longest brick yet.

While out on the run I heard my name called (is there anywhere where I am not known??? The fame thing--so hard!) It was none other than the overachieving Adam, who rode 67 hilly miles, fast (read his excellent ride report). We met up after my run to gossip while I stuffed my mouth full of bagel and he of pizza. After that, I stuffed my pockets full of peaches, came home, and in a fit of "Julie/Julia" madness (the link is to the blog that inspired the book that inspired the movie), made this:



And finally, the sport Whose Name We Dare Not Speak:
I have a triathlon coming up, the Northeast Olympic Tri, this coming Sunday, located in the unimaginatively named town of Northeast ("The Land of Pleasant Living"), Maryland. I'm considering this my "G" race, cuz that's how far down in importance it is to my "A" race. (What is my "A" race, you ask? Lemme get back to you ...)

I'm considering it a long training day. I'm considering it a time for FUN in the water, a FUN bike ride, and then some FUN running. And while I'm busy lying to myself, my brain is busy freaking out over the s***. And the run. Yeah, everything but the bike. So to calm myself down, and re-convince me that I can indeed go 1500 meters in open water, I hied myself down to the Hain's Point 50-meter outdoor pool on Sunday after church, all ready to do 10x100, and 10x50.

Which I did. And immediately got depressed because it took me 45 minutes. In a pool. After all those lessons, and all that practice.

I want a refund.

Anyway, my plan is to magically become faster on Sunday. If I could get a s*** time that starts with a "3" I'll be deliriously happy.

There's loads more to report, but I know how you like me to keep things short, so I'll leave everyone with this inspiring video of Captain Kirk explaining Why He Is Climbing a Mountain, inspiration which I plan to use on my next hilly ride, run, or s***:

Run, Swim, Bike

Running:
The run/no walk plan is going well. Three runs, three miles each, and no walking. And the pace wasn't too shabby either.
Friday: 11:13 min. miles
Sunday: 10:38
Tuesday: 10:53

I decided I need to do some kind of "speed" work, so on Tuesday tried to run the 2nd mile harder than the first or the third. What is that, a tempo run? Is it 1x1600?? I dunno what it's called in runner lingo. I did it though.
11:10
9:55
11:30

Will this help? Don't know that either! I'm trying to run every other day, which means on some days I have to do TWO things. Brutal.

Swimming:
I'm taking a swim class at American University with my tri club, which I equally dread and look forward to. It's a 7-session class. The first night we learned to curl into a ball and not breathe and find our "dry spot." Then you extend arms and legs out and try to keep the dry spot. You find your balance by pushing your chest down and keeping your head down so your ass isn't dragging. (It's a lot to remember!) The second night we learned how to do drills on our side. You turn on your right side, extend your right arm out, turn your head to face the bottom of the pool, and your left arm stays straight along the left side of your body. Now kick sideways to get to the other end of the pool. Then you reverse and do it the other way. Oh and when you breathe, you have to look at the ceiling yet keep your forehead in the water.

Don't ask me, I just follow instructions! But I did get some funny looks when I practiced on my own.

Here's what's we're learning:
1 Thursday, July 31st Posture/Line/Balance

2 Sunday, August 3rd Review, Rotation/Recovery/Breathing

3 Thursday, August 7th Review, Pulling /Acceleration / Sculling

4 Sunday, August 10th Review, Kicking / Turns

5 Thursday, August 14th Review, Use of Equipment

6 Sunday, August 17th Review, Use of Equipment / Energy Systems

7 Thursday, August 21st Review, Starts/Race Strategy/ Other Strokes

Bike:
I had my first flat this morning! I got up extra early so I could get a good hour in before the traffic started up. Five miles out I got a flat, which curiously feels pretty much like a flat on a car feels. No problem-o! I have all the equipment, along with the superior knowledge needed, including two CO² CO₂ cartridges, in order to change a simple flat. Ha. I had however never actually used CO² CO₂ cartridges. Somehow they deployed by looking at them. Lucky for me Number One Daughter was home and came out to pick me up at 6:40 with a smile on her face (NOT). Changed tire at work, no ride today!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to decide what to do next.

Saturday is another training tri (have mercy). The Annapolis Tri on Sept 7 has been turned into a swim/run, so that's out, which is just as well since I was only on the waiting list.

There's this on Sept. 7:
Patriot's International, Williamsburg, but I wrote to the director to ask about cut-off times, and it's 4 hours, with a 3-hour cut off for the swim and bike together. I THINK I can make it!

And this, on Sept. 28, which sounds like total fun (except for the swimming, biking and running part):

Naylor's Beach Triathlon, which claims, "The post race food is way above average: crab cakes, BBQ, tofu burgers are among the usual menu suspects! 2 additional awards are the best dressed tri outfit award and the connector award." (A connector award?)

And I'd like to toss some road races in there somewhere.

So many races, so little time.

The Story So Far

Since this is a purported running-cum-beginning triathlete blog, let's get that stuff out of the way pronto.

Sunday: 5 mile run, wherein I used every bit of strategy I've learned over the past three years (not):
10:24
10:07
11:03
11:41
12:02

Monday: 15 mile bike, in 1:14, doing intervals 12 min on/3 min off (yes, it would be nice if that meant ON and OFF the bike, but no. It doesn't. I asked.) Time: 1:14 or 12:16 mph

Tuesday: 1200 m swim, which took 38 minutes. Apparently? That's S-L-O-W.

So if you're a runner triathlete, that's the end of this post! Have a great week!

However, if you possess a morbid curiosity, read on...

As you know, I have to look decent at Number One Daughter's looming graduation, but I can't look like I'm trying. I have to look like, "Oh I dress like this every day."

After extensive consultation, [NOTE: Runner Susan LINK FIXED! CLICK HERE!!] Runner Susan decided I needed a personal shopper. Nevermind she's in Texas and I'm in Maryland where I live across the street from Nordstrom's. Susan had to send me the number for the Nordstrom's FREE personal shopper (Libby, Nordstrom's Bethesda) and then she had to harangue me until I actually made an appointment. She wore me down and I called. The personal shopper asked me a few questions on the phone and when I got there, she already had stuff picked out based on my description of "needing to look my age, but not so much."

Have I mentioned how much I loathe and detest shopping? No?

Anyhoo, I had a camera with me because Runner Susan made me take one.

And, she is also is MAKING ME DO THIS. (For the record: I am lodging an official protest against RS on behalf of all people who HATE the way they look in photos (not that you'd know it on this blog) for making me look like a big show-off-y person who can't get enough photos of herself in public. It's not me, it's HER.)

Here we go:
Outfit 1



Outfit 2



Outfit 3



Outfit 4



Outfit 5



Outfit 6



Outfit 7



Outfit 8



Outfit 9, the ONLY outfit I ordered on my own. Step away from the online shopping.

I have never had such a painless shopping experience in my life. My personal shopper gave me two dresses to try before she pronounced me low-waisted and said "dresses are out!" She'd take one look at an outfit and say, "Nope." I loved her! It was like having a best friend who just knows— and isn't afraid to say.

I bought one of these outfits which I can wear not only at graduation, but also at work. Trés practical, non?

I was home in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Girls, this service is FREE. As in FREE.

I don't understand why everyone on earth doesn't know about this! It's FREE!

So which one did I end up with? You decide.